A hedgehog has woken up nursing a hangover in a Devon animal hospital after becoming drunk on fermented apples. The sozzled creature - which has subsequently been named Tipsy - was discovered in an orchard squealing loudly by homeowners in Braunton, who decided to take it into their home. While there, the hedgehog was observed staggering in circles around a guinea pig cage and falling onto its back with its legs in the air, reports the North Devon Journal.

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:01:22

A woman from the Netherlands was forced to undergo surgery after swallowing 78 forks and spoons. Margaret Daalman, 52, walked into a hospital in Rotterdam complaining to doctors that she was suffering from stomach pains. An X-ray subsequently revealed that Ms Daalman had ingested almost 80 items of silverware as a result of a strange psychological fixation.

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:18:35

A schoolboy living near Luton Airport has had his TV aerial confiscated by Ofcom because it was interfering with incoming aeroplanes. Nickie Chamberlain, 12, was paid a visit by the regulator because his £15 booster device, which he used to watch cartoons on his TV, had been causing incoming pilots to lose contact with the control tower. It turned out that a malfunction was causing it to give out interference in random frequencies, including the one used by airport flight control.

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:40:30

Guests at a murder mystery party event in Yeovil have had their detective skills called into question after failing to notice evidence of an actual burglary. Eight churchgoers attended the dinner party evening at Elim Pentecostal Church without realising that the building had been targeted by thieves the night before. The amateur sleuths spent the evening scouring the building for clues to a fictional murder, failing to spot the fact that the church's TV and laptop had been stolen, as well as the contents of the safe.

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:20:33

An Asda van driver has demonstrated the pitfalls of relying on a satnav after crashing his vehicle on a narrow rural footpath. The Lancashire delivery driver steered into trouble after being directed down a three-foot wide path surrounded by thick foliage by the electronic device. Although the van in question was six feet wide, the supermarket worker attempted to navigate the path anyway and inevitably became stuck, blocking off walkers and cyclists.

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:39:41

A store in Cambridgeshire has refused to sell wine gums to a teenager because it thought that the sweets were alcoholic. Jaz Bhogal, 15, had purchased a packet of Haribo wine gums from the 99p Store in Wisbech, only to be called back by the cashier for an age check. When the staff member realised the boy was under 18, Jaz was made to give back the sweets and accept a refund, with the cashier pointing to the word "wine" on the packet by way of explanation.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:59:05

A man from Wales has won a case to clear his name after being accused of causing criminal damage to two beef burgers. Swansea resident Stephen Morgan found himself subject to police questioning after complaining about two burgers which were missing from his Saturday night takeaway order. He requested a refund from Pepino's Pizza in Gorseinon, which was supplied, only for the burgers to subsequently arrive late.

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:49:01

The US father accused of being responsible for the much-publicised balloon boy hoax staged the publicity stunt because he fears an imminent apocalypse, it has been claimed. Robert Thomas, who formerly worked as a researcher for amateur scientist Richard Heene, has suggested that Mr Heene faked the disappearance of his son in order to raise money before a suspected cataclysm in 2012. The Heene family hit the headlines in recent weeks after claiming their youngest child Falcon had been accidentally carried away in an experimental weather balloon.

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:16:11

A burglar in Australia has been identified for a crime he committed eight years ago thanks to DNA evidence taken from a leech. Peter Cannon was among a group of thieves who broke into an elderly woman's house eight years ago. Although the criminals were able to escape, an engorged leech was found at the scene of the incident, with police deducing that the blood contained inside most likely belonged to one of the offenders.

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:02:37

Shopkeepers at a Wisconsin supermarket received a shock after discovering a black bear hiding out in the store's beer cooler. The 125-lb animal was caught on camera wandering into Marketplace Foods in Hayward, where it proceeded to climb a 12-foot shelf and settle itself among the alcoholic beverages. Although the bear did not consume any liquor, the shop's employees said that it seemed calm and content in the cooler and showed no sign of budging after an hour.

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:05:15