Monday, November 21, 2016
Bear cub seen having fun on playground swing
This brown bear cub was spotted playing on a swing at a playground in Kolpashevo, Russia. It is believed that the cub was part of a circus group giving a performance in the area. The bear was said to be under the supervision of a handler, although they are not visible in the video.
YouTube link. Original Instagram video.
YouTube link. Original Instagram video.
Cross-dressing clown robber jailed - Update
A cross-dressing clown who stole packets of cigarettes from a rural village store has been jailed.
Thomas Prodger terrified staff when he entered the Co-op store in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, clad in a flowery dress and clown mask at 9.20pm on September 21.
Prodger, of Middleton-in-Teesdale, was sentenced to 20 months in jail after pleading guilty to the theft of nine boxes of cigarettes at Durham Crown Court on Friday.
Judge Christopher Prince handed down the sentence along with a restraining order including conditions that Prodger is not to enter the Co-op until further notice.
Thomas Prodger terrified staff when he entered the Co-op store in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, clad in a flowery dress and clown mask at 9.20pm on September 21.
Prodger, of Middleton-in-Teesdale, was sentenced to 20 months in jail after pleading guilty to the theft of nine boxes of cigarettes at Durham Crown Court on Friday.
Judge Christopher Prince handed down the sentence along with a restraining order including conditions that Prodger is not to enter the Co-op until further notice.
Tortoise owner seen taking his pet for a walk
A tortoise was spotted being taken out for a walk in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
George Roberts, 76, said: “I was absolutely flabbergasted. I was actually quite surprised by how quick it moved, about the speed of a slow walking pace.”
George said it was the first time he had seen the animal and its owner. He said: “I asked the tortoise’s owner ‘just taking it out for a walk are you? He just mumbled ‘yes’.”
It is, however, not the first time the tortoise, which is about two-and-a-half feet long, has been spotted walking through Wilmslow. The tortoise was also spotted in March.
George Roberts, 76, said: “I was absolutely flabbergasted. I was actually quite surprised by how quick it moved, about the speed of a slow walking pace.”
George said it was the first time he had seen the animal and its owner. He said: “I asked the tortoise’s owner ‘just taking it out for a walk are you? He just mumbled ‘yes’.”
It is, however, not the first time the tortoise, which is about two-and-a-half feet long, has been spotted walking through Wilmslow. The tortoise was also spotted in March.
Pensioner bewildered as council continue to chase him for parking ticket which is not his
A pensioner from Tilehurst, Berkshire, has been left baffled after being chased by the council for a parking ticket which he claims is not for him.
Michael Longmuir, 65, received a fine in January after the council claimed his car was parked without a ticket in Reading town centre in November 2015.
Mr Longmuir refused to pay the fine but despite going into Reading Borough Council's offices to explain the situation, was told his car was the car in question.
After not paying the fine, the council sent round a sheriff at the end of October to seize the car and collect a fine of around £400, but after looking at Mr Longmuir's vehicle, admitted the car did not have the same number plate as the one in question. Both Mr Longmuir and the council insist they have checked the driver and vehicle licensing agency (DVLA) records based in Swansea but the matter appears to be no clearer. The car in question is a Vauxhall Meriva, the same make and model as Mr Longmuir's vehicle, however, the number plate is different.
Mr Longmuir said: "I went into the council but they didn't want to know. I wasn't allowed to talk to anybody about it. The car is a different registration to mine. I never go in to town because I have a bus pass. I feel something should be done about this. I have rung the council up and told them it is not my vehicle. A sheriff from the council came round from the council offices with a bill of £400 but when he arrived he saw it was a different vehicle in its place." He said: "I rang up Swansea [the DVLA] at the time and they looked on their records and said I didn't own the vehicle. It has caused me an awful lot of stress.
"I have been in to the council offices on a number of occasions but it's like talking to a duck out of water. All they had to do was ring up Swansea and they would have said who the vehicle belongs to. It must have been a stolen vehicle or one with different numberplates. I feel this is important for other people to know about this." David Millward, spokesman for Reading Borough Council, said the authority had checked the DVLA records which said Mr Longmuir is the registered keeper of the car, so the fine lies with him. Mr Millward said: "We can confirm the council has correctly processed a parking ticket in accordance with the relevant legislation. Mr Longmuir has not formally challenged the ticket and remains liable as the DVLA registered keeper."
After not paying the fine, the council sent round a sheriff at the end of October to seize the car and collect a fine of around £400, but after looking at Mr Longmuir's vehicle, admitted the car did not have the same number plate as the one in question. Both Mr Longmuir and the council insist they have checked the driver and vehicle licensing agency (DVLA) records based in Swansea but the matter appears to be no clearer. The car in question is a Vauxhall Meriva, the same make and model as Mr Longmuir's vehicle, however, the number plate is different.
Mr Longmuir said: "I went into the council but they didn't want to know. I wasn't allowed to talk to anybody about it. The car is a different registration to mine. I never go in to town because I have a bus pass. I feel something should be done about this. I have rung the council up and told them it is not my vehicle. A sheriff from the council came round from the council offices with a bill of £400 but when he arrived he saw it was a different vehicle in its place." He said: "I rang up Swansea [the DVLA] at the time and they looked on their records and said I didn't own the vehicle. It has caused me an awful lot of stress.
