The roads that snakes down to the sea from the escarpment 3,000ft above the Valle Gran Rey in La Gomera, Canary Islands, is already dramatic, with curves, hairpin bends and breathtaking drops all the way.

I WAS not surprised to read a genetic study of the present day inhabitants of the Canary Islands, revealed that the natives of La Gomera — our second home for over 30 years — retain more of the aboriginal DNA that the inhabitants of the other islands.

THE Canary Islands are universally associated with sun, sea and sand but they have many other attractions and the sheer diversity of the islands is striking.

TODAY, when we woke and opened the curtains, the skies over the Straits of Gibraltar were again peerless blue. The sea, azure and sparkling below them, broke on the sand in a white, crinoline frill.

IT is wonderful how nature adapts and turns opportunity to advantage.

IT IS to be hoped the threatened Canarian giant lizards will not fall victim to the likes of Jereme James, charged with smuggling three endangered iguana into the USA using his false leg.

A fishing boat with around 190 suspected Asian immigrants has arrived in the Canary Islands, emergency services said today.

Two more immigrant boats with 155 Africans arrived on shores of the Canary Islands, raising the number of detained to more than 400 in two days.

An earthquake shook the Canary island of El Hierro today. No injuries or serious damage were reported.