I AM sorry I caused John Lavender’s blood to boil (not literally, I hope) over my letter regarding the massive cost of our heroic athletes (HAS, Aug 19).

I plead guilty to his charge of envy but still fail to understand the sense in spending £½bn of taxpayers’ money on a sporting event when our vital public services are being lost through lack of funding.

My heart bleeds (not literally) for the athletes undertaking their punishing training schedules but I console myself that a lucrative advertising of TV contract awaits them at the end of their tough careers.

As I said, it’s a matter of financial priority in these austere times and comparing the cost of helping the less well off in our society with the cost of medals, my priorities are very different from Mr Lavender’s.

Must sign off now, I’m watching the important televised Olympic qualifiers for the Rio long-distance sack race finals.

Tom Newgate, Chilton