Your Route to Real News

All news by author: Stian Alexander

938
One in five bartenders never touch booze, surprising new poll finds
A new survey suggests that as many as 100,000 bartenders around the UK never touch the stuff they sell, with experts citing the rise of abstinent lifestyles and a culture shift towards the 'sober curious'
659
Female prisoner complains about prison - after it failed to provide fitting bra
A lag claims she has had to go without support since February last year because the standard prison bras are far too small - and make it look like she has 'four boobs'
1103
Rise in cases of muggings of watches after Aled Jones' harrowing ordeal
Following the high-profile robberies of Alex Jones and Amir Khan, both of whom had watches stolen, Sunday Mirror has looked at the rise in mugging cases where timepieces have been taken
464
Simple Minds star Jim Kerr admits he can't tell difference between basic chords
Despite being in the business for more than forty years and having hits like 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' to his name, Simple Minds' vocalist Jim Kerr admits he doesn't know basic musical chords
545
Terrified Ian McKellen, 84, flees plastic surgeon after wrinkle conversation
Sir Ian McKellen said he went to see a plastic surgeon but was horrified when he was told what would happen during a facelift - so he decided to embrace his natural look
1101
Infamous hairdo makes epic return - with Scots topping the list getting the cut
SCOTS are going mullet-mad - with one-in-nine now having the throwback hair-do.Analysing stats from 100 hairdressers and barbers across the UK, resear
741
Britain's favourite pastry snack has been revealed - and it isn't sausage rolls
A study of eating habits found that men from Newcastle – the home of bakery chain Greggs – rate quiche most highly on the snack scale but those from Bradford are not fans
702
Yorkshire diners eat the spiciest curries in UK - but some of them hallucinate
The three-chillis rating equals 50,000 Scoville Heat Units, while the UK’s hottest curry is the phaal – rated at up to a million SHU. Some diners brave enough to try it reported hallucinating
1363
Inmates 'heartbroken' after old-age walking group axed due to staffing issues
Prisoners at HMP Full Sutton, home to killer John Cannan, enjoyed weekly walks around the 53-acre grounds but the group for over 60s has now been given the chop
406
Health warning over hairy caterpillars that can cause rashes and asthma attacks
The caterpillars – from the larvae of oak processionary moths, which arrived here 17 years ago in a ­shipment of trees from Holland – have up to 60,000 toxic hairs
858
Prisoners brew hooch from fruit handed out as part of healthy eating drive
Lags at HMP Drake Hall got graze boxes in a healthy food pilot and some used the contents to make booze of up to 40% ABV
1236
Prison opens year late after bosses forget to order locks and keys
Despite planning consent for the prison being given way back in 2017, the maximum security unit failed to open until last summer due to a 'series of unbelievable errors'
959
Prisons defy national salad shortage as green-fingered inmates grow vegetables
As salad becomes increasingly hard to find in supermarkets, green-fingered inmates at The Verne, a men's prison on Dorset's Isle of Portland, have harvested their own, including a whopping 1,300 lettuces
1203
Sexy lingerie confiscated from female prisoners smuggling it in on day release
Female prisoners out on day release were bringing back push-up bras and lacy knickers, which were later deemed to be contraband and confiscated by officers
900
Singer Mick Hucknall hasn't spoken to comic Steve Coogan for 20 years over quip
Comic Steve Coogan and Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall used to be friends and even sang a duet together but the pair stopped speaking after Coogan gave him a ribbing
1040
Experts discover 'cures' in bottles used to ward off witches and evil curses
Researchers at Museum of London Archaeology and the University of Hertfordshire spent four years examining the 17th century containers and hope their findings will be shared at museums around the country.
732
New £250million jail given 'five-star TripAdvisor rating' by notorious inmate
Paedophile Michael Thurman wrote of HMP Five Wells: 'At last I am in a prison where, as a form of respect, the guards use our Christian names and told us theirs.'
1007
Freed prisoner begs for permission to go back to prison to finish drama course
A convict released from prison asked for special permission to go back inside HMP Channing Wood so that he could take part in an end-of-course theatre production
383
Millions in taxpayers' cash flushed down the pan in 'pointless' research schemes
Taxpayers' money is spent by UK Research and Innovation on schemes including eco-friendly toilets, studies of Italian cinema, and platforms to help people do knitting
1062
Iggy Pop's noisy cockatoo Biggy drives rocker out of his mansion for some quiet
Iggy, 75, revealed his Moluccan salmon-crested cockatoo can hit 130 decibels – equal to a plane taking off or close-range gunfire - and the singer seeks sanctuary in a second home nine miles away
1176
Lags meditating in prison labyrinth to 'calm anxieties' and 'enhance creativity'
The four-week course, Labyrinth: A Journey to You at HMP Bristol lets cons 'centre their spirit' and 'contemplate' their wellbeing as well as 'calming anxieties' and 'enhancing creativity'
367
Renault Clio owners randiest on road with a third getting steamy in their cars
A poll of 2,000 people found that over the past year, owners of Renault Clios, the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4s were most likely to romp with their partner in their vehicles
670
Prisoner escaped on bike after nicking it from high-security jail's repair shop
Drives spotted the lad pedalling slowly along the A1 after he absconded from Bedford prison on two wheels - he was caught about 45 miles away