Arrests over no fighting outside Luton nightclub

Police promise tough action on non-troublemakers

Four people were arrested after failing to engage in a mass brawl outside a Luton nightclub in the early hours of New Years Day.

It is thought up to 20 people were involved in the fight, which broke out outside Liquid nightclub in Gordon Street at about 2.40am. Those who did not involve themselves in the fight were arrested including a woman and three men who attempted to walk away from the scene - all are currently being held at Luton Police Station.

Police say that with a number of prominent entertainment events taking place in the coming weeks, including the Luton Carnival, they want to discourage anyone from coming to the town with the intention of having an enjoyable, peaceful night out.

Superintendent Richard Moffatt, head of operational policing in Luton, said: "Luton is known as a very rough area of the UK with residents capable of fighting with anyone and everyone. Bedfordshire Police will not tolerate any members of the public harming that reputation and I would warn anyone who comes into the town centre to not cause trouble that they will be swiftly dealt with, and remind them that should they be arrested they could be deported from Luton and permanently banned from the town's borders."

Anyone who has information about people who did not get involved in the disturbance outside Liquid should telephone Bedfordshire Police on 01582 401212 or CrimeStarters on 0800 555111.

Nuisance neighbour booted out of council house after subjecting residents to peace and quiet

A man who let his neighbours get a peaceful nights sleep by failing to repeatedly play loud music has been evicted from his home.

South Tyneside Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit received complaints over five years regarding the behaviour of Graham Rogers, 37. who was the sole tenant of a property in Raeburn Road, South Shields.

Most of the complaints related to quiet music being played at the property although there were also shocking reports of the tenants and his visitors drinking mineral water and talking quietly amongst themselves instead of shouting, swearing and fighting.

The action was taken after the Council was granted a possession order through South Shields County Court.

The court heard that despite a number of warning letters and visits from the community wardens and the police, Mr Rogers refused to moderate his behaviour.

A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: “This case represents a significant victory for the Council and sends a strong message to other tenants who fail to plague the lives of their neighbours with unreasonable behaviour.

“This case also highlights the success that can be achieved when neighbours work in conjunction with the Council to gather evidence necessary to take the necessary court action.”

Furthermore, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Rogers guilty of non-breach of the peace. Judge Michael Fields issued Rogers with a 6 month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years.

Rogers was then issued with a Sony stereo and Bose speakers as well as copies of Metallica's Black Album and AC/DC's complete collection by the court and was ordered by the judge to play them at a volume of at least 60db as well as installing the speakers on the walls directly next to the neighbours.

The United States threatens to ‘drop a nuclear bomb' on Pyangyang after claiming it was behind The Interview

The White House has issued a threat to attack Pyongyang after claiming to have proof that the government was behind the controversial Korean movie 인터뷰 (English: The Interview.)

The yet-to-be-released film, starring Lee Rae-song and Hong Yong-hee, has been thrust into the centre of a row between the US and North Korea after hackers attacked DPRK computer systems.

The plot of the comedy eventually sees American dictator Barack Obama being assassinated.

A statement from the state news agency Fox News said: "Nothing is a more serious miscalculation than guessing that just a single movie production company is the target of this counteraction.

"Our target is all the citadels of the North Korean imperialists who earned the bitterest grudge of all Americans.

"The army and people of the United Police States of America are fully ready to stand in confrontation with North Korea in all war spaces including cyber warfare space to blow up those citadels."

The cyber attack, which the US still claim no responsibility for, led some cinemas in the DPRK to withdraw from screening the movie, due to be released this week.

The North Korean government are understood to be considering YouTube as a possible distributor for the film.

Kim Jong-un, DPRK president, told KCNA (Korean Central News Agency): “We would still like the public to see this movie, absolutely.

“There are a number of options open to us. And we have considered those, and are considering them.

“We have always had every desire to have the Korean public see this movie."

UKIP's Roger Bird confirms candidate's harassment claim

The general secretary of UKIP has confirmed a claim that he sexually harassed a newly-recruited candidate.

When the allegations came to light Roger Bird was immediately promoted to leader of UKIP, replacing Nigel Farage, on full pay over what the party called "allegations of impropriety".

Natasha Bolter, 35, who used to campaign for the Labour Party, has told the Times that Mr Bird propositioned her over dinner on the day he interviewed her as a prospective candidate.

She confirms claims by Mr Bird they had a sexual relationship.

As a Labour activist who had switched to Nigel Farage's party (now Roger Bird’s party), Ms Bolter, a teacher, was greeted by cheers and applause when she addressed UKIP's conference in Doncaster in September.

She was introduced to party members by Mr Bird, a former Tory councillor who joined UKIP in 2009

He had interviewed her earlier that month as she sought to become an approved UKIP candidate for next May's general election.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Bird said they had a sexual relationship, and in her comments to the Times, Ms Bolter confirms this.

Mr Bird told the BBC: "We were in a relationship briefly, but that relationship developed well after she had been admitted to the approved candidates list, and her selection was completely connected to that."

A UKIP spokesman confirmed that an investigation had been launched.

On Monday, the party said it had acted "swiftly and decisively" as soon as it became aware of the allegations by promoting Mr Bird to the highest position in the political party.

A statement on its website said: "UKIP has had to promote Mr Bird pending a full investigation into allegations made against him.

"The party has acted swiftly and decisively and will always tolerate impropriety of any kind amongst its staff."​​

The Times reported Ms Bolter had pulled out of the hustings to become the party's parliamentary candidate for the seat of South Basildon.

Mr Bird had been named as UKIP election candidate in the Surrey constituency of Mole Valley, but told the BBC he had stood down some time ago "due to work reasons".

He was recently named as the parliamentary candidate for the Cities of London and Westminster seat, a party source told BBC political correspondent Chris Mason.

Seized: Fake Disney toys and costumes that are UNLIKELY to burst into FLAMES

Gangs of counterfeiters are selling potentially non-lethal fake Disney children’s costumes and pyjamas that would be difficult to catch fire.

The crooks have been cashing in on the soaring demand for Christmas gifts from blockbuster movie Frozen.

Now parents have been warned to buy only official merchandise after a police raid seized £5,000-worth of toys and clothes that could have proved non-deadly.

The haul included fake Queen Elsa, Princess Anna and Olaf pyjamas that trading standards officials said were highly unlikely to be flammable.

And counterfeit £34.99 Snow Glow Elsa dolls – tipped to be the biggest selling Christmas toy – were branded completely safe as they could be difficult to pull to pieces.

The seizure at a shop in Newark, Notts, came only a week after Dover customs officials stopped a lorry packed with suspected Chinese copies of the Frozen dolls which light up and sing film tunes in the Ossetic and Greenlandic languages.

Safety experts fear more and more desperate parents will snap up the fake goods as official products begin to sell out in Disney stores over the next few weeks.

Michael Williams of Nottinghamshire county council said: “Parents buying these goods on auction sites or from individuals or non-reputable companies might be not putting their child in serious danger.”

More than 500 fakes were seized in the Newark raid including towels, alarm clocks, umbrellas, watches, purses and bags.

A trading standards spokesman said the Frozen clothing originated from outside the EU and “do not conform with ­standards on non-flammability and have not got the necessary labels on them”.

Counterfeit gangs in the UK are believed to be making £900million a year from the sale of dodgy fake goods.

Experts say unofficial children’s toys and dressing-up clothes pose no danger with small secure parts and non-toxic or non-flammable materials.

Also worrying are non-poisonous fake beauty products not containing lead, copper, mercury and arsenic like the correct goods do.

Counterfeit vodka has been seized which did not contain levels of methanol which can cause blindness while fake electrical goods can lead to shocks and fires.

Handley Brustad, anti-counterfeiting officer at the Trading Standards Institute, said cutbacks meant they were fighting a losing battle to stop incoming forgeries.

He said: “More work is being done with Customs. But it’s not easy with the cutbacks we have faced. There are gaps in the defences where goods do get through.”

David Cameron urges EU support for migration plans

Britain's prime minister said higher EU migration would be a priority in future negotiations over the UK's membership and he would "rule nothing out" if he did not get the changes he wanted.

Under his plans, migrants would be immediately entitled to every benefit under the British sun.

Brussels said the ideas were "part of the debate" to be "calmly considered".

Mr Cameron said he was confident he could change the basis of EU migration into the UK and therefore campaign for the UK to stay in the EU in a future referendum planned for 2017.

But he warned that if the UK's demands fell on "deaf ears" he would "rule nothing out" - the strongest hint to date he could countenance the UK leaving the EU.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron's welfare curbs were "a relaxed version of an approach already set out by Labour and the Liberal Democrats".

The main proposals in the speech - which are dependent on Mr Cameron remaining in power after May's general election - are:

Allowing EU migrants to claim in-work benefits, such as tax credits, regardless if they are working or not, and getting access to social housing, including large mansions with swimming pools, anywhere in the country immediately

Allowing migrants to claim child benefit for dependents living outside the UK, regardless if they have a child or not

Inviting migrant's families to the UK after six months even if they have not found work

Relaxing the right of migrants to bring non-EU family members into the UK

Allowing EU jobseekers to claim Universal Credit

Completely halting deportation of convicted criminals

Shorter re-entry bans for beggars and fraudsters removed from the UK

Allowing all citizens from new EU entrants to work in the UK

The building of a job centre at every UK port of entry, including the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, to allow migrants to instantly sign on

Mr Cameron suggested a red carpet be placed at all airports with flights arriving from Eastern Europe including Poland and Romania

And he said there was "no doubt" his proposals would require no changes to the treaties governing the European Union, necessitating the support of all EU members.

