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Give senior people dogs on ‘prescription’, says study
Dog walking could be key to keeping older people more active, research has found. Older dog owners spend less time in the day being sedentary and that regularly walking a dog boosts levels of physical activity in older people, especially during the winter.
The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analysed data from a longterm study which is tracking the health and well-being of thousands of people living in Norfolk. Researchers from the University of East Anglia and the University of Cambridge found that owning or walking a dog was one of the most effective ways to beat the usual decline in later-life activity.
Of the 3,123 people taking part in the study with an average age of 69.5, 18 per cent reported having a dog in their households. Two-thirds of dog owners walked their pets at least once a day. The researchers found that regular dog walkers were more active and less sedentary on days with the poorest conditions than
non-dog owners were on the days with the best conditions.
In the worst weather, those who walked their dogs had 20 per cent higher activity levels than non-dog owners and were more active for 30 minutes each day. The authors say their findings suggest that dog walking "may have considerable potential to support the maintenance of physical activity in older adults and could form part of exercise on prescription schemes".
Vigil for man who died after police chase
A vigil was held outside a London police station for a young father who died after being chased by officers. Relatives and friends of Rashan Charles, 20, along with anti-racism campaigners, gathered in front of Stoke Newington station to express both their grief and concern over his sudden death.
Furious protesters then marched to the convenience store in Haggerston where Mr Charles was apprehended, shouting: "No justice, no peace, fuck the police." Mr Charles' friends on Sunday told The Independent they feared riots could break out if justice was not seen to be done in the case.
Addressing the crowds earlier in the evening, Hackney’s borough commander Chief Superintendent Simon Laurence offered his condolences to Mr Charles' family and promised the incident would be fully investigated. He said: "I understand the community want answers about what happened and no explanation can come quickly enough for a family in mourning.
Boy, 16, held at Stansted on suspicion of terror offences
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of terror offences as he prepared to leave the UK, police said. The teenager was held by counter-terrorism officers at around 4pm on Sunday as he prepared to board an international flight. Thames Valley Police said he was arrested "on suspicion of collection of information which is likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".
Man jailed for stalking Radio 2 DJ
A convicted paedophile who stalked BBC Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in jail. Anthony Collins, 50, pleaded guilty to harassment relating to notes he posted to the presenter. Maidstone Crown Court heard Collins bought her address details online for £17 and sent her letters handwritten in felt-tip pen along with a printed photo of Cox, referred to by her married name Cyzer.
Prosecutor Mary Jacobson said Ms Cox received an envelope on 24 January containing two letters in which Collins wrote that he was lonely, psychologically disturbed and had a long criminal history. He added that he was poor, living unhappily in a bedsit and he asked Cox to invite him to BBC Radio 2's studios, saying she was "lovely, warm, kind and sexy". In one of the letters, Collins wrote: "Sara, I'm Tony Collins, I'm 49, tall with green eyes. I know you are married to Ben Cyzer and know he is a successful man. I'm unsuccessful in my life."
In addition to admitting harassment, Collins, of Afghan Road, Chatham, Kent, pleaded guilty at North Kent Magistrates' Court to two counts of possessing indecent images and two counts of making indecent images of children.
Blood found on toy car and sandals in hunt for missing Ben Needham
Human blood has reportedly been found on a toy car and sandal believed to have belonged to toddler Ben Needham, who disappeared on Kos 26 years ago. Kerry Needham said the discovery is evidence of a coverup in the disappearance of her son, who was staying at his grandparents' farmhouse on the Greek island.
She fears the 21-month-old was killed and his body moved before British police began searching the site last year. South Yorkshire Police formally ended a search on the Greek island last October, saying they believe Ben died as a result of an accident involving a digger on 24 July 1991.
Despite extensive searches of two sites his body was not found. Ms Needham, 43, begged for anyone with information about what happened to her little boy to come forward.