The yobs who vandalised Southwick Rec skateboard park (Opinion, May 7) would not be skaters themselves but those out to destroy the pleasure of the skaters.

I am not a resident of Southwick but live in Peacehaven, where we have a small area for skaters. I have two teenage sons who love to skate and travel around visiting different skateparks.

Young people are really interested in skating and they often spend all day at one site. They have a great time. There is no trouble from the true skaters and great friendship among them.

We visited Southwick skatepark but, first, found no footpath to the site, so had to walk across the mud. We only stayed a short time because non-skaters came into the park and urinated on the equipment. They also used sticks to flick dog faeces on to the ramps.

This is a case of the minority spoiling things for the majority. Real skaters go to skateparks to do the sport they really enjoy, not to vandalise. Unfortunately, it is not the yobs who get a taste of their own medicine but the innocent young people who are their victims.

-Mrs P M Murrell, Stanley Road, Peacehaven