Fresh Details In London 'Slavery' Probe

Police have released new details about the investigation involving three women allegedly held as slaves for at least 30 years.

The Metropolitan Police said the two 67-year-old suspects, a man and woman who have been released on bail, are of Indian and Tanzanian origin and came to the UK in the 1960s.

A 69-year-old Malaysian woman, a 57-year-old Irish woman and a 30-year-old Briton were taken from a property in Brixton, south London, last month after one of the women called a support group asking for help.

She told the Freedom Charity she had been held against her will for more than 30 years.

Officers said two of the women met the male suspect in London "through a shared political ideology" and that they lived at an address which could be called a "collective".

Commander Steve Rodhouse said: "Somehow that collective came to an end and the women ended up continuing to live with the suspects.

"How this resulted in the women living in this way for over 30 years is what are seeking to establish, but we believe emotional and physical abuse has been a feature of all the victims' lives."

Police are carrying out house-to-house enquiries near the property where the suspects were arrested.

Investigators believe the youngest of the alleged victims may have spent her entire life as a domestic slave.

Cmdr Rodhouse said: "The 30-year-old woman does have a birth certificate; however that is all the official documentation we can find.

"We believe she has lived with the suspects and the other victims all her life, but of course at this early stage we are still seeking out evidence."

Scotland Yard revealed that part of the agreement when the women were removed from the address on October 25 was that police would not at that stage take any action.

None of the women was reported missing after they were rescued.

The exact location of the property where the women had been living has not been revealed and police say they are "taking every step" to protect the "emotionally fragile and highly vulnerable" victims.

Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom Charity, said: "We have seen an extraordinary rise in calls to our helpline since the rescue of the three women came into the public domain.

"We received five times as many calls in 24 hours as we normally do in one week and are needing to increase our resources to cope with this extra demand.

"These women have had traumatic and distributing experiences, which they have revealed to us.

"What needs to happen now is that the three victims, who have begun a long process of recovery, are able to go through their rehabilitation undisturbed, without being identified."

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Sir Bruce Forsyth: I'm Living On Borrowed Time

Television presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth has said he believes he is living "on borrowed time" but has no plans to retire yet.

The 85-year-old said the relentless schedule of hosting Strictly Come Dancing "can drag you down" and hinted that this year might be his last on the show.

Sir Bruce, who first appeared on Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1958, said he has a number of projects lined up for next year, but did not mention Strictly as one of them.

"I've got three one-man show dates fixed for next year and I'm doing another thing for TV in April that I can't talk about yet," he told The Sun.

"So if I was to leave Strictly Come Dancing, I wouldn't retire. That's the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. While I'm able to walk and play golf I'll still work."

The entertainer plays golf to stay fit and healthy

Sir Bruce admitted the punishing schedule for Strictly was difficult, despite him having a break during the run, saying: "The constant week-after-week can drag you down, especially when you are getting older."

And he was pragmatic about the inevitability of his own mortality.

"I know I'm on borrowed time. There's no getting away from it. When I look at all my friends that have gone - Eric Sykes, Frankie Howerd, Sammy Davis Jr - I know I'm on borrowed time.

"How I'm still here I just don't know. I don't know how, why or wherefore. But I'm not really questioning it that much. The day will come and it could be tomorrow, who knows?

"It's no good saying it's never going to come. You've got to be able to accept it. So I'm conditioning myself so it's not going to be a big surprise. It will just be, 'Ok, time to go'.

Sir Bruce and his wife Wilnelia Merced

"When the time is up I'll be ready for it. I probably won't be very happy about it. But I'll know it's time to go."

The veteran star also explained how he still has ambitions for his career.

"The other thing I'd like to do is a small part or cameo in a wonderful film like Harry Potter. I would be a terrible old man. Scrooge maybe...," he said.

"The trouble with Britain is they tend to cubbyhole you. To most people in this business, I'm a game show host. I can go to Glastonbury and prove all that wrong but people still think of me as the guy from The Price Is Right and The Generation Game.

"In America it's completely different. You can present a game show and have a part in Law And Order or a film."

Sir Bruce also took a gentle swipe at Strictly's main Saturday night TV rival, The X Factor, calling it "boring" and suggesting it may have run its course.

