Paul Vass

A 746-pound Atlantic bluefin tuna was caught and landed by the Whitby vessel Dominator, believed to be the first such landing in the North Sea since 1939. Bluefin tuna disappeared from the region after overfishing contributed to the collapse of herring stocks, but have returned as fish populations and broader ecosystem health improved under fisheries management. Researchers at the University of Exeter are monitoring and tagging the fish, while investigating whether the larger tuna appearing off northeast England are genetically distinct from populations elsewhere around Britain.

A 1953 letter written by Barbara Graves in Durban describes seeing a round object hovering over the city's Botanical Gardens with her companion Tom. The account is considered unusually rare because early private UFO eyewitness reports were often ridiculed or discarded, and two South African Air Force officers reportedly described a similar sighting over Durban on the same day. Found in a box of flea-market ephemera, the letter is being offered by Sworders Auctioneers in Essex with an estimated sale price of £300 to £500.

Veterinarians report an increase in dogs suffering infections and injuries from sharp grass seeds, which can lodge in their skin, ears or other body cavities and sometimes require surgery. Pet owners in parts of southern England blame councils for leaving verges and public spaces uncut, citing veterinary bills ranging from hundreds to more than £1,500. The British Veterinary Association advises avoiding long ripe grass and checking dogs after walks. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council says it mows verges three times a year and is balancing public safety and access with biodiversity and climate objectives.

A four-foot blue shark was spotted swimming beside the harbour wall in Weymouth, Dorset, an unusual location for a species that generally remains offshore. Experts identified it as a blue shark likely hunting prey fish, while noting that reduced prey availability, warming seas, improved protection and changing ocean conditions may be contributing to increased sightings off Britain’s south coast. Attacks on humans are extremely rare, and the species is native to UK waters and usually appears there from May to October.

A church newsletter in Uplyme, Dorset, sparked community outrage after publishing Diana Hunt’s poems “Broken Britain” and “Know it All,” which mocked asylum seekers, welfare recipients, drug users and fat people. Vicar Nicky Davies and editor Robin Hodges apologized, said the poems did not represent the church or parish magazine, and reaffirmed their support for marginalized and vulnerable people. Hunt said the poems were intended as tongue-in-cheek commentary and did not reflect her views, while some residents defended them. She will no longer submit poems to the magazine, although Hodges denied that she had been censored.

Marine biologist and activist Emma Smart defended taking a pet crayfish from The Catch seafood restaurant in Weymouth and throwing it into the harbour, calling the act an “act of kindness” and a “crustacean jailbreak.” She pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Bournemouth Crown Court and was subsequently banned from the restaurant. Smart criticized the police investigation and legal proceedings, saying she was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time. Restaurant owner Sean Cooper condemned her actions and argued that her campaign targeted the wrong party, emphasizing The Catch’s recognized commitment to sustainable seafood sourcing and the reputation of Weymouth’s fishing fleet.

Police broke up a 24-hour illegal rave attended by about 2,000 people on Ministry of Defence firing-range land in East Lulworth, Dorset, after residents complained about noise and antisocial behaviour. Eleven people were arrested, and Dorset Police said officers faced bottles and a violent, hostile crowd. Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick defended the use of riot police and batons as proportionate, while attendee Zak Hanman alleged that officers used excessive force against people who were not posing a threat. The incident is expected to undergo further review.

Fraudsters have been breaking into Tankerton beach huts near Whitstable, removing locks and listing the properties for sale online despite not owning them. One buyer lost more than £5,000 after paying for a bogus hut and discovering the deception when trying to register it with the council; another avoided a similar loss by checking with officials first. Canterbury City Council, Kent Police and beach hut associations have urged owners and buyers to verify sales through official channels, while eBay says it has a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud and cooperates with law enforcement.

A collection of classic Ferrari cars and parts valued at about £600,000 has been found in a sealed Essex warehouse following the death of reclusive mechanic and collector Eddie Walsh in 2025. The hoard includes five partially restored Ferrari shells, rare original components and a highly original 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT purchased by Walsh in 1979. The Dino is estimated to sell for £100,000–£150,000 and could be worth up to £400,000 after restoration. Other notable lots include Ferrari 308 and 246 Dino models, with the auction scheduled for 22 March.

Dorset Council planning officers have recommended approving Theo Langton and Ruth McGill’s application to make their woodland travellers’ site near Beaminster permanent, despite strong objections from neighbouring actor Martin Clunes. Officers concluded that the couple meet the government’s definition of travellers, that their caravan can be moved, that flood risk is manageable and that landscaping has reduced the site’s impact on the protected landscape. They also cited the shortage of permanent travellers’ sites and the applicants’ human rights. Dorset councillors are due to vote on the application the following week.

A fossil hunter discovered Brenda Ogden’s £3,000 waterproof prosthetic leg on the Yorkshire coast 10 months after a wave swept it away during her first sea swim with it. Ogden, who lost her lower leg in a 2021 car accident, had been unable to swim because fundraising for a replacement raised only £800. The recovered limb is being cleaned and repaired, and she hopes to return to the water.

A wheelie bin found by beachcomber Ryan Stalker at Bowleaze Cove near Weymouth appears to have travelled about 5,000 miles from Fort Morgan in Baldwin County, Alabama. Goose barnacles on the bin indicated that it had spent a long time in warm waters. Alabama residents and the local refuse department used its identification code to confirm that it was one of three bins lost during Hurricane Sally in September 2020. The bin is now being kept in Stalker’s garden.