I WOULD like to wish a very happy new year to the gentleman who intervened in a very upsetting incident. I was a passenger on the Truro to Falmouth train which left Truro at 17.10 on December 23. The train was very busy and it was hard to find a seat, but as I am quite old now and need my trusty stick to walk very far I thought I was lucky to be able to sit down.

How wrong I was. Near me was a group of three or four young lads and two girls. Their behaviour was frankly shocking and frightening. From the start of the journey they started to torment another group of lady passengers sat near them. It started with little bits of paper being thrown at them but, as they egged each other on, became much more vicious and bullying. It was clear that their victims were upset and frightened but these young people seemed to delight in their efforts. I was so upset to see their behaviour and that everybody sat around pretending not to see what was happening.

When one young man threw an empty drinks can into one young lady's face while laughing at her, I was so frightened for her. Then their hero came! A young (to me, I am 80 this year, God willing), man walked calmly down the whole length of the carriage and having checked that the young lady was not hurt, spoke to the young thugs and stopped their fun instantly. It was quite pleasing to see the flicker of fear across their faces when they realised that this was one person who they didn't scare. A taste of their own medicine perhaps. They got off very swiftly at Penryn - hurrah!

So I would like to say thank you to him, whoever he was, you were a hero and showed that chivalry is not dead. I am sorry than none of the other people, including many able bodied men nearby, did not have the courage to stand up to those disgusting bullies.

That you two girls were just as guilty as the boys for terrorising those other young girls was shocking. I hope they never have to travel alone and be so scared. If you take such fun in throwing things at people perhaps you need some time in the "stocks" where we can give you some back.

Mrs Alder, Penryn