A serious fire devastated the Star and Garter Hotel, Kew Bridge, early Saturday morning, after vandals who broke into cash boxes and machines lit a small fire outside the ground floor office. Within minutes, the fire swept through the main bar, and spread to the first floor banqueting hall and the roof.Incredibly the Star and Garter was open for business by 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, and an upstairs cocktail bar and the 60-seater restaurant open as usual.

Figures for driving while unfit had increased by almost a third, magistrates were told at Acton Court were told on Friday.

In the annual report by police to the Bench it was shown that the year ending January 31st 1977 these figures had risen from 97 to 137. Being drunk in charge of a pedal cycle had also risen 50 per cent from 2 to 3.

Brentford hospital will at last be closed in its present form before the end of the year. Ealing , Hammersmith and Hounslow Health Authority were expected to agree this at its meeting last night at Hounslow Town Hall.

Members made the final decision on a major programme of cuts and changes of use to reduce serious overspending within the Hounslow district.