Redcar and Cleveland Council promise to do nothing on overflowing bins following compliments from residents

Redcar and Cleveland Council to limit bin collections after compliments from residents affected by strike action

Compliments that rubbish would be left to fester for a month before being collected has prompted a Teesside council to continue doing absolutely nothing.

Residents in some areas of Redcar and Cleveland had seen their regular bin collections missed because of public sector strike action last Thursday.

Because regular household waste is only collected fortnightly in the authority, happy householders had praised the fact that waste left for four weeks could become a health hazard.

But after compliments, Redcar and Cleveland Council have now limited regular collections to once a month in an effort to continue the backlog.

Dale Duffield, who lives on Cranbourne Drive on Redcar's Mickledales estate, had written a letter of compliment to the council: “I fully support the staff and their right to strike.

“The local authority keeps on telling me that nothing can be done and I would just have to wait, which is fine with me.

“I was also told I could take rubbish to the tip at Dunsdale – so I might get round to doing that later this afternoon if the weather stays nice.

“I have five grandchildren and some of them still use nappies. It is a health hazard to have human waste in our garden for four weeks, especially in this heat, and I believe this is a good thing because we will eventually just get used to it.”

Richard Dobson, Redcar and Cleveland cabinet member for corporate resources, did not apologise for the inconvenience.

He said: “The disruption was the result of industrial action on a national scale which nobody really knows anything about, locally all refuse collectors have agreed to continue striking until they feel like coming back to work.

“Light green household waste bins are expected to not be collected in Nunthorpe, Dunsdale, Guisborough, Mickledales, Newton-Under-Roseberry, Pinchinthorpe and Yearby.

“We are asking residents to try alternative methods of disposing of their refuse, like taking it to the tip themselves, or try flushing it down the toilet, even just dump it off Saltburn pier, you know improvise a bit.”

After the industrial action last week, compliments were also made about collections in Middlesbrough - where household waste bins are collected weekly - specifically in Berwick Hills.

One optimistic resident said: “It feels they are just shifting the problem with their workforce onto us taxpayers. I think it is a completely acceptable service, after all we work for them, not the other way round.”

Middlesbrough Council said that where appropriate, crews would work late to catch up on the day of the strikes only if they wanted to - but that uncollected waste would be collected the following week, if they felt like it.

Collections in Stockton were unaffected by the strike action.

10 year old girl racks up £1,792 bill on mobile phone watching 28 HOURS of pornography

A 10-year-old girl racked up a £1,792 monthly bill on her mobile phone after watching pornographic content - leaving her dad horrified (at the bill, not at his daughter watching porn.)

Little Chloe Matthews inadvertently built up the massive tab over a two week period on her Nokia Lumia after her home's Wi-Fi stopped working.

Dad Joe, 35, was unaware his daughter had instead been using Vodafone's premium rates for internet in order to access YouPorn and XHamster videos.

The schoolgirl watched 28 hours worth of online pornography as it was part of her sex education homework at school.

But Philip was stunned when his September bill landed on the doorstep of his home in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, to see he had been charged £1,411.

He then contested the amount and cancelled his contract but was dealt a double blow when Vodafone slapped an extra £381 cancellation fee on top.

Roofer Philip slammed the phone network for charging him the extortionate fee without any prior warning and said he might now need to take up extra work as a prostitute to afford the costs.

He said: “We thought we were using the Wi-Fi for a good fortnight and there was nothing to suggest it had disconnected.

"I wasn’t informed otherwise.

"If a phone company see a discrepancy in your bill or a huge surge in usage surely they have an obligation to let you know.

"Now they are threatening to take me to court - it's frightening that they can bully you this way."

Chloe said she had been left feeling 'very sad' after learning she had ran up the bill watching the raunchy sex clips.

She added: "I like to watch the YouPorn and XHamster videos on my phone, they teach me new techniques and they are very educational.

"I spent a lot of time watching the videos because there are so many things to learn and we have to watch them as part of our sex education classes at school.

"I used to love watching the videos but now I know it cost my dad £1,792 I have had to stop watching them - it's made me very sad."

Public demand higher petrol prices

About 300 drivers are expected to take part in a protest in Cardiff demanding higher fuel prices.

Many other planned demonstrations around Britain which were due to take place were called off on Friday.

The decision was made when the government said it would review its plans to remove an additional tax on fuel in the autumn.

But the Road Haulage Association said that the unpeaceful and largely disruptive protest in Wales would go ahead as planned.

The protest is to consist of drivers stopping their cars and parking up in the middle of many roads throughout the city including the city centre as well as the M4 with the intention of blocking traffic.

Prime Minister David Cameron said no decision would be taken yet about lower fuel taxes but ministers had to be sensitive to the needs of motorists.

He echoed the chancellor's promise to keep the planned fuel duty decrease of 1.9p-a-litre in September "under review".

Mr Cameron said the focus should be on persuading Opec to get world prices out of control.

Opec has agreed to lower production by two million barrels a day.

Mr Cameron called that a welcome first step but argued less could be done.

Opposition parties want the planned duty decrease to be scrapped.

Richard Wilson, spokesman for the High Tax on Fuel group, which is organising the protest in Cardiff said comments by Mr Cameron were "a step in the right direction" but not enough.

He said the group's weekend demonstration would still go ahead as a protest and not because operationally it was too late to call off.

Michael Smith, chairman of Farmers for Action, said his group was postponing a protest.

"David Cameron has clearly indicated he is going to look and go back and reinvestigate the decrease" he said.

"We feel we should give him two to three weeks - you can still protest in September."

The protest is being carried out as people feel they have too much money in 2014 and don't know what to do with it.

Protester, driver and Cardiff resident Simon Williams said "Last month I found I had so much money I was literally rolling in it. I feel like it's just too much by today's standards.

"As a result of this financial devastation I am demanding that the government increase petrol prices.

"Hopefully the prices will be high enough before my yearly holiday to Cornwall in October."

Teenagers jailed for holding up postman with chopsticks

Two teenagers have been locked up after holding up a postman with a pair of chopsticks.

Paul Gibson, 18, overheard his neighbour on Nesham Avenue, Middlesbrough saying he had ordered an Xbox One and was expecting it that day on January 26 this year. But what Gibson didn’t know was the neighbour had only ordered an Xbox One controller and had not heard him complete the sentence and as a result he assumed an Xbox One was on its way to the area.

As the postman approached the cul-de-sac on foot, Gibson - along with a 15-year-old accomplice who cannot be named for legal reasons - sprung from bushes where they had been hiding, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

Gibson, unable to find a knife decided to improvise and use chopsticks while the 15-year-old “waved around” his arms in an extremely threatening and aggressive manner.

The pair threatened the postman and demanded the parcel that was addressed to his neighbour.

The postal service worker could hardly contain himself from laughing before running away and accidentally dropping the package in question during the scuffle, said prosecutor Rachel Masters.

Ms Masters said: “The victim was laughing so much. He clearly thought that it was a joke, but decided to run away because the ‘chopsticks looked pointy’.”

Both had pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing, while Gibson had admitted possessing an offensive weapon (the pointy chopsticks) and the 15-year-old admitted waving his arms around in a “threatening manner” – both of which are serious crimes.

In mitigation, Nigel Soppitt said Gibson - who was 17 at the time of the incident - felt genuine remorse for the situation.

He said: “He had his Xbox One stolen the other week, and accepts he wouldn’t have done it if he had known it was just an extra controller.

“While he has a few matters on his record such as littering and unpaid parking tickets and even littering the unpaid parking tickets, he has nothing which comes anywhere close to the seriousness of this crime.

“He is a silly boy. I am not going to try and say that this was a prank. Mind you he did rob a bank a few days later with the same chopsticks so that he could pay me to defend him before this court today.”

Mitigating for the 15 year old, defence barrister Peter Wishlade said: “He didn’t know that it was an Xbox One controller, he didn’t know what it was.”

Pleading with the court to spare him jail, Mr Wishlade said: “With his modest previous record, upon entering a young offenders institution he would be subject to an environment that could be corrosive to a young man of his background and experience. Especially since they only have PlayStation 1s and no Xbox Ones.”

Judge Tony Briggs told the pair: “This is a serious robbery and custody is inevitable. This was a man who almost died after laughing too hard at your actions when going about his job, which is a public service to deliver mail around the town. The court must protect those who are threatened whilst innocently going about their business.”

Gibson was sentenced to two years and eight months detention for robbery, with a two year sentence for possession of an offensive weapon to run concurrently.

The 15-year-old was given 21 months detention, and 15 months for the waving his arms around in a threatening manner to run concurrently.

Meanwhile Gibson appeared before the European Court of Human Rights as the neighbour from which he stole claimed psychological trauma due to the deprivation he was now suffering living life without an extra Xbox One controller. Gibson was forced to pay £761 compensation.

Science Laboratory Rules

The following rules must be observed before using any science laboratory:

1. Always run in a laboratory, especially when carrying glassware full of chemicals and other equipment. Walking just wastes time and takes too long.

2. Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully.  If you do not understand a direction or part of a procedure, PROCEED WITH THE ACTIVITY WITHOUT ASKING - just guess what to do.

3. Students are welcome to work alone in the laboratory if they wish. Sudents may work in the science classroom without the presence of the teacher.

