Big Mouth

Toy tiger sparks police operation

A life-size toy tiger sparked a major police operation in the UK.

The inanimate object looked so much like an actual man-eating beast, armed officers and a force helicopter were called to remove it from a field in Hampshire.

After clearing a nearby golf course, police approached the beast only to find it was in fact a cuddly toy.

A police spokeswoman said: "After a brief stalk through the Hedge End savannah, the officer realised the tiger was not moving and the air support using their cameras realised there was a lack of heat source.

"The tiger then rolled over in the down draft and it was at that point it became obvious it was a stuffed life-size toy."

Severed head to be auctioned

A severed head thought to be that of the patron saint of genital diseases is to be auctioned in Ireland.

The grisly object is said to have once been attached to the body of St Vitalis of Assisi, who was an Italian hermit and monk who died in 1370 and was associated with medical treatment of private parts.

How the head came to be in Ireland is unclear but the Co Louth family selling it hopes it will reach $2,150.

For many years the skull has been pride of place in their home, displayed in an ornate case, but was taken out of view once children arrived.

'Virgin' hair stolen

A woman's "virgin" hair was cut off and stolen in Brazil.

The unnamed 24 year old was standing at a bus stop when a thief used a knife-like weapon to take her long hair in the central city of Goiania.

Inspector Jose Carlos Bezerra da Silva said her hair was "virgin", meaning it had never been dyed or chemically treated and so can be sold for the production of wigs.

It was a particularly cruel ordeal for the woman because her religion forbids her from cutting her hair.

Marmite banned in Denmark

Marmite has been banned in Denmark.

Health and safety officials in the country have deemed the yeast extract product - which is used a savoury spread and has an acquired taste - too full of extra vitamins for their shelves.

The bizarre ban is part of a legislation which bans foods fortified with extra vitamins and minerals for fear consumers will have too much over their daily recommended amounts.

However, the Marmite ban has sparked a campaign, both by those who love to eat it and those who sell it.

Shopkeeper Marianne Orum said: "I don't eat it myself, I don't like it but Marmite was one of our best selling products. Not a day goes by without someone coming in and asking for it."

Man 'blew up like balloon'

A New Zealand man "blew up like a balloon" in a freak accident.

Truck driver Steven McCormack slipped and fell from his vehicle's foot plate, breaking a compressed air hose that powered the brakes.

He fell so hard onto the brass fitting, it pierced his buttock and pumped air into his body.

Steven recounted: "I felt the air rush into my body and I felt like it was going to explode from my foot. I was blowing up like a football.

"I had no choice but just to lay there, blowing up like a balloon."

The 48 year old was taken to hospital after workmates heard his screams and released him from the air flow.

Obituary corrected 112 years later

An obituary littered with errors has been corrected 112 years later in an American newspaper.

Daniel Schwenk, 77, came across the tribute to his great-uncle in the New York Times and noticed his name was spelled incorrectly and some dates were wrong.

He sent a light-hearted letter to the publication as a joke and was surprised when they ran a full-length story correcting the mistakes.

Daniel wrote: "I realise it is a tad late, but I would like to correct the notice."

Once the obituary was re-published he said: "We just did it as sort of a tongue-in-cheek thing, but it's blossomed out."

Parents told to get dressed for school

British parents have been asked to stop wearing pyjamas during their school run.

Headteachers across 11 schools in Middlesbrough are sick of mums and dads turning up in the mornings still wearing their nightwear because they think it sets a bad example to pupils.

Chris Kemp-Hall said: "We all have the opinion that appearing at school dressed in pyjamas isn't the right way to go about things.

"It's about setting an example and having self esteem."

Terri Llewellyn-Quinn - a parent who does dress herself in the mornings - said those who don't should be "ashamed of themselves".

She said: "It's absolutely ridiculous. How long does it take to throw a pair of jeans on?"

Man stabbed over toilet visits

An American woman stabbed her boyfriend for going to the toilet too much.

Mary Ramos, 46, said she slashed her man in the face and chest because she thought he was meeting a naked woman in their flat's communal bathroom.

Police said: "Mary stated that she asked [the victim] what's going on with him and the other lady at the apartment complex. Mary said [the victim] goes to the community restroom when the other lady is always around. Mary said the other lady is usually naked when he uses the restroom."

She was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Blur rocker hosts Big Lunch

Alex James hosted a lunch at the world's longest picnic table in the UK.

The 'Blur' rocker teamed up with MasterCard to enjoy free food with over 350 other picnic-lovers at the table which covered 90 metres of ground.

He said: "It's been really fun getting involved in MasterCard's Longest Picnic Table project - I'm glad we managed to smash the record!

"The public loved the event and it really highlighted the importance of spending time sitting down and getting to know those around you to improve community spirit."

Pastor Killed for Magic Penis

A pastor was set alight in South Africa by people who accused him of using a magic penis to sleep with women.

Nine men and three women aged 28 to 50 will appear in court in Mpumalanga on charges of murder and arson after Albert Malwane was burned to death.

Community members had accused him of talking to animals and using an invisible penis to sleep with women in the informal settlement.

They also said his wife - who has since gone into hiding with their child - turned into a snail and terrorised the community.

Pervert Six Years Old

A study in Canada has found that women are more attracted to men who rarely smile.

According to research by the University of British Columbia females are more sexually attracted to brooding bad boys than happy-go-lucky lads.

Professor Jessica Tracy of UBC's Department of Psychology said: "While showing a happy face is considered essential to friendly social interactions, including those involving sexual attraction -- few studies have actually examined whether a smile is, in fact, attractive.

"This study finds that men and women respond very differently to displays of emotion, including smiles."

Pope shuts down lap dancer monastery

Pope Benedict XVI has shut down a monastery in Italy after a former lap dancer performed there.

The holy one took action after nun Anna Nobili - who used to be a striptease artist - twirled around a crucifix as part of her new religious routine and was also unimpressed that celebrities such as Madonna had visited the 500-year-old place of worship.

Vatican officials said: "It was evident that the order had lapsed in its discipline and an Apostolic visitation was arranged, which resulted in the decision to close the monastery which was approved by Pope Benedict."

Pierced!