ALTHOUGH I live 20 miles from Winchester, I regularly visit the Theatre Royal.

It was extremely disappointing to find that no-one answered the box office telephone on Monday. I rang many times between 10am and 12.30pm but the phone was left ringing or I got the engaged tone (presumably because others were trying to book seats as well).

This is hardly the way to encourage people to continue to support the theatre - especially those who live some distance away and have to rely on booking seats by phone.

CAROLE A PARSONS, Horndean.