Smokers Who Quit 'Live Up To A Decade Longer'

By Nick Martin, Sky News Correspondent

The largest ever study of the hazards of smoking amongst women has revealed that those who give up by middle age can extend their lives by more than a decade.

The research, published in the medical journal The Lancet today, shows that women who stop smoking before the age of 30 slash their chances of a smoke-related death by 97%.

In one of the biggest studies of its kind more than 1.3m women were recruited between 1996 and 2001.

Those who were still smokers after three years were nearly three times as likely as non-smokers to die over the next nine years, the study revealed.

Professor Sir Richard Peto from the University of Oxford, who co-wrote the report, said: "If women smoke like men, they die like men.

"But whether they are men or women, smokers who stop before reaching middle age will, on average, gain about an extra 10 years of life."

Leanne Dixon, 21, a customer service assistant from Manchester, started smoking when she was 13.

"These statistics really make me think," she told Sky News.

"I've thought about giving up for ages but never have. But it makes you think that you have to stop while you're young."

Alyson Aston and her friend Lyn Faulkner started smoking at the age of 15. Now in their 40s, they say giving up is not an option.

"It's not these statistics that make me want to give up, it's the cost," said Ms Aston.

Ms Faulkner added: "I think a lot about giving up but I don't have the willpower.

"But when you think about living an extra 10 years, it really is a long time."

Those who have had a brush with cancer have a cautionary tale to tell.

June Atherton, 66, used to smoke 60 cigarettes a day. She gave up at the age of 50 but was diagnosed with lung cancer 10 years later.

She said: "I stop young women in the street and tell them that they're killing themselves by smoking. They think I'm mad but it's an important message."

Paula Chadwick, chief executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, told Sky News: "This is important research and tells us that stopping as early as you can will prolong your life.

"More women are being diagnosed with lung cancer and we need to bring those figures down by supporting those who want to give up and making sure the young don't start."

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CCTV Clue In Hunt For Fugitive 'Sex Attacker'

Police hunting for a fugitive who is believed to have sexually attacked two schoolgirls while on the run have released CCTV pictures.

Ivan Leach, also known as Lee Cyrus, did not return from day release from North Sea Camp open prison in Boston, Lincolnshire, earlier this month.

People are being warned not to approach him under any circumstances and described him as "dangerous and predatory".

Officers fear he carried out a very serious sexual assault in Tayside, Scotland, since he absconded on October 9.

Despite a large police search and numerous reported sightings 47-year-old Cyrus remains at large.

New CCTV footage, believed to be of Cyrus in Preston city centre on October 17, has now been released in the hope that someone might come forward with information. It shows him walking down Friargate at 6.50pm in the direction of the railway station.

He has links to Preston, and has known to be in the city on a number of occasions since he absconded, but it is believed he could be anywhere in the country.

Police enquiries are also ongoing in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Tayside.

Cyrus was jailed in 2005 for robbing a 90-year-old woman in Ribbleton, Lancashire. He was given a life sentence with a minimum tariff of five years. He also has convictions for burglary and robbery and assault.

Detective chief inspector Ian Dawson of Preston Police said Cyrus "is an extremely dangerous and predatory individual who poses a serious threat to members of the public".

He added: "He has previous convictions for burglary, sex offences against a young girl, assault and robberies in which he has targeted elderly people in their own homes.

"We believe he could be sleeping rough and travelling extensively throughout the country."

Cyrus is described as white, around five feet 11 inches tall, of stocky build with cropped hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with any information about his possible whereabouts is being urged to contact local police either in person or on 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Victory For Man Who Took Cold Caller To Court

A businessman plagued by nuisance phone calls offering compensation for Payment Protection Insurance has secured £220 in an out-of-court settlement.

Richard Herman, 53, was so fed up with the unwanted calls arriving from India, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He warned the company that, in future, he would invoice them £10 for every minute of his time they used.

When the calls continued he began recording them before finally invoicing the company £195 for their use of his "time, telephone and electricity".

Upon receipt of the invoice the marketing firm acting on behalf of UK-based PPI Claimline Ltd, denied making the calls. When Mr Herman revealed he had recorded evidence, they still refused to pay.

But when Mr Herman filed a claim in the small claims court for the unpaid invoice - plus £25 in costs - the company offered to settle the debt out of court and transferred £220 into his bank account.

Mr Herman filed in the small claims court when his invoice was not paid

Mr Herman said: "I kept being called, as we all do, and I thought the only way for them to stop would be for me to speak to them and say, 'For goodness sake, take me off your list!'

"Then it occurred to me to tell them that if they call again I'll charge for my time. When they continued calling I sent them an invoice for 19.5 minutes."

To encourage others to do the same Mr Herman has set up a website with examples of covering letters and invoices to send to nuisance callers.

Even though the validity of Mr Herman's original invoice was not tested in court, he believes anyone who warns cold-calling companies they will be charged if they call, have a right to invoice them.

"I did business studies at 17 and studied 'offer-and-acceptance' so I knew a verbal contract is just as valid as a written one but harder to prove.

"The recorded calls proved I did tell them I would charge for my time if they called again".

Mr Herman, who works in the telephone industry selling call-recording equipment, said his action was a last resort after asking the Information Commissioner and the Telephone Preference Service for help.

In a statment, PPI Claimline said: "We would like to stress that all our supplier relationships are subject to strict contractual provisions requiring full compliance with all relevant regulations, including those which relate to data protection and the telephone preference service.

"We would like to draw a clear line between the two calls to Mr Herman made on behalf of PPI Claimline and any other calls he received, which were nothing to do with PPI Claimline or its suppliers."

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Trains Cancelled Due To Driver Shortage

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

A train company has cancelled more than 100 services due to a shortage of train drivers, causing anger among commuters.

London Midland cancelled 60 services and partially cancelled 40 others on Saturday, after hundreds of trains have been disrupted in recent weeks due to the problem.

The company has apologised to customers, saying the shortfall in qualified train drivers should be addressed by mid-December.

The services affected run mainly through the West Midlands to London and the north-west.

In the past three weeks 1.6 % of their services have been disrupted. The company usually provide 1,300 services a day.

A spokesperson from the train firm told Sky News: "We are being open and transparent so people can plan their journeys. Not all the disruption caused today (Saturday) is as the result of train driver shortages."

In the meantime, London Midland said they were working hard to ensure the impact on customers was kept to a minimum.

"We have a dedicated team focusing on delivering the train service on a day-by-day basis and as a result we have been able to run a near-normal timetable on all but a few days, compensating for the shortage with drivers who have volunteered for overtime."

However, some train passengers at Birmingham New Street say they are annoyed by the disruption.

One woman travelling into the city centre said: "I think it's a scandal really when lots of people are looking for work and there are enough people to do the work here. It's silly I can't understand it...I don't understand why they suddenly don't have enough."

Another family travelling from Northampton said: "We live in Northampton and we often like to come to Birmingham to see some shows but we have had to pay £10 parking at Northampton only to be told there were no trains available.

"How it's come to this I don't know. We have managed to get in this morning but getting home I don't know if we have a train or not."

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Anti-Tank Mines Stolen From Freight Train

Police are searching for a Ministry of Defence shipment of munitions stolen from a goods train in Warrington.

Sky sources understand they are powerful anti-tank mines.

Ten packages, each containing four separate plastic cases, were taken from the train as it travelled between Cumbria and Oxfordshire.

They were reported missing to British Transport Police at around 7.30am on Thursday when the train arrived at Didcot, Oxfordshire.

Seven of the packages were later discovered near a railway line in the Folley Lane area of Warrington, Cheshire.

The remaining three, which were made up of a total of 12 plastic cases, are still missing.

The munitions were on the train when it left Longtown in Cumbria at 11.30am on Wednesday.

Police understand the munitions were taken off the train while it was temporarily stationary in Warrington, and seven of the packages were discarded nearby.

They are described as being rectangular plastic tubes, approximately 4ft (1.2 metres) in length.

The North West Counter Terrorism Unit (NWCTU) is leading a joint investigation, which includes the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and MoD.

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney, from NWCTU, said: "A number of enquiries are now being made by police officers into this theft, and our main priority is to safely recover the missing items.

"At this stage there is nothing to suggest the theft is terrorist-related, but due to the potential complexity of the investigation, our enquiries are being led by counter-terrorism officers.

"We would like to appeal to any members of the public who may know the whereabouts of these items, or any persons involved in the theft of these items to contact the police immediately.

"I want to make it clear that, in their normal condition, these munitions are stable and do not pose a risk to the public.

