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Frank's a few sheets short of a toilet roll

29/11/2001

A SUPERMARKET'S claims to have created a new improved product are paper thin according to Frank Cooper who is totally pooh-poohing the suggestion.

Frank, from Worsley, insists Tesco's luxury toilet rolls have shrunk, despite the company's boasts to the contrary, and says he is being driven round the u-bend trying to prove it.

He says after buying a packet of their Luxury Soft rolls, flagged up as 'new improved thickest ever', from Tesco in Walkden, he was surprised when he spotted the difference between the new and original rolls.

At his own convenience, Mr Cooper measured the two products against each other, and said he was bowled over by the difference.

Using the most accurate scientific tests at his disposal, he found the new improved roll's outside diameter and inner tube diameter were smaller than the original, the new roll weighed less and there were less sheets on it!

A fuming Mr Cooper returned to the store with his findings, but was unable to get a satisfactory explanation.

He has since contacted Tesco's customer service centre and has even brought the matter up with Salford City Council's trading standards department.

He told us: "It just happened we had a toilet roll left over from the previous bunch and when I put them together the difference was shocking.

"I asked the chap at Tesco exactly what part of this was new and improved but he could not answer."

A council spokeswoman said: "We've contacted the gentleman to explain the new and improved description may refer to the thickness of the paper rather than the number of sheets.

"We understand he's waiting for a response from Tesco. If this is not satisfactory we'll come to hear from him again because we do investigate any misleading claims."

As The Advertiser went to press on Wednesday Tesco were unavailable to comment.