IT wasn t too long ago that we became aware of the menace of the hoodie. One of the shopping centres near the Thames decided to ban anyone wearing a hood. It must have hit their nun trade no end, not to mention monks and coalmen. Now, of course, anyone

IT wasn't too long ago that we became aware of the menace of the "hoodie." One of the shopping centres near the Thames decided to ban anyone wearing a hood. It must have hit their nun trade no end, not to mention monks and coalmen. Now, of course, anyone under the age of 17 or 18 wishing to look "hard" has his hood up and has to walk round-shouldered as the hood isn't long enough, but he must be a hard nut because he's not allowed to go shopping with his mum anymore.

I saw one of these menaces to society the other day terrifying the hedges and fences of Fordham Road. I managed to control myself, but I was a bit worried by his mate. How brave would you feel if you saw a teenager glowering at the pavement in a bowler hat? Actually they weren't causing any trouble and seemed like a couple of ordinary lads out for a break from the routine of home and school. The bloke in the hood was smiling, not leering, just having fun. Let's look at the kids of Soham, not at what they are wearing, and we'll probably be pleasantly surprised. What's with the bowler hat, though?