Two people have been arrested over an attack on a taxi driver who was sprayed in the eyes and blinded temporarily.

The attack happened in Milton Keynes on Sunday and the pair have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Three men met the taxi in Gloucester Road, Wolverton, and attacked the driver, a police spokesman said.

One of them sprayed a substance in his eyes causing burning. The driver’s car keys and £15 were stolen. Police are warning drivers to be careful.

Police said officers believe this attack is linked to a similar incident in the Bradwell Abbey on 3 August when a taxi driver was also sprayed in the eyes but managed to drive off.

Det Con Wendy Fellowes said: “We would urge taxi companies in Milton Keynes not to take bookings from withheld numbers unless they are established customers and ensure they get a full name.

“Two people have been arrested in connection with the attacks and they are currently on police bail while we carry out further inquiries.”

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Beaches extend throughout the entire world. Choosing a place for your family vacation may seem daunting at first. The beaches available differ extremely from one side of the country to the next. For example you have beaches in Juneau, Alaska that are primarily made of rock. If you visit anywhere in Florida you’re going to find white sandy beaches. Below are a few of the top beaches your family might want to visit.

Beach Vacation Destination: Hawaii

Maui is number one on the list. Maui has a wide spread of beach and plenty of hotels to choose from. If your hobbies include golf you might want to check out the Kapalua Resort. Guests at this hotel receive lower golf rates than non-guests; this is just one of the perks. The actual hotel at Kapalua Resort is name Kapalua Bay Hotel. The resort also includes Kapalua villas and the Ritz- Carlton Kapalua. If golf is not your passion you might look towards the Napili Kai Beach Resort, which is one bay over from Kapalua Resort. This resort is a low-rise family oriented place offering comfortable beachfront condos. One of family oriented programs is the complimentary children’s program for those ages 6 to 12.

The island of Molokai is mostly uninhabited by tourists, making there beaches prime areas to spend some quiet time with your family. To reach this island you have to take a ferry or fly by plane from Honolulu. The island is ideal for those who like the outdoors with some adventure attached.

Beach Vacation Destination: Florida

Leaving the islands of Hawaii we have beaches in the United States worth visiting. The beaches of Florida is number two on our list. Deciding just where to go in Florida is the difficult; you have the Keys, Palm Beach, Orlando, and the Gulf of Mexico. Key West is a spot to hit if your heading down the keys, with the rich culture and diversity you won’t be bored. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and beaches to sun on. A popular place in Palm Beach Florida is the Breakers Hotel with ½ mile of sandy beach, a spa, and golf course. There is also a separate pool for the kids, a family entertainment center, and of course a kid’s program. Moving a little further north and inland is Orlando. While it may seem strange that Orlando would have beaches, they do, like the Loews Hard Rock Hotel. This hotel offers miles of white sandy beach and amusement rides including a 240-foot slide.

Beach Vacation Destination: California

Heading back west we have the beaches of sunny California. One such resort is the Hotel Del Coronado. This hotel offers many different facilities for families, including kayak, surfing, and tennis lessons.

Whether your family decides to head over the Pacific for a gorgeous spot on the Hawaiian Islands or some place a little closer to home you won’t have trouble finding the perfect beach resort. Even if your search takes you to a little known vacation spot for the perfect beach you will enjoy your family’s beach vacation. Check out www.aragloco.com for more destinations.

Cap Juluca a tranquil exclusive Caribbean resort beckons you with its 179 acres of pristine white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and breathtaking water that is so clear you can see the bottom. The resort is located on the southwest coast of the British Virgin Islands.

The resort which features exotic arches, domes, parapets and turrets will invite you to relax and enjoy all the amenities Cap Juluca has to offer. The villas offer 700 square feet of pure luxury. The marble bathrooms, white tiled floor and louvered doors that open wide to allow in the wonderful sea breezes will immediately put you at ease. You will enjoy complimentary continental breakfasts on your own private terrace.

If you are looking for a romantic beach vacation they offer six pool villas. Each villa offers a private or shared swimming pool and sundeck. The villas are surrounded by lush foliage right on the beach. Cap Juluca has golf carts available to help you get around the grounds. The villas situated on Maundays Bay with a mile long stretch of beautiful white sand will astound you with the scent of tropical flowers, swaying palm trees and the spectacular fountains.

Families love this beach vacation paradise as well. They have great activities from water sports, croquet, nature trails and tennis. A children’s program, a health club plus beautiful herb gardens and an endangered species garden. Cove and Maundays Bay provide kayaking, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, and snorkeling. There is something for everyone. Island tours can be arranged at Cap Juluca on Anguilla. Some of the many options are scuba diving, deep sea fishing or just exploring the many beaches. When it comes down to having fun on the water the resort has something for everyone in the family.

The spa at Cap Juluca is unparalleled when it comes to that personal touch. Specialized treatments for two are a way to pamper yourself and that special someone. Thai massage, aromatherapy and reflexology are just a small part of unwinding, slowing down to enjoy island life.

The resort offers two restaurants and twenty four hour room service. George’s with pool or beachfront dining offers casual tropical cuisine. Salads, seafood, sandwiches or burgers are just the right mix for busy vacationers or those wanting to take their leisure.

