Flat Earth: Cobblers coin it

ON HIS Graceland album, Paul Simon sings of a New York woman with 'diamonds on the soles of her shoes'. In more down-at-heel Chelyabinsk, though, women have roubles on the heels of their shoes: cobblers in the Russian city have put virtually worthless one- rouble coins to good use by reheeling stilettos with them.

Worth less than half of 1p, the coins are said to provide long-lasting, high-quality heels, perfect for losing those Chelyabinsk walking blues. Discounts on the repairs are offered for payment in coins.