"I have been in to the council offices on a number of occasions but it's like talking to a duck out of water. All they had to do was ring up Swansea and they would have said who the vehicle belongs to. It must have been a stolen vehicle or one with different numberplates. I feel this is important for other people to know about this." David Millward, spokesman for Reading Borough Council, said the authority had checked the DVLA records which said Mr Longmuir is the registered keeper of the car, so the fine lies with him. Mr Millward said: "We can confirm the council has correctly processed a parking ticket in accordance with the relevant legislation. Mr Longmuir has not formally challenged the ticket and remains liable as the DVLA registered keeper."
Firefighters rescued hungry bull with head stuck in feeder
Fire crews were called to rescue a bull with its head stuck in a feeder in Water Orton, near Coleshill, Warwickshire.
The call was made to Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service about the hungry animal at 7.23pm on Thursday.
On arrival crews and the Large Animal Rescue Team assessed the situation and worked out how to release the bull whilst minimising any stress.
Due to the location crews had to set up lighting around the bull and then used cutting gear and lines to release the animal from the metal feeder unit. Luckily the bull was released uninjured and was none the worse for his ordeal. He even managed to get another feed without getting his head stuck.
The call was made to Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service about the hungry animal at 7.23pm on Thursday.
On arrival crews and the Large Animal Rescue Team assessed the situation and worked out how to release the bull whilst minimising any stress.
Due to the location crews had to set up lighting around the bull and then used cutting gear and lines to release the animal from the metal feeder unit. Luckily the bull was released uninjured and was none the worse for his ordeal. He even managed to get another feed without getting his head stuck.
Woman angry that British Gas engineers broke into her home despite never being a customer
British Gas engineers broke into a flat and ‘ransacked’ the property to check a meter - even though the househoulder has never been a customer.
Mollie Hopkins, 23, returned to her second-floor flat in Radcliffe, Bury, Greater Manchester, on Friday night and at first thought she had been robbed, with clothes, dirty laundry and other items strewn across the floor of her bedroom
Then she saw a card which had been left by British Gas engineers on the hall floor which stated they had entered the flat with a warrant to disconnect the supply or fit a new meter but no work was carried out because they had found ‘the wrong meter’. Mollie then spent two hours on the phone trying to get in touch with British Gas. A company official asked for customer reference number even though Mollie had already stated she had never been a customer. Mollie, who works in the customer complaints department for a Manchester retailer, said: “It was such a mess. They just trashed the place.
“They found the meter, realised they were in the wrong place and left. It’s awful. I’ve only been here a few months and I don’t want to be here anymore to be honest. I’d move out if I could. I’ve never ever been a British Gas Customer anywhere I’ve lived so imagine my absolute horror when I came home to find my flat in an absolute state. My bedroom has been completely ransacked, my clothes and personal belongings had been chucked all over the floor! Even my laundry basket emptied. In my kitchen cupboards were open. I have two road bikes worth £550 each, they had been moved and were thrown across the other side of the kitchen.”
She added: “It’s violating and I feel like my personal space has been disturbed. The worst part of this is the complete invasion of my privacy. I do not know who was in my house, what they did, what they touched and rummaged through.” British Gas said there was an outstanding debt logged against the address. But the company hadn't realised that it had been accrued by a someone who had since moved out - it had nothing to do with Mollie. Letters were sent to the address - but in the name of the previous tenant. Catrin Millar of British Gas, said: “This is a mistake for which we are extremely sorry. We have contacted Ms Hopkins to apologise for the inconvenience and distress caused and we are working hard to put the situation right as quickly as possible.”
Then she saw a card which had been left by British Gas engineers on the hall floor which stated they had entered the flat with a warrant to disconnect the supply or fit a new meter but no work was carried out because they had found ‘the wrong meter’. Mollie then spent two hours on the phone trying to get in touch with British Gas. A company official asked for customer reference number even though Mollie had already stated she had never been a customer. Mollie, who works in the customer complaints department for a Manchester retailer, said: “It was such a mess. They just trashed the place.
“They found the meter, realised they were in the wrong place and left. It’s awful. I’ve only been here a few months and I don’t want to be here anymore to be honest. I’d move out if I could. I’ve never ever been a British Gas Customer anywhere I’ve lived so imagine my absolute horror when I came home to find my flat in an absolute state. My bedroom has been completely ransacked, my clothes and personal belongings had been chucked all over the floor! Even my laundry basket emptied. In my kitchen cupboards were open. I have two road bikes worth £550 each, they had been moved and were thrown across the other side of the kitchen.”
