In today's round up, we stumble upon a snaky discovery, reveal English Heritage's new plans for York's Clifford's Tower and learn a lesson from a medieval town that fell into the sea.
Huge python dumped at a Tesco store in Lancashire
Shoppers at Tesco in Burnley, East Lancashire, had the shock of a lifetime when they spotted a massive snake in a clear plastic tub that had been abandoned at the store’s car park. They alerted the police, who called the RSPCA, and the animal, which turned out to be a six-foot Burmese python, was safely rescued. It is now at a specialist reptile care centre.
Six-foot python dumped in Burnley car park prompts warning https://t.co/2ugRMT96Pr
— Yvonne Haworth (@vonvon1966) October 2, 2019
However, says the charity, the snake could have easily become too cold, which would have endangered its life, and inspectors are asking anyone with any information to get in touch with them.
Full story (Lancashire Telegraph)
Climate warning from the town that was lost to the sea
If ever proof was needed of the damage that climate change could do to low-lying cities, we need to look no further than East Anglia. In 1286, the former Anglo-Saxon stronghold of Dunwich was hit by a storm, the local harbour started silting up and the sea began eating up the town. By 1587, most of Dunwich had been lost and only 200 people remained in what had once been a thriving hub.
The lost East Anglian city of Dunwich is a reminder of the destruction climate change can wreak https://t.co/gGJmdXCwqI pic.twitter.com/LS52bUdVk4
— CityMetric (@CityMetric) October 2, 2019
With climate change making storms and floods increasingly frequent, this is a cautionary tale of what could happen to some cities, towns and villages if actions to protect them is not taken fast.
English Heritage consults on York’s Clifford’s Tower
After controversial plans to revamp York’s Clifford’s Tower had to be abandoned in 2018, English Heritage has opened consultations on a new proposal.
The new scheme would see the 13th-century monument acquire internal walkways and a rooftop viewing terrace, but it would no longer feature a visitor centre, which people had rejected as an eyesore. The consultation closes in December.
Hull gets funding to showcase its maritime heritage
The Yorkshire city has secured a £13.6 million grant to fund attractions that will celebrate its sea-faring history.
The scheme will see the renovation of the Hull Maritime Museum and the restoration of both the Arctic Corsair — a former deep-sea trawler — and the Spurn Lightship, which was built in 1927 and, for 48 years, lighted the way incoming ships.
On this day…the UK becomes a nuclear power
On October 3, 1952, the UK succeeded in testing its first nuclear device. Code-named Operation Hurricane, the test saw a bomb detonated inside a ship, the frigate HMS Plym, anchored off Trimouille Island in Australia’s Monte Bello archipelago.
The cloud from Operation Hurricane
When the weapon exploded at 07:59 am local time, the UK joined the US and the Soviet Union to become the world’s third nuclear power.
Towcester loses its racecourse
The owners of the historic Towcester racecourse have announced its permanent closure. The track, which opened in 1876 and saw AP McCoy romp to his 4000th victory in 2013, had gone into administration last year.
Confirmed: The closure of Towcester Racecourse ☹️
* First track I visited
* First track I worked at
* Where @AP_McCoy rode his 4,000th winnerMight not have been the grandest or most luxurious, but I loved that place
? Shaun Botterill pic.twitter.com/AtKdT2Mlni
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) October 1, 2019
Although the course was sold to new owners, they didn’t manage to turn its fortunes around and racing didn’t resume. Towcester’s ten remaining fixtures have now been sold to Arena Racing Company.
And finally… it’s Crunchie time!
A private collection featuring historic Cadbury-chocolate memorabilia has gone on display at Cadbury World in Birmingham. The pieces, which include a 19th-century Cadbury Bible, Victorian adverts and vintage chocolate boxes, originally belonged to Gill Cocks, from Winchcomb in Gloucestershire.
Cadbury memorabilia: Huge private collection displayed https://t.co/VwWh6ti9cV
— BBC Midlands Today (@bbcmtd) October 2, 2019
Chocoholic Mrs Cocks began amassing her treasures in the 1970s and, over the years, gathered more than 5,000 items, which she donated to the Cadbury Archives last year. In turn, the company gave £5,000 to her chosen charity. The exhibition features about 2,000 items — and a replica of Mrs Cocks’ living room, where they were first displayed.
Country Life Today: ‘Nature’s most adorable assassins’ released into the wilds of Gloucestershire
In today's round-up we bring you reports of a gigantic iceberg, a surge of abandoned 'designer' dogs and a goose
