Tourists took rare pictures of snow falling on the Colosseum and the Trevi fountain yesterday, and the Pope reportedly appeared at a Vatican window to watch Rome's heaviest snowfall in nearly a quarter century.

In scenes usually only glimpsed in souvenir "snow domes" Italy's capital was blanketed in white, snarling road and air traffic but delighting many Romans who rode scooters with their feet on the ground and snapped pictures with mobile phones.

Rome was last dusted in snow in 2005, but one meteorologist said the steady snowfall through yesterday morning was the heaviest seen in the Italian capital in 24 years.

"It's beautiful but we are not used to it in Rome," said one Rome motorist, Mario Strillandi. "Rain is enough to block traffic in the city - imagine what it's like with snow." (Reuters)

Reverse striptease surprise

Danish fashion label Noir presented its autumn/winter 2010 all-black collection at the Copenhagen Fashion Week on Thursday evening, with the models dressing on stage before a surprised audience.

The Noir models strode onto the catwalk wearing nothing but black lingerie and then dressed each other to the sultry music of songs such as "Fever".

Noir designer and founder Peter Ingwersen said the idea was to stage a reverse striptease show.

"I wanted to show the most tasty way of getting dressed, but as aesthetically as possible," Mr Ingwersen said at the fashion week, which runs until tomorrow. (Reuters)

Beware, the perfect tan

You may need a sunbed to get that especially fine tan over this long winter, but the EU warned yesterday that some tanning beds and operators violate safety regulations, putting users at risk of skin cancer.

The EU said that just over 14 per cent of sunbeds violate radiation safety limits and that tanning salons often fail to warn clients of the dangers of UV radiation while using the appliances.

"I am concerned that a high percentage of sunbeds and sunbed services were found not to respect safety rules," EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner John Dalli said, adding," This is an important health concern since the incidence of skin cancer is doubling every 15-20 years".

Tanning beds have been ranked one of the greatest cancer threats to humans by an international research group. (Reuters)

Heavenly view

A pair of shuttle astronauts ventured out on a spacewalk to help put the last big addition onto the International Space Station - a new room with a heavenly bay window.

Spacewalkers Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick quickly moved over to Endeavour's payload bay, where the new compartments were launched.

The pair prepared the pieces ready for installation on the space station. (PA)

Sparing Valentine blushes

A British airport is entering into the Valentine's spirit by offering private pre-flight searches for those planning to surprise their partners on holiday with an engagement ring.

Manchester, which earlier this month became one of two British airports to introduce body scanners, said that in previous years marriage proposals had risked being ruined when security staff revealed hidden engagement rings during routine searches.

Passengers travelling between today and Monday can whisper "Be my Valentine" to security staff to take advantage of a private search behind a screen, the airport said.

"Our security staff are more than happy for passengers to use the secret phrase especially if it avoids ruining a romantic proposal they had planned," said Mike Fazackerley, Manchester Airport's Director of Customer Services and Security. (Reuters)

Burglars wear Reebok

Burglars are more likely to wear Reebok Classic trainers than any other type of footwear, the author of a new study said.

An analysis of footprints left at crime scenes showed the shoes to be the footwear of choice for more than 50% of burglars.

Researchers at the University of Leicester found they were worn by 52 out of 100 burglars in Nort-hamptonshire. (PA)

Glastonbury harmony

After 40 years Glastonbury Festival has finally won the approval of its village neighbours, its owner said, after the event gained its licence without formal objection for the first time.

Glastonbury Festival, held almost annually at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, has been granted a six-year licence to run until 2016.

In the past, owner Michael Eavis's applications have been subjected to a scrutiny hearing because of complaints from the public or concerns from the police, fire or ambulance services. (PA)