Travellers have illegally occupied what is normally a picnic area in Preston Park, used frequently by families.

The families have been deprived of the facilities provided, including tables and seats used for picnicking, for quite a number of weeks over the school holidays by the action of the travellers concerned.

The travellers must have forced an entry, because the top end of the road is normally closed by a gate.

Some of the people appear to be carrying out business from the site, because there have been sightings of commercial vehicles arriving and leaving the area.

I wonder if Edith Smalley, who recently wrote to defend the rights of travellers (Opinion, August 30), is aware there are official caravan sites situated in East Sussex, such as the one in Sheepcote Valley, where there are proper facilities for people who wish to live a travelling existence.

For Mrs Smalley to classify these people as Romanies is, in my opinion, rather ludicrous.

Brighton and Hove Council appear to have known of the situation some weeks ago but its lack of action has resulted in giving more encouragement to other itinerant travellers in the north end of the park on top of those who have been there on and off for the past nine months.

We have seen a constant succession of converted horseboxes, old commercial lorries, vans etc, occupying the access spaces normally used by Brighton residents.

Not only do the occupants clean out their vehicles and dump all their rubbish but we have, on occasions, seen full-scale repairs, including welding, taking place. I shudder to think what happens to their personal waste.

Preston Park is intended for everybody, for the purpose of enjoying recreational activities. It should not be abused and vandalised by anti-social activities.

-Mrs M. Jackson, Preston Park Avenue, Brighton