A diamond-encrusted motorbike designed by Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney fetched £43,250 (€49,546) when it was auctioned for charity yesterday.
The 2012 Lauge Jensen cruiser-style machine was sold to raise money for charitable foundation KidsAid.
Rooney customised the motorcycle with a special shift rod bearing 21 black diamonds and a white diamond. Anautographed No 10 football shirt that has been lacquer-sealed on to the petrol tank is another personal touch added by the striker.
When he was asked to support the auction, Rooney said the design of the bike was inspired from the celebration of his overhead kick against Manchester City in the 2011 season. (AP)
Discount for gun owners
A pizza shop owner in the US is showing his support for firearm rights by giving gun owners a 15 per cent discount.
The price cut goes to anyone who brings a gun or concealed handgun permit to All Around Pizzas and Deli in Virginia Beach.
Owner Jay Laze said 80 per cent of his customers have brought guns into the pizza shop and one came in with an AK-47 assault rifle. (PA)
Polluted river challenge
A Chinese businessman angry over a polluted river has offered to give environmental officials £28,000 (€32,000) just for swimming in it.
Jin Zengmin posted internet photos of the rubbish-filled river in his home town of Rui’an city in the eastern province of Zhejiang.
The challenge reflects growing frustration among the Chinese public over widespread pollution and lack of governmental action. (PA)
Rare double twins born
A Texas woman has had two sets of identical twins.
Tressa Montalvo beat odds of giving such a birth naturally of one in 70 million. The 36-year-old and her 43-year-old husband Manuel had planned the pregnancy. She had all four sons within a minute of each other.
She said she did not use fertility drugs. (PA)
Quentin Blake knighted
Quentin Blake, one of Britain’s best loved children’s illustrators, was knighted by the Prince of Wales yesterday after a brilliant career spanning 64 years.
The artist’s energetic style of drawings have graced classic books by authors such as Roald Dahl, Joan Aiken and Dr Seuss.
The prince dubbed the 80-year-old illustrator a knight at a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony but Blake joked the new title was a step down from his standing in some countries where he has been refered to as ‘Lord’. (PA)
Bird invasion in Kentucky
Millions of birds have descended on a small Kentucky city this winter, fouling the landscape, scaring pets and raising the risk for disease in a real-life version of Alfred Hitchcock’s horror film, The Birds.
The blackbirds and European starlings blacken the sky of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, before roosting at dusk, turn the landscape white with bird poop, and the disease they carry can kill a dog and sicken humans. (Reuters)