15 MAY 2004, Page 95

Q. There may be another way for your correspondent (1

May) to get back at the affluent Notting Hill banker with the perpetual builders. It would require the co-operation of the builders themselves, but this should be possible with /20 notes or whatever else it might take. After their allegiance is assured, your correspondent should buy a powerful radio, operable by remote control, set it at a station of choice and arrange for it to be built deep within the fabric of the house. Your correspondent can then enjoy annoying the offending neighbours by remotely activating the radio at any time he likes, turning the volume way up, then right off again. Of course the downside of this is that after the neighbours have finally identified where the bloody thing is they will have to have the builders back to get it out.

P.S., Eliot A. Thank you for this stimulating idea.