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Polar bear stalks Ipswich as snow engulfs town

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Polar bear stalks Ipswich as snow engulfs town

polar bear visits ipswich

It is so cold in Ipswich that a polar bear has been spotted roaming the streets, it has emerged.

Residents around the Woodbridge Road area saw the huge, white bear strolling along looking for food.

It had been attracted to Suffolk by freezing temperatures and many inches of snow, swept in by the so-called Beast From The East.

Experts say it is unusual for polar bears to wander around town centres in Suffolk, but residents should not be alarmed.

Arctic expert Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “Changes in the weather can cause the wildlife to change their habits.

“Recently, for example, the Suffolk Gazette revealed how five penguins were spotted on Felixstowe beach, so Suffolk has had its fair share of rare visitors.

“Judging by your exclusive photograph, this male polar bear seems quite friendly.

“But I would recommend your readers do not approach it or ask to have their photo taken with it.

“The bear may well be hungry and mistake a tubby child for a tasty seal.”

The polar bear in Ipswich has been spotted in Woodbridge Road, Nelson Road and nearby Rushmere Road, and looks quite at home in the white-out conditions.

Our photograph was taken by shocked reader Steve Walshe, 42, a builder from Nelson Road.

He said: “I was putting the bins out when I saw this huge polar bear wandering down the road. It was in the middle of the street and it took a pee up against my neighbour’s Nissan Micra.

“I was quite scared, but managed to get the photo on my phone before running inside to check the cat was all right.”

Ipswich police said they were aware the polar bear was around but insisted it would soon head back up north once the cold spell was over.

“If it causes any trouble, we’ll send over a Panda car to investigate,” a detective said.

Greater Anglia cancels trains in July because it’s expected to be too hot

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Greater Anglia cancels trains in July because it’s expected to be too hot

Ipswich station

By Casey Jones, Railways Correspondent

Rail company Greater Anglia has informed passengers it is cancelling most services in the first two weeks of July because it is forecast to be very hot.

Cautious bosses say rails and overhead lines are affected by hot weather, and it is better to just cancel the services four months ahead.

As a result, they have stopped all branch line services for a fortnight, and reduced running on the mainline into London.

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The news comes just days after Greater Anglia cut many services ahead of some expected cold weather this week.

Despite not much snow affecting the region on Tuesday morning, many people could not find a train, and there were reports of crowds building up at Chelmsford in Essex.

Commuter Lorraine Fisher, 34, from Woodbridge in Suffolk was not impressed with the July closures.

“The trains stop if it is too cold. They stop if it is too hot. They stop if there are leaves on the line, and they stop if there is the wrong kind of rain.

“It might be much easier if Greater Anglia just sent out a press release informing us which days of the year the trains will actually be running.”

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An insider at Greater Anglia said: “We were right to cancel so many trains before a snowflake had actually fallen this week.

“And in the same way we are right to stop all the trains in July – a decision we took today to make sure all our customers have plenty of time to find alternative transport.

“If it is too hot, like the weather experts tell us it will be in July, then the rails can buckle and the overhead lines don’t like it.

“There is also an increased risk of line-side fires, and we wouldn’t want any of our trains and customers to go up in an inferno.”

Meanwhile, commuters were today left wondering how the rail services in frozen Canada seem to work perfectly well. All the time.

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Welsh bobsleigh team wins Winter Olympic gold

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Welsh bobsleigh team wins Winter Olympic gold

welsh bobsleigh team

The Welsh bobsleigh team has stunned world sport by winning gold at the Winter Olympics.

They had gone to South Korea as rank outsiders after failing to impress during training runs at their base near Swansea.

But despite one of the four-man team somehow facing the wrong way, victory was secured in a stunning time of three minutes 13.85.

That time shaved two seconds off the Germans, who were relegated to second.

The Germans looked a little sheepish after they realised their time had been crushed by the unfancied Welsh.

Welsh Winter Olympic manager Dai Evans said: “Nobody gave our bobsleigh team a chance, but they couldn’t pull the wool over our eyes.

“We have been training hard all winter and deserved the win.”

