MPs' Expenses: Stewart Jackson Sued Over Home

Conservative MP Stewart Jackson is being sued by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) for refusing to pay back £54,000 which he claimed on expenses.

All other MPs who made a profit after claiming expenses to pay their mortgages have agreed to pay back hundreds of thousands of pounds to the taxpayer.

Ipsa published details of repayments by 71 politicians on its website.

But Mr Jackson has refused to pay the money back so Ipsa have filed papers with the High Court to sue him.

The Tory MP for Peterborough has vowed to fight the legal proceeding, accusing the watchdog, which was set up in the wake of the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal, of being "heavy handed and disproportionate".

He said the court action was "intended to bully me into submission".

When Ipsa took up the role of Parliamentary watchdog in 2010 they changed the rules so that MPs could not claim for mortgages on their second home. This was designed to prevent politicians from profiting - essentially gaining a home or asset paid for by the state - when they leave office.

Transitional arrangements were put in place permitting MPs elected before 2010 to keep claiming the money up to last August - as long as they agreed to return any potential capital gain.

Valuations were taken of the properties in 2010 and 2012 and the money owed by way of capital gains between the two dates has to be paid back.

But Mr Jackson is challenging the valuation on his house, claiming that even if it rose by £54,000 between 2010-12, it is actually worth less now than when he bought it in 2005.

Stewart Jackson is the only MP so far not to have reached a deal with Ipsa

In a statement, he said: "Ipsa are seeking a cash sum on a so-called capital gain "profit" on my family home, in which I live and have not sold.

"The money which Ipsa is demanding retrospectively is more than the total amount I received when I was claiming mortgage interest and the property is now valued at less than we purchased it for in 2005.

"Their assumption is that the value of my property rose by almost 20% over two years whilst house prices fell by 3% in my constituency in the same period.

"At my own expense, I have paid for an accurate recent expert valuation and I have made a reasonable offer to Ipsa to settle the matter and reduce the legal costs which will have to be met by the taxpayer."

The watchdog said the valuations were conducted independently by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The sums published by Ipsa range from a few hundred pounds in some cases to the £81,446 paid by Tory MP for Clwyd West David Jones and the £61,403 returned by DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell - both for properties in London.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond had owed £34,833 and Treasury Minister David Gauke £26,762.

Mr Stewart added: "Ipsa have negotiated with 70 other MPs in a secretive and arbitrary manner but in respect of my case, regrettably, they have refused to negotiate.

"I am merely seeking fair play and consistency and will pursue legal action to receive it."

In total the 70 MPs have been asked to hand back almost £500,000 worth of profits from taxpayer-funded homes, although some MPs do not have to return any money because the value of their property was judged to have not changed.

MPs are allowed to put in place payment plans so they do not have to pay back the money in one lump sum.

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Tia Sharp Accused: 'I'm Not Like Ian Huntley'

The man accused of murdering Tia Sharp told a prison officer that her death was an accident and said: "I'm not like Ian Huntley", a court has heard.

Stuart Hazell, who was taken to Belmarsh prison in August last year, was also quoted as saying that "nothing sexual" had happened between him and the 12-year-old.

Hazell is on trial on charges of sexually assaulting and murdering Tia between August 2 and 10 last year. He denies the charges.

The Old Bailey has been hearing from two prison officers who were with him soon after he arrived at Belmarsh.

Prison officer Warren Fegan, said: "He was saying, 'I'm not like Ian Huntley, it was nothing sexual, I'm not a nonce'.

"He was saying that the press was trying to make it look like it was sexual but it wasn't," Mr Fegan testified.

"He said that it was an accident, she had fallen down stairs and broken her neck."

Hazell is the former boyfriend of Tia's grandmother Christine Sharp.

A memorial to Tia in August last year

The schoolgirl's body was found in the loft of Ms Sharp's house in New Addington, south London, a week after she went missing.

Prosecutors say Hazell killed Tia and hid her body in the loft of the house.

Mr Fegan said: "He said that he didn't know what to do and he picked her up and took her upstairs and laid her on the bed, and he thought that she would get better.

"He didn't know what to do, so he wrapped her in a sheet and put her in the loft."

He said Hazell was full of remorse and felt sorry and guilty.

"He asked me how hard it would be to prove not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter," the prison officer told the court.

Mr Fegan told the jury that when Hazell was assessed at the prison, the risk of him harming himself was "at the far extreme".

"He really wanted to kill himself. He was saying he was sorry and he felt guilty.

"Initially he was fearing for his personal safety. He was very, very distressed. He was clearly saying that any opportunity he had he would kill himself."

The prison officer said Hazell talked to him again two days later.

"He stated that he wished he could turn back the clock," Mr Fegan said.

He quoted Hazell as saying: "I deserve everything I get. If I get 25-30 years, I don't care, I deserve everything I get."

Mr Fegan said that, when he asked Hazell how he felt, he held up one hand, and said: "Guilty, guv'nor".

Prosecutor said the girl was sexually abused

Another prison officer testified that Hazell had tried to get razor blades from his bag to cut his wrists while he was in custody at a police station.

Paul Leahy told the jury that Hazell said: "Since Friday I've been feeling guilty and I just want to kill myself."

The court heard that Hazell said: "I have a real problem with my anger and when people say wrong things to me, I can flip.

"I just feel like hurting everyone."

According to Mr Leahy, Hazell said police should investigate his neighbours and insisted he had been "fitted up".

Later the pathologist who examined Tia's body after it was recovered from the loft gave evidence about its condition.

Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl told the court there was no clear bruising to Tia's neck and no sign of compression or strangulation.

He added that there was no fracture to the bones of the neck, or of any bones in her body. There was also no sign of external injury.

He said he could not exclude the possibility she had been sexually assaulted.

Dr Fegan-Earl said he could not establish Tia's cause of death, but said there was no evidence to support a the claim that she died after falling down stairs.

He said asphyxia was the most likely cause of death.

Tia's mother was in the courtroom as the prosecution continued to make its case against Hazell.

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April Jones Case: Bridger's 'Sleepover Offer'

The man accused of murdering April Jones asked a 10-year-old girl to "come for a sleepover with his daughter" shortly before April's disappearance, a jury has heard.

A video recorded police interview with the youngster, two days after April went missing, was shown to the jury at Mark Bridger's trial at Mold Crown Court.

Former slaughterhouse worker Bridger, 47, denies abducting and murdering five-year-old April as she played  near her home in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, on the evening of October 1 last year.

The prosecution claims Bridger snatched and murdered the youngster, who had cerebral palsy, in a sexually motivated attack.

Bridger claims he knocked her down in his car by accident and cannot remember what he did with her body because he was drunk.

In her interview, the 10-year-old youngster, who cannot be named because of her age, said she was cycling on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate with a friend when Bridger pulled up alongside her in his car.

She said: "I saw Mark in his car and he offered me to have a sleepover with his daughter at his house."

Bridger approached her about two hours before April vanished, she said.

"I phoned my mum about fiveish and asked if I could go on a bike ride around Bryn-Y-Gog," she said.

"I stopped on the pavement to speak to my mum and he parked up and spoke to me.

"He put his window down and started talking to me."

Asked how she reacted, the girl, who said she knew one of Bridger's children, said: "It was odd that he offered me a sleepover and I answered back and said, well that would be good, and he said, 'that's sorted then'."

She told the officer interviewing her that she cycled off and Bridger drove away and there was no further discussion.

She said she next saw him about five or 10 minutes later after she had cycled around the block with her friend.

The girl told the police he had parked up on the estate and was sitting in the driver's seat of his left-hand drive Land Rover and was leaning to one side.

