An asylum seeker who was claimed to be the world’s tallest man has fallen short of the title - but he has the biggest hands, Guinness World Records said today.

The attempt by asylum seekers to storm the Channel tunnel entrance in France was today dismissed as a publicity stunt and a mayor asked for their refugee camp near Calais to be closed down.

American First Lady Laura Bush today rejected claims that her daughter Barbara had worn jeans to meet the Queen.

An American charity is trying to raise 250,000 dollars (£176,000) to help British farmers hit by the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

French coach Bernard Laporte surveyed the wreckage left by another Twickenham trail of Six Nations destruction, and then admitted: ‘‘We are way behind England.’’