"However, the materials could be hazardous if they were to be tampered with and we therefore ask that anyone who sees them or knows where they are to call the police as soon as possible."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 1027 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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EDF To Raise Gas And Electricity Prices

Energy giant EDF is to increase prices for householders by an average of 10.8%.

The rise, gas and electricity, around four times the rate of inflation, is set to be implemented on December 7.

EDF, which has 3.1 million customers and 5.5 million accounts overall, said its annual dual fuel bill was the lowest of the suppliers to have announced price rises so far.

Companies have blamed the changes on rising wholesale prices and increased running costs - especially for transporting gas and electricity to customers' homes - and the cost of energy efficiency programmes.

Martin Lawrence, EDF managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply, said: "We know that customers will not welcome this news and do not want to see prices going up.

"Our new prices will, however, be cheaper on average than those of all the other major suppliers which have announced standard price rises so far this autumn.

"We've taken extra measures to make sure the most vulnerable benefit from the best deals and we continue to help customers reduce their bills with energy efficiency measures."

Earlier this month Npower became the third of the so-called Big Six energy firms to confirm steep rises in its gas and electricity bills ahead of winter.

It said bills would increase by an average 8.8% for gas and 9.1% for electricity from November 26.

Just hours beforehand British Gas confirmed that its average dual fuel tariff would rise by 6% - or £80 annually - from November 16.

The Big Six - British Gas, EDF, E.On, NPower, Scottish Power and SSE - control 99% of the UK's domestic energy supplies.

E.ON is the only big supplier yet to announce price rises after it made a promise not to raise tariffs this year.

Last week the energy regulator Ofgem said it would make the market "simpler, clearer and fairer" for consumers.

The promise follows a call by the Prime Minister to energy giants to overhaul confusing tariff systems.

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Malala Dad: My Daughter Will Rise Again

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

The schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan will "rise again", her father has said.

Fifteen-year-old Malala Yusufzai was reunited with her father Ziauddin, mother Toorpekai and two brothers at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she is being treated.

The family flew in from Islamabad on Thursday night.

Malala was shot because she had campaigned for girls' education in Pakistan.

At a news conference, Mr Yusufzai described the shooting as a pivotal moment for the country. "When she fell, Pakistan stood. This is a turning point," he said.

Pakistani police are hunting prime suspect Atta ur Rehman

"I'm thankful to all the people all over the world. They condemned the attack and prayed for my daughter. 

"She will rise again, she will stand again."

Mr Yusufzai said Malala was walking, talking, eating and smiling - and that all signs of infection were gone. He added that she would be having hearing and sight tests later.

He said: "I am thankful that you are very much concerned about my daughter's health. You have supported the cause for which she stands, the cause of peace and education."

He said Malala had just done a second mid-term exam and was on her way home in a school van in the Swat Valley on October 9 when two men stopped the vehicle at pistol point and asked which child was Malala, before one opened fire.

Mr Yusufzai, who was speaking with his 12-year-old son Kushal Khan sitting beside him, said Malala had received good wishes from all over the world.

"She is a daughter of everybody, a sister of everybody," he said.

Malala hugs a toy as she recovers in hospital

When asked how he felt when he and his family saw Malala on Thursday night, he said: "I love her and last night when we met her there were tears in our eyes out of happiness."

Mr Yusufzai told reporters that he was thankful to doctors for the "excellent" and "world class" care Malala - who is now expected to make a full recovery - had received in Birmingham.

He was visibly moved as he described how he was told to prepare for Malala's funeral.

"I'm thankful to God," he said.

"I found angels on my side all around me ... she got the right treatment, at the right place, at the right time.

"In Pakistan for the first time we saw that all political parties, the government, children, women, elders, they were crying and praying to God. Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, indifferent of caste, colour or creed, they prayed for my daughter."

It comes after police in Pakistan named the prime suspect in connection with the shooting as 23-year-old Atta Ullah Khan, a chemistry student from the Swat district.

The hospital's Medical Director Dave Rosser said both Malala's long and short-term memory appeared to be intact - and that specialists do not believe there is any significant brain damage.

Describing the mood on Malala's ward, he said: "I think everyone is very pleased. Her father is a remarkable man, she is a remarkable young lady and I think everybody involved is pleased to help."

He said her skull would need to be reconstructed over the coming weeks but that her long-term prognosis was "excellent".

"There's no reason to think she won't make near to a full recovery," he said.

Dr Rosser said she would remain in hospital following the surgery for "a couple of months at most".

He added that Malala had been eating hospital food -and had also enjoyed a halal takeaway.

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Twitter Map Shows London's Top 10 Languages

By Lulu Sinclair, Sky News Online

London 2012 is now famous for something else as well as the Olympic Games - the languages spoken via the Twittersphere.

A heat map of languages used during the summer reveals the top 10 languages used in London with by far the largest number of tweets - 3.3m or 92.5% - being sent in English.

The top ten languages in London were sampled

The map, inspired by a one by self-named "map geek" Eric Fischer, was compiled for the social network site by James Cheshire, a lecturer at University College London's Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis and Ed Manley, a PhD student at UCL.

"London is such a diverse place and we had so many visitors arriving over the Olympics that we thought it would be interesting to see where the groups clustered - if they did - or where they separated out," James Cheshire told Sky News.

"In some ways, the results weren't so surprising in the sense that London is an international city and we expected a wide range of languages.

"Edgware Road, for example, had a lot of Arabic tweets (shown on the map in green), as we'd expect and the tweets confirmed that certain groups seem to be more dominant in some areas than in others.

"But we were interested to see that French tweets (shown in red) are not just restricted to South Kensington - which we'd expected - but there are quite a large number towards Lewisham and further out to the west of the city."

Some groups were not as prevalent as the researchers imagined.

"The Chinese are very low down in the rankings at 25. That could just be for cultural reasons - perhaps they don't tweet much. Or it could be that they don't have their location switched on - in that case, we weren't able to log the tweets. Or it could be that they're tweeting in English."

One particularly surprising revelation came from a language from the Philippines deciphered as Tagalog which came up as the 7th most tweeted language.

The unknown language turned out to consist of English online colloquialisms such as 'hahahahaha', 'ahhhhhhh' and 'lololololol'.

"I don't know much about Tagalog but it sounds like a fun language," Ed Manley said in his blog, going on to explain the language was excluded from the analysis.

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Tearful 'Rogue Trader' Tells Of UBS Losses

A trader accused of Britain's biggest fraud was allegedly trying to cover millions of pounds worth of losses incurred during the financial crisis for the bank he called his "family", a court has heard.

Kweku Adoboli, 32, is accused of gambling away £1.4bn while working as a trader for Swiss bank UBS.

At one point, he was at risk of causing the bank losses of $12bn (£7.5bn), jurors at Southwark Crown Court were told.

Adoboli wept as he gave evidence for the first time at his trial, in which he claimed his off-book trades were to cover $40m (£24.9m) annual losses of his portfolio of companies from 2008.

The court heard that by 2007 Adoboli, aged just 27, and more senior trader John Hughes, 25, were in charge of a portfolio of companies with assets of $50bn (£31.1bn).

"Our book was massive. A tiny mistake led to huge losses. We were these two kids trying to make it work," he said.

Mr Adoboli, wearing a dark suit and red tie, denied he was a "gambler" and said his knowledge of UBS's systems did not result in "fraudulent behaviour".

Fighting back tears, he said: "It's hard to find the words to describe the relationship I had with UBS as an organisation. It isn't about a bank. It was about what I thought was my family, considering how much (I) neglected my real friends and family.

"Every single bit of effort I put into that organisation was for the benefit of the bank, the people around me and the book I worked on.

"If I was not so proud to work for UBS, I would never put so much effort trying to convince them that we could achieve something at this bank."

He added: "To find yourself in Wandsworth Prison for nine months because all you did was work so hard for this bank..." before stopping as he broke down in tears.

Mr Adoboli is facing two counts of fraud and four counts of false accounting between October 2008 and September 2011, allegedly gambling away the money on high-risk illegal trades aimed at boosting his annual bonuses and job prospects.

The former public schoolboy worked for UBS's global synthetic equities division, buying and selling exchange traded funds (ETFs), which track different types of stocks, bonds or commodities such as metals.

Ghanaian-born Mr Adoboli enjoyed a rapid rise at UBS after completing an internship while a student at Nottingham University in 2002, the court heard.

Mr Adoboli told the court he feared UBS would not survive $52bn (£32.3bn) losses incurred in 2007-08 as the banking crisis took hold.

He said: "The effect on the organisation was incredible. There were times we thought there was no way the organisation would survive. I grew up with UBS. I felt very loyal to UBS.

"What could we do to help this organisation survive this incredible crisis?"

The trial continues.

