Hero
La Verne Ford Wimberly, who has boosted US churchgoers’ spirits by wearing a different colour-coordinated outfit to virtual sermons all year. “Her flair for fashion really ignites and sustains our faith,” her pastor told Fox News. Wimberly, 82, has attended the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for 20 years. “For years, everyone had known to look for me in the last row, section two, dressed to the nines,” she told The Washington Post, so I had to keep up appearances.
Villains
Clumsy burglars, who fled a botched heist in Cheltenham covered in brick dust. The three thieves broke into a fabric shop so they could drill into the adjoining jeweller’s, but fled after triggering an alarm. A policeman found one of them walking nonchalantly down the street, covered in dust. “They behaved like three buffoons with utter incompetence,” said the judge who heard the case.
Hero
Alice Cheung, owner of a Chinese restaurant in Leeds, whose blunt responses to online reviews have won her internet fame. When “Joanne” complained about her chicken wings, Cheung replied: “Hi Joanne, please get in touch so we can arrange for you to come in and show us how to cook chicken wing properly.”
Villain
Spartans Gym, in Southampton, which allegedly smuggled in members while the city was under Tier 4 restrictions by dressing them in hi-vis jackets and construction gear. Pictures from December show dozens of strikingly muscled “builders” heading in and out of the gym.
Heroes
The family of Lewis Roberts, who spotted him breathing independently in hospital just before his organs were about to be harvested. The 18-year-old from Staffordshire had been declared brain-dead and put on life support after being hit by a van, but is now blinking and moving his limbs. “Every day, this boy is getting stronger,” says his sister Jade.
Villain
Joe Biden’s rescue dog, Major, who has bitten someone for the second time this month. Three weeks ago Major was booted out of the White House after he was involved in a “biting incident”. The German shepherd returned last week, but then “nipped someone while on a walk” on Monday.