I HAVE experienced for years now the annoying habit of cheapskate football fans parking willy-nilly along our avenue and down adjacent lanes and roads.

I have seen no effort to deter these people by anyone, including the police, who merely erect "No Access to Reebok Stadium" signs at the top of the local lane -- thereby pointing out to fans that this is somewhere to park near the Reebok.

For years vehicles have parked so close to the top of my drive that I take a chance every time I wish to go out, because I can't see enough to determine whether it's safe. And I've received downright abusive and obscene comments from fans when I've asked them not to park where they wanted to.

I just thought you might be slightly interested in an event that occurred last Saturday before the match against Birmingham at the Reebok Stadium.

The avenue was filling up, as usual, when we were greeted by the arrival of a Rover Metro containing three young men who parked right outside a local neighbour's house and proceeded to walk down the avenue towards the Reebok.

Nothing unusual in that, we thought, until one of the passengers decided he couldn't wait until he reached the stadium to answer a call of nature, and proceeded to urinate in the entrance to our neighbour's garage -- in full view of my wife, who was by this time angrily banging on the window of our house.

My wife, as you can imagine, was furious and disgusted, as was I when she came downstairs to tell me. Unfortunately by this time they had disappeared.

OK. So we've become accustomed to the fact that football traffic will carry on parking outside our houses, as long as no official decides to do anything about it. But this doesn't mean we should have to put up with this sort of behaviour every other weekend, does it?

If anyone knows who was in that Rover, I would appreciate it if they could ask him to go to the bathroom BEFORE he sets off for the next match.

Colin Eccles

Shaftesbury Avenue

Lostock