She said Bridger had a newspaper across his lap and appeared to be speaking into a walkie talkie.

"I didn't speak to him. He put his hand up and put his thumb up towards me and I smiled and went on," she added.

She said it was "odd" that Bridger would ask her to a sleepover as she had never been to one with any of his children before.

The girl also described seeing April playing nearby with a friend at about the same time.

She said: "April was up the hill. I'm not quite sure if I saw her before or after I saw him."

Later that night, the girl said she was at home when there was a knock at the door.

"Two boys came to the house and said April had been kidnapped and would we be able to come and help find her," she said.

April's body has never been found despite the largest search operation ever staged by British police.

The trial continues.

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Acid Attack Woman Appeals For Witnesses

A 28-year-old woman being treated in hospital after having acid thrown in her face has appealed for help in catching her attacker.

Police released a photograph of the injuries she suffered in the "craven attack" on the doorstep of her home in Romford, northeast London.

The suspect is described as white, short, about 20 years old, with a dark complexion and dark hair. He was wearing black clothing and spoke with an English accent.

The assault happened after the woman answered the door to a man who had asked to speak to "Michelle" shortly before 9pm on April 30.

He returned about 30 minutes later and squirted acid in her face from a bottle.

The victim, who is called Tara, but has asked for her surname not be used, said she had been left devastated by the attack.

"I don't understand why this has happened to me," she said.

"I feel devastated and am coming to terms with the fact I might have to bear the scars of this cowardly attack for the rest of my life.

"I was at home with my family at the time. It doesn't bear thinking about that this could have been one of the children instead of me as the man didn't even look up when he threw it at me.

"He is a coward. Please call the police if you know anything at all."

Tara managed to shut the door after the attack and rinse her face with water while an ambulance was called.

She was taken to hospital and later transferred to a specialist burns unit where she remains in a stable condition.

Her pet dog - a long-haired chihuahua - also required treatment after the attack but the animal is not thought to have suffered any long-term injuries.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call Havering CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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United Confirm David Moyes As New Manager

Manchester United has confirmed David Moyes has been appointed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as the club's new manager.

He will take over on July 1 after signing a six-year contract at Old Trafford.

Earlier, his current club, Everton, confirmed he would be leaving at the end of the season.

More follows...

It won't be easy filling Ferguson's shoes

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Sir Alex Ferguson Retires As Man Utd Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring as manager of Manchester United, the club has confirmed.

The manager, who has been at the club for 26 years, said in a statement: "The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.

"It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape, and I believe I have done so."

The Scotsman secured his 13th Premier League title with Manchester United two weeks ago and is the most successful manager in British football history.

The deal to appoint a successor has already been done and approved by the club's board, understands Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman.

An announcement is expected within days, with Sky sources saying Everton boss David Moyes is in "pole position" to get the job.

Ferguson, 71, will stay at Manchester United as a director and an ambassador, but now has just two games left with the famous club.

His final game, away to West Brom on May 19, will be his 1,500th in charge.

"With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future," said Ferguson.

"I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential."

Sir Alex's first European Cup was the famous last gasp win in 1999

The success of the club would continue without him, said Ferguson, who had a stand at Old Trafford named in his honour in 2011.

"The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level ... the long-term future of the club remains a bright one," said Ferguson.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore told Sky News the Scot was a "constant professional" who was bowing out on a high.

"In some ways it's a shock, in some ways the timing couldn't be better," he said.

FA chairman David Bernstein hailed Sir Alex's tenure as "truly remarkable".

"He is genuinely one of the greatest managers of all time and certainly of the modern era. His contribution to English football has been outstanding in every regard," said Mr Bernstein.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, also joined in the tributes and tweeted: "Sir Alex Ferguson's achievement at #MUFC has been exceptional. Hopefully his retirement will make life a little easier for my team #AVFC".

Everton Boss David Moyes is in "pole position" to take over at Old Trafford

The "foundations of the Premiership have shaken this morning", said Sky News Sports Correspondent Paul Kelso.

"Fergie steps aside as the greatest figure in football management - there'll be a very long queue of managers seeking to replace him."

Old Trafford bosses may be wary of bringing in a "restless manager" like Jose Mourinho, said Kelso - despite his impressive track record.

A manager like David Moyes, who is seen to have "over-achieved" at Everton, is looking like the more likely choice.

"Crucially, if he (Moyes) has Sir Alex Ferguson's blessing, it will buy him time with the fans to prove he's a worthy successor," said Kelso.

Former and current players have also been praising Sir Alex's achievements and having their say on who should fill his boots.

"You have to be a certain manager to manage Manchester United," former United player Paul Ince told Sky News.

"It's very important the next man is the right man."

Michael Owen, who is himself retiring at the end of the season, tweeted: "What an act to follow. I guess only Mourinho would have the confidence to strut through the door. If it were me, I'd go for Moyes."

The share price is shown up until the day before Sir Alex's announcement

But former United keeper Peter Schmeichel said Sir Alex should have stayed on a bit longer.

"(I'm) shocked, disappointed and very sad," he told Sky News. "I was hoping it was a couple of years down the line."

The Danish player, who was with the club for most of the 90s, said Ferguson was an inspirational leader who always had time for him, and the best manager the game had ever seen.

Cristiano Ronaldo simply tweeted a picture of himself with the manager, along with the words: "Thanks for everything, Boss."

The announcement, which comes just a day after back page speculation, may be a cause of concern for some Manchester United investors. It means there will soon be a new chief executive and manager in place at Old Trafford.

When David Gill confirmed he would quit as CEO in June, it sparked a deterioration in share price.

Manchester United shares opened 4.74% down following news of Ferguson's departure, effectively wiping nearly £95m off the club's value.

Sir Alex, who was born in Glasgow and began his managerial career in 1974, enjoyed success with St Mirren and Aberdeen before moving to England.

He won 49 trophies during his career - his haul with Manchester United including five FA Cups, four league cups and two famous Champions League titles, in 1999 and 2008.

However, the manager's quest for a coveted third European title ended this season with a 3-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid.

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Sir Alex Ferguson Retires: Moyes 'Favourite'

Everton's David Moyes is close to being confirmed as the new Manchester United manager in the next few days, Sky sources say.

It comes after current Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who is one of the most successful managers of all time, announced he will retire at the end of the season.

The 71-year-old guided United to 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns in 26 years in charge at the club.

Moyes, who shares Ferguson's Scottish working-class roots, is the odds-on favourite to succeed him, according to Sky Bet.

The Everton manager, 50, has built a steady career in over a decade at the Merseyside club.

The manager, who is out of contract in the summer, has excelled at over-achieving on a limited budget, rather than managing a large squad of superstar players.

He once said of Sir Alex: "He is someone all the football managers look up to, they all respect him.

"Even when he's fighting them, he still has the humility to have a drink with them at the end of the game. And he still has the dignity to phone them if they are sacked or out of work. There's a lot of that from his Glasgow roots."

Mourinho is among the other contenders who may take over at Old Trafford

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has also been heavily backed for the job. He is second favourite, according to Sky Bet.

Both Moyes and ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho are known for having strong relationships with Ferguson, who will become a club director and ambassador after his last match in charge against West Brom on May 19.

Moyes has plenty of admirers at Old Trafford and further afield due to his achievements at Goodison Park. However, he has no experience in the lucrative Champions League comparable to Mourinho.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes Moyes would be a good fit as a successor as he has proved he can stay at one club for a long time, spending 10 years at Everton.

He told Sky: "What we are looking for is not someone to come in 10 months or three years, we want someone to come stay there and give stability.

