I am a racing pigeon fancier. A few days ago several of my pigeons returned wounded with shotgun pellets. At least four never managed to return. This hobby takes a lot of my pension and time, but I don't regret it.

What is frustrating is falling victim to some so-called sportsman or environmentalist who in the name of tradition, thinks that he has the right to shoot at anything that flies, whatever and whenever. In the circumstances, I appeal to the authorities to make these trigger - happy sportsmen consign their firearms to the police depot.

These weapons should be available to them during the hunting season only.

This time last year, another fancier who spent thousands of Maltese liri suffered the same mishap.