I READ with disgust that the Black Swan, Helmsley , is advertising that it is serving foie gras.

Surly most people by now know that foie gras is created using extremely cruel, completely unnatural methods.

The ducks or geese are restrained in tiny cages and forcibly fed a gross amount of food by sticking a large tube down their throats, causing injury, pain and stress, several times a day.

All this to produce a so-called luxury food.

Fortunately, many right-thinking people have banned foie gras because of the animal abuse.

I for one will be informing people of the Black Swan's disregard for animal welfare and hope that people will not be going there.

Anne Stewart, Helmsley