Bernard Gallacher 'Critical' After Heart Problem

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher is in hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack.

Gallacher is being treated in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and was said to be in a critical condition on Friday night, NHS Grampian confirmed.

It could not confirm any other details about the 64-year-old's condition, but it is understood to have been caused by a heart problem.

His daughter, Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher, is believed to be at his bedside with her mother Lesley, brother Jamie and sister Laura.

George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, said: "We are in touch with Bernard's wife Lesley and the Gallacher family and, obviously, we join with everyone in wishing Bernard a speedy recovery."

His nephew Stephen, who pulled out of the ISPS Handa Wales Open during his second round on Friday morning due to a back injury, said: "I understand that he is critical but stable.

"My family is in disarray at the moment and it is obviously a worrying situation. We are all anxious."

Gallacher, 64, was had a successful career as a golf broadcaster

Gallacher, who was born in Bathgate in 1949, turned professional in 1967 and became the youngest winner of the prestigious PGA Championship two years later, a record which stood until earlier this year.

He made the first of his eight Ryder Cup appearances as a player in 1969, defeating Lee Trevino 4&3 in the singles at Birkdale in a contest which famously ended in a 16-16 draw after Jack Nicklaus sportingly conceded a putt to Tony Jacklin on the 18th green of the final match.

The next seven contests all ended in defeat, the last  by a single point at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida in 1983.

Gallacher went on to captain Europe in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

His teams suffered two narrow defeats - the first in the controversial "War on the Shore" at Kiawah Island - before a memorable one-point win at Oak Hill in New York.

That victory was sealed by Philip Walton's win over Jay Haas on the 18th green of the penultimate singles match, with Walton still holding on to his putter as Gallacher hoisted him into the air in jubilation.

Gallacher went on to become a successful broadcaster and reported on 2012's dramatic 'Miracle at Medinah' European victory for BBC Radio Five Live.

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Woman In Court Charged With Child's Murder

A 34-year-old woman has appeared in court charged with murder after an eight-year-old girl was found dead in a block of flats in east London.

Police arrested Polly Chowdhury at Bedwell Court, in Broomfield Road, Chadwell Heath, on Thursday after reports that a child was injured. 

The girl, who has been named as Ayesha Ali, was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Chowdhury appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court where she was remanded in custody.

The results of a post-mortem examination have yet to be announced.

Chowdhury was taken to hospital in Romford for treatment for minor injuries and was arrested on suspicion of murder after being discharged.

The death is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police's homicide and major crime command (HMCC), Scotland Yard said.

She is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

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Sabrina Moss: Police Appeal As Video Released

Police have released a video of Sabrina Moss taken a week before she was gunned down while celebrating her 24th birthday.

The film, which was shot on August 17, was released as family and friends paid tribute to the nursery teacher at a vigil one week from the day she was killed.

A friend of Ms Moss said she always loved her birthday but this year she had been having "one of the best nights".

Ms Moss was gunned down in Kilburn High Road last Saturday

Meanwhile, police continue to appeal for information and witnesses to come forward to assist them with their investigation.

Ms Moss was shot in the chest in Kilburn High Road, north west London, last Saturday, and another woman, Sabrina Gachette, also 24, remains in hospital after suffering a gunshot wound.

Police believe the pair were "in the wrong place at the wrong time" when they were injured.

Friends of Ms Moss have expressed their grief in the form of letters, in which she is described as "a really loving, caring person" and "the epitome of a brilliant mother".

Just a week before she was shot, Miss Moss and her partner moved in to a new home together with their young son.

Ms Moss's friend, named as Lisa M, said she looked "stunning" and was "smiling the entire time" as she enjoyed her birthday celebrations before she was murdered.

"Sabrina always loved her birthday but this year I can happily say she had one of the best nights. She looked stunning, she was smiling the entire time and wouldn't move from the dance floor," she said.

Her friend Shona said: "My dear Sabrina and I had 14 wonderful years of true friendship. I remember giving you the nickname 'bean' - I will miss you Sabrina so much. You mean the world to me - you were a really loving, caring person."

She was celebrating her 24th birthday with friends when she was shot

Her friend Natalie described Miss Moss as a key member of their group of friends. "Sabrina was the string that tied us together. There's a hole within the girls, without her there's no structure," she said.

Charlotte recalled a holiday the group of friends enjoyed together, adding that people never know what life has in store for them.

"We were so carefree and had so many laughs on that holiday. Little did we know, this world we live in would take something beautiful away from us," she said.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "A week on since this tragic event my team of detectives continues to appeal for witness to come forward and assist us with our investigation.

"From the extensive enquiries that we have carried out we know that there were a number of people in Messina Avenue at the junction with Kilburn High Road shortly before the shooting and there is a possibility that they would have seen two men loitering close to some cars parked in Messina Avenue.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses

"The two males were wearing dark clothing and hooded tops, with one wearing a lighter coloured top than the other."

Martell Warren, 22, has appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court charged with murder. He was remanded in custody and must appear at the Old Bailey on a date to be fixed.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call the incident room at Hendon on 020 8358 0300 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Kent Fire: Huge Plume Of Smoke Seen For Miles

People have been told to keep their doors and windows closed after a huge tyre fire in Kent sent plumes of black smoke into the sky that could been seen over 20 miles away.

The flames rose above some buildings. (Pic: @SAchrisINuk)

Twelve fire engines and more than 70 firefighters are tackling the blaze which broke out on an industrial estate in Gravesend.

Twitter users reported that the smoke could be seen by beachgoers in Southend in neighbouring county Essex.

Some witnesses said canal water was being used. (Pic: @bultifish)

And passengers on planes flying into and out of London airports could also reportedly see the plume.

Kent Fire and Rescue said crews were using three main jets to tackle the fire, which also involved caravans and other vehicle parts.

The size of the fire as seen from a helicopter. (Pic: MPSinthesky)

One person posted that water from the adjacent canal was being used to douse the flames.

Roads around the area have been closed and drivers have been warned about poor visibility due to the thick smoke.

Photographs showed firefighters standing on top of what looked like a large gas container while assessing the blaze. The gas containers have not been affected.

Train passengers could see the smoke. (Pic: @jacksona69)

There are no reports of any injuries and Kent Police are also at the scene.

The Metropolitan Police helicopter has also flown to the area to assist the fire brigade.

Firefighters could be seen standing on a gas tank. (Pic: @mark_fellows)

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Spain: British Man Held Over Father's Death

A British tourist has been arrested on suspicion of killing his 69-year-old father during a fight at a holiday camp in a Spanish beach resort.

A security guard reportedly called police to the Castell Montgri camp in the village of L'Estartit near Girona after an argument broke out between the man, 45, and his father. It is not thought any weapons were used in the lethal attack.

Police discovered the suspect's father lying on the ground with serious head injuries and he was taken to hospital where he died later.

A police spokesman said: "Officers from the Mossos d'Esqudra have arrested a 45-year-old British man in connection with the death of his 69-year-old father.

The Castell Montgri holiday camp is located in the town of L'Estartit

"The victim was taken by emergency services to hospital to be attended for the wounds he suffered, while local police in Torroella de Montgri arrested the alleged perpetrator for domestic violence.

"The victim died this morning and investigators from the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan regional police) took on the case."

An autopsy is due to take place today to confirm the cause of death.

The Castell Montgri holiday camp is located at the foot of the Rocamaura mountain next to the town of L'Estartit in the Costa Brava region of northeast Spain. This resort is popular with British tourists during the holiday season.

Police have yet to name the deceased or his son.

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House Prices Surge For Fourth Month In A Row

House prices rose for the fourth consecutive month in August, as Government schemes and improved mortgage lending continued to fuel the revival in the property market.

