We have never batted an eyelid at the endless coachloads of tourists who come to Saltdean.

Would asylum-seekers really stretch local resources more than this?

Even if they did, I don't mind having to queue at the chippy.

If it is true (though I don't see how) they would place a sudden burden on the taxpayer, for once I would think this was a good use of council money.

And - horror of horrors - should the market value of my property be reduced by public alarm at their presence, I would feel angry about the public alarm, not about the asylum-seekers.

There are more important things in life than property values - and I say this as someone whose tiny bungalow is my only investment.

History and geography have been kind to us so far. We have never had to seek safety in another country. We might not always be so lucky.

In the meantime, I hope we can show some compassion towards those less fortunate, instead of accusing them of pretending to have had a rough time of it in their own country in order to come here, rape our women and steal our jobs.

It is depressing to see the same old bigotry trotted out in these situations. Do we never learn from history? The way the good folk of Saltdean have reacted to the "threat" of accommodating asylum-seekers reminds me of a saying: "History is always repeating itself. It has to - no one ever listens."

-Alison Terry, Hailsham Avenue, Saltdean