A care home in Ash Vale is praised by a charity for providing pets for residents to enjoy.

Homeless charities begin their Christmas campaigns amid fears the new year could see homelessness surge.

Leading chef Raymond Blanc urges us all to embrace the seasonal spirit at every mealtime throughout the year.

The Bishop of St Asaph officially retires after 30 years serving the church in the diocese where he was born.

Cat and dog owners are to be told to provide "entertainment" for their pets under new government advice.

With belts tightening, schemes which encourage people to swap babysitting for gardening, or DIY for dance lessons, seem very timely.

A look at a few of the technology products that herald what's to come at your house

The Police stage the final performance of their reunion world tour with a concert in New York's Madison Square Garden.

Dominic Kennedy reports on the 17th International Aids Conference in Mexico City.

Actor John Hurt is among a host of music industry figures to receive an award from Sir Paul McCartney's performing arts school.

A man admits murdering a teenager and hiding her partly-dismembered body in a cupboard in Aberdeen.

Supporters of a catholic priory in Bristol begin trying to raise £2m to restore the building.

Gucci, an 18-month-old pomeranian, is a fluffy ball of fun who loves walks in the park. And he can be your dog - for a price - as part of a new service renting out canine companions.

A biography of Harry Hill, whose TV Burp programme has won two prizes at the Bafta Television Awards in London.

Humans in relationships with robots could be a non-starter thinks regular columnist Bill Thompson.

New Zealand win the final one-day match against England in Christchurch to win the series 3-1.

A quarter of all London's youth gangs are in the borough of Lambeth, BBC London exclusively reveals.

When Louis Theroux went to San Quentin prison he found a bizarre self-contained society where "straight" men fall in love, gangs are divided along strict racial lines and an inmate can be assaulted for the most minor mistake.

Students and staff from the University of the West of England are encouraged to volunteer for charity work.

A ceremony complete with full military honours for animal heroes marks the re-opening of Ilford Animal Cemetery