PEOPLE passing through Yate on Friday night could have been mistaken for thinking they were in the centre of a major city caught up in a riot rather than a small South Gloucestershire town.

The scenes of fighting between large numbers of youths on Station Road are a rare occurrence this side of Bristol and have left the community reeling, particularly those residents caught up in the damage caused and those unfortunate enough to be driving by at the time.

Not only will the bloody scenes stay with the very young who witnessed it, the damage caused to property and cars will not be forgotten in a hurry by residents and motorists.

Likewise, Yate Town Council is also counting the cost of some unwanted visitors this week as the travellers who set up camp on Longs Drive have left piles of rubbish and turned a grassy area into a mud bath.

Neither party responsible will end up paying the bill of these incidents, instead it will be down to the taxpayer or individual to pay the price.

Yate is such a friendly, welcoming place to anyone who treats the town and its community with respect. But it can ill afford to be left with a hefty bill by visitors who simply use and abuse it.