I WAS so incensed after reading the letters page on Wednesday, February 5, 2003, that I felt I must right a letter of my own, in defence of my fellow 13-19 year olds.

An anonymous letter writer made his opinion that 'the majority of speeders are teenagers', and' nine out of 10 teenage drivers are driving stolen vehicles'.

I would now like to voice my own opinion. During the past week, I have turned 16, and have therefore been a teenager for three years. However, three years ago, I did not metamorphasise into a thieving yob, as is the general opinion of teenagers today. The vast majority of young people are good people with a lot to offer the world.

Unfortunately, a small minority of 13-19 year-olds spend their time most unwisely, by causing trouble and/or stealing property. This widely publicised view of today's youth unfortunately makes some people generalise and view all teenagers in the same light.

I, for one, have never stolen anything in my life, and I am sure I can vouch for at least 95 per cent of my classmates and friends. I would also like to give the anonymous letter writer of this most offensive letter some food for thought: teenage motorists are forced to pay high insurance costs to drive their vehicles, so I believe they would 'give a toss' about the way the drive.

I am sure that if the letter writer casts their mind back to their teenage years, they did not become a devil at 13 and an angel at 19. In fact, they were probably much the same as the rest of the adult population; only younger, which is what I am. Now give teenagers a break, please!

Miss Emma Deighan

Westhoughton

Bolton