THE Bishop of Worcester has called on a district council to show greater understanding for the plight of gipsies.

Dr Peter Selby was referring to the case of the Romanies thrown off land they had bought on the outskirts of Eckington, near Pershore.

Bishop Peter - with his family background of persecution - will obviously be sensitive whenever a minority group is thrust into the spotlight.

Gipsies have been pariahs for centuries. The Bishop would not be performing his earthly duties if he neglected to keep an eye on the welfare of such people.

Nevertheless, he needs to bear in mind that the vexed question of how static societies and travelling groups co-exist is far from being a black and white issue. There are, in fact, various shades of circumstances.

True gipsies, by and large, increasingly want to settle on their own land. Unfortunately, they have a habit of ignoring or breaking planning regulations and therein lies the problem.

We are all subject to the rule of law. If someone appears to be getting away with it, tensions obviously rise.

Travellers, however, can vary greatly in terms and behaviour. A few years ago, the people of Castlemorton were subjected to days of misery when thousands of New Agers descended for an impromptu rock festival.

The misery endured by residents was extreme. They suffered round-the-clock noise, vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The same is also true whenever smaller contingents arrive.

There will always be the risk of trouble when people with straight jobs and houses suddenly find themselves next to those who prefer a more nomadic lifestyle.

While the Bishop's compassion is all very fine, he should also reserve some of his boundless sympathy for ordinary folk who may - for whatever reason - suffer stress and unhappiness when an alien culture appears in their midst.