I read with astonishment the letter of David Lewis of Country-wide Property Lawyers (see [2003] Gazette, 25 September, 16).

Does Mr Lewis live in some parallel universe unknown to us ordinary high street solicitors? The utopian picture painted by Mr Lewis seems far removed from the difficulties we experience with some conveyancing factories on a regular basis.

Thankfully, one thing a factory can never replace is the broad knowledge and expertise of a local high street solicitor.

After all, this is the strength of our profession and one for which we should be rightly proud.

Dylan Jones, J R Williams & Co, Abergele