Anyone who has ever stood and watched this wonderful parade must agree the roads should be closed. If this was properly done, the parade would be over much more quickly and buses and traffic would get back to normal in a shorter time than it takes now.

I must ask where Pippa Smith was on the beach, singing "until the final child had left the site" (Letters, May 12).

Of the 70-plus schools taking part, those from the late 50s in the parade did not get to the beach until 1.20pm. The singing had finished then and, when the rain started heavily, the beach cleared in seconds - about 1.30-1.40pm.

-Mrs Jean Loveland, Brighton