It's Tooting, Jim, but not as we know it

The snootier variety of north Londoner has a well known penchant for making disparaging remarks about not daring to go "south of the river".

The idea among these snobs is that south London lacks some of the sophistication of the north of the capital, which they contend is a paradise of ciabattas and cappuccinos.

So, news today that a scientist has named a desolate crater on Mars after Tooting, south London, may not do a lot to lessen the prejudice of the south-bashers.