network.

And Cable & Wireless and Telco are asking people to be patient as calls can sometimes take longer to be switched through than normal.

C&W spokesman Mr. John Instone said: "With people calling friends and relatives all over the world, demand is much higher than usual.'' Mr. Instone has offered a few useful pointers to people calling overseas at Christmas.

Firstly he reminded them of time zone differences so midnight revellers do not phone annoyed relatives in the United Kingdom at 4 a.m. their time.

He pointed out: "When it's noon in Bermuda it's 4 p.m. in London, 11 a.m. in New York and 8 a.m. in Los Angeles.'' Callers should check all country and area codes before dialing to avoid problems and delays.

Mr. Instone said: "Take the time to let your call go through. You will not be charged until your call is answered, so please allow sufficient time for your call to complete.

"With so many overseas calls being placed at this time of year, it can sometimes take longer to get through -- so don't hang up too soon.

"If no international lines are available, you will hear a recorded message asking you to wait and try again. It's a good idea to wait at least 10 minutes before placing your call again.''