THE modern term for it is retail therapy - and judging by our front page report today, Worcester is rapidly becoming a centre of excellence as far as this form of life-enhancing treatment is concerned.

Of course, many of you will know it as just plain old shopping. So hang on to your carrier bag handles, citizens of the Faithful City - the good news is that this particular pursuit has improved more than any other aspect of Worcester life over the last three years. But don't just take our word for it - this is actually your verdict.

Worcester City Council conducted a survey and this was the main statistic that emerged. Of course, this newspaper is overjoyed by the revelation that the High Street and its environs has proved so attractive to the consumer. We did have some reservations about the renaming of the historic Lich Gate area "Cathedral Plaza", but that apart, it does appear that this city really seems to have produced a winning combination of chainstore and smaller, independent operators.

Elsewhere, the survey deals with other pressing matters, with litter, parking facilities and the ever-present problem of traffic congestion coming top of people's concerns. However, we're also happy to say that the council is currently taking steps to address these issues.

The Worcester News is not always in favour of surveys, believing that actions are invariably better than words. Nevertheless, in this case, it does appear that the right combination of the two is proving highly beneficial for our city.