When it comes to dogs, the West Midlands seems to be ‘barking mad’ for man’s best friend, with two thirds of dog owners in the West Midlands opting to spend an evening with their dogs rather than without, and a half have left a pub that claimed to be dog-friendly but wasn’t. Research by DogBuddy.com; Europe’s leading online dog-sitting and home dog boarding community, also revealed Paul O’Grady (31%) as the area’s favourite dog-owning celebrity.

Underlying muscle pain can be a trigger for aggressiveness in dogs and must be considered in cases of dangerous behaviour, a canine expert has said. Julia Robertson, the founder of the Galen Therapy Centre in Sussex which treats dogs suffering from musculoskeletal pain, has spoken out about the links between underlying conditions in canines and attacks in the light of the RSPCA’s report into the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Hangzhou is poised to welcome top political leaders from around the world as it hosts the first ever G20 Summit in China from 4th - 5th September 2016. Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to express her anticipation of attending the G20 Summit this September and her support for China in hosting a successful event. 

Organisers, exhibitors and visiting entertainment acts are making final preparations for the most extravagant Family Day yet at this year’s Nantwich Food Festival.  The lip-smacking three-day spectacular begins on Friday 2 September with an amazing programme of events aimed at families, children and local community groups. A full itinerary of FREE cookery shows and demonstrations will take place in the AGA Food Theatre based in the town centre.

It may be difficult to get your child into a top state school but affording the school uniform isn’t, reveals a new survey by the Schoolwear Association, whose members together help to clothe three-quarters of Britain’s children. All of the top 20 state schools in England insist on a uniform, and the majority also stipulate a blazer and tie. The study carried out by the Schoolwear Association reveals the average cost of a complete outfit in these schools is less than £107 - just 54p a day per school year, and even better value when you consider that items such as blazers and ties will last for more than one school year.

Birdland Park & Gardens has plenty for all the family entertained this bank holiday weekend from Saturday 27 – Monday 29 August. Head to Bourton-on-the-Water to meet King Penguins, explore the Jurassic Journey and discover an exciting array of birds. Birdland are pleased to announce that they have successfully bred a critically endangered Waldrapp Ibis chick, the first to hatch at the Park in over 5 years. The Waldrapp Ibis is a migratory bird found in barren, semi-desert or rocky habitats, often close to running water.