Angry police in Australia have fined a driver after discovering he had used a seatbelt to secure a 30-can crate of beer while his young child was left unrestrained on the vehicle’s floor.

The driver was handed a fine of 750 Australian Dollars (approx £362) for failing to ensure a child was wearing a seatbelt as well as driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

Police said they were "shocked and appalled" when they pulled over the car south of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory. Despite the popularity of beer down under, Constable Wayne Burnett revealed that, in his experience, the incident was the first time that beer had taken priority over a child.

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The hunt for a lost cat in Cornwall has been given a boost from an unlikely source – a keen Internet user from Indiana, USA.

After 7 months, Abbi and Darren Rendell had all but given up their search for their pet cat Jerry. The tabby had gone missing after the couple moved house from Staffordshire to Polperro, Cornwall.

But thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Jerry’s whereabouts have been confirmed by Deb Wilgus, an avid American Internet user. She confirmed that she had seen a cat matching Jerry’s description on a webcam found on the Polperro village online forum. Wilgus regularly visits local website to enjoy Polperro’s picturesque views.

When she saw an appeal for the missing moggy on the same website she immediately passed on the amazing news to the Rendells. The Cornish couple are staking out the hotel and are now convinced they will find their long lost pet.

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A classical musician played a free concert to show his gratitude to the New York City taxi driver who returned the $4 million-valued Stradivarius violin he had absent-mindedly left in the back of a cab.

Russian-born Philippe Quint left his 1723 "Ex-Keisewetter" violin in Newark taxi driver Mohammed Khalil's cab after getting off a flight from Houston.

Quint originally gave Khalil $100 for returning the rare instrument as that was all the money he had on him at the time. But he felt obliged to make a further gesture of thanks. On May 6, Quint returned to Newark Liberty International Airport and performed for 30 minutes to an audience of cabbies in the taxi holding area.

Quint has also invited Khalil and his family to a concert he is giving at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan this September.

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First the Beijing Olympics prompted riots and demonstrations in London and San Francisco. Now it seems people are set to take to the streets in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth after Chinese authorities banned Australian athletes from taking national staple food Vegemite to the Games.

Olympic organisers in Beijing have told Australia that all the food their athletes require must be sourced from China. It is understood the Chinese have introduced the ban to maximise revenue for local food producers. Unsurprisingly, the yeast-based spread isn’t available there.

Vegemite is said to be a good source of vitamins and has grown into an iconic food in Australia since it was invented Melbourne in the 1920s. Australian Olympic team nutritionist Professor Louise Burke told the Herald Sun newspaper that having such home-grown products is crucial to the athletes' peace of mind.

Secretary General of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Craig Phillips confirmed that Australia would appeal to China to reconsider their decision.

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A cricket club has banned its players from hitting sixes - on health and safety grounds.

Players at Harrogate Cricket Club have been warned that if they hit balls towards the surrounding houses they are automatically out of the game.

Harrogate Borough Council, owners of the ground, has decided that the 'no six' rule should be imposed on all players. A report from the council says the decisions have been taken to achieve a balance with residents.

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