Plastic bag sales in England's supermarkets are down 86 per cent since the introduction of the 5p charge, according to new figures.

Published by Defra, the figures show that customers of the 'big seven' supermarkets bought almost a quarter fewer plastic bags last year compared to 2016/17 - that's a staggering fall of some 300 million bags.

Defra notes the figure is equal to 19 bags per person, compared to 140 bags since the government introduced the 5p charge in 2015. Image (C) MichaelisScientists

Vets have saved a tiny Humboldt penguin chick after her egg was accidentally broken by her parents. Keepers at ZSL London Zoo were shocked to find the chick, named Rainbow, still alive and rushed her straight to the Zoo's on-site veterinary clinic.

It was a little way to go until the chick should have hatched, so the process was touch and go. Vets removed bits of shell from around the chick with tweezers until she could be lifted out and placed in a makeshift nest.

Rainbow is now in a custom-built incubation room where she spends her days cuddled up to a toy penguin. Keepers will hand-fed Rainbow for the next 10 weeks until she is healthy enough to move to the penguin nursery.

Hopes that Amur leopards could be reintroduced to Russia in the future have been raised after the birth of a cub at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park.

RZSS Highland Wildlife Park is home to the world's only purpose-built Amur leopard habitat which is not on show to the public. It has been designed solely to breed Amur leopards and maximise their potential of being released into the wild.

Head of living collections Douglas Richardson hailed the birth as 'incredibly exciting', adding that it shows the vital role conservation breeding programmes have in protecting threatened species.

The sale of products containing microbeads is now banned across England and Scotland, Defra has confirmed.

As part of government efforts to prevent these plastics ending up in the marine environment, retailers can no longer sell rinse-off cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads. These tiny plastics were often added to products including face scrubs, soaps, toothpaste and shower gels.

Just a single shower is thought to send 100,000 of these beads down the drain and into the ocean, where it can cause serious harm to marine life. A ban on manufacturing products containing microbeads previously came into force in January this year.

More than five million pet owners (around one in four) undertook no research at all before taking on their pet, according to the eighth annual PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report.

The report, which surveyed more than 4,600 pet owners and veterinary surgeons, also found that just five per cent of pet owners sought advice from a veterinary surgeon before their purchase.

The PDSA is now calling on the profession to engage with prospective pet owners before they take on an animal. "This way they will be empowered to make informed choices and be equipped with the knowledge to ensure a lifetime of wellbeing for their new pet," the charity said.

Leading veterinary charity PDSA has teamed up with the creators of Paw Patrol for the inaugural Little Heroes Paw Awards 2018.

The eight awards champion 'little heroes' for the challenges they have faced in their lives and how they have touched the lives of others. Whether they have overcome adversity, shown outstanding bravery or shown maturity beyond their years, the awards celebrate children's real-life stories.

The awards include the Ryder Award for 'PDSA Pet Hero of the Year.' This special award will recognise a child who has been an outstanding support to their pet during times of trouble or change. Full details about the awards can be found at pawawards.co.uk