Restaurateurs foil trousers scam

Restaurants are being plagued by a would-be scam in which they receive letters from "customers" who claim their trousers have been damaged by bleach from the toilet floor.

Both the Chez Moi restaurant in west London and the Bedford branch of Pizza Express have received similar letters.

The letters claim that the customer had an enjoyable meal but that, on returning home, his wife noticed that the bottom of his new trousers "had begun to fray and discolour on the bottom".

Both concluded that the damage was caused by cleaners who "used too much bleach on the toilet floor" and ask for compensation.

The letter to Pizza Express came from a James Cook of Green End Road, Kempston, Bedfordshire. When contacted by Caterer, Cook's mother revealed her son was just 13 years old and did not in fact have a wife. "He has been very naughty," she admitted.

James said he would be writing to Pizza Express to apologise.

Chez Moi chef-proprietor Richard Walton wrote back to the sender of his letter - an AA Georgiou of 40 Mead Road, Edgware, Middlesex - and told him to send the trousers in for analysis.

He added: "No one goes round with their trouser bottoms dangling on the floor these days. Not if they can afford to eat in our restaurant."