"When we talk about Moyes, he has been a decade at Everton and done a fantastic job on limited funds.

"Is he cut from the same cloth? I don't know. Don't forget there will be major changes with (chief executive) David Gill stepping down - the club is really changing in the summer, the more stability they can add the better.

"David Moyes, he sounds like a good solution."

Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen said he would choose the Everton boss.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still hugely popular among United fans

Owen, the former Liverpool striker who played under Sir Alex for two seasons, said on Twitter: "What an act to follow. I guess only Mourinho would have the confidence to strut through the door. If it were me, I'd go for Moyes."

Among the other contenders are Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who scored in the last-gasp finale to snatch victory when defeat had seemed inevitable in the 1999 Champions League final, and is still hugely popular among United fans.

The Norwegian former supersub has made a successful start to his managerial career at Molde but lacks experience at United's level.

Mourinho's conqueror in the Champions League, Jurgen Klopp, has made a big impression while steering Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final.

His swashbuckling style of play, coupled with his engaging and eccentric manner in post-match interviews would make him a colourful addition to the Premier League.

Another outsider is Laurent Blanc, who had a brief stint with the Red Devils at the end of his illustrious career.

He has won the French league title at Bordeaux, then stabilised a France team that collapsed into chaos at the last World Cup before stepping down following their quarter-final loss to Spain at Euro 2012.

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Prestatyn Fire: Killer Arsonist Given Life

Melanie Smith will serve a minimum of 30 years after being sentenced to life for the murder of a family of five who died during a house fire in Prestatyn, Wales.

Smith was today described as "despicable" by the family's relatives.

Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her four-year-old nephew, Bailey, and two-year-old niece, Skye, died in the arson attack at their home on October 19, 2012.

Firefighters managed to get Ms Shiers' 15-month-old son Charlie and his father Liam Timbrell, 23, from the first-floor flat, but they died later in hospital.

Lee-Anna Shiers died with nephew Bailey Allen, four, and Skye Allen, two

Steve Allen, the father of Bailey and Skye, told a press conference after the court hearing today that he had been looking forward to seeing them grow up.

"Instead, one despicable person has taken them away," he said. He added: "Nothing will ever bring any of our family back to us, but Melanie Smith will now be given what she deserves.

"Today is the next step towards grieving for our family. It still doesn't feel real".

Liam Timbrell, 23, also died in the fire

Smith, 43, lived in the flat below the victims. Prosecutors say she deliberately set fire to a pushchair because she was angry that Ms Shiers had left it in their shared hallway.

The court was told she carried out the "terrible and wicked deed" because she was "drunk and angry", disillusioned with her boyfriend, very unhappy in her flat and jealous of the woman who lived upstairs.

During the trial, the court heard a harrowing 999 call made by Mr Timbrell from the burning building, during which he was heard shouting: "Oh my God, oh my God! We're going to die."

The jury also heard that Mr Timbrell told paramedics that "it was arson" and "it was Mel from downstairs".

Smith had also made threats to "burn down" a love rival's home.

Samantha Schofield told the court that Smith had threatened to start a fire at her home as she wrongly believed Miss Schofield, the mother of two young boys, was having an affair with her partner Steve Clarkson.

During the trial, Smith claimed 21 witnesses who gave evidence against her were "lying".

In addition to five counts of murder, Smith was also convicted of one count of making threats of arson. 

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Tia Sharp: CCTV Taken Hours Before She Died

CCTV pictures which show Tia Sharp together with Stuart Hazell have been played to a jury at the Old Bailey.

Jurors were shown the clips of Hazell and Tia after they met at a train station on the afternoon of August 2.

They included footage of the pair walking along a platform after getting off a tram at Gravel Hill station, shopping in a branch of the Co-op supermarket and travelling on a T31 bus.

The pair were also pictured together on a T31 bus

Tia's mother Natalie Sharp looked on tearfully from the public gallery as the clips were shown.

Hazell, who is accused of the schoolgirl's murder, was the boyfriend of Christine Bicknell - Tia's grandmother - when the 12-year-old went missing.

Jurors at the Old Bailey were also read a statement by Ms Bicknell, in which she described how the schoolgirl "idolised" Hazell.

Tia loved Hazell "to pieces", the court heard

Hazell was also described as "no ogre", according to a statement from her grandmother read in court.

The statement said: "When Tia went missing it didn't cross my mind that she could be dead. I always thought she was coming home. It didn't cross my mind that he would hurt her. He loved Tia, she idolised him.

"I love Stuart with all my heart, he was my world, but my grandchildren always came first.

"Tia will ask Stuart if she can stay for the weekend before she asks me. The majority of the time he has her more than what I do. She is his cling-on."

Hazell, 37, of New Addington, south London, is charged with killing the girl between August 2 and 10 last year.

Her body was found in the loft of her grandmother's house a week after she went missing.

Ms Bicknell said all her grandchildren "loved him to pieces".

She said she had thought back over her relationship and had not noticed any particular changes, nor had any worries about Hazell being around Tia.

The hunt for Tia lasted more than a week

Her statement said Hazell was not somebody she "dragged in from the street", but had had a relationship with him for more than five years. 

"Tia was not the sort of girl you could groom," she said. "She was a mouthy 12-year-old - you couldn't force her to do anything. 

"She is a mini Natalie (Tia's mother), which is a mini-me."

She added: "I knew nothing about her death. If I knew, he could be dead - I would be inside because I would have killed him. I found out the same time as everybody else, that Friday. I didn't know anything."

Ms Bicknell said that Hazell would get "argumentative" after drinking vodka, but that she had told him not to consume it in the house. He would, however, drink lager and smoke two cannabis joints per day.

Hazell, who had previously dated Tia's mother, moved in with Ms Bicknell a week after their relationship started in 2007, the court heard.

 

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Sir Alex Ferguson Retires: Tributes Flood In

While Sir Alex Ferguson's 26-year reign was by the pitch, retirement tributes have come from across the world of sport, politics and showbusiness.

Little did US-based TV presenter Piers Morgan know, when he tweeted last night, "Please God, on behalf of all Arsenal fans, let this Fergie rumour be true", that the Scotsman  would soon become the major trending topic on Twitter.

Within minutes of the Manchester United press office statement on Wednesday confirming Sir Alex's departure, six of the top slots on Twitter trending topics worldwide related to the news.

For a while, two of those were in Russian - Манчестер Юнайтед (Manchester United) and Алекс Фергюсон (Alex Ferguson).

News soon travelled to Westminster, where politicians of all persuasions were preparing for the Queen's State Opening of Parliament.

Aston Villa-supporter David Cameron led the political tributes.

The Prime Minister tweeted: "Sir Alex Ferguson's achievement at #MUFC has been exceptional. Hopefully his retirement will make life a little easier for my team #AVFC"

Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband used the resignation of the man who was crowned Manager of the Year 10 times, to promote the Labour Party. His tribute, however, sounded almost like an obituary.

"Proud man. Great manager. Staunch Labour Party supporter. Sir Alex Ferguson will never be forgotten," Mr Miliband tweeted.

Lord Prescott went further on the political theme for Ferguson, who according to the Sunday Times Rich List is Britain's wealthiest manager with a personal fortune of £34m.

He tweeted: "#thankyousiralex for helping the reds in football and politics. Legend."

Closer to home, former Man Utd player Michael Owen helped lead the way with questions on who will succeed English football's most successful boss.

Owen tweeted: "What an act to follow. I guess only Mourinho would have the confidence to strut through the door. If it were me, I'd go for Moyes.

"I was adamant he'd do another year or two. Delighted that he has gone on his terms. Lifting the Trophy next week will be the perfect ending."

