RUN down cinemas used to be called "flea pits". But looking at our pictures of the inside of the York Odeon tonight, we are not sure if any self-respecting flea would wish to reside there.

Terrific to report that a sense of humour flourishes amid the grime, however.

The loos look so bad that even Kim and Aggie, of How Clean Is Your House fame, would probably recoil.

Apparently the walls were covered in thick, black grime above the filthy urinal where the tiles have come off. The cistern has an indefinable white substance dripping down it and the missing tiles were stacked up on the window sill.

We won't even mention the carpets.

Yet the toilet door which leads to this degradation bears a sign which reads: "First Choice Odeon. These toilets are checked regularly throughout the day. The management would be grateful if patrons would report any deficiency."

Our advice: if you are going to watch a horror film which is supposed to be bowel-looseningly terrifying, best consider another venue.

LIKE many York residents, Angie Hampton is worried about what is happening to the city.

Angie, of Hawthorne Grove, Heworth, has neatly summed up her concerns with an untitled poem. And here it is:

What is it that's going on that's so sinister?

Well they're talking of knocking down York Minster

To build housing that's affordable

Is it really so plausible?

York seems to have gone mad

Ruining this city - it's so sad

Terry's and the Barbican demolished

This strategy should be abolished.

Leave this pretty city alone we say

Us locals prefer to keep it THIS way.

ESTEEMED colleague Bill Hearld, who sits on top of me every Tuesday, headed off to a speaking engagement with a local WI branch last week. Needing directions, he phoned up the social secretary. "What are you talking about?" she asked him. "I'm only in charge of the bookings for 2005."

Turns out Bill was a year ahead of himself. "When I have got an appointment, I'd rather be early than late," he said.

LAST week a Royal Mail worker was spotted collecting the contents of a postbox in Huntington Road, York - in a plain white van.

Has the reputation of this once-great organisation sunk so low that beleaguered postal workers are being sent about their business in unmarked vehicles?

A COUPLE of weeks back, Yesterday Once More carried the fascinating story of the tin tabernacle village hall at Bishop Wilton.

Villagers are raising funds to replace the ageing structure, once a Methodist chapel in Sutton-on-Derwent.

We are pleased to report that the auction mentioned in that piece was well supported. It raised more than £2,200.

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, October 20, 2004