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he Top Gear presenter updated Twitter followers on his condition from hospital after being admitted on Friday (July 20). "Oh joy. Sending from hospital bed," he wrote. "A kidney stone arrived. Am specialising in crap conditions: this, shin splints. Might try gout next." He added: "Doctors, nurses, paramedics, hosp porters; ALL better than most of us. Every day spent helping other people. Always feel humbled in hosp." Hammond remained in good spirits throughout the ordeal, continuing to tweet while on morphine and revealing that after the procedure his "old chap [looks] like the end of a trombone". The 42-year-old continued: "Alas no stone pic. Little critter was burst with laser in situ. But discovered where razor wire is made: lithotripsy... patients pee it." Back in 2008, Hammond delayed surgery to have his appendix removed so that he could have lunch with a group of competition winners. The Total Wipeout host escaped unscathed after being set on fire for a TV stunt earlier this month.  

HAVING coffee in the café of my favourite supermarket, I often enjoy a chat to people who tell me what is good and not so good about living in Cheltenham. I know other councillors have similar discussions when on the bus. What is worrying seniors the most are the rumours that bus passes, free TV licences, free prescriptions and the fuel allowance will be stopped, which is often reported by the media, so I thought I would find out the truth about what is really going on. These things are important to so many older people. I got in touch with 10 Downing Street to ask for a straight answer to put these worries to bed. They have assured me, and I have it in writing, that the funding of these things will continue. There are no plans to stop any of it. The rumours are false and do not come from the Government, just a few MPs. Other problems closer to home are already well known, but they still would like something done about them. The state of the pavements and the problems which people encounter with more and more shared space and cyclist on the pavements.

It is the second attempt in three years by Olivia Harrison to renew part of the 2m high fence at Friar Park to deter trespassers. Her last application in 2009 led to opposition from neighbours, including actor Rodney Bewes, who lives in nearby Hop Gardens. It was approved by South Oxfordshire District Council but then Mrs Harrison re-fenced the 1,000 yard section without using razor wire. The latest application, which involves a 300 yard section of fence, was recommended for refusal by members of Henley Town Council’s planning committee on Tuesday. Brian Tickle, whose garden backs on to the grounds of the Gravel Hill mansion, told councillors he objected “in the strongest possible terms”. He said: “We’ve lived with this overbearing fence in our garden and it meets all of her security needs. “It’s a complete eyesore and is designed to be intimidating and aggressive. The effect on us is horrible. “Nothing has changed in the last three years to warrant razor wire. I can’t think of a more unneighbourly act than putting up razor wire, particularly when our garden is used by so many children. “It would only take one child to climb a tree and slip and there would be the most indescribable horror.”