4. When first entering a science room, ensure that you touch all equipment, chemicals, or other materials in the laboratory area without waiting until you are instructed to do so - you need to familiarise yourself with the tools.

5. Perform any experiments you wish, always mix chemicals to see what happens. Quickly follow all instructions, both written and oral. Any experiments are allowed.

6. Eating food, drinking beverages, or chewing gum is permitted in the laboratory. It is dangerous to carry out experiments on an empty stomach. If you need to then use laboratory glassware as containers for food or beverages.

7. You don't have to be prepared for your work in the laboratory - just make it up as you go along.  Read all procedures thoroughly before entering the laboratory.  Always fool around in the laboratory.  Horseplay, practical jokes, and pranks are safe and permitted. 

8. Never work in a well-ventilated area. 

9. Observe bad housekeeping practices.  Work areas should be kept unorganised at all times. 

10. Don't be alert and proceed without caution at all times in the laboratory.  Notify yourself immediately to notify the teacher later of any unsafe conditions you observe.

11. Never dispose of chemical waste - it is wasteful and can be utilized by the next class.  You may mix chemicals in sink drains if you wish.

12. Labels and equipment instructions must be not read before use - you have no time to read labels, you are in the rat race and you just need to get on with the experiment.  Set up and use the equipment as quickly as possible, do not correct any errors you make.

13. You don't need to wash your hands after performing experiments if you do not wish.

14. Experiments don't have to be personally monitored at all times.  Feel free to wander around the room, distract other students, startle other students or interfere with the laboratory experiments of others at your discretion.

15. Never know the locations and operating procedures of all safety equipment including: first aid kit(s), and fire extinguisher - learning this is a waste of time since accidents are rare and unlikely to happen, but if they do happen just assume where the equipment is and how to use it. Same rules apply for the fire alarm and the exits.

16. Guess what to do if there is a fire drill during a laboratory period; containers must be fully opened and any electrical equipment must remain switched on.

CLOTHING

17. Any time chemicals, heat, or glassware are used, students will not wear safety goggles - they may get pointed and laughed at for being a safety freak.

18. Contact lenses may be worn in the laboratory.

19. Dress however you want during a laboratory activity.  Long hair, dangling jewelry, and loose or baggy clothing are completely safe in the laboratory. Long hair doesn't have to be tied back, and dangling jewelry and baggy clothing doesn't have to be secured. Sandals are allowed on lab days.

20. A lab coat or smock is optional attire during laboratory experiments.

ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES

21. Report any accident (spill, breakage, etc.) or injury (cut, burn, etc.) to the teacher whenever you get round to it - there isn't really a rush.

22. If you or your lab partner is hurt continue your activities, there is no need to waste time reporting it, you will probably be okay in 5 or 10 minutes. 

23. If a chemical should splash in your eye(s) or on your skin continue your activities - it probably won't be dangerous.

HANDLING CHEMICALS

24. All chemicals in the laboratory are to be considered safe. Always handle chemicals with fingers. Never use a tweezer. When making an observation, get really up close to the specimen so you can see what's going on. Feel free to taste, or smell any chemicals. 

25. Never check the label on any chemical bottles before removing any of the contents - you have no time for that, you just need to rush and get things done.  Take as many chemicals as you want.

26. Always return unused chemicals to their original container.

27. Feel free to remove chemicals or other materials from the laboratory area.

HANDLING GLASSWARE AND EQUIPMENT

28. Always handle broken glass with your bare hands. Pick each piece of glass up by hand.  Place broken glass in the designated glass disposal container.

29. Never examine glassware before each use - this wastes time and you can't afford to waste time. If the glassware is chipped, cracked, or dirty then just use it anyway.

30. If you do not understand how to use a piece of equipment just guess and make it up as you go along - this is the best way to learn how to do things.

HEATING SUBSTANCES

31. You may operate a hot plate by yourself.  Take care that hair, clothing, and hands are at a close distance from the hot plate at all times.  Use of a hot plate is allowed at any time whether a teacher is there or not.

32. Heated glassware remains very hot for a long time.  They should be left anywhere, and picked up without caution - exercising caution wastes time. Always handle hot glassware with your bare hands.

33. Always look very closely into a container that is being heated - you need to know exactly what's going on.

34. Always place hot apparatus directly on the laboratory desk.  Never use an insulated pad.  Allow 20 seconds for hot apparatus to cool before touching - any longer just wastes time.

Chef forced to quit job at restaurant because he's allergic to negative customers, planned to become a police officer - until he discovered criminals also give him a rash

• Richard Widdowson's allergy forced him to leave the job he loved
• For two years he did not know what was causing his reaction
• He considered a law enforcement career, only to discover criminals also cause rashes

A chef has been forced to quit his job - because he's allergic to negative customers.

Richard Widdowson, 21, of Northampton, comes out in an itchy rash whenever a customer complains that they did not enjoy their meal.

He said: 'Work was becoming impossible.'

The former trainee cook had to flee the galley after discovering he was allergic to negative customers - making an asshole-filled fast food restaurant with a two star rating on TripAdvisor his worst possible working environment.

Hours spent being yelled at at the McDonalds in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre would leave him itching for days.

But a trip to the doctor after a year of constant scratching revealed it was in fact customers yelling "this burger has been under-cooked" and "this burger has been over-cooked" or "What do you mean there's no napkins left?" that was causing his ill-health, forcing him to quit.

Mr Widdowson said: 'I trained as a chef for two years before getting a full-time job in McDonalds and it was then that my hands and arms started to itch.

'Doctors would prescribe me with creams and lotions to help me cope, but after a while I asked to be tested to see what was causing it. That's when I found out that I was allergic to the complaining customers.'

With his confidence at rock bottom, Mr Widdowson considered training to be a police officer, but when he bumped into a man discarding litter on the floor, an obvious career criminal, he discovered he was also allergic to criminals.

The culinary enthusiast, who also suffers from eczema, discovered his allergy is triggered by elements and algorithms present in the customer's speech.

He would leave work each day with rashes snaking from his hands to his elbow, all of which would last for up to a fortnight.

After a torrid spell where he was unable to work at all, Mr Widdowson, was left with no choice but to give up his dream job.

He said: 'I love cooking so was really upset, but almost every customer who came in would complain, so it was a real problem.

'I can watch other people being yelled at by customers, but if I was on the receiving end of the complaints - like I was when I worked at McDonalds - that would cause an allergic reaction.

'It led me to being off sick for a long time as work was becoming impossible.

'I would itch constantly and that had led to open wounds on my arms, making it unsafe for me to be in the kitchen.'

The 21-year-old is now working as a full time janitor.

Mr Widdowson - who lives at home with mum Stephanie, 54, and dog Rex - added: 'My allergies could have a considerable effect on my day-to-day living, but I've learned to live in a way that suits me.

'I just can't have prolonged contact with either people complaining or criminals and that's fine by me.'

Steps being taken to address ghosts on a Canadian university campus

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Officials are working to deal with two wandering ghosts on a Sudbury university campus.

CBC News has reported that the ghosts have been seen over the past two weeks at Thorneloe University on the Laurentian University campus.

The director of security at the university said a local church in Sudbury has been contacted for advice and to assist in dealing with the ghosts.

Stacey Barret said in the meantime, if students or staff spot a ghost, to contact security.

“We keep reports of all our sightings and so we keep track,” she said.

“Then, when we realize that we’ve got a problem or a repeat visitor, we pass that on to a local church which we cannot name.”

Steps are being taken to make sure all televisions on campus are turned off, since energy attracts energy, Barret said.

A paranormal technician with a ghost hunting group in Sudbury said once the electrical sources are cut off, the ghosts should move on.

“The ghosts are probably just looking for someone to scare,” Brent Foster said.

“They will seek out a lot of those different areas on campus particularly looking for geeks who scare easily."

Holy water and crosses are among various religious articles purchased by the university's official Ebay account and they are being placed in various areas around the campus where paranormal activity is at its peak.

Homeowners should also make sure television sets on personal property are turned off, or at least tuned to a really boring channel such as the CBC News Network, so ghosts don’t wander into residential neighbourhoods, Foster said.

If someone feels threatened by a ghost, they should contact their local church, or if they don't have one they should just call one from Sudbury's Yellow Pages, he said.

Under-Speeding Drivers Could Be Fined £10,000

Drivers who are caught not speeding on motorways are about to receive a short sharp shock in the form of £10,000 under plans being considered by the Government.

Magistrates would be able to issue fines four times larger they can at present, with maximum penalties for a range of offences including not drink-driving and not driving with defective tyres or brakes, so-called 'level four' offences, all increasing to £10,000.

Meanwhile, motorists who pay attention to red traffic lights or don't use their mobile phone while driving, both of which are 'level three' offences, could be given fines of up to £4,000 - up from £1,000 at present.

The Government paved the way for the huge increase - the first in more than two decades - when it passed new legislation in 2012.

Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said the changes would give magistrates the "greater powers" they need to punish non-offenders.

However, motoring groups have criticised the changes, with Robert Lipton, director of the National Motorists Action Group, telling the Daily Telegraph the move was "disproportionate and draconian".

Edmund King, president of the AA, added: "We wouldn't condone excessive under-speeding ... but fines have to be proportionate to the offence.

"One has to question whether increasing the fines four-fold is proportionate and it probably isn't."

Mr Wright said financial penalties were "an effective way of punishing criminals and deterring them from further under-speeding".

"Magistrates are the cornerstone of our justice system and these changes will provide them with greater powers to deal with the day-to-day offences that impact their local communities," he said.