He said a mix-up at the start of the final run saw rear rider Ivor Williams facing the wrong way.

Mr Evans said: “He got in a tangle and leapt into the sled the wrong way round. Perhaps it was an advantage not to be able to see where he was going.”

A worldwide television audience was impressed with the Welsh team’s efforts.

Winter Olympics fan Lorraine Fisher, 34, from Suffolk said: “We had a bit of a giggle when we saw them at the top of the run.

“The sled did not look very hi-tech – but they bombed down the run at lightening speed.”

The Welsh now hope to increase their medal haul in today’s ski-jump final.

Give elephants guns to stop poaching, says Donald Trump

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Give elephants guns to stop poaching, says Donald Trump

Give elephants guns

Donald Trump says poaching will stop overnight once all elephants are given guns to defend themselves.

He revealed his master plan to prevent the majestic beasts from being wiped out by ivory hunters in Africa.

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As the world urged leaders to clamp down on armed poachers, Mr Trump surprised everyone by saying arming elephants is the answer.

“Some elephants are already highly trained – you’ve heard of elephant guns, right?

“No poacher will try to use his gun to kill an elephant if he knows an elephant will also have a gun.

“The problem will be gone instantly. The armed elephants will also earn a bonus.”

Mr Trump said guns would be introduced around the bush for elephants to use from next week.

But some elephants were not so sure about the idea.

Elephant Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “Wouldn’t it be better just to stop the poachers having guns?

“Then we wouldn’t have to have guns either.

“It makes no sense to solve one problem of weapons by bringing in more weapons.”

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The United Nations says 100 elephants are shot and butchered by poachers every day in Africa.

Yet seemingly nothing is done to stop the slaughter.

In other news, teachers in America are to be given guns to prevent madmen committing shooting massacres in US schools.

Mr Trump says this new law means there will never be another school shooting again.

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School bans traditional short-back-and-sides haircut to stop bullies

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School bans traditional short-back-and-sides haircut to stop bullies

A Suffolk school has banned the traditional short-back-and-sides haircut – because pupils are being bullied for being “square” or “mummy’s boys”.

The head teacher of the North Suffolk Modern School in Lowestoft has written to every parent explaining that today’s youngsters express themselves in a vivid range of “varied and wonderful” hairstyles.

Now any boy arriving in what would be classed as an old-fashioned short-back-and-sides haircut will be sent home.

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The letter from head teacher Mike Barrymore began arriving on doormats in Lowestoft this morning, and one concerned parent forwarded a copy to the Suffolk Gazette (reprinted above).

Mum Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “This is ridiculous. I always insist my 14-year-old Jamie is smart and he has a short back and sides. Now he won’t be allowed into the school until he grows it longer or shaves weird shapes into it.

“If other kids are bullying boys for being smart, then that is a sad state of affairs. It is even worse that a school is seemingly endorsing their behaviour.

“Some of the haircuts I’ve seen at the North Suffolk are a disgrace. Parents need to smarten them up and conform.”

Jamie Fisher will now have to remain at home until he does something more creative with his hair.

short back and sides haircut

Bullied for being smart: Jamie Fisher, 14

The letter states: “I am sorry to report that cases of bullying against boys with a ‘traditional’ short-back-and-sides haircut have increased in recent months. While some of our more old-fashioned parents think a short back and sides is ‘smart’, this unfortunately makes your child stand out as a ‘square’ or a ‘mummy’s boy’ (these are words from the classrooms, not mine).”

It adds that the school’s policy has always been to be “inclusive” and so all children should be allowed the creative freedom to have extraordinary haircuts.

Mr Barrymore said: “As I am sure you are aware, most children now have varied and wonderful hairstyles – long, spiky, gelled, coloured or ruffled – and I read recently that one Norfolk school has many boys with something called a Meet Me At McDonald’s hairstyle. Brilliant!”

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Some parents were fully supportive of the school’s position. Dean Whiting, from Lowestoft, said: “Any boy with a short-back-and-sides haircut is just a sad little square.

“They look like something from a prep school and are the type that will deserve a bop on the nose for being a creep.”

