STILL with excessive political correctness, a York doctor is claiming that a road sign demeans old people.

Dr Richard Gale says the sign implies that bent backs and walking sticks are part of advancing age. While bowing to Dr Gale's superior medical knowledge, we suggest that this is often the case.

The road sign is not designed as an exercise in rebranding the third age. It is a deliberate caricature to draw drivers' attention to the fact that older people could be crossing ahead.

We are not convinced that a silhouette of two roller-blading pensioners exchanging a high-five would do the trick.

Updated: 10:04 Friday, December 19, 2003