Sir – A recent letter concerned a complaint about intolerable noise levels in central Skipton on Friday and Saturday nights and the lack of a police presence.

I would like to support that letter and add that around the bus station, Gallows Bridge, Gas Lane and Carleton Street there is also an unacceptable level of dirt including vomit, the remains of takeaway food, broken glass, litter and vandalism. Yesterday, one side of the bridge was swept for the edification of visiting dignitaries on Yorkshire Day. This morning the yellow bin by the bus shelters had been overturned, more broken glass and litter had appeared and once again the large board in Gas Lane advertising the beautiful map of Skipton had been vandalised. This is not a new problem due to the warm weather. During the winter, grit bins were overturned regularly and the bridge is always covered in broken glass and cigarette ends.

This level of anti-social behaviour must impose a financial burden on the authorities. Skipton relies on its reputation as a desirable tourist destination and this is amply demonstrated at the castle and its surroundings at the top end of town. However, the contrast to the bus station area is stark and seems to be deteriorating.

Surely the time has come to provide a regular police presence at weekends to curb excessive anti social behaviour and for CCTV cameras to monitor and identify the culprits. A community service order cleaning up the mess might prove an effective deterrent.

Roma Crossland, Skipton