I'VE come to the decision that I must stop reading Mel Stride's benchmark column. He seems to have a way of winding me up!

Last week he brought to our notice that the average wage in Devon is £25,000. Try telling that to all the people of Okehampton who lost their job in the last few years. If they were lucky enough to find work most of them are now on minimum wages.

Maybe he'd like to stand outside the foodbank in town and tell people to get on their bike! Somehow I don't think he'd be there very long.

Saying all this, I just wonder how local pensioners might feel after reading his column. Most of us have to manage on less than £8,000 . . . Please don't get me started!

David Luckhurst

Okehampton