OUR Save Terry's crusade has reached royalty.

The Prince of Wales feels deeply about the impact of the planned closure of the factory, the Diary has learned.

After reading about the Prince's fondness for Chocolate Oranges, we sent one to him at Clarence House. Enclosed was a letter outlining how Kraft Foods were proposing to axe Terry's and details of our campaign to overturn that decision.

The reply on behalf of the Prince by his deputy private secretary Elizabeth Buchanan was swift, impressive and - as we mentioned yesterday - confidential.

But we have been in touch with Miss Buchanan again and she has allowed us to reproduce part of her reply.

It begins: "The Prince of Wales has asked me to thank you most warmly for your letter of 25th May about the closure of Terry's factory in York.

"His Royal Highness can well understand why this decision is causing such anxiety in York and he does feel deeply for those affected, which presumably means not only the 316 families affected directly by the closure but the dairy farming community which supplies the milk to the factory."

There are then some details which remain confidential, but we can reveal the handwritten PS: "The Prince of Wales was most touched to receive the Chocolate Orange, which has been put to the best possible use."

WE have received notice of another York eyesore, to pass on to the erstwhile Rainbow Peace Hotel squatters, who are looking for a new target after their exploits at the White Swan Hotel, Piccadilly, last year.

John Robson, of Dringthorpe Road, York, writes with admirable conciseness.

"Once a fine building, Stubbs, near Foss Bridge, is well on the way to becoming an eyesore, if it is not one already."

Do you have a York eyesore to nominate? Contact us at the addresses below.

PRACTICAL jokers should head to Kennedy's on Little Stonegate, official bar of the York Comedy Festival.

Fans of the Beano and Dandy are playing a host of tricks on unsuspecting customers, the Diary learns: fake dog poo, bangers in cigarettes, whoopee cushions, vile sweets and itching powder included. No one dare leave anything lying around in case it gets fiddled with.

On Monday night a more original comic caper was born: porn origami. Festival officials supplied the necessary stationery, and revellers fashioned a variety of private parts from paper. Brings new meaning to the term centrefold.

THAT'S enough smut. Yorkshire folk think more about housework than sex while showering, according to the latest release from the Institute Of Pointless Surveys. Our favoured showering partners are Kylie for men and Robbie Williams for women, who also consider Ant & Dec better than Russell Crowe in the soap and sponge stakes. Take three people into the shower..?

FINALLY, as promised, the winner of our RailFest caption competition. Well done to Andrew Jenkinson, of Heworth, York, who thinks that in the picture on the right. Sir Richard Branson is saying: "So this is the new experimental Scottish breathalyser?"

If you could give us a ring, Andrew, we'll sort out your prize.

Updated: 10:42 Wednesday, June 09, 2004