"(Simon Cowell) may wave a magic wand and make The X Factor a completely different show," he said.

"But I don't know how you can revamp a show which is a singer, followed by judges, followed by a singer, followed by a singer, followed by judges, followed by a singer, maybe a guest star, followed by another singer.

"And after two hours, what happens? Another singer. He has done marvels in the past, but I think the end has got to come. I just think people have stopped watching it. It's the kind of show that can get boring. For those kind of shows, the days are numbered."

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Grieve Warns Of 'Ethnic Corruption' In UK

Politicians need to "wake up" to the problem of corruption in ethnic minority communities, the Government's senior law officer has warned.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve said he was referring "mainly to the Pakistani community" in his comments.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the Tory MP pointed out that it could also be found in the "white Anglo-Saxon" community but he said it was a growing problem "because we have minority communities in this country which come from backgrounds where corruption is endemic".

"It is something as politicians we have to wake up to," he added.

The MP for Beaconsfield said: "I can see many of them have come because of the opportunities that they get. But they also come from societies where they have been brought up to believe you can only get certain things through a favour culture.

"One of the things you have to make absolutely clear is that that is not the case and it's not acceptable."

Asked if he was referring to the Pakistani community in his remarks, Mr Grieve told the newspaper: "Yes, it's mainly the Pakistani community, not the Indian community. I wouldn't draw it down to one. I'd be wary of saying it's just a Pakistani problem."

Baroness Warsi said electoral fraud also affects the Asian community

Mr Grieve highlighted electoral fraud as an area of concern, echoing comments made in 2010 by senior Tory Baroness Warsi.

Lady Warsi told the New Statesman magazine there were "at least three seats where we lost, where we didn't gain the seat, based on electoral fraud" and said the problems were "predominantly within the Asian community".

Labour MP Khalid Mahmood told Sky News that Mr Grieve was political point scoring. "What's his statistical evidence?" he said.

"He's the Attorney General, he's the law officer, what more prosecutions had he made since 2008 and what does it come up now? 

"Is it because it's coming up to the general election and is it because the Tory part want another immigration issue or community-based issue race issue they want to move on and I feel this is what he's doing in pushing that."

The Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley, John Hemming, told Sky News that corruption should be dealt with generally rather that on ethnic grounds.

John Hemming MP and Khalid Mahmood MP both questioned Mr Grieve's comments

"It shouldn't be made as an issue for one particular ethnic community we should deal with corruption more generally," he said.

"I worry about the complacency in this country about white Anglo-Saxon Protestant corruption because I see situations on a day-to-day basis where things are going very seriously wrong.

"You see things deteriorating and that shouldn't be made into an ethnic thing, it should be focused on as something we should deal with and have the right checks and balances on."

Mr Grieve also said that the UK's infrastructure could be put under strain if significant numbers of Bulgarians and Romanians come to the UK when controls expire in January.

He acknowledged that "the volume of immigrants may pose serious infrastructure issues".

In response to Dominic Grieve's interview, Shabana Mahmood MP for Birmingham Ladywood said: "The Attorney General should apologise. His wild extrapolation is based on a few flimsy facts and smears the entire UK Pakistani community.

"He should think again and come back to the table when he has had a chance to consider the facts more carefully."

Later in a statement, Mr Grieve said: "I am very clear that integration between ethnic communities in the UK has worked well and has delivered great benefits for all of us.

"This is a point I clearly made in my interview with the Telegraph, and I'm disappointed that this has not been reflected in their front page story.

"The point I was making is that, as a law officer, it's my duty to ensure the rule of law is upheld, and one of the issues that I feel requires close attention is any potential for a rise in corruption to undermine civil society.

"I believe this is an issue which needs to be addressed calmly and rationally.

"I am absolutely clear that this problem is not attributable to any one community, as I know very well from my many years promoting community cohesion."

Sky News political reporter Darren McCaffrey said Mr Grieve's comments are likely "to prove controversial".

"We have to remember he is an elected politician and he is also the Government's top lawyer, he is someone that we don't usually hear from a lot and this is why his intervention is unusual," he added.

