Maybe this year the damage looked worse because the bin men are on strike, but I've lived in Hyde Park for nine years and the Moor gets trashed every summer.

I get fed up of walking through it seeing dozens of scorch marks from fires and bonfires, which should be banned outright.

And yes, it is the students to blame – go have a look after a hot weekend in July/August when they've all gone home, nothing like this happens.

If you want a follow up story, send your photographers round the streets of Hyde Park on July 1, student moving day – the state they leave the place in is a disgrace.

They have no respect for the area and get all the amenities they could possibly want, at council tax payers' expense.

Paul Newham, Victoria Road, Leeds


I should point out that not all Leeds residents picnicing in the park at the weekend were as irresponsible as those that you highlighted.

I and a group of friends (falling within the 20-something and 30-something age bracket) visited the park on Saturday, had an enjoyable picnic and when we had finished ensured that we cleared up after ourselves, bagged any rubbish and left it by one of the dustbins there.

Judging by the large mounds of rubbish by each bin, either a lot of other people were doing the same that afternoon, or the bins hadn't been emptied for some time.

I do appreciate that there are some individuals who show scant regard for other peoples' property and who evidently were brought up not to clear up their own mess, but please don't tar all "the younger generation" with the same brush.

Mr D K Marks, Wortley, Leeds


I found out from your letters page that it is illegal to have barbecues in a park. Students have been warned by their student union that police would enforce a ban on barbecues which they took to the Moor.

On Wednesday May 7, I was driving past the park towards Hyde Park Corner, it was full of people enjoying the weather and there were at least three barbecues going, also two police or pcsos on bikes riding past, totally oblivious or not bothered.

Is there any wonder that students or any other younger people, or adults for that matter, think that all behaviour is acceptable, when the police so obviously ignore it.

Maybe if they started on the small insignificant things, it would have a knock-on effect.

No wonder we have no confidence in the law, when it is so often flouted in plain sight of law enforcement officers, who simply turn a blind eye.

C Mason, Leeds