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These award-winning photographs capture incredible moments from all four corners of the globe

It’s often said that a picture can speak a thousand words.

And now, The Siena International Photo Awards are the very proof of that. It’s a prestigious photography contest that offers a unique snapshot at different cultures, traditions, and lifestyles over the world.

The 2016 winners have offered a series of incredible looks at life across India, China, Bangladesh, Turkey, Cuba, Myanmar and Bahrain. 

Smile - Honourable mention, People and Portrait category

This brilliant shot shows Buddhist monks battling against the icy climes in Labrang, Tibet. But as this youngster proves, there’s always time for a smile. (Picture: Jianjun Huang)

Strawberry greenhouses - Winner, Travel category

It’s a simple shot of a strawberry picker walking between greenhouses in the Aydin province of Turkey, but the colours of the greenhouses are incredibly striking. (Picture: Leyla Amaktar)

The Power of Nature - Winner, Nature category

It looks like an apocalyptic explosion, but this stunning snap actually captures the moment that Mount Etna erupted. (Picture: Giuseppe Mario Famiani)

Mangrove - Honourable mention, Nature category

Waiting patiently for his next meal among the mangroves, there’s something brilliantly threatening about this snap of a crocodile. (Picture: Greg Lecouer)

Floating Market - Third place, Travel category

Trading on the water? These guys have got it nailed, and their efforts are perfectly captured in this photograph. (Picture: Antonio Andre Tiju)

Women Reflection - Second place, Architecture category

This monochrome snap offers an unusual look at the intricate design of Sheikh Zayed’s Grand Mosque in the United Arab Emirates. (Picture: Ali Al Hajri)

Phan Rang Fishing Net Making - Winner, Open Colour category

This photo of a woman making fishing nets in Vietnam is incredible, with the lush greens of the nets appearing like a swirling mysterious force. (Picture: Danny Yen Sing Wong)

The Storyteller - Honourable mention, Travel category

It’s the simple things in life, right? That certainly seems to be the case for these guys, kicking back during a traditional storytelling session. (Picture: Aimin Wang)

Tuscan Golden Sunrise - Remarkable Award, Open Colour category

This shot of the sun rising over Tuscany is eerie and beautiful at the same time. (Picture: Michele Mascinai)

Gaming During Recess - Remarkable Award, Open Monochrome category

This incredible monochrome snap captures a group of school children playing limbo during a welcome break from lessons. It’s a perfect reflection of childish joy and naivety. (Picture: Yue Zhang)

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Watch: Taxi driver brazenly drives across path of learner driver as she reverses during lesson

This is the bizarre moment that a taxi driver brazenly drove across the path of a learner driver before leaving his car across three parking bays - including one that she was attempting to reverse into.

Driving instructor Ian Graham, 57, was left stunned as the Toyota Prius sneaked around his car and across the back of his female student as she attempted a manoeuvre.

The pair were finishing a driving lesson in the McDonalds car park on Blackburn Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, on Thursday when the driver brazenly hogged the three spaces.

Ian, who is the owner and chief instructor of Road Light Driving Training, said: ‘My student and I both just looked at each other - we couldn't believe what we were seeing.

The driver is seen bizarrely straddling three bays (Picture: Mercury)

'My car is covered in brightly-coloured spots for Children in Need's Big Learner Relay so you can hardly miss me. 'Once she put the handbrake on I got out of the car to see if I was seeing things correctly and see where he had gone.

‘I said to the taxi driver that he was very fortunate she's at the stage she is and is taking her test next week otherwise there could have been an accident.

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'The taxi driver just shrugged his shoulders, muttered some obscenities under his breath and drove off.'

In the 43-second clip, the learner driver is seen cautiously reversing into a parking bay, and briefly pauses when she clocks the taxi driver before continuing to reverse into the space.

