I am English and have lived in Malta for 14 years. Recently I needed to contact the British High Commission as my passport expires towards the end of this year as I also needed some papers to be countersigned for my bank in the UK.

When I mentioned that I was going to contact the High Commission about these matters to a Scottish friend of mine he gave me a cheeky grin and said “good luck”. I now know why.

I started by phoning the High Commission to see if I could sort out any problems that way. All I got was a machine continually telling me to push this button and then an­other one. It appeared to be impossible to speak to a person. I wasn’t even able to ask what time the offices were open.

The next day I went to High Commission where I was told I wouldn’t be able to see anybody as it does not open on Wednesdays and it is only open from 9am to 1pm. I was then told that if I need­ed to renew my passport I could be given a website address and I would have to deal with it myself.

I went back the following day and on the way I met an English friend of mine and explained what I was up to. She said that I was wasting my time as when she had gone there for some guidance she was simply told to look at the website.

The person on ‘door duty’ asked me what I wanted and I mentioned the form that I needed to be countersigned for my bank. He asked if this was for a passport – they obviously don’t have anything to do with passports.

I explained that it wasn’t and I was allowed to speak to another member of staff, by phone. I was told that they “no longer offer this service”. I did ask what services they do offer these days but received no reply.

I have since had the forms countersigned by my cheerful Maltese bank manager and am being helped by a young Maltese friend with my passport application. I would also point out that I am in my mid-70s and officially registered as disabled so just going backwards and forwards to Whitehall Mansions is not easy.

I certainly feel that Malta does not need a British High Commission. The British government would do better to close it and put the money saved into the National Health Service. It could also put a notice in the local press giving its website address for anyone who needs help.