Pimms with the white moor arches invites you to dine with superb French- Asian delicacies. Whatever delights your palette you will enjoy the food and captivating atmosphere of dining by the Caribbean Sea.

If you’ve been looking for that perfect beach vacation, on a tranquil pristine island, Cap Juluca on Anguilla will provide just the right combination of fun, adventure and romance. Whether it’s a family vacation or a time for just the two of you, the time you spend at Cap Juluca will remain a beautiful memory for all. Check out www.aragloco.com for more destinations.

Cloister at Sea Island, a perfect family beach vacation destination, is a secluded five- mile coastal beach vacation spot in Georgia. Late spring, summer, and early fall are the best times to visit Cloister at Sea Island. To arrive at the Cloister you can drive by car or fly into McKinnon Airport on St. Simons Island, which is four miles from the Cloister. If you drive by car Savannah Georgia and Jacksonville Florida are both an hour from the Cloister at Sea Island.

Amenities:

The Cloister at Sea Island has over 250 rooms and suites to choose from. They are situated in different houses on Sea Island. Retreat House, Harrington House, and Hamilton House are all located on the beach. The newer guesthouses and Terrace houses are between the beach itself and the tennis center. Guests may choose to stay at the Sea Island Golf Club, which opened in March of 2001. The Lodge has 40 luxurious rooms and suites above the clubhouse.

Live music and dancing are available at the main dining room of the Cloister. The Terrace dining room offers continental cuisine that has a Southern twist. There is also Colt & Alison’s Restaurant and Loggia Bar at the Beach Club for other choices in dining.

Activities:

Sea Island is known for its championship golf courses. The golf course has a total of 54 holes which includes the notable 18-hole Plantation Course designed by Rees Jones. Another 18- hole course, the Seaside Course was revamped by Tom Fazio and re-opened in 1999. The Cloister also provides golf lessons.

If golfing is not your main interest there are other activities, such as a spa with several fitness facilities. They offer special classes and personalized fitness and even wellness programs. The resort has tennis courts, horseback riding, boating, sunset cruises, fishing, kayaking, and scuba dive lessons. The resort has two heated outdoor swimming pools. Sailing is also available on vintage yachts.

Sea Island also has a family destination; kids can select several different activities. Children can play tennis in the afternoon free of charge. They can also participate in free golf and tennis clinics. These courses are available during spring break, summer and even holidays. Children ages 3-11 may participate.

The Cloister at Sea Island is a great getaway when looking for a private beach vacation spot in the United States. The activities available for all ages will keep you pampered and entertained. The amenities also include high speed Internet if you need to keep in touch with family or business. Walks on the beach or simply watching the sunset will make your beach vacation perfect. You’ll want to return even before you leave. Check out Ravishing Global Community for more destinations.

BRITAIN’S economy will enter a recession within the coming year, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) predicted.
David Kern, the BCC’s economic adviser, said: “Our quarterly economic forecast highlights a significant worsening in UK economic prospects. The main drivers of the UK slowdown will be a “very sharp” deceleration in consumer spending growth as households tighten their belts amid soaring bills and falling house prices, the BCC said.

Mr Kern said the UK urgently needed an interest rate cut to stimulate the economy.

“The UK economy urgently needs an interest rate cut to counter threats of recession.”

The BCC report added: “If global circumstances worsen, if the MPC decides not to cut interest rates, and/or if the Government decides to tighten the fiscal position, UK growth prospects in 2008 and 2009 would be worse than our central scenario envisages.”

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Britain’s leading car insurance broker, AA Insurance, has welcomed today’s Ministry of Justice initiative to clamp down on careless driving.

The ‘Don’t drive distracted’ announcement from Justice Secretary Jack Straw highlights a range of new careless driving laws that come into effect on Monday 18 August.

The new laws are designed to allow courts to imprison drivers who cause death because they were not paying due care and attention to the road or to other road users. The courts will also consider ‘avoidable distractions’ when sentencing motorists, including use of mobile phones. It also identifies eating and drinking and applying make-up among driver distractions that could lead to a collision that causes death.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, says: “I believe that these new laws will be widely welcomed by the insurance industry.

“Already many insurers significantly increase premiums, or refuse cover, for drivers who are convicted of careless driving, including convictions linked to the use of hand-held mobile telephones.

“Using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving, already attracts a fixed penalty of £60 and three penalty points. However, this offence often also attracts a careless driving penalty – whether the driver is involved in an accident or not. And in the event of an accident, particularly if someone is killed or seriously injured, police will routinely check mobile telephone records to see whether use of the phone was a contributory cause of the accident.

“Insurers recognise that such penalties lead to sometimes significant insurance claims and will either refuse to insure convicted drivers or significantly increase the premium they pay.”

In a survey of insurers on its panel, broker AA Insurance discovered that half would refuse to quote for a driver with a CU80 (hand-held mobile phone) offence and a DC10 (careless driving) offence while those that did increased premiums by up to 50 per cent.

Simon Douglas points out: “That premium increase will remain for three years, significantly adding to the cost of the penalty.

