LAST Sunday I popped into one of Malvern's many supermarkets to buy some carrots.

On my way round I spotted a single parsnip rolling round the bottom of the parsnip crate so as I only had one at home which my daughter and I were going to have to share for our Sunday lunch, I bundled it into a bag and went to the checkout.

I was told the supermarket only sold bags of parsnips and not single parsnips.

I said I appreciated that, but as I actually only wanted one could I take it anyway and I offered to pay for it.

Senior management was then called as the queue of shoppers behind me grew longer.

I was told in no uncertain terms that I couldn't have the parsnip because it wasn't supermarket policy to sell them singly.

I enquired what was going to happen to this sad little root vegetable.

"It'll go to waste," he said, and with that he took the parsnip and marched away.

Rather than sell, or dare I say, give me the parsnip, supermarket policy dictated that it should be thrown away.

The really are no words!

Clare Wells

Malvern