AFTER buying your paper I was gob smacked at what was on the front. Goths and moshers being a nuisance on Church Street? What sort of rubbish are you printing?

I ask you to list the ways we have been a nuisance, standing and talking to one another (oh no, call the police), wearing black, actually going shopping (if you look at the picture on the front page you will see many of us with shopping bags).

It's sad that no-one can get past the American stereotype of the gothic, skater and mosher cultures.

We don't go round talking about death as if it were "cool," we don't slash ourselves for fun.

And despite what it said in one of the articles, we DO come from decent backgrounds.

If you want to see troublemakers, look at what you would class as the more respectable kids, you know the trendies and townies, the ones who throw fireworks at mothers with prams, drink on the streets, cause needless fights and kick young kids off their bikes for fun.

We only go out to have fun and socialise. Not to intimidate and start fights.

The only time there has ever been fights in the goth/mosher community is when townies deem it fit to start them.

LAWRENCE K BENTLEY (via email)