THE other day I was at the opticians when a young family entered the waiting area - a mother, father and young child in a buggy.

Without acknowledging anyone, the two adults starting to play with their mobile phones while the child watched CBeebies on a tablet which had been tied to the handle of his pushchair by a pair of tights.

A far cry from the 1940s when my dad sent me down to the shop to get the battery charged for our radio.

Everyone gathered around that at night to listen to Henry Hall's Guest Night or Much Binding in the Marsh.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.