REGION’S MPS TOLD TO PAY BACK £34,562 that was wrongly claimed. Sir Thomas Legg’s long-awaited audit ordered 19 MPs in our region to refund the taxpayer, with the biggest bill of £6,786.06 owed by Wigan MP Neil Turner. Sir Legg’s report condemned the "culture of deference" in the Commons fees office that meant officials failed to challenge claims under the £24,000-a-year “second home” allowance.

POLICE TO WEAR ID BADGES TO IMPROVE ‘CUSTOMER SERVICE’ with the public. All 8,100 officers along with 4,000 civilian staff will be ordered to wear the magnetic tags, which will display their full name and rank. GMP is the first in the country to introduce the name badges. Undercover cops and those in riot gear will be able to take their badges off. Chief Constable Peter Fahy, who has already started wearing his badge, has brought in the policy to improve the force's image with the public.

THE ROYAL TRAIN PULLED UP IN PICCADILLY yesterday to start the Duchess of Cornwall’s tour of the North West. The duchess visited Coronation Street and offered her services for a walk-on part, while Prince Charles visited Museum of Science and Industry.

CABBIE DELIVERS BABY ON THE BACK SEAT in the middle of the city centre. En route to St Mary’s Hospital, Colin Gillmore pulled up at the MEN Arena, and along with the woman’s partner, followed telephone instructions from the emergency services operator. All the while, the mother’s young son carried on eating his banana in the front seat.

Daft American homily wisdom: Throw away anything made of polyester that touches your skin.

From Life's Little Instructions Calendar given to our Health and Beauty Editor as a gift.