Citizen Comment: We must use our best pubs – or lose them

THE message coming out of Gloucester's pubs was loud and clear as we looked into the state of the evening economy – use them or lose them.

Although there are surprisingly few empty pubs in Gloucester, we shouldn't take them for granted.

It is tough for everyone at the moment, even more so for pub landlords who are fighting off competition from supermarkets for cheap beer and wine.

But pubs can do more to attract people in. They need to be welcoming, safe, clean and offer something different.

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Cheap drinks clearly are not the answer as they simply add to the binge drinking culture that plagues Britain's high streets.

But people still want good value and a good night out.

Finding a job as a young starter can be tricky, especially when there's an army of university graduates applying for posts.

So people like Gloucester's Kelly Evry are a real success story – bypassing the university route and enjoying a full-time post at Gloucestershire County Council after joining their apprenticeship scheme.

The Citizen has long been a champion of apprenticeships and we welcome news that 26 new apprentices are to be taken on at the council over the next two years.

Technology plays a huge part in all of our lives and we rightly expect all the devices we use on a daily basis to be safe.

Paul James was understandably shocked to find his new iPhone glowing red and giving off toxic smoke while it charged.

What might have happened to his family if he hadn't woken up and taken action does not bear thinking about.

Apple must investigate this incident to prevent it happening to anybody else.