February 2012

• 29/02/2012 - Peer slams road legislation calls - A former Scottish Secretary has branded calls for Scotland to be allowed to set its own speed limits and drink-drive laws as "plain silly".

• 29/02/2012 - Report slams Top Gear satnav deal - BBC director-general Mark Thompson intervened to reverse a contract in which presenter Jeremy Clarkson had recorded a voiceover for a Top Gear satnav, a report has claimed.

• 29/02/2012 - A dog's life statistics revealed - A new investigation has revealed what a dog's life actually consists of and it's no easy feat, as one hound can walk up to 430 marathons and chase cats off as many as 883 times.

• 28/02/2012 - Sunderland duo court case re-listed - Two Sunderland football stars who are facing charges of criminal damage after cars were allegedly attacked near the stadium of their fiercest rivals have learned that their case has been re-listed for March 12.

• 28/02/2012 - Consumers 'fail to read insurance terms' - More than two-thirds of people have had to shell out money as a result of accidental damage or theft because they lacked adequate insurance cover, research suggests.

• 28/02/2012 - £21,000 watch returned to owner - A man has been reunited with his £21,000 watch after it was found in a drain in Essex following its theft in a burglary.

• 27/02/2012 - Dog owners warned of puppy farming risks - A dog health and welfare organisation has warned potential dog owners of the dangers of buying puppies from certain outlets which could be used by puppy farmers.

• 27/02/2012 - Rats and bed bugs descending on homes - One in five households has been damaged by rodent, squirrel or bed bug infestations, costing more than £500 million to put right.

• 27/02/2012 - Buyer surge boosts property market - House prices remained subdued in February despite a big increase in the number of potential buyers registering with estate agents, a new report has claimed.

• 24/02/2012 - Lost cat prompts international search - A lost cat with a French microchip caused a commotion among staff at a rehoming centre when she was handed in as a stray.

• 24/02/2012 - Third 'buy dogs from dodgy breeders' - Many dog owners could have bought their animals from breeders that keep them in cruel conditions, the Kennel Club has revealed.

• 24/02/2012 - Customer helps in hairdresser chase - A customer at a hairdresser's turned superhero for the day - after managing to chase down a would-be mobile phone thief through the middle of a town with the barber's cape fluttering behind him as he ran.

• 23/02/2012 - Dogs' home enjoys 'Uggie effect' - Uggie the Jack Russell terrier became an international celebrity thanks to his starring role in Bafta award-winning film The Artist.

• 23/02/2012 - Many only trust pet, survey says - A new survey has revealed that more than one million people in the UK have just one real confidante in their life - their pet.

• 23/02/2012 - ABI: Injury claim legal fees too high - The cost of legal fees for car accident claims often exceed the value of compensation payouts, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed.

• 22/02/2012 - Ex-footballer jailed for driving ban bid - A former Premier League footballer has received a sixth-month jail sentence for sending bogus letters to the police in a bid to escape a driving ban.

• 22/02/2012 - Kate reveals name of pet puppy - Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge have named their new puppy Lupo, it has been revealed.

• 22/02/2012 - Warning over winter salt corrosion - Fewer than one in 10 drivers regularly clean their car during the winter, new research has suggested.

• 21/02/2012 - Buyer demand boosts home asking price - The lack of homes for sale in more affluent areas may have contributed to a "surprisingly strong" spring bounce in the housing market, a study by Rightmove suggests.

• 21/02/2012 - Pet cat found after three years - Losing a cat or dog would be a nightmare for any pet insurance customer, but it's heartening to know that sometimes they come back.

• 21/02/2012 - Drunken mishaps damaging homes - Middle-class professionals are causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to their homes in booze-fuelled incidents..

• 20/02/2012 - Private tenants 'renting for longer' - Lettings experts have revealed that people are now renting their homes for a record number of months.

• 20/02/2012 - Drivers urged to remove valuables - Drivers in Northumbria have been urged to take valuables out of their cars after a satnav was stolen from a vehicle that was parked at a shopping centre in Newcastle.

• 20/02/2012 - Thieves steal car with boy in back - Thieves in Hampshire got more than they bargained for when they stole a high performance car last week, only to discover that the owner's five-year-old son was sitting in the back.

• 17/02/2012 - Fire breaks out at Houston vigil - A fan's candle-lit vigil for the late Whitney Houston ended in disaster after a fire broke out in her home.

• 17/02/2012 - Car production increases by 15.6% - Car production increased sharply last month, the SMMT has said.

• 17/02/2012 - Young driver restrictions ruled out - The Government said it would rather upgrade the learning process than place restrictions on young drivers.

• 16/02/2012 - Snowball thugs steal man's car - A driver needed hospital treatment after a group of snowball-throwing youths attacked him and stole his car.

• 16/02/2012 - Older cats 'overlooked' by adopters - Older cats are being given the cold shoulder by people looking to adopt a pet, a charity has claimed.

• 16/02/2012 - Households to get flood advice - Knaresborough households will be visited by Environment Agency workers and council emergency planning officers on Thursday, as they start to draw up flood protection plans for hundreds of properties in the town.

• 15/02/2012 - One million-plus drivers over 80 - New figures show that there are now more than one million people licensed to drive in the UK who are over the age of 80.

