Antidepressant use soars as the recession bites

Fears the recession is affecting the mental health of the nation appear to be borne out by new figures that show prescriptions of antidepressants are soaring.

Last year in England there were 2.1m more prescriptions of antidepressants than in 2007, leading to concerns that doctors are increasingly supplying the drugs as a “quick fix” without attempting to address the underlying cause of the problems. In total, 36m prescriptions were given out, an increase of 24% over the past five years.

“The increase in the number of people being prescribed antidepressants is deeply disturbing,” said the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesman, Norman Lamb, who obtained the figures. “England has become a true Prozac nation.”

Lamb said it appeared the economy was a major factor in the increase. “The figures raise serious concerns over the impact of the current recession on people’s mental health,” he said. “Ministers have acted far too slowly to ensure that support is put in place to help people through these difficult times.”

The links between economic woes and depression are well documented. Victoria Walsh, campaigns and policy manager at mental health charity Rethink, said its information centres and telephone advice lines were reporting a surge in people experiencing problems as a result of financial difficulties. “We are seeing people coming in who have been high fliers and now find life without their jobs overwhelming,” she said.

Politicians and experts working in the field of depression said it was important that alternative therapies should be made available to counter the increasing reliance on antidepressants at a time when people were at their most vulnerable. “Doctors want their patients to have effective, long-term help, and drugs must not be the only answer,” Lamb said. “Urgent action is needed to ensure psychological therapies are available to those who need them.”

Phillip Hodson, a fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, said: “Pills have a role but they play better with some people than others for a range of spiritual, social, emotional and biological reasons.”

There is also a geographical divide. A recent Mental Health Foundation analysis of the latest NHS data shows that 22 of the 25 highest-prescribing primary care trusts are in the north of England, while 23 of the lowest 25 prescribers are in the London area.

Hodson said it was not surprising that rising levels of unemployment were contributing to increases in the incidence of depression. “Depression can be caused by unacceptable change happening at an unacceptable rate,” he said. “For some, too much change can be paralysing.”

Hodson warned that the use of antidepressants could not solve someone’s problems in the long term and that only by addressing them could a person hope to deal with depression. “There are no cures for life,” he said. “I have every sympathy with GPs who are pressed into prescribing them, it’s what their patients want. Doctors want to be liked, they don’t want to be unpleasant but sometimes tough love is a better idea.”

Dave Stocks, 42, from Lichfield, Staffordshire, experienced severe depression after his business running coffee bars in business parks had problems and he was threatened with repossession of his home.

Stocks, who now has a job in management, credits psychological therapy provided by the NHS with his turnaround. “I’m still on an antidepressant, but I’m not convinced it does anything other than help me to sleep. Medication can work when mixed with psychological therapies but antidepressants mustn’t be prescribed willy-nilly and if they are they must be prescribed by professional mental health experts, not GPs.”

He urged those with mental health problems caused by their economic circumstances to seek sound financial advice as a matter of urgency.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “It may seem there are no options but in the current economic climate, banks and creditors are willing to agree new repayment terms.”

Earlier this year the government pledged more psychological help to people facing unemployment and debt. The scheme will see people referred to psychotherapists for expert counselling via an advice network linking Jobcentres, doctors’ surgeries and NHS Direct.

The government has already committed £173m to plug gaps in mental health provision. It has promised to train 3,600 more therapists and hundreds more specialist nurses. A psychotherapy centre will be established in every primary care trust by the end of next year.

Walsh said it was vital the government did not cut back on mental health services as it looked to balance its books.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jun/21/mental-health-antidepressants-recession-prescriptions

Nearly half of children born out of wedlock, official figures show

The demise of the traditional family set-up is continuing despite growing evidence that children suffer when they are not raised by a married mother and father.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics show that in 2007, 44.4 per cent of live births were outside marriage.

The proportion is the highest on record, up from 43.7 per cent the previous year, and has risen from just 9 per cent in 1976, when illegitimacy was taboo.

It is set to rise still further as early figures for 2008 show a record 93,000 babies were born to unmarried women the third quarter of the year.

Among British-born mothers the proportion of babies born out of wedlock is likely to be above the landmark 50 per cent already, as immigrants are more likely to have children within marriage.

