Two of our reporters who were present at the Magistrates Court tell me that a certain Crown Prosecution Service solicitor was stopped in mid flow as one of the lenses from his glasses fell out.

Being unable to read his documents the proceedings were adjourned while the unlucky prosecutor scampered into Llandrindod Wells to find an optician capable of a double quick repair job.

All was well as the running repairs were carried out in time, ensuring those wheels of justice clunked back into motion.

***

IF you take a look on the opposite page you'll see a story about how much puff Lembit has got!

What you won't read is how our chief photographer Phil Blagg fared on the "Big Breath" test of people's lung capacity.

I'm sorry to say that Blaggie has lapsed back into smoking these days after putting up a good effort to kick the dreaded habit.

Knowing this the organisers suggested that Phil should give it a go. Well blow me if he didn't score 100.

Lembit, who was adjudged to have excellent lung capacity, scored in the high 90s.

It must be all the football and penalty shoot-out competitions that Blaggie plays in that keeps him so fit.

Now I'm sure if it was judged on hot air, yours truly would have had an even higher score than the previously mentioned gentlemen.

***

CAMPAIGNERS for "common sense" claim they have made a breakthrough that will end barmy EU rules on fruit – forgive me if I'm not convinced, I think it's a load of cobblers!

Conservative MEP for Wales Jonathan Evans is reported to have welcomed moves by the European Commission to simplify the daft EU rules on fruit which would allow bendy cucumbers and funny shaped fruit to once again be sold in British shops.

I'm no anti-Europe raving campaigner, but for all the good it does the Commission really makes itself look foolish when so much time and energy is wasted on such nonsense.

European Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel wants to simplify and loosen up the rules of marketing fruit and veg and is proposing a widespread cull of the existing 36 marketing standards which stipulate quality standards on a range of products from apricots to watermelons.

Among those to go would be the infamous "cucumber" quality standard which ensures that cucumbers can not bend more than 10mm for every 10cm of length.

It's all madness. All these regulations are more worried about what the fruit or veg looks like, heaven forbid anyone should actually be concerned about their taste.

As anyone who has ever grown their own veg will know, they taste so much better and hardly ever resemble the store or EU ideal of the perfect fruit or veg.

***

I'VE had a letter of support for my rant asking how we were supposed to take advantage of the Assembly announcement "extending" free rail travel for pensioners.

Gareth Marston, Chairman SARPA (Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Association), writes "Nelson makes a valid point pointing out the inconsistency on the awarding of free rail traveller to pensioners in various parts of Mid Wales.

"There's a suspicion amongst many that it's a gimmick rather than a coherent policy.

"However the good news is that rail travel in Mid Wales is good value for money even if you pay the full fare with the rising cost of fuel for motor vehicles.

"A Regional Transport Plan is due to be published this year from the Mid Wales transport consortia TraCC. Local authority officers and county councillors now need to up their game considerably and look to the future." – Here, here!