Children should be warned about the potential hazards of digging tunnels into sand dunes, an inquest into the death of a 16-year-old boy was told today. Craig Owen, from Brymbo in Wrexham, suffocated when he was trapped under tons of sand on Cefn Sidan beach in Pembrey, south-west Wales, during a family holiday in August. Speaking after the coroner's court hearing, Professor Kenneth Pye, an independent forensic geologist, called for an urgent nationwide alert to warn young adults and children of the dangers of excavating tunnels under dunes. "I think it is an urgent matter and that something should be done as soon as possible," he said. Warning signs should be put up on beaches around the UK before next summer, he suggested. Frantic efforts were made to free Owen when the tunnel collapsed on August 3, the inquest in Llanelli Town Hall, South Wales, was told. The schoolboy had been playing with a group of more than a dozen youngsters at the popular resort that is dotted with giant sand dunes. The Llanelli coroner, John Owen, recorded a verdict of accidental death. Tributes were paid to the teenager, who was tipped to get top grades in his school exams. guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

A coroner asks for more warning signs on beaches after recording an accidental death verdict on a teenager who died sand tunnelling.

Retail sales in the UK defied expectations last month, falling by far less than expected despite growing signs that high street stores are struggling to persuade shoppers to part with their cash. The Office for National Statistics said that sales dropped by just 0.1% in October, leaving them 1.9% higher on annualised basis. This was way ahead of forecasts in the City, where analysts had been predicting a slump of as much as 0.9%. Economists were unconvinced by the figures, which came as Marks and Spencer slashed its prices by 20% today in its first pre-Christmas sale for four years. Department stores group Debenhams is also holding a three-day sale with 25% reductions in its stores. Other retailers are offering discounts of as much as 50% in a effort to woo shoppers. David Tinsley, an economist at NAB Capital, said: "We're a bit puzzled (by the sales data). Given survey data from the CBI and the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the figure should be weaker. "We know that the bad news is already happening, so at some point the official data will come in line with other measures, so we'll see a large drop in due course. "We don't put much weight on the outcome. The figure will probably crash around November or December." His view was echoed by other economists. "Discretionary spending is taking a hit," said Vicky Redwood at Capital Economics. "What's more, anecdotal evidence suggests that the past couple of weeks have been even more shocking for retailers. It's shaping up to be a pretty awful Christmas." The ONS figures differ from data released by BRC last week, which showed that sales fell 2.2% from October last year - the biggest drop since May 2005. The BRC joined economists in dismissing today's official data, saying the figures "fail to convey how tough conditions are for customers and retailers". Director general Stephen Robertson said: "These unexpectedly strong ONS figures suggest sales growth increasing in stark contrast to our own showing total sales actually falling in October. "Given customers and retailers are being squeezed by a whole range of costs and consumer confidence at record lows, few retailers are telling me consumers are spending more. The boss of a leading retailer told me things haven't been this bad since the early 1990s. "Conditions remain tough and look set to get tougher into the new year, which can only make customers more nervous about spending. Retailers have reacted to the economic slowdown with wide ranging discounts and promotions. This is a great time to pick up a bargain for Christmas." Today's data showed that sales in household goods stores fell at their fastest rate in 16 years while sales in food stores grew at their slowest pace since 2005. These figures are unlikely to deter the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) from further cutting rates when it meets next month. It slashed 150 basis points off rates earlier this month to leave them at 3%. Howard Archer at IHS Global Insight said: "We suspect that the modest fall in retail sales in October will not deter the Bank of England from delivering another sizeable interest rate cut in December, as the central bank clearly believes that consumer spending is significantly weaker than the picture being portrayed by the ONS. Significantly, the Bank of England's regional agents reported that the value of retail sales was broadly unchanged year-on-year in October, while demand for consumer services shrank." Struggling retailers will be hoping that Alistair Darling will introduce a number of measures - such as reductions in the rate of income tax or VAT - to encourage spending in the pre-budget report on Monday . Retail industry High street retailers Marks & Spencer Debenhams guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

As Walgreens formally opens at 1 Times Square on Thursday, executives are describing plans for the giant signs that will festoon the building on three sides.