The mother of a young woman stabbed 26 times by her ex-partner for having a secret abortion has told how her daughter was cruelly betrayed by her own social worker .

Sophie Carr, 23, from Swindon, was just six when her older brother Alex, then 12, abused her during a game of mummies and daddies .

A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico .

A once bustling gold rush town in Mono County, California now stands completed deserted .

OFFERING a glimpse into the past, a mash-up of old and new photographs show how the world’s biggest cities have changed .

A floating market in Indonesia is bursting with vibrant colours as wooden rowing boats loaded with fruit and vegetables crowd the river .

HUDDLED together on a branch, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls soak up the sun .

When couples talk about wanting a white wedding, few will be referring to getting hitched on a glacier sat on top of an active volcano .

SPURTING water 20ft into the air, this is one well you wouldn't want to dip your bucket into .

SWOOPING down from the sky, this agitated eagle is looking for a fight .

CHUCKLING away, this little seal appears to find something hilarious .

Is your cat bored? Do his usual playthings simply not do it for him anymore? Not to worry - there's an app for that .