A group of baby bunnies had a lucky escape, just in time for Easter after they were dug
out of their warren by accident.
Christine Nixon, 51, came to the rescue when the bundle of eight tiny rabbits after her son Andrew unwittingly scooped them out as he moved tonnes of soil at the family's haulage plant.
Fortunately, the 27-year-old spotted something moving and found the bunnies trying to burrow their way out.
Easter surprise: Christine Nixon and the group of baby rabbits who had a lucky escape after they were inadvertently scooped out of their warren by her son
He sifted through tonnes of dirt to ensure they were all saved.
The litter are now being looked after by Christine, of Winston, near Barnard
Castle, County Durham.
Mrs Nixon said: 'Andrew dropped the soil into the wagon and saw something
moving.
'When he went over to look he found a baby rabbit on the soil and then we
spotted that the soil was still moving.
'He went to investigate, seven more struggled through to the surface. He brought them into me and they’re absolutely gorgeous. I think they’re about two-and-a-half weeks old.'
Mrs Nixon, who runs Nixon Haulage with her husband, David, first fed the
rabbits with goats’ milk from a syringe and they are now on a diet of grass and
dandelion leaves.
Hole lot of trouble: The digger Christine's son, Andrew, was using to move tonnes of soil
She said: 'When I came to feed them for the first time I was really frightened
that they wouldn’t feed.
'They were so vulnerable - the size of a small hamster with no fur. They hadn't
even opened their eyes.
'We had unwittingly destroyed their home, and I knew they were depending on me,
so I was very nervous that I wouldn't be able to care for them.
'To begin with, all eight were feeding every three hours. But I didn't mind
getting up to feed them through the night - I just wanted to make sure they
were OK.'
And Mrs Nixon has already used her mothering instinct to pick out the bunnies' personalities, naming them accordingly.
She said: 'They look identical, but we can tell them apart when we're feeding them as
they all have different personalities when they feed and sleep.
'We've got Greedy, Messy, Dopey, Sneezy, Dribbly and Meerkat so far.
'But I don't want to get too attached to them as they are not meant to be pets,
I will have to release them back into the wild.
'I'm being very strict and not allowing myself to cuddle them, although they
are very snuggly and so cute.
'As soon as they get sleepy after their feed, they just want to curl up with
you. It's adorable.'
She added: 'My grandchildren, Bethany, nine, Matthew, four, and Owen, two-and-a-half,
come round to see the rabbits now instead of coming to visit me!
'I'm so glad that we were able to save them just in time for Easter. It has
made the break all the more special for us.
It might not be a pot of honey, but Augo the polar bear looks just like Winnie the Pooh as he gets his head stuck in a blue bucket.
The four-month-old cub stunned zoo keepers when he started to play with the blue bucket for hours on end.
But he has become attached to it in more than one way - he keeps getting his head stuck inside then falling over.
Feeling blue: Augo the polar bear gets stuck inside his favourite blue bucket, just like Winnie the Pooh became stuck inside a jar of honey in one of the most memorable scenes from the books and films
Augo's antics have amused hundreds of visitors who have been flocking to see the tiny bear at the Aalborg Zoo in Denmark.
He pokes his head in the container and attempts to stand on two legs, before, inevitably, falling over - all with caring mother Malik looking on.
Get me out of here! After stumbling around for a few moments with his head stuck, Augo the bear tries to remove the plastic bucket by using a large rock
The startled young bear then returns to the safety of his protective mum. But before long, he is playing with his favourite bucket again, and it's not long before he's stuck again.
Augo's playful fun bears a striking resemblance to the scenes from children's book Winnie the Pooh.
Winnie, or 'Pooh Bear' as he is affectionately known, spends hours eating his favourite honey when he gets his head stuck in the jar.
Safe and well: Augo returns the comfort of his mother, Malik, who often looks on as her young cub falls about with the bucket on his head at the Aalborg Zoo in Denmark
The adorable scenes come as the most recent film version of the Winnie the Pooh story was released in the UK last Friday on April 15.
Author A.A. Milne created the fictional bear in 1926 for a series of books before it was adapted for film in the 1960s.
He is worth a staggering $13.5 billion, but Mark Zuckerberg isn't afraid to do dirty work.
The Facebook co-founder, 26, was spotted picking up after his new puppy Beast while on a walk near his home in Palo Alto, California, yesterday.
Dirty business: Billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg picked up after his puppy Beast as he took him for a walk near his home in Palo Alto, yesterday
Dressed in a simple grey T-shirt, jeans and trainers, Zuckerberg looked like any regular dog owner as he strolled through the street.
