| {"article": "Almost one million people visited the city during the six-week festival period over Christmas and Hogmanay. Organisers said almost 890,000 people visited the Edinburgh's Christmas events in 2014/15, contributing \u00a3199.5m to the local economy. The three-day Hogmanay celebrations attracted more than 150,000 people, creating an economic impact of \u00a341.8m. Charlie Wood, Edinburgh's Christmas festival director, said: \"This is great news for Edinburgh. The revenue generated does not go to the events themselves, the event organisers or to Edinburgh city council. \"This is money, which is going to the businesses of Edinburgh, be it retail, accommodation, food, drink, shopping and entertainment.\"", "summary": "Edinburgh's winter festivals generated more than \u00a3241m for the city, according to organisers."} | |
| {"article": "A firm in north Wales wants to bring the PooPrints service from the United States to the UK with up to 15 councils reportedly interested in the scheme. Councils could make owners in problem areas register their dogs to a database which involves a mouth swab taken. Then, DNA could be taken from mess left on a street, path or grass and used to find a match on the database. Gary Downie, managing director of Streetkleen Bio in Ruthin, Denbighshire, believes local authorities can use new powers granted by the Antisocial Behaviour and Policing Act 2014 to force dog owners to comply. \"The purpose of the system is to get cleaner, safer open spaces,\" he said. Councils the company is in talks with include Kingston-upon-Thames in south-west London, Aberdeen and Cheshire East.", "summary": "DNA in dog mess could be used to catch owners who fail to clear up their pet's mess."} | |
| {"article": "The works at Nottingham Castle include a chalk portrait of St Anne, sketches of bodies and plants, plus some technical drawings. The artist made only around 20 paintings during his lifetime, including the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, but left many more drawings. In total, there are almost 600 drawings by da Vinci in the Royal Collection. They were originally bound into a single album, thought to have been acquired in the 17th Century by Charles II. Experts believe Leonardo's drawings are the richest, most wide-ranging and most technically brilliant of any artist. The exhibition is on show at Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery until 9 October.", "summary": "Rare drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, which are part of the Queen's royal collection, have gone on show."} | |
| {"article": "Distill Ventures, which is part of the Diageo group, said it was investing an unspecified sum in Melbourne-based Starward Whisky. This marks the second whisky investment for Distill, which was set up to back early-stage brands and help them grow. Last week, it announced investment in Denmark-based Stauning Whisky. David Gates, Diageo's global head of premium core spirits, said: \"Australian whisky has rightly been gaining increasing global recognition recently and Starward has developed a uniquely positioned whisky to capture this opportunity.\" Frank Lampen, co-founder of Distill Ventures, added: \"The Starward team are exactly the types of entrepreneur we love working with. \"Their vision for the future is really exciting and this investment will enable increased production of their signature single malts and continued development of their innovation pipeline.\" Last year Diageo had a 37% share of the Scotch whisky market in terms of volumes.", "summary": "Diageo, the world's biggest Scotch whisky distiller, has invested in an Australian distillery to help it expand into new export markets."} | |
| {"article": "It follows reports of dog fouling and damage at the Camperdown and Caird Park courses. Dogs can still be walked across the courses but not if owners are playing a round of the game at the time. A spokesman for Leisure and Culture Dundee said the rules were changed on 20 April. He said: \"This change reflects the concerns of many players and staff about dog fouling and damage being caused to the courses, particularly greens and bunkers. \"The new management rules, which do not affect the Right to Roam legislation, are clearly signed at the courses and on the Leisure and Culture Dundee website. \"Most golf courses in Scotland do not allow players to bring dogs with them.\"", "summary": "Golfers at Dundee's public courses have been banned from bringing their dogs with them after complaints from fellow players and staff."} | |