Property values rose by 3.5% compared with a year ago, taking the average price for a UK home to £170,514, according to the Nationwide building society.

This marked a slight fall on the 3.9% surge seen in July, which was the biggest annual rise for three years.

"Consumer confidence has increased significantly in recent months, thanks to further modest gains in employment and signs that the UK economy is finally gathering momentum," Nationwide chief economist Robert Gardner said.

Prices rose 0.6% between July and August, which was also marginally lower than the 0.9% monthly hike seen in July.

But Nationwide said the quarter-on-quarter change showed underlying price rises have remained robust, up 1.4% in the three months to August - the strongest pace of increase since mid-2010.

The data comes after Bank of England (BoE) governor Mark Carney warned earlier this week over the risks of another housing bubble amid fears that Government stimulus measures are stoking unsustainable price rises.

He said the BoE is "acutely aware" of the potential threats and said action will be taken to clamp down on mortgage lending if needed.

Policy measures such as Funding for Lending and Help to Buy are boosting the market as they help first-time buyers in particular on to the property ladder.

Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders recently showed that first-time buyers accounted for 45% of house purchase loans in the second quarter - the highest since records began in 2005.

The Funding for Lending Scheme encourages banks and building societies to lend more in return for discounted loans, and has been credited with improving mortgage availability and reducing rates.

Chancellor George Osborne also launched Help to Buy in April, which allows people to buy a property with a 5% deposit, with the state lending buyers 20% of the value of a new home worth up to £600,000, interest-free for five years.

But there are concerns that these schemes will push up house prices and borrowing levels, rather than spurring on more new home construction.

Mr Gardner added: "While there have been encouraging signs that house building is starting to recover, construction is still running well below what is likely to be required to keep up with demand."

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Dan Evans' Sweet Revenge At US Open Tennis

British number three Dan Evans has said being told he wasn't good enough to practise with Bernard Tomic inspired him to victory over the Australian at the US Open

The 23-year-old qualifier from Birmingham - ranked 179 - who had never won more than one match in qualifying at a grand slam before arriving in New York, has now won five in a row to reach the third round.

He built on three qualifying victories and a first round win over 11th seed Kei Nishikori by recovering from a set and a break down to defeat Tomic 1-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

Tomic congratulates Evans after the five-set match in New York

After the win, Evans revealed that last year at the Masters tournament in Miami he had been due to practise with Tomic only to be told to leave by the Australian's father John.

"I was there playing qualies," said Evans. "His dad sort of fobbed me off and said I wasn't good enough to practise with him. I remembered that.

"We went to practise, it was all booked. I got to the court. His dad said, 'No, no, he's a qualifier, I'm not hitting with you.' It was a bit embarrassing."

Dan Evans' sister Laura Kitching, overcome with emotion after the win

Tomic, who is ranked 127 places higher than Evans at 52, said afterwards: "It wasn't nerves. I was pretty relaxed. He just played so slow, so strange, that I basically did what he did. I wasn't very good at it, was I?"

Evans' family and friends watched the five-set match against Tomic from West Warwickshire Sports Club.

And there were tears of joy from his sister Laura Kitching as the crowd leapt to its feet in cheers.

She told Sky News: "It's absolutely unbelievable. I'm so proud, more than ecstatic. I can't put it into words how I feel right now. I'm just so emotional. He's just done so well."

Evans' next opponent is 19th seed Tommy Robredo, and victory there would more than likely set up a fourth round match against Roger Federer, with whom he has already practised at the tournament.

Evans is guaranteed a £60,000 payout for getting into the third round.

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CPS £1m Taxi Fraud: Lovers Jailed For Six Years

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

Two former Crown Prosecution Service employees have been jailed for six years each for a £1m taxi fare scam.

Lisa Burrows, from Titford Road, Oldbury, and Tahir Mahmood, from Eastbourne Avenue, Birmingham, faked invoices for a fictitious taxi firm purporting to cater for witnesses between January 2008 and February 2013.

The pair, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position, used the proceeds over five years to live a "lavish lifestyle".

Money was spent on designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and holidays to Dubai, New York and Spain.

Investigators have been unable to find out what happened to over £600,000 of the proceeds.

Burrows had been a finance manager for West Midlands CPS for 21 years and met Mahmood when he was a taxi driver after which they became lovers.

Mahmood, 50, was employed in the finance department as an admin officer of the CPS for nearly five months before his arrest.

Their crimes have been described as a "huge fraud on the public purse"

Suspicions were initially raised about Burrows when a CPS colleague questioned the amount of money being paid to B&M Taxi Services.

Auditors later uncovered illegible signatures on several invoices submitted by 42-year-old Burrows.

Officers from West Midlands Police were informed in February and an investigation was immediately launched by the force's Economic Crime Unit.

They identified Mahmood as a second suspect and enquiries later uncovered that the bank accounts on the taxi invoices actually belonged to him.

He had set up the account using a pseudonym and a driving licence in an alternative name.

In reality the taxi firm never existed and over a period of five years a total of £1,021,475 of public funds was transferred into Mahmood's account.

During sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Williams Davis QC told Burrows that she had "grossly abused the trust" placed in her by the CPS.

"You knew how the system worked. You knew that the invoices were capable of deceiving the auditing system operated by your employer ... it is only by chance that the fraud was discovered when it was," he said.

He described Mahmood and Burrows' crimes as "a huge fraud on the public purse causing substantial losses to a department already under serious financial pressure ... where the proceeds can be traced they largely went on high living. The fraud was motivated purely by greed."

DC Mark Calvert, who led the inquiry, said: "What we uncovered was a prolonged and systematic fraud by two people who ironically were employed by an organisation which prosecutes those who break the law.

"Using B&M Taxi Services, which we believe was simply short for 'Burrows and Mahmood', both of them cheated the public purse out of more than £1m.

"They naively thought they'd get away with it, but were caught as a result of their own greed.

"This was a gross breach of trust by two people who should have known better. They'll now have many years in prison to reflect on their actions."

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Soldier Dies During Training Exercise On Moor

A soldier recently returned from Afghanistan has died while on a moorland training exercise in North Yorkshire.

Private Michael Ihemere was on a three-mile run over rugged terrain when he collapsed.

The 26-year-old, from Umuodo, Nigeria, was a member of the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, which returned from a tour of Afghanistan in April.

Emergency services were called to Barden Moor, near Leyburn, just before 9am on Wednesday following a report that a man serving in the military had collapsed on the Army-controlled Catterick ranges.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, the soldier was pronounced dead at the scene.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Officers are working with the Army to establish the full circumstances."

A memorial service was held for the "talented and popular soldier"

He added that the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Private Ihemere's commanding officer paid tribute to the married soldier, who joined the British Army in November 2011.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Ellwood MBE described him as "a reliable, talented and popular soldier" who had a "bright future" in the Army.

After successfully completing infantry training he was posted to the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) in September 2012.

He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2012 serving with C Company, based in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province.

His widow Blessing attended a memorial parade at Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison, on Friday morning.

The soldier collapsed and died at Barden Moor, Leyburn, North Yorkshire

The soldier's collapse follows the deaths of three reservists in the Brecon Beacons in Wales in July. They were on an SAS selection training course in temperatures which reached 30C.

Corporal James Dunsby, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and Trooper Eddie Maher were carrying heavy packs while attempting to cross the Pen y Fan mountain.

Conditions in North Yorkshire were much cooler on Wednesday, around 17C with a slight breeze.

It was not clear if the soldiers were carrying heavy loads.

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German Driver Maizen Sentenced For M25 Smash

By Emma Birchley, Sky News reporter

A German lorry driver who smashed into stationary traffic on the M25 killing an elderly man and leaving two other people seriously injured has been sentenced to four and half years.

