ON THIS DAY

	1988: Piper Alpha oil rig ablaze An out-of-control fire on a North Sea oil rig is feared to have claimed the lives of most of those on board. 1978: Eleven die in sleeper train inferno A blaze on the Penzance to Paddington sleeper train leaves 11 dead and 17 injured. 2005: London to host 2012 Olympics The 2012 Olympic Games will be held in London, the International Olympic Committee announces. 1997: Mars buggy starts exploring Red Planet Nasa scientists free a robot from space probe Mars Pathfinder, allowing it to begin exploring the Red Planet. 1992: Riot police confront French truckers The French Government mobilises the army and police to remove the lorries blocking the nation's major roads. 1952: London's trams trundle into history After nearly a century of service the tram has made its final appearance in London. 2000: Prime Minister's son arrested for drunkenness The Prime Minister Tony Blair's eldest son, Euan, is arrested for being drunk and incapable.