Sir – I feel moved to write with reference to the Oxford Folk Festival. As reported, the weather was perfect, the people and dancers were great and there was an excellent reaction — what a shame the marshals and the officials down at the castle site could not reciprocate.

They moved the dancers to the farthest point from the steps, erected a temporary barrier to keep them apart from the audience, requested they didn’t sit on the steps, locked the external door to the toilets and asked some of the dancers, who had even bought food at the cafe, to not sit at the tables provided.

They also provided a constant patrol, trying to push people into the places they thought they should go. The barrier which they said was for health and safety purposes (odd one was not required anywhere else in the town), fell on the head of a child within minutes of it appearing after they pulled on the rope, and it meant that at times the dancers did not have enough space.

I would like to point out to those responsible for the castle site, and to the marshals, that the dancers, and their families that support them, bring in to Oxford a lot of revenue and add to the interest and culture of the city. Please in future try harder to make them feel welcome.

A. Pettit (Mrs), Loughborough