Prejudices make me sad. Just today we emerged from B&Q and saw a young, lone woman struggling with a huge length of wood, trying to get it into the boot of her rather tiny car.

My husband sprang into action (he loves helping folk, he's a very kind chap) and the woman shrank from him, looking a bit scared. I came forward and asked if she'd like a hand from my husband, and she relaxed immediately. He got the wood sorted and off she went.

I think she thought a black man might be a threat, or a man approaching her might be dodgy, which I can understand. But it's rather a pity.

This happens a lot in car parks with old folk, as my husband can't bear to see them struggle with shopping and zooms up to help. They always look startled, then pleased.