Letter: Runaway family

Sir: Your leading article "The Bramleys have bucked a bad system" (18 January) was wrong to portray the Bramleys as victims of Cambridgeshire Social Services. Whilst most of us can agree, in the aftermath of events, that prospective adopters' legal rights to challenge decisions need overhauling, it still remains far from clear that they are suitable parents for the Bennett children.

It is naive to describe their parental shortcomings as stemming from "too much love". Whatever else this experience is set to teach these two unfortunate children, it can presumably not include any notion of the discipline and respect for unpleasant obligations with which most genuinely loving, responsible parents attempt to imbue their children's upbringing.

ALEX GREY

Richmond, Surrey