I'M writing because I'm very depressed. I can't bear to hear about the foot and mouth epidemic.

I saw a programme on pensioners. One said that by Sunday she was eating baked beans. I live with my son and we share bills. I'm 66 and work at Pizza Hut in Wycombe, washing up for three hours to earn £12 to supplement my pension, but I still haven't got much left.

I don't smoke, I don't go out much, I go on cheap holidays in October for five days now and again. I've two cats, I worry about the vet's bills. That's why I work. My son is very good but he can't afford to keep me and I wouldn't want him to. All the money that's wasted and people who worked and paid taxes etc, are in such a poverty stricken state to eat baked beans and are worried about money all the time is a disgrace. When I read about David Beckham's wife paying thousands for a dress and she looks like a scarecrow anyway, I could scream.

Diane Clark, St Hughes Avenue, High Wycombe