| {"article": "Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston said speed camera vans should be \"where the public say they're needed not where GoSafe say they're needed\". Chris Hume, from GoSafe, said it was \"a partnership in which Gwent Police are full involved\". He said three parties agreed all sites. Mr Hume said each police force in Wales has a safety camera unit and sites are agreed by the force, the local authority and Swansea council, which acts as lead for the partnership. \"Camera sites are selected in accordance with the Welsh government guidelines and each site is reviewed on an annual basis by the relevant partners, including Gwent Police,\" he added. \"It is therefore a little perverse that there is a suggestion by Mr Johnston that the sites are inappropriate.\"", "summary": "A police commissioner's claim speed cameras have not been placed where they are most needed is \"perverse\", according to the scheme that enforces them."} | |
| {"article": "Radio Cymru Mwy is due to run for 15 weeks from 19 September and broadcast every weekday morning. The station will focus on more music and easy listening while the main Radio Cymru schedule continues as normal. \"The name BBC Radio Cymru Mwy says it all - more music, laughter and more choice for BBC Radio Cymru listeners,\" said editor Betsan Powys. \"As we prepare to celebrate BBC Radio Cymru's landmark 40th birthday in 2017, it's imperative that we continue to develop and innovate. \"The pop-up station is an opportunity for us to take advantage of new technology, but more importantly it gives listeners greater choice.\" Radio Cymru turns 40 on 3 January, the day after the pop-up station finishes.", "summary": "A pop-up digital radio station will launch in September in the run up to BBC Radio Cymru's 40th birthday."} | |
| {"article": "Kicked off by Audi, the system aims to end the frustration of missing the arrival of a package being delivered to home or work. Instead, Audi owners will be able to use their car as a shipping address for items ordered online. A pilot project to test the system is planned to take place in May in Munich. Using Audi's in-car communications system, Connect, DHL delivery drivers would track a customer's vehicle over a specified period of time and then use a digital access code to unlock the boot, the car maker said. This code would then expire as soon as the boot was shut. The deliveries will be available only to customers signed up for online retail service Amazon Prime. In March, the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees US airspace, gave Amazon permission to carry out tests using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, for its planned PrimeAir service.", "summary": "Packages could soon be delivered to the boot of your Audi as part of a trial involving the car maker, Amazon and DHL."} | |
| {"article": "The 41-year-old man was found with serious injuries at a flat in Gibson Terrace on Sunday. Ambulance crews treated him at the scene but he was later pronounced dead. A 36-year-old man and two women aged 34 and 39 were detained by police and were due to appear in court on Tuesday. However they were released from custody and did not appear. A Crown Office spokesman said: \"The procurator fiscal received a report concerning a 36-year-old man and two women aged 34 and 39 in connection with an alleged incident in Edinburgh on March 12 2017. \"After full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, they were liberated from custody pending further inquiries and did not appear in court.\"", "summary": "Three people arrested following the death of a man in Edinburgh have been released pending further inquiries."} | |
| {"article": "The OECD researches economics for the 30 nations that make up its membership. For the eurozone, its leading indicator of economic activity rose in January and also turned positive for Britain. The United States and Japan also continued to show signs of a pick-up. \"The United States and Japan continue to drive the overall position but stronger, albeit tentative, signals are beginning to emerge within all other major OECD economies and the euro area as a whole,\" the OECD said. However, Brazil and China showed signs of weakness in January, according to the OECD report. The OECD publishes its Composite Leading Indicators every month. The measure is designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity.", "summary": "The eurozone is showing \"tentative\" signs of recovery, according to the latest report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)."} | |
