ONLY a day old, and already the Diary has made its first appointment. We've really hit the ground walking.

Step forward our new fashion correspondent, Anne McIntosh. The Vale of York Tory MP who very nearly upstaged the Queen in her dazzling outfit for the State Opening of Parliament has agreed to give Diary readers some Trinny and Susannah-style advice on a regular basis.

Anne revealed that her outfit - a mustard yellow dress, tights with one yellow and one black leg and matching hat - had been in her wardrobe for some years before making headlines on Wednesday.

No famous designers were involved in the ensemble, although the tights came from Sock Shop. Anne has two other pairs, in black and red and white and black. These, she promises, will be seen on a suitable occasion soon.

But if you can't wait, get along to the Commons today. She has promised to wear her Paisley pattern tights for Scottish Questions.

She believes that the Labour Party does not enter into ceremonial occasions such as the State Opening, so the dressing up is left to the Lords and Ladies. "Some were wearing tiaras, which I must admit I don't possess," Anne said.

On our behalf, she has promised to give some thought to what to wear to Christmas parties, and it won't be that old staple, the little black dress.

"I always believe, dress for the weather. I must say, black sleeveless dresses are pretty inappropriate for Yorkshire in winter."

What will Anne recommend? Watch this space...

THE Diary's top five York eyesores:

1 Westgate flats

2 Ryedale House

3 Layerthorpe

4 The "Megazone" building on Piccadilly

5 Mike Laycock's desk

More suggestions gratefully received.

WE feel compelled to throw the Diary's considerable journalistic weight behind Anthony Dew's battle with Brussels. As reported last week, Mr Dew's Rocking Horse Shop at Fangfoss could be closed down by a new European rule banning "rocking activity toys" which are higher than about two feet.

Mr Dew told the Diary: "It seems like an example of Euro lunacy that ought to be jumped on.

"What are these people doing? Don't they have brains?

"If there had been a long string of children falling off and doing themselves untold damage or dying, I could understand it.

"But the last time a child got killed falling off a rocking horse is kind of never."

It's an outrage. Rally round the rocking horses, everyone. We must stop them going to the EU knacker's yard. Otherwise, what next? A ban on space hoppers? Tiggy-off-ground outlawed?

SPOTTED on the latest City Screen, York, mailing list... "Sunday's Matinee at 1pm - Pirates Of The Caribbean (12A). Contains moderate horror and action violence. Sea above for synopsis."

THE Diary has the misfortune to cast a sore eye over the so-called national press every now and again. It is always shocking to see how London-centric these titles are.

A recent example caught our eye. "As we all know," wrote Diana Athill in the Guardian last month, "when one calls a bank nowadays to scream at it, all one gets is an addled teenager in some remote northern city who twitters these dreadful words 'Bear with me'."

Ms Athill, one has forgotten one is writing for a newspaper sold across Britain, hasn't one? Mind you, 'appen most of us residents of t'remote northern cities have never heard of t'telephone.

If you spot anything similar, we'd love to see it. In fact, any gossip, jokes, rants, pictures gratefully received. Also ideas for the name of the Diary are sought, with glittering prizes available. Contact details below.

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337.

Updated: 09:41 Tuesday, December 02, 2003