D Wednesday, September 16, 2009 METRO Aaron and Kelly Williams launch National Trails Day 2009 to take place on October 4. Events will include canoe trails on water and mountain biking get on the trail early period link to labour trouble GIRLS who start their periods at a young age could have problems giving birth when they are older. Starting periods early increased the risk of delivery with forceps, ventouse or by Caesarean section, a study found. The link between periods and labour could be because women who start their periods early are exposed to female hormones for longer, University of Cambridge experts said. A WAR hero decorated for his bravery in World War II is being honoured with a plaque by his home town of Carnlough, Co Antrim. Paddy the pigeon was the first bird to make it to England with news from the Normandy landings in June 1944, earning him the Dickin Medal, the Victoria Cross for animals. He died in 1954 aged 11. Paddy pigeons plaque for pluck Stout threat to Guinness A NEW brew will be challenging Guinness for the affections of St Patricks Day revellers in New York next year. Belfast Black Dry Stout, developed by Whitewater Brewing Company in Kilkeel, Co Down, will be available in the Big Apple after the brewer signed a deal that will see its products on sale in bars and off licences in early 2010. Whitewater boss Bernard Sloan said: Theres a developing market in the US eastern states for ethnic beers brewed using only natural ingredients and by traditional techniques. Picture:Maxwells 10ft python in irish river by ED cArTy A ROUTINE survey took an unexpected twist yes- terday after scientists pulled a 3m (10ft) python from a Wexford river. Relieved fisheries staff hauled in their nets on the River Slaney to discover the dead reptile believed to be an aggressive African rock python. Experts said the giant snake had not eaten for some time. Dr Cathal Gallagher, Central Fisheries Board di- rector of research, warned about keeping exotic and dangerous animals. The real message from our point of view is that we have a lot of problems with invasive and non-native species, he said. Although this is very unusual. The exotic Slaney snake was pulled out of the river estuary near Enniscorthy and is believed to have been about ten years old. TheAfrican rock python kills prey by squeezing it to death. Its usual diet as an adult in the wild is small mammals such as antelope but it can live on rats and rabbit. The pythons can grow to more than 6m (20ft) long, making it the third largest snake in the world. They are regarded as aggressive, mean and can also live for a year without feeding, if their last meal is large enough. Ben Lyons, owner of Reptile Haven in Dublin, said this breed of python was relatively cheap to keep, with food costing about 25 a month. The last rock python I had, I donated to the zoo about 20 years ago it was psychotic, he said. They are not necessarily a great pet. They are known for being temperamental and angry. Despite being in the water it had not yet begun to decompose or rot. The snake has been frozen and taken to Dublin where it will be stored for tests. Experts in the zoo and universities are believed to be keen to examine the reptile. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html