LIKE many young people I ignored advice not to wear winkle-pickers, stilettoes and high platforms, and boy am I paying for it.

I have always loved shoes and even as a child when I had my feet measured under Fairclough's magic x-ray machine I pulled my toes back so the black patent leather pair I wanted looked big enough for me to grow into.

As a result of the lack of TLC through the teenage years I now have bursa joints (like bunions), weak ankles and thick layers of hard skin! In fact I'm accused of having feet like two rusty shovels.

How I wish I'd followed the good advice to wear 'sensible' shoes and save the high heels for special occasions.

As part of its Feet First winter awareness campaign which runs until January 10 the Arthritis Research Campaign is stressing that bad shoes can even cause back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee in later life.

The charity says nine out of 10 women wear shoes that are two small for them, and until recently I was one. Because I wore a size 5 for most of my adult life I always thought I was that size until I couldn't cram my feet in any more. Now I'm comfy in a 7.

ARC is suggesting that women should keep the size of the heel down to two inches where possible and people of all ages should wear trainers which provide excellent cushioning and support.

Don't heed this advise and by the age of 60 you could be one of the 70 per cent of women who suffer osteoarthritis in their plates!

How I wish I'd taken notice.