World Briefs

An angler fishing for carp at a reservoir got the shock of his life when he landed a giant North American turtle.

The 25-kilogramme alligator-snapping turtle, which is around two feet long, was snared by Steve Bellion, 23, at Earlswood Lakes near Solihull, West Midlands.

The creature, which has been re-homed at West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire, is thought to have been a pet which was dumped after becoming too big. The reptile, previously mistaken for an alligator and thought to be around 80 years old, has escaped after being caught by anglers on previous occasions. (PA)

Tractor marathon

A Finnish farmer plans to drive his new tractor nearly 2,700 kilometres from central Finland to his farm in Italy to raise money for a Latvian orphanage, the tractor maker said yesterday.

Vladi Peresson plans to pick up a new Valtra tractor on August 2 and drive to his farm in Arta Terme in northern Italy, hoping to raise one euro for each of the 2,671 kilometres covered.

Peresson will share the driving during the seven day marathon with family and friends. The money raised would go to the Kopa ar mums (Together with us) orphanage in Latvia.

The journey will take him through Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria before reaching Arta Terme. (AFP)

Detained in car rally

Seven Britons taking part in a European car rally have been detained in France for driving at high speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, police said yesterday.

French police have seized a Bentley and a Porsche belonging to two of the drivers and they face preliminary charges of endangering others.

The seven men were taking part in the Cannonball Run Europe car rally between London, Calais, Belgium and Italy. (AFP)

Cricket ball row

A mother spoke of her disbelief after she was arrested and detained at a police station for five hours after she refused to return a cricket ball which she claimed damaged her car.

Lorretta Cole says she was trying to teach her neighbour's children a lesson after she claims the ball repeatedly landed on her property and even damaged her car.

The 47-year-old retrieved the £3.99 ball from land in front of her home in Baddesley Close, North Baddesley, Hampshire, and refused to give it back. She was bailed pending advice from the Crown Prosecution Service to August 3. (PA)

Bat intruder

David Cameron was forced to deal with an unwelcome intruder in his family's Downing Street flat - a bat.

Perhaps inspired by an evening at the police bravery awards, the Prime Minister managed to apprehend the offender and lead it to safety.

Mr Cameron disclosed his brush with the nocturnal flying mammal as he answered questions at a public event in Newquay, Cornwall. (PA)

Penned in a pen

Prisoners in a Louisiana jail are being forced to wear skimpy shorts that say "Hot Stuff" on the rear and confined in tiny cells smaller than a dog's cage.

The American Civil Liberties Union says it is unconstitutional for the St Tammany Parish jail to confine prisoners in cages that are three feet wide, three feet long and seven feet tall

The ACLU also claims suicidal prisoners are forced to wear bright orange "short shorts" with "Hot Stuff" scrawled in pen on the rear. (PA)

Golden oldie

A woman from a remote village in the former Soviet republic of Georgia has turned 130, claiming to be the world's oldest person.

A spokesman for the country's national register said Antisa Khvichava was born on July 8, 1880. He said Mrs Khvichava retired from her job as a tea and corn picker in 1965, when she was 85. (PA)

Driven to anger

A man drove his truck through the front of his house after arguing with his wife.

Police arrived to find the home's front door, window and wall in pieces.

His wife told them that he had become angry at a party earlier, and the two continued to argue on the drive home to Boca Raton in Florida. (PA)