SIR - Countering my atheism, Vera Ward (T&A, May 5) cites the many who, in extremes, call upon God for help and succour.

Inexplicably, she believes that this proves the actual existence of God.

I fear that all it does is to demonstrate a very ordinary characteristic. It's called clutching at straws, a description humanists apply to all pleas and imprecations to a mythical, supernatural being.

I am reminded of the late, great WC Fields who, during his terminal illness, was visited by a friend, who to his astonishment found WC a lifelong boozer, womaniser and all round reprobate, reading the Bible.

"Good grief, Bill!" he spluttered, "you've not got religion at this stage, surely?" "Nope!" replied the great man. "Just looking for loopholes!"

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley