Councillor defies council to install hedgehog sign

BBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award.

The councillor is Christian Vassie, a Liberal Democrat member of City of York Council, and the sign has gone up in the village of Wheldrake.

Britain's hedgehogs salute him.

UK luxury business backed by David Cameron in £500K collapse

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The Oxford Mail wins our Headline of the Day Award. 

Far be it from me to criticise the judges, but is this such a surprising story?

Shock as 16 tonnes of soil mistakenly dropped in Shrewsbury

The Shropshire Star, and not for the first time, wins our Headline of the Day Award.

There's more about the scheme to improve the Abbey Foregate area of the town in a BBC News report.

Council to help people 'correctly identify' potholes

BBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award for this tale from Yorkshire, where a Sheffield City Council reports claims there is "confusion around what qualifies as a pothole"

Zoo advertises tickets for 'child predator tour'

BBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award for this tale from Chester.

I am reminded of the glory days of Lord Bonkers' safari park at the Hall.

Private school that suddenly closed after 'misconduct' allegations burns down

The Scotsman wins our Headline of the Day Award, though the judges said that in their day a school would have carried on regardless.

Dysfunctional council to be abolished after years of controversy and "all out civil war"

Our Headline of the Day Award goes to the Leicester Mercury.

I know things can get pretty het up on the city council, but the authority in question here is Witherley Parish Council. 

The village of Witherley lies on the Leicestershire-Warwickshire border near Atherstone, and we are able to bring you exclusive video of its most recent attempt to conduct a parish council meeting.

Traffic Cop Nick Lovatt sacked after committing more than 20 driving offences

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The Derby Telegraph wins our Headline of the Day Award.

On one occasion, the fellow officer who stopped him is reported to have said:

"Who do we think we are, sir? The police and crime commissioner for Nottinghamshire?"

Church could get first toilet in more than 700 years

To the great relief of the parishioners of St Giles's at Hartington in Derbyshire, BBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award.

Brexiters’ effort to resettle Chagos Islands hit by lack of proper boat

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The story may be languishing behind the Financial Times's paywall, but its headline has won the Pink 'Un our Headline of the Day Award.

Cormorant released after being found wandering around Market Harborough

Imagine my pride when the judges decided to award Headline of the Day to the Harborough Mail.

I took this photo of a cormorant on the Nene in the centre of Northampton a few years ago.

Reform councillor who said she ‘received no training’ sent resignation letter to wrong council

The Independent wins our Headline of the Day Award.

After they had announced their verdict, I told the judges I didn't receive any training when I was a councillor all those years ago. 

They asked if I lived in a shoebox in the middle of the road.

Horse Nell 'stable' after canal rescue

Photo: Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service   

I may be in Shropshire, but our Headline of the Day comes from the BBC News Leicestershire pages:

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to Aylestone Meadows after Nell "must have decided to cool-off in the canal near the Packhorse Bridge" but suddenly became stuck in the waterway.

A technical rescue team from Southern Station and a crew from Wigston Fire Station were dispatched to the scene on Saturday evening, and working alongside local farmers they lifted the animal out and had her checked over by a vet.

A statement from the service said Nell now "appears to be in a stable condition" at home, adding: "You can lead a horse to water, but it can be a struggle getting it back out again."

The judges did find a Shropshire Star story to commend highly:

"The impact would be huge": Residents rally against plans for three new homes in Shropshire village

Recycling centres to stay shut due to "high demand"

Yes, Leicestershire County Council is run by Reform. Why do you ask?

Anyway, BBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award.

Brazilian footballer falls down hole celebrating goal that was then disallowed

The judges are unanimous. Our Headline of the Day Award goes to the Guardian.

Huge wasp nest takes over wildlife trust's office

BBC News wins our Headline of the Day Award for this story from Norfolk.

A wasp comments: It said "wildlife" on the door, and we're wildlife."

To their credit, the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's staff appear to view things in much the same light.

Man vows to "never travel to Lincolnshire again" after Humber Bridge fines

The judges were aghast. What, never again see Lincoln Cathedral or the stone buildings of Stamford?

Nevertheless, they gave Hull Live our Headline of the Day Award for its tale of a pissed off hedgehog rescuer.

Prince Philip sent 12th-century font to Charles’ boarding school in the 1960s

The Independent wins our Headline of the Day Award.

Apparently the font wasn't academically gifted, but it had character and played in the front row for the first XV. It later became a management consultant. 

Our photograph shows this very font, now to be found back at Upton Cressett in Shropshire.

Foxes need to be humble - Chaplin

BBC Sport wins our Headline of the Day Award.

Personally, I've not heard many complaints about foxes being overproud. They more often involve dustbins.

Trapped pigeon freed from netting under bridge in Shrewsbury with ‘verbal encouragement’ by firefighters

Our Headline of the Day Award goes to an old friend of this blog, the Shropshire Star.

When I showed the judges this photograph, which has the bridge in question at its centre, albeit in the background, they said: "Oh well, I suppose it will have to do."