Meanwhile, TV presenter and Manchester United supporter Angus Deayton spoke of Ferguson's sheer skill - on and off the pitch.

"It's a hard act to follow. He is the sort of person who could have succeeded in any career," Deayton told Sky News.

"He also seems to be very well-connected and know everyone in the world of politics, horseracing, sport and wine. He is the Renaissance man."

And a fellow Man Utd fan, Lord of the Rings star Dominic Monaghan, appeared in shock at the departure.

Monaghan tweeted: "Absolute. SHOCK. Reeling from the #fergieretires #fergie news.

"Most successful football manager of all time. The legend. United march on."

But perhaps one of the most poignant messages was from a colleague.

Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen told Sky News: "He has been absolutely fantastic for this club.

"I hope all the fans, whoever comes in, give the same support as they gave Sir Alex."

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Jimmy Tarbuck In Child Sex Abuse Arrest

Veteran comedian Jimmy Tarbuck has been arrested in connection with a historical child sex abuse allegation.

Tarbuck, 73, was questioned by North Yorkshire Police on April 26 in relation to an incident which allegedly occurred in the late 1970s in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, when the victim was a young boy.

The entertainer is understood to have been arrested at his home in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, and released on bail.

The arrest was made following information passed by Metropolitan Police officers working on Operation Yewtree to North Yorkshire Police.

A force spokesman said: "North Yorkshire Police can confirm that a 73-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a historic child sex abuse investigation in Harrogate.

"The man was arrested in Kingston upon Thames on Friday, 26 April 2013.

"Following questioning, he was released on police bail pending further enquiries.

"The complaint relates to an incident that occurred in the late 1970s when the victim was a young boy.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."

Tarbuck has spent more than 50 years in television.

Born in 1940 in Liverpool, he was a schoolmate of John Lennon and his first television breakthrough came with It's Tarbuck 65! in 1964.

In 1994 he was awarded an OBE by the Queen for his services to showbusiness and charity.

Last November he performed in The Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

His daughter is the actress, television and radio presenter Liza Tarbuck.

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Lindsay Sandiford Makes Final Bali Appeal

A British grandmother facing the death penalty for drug smuggling has made a final appeal against her sentence, according to human rights campaigners.

Lindsay Sandiford, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, is facing execution by firing squad after being convicted of smuggling £1.6m worth of cocaine into Bali.

The 56-year-old lost her first appeal against the ruling last month but has now taken her case to Indonesia's Supreme Court, pressure group Reprieve said.

Police arrested her at Bali's airport last May after a routine check uncovered 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine hidden in the lining of her suitcase.

Prosecutors say Sandiford was at the centre of a drugs ring involving three other Britons.

But she claims she was forced to transport the drugs under duress as her children's safety was threatened.

She received the death sentence despite prosecutors asking only for a 15-year jail term, after she was accused of damaging the image of Bali.

The British Government has refused to fund her defence, leaving her to turn to donations from supporters and the public via the JustGiving website.

If the Supreme Court also rejects her appeal, she can then seek a judicial review of the decision from the same court.

After that, only the president can grant her a reprieve - although experts say this seldom happens in such cases.

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Paedophile Brit 'Had Dungeon' Under US Home

A British man living in the US has pleaded guilty to an international plot involving child kidnapping and pornography.

Forty-year-old Geoffrey Portway, a UK citizen living in Worcester, Massachusetts, admitted the charges in federal court.

Portway was arrested in July 2012 after US investigators allegedly found child pornography and photos of children who appeared to be dead on his computer.

Authorities said he chatted online with two men who talked about their desire to abduct, kill and eat children, and investigators found equipment in his basement to carry out the gruesome acts.

The soundproofed room in the leafy New England suburb allegedly contained a child-sized homemade coffin, a steel cage, torture devices and butchering tools.

"This dungeon was described in detail by Portway in recovered chats as a place he intended to use to keep kidnapped children while he sexually abused them, and as a place to eventually murder and cannibalise the children," federal documents revealed.

Portway was among dozens arrested in the investigation that began with the detention of another man in Massachusetts who has been jailed for 18 years.

Michael Arnett (pictured) allegedly plotted the abduction with Portway

More than 50 suspects were eventually detained and over 160 children were rescued in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Portway was said to have solicited several people to help him abduct a child, including a man named Michael Arnett from Kansas.

He told Arnett he later intended to rape, kill and eat the child, prosecutors said.

Arnett has pleaded guilty in Kansas to sexual exploitation of a child for the purposes of producing child pornography.

Portway could face between 18 and 27 years in prison under an agreement with prosecutors. Sentencing was set for August.

He will be deported back to the UK after his imprisonment.

"Clearly, the facts of this case were quite disturbing and we are grateful law enforcement acted when they did," said US Attorney Carmen M Ortiz.

"I hope that this case sends a clear message that we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who participate in these types of activities."

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April Jones Was 'Happy' When She Got In Van

April Jones had a "happy face" when she got into a vehicle shortly before her disappearance, a court has heard.

April's best friend, seen in pre-recorded video evidence, said the five-year-old went willingly and did not cry.

Mold Crown Court watched footage of the seven-year-old being interviewed by police the day after April went missing.

The girl said she saw April getting into a grey Land Rover and that she had seen it before.

On Friday, the court had seen CCTV footage showing Mark Bridger's Land Rover passing a garage in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, on the day she went missing, with April allegedly in the back.

Mark Bridger, 47, denies abducting and murdering her. He also denies intending to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, concealing or destroying April's body.

Bridger says he killed April accidentally when he ran her over in the car.

He claims he then put her into the front of the vehicle and drove around the town looking for medical help. He says he cannot remember what he did with her body.

Speaking about the person in the vehicle, her friend said: "He got out of the van and was waiting outside the van for someone".

Mark Bridger, 47, denies the charges against him

April got in through the "drivers way" and then sat in the back seat. "She wasn't crying, she was happy," the young witness said.

The vehicle then drove off, the court heard.

The girl went on: "She did not say she was going to go in it (the car). I know they (April's parents) wouldn't let her go at that time."

She added: "I don't know why April would want to get into the van because her mum and dad told her not to get into vans like that."

The accused, Mark Bridger, shook his head when the girl said the man with the Land Rover had green or blue eyes and brown hair, and was probably wearing a green jacket.

"It wasn't that dark and I could see he had brown hair because the headlights were on," she said.

The girl also described how April's brother later came looking for his sister to take her home and how the alarm was raised.

Her interview with police was played to the jury as the girl watched on a live video-link from Aberystwyth, sitting with a white teddy bear and a mug of juice.

The judge and lawyers did not wear their wigs or robes and there were regular breaks so the girl could concentrate.

April Jones disappeared while playing with her friend near their homes in Machynlleth, Powys on October 1 last year.

In the afternoon session the girl was cross examined by defence barristers.

Before the questioning, the judge told her it was "very important" that she told the truth.

She was asked in detail about the evidence she had given, particularly about her memory of the Land Rover and the man she had seen.

She admitted that she had only seen "a little bit of a view of the Land Rover".

She said she knew April had been talking to the man as she could see their mouths moving and that April had got into the Land Rover willingly.

The barrister asked: "Did you see April on the ground?"

The young girl replied: "She was talking but she was standing up when she was talking to him."

Mr Kelly explained to her that he had to say she was wrong, and asked if she understood that.

He added: "You saw her being carried into the car by the man who put her in the front seat, didn't you?"

The girl said: "She was in the back seat, that's what I saw.

"She got into the front seat and climbed into the back seat but the man didn't carry her into the front seat."