The incident occurred at a McDonalds in Bolton (Picture: Mercury)

But as she reverses back, the taxi driver pulls across the spaces to drop a passenger off - before a passer-by walks into shot and points at the taxi in utter disbelief.  Ian added: ‘It was a perfect teaching example of the kinds of things that can happen and why you should always keep your eyes open when you're out in the car.

'You need to look out for traffic coming at you from all angles and the additional hazard of children who may walk out at the car. 'The taxi driver wasn't bothered and moved off, blocking another car in even though there were lots of spaces - he was really inconsiderate.

Ian’s car is covered in polka dots for Children in Need (Picture: Mercury)

'In terms of being dangerous it's not that bad, it's just a really awful thing to do to a learner driver. 'Fortunately she's the type of character who doesn't let anything faze her and we were able to turn it into a learning opportunity.' 

McDonalds are yet to comment on the incident. 

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Cop killer Dale Cregan boasts about ‘holiday camp’ prison during life sentence

Dale Cregan was jailed in 2013 (Picture: Rex Features)

Vile cop killer Dale Cregan has boasted of his cushy life behind bars, and how he regularly plays tennis and snooker in his spare time.

Cregan, 33 is serving a life sentence for the murders of police officers Fiona Bone, 32, and 23-year-old Nicola Hughes, after he lured them to the house where he was hiding in 2012.

But he has now compared life at Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside to a ‘holiday camp’.

Dale Cregan killed Pc Fiona Bone and Pc Nicola Hughes in 2012 (Picture: PA)

In a letter to friends obtained by The Mirror, Cregan boasted of how he is fed luxury pizza, and regularly attends kayaking sessions in a swimming pool.

Cregan, who also killed father and son David and Mark Short in a four-month reign of terror, wrote: ‘I’m good bro just smashing the gym and playing snooker you know how it goes.

‘Been doin pure circuits on the ward. You know you got your a**e kicked at snooker and tennis you had me at the kayaking tho bro (ha ha).’

In another extract from the letter, Cregan explains how life is much easier than being behind bars at Strangeways Prison, where he was initially incarcerated in 2013.

‘I’m on normal gym now, been training with **** and **** and they both seem sound’, he wrote.

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‘I just train hard and come back to the ward and either do a bit on the ward or just chill in my room. It’s not ideal but it beats sitting on the block miles from home innit bro. Gym, phone call and a visit and I’m happy brother.’

It’s also believed that he is allowed to cook pizza, but is not allowed to use knives.

Cretan is currently incarcerated at Ashworth Hospital (Picture: REX Features)

An inside source told The Mirror: ‘Cregan is quite happy with his phone calls and going to the gym. It is better than being in prison and being locked up for 23 hours a day. Everyone fights to get in Ashworth. It is like a little ­collection of youth centres.’

Cregan was moved to Ashworth Hospital in 2013, and is one of 227 inmates incarcerated at the facility, including notorious Moors murderer Ian Brady. 

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Brrr! Winter set to arrive next week with ‘below freezing’ temperatures

Is winter on the way? (Picture: REX Features)

The clocks go back this weekend - and now we’re here to tell you that winter is seemingly wasting no time in letting us know that it’s arrived.

Hooray!

Despite some parts of the country experiencing balmy highs of up to 18C this this week, winter is expected to arrive with sub-zero temperatures next week.

The Met Office also says that widespread night frosts can be expected as early as Wednesday next week - and snow could start falling in the North in the middle of next month.

MORE: Pringles are actually biscuits not crisps and now nothing makes sense 

MORE: Increase in benefit cuts linked to rise in numbers using food banks 

It’s all a contrast to the 18C highs that were recorded on the Isle of Wight yesterday, although parts of the Highlands are already experiencing freezing climes of -5C.

Describing the drop, Met Office forecaster Nicky Maxey warned that temperatures could be about to fall into single figures.

‘We could be looking at one or two degrees below what we’d expect at that time of year’, she said.

‘We’ll have a contrast between this week which is going to be milder, and we’re looking at mid-teens. ‘But in the middle of next week you could be struggling to get into double figures. People might feel that contrast. ‘We’re going from a period when we’re above average to a period where we’re below average.’

