Probably not Ms Storer's favourite type of cushionFed up of spilling hot MuckDonalds "coffee" on ourselves, new ways of exploiting the horrendous compensation culture of today have to be found. Sue Storer, ex-deputy head teacher at Bedminster Down Secondary School, seemingly has one such plan.

She is suing Bristol council for £1 million of public money due to a somewhat deficient chair. No, not what you're thinking - this chair did not suffer from a missing leg or a broken back or any such thing you might see recreated on a Channel 5 "No Win No Fee" advert. This particularly offensive specimen of seating furniture let rip an entertaining fart noise whenever it was sat on.

Apparently it caused her so much distress (what with regularly having to apologise that it wasn't her and all) that she had to quit and hence forgo a fair few years of her £48,000 salaried job plus pension.

Whether she is on another planet, or somehow this is indeed a product of the sexism she claims it is perhaps Headteacher Marius Frank - whether outrageous misogynist or not - had a point when he said "I would have expected any member of the leadership team and a deputy headteacher, who has the authority on my absence to run a school, to have the wit and initiative to sort it out.".

After all, it has even been known for the Poorhouse to have to bring its very own pen to the office.

It would probably not be the best idea to invite Ms Storer to the forthcoming Making Whoopee event. However, if unlike her, hearing fart noises doesn't make you suicidal and you wish to participate in what they hope will be the world's greatest simultaneous deflation of whoopee cushions for charity then head down to Parker’s Piece, Cambridge on the 28th May 2006.