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Hannah MacLeod's Olympic Medal Returned

Hockey player Hannah Macleod has had her missing Olympic bronze medal returned.

Scotland Yard said it been posted anonymously to the England Hockey head office in Buckinghamshire.

Bronze medals belonging to Macleod and rower Alex Partridge were allegedly stolen along with their TeamGB Olympic jackets on Tuesday.

The alleged thefts happened as they partied at a London nightclub after a reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the achievements of the 2012 athletes.

Metropoitan Police said they were retaining the medal as part of their inquiries, but that they were "looking forward to reuniting Hannah with her medal shortly".

Detective Chief Inspector James Harman, of Westminster CID, said: "We are still looking to recover the second medal, and we stress that our inquiries remain active.

"Our appeals for information stand and I take this opportunity to reiterate them. If the public can help we ask them to do so.

"Alex's medal has yet to be traced, and he is understandably keen to be reunited with it as soon as possible."

Macleod, 28, had asked via Twitter for whoever took the medal to post it back to the hockey headquarters at Bisham Abbey.

On Wednesday she tweeted: "I'm not after punishment. If you picked up a Bronze Olympic medal that isn't yours pls just send anonymously back to GB hockey-Bisham Abbey."

She told the Sun that she had been scouring eBay to see if it was on the popular auction website.

"I want it back so much. I had a look on eBay in case it ends up there," she told the newspaper.

A 31-year-old man was arrested in connection with the investigation on Thursday, before being bailed to return to a west London police station on 23 November, pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Westminster CID on 0207 321 7650, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Wales House Fire: Appeal For Mobile Footage

Mobile phone footage of a house fire that killed four members of the same family is being sought by detectives investigating the deaths.

The blaze in North Wales last Friday killed Steve Allen's four-year-old son Bailey, daughter Skye, two, sister Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, and her 15-month-old son Charlie.

Firefighters had rescued Charlie and his father Liam Timbrell, 23, from their first floor flat in Maes Y Groes, Prestatyn, but the youngster died on Sunday afternoon while Mr Timbrell remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent John Chapman, made a fresh appeal for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area just before 10pm to contact police.

"I am particularly eager to hear from anyone who was in Maes y Groes after the fire had started to possibly offer assistance and may have filmed the scene on their mobile phone or other electronic device," he said.

The tragedy happened in Maes Y Groes, Prestatyn

"I need those people to come forward so we can view any footage. It may well contain information which will help us build up a full picture of events.

"I understand that some individuals who may have filmed the scene could not have imagined the tragic outcome and may feel guilty about their actions.

"But the footage could contain a vital piece of information and so I'd urge them to come forward.

"Detectives will treat any approaches from members of the public who may have filmed the scene with sensitivity and understanding."

Two people arrested in connection with the fire have now been released.

A 42-year-old woman has been bailed and told to return to a police station in the near future, pending further inquiries, while a 45-year-old man has been released without charge.

In a statement issued by North Wales Police yesterday, Mr Allen and his fiancee Jonty Lewis said they had been left "devastated" by the loss of two of the four children.

Mr Allen said: "They were our world. Bailey with his cheeky smile and Skye was just beautiful. They were the most amazing kids in the world. Their smiles used to light up our day.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Wales Police on 101.

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Bomb Hero Dog Theo Given Posthumous Award

An Army explosives sniffer dog who died hours after his handler was killed in Afghanistan has been given a posthumous award.

Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, 26, was shot by insurgents on March 1 last year while on patrol in Helmand Province with his dog Theo, who died of a seizure shortly afterwards.

The pair, who were said to have been inseparable, found a record 14 Taliban roadside bombs and weapons caches in five months.

Their role was to provide search and clearance support, uncovering hidden weapons, improvised explosive devices and bomb-making equipment.

Springer spaniel Theo was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, known as the animals' Victoria Cross, at Wellington Barracks, London.

The award is said to be the highest accolade any animal can receive in recognition of devotion to duty in saving human life while serving in military conflict. It was established by the veterinary charity's founder, Maria Dickin, in 1943.

L/Cpl Tasker, from Tayport in Fife, was posthumously honoured with an MBE in September last year. He served in The Royal Army Veterinary Corps, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment.

His mother, Jane Duffy, described Theo as her son's "best mate" and said they were together "24/7" in Afghanistan.

She went on: "Liam got his mention in dispatches, so it's lovely that Theo is getting his PDSA Dickin Medal and he's being recognised for his bravery as well.

"They'll be watching us and they'll be so proud. I just wish they were here to get it themselves. Theo and Liam saved so many lives out there."

Theo made the most confirmed operational finds by any arms and explosives search dog in Afghanistan to date.

On one occasion, he is said to have discovered an underground tunnel leading to a room in which insurgents were suspected of making bombs and hiding from coalition forces.

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Man Held Over Olympic Bronze Medal Theft

A man has been arrested by police investigating the alleged theft of two Olympic bronze medals from a Mayfair nightclub.

Medals belonging to rower Alex Partridge and hockey team member Hannah Macleod were apparently stolen hours after attending a Buckingham Palace celebration of their success.

Both athletes - who competed at this year's Olympic games - had left their jackets unattended whilst at the Mahiki nightclub. They later realised the jackets, and the medals inside them, were gone.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the investigation, and is being held at a west London police station.

Earlier, Macleod wrote on Twitter that she was "totally devastated" by the loss of her medal.

She added: "I'm not after punishment. If you picked up a Bronze Olympic medal that isn't yours pls just send anonymously back to GB hockey-Bisham Abbey."

Detective Chief Inspector James Harman said: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the venue in the early hours of Wednesday and saw anything suspicious to contact us - any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could prove vital to this investigation.

"My team have spoken to both Olympians who are understandably desperate to be reunited with the medals they have dedicated their careers to win.

"If you know who is responsible or where the medals are, please call us."

Scores of Olympic and Paralympic stars had earlier been invited to the palace to mark their achievements along with the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Duchess of Cambridge, Prime Minister David Cameron and London 2012 chief Lord Coe.

More follows...

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Police Reveal Scale Of Savile's Alleged Abuse

Police have described Jimmy Savile as one of the most prolific sex attackers ever and are dealing with around 300 alleged victims.

Commander Peter Spindler said officers are following more than 400 lines of inquiry linked to the victims, of whom all except two are women.

He said that the weight of evidence against the late DJ was overwhelming and added: "We have to believe what they are saying because they are all saying the same thing independently."

The officer said Savile was "undoubtedly" one of the most prolific sex offenders of recent history.

Investigators have so far spoken to 130 people who have come forward, and 114 allegations of crime have emerged.

Officers are using a "triage" approach, first making contact with victims by phone to get initial details of their allegations, Cmdr Spindler said.

BBC director general George Entwistle has apologised for Savile's abuse

He told a news conference that most of the allegations are linked to Savile, but some involve others who may have acted with him.

The inquiry will be a "watershed" moment in the investigation of child abuse, he added.

Sky Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said that police have not found any evidence that a paedophile ring was in operation at any institution associated with Savile.

Cmdr Spindler also revealed that a retired police officer had been in touch to say he had investigated Savile in the 1980s while based in west London but he had not had the evidence to proceed.

It is believed the allegation was of an indecent assault on BBC premises but officers have still not found the original file.

According to Cmdr Spindler, Savile had been protected during his reign of abuse because "children or young people" had not felt "empowered to speak out".

BBC star Esther Rantzen voiced her concerns about Savile

Meanwhile, a solicitor acting on behalf of victims of Savile has launched claims against the late celebrity's estate on behalf of clients.

Alan Collins, a partner and specialist in abuse work at law firm Pannone, said: "Much has been written and said about possible actions against the BBC and it is true that claims may be brought against them and other organisations Savile was involved with.

"However, if he was acting as an individual, it is possible to take action against Sir Jimmy Savile's estate because he was a wealthy man and there will be assets to claim against.

"It is imperative that action is taken promptly in order to advance clients' claims which arise from their allegations of sexual abuse."

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Ford Confirms 1,400 Job Losses In The UK

Ford confirms it will make 1,400 employees redundant in the UK following the closure of two British factories.

The US company's Southampton plant in Swaythling, which has made Transit vans since 1972, will close next summer with a loss of more than 500 jobs.

Its stamping plant in Dagenham, which presses sheets of metal used to make the vans in Southampton, will be shut down at the same time.

It marks the end of more than a century of vehicle production in the UK by Ford, which will make only engines and other car parts in Britain from mid-2013.

The president and chief executive of Ford, Alan Mulally, was due to hold a conference call later.