Here’s what we can expect on Tuesday, with grey clouds circulating over the UK (Picture: Met Office)

Delivering the news that none of us want to hear, Ms Maxey added: ‘We’re quite likely to see below freezing ‘Even in town or city centres you might be seeing some temperatures below freezing. People will feel it.’

And with that, we’re off to dust off our thickest scarves. Keep warm! 

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Woman wins $1m on scratchcard while trying to prove to husband that they’re a waste of money

Glenda won a ticket the same as this (Picture: WLOS)

A woman who was fed up with her husband’s costly love of scratch-cards decided to teach him a lesson - but it backfired in the best way that she could have ever imagined.

Glenda Blackwell, from Leicester, North Carolina, had been asked to buy a Powerball ticket by her husband Buddy.

However, in a bid to show him that the tickets were a waste of money, she instead opted to buy a $10 scratchcard instead. 

But when Glenda scratched the card, she was stunned to discover that she had won a cool $1 million.

She purchased it from a local convenience store (Picture: WLOS)

She’s now opted to take a lump sum of more than $415,000 after taxes.

Describing the unexpected win, Glenda said: ‘I was going to be ugly and buy a scratch-off to show him they didn’t hit.

‘Sometimes I get aggravated with him, so I tell him, "You're just wasting your money.”’ 

MORE: New findings have revealed a 'state of unease' in the medical profession 

MORE: A disabled man facing jail reportedly decided to ‘do one’ from court - fleeing on a mobility scooter

Now, she’s been forced to eat her words, but ‘they were worth eating’, Glenda says.

And as for how she plans to spend her winnings, Glenda says that she’ll sorting out her own finances - before helping her grandchildren through University.

‘We've struggled a lot, so now we can buy our own home and our own land. It'll be paid for and I don't have to worry about that no more’, she said.  

‘So, that's what I plan to do with some of the money and the other part I plan to help my daughter and to put money up for my two granddaughters for college.’

Brilliant stuff.

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Adorable penguin fitted with jacket to keep warm after feathers fell out

Looking good! (Picture: SeaWorld)

Meet Wonder Twin.

She's a female Adelie penguin that resides at SeaWorld in Orlando as a star of the marine park’s Antartica: Empire of the Penguin exhibit.

But when she began to lose feathers on her side and back last month, SeaWorld staff soon realised there was only one thing for it, and fitted Wonder Twin with her own jacket.

Feather loss can be seriously detrimental in allowing penguins to regulate their body temperature in icy climes, but that’s not a problem Wonder Twin has to deal with anymore.

Oh, this? It’s just my supercool jacket, no biggie. (Picture: SeaWorld)

Instead, she now has the jacket to keep her warm and provide some all important insulation as she dives into the enclosure’s icy waters.

The jacket was especially designed by aviculturist TJ Dray, who described the project as ‘really cool’.

It’s quite the contrast to how Wonder Twin used to look (Picture:SeaWorld)

Maria Barretto, the wardrobe craftsperson who bought the outfit to life, described it as the ‘best project’ she has ever worked on.

‘Im happy that everything is going okay, and that she can wear it and keep warm.’

We love you Wonder Twin, you’re the jacket wearing penguin that the world needs.

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You can adopt this ‘Dracula’ dog just in time for Halloween

With a pair of upward fangs protruding from his mouth, Milo looks like he’s primed to celebrate Halloween.

But despite bearing an unlikely resemblance to Dracula, the seven-year-old Lhasa Apso is said to be a ‘gentle character’ -  and he's now looking for a new home.

The adorable hound arrived at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Bridgend, South Wales, last week - and he’s already made quite the impression.

Centre manager Angela Wetherall says that Milo is friendly, loves a walk, and gets on particularly well with other dogs.

She told the Daily Record: ‘We are amazed by how much Milo's teeth resemble vampire fangs - they have certainly become a topic of conversation with staff and visitors.

