Sadly, Britain isn't the nation of animal lovers that it once proudly claimed to be. In yet another horrifying cruelty case, RSPCA officers found Ann Atkinson's Staffordshire bull terrier, Angel, close to death because she had not provided the animal with food or water.

The poor dog was starving, and its ribs were almost poking through its skin. She had clearly endured months of appalling neglect at the hands of a callous and uncaring owner.

Some people simply should not be allowed to keep pets, and clearly Atkinson is one of them.

Luckily for Angel, a member of the public tipped off the RSPCA and officers arrived in time. There is simply no excuse for such sickening cruelty and we hope Atkinson thinks about this when she is carrying out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community. We hope during that time that she sees the error of her ways and thinks twice about taking on pet owner- ship again. Read the full story: Neglected dog left without food or water

Parks to be proud of flag awards

Congratulations today to everyone involved in the upkeep of the city's Central Park and Itter Park in Walton, which has resulted in both being awarded Green Flag status again.

This is no small achievement as getting this prestigious emblem involves dedicated hard work and skill, but the results are there for us all to enjoy. Read the full story: Peterborough parks awarded Green Flag status