Greg is proof every degu has his day

The UK’s “loneliest degu” has finally found love after facing a series of rejections from fellow rodents.

Three-year-old Greg was left feeling lonely after his friend Charlie had to be put to sleep shortly after they both arrived at the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Burford, Oxfordshire, in November.

Degus are sociable animals and get stressed when kept alone, so Greg was introduced to two other degus by Blue Cross and fell in love with them – but the feelings were not reciprocated.

But after a Valentine’s Day appeal, discerning matchmaker Natalie Curry read about Greg’s loveless plight and has matched him with her own lonely degu, Sophie.

“We were looking for a new partner for our degu Sophie as she lost her partner last year to old age and had become depressed,” said Ms Curry, who lives in Cheltenham with her partner Jordan Hubbard.

She applied to adopt Greg and following his move into their home, she reports that “he and Sophie are very much in love!”.

Hannah Wiltshire, rehoming manager at Blue Cross Burford, said that Greg was very “subdued” after losing his companion.

“We had noticed Greg was very subdued after losing his companion, so we’re delighted to have found him a new love and to see him and Sophie getting on so well together.”

Scottish rock group Mogwai have scored their first number one album – 25 years after releasing their debut single.

Their 10th record, As The Love Continues, fended off competition from grime pioneer Ghetts, whose third album, Conflict Of Interest, lagged behind by some 2,900 chart sales.

Mogwai’s previous chart peak came in 2017 when they reached number six with Every Country’s Sun.

The four-piece are known for their mainly instrumental brand of experimental post-rock.

They said: “We’re unbelievably happy to have the number one album in the UK.’’

On the singles chart, Olivia Rodrigo’s Drivers License is top for the seventh week running.

The final anti-HS2 protester in a network of tunnels in London’s Euston Square Gardens has been removed.

HS2 Limited, the government-owned company building the high-speed railway, said the person was taken out of the site in Euston Square Gardens yesterday morning.

A total protesters of have nine been removed since they were discovered on January 26.

HS2 Limited said in a statement: “Our staff and the emergency service personnel have acted with safety as their utmost priority, risking their own lives in order to ensure the wellbeing of those who placed themselves in such a dangerous situation underground.”

Sir, – While the fight against the pandemic and return to normality must be at the front of government thinking, there are issues which have quietly stayed under the radar.

This applies very much to the Scottish fishing industry and our coastal communities.

These areas are facing a very uncertain future given the watered down Brexit deal.

Prior to negotiation it was indicated that UK fishing waters up to 200 miles would be retained, and that fishing

quotas would be returned.

This area is still being heavily fished by EU vessels with resultant implications for our local land-based fish processing facilities and the many jobs involved in coastal areas.

If this continues the future of these communities and our fishing industry could come under real economic threat. D. G. McIntyre.

Main Street, Davidsons Mains.

Greg and Sophie.