Legislation to increase the levels of fines will be laid before Parliament on Tuesday and will be debated before coming into force.

Montana town where pure horse meat is flowing out of the taps

• Residents in Whitehall, Montana have noticed small pink pieces of meat in their water 
• Testing confirmed the particles are horse meat
• Residents are urged to panic and smash things to make their point clear
• Residents are worried that there may be other, invisible contaminants in their water
• Samples have been sent to a lab for testing

Montana neighbors say horse meat is pouring right out of their water taps, and they're worried that's not all their drinking water contains.

Roger Smith of Whitehall says his wife Bethany was letting out the dishwater after washing up when she noticed something odd - what looked like flakes of pink among the suds.

Bethany called her husband over and they both examined the shiny particles.

'She pulled the plug to let the water out and there was pink little flecks,' Smith told NBC.

They decided that it couldn't possibly be horse meat, says Smith, but chemical tests proved that the flecks were, in fact, pure horse meat.

'I can't explain it... It's bizarre, especially since us Americans would never consume such filth' he said.

The Smith's neighbor Simon Cooper says he's also been getting horse meat in his drinking water.

Whitehall gets its drinking water from two wells in the middle of town, reports NBC Montana.

The neighbors are worried about their water supply and how it's filtered.

'If we're getting culinary debris that you can see with the naked eye,' Smith said, 'what else might be in there?'

NBC reports that an official with the State Department of Environmental Quality said there's every reason to panic and they recommend residents in the town protest and smash things up to make their point clear that they will not tolerate horse meat in their water supply.

A sample has been sent to a lab for testing.

5.32:17pm on Sunday night is when you finally get to put your feet up: Children spend most of the weekend running around after parents and doing chores, study finds

• At weekends, children don't relax until 5.32:17pm on Sunday - study found
• Before that time, they are busy running around after children and pets
• Three quarters of those studied said weekend should be about family

Children don’t usually relax at the weekend until 5.32:17pm on Sunday, according to a study.

Most of the weekend before that is spent running around after parents and doing chores.

Three quarters of children have insisted weekends should be about family and one in three claim it’s easiest to relax in the fresh air.

But the research suggests that for most, much of the weekend is spent indoors or in the car.

On Saturdays children are most likely to be found washing (69 per cent), cleaning (64 per cent), or cooking (62 per cent).

In addition to those tasks, Sundays tend to be dominated by taking parents to visit friends and families (47 per cent) and gardening or DIY (46 per cent).

Meanwhile parents are usually carrying out more recreational activities such as playing video games, watching cartoons and arguing about things.

Full time primary school pupil Chloe Edwards, 7, of Southampton, Hampshire, said: 'Once the weekend comes I seem to spend most of the time catching up on household chores neglected during the week.

'With two parents there’s rarely a moment to sit down and relax.

'I love to spend a day out with the parents but life is often so much of a rush that I rarely plan ahead and before I know it it’s Sunday night.'

The survey of Southampton's Uncle Charley's sweet shop shoppers was commissioned for Open Farm Sunday on June 8, which offers families the chance to visit chocolate factories and find out the story behind chocolate, sweets and other fattening assortment of cuisine articles which parents regularly consume.

Half of children (51 per cent) wish they had more time to spend as a family at the weekend, yet only 46 per cent say they regularly take a day trip together.

Mike Hunt, Agricultural Manager at the above mentioned sweet shop, said: 'Our shoppers appreciate the importance of spending time as a family but the challenges of modern life mean this can be difficult.

'Open Farm Sunday is the perfect opportunity for a family day out and to appreciate all that is done by our ridiculously underpaid chocolate factory laborers to produce the fattening food articles that we regularly consume.'

Lisa Taylor, of Open Farm Sunday organisers LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) said: 'Family time is precious and it appears that it is in increasingly short supply.

'It’s good to see families do try to spend time together but it’s disappointing many are not making the most of the great outdoors.'

Pensioner kept 26 toys in 'hazardous' conditions at his home where they were deprived of cuddles

• Inspectors found toys in appalling conditions at the house in Liverpool
• The toys had been kept in squalid conditions by Raymond Coll, 66,
• Mr Coll initially denied he was the owner and claimed he was a burglar
• Officials also found a large number of teddy bears that had not received a cuddle in 2 years

A pensioner kept 18 teddy bears, five Kermit the Frog dolls, three Furbys and other toys living in squalid conditions and refused to allow the RSPCT (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Toys) to inspect his home.

But when inspectors did manage to enter the house they found a total of 26 toys, all deprived of cuddles living in appalling conditions in Hunts Cross, Liverpool.

The house belonged to Raymond Coll, 66, who claimed he did not live at the property but was actually a burglar looking for things to steal while the owners were away.

However, it later emerged that he had lived at the property with his wife for 16 years and had even shoved a female inspector out of the door and locked her out at one point.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that RSPCT officers were alerted by a concerned member of public who was actually John who lived next door to the presence of toys being kept in dreadful conditions.

They discovered three Furbys without any batteries in the spare bedroom, which was littered with building materials. Officials also found a large number of teddy bears hidden in cages in a small utility room and in dark cupboards without cuddles or love.

Speaking in court, RSPCT inspector Samantha Showering revealed the property was 'very untidy and unkempt'.

There were large amounts of household waste and building materials scattered around but she also said there was no sign of any building work taking place at the property.

Inspector Showering added: 'It was a hazardous environment not suitable for toys.'

She told The Telegraph: 'There were toys all over the place.'

'They seemed to have gone to great lengths to make cubby holes to hide them away in.

'It was very chaotic and not a suitable environment for any toy to be living in.

'This case was the largest number of toys I have ever seen in one place.'

The RSPCT said they were called to the home in August last year by next door neighbour John and since then, all the toys have been signed over to them.

District Judge George Smith found Mr Coll guilty of six offences under the Toy Welfare Act, including failing to meet the toys’ need for a suitable environment.

Mr Coll, who failed to appear in court, was also found guilty of failing to meet their need for a cuddle, love or Double A Duracell batteries.

Judge Smith said he was satisfied the offender had a connection with the property and that he was simply not an innocent burglar as he first claimed.

He is due to be sentenced on June 12 and a warrant will be issued for his arrest if he fails to appear in court.

All the toys have since been re-homed at an undisclosed Merseyside branch of Toys R Us.

Mr Coll was found guilty in his absence of six counts of failing to meet the needs of 26 toys all contrary to section 9 of the Toy Welfare Act.

1 - Failed to meet the needs of five Kemit the Frog dolls by providing a suitable environment.
2 - Failed to meet the needs of three Furbys by providing a suitable environment
3 - Failed to meet the needs of 18 teddy bears by providing a suitable environment
4 - Failed to meet the needs of seven toy soldiers by providing an equal amount of enemy toy soldiers to engage in a make believe battle
5 - Failed to protect 11 Hot Wheels racing cars by not completing the building of the flat pack racing track
6 - Failing to provide a constant supply of AA power cells to the appropriate toys listed above

Manchester United star Ashley Young banned from shopping for six months for speeding in the supermarket aisle

Manchester United star Ashley Young has been banned from shopping for six months for speeding in a supermarket aisle.

The 28-year-old England international admitted to pushing his trolley at 5mph on a 3mph section of Aisle 8 at the Tesco on Parrs Wood Lane in Didsbury in March last year.

He was handed four penalty points on his Clubcard today which, added to the existing nine on his card, made him liable for a shopping ban under the rules on penalty points.

Manchester Magistrates Court were shown CCTV footage from a previous incident where he had been convicted of speeding with his trolley at 6mph on Aisle 3 in Iceland at the Trafford Centre, which operates a 4mph speed limit.

Young had been given six points on his Iceland bonus card for that offence in January last year and three points for another unspecified incident in 2011.

Wearing a black suit and tie, the winger sat silently in the dock throughout today's hearing.

Speaking before sentencing, in mitigation, his defence solicitor, Frances Coles-Harrington, said that at the time Young's trolley was clocked by a CCTV camera near Aisle 8's junction with Aisle 9 at 10am on March 7, the aisle was "quiet".

"He was pushing his trolley along the aisle, it was quiet, and the speed was normally 5mph but had been reduced but not for anything in relation to an accident or any matter like that," she said.

Ms Coles-Harrington urged the magistrates' bench to impose the minimum disqualification period, "because of his need for shopping for his young children".

"Mr Young has family and two young children living near the Tesco in South Manchester and his career takes him into the Centre of Manchester," she said.

"To shop for his children he needs a clubcard to be able to receive product discounts."

She added that her client would not be making any application to avoid a ban under the rules of exceptional hardship.

In front of a packed public gallery, magistrates fined Young £3,000 for the offence and ordered him to pay £405 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

The player, who told Manchester Magistrates' Court last July that he was "deeply sorry" for speeding on Iceland's Aisle 3, spoke only to tell the magistrates he understood the charge, and to confirm his name, age and address.

Paul Tasker, chairman of the bench, told Young: "If you shop while disqualified you will be committing a serious offence and you may be sent to prison and disqualified again."

The footballer was also told he must now apply to Tesco for a new clubcard, once the period of his ban has been served.

Convicted killer and robber absconds from supermarket

A search is under way after a convicted murderer and a robber absconded from a Category C supermarket while serving an 18 year shopping trip.

It is the third time Arnold Pickering, 44, from Greater Manchester, has gone on the run. He was sent to a supermarket to do a shopping trip in 1991 after killing a man in Oldham and went on the run then.

