Santa isn’t just for Christmas

The traditional figure of Santa Claus yesterday launched the Christmas World section of Harrods department store.

The festive grotto usually opens in early August after the summer sales to meet demand from overseas tourists.

Harrods said: "The Americans love it - they think it's absolutely fabulous. But we find that more and more British residents now are beginning to plan ahead."

Financial Times (Dipak Ghosh)

Danger! Men at risk

Lancashire County Council, which invested thousands in road signs that alert drivers when they are going too fast, says it is unable to put them up - because its staff are not allowed to climb ladders, even though the installer would only need to be 3ft or 4ft off the ground.

Peter Andrews, from Lancashire's environment directorate, said yesterday: "It is not a decision we have taken lightly but we have to make sure people are properly trained because there is an element of risk."

Daily Mail (Ron Rubin)