Sir - The letter in your December 23 edition, headed "Do your research before moving to a village" and signed by five angry Helmsdale residents, highlights the totally unacceptable and all too common behaviour of a minority of incomers to rural Highland (and indeed, lowland) Scotland today.

The letter, in my view, could be called "Letter of the Year" and should be made compulsory reading for all property estate agents and copied by them to all prospective clients before contracts are signed.

There are cross-Atlantic letters in this area dating back to the 1850s which speak volumes for joined-up community people power.

But it has, it seems, to be pointed out that this is the 21st century - James C Morrison, Achlyness, Kinlochbervie.