IT is no real surprise to me at all that the hanging baskets at the Mrs Muffit tearooms were ripped up the other week.

The recent report that Ledbury crime figures top well over 1,000 a year is a disgrace.

Underneath our lovely facade we have crimes committed on average more than three times a day.

Is this really Ledbury?

But when did you last see any police on the streets and at night time?

Ledbury is rapidly becoming like some deprived inner city suburb, but according to our wonderful government crime is falling.

It must be, because I had a letter from the Conservative party to say so only yesterday.

Most theft and criminal damage crime isn't even reported, because we don't have the police to do anything whatsoever about it, and to add to that recent reports of crimes reported but not recorded (to make the figures look good) have been widely publicised in the press.

Lovely place, Ledbury (I don't think so). You are safer in the centre of London – at least there are more law enforcement officers about.

Barry Watson

Lugwardine