* COULD there be something of a David and Goliath battle breaking out in Liverpool’s central business district?

PR firm Paver Smith, admittedly no tiddler in its own sector, has had a bit of a falling out with the now publicly-owned banking giant, Royal Bank of Scotland.

Paver and the bank’s Liverpool-based corporate team are both based at the Plaza office complex, in Old Hall Street.

One of Paver’s top doctors of spin, Chris Hulme, says he’s been accused by RBS of nicking one of their parking spaces.

Hulme has furiously denied the accusation, but adds that, even if it were true, he would be perfectly entitled to do so because, as a taxpayer, he is now a shareholder of the bank.

* TROUBLED music retailer Zavvi has closed a number of its stores as it fights for survival.

Its Liverpool One store continues to trade normally but, sadly, its Clayton Square outlet has closed its doors for good – or has it?

A sign in the window of the outlet reads: “This store is temporarily closed for refurbishment. Our new improved store will re-open in March.

“In the meantime, please visit our superb new Zavvi in Paradise Street.”

The height of optimism or are they just in denial, we wonder?

* THE things accountants will do to try to prove how wacky they are.

Russell Silverman, above, partner at Liverpool city centre-based practice, HW, is throwing down a bizarre challenge to his counterparts across the city.

Silverman claims to have the smallest shoe size – size 6 – of any male accountant around town.

And what’s more, he says, if any other accountant can successfully prove otherwise, he will happily stand them a drink.

Trading Gossip may have to borrow one of those foot measuring thingummyjigs you see in shoe shops to adjudicate in any disputes that may arise.