I HAVE just received two communications.

The first, from the Prime Minister’s Office, said: “It is clearly very wrong if customers such as faith buildings, community amateur sports clubs and Scout huts are facing hikes in their bills of several hundred per cent”, as a result of the local water company charging for surface water drainage.

The second was Consett Methodist Church’s water bill from Northumbrian Water. It was 896 per cent higher (yes, that’s nine times higher) than in 2006 when Northumbrian Water introduced this charge.

I have written to Northumbrian Water, the Prime Minister and my local MP, Hilary Armstrong, to see what they can sort out between them. I’ll let you know the response. – Owen Temple, Consett.