Every little helps when you're at the checkout

But what was it that enraged her so? Did she forget her pound coin for the trolley? Were they out of two-for-a-fiver pizzas? Was there a spillage in aisle five?

She was fuming because the checkout assistant refused to serve her while she was nattering away on her mobile phone.

"I don't know what she was playing at," she moaned afterwards. "Why did she have the right to give me a lecture on checkout etiquette?"

Well, on behalf of checkout assistants everywhere, past and present, may I lead a round of applause for the worker in question.

There is nothing more annoying than when you're beeping away on the till, trying to be polite and serving customers with a smile, and they're gassing away into their phone all but ignoring you.

It's impolite and humiliating, leaving you feeling like the poo on their shoe and no more important or significant than the till itself.

There's no 'hello', no 'goodbye' just a lofty shake of the head when you mouth the words 'do you want cashback?' at them.

I worked in Somerfield way back when.

I clocked up five years and got a silver badge. Yeah, that's right, I was big news.

And while my official domain was the dairy – and the meat section on a Friday night, exciting times, – I was often called up to the tills to help out.

Bing bong.

Will Liz Joyce please come to checkouts, customers waiting.

Bing bong.

I liked it. It was fun. Chatting to the old dears, happy families and fit boys made a welcome break from shivering in a fridge for four hours, dragging around a wonky trolley containing 300 pints of milk.

Word to the wise, never try to catch said trolley, as it slips to the floor, with your ankle. The only thing you'll achieve is four hours in A&E and one heck of a bruise.

But anyway, back to the tills.

Most of the customers were a joy to talk to and there was something of a mutual agreement to make this most mundane of weekly chores a little bit brighter with a friendly face and spot of chit chat on both sides.

But not these phone people. Their anti-social action sucked the life out of the whole thing.

The worst offenders were those doing their weekly big shop but would leave you to scan, pack and sort the whole thing out while they discussed more important matters, such as last night's EastEnders or what time to meet at bingo.

So it was with a sense of triumph that I read about the Sainsbury's worker who finally made a stand and said 'enough is enough, acknowledge my existence or I shall not scan your Rich Teas and Marmite'.

'Good on ya, gal', anyone who has ever worked on a checkout was surely thinking.

The only letdown was Sainsbury's actions thereafter.

Instead of sticking up for their girl and championing old-fashioned manners, they caved.

Some nameless, faceless spokesperson piped up and said: "We have apologised to Miss Clarke and offered her some vouchers. It isn't our policy to not serve customers who are using a mobile phone."

So, Jo got a sorry and some vouchers.

She's still not happy, mind, and has vowed to stick to Waitrose in the future.

Personally, I think she should try Tesco because, when it comes to good manners, every little helps.