WITH competition for town centre trade intensifying daily, customers are bombarded with all kinds of offers to persuade them to part with their money.

Yates's Wine Lodge came up with the idea of a money-back guarantee if meals were not served within a 15-minute deadline.

Nothing wrong with that - a guarantee of quick service or a free meal is sure to lure a fair proportion of diners.

But a promise is a promise, and Yates's failed to keep it. When a customer complained that she'd waited longer than 15 minutes for her meal, staff in Middlesbrough told her the offer didn't apply when the restaurant was busy.

Trading standards officers were also told it was hard cheese when a £3.50 cheeseburger was six minutes late.

We welcome the prosecution brought by consumer watchdogs because it sends a clear message that retailers cannot be rash with claims aimed at enticing customers.

Yates's appear to have learned their lesson the hard way - businesses everywhere will do well to take note.

Time to talk

IT is a fact of modern-day life that an increasing number of marriages hit problems.

Often, they are insurmountable and divorce is the only option. But sometimes there is hope - if couples are given the right guidance.

Relate is a valuable service which has helped countless marriages to survive, and news that it is being forced to withdraw from our region will be met with sadness.

The timing is particularly bad because Christmas is traditionally a time when domestic stresses reach their peak and support is needed most.

It is to be hoped that a way can be found of replacing a service which will be greatly missed.

Clutching Straws

WHAT was Jack Straw thinking of when he suggested that a British football team would stand a better chance of winning trophies?

It's hard enough to think of world-class English players. It's even harder to come up with names of Scottish, Welsh, or Irish players who might make the grade, apart from Ryan Giggs of Manchester United.

Stick to running the criminal justice system, Mr Straw. With a Swede in charge of our national team, we're all confused enough as it is.