RE The report in Friday's Bolton News about the illegal travellers' camps in Hulton Lane playing fields.

This, as we all know, is a regular occurrence throughout the Bolton area, resulting in costly court proceedings and cleaning up afterwards.

I have lived very close to Hulton playing fields for 50 years and wonder how much Bolton Council has paid out over this period (or should I say the taxpayers?).

I once attended a meeting where councillors were present to discuss this problem. I put forward the suggestion of excavating a three-foot-wide, by 18in-deep channel. The excavated earth would then be placed along the inner side of the trench and rounded off and grassed over, thus making it acceptable to look at and which would prevent the passage of caravans permanently.

Fences and heavy boulders are not a solution as they are easily moved with a waggon and a chain.

I have more than 40 years of experience of towing a caravan, but it would appear that councillors cannot accept that I know what I am talking about.

Any water that accumulates in the trench could be diverted into drainage on roads which run alongside the field.

Perhaps the council could reconsider this one-off suggestion which will eventually pay for itself.

M Parsons

Frinton Road

Bolton