Now to defend myself.

All the letters published agreed with me that we do have a problem with children, we only differ on what to do about it. In Redruth, the curfew seems to working perfectly and an estate that was once plagued with moronic behaviour is now quiet. So it does work.

I would like to say to Ms Jennie Gill that if she would like to contact me I would be delighted to attend a 'Brew and Brekkie' event, though I do work shifts so it may be some time before I can make it.

Next to Ms Kennett. For ten years during the 1970's I was one of the most respected swimming coaches in the North West, teaching hundreds of children to swim, to swim fast, some to national level. I taught them how to win and how to lose, and life-saving, for which my swimmers and myself won national awards. I also taught them how to play tennis, squash, got them into judo classes and numerous other sports. I helped people with stutters to cease and those with a fear of water to like it. There is barely anyone around who did more for children than I did in the seventies. The problem is that the youth of today don't seem to want to put in the effort.

And finally Mr. Harding. I was invited to an evening during the recent Buxton Fringe to watch a performance of the Chapel Youth Centre at the Grove Hotel. I attended with my wife and my grandchildren. It was electrifying. They were all terrific, though young Matthew Plummer stood out as an outstanding talent, the next rock god of the land, no doubt, and I have been lucky enough to co-write two songs with him, one of which, I'm Not Lost, could be No1, should it get the proper promotion. Matthew is sixteen.

So this demand that I made for the kids to be locked up by 7 p.m. doesn't come from any dislike for them, or isolation from them, it comes from what I hear and what I see. And what I see, mostly, is parents who don't want the responsibility of bringing up their children.

The generation of wishy-washy Sixties hippies, who believed in the total right of doing whatever they wanted, and believe their children should have the same right, although the world has lost its innocence since their time.

I remain convinced that the children should be got off the streets by a certain time. It's working in Redruth and it would work here.

Thank you all, again, for your reactions.

Dennis Snape

via email

* Editor's note: no more on this topic for a while, please.