Central And Finally News

West Midlands Safari Park is today celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The 200 acre site has been situated in Bewdley, near Kidderminster, since 1973.

To celebrate its milestone, the park has launched a new drive-through African lion exhibition, which adds to the 1,600 animals on site.

• And Finally
• West Midlands Safari park
• Kidderminster

A ram from Derbyshire has saved himself from the slaughterhouse by impressing his owner with show jumping skills.

Thirteen-year-old Isobel Brown has trained her grandad's ram, named Lavender, to leap over hurdles.

• And Finally

A hamster who was thought to have died has shocked her Gloucestershire owners by coming back from the dead.

According to the Daily Mail, Tink the hamster was wrapped in kitchen roll and laid to rest in a flower bed but managed to escape after it turned out she was only in hibernation.

Tink's 'resurrection' is said to have happened, ironically, on Good Friday.

• And Finally
• Painswick

A man from Leamington Spa is about to embark on a gruelling run, where he'll complete 156 miles in five day across the Sahara Desert.

Andy Heath, 57, begins the Marathon de Sables this weekend.

He explained to ITV News Central what kit is required when taking on such an audacious challenge.

• Sport
• Marathon
• Leamington Spa

A man from Leamington Spa is about to embark on a gruelling run, which is described as the toughest footrace on earth.

Andy Heath, 57, will begin the 156-mile Marathon de Sables across the Sahara Desert this weekend.

He says it's difficult trying to prepare for the run without causing an injury.

• Sport
• Marathon
• Leamington Spa

• UK
• Richard Griffiths
• Coventry Hospital

Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter alongside Richard Griffiths, led tributes to the actor whose "encouragement, tutelage and humour" made work a joy to work with.

Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career.

In August 2000, before official production had even begun on Potter, we filmed a shot outside the Dursleys', which was my first ever shot as Harry. I was nervous and he made me feel at ease.

Seven years later, we embarked on Equus [at the Gielgud Theatre in London] together. It was my first time doing a play but, terrified as I was, his encouragement, tutelage and humour made it a joy.

In fact, any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence. I am proud to say I knew him.

• UK
• Daniel Radcliffe
• Richard Griffiths

Here are some of Richard Griffiths' most famous roles on screen and stage:

• Hector, the teacher, in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys
• Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films
• Mr Bayham Badger in the 2005 TV adaptation of Charles Dickens's Bleak House
• Inspector Henry Crabbe, policeman and pie chef, in TV series Pie In The Sky

• Swelter in TV series Gormenghast
• Uncle Monty in film Withnail and I
• Head porter at Caius College in film Chariots of Fire

Read: British actor Richard Griffiths dies aged 65

• UK
• Richard Griffiths
• Coventry Hospital

Actor Richard Griffiths, who's best known for playing Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films, has died at the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire.

He's undergone heart surgery but died from complications following the operation.

The South Warwickshire-based actor was 65 years old.

Griffiths, had a long career on stage and screen, with numerous roles including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company based in Stratford-upon-Avon..

• And Finally
• Richard Griffiths
• Coventry Hospital