| {"article": "Scarborough Council's 'Considerate Parking Initiative' will see PCSOs and council officers hand out tickets asking motorists to be more thoughtful. The council hope it will lead to a drop in drivers in the town blocking driveways, parking on grass verges or parking too close to road junctions. The scheme has been backed by North Yorkshire Police. Andrew Backhouse, the council's cabinet member with responsibility for parking, said: \"By highlighting the issues and asking motorists to be more considerate, we hope the need for further regulation and enforcement can be avoided.\" Inspector Mike Fenton said difficulty in finding a parking space was \"no excuse to park inconsiderately or dangerously\". He said: \"Drivers must remember that parents with buggies and wheelchair users need to be able to use the pavement. \"There's also the danger that bad parking can create a blind spot or obstruct sightlines, especially when parked near a junction.\"", "summary": "Drivers caught parking inconsiderately will be given warning notices as part of a scheme to tackle the problem."} | |
| {"article": "The Wey & Arun Canal Trust said it can now restore 400m of the waterway's Bramley Link section, south of Guildford. The trust has so far carried out work on more than half of the 23-mile canal route. It has fully restored three-and-a-half miles in the Loxwood area where it runs public excursion boats. The new lease is for farmland owned by trust supporters Susan and Malcolm Brenton. It will enable a stretch of the canal from Shalford down to the Tannery Lane Bridge near Bramley to be restored. A year-long environmental impact assessment, a civil engineering design study and a full flood study are being carried out. The trust said the studies will support a planning application in summer 2016. The first fully restored section in Surrey, on the Summit Level between Alfold and Dunsfold, is due to open in September 2016.", "summary": "The restoration of a Surrey canal has taken a step forward with the signing of a lease for a stretch of land."} | |
| {"article": "The party says scrapping the tolls in 2018 would save commuters up to \u00c2\u00a31,300 a year more than other parties' plans. Lib Dem candidate Jenny Willott called the tolls a \"huge barrier to business\". Conservative Chancellor George Osborne announced in his March Budget that Severn Bridge tolls for cars and vans will be cut to \u00c2\u00a35.40 in 2018. Ms Willott said: \"Tolls are extremely rare in the UK, so I see no reason why people should be forced to pay to enter Wales.\" \"Plaid, the Tories and Labour all want to keep the tolls as a cash-cow - the Lib Dems won't let that happen,\" she added. Plaid Cymru candidate Steffan Lewis said his party would lower the fee to \u00c2\u00a32 per car and wants to see the Welsh government take control over the bridge. Labour and the Conservatives have been asked to comment.", "summary": "The Liberal Democrats have accused their election rivals of planning to use Severn Bridge tolls as a \"cash-cow\" when they return to public ownership."} | |
| {"article": "Firefighter Mike Dunn resuscitated the dog after it was pulled from the blaze showing no signs of life. Crews from three stations tackled the fire which began when a pan was left unattended on a cooker at a property in Silverdale Road, Hull, on Wednesday. Fire officials said it was rare to find dogs in house fires needing treatment as they are able to escape more easily. The technique used for mouth-to-mouth on dogs is to hold the snout shut while blowing into the nostrils. Mr Dunn said: \"The property was quite heavily smoke logged and the dog was handed to me outside showing little sign of life. \"I gave it mouth-to-mouth and oxygen therapy for about 30 minutes. \"The dog appeared to recover so it was left with a neighbour. Hopefully it will make a full recovery.\"", "summary": "A firefighter saved a pet dog's life by giving it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for half an hour following a fire."} | |
| {"article": "Police are hunting for Ryan Byrne, 34, who was released in error from Wandsworth Prison. The Prison Service informed the Met Police Byrne had been released on Friday, and said an investigation had been launched. A spokesperson said: \"Releases in error are very rare but regrettable occurrences. \"The number of incidents have fallen significantly in recent years with figures down by a quarter compared to 2009/10, but every incident is taken extremely seriously and we are not complacent. \"The recapture of this prisoner is now a matter for the police.\" Byrne was sentenced in 2008 to a total of nine years' imprisonment for burglary, robbery and theft. Officers in Hammersmith and Fulham, west London, have appealed for anyone with information about Byrne's whereabouts to get in touch. Byrne is described as white and of medium build, with blue eyes and a goatee beard.", "summary": "A convicted robber serving a nine-year sentence has been let out of a south London jail by mistake."} | |