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Man Sought After Schoolgirl 'Touched' On Bus

Police have released CCTV pictures of a man who sat next to a 12-year-old schoolgirl on a bus and allegedly put his hand on her knee.

The youngster, who is said to have been left shaken and upset by the incident, got on the bus in St Mary's Row, Moseley, Birmingham, and sat near the back.

The suspect boarded at the same time and sat next to her and allegedly asked for her mobile phone number before touching her. He then left the bus near Springfield school.

The girl, who was dressed in her school uniform, immediately told her mother when she arrived home. The incident happened on the afternoon of October 9 but the images have just been released.

The man left the bus at Grove Road School, Sparkhill (pic: Google)

Detective Constable Natalie Adkins, from the West Midland's Police public protection unit, said: "The girl was shaken by the incident and did the right thing by telling her mum, who then contacted the police."

She added: "We've scoured hours of CCTV footage in the area to track the man's movements as well as conducting a number of police checks.

"I would ask anyone who can name the man in the CCTV to call me. I would also urge the man himself to contact me - this is his chance to explain what happened and why."

The man is described as Asian, in his 20s, about 5ft 7ins, with short black hair and short trimmed facial hair. He was wearing a black jacket and cream-coloured jeans.

Anyone with information is urged to call DC Adkins at Castle Vale police station on 101. Crimestoppers can be reached anonymously on 0800 555 11.

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Stabbing: Mother Died From Multiple Wounds

Police have confirmed that a woman found dead in her home in Manchester died of stab wounds.

Officers called to a house on Mayford Road, Levenshulme on Friday discovered the body of 49-year-old Aisha Alam following reports a woman had been killed.

A Home Office post-mortem examination established that Ms Alam, who reportedly had lived at the address for 25 years and had four children, died from multiple stab wounds.

Neighbour and friend Saima Baber said that Ms Alam was "a very, very nice person".

"She was quite quiet and kept herself to herself but was such a lovely lady," Ms Baber told the Manchester Evening News.

"I would always stop and say hello and chat and I would do the same with her daughters as well who are lovely.

"We are all very shocked and scared by what's happened. I saw her daughter at about 8am and everything seemed fine."

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "A woman has been killed and our thoughts are with her family and friends at what is obviously a totally devastating time for them.

"I want to reassure her loved ones as well as those in the local community that we have a team of highly skilled detectives already working on this case but if anyone has any information please call us."

A 52-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody for questioning.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4032 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Arctic Oil Protest Brits Freed In Russia

Five of the Britons arrested by Russian authorities during a Greenpeace protest against Arctic oil drilling have been released from detention in St Petersburg.

Activists Iain Rogers, Frank Hewetson, Alexandra Harris and Anthony Perrett, and journalist Kieron Bryan are the first of six Britons to be freed on bail. Three Russian nationals were freed on Monday.

Thirty people, including the six Britons aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, were detained after the protest in September.

Anthony Perrett following his release Frank Hewetson

The sixth Briton, Philip Ball, has been granted bail, but has yet to be freed.

Speaking after his release, Mr Bryan told Sky News it felt "very, very good" to be free.

"It's good to be outside and see the sky for the first time for a while," he said.

"To everyone who's supported me and the rest of the group: Keep fighting, we're not free yet, this is first step. It's a glimmer of justice, but it's not finished."

He said being imprisoned had been "tough" and that he was looking forward to "a long shower", "never doing another Sudoku puzzle again" and "an improved diet".

Mr Rogers told Sky News: "It's lovely (to be out). It's been pretty traumatic, but it's good for the campaign.

"I think Gazprom have given us the ideal opportunity and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for publicising our campaign to stop drilling in the Arctic so much."

Iain Rogers at a previous court hearing

Speaking immediately after his release, Mr Hewetson told Sky News: "It feels very good to be out. It's been a long time, two months.

"The campaign's not over. There are many oil companies that are going to be drilling in the Arctic, not only in Russia. In Greenland, America and Canada. The fight continues."

Asked if he would do it again, he said: "That depends."

All 30 of the accused were initially charged with piracy but are now accused of hooliganism, which carries a shorter maximum jail term of seven years.

