To the middle-aged bald man in a blue shirt who stole a purse of money from a trader's table in Upper Gardner Street Market, Brighton, on Saturday, you are a despicable lowlife and you were seen but, unfortunately, not caught.

The new stallholder, in his third week at our market, sells locally produced vegetables grown by a co-operative group at Stanmer and on local allotments.

He gets up early on Saturday to dig vegetables to sell fresh to people.

The money you stole was the morning's takings plus his float, which included money for vegetables other people had grown. He has to pay them back out of his own pocket.

The stallholder was just getting known for his excellent fresh produce. He is now a very upset and disillusioned man.

Whatever you have spent the money on, I hope you realise just how much hard work went into earning it - obviously something you never do.

-Jenny Watson, Secretary, Upper Gardner Street Traders' Association, Brighton