SPECTATOR is still not quite sure what they're doing on the islands in the middle of Darlington's ring road - but he knows what they've done.

Contractors seem to have felled several of the trees which brought a little bit of relief to the dreary dual carriageway.

Long before the borough council became "In Bloom" obsessed, Darlington was noted for its trees which lined so many routes into town.

With the council chopping down some magnificent specimens along Carmel Road and doing its best to kill off the rest by putting tarmac right up to the trunks, the victims of the recent gales and now this, that reputation is rapidly fading.

Sausage dog spared

SPECTATOR'S driving instruction involving a tough nut tutor whose approach resembled that of a regimental sergeant major included emergency stops, usually in case a child dashed out from behind a parked vehicle.

Nobody ever mentioned leadless dachshunds, an insolent example of which brazenly trotted out in front of Spectator's car as he drove out of Darlington along Parkside the other afternoon.

Sausage dog owner, where were you as Spectator slammed on the brakes with only inches to spare?

Bitter taste

The worst cup of coffee in the world? Perhaps not, but it was pretty awful and at £2.50 something akin to highway robbery.

Where was Spectator? A certain household name caf in Northallerton High Street which has recently relocated to a former bank. Any more clues needed?

I should have complained, of course, and sent the bitter, burnt- tasting cappuccino back. No doubt it would have been replaced.

Shame on Spectator, readers might say for being intimidated by the company's reputation and the hushed and reverent atmosphere of the new premises. We wouldn't want to cause a scene, would we?

Be quick

CARE about Darlington? Want a word on a new development? Dash to the town hall as soon as you have finished this alert. There you will find an exhibition of the four proposals for developing Commercial Street.

Be quick, because the exhibition is in its third and final day. Three days for the public to have a say seems a tad tardy. Anyone living and working in the town and paying attention perhaps squeezed ten minutes out of a lunch hour or between commitments. Anyone working out of town had no chance.

Poor service for those who care.