I would like to say how very tired I am of people such as Ian Hills (Letters, May 21) talking about Travellers as if they were some kind of subspecies.

Travellers are simply people who choose to live in a caravan instead of a house. If they are not to be constantly on the move, like the Flying Dutchman, they have to camp somewhere.

Of course, no one should leave litter and make a mess but most travellers clear up when they depart and leave the place cleaner than it was when they came. In fact, travellers who make a mess are in the minority. We do not have to look as far as travellers to see people leaving litter - I have lost count of how many people I see throwing things out of car windows.

I am also tired of ignorant people such as Tony Carr (Letters, same issue) linking beggars with drunks and thieves. How can anyone look down on a beggar just because he is lucky enough to have a home?

Anyone can become homeless through no fault of their own. Beggars are people who are trying to keep from starvation but do not want to be muggers or thieves. People selling the Big Issue never stop anyone and Big Issue vendors are not beggars anyway. They are doing a job and trying to get themselves out of the poverty trap.

-May Ashcroft, Lower Rock Gardens, Brighton