I couldn't help being a little disbelieving when I saw the picture of the Irish travelling mum with seven of her children (Argus, September 7), looking so sweet and innocent and protesting that not all travellers are badly-behaved.

I live in Coldean and several local people have described how their children have been bullied and terrorised by travellers' children.

One child was threatened with a weapon and another had his bicycle stolen.

It's these kinds of incidents, combined with the mess and rubbish travellers usually leave behind them, that give them a bad reputation.

-Name and address supplied