House of Fraser delivered a set of sparkling Christmas figures yesterday and helped to spread some cheer in the beleaguered retail sector.

Ed Joyce was able to celebrate his call-up to the England one-day squad yesterday with a big hundred in the four-day match here. It was the third time he has passed 150 in his burgeoning career - one of his previous ones was scored here last year - and his third in all at the Walker Ground.

National Grid, the owner of Britain's gas and electricity transmission networks, unveiled plans yesterday to invest £12bn over the next five years.

Using computers in art classes can bring out a whole new creative side in children, says Amy McLellan

The first proof that retailers struggled during the crucial Christmas period emerged yesterday when Woolworths and House of Fraser issued profits warnings.

They charge sky-high rates of interest but British shoppers can't get enough of them. Resist the temptation, writes Melanie Bien

House of Fraser, the department store chain, is set to gain a surprise profits boost this year from its Recognition store card operation.

House of Fraser, or more specifically its biggest shareholder Tom Hunter, was the talk of the Square Mile yesterday. Brokers reported whispers that the Scottish retail entrepreneur may be looking to sell his 11 per cent stake in the company, a holding worth about £30m.

House of Fraser, the department stores group at the centre of renewed bid speculation, will face criticism from shareholders at its annual meeting this week over its plans to renew a controversial share option scheme.

IT WAS a long war between two vengeful tycoons. It corroded politics, destroyed careers, tainted the Tories with the mark of sleaze and helped to bring down John Major's government. And what happened at Court 13 of the High Court in London over the past five weeks was just its latest, surreal chapter.

This is a time of year when you want to stand out, so as long as your outfit shines in every sense, you'll see the century out in style.

THE "TRAGEDY" of Neil Hamilton was that his downfall stemmed from trying to help the Harrods boss, Mohamed Al Fayed, the former Tory MP's QC said yesterday.

ALLDERS, THE department store group, is not the most exciting of retailers but it has had an action-packed few months. Merger talks with House of Fraser collapsed in October as the City forced HoF's share price into the abyss.