The friend told the court she saw the Land Rover leave after April had got into the "van and they drove off to somewhere".

She confessed she could not really see the eyes of the man next to the Land Rover and had guessed when they said they were green or blue.

She was asked if she had guessed about anything else and she said "no".

After the girl finished her evidence, the girl's mother - who also cannot be named for legal reasons - took the stand.

She told the court she remembers her daughter running home saying "April's got into someone's van, April's been taken".

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Woman Charged With Ditch Murders Of Three Men

A woman has been charged with the murders of three men whose bodies were found in ditches in Cambridgeshire.

Kevin Lee was discovered dead in a ditch in Newborough on March 30.

A post-mortem examination revealed the 48-year-old died from stab wounds to the chest.

Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31, and John Chapman, 56, were found at Thorney Dyke on April 3. They too had been stabbed.

Joanna Dennehy, of Peterborough, who is in her early 30s, has been charged with all three murders, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Grace Ononiwu, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the East of England, said Dennehy would appear at Peterborough Magistrates' Court at a later date.

Two other people have also been charged in the case.

Leslie Layton, 36, of Bifield, Orton Goldhay, has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Robert Moore, 55, of Belvoir Way, Peterborough, has been charged with assisting an offender in connection with the case.

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Mirren Storms Out Of Theatre Dressed As Queen

Dame Helen Mirren has stormed out of a theatre dressed as the Queen to angrily confront a group of street drummers who she accused of disrupting her West End show.

The star, 67, left London's Gielgud Theatre at the end of the first act of The Audience, still dressed in pearls and tiara.

She marched over to a group of around 25 drummers, who were promoting a gay music festival, and allegedly used several expletives as she angrily ticked them off.

Dame Helen later admitted using a few "thespian" words, but added that she felt "rotten" afterwards.

She told The Daily Telegraph: "I'm afraid there were a few 'thespian' words used.

"They got a very stern royal ticking off, but I have to say they were very sweet and they stopped immediately.

"I felt rotten, but on the other hand they were destroying our performance so something had to be done.

"The drumming just slowly got louder and louder and then settled right outside the stage door."

After struggling through the final emotional scene of the first act, in which the Queen is told she is going to lose the royal yacht Britannia, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Dame Helen recently won an Olivier for the role

Dame Helen explained: "I was so upset from struggling through the scene with Paul (Ritter) that I literally walked straight off stage, straight up the stairs and straight out the stage door.

"(I) banged my way through the crowd who were watching and said 'Stop, you've got to stop right now' - only I might have used stronger language than that.

"They were very sweet and stopped the minute they knew I wasn't just a batty old woman haranguing them on the streets of Soho on a Saturday night."

She said she now wants to track down the performers to invite them to see the play.

James Horrocks, speaking on behalf of the organisers of the As One In The Park festival which the drummers were advertising, admitted the music was "very loud" but added that "the walls of the theatre were very thin".

He told Sky News Dame Helen "turned the air blue" with her language and those who witnessed her rant were "so shocked".

However, her offer of tickets to the play was "very sweet", he said.

Rufus Gerrard-Wright, who plays David Cameron in the play, said the confrontation was "breathtaking".

Writing on Twitter, he said: "You should have seen Helen. She came out in full Queen costume and shouted at the drummers. Honestly. It was breathtaking."

The Audience is a play about the monarch's private weekly meetings with various prime ministers at Buckingham Palace.

Last week the role earned Dame Helen an Olivier award for best actress. 

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Curb On Pensions Claimed Through UK Spouses

Ministers have signalled a curb on people living abroad who are able to claim UK state pensions through their British spouses.

Pensions Minister Steve Webb said there are 220,000 people living outside the UK who receive some form of state pension based solely on their spouse's British work history - at a cost of £410m a year.

He said the Pensions Bill, which will be announced in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, would stop new claims of this kind, but existing pensioners would be unaffected.

He told The Daily Telegraph: "Most people would think, you pay national insurance, you get a pension.

"But folk who have never been here - but happen to be married to someone who has - are getting pensions.

"Women married to British men, we are getting more of them claiming a pension based on his record.

"In some cases, they have never set foot in Britain at all."

The maximum each person can claim in a year is £3,500.

A decade ago, the number of overseas residents receiving such payments was 190,000.

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Michael Higdon Arrested After Scottish PFA Win

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A Scottish Premier League footballer has been arrested in connection with an alleged assault at a nightclub in Glasgow.

Motherwell striker Michael Higdon, 29, was arrested this morning hours after he had been celebrating his selection as Scottish PFA Player of the Year at a star-studded ceremony at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel.

The arrest took place at The Corinthian Club in the city's Ingram Street.

The Liverpool-born striker has had a spectacular season in the Motherwell side, scoring 26 goals.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "A 29-year-old man is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with an alleged assault at a nightclub in Ingram Street in Glasgow at 1.25am today."

The player, who arrived from St Mirren in the summer of 2011, now holds Motherwell's post-war record for league goals scored.

Higdon beat Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths, Aberdeen's Niall McGinn and Andrew Shinnie of Inverness to the title of Player of the Year.

He was due to meet journalists for a press conference this morning but the event was postponed.

He was released from police custody earlier this morning.

Higdon has described the season as the "best of his career" and credited his success to "confidence, playing in a good team and having a manager who believes in me".

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Speedboat: Pair Died In 'Favourite Place'

The brother of a 51-year-old man who was killed along with his daughter in a speedboat accident near Padstow has paid tribute to him.

Nick Milligan and his daughter died after they and four other members of their family were thrown from their boat into the Camel Estuary.

Speaking at a news conference in Bodmin, Max Milligan said: "Nick, or Nico as he was known to us, was an extremely loving father and husband, son and brother who doted on his family.

"As children and teenagers we spent many summers and New Year's Eves at New Polzeath here in Cornwall and a few years ago he built his dream home above Daymer Bay.

Nick Milligan, 51, was killed alongside his eight-year-old daughter

"That he and my delightful niece died in their favourite place at the end of a gloriously sunny Bank Holiday weekend provides us with a tiny glimmer of light.

"I'd like to thank the Devon and Cornwall Police and all the staff at Derriford Hospital who have been incredible over the last few days."

Mr Milligan was a senior executive at BSkyB. He was managing director of Sky Media.

His 39-year-old wife and four-year-old son were airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth with "potentially life changing injuries". His two other daughters, aged 10 and 12, suffered minor injuries in the accident.

Two men came to the family's rescue and managed to stop the speedboat

Video has emerged of the speedboat, which was a rigid inflatable owned by the family, circling out of control in the water.

Waterskiing instructor Charlie Toogood has been hailed a hero after he jumped on to the speedboat from another vessel to switch off the engine.

A second man, Will Jones, was also named as someone who came to their rescue.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the family, from London, was on holiday in Cornwall over the Bank Holiday weekend when the accident happened.

Detective Superintendent Jim Colwell said whether the kill cord on the boat operated correctly would form part of the investigation into the accident.

The accident took place in the Camel Estuary near Padstow

He said police had 25 staff working on the investigation and called for witnesses to come forward.

And he paid tribute to local people who went to the family's aid and holidaymakers who gave up their boats to help the rescue.

He said: "Without the brave and heroic efforts of local people and holidaymakers in the minutes immediately after this incident in assisting the family whilst they were in the water, if people hadn't come to their assistance in the manner they did I'm confident this incident would have been far worse in terms of the death toll."

Matt Pavitt, of the North Cornwall Coastguard, added: "Without the intervention of the one person who did manage to get on board the vessel, we could have been dealing with a far more serious situation."

