Word game

John LaBrecque knew that under Quebec's language laws his outdoor business sign in the town of Hull must be in French, AFP reports from Ottawa. So he thought his sign advertising 'LABRECQUE auto service' would fit the bill: the words 'auto' and 'service' are as French as they are English.

But the Ottawa Citizen newspaper reported that Mr LaBrecque faces a fine of up to 7,000 Canadian dollars ( pounds 3,700) because, in French, his sign should have read 'Service auto LABRECQUE'.