Flight operations on board the Royal Navy’s helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious were interrupted when a rare cormorant decided to take advantage of its flight deck.
The bird, a socotra cormorant (phalacrocorax nigrogularis), which is a threatened species, landed on the warship as it was patrolling the Gulf as part of a major training exercise.
But the cormorant chose a moment to dry its feathers when the carrier was at flying stations and had to be gently coaxed to leave.
HMS Illustrious is the UK’s high readiness, amphibious assault carrier that is involved in the multi-national Cougar 13 exercise, which has been taking place in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, the Gulf, and Horn of Africa. (AP)
Frightening prison break for Halloween
An abandoned prison would seem creepy enough around Halloween. Now add blood-curdling screams.
That is the formula for Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, US, which is billed as the nation’s largest haunted house outside an amusement park.
The centuries-old prison once housed gangster Al Capone. But it closed in 1971 and is now preserved in a state of semi-ruin. Each night during the frightfest, about 130 actors in gruesome costumes roam the scary scenes that have been created in the prison yard and cellblocks.
Performers have always been able to sneak up on visitors but not touch them.
But this year, actors can grab and interact with those brave souls who wear a special glow-in-the-dark necklace. (PA)
Train-crash victim’s two lucky escapes
A 29-year-old woman survived with minor injuries after her car was twice hit by trains in Utah.
She was fleeing from police at speeds up to 161kph when she drove under the arms of a level crossing and smashed into the side of a train.
Her car came to rest on the other set of tracks and another train rammed into it less than a minute later. (PA)
Welsh burglar goes for gold
Dealers and pawnbrokers in Wales have been put on alert after a thief escaped with gold coins and bars worth £30,000 (€35,485) after burgling a flat.
Police believe the thief will try to sell his haul to a collector or seek to get the gold weighed so it can be converted to cash.
The thief struck at a flat in Pyle, south Wales, entering through a kitchen window.
“Fifteen 1oz coins and bars were stolen, together with a Kindle notebook,” a South Wales Police spokesman said. A detective sergeant added: “The property stolen is very distinctive.” (PA)
Wordsworth’s inspirational lake for sale
A lake that inspired British writers William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter is up for sale on eBay.
Esthwaite Water, the Lake District’s largest privately owned lake, is the first in the world to be sold on the internet auction site.
Owner Nigel Woodhouse is approaching retirement and is selling the 280-acre lake and its established leisure businesses. (PA)
Chess action at public games protest
Dozens of people – backed by a brass band – played chess in San Francisco in protest at a crackdown earlier this month on public games that have been a feature of the city for years.
Police confiscated chess gear, tables and chairs used by the mostly homeless players, saying the games had begun to attract illegal gambling and drug sales near a popular tourist destination. (PA)