I HAVE just returned home with my wife from our weekly Saturday shop in Durham City.

With some of the games from the Cricket World Cup being held at Durham CC’s Riverside Ground, I was delighted that a fan zone had been set up in the market place complete with big screen showing the Pakistan versus Afghanistan game live, and there was also a stage set up for live entertainment.

What a pity however that people’s enjoyment was being spoilt by the same drunks who sit and drink in the market place and make a nuisance of themselves week in and week out throughout the year.

And all this observed by the security who had obviously been hired in but who stood and did nothing. It’s not as if they were hiding the fact that they were drinking as the cans of beer and Frosty Jack cider were there for all to see, and so was their behaviour and language.

There were a good number of tourists watching their antics shaking their heads in disbelief.

A German couple told us they wouldn’t have been allowed to behave that way in public in their country as their police would have acted very quickly to stamp it out, and I actually apologised to them on behalf of the people of Durham as I felt so ashamed.

Alcoholism is a disease which is very sad to see in those affected by it, but I am puzzled as to why these people are allowed to drink and make idiots of themselves in the market place every week without being reprimanded.

David Gardner, Hetton le Hole