Anton Maizen, 58, from Wixhausen, had been working for 23 hours and had driven for 15 of those without a proper break when he ploughed into the queuing traffic on the clockwise slip-road of Junction 30 at Aveley in Essex.

He crashed into the back of Carol Bolton's Mercedes A Class causing a knock-on impact that resulted in a BMW being propelled into fast moving traffic in the next lane and the path of an articulated lorry.

Maizen tried to hide the tachograph charts which recorded his journey

It was that lorry which careered into Ronald Moughton's Renault Clio, killing the 79-year-old from Ilford in Essex at the scene.

His son, Keith, 58, survived but with serious injuries. Carol Bolton, 47, was also badly hurt.

Maizen pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The driver was unable to explain to police why he had hurtled into the traffic at 12.30pm on April 2 this year.

But he had hidden tachograph charts detailing his 840 mile journey from Frankfurt Airport - via south London and Lincolnshire - in his sock and behind his seat.

The mangled wreckcage gives an indication of the severity of the incident

Four lorries and six cars were involved in the crash.

Unbelievably, a mother and her seven-year-old son walked from the crumpled wreckage of their BMW.

Police are still investigating whether European driver hours regulations may have been contravened by the owners of Maizen's lorry.

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Mid Staffs Trust To Be Prosecuted Over Death

Scandal Hit History Of NHS Trust

Updated: 1:27pm UK, Thursday 29 August 2013

Here is a timeline of how events unfolded at the scandal-hit Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

:: November 2007

Grief-stricken Julie Bailey creates the Cure the NHS campaign group following the death of her mother Bella, at Staffordshire General Hospital.

:: February 2008

Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, which runs Stafford Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital, is awarded foundation trust status - a supposed marker of excellence in the NHS.

:: May 2008

Health watchdog the Healthcare Commission launches an investigation into high death rates at the trust.

:: March 2009

Trust chief executive Martin Yeates and chairman Toni Brisby resign days before a Healthcare Commission report reveals that between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected at the trust between April 2005 and March 2008.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologises to families caught up in the scandal.

:: April 2009

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) takes over responsibility from the Healthcare Commission as health regulator for England.

:: June 2009

Andy Burnham replaces Alan Johnson as health secretary in a cabinet reshuffle.

:: July 2009

The CQC publishes its first progress report into Stafford Hospital.

Mr Burnham announces a second independent inquiry, chaired by Robert Francis QC, into what went wrong at the trust.

:: September 2009

The second independent inquiry into failures of care at the hospital publishes terms of reference, but Cure the NHS claims it will not go far enough.

:: October 2009

The Conservatives say they will order a full public inquiry if they win the next election.

:: November 2009

The inquiry formally opens, but the hearings are held in private.

:: February 2010

Bereaved families from Cure the NHS attack the "secretive" inquiry and protest outside the Department of Health, calling for the resignation of Mr Burnham.

Later in the month the report from the independent inquiry is published. It concludes that patients were "routinely neglected" at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

The trust was preoccupied with cost-cutting and targets, and lost sight of its responsibility to provide safe care, the report says.

:: March 2010

It emerges that the independent inquiry cost more than £1.7m to conduct.

:: May 2010

The Conservatives win the general election and Andrew Lansley becomes Health Secretary.

:: June 2010

Prime Minister David Cameron announces a public inquiry will be held into the failings at Stafford Hospital.

:: July 2010

Chairman of the public inquiry, Mr Francis, pledges to discover why "appalling" standards of patient care were not discovered sooner.

He says the inquiry will also attempt to establish the role of supervisory and regulatory bodies in events at Stafford Hospital.

:: October 2010

The CQC says Mid Staffs is still falling short on 11 key standards set out by law to maintain quality and safety in hospitals.

:: November 2010

The inquiry hearings begin on Monday November 8, but proceedings are delayed when a bereaved relative stages a protest. In its opening statement to the inquiry, Cure the NHS claims the care offered by the hospital was so poor it infringed patients' human rights.

Ms Bailey tells the inquiry about the treatment of her mother, and adds that she still has "huge concerns" about the treatment of vulnerable patients.

:: October 2011

The CQC issues a warning to the trust after it finds low staffing levels could compromise patient safety.

:: December 2011

The trust announces that Stafford Hospital's accident and emergency department will close at night for three months due to staff shortages.

The closure coincides with the end of the 139-day public inquiry which heard from 164 witnesses, with an additional 87 witness statements and 39 "provisional statements".

:: September 2012

Foundation trust regulator Monitor says experts are to be called in at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to put it back on a viable financial footing.

Mr Francis announces that the report from the inquiry, which was due to be delivered in October, will be delayed.

Jeremy Hunt is appointed Health Secretary.

:: December 2012

Lawyers reveal the trust has paid out more than £1m in compensation for "inhumane and degrading" treatment of patients.

:: January 2013

An independent investigation of the trust, conducted on behalf of Monitor, concludes the trust is "clinically and financially unsustainable" and will not be able to provide safe care on a sustainable basis in the future.

:: February 2013

NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar predicts the release of the report will be "one of the darkest days" in the history of the NHS.

The bill for the public inquiry reaches £13m.

The Francis Report highlights the "appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of people" between 2005 and 2009.

The inquiry chairman makes a total of 290 sweeping recommendations for healthcare regulators, providers and the Government in his 1,782 page report, which attacks local health authorities and the trust board but does not blame any one individual or organisation for the "disaster" at Stafford Hospital.

Mr Cameron apologises for the "truly dreadful" mistreatment and neglect at the trust, he also introduces a raft of changes - including creating the role of Chief Inspector of Hospitals.

Ms Bailey calls for the resignation of NHS boss Sir David Nicholson - who was in charge of the regional health authority responsible for the trust for a short period while patients were being mistreated.

It emerges that police and prosecutors are examining new evidence about the scandal at Stafford Hospital that could lead to criminal charges.

The Prime Minister says that Sir David should not be used as a "scapegoat" for the scandal. Other political leaders including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and shadow health secretary Mr Burnham also back the embattled NHS boss.

Cure the NHS campaigners stage a protest outside an NHS Commissioning Board - now known as NHS England - meeting in Manchester where the board backs Sir David.

Monitor announces it is considering putting the trust into special administration.

:: March 2013

Sir David tells the Health Select Committee that he is "absolutely determined" to stay in his job, despite calls for his resignation.

The Government responds to Mr Francis's report, making a number of sweeping changes to the health service including; the introduction of Ofsted-style ratings for hospitals, a national barring list for failing NHS managers and a legal duty of candour. Mr Hunt says the events at Mid Staffordshire were a "betrayal of the worst kind" to patients and their families.

:: April 2013

The Health and Safety Executive says that it has begun a criminal investigation into the death of a woman at Stafford Hospital. Gillian Astbury died after slipping into a diabetic coma at the hospital in 2007.

Monitor announces that trust special administrators will take charge of the trust from April 16.

Support Stafford Hospital campaigners stage a demonstration protesting against any changes to the trust.

Stafford Borough Council refers former chief executive Martin Yeates and chairwoman Toni Brisby to the Crown Prosecution Service over allegations of misconduct. Councillors accuse the pair of misconduct in public office by knowingly giving false and misleading evidence relating to death rates to the council's statutory overview and scrutiny committee.

:: May 2013

Sir David announces that he will retire from his role as NHS England chief executive in March 2014.

It emerges that he will leave his post with a pension pot of more than £1.9 million.

:: June 2013

Sir David says "becoming the story" after the publication of the Francis report contributed to his decision to retire.

