TWENTY million people in Britain never go away from home on holiday - almost a third of the population. So the tourists boards are to look at the reasons.

THE BBC got a rocket today for a firework scene in its comedy programme 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'. The scene last night in which Michael Crawford, who plays the calamity-struck Frank, set fire to himself with fireworks, brought a howl of protest from the National Campaign for Firework Reform.

SIR,- Many householders will have received their electricity bills this week. I expected to have to pay a few shillings extra, but this rise of 50 per cent is outrageous. The sum of £1 5s 10d was taken from the meter, and I was given a bill for 12s 11d.; and on top of this there is 8s 4d meter charge. It is a heartbreaking task to keep a husband, three children, and myself on £4 per week without this extra cost. It has wiped all the titbits off our Christmas table. How old-age pensioners will meet this sudden demand I cannot imagine. Yours, etc. Once Bitten, Twice Shy

IT is our painful duty to have to record another of those terrible railway accidents which have of late been so distressingly frequent, and this time the casualty has occurred almost in our midst. The accident to which we allude took place about ten minutes past six-o'clock, on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway between Gilnow and Lady Bridge. The 5.25 express passenger train from Manchester to Bolton, Preston and the North, arrived at Bolton Station in perfect safety, three minutes behind its appointed time, but on continuing its journey it collided with a number of empty luggage vans which had become detached at Gilnow from the forepart of a previous train going from Manchester to Liverpool, and which were either stationary on the line, or moving slowly. The collision was terrific. As may be imagined, the shock created the greatest consternation amongst the passengers. The fireman of the train alighted, and at this juncture, as if to mock the misery of the unfortunate passengers, the passenger train which leaves Southport at 4.45 for Bolton, was seen approaching. The fireman endeavoured to warn the driver of the obstruction in the way of progress of the train, and the driver partially succeeded in slackening speed, but not in time to prevent another serious collision. Many persons were injured, and conveyed to Bolton.

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