British Airways passengers who despair at having to attack their in-flight food with flimsy plastic cutlery have been given a reprieve with the announcement that metal cutlery is making a comeback on all BA flights.

As of yesterday, British anti-terrorism laws - which prohibited any sharp metal objects on board - were relaxed to allow the use of not only metal knives, forks and spoons but also knitting needles and small pairs of scissors.

Pen knives of any kind are still banned, however.

The British government banned sharp metal objects in 2001 after it emerged that the al Qaeda operatives responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks had used box-cutters to enter the planes' cockpits.

“There have been considerable improvements made in in-flight security,” a spokesman from the British transport department told Reuters.

“This has included, among other innovations, the strengthening of the cockpit doors, which are now locked at all times. We have been trying to strike a balance between robust protection and convenience for the travelling public. It will still be left to the discretion of the airline to ban any item they believe to be dangerous.”

Interest high in hospitals' CEO position

Applications have been flooding in for the soon-to-be vacated position of CEO at the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

BHB communications manager Ana-Marie Critchley told The Royal Gazette yesterday that the level of interest has been high as the May 31 deadline for applications draws ever closer.

Current CEO Joan Dillas-Wright retires in December, and it is understood the successful applicant will start work in October to ensure a smooth transition.

Ms Critchley, meanwhile, was unable to confirm what proportion of the applications have been submitted by Bermudians.

The job has been advertised widely overseas in Canada, USA, the Caribbean and the UK.

Flood of accidents over the weekend

Police and emergency services had their hands full over the weekend with some 24 accidents.

Of these, 15 resulted in damage only, while nine resulted in injury.

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said yesterday that four people were also arrested for impaired driving.

He said Police were also investigating eight incidents of breaking and entering.