QUIRKY WORLD ... A daily look at some of the world’s stranger stories

US: Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James has hooked up with a lingerie company to launch a range of undies to tie in with her risque books.

QUIRKY WORLD ... A daily look at some of the world’s stranger stories

Swedish designers KappAhl say the items are full of references to the book, and the initiated reader will spot clues to the characters, Christian Grey and Anastasia.

James said: “It has been incredibly exciting and interesting to be involved in the process, from the production of the concept through the design to the final collection.

The range includes bras, briefs, negligee, dressing gowns, and the inevitable kinky mask. As well as underwear, it also features accessories inspired by the books including a silver-grey tie, a key necklace and an eye mask in black lace.

Jesus lookalike banned

Britain: A bearded darts fan has been banned from a tournament for the second year running — because he looks like Jesus.

Nathan Grindal was kicked out of last year’s Cash Converters Players Championship after the 5,000-strong crowd saw him on the big screen and chanted ‘Jesus’.

The cries reportedly put off players including World Champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor. Grindal, 34, was asked to leave the event at Butlins in Minehead, Somerset.

When he tried to return last week for this year’s tournament, security wouldn’t let him through the doors.

Grindal, an Australian, complained: “It’s not my fault that I look like Jesus.”

A Butlins spokesman said: “Based on his disruptive behaviour last year, both Butlins and the organisers, PDC Darts, took the decision not to allow Mr Grindal into the resort.”

‘Nice Pecks’ calendar to get feathers flapping

Britain: A calendar is set to cause a flap by featuring a collection of ravishing roosters.

A selection of 12 feathered friends were chosen for the unusual modelling assignment after a free range egg firm decided to recreate well-known movie characters.

The unlikely pin-ups feature in a calendar created by the Happy Egg Company which will be sent out to suppliers. More than 100 birds were auditioned, and winners include a light brahma variety recreating John Travolta’s moves in Saturday Night Fever, a maran playing James Bond, and a gold appenzeller spitzhauben as Batman.

The calendar was produced after research found that hens were calmer in the company of cockerels so the pictures in the Nice Pecks calendar are being distributed to enhance their moods.

Sweet victory

US: Holiday cheer in Texas has become even sweeter thanks to a giant gingerbread house that has broken a world record for confectionery construction.

Coming in at 35.8m calories and covering an area of 2,520 sq ft, or nearly the size of a tennis court, the 21ft-high gingerbread house in Bryan, Texas, 140km north-west of Houston, has been declared the biggest ever by Guinness World Records.

The house, with an edible exterior mounted over a wooden frame, was built by the Traditions Club near Texas A&M University to help raise money for a trauma centre at the regional St Joseph’s Hospital.

“We think big around here and we are competitive,” said Bill Horton, general manager of the club.

The recipe is simple. Mix 820kg of butter, 1,327kg of brown sugar, 7,200 eggs, 3,266kg all-purpose flour, 31kg ground ginger, and a few other ingredients, bake, and form into panels for mounting.

The bakers tried to cut back on the butter and baking soda as much as possible to help the gingerbread better stand up to the weather. The edible and aromatic panels, icing, and sweets were mounted over the wooden frame and have so far stood up to the Texas sun as well as a few storms.

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