Freddie Flintoff Wins First Heavyweight Fight

Flintoff Swaps Lord's For The Ring

Updated: 12:46pm UK, Saturday 01 December 2012

By Charlie Thomas, Sports Presenter

What to do when you hang up the boots? It's the perennial dilemma for the professional sportsman. And the answer these days comes in a variety of forms.

You might choose to replace the discipline of training by going into coaching, or management.

Miss the dressing room banter? You could head for the studio and take up punditry.

There's always the celebrity circuit of dancing in sequined suits or eating bugs in Australian jungles.

And if you're a cricketer you might well think about becoming a correspondent, as Mike Atherton and Derek Pringle have done with notable success.

Few, though, plunge feet first into a completely different sport, which was what made Freddie Flintoff's desire to take up boxing so compelling.

Would he fall flat on his face or would he reveal skills hitherto hidden? In other words, was this just reality TV in another guise?

But then Freddie's life has never run according to most normal rules.

Comparisons with that other great England all-rounder Ian Botham followed him throughout his playing career, and Freddie also seems to share Sir Ian's maverick appetite for new experiences.

Where Beefy replaced life on the road with marathon charity walks over the Alps or the length of Britain, Freddie chose to raise money for Sport Relief by breaking various unlikely world records, like the farthest distance to score a bullseye and popping the most party poppers in a minute.

To his credit, Flintoff appears to have thrown himself into his latest sporting incarnation with complete professionalism.

Few expected him to win last night; most, especially his wife Rachel and trainer Barry McGuigan, were simply hoping he didn't get badly hurt.

But while there was scant evidence that Freddie had missed his calling by becoming a cricketer rather than a boxer, Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch told Sky News he was impressed by Flintoff's fitness and dedication.

The irony is that Freddie is probably fitter now than at any time during his professional cricketing career.

Had he shown such dedication to the gym in his younger years it's probable that he wouldn't have suffered the weight-related injuries that cut short his playing days.

But then again, he wouldn't have been Freddie Flintoff then would he?

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Former Corrie Star Faces Child Sex Charges

Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel will appear in court later this month to face five counts of indecent assault on a child under 16.

Merseyside Police said the 42-year-old had been charged under his real name - Andrew Watkinson.

He was charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charges relate to "historic" child sex offences, the force said.

Lancel, from Gateacre in Liverpool, is best known for his appearance as the scheming businessman Frank Foster in the ITV1 soap.

His Corrie career began in November 2010 when he was cast as Foster, a business associate of Carla Connor.

Lancel's role ended in March this year when his character was found murdered.

Lancel also played DI Neil Manson in The Bill, and starred alongside Helen Baxendale in Cardiac Arrest.

He has been bailed to appear at South Sefton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, December 19.

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World Aids Day: Bid To Break Testing Record

Campaigners in London are marking World Aids Day with an attempt to break an HIV testing record.

It comes as new figures suggested a record number of people in the UK - nearly 100,000 - are living with HIV.

People are being invited to have a 60-second test at the G-A-Y bar in London's Soho between 12pm and 8pm.

Last December's event at the venue officially broke a Guinness World Record for the number of HIV tests conducted in an eight-hour period.

A total of 467 tests were done and around £13,000 was raised for the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Staff from 56 Dean Street, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital's HIV and sexual health centre in Soho, are repeating the challenge to promote HIV awareness and "make history" again.

Jake Jenkins of 56 Dean Street said: "Come along to G-A-Y on World Aids Day to get a free instant and confidential HIV test and support our attempts to promote HIV awareness, reduce stigma and make history.

"The testing will be provided by the friendly, expert team from 56 Dean Street using the world's fastest antibody test which provides a result in just 60 seconds. Testing early can add, on average, 16 years to someone's life."

The PM wants more people to be educated about HIV and Aids

The international annual campaign, symbolised with a red ribbon, is about increasing awareness of Aids, celebrating breakthroughs in treatment and remembering those who have died.

The Prime Minister has said too many people are not educated about HIV and Aids, and almost 25,000 people who have the human immunodeficiency virus are not aware they have been infected.

David Cameron said such people were not benefiting from treatment and were increasing the risk of passing on the virus.

He added: "This means up to 600 people a year could be dying from a preventable, treatable condition.

"People need to know that, diagnosed early, the outlook for most people with HIV in the UK today is a good one, thanks to the availability of effective treatment and the excellent care provided by the NHS.

"Above all, people need to know that it's never been quicker or simpler to get tested."

There were 6,280 people diagnosed with the virus last year, according to the Health Protection Agency.

Mr Cameron said World Aids Day should be used to "spread the message" about education, testing and early diagnosis.

HIV attacks the immune system and weakens the ability to fight infections and disease.

Aids is the final stage of HIV infection, when the body can no longer fight life-threatening infections.

HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person, and about 95% of people are infected through sexual contact.

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Snow Starts To Fall As Britain Shivers

A dusting of snow has fallen across parts of the UK, with more predicted over the weekend as many areas are gripped by sub-zero temperatures.

The frosty conditions are in contrast to the torrential rain and windy weather that played havoc in some parts of the Midlands and in North Wales at the start of the week.

Around 1cm of snow has settled in parts of northern England and Scotland, including Cumbria, Teesside and County Durham, while 2.5cm has covered the Pennines and the Southern Uplands.

In the midlands, southern England and Wales temperatures are below freezing, and as low as -5C in some areas.

The frosty weather is expected to last for the next few days, with more snow predicted in the north and Scotland tomorrow night.

The freezing temperatures have brought with them a risk of ice, following the recent heavy rainfall.

Temperatures have dropped across the country

The Met Office issued a low-level warning of severe weather, affecting much of the UK for the morning.

It said: "Due to the recent wet weather there is an increased risk of icy patches, even on roads that have been treated with salt, where water run off/seepage may wash off any earlier salt treatment.

"The public should be aware of the risk of ice on roads and pavements."

Patroller Andy Smith warned the weekend would be "winter's first serious test for drivers and their cars".

"Ice is the real concern, as it's been so wet recently, and it's very hard to distinguish between a puddle on the road and treacherous black ice," he said.

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The snowfall in pockets of the UK has prompted a flurry of bets on a white Christmas - a gamble that typically peaks in mid-December.

"We've only opened one flap on the advent calendar and we're already inundated with money for a UK-wide white Christmas," said Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes.

Latest odds show Edinburgh is 5/2 for a white Christmas, ahead of London and Manchester, both 3/1.

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said it would be sunny for most on Saturday.

"Snow showers will continue to run into northern and eastern Scotland, and may occasionally run into North Sea coasts," she said.

"Top temperatures will reach 5 or 6C. In western parts, cloud will increase and temperatures will rise as rain spreads off the Atlantic.

"Progress will be slow, however, and it will be Sunday before that rain makes much impact on mainland UK, by which time, there is the risk of seeing some snow on the leading edge.

"For the bulk of the country, there will be a fine end to the day followed by a cold and frosty night, and a bright start to Sunday morning."

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Care Homes Could Be Forced To Open Books

Care homes could be regulated to prevent a repeat of the Southern Cross crisis, under newly launched proposals.

The abrupt collapse of Southern Cross, Britain's biggest care homes operator, caused turmoil for more than 30,000 elderly and vulnerable people last year.

The firm was crippled by having to pay a £250m rent bill as councils sought to cut fees in the wake of the first credit crunch.

If the new proposals are adopted, a regulator would monitor the financial health of the largest providers.

"We want to make sure every person receiving care and support will continue to get the care they need if a provider exits the market, regardless of whether they are paid for by the state, or pay for care themselves," care and support minister Norman Lamb said.

"Southern Cross demonstrated that we need greater oversight of providers' finances and better plans to support people if their independent provider goes out of business.

"We want to make sure care providers have plans in place to get their finances back on track and if this is not possible then a co-ordinated exit from the market happens. This will mean care service users know their needs will continue to be met."

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "For some time we have been concerned about the ability of providers to deliver high quality care and run on a sound financial footing.

"When a patient or service user is moved from one care setting to another due to providers failing, it can have catastrophic effects on their mental and physical health.

"The RCN raised these concerns throughout the passage of the Health and Social Care Act and today's news is a welcome step forward.

"It is right that robust plans are put in place to minimise the risk of services failing and that there is scrutiny of their business models. We look forward to seeing these plans in more detail and in particular how they fit in with the Care Quality Commission and Monitor."

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Three Babies Die In Whooping Cough Outbreak

Three babies died of whooping cough in October amid the biggest outbreak in 20 years, health officials have said.

The total number of babies under the age of three months who have died as a result of the infectious disease this year now stands at 13, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said.

