I was in The Lanes last Saturday at about 4pm. A one man band (a man often seen on the streets of Brighton and Hove) was playing.

I noticed a young couple put money in the hat and passers-by were stopping, some with children, to watch and enjoy the music.

After a while, two security guards came over and moved him along. The small crowd booed at them. Apparently one of the shops had complained.

I felt extremely angered by this incident.

The busker was not blocking a thorough-fare. The pavement is wide here and largely unused, as there are no shop entrances where he was.

Surely the people stopping to watch and listen to the music, would have brought extra business to the surrounding shops and cafés.

Who would be petty enough to try and stop this?

Above all, in this city which prides itself on being quirky, arty and tolerant, I find it frightening that an innocent performance of songs is put down by a private security company.

Sophie Harris Arnold Street, Brighton