Leader: Just nipping out to join a queue

'Just popping out to the shops" is becoming one of the big urban myths of our time.

According to a Europe-wide poll, it now takes twice as long to reach the front of a queue as it did two years ago: just over 10 minutes. Separate research found that it takes longer to pass through a supermarket check-out - despite the spread of self-operated tills. Bleeping machines that can't tell one vegetable from another add to 'till rage'.

If your list includes a visit to the Post Office, take a book. Across Europe these have the longest queues and the most dissatisfied customers. Average waiting time is 19 minutes, though for many trapped behind a customer who appears to be posting a bubble-wrapped euphonium airmail to Zanzibar, it seems much longer. Banks are not far behind, where we always seem to be behind someone paying in a year's takings in coins.

The UK still features in the top ten of Europe's shortest queue experiences, though Sweden emerges with top honours. However, the next time you are forced to ponder the meaning of being in a queue with Things Can Only Get Better blaring over the Tannoy, hold that 'till rage' moment. At least you are not in the Bulgarian Passport Office, where it took six hours to process just 36 customers.