The number of confirmed cases in England and Wales this year is now 7,728.

The HPA said 1,614 cases of whooping cough were reported in England and Wales in October. In 2011, the total number of cases was 819.

In a move to combat the outbreak, health officials recently announced that all pregnant women are to be vaccinated against the infection.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Government's principal medical adviser, said mothers-to-be will be offered the vaccination to protect their newborn babies.

Health officials say all pregnant women should be vaccinated

Youngsters cannot receive the jab until they are two months old. Vaccinating their mothers before they are born will boost their immunity until they reach the age when they can have the injection themselves, she said.

Women across the UK who are between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant are being offered the vaccination.

Increases in whooping cough are usually seen every three to four years. The last rise in the number of confirmed cases was recorded in 2008.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist for immunisation at the HPA, said: "We strongly recommend all pregnant women take up the offer of vaccination."

In the very young, whooping cough can be a serious illness and can lead to death in some cases.

Babies and children can often make a distressing "whoop" sound while gasping for air after a coughing fit.

Professor David Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "Whooping cough is highly contagious and infants are particularly vulnerable."

He said there had been nearly 400 cases of the disease in children under three months old this year.

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Supermarkets Back New Price Promotion Rules

What The Supermarkets Say

Updated: 3:19am UK, Friday 30 November 2012

Eight major supermarkets have signed up to a new code on special offers and price promotions, while Asda is considering whether to take part. Here is what some of the retailers had to say...

Lidl: "At Lidl, we consider customer satisfaction and transparency to be at the forefront of our business, and the OFT's set of principles for fair pricing practices is fully in line with our own pricing policies we have set ourselves.

"For example we do not inflate prices of products before a promotion to artificially imply a saving to the customer.

"For this reason the pricing of products in Lidl stores will not be affected as we will continue to apply these principles to our prices in stores."

Tesco: "We work hard to ensure we offer competitive prices and fair, meaningful promotions to our customers.

"We always try to use simple and clear information, so we welcome the OFT's clarity on good practices and support their wish to see a consistent approach to promotions across the sector."

Waitrose: "Waitrose already has clear principles in place to ensure that our pricing is clear and transparent for our customers - so we are supportive of the OFT's code announced today."

Morrisons: "We are happy to sign up to the Office of Fair Trading's principles because they reflect good promotional practice and we are working towards convergence."

Sainsbury's: "These principles are in line with what we already do at Sainsbury's as we have always been committed to fair and transparent pricing. We will continue to ensure that our pricing and promotions are as clear as possible for our customers."

Co-Operative: "We understand how important it is for shoppers to be able to easily understand what the promotional offer is, so they can spot the best deal, and we are committed to providing clear and accurate labelling for our customers so they can make informed purchasing decisions.

"We have been working closely with the Office of Fair Trading, and are fully supportive of the principles set."

Asda: "We're not sure (the OFT's draft code) best helps customers in these challenging times, so we are taking the time to consider its proposals in detail."

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Floods: £120m Extra Cash For Defences

The Government has announced £120m of new funding for flood defences which it says will improve protection for up to 60,000 homes.

It comes amid clean-up operations across the UK in the aftermath of the recent flooding which devastated communities in the South West, Midlands, Wales and North East.

Ministers said £60m will be targeted at areas where improving defences against flooding could unlock investment and growth in the area, and the rest will go to speed up delivery of up to 50 schemes already in the pipeline.

They believe the money, which will be delivered between next year and 2015, will not only boost defences, but also provide £1bn in economic benefits.

Potential projects which could benefit from the funding include Leeds, where the riverside area is regularly threatened by floods and defences could protect 250 businesses, employing more than 100,000 people, and more than 3,100 homes.

The money is in addition to the £2bn being spent on flooding and coastal erosion this spending period up to 2015 - half of which is for capital projects such as flood defences.

But ministers have faced criticism that they have cut flood defence spending at a time when their own advisers say hundreds of millions of pounds more cash is needed to help the UK cope with greater risk of flooding as the climate changes.

This summer, government climate advisers said flood defence spending is 12% below levels in the last spending review period, with a gap opening up of £860m between money pledged for 2011/15 and what is needed to maintain protection.

Figures released this week by the Environment Agency showed some 1,600 properties were flooded during the recent bout of bad weather, while flood defences had protected more than 54,000 homes.

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said: "This year's floods have shown how short-sighted the Government was to cut investment in flood defences by £95m a year, leaving homes and businesses unprotected.

"Flooding is the biggest threat the UK faces from climate change, yet even after today's mini U-turn the Government will still be spending less on flood defences next year than in 2008.

"Every £1 invested in flood defences saves £8 later and provides much needed construction work.

"What a shame Ministers have wasted 2 years looking for shovel ready infrastructure projects while 294 flood schemes have been postponed or cancelled."

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Weather: Snow On The Way As Britain Shivers

A light dusting of snow is expected to fall across parts of the country tonight with up to 4cm forecast to fall in some areas.

Upland areas such as the Pennines, the North Yorkshire Moors and north east Scotland, could be blanketed in white by tomorrow.

Temperatures are expected to plummet to a freezing -5C tonight leaving icy conditions on the roads which are expected to last until Sunday afternoon.

Sky's weather forecaster, Chris England, said: "A band of showers spreading from north-west Scotland to north Wales and the north Midlands overnight will bring a centimetre or two of snow to the mountains, and perhaps a light dusting to lower levels of northern England later as temperatures fall to freezing and below.

"There's a small chance of some snow across central England and Wales for a time tomorrow morning, especially over the highest ground, but most places, if they get wet at all, will see rain.

"Icy surfaces forming where the showers leave the ground wet will be a bigger problem tonight and early tomorrow".

On Sunday, a rain-band spreading from the west will bring a spell of snow to northern hills, and perhaps to some lower levels for a time, but the snow won't amount to a great deal away from the Scottish peaks  and will mostly turn to rain quite rapidly.

The wintry weather is in contrast to the torrential rain and floods have caused havoc in some parts of the Midlands and in North Wales.

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Ex-BBC Radio Presenter Denies Sex Offences

A former BBC presenter has "strenuously denied" sexual offences against children, claiming that his links to the corporation attracted undue attention.

Michael Souter, 59, of Loddon, Norfolk, has been charged with 18 offences relating to boys, one offence against a man and one against a woman.

The charges relate to six different boys and two adults and include serious sexual offences and indecent assault which allegedly took place in Norfolk between 1979 and 1999.

The earlier charges overlap with Souter's career at the BBC in the 1980s, during which he helped launch Radio Norfolk including a stint presenting the breakfast show.

Speaking after his first appearance at Norwich Magistrates' Court, Souter said: "I am well aware this case is a stressful experience for almost everybody concerned, not just me.

"Irrespective of innocence or guilt, people have judged me before one word has been given in evidence in a court of law.

"Many people wonder how much coverage would have been given both in the UK and around the world if the letters 'BBC' had not formed part of my CV.

"The support of my friends and family, during what has been an extremely difficult period, has been overwhelming and humbling and I cannot thank them enough.

"I look forward to being able to prove my innocence and put this awful episode behind me."

Souter did not enter a plea during the 10-minute hearing.

District Judge Peter Veits ordered that Souter appear at Norwich Crown Court on December 14.

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Alarm As HIV Cases In UK Soar To Record High

By Gamal Fahnbulleh, Sky News Reporter

A record number of people in the UK are living with HIV, with almost a quarter of those with the virus not aware they are infected.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says there are about 96,000 people who have the HIV - an all-time high.

Nearly half of all infections in 2011 were through heterosexual sex. Of these, more than half were probably acquired in the UK, compared to only 27% in 2002, according to a HPA report.

The arrival of HIV and Aids in the early 1980s led to predictions of deaths on a massive scale but with advances in science and awareness campaigns most developed countries avoided such a fate.

Thirty years later experts and campaigners fear public understanding of HIV has dropped to a worrying level.

Gary Brough was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 and despite seeing advances in treatment says he is worried the public does not know enough about the virus.

He said: "In the last 10 to 15 years I think the knowledge about HIV has gone down and I think people don't pay enough attention to the messages and there's not the level of education in schools that you need.

"When I was growing up it was when HIV and Aids were first out there and it was big news. Since medication came in and since the change in it becoming a manageable condition that whole intensity of fear around the infection has diminished."

New diagnoses among gay men reached an all-time high in 2011, with 3,010 men discovering they were infected.

The HPA said that one in 20 men who have sex with men in the UK now have HIV. The figure soars to nearly one in 12 in London.

