The Daily: 13 July

The British Royal family are renowned for their involvement with charities and the community but Prince Andrew has embraced his next, rather hazardous task. The Duke, 52, along with a team of 39 others intend to abseil down the tallest building in Western Europe, The Shard. Not only is the construction the newest addition to London's outstanding skyline but it is also made entirely out of glass. This hair-raising escapade is to be performed on 3rd September in aid of the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. The group of forty will undergo training prior to the event and will be instructed by the Marines who they are attempting to raise money for.

Duffy is awarded the 2012 Pens Pinter Prize

A distinguished poet known for her controversial material and feminist beliefs, Carol Ann Duffy has gone from strength to strength. Aside from becoming the first female laureate in 2009, Duffy's latest achievement has been the gaining of the Pens Pinter Prize, for her contribution to literature. The award, named after 20th century writer Harold Pinter, recognises her precise and opinionated comments on current events. "Politics", a poem composed by Duffy in 2009 condemned the labour government and "Education for Leisure" was removed from GCSE English books as it referred to knife crime. On winning the prize, Duffy enthused "I am hugely honoured and moved to receive an award which commemorates one of the greatest English writers of the 20th century".

Self-portrait of teenaged David Hockney sells for £22,500

The inherent artistic gift possessed by Britain's greatest living painter, David Hockney is captured in a self-portrait he drew when he was just 17 years old. The piece, sketched over fifty years ago, has been sold for £22,500 this week, more than its estimated value. As one of Hockney's first pieces of art, originally created as a school project in 1954 at Bradford Art College, the painting was sold to a telephone buyer during a heated bidding war. The boy in the black, white and yellow coloured portrait wears his hair in a fringe and gawky glasses, but is still recognisable as the famous artist. Alongside this piece, forty years worth of Hockney's art was sold in the auctioned captioned 'Hockney on Paper' at Christie's auction in South Kensington.

Overgrown ivy on house finally tamed

Having not been cut for five years, the owner of the 3-bedroom house in Birmingham had been battling with Ivy for a number of years, before giving up attempting to tame the wild plant. The mammoth plant seemed to have a mind of its own, as it eventually consumed the house. Frustrated neighbours fed up of their visitors questioning them were left feeling relieved when a new owner moved into the property, bringing with them an ivy-removal squad. The workmen were offered countless cups of tea as neighbours expressed their gratitude. It will take the ivy-removal team a whole week to completely remove the ivy.

Happy nun's plans to erect a 24ft cross causes unholy uproar

Sister Mary has been busy planning the illuminated cross to be placed at the bottom of her garden that she feels will 'offer spiritual protection for Lincolnshire'. Meanwhile some of her fellow Lincoln residents are not so thrilled by the idea. Speaking on behalf of an elderly neighbour, one resident explained: 'The light would be shining straight into her window.' However others comment on how the cross would bring together the community in a unique fashion.