The marriage rate in England and Wales is now the lowest since it was first calculated in 1862, as the population increases but the number of people getting married falls.

There were just 231,450 weddings in 2007, two-thirds of which were civil ceremonies. Just 55,890 were held by Church of England priests.

Critics say the declining popularity of marriage and the rising numbers of unmarried parents are partly the fault of Labour, which insists all types of relationships are equally valid and has removed financial incentives for couples to stay together.

A recent academic study claimed that the Government’s benefits reforms have encouraged family breakdowns, since they meant women who left their husbands were better off financially after leaving their husbands because they could claim higher welfare payments and better child care. The introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit in 1999 had a “substantial impact” on the divorce rate among the poorest households, prompting a 160 per cent rise in separations, the report published in the Economic Journal claimed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5056489/Nearly-half-of-children-born-out-of-wedlock-official-figures-show.html

Schools hiring bouncers instead of supply teachers to cover lessons

Schools are recruiting nightclub bouncers, prison officers and ex- soldiers to stand in for absent teachers.

Classroom supervisors with military or law enforcement backgrounds are being hired instead of supply teachers to administer ‘crowd control’.

One secondary school in North London employed two permanent teacher stand-ins through an agency for professional doormen, the National Union of Teachers annual conference heard.

They were chosen as they were ‘stern and loud’, said Andrew Baisley, a delegate from North London.

The bouncers were checked for criminal records but given no training. Within weeks, one was dismissed after breaching disciplinary codes.

Job adverts for cover teachers increasingly appeal for applicants with a forces background or police training, the delegates heard.

A recruitment agency operating in the West Midlands area is advertising for ‘hard core’ classroom supervisors who can ‘control the kids in schools’.

The market for supply teachers is rapidly shrinking as schools take on cheaper stand-ins who can keep order while pupils work on preprepared assignments.

Instead of using supply teachers, which can cost £200 a day, equivalent to nearly £40,000-a-year, schools increasingly employ cover supervisors who are often paid less than £20,000, it was claimed.

Delegates at the conference in Cardiff condemned the growing trend for schools to use ‘cover supervisors’ instead of supply staff when regular teachers call in sick or go on maternity or paternity leave. Provided they pass security checks, the supervisors need no teaching qualifications.

But the NUT said the supervisors provided ‘education on the cheap’ and in some cases were standing in for absent teachers for periods of up to six weeks. Mr Baisley, a maths teacher at Haverstock School in Camden, North London said some schools appeared to believe a tough demeanour was the only attribute necessary to be a cover supervisor.

‘I know of bouncers being employed specifically because they are bouncers to cover lessons,’ he said.

‘The idea is that it’s about crowd control and childminding, that if you are stern and loud that’s what’s necessary to do the job.

‘The problem is we need someone who’s trained with children, to be able to interact with children.’

He refused to name the school which had hired two bouncers but said they had little or no training in dealing with children or school policies.

Growing numbers of job adverts for cover supervisors are appealing for applicants with a military, security or law enforcement background.

One advert posted by a recruitment agency in the West Midlands said: ‘You might be an ex-Marine, police officer, bouncer, policeman, fireman, sportsman or actor. Whichever it is we need someone who thinks they can get involved in a school environment and control the kids in schools.’

The use of cover supervisors is soaring after new teachers’ contracts introduced five years ago put limits on the number of hours they should cover for absent colleagues. It also granted them one day a fortnight away from pupils for marking and preparation.

Conference delegates voted to begin a campaign for classes to be taken by properly qualified teachers.

Schools Minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry said: ‘Our guidance is clear that cover supervision should only be used as a short-term solution, to provide continuity when the regular teacher is unavailable.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169416/Schools-hiring-bouncers-instead-supply-teachers-cover-lessons.html

G20 Protesters Jam London, Storm Royal Bank of Scotland Branch

LONDON — Thousands of G20 protesters jammed downtown London on Wednesday, storming and smashing the windows at a Royal Bank of Scotland building. Others tried to storm the Bank of England, pelting police with eggs and fruit and rocking the barricades designed to control them. One police officer was injured after being hit with a large pole during the demonstration and other officers were forced to retreat behind metal barriers as scuffles with the crowd intensitied, Sky News reported. Some protesters spray-painted the side of the RBS building with the phrases “class war” and “thieves.” Others pushed against columns of riot police who swatted them away with batons. Demonstrators shouted “Abolish Money!” and clogged streets in the financial district known as “The City” even as Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama held a news conference elsewhere in the British capital.