Black African people are also at higher risk, the HPA said, with 37 per 1,000 living with the infection. Overall HIV prevalence in the UK was 1.5 per 1,000 people.

Dr Valerie Delpech, HPA head of HIV surveillance, said: "These figures are a reminder of how vital safe sex programmes remain.

"Promoting HIV testing and condom use is crucial to tackling the high rates of transmission, late diagnosis and undiagnosed HIV still seen in the UK.

"National HIV Testing Week is a great opportunity to encourage people to get tested.

"We also encourage clinicians to take every opportunity to offer the test to those in higher risk groups and, in high prevalence areas, to all general medical admissions and new GP registrants."

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Rape Of 11-Year-Old Girl: Man Charged

An 18-year-old has appeared in court charged with the rape of an 11-year-old girl.

The girl was attacked on Friday, November 23 at around 4.30pm in Enfield, north London, as she walked home from school.

She was dragged into nearby Jubilee Park and raped in an ordeal that police said could have lasted as long as three hours.

The girl, who was wearing her school uniform returned home at around 8pm and was taken to hospital. She had to undergo surgery for injuries sustained in the attack.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw said it was "a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless schoolgirl".

She had been making her way home along her usual route, one of Enfield's busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of the Friday afternoon rush hour when she was grabbed.

Police have appealed for witnesses and Det Insp Ellershaw said: "Given the significant and unaccounted for amount of time between the incident and the victim's arrival home, we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her possibly appearing confused or dishevelled following her ordeal. All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence."

Opemipo Jaji, 18, appeared at Enfield Magistrates' Court charged with rape and attempted rape and the case was adjourned until December.

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Teen Toyboy Jailed For Killing Lover's Son

The teenage lover of a former Army medic has been jailed for five years for killing her three-year-old son.

Cameron Rose, who was 16 at the time, swung the child by his leg and his head smashed into a wall, while the boy's mother, Sadie Henry, was out on the school run with her other son.

When paramedics arrived at Miss Henry's home in Erith, Kent, Rhys Lawrie's face was so swollen they were unable to open his eyes to shine a light into the pupils. He was also found to have suffered a broken leg.

It was the second time in a week that Rose had attacked Rhys, who suffered from epilepsy so badly it left him barely able to walk.

Just four days before the killing in January last year, he had hit the boy hard enough to cause a brain injury but the boy was discharged from hospital.

Miss Henry, 28, lied to police, paramedics and hospital staff about the attacks because she was trying to hide her relationship with her schoolboy lover.

Rose, who was attending a school for emotionally disturbed children when he began the affair, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Rhys Lawrie suffered from epilepsy

Sentencing him, The Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont, told him: "Rhys died a dreadful, violent death at your hands and that must not be forgotten."

The couple had met at a bonfire party but they kept their relationship quiet and although Rose spent every weekend at Miss Henry's home he told his parents he was staying with friends.

The court had heard how she continued her relationship with Rose in secret after Rhys' death despite having been told that she must not have anything to do with him.

Miss Henry broke off the affair when Rose was arrested for murder in September 2011. She was cautioned for trying to cover up the relationship.

She told the court: "I felt guilty because my three-year-old son died and the person I cared about saw him die.

"I thought he died from natural causes. I thought I should have been there."

Rose, who had previously been found guilty of arson and had been cautioned twice for damaging his home, claimed the injuries were accidental and that the boy had suffered a fit.

He grinned as he came into court and gave a thumbs-up sign to the Recorder of London. The teenager has been kept in solitary confinement at Feltham Young Offenders' Centre after other inmates learned about the killing.

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Cumbria Earthquake Centred On Lake District

A small earthquake with a 2.1 magnitude has hit Cumbria.

The British Geological Survey said the tremor, which started at a depth of 3.1 miles (6km), struck in Patterdale after 9.30pm on Wednesday.

Several Cumbrian residents took to Twitter to discuss the episode.

One tweeted: "So just a small earthquake - 2.1 - though thought my mum was jump through the roof. Totally freaked her out."

Another said: "Small earthquake felt in Cumbria - epicentre was close by but I didn't notice anything."

According to the BGS, the UK experiences about 20 earthquakes a year of similar strength.

Glenn Ford, from the BGS, said: "This is a very typical British earthquake, just large enough to be felt by the general public, which is approximately 10% of all the earthquakes detected annually in the UK."

The BGS said the earthquake was not linked to fracking - a controversial technique for extracting gas deep underground - which was blamed for last year's tremors in Lancashire.

Two minor quakes with magnitudes of 2.3 and 1.5 in April and May rattled the Blackpool area and resulted in test drilling being suspended.

A report by independent experts last November found the fracking technique, which injects water, sand and chemicals into shale rock under high pressure to release gas, was almost certainly to blame.

The last time an earthquake struck Cumbria was in Coniston in December 2010, measuring 3.5.

In April 2009, a 3.7 magnitude tremor hit Ulverston and could be felt around Barrow, Kendal and Windermere.

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Leveson Demands Change To Press Regulation

Lord Justice Leveson has called for the Press Complaints Commission to be scrapped and Ofcom to be given a key role in overseeing a new, independent, self-regulatory body.

Under his proposed regime, newspapers would be liable for fines of up to £1m when they are found to have overstepped the mark.

The judge expects publishers to sign up to the system voluntarily - and says "convincing incentives" should be supplied to encourage them to do so.

The new regulator should be governed by an independent board, under the oversight of media watchdog Ofcom, according to his long-awaited report on press standards.

The document stresses that the new body should be appointed in a wholly open and transparent way with no influence from industry or government.

But any involvement of Ofcom will mean new legislation, a move fiercely opposed by the press and many politicians amid fears of restrictions on free speech.

Bob and Sally Dowler arriving to read the report

The findings come 16 months after Lord Justice Leveson was asked to investigate the press and after months of evidence from celebrities, politicians, media figures and the police.

David Cameron set up the probe following national outrage at revelations that the News Of The World hired a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone.

Lord Justice Leveson said he had overseen the most concentrated look at the British press ever which had laid bare how it had repeatedly flouted its own rules.

He stressed that his aim was not to restrict the freedom of the press but declared: "There must be change."

"There have been too many times when, chasing the story, parts of the press have acted as if its own code, which it wrote, simply did not exist," he said.

Kate McCann at the QEII centre

"This has caused real hardship, and on occasion, wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people whose rights and liberties have been disdained.

"This is not just the famous but ordinary members of the public, caught up in events (many of them truly tragic) far larger than they could cope with but made much, much worse by press behaviour that, at times, can only be described as outrageous."

The judge dismissed the idea that events such as the hacking scandal at the News Of The World were "aberrations that do not reflect the culture, practices or ethics of the press as a whole".

He also criticised editors for failing to be embarrassed at the level of intrusion and highlighted the use of covert surveillance, "blagging" and deception.

"There has been a recklessness in prioritising sensational stories, almost irrespective of the harm that the stories may cause and the rights of those who would be affected," he said.

Celebrities were treated as "fair game" and newspapers adopted a "significant and reckless disregard for accuracy", he added.

He concluded that politicians of all parties had developed "too close a relationship with the press in a way which has not been in the public interest".

He noted that David Cameron went to "great lengths" to woo Rupert Murdoch's News International newspaper empire before the last general election.

He did dismiss the idea there had been any deal of newspaper support in return of policy favours but said the link created a "public perception" problem.

Protesters dressed as David Cameron and Rupert Murdoch

However, he found there had been no bias by former culture secretary Jeremy Hunt over the bid by News Corp to take over BSkyB.

The judge exonerated the Metropolitan Police, which has faced criticism for its original investigation into phone hacking in 2006.

He concluded police had made poor decisions that were poorly executed but said the force's integrity was not challenged.

The Prime Minister was handed the 2,000-page report on Wednesday and is now delivering his official response in the Commons.

He started his statement by making clear that victims of press intrusion had "suffered in a way that we can barely begin to imagine".

Mr Cameron also told MPs that the Government accepted the need for more transparency between politicians and the press.

In an extraordinary move, Nick Clegg will also deliver his own statement in parliament once Labour leader Ed Miliband has responded for the Opposition.

The Prime Minister and his deputy held talks this morning to try to hammer out a joint coalition response but it has been decided they will speak separately.

It is an early blow to Mr Cameron after he vowed to try and seek a cross-party consensus on a new regulatory system.

Lord Justice Leveson's report says it is essential that the new regulatory system is supported in law, but stresses that this is different to statutory regulation of the press.

In a stark warning, he warned that Ofcom could be used as a "backstop" regulator if the industry refused to cooperate with his system.

