BY WAY of derivation from A Bridge Too Far, a visit to the supermarket gave me food for thought on the rise of do-it-yourself checkouts.

With unemployment among school leavers still a bone of contention, a return to full customer relationships by staffing all checkouts would be an advantage.

Shopping is stressful enough without being verbally assaulted by a machine barking orders reminiscent of a prisoner-of-war camp commandant. Would the dulcet tones of Vera Lynn be more appropriate, without wartime ration books?

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.