Sir,

We were planning to go down to our caravan in Lydstep this coming weekend with friends to enjoy that most delightful of areas; perhaps to take out the boat fishing for bass in Caldey Sound (weather permitting), or walking the gorgeous Pembrokeshire path, just relaxing, taking in that precious sea air, enjoying the wonderful view and wildlife. Or we could take the car out past Carew and up to that tranquil haven called Lawrenny Quay for a spot of lunch and a walk, watching the water craft come and go, or maybe we could go to Pembroke castle after chapel on Sunday and then visit Angle for another walk around the headland passing Thorn Island, just lapping up that exquisite Pembrokeshire scenery, all the while pondering which eatery to visit that evening?

But wait a minute; there is a report of a shutdown of the road infrastructure making it impossible to partake of any of these planned activities this weekend and why is this so necessary I wonder?

Could there be a Royal visitation or some visiting VIP from across the world, or major road works perhaps caused by subsidence as a result of a soggy summer? No, then what about an unexploded World War II bomb necessitating a call to the bomb disposal unit. Again no, then it must be that some horrible disease has broken out, something akin to foot and mouth requiring a total closure of this predominantly agricultural area?

No again, so rather perturbed, I make some more enquiries as to what other possible disaster or contingency could possibly warrant the virtual closure of Pembrokeshire? And what do I find but a severe outbreak of IronRobotItis had broken out and engulfed Pembrokeshire with the seeming approval of the council and all authorities!

I gasped in horror and as my enquiries deepen, I am told not to panic, that this type of mania prevalent amongst fit, competitive, young and middle aged ironrobots and their camp followers, largely from outside the area, is not that contagious and would pass once the weekend was over and Pembrokeshire would again be declared IronRobotItis free and the roads would be open again as would Pembrokeshire for normal business.

Feeling somewhat relieved that I had managed not to be immersed in this mania; this soon passed leaving a melancholy sadness that I and crew would have to forfeit a looked forward to weekend in Lydstep, kept away by some alien mania called IronRobotItis.

I secretly hoped that it would be a very wet and windy weekend, such that many of the Iron Robots would incur some rust damage and not be able to return next year, or failing that, perhaps they would consider taking their IronRobotItis roadshow to warmer climes elsewhere, not as picturesque as Pembrokeshire and where they would not have to shut down an area as big as a shire!

Oh well, at least I will have more money in my pocket having cancelled my Lydstep weekend! I wonder if Ceredigion will be open for business as usual. I have not been there for a few years?

Graham James,

Aberdare,