I AM not sure the altruistic, almost saintly way that Mick Waddington was described is entirely appropriate ('Seller told house raffle is illegal', August 5).

If my maths are correct, selling 250 tickets at £1,000 each will make him £250,000. Not a bad profit margin on a house valued at only £190,000. I am sure we could all find do something selfless for poor first-time buyers if someone gave us £60,000 to do it.

Nigel Ayre,

Galtres Road,

Heworth,

York.

Updated: 08:44 Saturday, August 07, 2004