Robot ticket-inspectors' are to be installed at Richmond, Twickenham, Mortlake, Barnes and Waterloo stations. The robots will be able to read an invisible and unalterable magnetic coding on the back of the ticket and barriers will not be raised unless the code is correct for the journey made.

The unofficial strike of about 130 refuse collectors in Richmond upon Thames, which began without warning on Monday, ended - just as quietly - on Wednesday. The men have now returned, resuming normal rounds, and it is hoped the back-log of work will be cleared by next Saturday.

Some 600 children crammed into the Lion and Unicorn Bookshop last Saturday to meet best-selling author Roald Dahl. In about an hour and a half £350 worth of books were sold - an auspicious opening for the attractive new bookshop in King Street, Richmond.