Protesters had branded the day “Financial Fool’s Day” ahead of Thursday’s summit of world leaders who are gathering in hopes of resolving the global financial crisis that has lashed nations and workers worldwide.

Royal Bank of Scotland is at the center of protesters’ anger because it had to be bailed out by the British government after a series of disastrous deals brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. The bank is now majority-owned by the British taxpayer.

Despite that, its former chief executive Fred Goodwin — aged just 50 — managed to walk off with a tidy $1 million annual pension for life, while unemployment in Britain now tops 2 million and is heading towards 3 million by the end of this year. Goodwin has been vilified by the British press.

RBS posted a British record loss of 24.1 billion pounds for 2008. The British government has invested 20 billion pounds in propping up the bank.

Helicopters hovered above the protests and some buildings were boarded up. Many banks had extra security and hundreds of police officers lined the streets.

At least eight people were arrested.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511981,00.html

One in five takes a Snow Day. Now another massive blizzard is set to strand the ones who DID make it in

Commuters were facing a battle to get home today after braving the biggest snowfall in almost two decades on their way to work.

The worst snow in Britain for 18 years saw the country’s transport network grind to a halt and prompted one in five workers to stay at home, according to a snap poll.

Those who did make it in were facing yet more chaos on the way home as forecasters predicted a second heavy weather front would hit this afternoon.

With roads blocked, much of the city’s bus service still out of action and all but one underground line suspended, it is feared some may end up stranded.

Helen Chivers, from the Met Office, said more snow would arrive from France this lunchtime, hitting Kent first and then the capital.

‘There are a lot of showers still coming in from the North Sea. It’s winter for a change,’ she said, adding: ‘We don’t get this very often.’

The last time Britain saw such widespread snowfall was in February 1991. The Met Office says up to 30cm could fall in some areas, with others seeing five to 10cm.

It has issued severe weather warnings for much of Scotland and north east England, and is still warning of a high risk of extreme weather throughout the rest of the country.

Temperatures are set to plunge below freezing tonight, meaning conditions could become even more treacherous as snow turns to ice.

The weather is not due to improve until the end of the week, although the snow will gradually lessen and turn to sleet.

Two people are already known to have died in the freezing conditions. The brothers, who have not yet been named, were caught on Mount Snowdon last night.

Their bodies were found this morning after they apparently fell around 300m. It is believed they may not have had the right equipment with them.

Elsewhere, the weather caused more havoc and injuries:

• A 36-year-old man had his arm amputated after his car crashed into a field in County Durham at 6am.
• A 17-year-old boy was treated for hypothermia after falling into a lake in Worcestershire and spending 15 minutes in the water.
• Thousands of residents near Dartford, Kent, were without power as bad weather damaged a power cable.
• Hundreds of ‘non-urgent’ operations were cancelled after many NHS staff failed to make it into work.

London Ambulance Service warned it would only answer ‘life-threatening’ 999 calls because of blocked roads and staff shortages.

Roads were still blocked, airports closed, train services stopped and almost 3,000 schools closed this afternoon due to the massive snowfall overnight.

Drivers, who were told to only travel if absolutely necessary, faced huge tailbacks as cars struggled in the drifts. On the M25 this morning, one queue stretched 54 miles.

In London, there was chaos as the entire bus service was cancelled for the first time in living memory and only one underground line was running a good service.

A very reduced service finally started in the early afternoon, but only three routes were operating fully and another nine on a smaller schedule.

Not even the Blitz stopped the buses and there was anger that gritters had not been able to clear the roads before the morning rush hour.

‘London looks beautiful but I’m really angry the transport system has collapsed,’ said Michael Topper, 24, as he walked to work.

‘They’ve known about the snow since yesterday. The later I get into work the more money we will lose and it’s a really worrying time.’

