Wednesday 13th October 2010 Stockport head teacher bans fountain pens for GCSE students
The head of a Greater Manchester school has banned GCSE pupils from
using fountain pens in an attempt to boost their exam technique. Jack
Williams, of Hillcrest Grammar in Cale Green, Stockport, is enforcing
the ban because fountain pens are not allowed in the exams. He hopes
that his GCSE pupils will get more accustomed to exam conditions by
switching to ballpoints. The decision reverses the previous school
policy banning their use. Mr Williams said: "All of the exam boards
are now enforcing black Biro use in examinations. It goes against all
my principles, but I want to make sure my pupils do the best they can.
Exams are then scanned in by computer or e-mailed across to markers.
If my pupils don't get used to using Biros they might not get picked
up by the scans and not get the credit they deserve.” Cheshire

Friday 17th September 2010 Small cow enters record book
A cow escaped the abattoir and has instead entered the record books as
the world's smallest cow. Swallow, a Dexter cow from Cheshire, stands
only 33.5in tall from hind to foot making her shorter than the average
sheep. The 11-year-old has produced nine calves, is currently pregnant
again and was described by owner Caroline Ryder as the "nanny of the
herd". Swallow entered the 2011 Guinness World Records alongside the
tallest dog, longest snake and oldest gorilla. Her owner Ms Ryder
said: “She is really sweet - an asset to the herd. For a small cow
with short legs she can't half move fast." Cheshire

Thursday 22nd October 2009 ‘Grenade’ halts train
A suspect device found in a sewer caused widespread disruption to
Stockport’s train services on Wednesday (20 October 2009). The device,
resembling a hand grenade, was found by a United Utilities worker who
was working down a 20ft deep drain. When the worker found the item at
3:30pm the police took no chances and threw a cordon around the drain
and stopped services from running on the nearby train track.

Network Rail said services were delayed for around 40 minutes as they
were forced into a detour. Army bomb disposal experts were called in
but later conformed that the suspect device was harmless and was not a
grenade. Cheshire

Tuesday 20th October 2009 Runaway ostrich dies on M56
An escaped ostrich met its end on the M56 motorway after getting away
from a farm in Cheshire. The 4ft tall bird was one of a pair that
escaped, the public were warned the birds can be ‘aggressive’ and
dangerous when approached. The unfortunate ostrich tried to cross the
M56 and was hit by a lorry, damaging the vehicle but leaving the
driver unhurt. The second bird was caught, unharmed, in a nearby
field.

The pair went on the run from their home at a farm in Helsby, near
Frodsham. The ostrich is the largest living species of bird and
although it can’t fly, it can run at speeds of up to 45 mph.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "The RSPCA, the owner of the
ostrich, and police patrols contained the second ostrich.” Cheshire

Wednesday 14th October 2009 Sea horse population explosion at Chester aquarium
An aquarium in Cheshire is celebrating the birth of more than 100 baby
seahorses. The youngsters, measuring under a centimetre in length, are
the rare breed known as the spotted seahorse. Blue Planet aquarium in
Cheshire Oaks has an ongoing project to try and breed the rare
creatures.

Blue Planet's Tom Cornwell told the press: "We have now had three
separate batches of seahorses born here in recent weeks and all are
doing extremely well. We've got well over 100 individuals ranging in
size from tiny newborns to little babies and the good news is that
they are all beginning to take powdered food.” Cheshire