Letter: Parents on the run

Sir: I believe that Jenny and Jeff Bramley, who have disappeared with their foster-children, have the support of a majority of the public ("Love on the run", 9 January).

Mrs Bramley is described as looking depressed and worn out. If you had been "on the run" for four months, with no fixed home and two lively children to care for wouldn't you look depressed and worn out?

Mr and Mrs Bramley may lack parenting skills, but these skills are not the preserve of natural parents, who also lack such skills at the beginning of a child's life. Such skills are developed over many years. What counts equally is the love demonstrated to a child by its parent(s), and in the case of Jenny and Jeff Bramley, that love should not be doubted.

MARK PENFOLD

Crawley, West Sussex