There was a splendid atmosphere on Saturday's great dog march from Hove Lagoon to the Palace Pier.

I saw a chihuahua in earnest debate with a rather larger dog, and gather that their barks and yelps can be roughly translated as: "I am called Georgie - but Councillor Geoffrey Theobald's name is mud." Of course, dogs listen carefully and fully understand their owners' outrage about his terrible plan to ban them from enjoying such places as the beaches.

What's more, I am shocked to think that Brighton and Hove City Council is spending about £20,000 in officer time to deal with this non-starter of a policy.

  • Christopher Hawtree, Westbourne Gardens Hove