NO amount of public relations spin concerning the reopening of the former Quality Fare store at Bedale under its new owner, United Co-operatives, could disguise the unfortunate reality in one case on the front line last Friday.

An older shopper with only two purchases was confronted by a surly check-out person and, under pressure from a customer behind who was in danger of mixing up their goods with his, was subjected to an unnecessarily hectoring lecture on the positioning of the "next customer" separator on the rolling carousel.

The shopper made it plain that he didn't welcome the attitude and vowed never to set foot in the place again.

He has a point. Good manners cost nothing, particularly on opening day after a £600,000 revamp accompanied by all the ballyhoo of balloons, ribbon cutting and special offers.

Over the top

The Christmas lights enthusiasm seems to be getting out of control. Almost every other house these days seems to be decked in ever-more novel forms of festive flashing lights. Clearly the fact that electricity prices are set to soar in the new year has not stopped people from investing in strings of lights to cover their homes and every prominent feature of their gardens.

Utterly grotesque is the 12-foot high Santa figure taking pride of place in one Darlington home's front garden on a main route out of town. What will they do with it after twelfth night? It certainly will not go in the garden shed.

Royal visitor?

Spectator understands that Bishopton is agog with rumours about a high-profile visitor when the South Durham Hunt holds its traditional Boxing Day meet in the village.

The Prince of Wales has been becoming increasingly vocal on the controversial issue of late and the word is that he has chosen the South Durham's meet to make a bit of a statement.

Prince Charles has been out with hunts in the North before, of course, but never the South Durham, Spectator understands.

If the rumour turns out to be true, riding out with a hunt on the Prime Minister's doorstep will be a highly political statement for the Prince to make.

By the seaside

We hope readers don't think there has been some photographic jiggery-pokery with the picture on the opposite page of the little boy playing in the sand in the middle of Darlington market place.

No, the seaside picture has not been superimposed on a picture of the Covered Market and the Town Clock. The picture was taken at one of the Darlington-by-the-Sea days organised by the borough council every summer when tons of sand are brought to the market place to recreate a seaside scene.