A replica of the World Cup made from cocaine was seized by Colombian authorities at an airport.

Airports anti-drug chief Colonel Jose Piedrahita said Colombian authorities found the unusual statue during a routine security check by anti-drug agents in a mail warehouse at Bogota's international airport.

The 36-centimetre-high statue was inside a box headed for Madrid, Spain. The statue was painted gold with green stripes on the base.

Col Piedrahita said laboratory tests confirmed the cup was made of 11 kilos of cocaine mixed with acetone or petrol to make it mouldable. (PA)

Patriotic cover-up

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger voiced his anger at state highway workers who painted over a patriotic mural after deeming it graffiti.

The former Hollywood action hero was left fuming after a 10.5-metre mural of the Stars and Stripes - painted as a tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks - had now been painted grey. The flag image had adorned an embankment near the busy Interstate 680 freeway linking San Francisco with Silicon Valley.

"It has come to my attention that Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) has recently removed a patriotic and meaningful flag mural... ," Mr Schwarzenegger said, adding, "To do so only days before we celebrate our independence and reflect on the freedoms we are lucky enough to enjoy in America is unconscionable." (AFP)

Holiday Brits

Britons are keen to haggle while on holiday, it was revealed yesterday.

UK holidaymakers are also anxious to negotiate the best deal before travelling, with almost 80 per cent prepared to haggle with their travel supplier, a survey by travel and entertainment company Travelzoo found.

But only 41 per cent of Britons were prepared to discuss bargains they had found, according to the poll of 2,000 Europeans. The survey, which included holidaymakers from Britain, Germany, France and Spain, showed that 74 per cent of Britons are more likely to haggle to get a better holiday deal than they were two years ago while 41 per cent of Britons admit overloading hand luggage to avoid charges for check-in bags. (PA)

Education campaign

Veteran rocker Mick Jagger is to take part in a charity scheme aimed at promoting education for underprivileged children.

The Rolling Stones front man will join the 1GOAL: Education for All campaign. 1GOAL brings together footballers, fans, charities, corporations and individuals to lobby for change. The Fifa-backed scheme aims to boost public awareness that millions of children around the world have no access to education. (PA)

Spitting honours

A US husband and wife took top honours for the second straight year at the annual cherry seed spitting competition in southwestern Michigan.

Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause spit a seed 51 feet 3 inches for his 16th win at the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship.

His wife, Marlene, took first place in the women's contest, spitting a seed 34 feet 6 inches. It was her seventh win. The Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm hosts the event. Orchard owner Herb Teichman launched the competition as a lark 37 years ago, but it now attracts competitors from the US and beyond. (PA)

Pragmatic shirts

A police force has splashed out £100,000 on replacing officers' white shirts with black ones.

West Midlands Police said the decision to change the colour of the shirts came after staff said the darker ones were "far more practical."

Operational officers are being issued with black zip-up shirts, replacing the existing white ones, while community support officers will wear dark blue versions. (PA)