Readers may have noticed that there was recent – and perhaps surprising – mention by Environment Secretary Michael Gove of the adverse impact on local air quality from the emissions from woodburning stoves.

In view of the many woodburners in and around the South Hams, I thought people might be interested in an emissions comparison by BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin on the BBC News website.

It is estimated that these stoves, along with solid fuels, produce 38 per cent of total particulate pollution, which ministers want to halve by 2025. This is the fourth biggest threat to public health after cancer, obesity and heart disease.

A current woodburner is shown on the website as producing 6.7 grams of particulate matter per hour (reducing to 3.1 grams for post-2022 new ecostoves, yet to be introduced), as opposed to 0.5 grams for a post-2014 HGV lorry and 0.17 grams for a post- 2009 diesel car.

With these figures in mind, perhaps the message should be to reduce the amount of woodburner use over, for instance, gas central heating – which produces a fraction of the particulates of woodburning – and think carefully before buying them.

Robert Smith

Grove Mews, Totnes