SAVED BY SAND
A group stranded on a beach were saved when a walker on the clifftop spotted their message of "send for help" written in the sand.
The four adults and three children had travelled around Stepper Point in Cornwall to a beach at Butter Hole in a sailing dinghy and small rigid inflatable boat for a picnic. Conditions were perfect until the tide flooded and waves increased - leaving the group trapped on the beach by the 6ft-high onshore swell.
They did not have radio or mobile phone reception so wrote "send for help" in the sand. A walker on the clifftop luckily spotted the message and raised the alarm.
SMALLEST BRAIN REVEALED
The world's smallest brain and a rare medieval manuscript depicting a human brain are part of a new exhibition on the hidden world of the mind.
Brains: The Mind As Matter explores what humans have done to brains in the name of medical intervention, scientific inquiry, cultural meaning and technological change.
Part of the brain of infamous body-snatcher William Burke forms part of the collection to go on display at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester.
BEES CLOSE SCHOOL
A headteacher has closed his school a day early because some staff and pupils are allergic to bees.
Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove, East Sussex, broke up early for the summer when the swarm of bees gathered at the top of one of the teaching blocks, which meant staff had to keep the windows closed as the heatwave continued.
A statement posted on the school's website by headteacher James Kilmartin said a number of staff and pupils had serious allergies to bee stings so the school would shut its doors a day early.
EXPLOSIVE COMMENT
Chinese police have detained an activist singer after she wrote that she wanted to blow up a government agency that is seen as inept.
Wu Hongfei was detained by Beijing police on the charge of "causing trouble".
Shortly after a man set off a bomb at Beijing's airport, she wrote on the internet that she would like to blow up government housing commission offices.
XMAS PRESENT
A woman in Ohio has been ordered to spend the next five Christmases in jail as part of her sentence for issuing fake ID cards and driving licences to illegal immigrants.
Betina Young accepted payments from applicants to falsify records showing they had verified their immigration status.
Judge Michael Holbrook put her on probation for five years - ordering that she spend a minimum of three days in jail each Christmas.
THE PIG RETURNS
A Detroit suburb is getting ready to celebrate the return of a prominent pig sculpture.
"Cochon Rouge" was stolen last year from Garden City and found missing three hooves and a snout on a rural path 35 miles away
It has now been repaired and a party is planned to celebrate its unveiling.