And the big breaking news story on the BBC is... a stolen hamster

chris

It is one of the finest traditions of TV news - a light-hearted animal story to finish the bulletin.

But the BBC didn't seem to understand the concept yesterday when it covered the tale of a missing hamster in Worcestershire.

Louise Minchin, a presenter on the broadcaster's rolling news channel, announced she had some 'Breaking News' ... before revealing the crime.

At the bottom of the screen, a caption solemnly announced: Hamster Theft - Pet stolen from a flat in Stourport-on-Severn.

Viewers who were expecting something heart-warming or mildly diverting - a waterskiing squirrel springs to mind - were astonished.

Lassie, a ginger and white hamster with a permanently closed left eye, was abducted some time between Friday evening and Monday afternoon.

While the theft is a tragedy for Lassie's owners, even they would probably agree it was not newsworthy enough to be covered on national TV.

A spokesman for the BBC defended the story, saying: 'When Louise Minchin announced it as breaking news, it was clear that she was joking.'

Source:MailOnline