Colleague Emily Marshall added: ‘I bet the economy loses millions because everyone’s late into work.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1132144/One-takes-Snow-Day-Now-massive-blizzard-set-strand-ones-DID-make-in.html

The schools where NO pupils speak English as a first language

There are now ten schools in England without a single pupil who speaks English as his or her first language.

Research reveals that there are almost 600 primary schools where 70 per cent or more of youngsters normally speak a foreign language.

Across the country, one in seven pupils aged 4-11 does not have English as the first language, which is the equivalent of 466,620 children.

But, following years of unprecedented levels of migration, ten schools have now reached a point where every youngster falls into this category.

Their locations range from London to Lancashire. One, St Hilda’s in Oldham, is a Church of England school.

Some schools are in areas with long-established Muslim populations. In others, the high number of non-English speakers is the consequence of large-scale immigration from Eastern Europe.

Labour MP Frank Field and Tory MP Nicholas Soames, co-chairmen of the Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration, said: ‘These figures make a nonsense of the Government’s aim of integration and show the very real strain that uncontrolled large scale immigration is already placing upon our society.

‘In hundreds of primary schools, English is the second language for over 70 per cent or more of the pupils.

‘How can these children be expected to integrate into our society if they are being taught in schools where is English is the mother tongue of no pupils or a minority of pupils?’

Mr Field asked the Children’s Department to produce a list of all those schools where seven in ten or more pupils did not have English as their first language.

‘In hundreds of primary schools, English is the second language for over 70 per cent or more of the pupils.

‘How can these children be expected to integrate into our society if they are being taught in schools where is English is the mother tongue of no pupils or a minority of pupils?’

Mr Field asked the Children’s Department to produce a list of all those schools where seven in ten or more pupils did not have English as their first language.

Frank Field: ‘How can they integrate?’

The 591 primary schools out of 17,205 which fall into this category represent around three per cent, or around one in 30.

There are a number of local authorities where 20 per cent or more of their schools have at least 70 per cent of youngsters who do not have English as their first language.

These include the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets (62 per cent), Newham (46.9), Brent (28.8) and Ealing (28), plus Blackburn (26.7), Leicester (25.9), Bradford (25), Luton (20.3) and Birmingham (20).

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: ‘Two successful elements of any immigration policy should be to limit the numbers coming in so that the pressure on all public services is reduced, and to insist on English being spoken to a competent level by people coming here to get married.

‘It is relatively easy to cope with a small number of non-English speakers, but incredibly difficult if there are large numbers. Scale matters.’

David Green, director of the Civitas think-tank, has warned that when a large number of immigrant children go into schools, it is very hard for the staff to accommodate them and specialist teachers have to be brought in.

Last night, Dr Green said that when the Government was advocating the economic benefits of mass migration, it failed to take into account the impact on schools and other public services.

He warned that one of the consequences of having schools where no pupils had English as a first language was that they and their families might lead a sectarian lifestyle.

A spokesman for the Children’s Department said: ‘It is important to remember that some of the schools with 100 per cent of their pupils with English as an additional language are actually doing very well, especially considering the extra challenges they face.

‘Even if a pupil speaks another language they may still be highly competent in English, and many are. In cases recent arrivals from countries such as Poland have helped keep small rural schools open that may have otherwise closed because of falling pupil numbers.

‘The language of instruction in English schools is English and this is vital in boosting community cohesion.

‘The task is to get every child up to speed in English so that they can access the whole curriculum.

‘We have listened to the concerns of head teachers and are increasing funding in the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant to £206million by 2010, to bring students weak in English up to speed.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130077/The-schools-NO-pupils-speak-English-language.html

KILLER VIRUS GRIPS BRITAIN

Scores of hospitals have been forced to close wards to new patients as they struggle to cope with the influx of norovirus sufferers.

One of London’s leading hospitals has even had to turn away 999 emergency patients after being overwhelmed with cases of the virus, while another hospital has drafted in GPs to cover for staff hit by the bug.

As the crisis deepens, health campaigners are warning that hospitals face going into “complete meltdown” over Christmas and New Year.

Last year more than three million people were struck down by the bug as it reached epidemic levels. Now experts are warning that the virus could affect even more this year.

It appears to be taking hold much earlier than usual.

