The current world number one became the first left-hander to pick up the coveted Embassy World title last year when he beat fellow Welshman Matthew Stevens, 18-16, in a tense battle.

BBC: Mark Williams

Astronomers are uncertain if this represents a genuine rarity of systems like our own, or a simple self-selection problem in which our current technology only has the sensitivity to pick up the weird systems.

BBC: Star 'eats' a planet

Mr MacRae believes there could be a "modest pick-up" in housing market activity if mortgages are made more available and prices remain at their current levels.

BBC: Homes covered in snow