SIR: Two weekend evenings in succession I have shopped in Tesco in Easton Lane, and been treated with complete disrespect by the checkout staff.

Last weekend when I reached the checkout, there sat a young lad , looking bored and chamming chewing gum in a most off putting manner.

This lad managed to serve me, without once either looking at me, or speaking a single word to me, as he shoved my shopping along to where I waited. When it came to paying, he sat there with his head down and gave me the receipt without so much as a nod or thank you.

This evening was the turn of a young girl to try out her practiced rudeness on me. She spoke not a word to me but began shoving my shopping along as fast as she could with her back almost turned on me, so that all the items were banging together as I tried to get them away as quickly as I could. When finished I waited to be told the amount I owed, but no, instead she glared at me and ordered me to "putcha clubcard in" which I did.

Finally, she pushed a receipt at me in her the dismissive manner she could muster, and squatted there impatiently, waiting for me to be gone. I did however challenge her about her rudeness and later, spoke to the duty manager who was very sympathetic and apologetic about the behaviour of the staff and assured me that they were trained to treat customers with respect. I did absolutely nothing at all to offend either of these checkout assistants except grow old and have grey hair. That's all it takes nowadays.

Daphne Dear,

Fairdown Close,

Winchester