THANK you for publishing Gwyneth Tweats’ defence of those stereotyped by Councillor Val Myatt (March 28).

Ms Myatt is reported as having said that “troubled youngsters” could be children of asylum seekers.

As your correspondent pointed out so cogently, asylum seekers are some of the most vulnerable people in this world, forced to flee from war and persecution, who would prefer to stay in their own countries.

It also has to be pointed out that we in the UK are among the prime exporters of arms, often to countries with a poor human rights record, so in a sense we are sometimes complicit in the conflict which drives people from their homes.

I have worked with asylum seekers and refugees and count as a privilege our friendship with an Afghan family who we see as an extension of our own: people who are honest, hard working, cultured and well informed.

Veronica Edwards

Malvern