GUYANA police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters in a restive town where three people were killed last month during a demonstration against steep hikes in electricity rates.

Police and protesters have clashed in the mining town of Linden since officers fatally shot three people and wounded 20 others on July 18.

Regional administrative chairman Sharma Solomon said more than a dozen people were injured and several protesters were arrested during the clash.

Florence shows acting talents

CHART star Florence Welch has revealed a hidden talent for acting in a show written by her uncle, satirist Craig Brown.

The redheaded singer, who records as Florence + the Machine, appeared in the festive family spoof of TV hit Downton Abbey.

Brown, who writes for Private Eye, said: "She stayed with us at Christmas . . . she acted in my spoof of Downton Abbey, we did Brownton Abbey and she's a very good actress."

Bird flu death toll reaches 9

BIRD flu has killed a 37-year-old man in Indonesia, the country's ninth fatality this year, the health ministry said.

The man died on July 30 in Yogyakarta province after being in hospital for five days. The man, who lived near a chicken slaughterhouse, was infected with the H5N1 virus after apparently coming into contact with sick birds.

The virus began ravaging poultry across Asia in 2003. Experts fear it could mutate into a form that passes easily among people.

Corrie's Gary: I want to be bad

CORONATION Street star Mikey North has confessed he would like Gary Windass to become a bad boy again.

The ex-soldier has shown he has a heart of gold in supporting his wheelchair-bound girlfriend Izzy Armstrong through a miscarriage.

North said: "It's been different obviously because when I first came in it was the exact opposite to this and he was the rogue. I've always liked the bad boy Gary so hopefully one day that might reappear."