And finally… nickels and dimes

Rome City Council accepted the spool of wire from financier Giovanni Calabrò after he insisted it was worth as much as the money he owed them, Italian newspaper Il Messaggero reports.

The council has tried and failed to auction the nickel on six separate occasions since then.

Italian finance police became involved after it emerged Calabrò had also given nickel to other creditors to settle a £13 million debt, despite it only being worth around £17,400.

Rome City Council has now been told by auditors to remove the £48 million in nickel from its balance sheet.