He expressed hope that a cross-party consensus on his recommendations could be achieved but the publication of his report sets the stage for a bitter, potentially long-winded political battle.

MPs on all sides are divided about how to proceed, with many insisting that any form of law governing the press would be a step too far.

Key figures who took part in the inquiry, which has cost the taxpayer up to £6m, gathered at the QEII centre in London today to read the report in advance of its official publication.

They included Bob and Sally Dowler, Kate McCann, actor Hugh Grant, former F1 boss Max Mosley and ex-deputy prime minister John Prescott.

The Hacked Off campaign group, in an initial statement, warned against any attempts to kick the issue into the long grass.

"These proposals are reasonable and proportionate and we call on all parties to get together to implement them as soon as possible. The press must be given a deadline, the inquiry is over, now is the time for action," it said.

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Domestic Violence Raids Aim To Tackle Abuse

By Roddy Mansfield, Sky News Online

A series of dawn raids have taken place across London in an operation aimed at tackling domestic violence and abuse.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Community Safety Unit assisted by Tactical Support Group teams have made arrests at addresses in Lambeth and elsewhere.

Under the banner of Operation Athena, the Met is targeting prolific and dangerous offenders responsible for both domestic violence and hate crime.

The operation is timed to coincide with White Ribbon Day, which aims to raise awareness of the problems of violence against women.

Every year on November 25, men are urged to wear a white ribbon for two weeks as a visible pledge not to commit or condone domestic abuse.

Assistant Commissioner Simon Byrne said: "The scale of the violence and abuse caused by those in domestic relationships is shocking. About one third of all women will suffer some form of physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their partners.

White Ribbon Day - every November 25 - aims to raise awareness of the issue

"Suffering behind closed doors should not and cannot be ignored. We all have a responsibility to put a stop to domestic violence.

"We will make sure we play our part in supporting and protecting victims of both sexes. It is also importantly about demonstrating to abusers that their actions have legal and long-lasting consequences.

"There is no place in London for domestic violence or those cowardly crimes committed because of someone's race, religion, sexuality or disability. It is the offenders who should live in fear - of our knock at the door."

Campaigners at one women's domestic violence support group welcomed the arrests and said a consistent approach would help tackle the issue in the long term.

Deborah McIlveen, Policy and Services Manager at Women's Aid, said: "We welcome this action to arrest perpetrators as long as the way in which it is done has not put the victims at any additional risk.

"Whilst this type of one-off high-profile action against abusers may draw attention to the issue, what is needed to really make a difference to the lives of abused women and children is consistent, ongoing policing and prosecution of offenders, to hold them to account for their crimes and to stop them perpetrating domestic violence again."

Operation Athena runs until November 30. In addition, officers will be running victim-focused workshops and multi-agency drop-in centres around the capital.

The campaign is not just targeted at females, however. Male victims suffering from domestic abuse are encouraged to come forward and call an advice line 0808 801 0327 or visit www.mensadviceline.org.uk.

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Euromillions: £64m Hitchin Prize Unclaimed

A Euromillions player has just seven days to identify themselves as the winner of £64m - the biggest unclaimed prize in UK lottery history.

The winner in the June 8 draw matched the five main numbers, 5, 11,  22, 34, 40 and two lucky stars, 9 and 11.

Lottery bosses have made several public appeals since establishing that the ticket was bought in the Stevenage and Hitchin area of Hertfordshire.

Posters were even put up at Luton airport in case the lucky punter was a holidaymaker.

The winner is richer than Princes William and Harry - but may be unaware

The winner has until 11pm on Wednesday December 5 to claim the £63,837,543.60 fortune, which would put them ahead of Harry Potter Star Daniel Radcliffe and Princes William and Harry on the Sunday Times Rich List.

The other half of the £127m prize was shared with a winner from Belgium, who has already collected their cash.

The previous biggest unclaimed prize was £9m in Doncaster in the 90s.

The National Lottery says prizes have previously been claimed on the deadline day - including £2.5m in the Worcester and Malvern area in 2009.

The Weirs from Largs scooped the UK's biggest ever jackpot

Players who believe they may have lost or destroyed their tickets have 30 days from the date of the draw to contact lottery operator Camelot so it can investigate their claim.

However that deadline passed five months ago for this ticket, so now only the ticket-holder can come forward.

If no-one claims the money by next week the sum and all the interest it has generated will go to National Lottery good causes - adding to the £29bn already raised through ticket sales since the game's 1994 launch.

Britain's biggest jackpot winners are Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs in North Ayrshire, who won £161m in July 2011.

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Comet: Jobs At Risk As Shops Face Closure

Comet's administrators have confirmed a further 125 stores will close by the end of the year if they fail to get a firm offer for the whole business.

Around 70 stores of the original 236 will remain open until the electricals retailer's remaining stock is sold, Deloitte added. 

Some 5,000 jobs remain in the balance at the embattled retailer, which called in the administrators earlier this month.

Deloitte's Chris Farrington said a "small number of interested parties" remained and he hoped a positive outcome could still be achieved.  

"Should any acceptable offers be received for stores we will delay the closure process," he said.

"Unfortunately, in the absence of a firm offer for the whole of the business, it has become necessary to begin making plans in case a sale is not concluded."

Stores will begin closing in December, he added.

Since Deloitte was appointed to work for the electricals chain, some 1,500 jobs have already been axed.

Last week, the entrepreneur behind Appliances Online confirmed he had tabled a bid for Comet's web-based operations - but not for the whole business.

John Roberts said he had put in a "seven-figure offer" for Comet's website, although the deal would see the business disappear from the UK's high streets.

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William And Kate Cheered Through Cambridge

By Paul Harrison, royal correspondent

Cambridge is giving its duke and duchess a rapturous welcome as the royal couple tour the city for the first time.

Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets to greet William and Kate, who are spending the day celebrating Cambridge's university, and visiting charities, schools and volunteers.

The Duke and Duchess arrived by train and were slowly driven through the city so the crowds could catch a glimpse of them.

Kate was sporting her new hairstyle - layered long dark locks with a parted fringe - first seen in London when she opened a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum without her husband.

As the couple arrived at Cambridge University the Duchess gave a cry of delight as she bumped into her cousin Dr Penny Barton, a graduate tutor at the world-renowned university.

Mrs Barton told Kate that the whole family was "proud" of her and all she has achieved.

The couple are visiting charities, schools and the city's famous university

After meeting students and staff from Cambridge University's many colleges, Prince William addressed a crowd of more than 400.

"This is a day Catherine and I have looked forward to for a very long time; eighteen months, in fact - ever since my Grandmother, The Queen, on the morning of our wedding bestowed on us the name of this great city," the Duke said.

"We both feel immense pride at being associated with Cambridge, a place renowned the world over for its dynamism, beauty and learning, and it is lovely for us to be here together today." ‬

As seems customary, the Duke used the occasion to yet again poke fun at his younger brother.

‪‪"It's not the first time I've been here. My brother Harry and I were fortunate enough to come to Cambridge five years ago, when we spent a couple of days at Trinity."

"I have to say it's the closest Harry's ever got to university", he joked.

Bus driver Simon Newman, 43, from Sutton, near Ely, had travelled into Cambridge with his wife Claire, 48, an easyJet cabin crew member, to see the couple.

They were waiting outside the university's Senate House and said they were pleased that the royal couple had taken the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

"I have the week off and so has my wife so we thought it would be great to come and see them. They are a really attractive couple," Mr Newman said.

Cambridge has been awaiting the royal visit since the Queen bestowed the dukedom on her grandson just a few hours before he married Catherine Middleton on April 29 last year.

The last Duchess of Cambridge was the German-born Princess Augusta Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Cassel, who was married to Prince Adolphus Frederick, the 1st Duke of Cambridge, and a son of George III.

The title was last held by Prince George, a military figure who wed a commoner for love - like William - but also kept a mistress for more than 30 years.

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Leveson: Nick Clegg Could Break Ranks

Nick Clegg has asked whether he might be able to respond separately to the Leveson report in case he and David Cameron cannot agree on the next steps.

Downing Street has now been handed the long-anticipated report and the Prime Minister is due to give his official response tomorrow after it is made public.

But the Lib Dems have already asked the Commons Speaker if Mr Clegg could deliver his own statement, in case the Government is split.

The development came as The Spectator became the first publication to declare it would not abide by any form of press regulation.

In a leader column, the magazine predicted the Prime Minister would be "vilified" whether he backs state involvement or opts for a different form of self-regulation.

And it makes clear: "We would not sign up to anything enforced by government."