"Using the same One Ford plan that led to strong profitability in North America, we will address the crisis in Europe with a laser focus on new products, a stronger brand and increased cost efficiency," he said in a statement.

"We recognise the impact our actions will have on many employees and their families in Europe, and we will work together with all stakeholders during this necessary transformation of our business." 

The move, revealed by Sky News on Wednesday, has been met with anger by unions representing the workers affected.

Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey accused Ford of betraying its workforce. 

"Only a few months ago Ford was promising staff a new Transit model for Southampton in 2014," he said.

"The planned closures will really hurt the local economies and the supply chain will be badly hit - up to 10,000 jobs could be at risk."

The national officer of the GMB union, Justin Bowden, added: "This is devastating news for the workers in Southampton and Dagenham and is very bad news for UK manufacturing.

"Ford's track record in Britain is one of broken promises and factory closures. There will be a feeling of shock and anger, and Ford's commitment on investment will cut little ice."

Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton, described the news as a "bitter blow".

"It is critically important that we do everything we can to help those affected," she said.

"The closure will have a significant impact on employment.

"These 500 employees have broadly similar skills and it is very important that they are given the maximum support possible."

But Ford, which employs 11,400 people at sites across the UK, had some good news for its British workforce.

It confirmed the next generation of diesel engines would be built in the UK, safeguarding thousands of jobs.

The carmaker is in the process of restructuring its European operations following a slump in demand, and on Wednesday announced that it would shut down its "under-utilised" factory in Genk, Belgium, resulting in 4,300 job losses.

It hopes the three plant closures - which represent 18% of Ford's production capacity in Europe - will save between $450m (£279m) and $500m (£309m) in annual costs.

The company warned its European operations would lose in excess of $1.5bn (£0.9bn) this year.

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Equal Pay: Women Win Landmark Ruling

Women who earned less than men on the same pay grade when they worked for a local authority have won a battle for equal pay compensation at the UK's highest court.

The Supreme Court said more than 170 former Birmingham City Council employees could launch compensation claims in the High Court.

Lawyers say the judgment could have "huge implications".

The Supreme Court's decision follows a Court of Appeal ruling in the women's favour.

The "historic" ruling was made at Britain's highest court

Judges heard that 170 women were among female workers denied bonuses similar to those handed out to employees in traditionally male-dominated jobs such as refuse collectors, street cleaners, road workers and grave-diggers.

The court was told that, in 2007 and 2008, tens of thousands of pounds were paid to female council employees to compensate them.

More payments have also been made to women who took cases to an employment tribunal.

But only workers still employed or who had recently left were eligible to make claims in a tribunal.

Those who had left earlier were caught by the six-month deadline for launching claims.

To get around the deadline, the women started actions for damages in the High Court, which has a six-year deadline for launching claims.

The city council attempted to have those claims struck out, arguing that under equal pay legislation such claims could only be entertained by an employment tribunal.

Former care assistant Pam Saunders said she was "over the moon" with the decision, adding: "It's thousands of pounds that we've lost. Whatever we get is a bonus."

Law firm Leigh Day & Co described the ruling as "historic".

In a statement it said the judgment "effectively extends the time limit for equal pay claims from six months to six years, the biggest change to equal pay legislation since it was introduced in 1970, with huge implications for thousands of workers".

It said it is bringing claims against Birmingham City Council on behalf of 174 claimants, with another 1,000 claims pending in Birmingham alone.

The firm said that "there are also thousands more claims in other areas around the UK being handled by Leigh Day & Co awaiting this decision".

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Savile: Police Files From 2009 To Be Reviewed

Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer is to review legal papers relating to abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister said it was essential that lessons were learned from the scandal of Savile's decades of sexual abuse.

He told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions: "The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed that his principal legal adviser will again review the papers from the time when a case was put to the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) for prosecution.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions specifically is going to consider what more can be done to alert relevant authorities where there are concerns that a prosecution is not taken forward.

"The Government will do everything it can do, other institutions must do what they can do, to make sure that we learn the lesson of this and it can never happen again."

Mr Starmer said the papers in four cases referred to the CPS in 2009 would be reviewed "out of an abundance of caution".

Abuse claims by BBC star Savile date back decades

He insisted that the decisions not to prosecute "were the right decisions based on the information and evidence then available".

He also said he planned to discuss with the attorney general a new policy, where cases would be referred to social services where an allegation is made but not taken to court due to a lack of evidence.

It comes after charities helping victims of sexual abuse said they had been swamped with inquiries – prompted by the widening Savile controversy.

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) has seen nearly a trebling of calls to its hotline.

Napac chief executive Pete Saunders told Sky News: "As we speak it is well over 2,500 calls we have received and is rapidly heading towards 3,000.

"It has been relentless. Normally we deal with up to 300 inquiries weekly but since Savile it is up to 800 a week."

Children's charity the NSPCC said it has received 161 calls relating to Savile, which have been passed to police, and another 105 not related to the performer.

BBC Newsnight editor Peter Rippon has "stepped down" amid an inquiry

These came from adults who wanted to discuss being abused as children following media coverage of the case, and 24 of those allegations have also been referred to the police, the charity said.

Pressure continues to mount on BBC bosses, past and present, over the halting of an investigation into sexual abuse by Savile.

Sources at current affairs programme Newsnight told The Times that director of news Helen Boaden allegedly intervened last year, insisting staff gather evidence as if the late star were still alive and able to sue.

It said Ms Boaden's approach subsequently influenced the show's editor Peter Rippon to halt the investigation - he has since "stepped aside" while the corporation undertakes a review into Savile's predatory behaviour over several decades on BBC premises.

The spreading concerns of BBC managerial responsibility have also drawn in the previous BBC boss, Mark Thompson, about how much he knew.

Mr Thompson, who recently resigned as director general, said: "I did not impede or stop the Newsnight investigation, nor have I done anything else that could be construed as untoward or unreasonable."

On Tuesday, current director general George Entwistle was urged to "get a grip" on his organisation during a hostile grilling by MPs about the broadcaster's handling of the claims.

Mr Entwistle told the committee he had ordered an internal audit of the operation of the BBC's child protection policies and would report its results to the BBC Trust in December.

He said the corporation was now investigating up to 10 "serious allegations" involving past and present employees over the "Savile period".

Lord Patten has been urged to resign by a former parliamentary colleague

Scotland Yard said 60 of the 200 people who have come forward since ITV first aired a documentary on the former DJ's sexual abuse have made claims against people other than Savile.

It is understood that the Metropolitan Police have made preparations for the first arrests in its own investigation.

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Hillsborough Police Chief Bettison Quits

Sir Norman Bettison has resigned as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, after being accused of a cover-up over the Hillsborough disaster.

The 56-year-old had been due to retire next March, but had been called upon to step down with immediate effect by the region's police authority. He will receive no severance pay.

Amid fears his departure could see him avoid further investigation, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed the probe into his action would continue.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Merseyside Police Authority, where Sir Norman was previously chief constable, said it would be considering what implications his decision would have for his £83,000 pension.

His resignation was welcomed by relatives of the 96 Liverpool fans who were crushed to death in the 1989 tragedy at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground.

The post on the Hillsborough Family Support Group's Twitter page simply said: "Yay! He's resigned!!"

A total of 96 fans were killed in the Hillsborough disaster

In a statement issued by West Yorkshire Police Authority, its vice chairman, Councillor Les Carter, said: "I can confirm that the Police Authority has accepted Sir Norman's resignation with immediate effect.

"The media attention and Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation is proving to be a huge distraction for the force, at a time when it is trying to maintain performance and make savings of £100m.

"We therefore believe that his decision is in the best interest of the communities of West Yorkshire."

The statement also included comments from Sir Norman, who expressed sympathy for those bereaved by the disaster.

"I have never blamed the fans for causing the tragedy," he said.

He also refuted reports of a conversation it was claimed he had in the months after the tragedy.

"The suggestion that I would say to a passing acquaintance that I was deployed as part of a team tasked to 'concoct a false story of what happened', is both incredible and wrong," he said.

A Liverpool fan pays his respect at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield

"That isn't what I was tasked to do, and I did not say that."

He added that he would assist inquiries into the disaster itself and the subsequent cover-up - and that he had sought to remain in post to address the allegations against him.

Sir Norman was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster. He attended the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest as a spectator, and was involved in the subsequent force investigation.

He has been under growing pressure since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report which revealed an orchestrated police cover-up.

Last month's damning report by the panel, which had access to 450,000 documents, found that 164 police statements were doctored - 116 of them to remove or alter "unfavourable" comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster.

A complaint was made to police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) that Sir Norman had supplied misleading information in the wake of the disaster. The IPCC is investigating his role.

