CONSERVATIVES in the former Langbaurgh constituency of East Cleveland are pleased that their former MP Michael Bates has chosen "Langbaurgh" to be in his peerage title.

"It's nice for the name to be remembered because it is of great historical relevence," said Philip Thomson, a Tory councillor in Saltburn.

He added that it was disappointing the word was not kept in the boundary reshuffle of the 1990s.

He admitted it was difficult to pronounce.

"Langbarth" was correct and "Langbar" wrong.

The area's one-time Tory MP Richard Holt, now dead, used to joke that he was MP for the constituency with the unpronounceable name.

Maybe Lord Bates should have titled himself Lord Bates of Saltburn or Guisborough..

Philip Thomson has a vested interest in the word Langbaurgh as next Saturday he is taking part in a 38-mile sponsored walk known as the Langbaurgh Loop. He and Capt Mike Sellars, of Saltburn, devised the circular walk in 1986 and this is its 21st anniversary.

The whole walk is within the boundaries of the former Langbaurgh borough. Starting at Saltburn, it takes in Skinningrove, Newton under Roseberry, Eston Nab and New Marske. It's quite a challenge for a 65-year-old.

Maybe the current MP Ashok Kumar, who wrestled the seat from Lord Bates, might try it? He's known to be a keen beach walker.

Closed. Finally

IT IS with regret that we report that the everlasting closing down sale at McGurk Sports in Darlington's Horsemarket has finally come to, well, a close.

Regular readers will be familiar with Spectator's minor obsession with this shop and may be relieved that it is all over.

However, the confirmation that the premises is to be become yet another coffee emporium may give rise to another, chronicling the seemingly inexorable rise of coffee shops in the town. We suspect a similar exercise may prove fruitful in Northallerton too.

While on the subject of Darlington town centre, a little bit of good news in that Laura Ashley is to open one of its home stores in the town.

We got to know about it because the firm began advertising for staff. But just like Morrison's a few weeks earlier in Northallerton, it initially declined to confirm that it was opening a store, asking that we "sit on the story for a couple of weeks".

You may well ask if it matters that we are given the runaround by PR halfwits acting for their clients.

Perhaps it doesn't, but perhaps it also suggests a contemptuous attitude towards their customers.