MPs have warned the PM against curbing press freedom

It is the first shot across the bows by the press ahead of the report's unveiling on Thursday lunchtime and comes as the Prime Minister is under intense pressure.

He declared at PMQs that "the status quo is unacceptable and needs to change" and vowed to seek a cross-party consensus, although talks will not happen until after his initial statement.

Mr Cameron is caught between the press and many in his own party who are against any form of statutory regulation, and angry hacking victims and campaigners who want a tough line.

At PMQs, he said: "What matters most, I believe, is that we end up with an independent regulatory system that can deliver and in which the public have confidence."

He added later: "I would agree that a free press is absolutely vital to democracy. We should recognise all the press has done and should continue doing to uncover wrong doing, to stand up to the powerful, this is vitally important.

"Whatever the changes we make, we want a robust and free press in our country."

He and Mr Clegg, as well as a handful of officials, are now poring over around half a dozen advance copies of the report and sources have indicated it is extremely long and detailed.

Labour leader Ed Miliband will not receive a copy until 8am on Thursday.

All three main party leaders have indicated they will support Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations as long as they are "proportionate".

Lord Justice Leveson reports on Thursday

But with the judge widely expected to call for a new regulator with statutory underpinning, there are widespread divisions.

More than 80 MPs and peers from all sides have signed a letter warning that any state involvement would undermine free speech.

The signatories include nine former Cabinet ministers, all the Tory members of the Commons Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, Conservative grandee Lord Tebbit and former House of Commons speaker Baroness Boothroyd.

The Cabinet and wider Tory party are also split and there is speculation Mr Cameron may offer Parliament a free vote.

The latest missive warns against any knee-jerk reaction and highlighted the "dangers of statutory regulation", claiming it would amount to state licencing of the press which was axed in 1695.

But earlier this month, 42 Tory MPs called for tough new laws to keep newspapers in check and campaigners are already sharpening their knives.

Hugh Grant said on Wednesday that it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" and the moment Mr Cameron had to prove whether he was a "statesman or still a Carlton TV spin doctor".

The actor told Sky News: "More self-regulation would be a disaster. Another chance in the last chance saloon.

"I have faith that Lord Leveson did a good job and will report things that are meaningful. What you have to question more is the courage of our Prime Minister.

"He is in a difficult position. He has the press bearing down on him by one side saying if you enact any kind of meaningful regulation on us, we'll give you a terrible kicking.

"On the other side he has got 80% of the British public, the victims, the Labour party and the Lib Dems who are going to give him a kicking the other way."

Grant warned that action had to be taken now because campaigners would not stand for any more "procrastinating" that will allow the issue just to fade away.

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Second Man Held After Girl, 11, Raped In Park

Detectives have arrested a second man on suspicion of raping an 11-year-old girl in a north London park.

The man, aged 18, was arrested in Edmonton and remains in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

A 26-year-old who was arrested earlier on Monday has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date in late December.

The youngster is being treated in hospital after she was grabbed by a man on her way home from school on Friday afternoon.

She was dragged into Jubilee Park, in Enfield, before being raped near a pitch and putt course.

The girl, who had caught a bus from Enfield town to Bury Street, was snatched as she was walking along Galliards Road at around 4.15pm.

She eventually returned home after the attack at 7.45pm.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless schoolgirl making her way home via her usual route, along one of Enfield's busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush hour.

"She says the attack happened for some considerable time - possibly in the region of two to three hours.

"At present an extensive search of the park is underway and local officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries, and we have already been receiving helpful information from members of the public.

"Given the significant and unaccounted amount of time between the incident and the victim's arrival home, we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her possibly appearing confused or dishevelled following her ordeal. All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence."

Chief Inspector Taylor Wilson said: "Over the course of the weekend police have been working using every resource available to support the victim, identify the suspect and provide a police response to increase confidence and provide reassurance to residents.

"Although this is an isolated and extremely rare incident, we are treating this with the utmost seriousness."

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Man Who Raped Girl, Four, Jailed Indefinitely

A 21-year-old man has been jailed indefinitely after admitting he raped a girl aged four.

Liam Ineson, of Lancaster, subjected his victim to a six-month "campaign of abuse", police said, targeting her on a number of occasions earlier this year.

He was given an indeterminate sentence after pleading guilty to rape and sexual activity with a child.

Ineson, of Ryelands Road, will serve nearly six years before his sentence is reviewed.

Detective sergeant Simon Coates, of Lancaster police, said: "Ineson preyed on a young girl and then tried to make her keep the abuse a secret.

"He is a dangerous individual and the indeterminate sentence means he should not be released from prison until experts are satisfied that he no longer poses a threat to our community."

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Welfare-to-Work Scheme Misses Its Target

The Government has defended its flagship employment scheme after new figures showed the programme has missed its target.

Only 3.5% of the long-term unemployed helped by the scheme were still employed six months later, according to data published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Figures showed that 800,000 people had started the Work Programme since it was launched last year, but that only 31,000 stayed in a job for six months.

A target of 5.5% was set for finding sustainable jobs.

But employment minister Mark Hoban defended the scheme, saying the programme is succeeding in getting people off benefits and into work.

He said that 56% of people who joined the scheme were no longer receiving benefits, with one in five of the earliest participants spending at least six months without them.

Mr Hoban also revealed that notices had been sent to a number of organisations involved in the programme, asking them to come up with plans to improve their performance

But Labour leader Ed Miliband criticised the programme and said it was on course to be a "miserable failure".

Labour leader Ed Miliband has called the scheme a "miserable failure"

During a visit to Stevenage, he said: "It is just not working. What we've seen from the Government is a failure to reform welfare."

The initiative, which was launched in June 2011 to help the long-term unemployed find work, divides the country into regions, with each comprising a range of private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

It is a two-year scheme which supports some of the hardest-to-help claimants, including the long-term unemployed, disabled and ex-offenders.

Employers are paid by results to get people into work, and providers can earn between £3,700 and £13,700 per person, depending how hard it is to help an individual.

The DWP says the scheme so far has cost just over £2,097 for every participant.

The statistics were expected to be poor after various leaks showed the programme slowly "descending into chaos" as one source put it.

Unemployment is now slowly falling despite a stagnation in GDP, a phenomenon that has become known as the "productivity puzzle".

The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), the trade body for the welfare-to-work industry, said criticism of the scheme was unfair, predicting that an increasing number of people will be helped into a sustained job.

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Nadine Dorries Has To Wait For Whip Ruling

Nadine Dorries has been put on probation by the Tories after returning from her stint in I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

The Mid-Bedfordshire MP has been warned her suspension from the party will not be lifted until she can prove she has built bridges with her constituents and fellow MPs.

Ms Dorries expressed confidence that she would soon be back on the Tory benches - but party sources made clear she is "very much in limbo".

The MP was suspended when it emerged she was heading to the jungle in Australia to participate in the ITV reality show, despite Parliament being in session.

She insisted it was an opportunity to reach out and connect with the public but was the first contestant to be kicked off the programme.

Ms Dorries hears she is the first celebrity to be booted off (Pic: ITV)

The MP was summoned to meet with Tory Chief Whip Sir George Young on Tuesday morning after flying back to the UK to face the music.

After the meeting, a spokesman for Sir George said: "The whip has not been restored and nor will it be until she proves that she can rebuild bridges with her constituents, her association and her parliamentary colleagues."

However, a cheerful Ms Dorries insisted: "I think we will be fine" and described the talks as "very good-natured" and "very happy".

"We have adjourned the meeting and we are reconvening this time next week, if not before," she added.

The MP after her first bushtucker trial (Pic: ITV)

She also stressed that she wanted to stay in Parliament.

"Of course I want to be an MP. An MP is not doing a job, it is a life choice. If I didn't want to make that life choice, I wouldn't be doing it, I can assure you," she said.

The outspoken backbencher claimed she still had a "huge amount of support" in her constituency and had returned to more than 700 emails which were "very complimentary".

She denied that she was trying to cultivate an alternative career in television, saying that she had been trying to find new ways of engaging with the public.

"I have gone to a place where 12 million people go and engaged with them at their level," she said.

"I don't want a television career. I do want a platform which engages with the public on a different level from that which Westminster offers."

The MP also claimed that she still did not know how much she was being paid by ITV for her appearance on the show, amid reports of a £40,000 fee.

Ms Dorries has been fighting ever since she emerged from the jungle, arguing that former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell had given her permission to take time off.

Mr Mitchell told Sky News that he had not given her the go-ahead to be away in November and that the first he knew of it was when publicity around the show began.

Ms Dorries claims that she has only missed three sitting days in Parliament, with the rest falling over half-term.

