EYE SORE

Venetians have expressed outrage after a recent change in the law allowed huge advertising billboards to be erected in St Mark’s Square and along the Grand Canal. Firms are sponsoring the scaffolding on buildings undergoing restoration, then exploiting a legal loophole allowing advertising to be hung from the structure. The 645,000 sq ft watch ad currently defacing St Mark’s Square brings in £140,000 a month, but despite the protests, Venice superintendent Renata Codello insists that she has been discriminating. “I have turned down masses of proposals,” she said, “including one with the entire Italian football team dressed only in their shorts.”

EARLY-BIRD SKI DEALS

Early-season ski deals often involve kneeling in a grassy field praying for snow, but with a series of cold fronts sweeping the Alps, those prayers have already been answered in many resorts. Skiers wishing to beat the Christmas crowds can grab astonishing deals from Crystal (0871 231 5659, www.crystalski.co.uk ), which has internet-only offers, departing on December 6, to Cervinia, Mayrhofen and Tignes for £149 - saving £300 on list prices.

THE DEAD RISE AGAIN

An ancient Greek necropolis has been unearthed by archeologists working in Sicily. The site, at the ancient city of Himera, is thought to contain about 10,000 tombs, including the skeletons of soldiers killed in battle, with the arrows that killed them. Sicily’s councillor for culture, Antonello Antinoro, said that he would push for the creation of a national archeological park at Himera in light of the new discoveries.

AIRPORT SLOW LANES

The US Transport Security Administration has announced the introduction of special “take your time” airport security lanes, aimed at families and those unused to the hassles of modern air travel. People who carry prohibited items for medical needs – such as cough syrup, insulin, contact-lens solution and breast milk or baby formula – will also be directed to the family lanes, which open in all American airports on Thursday.

ORGY OFFER BOOSTS BOOKINGS

An Australian nudist resort is promoting “swinging sex parties” in a bid to revive sagging tourism figures. The White Cockatoo resort, in Mossman, Queensland, is promoting an adults-only “anything goes” month next March. “Tough times call for stiff measures,” it said. “We’ve taken the bull by the horns and it’s going nuts; we’re close to fully booked.”

Times recommends

• Bogus websites are conning hundreds out of their holidays
• The complete last minute holiday guide
• Croatia: the flashing blades of Korcula