Archaeologists have uncovered a series of 17th century witchmarks that are believed to be connected to the UK’s Gunpowder Plot.

Discovered in a room in the National Trust property Knole in Kent, the marks lay hidden for centuries.

The find comes as part of a five-year project, supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, to conserve Knole, which was built to accommodate royalty.

Using dendrochronology, or tree ring dating, archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology dated the marks to early 1606 and the reign of King James I.

Check your balance with a watch

Customers of Britain’s biggest building society can now check their balances using a watch on their wrist in the latest innovation to help people manage their money “on the go”.

Nationwide Building Society said that members who have downloaded the mobile banking app for Android will be able to access their balance using their Android Wear smartwatch.

As well as being able to check their balance with the smartwatch, they can also set it to give them daily notifications of how much money is in their account.

The move comes as people increasingly turn to technology to check their account balances and transfer money, with the rise of mobile payment services such as Barclays’ Pingit and the industry-wide Paym, both of which help people to transfer money as easily as texting.

Disqualified for helping fall girl

Two US high school runners have been disqualified in the state girls’ cross country meeting for helping an opponent who fell.

Kailee Kiminski, a senior from Esko, and Tierney Winter, a junior in Janesville, forfeited the race in Minnesota last weekend to help Jackson County Central freshman Jessica Christoffer cross the finish line.

All three were disqualified because of a high school league rule against aiding another runner.

Christoffer told reporters she is “really thankful” for the help of her peers.

Drink-driving results not so tasty

A 40-year-old man is facing multiple charges after New York state police say he tried to eat his drink-driving test results.

Troopers say Kenneth Desormes, of Greenwich, Connecticut, was stopped for speeding on Interstate 95. After speaking with him, officers determined he was intoxicated and arrested him.

Desormes was transported to the state police barracks in Tarrytown to be processed. Troopers say when his breathalyser tests results were printing, Desormes grabbed the paperwork and tried to eat it. He faces charges of driving while intoxicated, obstructing governmental administration and criminal tamperings.

Moonshine is a burning issue

US police say a Pittsburgh man told them he was making moonshine when he started a small fire that burned his legs.

The man was standing outside his North Side home when crews arrived to extinguish the small blaze in the basement, where the man allegedly told police he had been making the illegal alcohol.

He was being treated at a burns unit. It is not known whether he will face any charges.