IN response to Coun Salim Mulla's letter (LT, August 14) regarding Harry Potter books, I would raise several points.

He seems to have picked a very strange target for his diatribe. For every child reading the harmless fantasy of Harry Potter, there are probably 10 robbing people, beating people up, shooting and stabbing people, in a virtual sense, on PlayStations and X-Boxes.

When children are not on their consoles they are probably watching television and being bombarded with violence and sexual imagery well before the supposed watershed'.

Whilst I admit to never having read a Harry Potter book, I have watched one of the films with my children and I found very little to concern me. Yes, Rowling does use magic in her stories but the storyline did seem to involve good triumphing over evil and, surely, that can only be a positive thing.

I'm not suggesting Harry Potter books should replace more established texts as a guide to moral conduct, merely that they should be accepted for what they are - light-hearted entertainment with no sinister agenda.

If Coun Mulla finds magic to be evil, regardless of its intent, then I would be interested to hear his views on the parting of the Red Sea, the transformation of water into wine, Resurrection etc.

Admittedly these are described as miracles text, but what exactly is a miracle? Is a miracle simply an act of evil magic' sponsored by a God to whom Coun Mulla does not subscribe?

I believe the position of councillor is one to which an individual is elected to serve the needs of his/her local community, with regard to local government issues, not to theorise about theological or moral issues.

If Coun Mulla feels the need to indulge in such musings, then I feel he should append his signature as "Mister" Mulla rather than "Councillor" Mulla, instead of trying to throw official weight behind his personal beliefs.

Either that or save his sermons for his local mosque.

GUY H HOWARD, Whalley Old Road, Blackburn.