On Monday night, she described the furore as "slightly hysterical" and said the show had done wonders for her profile, calling herself the "best-known MP in Britain".

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Weather: Hundreds Flee Homes As Floods Rise

Rain-battered Britain is struggling to cope with rising flood levels after further heavy rain brought misery to thousands of residents and motorists across the UK.

Householders have already evacuated over 900 properties after deluges left many properties uninhabitable and caused road and rail chaos.

Hundreds of people were urged to flee their homes after the River Elwy reached record levels and surged through flood defences into the beleaguered city of St Asaph in North Wales.

The torrential downpours spread overnight from the South West to North Wales and northern England, leading to the Environment Agency issuing more than 200 flood warnings and almost 300 flood alerts across the UK.

Residents in St Asaph say they do not remember the area flooding so badly since the 1960s. Some have used canoes to salvage as many possessions as they could carry.

Tina Bailey and her family are rescued in Maisemore, Gloucestershire

Police have said the body of an elderly woman has been recovered from a flooded property in the town, though there are no suspicious circumstances and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

Resident Vincent Jones was asked to leave his home in the early hours of the morning. He said: "I had a knock at 12.30am to say there was an imminent flood, and then at 4.30am we were told to leave.

"When I left, within an hour the water had engulfed us. I put some personal possessions upstairs and made sure we took the children to safety. My sister-in-law on the other side of St Asaph has taken the kids in.

"I'm absolutely devastated. I don't have insurance. It doesn't bear thinking about at the minute. My kids are safe, we'll just have to plod on and sort it out one way or another."

The Environment Agency says that flood defences in St Asaph which were designed to cope with up to 4m (13ft) of water, appear to be holding.

Hotel owner Charlie Ryan and his dog leave their home in St Asaph

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has expressed sympathy with residents but said most of the flood defences around the UK had held up well.

"We offer our sympathies to all those affected. I did see that our flood schemes in the South West are protecting properties. Six thousand key properties were protected in Exeter despite a torrent of water. Fifteen thousand properties in the country are being protected.

"We're spending £2.17bn on flood defences over this spending round. We've opened up new arrangement partnerships with local councils and these flood schemes provide real benefits.

"It's bitterly disappointing and awful for residences who feel safe behind defences which then fail. I can't comment on what's happened in St Asaph because I need to get the details of what's happened there.

"The vast majority of the schemes we've built are designed to withstand floods except under extraordinary circumstances."

Firemen filled sandbags to deliver to residents in North Wales

But Mr Paterson added that the current system for insuring people against floods is flawed, after claims that hundreds of thousands of homes could be left without flood cover due to a row between ministers and the insurance industry over how future flooding bills would be covered.

He also criticised the way insurance companies have raised the issue.

"We're trying to come up with an improved system that gives affordable and universal insurance which isn't a huge burden on the taxpayer.

"We've been involved in detailed negotiations with the Association of British Insurers (ABI), but it was unhelpful of them to throw this into the mix yesterday when people were still struggling to recover from the flooding."

The ABI had claimed that talks about a "safety net" deal to ensure those in flood-risk areas can continue to afford their policies were at "crisis point".

Graeme Trudgill from the British Insurers Brokers Association said the solution could lie in insurers themselves being insured.

Residents of St Asaph wade to safety

"The insurance brokers we represent want to find a solution. It's a question of getting government and insurers to find the right balance.

"Flood mapping technology is so advanced now we can tell which properties are at risk of flooding and we can insure 98% of the properties in the UK. It's the top 200,000 properties that are very high risk.

"Specialist brokers can insure most of them but it's a case of those properties working with their broker and agreeing to things like air-brick covers on their homes so they're prepared if the worst happens.

"We're looking at a re-insurance solution to provide insurance for the insurance companies. We're confident that next year there will be some broker solutions in place.

Flood levels are continuing to rise in the worst hit areas across the UK despite the forecast of drier spells.

Sky's weather presenter Isobel Lang, said: "Drier weather is on the way. That is definitely welcome news after the exceptional rain of the last few days. However the flood risk will not go away.

A resident collects her belongings in Willington, central England

"Some slow responding rivers such as the Severn, Trent and Thames will continue to rise over the next day or two leading to local flooding problems.

"Areas with high ground water could still experience flooding, and Dorset is a county at risk.  There is still a risk of river or surface water flooding across northeast England, north Wales and Northamptonshire, too".

Across the UK, three people have died in the flooding and around 900 homes have been evacuated following a weekend of almost non-stop rain.

There is still a risk of flooding, as the heavy rain in northern England and Wales moves southwards. But the wind and rain are expected to ease over the next few days which are expected to be drier, with freezing temperatures taking hold of the UK instead.

The EA remains particularly concerned about the River Thames, Trent and the Severn, as well as the Northamptonshire area.

The A417 at Maisemore has already flooded and is closed, while the River Severn at Tewkesbury is expected to peak at 4.8m - a metre less than its peak in 2007.

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Winter Weather: Sub-Zero Temperatures Forecast

Winter weather is set to bite later this week with sub-zero temperatures predicted.

Heavy rain will give way to ice, frost and bitterly cold northerly winds from Tuesday onwards.

Temperatures could plummet to as low as -6C in some places, with highs of just 4C.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "The weather is set to change dramatically this week as the area of low pressure bringing today's heavy rain slips away southeastwards drawing in cold northerly winds.

"Conditions look a good deal drier from Tuesday onwards, and much of south-west England, the Midlands and Wales could remain dry for the remainder of the week.

"On the flip side, it will feel considerably colder with brisk northerly winds and much lower night and daytime temperatures. Expect sharp frosts and the risk of icy stretches.

"Some showers are still likely to feed in on the winds, but these should mainly affect North Sea coastal counties where they may bring some snow to the North Yorkshire Moors or Cheviots along with higher ground in eastern Scotland."

The cold snap follows a weekend of heavy rain and strong wind, leaving three people dead and forcing hundreds from their homes.

The heavy rain will continue to deluge parts of the South West today, but North Wales and the North East is expected to bear the brunt of the wet weather.

There are nearly 300 flood warnings and 300 flood alerts in place across the country.

Prime Minister David Cameron he promised to ensure "everything is being done to help".

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Brit Killed In South Africa Farm Robbery

A British man who went to South Africa to run a nature reserve has been killed in a robbery at his farm, police say.

Christopher Preece had gone outside to check why the power was cut at the property when three men attacked him with machetes, according to officers.

The 54-year-old victim bled to death after the attack near Ficksburg, a town near the border with Lesotho, on Saturday night.

His wife, 56, was seriously wounded in the assault and is now being treated in hospital.

Captain Phumelelo Dhlamini of the South African Police Service said the robbers stole about $350 (£220) and a mobile phone.

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Second Pensioner Dies In Newbury 'Mystery'

A second pensioner has died after suffering multiple injuries in a house where an elderly woman was found dead.

Thames Valley Police said they are treating the death of the 94-year-old man as "unexplained".

He had been taken to John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, with injuries to his head, ribs and shoulder but died overnight.

Officers are also yet to establish how an 89-year-old woman found at the same property in Berkeley Road in Newbury, Berkshire, died. She was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Earlier, Detective Chief Inspector Gill Wooton said there were no signs of a forced entry.

He added: "We are continuing to treat both of these deaths as unexplained until the post-mortem results are known.

"We are yet to determine fully the circumstances which led to these people's deaths and will keep an open mind until all forensic tests and investigative searches are carried out on the property where they were found."

Post-mortems into the deaths of both pensioners are expected to take place later.

Anyone with information that might help officers with their investigation is asked to contact the 24-hour police enquiry centre on 101.

Those not wanting to speak directly to the police can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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Weather: Northern England Braced For Flooding

North East England and North Wales are braced for flooding after the band of heavy rain that swamped southern England moved north.

There are just over 200 flood warnings in place across the country and nearly 300 less serious flood alerts, following a weekend of almost non-stop pouring rain left at least 800 homes swamped with water.

Parts of South West England were particularly badly hit, now people in the North East and North Wales are preparing for possible flooding.

A soldier carries a sandbag in Catterick, North Yorkshire

In North Yorkshire, residents of Richmondshire are being offered emergency sandbags to protect their homes from floodwater.

On the outskirts of Darlington, County Durham, the River Skerne was reported to have burst its banks, while pumps are being used to keep parts of the A66 open in the area.

Southbound trains on the East Coast Mainline are experiencing delays of between 20 and 30 minutes due to flooding at Darlington

Residents load sandbags onto a trolley elsewhere in the town

Days of rain and strong winds have left three people dead, forced hundreds from their homes and brought chaos to the roads.

