I am incensed that the Firle bonfire has been blown out of all proportion.

Ever since I can remember, Lewes has burnt an effigy of the Pope on bonfire night.

Has there ever been an outcry by the Roman Catholics? No.

I have seen Mrs Thatcher burnt but was there any fuss about her? No, of course not, because everyone knows this is our way of letting off steam.

For goodness sake, Firle bonfire wasn't about all travellers but about one incident.

This "racist" thing is going too far nowadays. Why are travellers any different from us?

Years ago life was hard and I could easily have travelled round the country with my family in a caravan to escape the rat race.

Would I then not be English any more but belong to a different race?

-Moya Carey-Smith, Woodingdean