The most sensible words spoken in the dispute at Rustington over the siting of a transit camp for travellers were those of Superintendent Cliff Parrot of Sussex police (The Argus, August 25).

He rightly says there is a small minority of troublemakers in the travelling community, as there is in the settled community.

I can vouch for this as I live on a council estate in Hangelton and the majority of my neighbours are lovely people but we have a minority, a very small one, who are into crime, intimidation, litter and vandalism.

A few years ago I had a lot to do with the travelling community based on the outskirts of Brighton and Patcham.

I visited a number of them in their caravans and received a warm welcome. I admire their love of animals, their faithfulness to their wives and children and their desire to make a contribution to society in some way. Furthermore, they have a deep sense of community and are willing to give practical help to one another in all kinds of ways.

I heartily agree with Emma Nuttall when she says: "People complain about illegal encampments but then refuse to provide a legal place for travellers to stay."

My prayer is that local authorities, the police and the villagers of Rustington, together with the travellers themselves, will come to an amicable solution to the problem.

Whether we like it or not, gipsies have been part of Sussex life for more than 200 years and made a very real contribution in their work of fruit picking and other work for the local agricultural community.

-Rev. John Webster, Hove