Plea for life-jackets The Courtown lifeboat crew in Wexford has urged all persons taking to the water to wear life-jackets and carry safety equipment. The call comes after the crew was called out on Sunday evening to a cabin-cruiser with four adults and a child aboard. The cruiser had engine difficulties and became lost.
The boat had no safety or distress equipment aboard. The lifeboat crew towed it back to safety.
In a statement, the crew said: "Courtown lifeboat crew would like to encourage all persons taking to the water to wear life-jackets and to carry some basic safety equipment."
Swordfish surprise
Angling experts were astounded yesterday by a fisherman who caught a swordfish off the coast of north-east England - thousands of miles from its normal habitat. Peter Dent spotted the 180 cm (6 ft) fish caught in his salmon net as he fished off the coast of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland.
He brought the fish into Blyth, Northumberland, where it was stored on ice before being sold to a local restaurant. Trader Mark Watson, of Blyth Fish, said: "I have never seen anything like it here, and everyone else has said the same. It's the kind of thing you see in Spain, but not here."
The 27 kg beast amazed fishing commentator Sam Harris (73), who said it was the first time he had heard of a swordfish being caught in chilly British waters.
"It's a miracle. This fish is two or three thousand miles off course," he said. "It just proves how the water temperature is hotting up." - (PA)
Real window shopping
Shoppers in New York can now buy clothes from designer Ralph Lauren just by tapping on the store's window, thanks to futuristic new technology inspired by the film Minority Report.
A 30 cm image projected on to the glass of Polo Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue shop shows polo shirts and outfits created for the US Open tennis tournament.
Even when the shop is shut customers can buy the items simply by pressing gently on the image and then swiping their credit card in the slot provided.
The clothes are then sent to their home address.
The feature will be in place until September.
Bible inspired Lynch
Former Boyzone star Shane Lynch says he quit ITV's reality show Love Island after reading the Bible all day. Lynch (29) said he left because he needed to put things right with an ex-girlfriend.