Mark Boleat, the man heading the government's new regulation of claims managers, is only too keen to sink his teeth into some of those farmers indulging in sharp practices - particularly those who loiter hungrily in hospital waiting rooms, ready to swoop on vulnerable victims. So imagine his delight - presumably mixed with a certain amount of pain - when the opportunity appeared to present itself rather earlier than he had anticipated. On his first day in his new role, Mr Boleat slipped over, he confided to journalists this week, and suffered a swelling of the ankle. As a precautionary measure, he decided to seek medical attention - also affording him the perfect undercover guise to catch some unscrupulous claims farmers red-handed. Waiting to see a doctor - no doubt a perfect picture of a slip-and-trip victim - he looked around hopefully for anyone to approach him and suggest making a legal claim, or attempt to thrust an 'illicit leaflet' his way. But, much to his disappointment, the only people to attend to him were legitimate doctors and nurses. One can only assume that the local claims farmers must have been off chasing an ambulance. Next time, they might not be so lucky.