i forgot to mention this when i got back off my hols but the no lighter rule at manchester is a waste of time
i approached the metal detectors with all my belongings in a tray that went through teh x-ray machine
all my belongings were handed back to me including my lighter
i was picked at random ( due to my honest looking face) and thouroghly searched
i left the area and on upon entering the duty free area , dparture lounge i was asked if i had any lighters so naturaly i handed it over coz i didnt want to get into trouble boarding a plane with it
now i thought i was going to have to track down someone who was wise enough to have taken matches and headed to teh smokers area where i asked for a light and almost everyone had a lighter
i asked how did you get them through the security and they said that they didnt as they handed them over but bought one in teh shops after they entered teh departure lounge
so in conclusion manchester airport is only a lighter free zone for about 50 yards between where your lighter is stolen from you and the shop that sells them, unless of course everyone was lying and they were all lighter smugglers
