In Somerset on this day villagers sing to the apple trees, drink to their health, and leave cider-soaked toast for guardian birds in order to encourage a bountiful crop to make apple cider.

1258: Baghdad was captured and destroyed by the Mongols.

1773: Captain Cook's ship Resolution became the first to cross the Antarctic circle.

1874: The original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker, died within three hours of each other, aged 62.

1880: Slapstick king Mack Sennett, creator of the Keystone Cops, was born in Quebec.

1899: Chicago Mafia mobster Al Capone was born in Naples.

1940: The River Thames froze over for first time since 1880.

1977: Double murderer Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad at Utah State Prison.

1983: Start of BBC's Breakfast TV with Frank Bough and Selina Scott.

1989: A gunman shot dead five children and injured 39 others in a Californian school playground.

1993: Bookmakers cut the odds on the monarchy being abolished before the year 2000 from 100-1 to 50-1.

On this day last year: Two men appeared in court charged with being members of the al-Qaida terror network blamed for the September 11 attacks. The two men, Baghdad Meziane, 37, and Brahim Benmerzouga, 30, went before Leicester magistrates.

BIRTHDAYS:

EARTHA Kitt, singer, 76; Vidal Sassoon, hairdresser, 75; James Earl Jones, actor, 72; Joanna David, actress, 56; David Caruso, actor, 47; Paul Young, singer, 47; Keith Chegwin, TV presenter, 46; Janet Kay, singer, 44; Susanna Hoffs, singer, 44; Jim Carrey, actor, 41; Shabba Ranks, singer, 37.