16th February

1659 - The first British cheque is written by Nicholas Vanacker - for £400.

1972 - Nine-hour electricity blackouts take place all over Britain, as power stations struggle to find coal supplies during the miners' strike.

1997 - Researchers at the University of Connecticut reveal that it is possible to genetically inherit a hatred of broccoli.

2001 - Britain and America bomb Iraq.

2001 - A study reveals that although polygamy might have been outlawed in Thailand in 1932, a quarter of Thai men still have more than one wife. The general pattern is to have one main wife, with several minor wives, kept in separate houses.

2001 - A priest in Spain is pulled over for drink-driving - apparently his excuse is drinking wine in six communion services.