March 2012

• 30/03/2012 - Rare black fox run over by car - A rare black fox was killed on Thursday morning after it was hit by a car in Hertfordshire.

• 30/03/2012 - Donna Air cleared of parking permit fraud - Actress Donna Air has been acquitted of fraud charges after she was summoned to court for breaking council regulations.

• 30/03/2012 - Battersea voices alarm over strays - Battersea Dogs And Cats Home took in more than 2,700 stray dogs last year, most without microchips to help trace the owners.

• 29/03/2012 - Army horse says thanks with a kiss - Talking pets would be fantastic fun but they're just not built for it like we are, however there is an Army horse who knows how to say thanks - with a smooch.

• 29/03/2012 - 'Self-healing' plastic developed - Scientists have created a 'self-healing' material which could one day be used for cars and aircraft structures.

• 29/03/2012 - Bradford cat Fifi weighs 9.3kg - A 9.3kg cat from Bradford is among the finalists of a pet weight loss competition run by animal charity PDSA.

• 28/03/2012 - Football tourists jailed after burglaries - Six Mexican tourists resorted to crime during their holiday visiting British football grounds when they ran out of money, a court has heard.

• 28/03/2012 - Beware thieves when in garden, say police - Whether it's popping outside to do a spot of gardening, or to relax on the patio with a glass of lemonade, we're starting to have fun in the sun. But we must beware thieves who target our homes while we're doing so.

• 28/03/2012 - 4in puppy in running for world record - A tiny puppy the size of a business card could set the record for the world's smallest dog.

• 27/03/2012 - 'Road rage' incident sparks appeal - Whatever happens on the road, keeping your cool is a must, to avoid any possible bust-ups with your fellow drivers.

• 27/03/2012 - Cattermole court case adjourned - The case against Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole, who is accused of vandalising five cars near the Sports Direct Arena, has been adjourned.

• 27/03/2012 - Tanker drivers vote for action - Fuel tanker drivers have voted hugely in favour of industrial action in a ballot of about 2,000 Unite members at seven companies.

• 26/03/2012 - Driving dummies when it comes to car damage - When it comes to our cars it seems we're a nation of numpties, with many of us damaging them with CDs and shotguns, or calling for help unnecessarily.

• 26/03/2012 - Army set to drive fuel tankers - The Army is set to stand in for petrol tanker drivers threatening to strike in April with hundreds of soldiers preparing to perform the driving.

• 26/03/2012 - Electric cable fire causes CO leak - Several homes in Londonderry had to be evacuated after an electric cable fire led to a carbon monoxide leak.

• 23/03/2012 - Lincolnshire flood defences strengthened - Lincolnshire is set to benefit from new anti-flood measures, thanks to a project at Snakeholme Drain near Bardney.

• 23/03/2012 - M-ways 'safer than one-lane roads' - Far more accidents take place on single lane roads in the UK than they do on the motorway, new research has shown.

• 23/03/2012 - Thousands view dog-on-chute clip - A video of a dog sliding down a helter-skelter has clocked 103,000 views on YouTube in the space of about a week.

• 22/03/2012 - Dog's head trapped in spare wheel - A dog which got its head stuck in the middle of a wheel fitting which was lying around a stable yard has recovered well, animal rescue firefighters have said.

• 22/03/2012 - Mondeo leads UK mileage charts - The Ford Mondeo typically travels more miles than any other car in the UK, Warranty Direct has reported.

• 22/03/2012 - Fuel cost rise announced in Budget - Motorists will be on the lookout for a cheap car insurance deal after Chancellor George Osborne dashed their hopes of avoiding another petrol pump increase.

• 21/03/2012 - Datsun revived for emerging markets - Datsun models are being revived in emerging markets, Nissan Motor has confirmed.

• 21/03/2012 - Frustrated drivers 'take risks' - Motorists drive dangerously and increase their chances having to make a car insurance claim through trying to make up for the lost time they have spent stuck in traffic jams, research has shown.

• 21/03/2012 - Canine Bonzo joins family of Foxes - The Fox family has a new four-legged member after TV and radio star Neil Fox rehomed a canine called Bonzo from Battersea Dogs and Cats home.

• 20/03/2012 - Lineker promotes online driving aid - Former England footballer Gary Lineker is promoting an online training aid for young drivers.

• 20/03/2012 - Charles to build first eco-homes - Oxfordshire will be the location of the first eco-friendly Prince's Houses in the UK and they will be built in 2013, it has been announced.

• 20/03/2012 - Easter getaway advice for motorists - Motorists are being urged to check the roadworthiness of their cars ahead of the busy Easter weekend.

• 19/03/2012 - Prince Charles visits eco-home - Prince Charles has been given a tour of an eco-home designed by his Foundation for Building Community as he attended the opening of the Ideal Home Show in Earls Court.

• 19/03/2012 - Crufts veterinary checks welcomed - The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the decision to introduce veterinary checks in each of the 15 high profile breeds at Crufts 2012.

• 19/03/2012 - Postal worker dog attacks investigated - Postal workers are suffering up to 4,000 dog attacks every year, often resulting in severe injuries and "considerable trauma".

• 16/03/2012 - Passive smoking 'harmful to pets' - Pet owners have been warned about the health risks which smoking can pose to their animals

• 16/03/2012 - Pet micro-chipping service offered - Cardiff pet owners are being offered access to a micro-chipping service for animals including cats, dogs and rabbits.

• 16/03/2012 - Obama and Cameron discuss petrol - The Prime Minister has discussed the rising cost of petrol with US President Barack Obama during a visit to the White House.

