Across three pages of The Sun, Pete Townshend of The Who tries to explain why he used his computer to look at look at sites displaying child pornography.

It was, he insists, "purely for research" and his motives were stupid - not sinister.

Among friends rallying to his support is Graham Beard who told the Daily Mail that the abuse Townshend suffered as child lies behind his strong opposition to child pornography.

Actress Jerry Hall tells the Daily Mirror how Townshend showed her how to protect her own children against accidental exposure to images of abuse while using their home computer.

Bee Gee tribute

The papers are full of tributes to Bee Gee Maurice Gibb who died on Sunday.

The Daily Express reminds its readers that, though critics sometimes scoffed, the Bee Gees were "one of the most successful acts in pop music history."

The Sun calls Maurice the "genius" behind five decades of "magic" and it quotes his memories of the 1960s:

"We never even thought about the money... I had six Rolls Royces and eight Aston Martins by the time I was 21."

The Times says he was the "ever smiling backbone" of the band, a man of natural humility amazed to find himself transformed in a few short months from a Beatles' fan, into Ringo Starr's neighbour.

But the Mail thinks there was a price to pay - as Maurice Gibb turned to alcohol.

Iraq confusion

There is a sense of foreboding in many papers' treatment of the threat of war with Iraq.

The Independent urges Tony Blair to clear up the confusion by setting out the conditions in which he believes British forces should go to war.

The Mirror thinks that should be only with UN approval and highlights Clare Short's call for Mr Blair to resist an early resort to conflict.

The Daily Telegraph urges Mr Blair to make the case for tackling Saddam. It quotes the Apostle Paul, who said:

"If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"

Plum choice

Never mind the war, what several papers want to know is whether Mr Blair was right to wear a plum three-piece in Germany this weekend.

"No peach in plum," is the tart verdict of the Daily Express.

The Mirror says that "at least he could never be described as boring."

But the Mail thinks him a bit of a "plum duffer" - saying his desire to find a classless off-duty look that's "youthful" and "a bit hip" once again led him astray.

Cash flow

Graduates thinking about a future career are queuing up to train as plumbers, says the Times, because they can earn at least £70,000 a year.

The Times urges prospective plumbers not to be deterred by out-of-date expectations, for example that "a PhD would lead to wealth, fame and esteem."

After all, it says, musical plumbers could "still hum Wagner while they work," and philosophers could "reason their way out of a blockage."