I have followed with great interest the measures being taken by councils to clean up the environment.

The possible banning of smoking in public places, the banning of smoking in shopping centres and the current trial in Brighton, Hove and Worthing to reduce street drinking.

Yet on these hot sticky evenings I have been trying, when possible, to sit in my garden to enjoy what little cooling breezeis available.

These very pleasant trips to the lawn have been disturbed by thoughtless people polluting the atmosphere by lighting their garden rubbish and producing foul-smelling smoke, causing me to take shelter in my living room with all the windows closed.

I have sought guidance from the council to see if it has any powers to prevent such behaviour, only to be told it cannot stop a member of the public from lighting a bonfire in the garden.

All the council can do is send the culprit a leaflet which says lighting a bonfire is anti-social and that the councilhas various waste tips regarding the disposal of garden rubbish.

If businesses are found causing pollution, there are powers to stop them. The same powers should also apply to members of public who produce foul-smelling smoke.

-Dave Stone, Lancing