While cold enough for the lake at the UEA to freeze, a solo otter appeared in front of volunteers, as a new nature trail was officially opened this lunchtime.

According to a recent UEA survey, the otter is one of 2000 species found along the 5km trail around the UEA estate.

The new leader of the Liberal Democrats explains they’ve drawn up an alternative plan for saving the city millions.

In a special report, Sam Langan lifts the lid on a stranglehold which has been holding pubs to ransom.

Read more in our Features section.

A Portsmouth landlady won her legal battle to show live football using a foreign TV decoder in October.

The Cellar House is one of many taking advantage of the ruling, saving thousands in Sky subscriptions.

When Karen Murphy who owns the Red, White and Blue pub in Portsmouth won her case against Sky and the Premier League, landlord Paul Malynn made the decision to switch to a foreign decoder card. It means fans can watch any Premier League game even though Sky own the broadcast rights.

Since introducing it, numbers have soared, with 200 more customers watching Norwich City away games.

For Paul Malynn it made financial sense to use the foreign TV decoder card, instead of investing in a contract with Sky Sports: “Last season I paid over £14,000 for Sky and I lost about half of that. Part of the cost of Sky is also to do with your property’s rental value, in which they charge around 35%.”

Under his current contract with EU Satellite Systems he pays a fixed price of £240 plus VAT a month instead. EU Satellite Systems show matches from the top league in England covered by a TV station in Latvia with commentary and analysis from ex-professional footballers such as Andy Townsend and Efan Ekoku.

Paul Malynn believes the legal ruling could change the power struggle in football coverage: “Sky will lose the monopoly and more people will watch more live Premier League football. Sky have had a monopoly for 10-15 years.”

If Norwich remain in the Premiership then The Cellar House can expect even busier days ahead.

And if more pubs follow Karen Murphy’s lead, then Sky’s stranglehold on live Premier League football could loosen considerably: “I hope it will continue. There’s lots going on in respect to the legal side but from the general public’s point of view it means more people seeing games and breaking the monopoly. It’s like a breathe of fresh air for the pub industry.”

Sky and its lawyers are currently building another case against the appeal won by Mrs Murphy in the European Court of Justice.

Councillor Judith Lubbock (Lib Dem, Eaton) who put forward the proposal at this week’s council meeting, asked: “In the interests of transparency would the Cabinet Member agree with me that this Council should follow the example of many other local authorities and publish online all expenses claimed by senior managers?”

Following the meeting, Cllr Lubbuck commented: “There is a perception that senior managers of local councils are putting in lavish claims for food at Michelin star restaurants, first class travel, and stays at five-star hotels. Whether there is any truth in these ideas here in Norwich is unclear. To make it clear I have suggested that all expenses claimed by senior managers should be in the public domain. Then the public can judge whether these expenses are justified. After all this is council taxpayers’ money and they deserve to know how every penny of it is spent.”

The ruling Labour administration refused to publish the information.

Read more about the up-coming writer and comedian over in our Features section.

His first full length play will be staged this week… and he’s got the biggest gig of his life this Christmas.

Rehearsal photos: Orestes Kouzof.

Based just off Newmarket Road, Tom Moran has been working on his latest play, ‘Writer’s Block’, on and off, for the past 3 years. It makes its debut at the UEA Drama Studio this weekend. He describes it as a “bizarre comedy/adventure story.”

As well as writing, Tom Moran set up the Laugh out Loud comedy club in 2006, helping stage comedy performances in venues across the city. The next one is at the Rose Tavern on Rupert Street on Monday 24th October 2011. (Doors open 7.30pm)

And in December, the former UEA graduate will be appearing on stage alongside household names Jason Manford and Milton Jones at a Christmas comedy extravaganza at the Norfolk Showground. The exhibition hall can hold 3000, making it the biggest gig he’s ever compered for.

Tickets are available for the Christmas Comedy Cracker online.

Why students are being taught in yurts in south Norwich.

Eaton Vale Activity Centre is now home to students from City College on their BTEC National Diploma in Outdoor Adventure.

Since September the students have been based at the centre off Church Lane in Eaton, instead of at the Ipswich Road base. It allows them hands-on experience in a working environment. To accommodate them, two Mongolian yurts have been erected as classrooms.

The students will be trained in a range of activities including archery, high ropes, climbing walls, mountain-biking and canoeing.

The centre, which is a not-for profit charitable trust and a joint venture between Norfolk Scouts and Guides, attracts 24,000 visitors a year. Richard Lang, Operations manager said: “It’s a two-year course which gets them ready for employment in the outdoor industry. We benefit by getting to see a pedigree of young people coming through.”

Sarah Fincham, who regularly uses the area in her wheelchair, whatever the weather said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. I love it. I used to use it all the time but would regularly get stuck and have to be pulled out of the mud.”

The hard-surface path, which will improve access for wheelchairs and pushchairs, will be officially opened at Marston Marsh tomorrow.

The project is down to the hard work of Eaton Village Residents’ Association, supported by Norwich Fringe Project and Norwich City Council., who were awarded almost £50,000 from the Big Lottery Community Spaces Fund to improve the area.

The lottery money, together with further funding from the city council, has now been used to produce the interpretation signs and lay the 1km-long path, which will run from the Eaton entrance by the golf course crossing point alongside the river and back onto Marston Lane at the Ipswich Road end of the marsh. Norwich-based civil engineering contractors Dunnella Ltd carried out the construction work.

Matt Davies, Norwich Fringe Project co-ordinator said: “This really has been a fantastic project and I can’t give enough praise to the local community who have played such a vital part in making it all happen: “There is a real sense of ownership with local people wanting to be active in the management of the marsh – it really has brought people together, and is a brilliant example of a community taking action in partnership with a local authority to create an area which can be enjoyed by everyone.“

The easy access path was created from gravel taken from four key areas of the marsh, the removal of which created new areas for wading birds. The project has also seen two new habitats established for young fish and birds and a children’s outdoor classroom built from two of the marsh’s very own poplar trees.

The work carried out this year follows a range of conservation work done by the city council at Marston Lane over a number of years to enhance wildlife and open marsh habitats.