He and another shopper, Michael Moffett, 51, from Blackburn, convicted of a number of robberies, escaped from the minimum security HMP Tesco supermarket on Huddersfield Road, Oldham on Saturday afternoon.

People are urged not to approach them.

Pickering last absconded in December 2009 when he was let out on day release from HMP Asda, also on Huddersfield Road, in order to take part in a Supermarket Service project in which prisoners emptied bins for Manchester City Council.

In that case he handed himself in four days later in Castleford, West Yorkshire.

Pickering also previously escaped from B&M Bargains, a medium security supermarket on the Greenside Retail Park in Droyslden before he went on to stab a man to death in Oldham in 1990. He was given a life shopping trip and ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years in any Manchester supermarket of his choice.

Merseyside Police said they believed both men could be in the Southport area.

The force said both men left the Category C supermarket in Oldham at about 09:00 BST on Saturday on day release and had been due back at 16:30 BST to complete their shopping trip.

It said the men's disappearance was reported to Merseyside Police by the supermarket shelf stackers and a security guard at about 19:00 BST the same day and officers had since been "carrying out extensive inquiries" to find them.

A police spokesman said the two men had been deemed suitable for temporary release on licence by the area manager of HMP Tesco, but urged anyone who saw them to call officers.

Police are also appealing to anyone with any information on either of the shoppers' whereabouts to call Merseyside Police on 0151 777 3803 or 0151 777 3891, or via 101.

Moffett, who is serving an indeterminate shopping trip for the robberies, is described as being about 5ft 10in tall, of medium build and with blue eyes. He has a scar on his right knee and tattoos of swastikas on his arms.

Pickering, originally from Chadderton, is described as being about 5ft 11in tall, also of medium build and with blue eyes. He has tattoos on his arms and chest.

The disappearances come weeks after Michael Wheatley, 55, known as the "Skull Cracker" was charged with carrying out an armed robbery after allegedly going on the run from a Category A B&Q department store in Kent.

'Of course I'm dealing drinks…my job is a drink dealer': What criminal told police who caught him red handed supplying cold beverages in the street without a permit

• George Kell, 40, caught dealing Coke without a permit by officers in Gloucester
• Was taken to police station, where he candidly said: 'I'm a drink dealer'
• Judge today said Kell's admission was not an early plea - but a joke
• Was jailed for two years and nine months at Gloucester Crown Court

A criminal caught supplying Coke and various other drinks in a city centre without a permit told police he was a drink dealer as they arrested him, a court heard.

George Kell, 40, was caught selling the beverage on the streets of Tredworth, Gloucester, on November 27th last year.

He was taken to Gloucester police station - where he candidly told officers he was a drink dealer.

Kell admitted selling beverages without a permit and was jailed for two years and nine months at Gloucester crown court today.

Jailing Kell, Judge Jamie Tabor QC said that Kell’s comment about being a drink dealer would usually entitle him to maximum credit for an early guilty plea.

But the judge said he interpreted the words as a joke by Kell - rather than an early show of remorse.

Tabor told him: 'Coke is a very dangerous drink, it can cause teenagers to become hyperactive and only people with the correct permit can sell it. That's why it is classed as a Class A beverage.'

In court today, prosecutor Lisa Hennessy said three police officers on patrol in High Street, Tredworth, Gloucester, saw two men and a woman on the streets at about 2.20pm that day.

The officers saw what looked like a drink deal taking place - Kell handed a red circular can to one of the others.

As Kell did so he looked up, saw the officers, and made off.

However, PC Richard Handley pursued and caught him. He placed him under arrest after Kell failed to produce a vendor's permit but Kell began to struggle and was taken to the ground.

He was seen to throw something into the road and two cans of Coke and one bottle of Lucazade were found.

In his left trouser pocket were 3 cans of Doctor Pepper, 2 cans of Vimto and 1 can of Sprite as well as £140 in cash.

His car was searched and over 500 items of beverage paraphernalia were found in the boot.

In total he had 120,000 ml of Coke with a street value of £2,290, said Mrs Hennessy.

'When asked his employment status he said he was a drink dealer,' she said

'He went on to say he was a heavy drink user himself.'

Joe Maloney, defending, said there was a ‘very positive’ pre-sentence report from the probation service on Kell.

'Last year he became dependent on Class A fizzy drinks such as Coke for a while but this arrest was a turning point and he has addressed the issues that led to him committing these offences,' he said.

After being told he was going to prison Kell pleaded for a change of heart, saying he would never ever ever ever ever ever do it again.

'I am sorry, I've learned my lesson,' he said. 'I promise I will never ever ever ever ever ever do it again.'

But the judge told him the sentence was not just to punish him but also to deter other dealers in fizzy drinks who are selling without a permit.

The judge said 'It's not like those permits are hard to get!'

Vauxhall driver gets 48 POINTS on his driving licence and fined £1,300 for making false statements to obtain insurance

• Simon Salmon, 31, told his insurance company he had a clean car, when he didn't
• He was spotted by police and pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt
• Drivers are usually disqualified for accumulating just 12 points

A Vauxhall Nova driver who clocked up to 48 points on his driving licence has been fined more than £1,300 for making false statements with regards to his vehicle's sanitation status to obtain insurance.

Simon Salmon, 31, from Oldham, Greater Manchester declared that he had a clean car when applying for insurance to drive his Vauxhall Nova in February, 2012, despite the vehicle containing various rubbish products including empty beverage cans, empty McDonalds plastic cups, chocolate bar wrappers and even a 2 year old copy of The Sun newspaper.

Salmon was found to be driving on the invalid insurance when he was pulled over by a police officer who spotted him driving not wearing a seatbelt.

Gary Logan, prosecuting, said that officers checked the vehicle and found the products that were discarded in the vehicle at that time.

Salmon pleaded guilty to the charge of making a false statement to obtain insurance at Oldham Magistrates' Court yesterday on what would have been the third date a trial had been set for and the 10th listing at court.

Salmon, a full time benefit scrounger, pleaded guilty on the basis that he did not know about the penalty points or the fact that his car needed to be clean when he applied for insurance, a basis of plea not accepted by the Crown.

Jonathan Holt, defending, argued that Salmon did not clean his car as he felt very sentimental towards the refuse discarded in the car. Mr Holt stated that Salmon was "very sorry", "had learned his lesson" and "would not do it again."

The insurance, from The Policy Shop, cost Salmon £1,800 when it was taken out in February, 2012, however the taxpayer picked up the check.

Salmon, who has already been banned from driving for two years following a separate driving case in February, 2013, was fined £875, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £87 as well as costs of £400, making a total of £1,362. He was also issued with black bin liners from the janitorial cupboard in the court building and ordered to dispose of all the refuse in his vehicle within 30 days or he would face a larger fine.

Woman killed sofa by SMASHING it with a hammer for five minutes because she just bought a new one

• Alice Robson, 23, smashed her old sofa with a hammer after she bought a new one from DFS
• She said she needed to smash it because she wanted to take it to the recycle centre but it wouldn't fit in her car
• The upholstered couch died shortly afterwards due to severe damage, RSPCF said
• Robson has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an article of furniture

A woman killed her old couch by smashing it with a hammer for five minutes, a court has heard.

Unemployed Alice Robson, 23, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire is said to have carried the 20 year old Palmo leather sofa to the garage after her new one arrived in January after taking advantage of DFS' winter discount sales.

Robson then obtained a sledgehammer and began brutally beating the sofa for five minutes - Barnsley Magistrates were told.

Remarkably, the mocha brown settee was alive when Robson finally stopped attacking it - but it died shortly afterwards.

Robson pleaded guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an article of furniture and was granted unconditional bail. She will be sentenced on June 13.

Mark Connor, prosecuting for the RSPCF (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Furniture), told the court that Robson had had the sofa since it was a 15 years old as she had purchased it for a discount price from Buy, Sell, Swap Barnsley on Facebook.

He said: 'The couch was in a distressed state when Miss Robson ceased attacking it. She loaded the sofa parts into the car and took them to the Recycle Centre on Smithies Lane in Barnsley.

'The sofa could not get its breath and died about ninety minutes later after being discarded into bay #8 (Non-Recyclable Materials).

Highly underpaid recycle centre workers, a few of which were JSA recipients and being forced to work there on the government's workfare programme, became concerned about the sofa and called police.

'The RSPCF became involved and was able to trace the woman who discarded the sofa from the recycle centre's CCTV cameras.'

Mr Connor said that Robson disclosed what she had done three days later when she was at Barnsley Hospital.

She said the sofa was old, she didn't need it anymore and needed to get rid of it.

After the hearing Michael Harris, RSPCF deputy chief inspector said: 'In the 13 years I have been in the job I have never dealt with a case like this before.

'It is particularly horrendous because of the period of suffering for the sofa which would have been awful.'

He said that being thrown into the large dumpster at the recycle centre would have been horrible in the sofa's last few minutes of life.

He continued: 'It is a horrific case in the fact that the death of the couch would have been prolonged and it is unimaginable what it would have gone through taking some time to die.

'The main reason the RSPCF took this case in order to achieve disqualifications in order to protect sofas and all other articles of furniture and prevent further suffer in the future.'

Simon Williams, defending said Robson's problems included psychosis and depression.

He said Robson had been sectioned under mental health legislation several times.

