I had several phone calls over the weekend from local people who are very unhappy about articles printed in Looe Town Council's newsletter, which they considered offensive and sexist in nature. I was very shocked when I read the articles.

I want to make it clear that I think the content and style of the articles are inappropriate and, had I been given the opportunity to see them before publication, I would have voiced my distaste.

I feel at best they are in bad taste, at worst highly offensive, sexist and ill-conceived and I want to disassociate myself from them.

Alcoholism is a serious subject and sufferers need our support. This is not a subject for flippant humour in this context. It is a highly destructive disease that wrecks families. The town council should be working to bring all sections of our community together in a spirit of equality and understanding not acting in a divisive way under the cloak of 'humour'.

I will be asking the council to investigate the procedures that allowed these articles to be reproduced and find ways to avoid the humiliating way in which I feel a resident who voiced his objection to an article was treated at the Monday night full council meeting.

Cllr Edwina Hannaford

Looe Town Council