IT was a friendship which blossomed immediately - but almost as soon as they had found each other the pair were cruelly torn apart.

There are few bonds deeper than that forged between a follicly-challenged man and his favourite headgear.

It had been a phenomenon unknown to Scott Armstrong, head of content of The Press, until Friday night, when he was presented with a Russian-style hat at the opening of York's new Vodka bar Revolution.

Delighted he placed the furry headpiece upon his shiny pate and instantly the connection was forged. But, alas, it was not to last.

He said: "It was such a nice change to reach up and feel something there for once. It had been a while. After that, I was smitten and vowed the hat and I would never be separated.

"Sadly though, it being the opening of a vodka bar, I seemed to have got a little tired and emotional and left the apple of my hat-wearing eye in the taxi home.

"I can now only appeal to the good nature of cabbies across the city. If they have found something which resembles a wounded animal in the back of their cars, can they please not shoot it and instead phone me on 01904 567131."


Passport to free theatre show

This is the final call for all readers with the name Price. Your plane is ready to depart.

Well, maybe a free holiday would be stretching it slightly, but if your full name is Arthur Miller or your surname is Price, then turn up at York Theatre Royal with your passport next week and you'll be handed a freebie ticket.

There are no prizes for guessing what the production is... It's called The Price and it's written by American playwright Arthur Miller.

Set in the attic of a Manhattan building in 1968, the play is about a 90-year-old antiques dealer who finds himself in the middle of an uneasy reunion between two estranged brothers.

It will be performed by the internationally-acclaimed Compass Theatre Company, which is returning to York for the first time in nine years.

Performances run from Tuesday to Saturday next week, starting at 7.30pm.

Just turn up at the box office to claim your free ticket... and don't forget your passport.