REGARDING the article on Swampy, the homeless man recently arrived in York (October 25).

Whilst I sympathise with his situation, as a father who has in the past also been separated by a large distance from my children, I can tell him that nothing is more important both for the father and the child than that they should live close together and see as much of each other as possible.

If he has no particular reason to be in York, then I would urge him to go to the town in Scotland where his child lives, and make seeing his child his top priority. The home and work, with luck and help, will follow. The child must come first.

Richard Ekers,

Darnbrook Walk, York.

Updated: 11:26 Monday, October 28, 2002