February

Keep up-to-date with relevant news

• 29/02/2012 Fuel duty lobby to meet minister Fuel duty reduction campaigners are to meet Treasury minister Chloe Smith.
• 29/02/2012 Costa Allegra to reach land soon The stricken cruise liner Costa Allegra is being towed towards the Seychelles and expected to reach the island of Mahe on Thursday, according to the cruise operator.
• 29/02/2012 Toyota Plug-In set for summer sale Motorists determined to do their bit for the environment will be delighted to learn that the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid will cost around £30,000 when it hits the showrooms this summer.
• 29/02/2012 Used-car buyers warned of fraudsters More people visited the Canary Island of Tenerife from the UK last year, according to tourism chiefs there.
• 29/02/2012 Gas fitter charged after explosion A gas fitter is to appear in court after 15 people were injured in an explosion in Salford.
• 28/02/2012 Tenerife seeing more UK tourists More people visited the Canary Island of Tenerife from the UK last year, according to tourism chiefs there.
• 28/02/2012 Many waiting until 40s before buying Half of the people who currently rent their home say they will have to wait until they are in their 40s to actually buy their first house, according to a property website survey.
• 28/02/2012 Warning over cash kept at home Houses in the UK contain as much as £5.6 million of cash that has been squirrelled away by owners who feel their homes are safer than banks.
• 28/02/2012 Road lights plan could go ahead The Government has confirmed that it is considering a Highways Agency proposal which would see lights on thousands of miles of A-roads in England dimmed amid efforts to save money and cut back on carbon emissions.
• 28/02/2012 Cruise firm launches £1m holiday Customers who sign up for the Silversea cruise firm's latest package are set to pay £1 million per couple for a five-month extravaganza planned for them next year.
• 27/02/2012 Drink drivers caught the morning after, study Research has suggested that many motorists caught drink driving last year had consumed alcohol the night before.
• 27/02/2012 Holidaying workers 'miss gossip' Travel insurance may provide cover for many things while taking a holiday - but not the fear of missing out on the latest office gossip, according to a poll.
• 27/02/2012 Used-car buyers beware, warns HPI A third of used cars have a potentially hidden history, meaning they could be death traps, stolen vehicles or have debt attached to them.
• 27/02/2012 Petrol prices 'are worrying drivers' Rising petrol prices are a growing concern for British motorists, according to research.
• 27/02/2012 Floating flood-proof house under way Homeowners could in the future be protected from flooding, as their houses could float on water.
• 24/02/2012 Generations sharing homes 'on the rise' Unaffordable house prices are forcing several generations of family members to share a house, a study has revealed.
• 24/02/2012 Driving test pass rates 'improving' The pass rate for the practical driving test rose to 47% between April and December last year, official figures show.
• 24/02/2012 MP bids to tighten road safety laws A Lib Dem MP has urged the Government to introduce more legislation in a bid to improve road safety.
• 24/02/2012 Hypnosis helps shy passengers fly A group of Britons can now pack their suitcases and arrange cheap travel insurance with a spring in their step - after being cured of their fear of flying in the world's biggest hypnosis session to tackle the phobia.
• 24/02/2012 Stamp duty break boost for mortgages Mortgage lending rose to the highest rate in two years in January ahead of the withdrawal of the stamp duty concession in March, a report by the British Banking Association (BBA) said.
• 23/02/2012 Blockbuster canine to boost Jack Russell profile A leading animal charity is hoping the canine star of The Artist will help boost the popularity of Jack Russells, as it takes in more of them than any other breed.
• 23/02/2012 Warning on road crash legal costs The cost of personal injury claims for road crashes in the UK is adding the equivalent of £1,666 to car insurance premiums every minute, an industry body has claimed.
• 23/02/2012 Speeding drivers targeted in Scotland Drivers who speed or drive in a dangerous manner have been targeted in a day-long initiative by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos).
• 23/02/2012 Tommy Smith reveals medals fear Former Liverpool FC footballer Tommy Smith has revealed that he sold his medals to keep them out the clutches of thieves.
• 23/02/2012 Fall in delayed Heathrow flights The mild winter at the end of 2011 contributed to Heathrow cutting back on the number of delayed flights from the airport, operator BAA has confirmed.