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KFC shortage: Starving African kids send love and prayers

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KFC shortage: Starving African kids send love and prayers

Starving children in Africa have sent their love and prayers to Britain where parents are struggling to cope with the nationwide KFC shortage.

Thousands of angry mums and dads have complained after KFC restaurants closed owing to ‘supply chain’ issues.

Now children in the third world, who have not had anything decent to eat in months or even years, have taken to Facebook to send their love and prayers.

KFC chicken shortage

One starving child, Asha from east Africa wrote: “Oh my God, no KFC chicken in Britain? Sending love and prayers. And hugs.”

Another nine-year-old who is ravished by famine took to Facebook straight away to change her profile picture to an image of Colonel Sanders, the KFC figurehead.

Salma said: “Changing your profile picture is a brilliant way to show your support for something. We can really make a difference by doing an empty gesture like that.

“These poor children in England, going to their local KFC to stuff their fat, over-indulged faces only to find it is closed.

“We can’t imagine such disappointment because KFC is finger lickin’ good.

“So am sending love and prayers. Our support should see them through this difficult time.”

Parents in Britain are horrified by the food shortage.

Lorraine Fisher, 34 from Ipswich, said on Facebook: “I am fuming. I took the kids for a KFC and by the time we had queued in the car to get to the ordering window they told us they had no chicken.

“It’s disgusting. We had to go to Burger King instead and the kids weren’t happy.”

In other news, millions in the third world face chronic hunger and the threat of famine.

Ipswich fans deny being offended

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Ipswich fans deny being offended

Ipswich Town fans have denied they took offence to manager Mick McCarthy telling them to f*ck off.

The supporters were forced to issue an apology in the Suffolk Gazette, re-affirming that while they got caught up in the heat of the moment at the weekend Norwich derby, they were not upset with Big Mick at all.

The Town boss was caught on television seemingly shouting “fuck off” to the Ipswich fans who had earlier booed his negative substitutions.

Mick McCarthy

Social media soon lit up with claims that Ipswich fans were “very upset about this”.

But now they have denied being offended.

“We were just caught up in the heat of the after-match reaction,” said supporter Lorraine Fisher, 34.

“We were just venting our frustration after Norwich equalised with just seven seconds remaining on the clock, thereby extending our nine-year wait for a win against them.

“If anyone was offended by us being offended at Mick McCarthy, then of course we apologise.”

The news comes as many Mick McCarthy backers are hoping the supporters get the sack for not being good at supporting.

Ipswich fans can return from Norwich with three points by speeding on the A140, police say

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Ipswich fans can return from Norwich with three points by speeding on the A140, police say

By Ian Bred, Norfolk Correspondent

Norfolk Police have told Ipswich Town fans heading to Norwich that speeding along the A140 will be the only way they go home with three points.

Cheeky officers believe the Tractor Boys’ dismal record against their arch-rivals will not improve in the latest crunch East Anglian derby.

“But if supporters want to leave Norwich with three points, they are advised to drive at more than 34mph through Long Stratton,” a Norfolk Constabulary insider said.

Police speed camera

Ipswich have not beaten the Canaries since 2009, a rare accomplishment for which Blues manager Jim Magilton was rewarded with the sack the next day.

And, even though Ipswich are above Norwich in the league table (on goal difference only) fed up supporters do not really expect that dismal run to change any time soon.

Yet 2,000 Ipswich fans will still make the trip to Norfolk to cheer their team on.

Supporter Lorraine Fisher, 34, from Woodbridge, said: “Nobody really expects us to win.

“Mick McCarthy will set up to keep it at 0-0 for as long as possible and hope to score a goal on the break.

“Unfortunately, Norwich will probably score in the first ten minutes and the whole game plan will go out of the window.”

Fans need not go home without any points, however, according to police.

“Each of them can pick up three points if they are caught speeding along the A140 on the way back to Suffolk with their tails between their legs,” the police insider added.

Last year the Suffolk Gazette revealed how Anusol was to sponsor the A140 because the road is such a pain in the arse.

And in 2015 we revealed how a driver had been jailed for hitting ridiculous speeds of 35mph on the road that links Norfolk and Suffolk.

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