NO wonder athletics is a minority sport. Has anyone tried to buy a pair of spikes in the area?

Colleague Rob Johnson, who has just taken up the sport, was in desperate need and tried finding a pair in the town this week. It's an impossibility.

I'm told by Leigh Harriers that the nearest place they can buy them is ex-Olympic marathon man Ron Hill's shop in Hyde. That is some car run away.

Though the footy season is over there's a wealth of boots on show in local sports shops. It's about time they catered for athletes as their season comes into full swing?

It's always been the same. When I was running, and that's 40 years ago, I had to go to St Helens or Manchester for equipment and it cost an arm and a leg. I thought things might have improved since then, but how wrong I was.

PS: Rob bought some in Leeds!