I HAVE returned recently from a courtesy visit to lovely of Vaxjo in Sweden, twinned with Lancaster.

It was a delight to observe that the streets were litter free, there was no evidence of vandalism and that even late in the evenings as people were making their way home there was no drunkenness or louts urinating in the street. In fact, everyone felt quite safe.

But I came back to reality on Saturday morning on my usual walk into the city centre.

On Belle Vue Terrace there were three cars with wing mirrors torn off and paintwork damaged, the usual cans, bottles and food containers on the ground and plastic bags thrown down and blowing in the wind.

Further along, two refuse bins had been pulled off their concrete bases by vandals having a smashing time again. It must be costing us all a fortune in repairs.

What is happening to this lovely city of ours and what is wrong with these people who commit mindless acts of vandalism? Are they resentful of the many people in Lancaster who live perfectly normal, decent lives?

These things happen regularly and residents are getting browned off. Our beat officers are doing their best but cannot be everywhere at once. But it seems so sad that we have to be subjected to this type of behaviour when we just want to get on with our lives in peace.

Cllr Sheila Denwood, Scotforth.