AS the major chocolate-eating festival of the year approaches we must spare a thought for those who have had too much to eat over the last 12 months.

Our supermarkets are set to make a killing (no pun intended) with cut-price deals. Typically a 3lb tin will cost around £5 and be equivalent to approximately three days of our calorific requirements. These will usually be stacked high near the purveyors entrance for maximum hypnotic effect. Our obesity epidemic could well do without the thoughtless exchange of these unwanted (but nevertheless consumed "just because it was there") calorie bombs.

A tasteful (not tasty) card with a personal message would in most cases be much more appreciated and remembered.

David Walker,

91 Adele Street, Motherwell.