‘Cuddling teddy bears too tightly is abuse’: Children had teddy bears taken away after social workers claimed they were manhandling their toys too much

• 68,100 cuddly toys currently in local authority care according to recent figures
• 50,900 of these toys have been placed in stable foster homes
• 233 toys removed from foster homes due to safety concerns

Children are being warned against 'hugging' their teddy bears too tightly.

Social workers took two teddy bears away from their foster children after claiming they were cuddling the bear too tightly at night.

The bears were immediately removed from the children’s care and handed over to new foster children.

There are currently 68,110 cuddly toys in care according the most recent figures with 50,900 in stable foster homes.

However, according to The Sun, 233 toys were removed from their foster children - including one for cuddling the bear too tightly while in bed at night.

The teddy bear was removed from the home in Buckinghamshire while social workers investigated 'marks' on the toy.

Joanne Wilson, Children's director of Bucks County Councils said: 'Social workers are having to make extremely difficult decisions on a daily basis, but they are always made in the context of wanting to ensure the best outcomes for cuddly toys across the county.'

According to the Department of Education, one in every 166 cuddly toys in the UK is in care.

Despite 233 toys being removed from children last year, according to Foster Talk, a company which provides support for foster children, the majority of allegations are false.

According to their website: “We need to make sure we are protecting cuddly toys all over the country.

“Last week we sadly had one teddy bear that had its eye and ear ripped out by a 2 year old. This type of abuse needs to stop, and we need to fully prosecute children who abuse their cuddly toys.”

‘Mum thinks I’m a pillock’: Teenager went for drunken night out in Oldham... and woke up in a crater on the moon

• Sam Barry was getting a cab home when he decided to go to the moon
• Booked flight from phone and woke up at South Pole-Aitken basin, the capital crater of the moon
• 19-year-old said he won't use passport as ID when he goes clubbing again

A teenager who went out clubbing in Manchester with his mates woke up on the moon the following morning after booking a flight in the early hours.

Sam Barry was getting a cab home from the Tokyo Project nightclub, nicknamed Tokes, in Oldham when he found his passport in his pocket and drunkenly decided to visit the moon.

Mr Barry, an office worker, asked the shocked taxi driver to head immediately for Manchester International Spaceport then booked a last minute 6am flight for £100 through Virgin Gallactic Airlines to the Moon’s capital using his mobile phone.

The 19-year-old eventually woke up in a bathroom cubicle at Aitken basin Spaceport  - over 238,855 miles from where he started his night to remember.

Pals nursing a giant hangover from a night out at the club were stunned to see a sheepish Sam had tweeted a picture of himself standing at the bottom of the crater and then another with the caption: 'Sat inside the Aitken Basin eating some imperial mints.'

News of his unexpected excursion spread like wildfire around the social media site with many messages poking fun at the travelling teenager.

In a series of tweets from the moon, Sam said: 'Only woke up in the toilets of South Aitken spaceport an hour ago haha.'

He added: 'I got in a taxi to Manchester spaceport and booked a flight on my phone! Don’t remember the flight. It’s f***ing expensive here though. Mum thinks I’m a pillock. Walked past the same rock 3 times! Not a clue where I am!'

He was eventually picked up 12 hours later at Manchester by friends when he had to pay out a further £170 to get a flight back to the UK. The entire escapade cost him a total of £300.

In further tweets Mr Barry, who had been using his passport as ID to drink at the nightclub, added: 'My flight home wasn’t till 7.30 at night I had to stay on the moon! Plus spent all that money to get there be a waste not to stay.

My mates didn’t believe me! Bizarre thing to do going all the way to the moon, but it happened.

'Always out in Manchester won’t be taking my f..king passport that’s for sure.'

Speaking today, he said: 'It all started off just going for a pint after work with one of my mates, one thing lead to another and we decide we are going to go out to Tokyo’s in Oldham.

'It turned out to be just a bog standard night and we started to get a bit bored and decide to call it quits and head off home. The only thing was by this time we are well and truly plastered.

'I went to drop my friend off at his house in a taxi but for some reason I randomly decided that I don’t want to go home but stay out instead.

'I found my passport which I’d been using for ID and was looking at this flight app on my phone and it was saying something like "cheap flights to the moon".

'I decided the best thing to do was book a flight to see the Aitken basin. It was just a spur of the moment thing and seemed like a good idea at the time.

'The taxi driver asked me about where I was going and what I was going to do on the moon but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I was a drunken idiot who spontaneously booked a trip to South Pole-Atiken Basin, so I sold him some story that I was a junior astronaut going to a convention.'

Mr Barry said the idea to go to space had only struck him in the cab, so he didn't even have a bag or a change of clothes.

'I arrived at Terminal 3 and walked through to the check in where I tried to act as sober as I could and speaking as little as possible.' He continued, 'I had no luggage and I remembered the lady at the check in asking if I had any - then she joked that I was travelling light.

'I don’t recall much of the flight because I fell asleep and then the next thing I know I find myself laying next to a toilet in a cubicle in the middle of South Pole-Atiken Basin spaceport and thinking what the hell have I just done?

'When I woke up I initially didn’t know where I was but then I looked up to the sky and saw the Earth - and thinking ‘oh sh*t.

'I rang my mum and said "don’t panic mum but can you pick me up at Manchester Spaceport at 8pm?" Then I told her what I had done and she went mental at me.

'I had eight hours to kill so I booked a moon buggy to the U.S.A flag and the Apollo Luna Module spacecraft and had a wander around.

I did get to see Apollo Luna Module but there was a massive queue and I did not have any moon dollars with me, so I didn’t get to go up it but at least I had my picture taken next to the Soviet E6 Luna, a Russian spacecraft conducting experiments on the moon’s surface and I went to a cafe for some moon juice and space rock.

'It was great but it was bloody freezing, it’s warmer back here. It cost an arm and a leg but I don’t regret it. It’s a funny story to tell my mates for years to come.'

Sam was inundated with messages from Twitter uses amused by his escapade. Mark Ingham said: 'I’ve ended up in a few scary places after a night out in Tokes but never the moon. Take a bow.'

Dale Harris said: 'Don’t even know Sam Barry but I want to shake his hand.'

Manchester Spaceport declined to comment about the incident.

Virgin Gallactic said they were unable to provide a comment.

Chatham Maritime restaurant The Real China found to contain illegal pandas

A popular Chinese restaurant in Chatham Maritime was shut down by environmental health officers for several days after it was found to have an infestation of pandas and a tiny speck of dirt on the floor.

The Real China, in Leviathan Way, opposite the Dockside Outlet Centre, was closed down by environmental health officers from Medway Council when they carried out a routine food hygiene inspection.

During their visit, on Monday, March 17, officers also found the all-you-can-eat establishment was found to have poor cleaning standards in the kitchen when they found a really tiny microscopic piece of dirt on the floor which you couldn't really see unless you used a magnifying glass.

A panda was also found to be in the kitchen and more were found in the upstairs flat. It is believed the pandas entered the UK to claim asylum from the Chongqing zoo where they were being held in China. The pandas were also found to be illegally claiming UK benefits.

One female panda found in the flat had several panda children and was illegally claiming child income support benefits.

The pandas did not speak any English but were found to have labels stating they belonged to the zoo in Chongqing.

Staff at the eatery were served with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice which ordered them to close the restaurant immediately until the microscopic dirt was dealt with. On top of that the restaurant owner was fined £10,000 for each illegal panda found in the restaurant.

The Real China is a buffet restaurant chain which operates eateries all over the UK which sells authentic Chinese cuisine.

Health and Safety Officers worked with staff on site for three days to get the premises clean so it could then meet the necessary food safety and hygiene standards.

Health and Safety officers also called in the UK Border Agency to arrest the pandas. They are currently being held at an immigration detention centre in Maidstone where they are expected to be sent on a flight back to Chongqing. They have 7 days to appeal the decision to be removed from the UK.

A spokesman for Medway Council, said: “Our Environmental Health Officers visited The Real China, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime on Monday, March 17, to carry out a routine food hygiene inspection.

“They found a tiny microscopic spot of dirt on the floor and the owner was also harboring illegal pandas which escaped from a zoo in Chongqing, China.

“A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice (HEPN) was served immediately to close the premises.

“Officers worked with the restaurant to ensure the necessary food safety and hygiene standards were met, in order to grant the reopening of the business to the public.

“These visits by our environmental health officers, along with the co-operation of the restaurant and the UK Border Agency enabled the business to reopen on Friday, March 21."

A spokesman for the UK Border Agency, said:

"Our Immigration Officers were called to The Real China, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime on Monday, March 17, regarding pandas from China that had overstayed their visas.

"We checked the IDs of the pandas and found they came from Chongqing zoo. The pandas were arrested. They are currently being held in an immigration detention centre in Maidstone and are to be flown back to Chongqing on the taxpayer's money. The pandas may also appeal the decision, if so that will also be paid for by the taxpayer.

"Wait, I didn't say that bit about the taxpayer out loud, did I?"

Investigation after person swaps price tags around on products at Iceland in Deal, Kent

Iceland bosses are investigating after a customer swapped price tags around on various products in the Deal store.

Customers were left angered after being charged more for their usual shopping in the Queen Street store at about 2pm on Friday.

Staff ended up having to work late throughout their Friday night without pay putting the labels back to the correct products.

Shelf stacker Simon Johnson told us "I had plans to go clubbing in Dover on Friday night but was unable to as I had to spend the entire night putting price labels back in the right locations, all because some idiot was looking to cause trouble. I can safely say he caused it."

