Illustration by John Sadler www.johnsadlerillustration.com 

• WITH another heatwave forecast, may I suggest that our privatised water companies deploy their chronic incompetence in stopping leaks to the public benefit.

On two occasions in north London in past years I have been soaked after a mains burst. In one case the resulting spout shot more than 50 feet into the air drenching members of the public across a wide area. The trouble was that this happened in November and it was not a pleasant experience!

Surely by identifying just some of the hundreds of mains leaks that they shamefacedly admit to, they could keep at least some of us cool if the temperature starts to head towards to high 30 degrees centigrade.

Remember in the films how the kids in New York danced and splashed happily under the gushing water from street fire hydrants? Let’s have some of that!

FW ANDERSON, NW3