BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood was upstaged on live television when a dog relieved itself during a broadcast.
The Scottish meteorologist was broadcasting from West Wittering beach in West Sussex when a dog called Connie – belonging to a BBC producer – crept into shot and began to urinate, with the shallow water lapping at its heels.
BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin spotted the blooper-in-the-making, and warned: “Oh Carol, don’t look behind you!”
Duckling rescue
A UK fire crew carried out an unusual rescue when they pulled a family of five ducklings to safety after they got trapped down a drain.
A member of the public heard cheeping coming from the grid near Marton Road, Middlesbrough. RSCPA inspector Clare Wilson was called in to help and could hear the birds moving about and, with the help of a passer-by, lifted the cover but could not see the ducklings.
A fire crew then poured water into the drainage system to flush the babies through and Wilson was able to catch them in her net and lift them to safety. Unfortunately, their mother was scared off by the commotion and despite the inspector’s efforts, she could not be found.
Ageing beauty
A beauty queen is suing pageant officials and the Miss America organisation after being stripped of her Miss Delaware title – for being too old.
Amanda Longacre, who is 24, is seeking to be reinstated as Miss Delaware and to be allowed to compete in the Miss America pageant. She is also seeking $500,000 in damages for herself and $2.5 million for other contestants who she claims were recruited to compete in pageants before being told they were too old.
Pageant officials say contestants must be between 17 and 24, and Ms Longacre turns 25 in October – after this year’s national pageant – but the rules purportedly require contestants to be no older than 24 at the end of the year.
Royal rumble
A Romanian princess living in the US has admitted operating an illegal gambling business in connection with a cockfighting operation.
Irina Walker – the third daughter of former Romanian King Michael I – and her husband John were arrested after authorities said they staged at least 10 cockfighting derbies in a barn at their ranch in eastern Oregon.