Pressure was deemed to have increased on South Yorkshire Police after calls for the Hillsborough inquiry to be extended to the so-called 'Battle of Orgreave', which involved clashes between striking miners and police in 1984.

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, who lost her 18-year-old son James in the disaster, welcomed Sir Norman's resignation and called for his pension to be frozen, pending the outcome of the probe.

"I'm absolutely delighted he's gone but as far as I am concerned he should have been sacked," she said.

Trevor Hicks, HFSG president, said: "We welcome the resignation, because Mr Bettison's position had become untenable and was growing more so with every day that passed. His was a position of trust and he had lost that trust a long time ago."

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Sky Sources: Ford To Close Southampton Plant

Ford is planning to close its Southampton factory as part of its restructuring in Europe, according to Sky sources.

The announcement is expected on Thursday, when Ford's chief executive Alan Mulally is due to hold a business briefing call, and company management meet with union representatives in Essex. 

The company said this was speculation.

Ford's Swaythling factory, which has built its iconic Transit vans since 1972, employs around 500 people.

But the future of the site has been uncertain since workers began working single shifts in 2009.

It is a relatively small part of the company's UK operation, which employs 11,400 people at factories in Dagenham, Halewood, Bridgend and Southampton.

The news comes after the company confirmed it would close its "under-utilised" factory in Genk, Belgium, resulting in 4,300 job losses.

Workers gathered outside the Belgium plant following news of its closure

"Ford announced its plans to end production at a major production plant in Genk, Belgium, by the end of 2014," the company said in a statement, adding that the closure would entail a "reduction of approximately 4,300 positions".

Ford of Europe's chief executive Stephen Odell added: "The proposed restructuring of our European manufacturing operations is a fundamental part of our plan to strengthen Ford's business in Europe."

In another development for Europe's carmaking industry, the French government offered Peugeot Citroen a 7bn euro (£5.6bn) lifeline following another drop in sales.

The Paris-based company said it was also close to agreeing a 11.5bn euro (£9.3bn) refinancing deal with creditor banks, in addition to the state guarantees, for its lending arm Banque PSA Finance.

Following the announcement, Peugeot shares fell 6.5% - hitting their lowest levels since 1986.

Car sales in Europe have slumped as consumers in the region find their budgets hit by unemployment and government austerity.

Earlier this month, industry figures revealed that the market shrank at its fastest pace for 12 months in September. 

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Child Benefit: New Partners May Lose Out

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

New partners of divorced parents will lose part of their salary if they earn more than £50,000 under changes to child benefits, according to accountants.

The anomaly will affect people even if the children who live in their house are not actually theirs.

HM Revenue and Customs is set to write to taxpayers who could be affected by the reforms, which come into effect in January, next week.

The changes will see gradual cuts in the handouts to families where one partner earns more than £50,000. Anyone earning more than £60,000 will lose the payout entirely.

Labour says the Government has not thought the policy through

Instead of the Government paying parents less, people will be required to return the child benefit money by filling out a self-assessment tax return.

This will mean an estimated 500,000 people will have to fill out the form for the first time.

Patricia Mock, a tax director in Deloitte's private client services division, told the Telegraph: "If you have a standard family with 2.4 children and two married parents all living together then the system is reasonably straightforward.

"But it can get really bizarre. Take that straightforward family. If the parents get divorced and the children live with the mother who has a new partner, and that partner is the higher earner, then he gets (to pay) the clawback even though they are not his children.

"Part of me thinks we are just making up really complicated scenarios for amusement's sake but it will happen."

The same will happen where a father claims the benefit for children who live with their mother but has a new partner who earns above the threshold.

A Treasury spokesman confirmed to Sky News that cohabiting couples will be treated in the same way as married couples and those in civil partnerships.

She added: "The unprecedented scale of the deficit has meant that the Government has had to make tough choices to reduce public spending; but we have always been clear that those with the broadest shoulders should carry the greatest burden.

"In a period when the Government is having to reduce welfare spending, it is very difficult to justify continuing to pay for the child benefit of the wealthiest 15% of families in society."

Cathy Jamieson, Labour's shadow Treasury minister, said: "With just a few weeks until hundreds of thousands of parents lose every penny of their child benefit, it is becoming ever clearer that David Cameron and George Osborne simply haven't thought this policy through.

"The chaotic way it is being implemented looks set to be yet another example of this Government's incompetence."

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April Jones: Clock Tower Lit Three Weeks On

The clock tower in missing April Jones' home town has been lit up pink, exactly three weeks since the youngster disappeared.

The 24m-tall landmark in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, was illuminated last night at 7pm, the time five-year-old April went missing on October 1.

She was last seen playing near her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate.

Machynlleth's clock tower was lit for 12 hours - the colour pink chosen because it is April's favourite.

In the countryside around the town, the search for the schoolgirl continues.

Dyfed Powys Police say 150 specialists are scouring mountainous terrain and checking caves, potholes and mines, often in challenging conditions, in the hope of finding the youngster.

The hunt could last until Christmas or beyond.

April's disappearance has shocked the people of Machynlleth, many of whom joined the search for the youngster in the days after she was reported missing.

Pink ribbons have become a common sight around Machynlleth

Earlier this month, more than 700 people joined a procession through the town to St Peter's Church, where an emotional service was held.

Many of those in the congregation wore pink ribbons, which have also been tied to gates and lampposts in the area.

Chinese lanterns have also been released in the weeks since her disappearance.

Mark Bridger, 46, from Machynlleth, has been charged with April's murder and abduction.

He was remanded in custody until January 11 after appearing via video link at Caernarfon Crown Court on October 10.

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Charles And Camilla's Tour Details Revealed

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will be treated to a barbecue in the outback, an afternoon on Bondi beach and a tour of a special effects workshop used in the making of The Hobbit movie when they visit Australia and New Zealand.

Details of their packed tour, which also takes in Papua New Guinea as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, have been announced.

Camilla will be making her first trip to the three countries, in a private or public capacity, while Charles, a seasoned traveller, has visited the southern hemisphere nations many times.

Among the highlights will be a visit by Prince Charles behind the scenes of the new blockbuster movie from Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.

The Prince of Wales will see the studio where Gollum was brought to life

He will visit a leading workshop in New Zealand that created special effects for the much anticipated fantasy film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The heir to the throne will meet the filmmaker on the day of his 64th birthday, November 14, and be shown make-up props worn by actors including The Office star Martin Freeman, who plays the lead character Bilbo Baggins.

A royal aide said that in the workshop, based in Wellington, Charles would "come face-to-face with rather extraordinary, rather terrifyingly in some cases, life-like prosthetics including the feet and hands of the Baggins family".

The themes of the visit include service to the community, encouragement of economic growth and innovation, promotion of youth enterprise, celebration of sport in the community and support for the Armed Forces.

A traditionally colourful welcome is expected in Papua New Guinea

Speaking about the first leg of the tour to Papua New Guinea, which begins on November 3, the aide added: "The visit is centred on the capital Port Moresby but also includes a visit to a nearby fishing village called Boera where a traditional and probably rather dramatic welcome is planned by the local inhabitants."

In Australia, the royal couple have set themselves the task of visiting four major cities - Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and the capital Canberra - as well as the outback town of Longreach in Queensland and the island state of Tasmania in just six days from November 5-10.

The royal couple have willingly accepted an invitation from race organisers to play an important part in Australia's most famous racing event, the Melbourne Cup, at which Camilla will present the top prize.

The Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse is another highlight of the trip

"We were asked if they would like to do it, and of course they are both great racing fans ... and very touched that they've asked the Duchess to present the Melbourne Cup," Clive Alderton, private secretary to Charles and Camilla, said.

It is a starring role for Camilla, 65, who will overcome a dislike of air travel to make the long trek south.

Other events will see them highlight healthy eating in schools, meet Australian cricketers playing with disadvantaged youngsters and promote the wool trade.

The final leg to New Zealand, from November 10-16, will see the royal couple meet popular children's author Lynley Dodd, writer of the Hairy Maclary stories about the adventures of a hairy dog.

Charles and Camilla will meet survivors of the Christchurch earthquake

The final day takes the royal travellers to Christchurch to see how residents have rebuilt their lives after last year's devastating earthquake.

Details of the tour come as a new survey commissioned by the Australian Republican Movement shows 48% of Australians want a republic.

However, perhaps riding on the popularity of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, only 45% of under-30s questioned want a republic - fewer than any other age group apart from those 70 or over.

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Ben Needham Search: Children's Toys Found

By Mike McCarthy, Sky News Correspondent, in Kos

Police have discovered parts of toys that Ben Needham may have been playing with on the Greek island of Kos before he went missing.

