A WORRYING aside in the lengthy Countryside Commission report on the state of rural economy dwelt on the apparent conundrum about the effect of the foot-and-mouth crisis on the overall economy. Despite the economic slowdown the nation has kept on spending

Estimates vary quite widely on the impact on the nation's ability to produce goods and services but one thing has been clear throughout the crisis - the spending spree has continued.

Overall retail spending and the amount of consumer credit has continued to grow through the early part of this year but, crucially for rural areas, where that spending has taken place has shifted.

Shoppers appear to have spent more time and money in out-of-town shopping centres and city centres and away from market towns in the countryside. Small towns are going to have work even harder to woo their customers back.

What a wheeze

We could all do with an easy life, one with a disclaimer telling the world at large we're not responsible for words, actions, thoughts or anything else we choose.

However in the real world, responsibility has a way of getting in the way - if you allow it, that is.

Transco, the firm which gets the gas from terminals to homes, is busy in Darlington doing maintenance work and has warned householders gas supplies may be temporarily cut off. When the workmen have finished, the supply will be restored and a safety check carried out.

If the safety check fails, the workers will carry out repairs. BUT, if the repair requires more than 30 minutes' work, the householder will be told to contact a registered installer who will charge. So, if things are not well after the maintenance, the bill has to be footed by the user.

It can only be hoped other powerful bodies don't hear about it the wheeze.

Well done

Fortune thankfully smiled on the Northallerton bank holiday carnival last weekend. The reprieved event, at which Spectator has been regular attendee in the past, went ahead in brilliant sunshine.

It very nearly didn't take place at all as the volunteers needed to keep the Applegarth fun and games going were hard to come by.

All credit then to Mr John Coulson, the main organiser, for, with others, taking the initiative earlier this year and making sure the many charities who had benefited from previous events would do so again.