SEVERAL bakers in Malvern were up before the local bench a century ago, in trouble for selling bread without weighing it.

The magistrates heard that a weights and measures inspector sent his assistant to the Co-Operative Stores in Malvern Wells to buy a "half-quartern loaf".

"The loaf was not weighed when purchased, and on being weighed afterwards was found to be 3oz deficient," the paper reported.

Manager William Badham said he had only been in the business for three days and had erred through ignorance. He was fined three shillings with seven shillings costs.

John Hawkins of Malvern Link was fined 20s, including costs, for selling a loaf an ounce and three-quarters under weight. The bench had recalled he had been up for a similar offence a few years previously.

Three further bakers from the area were convicted of similar offences and fined.

Walter Betteridge, a butcher, of Barnards Green, appeared at the same session, charged with "having in his possession a scale which was unjust".

The weights and measures inspector, Mr Poulson, said he had visited the defendant's shop and found the scale was giving about an ounce against the customer.

He examined it and found several sheets of paper under the plate, causing the error.

The defendant said he had no knowledge of the paper being there.

During a recent illness, someone else had been in charge of the shop, and had broken off part of the marble plate, the paper put in to compensate.

The bench accepted Mr Betteridge's explanation, but said they must convict, and fined him 20s including costs.