cut-price fares from British Airways.

BA has announced a seat sale for travellers planning a trip to the UK and beyond, with midweek fares starting at $524 for Bermuda to London or Manchester.

Other destinations include Paris, Barcelona, Helsinki, Rome, Moscow and Gibraltar.

BA local manager Philip Troake said: "We know this sale will be very popular and remind passengers that it is necessary to limit the number of seats available on any one flight at these low fares.'' The sale, which is already underway, is effective for travel commencing in Bermuda up until March 30.

Tickets must be bought seven days in advance, apart from travel before Sunday, and all reservations should be completed by February 11.

SHOPLIFTER IS ARRESTED CRM Shoplifter is arrested An off-duty Policeman arrested a shoplifter at Modern Mart, Paget.

The 50-year-old shoplifter was searched as he tried to leave the South Road store at 1.15 p.m. on Sunday.

He struggled and several items dropped out of his jacket. He was taken to Hamilton Police Station for questioning.

FUEL PRICES ON THE RISE EGY Fuel prices on the rise Fuel prices have gone up, the Ministry of Finance reported.

Gasoline rose 0.1 cents per litre to 121.6 cents per litre; diesel rose 0.9 cents per litre to 96.3 cents per litre; and kerosene rose 1.3 cents per litre to 76.5 cents per litre.

SUPPLY ERROR FOR PERMITS HAM Supply error for permits A supplier error has left the Corporation of Hamilton without Year 2000 parking permits for city residents and disabled persons.

Advertisements appeared in The Royal Gazette last week advising residents and disabled persons that their new parking permits were not available.

The blame for the shortage was attributed to "circumstances beyond our control'' by city engineer David Graham.

Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt explained that the US-based supplier of the permits had simply forgotten to print the Corporation's order and was currently hard at work getting the job done.

"It is not a major problem,'' he stressed.

Permit holders can use their 1999 permits without fear of reprisals until the new permits come in, he said.

ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA CTS Arrested for marijuana A 19-year-old Smith's Parish man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana after a search revealed he had two plastic twists of plant-like material.

Officers stopped the man's car at North Shore Road, Devonshire, on Sunday night to search it in connection with another incident.

The man appeared to hide something in his clothing which fell to the ground during the search. He was then taken to Hamilton Police Station.