| {"article": "The colourful phenomenon was visible in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but was also spotted as far south as Anglesey in Wales and Staffordshire in England. Aurora Borealis occurs when electrically-charged particles from the sun enter the earth's atmosphere. Many people took to social media to share photographs of the dramatic show. Forecasters had predicted a solar storm and good conditions for Aurora Borealis, and sightings of green, pink, purple, red and yellow lights were reported for several hours from about 20:00 GMT. Gavin Chambers, an RSPB warden, tweeted pictures of vivid green in the sky over Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales, saying: \"Well worth getting back out of bed for!!\" Donna Butcher tweeted: \"Just been watching an amazing display of Aurora from Staveley, Cumbria. Shafts of light streaming directly towards Polaris.\" You can email your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, and find out more about the Northern Lights here.", "summary": "There have been spectacular displays of the Aurora Borealis - better known as the Northern Lights - across parts of the UK overnight."} | |
| {"article": "The cat, which is not microchipped, was found with the trap attached to its leg in a field at Bowdens Lane, Penhow, near Newport, on 9 June. Gin traps, which have been illegal to use since 1958, were designed to catch animals using spring-operated jaws with a serrated edge. The cat was taken to a veterinary surgery where its leg was amputated and the RSPCA is trying to trace her owner. RSPCA Insp Gemma Black said: \"It was horrendous - she is only a young cat. She would have been in so much pain. It was lucky someone found her.\"", "summary": "A cat had its leg amputated after getting caught in an illegal gin trap."} | |
| {"article": "Two-year-old Sophia set out across her family's property south-east of Melbourne at around 7:30pm on Tuesday. The dog, a one-year-old Australian sheepdog named Poppy, went with her. Police confirmed that Poppy's barking alerted rescuers to the whereabouts of the pair after a seven-hour search. Rescuers found Sophia and Poppy 200m from a dam on the family's property. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. quoted Sophia's grandmother, Vera Cook, who credited the dog with saving the toddler's life. She said that Sophia was wearing just a nappy and T-shirt when she wandered off. \"The only thing I was thinking was well, hopefully the dog would have kept her warm,\" Ms Cook was quoted as saying. \"If [the dog] wasn't with her, I don't know whether they would have found her.\" The family issued a statement thanking emergency services and promising that Poppy would be \"well fed this evening\".", "summary": "A pet dog is being credited with keeping a little girl safe after the pair wandered away from their family home and could not be found for hours."} | |
| {"article": "Liberal Democrat Mick Longhurst, 82, had been due to stand for Mole Valley District Council in Surrey's Holmwoods ward. Returning officer Yvonne Rees said she was cancelling Thursday's election and will set a new date in due course. Mr Longhurst, who died on Saturday, had served as a councillor in the ward since 2000. Voting in the general election will take place as planned. Ms Rees said: \"We will send out poll cards to let people know. \"I am following the protocol set out by law and will announce a new date for the election in the near future.\" Other candidates who had also been due to contest the race for two council posts, will not need to be re-nominated. \"There will be an opportunity for other candidates to put their names forward,\" Ms Rees said.", "summary": "A district council election has been cancelled at the last minute after one of the candidates died."} | |
| {"article": "It dealt with 1,389 complaints - up more than 100 on the previous year. Cases included a puppy being thrown in a river with a head wound in Rhondda, a rabbit with severely overgrown teeth, hunting wild mammals with dogs in north Wales and animals with skin conditions in Haverfordwest. But the number of people convicted was down from 79 in 2013 to 47 last year. The charity added it had a 100% conviction rate. RSPCA Cymru superintendent Martyn Hubbard said: \"It is extremely concerning that we are still receiving more than 1,300 complaints about animals being deliberately caused to suffer. \"Most of the complaints we receive involve animals being neglected or not receiving the right care and often we can put that right by offering welfare advice. \"However, it is shocking that in 2014 people are still being deliberately cruel.\"", "summary": "The number of complaints relating to deliberate cruelty to animals in Wales rose last year, the RSPCA said."} | |
