I have abided by the hosepipe ban, imposed by Thames Water, for two months or so and have consoled myself that I am doing my bit towards staving off a complete ban, should it be necessary.

Imagine my dismay, however, when I cycled past Ridgeway VW garage in Wantage and saw staff generously hosing down a new car without any restraint whatsoever.

How can it be right that I wash my car fortnightly using a watering can while they daily wash the cars on their forecourt?

I suppose that as they pay higher water rates than me, they feel entitled to use as much as they like, but I hardly think that's fair.

I realise that some businesses need to use hosepipes flower nurseries but when business comes over and above the domestic consumer, it's not right.

The same goes for garage car washes and jet washes.

Why couldn't Thames Water exclude certain businesses when it applied for the banning order, or was it afraid that they would ask for their rates to be reduced and its already obscene profits would be reduced.

Come on, Thames Water, how about running water for all of us, instead of just your shareholders?

Andy Shaw, Woodhill Drive, Grove