Ms Harris revealed she was kept in a cell on her own after being taken to a prison in Murmansk.

"For the first week it was really harsh. It was nerve-wracking," she said immediately after being released.

Alexandra Harris after learning her bail application had been successful

"I was in a cell on my own. You do get used to it, but it was tough."

All those released have had their passports returned to them, but none have visas and it is unclear if they will be allowed to leave the country.

Greenpeace on Thursday unveiled giant portraits of those arrested - the "Arctic 30" - outside the London offices of oil giant Shell.

The protest group said it was drawing attention to Shell and its Russian partner Gazprom's planned joint venture to drill for oil in the Arctic.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: "Shell and Gazprom are not equipped to drill in the Arctic without causing catastrophic damage to the unique ecosystem.

"But what makes their Arctic plans so blindly stupid is that they're only able to drill there because of the huge loss of Arctic sea ice from climate change."

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Jail Terms For Celtic Fans After Police Clashes

Five Celtic fans have been given jail terms following violence in Amsterdam before the club's Champions League match against Ajax, it has been reported.

A sixth fan was acquitted when the group appeared at Amsterdam District Court.

Two were sentenced to two months, two to six weeks and the other to one month, according to lawyer Kerem Canatan who tweeted from the hearing. 

He said they all had two weeks to appeal.

The men were arrested after clashes between supporters and police ahead of the Ajax game on November 6.

They were accused of acts of violence in a public space - charges they reportedly denied.

Dutch police said 28 Scots were among 44 people arrested following the violence, in which eight police officers were injured.

One officer was knocked unconscious in the fighting in Dam Square while others suffered broken noses.

Mr Canatan tweeted that the judge awarded damages of €250 (£209) to three police officers and €500 (£418) to another.

Twenty-two of the Scots were released with some paying fines of up to €500, Dutch police said.

After the disorder, Celtic responded to claims from fans that they were poorly treated by opening an internal investigation.

The Glasgow-based club said it would be liaising with various authorities in Amsterdam and the UK to get a full picture of what happened.

A club statement issued at the time said there was "no excuse for any form of violent conduct".

But it added: "There is no question that Celtic supporters have been subjected to a high degree of provocation."

Celtic lost the match 1-0. 

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Arrests After Toddler Dies In Peterborough

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a toddler after she was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Cambridgeshire Police are investigating the death of the girl, aged around two, at Peterborough City Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

A 28-year-old woman, believed to be the girl's mother, and her 19-year-old boyfriend have been arrested and are being held in custody in the city.

"The child had been taken to hospital at 11am with serious injuries but died shortly before 1pm," a police spokesman said.

A post-mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of death.

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Alec Reid: Irish Peace Broker Dies Aged 82

A priest widely recognised as one of the key figures in the Northern Ireland peace process has died.

Father Alec Reid, who was 82, acted as a broker between the IRA and the British Government.

He was famously photographed delivering the last rites to two soldiers killed by the IRA in west Belfast in 1988 after they accidentally drove into a Republican funeral.

He had tried to protect the two men, Corporals David Howes and Derek Wood, but was himself threatened with death if he did not get out of the way.

Fr Reid died peacefully

The Redemptorist order of Catholic priests said Fr Reid died peacefully in a Dublin hospital on Friday morning.

"We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and those who got to know him as a Redemptorist in the various roles and ministries he held," the order said.

"He will be especially remembered for his work in the Northern Ireland peace process."

The Redemptorists said arrangements for his funeral will be announced later.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Fr Reid's base in west Belfast during the Troubles, Clonard, was "the cradle of the peace process".

"I feel deeply saddened. I have not absorbed it yet. I knew him for the last 40 years," he said.

"What Alec Reid did was he lived the gospel message. He developed a view which was contrary to the official view, that there had to be dialogue, and he was tenacious - I remember quite a few times saying he was like a terrier."

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "We all owe a debt of gratitude to (Fr Reid) for the role he played in the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland."

Warm tributes have also been paid by First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Mr Robinson said: "I was saddened to hear of the death of Fr Reid and I convey my sincere sympathies to his entire family and friends at this time.

