A quick trip to the Lanes in Brighton last week, which should have been quite pleasant, turned out to be a bit of an obstacle course.

Here's why. I parked my car in Church Street and left the car park at the North Street exit. On passing the pound shop towards Ship Street a Big Issue was shoved in my face with the usual request, "Big Issue, sir?", which I ignored. Arriving at Ship Street post office, again: "Big Issue, sir?", ignored again. Five paces later a scruffy individual requested money for a phone call.

Next, in the centre of the Lanes, "Big Issue, sir?" I was now totally fed up. On leaving the Lanes I was asked yet again. Returning to the car park I saw another man begging next to the cash machine at the bank. It is about time the police did something about this ever-increasing problem.

-R.G. Lee, Burstead Close, Brighton