I sympathise with Debbie Cummins, whose son had some of the items in his lunchbox confiscated at Bayards Hill School at Barton, Oxford (Oxford Mail, June 7). But the fact that these rules were written in advance makes it a difficult point to argue.

However, I must protest about Simon Banks's letter (Oxford Mail, June 12), in particular, his somewhat arrogant presumption that the rest of Oxford supports headteacher Keith Ponsford's actions. Andy Hathaway's letter, in the same issue, proves this assumption to be incorrect.

Mr Banks criticises Barton as being "one chav area of Oxford". Presumably the other "chav areas" are Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill etc.

Again, the actions of a small minority of people have us all tarred with the same brush.

I have lived on Barton estate for 19 years. I have professional qualifications and with many other people (probably), I do not consider myself to be above anyone else on this estate and object to being labelled a "chav" just because of where I live.

Mr Banks has clearly never spent any time on any of the "chav" estates or he would know that the vast majority of us are law-abiding citizens and object to being labelled as such.

MARK LIVINGSTONE Bernwood Road Barton, Oxford