"Alec opposed violence and understood that the key to making progress was through reaching out to others regardless of their background."

Mr McGuinness added: "Fr Reid was a man of great dignity and his service to society embodied decency and respect for everyone.

Gerry Adams: "Deeply saddened" by loss

"He made an immeasurable contribution to the peace process and he has left a legacy of peace and hope for a better future for all."

Irish president Michael Higgins said: "Fr Reid's role as a channel for peace laid the ground for the achievement of the IRA cease-fire and created the political space for the multi-party talks that ultimately led to the Good Friday Agreement."

Fr Reid had a long association with Clonard Monastery on the Falls Road in Belfast, from where he forged a close relationship with Mr Adams.

He acted as a vital communications link between Mr Adams, then-Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader John Hume and the British and Irish Governments in the late 1980s and 1990s as peace talks developed in secret.

Years later, with paramilitary ceasefires delivered and the 1998 Good Friday peace accord signed, he was one of two churchmen who acted as independent witnesses to the decommissioning of the IRA's arsenal of weapons in 2005.

In recent years, he became involved in talks with Basque nationalists seeking independence from Spain.

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Beckham Clothes On Sale At London Charity Shop

Victoria and David Beckham are selling their unwanted and almost new clothes at a Red Cross charity shop in London in aid of victims of the Typhoon Haiyan.

The shop, at 69-71 Old Church Street in Chelsea, specialises in designer labels donated to the British Red Cross and is extending its opening hours from 11am until 8pm.

The Beckham collection includes shoes by Jimmy Choo and suits by Dolce and Gabbana (D&G) alongside tops, suits, trainers and dresses from the Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer and her footballer husband.

Victoria poses on Twitter in her packing box

The celebrity couple has urged others to help support victims of the typhoon.

"David and I are supporting the Red Cross Shop Drop for the Philippines campaign and we urge everyone in Britain to do the same," Victoria said.

Customers gather before the shop opens

"Everyone has something in their closet they were holding onto, a dress, suit, or pair of shoes they thought they might wear again. Dig them out, bag them up, drop them off and give someone else the chance to buy them, raising much needed funds for the Red Cross aid effort. "

David and Victoria's D&G suits are on sale for £600 and £800 respectively, and more if they turn out to be especially rare items.

The clothes are being displayed alongside the shop's other stock, with labels marking them as gifts from the Beckhams.

Mark Astarita, director of fundraising for the British Red Cross, said: "We are delighted to have Victoria and David's support for the British Red Cross Shop Drop for Philippines.

"Their generous donation will enable us to raise significant funds towards the enormous humanitarian operation currently under way."

Victoria Beckham earlier tweeted pictures of preparations for the clear out, including dozens and dozens of pairs of shoes.

Victoria's shoes piled up. Pic: Twitter

There is one drawback for those in search of a bargain - the "almost new clothes" owned by Mrs Beckham might be too small for most people to wear, a shop assistant warned.

Philippine officials say the death toll from the typhoon has now passed 5,000.

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George Osborne’s Stamp Duty Bonanza

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

Stamp duty revenues - one of the most reliable measures of property market activity - are back to the same level they were just before the economic crisis in 2008, in the latest evidence of the housing boom.

Last month homebuyers paid £852m in stamp duty to the Exchequer, according to figures from HM Revenue & Customs - slightly higher than the £830m-a-month  it was earning at the peak of the boom in 2007/08.

The figures come amid growing evidence that, thanks to record low interest rates and the Chancellor's Help to Buy scheme, the housing market is experiencing a fully-fledged boom.

House prices rose by 3.8% across the country in the past year, with London experiencing close to double-digit price growth.

It is understood that property market activity in prime parts of central London was largely responsible for the sharp increase in stamp duty revenues, which have now doubled from the troughs they suffered in 2010 and 2011.

In the Budget the Chancellor forecast that he would earn £7.7bn in property-related stamp duty this year. He looks likely to beat this estimate by more than a billion pounds.

However, news that stamp duty revenues have exceeded the pre-crisis peak will also cause further concerns among economists, who have warned that the property market is becoming inflated in much the way it did before the crash.

They warn that, far from rebalancing, Britain's economy is becoming reliant, once again, on debt and the housing market.