“Eight people die on our roads each day. Drivers who have been convicted of causing death through careless driving can expect to find it very difficult and expensive to obtain car insurance after they have served their sentence.

“No telephone call is ever worth the risk of causing death or injury. Switch the phone off when you are driving or put it on silent and collect calls at the next service area. And if you make a call to someone who is obviously driving, hang up immediately.”

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A 20-year-old woman was hospitalised after being attacked by a female gang yesterday.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the, which took place in Victoria Street, Gloucester, at around 2am.

A police spokeswoman said the victim, from Gloucester, was walking home from a friend’s house when she was attacked.

“A large group of mostly black and Asian women forced her to the ground and assaulted her by kicking and punching her in an unprovoked attack,” she said.

“A male witness on a bicycle helped the victim get away from the group and called her a taxi.”
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Police would like to speak to this man as he may be able to help them with their enquiries.

The victim went to Gloucester Royal Hospital to receive treatment for bruising to her eyes and left arm.

Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault or who has information about the incident to contact police on 0845 090 1234, quoting incident 45 of August 11, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Hybrid Cars
For the last few years, fuel prices have been steadily, but surely rising and rising. Petrol is very expensive relative to a few years ago and cutting petrol use has become a necessity for many. On top of this, growing awareness of climate change and the huge amounts of harmful emissions released when driving have prompted a gradual change in mentality amongst drivers and `hybrid cars` have emerged as a green alternative.

How they work
There are essentially two opposite forms of hybrid engine used in cars. The first type is a gasoline-assist engine that features in the Honda Prius and Ford Escape Hybrid. These engines have the capacity to use both electric and petrol power. When the car requires lots of energy such as accelerating from a standstill, electric power is used. On the other hand, when travelling over 25mph and less energy is required, petrol is used. This is the opposite to the other type of engine – the electric-assist model. In these cars it is the electric power that kicks in when extra energy is needed and cars that feature these engines include the Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid.

The Benefits of Hybrid
There are numerous benefits to having a hybrid car over a standard petrol-powered vehicle. Firstly, hybrids equal regular cars in terms of aspects such as comfort and performance. Vast amounts of time, research and funding has gone into developing hybrid cars and there now several stylish and comfortable hybrid cars available. Furthermore, given the huge improvements in the technology in recent years, hybrids perform at par with traditionally-powered vehicles if not better. The dual capabilities of hybrid cars combine clean and emission-free electrical energy with petrol and this offers a considerably better mileage to regular cars. Less petrol is required and the increased efficiency of these engines means that fewer harmful climate-changing gases are emitted and this will also result in lower petrol bills for drivers.

The Top Hybrids around
Currently, the two top hybrid cars around, in terms of technology, popularity and comfort, are the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, although numerous competitors promise to widen the market. In third place is probably the Lexus GS 450h, for example. The Prius is the oldest hybrid around and has become an almost iconic model as it began a minor green revolution in the car world. Their energy efficient and innovative engines alongside their stylish designs have made them very popular. Civic Hybrids are catching up in terms of reputation and their greenness is favoured by increasing numbers of drivers.

Buying a Hybrid car
There are a range of hybrids around and it can be tricky to choose and buy a car. The most important aspect to consider is where and when the car will be used. Different engines conserve more energy in different ways and a city user will benefit more from a gasoline-assisted engine whereas electricity-assisted cars benefit long-distance journeys.

A Gloucestershire man has been arrested after dialling 999 to complain about being overcharged by a taxi driver.

The 23-year-old then made a second call claiming he would set himself on fire and police cars, an ambulance and fire crew went to his Mickleton home.

The man has been fined £80 for wasting police time with the calls, which officers said was “deeply frustrating”.

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VIOLENT crime has fallen in Cheltenham town centre – and police are chalking the results up to their partnership with the Nightsafe group.

Nightsafe is a partnership of bar, club and takeaway owners, taxi drivers and other night-time workers, the police and Cheltenham Borough Council, which aims to reduce crime and disorder in the town.

One of its most successful initiatives has been to connect pubs and clubs with police by a radio system, which also links to closed circuit television operators at Cheltenham police station, and on Friday and Saturday nights, to the Police public order patrol.

The licensing officer for Cheltenham Police, PC Andy Cook, said: “Cheltenham has a vibrant nightlife that attracts visitors from throughout the county and further afield.

“In the town centre alone there are more than 150 premises licensed to sell alcohol and excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to anti-social behaviour and violence.”

Sixty-five incidents of violence were reported in Cheltenham town centre in June 2008, compared to 94 in June 2007 and the all-time high of 150 in October 2005.

PC Cook said: “A small number of people can easily spoil an evening for customers and staff in licensed premises and Cheltenham police and Cheltenham Borough Council have been working closely with Nightsafe members to ensure that Cheltenham remains a safe place to visit by introducing various crime reduction measures.

“This drop in violent crime is very encouraging and is largely thanks to the Nightsafe partnership and the responsible management of the pubs, clubs and restaurants and diligent work by door staff. However, we are not going to relax.

“By working together we can make Cheltenham even safer and reduce crime, disorder and violence for those who live in and visit the town.”

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