Wiltshire in pictures: Magical murals, tiny foxes and a donkey

The perfect blue skies may have faded away but everyone seemed to be feeling the joy of spring ahead of the Easter weekend.As the county bursts into bloom, Swindon is getting in on the action with a brand new mural from graffiti artist HazardOne on the side of the old Debenhams building.Her vibrant yellow and orange blooms are part of work to rejuvenate the town centre.Elsewhere, Longleat has welcomed three new north African Fennec fox cubs, while staff at the stately home have embarked on an enormous spring clean of the building's 128 rooms.
Palm Sunday: A donkey from the rescue charity Kelly's Donkeys joined the procession from Salisbury Cathedral on 13 April.Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week in Western Christianity and falls on the Sunday before Easter.
Spring to life: Stonehenge may be ancient but the stones are still a haven of life, with spring flowers blooming at their base.
Bundles of joy: These three Fennec fox kits - the world's smallest fox species - were born at Longleat, and were they only litter of their species born in the UK this year.They are now being hand-reared by keepers because their mother, Zuri, does not produce enough milk to feed all of them.
Elbow grease: Longleat's conservation team are undertaking a thorough deep clean of the stately home's rooms and artefacts - delving into the nooks and crannies that can harbour pests such as clothes, moths and silverfish.Staff have the task of cleaning more than 300 windows, hundreds of ceramic pieces, glass and silverware, as well as 44,000 books and a 300-year-old chandelier.
Cosmic sparkles: The Northern Lights graced the skies of the West Country once again this week, putting on a spectacular display. This image was captured over homes in Salisbury.
Easter revival: The congregation of All Saints Church in Lydiard Millicent returned to the 11th-century church on Palm Sunday nine months after it closed for renovations including works to its roof, flooring and organ and installation of a new kitchen.The service was led by Rt Revd Neil Warwick, the Bishop of Swindon, and after blessing the church, he gathered the congregation to give thanks for the new church pond.
Throwback snap: While the rest of the county was enjoying the warmer weather, Salisbury Cathedral shared a stunning photograph of the building at sunrise taken on a crisp winter morning.The cathedral's famous silhouette is perfectly mirrored in the water at the bottom of the shot.
Swindon Croc returns: A taxidermy gharial, also known as gavial or fish-eating crocodile, gifted to Swindon Borough Council in the 1930s, is soon to be on display at Museum and Art Swindon after much vital restoration work, alongside information about the threats facing the species.Councillor Marina Strinkovsky said the critically endangered animal had "a special place in the hearts of Swindonians", but added that "also has a complex history, and we want to depict its place in the natural world and the British past".
Farmer fury: Farmers parked their tractors in Salisbury town centre in protest at changes to inheritance tax law around farming land.Organised by campaign group Farmers to Action, it says the changes will spell the end of many family farms already struggling to survive.

