30 APRIL 2005, Page 50

Q. Your recent (16 April) reference to ‘using the loo’

dealt with an important problem, particularly to those of us who enjoy the doubtful privilege of using the Kent trains, which are regularly marked by the local pond life who revel in trashing anything clean or orderly, while exhibiting a dire disregard for hygiene. On these occasions I find the sad but accurate comment ‘I warn you — it’s pretty disgusting in there’ to the waiting travellers is both accurate and selfexculpatory.

Col J., East Kent A. Thank you for this useful tip.