She added: “It’s violating and I feel like my personal space has been disturbed. The worst part of this is the complete invasion of my privacy. I do not know who was in my house, what they did, what they touched and rummaged through.” British Gas said there was an outstanding debt logged against the address. But the company hadn't realised that it had been accrued by a someone who had since moved out - it had nothing to do with Mollie. Letters were sent to the address - but in the name of the previous tenant. Catrin Millar of British Gas, said: “This is a mistake for which we are extremely sorry. We have contacted Ms Hopkins to apologise for the inconvenience and distress caused and we are working hard to put the situation right as quickly as possible.”
Defiant pigeons still sit under bridge even though £8,000 has been spent on spikes to deter them
Pigeons are continuing to sit under a bridge in Frome, Somerset, even though it recently received an £8,000 pigeon-proofing renovation.
The creatures are seemingly unfazed by the expensive pigeon preventing spikes.
Spikes were installed on Rodden Bridge to tackle the pesky pigeons after the footpath below was labelled dangerously slippery due to an abundance of bird poo.
The bridge, which allows a rail line to cross over Rodden Road, underwent the pigeon proofing transformation to address these concerns. Frome Town Council and Network Rail teamed up to solve the street detritus problem. The council paid close to £4,000 for the works, with Network Rail matching that amount.
Rodden Road was closed from Monday, November 7 to Friday, November 11 between the hours of 10pm and 6am, while the works took place. The works, it appears, were to no avail as pigeons are still sitting under the bridge. A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Pigeon spikes were installed extensively across the bridge two weeks ago while all areas of the bridge above the public domain, where practical, also had spikes installed.
"With regards to pigeons still being spotted on the bridge, the specialist contractor that installed the deterrent measures, Pestokill, advised that time should be given for the birds to move on. We've effectively taken away the home of a large population of the birds, and it is a natural behaviour for them to stay in the local area before moving on elsewhere." Frome Town Council has been approached for comment on whether it thinks the works were worthwhile - it is due to respond early next week.
The bridge, which allows a rail line to cross over Rodden Road, underwent the pigeon proofing transformation to address these concerns. Frome Town Council and Network Rail teamed up to solve the street detritus problem. The council paid close to £4,000 for the works, with Network Rail matching that amount.
Rodden Road was closed from Monday, November 7 to Friday, November 11 between the hours of 10pm and 6am, while the works took place. The works, it appears, were to no avail as pigeons are still sitting under the bridge. A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Pigeon spikes were installed extensively across the bridge two weeks ago while all areas of the bridge above the public domain, where practical, also had spikes installed.
"With regards to pigeons still being spotted on the bridge, the specialist contractor that installed the deterrent measures, Pestokill, advised that time should be given for the birds to move on. We've effectively taken away the home of a large population of the birds, and it is a natural behaviour for them to stay in the local area before moving on elsewhere." Frome Town Council has been approached for comment on whether it thinks the works were worthwhile - it is due to respond early next week.
Foolish motorists filmed driving across flooded causeway at high tide
A video filmed by a drone has captured crossing the Mersea Island causeway in Essex at high tide.
Island resident Craig Moorcroft, 39, flew his drone above The Strood, the road which connects the island with the mainland, during one of the highest tides of the year.
Water levels reached 5.9m which left the road submerged, but that was not enough to stop some drivers trying to cross.
The fire brigade and coastguard had to wade out to save two people from their broken-down car. Mr Moorcroft spent half an hour filming at The Strood before posting the edited video online. He said: "It's just stupidity trying to drive through. The water was very deep that day. One week a month, the water can cover the road. It's a bit of a sore spot with Mersea residents - time and time again people try to drive through it.
"The fire brigade and coastguards have to come out and it's frustrating their time is being wasted by people." A spokesman for the fire service said: “We were called to The Strood in West Mersea. One fire engine from Mersea was sent. A vehicle with two occupants was stranded on The Strood in the receding tide. We sent crews in wading outfits to help and the coastguard also attended. The occupants were rescued.”
YouTube link.
Head of community safety at the fire service, Neil Fenwick, issued a warning to drivers trying to cross floodwater. He said: “Never drive into water which is deeper than the centre of your wheels. If you suspect the water could too deep, stop, get out and check and find a different route. Just 2ft of water is enough to make a car float and six inches in enough to reach most exhaust pipes which will stall the car.”
The fire brigade and coastguard had to wade out to save two people from their broken-down car. Mr Moorcroft spent half an hour filming at The Strood before posting the edited video online. He said: "It's just stupidity trying to drive through. The water was very deep that day. One week a month, the water can cover the road. It's a bit of a sore spot with Mersea residents - time and time again people try to drive through it.
"The fire brigade and coastguards have to come out and it's frustrating their time is being wasted by people." A spokesman for the fire service said: “We were called to The Strood in West Mersea. One fire engine from Mersea was sent. A vehicle with two occupants was stranded on The Strood in the receding tide. We sent crews in wading outfits to help and the coastguard also attended. The occupants were rescued.”
YouTube link.
Head of community safety at the fire service, Neil Fenwick, issued a warning to drivers trying to cross floodwater. He said: “Never drive into water which is deeper than the centre of your wheels. If you suspect the water could too deep, stop, get out and check and find a different route. Just 2ft of water is enough to make a car float and six inches in enough to reach most exhaust pipes which will stall the car.”
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