A review of deaths at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust by police and other officials has identified 200 to 300 cases where neglect might have contributed to the death.

The special administrators charged with working out how to deliver long-term healthcare at a troubled hospital trust are given more time to come up with a blueprint days before it was due to be published.

:: July 2013

The administrators publish their recommendations for the future of the trust. They said that the troubled trust should be dissolved and that critical care, maternity and paediatric services at Stafford Hospital should be cut.

:: August 2013

The HSE says it will bring criminal charges against the trust over the death of Gillian Astbury.

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Rolf Harris Charged With Child Sex Offences

Rolf Harris has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four counts of making indecent images of a child.

The 83-year-old is accused of the assault offences between 1980 and 1986 relating to two alleged victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

The charges he faces are:

:: Six counts of indecent assault relating to a girl aged between 15 and 16, from 1980 to 1981;

:: Three offences of indecent assault relating to a girl aged 14, in 1986;

:: Four offences of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012.

Harris performed last year at the Queen's Jubilee concert

Harris was interviewed under caution on November 29 last year, five days after his Berkshire home was searched.

Police passed their evidence to the CPS on August 12.

"We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Rolf Harris, who was initially arrested on November 29 2012 over allegations of sexual offences," said the CPS' Alison Saunders.

"A file of evidence was passed to the CPS on August 12 2013.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged."

Harris will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 23.

The entertainer was awarded a CBE in 2006

The Australian, who painted a portrait of the Queen in 2005 and performed at her Diamond Jubilee concert last year, has been a family favourite for decades.

He had his first musical hit Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport in 1960, and continued to enjoy success in the industry, gaining cult status in recent years and performing at Glastonbury festival several times.

Harris, who has lived in Bray, Berkshire, for more than 50 years, was awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1977 and a CBE in 2006, and was made Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list last year.

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Syria Debate: Cameron Makes Case For Action

David Cameron has urged MPs to support his position on military action in Syria as he declared "this is not like Iraq".

The Prime Minister insisted the "abhorrent" chemical weapons attack in Damascus last week could not be ignored.

But he stressed his plans should not be compared to the invasion in 2003, which led to the downfall of Saddam Hussein.

Starting an emergency debate in the Commons, he admitted this had sparked "deep public cynicism" about military intervention.

However, he argued Britain should stand by the "international taboo" that condemns chemical weapons and step in.

Ed Miliband is demanding "compelling evidence" against the Assad regime

Ahead of an important Commons vote, Mr Cameron told MPs a UN Security Council resolution should not be the only possible basis for action.

Indicating Britain could ignore a veto by Russia or China, he said his test would be if there was "overwhelming opposition" at the UN.

The Prime Minister admitted there was no "one smoking piece of intelligence" that proved the Assad regime was behind the atrocity.

But he said he had been convinced by the available evidence and told MPs it was now up to them to make the same judgement.

He warned Syrian leader Bashar Assad would conclude he could "use these weapons again and again and on a larger scale and with impunity" if the world stood by.

"In the end we can't know the mind of this brutal dictator, all we can do is make a judgment about whether it is better to act or not to act and make a judgment about whether he is responsible or not responsible," he said.

The debate came after Downing Street published its legal basis for action and a letter detailing the advice of intelligence experts.

Government lawyers believe Britain could launch a targeted strike on humanitarian grounds without agreement at the UN.

Anti-war protesters outside Parliament during the debate

And evidence from the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) found a chemical weapons did take place and it was "highly likely" the Assad regime was to blame.

MPs will vote tonight on the principle of military action, with any direct British involvement requiring a further Commons vote.

Mr Cameron was forced to abandon plans for early intervention due to Labour opposition - but the party is still vowing to oppose the Government motion.

It called the Prime Minister's position "opaque" and is demanding "compelling evidence" before committing itself.

Number 10 has reacted furiously to Ed Miliband's positioning, accusing him of "playing politics" and attempting to divide the country.

But in the Commons, the Labour leader insisted "evidence should precede decision" and that the UN was not an "inconvenient sideshow" but essential to building a case.

A frustrated Number 10 claimed the evidence from the intelligence services and publicly available material, including YouTube videos, was clear.

"Are we seriously suggesting that rows of three-year-old children frothing at the mouth and dead were somehow made to act this out?" a senior source said.

"Experts who have looked at this video have said it is conclusive that something like sarin was used here. The idea that this was concocted in some way is ridiculous."

UN inspectors investigating the attack this week

UN weapons inspectors are due to finish their work on Friday and will report directly to secretary general Ban Ki-moon within 24 hours.

But their conclusions will not apportion blame - they will only set out the evidence on whether a chemical attack happened or not.

The Syrian leader issued a fresh warning on Thursday that the country would "defend itself in the face of any aggression".

And the country's Parliament called on British MPs to avoid "reckless action", warning intervention could help terrorists and lead to the deaths of UK troops.

In a letter, it declared a strike would be "an aggressive and unprovoked act of war" and said: "We ask you not to bomb us but to work with us."

Six British RAF Typhoon jets have been sent to Cyprus as tensions mount, in what the Ministry of Defence called a "prudent and precautionary measure".

Meanwhile, reports suggested Russia - a key ally of Syria - is sending warships to the Mediterranean.

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Wing Walker Becomes World's Oldest At 93

A 93-year-old widower has broken his own record to become the world's oldest wing walker.

Daredevil Tom Lackey, who was first strapped to a plane's wing when he was in his 80s, landed safely at City of Derry Airport after a one-hour-21-minute journey across the Irish Sea this morning.

"I am glad to be down. It was rather refreshing - very, very cold and very, very noisy," he said.

The record-breaker was glad to touch down after crossing the Irish Sea

The former builder from the West Midlands was tied to the top of a 1943 Boeing Stearman biplane which flew at around 1,000ft from Castle Kennedy, near Stranraer, in Scotland to Londonderry.

He touched down in Derry at about 11am.

A clearly relieved Mr Lackey said: "It was a very powerful aircraft and the noise was quite terrific because of the engine and the wind.

"I could see lots of sheep, lots of cows and little vehicles moving about like toys.

"It was scary at times but it's over with now and I have broken my own record.

"I have been doing it for a long time and the pilot was quite prepared to bring me down at any stage but thankfully he didn't have to."

Mr Lackey always carries a photograph of his late wife, Isobel, with him

Mr Lackey, from Shirley near Solihull, completed his first wing walk 13 years ago after the death of his wife, Isobel who had served in the Royal Air Force.

He entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2005 at the age of 85 as the oldest person on top of an aircraft that looped the loop.

But this latest feat was the most challenging yet, he said.

The former builder made his first wing walk when he was in his 80s

Mr Lackey added: "I have done quite a number of wing walks. I do like doing it. I like the adrenaline and I see it as a challenge but this was definitely the toughest yet."

The unlikely stuntman always carries a photograph of his late wife with him.

He said: "She comes with me every time I go up in the air. I mainly think of her and what she would think of me. I do think she would have been very proud. I have been doing all these stunts to keep her memory alive. She was a wonderful person."

Since his wife's death Mr Lackey, who was greeted by his daughter and granddaughter in Derry, has raised more than £1m for charity.

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Sabrina Moss: Man Charged With Murder

A 22-year-old man has been charged over the shooting murder of Sabrina Moss in north London.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised charges for the 24-year-old nursery teacher's murder in Kilburn on Saturday.

Sarah Maclaren, from the CPS London Homicide Unit, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has today, August 29, authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge Martell Warren, 22, with the murder of Sabrina Moss, who was fatally shot in Kilburn in the early hours of August 24.

"Mr Warren has also been charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life."