He may bear an uncanny resemblance to Count Dracula but he is no bloodhound. Milo is missing his home comforts and is looking for a fairly quiet home. He could live with other animals or children over the age of 14 who will give him time on his own when he needs it.’

Reckon you could give him a home? Visit dogstrust.org.uk to find out more. 

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Napflix and Chill? This new streaming service will bore you to sleep

Netflix binges are a gift from above - this much we know to be true.

But we’re often tired, oh so tired, and we struggle to keep awake while watching  shows like Black Mirror and Making A Murderer.

However, necessity is the mother of invention, and we’ve now been presented with the gift that is Napflix - a new streaming service that’s been specifically designed to help you have a snooze in front of the telly.

Understandably, it’s pretty dry, and is described as a streaming service ‘where you can find the most silent and sleepy content selection to relax your brain and easily fall asleep.’

The content reflects that too, with users given the option of watching a burning fire place or a title called ‘Power Juicer Pro’, literally consisting of nothing more than watching a juicer in action.

It’s bizarre, yes - but we’re strangely intrigued.

It’s also free, while Netflix certainly isn’t. 

And with that, we’re off to watch Subway, which helps people to fall asleep by playing footage of  the train going from Canal St. to Coney Island in New York City.

Zzzz. 

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Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star has been smashed to bits

Trump’s campaign has been rocked by controversy (Picture: REX)

It’s fair to say that Donald Trump has courted controversy in a way that few other Presidential candidates have ever managed - running a campaign that has become dogged by accusations of racism and sexual assault.

But now, one of Donald Trump’s detractors has hit back in dramatic fashion - by destroying the business mogul’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

It’s thought that the Republican candidate is the first person to ever have their star destroyed - with the attack taking place early this morning.

According to Deadline, a man named Jamie Otis dressed up in construction gear before heading to Hollywood Boulevard at 5.45am this morning - wreaking havoc on the star with a sledgehammer.

Deadline first reported the star’s destruction

And while the star was smashed to smithereens, it’s claimed that Otis originally wanted to remove the star in one piece - in a bid to auction it off to raise money for the women who have publicly accused Trump of assault.

It isn't the first time that Trump’s star has come under attack in recent months.

In June, a mute sign was spray painted onto the star in an attempt to silence the Presidential candidate once and for all.

And in July, a street artist also built a tiny wall around the perimeter of Trump’s star - criticising Trump’s plan to to build a wall between the US and Mexico.

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These stirring photographs offer an incredible look at life in the armed forces

Corporal Tim Jones has triumphed at the Army Photographic Competition 2016, taking the Photographer of the Year Crown for his portfolio of images that show a fascinating side of life in the forces.

His victory was announced today at a ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum, where his images were displayed.

Among the most striking images from Tim’s portfolio is a shot of a Fijian soldier wading through treacherous deep water in the jungles of Brunei.

Discussing the shot, Tim revealed: ‘We were in Brunei to capture the unit training in jungle warfare and I thought we should set this scene in the water. We found a little stream and the unit were more than happy to do it. It’s my personal favourite.’

Scotland-based photographer Mark Owens was honoured for his picture ‘The Hug’, which was voted the best picture by members of the public on Instagram and Facebook. 

Army Boxer

The prize for the best overall image was taken by Huddersfield Army Photographer Corporal Paul Shaw - for a revealing snap of a boxer from 3rd Battalion The Rifles in training (Picture:Corporal Paul Shaw)

Jungle Warfare

Tim’s shot of a Fijian soldier offers a unique insight into the treacherous conditions that forces are often faced with. (Picture: Corporal Tim Jones)

Cleaning You Gat

Other shots taken by Tim include this take on the everyday rigour of army life - with a soldier cleaning his rifle (Picture: Corporal Tim Jones)

Judgment Time

Sgt Rupert Frere won the award for Professional Story with this shot showing soldiers preparing for Horse Guards’ Parade. (Picture: Sgt Rupert Frere)