The world's youngest billionaire proved himself to be a responsible dog own as he whipped out a plastic bag, crouch down and cleaned up his puppy's mess.
However, Zuckerberg appears to be struggling to toilet train Beast, who had an accident at the launch of the Facebook data centre, in Pineville, Oregon, last Friday.
Mess: After Beast had done his business, Zuckerberg whipped out a plastic bag, crouch down and cleaned up the mess
The web designer was left to clean up a puddle in the office.
Zuckerberg even posted the pictures on the dog's very own Facebook page with an accompanying caption.
'Mark took me to see Facebook's new data centre, and I christened it by peeing on the floor. That puddle at the bottom left is all me,' it said.
The reclusive Facebook founder rarely gives any glimpse of his private life, despite the fact he has the private lives of millions of people at his fingertips.
Casual: Dressed in a simple grey T-shirt, a pair of jeans and some trainers, Zuckerberg looked like any regular dog owner, no less the youngest billionaire's in the world
Apart from a stint on the Oprah Winfrey show last year - when he allowed viewers into his humble home - no one knew exactly what made the world's youngest billionaire tick.
Instead of the sprawling mansion and fleet of flash cars in the drive like people imagined, he showed off a sparsely furnished rented home with a modest hatchback parked outside.
Viewers were also introduced to Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg's Harvard-grad girlfriend who, in a rare moment of tenderness, he kisses outside the house he shares with her. 
Oops! Beast had an embarrassing accident at the launch of his owner's new Facebook data centre, in Pineville, Oregon last Friday
Zuckerberg was said to be horrified when he learned that a story of his life and how he created the world's largest social networking site was going to be created.
The Social Network went on to be almost as famous as the site it was based around, earning itself ten Oscar nominations and winning three.
In it, he is portrayed as a borderline autistic conniver who sets up Facebook in retaliation of being dumped by a girlfriend at Harvard.
His dog, a Hungarian Puli called Beast, is a Facebook user and already has more than 97,426 'likes'.
On his profile it he is described as a 'public figure who likes cuddling, loving and eating'.
Play time: Zuckerberg and his girlfriend Pricilla Chan were pictured playing with Beast in an album titled 'Moving to Palo Alto' which was posted on the dog's own Facebook page last month
Seems like an ordinary dog, except that his first photo album gives a tiny glimpse of the Facebook creator at his home with his girlfriend, 'Cilla' as she is referred to on the page.
Zuckerberg is seen in various poses cuddling the dog at what appears to be his Californian home.
Many people have already commented on the album, most of whom are Hungarian and seemingly pleased that he has chosen a dog from their country.
It seems that everyone, and thing, has a spring in their step at this time of year.
As two red deer rear up on to their hind legs for their own version of the foxtrot, a hare and his mate show their contemporary routine has come on leaps and bounds.
But while it may appear these playful pairs are dancing with delight in the sunshine, there is more to their movements than meets the eye.
Putting up a fight: The youngster, left, looks nervously on as his mother rises to do battle with the stag, right
The doe and stag are exchanging blows rather than sweet nothings as the mother tries to protect her young calf, who looks on nervously at an RSPB reserve in Minsmere, Suffolk.
Boxing matches are usually only held to settle disputes between female deer, but this stag challenged the doe after she chased him away from her youngster. He may have regretted getting confrontational after the feisty female delivered a shower of blows that forced him to back down.
Photographer Paul Sawer, 39, from Saxmundham, Suffolk, said: ‘The stag didn’t trouble the hind any more so I presume her reaction to him was quickly understood.’
Meanwhile, the female hare is playing hard to get as her admirer tries to win her affections in Eccles Tofts in the Scottish Borders.
Two to tango: The female hare, left, backs away...
...so her suitor tries his best moves...
...but she will go to great heights just to get him off her tail
She leaps up and down and from side to side to evade his advances – before becoming impressed enough with his fancy footwork to settle down beside him in the grass.
Photographer Ron McCombe, 57, from Leitholm, Berwickshire, said: ‘This is part of the mating ritual. It’s a rare occurrence to get this close to them and get the action shots.’
This is the touching moment a baby bear gets swept up in a big cuddle - from her affectionate father.
What makes the photographs, taken at a zoo in eastern Russia, so fascinating is that most male bears have nothing to do with their cubs and leave the rearing to females.
But Balu is more hands-on than most with four-month-old daughter Diva and is content to give her a proper bear hug.
Bear your soul: Father Balu has formed an unusually tight bond with his female cub Diva
He even appears to be blowing a raspberry on her tummy while mother Masha looks on. Keepers at Primorsky Zoo in Russia were stunned by Balu's unusual devotion to his daughter.
