I HAVE just paid £95.22 to Severn Trent for six months water supply.

Now we are told that charges will probably escalate by 50 per cent over the next five years.

I can remember when water rates amounted to a few shillings tacked on to the foot of the General Rates Bill!

Also long ago, I remember there existed three prime examples of British efficiency.

They were the General Post Office, the Great Western Railway and the Birmingham and Midland Red Motor Omnibus Company!

Also such a description could not be made of any of their successor companies.

In those days I had very little in the way of money or material possessions.

However, I reckon that old terraced houses will still be standing when all the jerry-built rubbish erected in the last 30 years will have fallen down.

How one longs for the good old days when we had stability and the streets were safe.

DE MARGRETT,Worcester.