Ready To Go

Sgt Frere’s stunning shots capture the emotions of the event. (Picture: Sgt Rupert Frere)

Full Throttle

In the Amateur sport category, Cpl Ian Chapman triumphed with this snap - showing the cool reaction of an army motorcyclist as he tackles a muddy course (Picture: Cpl Ian Chapman)

Freefall

And in the professional category, Dominic King won with this incredible snap of the Tigers skydiving team (Picture: Dominic King)

Nightlife in Otterburn

There were some stunning landscapes too, with Cpl Tim Jones also winning praise for ‘Nightlife in Otterburn’, which showed a night sky at a Northumberland training camp (Picture: Cpl Tim Jones)

Big Hugs

And there was the snap that captured the relationship between army and home life, with Mark Owens winning the award for Best Online Snap. Adorable, right? (Picture: Mark Owens)

Into The Night

The runners up efforts were equally impressive - with  OCdt Harvey Marsden, HMS Forward, securing second place with this action shot of life on the high seas (Picture: Harvey Marsden)

Home Front

And this, by Sgt Rupert Frere is hilariously brilliant - again showing how army life and family life can combine in the funniest of ways. Domestic bliss, eh? (Picture: Rupert Frere)

Biting Back

It wasn’t just the human side of army life that featured in the snaps. This incredible photo by Graeme Main shows how man’s best friends is always out to protect us. (Picture: Graeme Main)

Downtime

And not forgetting, of course, these horses. (Picture: Sgt Rupert Frere)

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‘Blacks for Trump’ sign is held by white woman at presidential rally

Donald Trump is continuing to fight for the Presidency of the United States - despite running a campaign that’s been continually rocked by accusations of racism and sexual assault.

But could the firebrand Republican candidate be proving that he’s appealing to ALL of America after a ‘Blacks for Trump’ sign surfaced at a rally yesterday?

In short, no - and it’s all to do with the fact that the sign was being held by a white woman.

Awkward!

The sign was seen at a rally in Florida yesterday afternoon - and it wasn't long before Twitter picked up on the strange gaffe.

But while to remains to be seen whether Trump actually saw who was carrying the sign, he seemed quite the fan.

‘I love the signs behind me, Blacks for Trump. I like those signs. ‘Blacks for Trump.’ You watch. You watch’, he bellowed. 

Depressingly, it’s not the first time that this has happened at a Trump rally.

The US Presidential campaign takes place on November 8. Until then, let the madness continue. 

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Wife discovered husband’s affair with maid after squawking parrot revealed all

What’s that you say? He’s having an AFFAIR?! (Picture: Rex Features)

A PARROT landed its owner in serious trouble, after revealing a husband’s affair with the housekeeper in front of his shocked wife.

The bird unwittingly started repeating the conversations that he had heard between the man and his housekeeper - causing his wife to become understandably suspicious.

And when the wife realised that the comments were originating from the couple’s Kuwait home, she soon clocked that her husband was having an affair.

But adultery is illegal in Kuwait, so the wife immediately headed to police with the parrot - which she had hoped to use as evidence.

Luckily for the man, police rejected the evidence on the grounds that the bird could have heard the sweet nothings on a television or radio show.

If he had been found guilty, the husband ran the risk of facing a prison sentence or hard labour.

According to local paper Al Shahed Daily, the wife had suspected her husband’s indiscretions for quite some time - but we expect that she didn’t think that it would be the parrot that would finally reveal them.

Squaawk!

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‘Essex Girl’ won't be removed from the dictionary despite a petition of over 3,000 people

Amy Childs and the cast of The Only Way Is Essex were instrumental with popularising the term (Picture: Rex Features)

The term ‘Essex Girl’ won't be removed from the Oxford English Dictionary - despite a petition signed by 3,500 people.

The campaign to remove the phrase was spearheaded by two city workers - who claimed that it is a ‘tired, lazy stereotype’. 

