P256 CEEFAX 256 Sun 22 Dec 22:40/48 1/7 ! "£ IN BRIEF - SLEDGING TO DISASTER Sledging can damage your health, warns a recent report in the British Medical Journal. It revealed that in one snowy week last January, more than a hundred people were admitted to a hospital emergency unit after being hurt in sledging accidents. And not all the casualties were sledging. Some wire climbing back up the slope for another ride — others were simply spectators! MoreP256 CEEFAX 256 Sun 22 Dec 22:36/12 2/7 ! "£ IN BRIEF - CRUEL TOYS WITHDRAWN Toy racing cars powered by live hamsters have been withdrawn from the shops this Christmas, following a storm of protest by animal lovers. The American company selling the cars had refused initially to withdraw them from the British market. But after being "inundated" with angry phonjcalls reversed its decision. The £9.87 car, called Silver Streak, was recommended for children of three and above. MoreP256 CEEFAX 256 Sun 22 Dec 22:51/46 3/7 ! "£ IN BRIEF - FALKLAND CALLS People in the Falkland Islands will be able to make cut-price phonecalls to friends and families in the US over Christmas and the New Year. The offer runs from December 23 to January 3 inclusive, and applies only to calls dialled direct from the islands. Prices will be reduced from £1.50 to £1 a minute. Operator-connected calls will bj charged at normal rates. MoreP256 CEEFAX 256 Sun 22 Dec 22:43/26 4/7 ! "£ IN BRIEF - DON'T BE CAUGHT SHORT Don't forget that, except in Scotland, the banks will close at 12 noon on Christmas Eve. The Abbey National building society closes at 12.30pm and the Halifax, Nationwide and Woolwich at 1pm. Most Leeds Permanent branches are open till 5pm. Post offices are open till 12.30 (4pm in Scotland). Some cash machines will take a break on Christmas day including; Barclays, Lloyds and TUB. MotP256 CEEFAX 256 Sun 22 Dec 22:46/57 5/7 ! "£ IN BRIEF - SMILING BEATS THE BUGS Christmas cheer can help keep colds at bay, according to researchers at the University of Sussex Common Cold Unit. It seems that viruses simply can't get a grip on people who refuse to let things get them down. They also found that someone with flu finds it 12 times harder to concentrate than someone who has had a moderate amount of alchohol. MoreP256 CEEFAX 256 Sun 22 Dec 22:49/17 6/7 ! "£ IN BRIEF - ALL LIT UP THIS CHRISTMAS? Every year thousands of people are taken to hospital after accidents with fairy lights. A great many of these could be avoided by following this simple procedure: Check for loose bulb holders and cracks in the wire, replacing lost, broken ou dud bulbs. If a bulb won't work, switch it off at the mains befor replacing it. Never try lighting them in the box and don't use indoor lights outside. MoreP256 CEEFAX 256 Sun 22 Dec 22:47/08 7/7 ! "£ IN BRIEF - FARLEY'S INFORMATION LINE Three baby foods made bz Farley Health Products are being tested for suspected links with outbreaks of salmonella. They are Osterfeed, Ostermilk Complete Formula and Ostermilk 2. A spokesman for the firm said people should return them to their place of purchase, whjrevjr possible. An information line has been set up at the firm's Plymouth base, on Plymouth (0752) 701621. More