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2 days ago

• Metro

Every country with rabies after woman dies on holiday in Morocco

A British woman has died of rabies after she was 'scratched' by a puppy while on holiday in Morocco. Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, had what has been described as 'light contact' with the stray dog on her trip to the North African country in February. But two weeks ago, her family said she developed a headache, and later 'couldn't walk, talk, sleep or swallow'. While there is no risk of rabies in the UK, the same cannot be said for many other countries. So, if you've got a holiday booked this summer, you should be aware of the areas at risk, the symptoms — and how to avoid contracting the disease. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. According to the NHS, rabies is a rare but serious infection. It is usually contracted from the bite or scratch of an infected animal, typically mammals, such as dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes. Alongside being bitten or scratched, rabies can also be contracted if an infected animal licks your eyes, nose, or mouth, or an open wound. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that dog bites and scratches cause 99% of human rabies cases. And, once the virus infects the central nervous system and symptoms appear, the disease is fatal in almost 100% of cases. However, rabies is not contagious from person to person. That means someone who is infected cannot pass the disease on to another human. • Afghanistan – high risk • Albania – high risk• Algeria – high risk• Andaman and Nicobar Islands – high risk• Angola – high risk• Argentina – high risk• Armenia – high risk• Azerbaijan – high risk• Bahrain – low risk • Bali – high risk • Bangladesh – high risk • Belarus – high risk • Belize – high risk• Benin – high risk• Bhutan – high risk• Bolivia – high risk• Borneo – high risk• Bosnia and Herzegovina – high risk• Botswana – high risk• Brazil – high risk• Brunei Darussalam – low risk• Bulgaria – low risk but foxes are high risk• Burkina Faso – high risk• Burma – high risk• Burundi – high risk• Cambodia – high risk• Cameroon – high risk• Canada – low risk but foxes, skunks and racoons are high risk• Central African Republic – high risk• Ceuta (north African territory of Spain) – high risk• Chad – high risk• Chile – low risk • China – low risk • Colombia – high risk• Comoros – high risk• Congo (Republic) – high risk• Congo (Democratic Republic of) – high risk• Costa Rica – high risk• Côte d'Ivoire – high risk • Croatia – low risk but foxes are high risk • Cuba – high risk• Czechia, within 50km border Poland/Slovakia – low risk, foxes high risk• Democratic Republic of the Congo – high risk• Djibouti – high risk• Dominican Republic – high risk• East Timor – high risk• Ecuador – high risk • Egypt – high risk • El Salvador – high risk• Equatorial Guinea – high risk• Eritrea – high risk• Estonia – low risk• Ethiopia – high risk• French Guiana – high risk• Gabon – high risk• Gambia – high risk• Georgia – high risk• Ghana – high risk • Greenland – high risk • Grenada – low risk• Guatemala – high risk• Guinea – high risk• Guinea-Bissau – high risk• Guyana – high risk• Haiti – high risk• Honduras – high risk• Hong Kong – low risk• Hungary – low risk, but foxes are high risk• India – high risk• Indonesia – high risk• Iran – high risk• Iraq – high risk • Israel – high risk • Jan Mayen and Svalbard (Norway) – high risk• Jordan – high risk• Kazakhstan – high risk• Kenya – high risk• North Korea – high risk• South Korea – high risk• Kosovo – high risk• Kuwait – low risk• Kyrgyzstan – high risk• Laos – high risk• Latvia – low risk, but foxes are high risk • Lebanon – high risk • Lesotho – high risk• Liberia – high risk• Libya – high risk• Lithuania – high risk• Macau SAR – high risk• Macedonia – high risk• Madagascar – high risk• Malawi – high risk • Malaysia – high risk • Mali – high risk• Margarita Island – high risk• Mauritania – high risk• Melilla (north African territory of Spain) – high risk• Mexico – high risk• Moldova – high risk• Mongolia – high risk• Montenegro – high risk• Montserrat – high risk • Morocco – high risk • Mozambique – high risk• Myanmar – high risk• Namibia – high risk• Nepal – high risk• Nicaragua – high risk• Niger – high risk• Nigeria – high risk• Oman – high risk• Pakistan – high risk• Palestine – high risk• Panama – high risk• Paraguay – high risk• Peru – high risk• Philippines – high risk • Poland – high risk • Puerto Rico – high risk• Qatar – low risk• Romania – high risk• Russian Federation – high risk• Rwanda – high risk• Sao Tome and Principe – low risk• Saudi Arabia – high risk• Senegal – high risk• Serbia – high risk• Sierra Leone – high risk • Slovakia – low risk, but foxes are high risk • Slovenia – low risk, but foxes are high risk• Somalia – high risk• South Africa – high risk• South Sudan – high risk• Spain (north African territories of Ceuta and Melilla) – high risk• Sri Lanka – high risk• Sudan – high risk• Suriname – high risk• Svalbard – high risk• Swaziland – high risk • Syria – high risk • Taiwan – low risk• Tajikistan – high risk• Tanzania – high risk• Thailand – high risk• Tibet – high risk• Timor-Leste – high risk• Togo – high risk• Trinidad and Tobago – low risk• Tunisia – high risk • Türkiye – high risk • Turkmenistan – high risk• Uganda – high risk• Ukraine – high risk• United Arab Emirates – low risk• United Kingdom – no risk in animals but low risk in bats• United States of America – low risk but foxes, skunks and racoons are high risk• Uruguay – high risk • Uzbekistan – high risk • Venezuela – high risk• Vietnam – high risk• Western Sahara – high risk• Yemen – high risk• Zambia – high risk• Zanzibar – high risk • Zimbabwe – high risk Source: The NHS advises tourists to seek health advice at least eight weeks before travelling to a country with a high risk of rabies. You can use the TravelHealthPro website to find country-specific vaccine recommendations and important advice and tips to stay healthy abroad. The health service also advises speaking to a travel health clinic before your trip, as they may recommend a vaccination against rabies. You'll have to pay for this. They will likely suggest a vaccine if you're travelling somewhere where hospitals and clinics are scarce, if you're travelling to a country where you'll come into contact with infected animals, if you'll be spending a lot of time outdoors, or if you're travelling for over a month. If you haven't been vaccinated and get bitten, scratched or licked while abroad, the NHS advises you to seek medical help immediately. You should also wash any bites or scratches with soap and water as soon as possible. If you've been scratched or bitten by a potentially infected animal, a doctor will decide if you need treatment. If they deem it necessary, you'll likely receive two or more doses of the rabies vaccine. Or, a liquid rabies medicine called immunoglobulin will be administered into the wound. You'll only receive the latter if you've not had the rabies vaccine before, or you have a weak immune system. Time is of the essence: if administered quickly, the treatment is effective at preventing the disease. Finally, if you've been treated for rabies abroad, the NHS advises you to contact your GP back in the UK as soon as you return. They will assess if further treatment is required. Warning signs of rabies include: numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched hallucinations feeling anxious or energetic difficulty swallowing or breathing being unable to move (paralysis) Symptoms usually appear between three to 12 weeks after exposure. However, the incubation period – the time it takes for an infection to develop after a person has been exposed to a disease – can range from days, months to years. More Trending The time it takes for rabies to develop depends on how much of the virus you've been exposed to and the location of the wound. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that around 59,000 people die from rabies in over 150 countries each year. Of these cases, 95% occur in Africa and Asia. Rabies is more common in rural and poor populations, with around half of the cases being children under the age of 15. Once symptoms develop, it is almost universally fatal. MORE: Urgent recall for chicken fettuccine alfredo 'linked to three deaths and a pregnancy loss' MORE: The ultimate guide for travelling on the Tube in a heatwave MORE: Urgent recall of dark chocolate almonds over 'life-threatening' health risk

