From Carol Baily

SIR. I cycle to work in Kingston on a regular basis, and have done so for the past four years.

Usually I lock my bike at work. Yesterday, however, I decided to go to the gym and shower before going into work. I locked my bike to the cycle rack outside Hair Associates on Wood Street, close to Holmes Place.

I left the bike there at about 9.15am, went to work, and returned at 3.30pm to collect the bike only to find that it and the bike lock had been stolen. It also appeared as though quite a few bikes had been taken, because the whole run of bike racks was empty.

When I went to the police station to report the theft, I was told that Wood Street is a common place for bike theft.

If this is so, and the police and council know about the problem, why is there no CCTV in this area? The police clerk just shrugged.

I lost a £400 bike and, although the police were very kind and pleasant, there is not much they can or will do. Surely, two or three CCTV cameras located on the John Lewis and Bentall Centre buildings would not be that expensive?

I intend to contact the chief executive of the council and the superintendent of the police.

CAROL BAILY West Molesey