Last night the Health Protection Agency warned that it was expecting the number of cases to escalate.

Geoff Martin, of the campaign group Health Emergency, said: “Christmas and New Year are a notoriously busy time and the fact that hospitals can’t cope already is very, very ominous. Winter and Christmas are always extremely difficult for hospitals.

“People giving germs to each other means more flu, the cold weather means a lot more respiratory problems, especially for the elderly, and everyone’s out drinking a lot so there are more injuries that way, too.

“The busiest period is still two weeks away and it is evident that hospitals can’t cope.

“If the Secretary of State for Health does not do something about this, there could be a complete meltdown and a full-blown crisis.

“It would be the worst I have seen in five or six years.”

At its height last year the virus, which causes projectile vomiting, diarrhoea, mild fever and headaches, was striking down more than 200,000 a week. The illness can prove deadly for the vulnerable – children and the elderly.

So far there have been 1,575 reported cases since July but officials fear the figure could be 100 times higher as most sufferers do not report it. St George’s hospital, one of London’s three major trauma centres, was forced to turn away ambulances last Monday because it had run out of beds.

Hospital chiefs said they had suffered a 14 per cent surge in demand over the weekend, compared to the same time last year.

Patients had to be diverted to neighbouring hospitals, all of which have reported serious pressure on their capacities.

A survey by the Daily Express found that hospitals across the country were, on average, each shutting off between eight and nine wards to new admissions and visitors.

At least 21 hospitals have had to isolate patients.

Last week the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital closed all its 49 wards because of the virus, which had directly affected 12 wards including the isolation unit. Three wards at Gloucester Royal hospital were closed last Friday following a norovirus outbreak.

GPs were being drafted in to fill in for affected staff and admissions were slowed because of a shortage of beds.

The University Hospital of North Staffordshire lost about 130 beds, or 12 per cent of its capacity, when it sealed off six wards in an attempt to stop the bug spreading.

In the Midlands, Coventry’s University hospital closed seven wards, while George Elliot hospital in Nuneaton lost the use of three wards and four staff were struck down.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “Hospitals will have plans for dealing with the virus.

“We know wards have been closed to admissions. This will help to control outbreaks.”

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/75741/Killer-virus-grips-Britain

Blizzards, black ice and freezing rain forecast as the bookies slash the odds on a white Christmas

Blizzards and drifting snow are expected to wreak havoc across large parts of Britain tomorrow as the spell of Arctic weather tightens its grip.

From the Midlands northwards, a blanket of snow up to eight inches deep was expected to have fallen overnight, with southern areas likely to see treacherous patches of ice on roads and pavements.

Severe weather warnings were yesterday issued for the North of England and Scotland with warnings of major disruption to roads, and a repeat of Tuesday’s closure of hundreds of schools is likely.

Forecasters said it could be the heaviest early December snowfall in recent years, and with more on the way it resulted in further cuts in the odds on a White Christmas in London.

The snow was expected to sweep across the northern half of Britain last night accompanied by gale-force winds, bringing the threat of blizzard conditions and widespread drifting.

That is likely to see commuters and children in these areas attempting the trip to work or school tomorrow morning (THUR) faced by several inches of snow.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: ‘The main risk is for falls of snow across the north Midlands, northern England and Scotland.

‘On higher ground we could see up to 20cm (eight inches) and lower down and in more populated areas 2cm to 5cm is likely (one to two inches).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1091247/Blizzards-black-ice-freezing-rain-forecast-bookies-slash-odds-white-Christmas.html

UK Epidemic-Muslim taxi drivers raping British girls and women

*Shhh…one isn’t allowed to discuss such things!!!*

Recently a BBC announcer was sacked/fired for requesting a “non Asian taxi driver” to transport her young unaccompanied 14 year old daughter. (Out of concern for her daughter’s fears/mental well being & safety)

Of course, the “racist” club was trotted out by the mainstream media and others to verbally bludgeon Sam Mason for having the audacity to demand an “English driver”. But was Sam Mason really exposing her racism or was she reacting, as any mother would, to the facts that there is a ongoing epidemic of muslim taxi driver rapes in the UK? (Note: the media prefers the more vague term “Asian”)

Not surprising – the mainstream media, is aiding and abetting these rapes, by refusing to “connect the dots” and report on the clear evidence: The growing numbers of predatory muslim taxi drivers (some posing as taxi drivers)raping British girls and women.

