THERE are times, both night and day, when Shirley (and probably other parts of Southampton ) smells disagreeably from air pollution.

Some comes from heavy road traffic, but other particularly corrosive odours must come from Marchwood , the docks or the western industrial estates.

I should think that the forthcoming Biomass plant, burning thousands of tons of wood, is unlikely to improve the situation.

I suppose all we can do is keep coughing!

G ROBINSON, Southampton.