TEMPTATION is all around you in the supermarket aisles. Just ask any shopper on a diet.

Even after you have spurned the siren call of the sticky bun, and survived the moral minefield of the organic/cheap vegetable displays, there's that smug little urge to smirk at the purchases of those piggier than thou.

But do not despair. Help may soon be at hand to stop your minor domestic over toothpaste from descending into full-blown trolley rage.

York's Asda is looking for a store chaplain to dispense spiritual healing among the baked beans. The Monks Cross supermarket is scouring the city for the right person to join their ranks of shelf-stackers, check-out assistants and customer service advisors.

The willing individual will be asked to give one or two hours a week to work at the store offering a friendly ear and helpful advice. A private interview room will be available for customers or workers who wish to take advantage of the advice from the chaplain in relation to more personal matters.

Supermaket events co-ordinator Maree Edgar said the role would also give the chaplain an opportunity to meet members of his or her congregation in a less formal environment. She said the "friendly-shoulder" resource will be on offered to people who wish to talk about anything ranging from straight-forward issues to more serious matters such as relationship problems.

She added: "The in-store chaplain role has proved very successful in a number of other stores. The job is certainly not about preaching, the chaplains have a very low presence and are just there to chat or listen to customers and colleagues, whatever their faith."

Martin Sheppard, of the York Diocese, said some companies and industrial groups had chaplains who performed important and respected work.

Anyone wishing to apply for the role should write to Maree Edgar, ASDA, Monks Cross, Jockey Lane, York, YO32 9LF.

Updated: 11:19 Tuesday, November 05, 2002