BASIC D-I-Y instruction for simple repairs in the home should be introduced as part of the school curriculum to enable children become more confident and competent in tackling tasks such as fixing leaking taps, siphons in toilet cisterns and faulty locks

BASIC D-I-Y instruction for simple repairs in the home should be introduced as part of the school curriculum to enable children become more confident and competent in tackling tasks such as fixing leaking taps, siphons in toilet cisterns and faulty locks and switches at home in their adult years.

Local councils could play an active part in fostering such a scheme.

A great many people today are being fleeced by cowboy builders and dodgy repair firms simply because the trend has moved away from children in their youth being taught D-I-Y at home by their parents and grandparents although there is no denying the fact that a plethora of D-I-Y programmes on television cater to a growing fan base.

D-I-Y know-how at home used to be passed on from generation to generation - and quite often used to act as the first stepping stone to guiding our youth to an apprenticeship of their choice. Sadly this is no longer the case. But it is not just schoolchildren who would benefit from such a scheme as adults from all walks of life could benefit if a D-I-Y Apprenticeship School could provide live demonstrations and instructions on how to tackle simple DIY jobs.

Islington Council could be the first to pioneer such a scheme by opening a "Dick Whittington D-I-Y Apprenticeship School" for schoolchildren and the public in Archway which is a very busy area and covers a large catchment area for schools.

- Walter Roberts, Henfield Close, N19