• 22/02/2012 Frankfurt airport strike extended Thousands more holidaymakers and business people are set to encounter disruption in the next few days after ground workers at Frankfurt airport announced that they were extending their strike action until the end of the week.
• 22/02/2012 Britons 'turn to local foods abroad' British holidaymakers are increasingly turning to local ingredients when they travel abroad, new research suggests.
• 22/02/2012 Flood defences benefit 145,000 homes Flood defences due to be rolled out over the next three years will see more than 145,000 homes better protected.
• 22/02/2012 Rogue wheel clamping gang jailed The leaders of an illegal wheel clamping firm have been jailed after conning motorists out of £500,000.
• 22/02/2012 Footballer admits speeding charge PFootballer Nicklas Bendtner was late for a flight from Newcastle Airport when he was caught speeding at more than 100mph in his Porsche, a court has been told.
• 21/02/2012 War veteran's home burgled in Devon Police have launched an investigation after thieves broke into the Devon home of a highly decorated war veteran.
• 21/02/2012 Crime hot spot website launched Street crime victims can now pinpoint exactly where they were mugged or assaulted and report the incident on a new website.
• 21/02/2012 Frankfurt flights hit by strike Passengers travelling to or from Frankfurt Airport in the coming days might want to ensure they have purchased travel insurance as a strike by ground staff is expected to affect many flights.
• 21/02/2012 Half new drivers feel 'under-prepared' Getting behind the wheel for the first time after passing your driving test is nerve-racking for anyone, but half of motorists say they felt under-prepared when they did so.
• 21/02/2012 Britons abroad 'take more calories from booze' Research has suggested that it's the booze rather than the burgers which see young Britons abroad piling on the calories.
• 20/02/2012 Wrong-way motorist receives ban A man who was caught on camera driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway in Warwickshire has avoided jail but has been banned from driving.
• 20/02/2012 Morbid tourism searches on the rise An online travel agency has noticed increases in "morbid tourism" searches for destinations linked to tragedies and natural disasters.
• 20/02/2012 Photosynthesis 'future power source' Plants use photosynthesis to harness the energy of sunlight, but now scientists believe this process can be applied to power cars and planes.
• 20/02/2012 Drivers warned over road hazards A motoring safety group has issued fresh guidelines on spotting hazards on the roads.
• 20/02/2012 Concrete block dropped from bridge Police are examining CCTV footage after a concrete block was dropped onto a car from a bridge on the A442 in Shropshire.
• 17/02/2012 Britons 'prefer to holiday in Europe' British tourists seem to prefer beach holidays in Europe to exotic travels elsewhere this year, according to new figures.
• 17/02/2012 Families stuck after airline cancellations The Maudsley family, Daryl, Cathy and their three children, from Queensland, are also among those stranded in Honolulu.
• 17/02/2012 Dogs 'help women in pregnancy' Pregnant women who own dogs are around 50% more likely to achieve the recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day than those without dogs.
• 17/02/2012 Bexley council issues ice warning Dog owners have been warned to keep their pets, and themselves, away from frozen lakes.
• 17/02/2012 Stamp duty holiday 'must continue' The stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers is set to finish at the end of the month.
• 16/02/2012 Body clock 'influences illness likelihood' We all know our body clock dictates our sleep cycle and key metabolic changes, but a new study suggests it may also help determine whether or not we get sick.
• 16/02/2012 Ski resorts 'must prioritise safety' Ski resorts and tour operators have been told to prioritise the safety of their visitors after a number of similar accidents were reported out on the slopes.
• 16/02/2012 Coryton plant thrown temporary lifeline An oil refinery plunged into administration has been given a three-month lifeline.
• 16/02/2012 10,000 passengers hit by Iberia strikes Around 10,000 passengers were affected by Iberia strikes on Monday, after the airline was forced to cancel 121 of the 323 scheduled flights.
• 16/02/2012 Burglar filmed breaking into house A man who was filmed breaking into a property in Nottingham has admitted burglary.
• 15/02/2012 1.9m ignore hard shoulder guidance About 1.9 million motorists and passengers have risked their lives in the last year by staying in their vehicle on the motorway's hard shoulder after a breakdown, according to research.
• 15/02/2012 Insurers pledge to share savings Insurance professionals have promised to give customers a share of savings which have been created from a cut in personal injury fees, according to Downing Street.