• 15/02/2012 - £21k Rolex found down Essex drain - An Essex street cleaner probably wasn't watch-ing out for gold down a drain, but amongst the muck he found a £21,000 Rolex.

• 15/02/2012 - Motorists warned of metal thieves - Hertfordshire Police has warned motorists to be vigilant following a spate of metal thefts by criminals who are targeting vehicles around the clock.

• 14/02/2012 - Engines tug on the heart strings - The amount of time spent on car maintenance outstrips that forked out to keep relationships ticking over by many of us, according to research.

• 14/02/2012 - Artist dog picks up Pawscar award - The Artist's four-legged star has got in on the film's pre-Oscar award winning success at the Pawscar awards.

• 14/02/2012 - Feb 14 day of love for pooches - It seems dogs really are man's best friend, as 65% spend more on their pooches than their partners on Valentines' Day.

• 13/02/2012 - Increase in calls to dogs charity - Dog owners are increasingly giving up their pet because they "don't want it anymore" or "didn't give it enough thought", an animal charity has warned.

• 13/02/2012 - Burglary nightmare for newlyweds - A newlywed couple had to cancel their five-day honeymoon in Iceland after their house was burgled on their wedding night.

• 13/02/2012 - Weather causes chaos for drivers - The worst of the cold snap may be behind us, but motorists still face tricky conditions on the roads.

• 10/02/2012 - Dog microchip 'to be made compulsory' - Dog owners will be forced to ensure their pet has a microchip in the future, a Government minister has signalled.

• 10/02/2012 - Every dog has its day on February 14 - Research has shown that more and more of us will be focusing our attention on our dogs rather than our partners come Valentine's Day.

• 10/02/2012 - 'Significant' snowfall hits roads - Heavy snowfall has affected England and Wales as the cold snap shows little sign of relenting.

• 09/02/2012 - Urban housing 'needs better design' - Neighbourly fights and crime could be significantly reduced if homes were better designed, a new study suggests.

• 09/02/2012 - Most Britons 'accessorise their car' - More than half of UK motorists (57%) have decorated their car with accessories such as soft toys and window stickers, a new survey has found.

• 09/02/2012 - Warning of snow and freezing rain - Motorists are being warned to take extra care on the roads as freezing rain and snow cause treacherous conditions across many parts of Britain.

• 08/02/2012 - Drivers warned over big freeze - Motorists are advised to be on their guard and make sure their breakdown cover is up-to-date amid warnings the UK's Arctic weather misery is set to continue.

• 08/02/2012 - Used cars cost less than last year - Arthur Daley might lament the situation but his customers would be laughing all the way to the bank, for it is a buyers' market in the second-hand motor sector, according to the latest price figures.

• 08/02/2012 - Drivers stock up on winter kit - Sales of anti-freeze, de-icer, snow shovels, breakdown kits and ice scrapers have soared as motorists stock up to deal with the cold snap.

• 06/02/2012 - Good Samaritan rescues river dog - A reckless canine who ended up in an icy river has been rescued by a fearless passer-by.

• 07/02/2012 - More big freeze misery for commuters - Commuters have again woken to find roads covered with ice and temperatures below freezing in many parts of the UK.

• 07/02/2012 - Slight rise for new car sales, figures - The number of new cars sold in the UK has risen marginally, according to figures.

• 06/02/2012 - Ministers target whiplash payouts - Motorists could benefit from lower car insurance premiums in the longer term after the Government vowed to target the number of whiplash claims being made.

• 06/02/2012 - Many pets 'eat owner's leftovers' - Nearly three-quarters (72%) of cat and dog owners regularly feed their pets leftovers from unhealthy human meals, a survey has found.

• 06/02/2012 - Bedding appeal for Battersea dogs - An urgent appeal has been launched by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, asking for bedding to keep its canines and felines cosy as the temperature outside plummets.

• 03/02/2012 - Snow warning as temperatures fall - Many motorists have been waking up to frozen windscreens and icy roads as the country shivers in freezing temperatures.

• 03/02/2012 - Rise in number of holiday homes - It seems the tough economic times have not prevented more people from buying a second home.

• 03/02/2012 - Duke and Duchess welcome new puppy - Prince William could be looking into securing pet insurance cover over the coming weeks after announcing that a new puppy has joined the family.

• 02/02/2012 - Clampdown to hit unlicensed drivers - Police are clamping down on unlicensed drivers and car insurance dodgers in East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

• 02/02/2012 - Coalition performs U-turn on MOTs - The Government has performed a U-turn over a plan to require vehicles to have an MOT every two years.

• 02/02/2012 - Forecasters predict weekend snow - Forecasters have predicted snow over the weekend as the latest cold snap makes its presence felt across the UK.

• 01/02/2012 - Drivers warned as weather worsens - Drivers are advised to check they have adequate breakdown cover amid worsening winter weather.

• 01/02/2012 - Kia sells three-door Rio supermini - Carmaker Kia is selling its Rio supermini as a three-door in a bid to capitalise on rising demand.

• 01/02/2012 - Flood insurance worries for homes - Insurance may be hard to come by from 2013 for around 200,000 homes at risk from flooding, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has warned.