Forget that secluded villa. A summer holiday at a golf resort may offer just the kind of fun your family really desires. Kate Simon heads for the Algarve

London's swelling ranks of super-rich residents flocked to Liberty for their festive shopping, helping the mock Tudor-fronted emporium to enjoy its best Christmas.

There was mixed news for the England head coach, Andy Robinson, yesterday. First, it was confirmed that the Bath inside centre Olly Barkley is out of England's opening autumn international against New Zealand on 5 November.

Billions of litres of water are gushing out of Britain's crumbling mains network every day as the country faces its worst drought for 100 years.

Moors, Romans, footie fans - it's seen them all off

Seven days ago, Garry Mann was a tourist sitting in the Blues Bar in the Portuguese resort of Albufeira, drinking with his brother and a friend. Hours later, Mr Mann would be arrested as the "ringleader" of rampaging football fans, and the next day his salmon-pink face was emblazoned across British front pages as, "The shame of England".

Flags of St George hung in all the windows of Garry Mann's local pub yesterday. Inside, they were gearing up for the big game. But while his fellow drinkers were watching England's match against Switzerland last night, Mann was beginning a two-year jail sentence in Portugal for his part in this week's riot in Albufeira.

England could face expulsion from Euro 2004 if violence involving fans on the Algarve becomes more widespread, European football's governing body warned yesterday.

1 Manor houses

COMMANDOS HAVE been drafted in to guard a prison in Albufeira in southern Portugal where the female half of a latter-day Bonnie and Clyde duo is being held after a series of violent crimes. The authorities are fearful the woman's 29-year-old lover, who broke out of the Lisbon prison where he was being held, may now try to help 22-year-old "Bonnie" to flee the long arm of the law.

Always imagined you couldn't afford a holiday home in the sun, even with a strong pound? Well, think again: more and more people these days are clubbing together to split ownership four ways. By Mary Wilson