A NEW concept in supermarket shopping has arrived. Four self-service checkouts at which customers can scan and pay for their own goods came in to operation at a local branch of Tesco.

What with the introduction of super dispensers to replace corner shops, and now this, staff are going to become a thing of the past. I certainly hope not, I prefer personal service any time.

If this spread of impersonal service continues lonely people will have no-one to speak to. For many a shopping trip is the only communication they have.

Small shops like Elaine's in Leigh have regular visitors who drop in every week just for a chinwag and though they're not necessarily buying they're made welcome.

That's what we need more of -- not less.