The Chancellor has also enjoyed an extra fillip from new measures aimed at preventing property investors avoid stamp duty by "wrapping" their investment properties up in a company.

The punitive fees levied on these investors generated £78m for the Exchequer in September and October alone.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the overall government deficit dropped from £8.2bn in October 2012 to £8.1bn this October.

The figures are also likely to have been pushed higher by the fact that stamp duty tax rates have been lifted, and new higher rates have been introduced for the most expensive properties.

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Daniel Radcliffe Warns Social Media Celebrities

By Richard Suchet, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent

Celebrities who tell fans what they are doing "moment to moment" on social media sites cannot expect to have a private life, according to Daniel Radcliffe.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the Harry Potter star said he tries to avoid the limelight.

"There's certain things you can do to make it a lot easier on yourself," the 24-year-old said. 

"If you don't, for instance, go to premieres that aren't for a film you're in, or don't just turn up at other events and stuff like that, then that's going to help to not fuel the interest.

"Also, I don't have Twitter and I don't have Facebook, and I think that makes things a lot easier because if you go on Twitter and tell everybody what you're doing moment to moment and then claim you want a private life, then no one is going to take that request seriously."

Radcliffe says he has a 'chip on his shoulder'

Speaking ahead of the launch of the second series of A Young Doctor's Notebook on Sky Arts 1 (Thursday, 9pm), he said that when he was younger he resented the attention that his success as a young actor had brought, but that he has no regrets.

"When I was 18 or 19 there was definitely a level of frustration around ... I did have to think where I went more than a lot of my friends and you do get a little frustrated around that age, but ultimately it's childish, petulant - oh I want that too.

"People always say to me 'Do you feel like you missed out on a childhood? Do you feel like you had your childhood taken away?' And I'm like 'No, ridiculous... kids who are abused have their childhoods taken away from them'."

However, he admitted he now has a "chip on his shoulder" that people might think he was fortunate to win the Harry Potter role and now feels he needs to prove himself again.

Radcliffe stars with Mad Men actor John Hamm in A Young Doctor's Notebook

"It's as much to myself, as to anyone else. People always say 'oh he's got a chip on his shoulder' like it's a bad thing. I think it's a perfectly good thing if you let it motivate you.

"When you fall into a position when you're 11 years old, you do tend to think that, you know, everyone, you were lucky to get there. And I was lucky to get there. And I think there's a sense that you just fell into it and that you rode the wave and carried on.

"And that's not what I'm about. I don't know how many people think like that - there may be none, there may be millions, but it doesn't matter. It fires you up."

Radcliffe, who stars in the show with Mad Men actor Jon Hamm, also reveals that despite being worth an estimated £50m, his biggest indulgence is books.

"The only time I will spend a wad of cash in one go - and this is going to sound so nerdy - is in bookshops. I've gone out of bookshops with a pile of 15 to 20 books before. It's excessive.

"I have this thing in bookshops where if I see this thing that there's a good chance I may never ever see again or sounds interesting then I have to get it.

"So that's a way of bleeding your money. The only slightly lavish thing that I do sometimes is that I might take all my friends out for a night out. And that's, like, once a year. I'm refreshingly boring."

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CCTV: 'Shears Intruder' Tasered Off Car Roof

Video has emerged of a man being Tasered after jumping on a disabled woman's car and reportedly threatening to cut off a police dog's head with garden shears.

Jamie Swann, 28, attacked Jane Green's car as it sat on her Nottingham driveway in the early hours of October 14.

CCTV shows Swann standing on the roof gesturing wildly with the shears as police try to talk him down.

Officers eventually floor Swann with an electric stun gun, sending him tumbling off the car with the shears flying out of his hand.

Ms Green, 59, said she was "petrified" by the incident, according to the Nottingham Post.

The retired medical secretary, who suffers with a chronic pain syndrome, said she thought Swann was going to break into her house.

"The man was totally unknown to me and he was shouting about guns and waving around my garden shears which he picked up," Ms Green told the Nottingham Post.

Despite her concerns, the video shows her bravely creeping past Swann to unlock her gate.

