IF you’ve been lucky enough to go to an Olympic event, one thing will have struck you. The friendliness, helpfulness and courtesy of the army of volunteers.

They greet you with a smile, have a chat, answer questions efficiently and you walk on feeling good. It shows the best side of human nature.

Sadly, there is a flip where people can be rude, inconsiderate and even intimidating towards others.

The anti-social behaviour that a Poole man says he has endured over years, is a grim example. He’s just had his car smashed up with paint poured over the roof and the tyres stabbed.

And that’s on top, he says, of abuse, shouting, swearing and heaven knows what else over years.

The Olympics will be over next week. For all the excellent investment in the infrastructure, the best legacy the Games could leave would be for everyone to pick up just a little of the spirit of consideration towards others shown by the volunteers.

That would be worthy of a gold.