Makers of a bank robbery toy set – aimed at children aged from four to ten – say it helps teach youngsters ‘right from wrong’.
German manufacturers Playmobil have been slammed by the anti-gun lobby for their £35 ‘Bank and Safe’ toy pack.
It comes with everything needed to simulate a bank robbery, including armed robbers and a safe full of gold.
Danny Bryan of Communities Against Gun and Knife Crime, said: “We don’t want to be encouraging young people to look at these sorts of things.
“I think it is horrendous that young people are given all these images to shape them. It is sending out the wrong message.”
But Playmobil marketing manager Jamie Dickinson responded: “We have been producing police play sets for 35 years…
“One thing our customer feedback tells us is that it is important that children can be taught, through play, the importance of recognising good from evil and ‘baddies’ from ‘goodies’.
“Our ‘cops’ and ‘robbers’, in the guise of policemen, police cars, criminals and jails, enable these scenarios to be created.
“We fully support creating a safe environment for all children and would hope that in their own small way our sets deliver this in a secure, but believable, way.”
Homeless man’s tomb with a view
A homeless man in Serbia has told how he moved into a grave after losing his home.
Bratislav Stojanovic, 43, shares the burial plot with the remains of a family who died out more than 100 years ago in Nis.
But after giving the grave a changing tombs-style makeover he says he feels at home.
“It is dry and it is warm. I have some lamps and my personal possessions. It isn’t a palace but it is more comfortable than the street,” he explained.
Bratislav lost his home in the town after running up debts. He moved into the grave after dossing down in the streets for months.
“People are very kind to me, they sometimes bring me food or clothes,” he added.
“It doesn’t frighten me to sleep in a grave. The dead are dead. I’m more frightened of being hungry.
“And if I die in the night, at least I’m in the right place,” added Bratislav.
Officials at the cemetery say their squatter can stay as long as he does not disturb other visitors.
“The family who owned the tomb are long gone so technically it belongs to no-one. If he behaves himself there are no plans to evict him,” said a spokesman.
Pensioners’ bid for world’s longest kiss
An elderly couple who have been married for 50 years are attempting to break the world record for the longest kiss in Thailand.
Pannajet Yomjinda, 74, and wife Suwanna, 70, are among nine couples aiming to beat the current record of 50 hours, 25 minutes and one second.
“I’m not sure if we’ll win because of our age,” said Mrs Yomjinda, “but if we were younger, we would surely win.”
Officials from Guinness are monitoring the record bid being staged at the annual Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! contest in Pattaya.
Couples are allowed to drink water through a straw so long as their lips remain sealed. Referees accompany them to a special bathroom throughout the competition.
The existing record was set at the same event last year by same-sex couple Nonthawat Charoenkaesornsin and Thanakorn Sitthiamthong.
Owl unhurt behind grill after 60mph smash
A great horned owl had an amazing escape after it was hit at 60mph by a 4WD car on a US motorway.
Driver Sonji Coney Williams spotted the owl but couldn’t avoid it as she drove south on the Florida Turnpike.
“I was driving about 60mph, he never moved, and so, I said ‘Oh, my God, I hit a bird’, and I felt so bad but it was very dark and we didn’t pull over,” she said.
Ms Williams assumed the bird had been killed, until the following day when it was spotted – alive – behind the radiator grill of her vehicle in Plantation, Florida.
“There was a family that pulled in front of my parking space and flagged me down and said, ‘Don’t move, don’t move, you have something in the grill of your truck’.
“I said, ‘Yes, what is it?’ And they said, ‘It’s an owl.’ And I said, ‘An owl?’”
She called Florida Fish and Wildlife and an officer opened the hood and freed the bird. Officers say the owl appeared to be in good shape and didn’t suffer any injuries.
Big cat eyes up lad for lunch
A photographer captured the moment a huge lioness at Miami Zoo tried to bite off his seven-year-old son’s head.
Young Matthew was never in any danger as the big cat, called Kachifa, was behind plate glass.
But she was clearly fascinated with the boy and mirrored his every move during a ten minute staring contest.
Photographer Armando Sierra kept taking pictures as the lioness even bared her teeth and let out a huge roar.
At one point Kachifa even stood up on her hind legs, dwarfing the young boy, to get a better look at her visitor before bearing her large teeth again.
Armando said: “I try to go to the zoo every week with Matthew who enjoys looking at the lions as well as the chimps and the ducks.
“He likes to hear the lions growl and, since the females are very playful, he can just watch them interact.
“As we approached the glass the lioness immediately charged with aggression towards Matthew.
“She then started to scratch and claw at the glass as if wanting to play and she followed Matthew wherever he moved.
“She seemed to be analysing him and was waiting to see what his next move would be – she wasn’t interested at all in me.”
Post published in: World News