OH dear, oh dear... another fine mess I have got myself into!

My letter regarding next year’s census has caused quite a stir.

May I apologise to the Oxford Mail for the rollicking it received from some jobsworth with no sense of humour at the Office of National Statistics, for printing my letter.

Many, many people have spoken to me regarding my letter and fully agree that the census will in no way reveal a true record of the population of this country and that the millions of pounds the census will cost, could be better spent in these times of savage cuts in the welfare system.

However, they like I, will fill in the census form as we are all aware that we are required to do so by law.

They disagree that I was encouraging people to break the law as stated by the ONS.

I have been a law-abiding citizen all my life and my only crime, if any, is my wicked sense of humour.

So suggesting that people may like to “chuck their forms in their nice blue wheelie bins” was a joke.

In any case, judging by the size of the form in 2001, it would not fit in my wheelie bin – what with it being full to the brim with recycling matter.

Oops! There I go again, sorry!

MICHAEL CLARKE, Lewell Avenue, Old Marston, Oxford