The samples were found by archaeologists supporting a team of investigators at the spot where the toddler went missing aged 21 months.

Inspector Colin Hope, who is part of the specialist search team, said: "We have found small parts of what look like tiny cars. We have found some wheels, we have found a bonnet.

"But we have also found plastic bits of toys like little heads from dolls and that kind of thing ... a whole range of toys really, including the sort of items we are looking for."

Mr Hope said Ben was known to have had a couple of toy cars.

It is not yet known whether the items, which have been shown to the Needham family, belonged to the toddler.

Excavators have now dug two metres below ground and archaeologists say they have reached the level the ground was at when Ben disappeared in July 1991.

Dr Nicholas Marquez-Grant, an archaeologist from Oxford University, said: "What I am trying to look at in general crime scene work is graves, for example.

"What I am doing here (on Kos) is to establish what the natural layer of soil is. We know from maps and databases what we are looking for - particular layers of a certain colour."

Police are raking and sifting soil dug up by a JCB on a hillside location overlooking the Aegean Sea. The area is not far from Kos town and is surrounded by olive and lemon groves.

A beer can with a sell-by-date of 1992 and a number of animal bones are among the items discovered so far.

Forensic anthropologists are on site to examine the finds.

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Badger Cull Pilot Delayed Until Next Summer

Badger Cull: Cases For And Against

Updated: 3:35pm UK, Tuesday 23 October 2012

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

The badger cull has been delayed by a simple counting exercise that went badly wrong.

Just days before the cull was due to start in Gloucestershire and Somerset, fresh research showed there were twice as many badgers living in the areas than previously thought.

That left farmers with an impossible task. They had to cull 70% of badgers within six weeks, or risk badgers spreading bovine tuberculosis to other areas.

But badgers tend to stay underground over winter, further reducing the time they had to complete the cull.

So it will now be the spring, at the earliest, before a cull will start.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says it is still committed to a cull.

Last year 34,000 cattle had to be slaughtered after developing TB. Compensation for farmers and other costs totalled £150m.

Ministers - and most farmers - say measures to control cattle-to-cattle transmission cannot stop the spread of the disease on their own. Controlling TB in the badger population needs to be done at the same time.

Independent research shows that by trapping, and then shooting, badgers in a defined area the number of cattle herds affected by TB could be reduced by 16% over nine years.

Defra now wants to pilot the cull in two areas before rolling it out nationwide. But to save money it will allow licensed farmers to shoot badgers out in the open, without trapping them in cages first.

However scientists have warned that shooting free-running badgers could undermine the benefits of a cull.

It could lead to more animals fleeing - and if they are carrying TB there is a risk more cattle outside the culling zone will be infected.

So it could make the tuberculosis problem worse, not better.

The economics of the cull have also been questioned. One scientist calculated that a cull over a 50sq km area would cost £1.5m - much of it allocated to policing protesters.

But the cull would only save £972,000 in compensation to farmers for infected cattle.

So while Defra has insisted the cull is a "science-led" policy, the majority of scientists believe it has been a political decision.

In Wales, the government studied the same scientific evidence before deciding to vaccinate badgers, rather than kill them.

In England, Defra says vaccination is expensive and may not control the disease because the vaccine is ineffective if the animal is already infected.

But the growing public opposition to the cull, led by Queen guitarist Brian May, left the Government position looking precarious.

More than 150,000 people signed a petition against the policy, forcing a debate in the House of Commons later this week. And the Badger Trust is mounting a legal challenge.

This could all lead to the Government abandoning the cull next year. That would be an embarrassing U-turn for the Government, which had to back down over plans to sell-off off woodlands following a similar public uprising.

Taking on one of Britain's best loved wild mammals was never going to be easy.

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Battle Of Britain Hero William Walker Dies

William Walker: An Obituary

Updated: 3:32pm UK, Tuesday 23 October 2012

By Chloe Culpan, Sky News Online

Flight Lieutenant William Walker, who was the oldest surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain and a published poet, has died peacefully, surrounded by family, aged 99.

Born on August 24, 1913, William said one of his earliest memories was lying in his pram and looking up to see a German Zeppelin airship caught in search lights.

He lived the first few years of his life during World War One and went on to fight for his country during the Battle of Britain, a turning point of World War Two.

William developed a love for flying early on and so when, a few years later, the opportunity arose to join the RAF, he was excited to get involved.

In the 1930s he spotted a sign at Croydon Airport offering flights for five shillings and persuaded a friend to go and try it. He said seeing the ground below blew him away and from then on he was "totally hooked".

William joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve at Oxford in September 1938 and was called up when WWII broke out in 1939. He said he was "obsessed" with qualifying for the RAF and getting his wings.

Not even a serious crash during a night flight deterred him. After the incident he returned to his base, where his superior said they thought he was dead and asked if he would like to go on leave. Without a second thought he said "no", and he praised the day he did for the rest of his life.

During the battle in 1940, he was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter while trying to intercept the enemy near Dover. He received a bullet to his leg and the plane was so badly damaged he had to bail out at 20,000ft. He survived because he was wearing his 'Mae West' life jacket and was eventually brought ashore to Ramsgate, having been rescued by a fishing boat.

Crowds cheered as he was brought in and despite suffering from hypothermia at the time, he remembers a woman congratulating him and handing him a packet of Players cigarettes.

The ambulance to an RAF hospital took a while and got lost many times because all the road signs had been altered to confuse the Germans. When he finally arrived and was operated on, the doctor told him the bullet - which he kept - flew out of his leg and hit the ceiling.

After the war he went back to his job in the brewery trade. He started at the bottom of Ind Coope Breweries as an apprentice and steadily worked his way up through the ranks to management, eventually becoming chairman of the company.

He said that having done every job in the business, he fully understood how the company and its people could operate at their best. When he retired, shareholders were receiving a healthy dividend.

In retirement, William kept himself busy seeing his grandchildren, doing crosswords and writing poetry. He also spent a large amount of time in America, visiting air shows and raising awareness of the Battle of Britain.

In 2011, the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust published a book of his poetry. To date, sales have generated more than £7,500. William has given the copyright to the charity, which is raising money for the Wing Appeal to build a learning centre in Kent. It is hoped the building will educate people about the Battle.

One of his best known poems, Our Wall, can be seen on a permanent plinth near the Battle of Britain Memorial wall at Capel-le-Ferne.

In September, William was presented with his portrait, commissioned by Prince Charles' Prince's Trust artists. He said the drawing "showed him warts and all" and "made him look old" - although he was in his 100th year.

William was remarkably fit and lived independently right up until he suffered a stroke on October 18. He died three days later.

He married Claudine Walker, one of the Mawby Triplets - who starred in several Hollywood films in the 1920s and 30s - in August 1941. They separated later in life and she died in September 2012. They had seven children, two having pre-deceased them.

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Frankie Boyle Wins £54,650 Libel Case

Frankie Boyle has won £54,650 in damages after a High Court jury concluded that he had been libelled by the Daily Mirror.

Boyle, aged 40, from Glasgow, claimed that the Daily Mirror defamed him by describing him as racist and saying he had been "forced to quit" BBC panel show Mock The Week.

Daily Mirror publisher Mirror Group Newspapers had defended the article, which was published on July 19, 2011, claiming the "racist" description was either true or "honest comment on a matter of public interest".

But Boyle said the newspaper had "misunderstood" his jokes.

He told the High Court that characters he played might express racist views, but he did not, adding that he actively campaigned against racism and parodied racists.

The publisher had also said the words "forced to quit" did not mean that Boyle had been sacked and were not defamatory.

Jurors ruled in favour of Boyle after a week-long trial in London.

The comedian said during the trial that he would give any damages to charity.

He said he was "very happy" as he left court, and his representative said he would make any further comments on Twitter.

Boyle has upset glamour model Katie Price over comments about her disabled son and also comments about gold medal swimmer Rebecca Adlington in the past.

His counsel David Sherborne admitted that his humour was deliberately challenging, and he would not have minded if his material had been called vile, tasteless or offensive, because that went with the territory, but he did object to being called a racist.

More follows...

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Palace To Pay Queen's Maid £14,000-A-Year

A maid who will run baths and make beds at Buckingham Palace and help the Queen's guests get dressed will be paid just £273 a week.

The palace is advertising for a housekeeping assistant, who will work 40 hours a week and be responsible for keeping the London landmark spotlessly clean.

The £14,200-a-year job involves tidying the Royal Family's private suites, as well as the state apartments, corridors and staircases.

Dusting and polishing a huge collection of antiques and ornaments is another daily chore.

