The Great Spanish Easter

The true meaning of Easter was expressed on the streets of many major Spanish towns and cities. I was fortunate enough to visit the city of Alicante and witness the sheer euphoria of Semana Santa expressed through the efforts of the Alicantinos both on the streets and in the churches SALES of new cars in Spain were up 2.1 per cent in March compared to the same period last year according to data released on Monday. The Spanish Association of Car Manufacturers (ANFAC), the Association of Dealers of the Automotive sector (FACONAUTO) and the Association of Car Dealers (GANVAM) recorded a total of 128,175 cars sold in March. FORMER Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said those seeking independence for the region needed to continue doing so in a “non-violent and civilised” way as he remains in custody in Germany. Shocking footage has emerged of a British tourist being pinned down by police after allegedly trying to steal a delivery van while drunk - and then crashing it into a parked car. The man can be heard shouting in English while he is pinned to the ground as passersby look on near the scene in Benidorm. He was arrested at around 5pm after he allegedly sped off in the Coca-Cola van while wearing his shorts and flip flops after the driver left the keys in the ignition during his delivery. The truck driver filmed the incident and gave a running commentary as the tourist was apprehended by authorities. NEW amendments to animal protection laws in Spain now mean that owners who abandon or beat their pets could face fines of up to €30,000. With an estimated 140,000 dogs alone being abandoned on the street every year in Spain the legislations are designed to give authorities teeth in their battle against animal cruelty. Holidaymakers planning trips for the Easter weekend faced chaos as all flights from Stansted were cancelled, after a fire broke out on a car park shuttle bus at the airport near London. Dramatic footage from the scene showed flames rising from buildings of the Essex airport and thick smoke shrouding the area after the bus caught fire on the forecourt of the terminal, with much of the front of the building suffering smoke damage. Some passengers were evacuated with others reporting they were stuck outside the airport and pictures showing long queues inside the terminal. A Stansted statement on Twitter said all flights until midnight had been cancelled, and said passengers were 'politely asked to leave the airport'. Brits were taking full advantage of the Easter weekend last night by hitting the clubs for the third night in a row without the fear of having to tackle a hangover at work. Clubbers lined the streets of Blackpool while waiting for cabs or a boozy takeaway treat after dancing the night away. Several hardy party-goers braved the wet and windy weather without coats or tights, with some opting for fancy dress - including a pair dressed up as watermelons. Others donned plastic bags or ponchos to keep their hair and outfits perfectly dry in the light drizzles. Plenty of revellers found themselves brawling in the streets of the seaside town after a night of heavy drinking. Super-rich Russians were able to enter the UK through investor visas that didn't carry out proper checks on the source of their income and possible criminal backgrounds. The gold-plated visas are a way for the wealthy to fast-track their residency and citizenship in Britain. A quarter of all those visas granted by the UK between 2008 and 2015 - a 'blind faith' period in which almost no checks were carried out - were to Russians. Concerns have been raised that it was open to abuse and allowed corrupt individuals and illicit funds into the country. A killer who savagely murdered a mother-of-three in an alleyway has been pictured in designer clothes buying a car after serving half of his life sentence. Christopher Jones and his brother Stuart killed Shirley Oliver, 42, after she accepted a lift back from a night out in Cardiff in 2005. Stuart, from Roath in Cardiff, attacked her from behind as she sat in the front. Ms Oliver was dragged from the car, hit with a lock, stamped on, strangled and had her hair pulled out before being left for dead in a side alley. There was 'not a bone left unbroken' after the attack and Ms Oliver's injuries were so bad experts were unable to give an exact cause of death. The use of 'snus' tobacco in English football is 'big' according to Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam. Adam's opinion came on the day the Football Association reiterated its commitment to warning players of the dangers of legal highs amid reports of the growing use of 'snus'. The nicotine, which comes in pouches and is ingested by placing it between the top lip and the gum, is not a banned substance, though it is illegal to buy in the United Kingdom.