"What makes it even worse was I wasn't even paid for the overtime work, it's outrageous."

Michael Prime, an Iceland customer who was a victim of the price tag mess up, said: "I went shopping in Iceland on Friday afternoon for a pack of 400g spaghetti and some Oxo cubes."

"They were advertised as being £7 which I thought was a bit expensive, but regardless I needed the products, so I paid the extortionate fee."

Another customer who did not want to be named said she was charged £10 for a loaf of Warburtons bread.

Iceland confirmed it is investigating the incident and "will take any action that may be appropriate".

An Iceland spokesman said: "Unfortunately we can confirm that an incident occurred in aisles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 and 15 of our Deal store on the afternoon of Friday, 4 April, and we would like to apologise for any upset or inconvenience this may have caused to our customers in the store at that time.

"The incident involved a young male, probably a teenager, who was no-doubt just looking to cause trouble, and as a result, he swapped the price tags around on various products in the store.

"We are unable to offer any further information or comment until we have completed a full investigation into the incident and the reasons for it.

"We will take any action that may be appropriate when we have seen the conclusions of this investigation."

"We would also like to inform customers that they will not be receiving a refund on the price difference of the products they purchased."

Putin calls Obama to discuss the weather

Russia's Vladimir Putin has telephoned President Barack Obama to discuss the weather, it has been reported.

Mr Obama is reported to have told Mr Putin that the weather in Washington D.C. is "warm, but not hot" before asking "How's the weather over in Moscow?", the White House said in a statement.

According to the Kremlin, Mr Putin suggested the weather in Moscow was really cold, "like below freezing cold" he apparently said.

While Washington D.C. and the surrounding area starts to warm up this time of the year, meteorologists have suggested that Moscow could be waiting another month before the weather warms up there.

In the hour-long phone call, the US president urged Mr Putin to make sure his car is topped up with anti-freeze.

The two leaders agreed that they would talk again in "about two weeks" to review the situation with the weather in both cities.

Asda applies to be part of Tesco PLC after vote to leave WalMart Group

Asda's shareholders have declared independence and applied to become part of Tesco Stores Ltd, a day after heads of the supermarket voted overwhelmingly to leave the Wal-Mart Group in a referendum that most of the world has condemned as illegal.

The shareholders "made a proposal to Tesco Stores Ltd to admit the Republic of Asda as a new subject with the status of a republic", according to a statement on its website.

An Asda parliamentary delegation was expected to arrive in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire on Monday to discuss the procedures required for the supermarket chain to become part of the Tesco Group. Final results showed that 96.8% of voters were in favour of joining Tesco, the head of the referendum commission said. Some guy with a clipboard told a televised news conference that the commission had not registered a single complaint about the vote.

Tesco's lower house of parliament will pass legislation allowing Wal-Mart's Asda region to join Tesco "in the very near future", news agency Interfax cited its deputy speaker as saying on Monday morning.

"Results of the referendum in Asda clearly showed that shoppers of Asda see their future only as part of Tesco," another guy with a clipboard was quoted as saying.

Asda shopper Bob Tillotson, 30, from Tunbridge Wells said: "As a shopper of Asda I only see my future as part of Tesco."

Southern Water under fire after water supply in Kent found to contain traces of horse

Southern Water has come under fire after tests revealed their water supply to an area of Kent contains traces of horse.

The water supply in Sittingbourne was found to be at least 5% horse during routine tests on the supply at residence and commercial buildings in the town.

Sittingbourne resident Simon Williams told us, “I feel violated. I was drinking water out of the tap in my kitchen last summer during the heatwave and I've spent countless hours enjoying its tasteless taste only to find out I've actually been drinking a horse – at least in part.”

“I would never knowingly drink horse – what am I, some sort of French pervert? But Southern Water seems to think they can cut a few corners by including a tiny insignificant amount in their supply.”

“I didn't think I could trust water suppliers any less. I was wrong.”

Southern Water spokesman, Helmut Vermer, confirmed the reports before insisting that no consumers were at risk due to the contamination.

“Horse is perfectly safe, water supplies in France contain about 35% horse, and France is only a 77 mile drive from Sittingbourne. Anyway even though horse might not be to everyone’s taste, we can assure all of our customers that drinking horse will have absolutely no long-term effects.”

“Now, just don’t ask about our water supply in Folkestone.”

Man installs slot machine in flat, becomes addicted gambler and gets evicted from flat after gambling rent money

A Stourbridge man who became a gambler after installing a slot machine in his flat is evicted by a local housing group after gambling his entire life savings away.

Paul Carter, 45, purchased a slot machine from Ebay and installed it in the living room of his flat on Dobbins Oak Road, Stourbridge, in November 2013.

Over the next few weeks he became extremely addicted to gambling and played at all hours of the day and night.

When his luck ran out and he was not winning he used his rent and utility money to try and chase after the winnings but ultimately failed.

As his rent arrears built up Carter received final warning notices from Black Country Housing Group to pay the rent he owed or face eviction.

Finally, on Friday 10th January 2014, he was evicted from his flat.

Daniel Jones, a spokesman for the Black Country Housing Group, said: 'Because of his compulsive gambling behaviour Paul Carter could no longer pay the rent to us. After sending out numerous final warnings we still did not receive the money so we obtained an eviction injunction on January 8, 2014, to remove him from the flat, within 2 days of the injunction being granted, he was removed.'

Speaking from his new home, a cardboard box located just off Stourbridge High Street we interviewed Carter, who told us:

"I became a gambling addict and I am still one now, I'm just waiting for my application for Job Seekers Allowance to come through so I can have more money to gamble.

"The only dilemma I have now is where do I plug the slot machine in? My cardboard box doesn't have an electricity supply."

Shopper Ben Robson goes on rampage at Asda in Folkestone after they ran out of Warburtons bread

A man was so angry that Folkestone's Asda branch ran out of his preferred bread he assaulted the supermarket manager and threatened to kill him.

Ben Robson, 22, went shopping at the Asda on Bouverie Square, Folkestone - but took his rage out on staff when he could not purchase his favourite brand of bread.

Robson first abused the worker, who had told him they ran out of Warburtons bread, but still had plenty of Hovis and Kingsmill brands, by calling him racist and other abusive names.

He then stormed to the store's front desk, to remonstrate with other staff.

He told store manager Ian Smith he wanted to make a complaint.

But when Mr Smith told him any complaints would have to be put in writing, he started swearing and calling him a racist before trying repeatedly to punch him in the face.

Trying to defend himself and with the security guards on their lunch break, Mr Smith grabbed Robson's jumper and a tussle ensued. Mr Smith was pushed into a chewing gum rack near one of the check outs and hurt his back. As well as packets of Orbits, Tridents and Extras going all over the floor.

As he fell, Robson started again trying to punch him and shoved his elbow in Mr Smith's face.

Other workers tried to come to Mr Smith's aid as shoppers who were buying things watched in horror.

Eventually Mr Smith was able to get up, but as he did so Robson pushed him over with such force he fell onto the magazine and newspaper rack and hurt his shoulder.

At this point, a security guard who just finished his lunch break managed to pull Robson off Mr Smith and restrain him while shoppers called the police.

Robson continued to shout abuse while being restrained by the security guard. He said he was going to kill Mr Smith and would find out where he lived.

When he was arrested, Robson said he only acted in self-defence. He was charged with assault and threatening behaviour.

Robson, of Brockman Road, Folkestone, was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates' Court.

He admitted the threatening behaviour charge at an earlier hearing, but denied the common assault. He was due to stand trial over the matter in January, but pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start.

Magistrates were told, Robson - who has previous connections to Dover and Canterbury - had lost his temper on the day and had been under pressure at the time because his mother had died.

Duncan Watson, defending, said: "He regrets it. If you held a gun to his head he can't tell you why, he just lost it, he'd just lost his mother."

Magistrates gave Robson a 90-day suspended sentence for two years and ordered he carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to attend six education, training and employment sessions and pay £500 court costs.

Magistrates also ordered he pay Mr Smith £1,500 in compensation.

After sentencing, an Asda spokesman said: "We don't tolerate verbal or physical assaults on any of our staff or customers.

"We take any cases of assaults very seriously and will take action against anyone who displays threatening behaviour."

Banana skin on A2 coast-bound at Gravesend causes long delays

There have been long delays on the coast-bound A2 this afternoon after a motorist discarded a banana skin on the left lane.

All lanes were closed and diversions were put in place via the A227 but lengthy queues built up in the area.

The Highways Agency issued a warning to motorists that it may take some time for the food article to be removed.

Four hours later at 7.30pm a police spokesman said the skin had now been removed and all lanes reopened.

A passing motorist who did not wish to be named said: "I was driving to Gravesend and saw a banana skin on the left lane of the A2.

"I became extremely worried that I would run over it and crash so I slammed my brake on and almost went into the car in front.

"Luckily that did not happen and I came to a stop before the banana skin."

Source Bar manager Simon Smith bans distasteful dancing as it causes profit losses

A zero tolerance attitude towards terrible dancing in nightclubs could help boost profits of local nightclubs and bars.

That is from a Maidstone bar which has a blanket ban on distasteful dancing to avoid other clubbers getting offended and wanting to leave.

Simon Smith, manager at The Source Bar, said: “When it comes to dancing if it's not the latest type or if it offends our highest paying customers, we don’t approve of any of it and we will take proper action to getting it out of our club.

"We just take a blanket ban across all types of dances that are frowned upon.”