Here are some – but far from all – examples of muslim taxi driver rapists:

Abul Malik. 29. raped 19 yr. old female student – he was angry she didn’t have all the fare money – Oct 2008

Salam Rahman, 27, and his friend, 26-year-old Mohammed Elahi – along with two other men – gang raped two woman – a newlywed and a city worker – Aug 2002 (Police said after the case that they feared these were not isolated cases and appealed for any woman who may have suffered a similar attack to come forward.)

Assadullah Razaq, 31, raped 28 yr. old secretary – Mar 2003

Mohanid Al obaydi, raped 22 yr old woman (was found guilty), Apr 2005

Ghulam Haider, 49, brutally raped 16 yr old gir,l Aug 2006

Murtaza Mateen, aged 47, lured 42 year old woman into his taxi & raped her, Jan 2007

Shahjahan Islam, 27, linked by DNA to attempted rape of lone young woman, Nov 2008

Rami Kayyali, 26, found guilty of raping young woman, Nov 2008

Asian – bogus taxi driver, in his mid-20s, wanted for attempted rape of 18 yr. old girl, Mar 2008

Asian male, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, wanted for brutal rape of 24 yr old woman, Aug 2008

Asian “taxi driver”, in his 40s, sought in rape of teenager, Nov 2008

Also disgustingly prevalent are examples of dhimmi members of the British police denying and intentionally obfuscating of the epidemic of muslim taxi drivers raping British women:

“Speaking after Kayyali’s conviction, Detective Sergeant Andy Willmott said: “Thankfully these types of crimes are very rare, but that makes it no less distressing for the young woman subjected to an attack by this man.”

“Detective Inspector Terry Sweeney, from Stockport CID, said: “This was a horrifying experience that no woman should ever have to go through. While we like to reassure women that incidents like this are relatively few and far between, nonetheless a woman has been raped and the man responsible is still at large. So women should be very careful when getting into taxis and make sure they are legitimate.”

Denial is bad but some other members of the law enforcement were crass & negligent enough to place a semi naked woman – who police believed had just been raped by a taxi driver – back into a taxi ALONE rather than providing her with safe transportation home.

So can we really blame Sam Mason for being worried about her 14 year old daughter traveling alone with an “Asian” driven mini cab/taxi? Was she being “racist” – or is she a realist?

http://theopinionator.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/uk-crisis-muslim-taxi-driver-rapists-.html

Prehistoric child is discovered buried with ‘toy hedgehog’ at Stonehenge

This toy hedgehog, found in a child’s grave at Stonehenge, is proof of what we have always known – children have always loved to play.

The chalk figurine was probably a favourite possession of the three year old, and placed next to the child when they died in the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age, around 3,000 years ago.

Archaeologists who discovered the grave, where the child was laying on his or her side, believe the toy – perhaps placed there by a doting father – is the earliest known depiction of a hedgehog in British history.

The diggers were working to the west of Stonehenge in what is known as the Palisade Ditch when they made the remarkable discovery last month in the top of the pit in which the child was buried.

Archaeologist Dennis Price said: ‘It is not difficult to envisage the raw emotion and harrowing grief that would have accompanied the death of this child.

‘Amid the aura of gloom that surrounds Stonehenge, it comes as a beam of light to find a child’s toy lovingly placed with the tiny corpse to keep him or her company through eternity.

‘I’m not aware of hedgehogs having any significance in pagan tradition so the discovery must rank as yet another unique and baffling aspect of one of the most famous and instantly recognisable prehistoric monuments on Earth. To my mind, the hedgehog possesses a real charm and an innocent beauty. ‘

Dr Joshua Pollard, of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, said: ‘Representational art from this period is very rare and so far as I’m aware, if the identification is correct, it’s the only known prehistoric depiction of a hedgehog from Britain.’

Fay Vass, of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said: ‘We are very excited to hear about this find. It shows humans have taken hedgehogs to their hearts for a very long time.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1073210/Prehistoric-child-discovered-buried-toy-hedgehog-Stonehenge.html