STARBUCKS has just published its pre-tax UK profits which apparently fell by 61 per cent in the past year.

To what do they attribute this dramatic fall? Yes, they have jumped on the bandwagon and blame it on the effect of the Brexit vote on consumer confidence. Apparently, we are all so anxious as consumers that we have stopped drinking coffee.

Could the actual reason be that as discerning consumers we have decided to choose from the huge variety of alternative providers who charge less than an extortionate £4 for the privilege of drinking a glass of latte.

Wake up Starbucks and smell the (expensive) coffee.

John Crick, Bishop Auckland