Letter: Rodent recipe

Sir: The householders and foresters of the Chilterns threatened by a plague of edible dormice (report, 4 May) might take comfort from the fact that previous introductions of this gourmet delicacy have not been successful. The bones of these rodents have been found in Roman contexts during excavations in York and South Shields, but obviously the environment of Roman Britain was not to their liking.

Should they not die out naturally this time, perhaps the problem could be solved by promoting them as the next fashionable cooking ingredient following the cranberries of last winter. Apicius, the Delia Smith of the Roman world, recommended stuffing them with a seasoned mixture of pork and pine-nuts and then baking them

Hilary Cool

West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire