I wish to take issue with Geoff Loader of Southern Water (Opinion, April 17) and his average figure of £244 for the water supply and waste disposal for the current year.

I live in an average, three-bedroom semi (band D) house and pay £180 to Southern Water just for disposal. Add to this the £180 I pay to South Eastern Water for supply and the annual total is £360. I know also of an eldery lady who, in common with others of her generation, lives in a modest council flat with a single bedroom. Her Southern Water combined bill is £260.

I find this disturbing because it is well above the average quoted. I wish to know how Southern Water achieves its figures because from my examples the company either has a serious fault with its statistics or I and several elderly Brightonians are being ripped off.

-Cyril Black, St James Walk, South Chailey