Prime Minister David Cameron vowed he would "ensure everything is being done to help".

Parts of Devon and Cornwall are among the worst hit areas so far - but hundreds of other areas have also been affected, with the South and the Midlands getting badly hit.

A man rows through a car park in Keynsham, Somerset

Thousands of motorists have had to be rescued from water-logged roads over the past few days.

Rainfall is estimated to be around 15mm across the spine of Britain today, less than the 30mm of rain in parts of the West Country, but meteorologists said it would offer little respite to homeowners keen to begin cleaning up.

Some reports have suggested that homeowners in flood-prone areas are at risk of losing insurance cover unless the Government steps in to help the industry.

A homeless woman died after being crushed by a tree in Exeter

Mr Cameron wrote on Twitter: "Shocking scenes of flooding in Cornwall and around the country. Govt will help ensure everything is being done to help."

A 21-year-old woman was killed in Western Way, Exeter, after becoming trapped under a fallen tree which injured two others.

Inspector Andrew Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News that the dead woman had been living in a small tent sheltered against a wall at the roadside.

A car is partially submerged in standing water in Ruishton, Somerset

"It was a very large oak tree that had been there for ... many years. Obviously we've had lots of heavy weather, it's been raining an awful lot, and the tree for whatever reason came down."

Her death follows that of a man on Thursday, who died when his car became wedged under a bridge near a ford in Rectory Fields, Chew Stoke, Somerset.

A 50-year-old man, named as Kevin Wilkinson, also died after falling into a canal in Watford on Saturday.

Homes are left flooded on Cheats Road in Ruishton

Both the RAC and AA breakdown services reported surges in flood-related call-outs as roads and highways across the country have been closed due to perilous standing water.

But that has not deterred many motorists from taking their chances.

In Warwickshire three people became stranded on the roof of a four-wheel drive after deciding to go off-road driving.

Hay bales stand in flood water in fields surrounding the Glastonbury Tor

Police issued a post on Twitter to say the men had been shouting abuse at those who tried to come to their aid. They were eventually rescued by boat.

National Rail said the severe weather is disrupting services around the country.

Nearly 71,000 properties have been told they could be at risk, according to the Environment Agency.

Flood water blocking the A361 near Taunton, Somerset

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Man Held After Girl, 11, Raped In Park

Detectives have arrested a man on suspicion of raping an 11-year-old girl in a north London park.

The youngster is being treated in hospital after she was grabbed by a man on her way home from school on Friday afternoon.

She was dragged into Jubilee Park, in Enfield, north London, before being raped near a pitch and putt course.

The girl, who had caught a bus from Enfield town to Bury Street, was snatched as she was walking along Galliards Road at around 4.15pm.

She eventually returned home after the attack at 7.45pm.

A 26-year-old man was arrested at an address in Edmonton and is in police custody.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless school girl making her way home via her usual route, along one of Enfield's busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush hour.

"She says the attack happened for some considerable time - possibly in the region of two to three hours.

"At present an extensive search of the park is underway and local officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries, and we have already been receiving helpful information from members of the public.

"Given the significant and unaccounted amount of time between the incident and the victim's arrival home, we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her possibly appearing confused or dishevelled following her ordeal. All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence."

Chief Inspector Taylor Wilson said: "Over the course of the weekend police have been working using every resource available to support the victim, identify the suspect and provide a police response to increase confidence and provide reassurance to residents.

"Although this is an isolated and extremely rare incident, we are treating this with the utmost seriousness."

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Butlins Balcony Plunge Kills Man

A 23-year-old man has died after falling from a hotel balcony at the Butlins holiday resort in Bognor Regis.

Police and ambulance crews arrived at the West Sussex complex in the early hours of Saturday morning after receiving reports of the fall.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The man has been identified as Timothy Wall, of St Leonards, Dorset.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The death is being treated as unexplained but it is not being considered as suspicious."

A post-mortem will now take place.

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New Law To Tackle Stalkers Comes Into Effect

By Jane Chilton, Scotland Correspondent

Campaigners are celebrating today after new anti-stalking legislation finally becomes law in England and Wales.

It is already illegal to stalk a person in Scotland, with the Scottish legal system changing in 2010, but it has taken until now for the laws to be introduced in England and Wales.

Campaigners claim the laws are now "harmonious" throughout the UK.

In England and Wales, it is estimated that 120,000 victims, mostly women, are stalked each year but only 53,000 are recorded as crimes by police and only one in 50 of those actually lead to an offender being jailed.

As there have been no anti-stalking laws in England and Wales until today, abusers were often charged with the less serious offence of harassment. This resulted in more lenient sentences of 12 months or less in prison, and many being granted community orders.

Since the law changed in Scotland the effect of tougher anti-stalking legislation is clear. Before the changes only 70 offenders were prosecuted over 10 years, but since 2010 the figure has soared to 443.

Ann Moulds, from Ayr, was stalked for almost three years by a man she thought was her friend.

When he heard about her stalker, he offered her support and even offered to stay in her home to help protect her and make her feel safe. All the time he was her stalker, bombarding her with sexually explicit texts, messages and phone calls.

Ann told Sky News: "I ended up where my home became a prison. I was terrified to go out, I kept the curtains closed, I even stopped putting on the television or playing music so I could listen if there were any sounds outside.

In Scotland, 443 stalkers have been successfully prosecuted since 2010

"I just couldn't see a future, I couldn't see an end to it all. I lost my friends, I lost lots of weight and I lost my hair."

"So when I discovered that my supportive friend was this crazy man who was stalking me it was total shock, disbelief, absolute betrayal and it took me a long, long time to understand how that kind of mind can work."

Ann's stalker was eventually prosecuted and Ann decided to campaign for a change in the law in Scotland. She founded Action Scotland Against Stalking and was instrumental in bringing in the anti-stalking legislation.

Now she is extending her campaign to the European Parliament, which is now looking at making anti-stalking laws compulsory throughout all European states.

While praising the changes coming in today in England and Wales, Ann said: " It's about harmonising stalking laws so abusers can't commit offences in one country then hide behind a lack of legislation in other countries.

"The campaign has lifted the lid off stalking and that helps the police, judges and the courts in dealing with abusers seriously. One in five men and women will become a victim of stalking in some form or another. We are not looking at a small problem."

Stalking is a growing problem, especially through social networking sites. Cyber stalkers falsely believe they have greater anonymity - but protection rights are tightening up.

Digital stalking expert Jennifer Perry told Sky News: "The more prosecutions we hand out, the more people that are harassing individuals will hopefully think twice about it."

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Celebrity MP Dorries Says Colleagues Are 'Jealous'

Nadine Dorries has said criticism of her appearance in the I'm a Celebrity jungle was fuelled by the "jealousy" of other MPs.

Speaking to London's LBC radio station she said the programme had given her a platform to voice her opinions, adding "people know who I am now".

She told presenter Iain Dale: "The word jealousy springs to mind.

"I know what's happened, a lot of MPs including the female MPs, and the female MPs I've been told were the critical ones are the jobless and the more ambitious."

Ms Dorries, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, was suspended from the Conservative Party earlier this month after agreeing to take part in I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here amid concerns she would not be able to carry out her constituency duties while in Australia.

She was the first to be voted out of the show and has been asked to meet with the Chief Whip Sir George Young when she returns to the UK.

She added: "There's been a kind of 'oh no, she's gone in the jungle and she's going to attack Cameron and Osborne.' I know this has probably been fired up by number 10.

"What amazes me is that number 10 would think I would go into the jungle for it to be all about them. It wasn't about them, it was about me and the issues I'm concerned in."

Ms Dorries has also accused her critics of being sexist.

Writing in a blog entry on the conservativehome website, she said: "What has shocked me the most has been the sexism and double standards applied to my appearance.

"I am very sure that William Hague, following his resignation as leader of the party, spent far more than three sitting days away from Parliament whilst he was writing his books and speaking on the after dinner circuit earning vast amounts of money.

"Following Vince Cable's handling of the BSkyB deal he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing. Oh, how the press loved him. Well, of course, they would, he's a bloke."

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Spurs Attack: No Attempted Murder Charges

Two men who were accused of attempted murder following an attack on a Spurs fan in Rome have appeared in court on lesser charges.

Ashley Mills, a Tottenham Hotspur fan who was in Rome to watch the team play Lazio, suffered serious injuries to his skull and thigh when violence broke out in one of the city's bars.

The 25-year-old builder had been drinking with his brother in The Drunken Ship pub before the match when 50 masked assailants stormed in.