It first entered the dictionary in 1997, and is defined as ‘a supposed type of young woman… variously characterised as unintelligent, promiscuous and materialistic.’

But former Bloomberg executives Juliet Thomas, 32, and Natasha Sawkins, 34, now say that the definition isn't fair on all women from Essex.

They told the Evening Standard: ‘We want the definitions removed. Or, at the very least, made obsolete. And we know that, to do this, Essex needs to reclaim ‘Essex girl’ — to let the world know that it doesn’t signify anything other than a girl who lives in Essex.’

And while the Oxford English Dictionary pledged to look at the campaign, they have since confirmed that the phrase will be remaining firmly put.

A spokesperson for the OED said: ‘Oxford Dictionaries set out to describe the language as it’s used rather than specify how words should be used.

‘Where words or phrases in the dictionary are offensive or derogatory, like in the case of “Essex Girl”, we clearly indicate this.

‘We don’t exclude offensive or vulgar terms from our dictionaries as they are as much a part of the language as any other words. Their presence in the dictionary is simply a recognition of existence and of relative longevity.’

The spokesperson added that the changes would go against ‘descriptive editorial policy’. 

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Brave dad ‘risks arrest’ by planting tree on Oxford Street for young daughter

It’s a bold move (Picture: Twitter) 

All dad will go to pretty serious extremes when it comes to making their daughters happy.

But risking arrest? That’s the threat that one brilliant dad seemingly faced when he decided to plant a tree in the middle of Oxford Street and attached a pretty charming note next to it.

‘Dear everyone, My name is Arrabella Cornelius. I am 7′, the note began.

‘I have planted this tree here for everyone to watch it grow and enjoy. Please respect it as I bought it with my own money.

‘Plus my Daddy risked getting arrested planting it!’

This adorable note was attached to the tree (Picture: Twitter)

Also on the note was the hashtag #MytreeLondon - in a bid to get people talking.

And now, it looks like it’s done exactly that.

Posting the photo on Twitter, Richard Ford wrote: ‘A little individualism in a somewhat Orwellian world #mytreelondon Good luck Arrabella, hope Westminster council or the yoof don't trash it.’

Luke Pollard added: ‘Enjoying the #guerrillagardening on Oxford Street. Tiny tree, hope it survives #mytreelondon.’

It’s an adorable idea - and goes far in proving that dads often double up as superheroes.

We can only hope that the tree remains there!

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Woman died after becoming locked in Debenhams toilet when store closed

Debenhams have apologised for the incident (Picture: SWNS)

A woman died when she became locked in a branch of Debenhams after suffering a blood clot.

Lorraine Rawbone, 70, suffered the blood clot at the store in Folkestone, Kent, and collapsed in the loos only a day before she was due to host her golden wedding party.

An inquest into her death heard how staff at the store had checked the toilets in March this year, but Mrs Rawbone had gone unnoticed.

Her disappearance was first noticed by husband Terry, who became concerned when she failed to meet him in a car park at 5.20pm for a lift home. 

‘I was beginning to worry because she was always very prompt and I just knew something was not right’, Terry said. ‘This was just unheard of. I was constantly phoning her mobile every few seconds and it was just ringing and going to answer phone.’

The incident occurred at Debenham’s in Folkestone (Picture: SWNS)

Terry then notified police of his wife’s disappearance, who launched a search of public toilets in the town.

But her location was discovered after the couple’s son used an iPhone tracker and discovered that his mother was still inside the store.

After police were initially unable to track down the store key holder, another officer contacted a relative who worked at the store, before Mrs Rawbone was found unconscious.

Attending officer PC Chandler told the inquest: ‘I was extremely concerned for the welfare of Mrs Rawbone. ‘I felt Mr Rawbone’s concerns were genuine and we needed to find his wife as soon as possible because the situation was escalating.’