| {"article": "Hypsosinga heri was about to be removed from a list of British species, according to wildlife charity RSPB. But volunteers spotted two female spiders among flowers at Radipole Lake Nature Reserve in Weymouth, Dorset, during a butterfly survey. The last recorded sightings of the species were in 1898 and 1912. Both were made at Wicken Fen near Ely, Cambridgeshire. The new sightings, which have since been verified, were made several months ago. Volunteers were completing a butterfly survey at Radipole Lake when they spotted \"a very small, brightly-coloured spider on flowers\". They took photographs, and the find was later identified by the British Arachnological Society. Only females have been spotted so far. RSPB volunteer Allan Neilson said more females had been seen at nearby Lodmoor reserve since the recorded sightings. \"Which begs the question, where are the males?\" he said.", "summary": "A species of spider previously thought to have been wiped out in the UK has been spotted for the first time in over 100 years."} | |
| {"article": "The 25-year-old, from North Ormesby, was shaping metal when a part from the press fell on his foot on 17 March. Teesside Magistrates' Court heard that SM Thompson Limited, of Middlesbrough, had allowed dangerous lifting practices to go unchecked over 10 years. The firm admitted a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) breach and was fined \u00c2\u00a37,500. It must also pay \u00c2\u00a31,120 costs. The hearing heard how the worker had to have the big toe on his left foot amputated and two other toes removed. He was in hospital for seven days but has since returned to work, the hearing heard. HSE inspector Paul Wilson said: \"This worker's injuries need not have happened. \"The failure of SM Thompson to look properly at the risks involved and then organise the lifting operation properly put staff at needless risk. \"This sadly led to the painful and life-changing injuries suffered by this young man.\"", "summary": "A Teesside steel firm has been fined after a worker was crushed by a press and had to have three toes amputated."} | |
| {"article": "The astronomer, who presented The Sky At Night for over 50 years, died at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, in December 2012. The monocle will be auctioned later at Christie's, in London. The xylophone - which he used during a Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen - is to be sold at Henry Adams Auctioneers in Chichester. Sir Patrick presented the first edition of The Sky at Night on 24 April 1957. He became famous for his habit of wearing a monocle on screen, as well as his dishevelled and idiosyncratic persona. However, he was a celebrated and gifted astronomer and wrote dozens of books, with his research being used by the US and the Soviet Union in their space programmes. The monocle has a reserve price of \u00a3500 - \u00a3800 and the xylophone \u00a31,500 - \u00a32,000.", "summary": "Sir Patrick Moore's famous monocle and his xylophone are due to be sold at two separate auctions."} | |
| {"article": "Milton Keynes police boss Supt Gez Chiariello is alleged to have breached standards in relation to authority, respect and courtesy. The 46-year-old joined Thames Valley Police in 2007 and became the town's area commander in 2014. He has been suspended from duty with immediate effect. Acting Supt Vince Grey has been appointed to fill his role. A date is yet to be scheduled for the misconduct hearing. Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell said: \"Thames Valley Police's professional standards department is currently investigating allegations of misconduct into Supt Gez Chiariello. \"The facts will be heard by a panel, chaired by a legally qualified independent chairperson, who will determine if there is a case to answer for gross misconduct and if there is, the appropriate sanction to be applied.\"", "summary": "A police commander has been suspended over allegations of gross misconduct."} | |
| {"article": "The lamb, nicknamed Skippy because \"he looks like a kangaroo\", was born on a farm at Chilton Foliat in Wiltshire. Described as a \"freak of nature\" by farm hand Sally-Ann Fisher, Skippy was \"completely abandoned\" by his mother and is now being hand-reared. Ms Fisher said: \"We've made a little jacket for him to wear out of an old jumper to keep him warm at night.\" Ms Fisher, who farms with her partner near Ramsbury, said the lamb had been born 10 days ago but they were \"not aware\" that its lack of wool was a condition or a \"health problem\". \"He's just unlucky, but he's doing great,\" she said. Hannah Park, from the National Sheep Association, said the condition was \"not common\". \"Some breeds with less wool might be susceptible but it is extremely unusual and not something we would see,\" she said.", "summary": "A lamb born without its own wool coat is being kept warm in a borrowed fluffy fleece."} | |