Zoo director Elena Aseidulina, 34, who took the photographs, said: 'The father, against all laws of nature, is very caring and loving with the cubs.
'Normally, it is the mother that looks after the children, but Balu is the exception.
'He is a real example of a good father.'
Can I have a cuddle Daddy? Cub Diva reaches up to his father for some affection
Care bear: Balu appears to blow a raspberry on the tummy of baby Diva at the Primorsky Zoo in eastern Russia
Balu and Masha have been living at the zoo since 2002 after they were rescued by Russian militia from poachers. The pair have settled in well - and are clearly enjoying their roles as parents.
Keepers also noticed that Balu has taken on nearly all the traditional 'female' roles carried out by brown bears - including teaching their young about the dangers of the world.
Miss Aseidulina said: 'Balu taught Diva to swim in the pool - she looked to her mother for help but Masha was totally calm and obviously trusted her "husband".
Family portrait: Balu cuddles daughter Diva while giving mother Masha a reassuring pat on the head
'Balu would hold her under water to teach her that swimming is an essential skill for a bear - but he always knew how long she could stay under for, and would pull her out and keep her safe.
'When Masha is feeding Diva, 14-year-old Balu waits patiently for his turn to play with her.'
The zoo director added: 'Once, I saw him patting the mother's paw as if to say "Hurry up, it's my turn to play!"'
'It always takes my breath away when I see them playing like this.
'It just makes you realise that these animals have the same feelings as we do. I wanted to take pictures to show others how touching and heartwarming these animals can be.'
The bride wore a white dress decorated with 1,800 Swarovski crystals and accessorised with a pearl necklace.
And as she trotted into the room to the wedding march, played by a harpist, she was met by the groom, smartly dressed in a tuxedo.
Afterwards, 80 guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffet in a marquee adorned with £4,000 of flowers, balloons and decorations.
Louise Harris, left, with Bev Nicholson and Chinese Crested Mugly, right, threw a wedding for her pet terrier Lola after running a competition on Facebook to find a suitor
But this was no ordinary wedding. The happy couple were two pampered dogs who were married in a ceremony in the grounds of a mansion in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, costing an extraordinary £20,000.
The event was planned by the bride’s owner, Louise Harris, 32, who dotes on six-year-old Yorkshire Terrier Lola and wanted to find her a partner to stop her getting lonely.
‘I wanted Lola to have the perfect day,’ said Miss Harris, who owns a dog boutique and grooming parlour near her two-bedroom flat in Chelmsford.
Confetti canines: The dogs were married on the grounds of a mansion in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, costing £2,500 for the venue alone
‘It was meant to be a relatively small affair with 30 guests but the list just kept getting bigger and bigger because I didn’t want to leave anyone out – just like most weddings, I guess.
‘The day was perfect from start to finish and Lola loved being the centre of attention all day.’
Miss Harris ran an online competition to find the perfect partner for Lola, as the dog’s younger siblings Lulu, four, and Larry, two, are very close and often ignore her.
She received hundreds of responses, whittled them down to a shortlist of six, and after a series of meetings found Lola’s favourite was Mugly – a Chinese crested dog who was voted Britain’s ugliest hound in 2005.
Pampered pooch: Aside from Lola's wedding, Louise, pictured giving the speech, estimates she has spent a minimum of £101,680 on her three pets in the last six years
For the couple’s first date, Miss Harris took Lola to visit Mugly and his owner, mother-of-four Bev Nicholson from Eastfield, Peterborough.
Miss Harris said: ‘They do say opposites attract and they played happily together all day. I thought he was the perfect husband for Lola.’ Next came three months of preparation – with the help of a wedding planner – before the ceremony and reception in September.
Lola’s £1,000 dress was created by dog clothes designer Michele Ochs. It was accompanied by Swarovski leg cuffs costing £250 and a £350 crystal lead.
Extras: Lulu acted as Lola's bridesmaid in a £100 dress by Latimer Couture, complete a £200 Swarovski crystal necklace and £150 head dress and Larry was page boy wearing a £100 tux
Lulu was bridesmaid in a £100 dress and a £200 Swarovski crystal necklace, while Larry wore a £100 tuxedo in his role as page boy.
Mugly, meanwhile, got his more modest outfit from auction site eBay.
After the ceremony, dog and human food was laid on, including a six-foot chocolate fountain, and the dogs’ owners made speeches wishing the happy couple good luck for the future.
Despite the bond between the two pets, Miss Harris revealed they will have to learn to cope with a long-distance relationship as Mugly still lives with his owner and only gets to see Lola once a month.
