and the entire six—year span i made one friend and it was the only person really i had met for the entire six years that i was even close to my age. i decided to come back to england when i was around 14 to be honest. i started weighing up the pros and the cons from each lifestyle. and after a couple of months of contemplation i realised england was definitely the way forward. from the past few years, i could envision my next my future years and it just wasn't the way forward what was best for my future. so, at around 14 i thought, i started thinking about going back to england. it was a normal day and i just decided, ok, it's time to leave.

my next process was, what do i need to pack? don't show any sort of indication that i'm leaving. and my thought was to write a note. so i wrote a note to my mum, told her how much i loved her, how much i appreciated what she had done for me. i didn't want her to worry about me, i didn't want her to worry about herself. and saying goodbye really. i wrote that note 20 minutes before i left. ileftaround... ..midnight. first night it was raining quite a lot. i left pitch black, journey was quite a while. i didn't really know where i was going. i was just following road signs. i would mostly travel at night—time, just for my own safety. and sleep as little as i could and in as illuminated areas as i could.

sleeping on the street was all right. it wasn't too cold. i had a good, warm jacket. i had my skateboard. i had money for food. so i was walking down the street when i saw a big pharmaceutical van. first when he stopped, i was a little bit worried, because i was thinking what kind of lunatic would pick up another lunatic walking in the middle of the night in the pouring rain? i thought he must be an interesting character. but i got in. he was a young, 25—year—old male, we got to talking. and after a while of getting comfortable with him, i told him what was going on in hopes that maybe he could help and luckily he was a very nice person and yes he really helped. i told him how much i appreciated his help when he left the police station was the last time i saw him.

i know that their decision to take me was what they thought was best for me. and for my future. i know it came from love, i know it came from a place of protection, because of course they're my parents. but they thought about the present, they didn't think about the future. 0k, yeah, i was safe and i was healthy but no social life, no meeting people my age, always being isolated. it becomes boring to say the least. even nowjust talking to people it is kind of hard for me, because i have not done it for such a long time, talking to people my age. if they are watching this, which they probably were, if grand—dad can work out how to turn on an electronic device, i'd tell them i love them, tell them sorry for leaving, but it was necessary for my future.

that teenager alex batty there. five new species of soft—furred hedgehog have been discovered by scientists in the tropical forests of south east asia. hylomys are members of the same family as the more familiar hedgehog, but are covered in fur rather than spines. the discovery was made after researchers found two previously unidentified specimens at the smithsonian museum in philadelphia, where they had remained in drawers for decades. earlier i spoke to author, ecologist and spokesperson for the british hedgehog preservation society — hugh warwick. i asked him just how exciting this new discovery was. it's really great. it's a bit like, i have to say christmas has come a bit early for me. i mean, it may not be more prickily hedgehogs and it's something

which sometimes people get a little bit sort of confused about. hedgehogs we know in the united kingdom, the western european hedgehog covered in modified hair into little prickles, fantastic things. but there are hedgehog relations all over the world and there's a whole bunch of them called jim yours and moon rats. and these the hylomy species which have been found in southeast asia. and i'm so this morning it was the first i heard about it was getting up and discovering the news from smithsonian museum in the united states of america, having done dna research on species which they had found, and looking at other species which have been caught previously. and it's just brilliant. we've got five new species out there and here we're just seeing some pictures of these hedgehogs. they're cute. they look like mice, actually. why are they so unique? well, well, they're not unique as such. and the interesting thing, we tend to be going, okay, so they're small, they're brown, they're furry, they must be like mice. and mice and rats are are come from the taxonomic grouping of the rodents.

they're all in one group. these are much more related to shrews. and hedgehogs are in that same thing, too. drop that into conversation around christmas dinner. so they're a very different sort of creature. yes. they're mammals, they're furry. but actually they have very, very different make up from their bone structure through to their dna. and and this discovery highlights how the environment, the habitat of these hedgehogs are being affected. just explain that to us. well, interestingly, it's all over the world. we have this massive degradation of the environment going on. nature is being depleted at every turn. and every now and then you find these little moments like a little glimmer of light, go, wow, there is stuff out there we haven't seen yet. at the same time as we're losing many species per day, suddenly others are being found too. but the excitement really comes from the fact that this might be i mean, it mightjust go to some way