A joint investigation has been launched by police and coastguard. Inquests will take place in due course.

South Western Ambulance Service earlier said it was thought the speedboat hit some kayakers near the popular holiday resort, however this was subsequently ruled out by the MCA.

Ambulance service spokesman John Oliver said the injured suffered leg injuries of various degrees of severity.

RNLI lifeboats from both Padstow and nearby Rock were launched as part of the rescue operation, and search and rescue helicopters from two naval bases were also ordered to attend the scene.

A BSkyB spokesperson said: "Everyone at Sky is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic accident involving the Milligan family.

"Nick has been a great friend and colleague for many years and his loss will be felt across our company and the industry.

"Our very deepest sympathies are with his family at this time."

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Stuart Hall: BBC Launches Separate Inquiry

The BBC has announced a freestanding inquiry into the conduct of disgraced former presenter Stuart Hall on its premises.

The corporation said in a statement: "In light of a potential conflict of interest with Dame Janet Smith there will be a freestanding investigation covering Stuart Hall's conduct at the BBC which will feed into her review.

"This work will be led by a different individual appointed by the BBC."

Hall is facing jail after pleading guilty last month to a string of offences against girls aged as young as nine.

The 83-year-old, who was a regular football match summariser on Radio 5 Live but has now been dropped by the BBC, was described as an "opportunistic predator" by prosecutors.

Hall admitted touching and kissing 13 young victims during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Many were daughters of friends.

The former It's A Knockout Presenter had previously denied any wrongdoing, telling reporters the claims against him were "cruel".

But last month he entered guilty pleas at Preston Crown Court, details of which only emerged last week when reporting restrictions were lifted.

He was told he must sign the sex offenders' register and was granted bail on condition that he lives at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and has no unsupervised contact with children.

Hall will be sentenced on June 17.

On Sunday, BBC trust chairman Lord Patten had said there would not be a separate inquiry into how the disgraced star was able to abuse his victims at the corporation.

He told the Andrew Marr Show that Dame Janet Smith's review into Jimmy Savile's conduct would also look at how Hall had the opportunity to abuse victims.

Lord Patten said: "I think to set up a new inquiry, when there is already one which is extremely well-resourced operating, would probably delay arriving at the truth."

But now the corporation has said there will be a freestanding probe into Hall's conduct.

Lord Patten also confirmed on Sunday the BBC was likely to face compensation claims from Hall's victims.

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Football Match Abandoned After Fan Collapses

A Scottish Premier League match has been abandoned on safety grounds, after a supporter collapsed in the stand.

The match between Kilmarnock and Hibernian was called off five minutes into the second half.

The man was given medical treatment at the side of the pitch in front of Rugby Park's East Stand.

Medical staff from both clubs helped paramedics before an ambulance drove to the side of the pitch 10 minutes later to transfer the supporter to hospital.

The match was stopped by referee Kevin Clancy with the teams at 1-1 and the players left the pitch as the seriousness of the situation became clear.

Fans at the Ayrshire ground applauded in support as he was taken away by medical staff.

After the delay the home side confirmed the game had been abandoned due to an off-pitch incident.

Police said the man is aged between 50 and 60 and he was taken to Crosshouse Hospital.

Inspector Sean Mangan, the match commander, said: "A supporter was taken ill in the East Stand, possibly a Kilmarnock fan.

"Ambulance staff and club doctors have been assisting with that male, he has now gone off to the hospital in the ambulance."

Insp Mangan added: "It is looking like a possible suspected heart attack.

"But of course I am not a medical professional to absolutely tell you that is the case but it is certainly serious enough that the club, in conjunction with the police and the SPL fourth official, have decided out of respect for the male and possibly his family that the match would be abandoned."

In March, the Football Association announced that more than 900 defibrillators would be made available, in a funding agreement with the British Heart Foundation and Premier League clubs.

The move came a year after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba survived a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match against Tottenham at White Heart Lane.

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Bullying Suicides: Parents Call For New Law

By Stephen Douglas, Sky News Reporter

A group of parents who say their children committed suicide after being bullied are calling on David Cameron to introduce a new law to tackle the problem.

In a letter to the Prime Minister the group have asked the Government to create a new offence of bullying and intimidation. They also want the coalition to introduce an anti-bullying strategy for the UK.

Child protection campaigner Shy Keenan claims her 14-year-old son was "bullied to death".

Ayden Olson was found dead earlier this year at his family home in Colchester, Essex in an apparent suicide.

His mother told Sky News: "He was lovely and we were so looking forward to him growing up. We tried working with the policies in place and it just wasn't enough.

"Then I'm looking at my little boy on the floor dead and I'm thinking they have to listen now, this can't be allowed to happen because they're killing kids.

"We want new ways to protect children from all forms of bullying. At the moment it's not even illegal to bully. We don't want to criminalise children but the first step is to take bullying seriously."

Aaron Dugmore took his own life at the age of nine

Ms Keenan has been joined by other families who have been through similar experiences.

Aaron Dugmore was nine years old when he hanged himself at his home.

His mother, Kelly Dugmore, said: "It's still very raw, we're still very numb. He was just nine. You'd never think a child of that age would even think of taking his own life. He just must have been so traumatised. The law needs to change."

The families want to meet Mr Cameron and have all signed a letter to him which reads: "For our families and the brothers and sisters of those we've lost, nothing can be the same again.

"On behalf of all children who have experienced bullying, and their families, we are calling on you and your Government to take action to help prevent more people suffering in this way.

"Together we can stop bullying in our society. Please give us your support and meet with us to discuss how we make bullying unacceptable, once and for all."

The victims' families have written to David Cameron about their campaign

The potential legislation is being called Ayden's law after Ms Keenan's son, and the campaign is being led by charity BeatBullying.

Its deputy chief executive Richard Piggin said: "The latest Government statistics show that as many as 46% of young people will have experienced bullying.

"For us it's about those one in 13 who experience it day in day out. They need protection and we need to make sure the perpetrators take responsibility for their actions."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Bullying can have a devastating effect on the lives of victims and their families and we are clear that it must not be tolerated.

"It is important that all children know where they can go for help and are confident that their problems will be dealt with seriously and sensitively. 

"Every school must have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying. This Government has issued new guidance to ensure schools are clear on their responsibilities in protecting children from bullying and has also given teachers new powers to tackle bullying quickly and effectively.

"To reinforce this, Ofsted now clearly holds schools to account on how well they deal with behaviour and bullying and since January last year inspectors must consider pupils' freedom from bullying, harassment and discrimination. 

"The Department for Education works with organisations including the Anti-Bullying Alliance and BeatBullying as part of its on-going work to tackle bullying and there are a range of laws in place to protect people from all forms of bullying."

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Bank Holiday Monday Set To Be Scorcher

Britain is preparing for a scorching Bank Holiday Monday as temperatures continue to increase across the country.

England and Wales is set to be swathed in more sunshine today but tomorrow could be the hottest day of the year so far.

Weather experts have predicted highs of at least 23C, which is likely to beat temperatures in sunny European destinations including France and Italy.

If it climbs any higher, it will beat the April 25 record of 23C.

Meanwhile, temperatures today will gradually hit 19C in England and Wales with cloudy and showery intervals.

The best of the weather is expected to be in East Anglia and central England.

But Scotland and Northern Ireland are not enjoying the same warm days as England and Wales this weekend, with temperatures expected to linger around 16C today and Monday.

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "The early spring Bank Holiday can be rather cool and mixed, as we have seen in recent years.

Norfolk saw blue skies and fine weather last week

"This year looks to be a pretty good one with many places set to be fine and dry with Monday looking the warmest of the days."

