Regarding the burning of the caravan in Firle and the article in which gypsies defended their position (The Argus, November 10), I try very hard to be open-minded.

But several years ago, we had travellers on vacant land at the back of our house. They uprooted our new fence and burnt it.

They then used our garden as a toilet and stole my kids' toys out of our locked shed. We called the police who refused to get involved.

They said the toys were unable to be identified as belonging to my children despite being hand-made and painted with my boys' names.

When they used my garden as a short cut my little dog barked at them and they stoned her until her ribs were broken. At least she was braver than the police.

We were due to go on holiday and phoned the police for advice about how to secure our property before we went.

Their advice was don't go and don't leave your property unoccupied until the travellers have been moved on.

Once you have lived under these siege conditions, you see just how sympathetic to their cause you are.

-Mrs G Taylor, Lancing