to helping protect and conserve areas in which they're found because they are rare. well, they're assumed to be rare and they've not been found before. but for me, actually, the greatest excitement comes from the fact that somebody is going to wake up this morning and be enthused by the idea of new species, of mammal, new species, even of hedgehog related things out there, and maybe become so enthused as to take up take up the baton and start to do the research, start to do the campaigning to help protect these things. it could be i mean, this is the time christmas presents to be opened. and now nature books, the galore encourage people into a love of the natural world. find reasons to love small, furry, brown creatures, especially when you've got one of these ones they found in vietnam. hylomys. i'm probably saying that horribly wrong, but it's that's known as the vampire. the macron is a vietnamese vampire because he's got amazingly sharp incisor teeth. and next time you bump into a

hedgehog in your garden and quietly watch it chomp away on worms, have a look at its front teeth and they've incisors are remarkably sharp things they're not that i'm suggesting i hedgehogs are in any way related to vampires butjust there are stories to be told from these exciting natural history discoveries. and you mention research excitement, what's avenues when it comes to science and new discoveries, maybe new research that can be done? does this discovery open up for people and scientists like you? well, i mean, i have long since sort of put my my rucksack on a peg, but i'm helping sort of fund the research into the western european hedgehog in the united kingdom through the british hedgehog preservation society and the people's trust for endangered species work. so we've got a number of researchers here, which is which is amazing. but further away, i mean, the idea of the fact there are still mammals to be discovered is particularly exciting. we know that we don't know all of the species of of insects and other invertebrates

because they are legion. however, we have to some extent thought maybe we've seen all of the larger mammals and it's it is really exciting for people to go. for people to go, actually, there is stuff out there to be found. we've climbed all the mountains, we've been to the moon, we've swum across seas and paddled across these. there are adventures to be had for people who are this christmas waking up and going, i really want to follow in the footsteps of david attenborough orjane goodall. there is still much, much, much to be done. thousands of people have marked the winter solstice at stonehenge this morning. they've been at the stones to see—in the end of the longest night, and the start of the shortest day of the year. dan o'brien reports. the longest night of the year, marked here at stonehenge by humans throughout history. the winter solstice is a celebration of longer days ahead, a bigger crowd than normal this year.

why do people queue at the crack of dawn to do this? everyone�*s got a different reason. so you've run your way to the solstice? yes we ran. the stones are amazing. and you don't get to come this close to them at any other time. so coming on the solstice and actually being able to get this close is really, really fantastic. it's not got any sort of societal or cultural trappings other than we're celebrating the turning of the sun. it feels nice to do something that is away— it feels nice to do something that is away tr— it feels nice to do something that is away tr the _ it feels nice to do something that is away tr the trappings _ it feels nice to do something that is away tr the trappings of - is away tr the trappings of consumerism. _ is away tr the trappings of consumerism. lil- is away tr the trappings of consumerism.— is away tr the trappings of consumerism. , . . ., ., consumerism. it is magical and if ou consumerism. it is magical and if you come — consumerism. it is magical and if you come for— consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the _ consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the first _ consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the first time, - consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the first time, justl you come for the first time, just connect to the people and the yes we ran. it connect to the people and the yes we ran. , . ., ., ran. it feels nice to do something that is away _ ran. it feels nice to do something that is away tr— ran. it feels nice to do something that is away tr the _ ran. it feels nice to do something that is away tr the trappings - ran. it feels nice to do something that is away tr the trappings of i that is away tr the trappings of consumerism. _ that is away tr the trappings of consumerism. lit— that is away tr the trappings of consumerism.— that is away tr the trappings of consumerism. it is magical and if ou consumerism. it is magical and if you come — consumerism. it is magical and if you come for— consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the _ consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the first _ consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the first time, - consumerism. it is magical and if you come for the first time, justl you come for the first time, just connect to the people and the land and not your phones. we connect to the people and the land and not your phones.— and not your phones. we are all fiuhts and not your phones. we are all fights and _ and not your phones. we are all fights and we — and not your phones. we are all fights and we were _ and not your phones. we are all fights and we were thinking - and not your phones. we are all fights and we were thinking do | and not your phones. we are all. fights and we were thinking do we want to— fights and we were thinking do we want to get up that early? but it was great — want to get up that early? but it was great a lovely atmosphere. some are here for — was great a lovely atmosphere. some are here for the _ was great a lovely atmosphere. some are here for the spectacle. _ was great a lovely atmosphere. some are here for the spectacle. for -

