Chrissie Hynde Criticised For Rape Remarks

Chrissie Hynde, founding member of the Pretenders, has courted criticism after saying that women should not complain if they dress provocatively and then get sexually assaulted.

Hynde, who has herself been raped, told The Sunday Times: "If I'm walking around and I'm very modestly dressed and I'm keeping to myself and someone attacks me, then I'd say that's (the attacker's) fault.

"But if I'm being very lairy and putting it about and being provocative, then you are enticing someone who is already unhinged - don't do that. Come on! That's just common sense."

The 63-year-old's new book - Reckless - tells of her punk rebellion, drug-fuelled excess, and how she was sexually assaulted while high on drugs.

She had been 21 when she encountered a motorcycle gang in her home state of Ohio and when the members offered to take her to a party, she accepted. They drove her to an abandoned house where she was forced to perform sex acts.

In her book she writes: "Now let me assure you that, technically speaking, however you want to look at it, this was all my doing and I take full responsibility.

"You can't f*** about with people, especially people who wear 'I heart rape' and 'on you knees' badges."

When she spoke to The Sunday Times, she refused to condemn the men who assaulted her, saying: "They're motorcycle guys. If you play with fire, you get burnt. It's not any secret, is it?

"I don't think I'm saying anything controversial."

Sarah Green of End Violence Against Women Coalition said this attitude was among the reason for figures suggesting only 10% of victims report sexual assaults to police.

She said: "It's because so many are sitting blaming themselves, they are not going to tell a police officer and go through it all again.

"They are thinking: 'I'm not sure it's not my fault. Maybe I should have done this or that'.

"Victims will often have a need to tell themselves: 'It won't happen again because I won't do the things that made it happen in the first place'.

"It's simply psychological behaviour but, of course, it's missing out the perpetrator. A woman's behaviour does not create an entitlement to assault."

Lucy Hastings, director of the charity Victim Support, said: "Victims of sexual violence should never feel or be made to feel that they were responsible for the appalling crime they suffered - regardless of circumstances or factors which may have made them particularly vulnerable.

"It is critical that nothing deters victims of sexual violence from coming forward to the police or to independent organisations so they can get the help and support they need."

Two fire crews were called to free a cow who got its head stuck in a garden chair.

The cow was left looking far more from 'amoosed' when it was spotted with its new plastic headpiece in a field in Boughton, Northamptonshire, on Friday.

Northants Fire and Rescue sent two engines to the scene, but said the animal managed to "self-release" itself.

It is not known how the chair got in the field or why the cow became so attached to it.

Firefighters posted a picture of the animal on Twitter, and wits wasted no time replying with cow puns.

User Toby Jewell ‏questioned whether the cow "wanted to steak a claim to the chair" while @BrettWalkerToGo said "it's milking it".

Richard Stanley pointed out it was "not a clever moooove!" and Brendal Leighton added: "Oops, I thought this chair was a cowch".

The once baby-faced TV star has dealt with financial and legal issues

It is the earliest arrival of the birds since 1963 and their presence has led many to believe that western Europe is in store for a long, harsh winter.

The first of the birds began arriving on Monday, 25 days ahead of this time last year.

Bewick swans are red-listed in Ireland due to a severe decline in the number of the birds wintering in Ireland.

Slimbridge swan expert Julia Newth told the Daily Telegraph: "Apparently there's a Russian saying that 'the swan brings snow on its bill', because they tend to move just ahead of the cold weather.

"Of course, we can't infer much from the arrival of a single swan but it's certainly exciting this bird has arrived so early.

"It's only a year old and, because it's made it all the way here on its own, we assume that it must have come to Slimbridge last year as a cygnet with its parents.

"We record all the Bewick's swans that come to Slimbridge each winter by their unique bill pattern as part of our study and give them a name.

"This one needed a name, so we've called him Record Breaker."

El Niño is also underway in the tropical Pacific, which has further fuelled speculation that Europe is in for a longer and colder winter than usual.

Met Eireann are expecting ground frost in places throughout this week as our spell of settled weather continues. It should be dry until the weekend but they are warning of fog and frost developing overnight.

A polar continental air mass will make it feel very chilly all week.