A post-mortem revealed that Mrs Rawbone had suffered from a fatal large pulmonary embolism – an often fatal blood clot.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, Christine Freedman, assistant coroner for South East Kent, said: ‘This is a very sad case, particularly because it was the day before her golden wedding anniversary. ‘The procedure for checking the store at closing time failed to find her and there was further difficulty in locating a key holder. These delays reduced her chance of survival.’

A Debenhams spokesman added: ‘We wish to extend our sincere condolences to the family. ‘The coroner’s concerns have been noted by our health and safety team.’

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Elderly couple left devastated after beloved lawn is destroyed by infestation of grass-eating grubs

The couple say that the lawn was their pride and joy (Picture: SWNS)

An elderly couple with a love of gardening have spoken of their devastation after their beloved lawn was destroyed by an infestation of grass-eating grubs.

Green-fingered Michael and Helen Clark from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, have forked out almost £5,000 in a bid to save their prized lawn from the large chafer beetle grubs.

But it seems that the bugs have won the battle - and the couple have now been forced to dig up their precious lawn in a final attempt to get rid of the ravenous insects.

The bugs, which measure around two inches and are white, feed on and weaken grass roots - meaning that birds and other wildlife are able to effortlessly rip up the lawn when hunting for the grubs.

The couple cannot use insecticides to kill the grubs either, because they could prove lethal to bees.

Mr Clark was almost left in tears (Picture: SWNS)

Now, Mr Clark, says that he was ‘nearly in tears’ to see his years of work being destroyed. 

The 80-year-old said: ‘My lawn was lovely, everyone remarked on it, and then it happened all of a sudden, it was awful.’

His wife, Mrs Clark, 77, described the lawn as her husband's pride and joy.

‘A friend came round and said "what has Mike done with the lawn, what on earth has happened?”, she said.

Mr Clark also says that the infestation of grubs is a gradual process - meaning that it’s often too late to rectify the problem once you’ve realised that something is wrong. 

‘It is a two year cycle of laying the egg for it to become a grub.

'When the birds know that the grubs are in the ground and the grass is dying, they just pull the grass up.

'It's the roots that the grubs eat and the grass doesn't have anything to hold on to.’

The couple have now opted to replace their front lawn with a gravel and flowers bed, and hope that the grub infestation hasn't spread to their extremely well maintained back garden.

Tim McNulty, owner of North Lincolnshire lawn care specialists Green Thumb, said: ‘We are having major issues with them across our area, we get a lot of people that are devastated by it.’

He also advises putting wire down over the lawn - to prevent the secondary damage often caused by wildlife ripping up the grass. 

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Students dress up as Alton Towers Smiler crash victims for night out

The students were slammed for the inappropriate outfits (Picture: The Tab)

A group of students have been slammed after dressing up as the victims of the Alton Towers Smiler crash for a night out.

According to The Tab, the Nottingham University students took part in a charity pub crawl on Monday night wearing the inappropriate costumes - which have been fashioned in the shape of rollercoaster seats.

But the group, who referred to themselves as ‘7 legless’ have now been slammed by Joe Pugh, who was seriously injured and whose girlfriend Leah Washington lost a leg when the rollercoaster crashed into an empty carriage in 2015.

Posting on Twitter, Pugh wrote: ‘How awful and disrespectful can people get? Disgusting.’

It’s also claimed that some of the students tied up their jeans to make it appear as if their limbs had been amputated.

Joe Pugh and girlfriend Leah Washington were both on the Smiler at the time of the crash (Picture: Rex Features)

An inquest into the crash last month found that Alton Towers owner Merlin Entertainments was responsible for the crash - and were ordered to pay a £5 million fine.

The crash occurred in June 2015 (Picture: PA)

During the inquest, Stafford Crown Court heard how the victims had watched on with ‘disbelief and horror’ as the rollercoaster ploughed into an empty carriage - with the crash likened to a 90mph car collision.

But while Merlin had initially blamed the crash on ‘human error’, the company was found guilty after the court heard how an engineer ‘felt pressure’ to get the ride functioning only a short time before the devastating crash.