'New Year revellers stuck in the pub for three nights thanks to the heavy snow'

They set out on New Year's Eve to toast the start of 2010 with a pint with some friends in their local pub. But for revellers at the Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales, the celebrations lasted somewhat longer thanks to the heavy snow. The drinkers ended up snowed in at the pub - which is the highest in England in terms of altitude - for three whole nights after the wintry weather left them stranded - Daily Mail​

The government was under mounting pressure last night to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in an attempt to cut abuse as a senior Labour MP called for an urgent change in policy. Kevin Barron, chair of the House of Commons health select committee, which issues a major report on alcohol on Friday, told the Observer that ministers could no longer ignore evidence of soaring rates of addiction, and warnings of the crippling costs of abuse on an already overstretched NHS - The Guardian​

The big chill is set to ¬continue for at least another TWO WEEKS, forecasters warned last night. Heavy snowfalls and ice have caused havoc across the UK after the coldest December for a decade. And weathermen say the Arctic start to the new year is set to continue for at least the first half of the month - with fresh snowfall, severe frosts and ice on the roads - The Mirror​

'Beer', 'cat' and 'Hoover' are among the more unusual first words spoken by children, according to figures from a national poll. 'Dadda' beats 'Mamma' as the most common first spoken word, according to the survey, which also found 95 per cent of parents remember their child's first word and the most common age for children to start to speak is between 10 and 11 months - The Telegraph​