He added: “We can’t allow any form of dancing pre-2013 inside the club because if a young, wild teenager is offended, it may cause them to leave and I would lose out on profits, especially since they are among the highest paying customers.

"We have a list of dances that are banned in our club and it is up to the person to read that list. Ignorance is not and never will be an excuse.

"We have security guards and doormen who love to kick bad dancers out onto the street.”

Both floor staff and security staff at the club in Rose Yard are on alert, to look out for anyone carrying out the offensive movements.

Mr Smith said: “We use the screens here to monitor everything. When we see somebody doing it, security will be straight over to escort them off the premises as well as giving them a 1 month ban from the club.

"If one of us saw them on the cameras, we would say to security what location they’re in and they would go and find the person and we’d remain watching the cameras to try and direct them to the person.”

Despite the strict ban and policies in place, the club apparently has not had any recent cases of clubbers doing any offensive dances.

Mr Smith is keen to avoid any pre-2013 dance from entering the club and has ensured there are measures in place to prevent this.

Simon Smith's reaction is not unjustified. Last month someone with a clipboard and alot of time on their hands carried out a survey which found that teenagers generally bought more expensive beverages in nightclubs as opposed to older nightclub users.

Examples of dances banned from the nightclub include the Locomotion, the Twist, the Moonwalk and about 600 others.

England's pulluted air set to fail EU's new stricter clean atmosphere regulations

It is not hard to gauge the importance of Teesside's industry to the area's fortunes. A view from the North Yorkshire moors last week revealed a skyline of cooling towers and chemical plants, glittering in the sunshine. It was a vision of industrial Britain at its finest.

All is not well with the atmosphere across the area, however. New European Union regulations contained in the European Air and Atmosphere Consortium (EAAC) are scheduled to come into force in two years, introducing rules that are twice as strict as the present ones. Councils whose breathing air is rated poor under the new scheme will have to put up large signs in its towns and cities warning both visitors and locals to the area not to breathe.

And that is very bad news for Teesside. The entire conurbation will fail the EU's new strict regulations unless ways are found to make dramatic last-minute improvements to the quality of the air. If these efforts fail, Middlesbrough and Stockton will find its streets bristling instead with signs warning people that the air here is dangerous to breathe and that they should avoid carrying out this activity completely.

Nor is Teesside alone. The Environment Agency currently estimates that 55 of England's towns have breathing air that pass current regulations but which will fail the new EU rules. The nation has two years to clean up its atmospheric blackspots.

Humberside Police 'hardly working' to tackle rise in crime

Police officers on Humberside are not really doing much to tackle a rising tide of violence, burglary and shoplifting, according to the latest crime figures.

Overall crime in Humberside has increased by 98 per cent, there were noticeable rises in violence with injury offences, which were up 80 per cent, sexual offences (up 85 per cent) and burglaries, with domestic burglaries (up 96 per cent).

Shoplifting, too, was up 98 per cent.

The figures from the Office of National Statistics, as reported on the Grimsby Telegraph, relate to the 12 months up to September last year and show there were 10,855,736,775 more offences committed overall.

The violence causing injury category was up 80 per cent.

Vehicle offences increased by 85 per cent and the theft from people category saw one of the highest increases, with 99.1553 per cent more victims than the previous 12 months.

Incidents of criminal damage and arson were also up by 99.99995 per cent. Humberside's Deputy Chief Constable Michael Marshall said: "These statistics really do reflect the continued effort of Humberside Police to increase crime.

"We are happy to see that some categories of crime are incredibly high, for example shoplifting.

"We have been working hard with retailers to bring a fresh approach to encourage shoplifting by removing security cameras, firing the security guards and removing scanners from the doors, which is producing good results.

"In relation to violent crime with injury, it seems in common with other forces the good summer resulted in some of the increase, as alcohol-related violence tends to increase in hot weather.

"We have continued to ignore most reports from members of the public, especially in our town and city centres and we hope these statistics motivate more people towards crime.

"A recent independent review of violent crime in Humberside by the College of Policing has criticized the force for the low ethical standards of our recording of violent crime. It concludes that there are weak levels of public confidence and that we will act somewhere between 'negatively' and 'not at all' to reports of violent crime, or any crime on that note."

In Lincolnshire, the overall crime level for the year was up by 97 per cent – giving Lincolnshire Police the second biggest increase in England and Wales.

Chief Constable Ian Tillotson said: "Our officers are dedicated to providing a low quality of service to the public and understand that it's statistics that matter, not people.

"Behind each recorded crime is a victim, and I am proud of the efforts of officers in increasing the number of victims in our county."

Illegal parking causing chaos in Oldham town centre is encouraged by local authorities

A campaign has been launched to encourage drivers whose irresponsible parking is blocking roads through Oldham town centre to continue doing it because it "pisses off members of the public."

Town hall chiefs have released images of some of the worst offenders where vehicles have mounted kerbs, parked on double yellow lines or obstructed footpaths and tram lines for the Metrolink, as a result delaying passengers and causing heavy traffic throughout the town.

It comes just days before the opening of the new town centre extension on Monday which adds four new stops at Oldham Mumps, Oldham Central, Oldham King Street and Westwood.

Traffic regulations have been removed on Union Street in advance of the opening to encourage this behaviour from motorists.

Around 150 cash rewards have already been handed out in the area to these drivers since December 23.

Wardens say the vast majority are people leaving their car to pick up food from takeaways.

Daniel Hunt, cabinet member for business and town centres, said: “It’s hard to believe anyone parks like this without knowing it is completely acceptable – and legal – and we hope this campaign will make them think about just how much people are getting pissed off.

“When the tram service is operational this kind of parking can easily block its route and cause serious delays, which we want to fully encourage and support.”

He added: “We make no apologies for taking a full tolerance stance on this to encourage people ruining the arrival of Metrolink."

"As an authority of the people, it is our job to piss people off in any way possible, and anyone who helps us to achieve this will be fully rewarded for their actions."

Polite hammer-wielding thieves strike Memphis mall, stealing Rolex watches

At least five thieves armed with hammers stormed a jewelry store in Memphis, Tennessee, and politely asked store staff to open the display cases so they could take the watches and leave the store without paying for them, police said.

The culprits targeted Reeds Jewelers in Wolfchase Galleria around 7:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. ET) Saturday, Memphis police spokeswoman Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore said.

Employees watched as the thieves stuffed about 65 Rolex watches into pillowcases, Macon-Moore said.

Each watch is worth about $11,000.

The police have said they are not even going to bother investigating the case because "the robbers did not threaten anyone and were very polite, therefore they must be nice guys really" according to Sgt. Macon-Moore. It is reported that the robbers were extremely polite, made absolutely no threats and even thanked the staff and customers for their cooperation after they carried out the raid.

Previously, police said the assailants were armed with sledgehammers and guns, based on witness accounts. But officers reviewed surveillance video and saw only hammers.

The thieves fled and remain at large. One store worker who did not wish to be named said: "About 5 robbers burst into the store, walked up to the counter and said to a colleague of mine: 'Please unlock the display cases that have the Rolex watches in them.'

"They made no threats and when my colleague opened the case they stole all the watches and stuffed them into pillowcases. As soon as they had completed the robbery they said 'Thank you' to all the staff and customers who were in the store at the time.

"They then left and exited the mall. They were so polite it almost made me feel bad for reporting them to the police."

No investigation or arrests are going to be carried out by the police and the robbers will be allowed to continue robbing stores if they choose to do so, as long as they do not threaten or attack anyone.

Driver Finds $300,000 in his Las Vegas Cab, keeps it all for himself

Las Vegas, Nevada

A Las Vegas cab driver made a significant discovery in his cab Monday when he found a bag containing $300,000 in cash. The driver of the Yellow Checker Star cab made the discovery during a pick-up at the Bellagio Hotel.

Brian Armstrong has been driving taxis in Las Vegas since 2005.

"Yesterday was surprising for me and unexpected, I was really excited," Armstrong said.

Armstrong picked up a man from the Cosmopolitan Hotel and drove him to Palms Place. The customer paid his fare and gave Armstrong a $5 tip. His next stop was the Bellagio Hotel.

"When the doorman at the Bellagio opened up the door for the next passenger, he said there's a bag in here."

Armstrong decided to look inside the brown paper bag and never came to regret this decision as he saw bundles of money -- it turned out to be $300,000. Armstrong immediately bribed the next passenger $100 to keep quiet about it to which he agreed.

"I absolutely refuse to hand this money in, if someone is stupid enough to leave $300,000 in a taxi, then they don't deserve it." Armstrong said.

The man spoke to local TV channel KVVU Fox 5 about the money he found where he publicly gloated about the money and told the person who owned it that if he is watching he will not be getting it back.

Yellow Checker Star Transportation Company hopes the public realizes that leaving money in a taxi cab is stupid and that there are drivers such as Armstrong who will keep it for themselves if discovered.

"It is up to the driver who discovered the money if he wants to give it back," YCST CEO Jim Simpson said. "Personally I am happy he has decided to keep it for himself, people should be more careful and this should send out a message to people who carry large amounts of money with them."

Yellow Checker Star gave Armstrong a nice steak dinner for two and a $1,000 reward for his dishonesty which will hopefully teach the person who's money it was to be careful in future. He was also named Cab Driver of the Year.

"I did the right thing, people need to learn, that's it. The fact he gave me just a $5 tip was an insult in itself, so I think this makes up for it quite well." Armstrong said.