Whitstable woman runs out of custard shock

Commentators have been rushing to defend the role of the regional press as the watchdog of local democracy and freedom. But sometimes the local press can get involved in more mundane matters like...custard shortages.
HoldtheFrontPage reports today that the editor of the Whitstable Times has defended his decision to run a story about a mum-of-three who complained about the local shops being out of custard.
The weekly devoted most of page four to a tale about keen cook Jules Serkin who ran out of custard powder while making an apple and blackcurrant crumble.
It led to a barrage of comments on the paper's website citing the story as evidence of declining standards of local journalism and calling for the reporter who wrote it to be sacked.
But editor John Nurden hit back saying the custard story had attaracted the most comments on the paper's website. The story began after Ms Serkin's trawl of local convenience stores to find a replacement tin of custard powder proved fruitless. She contacted the paper to complain and it ran the story under the headline: " Whitstable mum in custard shortage".
One reader calling himself Nik from Newcastle commented: "How on earth did this terrible story make it to the morning news conference, let alone to print? As a fellow hack, I am shocked, appalled and rather ashamed at this dire example of journalism."
Simon from London, added: "The journalist who wrote this and the news editor who allowed it should be sacked. You're taking the mick out of your readers."
Nurden defended the paper saying: "If it was our splash I would agree but I think it made a nice page four funny - and has attracted more comments than any other on our web site proving that custard shortages should be top of everyone's news menu."
You can read the full shocking story here: Whitstable Mum in Custard Shortage.