Friday 10th September 2010 Big baby for Whipsnade Zoo
Just a week after it was born a baby rhino has made a public
appearance at a Bedfordshire zoo. Already weighing in 13 stone, the
3ft-high greater one-horned calf was already throwing his weight
around and keeping mother Behin busy. Ajang, which means ‘enormous’ in
Nepalese, was born at Whipsnade Zoo near Dunstable. The zoo have
hailed the birth as important for the conservation of the species. His
mother Behin was a gift from the government of Nepal and is already
mum to three-year-old Asha. Baby Ajang was the first offspring for
father Hugo, 12, who arrived from Poland two years ago. Bedfordshire

Monday 16th November 2009 Ale you can drink job offer
Luton’s indoor market is looking to employ an ale taster in a move
that harks back to the medieval times. Before the 19th century an ale
taster would visit the stalls and inns on market days and fairs to
ensure alcoholic drinks were up to scratch. Town and Country Markets,
which runs Luton’s market, has decided to resurrect the position and
is advertising for suitable candidates.

Chief executive at Town and Country Markets, Malcolm Ball, said:
"Although the attraction of such a role may seem obvious at first, the
21st Century version would incorporate many more responsibilities than
the original. The successful candidate will have a sound knowledge and
genuine love of food and drink, local expertise in these areas being
particularly attractive." Bedfordshire

Tuesday 6th October 2009 This is a cheese shop, unless you are pregnant!
A Sainsbury’s store in Bedford was forced to apologise to a woman refused cheese while shopping. Janet Lehain was initially refused unpasteurised cheddar on the grounds that she was pregnant. Eventually Ms Lehain managed to persuade the assistant to complete the transaction after promising not to consume the cheese herself.

The action came despite advice about unpasteurised dairy products relating to women up to three months pregnant, not six as in Ms Lehan’s case. Sainsbury’s later issued an apology saying: “We apologise to the customer for any offence caused.

"In this case, our colleague made a mistake - unpasteurised cheddar does not pose a risk to health during pregnancy." Bedfordshire