STEVE SHOWLER, of The Square, Inner Hope, writes:

After having just read Mr Huchins’ letter titled ‘Boorish about tourists’, Gazette, April 15, in the words of a character played by Catherine Tate: ‘What a bleeping liberty.’

I can only assume – and probably wrongly so – that Mr Hutchins must have been part of the Leveson Inquiry, telling our local newspaper which words it should or should not be printing. How long is this oversensitive, politically correct, mind-numbing attitude going to persist?

I am a Londoner, or a Cockney – a term some of my friends find totally objectionable – but have lived and worked down here for approaching 30 years. But I will always be a grockle, or incomer, and also other names not repeatable in a family newspaper.

I was told when just moving here by the true local population that ‘I would never be ­considered a local until I had three generations in the ­cemetery’. Well, I’m working on that, as my nine-month-old granddaughter was born here.

My x – the other letters feel very left out – wife and I have had a fantastic life here.

My two daughters once asked me: ‘Are we locals or are we Londoners, Dad?’

‘Your Londoners, girls, and be proud of it,’ I replied.

Be proud of who you are, regardless of whatever creed, colour or religion you may be. Cockney, grockle, Devon dumpling… the list goes on.

So, Mr Hutchins, I for one take great exception to you ­trying to impress your opinion on our free press and I respectfully suggest that you let the locals – whatever colour, creed, religion or wherever they have come from – be left to maintain the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so that you grockles can enjoy it while ­holidaying in the area, while most of us residents here have to work doubly hard to ensure your stay is enjoyable and that hopefully you may return another year.