· You don't want one. A hotel in Budapest bears concealed scorch marks on its parquet due to husband parking still-connected heater while arguing with son. A hotel in Majorca only escaped conflagration due to its tiny current: heater left on throughout dinner. Both before we had a single drink.

Since then we have logged other immersion users forgetfulness: a hole with molten edges under a toothpaste mug here, a scorched chest-of drawers there.

People accustomed to self-switching off kettles should buy a small one of these and escape immolation.
Margaret Squires

· I bought mine recently from a local independent electrical shop who are willing to supply by post. They cost about £12 each plus p&p. Call Royston Electrical, 01763 244114
Emma Windred

· In answer to Elizabeth Bigg's search for a heater suitable for boiling mugs of water: I have just bought one from Robert Dyas (the hardware chain). It costs £13, and is a quality product made in Germany.

Dyas have a website (www.robertdyas.co.uk) but I couldn't find the item on-line.
Chris Keenan

· I have had a Pifco Mini Boiler for many years and find it extremely useful as it boils a mug full of water in only 3 minutes. I cannot remember when I bought it so it may no longer be available but it's worth a try. The whole thing fits neatly into its cardboard box which is about a 4 ins. cube. Apart from that you just need a suitable mug to go with it.

The address on the leaflet with it is:
Pifco Ltd., Failsworth, Manchester.

The phone no. is given as 061 681 8321, though that should now be 0161 681 8321.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Jenny Potts

· We got our small immersion heater for heating a mug of water in a shop at Heathrow, Terminal 1.
Natalie Pugh

· These immersion heaters are dangerous, which is why they have (rightly) disappeared from the market. I set a towel alight with one, thoughtlessly removing it from a beaker and putting it down without first disconnecting it.

However, if she can accept a slight difference, there is an acceptable substitute. Philips make (made?) something that they call a Travel Duo (HD 4372), which does the job that she requires. Its main cleverness lies in the way in which a jug, two cups, a coffee filter and some small containers for teabags, coffee powder, sugar etc. all package into one another to form a very compact unit. Electrically, it's a 400 W jug-type water heater, with the electric element built into the bottom, and complete with a neon indicator.
Neil Muir

· I think they have stopped selling them because they are inherently dangerous. Try looking for a small kettle instead.

Alternatively, if you find your hotel doesn't provide a kettle in your room, ask for one, or purchase one in the resort then give it to your chambermaid at the end of the holiday.
Ray Booth.