SIR - As the cost of the 2012 Olympics climbs from its convenient' low estimate of £3bn, just imagine how much more it will absorb in the remaining six years.

Ken Livingstone, right, has rightly set a limit on how much Londoners will pay, so who's going to fund the rest of this junket? Well, if we're not careful, it's you and me, and I'm not that keen.

So, to avoid more stealth taxes going to support this East End drug-fest, let's encourage as many running-jumping-throwing' fans as possible to buy all the Lottery tickets they can afford.

As the Lottery is the Rescue Fund of Last Resort' for this farce, then with lots of cash in the pot, the bills could be paid without more of our taxes going to subsidise it.

Regrettably, genuine good causes will suffer as Lottery cash is withdrawn to meet inflated Olympic invoices but, if enough tickets are sold, then this damage may be limited.

We can't stop this fanciful juggernaut now, there are too many egos on board, but at least we can try to ensure that we realists don't have to fund it.

Graham Hoyle, Kirkbourne Grove, Baildon