Warren, of Station Road, Hillingdon, will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Flowers left outside a takeaway in Kilburn where Ms Moss was shot

Ms Moss was shot in the chest near a fast food restaurant in Kilburn and died in hospital from her injuries.

A second 24-year-old woman, Sabrina Gachette, was injured in the shooting and remains in hospital. Her condition is described as stable and non-life threatening.

Scotland Yard confirmed two other counts of attempted murder related to two men who suffered gunshot wounds and were initially arrested in connection with the shooting, before being released without charge.

Police believe the women were "in the wrong place at the wrong time" when they were injured.

Ms Moss' parents John and Andrea described their daughter as a "fun-loving girl" and a "perfect mother" to her young son.

They said: "Our family has been devastated by this horrific incident that has changed our lives forever.

"Sabrina was a lovely daughter and a perfect mother to her young son, whom she adored."

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Gaddafi's Son Seeks UK Help Over 'Show Trial'

By Lisa Holland, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

The lawyer representing Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, is urging the British Government to do all it can to prevent him facing trial in Libya and deliver him to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

John Jones QC told Sky News he fears his client, who faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, will be subjected to a 'show trial' and sentenced to death.

He said: "Executing Saif Gaddafi would be a complete violation of the ICC orders so it's logical and right, and a moral and legal obligation on the UK, to intervene."

It follows a Libyan court's decision to sentence to death Colonel Gaddafi's former education minister Ahmed Ibrahim.

The ICC has also raised concerns about the ability of the Libyan authorities to hold the trial and the charges they plan to present against Saif al-Islam.

Saif al-Islam pictured after his capture

Fadi El-Abdallah, a spokesman for the court, told Sky News: "There is no legal representation for him on a national level and the operation of gathering the evidence and protecting the witnesses is not secured."

But the process of transferring Saif al-Islam from Libya to The Hague is proving to be a complex one.

He was captured by rebel fighters from the Libyan city of Zintan in November 2011 and has been held there, in solitary confinement, ever since.

The Libyan Government is struggling to exert its influence over large parts of the country and can't transfer him without the permission of Zintan's militia leaders.

John Jones, QC, says it's further evidence that Mr Gaddafi must be handed over to the ICC.

He was once tipped to lead Libya towards democracy

He said: "Libya's central authorities don't have control of his custody. That proves the point that if there's no control of is custody, if there's no rule of law in Libya, he should be tried in The Hague".

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was once tipped by western governments to lead Libya towards democracy.

Educated at the London School of Economics and considered by many to be the country's de-facto prime minister, he refused to abandon his father when protests sprung in several Libyan cities in early 2011.

He was found by fighters from the Zintan brigade trying to cross into Niger just a month after his father Colonel Gaddafi was captured and killed.

His last public appearance was in May when he briefly appeared in court to answer separate charges of endangering national security after he was accused of providing an ICC lawyer with 'sensitive' documents.

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Ashes Wee Scandal: ECB Probes Pitch Piddle Claim

The English Cricket Board (ECB) are to investigate after team spinner Graeme Swann appeared to confirm England players urinated on the Oval pitch after their Ashes win at the weekend.

Swann told The Sun newspaper he thought some members of the team may have answered the call of nature "once or twice" as they celebrated their victory on the pitch.

"We did go out to the middle of the pitch, all the lads, drinking beers, singing a few songs and enjoying each other's company," Swann said.

The accused: James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad

"I think the call of nature might have come once or twice, but it was nothing untoward. It was midnight, a private celebration in the middle of the pitch and the ground was dark," he added.

A row has been growing after Australian journalists claim they spotted three England players spending a penny on the pitch after the team returned to the field after their 3-0 series win over Australia.

They reportedly saw bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and batsmen Kevin Pietersen relieve themselves while the rest of the team cheered.

The England team beat Australia 3-0

Surrey County Cricket Club chief executive Richard Gould told The Sun: "We've spoken to the ECB and they say they will be looking into the matter.

"We would be very disappointed if it turns out they did urinate on the pitch."

The final Test at The Oval ended in controversial circumstances on Saturday, with the umpires taking the players off for bad light to end an intriguing contest that saw England needing just 21 runs for victory.

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First Badger Cull Under Way Amid Protests

A controversial badger cull has started in two counties in England as experts insist it is a vital move to stop the spread of bovine TB.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) confirmed the operation had been launched in a letter to its members on Tuesday morning.

Around 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in Gloucestershire and Somerset over the next six weeks under the two pilot schemes.

Farmers and the Government insist culling of badgers is needed to stop spiralling rates of TB in cattle herds.

Anti-cull protesters in Minehead, Somerset

But opponents say culling the protected animal will have only a small effect on infection rates and will lead to badgers suffering.

They want the emphasis to be on vaccines and tighter on-farm and cattle movement measures.

Campaigners turned out in large numbers at the pilot sites on Monday night to protest against what they call "inhumane" action.

NFU president Peter Kendall said the cull was "an important step not just for cattle farmers but for the whole farming industry".

He wrote: "We cannot go on culling tens of thousands of cattle every year because of TB while knowing the disease exists in wildlife uncontrolled."

He added: "Badger control remains a controversial subject and we understand that some people will never agree with controlling badgers in this way.

A protest sign outside "Camp Badger" in Watchet, Somerset

"I hope that when time shows that these culls have reduced TB in cattle - just as has happened in Ireland - that even more people will understand that while sad, these culls are absolutely necessary."

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told Sky News the badgers would be shot by trained marksmen "under very carefully controlled circumstances".

"It is something I think we all approach with regret but for the last 15 years we have been the only country with a significant problem of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and bovine tuberculosis in wildlife that has only tried to address the problem in cattle," he said.

Mr Paterson stressed that the evidence from abroad showed the cull was the only route until the disease in reduced in wildlife and there is a vaccine for cattle.

"We are working really hard and leading the way in Europe on cattle vaccines but we are at least 10 years away," he said.

However, Labour condemned the pilots and claimed they would actually spread TB further as badgers are moved around.

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said: "The Government's divisive badger cull will cost more than it saves and will spread bovine TB in the short term as badgers are disturbed by shooting.

"We need a science-led policy to manage cattle movements better and a vaccine to tackle TB in cattle. Ministers should listen to the scientists and drop this cull which is bad for farmers, bad for taxpayers and bad for wildlife."

The pilots are happening in west Gloucestershire and west Somerset

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant agreed, saying: "Science has shown that this cull is not the answer to bovine TB in cattle. In fact, it could make things a lot worse. Vaccination and better bio-security are the only sustainable and true ways forward."

Stop The Cull claimed on its Facebook page that more than 500 people turned out to protest at both pilot sites on Monday night.

Somerset Badger Patrol held a vigil in Minehead and said more than 200 people took part. "We fight on, knowing that we are right helps," it said in a statement.

The High Court has granted an injunction to stop farmers involved in the culls being harassed and abused after complaints they had been targeted.

The cull was due to begin last autumn but was postponed while research continued into the population numbers in both areas.

The Government said west Somerset has approximately 4,300 badgers, with another 3,600 in west Gloucestershire. The aim is to kill 70% of the animals.

The culls, which will be carried out annually for four years, last six weeks and are allowed to take place between June 1 and January 31.

If they are successful in stopping the spread of bovine TB, they could be rolled out, saving millions in compensation to farmers.

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MS And Parkinson's Sufferers Told: 'Get To Work'

By Frazer Maude, Sky New Reporter

Thousands of people with progressive conditions such as Parkinson's and MS are being told they could recover enough to look for work, according to charities.

The government's controversial Work Capability Assessment is again under fire after a coalition of four leading charities claimed that 45% of people were told they would be able to work again following assessment for Employment Support Allowance.

