I was in the Frenchgate shopping centre in town this afternoon when I was reminded why I don't like escalators.

I was travelling down one of them and noticed that there was a group of about half a dozen giggling teenaged girls standing only a couple of feet away from the bottom of the escalator totally unaware that they were blocking the way.

I was concerned about a pile up as I reached the bottom, but fortunately someone in front of me had the common sense to politely tell them to move.