Two men, who were initially charged with attempted murder following the attack last week, have now appeared in court.

Lorenzo Contucci, a lawyer for one of the men, said the attempted murder charges had been dropped, but the men instead face charges of aggravated wounding with a weapon.

Mr Contucci explained the judge said the violence in the pub had not been racially motivated, but it was a "football-related crime".

The two men are understood to be supporters of Lazio's cross-town rivals, AS Roma.

The attack left seven people injured, including an American and a Bangladeshi, and the pub in tatters, with its windows broken, and chairs and tables overturned.

Police named other injured British fans as Dave Lesley, Stephen Tierney and Christopher Allen.

The group of attackers covered their faces with motorbike helmets and scarves and were armed with knives, baseball bats and knuckle dusters when they stormed The Drunken Ship pub late on Wednesday night, according to police.

The pub in Rome following the attack

Mr Mills remains in hospital in Rome. The 25-year-old builder from Brentwood, Essex, has spoken of the attack, and said: "There was a good atmosphere in the bar. Everyone from back home having a few drinks, we were having fun. And then the atmosphere changed really quickly.

"I was standing outside the bar drinking, and the next thing I know there are loads of them. It happened very quickly, I don't remember much. I remember being pulled out, along the ground, after I had been stabbed.

"I am not scared now, I was scared at the time."

Mr Mills received head wounds when he was beaten and a knife wound to the top of his right thigh, causing prolonged bleeding from his femoral artery.

The next thing he remembers is waking up at Rome's San Camillo hospital, where his groin wound, considered life-threatening by doctors, was operated on, while his head wound was treated with stitches.

A statement issued by the hospital said Mr Mills remained in a serious condition and would be kept under observation "for a few days".

He has been cheered up by three friends who have travelled to Rome to see him.

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Floods: Drivers Warned Against 'Risking Lives'

Rescue services have drivers to stop motoring into flood waters as strong winds and heavy rains bring chaos to the country's roads.

Emergency crews said that motorists must remember that while their vehicles may be four-wheel drives, they are not "amphibious".

According to the West Midlands Ambulance Service there has been a surprisingly high number of call-outs to 4x4 vehicles as people try to find short cuts away from flooded roads across country.

In Warwickshire three people became stranded on the roof of a four-wheel drive after deciding to go off-road driving.

Police issued a post on Twitter to say the men had been shouting abuse at those who tried to come to their aid. They were eventually rescued by boat.

A car becomes completely submerged after attempting to cross a ford

Nathan Hudson, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "People who attempt to pass through flooded roads are not only putting their own lives at risk, but also the lives of the emergency services staff who have to rescue them. 

"A little bit of common sense from the public will ensure that no one's life is put in any unnecessary danger.

There are 100 road restrictions in place across the country and the AA said it had attended more than 5,000 breakdowns by 1pm, 402 of which were cars that had driven into flood water.

David Burness, the AA's head of special operations said the calls were coming in at a rate of 1,000 an hour.

"It's a cumulative thing as the ground is so saturated now and river levels so high that any additional rainfall causes widespread problems," he said.

"With further heavy rain and high winds this afternoon and tomorrow, people in the affected areas really need to think twice before travelling - it really is bad out there and it's just not worth the risk."

Homes flooded on Cheats Road in the Somerset village of Ruishton

Meanwhile, police in Devon were forced to put up barriers for crowd control and warn the public to stay away after scores of people turned out to watch as the embankment of the Grand Western Canal collapsed.

The Environment Agency has one severe weather warning, which means danger to life, in place in the South West. There are 223 flood warnings in place across the country, and 273 less serious flood alerts.

David Cameron said the scenes from across the country were "shocking" and pledged that all flood victims would get the help they needed.

In a tweet he wrote: "Shocking scenes of flooding in Cornwall and around the country. Govt will help ensure everything is being done to help."

More than 800 homes across the country have been flooded with the South West and the Midlands bearing the brunt of the bad weather. Nearly 71,000 properties have been told they could be at risk, according to the Environment Agency.

A submerged car outside homes in Malmesbury

In Lostwithiel residents piled sandbags at their doors as they feared the River Fowey would burst its banks overnight. Sky News' Charlotte Lomas said that the Cornish town was bracing for more heavy rain.

"It won't take much to increase river levels again and yet again there will be another danger of heavy flooding here," she said.

Jo Wheeler, Sky News Weather Presenter, said: "The heaviest rain has now moved north, and there'll be a period of some hours before further wet weather is likely.

"Meanwhile, the storm system has taken the wettest weather into central, eastern and northern parts of England."

"And the strongest winds are to the south and east of the system, with gale force gusts for eastern England, East Anglia and the south-east.  These blustery conditions will also abate as the low pressure system clears away into the North Sea."

A homeless women in Exeter died after being crushed by a tree

In Exeter, a 21-year-old homeless woman was killed on Saturday night when the shelter in which she was sleeping was hit by a falling tree.

Inspector Andrew Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News that the dead woman had been living in a small tent sheltered against a wall at the roadside.

"It was a very large oak tree that had been there for ... many years. Obviously we've had lots of heavy weather, it's been raining an awful lot, and the tree for whatever reason came down."

In Cambridgeshire, a 70-year-old man died after his car plunged into a river near Earith on Saturday night, however, the police said it was not a weather-related accident.

Flood waters in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, reached 3ft in places and firefighters worked to rescue people from their flooded homes.

Network Rail said trains were likely to be suspended between Exeter and Bristol until Monday. Landslips at Honiton and Dawlish have led to the cancellation of a number of train services.

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Butlins Balcony Plunge Kills Man

A 23-year-old man has died after falling from a hotel balcony at the Butlins holiday resort in Bognor Regis.

Police and ambulance crews arrived at the West Sussex complex in the early hours of Saturday morning after receiving reports of the fall.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The man has been identified as Timothy Wall, of St Leonards, Dorset.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The death is being treated as unexplained but it is not being considered as suspicious."

A post-mortem will now take place.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

New Law To Tackle Stalkers Comes Into Effect

By Jane Chilton, Scotland Correspondent

Campaigners are celebrating today after new anti-stalking legislation finally becomes law in England and Wales.

It is already illegal to stalk a person in Scotland, with the Scottish legal system changing in 2010, but it has taken until now for the laws to be introduced in England and Wales.

Campaigners claim the laws are now "harmonious" throughout the UK.

In England and Wales, it is estimated that 120,000 victims, mostly women, are stalked each year but only 53,000 are recorded as crimes by police and only one in 50 of those actually lead to an offender being jailed.

As there have been no anti-stalking laws in England and Wales until today, abusers were often charged with the less serious offence of harassment. This resulted in more lenient sentences of 12 months or less in prison, and many being granted community orders.

Since the law changed in Scotland the effect of tougher anti-stalking legislation is clear. Before the changes only 70 offenders were prosecuted over 10 years, but since 2010 the figure has soared to 443.

Ann Moulds, from Ayr, was stalked for almost three years by a man she thought was her friend.

When he heard about her stalker, he even offered her support and even offered to stay in her home to help protect her and make her feel safe in her home. All the time he was her stalker, bombarding her with sexually explicit texts, messages and phone calls.

Ann told Sky News: "I ended up where my home became a prison. I was terrified to go out, I kept the curtains closed, I even stopped putting on the television or playing music so I could listen if there were any sounds outside.

In Scotland, 443 stalkers have been successfully prosecuted since 2010

"I just couldn't see a future, I couldn't see an end to it all. I lost my friends, I lost lots of weight and I lost my hair."

"So when I discovered that my supportive friend was this crazy man who was stalking me it was total shock, disbelief, absolute betrayal and it took me a long, long time to understand how that kind of mind can work."

Ann's stalker was eventually prosecuted and Ann decided to campaign for a change in the law in Scotland. She founded Action Scotland Against Stalking and was instrumental in bringing in the anti-stalking legislation.

Now she is extending her campaign to the European Parliament, which is now looking at making anti-stalking laws compulsory throughout all European states.

While praising the changes coming in today in England and Wales, Ann said: " It's about harmonising stalking laws so abusers can't commit offences in one country then hide behind a lack of legislation in other countries.

"The campaign has lifted the lid off stalking and that helps the police, judges and the courts in dealing with abusers seriously. One in five men and women will become a victim of stalking in some form or another. We are not looking at a small problem."

Stalking is a growing problem, especially through social networking sites. Cyber stalkers falsely believe they have greater anonymity - but protection rights are tightening up.

Digital stalking expert Jennifer Perry told Sky News: "The more prosecutions we hand out, the more people that are harassing individuals will hopefully think twice about it."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More