Granada Cheshire

Chester Zoo is set to stage its biggest ever festival celebrating precious UK wildlife. Experts say that the UK's wildlife has undergone a rapid decline over the last 15 years. Recent surveys indicate the hedgehog population in Britain has decreased by 50% in rural areas since 2002.

A three day festival begins today to highlight the problem.

For centuries, they've been one of the corner stones of every British city, town, and village going way back to the days when the Romans and Saxons were in charge. But now our humble pubs are closing at an alarming rate.

Research by the campaign for real ale found that in the North West last year five pubs a week were closing their doors - and they're calling for more support

They say more people are choosing to drink at home, and an increase in business rates is taking its toll. One landlord in Rochdale faces a rates increase of almost 400 percent over the next five years. Ashley Derricott went to meet him.