The ashes of a cat which featured in the titles of Coronation Street are to be sold at auction.

Frisky starred in the soap's opening sequence for 10 years and was seen at the start of more than 1,000 episodes, crouching on the roof of Jack Duckworth's pigeon loft.

His owner, John Rimington, who is putting his pet's remains up for auction next week in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, said: "Frisky was not only a much-loved family pet, but also captured the heart of the nation and made thousands of pounds for charities." (PA)

Octopus Paul's brethren on menu

Russia and Germany's leaders ate a "brother in arms" of soothsaying World Cup octopus Paul at a pre-summit dinner, President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday.

Mr Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel enjoyed the seafood delicacy as another top Russian official laid the blame on Germany's failure to progress to the World Cup final squarely on the clairvoyant octopus.

"I was supporting Germany and I saw how you supported your team," Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov told Mrs Merkel at a meeting of business leaders on the sidelines of the Germany-Russia summit.

"Of course, if it was not for Paul - you know who I am talking about, Paul the octopus - then everything would have been fine," he added. Mr Medvedev then remembered: "We ate his brother in arms last night at the restaurant." (AFP)

Tagged

A New York man tried to explain away an ankle monitor he was wearing while returning from Canada by claiming it was a show of support for actress Lindsay Lohan.

But customs officers found Eugene Todie was on probation and not supposed to leave the country.

Mr Todie said he was backing Ms Lohan, who has had to wear an alcohol ankle monitor. He has been charged with border offences. (PA)

Pig sick

Two off-duty employees were thrown out of a theme park in Illinois after attacking a woman colleague who was dressed as Porky Pig.

The men first took a photo with Porky, then punched the mascot in the head up to 15 times.

The 24-year-old woman inside the costume suffered headaches and a stiff neck. (PA)

White line fever

Workmen painting white lines on a main road left a gap for a dead badger because it was not their responsibility to clear up the carcass.

The animal was killed on the A338 near Downton on the Hampshire-Wiltshire border.

But when Hampshire County Council workmen came to paint white lines in the centre of the road, they decided to leave a space until the body had been removed.

The responsibility for picking up the remains was the responsibility of New Forest District Council. (PA)

Facebook fugitive taunts police

A tiny island surrounded by miles of empty ocean might not seem like the ideal terrain for an escaped prisoner on the run.

But 24-year-old Alvone Maybury has evaded police in Bermuda for more than 36 hours - and has still found time to update his Facebook page.

Mr Maybury, who is still on the loose, has made at least 10 posts since he escaped on Tuesday morning.

As armed police searched the holiday haven for the missing fugitive, Mr Maybury boasted on the social networking site that he was relaxing, playing on his PlayStation. (AFP)

New 'squat' toilets in shopping centre

A shopping centre has instal-led new "squat" toilets for Asian customers after bosses went on a cultural awareness course.

The Rochdale Exchange centre in the Lancashire town denied going "potty" with political correctness and dismissed suggestions of the "Islamification" of the great British toilet.

The centre, home to around 70 shops, said it was simply catering for the needs of many of its local Asian custom. (PA)