Must Reads

An iconic blue police box is being used as a barber shop offering free haircuts and beard grooming for men who have been affected by homelessness. The bespoke police box, complete with electricity and running water, is rented from a private individual who gives community groups discounted rates. Customers also get free tea and coffee and gift bags of donated toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste. And Street Barber Edinburgh, which runs from Leith Walk Police Box on...

A wacky broadcaster who installed a 25-foot shark in the roof of his home is set to receive an award - from the council which fought to have it removed. Eccentric American Bill Heine, 73, will be presented with a Special Certificate of Merit by Oxford City Council in recognition of his contribution to the city. His fibre-glass installation in Headington, Oxon., could even be listed after a campaign was launched by a local councillor. Bill is only the fourth...

A desperate dog owner is going to extreme lengths to try and find his beloved pet - including hiring a helicopter and sleeping outdoors in woodland. Determined Stuart Smith, 46, has vowed nothing will stop him finding Kahn - a one year old Leonberger - who vanished in storms three months ago. He and his partner Sharron, 55, have put their life "on hold" until they are reunited with Kahn. In his bid to find his pet Stuart has climbed...

A greedy cormorant realised his eyes were too big for his belly when he struggled to swallow a huge rainbow trout. The aquatic bird spent more than 30 minutes trying to get his mouth around his next meal before being forced to face he'd bitten off more than he could chew. He eventually let go of the trout, which swam away to safety after making the miracle escape. Amateur photographer Shahin Abasov, 59, managed to catch the moment in the...

An evil couple who kept a vulnerable young woman as a sex slave for almost 18 months have been jailed for a total of 22 years. Kevin Warren, 27, and his partner Donna Morris, 35, treated the woman, who is in her 20s, “worse than an animal”. Police say the cruel pair subjected their victim to 17 months of “physical, emotional and sexual abuse”, including rape. They also controlled the finances of their victim, who cannot be named for legal...

Britain’s van drivers are ditching their stereotypical lifestyle in favour of healthy eating and regular trips to the gym, a study has found. Despite the ‘white van man’ being traditionally labelled as junk food-loving and exercise-shy, many are now more likely to be found tucking into a healthy lunch and heading to the gym at the end of the day. In fact, the average van driver will work out twice a week, with more than one in 10 heading to...

A nurse has been jailed for four years after admitting watching a child being raped in an online chatroom. Michael Brown, 49, of St Neots, Cambs., pleaded guilty to three charges of intentionally encouraging or assisting the showing of indecent images of children. Brown, who was working at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambs at the time of his arrest, logged in to view a rape being streamed from Pennsylvania in the US in July 2015. Officers from the National Crime Agency...

A customer was left stunned when he discovered a deadly Brazilian wandering spider in a packet of Asda bananas. Neil Langley, 52, was completely unaware that the intruder - thought to be the world's most venomous spider - was amongst the fruit when he went grocery shopping on Wednesday (17/1). However, he finally noticed the brown-coloured creepy-crawly as he tucked into his lunch whilst working at the Department of Work and Pensions. Packaging containing the Brazilian wandering spider taken at...

A Big Issue vendor is in line for a full-time job at the train station where he sells the magazine - after impressing bosses. Paul Jones, 45, has made enough money to fund a flat since he began selling the the magazine outside Bristol Temple Meads station. The trusted vendor will soon be given a staff card - meaning free access to the station - because of the positive impact he's had on employees and passengers. Steve Beckford, station manager,...