London - The British economy is already in recession and will shrink by as much as 2 per cent by early 2009, the Bank of England (BoE) said Wednesday.

The bank's quarterly inflation report, presented by central bank governor Mervyn King Wednesday, said the economic landscape had changed "dramatically" since August.

Interest rates could tumble to record lows next year, and perhaps to 1 per cent by 2010, as policymakers attempted to ward off a severe and prolonged recession, the report said.

London, Nov 12 : Sir Paul McCartney may have unknowingly revealed that the women who inspired The Beatles'' 1966 hit ''Eleanor Rigby'' actually existed.

For about 42 years, music fans have been confused whether E. Rigby ever live, or was she non-existent.

Now, documents carrying the signatures of the woman have surfaced suggesting her to be a scullery maid, reports the Independent.

New York, Nov 12 : For Svetlana Pankratova, having the world''s longest legs and being recognized for it has its advantages and disadvantages.

The 36-year-old, who had recently appeared in Times Sq. to receive certification of the Guinness world record for the world''s longest legs, stands 6 foot 5 inches tall and had been encouraged by her friend to enter her legs into the record books.

“I wasn''t too interested in the idea at first, but she convinced me,” the New York Daily News quoted the Russian record-breaker, currently in the U. S. to promote this Thursday''s Guinness World Records Day 2008, as saying.

London, Nov 12 : Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, 33, has revealed that his pregnant wife Jools has developed an odd craving for hot water bottles.

The Naked Chef, as he is known, also revealed that Jools, 34, had a hunger for “retro” food from her childhood.

“Basically she’s an eating machine and I’m feeding her,” the Sun quoted him as telling US chat show host David Letterman.

“She’s gone back to retro food — fish paste, all that stuff from her childhood. She’s dipping bananas in vegemite.

London, Nov.

London, Nov. 12 : The story of Mark Bosnich is one of triumph and tragedy.

Chelsea goalie Bosnich was one of the first players to have his career ruined by cocaine.

In 1999, the Aussie keeper rejoined Manchester United — his first English club — after seven years with Aston Villa — and instantly became a Premiership champion. On 45,000 dollars a week, Bosnich, according to The Sun, had the whole world in his hands, but within three years his career was over.

He failed a drugs test and that saw him sacked from Chelsea and banned from the game for nine months.