Parkinson's UK, MS Society, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and Cystic Fibrosis Trust have called for the abolition of the system saying it is "farcical" and "defies belief".

Between 2008 and 2011, 13,600 people with cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or rheumatoid arthritis applied for Employment Support Allowance, figures show.

Nearly half were placed in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) after being assessed for Employment Support Allowance, where charities claim they should have been in the Support Group, which doesn't require the individual to seek work.

Sue Watson, from Leeds, is one of  580,000 people in England who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis.

On bad days it can make even the smallest movements intensely painful.

When she was forced to give up her work as an aromatherapist her Work Capability Assessment placed her in WRAG.

"It has a detrimental effect because stress affects rheumatoid arthritis," she says.

Iain Duncan Smith's Department for Work and Pensions has defended claims

"So the stress of being felt that you're on the scrap heap and that you're not believed, and to think that I'm going to be forced to go back into work even though I can't, that had a huge impact on me."

Caroline Hacker, Head of Policy at Parkinson's UK said "This is the latest in a long line of unspeakable failures by Atos Healthcare (who carry out the assessments) and the Government when it comes to supporting those who need it most.

"To set up a system which tells people who've had to give up work because of a debilitating progressive condition that they'll recover, is farcical and simply defies belief."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "It's ridiculous to suggest that we think people with degenerative conditions will 'recover'. However, it is important that we don't simply write people off. There is strong evidence that working can be beneficial for many people who have a health condition."

An Atos Healthcare spokesman said: "Our healthcare professionals are trained in the assessment of chronic and progressive conditions such as Parkinson's and understand that, sadly, some people's conditions will only get worse over time.

"However, the advice we are asked to give DWP concentrates on how individuals are affected by their illness at present.

"All decisions on the outcome of claims, for example whether they are placed in the WRAG or the Support Group, are made by DWP."

The charities though are calling for an end to a system which they say causes unnecessary stress and anxiety for people who are already in poor health.

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Man In Trauma Unit After Cows Stampede

A man believed to be in his 60s has been seriously injured by a herd of cows which trampled on him.

Paramedics were called to a field at St Neots, Cambridgeshire. 

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said the man received "significant" injuries.

"Following treatment, stabilisation and immobilisation by the ambulance crews, he was taken to the specialist trauma centre at Addenbooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire for further care."

A similar accident occurred in May after a man in his 60s was trampled to death and his brother seriously injured when a herd of cows trampled them as they walked dogs in Wiltshire.

2010: Julian Lawford was sentenced over the death of farmer Harold Lee

In 2010, firefighter Julian Lawford was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, after a farmer was killed by stampeding cows frightened by Lawford's fire engine siren.

Harold Lee, 75, had been riding a quad bike at the back of a dairy herd as he and son Richard were taking the animals to be milked in Somerset.

Mr Lee suffered head and chest injuries after being trampled and was in a critical condition before being airlifted to hospital where he later died.

The National Farmers' Union issued a warning at Easter about the dangers posed by animals in the countryside.

Livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said: "In the spring it's especially important for walkers to be sympathetic to farm animals rearing their young and give them space.

"If you feel threatened by animals protecting their territory or young do not run, move to the edge of the field and if possible find another way round.

"If you're walking with a dog please keep it on a lead when walking around livestock, but let it go if the situation demands it."

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Dale Cregan: Police Killer 'On Hunger Strike'

Convicted police killer Dale Cregan is reportedly on a hunger strike in a protest against being kept apart from other inmates.

The 30-year-old is serving a whole life sentence at HMP Full Sutton after being jailed in June for four murders.

Cregan gunned down unarmed policewomen Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, after luring them to a house last September.

He also killed father and son David and Mark Short in twin attacks earlier in 2012.

Cregan is said to have started refusing food after the prison turned down his request to mix with other inmates, according to the Manchester Evening News.

One-eyed Cregan is also understood to be unhappy being at the Yorkshire prison as he wants a move to Strangeways so he can be closer to family.

Cregan has been segregated from other inmates because of concerns over his safety as reports suggest there is an underworld reward of £20,000 for anyone who damages his remaining eye.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson could not confirm or deny the reports.

In a statement it said: "We do not comment on individuals.

"We take food refusal extremely seriously. If a prisoner chooses to refuse food for any reason, the Prison Service works with healthcare staff to monitor their physical and mental health.

"Prisoners who are considered mentally capable are entitled to refuse health interventions, provided they fully understand the consequences of their decision."

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Ovarian Cancer: Hopes Over UK Screening

Cancer charities are hoping that a new screening programme for ovarian cancer to save thousands of lives a year may be rolled out across the UK.

Known as the silent killer, ovarian cancer is responsible for the deaths of 4,500 women a year and is notoriously difficult to detect in the early stages when it is most responsive to treatment.

There is currently no national screening programme in the UK because the current blood test that is used often produces false results.

However, scientists in America say they have tweaked the tests to detect the cancer more accurately.

The trial at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston showed it is possible to identify ovarian tumours correctly through a screening strategy of blood tests and ultrasound examinations.

Karen Lu, who is leading the research team, said: "The results from our study are not practice-changing at this time; however, our findings suggest that using a longitudinal (or change over time) screening strategy may be beneficial in post-menopausal women with an average risk of developing ovarian cancer.

"We are currently waiting for the results of a larger, randomised study currently being conducted in the United Kingdom that uses the same Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm in a similar population of women.

"If the results of this study are also positive, then this will result in a change in practice."

Annie Mulholland, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2011, told Sky News: "I had no symptoms of cancer but I felt unwell and went to doctors to find out why I was feeling a bit tired ... that was my fortune."

"Because there is no screening at the moment which is reliable the doctors have to wait until a woman presents."

She said the roll-out of a screening strategy like the one highlighted in the report would be "wonderful" news for thousands of women.

"If every singe woman over a certain age, perhaps 50 or over, would be screened routinely it would raise awareness of this particular cancer and it would also allow doctors to find out whether the woman is growing the cancer well before it's too late to cure."

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North Sea Helicopter Crash: Bodies Returned

The bodies of three of the four oil workers who died when a helicopter plunged into the North Sea have been brought back to the mainland.

A passenger ferry carrying the bodies arrived at Aberdeen Harbour this morning.

 It is understood the fourth body will arrive on Tuesday.

The Super Puma helicopter was carrying 16 passengers and two crew from the Borgsten Dolphin platform when it crashed into the sea off Shetland on Friday evening, killing three men and one woman.

It is not yet known what caused the CHC-operated helicopter to crash as it approached Sumburgh airport on the southern tip of the main island.

It is not yet known what caused the crash

Tributes have been paid to the victims, named as Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham; George Allison, 57, from Winchester, Hampshire; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin in the Highlands; and 59-year-old Gary McCrossan, from Inverness.

The wreckage is expected to be transported to shore later for examination by a team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Senior management staff from the helicopter's manufacturer, Eurocopter, have arrived in Aberdeen.

Guillaume Faury, Eurocopter's chief executive, said: "All of us at Eurocopter are deeply saddened by this accident. This is a tragedy for all of us.

"We express our deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the workforce in the North Sea.

Dive vessel Bibby Polaris was involved in the salvage of the wreckage

"We also wish to acknowledge all those persons involved in the search-and-rescue operations. Their prompt and professional action saved many lives and for that we are sincerely thankful.

"At this point in time, limited technical information is available regarding the cause of this accident. Eurocopter's experts are in Aberdeen working closely with the investigation authorities to determine the cause."

It is hoped information on the helicopter's black box recorder will help establish the cause of the crash.

Super Puma flights to and from UK offshore installations have been suspended, prompting a meeting of oil and gas industry chiefs to discuss the impact on platform workers.

