Entertainer Johnny Franks, 85, has struggled with arthritis for many years.

But when he read about the claimed benefits of wearing copper insoles, he came up with his own, cheaper version: he glued a number of 2p coins to an ordinary shoe insole. “I was in excruciating pain,” said the West End Great Synagogue member from London, “Within three weeks I was cured.”

Whether it’s a placebo effect or not, he recommends the treatment. “There’s a lot of Yiddishe people, with the foods we eat we get a lot of arthiritis”. 10p’s worth in each foot he reckons ought to do the trick.