I’M going on a late summer holiday in a few weeks and my biggest concern is not whether I can take a bottle of water with me, but whether I’ll be stuck in a queue for hours, have my luggage go missing – or get to the resort in one piece.

Just a few days ago most of us would have never even heard of “liquid bombs”, but now we live in fear that any sports drink - or baby bottle – could bring down a plane.

But don’t think those in charge – the airlines, airports and the world’s governments – didn’t know about the danger.

In fact the most frightening thing about the alleged foiled terror plot is that those in charge have known for years about the threat of a few mixed chemicals and did little to prevent it.

We were told the suspects had planned a death on “unimaginable scale”. But it’s the job of those in charge to imagine terror on this scale.

It’s unlikely that airport security would have detected the liquid bombs and the only thing that saved thousands of people from being killed on the flights from London to the US was the excellent work of our intelligence agencies.

While billions could be spent on new security devices and MI5 agents, I think the best solution has already been found – ban all liquids permanently.

And I’m not sure the ban should only be at airports. What about the London Underground, on buses, the EuroStar or cruise ships?

After all, The Daily Telegraph reported that the fanatics who killed 56 people on Tube trains and buses in London last year had used liquid-based homemade bombs.

Police believe the terrorists made the bomb from commonly available chemicals such as sulfuric acid, which is used to clean drains, hydrogen peroxide, which is used in hair dyes, and acetone.

And what has been done by London Underground bosses to stop liquid bombs killing more Londoners on their way to work?

In June, a pilot programme to test for traces of exlposives was run at a north London station.

An airport security style check was also trialed at a Tube station recently, but the biggest concern was about what delays it would cause.

If it’s delays everyone is worried about then is the best solution to ban all liquids and sell drinks on the platform or onboard?