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When the floods devastated the Midlands

A year on from the worst floods to hit the Midlands in living memory, BEN GOLDBY and JONNY GREATREX revisted some of the most devastated areas to see how victims are still trying to rebuild their lives.Read

Peak in penguin deaths

A record number of penguins swept from the icy shores of Antarctica and Patagonia are washing up dead on Rio de Janeiro's tropical beaches, a Brazilian coastguard official said today.Read

Donkeys spared despite population surge

The Turks and Caicos is planning to donate about 100 wild donkeys to other Caribbean islands to control the local population.Read

Dog saves woman in Kangaroo attack

An elderly woman was attacked by a large kangaroo on a farm in Australia and was lucky to be alive after a pet dog leapt to her aid, her son said today.Read

Putrid whale parts plop onto the road

Getting the rotting corpse of a dead sperm whale off Oahu's North Shore in Hawaii was only the start of the problem.Read

Car owners are running out of petrol due to fuel crisis

Cost-cutting car owners are regularly running out of fuel as they try to economise during this period of record-high petrol prices, it was revealed today.Read

Duchess of Cornwall gets a cabbage for her birthday

Not flowers, chocolates or champagne ... the Duchess of Cornwall was given a giant cabbage for her birthday today.Read

Prince of Wales warns against 'battle for survival' against climate change

The Prince of Wales declared today that the world is in a "battle for survival" against climate change and called for a global deal to tackle the issue.Read

How to pack the perfect case

Half of UK holiday-makers still just chuck it all in and hope for the best Passenger numbers at UK airports have increased by 54 million since 2001. More holiday-makers mean more people preparing for trips away, and facing the bane of the British traveller: packing.Read

Call for a 'common-sense' approach to tree dangers

Homeowners would be expected to have their trees regularly looked at by specialists under draft guidelines described today as "disproportionate" and "costly".Read

Rain is no joke for moths

Last summer's rain and recent cold evenings could have worsened the plight of Britain's moths, which are already in serious decline, experts warned today.Read

A bright idea!

Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced Government plans to publicly recognise the efforts of charities that helped communities hit by last summer's floods. The Minister also praised local media for throwing their weight behind local fundraising appeals.Read

Flood support from government

Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced Government plans to publicly recognise the efforts of charities that helped communities hit by last summer's floods. The Minister also praised local media for throwing their weight behind local fundraising appeals.Read

Dog owners in the pink

Volunteers are spraying dog mess with pink dye in an effort to shame owners who fail to clean up after their pets, a council said today.Read

Wildlife study at home of Beatles legend

From one beetle to another - the childhood home of John Lennon is undergoing its first ecological survey.Read

Call for whaling group to give more protection

Conservationists today called for the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to change its focus towards protecting whales instead of "managing" how many are killed each year.Read

A whale of a time on cruise ship

The first whale and dolphin watching cruises of the new season set sail from Portsmouth next month. Travel Editor PAUL COLE reports from the superferry where sightings are a common occurrence.Read

Handle that cockroach with care!

We bring you the small everyday efforts you can make at home to save the planet. Tell us about your green tips, and we’ll share them with the world!Read

Planet-saving tips from your Sunday Mercury

We bring you the small everyday efforts you can make at home to save the planet. Tell us about your green tips, and we’ll share them with the world!Read

Homeowners could face 'costly' tree inspections

Homeowners would be expected to have their trees regularly looked at by specialists under draft guidelines described today as "disproportionate" and "costly".Read