• 15/02/2012 Kent 'has most romantic roads' Loved-up couples wishing to drive down Love Lane or Darling Avenue on Valentine's Day should head to Kent, as a new survey has found that the region has more romantically named roads than any other in the UK.
• 15/02/2012 Mansell calls for 80mph speed limit Former world champion racing driver Nigel Mansell has become the latest high-profile figure to call for the national speed limit on UK motorways to be increased to 80mph.
• 15/02/2012 A million drivers are aged over 80 There are more pensioners on the roads than ever before as the DVLA has revealed more than one million drivers are now over 80-years-old.
• 14/02/2012 Uggie named best dog in a film Silent film The Artist has continued its awards success after its canine star Uggie was named Best Dog in a Theatrical Film at the first annual Golden Collar Awards.
• 14/02/2012 PM set to tackle whiplash claims Britain's "compensation culture" will be tackled as insurance industry experts meet with David Cameron in an effort to decrease rising insurance premiums.
• 14/02/2012 First-time buyers race for concession There has been a 7% surge in loans to first-time buyers following a scramble to get on the property ladder before the end of the stamp duty concession, lenders have said.
• 14/02/2012 Missile yobs target motorists across UK Missile-throwing yobs are creating problems for motorists up and down the country, it has been revealed.
• 14/02/2012 Many families 'under-budget for holidays' Research has shown that families are being too optimistic when it comes to budgeting for holidays.
• 13/02/2012 UK couples spend least on Valentine trips Couples in Britain and Ireland are the least likely to loosen their purse strings to tug on the heart strings on Valentine's Day, a survey has suggested.
• 13/02/2012 Women drivers 'unprepared for snow' As snow and ice continue to hit Britain's roads and breakdown cover claims soar, a new survey has found that a large number of female drivers are not properly prepared for the winter weather.
• 13/02/2012 Bus-riding Dalmation finds new home A stray Dalmation which found itself on the top deck of a south London bus has been rehomed.
• 13/02/2012 Elderly woman suffers home explosion Two houses have been evacuated and nearby roads closed after an explosion at the home of an elderly woman.
• 13/02/2012 EU crisis number unknown by Britons Most Britons don't know that 112 is an Europe-wide emergency number, a survey has revealed.
• 10/02/2012 Holiday protection notices planned Passengers will receive confirmation of whether their holiday is financially protected or not in the event of a tour operator going bust under new regulations.
• 10/02/2012 Number of trips abroad up slightly There has been a rise in the number of trips made overseas by UK residents, according to figures.
• 10/02/2012 Funding for flood defence schemes Funding has been agreed to protect over 25,000 more homes from the devastating effects of flooding, the Government has announced.
• 10/02/2012 Motorists warned amid snow and ice Drivers have been warned of treacherous road conditions as the UK continued to shiver in sub-zero temperatures.
• 10/02/2012 Cannabis 'doubles risk of car crash' Researchers have claimed that consuming cannabis within three hours of driving makes motorists almost twice as likely to cause a vehicle collision as those who have not taken drugs or had an alcoholic drink.
• 09/02/2012 Sellers 'forced to drop house prices' More than one in three properties currently on the market has been reduced in price at least once, according to a property website survey.
• 09/02/2012 Air France grounded by pilot strike Passengers on Air France flights might want to check their travel insurance policies after the airline had to cancel around 40% of its long-haul journeys due to a pilot strike.
• 09/02/2012 Motoring ban for drink-drive Merson Football pundit Paul Merson has been banned from driving after crashing his car into a 38-tonne truck while over the legal alcohol limit.
• 09/02/2012 Housing design features 'linked to crime' Researchers have claimed that rear parking and secluded paths should be avoided by housing developers in a bid to deter crime and neighbourhood rows.
• 09/02/2012 Warnings over Arctic weather front Drivers have been warned to make sure they are prepared for their car breaking down after another 3in of snow was expected in some parts of the UK.
• 08/02/2012 Sales of de-icer soar amid big freeze Motorists are making efforts to prevent the freezing conditions from stopping them in their tracks.
• 08/02/2012 Price of used cars 'fell 1.5%' The price of used cars tumbled 1.5% last year, from £9,155 in 2010 to £9,018 in 2011.
