After three shivering months of walking around flat-footed and fur-booted against the icy weather, girls working for Durham County Council looked askance at the ban on stiletto heels at the new County Hall, but on reflection some of them realise that there is justification for it. Not for them the pleasure of skipping into springtime on heels four inches high and half an inch wide. They are going to have to continue their soft shoe shuffle throughout the year and whatever the season. But with that resignation which is characteristic of suffering womanhood throughout the ages, most of them have decided to put up with it. Mrs Audrey Burlison of Chester-le-Street, secretary to Mr J T Brookbank, clerk to Durham County Council will now have to change into soft slippers before starting work.

‘‘High heeled shoes are the only kind I’m able to wear,’’ she said.

‘‘I simply can’t walk around flat-footed. So the new rule about stiletto heels means that I’ll have to scrap my present shoes as far as work is concerned and buy some mules.’’