Housands of cushions handmade as gifts for Olympics athletes may go to waste after London 2012 KNITWITS stitched up volunteers by refusing to allow them to hand them out.The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) initially told volunteers from the Woolsack project that they could hand out the 5,000 cushions they had created as souvenirs for the elite stars. But now, in fear of angering commercial sponsors, they have reneged on the deal. Dedicated families and elderly and disabled members of the scheme, which was designed to give athletes a British wool based welcome gift to the games, have grafted since early last year to create the individually crafted presents. A third of the games' athletes, including members of Team GB, confirmed their interest in receiving the decorative welcome gifts with athletics stars Jessica Ennis and Marilyn Okoro posing with samples at events last year.
SOARING through the air, a hungry white-tailed kite prepares to snatch a vole from his mother’s claws .
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .
A British photographer has captured the beauty of London in a stunning series of landscapes shots .
DIPPING his head into the vase of water, this little squirrel takes a refreshing break from an afternoon of eating .
THROWING himself off 1,100ft bridges in a wheelchair, this is the PARALYSED base jumper who knows no fear .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
FROM COLOURFUL autumn leaves to living trees at first glance you might miss these people blended with nature .
A hypnotherapist filmed himself sexually abusing a 19-year-old patient while she was in a trance-like state .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .