I consider Andrew Parkes' diatribe about the BBC and its staff strikes (News Shopper, May 25) to have been unpleasant and absurdly unbalanced.

The BBC is an institution admired and envied throughout the world and is one of which this country can be rightfully proud.

The licence fee provides superb value for money and I would happily pay a lot more to ensure the BBC maintains its present quality.

The contamination of the corporation with advertising would be disastrous one has only to see how intrusive and tiresome this is on the commercial channels.

I must say I have lost a lot of respect for News Shopper.

John Allen, Chislehurst