• 08/02/2012 Thousands follow Anfield Cat online A grey and white tabby cat that sauntered on to the hallowed Anfield turf during a crucial match has taken Twitter by storm.
• 08/02/2012 Burst pipe causes flooding in Essex Hundreds of Essex residents might have to rely on their home insurance after a burst water main flooded their village.
• 08/02/2012 More snow expected over the weekend Severe cold weather alerts remain in place all across the UK as snow and ice continues to cause disruption on the roads.
• 07/02/2012 Norovirus hits Princess cruise ship Two Princess Cruise Lines ships will have to be disinfected after dozens of passengers suffered stomach problems, it has been confirmed.
• 07/02/2012 Drivers warned of icy roads hazard Ice and freezing fog look set to cause problems for motorists, with temperatures predicted to plunge to a possible -10C overnight.
• 07/02/2012 New cars reveal slight increase New car sales have shown a slight increase - meaning more people will be checking out car insurance deals.
• 07/02/2012 Director's old Ferrari goes under the hammer Film-maker Roger Vadim's old Ferrari 250 GT California was the star attraction at a sale of classic cars in France.
• 07/02/2012 Drivers perplexed by dashboard controls While owning a high-tech car might make motorists feel pretty suave, it seems large numbers don't fully understand the range of controls on the dashboard.
• 06/02/2012 Clean-up completed on Olympics site London 2010 organisers are celebrating winning the race to clean up the Olympic site and create the largest urban park in Europe for more than 100 years.
• 06/02/2012 First-time buyers level set to rise With the proportion of first-time buyers set to rise in the coming year, the time is right to make sure you have the right property insurance.
• 06/02/2012 Motorists urged to drive carefully Adequate breakdown cover could prove to be vital this week as motorists have been urged to drive carefully in the icy conditions.
• 06/02/2012 Calls to cut whiplash injury claims Cabinet ministers are set to debate ways of cutting the number of whiplash claims, which have been forcing up UK car insurance premiums.
• 06/02/2012 Heathrow cancels 50% of flights Heathrow Airport cancelled half of its flights on Sunday after snow and ice hit many parts of the UK.
• 03/02/2012 Spring holidays: The new summer? The cost of peak time family holidays combined with London's Olympic Games is forcing people to take time off in the spring rather than summer for their holidays this year, a survey has claimed.
• 03/02/2012 Surge in car breakdowns predicted Breakdown companies are likely to be much busier than usual over the next couple of days as a cold snap hits the UK.
• 03/02/2012 Honda could face Civic court claims Honda Civic hybrid owners across the world could be set to launch court action against the carmaker after a woman in the US won a legal case in connection with mileage claims made about the vehicle.
• 03/02/2012 Jailed thief 'scourge' of gym goers A thief who admitted breaking into changing room lockers and stealing wallets, cash and mobile phones has been banned from every leisure centre and health club in the West Midlands.
• 02/02/2012 Savings raided for emergency repairs One in four Britons dipped into their savings to cover the cost of Christmas, according to research.
• 02/02/2012 Government scraps new MOT plans The Government has abandoned plans to make MOT tests less frequent, meaning vehicles will still have to have an annual check up.
• 02/02/2012 Manchester 'top city for traffic jams' Careless motorists are tempting fate by leaving a treasure trove of goodies on show in their cars overnight.
• 02/02/2012 Guide to airline fees launched A guide to airline's extra fees has been launched by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
• 02/02/2012 Home Counties 'most popular pilot accent' Air passengers determined to relax after booking their holiday and sorting out a holiday insurance policy want to hear a pilot with a Home Counties or Scottish accent as they prepare for take-off, according to a new poll.
• 01/02/2012 Motorists leaving valuables on show Careless motorists are tempting fate by leaving a treasure trove of goodies on show in their cars overnight.
• 01/02/2012 Speed advice 'ignored by drivers' Almost one in three (29%) UK drivers take no notice of speed advice on motorways during poor weather, research has indicated.
• 01/02/2012 Warning over flood-risk homes cover Time is running out to secure a deal to provide insurance cover for homes at risk of flooding, the industry body has warned.
• 01/02/2012 Property market in further decline The property market showed more troubling signs when official figures revealed falls in prices and sales.
• 01/02/2012 Motorists concerned at cost of fuel The cost of fuel is the greatest concern for motorists, who feel they are "being priced off the roads", according to a new survey.