I am 93 years old and was born in Sussex and have lived in Sussex villages for a good many years.

I am worried some of the younger generation are not taking the water shortage seriously, so I thought I might tell you how water was used when I was young.

Water was either drawn from a well or the village pump and getting it was very hard work. It was icy cold, crystal clear and beautiful.

Apart from the household chores quite a bit was needed for the weekly wash. This we boiled up in a copper heated with wood gathered from the surrounding countryside.

Some of the water would be saved and, in a tin bath placed in front of the kitchen fire, members of the family would have what they called a "wash-me-down" (helped along by a bar of strong-smelling carbolic soap).

Next, the privy at the bottom of the garden was scrubbed out and this was followed by the cobbled bricks surrounding the yard.

Any water left was thrown over the garden and vegetable patch.

Water was treated with great respect and was never wasted.

It is a very precious commodity.

We cannot live without it.

-Name and address supplied