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

• Daily Mirror

Brits ditch Spain and Portugal for scorching countries with cheaper breaks

Experts say many people are being drawn to the North African region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy A surge in UK holidaymakers are swapping traditional European destinations for North Africa, according to travel firms. Experts suggest the region's appeal lies in its abundance of high-quality hotels that are significantly cheaper than similar properties in Spain, France and Italy. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all seeing an influx of visitors from the UK. ‌ Data from aviation analysts Cirium reveals that 19,847 flights are expected to serve routes from UK airports to these countries this year, more than double the 8,653 flights in 2019. In contrast, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is predicted to rise by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period. ‌ This indicates that many holidaymakers seeking better quality accommodation without paying more are willing to endure a longer flight, despite airlines like easyJet and Ryanair offering non-reclining seats and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport in West Sussex to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take approximately five hours and 20 minutes. This means an additional hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared to trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. EasyJet commenced flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa, in March, marking its longest route serving England. These flights cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles in six hours and 10 minutes. Tui, the travel company, has reported a 30% increase in bookings for summer holidays in Egypt compared to last year, from both flight-only and package holiday customers. The firm also noted "double-digit growth" for Tunisia and a strong demand for Morocco. Chris Logan, Tui's UK commercial director, stated that these three destinations offer "fantastic value for money", making it difficult for traditional European destinations to compete. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: "There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. ‌ "Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel." To meet the growing demand, Tui has increased its flights from the UK to North Africa this summer, introducing new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. the online accommodation marketplace, reported a 68% increase in searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw increases of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at Barrhead Travel, commented that Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer "incredible value for money" which is "proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year". ‌ She added: "The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe." According to Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, "Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years." She observed a "clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning", attributing this to the ongoing cost of living pressures and reduced disposable incomes. Lo Bue-Said noted: "This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts."

Glasgow Times

3 days ago

• Glasgow Times

Pope Leo to resume papal tradition with plan to escape Rome's summer heat

Leo will head to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, from July 6-20 'for a period of rest' and again for a few days over the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican said. Leo visited the papal summer palace last month, raising speculation that he would resume a tradition that goes back centuries. Pope Urban VIII built the palace in 1624 to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summer. Leo will head to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo (Andrew Medichini/AP) It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 136 acres, bigger than Vatican City itself. Pope Francis, who died just after Easter, was known as a workaholic homebody who never took a proper holiday during his 12-year papacy, staying at the Vatican even during the hot summer months. Both of Francis' immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, spent time at Castel Gandolfo, interspersed with visits to the northern Italian Alps. Benedict was especially fond of Castel Gandolfo, closing his papacy out there in 2013. Partly to offset an economic downturn in the local town due to the papal absence, Francis opened the palazzo's gardens to the public in 2014 and later turned part of it into a museum. In what will be a boon to the local community, Leo is resuming the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful gathered in front of Castel Gandolfo on July 13 and July 20, and again on August 15 and 17, when he returns for a short stay over Italy's most important summer holiday. Public and private audiences at the Vatican will be suspended for most of July, resuming on July 30.