Police are cracking down on sales of cheap doses of balloons filled with nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to tourists in Bangkok.

A spokesman said they are trying to curb sales of the drug-filled balloons in the Thai capital before they gain wider popularity.

Illicit sales of nitrous oxide could cause harmful side-effects to users and give the country a negative image, he added. (PA)

Stray pony in pool plunge

A stray pony sparked an unusual rescue operation after plunging through the hard cover of a swimming pool and getting stuck.

It was found up to its neck in the shallow end of the pool in Marsh Lane, Runcton, near Chichester, West Sussex, yesterday morning.

Firefighters and the RSPCA were called out to the stricken animal at around 7.30am before a rescue operation swung into place.

Several thousand gallons of swimming pool water had to be pumped out before the pony was led around to the steps. Hay was strewn around the pool to make the animal more comfortable before it stepped out. (PA)

Illegally registered elephants

Police in Thailand have seized 14 elephants in raids after busting a gang that provided the animals with false identification papers.

Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression chief Norasak Hemnithi said the unregistered or illegally registered elephants were taken in simultaneous raids on tourist destinations in three southern provinces.

He said the operation followed the discovery of identification certificates issued for elephants that were not living in their registered locations and believed illegally held because they were either smuggled from neighbouring Burma or taken from the wild. (PA)

‘Beautiful’ bequest to parish

An investment banker has left £2.3 million in his will to a small British seaside resort – with instructions the money is spent on a million flowers.

Canadian Keith Owen, who was 69, made his fortune in the financial industry and travelled the world, but always returned to his favourite place – Sidmouth in Devon. Owen was born nearby and spent most of his holidays in the coastal town admiring its beach, blooms and Regency architecture.

When Owen was told in 2007 he was suffering lung cancer and had just eight weeks to live he left the parish his retirement fund, pension and a string of properties. His massive £2.3 million estate – £1.5 million in cash and £800,000 from properties – was handed over with a stipulation it had to be spent keeping Sidmouth “beautiful”. (PA)

Brits fit stereotype – survey

Sarcastic humour, heavy drinking and the weather are among the dislikes of foreign expats living in the UK, according to research.

More than half (57 per cent) of the expats questioned said they found British people fitted their international stereotype to some extent – with 41 per cent of them saying a tendency to drink tea rang true.

While expats appreciated British manners and the ability to queue, almost half (42 per cent) said the excessive drinking culture was their least favourite trait in people and 31 per cent regarded British sarcasm as unpopular. The most common reason for those who disliked living in Britain was the weather, with 38 per cent of expats agreeing on that. (PA)