HOW despondent we felt after a walk home through Bournemouth one evening. We had been for a great meal with friends and walked down Christchurch Road which was fine, still busy with people eating at 9.30pm.

The trip down Old Christchurch Road wasn’t as pleasant. There were drunks in doorways, two requests for money from people begging, an approach from a woman claiming to be a local rep for Bournemouth who loudly approached us.

When we suggested she go away a large man approached swearing at us in a threatening manner.

Finally we were approached by two men asking us to buy a cheap teddy bear from a ‘makeshift shop’ set up in a shop doorway.

When we declined we were sworn at loudly. We arrived home annoyed and sad.

We moved to Bournemouth three years ago and love the town by day. We are mature and robust people but we were glad to get home. No wonder the town was clear of people walking, families out on a mild night. No police around to deter. It felt like a rough area of London.

What can we do to make our town a great, safe place to be after dark?

STEVE LANE, Bournemouth