was great a lovely atmosphere. fins are here for the spectacle. for some it is a spirit moment. i are here for the spectacle. for some it is a spirit moment.— it is a spirit moment. i have been cominu it is a spirit moment. i have been coming for _ it is a spirit moment. i have been coming for 35 _ it is a spirit moment. i have been coming for 35 years, _ it is a spirit moment. i have been coming for 35 years, everyone . it is a spirit moment. i have been l coming for 35 years, everyone joins in and has fun. it is the centre of beliefs. we believe it it is designed as a mirror of the universe. this is why we come. after a re universe. this is why we come. after a grey start. — universe. this is why we come. after a grey start. we _ universe. this is why we come. after a grey start, we finally _ universe. this is why we come. after a grey start, we finally got _ universe. this is why we come. after a grey start, we finally got a - a grey start, we finally got a fleeting glance of the mid winter sun. another solstice ushered in by think famous monument. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. most of the uk has mild conditions, but its not like that in shetland, where the winter solstice sun rise happened over a snow—covered landscape. there is extensive cloud today, but with the winds flowing north—west over the high ground in ireland we are getting ripples that

help to break up the cloud. you could see a few breaks in the cloud and some sunshine. the north and west thicker cloud and rain at times. brighter conditions in the northern isles, but still with the risk of wintry showers. tonight, for most it is mild. but we have this feed of cold air across the north—east of scotland. into that front moves that could bring some flooding concerns in western scotland. but as it bumps into the cold air in the north of scotland, we will see some snow. initially over hills, but the snow levels dropping through the night. cold in northern scotland and here into saturday we xould see some accumulations of snow. between two and 10 centimetres. milder air will push in and any snow will turn back to rain. if you're planning a christmas commute in this part of the world, it might be worth waiting to the afternoon until the risk of snow has passed. the risk of

flooding in western scotland. otherwise, still a lot of cloud around, some damp weather in western coasts and some breaks in the cloud in the midlands and eastern england. christmas eve could pose some issues. strong winds in western scotland and gusts up to 70mph in the east of the pennines. that could bring some transport disruption. there is a risk high—sided vehicles could get blown over and some trees might be knocked down. christmas day, the majority of the uk are in this mild air mass. forget about it being a white christmas. it is more likely to be grey with rain at times. however, we have a cold air still in the north of scotland and with fronts around, well there, could be a few that see a bit of snow in the hills of northern scotland for christmas day itself.

live from london, this is bbc news. police linked the gunman responsible for the massacre in prague to two other deadly attacks, the city is reeling from the deaths of ia people. reeling from the deaths of 14 --eole. , , .,

reeling from the deaths of 14 n-eole. , , . ., . people. sadly, this was a horrific situation but _ people. sadly, this was a horrific situation but the _ people. sadly, this was a horrific situation but the czech _ people. sadly, this was a horrific situation but the czech republic| people. sadly, this was a horrific. situation but the czech republic has shown that we are ready to react to the worst of situations. the shown that we are ready to react to the worst of situations.— the worst of situations. the un security council _ the worst of situations. the un security council vote _ the worst of situations. the un security council vote on - the worst of situations. the un security council vote on a - the worst of situations. the un | security council vote on a much delayed resolution for the israel gaza war, expected in the coming hours. uk police opened an investigation into the disappearance of the british teenager alex batty, who talks about his life abroad and why he felt he had to return. timer;r why he felt he had to return. they thou~ht why he felt he had to return. they thought about _ why he felt he had to return. they thought about the _ why he felt he had to return. tie: thought about the present why he felt he had to return. tt;e: thought about the present and why he felt he had to return. "tt;e:1 thought about the present and not the future. ok, yes, iwas thought about the present and not the future. ok, yes, i was safe and always healthy, but there was no social life, no meeting people my own age, always being isolated. in own age, always being isolated. in the real deal or a plastic version? questions are raised over the environmental effects of farming christmas trees.

welcome to