Conference hit by freak weather

TMA in Brighton TMA2000 was on the verge of being washed out yesterday as the wind and rain of typhoon "Beattie" (BT, geddit?) lashed the south coast resort of Brighton.

Waves several feet high pummelled the shore without threatening the seafront conference centres and hotels that hosted the three-day conference telecoms managers.

The wind was responsible for blowing-out at least two golfing umbrellas and for removing the hat of one chap in a rather slapstick, but essentially comical way.

There were worries that as the tropical storm hit Brighton it might be the forerunner to a mile-high tsunami that would have engulfed the whole promenade.

By 1700 hours (BST) yesterday afternoon this reporter can confirm that no tsunami came to shore - or not that I noticed at least.

The biggest casualty of the day was a Mods and Rockers-style battle re-enactment that was due to be staged on the beaches and side streets of the regency town.

It was understood that parka-clad representatives from the telecoms industry (Mods) were gonna fight leathered guys from BT (Rockers) in a once-and-for-all bid to settle the thorny issues surrounding local loop unbundling (LLU).

This had to be cancelled due to the weather. ®