Lola wore a £1,000 wedding dress, made by dog clothes designer Michele Ochs, who created all the outfits in the Beverly Hills Chihuahua film, customised with 1,800 Swarovski crystals by Latimer Couture
‘Mugly is always sending Lola gifts and pictures of himself to make up for the times they are apart,’ said Miss Harris. ‘He sends her little presents.’
| Venue | £2,500 |
| Jewellery | £1,350 |
| Dog outfits | £1,200 |
| Food for human food | £2,500 |
| Food for dogs | £500 |
| Car hire of Bentley | £500 |
| Dancers | £500 |
| Make up artist | £200 |
| Hairdresser | £200 |
| Dog groomers | £200 |
| Photographers | £500 |
| Louise's outfits | £600 |
| Favours | £500 |
| Drinks | £600 |
| Dog creche including doggy gifts | £1,000 |
| Gifts | £1,500 |
| Flowers | £1,000 |
| Designers to decorate the marquee | £3,000 |
| Chocolate fountain | £300 |
| Cupcake tower | £200 |
| Security | £400 |
| Wedding planner | £400 |
| Music hire | £400 |
| TOTAL | £20,150 |
Miss Harris estimates she has spent more than £100,000 on her three dogs over the last six years, including £26,000 on clothes, collars and harnesses and £16,000 on a nanny when she is at work.
The dogs’ extravagant lifestyles have attracted so much curiosity that they will be featured on a Sky One programme, A Different Breed, next year.
Miss Harris, who is single, added: ‘A lot of people think I’m mad, and I realise it’s completely over the top, but I want to give them the best life I possibly can.
'I'm still exhausted after all the work I put in to Lola's wedding!
'It was a great day and we had a great time but I don't want to do it again again time soon, so Lulu and Larry best not get any ideas!
'My dogs are well cared for and are spoilt with love as well as presents so I don't see anything wrong with spending so much on them.'
Every Friday Louise takes her dogs to have their personal weekly massages and deep coat conditioning treatments at Diva Dogs which has amounted to a whopping £14,560.
She has also spent £6,000 on beds and blankets, including custom made beds complete with initials in gold leaf and one with ostrich feather and finest faux fur, and cashmere blankets and pillows.
Each dog has their own ornate iron bowl costing a total of £800, steps worth £720 to allow them to get onto sofas, £8,000 worth of pet carriers, and £2,500 worth of hair accessories including two custom made tiaras with genuine pearls and Swarovski crystals costing £400 and £300.
She has also spent £4,500 just on Burns holistic food, £5,000 on dog insurance, £2,000 on photography and £3,000 on an oil painting.
The dogs have also been treated to £8,000 of toys and treats and £5,000 spent on their birthday parties complete with birthday cakes costing £60 each.
At first it may look like any normal soft, cuddly polar bear inquisitively peering through a car window in search of a snack.
But a split second later the furry stranger showed his darker, more fearsome side to a wildlife photographer who came face-to-face with the mighty bear in its natural habitat.
Photographer Tom Leeson captured the moment the bear put his huge white paws on his car window - before unleashing a mighty roar which left the driver scrabbling for the accelerator.
The hulking white bear had wandered over to Tom's pick-up truck on Barter Island, near Beaufort Sea on the northern coast of Alaska to let rip a huge roar which left the snapper and his driving shaking with fear.
'What are you doing here?': The innocent-looking bear peers through the window of photographer Tom's pick-up truck
But the fearsome beast soon shows his fearsome ride by roaring through towards the window of the car
The pair had watched two polar bears investigate a nearby whale carcass before curiously venturing over to their vehicle.
One of the majestic animals clambered onto the car's tailgate, while the other peered through the right passenger window on its back legs.
Tom, 60, from Vancouver, in Washington state, said: 'The two bears came in together to investigate the whale carcasses.
'They were not particularly hungry and were far more curious about us and the pickup truck.
'Eventually one climbed up on the truck's tailgate while the other leaned up against the side.
'After looking at us in the cab of the truck the bear walked up to the passenger window where at first it just looked in, then it bounced with its front feet against the window glass and growled.
'A variety of thoughts raced through my mind. I remember thinking at the time that this must be how a seal feels.
'The window didn't seem thick enough and I thought that if the window broke my best bet would be to lie down behind the front seat or to grab my tripod and whack him on the nose with it.
'Then I thought 'why the hell hasn't he (the driver) started up the truck? It was a terribly exciting moment.'
The terrified pair escaped unscathed thanks to the driver revving the accelerator of their vehicle to frighten the bears away.
