l AM 72 years old and not exactly fleet of foot but have never experienced any problem with skateboarders in the Square who are invariably polite and considerate.

As we get older we tend to become less tolerant of others and we are certainly more prone to gross exaggeration. A resident recently claimed that cars often race along North Road, Poole, at 60 miles an hour which is an impossibility.

Others frequently claim that they were “nearly killed” while crossing the road even though they managed to get from one side to the other without so much as a scratch.

Last week a reader claimed that she was “nearly” mowed down by a skateboarder in The Square and that old people were “nearly” falling over while trying to get out of the way.

It is a bit like saying you were hanging out the washing and “nearly” swallowed a clothes peg.

As most of the skateboarding takes place in the evening, a compromise could be reached whereby it was only permitted after 6pm which would enable the elderly to complete their shopping and get safely home before the fun begins.

Plenty of people enjoy watching the antics of these skateboarders in the evenings and regard it as another form of free entertainment

GRAHAM CRIBB Branksome Wood Road, Bournemouth