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Ex-Army Officer With Royal Link Killed In Kenya

A retired British Army officer who ran a game reserve where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were guests has been killed in a robbery at his home in Kenya.

Lieutenant Colonel David Parkinson, 58, and his wife Sonja were attacked after a gang of five robbers, armed with machetes and a gun, broke into their house in the Lolldaiga Hills, a wildlife ranch, in the early hours of Sunday.

During the confrontation, Lt Col Parkinson's hand was cut off and he was fatally wounded, police said.

Local police chief Marius Tum said the intruders entered the couple's bedroom by breaking a glass door using a large stone.

The robbers reportedly stole items including a laptop, phone, some ornaments, bottles of wine and £2.

"One of the gang members was armed with a pistol, another with a machete while the rest had crude weapons. While one of them was terrorising Mr Parkinson the others tied his wife's hands with ropes," Mr Tum said.

However, Mrs Parkinson, who had sustained a cut on her back, managed to untie herself and escape to a storeroom where she hid herself until the robbers fled.

On returning to the main house she found the body of her husband on the floor, police said.

William proposed to Kate at Lt Col Parkinson's game reserve

Mr Tum said a post-mortem examination would be carried out but it was likely that Lt Col Parkinson bled to death from a deep cut on his left bicep.

On Sunday afternoon, a suspect from a nearby village was arrested after police mounted a major manhunt using sniffer dogs.

Lt Col Parkinson, who had a distinguished career in the Army for 30 years, worked as the manager of the Lolldaiga ranch in Laikipia East district since 2008.

Before that he was a director of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya where Prince William spent his gap year helping with various conservation projects before taking up his place at St Andrews University.

It is also where Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010.

The Foreign Office confirmed the death of Lt Col Parkinson.

"We are aware of his death and we stand ready to provide consular assistance to his family at this sad time," a spokesman said.

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Gareth Bale: Real Madrid Bid Has Mystery Rival

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

Gareth Bale's future could remain undecided until the final hours of the transfer window, with Tottenham yet to accept Real Madrid's offer and understood to be considering a rival bid to the Spanish club's world-record £86m.

The winger had been expected to complete his anticipated move early this week, but sources on all sides say no deal has been finalised, and that barring sudden progress, an announcement is "unlikely" in the next 24 hours.

Bale spent the weekend at a villa in southern Spain but flew back to the UK on Monday and will return to training at Tottenham on Tuesday unless a transfer is confirmed.

The identity of the club behind the rival offer remains unclear but sources close to Manchester United and Chelsea, two of the domestic clubs with the financial firepower to consider a bid, distanced themselves from the issue.

Tottenham will hope that the prospect of competition will force Madrid to meet the exacting terms set out by chairman Daniel Levy.

The 24-year-old was in sensational form for Spurs last season

While Bale is determined to join Real, Levy is only willing to sell reluctantly, and on terms advantageous to his club.

The Tottenham chairman is thought to be willing to wait until the very end of the transfer window,  Monday September 2, before a final decision.

As well as allowing Spurs time to work on transfer business, they will be able to assess their position after Sunday's north London derby against key rivals Arsenal.

Progress on the Bale deal has been slowed by increasing ill-feeling between Spurs and Madrid, with Tottenham understood to be infuriated at what they perceive as arrogance on the Spanish club's part.

Bale merchandise is being sold off cheap by traders at White Hart Lane

Real Madrid have made no secret of their belief a deal is imminent, selling Bale shirts on the club website and erecting a stage inside the Santiago Bernabéu stadium last week for an anticipated presentation ceremony.

Spurs are also determined to complete their planned transfer dealings before agreeing to Bale's departure, not least to avoid paying a premium for their new players.

Levy has made it clear that he will not agree a deal that leaves Tottenham weaker, and has spent more than £50m already this summer, bringing in four players including club-record signing Roberto Soldado.

Spurs ars said to be infuriated at the 'arrogance' of the Bernabéu club

An attempt to sign Brazilian Willian was gazumped by a £30m counter-offer from Chelsea last week, and Spurs want to bring in a defender, expected to be Romanian Vlad Chiriches, and at least one more attacking player before agreeing to Bale's departure.

Tottenham are also reluctant to accept a deal with a relatively small up-front payment and the rest staggered over the full term of Bale's proposed six-year contract.

Spurs, who still harbour doubts about Real's ability to fund the huge purchase, would prefer a significant part of the transfer up-front to help finance summer spending.

If, as still seems likely, Bale still does move to Madrid, Tottenham's chairman is determined to ensure that it is on his terms.

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Pets Considered Part Of The Family, Census Shows

The British family has changed in modern times - with pets widely considered to be much-loved members, according to new research.

The findings from Ancestry.co.uk, the family history website, show 90% of pet owners think of their animal as part of the family.

A third (33%) of those even claim to prefer their pets to real life members of their family, with one in six (15%) considering their pet more important than their cousin.

Dog owners are the most keen to make their pet a bona fide family member, with 16% choosing to include the animal in the 2011 Census.

A number of these even listed their dog as their "son" on the official form.

But this animal infatuation is by no means a 21st century phenomenon, with pets also listed in the 1911 Census.

For example, Arthur and Elizabeth Delve from Smethwick found it fit to record the existence of their "faithful Irish terrier Biddy". Biddy, it was noted, was a "magnificent watch and a demon on cats and vermin".

Another canine in the 1911 Census is 'Roger the Watchdog' who lived in Dulwich. His journalist owner James Little listed his age at five and a rather fitting profession of "looking after the house".

Paintings of pets were particularly popular in Victorian Britain when wealthy women were known to sit for pictures with perfectly groomed lap dogs.

This trend persists today with one in 20 owners confessing they have commissioned a professional portrait of their animal.

Many British people also leave behind a more permanent token of affection.

Nearly one in 10 (9%) of dog owners love the animal so much that they are planning on leaving money or assets to them in their will.

:: Ancestry.co.uk commissioned ICM Research to question 2,000 UK adults aged 18 and over this month about attitudes towards pets. Of these, 1,172 were pet owners.

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NHS Managers Pocket £1.4bn In Pay-Offs

NHS chiefs have squandered £1.4bn on axing staff as part of David Cameron's shake-up of the health service, Labour have claimed.

Latest Department of Health figures show that over the past three years more than 32,000 NHS managers received "exit packages".

Of these, 330 people received pay-offs totalling more than £200,000, while just under 2,000 pocketed between £100,000 and £200,000.

The figures come in the same week that NHS workforce statistics show the number of nursing jobs lost since the election in 2010 has topped 5,000.

Labour claims the shortage of nurses is fuelling a waiting time crisis at A&E units and and leaving one in 10 hospitals without enough staff.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "The true cost of David Cameron's NHS re-organisation is slowly revealing itself and it is enough to make people weep.

"At a time when the NHS needs every penny it can get, we have a Prime Minister handing out gold-plated, six-figure pay-offs to hundreds of managers and P45s to thousands of nurses. It stinks and begins to explain why, on Cameron's watch, A&E is in crisis and waiting lists have hit a five-year high.

"There could be no clearer illustration of a Prime Minister with his priorities seriously wrong. He has lined the pockets of management consultants and left one in 10 hospitals without enough staff on the wards.

"Billions have been siphoned out of the NHS front-line to pay for an unnecessary re-organisation no-one voted for and David Cameron personally promised would not happen.

"We are only in this position because Cameron was too weak to stand up to his old boss Andrew Lansley and allowed him to proceed with his vanity re-organisation.

"It is time for the Government to own up to the real cost of its disastrous NHS re-organisation. These payments show that official figures are under-estimating the true price-tag.