This year's expected sunny Bank Holiday will be a big improvement on last year, which saw rain and a temperature high of just 16C at Exeter Airport.

The warmest Bank Holiday Monday in recent years was in 2008 when London reached 23C and even the coldest part of Scotland got up to 14C, with much of the country seeing sunshine.

This year looks similar for England, Wales, central Scotland and Northern Ireland with temperatures ranging into the mid and high teens across most areas with plenty of sun.

The recent warm weather and earlier good forecasts have led to a wave of optimism, with people around the country planning barbecues and other events.

Supermarkets and other stores have reported large quantities of barbecue foods being sold and also increased sales of items like nail varnish.

The fine weather, however, is not good news for hay fever sufferers, who the Met Office said are likely to struggle through the weekend, with high levels of pollen expected across England.

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Struggling Families Using Loans To Buy Food

Five million families in Britain are approaching financial "breaking point" and struggling to pay for food, according to research.

One in five households said their monthly incomes would not stretch to cover all of their food costs in April and they had to use some form of borrowing such as a credit card, overdraft or loan, or plunder their savings instead, consumer group Which? found.

Which? said this would equate to five million families if the findings were projected across the UK.

The findings provide an indication of the numbers of people who are struggling, despite official figures showing last week that personal insolvencies have fallen to their lowest level in five years.

The group who could not cover their food bills from their income alone was largely made up of low-income households earning less than £21,000 a year and squeezed 30 to 49-year-olds, many of whom had children.

Some 82% of these people said that they were worried about food prices and 57% were finding it "difficult to cope" on their current income.

People in this group were also more likely to be worried about their level of debt and 74% of them described economy as "poor".

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Our tracker shows that many households are stretched to their financial breaking point, with rising food prices one of the top worries for squeezed consumers.

"It's simply shocking that so many people need to use savings or credit to pay for essentials like food."

The study also found that only one quarter of people said that they were living comfortably on their incomes, while more than one third (36%) felt squeezed.

Two-thirds were worried about the effects of low interest rates on their savings - although insolvency experts have credited low interest rates with helping people's borrowing costs and keeping personal insolvencies down.

Almost one third (31%) of people surveyed cut back spending on essentials last month, mainly women aged between 30 to 49 years old.

Over two thirds (68%) described the state of the economy as poor, with just 9% saying it was good.

Around 2,000 people across the UK took part in the survey, which was carried out last month.

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£2.5m Island For Sale, Post Office Included

It comes with 800 acres, a flourishing tourist enterprise, bird colonies, a post office and three jetties all for the bargain price of £2.5m.

The small Scottish island of Tanera Mor, the only inhabited island in the Summer Isles archipelago 1.5miles off the north-west of Scotland, has been put up for sale.

The 800-acre island is currently managed by Lizzie and Richard Williams, who took it on from Mrs Williams' family, the Wilders.

The Wilders bought the island in 1996 after selling their dairy farm in Wiltshire.

Tanera Mor: "A truly spectacular place to live"

Mrs Williams said it is time to give someone else the "privilege of looking after the amazing place".

She said: "After many happy years of calling Tanera home, it is time for someone else to have the privilege of looking after this amazing place.

Talks with the local community over a buyout were held but it has now been put on the open market after the Coigach Community Development Company decided not to pursue the sale.

Estate agents CKD Galbraith are now handling the sale and described Tanera Mor as a "flourishing tourist enterprise and superb family residence", with a guide price of £2.5 million.

It has nine residential properties, a cafe, post office and three jetties.

The chance to own a Scottish island is "extremely rare"

John Bound, of CKD Galbraith, said: "The chance to own your own Scottish island is extremely rare and with Tanera Mor's thriving tourist enterprise coupled with being a truly spectacular place to live, we expect to receive a lot of interest as it goes on the open market.

"With on-going support and commitment from the local Coigach community, Tanera Mor offers a truly fantastic prospect for interested parties who will very much have the island's heritage and sustainability at heart as well as a fantastic life style."

The island inspired the book Island Farm by Frank Fraser Darling who lived in Tanera Mor in the late 1930s and studied the habitat of its bird colonies.

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Bullying Suicides: Parents Call For New Law

By Stephen Douglas, Sky News Reporter

A group of parents who say their children committed suicide after being bullied are calling on David Cameron to introduce a new law to tackle the problem.

In a letter to the Prime Minister the group have asked the Government to create a new offence of bullying and intimidation. They also want the coalition to introduce an anti-bullying strategy for the UK.

Child protection campaigner Shy Keenan claims her 14-year-old son was "bullied to death".

Ayden Olson was found dead earlier this year at his family home in Colchester, Essex in an apparent suicide.

His mother told Sky News: "He was lovely and we were so looking forward to him growing up. We tried working with the policies in place and it just wasn't enough.

"Then I'm looking at my little boy on the floor dead and I'm thinking they have to listen now, this can't be allowed to happen because they're killing kids.

"We want new ways to protect children from all forms of bullying. At the moment it's not even illegal to bully. We don't want to criminalise children but the first step is to take bullying seriously."

Aaron Dugmore took his own life at the age of nine

Ms Keenan has been joined by other families who have been through similar experiences.

Aaron Dugmore was nine years old when he hanged himself at his home.

His mother, Kelly Dugmore, said: "It's still very raw, we're still very numb. He was just nine. You'd never think a child of that age would even think of taking his own life. He just must have been so traumatised. The law needs to change."

The families want to meet Mr Cameron and have all signed a letter to him which reads: "For our families and the brothers and sisters of those we've lost, nothing can be the same again.

"On behalf of all children who have experienced bullying, and their families, we are calling on you and your Government to take action to help prevent more people suffering in this way.

"Together we can stop bullying in our society. Please give us your support and meet with us to discuss how we make bullying unacceptable, once and for all."

The victims' families have written to David Cameron about their campaign

The potential legislation is being called Ayden's law after Ms Keenan's son, and the campaign is being led by charity BeatBullying.

Its deputy chief executive Richard Piggin said: "The latest Government statistics show that as many as 46% of young people will have experienced bullying.

"For us it's about those one in 13 who experience it day in day out. They need protection and we need to make sure the perpetrators take responsibility for their actions."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Bullying can have a devastating effect on the lives of victims and their families and we are clear that it must not be tolerated.

"It is important that all children know where they can go for help and are confident that their problems will be dealt with seriously and sensitively. 

"Every school must have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying. This Government has issued new guidance to ensure schools are clear on their responsibilities in protecting children from bullying and has also given teachers new powers to tackle bullying quickly and effectively.

"To reinforce this, Ofsted now clearly holds schools to account on how well they deal with behaviour and bullying and since January last year inspectors must consider pupils' freedom from bullying, harassment and discrimination. 

"The Department for Education works with organisations including the Anti-Bullying Alliance and BeatBullying as part of its on-going work to tackle bullying and there are a range of laws in place to protect people from all forms of bullying."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bank Holiday Monday Set To Be Scorcher

Britain is preparing for a scorching Bank Holiday Monday as temperatures continue to increase across the country.

England and Wales is set to be swathed in more sunshine today but tomorrow could be the hottest day of the year so far.

Weather experts have predicted highs of at least 23C, which is likely to beat temperatures in sunny European destinations including France and Italy.

If it climbs any higher, it will beat the April 25 record of 23C.

Meanwhile, temperatures today will gradually hit 19C in England and Wales with cloudy and showery intervals.

The best of the weather is expected to be in East Anglia and central England.

But Scotland and Northern Ireland are not enjoying the same warm days as England and Wales this weekend, with temperatures expected to linger around 16C today and Monday.

