AN advertisement in the Worcester Journal for this week 200 years ago tickled my sense of humour and is certainly worth quoting in full.

Published in June 1803, it read: "Tennent, Ladies Stay and Corset Maker of No.8 Goose Lane, Worcester" (now St Swithin's Street) "begs leave to return his sincere thanks to those Ladies of the City of Worcester and its environs who have been pleased to favour him with their commands, and he hopes by a strict attention to business to merit their future favours.

"Tennent will be happy to submit to their inspection a newly created Stay particularly adapted for Ladies inclinable to be lusty, also several new improvements to the corset, much approved of by the ladies in London and Bath, from whence he has just returned. Mrs Tennent will attend Ladies in their own houses with the above for their inspection."