Real stories · The bag I don't have to clutch

In a crowd I used to clutch my handbag the whole time — now it's zipped and in front of me

Zipped up, in front of me, and both hands free — I enjoy a busy town now instead of guarding my handbag through it. I'm 67, and crowds had started to make me anxious: the high street on a Saturday, a packed bus, the Christmas shopping. My old shoulder bag hung behind me with a flap that never closed properly, and I'd spend the whole outing with one hand clamped on it.

What I wanted was a bag I could close properly and keep where I could see it.

Then I found the Meredith from a British label called York Boutique — a structured handbag with top handles, a long adjustable strap and a pretty gold charm. I chose the navy blue; there are seven other colours.

It has a proper zip closure and zipped pockets, and the long strap goes across the body, so the bag sits in front of me at the hip where I can see it — which is why I stopped clutching it and started enjoying myself. Inside there are separate compartments for my purse, keys and glasses, so I'm never left rummaging with the bag open in a crowd.

A zip that closes properly and a strap that keeps the bag in front of me — which is why I walk round town with both hands free and nothing clamped under my arm.

At £34.95 — half the usual £70 — it was worth it for the peace of mind alone.

It has done a busy Saturday on the high street, a packed bus into town and the first of the Christmas shopping, and Pauline, who still walks round with her hand on her handbag, has asked where it's from. I did check before ordering that I could send it back if it didn't suit — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free.

If you also clutch your bag in a crowd, do have a look before the Christmas shopping starts. The Meredith is rated 4.6 out of 5 by more than 300 women, it comes in eight colours — and the blue goes first.