Sir - I have just been refused insurance on a house by the Thames, on grounds of flood risk.

The information given to insurance companies appears to be wrong. At no time in the past 30 years has the level of the river in the city centre come higher than 90 cms below the embankment on the north side.

The floods have all been on the south side. Householders are faced with an anonymous adversary. Who makes these assessments, on what basis, and how can we defend ourselves against mistakes?

P J Stewart, Oxford