Conscientious captains have swapped the comfort of their cockpits for the tarmac in order to help get holidaymakers to their destinations in the face of crippling staff shortages.
A hero pilot, known only as Simon, saved hundreds of holidays by getting out of his cockpit and loading luggage on to his plane that was delayed by 32 hours at Manchester Airport.
A counter plan put forward to turn redundant barns into an educational centre at a village nature reserve has run into opposition on wildlife protection grounds.