Just in time for the summer break children will be able to play on new park equipment at Clearwater Beach.

By the beginning of July the park should be equipped with new playground equipment.

Last month the equipment was torn down and St. David?s MP Suzann Holshouser had called for the equipment to be replaced as quickly as possible.

The new equipment should arrive in eight to ten weeks, Mrs. Holshouser said yesterday ? just in time for the summer holiday.

?I?m glad that they have followed through and the children from the East End or across the Island will benefit from the new equipment.

?I am pleased that they reacted quickly for the community,? she added.

Survey starts up

Government statisticians began visiting homes over the weekend for the start of the 2004 expenditure survey.

Around 1,200 households will be targeted during May and June to gather information to update how the consumer price inflation index is measured.

It was last updated in 1993 but people are now buying new types of goods and services and so the market basket must be updated to reflect new spending patterns.

The survey is compulsory and is done under the authority of the Statistics Act but interviewers will leave leaflets to help answer some of the questions householders might have.

Witness appeal

Police are appealing for any witnesses to an altercation that took place in the area of St. John?s Church on St. John?s Road in Pembroke on Friday afternoon.

The incident occurred at 2.20 p.m. and Police are interested in speaking with the victim.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Serious Crime Unit at 295-0011.

Rods stolen

A thief in search of fishing gear took four fishing rods and two reels from a vessel in St. David?s. Officers spoke with the complainant who stated that some time between 3 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday the culprit removed the gear from his boat at Dolly?s Bay Road.