How disappointing and embarrassing the Lord Mayor's Parade and charity event were this year. This was moved from South Park and the date changed, without anyone telling the public.

It was very frustrating for the stallholders who give up hours of their own time to raise much-needed money for charity.

An extra kick in the teeth was that, unlike previous years, the new Lord Mayor and local dignitaries couldn't even be bothered to come round and support us, but just disappeared (nice lunch perhaps?) while the rest of us struggled to raise a pittance.

Our German visitors must have been very disappointed to have taken part in the parade to find no-one waiting to greet them.

Having spoken to several of them, they were expecting hundreds of people, as there normally would be.

Thousands of pounds was lost by charities, and the impression given to our visitors was shameful.

Several unconvincing excuses for the changes were given and no doubt, the city council will try to pass the buck to the overstretched volunteers, but it has full-time, paid events officers whose

only response is that 'the community' should organise these events. Jon Parry, Cowley Road, Oxford