"People who are now waiting longer for operations, or seeing treatments denied, have a right to know about how this Government has chosen to spend scarce NHS resources."

A Department for Health spokesperson said: "Last year we started changes that put doctors and nurses in the driving seat as they are best placed to take decisions about care for their patients.

"The changes made as a result of the reforms mean a huge net gain for the taxpayer. They will save £5.5bn during this Parliament and £1.5bn every year thereafter, to be reinvested back into patient care."

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Midwives has claimed expectant mothers are being turned away from maternity wards because of severe staff shortages, which could last a decade.

It said a baby boom is putting strain on the system - the number of new births jumped by 7,000 between 2010 and 2012.

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Video: Children Saved From Sinking Car In Essex

A woman who helped save several people trapped in a sinking car has told Sky News she knew she had to act quickly after realising there were three children trapped in the vehicle.

Hannah King, 22, and her friend Emma Burles, 26, pulled the children - aged four, six and eight - to safety after the Mitsubishi 4x4 got stuck driving through deep water under a railway bridge in Hockley, Essex.

"As soon as it went in, the water took it," Ms King told Sky News

"When it started sinking we could see there were kids in there and knew we had to get them out."

Dramatic footage filmed by a bystander shows the two women passing the children to a group of local boys who led them to safety.

Scott Swinford, who was driving the car with eight-year-old son Reece, his niece Jessica and nephew Alfie inside, said he thought his "monster truck" type vehicle could make it through the water.

But after finding himself in difficulty and trying to reverse out the vehicle was taken by the current and the wheels lost traction.

Ms King said the children were already up to their knees in water when she started to pull them out.

"The little girl was most scared I think. I couldn't get her seatbelt off at first, but they were okay once they were inside," she said.

Video footage of the rescue shows the vehicle largely submerged moments after the children were taken to safety.

After the children were taken inside to dry off, a police scuba team arrived at the scene believing people might still be trapped, Ms King said.

A user comment below the video of the rescue on Youtube said: "I would like to say a very very big thank you to all the people that helped rescue my Grandchildren & my Son-In-Law you were all brilliant thank you all again from the bottom of my heart you all done a fantastic job xxxxxx."

Heavy rain caused a number of roads to be flooded in Essex on Saturday and the fire service received more than 300 calls overnight.

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Kilburn Shooting: Police Arrest Second Man

A second man has been arrested over the killing of a 24-year-old woman shot dead as she celebrated her 24th birthday.

Sabrina Moss, from Neasden in northwest London, died in hospital after being involved in a double shooting.

Police said she was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time while out with friends.

Another 24-year-old woman remains in hospital. Her condition has been described as critical but stable.

Police investigate the double shooting in Kilburn

Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin of the Metropolitan Police said: "Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances of this tragic incident.

"At this early stage, I believe the two women were innocent parties who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The family of Ms Moss visited the scene of the shooting on Sunday with flowers, which officers placed inside a police cordon.

The second man is being held at a north London police station, and the first remains in custody, Scotland Yard said.

Police lay flowers at the scene of the shooting

Police were called at 4.12am yesterday to reports of shots fired in the street in Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, north-west London, at the junction with Messina Avenue.

Police and the London Ambulance Service found two women suffering gunshot injuries and both were taken to London hospitals.

Ms Moss was later pronounced dead.

Mr Sandlin said: "I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the shooting, or who saw anything suspicious in the Kilburn area, to call police.

"In particular, I need to hear from anyone who saw two males who came into the High Road from Messina Avenue and, after the shooting, made off on foot back along Messina Avenue."

Officers were called to the scene after reports of gunshots

The second suspect to be arrested is being held at a north London police station, while the first also remains in custody, police said.

Tributes to Ms Moss flooded onto social networking site Twitter, with many of her friends reporting that she had a young child.

Adjei Adu wrote: "My heart goes out to her family and the lil one she's left behind, sleep well Sabrina Moss."

Leila Hassan tweeted: "My Thoughts Are With Your Family... A Beautiful Young Woman, Mother and Daughter!"

Another tweet read: "Lost the cousin I was close with when I was a child.. R.I.P Sabrina Moss."

Anyone with information that might assist the investigation was asked to call the incident room at Hendon on 020 8358 0300. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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North Sea Helicopter Crash: Super Puma Grounded

The body of the last victim of a helicopter crash off the coast of Shetland has been recovered from the North Sea.

Police confirmed the recovery of the fourth body from the wreckage after it was announced that all helicopters like the one which ditched into the sea have been grounded.

The helicopter has also been pulled from the sea and put on a recovery vessel after an operation hampered by bad weather.

Investigators hope to gain access to the black box, which will give an early clue to what caused the crash, Sky's James Matthews said.

The yellow inflatable from the helicopter protrudes through the surface

Helicopter services company CHC said flights of the Super Puma AS332 L2 would be suspended globally until further notice.

It has also suspended all UK commercial flights of the other models in the Super Puma range after a recommendation from an aviation safety group.

The crash took place as the helicopter headed back from the Borgsten Dolphin platform on Friday.

The aircraft was carrying two crew and 16 passengers from the rig, operated by French oil and gas company Total.

 Police named the four people who died as: Early indications suggest a sudden and "catastrophic loss of power" which gave passengers no chance to brace for impact before the helicopter ended up upside down in the North Sea.

Top: Duncan Munro; Gary McCrossan. Bottom: George Allison; Sarah Darnley

At a meeting of the UK's Helicopter Safety Steering Group on Saturday, offshore companies and unions agreed to suspend commercial flights by all models of Super Puma until at least next Wednesday.

CHC - which operates helicopters in 30 countries - said it had "great respect" for the HSSG and would follow its recommendation, which still allows for the use of emergency flights.

The incident marks the fourth in four years involving Super Puma aircraft.

In April 2009, 16 people died when a helicopter returning from BP's Miller platform crashed 11 miles from Peterhead after a "catastrophic failure" in part of its main gearbox.

A Facebook group called Destroy The Super Pumas, set up after the latest tragedy, has more than 15,000 likes.

One comment urges offshore workers to "stand side by side and get these Death traps out of the sky's for good !!!!"

The rescue operation was hampered by bad weather

However, other users warn against a knee-jerk reaction and say that the helicopter has been successfully used for many years in search and rescue.

The Unite union's Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty, said the safety record was "unacceptable" and called on the oil and gas industry to use "every means at their disposal to demonstrate that its fleet is fit for purpose".

Bob Crow, head of the RMT union, said he expected an "outpouring of anger" after the latest incident.

"The entire Super Puma fleet must remain grounded until the causes of this latest event are established," said Mr Crow.

Police named the four people who died as: Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin; Gary McCrossan , 59, from Inverness; and George Allison, 57, from Winchester.

A Facebook page is calling for the industry to scrap the Super Puma

It is thought that at least three of the four people who died had trouble getting out of the wreckage of the upturned helicopter.

All the relatives of the dead have been informed.

Mr Munro's family said he was "a fabulous father" to his 12-year-old daughter and that his death would "leave a large void in a lot of people's lives".

Sarah Darnley's mother, Anne, paid tribute to a "fun-loving free spirit" who was brought up in Elgin and moved to Aberdeen aged 19.

Two survivors of the crash were still in hospital on Shetland on Sunday night. The other 12 have returned to Aberdeen.

Survivors were aided by waterproof immersion suits that helped keep them afloat and warm in the North Sea.

This photo was taken before fog descended

The tide - which was heading towards the land - also helped survivors.

A team from the Department of Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has travelled to Aberdeen to carry out initial inquiries.

A statement from Super Puma manufacturers Eurocopter said it was "supporting CHC and relevant authorities with their investigations".

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