A bookmaker has clipped the odds on snow falling anywhere in Britain before next weekend is out to 5-1 from 8-1 following a flurry of bets.
With forecasters predicting snow and gale force winds over the coming half-term break, Coral is quoting odds of 12-1 that the record low temperature is broken this year.
“We are bracing ourselves for a harsh winter and that is reflected in the betting which suggests snow will hit the country sooner rather than later,” said Coral’s Nicola McGeady.
First to swim UK’s longest river
A 32-year-old man has become the first person to swim the length of Britain’s longest river, the Severn.
Kevin Brady set out on the 220-mile challenge from the river’s source in Mid Wales on September 23. Mr Brady, from Gloucester, completing the challenge for charity.
Exactly a month later, he finished the journey at the Severn Beach near Bristol, having passed through Shropshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and under the Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing.
Married horse abuser is jailed
A married father of three caught on CCTV sexually assaulting a horse in an attack lasting more than an hour has been jailed.
Former removals worker Alan Blackman, 31, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to trespass with the intent to commit a sexual offence and attempted intercourse with a horse after the animal was found injured at farm stables in Redenhall, Norfolk, on August 6.
Blackman was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court as his wife, Sarah, 25, sat in the public gallery.
Ronald McDonald statue found
A Ronald McDonald statue ‘hamburgled’ from a western Massachusetts home during a teenage house party has been found.
The three-foot high statue of the company’s mascot was turned over to Northampton police on Wednesday by a McDonald’s employee who found it next to a rubbish bin outside a health club.
Mary Ryan says her husband bought the sculpture of a kneeling Ronald from an antique store years ago for $1,200. They think it dates to 1972. It disappeared in August when their teenage daughter hosted an unauthorised party at their summer home in Leverett. It was seen in a tree and outside the health club, before the trail went cold.
Human leg stolen from US van
Los Angeles County authorities are investigating the theft of a human leg from a van belonging to an organ and tissue donation organisation.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the limb was stolen while staff members for the non-profit One Legacy organisation stopped for something to eat at a restaurant.
When they returned to their vehicle, the fridge containing the wrapped and chilled leg was gone. Coroner Mark Fajardo said in a letter to county supervisors that it is likely the thief did not know what was in there. Officials obtained a DNA sample from the donor to identify any recovered limbs.
Romanian sexism row resignation
A Romanian education ministry official has resigned after saying that schools should teach young women how to walk provocatively – in high heels.
Vasile Salaru said Romanian schools should teach female students how to walk wearing high heels, dance the tango, be a good hostess and walk enticingly in public. He said girls should walk with “chest out, bottom out, let the boys faint”.
Several student organisations protested over his comments, called for his resignation and reported him to the National Anti-Discrimination Council. Mr Salaru, who was state secretary in the education ministry, resigned on Thursday, saying he did not want to harm his party. However, he said his “informal” comments had been taken out of context.