24 DECEMBER 1988, Page 55

Sir: On the night of 24 November I heard a

plum example of the awfulness which is now afflicting the World Service. Halfway through the Newshour programme was a 'story' about Russian cosmonauts taking a new recording of Pink Floyd into space. But unfortunately the BBC didn't have the recording, so they decided to regale the world with a long extract from the ancient Pink Floyd number, 'The Dark Side of the Moon'. And this was meant to be a news programme.

Mary Conyngham

82 Adelaide Grove, London W12