I have searched the books and net, to come up with more comprehensive information on them. I must thank the various holiday companies for helping with some of the technical information, writes Jan Cobley.

I know of dogs who have lost their tongues to these beasts and it is not a pretty sight and so distressing. There seems to be little local information about them, there are companies in the Algarve which will spray the pine trees where they live.

Paul Singer from the Elliott fund has announced an alternative plan to the EDP takeover bid from China Three Gorges.

Elliott believes that EDP is undervalued by the market and that the takeover bid is not in the best interest of shareholders. He argues that the price offered by the Chinese state-owned company of €3.26 per share is "unacceptable" and that the Chinese are not committed to resolving regulatory concerns.

Monchique fire fighters rushed to help their neighbouring colleagues in Odemira as a fire tore through an area of eucalyptus.

Four firefighters from the Odemira bombeiros suffered minor injuries on Thursday, after one of vehicles overturned.

The Portuguese economy, bailed out by the European Union eight years ago, is booming, writes Reuters, adding that Portugal “is enjoying its highest economic growth in nearly two decades, fuelled by record tourism, an upswing in the housing market, a growing tech sector and strong exports. Private investment has returned to 2009 levels, helped by foreign investors including Chinese companies.”

The Algarve has 34 pharmacies "at risk of closure," warns the National Association of Pharmacies, which on Monday, 18th February will organise the collection of signatures to deliver to parliament.

Currently, 16 pharmacies in the region are facing insolvency proceedings and 18 have attachments to their goods and property, just under 30%, according to the Association.

Faro Council has at least been making an effort to rid its streets of abandoned vehicles with 175 towed away since late 2016.

A street-to-street survey identified 458 vehicles that had been abandoned but Council staff have been  hampered in taking them all, as those that have been seized in lieu of debt gain a special status preventing their legal removal.

The HomeAway holiday accommodation website booking service has been working with the Lusófona University on a survey to find out more about the Portuguese travel market by analysing nationals booking local accommodation (AL) for their holidays.

The results study show that domestic tourists prefer local accommodation for stays of over a week and prefer national destinations, with the Algarve (27.1%), North (24.5%) and Centre (21.1%) making up the top three.

With a spend of nearly €800,000, the construction of the river beach planned for Odeleite reservoir is nearly ready to start. The contractor has been appointed but the background to the project’s ever-shifting finances are mysterious.

The Council opposition party, the Socialists, points out that the quote for the work just two years ago was €320,000 with the EU chipping in €220,000, so why has it gone up to €830,000 with ratepayers shelling out for a €600,000 bank loan?