• 15/03/2012 - Fiat boss breaks down in Ferrari - A member of the prestigious Agnelli family, who founded Fiat, has been having a spot of bother again with his high-powered Ferrari.

• 15/03/2012 - Advertising watchdog bans dog toy ad - A dog owner said their pet destroyed a toy the first time it was used - despite manufacturers claiming it was "virtually indestructible".

• 15/03/2012 - 11 years to clear road works: Study - At the current rate councils in England will take 11 years to clear their backlog of road repairs and those in Wales will take 17 years, according to a report.

• 14/03/2012 - One in six has driven uninsured - poll - A sixth of drivers (16%) have driven a car for which they were not insured, a survey has found.

• 14/03/2012 - More first-time buyers in 2012 - The start of the year saw an increased number of first-time buyers and home movers on the housing market, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), which will see a rise in home insurance applicants.

• 14/03/2012 - Thieves targeting keys in open houses - Police have urged homeowners to ensure their houses are not absent-mindedly left open to thieves following an incident where a man stole car keys from a home.

• 13/03/2012 - Would-be home buyers given boost - Would-be homeowners and council tenants alike are to be given a helping hand getting on to the property ladder.

• 13/03/2012 - Children 'use home technology more' - Today's children aged 10 and under spend nearly an hour each day using technology-based products at home, a study has revealed.

• 13/03/2012 - RAF dog wins Friends for Life award - A loyal RAF canine has been awarded the most sought-after prize at Crufts for saving lives while on duty in five different regions.

• 12/03/2012 - Southern drivers less satisfied with garages - More drivers from the south of England have complained to a motor industry body that aims to maintain standards across car servicing and repairs.

• 12/03/2012 - Crufts winner in shock over top prize - The breeder of this year's Best in Show winner at the world's greatest dog awards ceremony has said she is in total shock and amazement.

• 12/03/2012 - Study urges older drivers strategy - Older road users require a national strategy as their numbers have increased greatly in recent years but there has been a much slower reduction in deaths and serious injury rate among them, a report said.

• 09/03/2012 - Pumped tyres boost fuel efficiency - Correctly inflated tyres are not only vital for safety, they can also enhance a car's fuel efficiency.

• 09/03/2012 - Dog lovers to be told of spine condition - The British Veterinary Association is to educate Crufts visitors about a disorder called syringomyelia, and encourage owners of the most at-risk breeds to have their dogs screened.

• 09/03/2012 - Fat-busting bugs sent down sewers - Sewers in a Yorkshire city have been filled with trillions of fat-busting bugs in an effort to remove blockages.

• 08/03/2012 - £150 repairs for failed MOT tests - Drivers are forking out around £150 on average towards repairing their vehicles which have failed the MOT test, a survey has found.

• 08/03/2012 - Insurance bill clears Parliament - Changes to insurance sales laws, drawn up so that insurers must ask for all the necessary information to prevent claim rejections, have cleared Parliament with an unopposed third reading.

• 08/03/2012 - Affordable flood protection warning - It is feared that up to 200,000 homeowners will be unable to secure affordable flood insurance once a deal with the Government expires next year.

• 07/03/2012 - 20mph limit set to begin in city - A number of 20mph speed zones will be implemented in residential areas by highway bosses, as part of a scheme which they hope will cut the number of injuries and deaths on the road.

• 07/03/2012 - High fuel tax could 'crush' families - A campaign against rocketing fuel costs will take place at Parliament on Wednesday in a bid to prevent families from being "crushed" by high tax levels.

• 07/03/2012 - New car sales down 2.5% - SMMT - New car sales fell last month, but the industry hopes the sale of new number plates will boost registrations.

• 06/03/2012 - Summit set to solve dated satnavs - A Government satnav summit will take place, in an effort to put a stop to motorists being sent on wild goose chases by their in-car systems.

• 06/03/2012 - Cat photo contest part of sleep campaign - A cat charity has launched an online photo contest to try to raise pet owners' awareness that furry friends need more than just a cat nap.

• 06/03/2012 - 'Cut charity budgets and crime will rise' - Crime will increase if rehabilitation services for ex-offenders have their budgets slashed, a charity has warned.

• 05/03/2012 - Mobile phone thefts prompt warning - Thefts of mobile phones in bars and clubs in Cambridge have prompted a warning from police for women to be vigilant.

• 05/03/2012 - Britons urged to holiday in UK - The Government plans to cash in on the 2012 Games further by convincing more Britons to holiday in the UK rather than venture abroad.

• 05/03/2012 - 4% of drivers have no insurance - Around 4% of motorists are driving their vehicles without car insurance, the latest industry figures have shown.

• 02/03/2012 - No mobility scooter speed changes - No further speed restrictions will be imposed on disabled people who drive mobility scooters, transport minister Norman Baker has confirmed.

• 02/03/2012 - UK 'least dog-friendly country' - A new study has found that Britain is perceived to be the least dog-friendly country in Europe.

• 02/03/2012 - Many road markings 'barely visible' - British motorists are driving on roads where markings are difficult to see in some places, according to research.

• 01/03/2012 - Islands receive fuel price boost - The Government has introduced a scheme which could significantly cut the cost of diesel on outlying islands such as the Inner and Outer Hebrides, islands in the Clyde, the Northern Isles and Scilly.

• 01/03/2012 - Land Rover set for epic Discovery - Land Rover is sending its Discovery vehicle on a charity "expedition" of more than 8,000 miles from Birmingham to Beijing to raise £1million.

• 01/03/2012 - Mortgage lending reaches two-year high - The number of people approved for mortgages in January was the highest monthly figure for more than two years, the Bank of England has revealed.