THE Evening Standard has been given away free, but it is impossible to obtain a copy unless one is prepared to make a 20-minute return walk to a Tube station.

Just now I have tried four shops: Foodland in Finborough Road, another shop at the junction of Warwick Road SW10/Old Brompton Road SW10; another a few doors away on Old Brompton Road and a fourth on Earl's Court Road near the junction with Old Brompton Road.

They all usually have 20-30 copies of the Standard for sale.

I thought that the aim of making the Standard free was to increase circulation. How do you increase circulation by cutting off supplies to the shops in this area?

I am a 72-year-old pensioner and I am not prepared to make a 20-minute return walk to Earl's Court Tube to obtain a copy, every weekday. There are many other elderly neighbours who I have seen buying the Standard in this area who will now have a similar difficulty.

Moreover, I was completely unable to contact a human being at the Standard offices to complain. After repeated phone calls I was given a number to complain, 0800 141 2629, but a recorded message said that service was not available.

MICHAEL FERNANDO

SW10