WE know we all have to be careful and, yes, health and safety departments are needed, but it seems that the country is going way over the top.

Last week I called Darlington council as a wasp nest needed to be cleared from the roof of my house.

Even though I pay £113 a month council tax, I was still informed it would cost me £62 to get it cleared.

I went ahead with the transaction as the safety of my family comes first.

At 5pm a gentleman arrived from a private company and subsequently sprayed the nest, all done in about 20 minutes.

Great job and superb service.

But I was informed by the contractor that the council workers would not come to my property as health and safety would not allow them to climb ladders which was needed to spray the nest. What a joke!

Also he told me that if I had gone to him direct it would have only cost £40, so the council made £22 out of me for passing my details on.

You could say I was stung by the council and not the wasps!

Scott Thornberry, Darlington.