With everyone facing a big increase in the cost of fuel, and many people struggling to heat their homes, this letter writer to the West Somerset Free Press raises the question of why so many shops keep their doors open in the cold weather.

If you've got an opinion on this, have your say in the comments, below, on social media, or by email to [email protected] - Look out for more letters in this week's West Somerset Free Press.

Editor,

I am amazed and appalled at the number of shops in Minehead that have their doors wide open, especially in this very cold weather. Even a charity shop with its heater going full blast and the door fixed open.

I don’t donate to charities to have them waste it on sky high energy bills heating the open air. Not to mention the effect on the planet. Are people so weak they aren’t able to open a door these days, do they go shopping and leave their front doors open so they don’t have to expend energy reopening them.

Please, traders in Minehead and elsewhere for that matter, close your doors. It will save you money! It will help save the planet!

And the customers will be able to use their arms to do what they were designed for.

Barbara Pritchard