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "The early spring Bank Holiday can be rather cool and mixed, as we have seen in recent years.

Norfolk saw blue skies and fine weather last week

"This year looks to be a pretty good one with many places set to be fine and dry with Monday looking the warmest of the days."

This year's expected sunny Bank Holiday will be a big improvement on last year, which saw rain and a temperature high of just 16C at Exeter Airport.

The warmest Bank Holiday Monday in recent years was in 2008 when London reached 23C and even the coldest part of Scotland got up to 14C, with much of the country seeing sunshine.

This year looks similar for England, Wales, central Scotland and Northern Ireland with temperatures ranging into the mid and high teens across most areas with plenty of sun.

The recent warm weather and earlier good forecasts have led to a wave of optimism, with people around the country planning barbecues and other events.

Supermarkets and other stores have reported large quantities of barbecue foods being sold and also increased sales of items like nail varnish.

The fine weather, however, is not good news for hay fever sufferers, who the Met Office said are likely to struggle through the weekend, with high levels of pollen expected across England.

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Keira Knightley Marries In Laid-Back Style

She married on screen with great fanfare in rom-com Love Actually - but Keira Knightley's real-life nuptials were a much more laid-back affair.

The actress, 28, married musician boyfriend James Righton in a small town-hall ceremony in the south of France on Saturday, with just a handful of friends and relatives present.

Knightley, who first found fame in Bend It Like Beckham and has since appeared in the Pirates Of The Caribbean films as well as Pride And Prejudice, Anna Karenina and Atonement, wore a short strapless off-white dress and a jacket said to be by Chanel.

Her new husband, the keyboardist in indie rock band Klaxons, wore a dark blue suit and a skinny tie for the occasion.

Both donned sunglasses while Knightley also had a garland of flowers around her head.

The couple, who became engaged last summer and have recently moved to a multi-million pound home in east London, left the ceremony in Mazan, near Avignon, to the applause of their 11 guests and were ushered into a Renault Clio.

A reception is believed to have taken place at Knightley's mother Sharman Macdonald's nearby estate, with guests reported to include actress Sienna Miller and designer Karl Lagerfeld.

In an interview last month, Knightley said she did not want an extravagant wedding day. She said: "We're not big wedding types. I don't need to have all that. I'm just trying to enjoy the engagement bit."

The pair were introduced to each other by mutual friend, the presenter Alexa Chung, after Knightley split up from her boyfriend of five years, Pride And Prejudice co-star Rupert Friend.

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Struggling Families Using Loans To Buy Food

Five million families in Britain are approaching financial "breaking point" and struggling to pay for food, according to research.

One in five households said their monthly incomes would not stretch to cover all of their food costs in April and they had to use some form of borrowing such as a credit card, overdraft or loan, or plunder their savings instead, consumer group Which? found.

Which? said this would equate to five million families if the findings were projected across the UK.

The findings provide an indication of the numbers of people who are struggling, despite official figures showing last week that personal insolvencies have fallen to their lowest level in five years.

The group who could not cover their food bills from their income alone was largely made up of low-income households earning less than £21,000 a year and squeezed 30 to 49-year-olds, many of whom had children.

Some 82% of these people said that they were worried about food prices and 57% were finding it "difficult to cope" on their current income.

People in this group were also more likely to be worried about their level of debt and 74% of them described economy as "poor".

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Our tracker shows that many households are stretched to their financial breaking point, with rising food prices one of the top worries for squeezed consumers.

"It's simply shocking that so many people need to use savings or credit to pay for essentials like food."

The study also found that only one quarter of people said that they were living comfortably on their incomes, while more than one third (36%) felt squeezed.

Two-thirds were worried about the effects of low interest rates on their savings - although insolvency experts have credited low interest rates with helping people's borrowing costs and keeping personal insolvencies down.

Almost one third (31%) of people surveyed cut back spending on essentials last month, mainly women aged between 30 to 49 years old.

Over two thirds (68%) described the state of the economy as poor, with just 9% saying it was good.

Around 2,000 people across the UK took part in the survey, which was carried out last month.

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Nigel Evans Denies Rape And Sex Assault Claims

Conservative MP Nigel Evans has said allegations that he raped a man and sexually assaulted another are "completely false".

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons strongly denied the claims and said he had no idea why they had been made by two people he "regarded as friends".

In a short statement outside his constituency home in the village of Pendleton, near Clitheroe, in Lancashire, Mr Evans said: "Yesterday I was interviewed by the police concerning two complaints - one of which dates back four years, made by two people who are well-known to each other, and who until yesterday I regarded as friends.

"The complaints are completely false and I cannot understand why they have been made, especially as I have continued to socialise with one as recently as last week.

Nigel Evans reads from a prepared written statement outside his home

"I appreciate the way the police have handled this in such a sensitive manner."

Later he broke from what he described as his "Sunday lunchtime pint" at his local pub to thank people for their messages of support.

He said: "This has been, notwithstanding, the loss of my mother and my brother, very recently my brother, the worst 24 hours of my life."

He added that the one thing that had kept him going was the support of villagers and of those who had left messages on Facebook.

Mr Evans' office also released a statement saying that he had asked to be excused from chairing the debate on the Queen's Speech next week and this had been accepted. However, he will be returning to Westminster this week as planned.

The 55-year-old was arrested by police at his home on Saturday morning on suspicion of raping one man and sexually assaulting another between July 2009 and March 2013. Both alleged victims are in their 20s.

A policeman searches the MP's car on Saturday

After being questioned for several hours he was released on bail at around 10.30pm until June 19.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Speaker John Bercow were informed of Mr Evans' arrest.

The popular MP is not intending to stand down, either as a deputy speaker or as a Member of Parliament.

Mr Evans, who has represented Ribble Valley since 1992, has also posted a message on Facebook thanking members of the public for their support.

He wrote: "thanks for the amazing and overwhelming support at this difficult time ..."

Politicians and constituents have said they are "shocked" by the claims

Speaking on Sky News' Murnaghan programme, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "Of course we are all very limited about what we can all say about this, it's subject to legal proceedings.

"It's right to point out, and for me as a long-standing friend of his, to point out that he is a very popular and well-respected Member of Parliament and deputy speaker - I think that is true across the House of Commons actually for MPs of all parties, so we will all be very sorry to see this situation.

"It's not possible for us to comment in more detail on something subject to legal proceedings."

Brian Binley, Tory MP for Northampton South and a friend of Mr Evans, said: "I was just deeply disturbed and shocked.

"I've known him ever since I've been in Parliament and I came in in 2005. I consider him to be a very good friend. I know him to be caring, compassionate and in no way would he inflict himself violently on any other person."

Constituents in Pendleton said they were also stunned by the arrest.

One villager, who did not want to be named, said: "I am shocked. I like him. He is a good MP and he has done a lot for the Ribble Valley. Obviously he is well known in the village and goes to the local pub a lot."

Another resident, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said: "It's unbelievable, I know him very well. He is an excellent person and I would stand by him 100%."

A prominent gay rights campaigner, Mr Evans became one of three deputy speakers in 2010, earning £102,000-a-year, including his MP's salary.

In December of the same year, he came out as gay in an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper in which he said that he was "tired of living a lie".

Mr Evans, who was vice chairman of the Conservative Party from 1999 to 2001, said he had been threatened with exposure by political opponents.

Michael Ranson, chairman of the Ribble Valley Conservative Association, said people in the constituency were "completely shell-shocked" at the news.

"He is a very popular MP and a very good constituency MP. He's given assistance to a lot of his constituents over many years," he told Sky News. Everybody's completely shell-shocked."

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