Buckingham Palace says the successful candidate must be friendly, polite and meticulous - and be able to turn up to work on time.

In return, they will be given accommodation and food, "for which there will be a salary adjustment", according to the advertisement.

Recent palace VIPs include President Barack Obama (L) and wife Michelle (R)

Anyone interested in the job will need to apply quickly - the deadline for applications, which can be made through The British Monarchy website, is this Friday.

Other vacancies at the palace, which employs around 1,200 people, include a gardener, an events co-ordinator and a security liaison administrator.

Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of Britain's kings and queens for 175 years.

It has 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 19 state rooms and 78 bathrooms.

More than 50,000 people visit the palace each year - many of them to attend banquets, receptions and garden parties.

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Terror Suspects 'Planned Eight Suicide Bombs'

Three terrorist plotters led a plan to set off eight suicide bombs which could have been bigger than the July 7 London attacks, a court has heard.

Irfan Naseer, 31, and Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali, both 27, are accused of being "central figures" in the extremist plot, jurors at Woolwich Crown Court were told.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said: "The police successfully disrupted a plan to commit an act or acts of terrorism on a scale potentially greater than the London bombings in July 2005 had it been allowed to run its course.

"The defendants were proposing to detonate up to eight rucksack bombs in a suicide attack and/or to detonate bombs on timers in crowded areas in order to cause mass deaths and casualties."

The bombings would have dwarfed those during the July 7 attacks in London

All the men are accused of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, which they deny.

Naseer is accused of five counts of the offence, Khalid four and Ali three, all between Christmas Day, 2010, and September 19, 2011.

The charges are alleged to have included planning a bombing campaign, collecting money for terrorism and recruiting others for terrorism.

Nasser and Khalid are also accused of travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism, and it is alleged that Naseer also helped others to travel to the country for the same purpose.

In total, 11 men of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin and one woman were arrested over the alleged plot.

Mr Altman told the jury that the three defendants were "central figures" in the plot, and said they are "jihadists" and "senior members of a home-grown terror cell".

The group are also accused of making bogus charity collections in Birmingham for Muslim Aid.

It is alleged that the group sent four other local men to Pakistan to receive terrorist training - Naweed Ali, 25, and Ishaaq Hussain, Khobaib Hussain and Shahid Khan, all 20.

They are also accused of persuading another two to take part in their plot rather than fighting abroad - Mohammed Rizwan, 33, and Bahader Ali, 29.

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Ben Needham's Mother Makes Emotional Plea

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

The mother of Ben Needham has made an emotional appeal for help in finding her son who went missing 21 years ago on the Greek island of Kos.

Shaking uncontrollably, Kerry Needham said she was overwhelmed by the commitment of the islanders to the renewed search for Ben.

The 21-month-old Sheffield boy disappeared from a remote spot next to a farmhouse that his grandfather Eddie was renovating.

Ms Needham said she had flown to the island to offer her support to the joint British-Greek operation and to be on standby should anything significant emerge from the reinvestigation.

Ben went missing in 1991

Clinging to her mother Christine throughout the televised statement, she said: "Coming to the island knowing the search experts are looking for my son was heart-wrenching, but I believe that my son Ben is alive and out there somewhere.

"But I understand this search has to be done. I am still determined to find my son and I make a plea to anyone who has been watching this to come forward and to let me know what happened to Ben and end my family's pain and suffering."

Taking a deep breath she added: "I will never give up the search until I find out what happened to Ben.

"Myself and my family are stronger than ever now and we will do whatever it takes to find Ben and let him know the truth of who he is."

Following the appeal, Ms Needham was led away with a family liaison officer from South Yorkshire Police.

Earlier, the head of the British team, Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, said the search was progressing well and co-operation between the British and Greek teams was "second to none".

Unpaid search specialists in Kos are also helping the hunt

Olive and lemon groves surrounding the farmhouse are being examined and experts have started to use ground-penetrating radar equipment to take readings below ground.

Unpaid search specialists in Kos are also helping. 

Ms Needham said: "When I was told how many people had given up their time searching every day in this heat it overwhelms me and confirms what wonderful people live here on this island."

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Goalkeeper Assault: Man Jailed For 16 Weeks

A football fan has been jailed for four months after he admitted assaulting Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

Aaron Cawley, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, also pleaded guilty to invading the pitch during the Championship match against Leeds United on Friday night.

Sheffield Magistrates Court heard the unemployed 21-year-old was so drunk he could not remember the attack.

He later emailed Sky Sports, which had been broadcasting the game live, and the police, saying: "It was a disgrace and I'm embarrassed by my actions."

Cawley, who has supported Leeds United all his life and went to every home and away game, told police he had drank a number of cans of Stella Artois lager and three-quarters of a litre of vodka before arriving in Sheffield for the match. Once in the city, he drank up to 10 pints of cider.

Chris Kirkland said he was "shocked" by the attack

Kirkland was struck in the face during the 1-1 draw at Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium.

The home goalkeeper, who has played for England, fell to ground and required treatment but was able to finish the game.

"I was sore and ... really shocked at what had happened and it was a strange feeling because of all the adrenalin you feel in such a big match anyway," he told the club's official website.

"It was scary. I thought of my family watching something like that and it was not a nice feeling.

"I would like to thank everyone from the football world for their messages of support."

Cawley appeared in the dock wearing a blue T-shirt which left an "LUFC" tattoo clearly visible on his neck and a Leeds United club crest on his right arm.

As well as a prison sentence, he was given a six-year football banning order, requiring him to stay at least a mile away from any stadium at which Leeds United is playing.

Cawley has been the subject of two banning orders in the past and has breached these four times, the court was told.

In a statement issued after the game, Leeds United said: "We would like to publicly apologise for and condemn the actions of the fan who came onto the pitch at Hillsborough.

"There is no place for that type of behaviour and the majority of Leeds United fans will be ashamed of his actions."

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Bristol Bridge Plunge: Man Charged Over Death

A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a mother-of-one was killed when a car containing five people plummeted into a river.

Police said a 33-year-old from Bristol had been charged in relation to the incident and is also accused of drink-driving and driving without insurance or a licence.

The accident saw a silver BMW crash through railings at Bristol's St Philip's Bridge and into the River Avon, leaving a woman believed to be the front seat passenger dead.

The victim was named locally as Namara Whisker, 21, who is said to have given birth to a boy two months ago.

She is believed to have been at a nightclub in the city before getting into the car.

Friends have described the former business studies student, from the Easton area of the city, as "the kindest person you could ever meet".

School friend Shawnika Sergeant, 22, said: "She was so pretty, bubbly and a special girl. I could not believe it when people started texting me this morning. I have known her for so long, it is hard to take."

Another friend said Ms Whisker was a guest at her five-year-old son's christening.

She added: "Namara has a two-month-old son, I can't believe he is going to grow up without his mummy."

A 21-year-old woman from Bristol who was also being held has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Six police officers who dived into the water after the car were taken to hospital as a precaution, but later released.

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Kirkland Attack: Man Held After Goalkeeper Hit

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was hit in the face during a Championship game against Leeds.

A statement from Gloucestershire Police said the man was arrested in Cheltenham shortly before 1pm on Sunday.

Kirkland was struck in the face by a man who got on to the pitch shortly after Leeds had scored an equaliser.

He fell to the ground and required treatment, but was able to finish the game.

South Yorkshire Police are leading the investigation. The man remains in police custody.

A statement from South Yorkshire Police's senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Mark Monteiro said the offender was identified with public help.

He said: "With the public's assistance we have clearly identified the offender who ran on to the pitch during Friday night's game between Sheffield Wednesday FC and Leeds United FC and who is suspected of assaulting the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper.

"We are also using CCTV footage from around the ground to identify suspects who may have been responsible for other offences before, during or after the match.

"I'd like to thank the supporters and general public who have provided information and assisted with our inquiries."

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Man Charged With Murdering Darlington Woman

A 61-year-old man has been charged with murdering a great-grandmother who was stabbed to death in her flat.

Pamela Glen, also known as Turner, 61, was attacked at the flat where she lived alone in Darlington on Friday night.

Neighbours came to help her and she was given first aid at the scene. Medics were unable to save her.

Joseph William Turner, from Sanderson Street, Darlington, has been charged with her murder and will appear before Newton Aycliffe magistrates on Monday.

A Durham Police spokesman said the defendant was a "family member" but could not give further details of his relationship with Ms Glen.

She was a mother of two grown-up daughters, had six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said: "Her daughters said she was a much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be sadly missed.

"They would also like to thank Pamela's neighbours who came to her assistance on Friday night."

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Ben Needham: Police Believe He Can Be Found

British police officers have told Sky News that if missing toddler Ben Needham is buried on a site being searched on a Greek island they are confident of finding him.

