1. Swanning around

An elderly Swedish woman was discovered to have 11 full-grown swans in her small Stockholm flat. She took them in in 2001 when they were injured and they had been there ever since. Police said she could face charges under animal protection laws.

2. To bed

Ernie and Lynn Seewer of Alabama are staging a John and Yoko-style bed protest against the war in Iraq and urging others to do the same. "We're all having a good old time when our guys are dying over there," said Ernie. "Remember, it's a war."

3. Mariah, Mariah, Mariah, Ma . . .

A Southampton pub landlord finally snapped and banned Jeff Donovan for playing Mariah Carey songs 20 times a day - for six years. Jeff, 35, said: "I love Mariah and listen to her over and over again, but other people obviously didn't share my musical taste."

4. Smile, please

White teeth and perfect smiles do not make us happy, according to British psychologists. A study of 1,000 people over 20 years of age found that those who had straight teeth were just as likely to be unhappy as those whose teeth were crooked.

5. One bump or two

Sheep in North Wales are causing havoc for motorists by eating the sugar-based grit being laid to de-ice frosty roads. The sweet treat is a new formula of sugar, starch and cereal.