JAN HENSHALL, of Wood Lane, Kingswear, Dartmouth writes:

I felt obliged to write regarding the views expressed by Mr Chick in last week'spaper.

Although present at my own business in The Old Market, I saw nothing of the scenes claimed to have taken place in Market Street on the Saturday. Similarly I was unaware of any problems in the Royal Avenue Gardens.

As a volunteer collector I spent several hours in that area surrounded by happy, smiling people of all ages enjoying an excellent firework display and music from the appropriately named Feelgood Factor.

Quite why Mr Chick should be embarrassed by the sight of people enjoying themselves I don't know but I certainly am embarrassed by his remarks and his apparent need not only to denigrate the efforts of a hardworking committee of volunteers but also willfully misrepresent the behaviour of the public who enjoyed the fruits of their labours.