THE think tank which named 1976 as the best year on record has certainly started a debate.

Some men go all misty-eyed recalling that sweltering summer when every page of the Press carried a picture of girls in hotpants. Others say it was a terrible year, full of strikes, inflation and unemployment. So the Diary checked out the stories from the Evening Press in March 1976 to see who was right. Our reports included:

Barratts the builders crowing that their brand new homes were selling fast although "more of these houses are going to Leeds than to York buyers"

A report which began: "New traffic controls in York would be fatal to the city's stores and shopkeepers, it was claimed today"

A study urging that Haxby railway stationed be reopened for commuters

A rate rise, sparking a row at the Guildhall

A spate of vandalism and anti-social behaviour by disaffected youths

York City struggling near the bottom of the table

A train being delayed for more than an hour at York Station

Coun Steve Galloway being quoted virtually every other day.

So 1976 was not better or worse than 2004. It was exactly the same.

THE Evening Press's reputation for incisive analysis also stretches all the way back to 1976.

"Harold shows no signs at 60 of taking a back seat" went the headline in our About Politics column on March 11.

Prime Minister Harold Wilson, the column predicted, would stay in office for at least a year. Five days later the front page was dominated by two words: "Wilson Resigns".

IN our budget coverage yesterday Chris Jones, president of York University Students' Union, said: "I don't drink or smoke and I'm in favour of seeing increased taxation on cigarettes or alcohol." Go for it Chris, you're really reflecting campus opinion there...

WITH its permanent sale Allied Carpets has always been keen to do you a deal. But this is ridiculous.

The sign, at Allied Carpets' store in York, was spotted by our photographer Frank Dwyer.

As a business plan, we have to say it is floored. As a prank, it made us smile.

But will the culprit be carpeted?

THE Diary is taken to task today in the letters section by Heworth ward Councillor Ruth Potter for reprinting a jokey news story which supposedly brings Tang Hall into disrepute.

We are sorry if we have caused any offence, and say in our defence that we obtained our copy from a Tang Hall resident who thought it was hilarious.

An email on the same subject crashes into our inbox. "Oi you," it begins. "If you imply that I sell bent ciggies once more then I'll come round there and break your akey breaky legs.

"And it wasn't Kavos it was Corfu -Tommo, Good Bargain Lane, Tang Hall."

All we can do is apologise, Tommo. Any chance of your laying your hands on 200 Regal king size?

HATS off to Fleet Street's fleet-footed finest. On Wednesday, the Guardian's so-called diary reported Prince Andrew's complaint in Thirsk that it was "unacceptable" for the police to be wearing the national uniform rather than a formal tunic for his visit.

That was followed-up yesterday by a page lead in the Daily Mail on the same subject. All this, a mere 12 days after we reported the story.

Updated: 10:27 Friday, March 19, 2004