26/02/2015

Other News In Brief

Lollipop Man Ordered To Not 'High-Five' Children

A 73-year-old lollipop man has been banned from "high-fiving" children as they cross the road.

Nkosana Mdikane is known as "Scotland's happiest lollipop man" due to his singing and dancing at work.

However, West Dunbartonshire Council has now ordered him to adhere to "national guidance" as children cross, citing "safety fears" for the decision.

Parents of school children have criticised the decision, with one launching a campaign calling on the council to reverse the decision.

Derbyshire Dog Owners Warned Over 'Deadly Sandwiches'

Dog owners in Derbyshire have been warned to watch out for "deadly sandwiches", made of dog chews wrapped around rat poison.

Erewash Borough Council issued the warning after the "sandwiches" were found in and around Stanley Common earlier this week.

There have been no reports of any dogs having eaten the items, but the council has said that it is a "very serious and worrying incident".

Contractors Begin Removing 25 Tonnes Of Bird Droppings

Contractors have begun work on removing an estimated 25 tonnes of "festering pigeon faeces" from the 675-year-old Landgate Arch in Rye, East Sussex.

The droppings are said to be "almost three feet deep" and had built up inside the monument.

Mike Walker, managing director for CountyClean Environmental Services, said: "Whilst we've removed other massive blockages such giant fatbergs in sewers, we have never seen such a monumental mass of festering faeces before.

"The build up behind the doors was so big we had to force the doors open. Once inside, it was like walking on a giant chocolate cake and the smell was awful – even through a facemask."

(MH/JP)

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