The officer leading the British side of the inquiry says the police service would not have gone to so much effort if they did not believe there was a chance of finding something significant.

A joint operation between UK and Greek search specialists is taking place on the island of Kos at the spot where the toddler disappeared in July 1991.

Sophisticated radar equipment is being used to provide penetrating images from below ground level.

Ben went missing 21 years ago, when he was 21 months old

"It is a real line of inquiry and it is a realistic line of inquiry," said Detective Inspector Matt Fenwick.

"I hope we don't find anything and in the future we can assist (Ben's mother) Kerry to be reunited with her son."

He said the search was "more than just a process of elimination".

"We are interested in anything that might identify the movements of Ben 21 years ago, so any item of clothing, any toys, anything that Ben may have been playing with, anything that might give us an indication of where Ben was when he was here and how far into the field he ventured.

"It's the sort of things we are looking for to get some clarity on Ben's movements immediately prior to his disappearance."

Greek police join their British counterparts in the area in Kos

It has been revealed that radar readings will be taken from inside a farmhouse next to the spot where 21-month-old Ben went missing. 

The boy's grandfather Eddie was renovating the property at the time.

The police chief of Kos, Colonel Sergos Sentonas, has told Sky News the level of co-operation between the two nations along with scientific advances has made the new search possible.

He said: "We are hoping to get a positive answer for this boy's family and an answer to the whole mystery after 21 years."

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Tributes To Great-Grandmother Stabbed In Flat

The family of a 61-year-old great-grandmother who was stabbed to death in her flat have paid tribute to her.

Pamela Glen, also known as Turner, was stabbed on Friday night at her council flat in Springhill, Darlington, where she lived alone.

Neighbours came to her assistance and the emergency services gave first aid before she was taken to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where medics said she died in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A 61-year-old Darlington man was continuing to be questioned about her murder.

Durham Police said Ms Glen had two grown-up daughters, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

A spokeswoman said: "Her daughters said she was a much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be sadly missed.

"They would also like to thank Pamela's neighbours who came to her assistance on Friday night."

The area around her flat remains cordoned off while forensic officers examined the scene.

Police continued to ask anyone in the area on Friday night to come forward.

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Cardiff Hit-And Run: Dad Saw Van Target Child

A father has described the terrifying moment his young family were struck by a van in Cardiff.

Adam Lewis' two-year-old daughter Amelia-May was catapulted from her pram during a 30-minute hit-and-run rampage across the Welsh capital.

Luckily, she escaped with only cuts and bruises, while Mr Lewis' partner Annie Jones, 23, was left with a broken leg, fractured ankle and a puncture wound to her hip.

CCTV footage captured the moment the van targeted the young family

He told Sky News: "I caught the van in my peripheral vision but it was too late, he just sped up and smashed straight into us.

"I got pushed to the side with the wing-mirror and unfortunately my partner and the baby took the brunt of it.

"(Amelia-May) ended up face down on the pavement, and my partner was there holding onto her leg, and it was broken."

Amelia-May was left with cuts, bruises and a grazed face.

Ms Jones is undergoing surgery to have metal pins and rods inserted into her leg to help with the healing process.

CCTV footage taken by a shopkeeper showed the Iveco transit-style van veering across the road and targeting the couple and their child just minutes before the driver goes on to kill mother-of-three Karina Menzies, 32.

She was with her children at the time, and reportedly threw them out of the way as the van approached.

Ms Menzies, 32, was killed on Friday after being knocked down

Her brother Craig said: "She threw the kids to each side of her and gave her own life saving her kids. That's what any mother would do.

"She was just a lovely beautiful bubbly person, everyone loved her. Three gorgeous little girls have lost their mother, I just feel so bad for them."

Ten others were injured in the crashes on the streets of the Welsh capital.

The van went on a hit-and-run rampage across Cardiff

"We're just so relieved that we're still all OK," Mr Lewis said. "It's just so overwhelming, such as surreal situation to be put in.

"You don't expect a big white van to come and smack you off the pavement.

"Why somebody would want to do that, I'll never know.

Reverend Jan Gould will lead a special church service later

"I'm just hoping there's not going to be any psychological effects with Amelia-May."

Detectives were last night granted a further 36 hours to question a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

Officers are also appealing for information about a mystery car seen driving on the wrong side of the road shortly before the crashes.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said that the suspect left his vehicle and physically assaulted people between the crashes and also carried a steering wheel lock as a weapon.

According to unconfirmed reports, police are also investigating whether the driver was involved in a domestic incident before the collisions.

At 2pm on Sunday a crowd of around 200 gathered outside the fire station where Ms Menzies was killed.

A special church service will be held later for the victims at the Church of the Resurrection on Grand Avenue.

Reverend Jan Gould said that while community was in shock local people would stand "shoulder to shoulder" together.

Ms Menzies' family have released a statement calling her a "good friend" who would be "sorely missed".

"Karina was a lovely girl. She lived for her kids and her brothers and sisters and everything she did was for her family.

"She was a good friend to everyone and was well thought of in the community. She will be sorely missed by everyone."

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Arrest Over Goalkeeper Assault During Match

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Cheltenham over an incident during the Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds match on Friday.

A statement from Gloucestershire Police said the man was arrested shortly before 1pm on Sunday on suspicion of assault during the Yorkshire derby.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was struck in the face by a man who got on to the pitch shortly after Leeds had scored an equaliser.

He fell to the ground and required treatment, but was able to finish the game.

South Yorkshire Police are leading the investigation. The man remains in police custody.

A statement from South Yorkshire Police's senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Mark Monteiro said the offender was identified with public help.

He said: "With the public's assistance we have clearly identified the offender who ran on to the pitch during Friday night's game between Sheffield Wednesday FC and Leeds United FC and who is suspected of assaulting the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper.

"We are also using CCTV footage from around the ground to identify suspects who may have been responsible for other offences before, during or after the match.

"I'd like to thank the supporters and general public who have provided information and assisted with our inquiries."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bristol Bridge Plunge: Man Charged Over Death

A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a mother-of-one was killed when a car containing five people plummeted into a river.

Police said a 33-year-old from Bristol had been charged in relation to the incident and is also accused of drink-driving and driving without insurance or a licence.

The accident saw a silver BMW crash through railings at Bristol's St Philip's Bridge and into the River Avon, leaving a woman believed to be the front seat passenger dead.

The victim was named locally as Namara Whisker, 21, who is said to have given birth to a boy two months ago.

She is believed to have been at a nightclub in the city before getting into the car.

Friends have described the former business studies student, from the Easton area of the city, as "the kindest person you could ever meet".

School friend Shawnika Sergeant, 22, said: "She was so pretty, bubbly and a special girl. I could not believe it when people started texting me this morning. I have known her for so long, it is hard to take."

Another friend said Ms Whisker was a guest at her five-year-old son's christening.

She added: "Namara has a two-month-old son, I can't believe he is going to grow up without his mummy."

A 21-year-old woman from Bristol who was also being held has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Six police officers who dived into the water after the car were taken to hospital as a precaution, but later released.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ben Needham: Police Believe He Can Be Found

British police officers have told Sky News that if missing toddler Ben Needham is buried on a site being searched on a Greek island they are confident of finding him.

The officer leading the British side of the inquiry says the police service would not have gone to so much effort if they did not believe there was a chance of finding something significant.

A joint operation between UK and Greek search specialists is taking place on the island of Kos at the spot where the toddler disappeared in July 1991.

Sophisticated radar equipment is being used to provide penetrating images from below ground level.

Ben went missing 21 years ago, when he was 21 months old

"It is a real line of inquiry and it is a realistic line of inquiry," said Detective Inspector Matt Fenwick.

"I hope we don't find anything and in the future we can assist (Ben's mother) Kerry to be reunited with her son."

He said the search was "more than just a process of elimination".

"We are interested in anything that might identify the movements of Ben 21 years ago, so any item of clothing, any toys, anything that Ben may have been playing with, anything that might give us an indication of where Ben was when he was here and how far into the field he ventured.

"It's the sort of things we are looking for to get some clarity on Ben's movements immediately prior to his disappearance."

Greek police join their British counterparts in the area in Kos

It has been revealed that radar readings will be taken from inside a farmhouse next to the spot where 21-month-old Ben went missing. 

The boy's grandfather Eddie was renovating the property at the time.

The police chief of Kos, Colonel Sergos Sentonas, has told Sky News the level of co-operation between the two nations along with scientific advances has made the new search possible.

He said: "We are hoping to get a positive answer for this boy's family and an answer to the whole mystery after 21 years."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More