RED TOP REVIEWVampire dog of Texas 'spotted' Fat rabbits, killer rats and vampire dogs: there's a unmistakable animal theme to the tabloids today. The Sun has a delightfully silly and almost totally unconvinc
ing story about a
mystery creature filmed by police in Texas which is believed to be the legendary 'Vampire Dog' El Chupacabra, which (when deprived of Pedigree Chum) feasts on goats' blood. "Is this Count Dogula?" asks the headline. The accompanying picture is so blurred it could indeed be a vampire dog. Then again, it could also be a greyhound, a growth on a Petri dish, a satellite image of an Indian Ocean island... you get the idea. The Texas cops are apparently in no doubt. Sheriff Brandon Riedel and officer Ellie Carter chased the beast after encountering it in Cuero, Texas. "We were checking fences when this thing just jumped out at us," said Carter. "I shouted, 'It's a Chupacabra.' I recognised it instantly from TV."
Heavy pet The Daily Record features a considerably less dangerous animal but at least the pictures are pin-sharp. "Jabba the Hutch" is a
European giant rabbit that had to be returned to the pet shop after eating its new owners out of house and home before starting on the furniture. 'Giant rabbit' is an understatement. From fluffy tail to ear tips, the beast must be approaching golden retriever proportions. Brian Smith, assistant manager of Pets At Home, Elgin, from which the couple bought the pet for £129, said: "On paper, the couple were ideal. They had the space and the time. But she turned out to be a lot more boisterous than they expected." So what happened to Jabba? Well, she was humanely destroyed and turned into several dozen delicious rabbit pies. I jest. A brave shop worker has given the beast a new home.
Rats blamed for builder's death The same paper has a tragic story on its front page about a building site manager who is feared to have been killed by a rare disease spread by rats. Dean Owen was, reports the paper, found dead in his on-site caravan on Tuesday night. It is suspected he contracted Weil's disease from contaminated water on the flooded site. Other workers are suffering from flu-like symptoms and are also being tested for the disease following the incident on the South Side of Edinburgh. Weil's is caused by contact with rat's urine and there are around 40 cases a year, three of which usually prove fatal. The story's not on The Mirror's website so you'll need to buy a copy to read it.
BUSINESSPound down against the dollarThe pound fell further against the dollar this morning, hitting its lowest ebb in almost two years amid fears that the UK will fall into recession. The fall, precipitated yesterday after the Bank of England issued its gloomiest assessment yet of the health of the UK economy, means sterling touched a 22-month low of $1.8619. Recent official figures have already shown the UK is struggling with high inflation and faltering growth.
TELEVISIONBy Fiona LeithA second chance at love Would Like To Meet Again as a show concept should come as no surprise. Sexpert Tracey Cox, Jay Hunt and Jeremy Milnes follow the exploits of 12 singletons looking for love to blossom a second time round in life, and advise them on the straightest path to passion.
Would Like To Meet Again, BBC2, 8pm A swi and a prayer Peter Mullan stars as a shipyard worker made redundant in On A Clear Day. In a bid to regain some pride, he decides to swim the English Channel. It's an unlikely tale for a hit film, but Mullan carries the heroic role off, ably supported by Brenda Blethyn and Billy Boyd.
On A Clear Day, BBC1, 10.35p Panel beatingIf you're not in Edinburgh getting your annual fix of entertainment, then you can settle for a top-notch line-up on tonight's Mock The Week, with David Mitchell and Adam Hills joining the regulars, Frankie Boyle, Hugh Dennis, Russell Howard and Andy Parsons for a rifle through the week's news.
Mock The Week, BBC2, 9pm FASHIONBy Kayt TurnerDolly Teen Choice AwardsKids eh? It's the Dolly Teen Choice Awards (no, me neither) Apparently, it's the Nickelodeon Kids Awards in Australia. So, while you don't know any of these kids from Adam, expect to see them popping up any day now in Home And Away and The Sullivans (they still make that, right?)
Hello boys! Actress Saskia Burmeister has pulled out all the stops here. I know it's a kids' awards show, so I'm a little perturbed by the 'come and get me, boys' dress that's slashed to the navel. But I'm reassured that nothing untoward is going to happen to Miss Burmeister while she has her granny's orthopaedic sandals on.
Looking for Big Meanwhile, Amelia Depora is trussed up like a (very) low rent Carrie Bradshaw. It got me to thinking: has SATC only just reached our Antipodean cousins?
A wild and crazy guyRhys Bobridge. Somehow, when you say that name with a Scottish accent, it all makes sense. What a wild and whacky guy he must be. Yellow shoes! Rhys, you're killing us!
SPORT Rangers prepare bid for BrescianoMorning newspaper reports suggest Rangers could be preparing a £3.5m bid for Australian attacking midfielder Mark Bresciano as they seek reassure supporters that the £7.8m received from Aston Villa for Carlos Cuellar will be reinvested in the team.
There may, however, be significant problem with the sum they are prepared to lavish on Palermo player Bresciano: the Italian club turned down a £6m offer for him from Manchester City only a year ago.
Loovens price tag may be too high Meanwhile, both Rangers and Celtic appear unwilling to come close to meeting Cardiff City's asking price for Glen Loovens. The Welsh club are seeking £3m for a player entering the final year of his present deal, while both Glasgow sides have lodged offers only around the £1.5m mark.
Team GB prepare for dressage event If equestrian sport saddles up your excitement then the Olympics is the place for you this afternoon, as Great Britain seeks to stay in silver medal position in the team dressage event.
Saunders in the ring with Vastine In boxing, light-welterweight Bradley Saunders fights Alexis Vastine at 1.45pm. He'll be hoping to avoid the fate of welterweight Billy Joe Saunders, who was well beaten by experienced Cuban opponent Carlos Banteaux Suarez in the second round stage earlier today.
INTERNETWebsite of the day "Flipping 'eck, Tucker!" The school bell may be about to ring for the last time at Grange Hill, but the spirit of the soon-to-be-axed children's classic
lives on here. Relive memories and watch archive clips of Maurice "You boy!" Bronson, Roland Browning, "Bullet" Baxter, Zammo, Mrs McLusky, "Gripper" Stebson, Fay Lucas and the gang.
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