"I didn't want to be locked in with him," she said. "So I ran past him to unlock it for the police."

Swann later pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and using threatening words and behaviour to cause alarm or distress.

He was jailed for 22 months, which included 18 months for breaching a previous suspended sentence for theft and burglary.

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Northern Ireland Bus Bomb Blamed On Dissidents

A bomb planted on a bus in Northern Ireland which police say was capable of causing death or serious injury has been blamed on dissident republicans.

A masked man boarded the vehicle and ordered the driver to take the viable explosive device to the main police station in Derry-Londonderry.

The alert began at about 6.15pm on Wednesday in the Ballymagroarty area.

The bomb, which was concealed inside a holdall and had a two-hour timer, was placed directly behind the driver's seat.

Up to 10 passengers on board at the time were ordered off.

The city's police chief, Superintendent Stephen Cargin, said: "This was a reckless attack on the community.

"To be prepared to put a bomb on a public bus, to put the lives of the driver and the passengers at risk and in the knowledge that it had to be driven through a built-up area is totally mindless."

The would-be bomber was dressed in a black jacket and used a black scarf and hood to hide his identity. Supt Cargin said he claimed to have been from the IRA.

"We believe this was one of the dissident groups," he said.

The female driver was able to abandon the bus in a place of safety in the Northlands area and raise the alarm. She has been left extremely distressed by the ordeal.

Supt Cargin said she should be praised for her bravery.

In the past, dissident extremists opposed to the peace process have forced taxi drivers to transport bombs, but it is understood this is the first time a public transport worker has been targeted.

Ciaran Rogan, from Translink which operates the network, insisted services would not be affected.

Stormont transport minister Danny Kennedy condemned those responsible.

He said: "Attacks on public transport impact the entire community who depend on buses and trains to get to work, school, hospital and go about their daily business."

About 70 families from 40 houses were evacuated while Army bomb disposal teams worked to make the device safe.

The alert ended at about 3.30am on Thursday, when residents were allowed to return home.

Supt Cargin said: "So many people had to be evacuated and were put a serious inconvenience for over nine hours.

"You have to question what these people were trying to achieve."

Strand Road PSNI station has been the target of a number of bomb attempts, including thwarted mortar attacks in March and October.

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Freed Greenpeace Activists Hit Out At Detention

The latest British Greenpeace activists to be granted bail by a court in Russia have welcomed the decision - but say it shouid have happened sooner.

Frank Hewetson, 45, and 37-year-old Iain Rogers were among 30 people arrested by Russian security forces after an oil rig protest in the Arctic in September.

Father-of-two Mr Hewetson, from London, said: "I'm happy but it should have happened two months ago.

"i think our detention in prison has been unwarranted. We are a peaceful organisation, we are not hooligans."

His partner, Nina Gold, said: "It is a massive relief to know that Frank has been granted bail and that we can see him and talk to him soon.

"But it is not over yet - Frank and the others are still facing absurd charges carrying the threat of a long jail sentence."

When asked by Sky's Katie Stallard if he had a message for his family, Mr Rogers, from Exeter, joked: "Tell my mum I'm saving loads of money!"

Three other Britons, Alex Harris, Anthony Perrett and journalist Kieron Bryan, are also due for release after winning their bail applications on Wednesday.

(L to R) Ms Harris, Mr Bryan and Mr Perrett

Five of the six Britons in detention have now been given bail. The sixth, Philip Ball, will have his application heard on Friday.

More than 20 of those on the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise have now been allowed bail by courts in St Petersburg.

It follows international condemnation over Russia's treatment of the so-called Arctic 30.

Brazilian Ana Paula Maciels, 31, was the first to be released from custody on Wednesday after Greenpeace paid her £38,000 bail.

She was followed on Thursday morning by three Russians - activist Andrei Allakhverdov, photographer Denis Sinyakov and the ship's doctor Yekaterina Zaspa.

Ms Maciels after she was released from detention

The 'Arctic 30' were taken into custody after their vessel entered Arctic waters despite Russian warnings.

Some of the activists had tried to scale an offshore drilling platform owned by the state gas giant Gazprom.

The protesters were initially charged with piracy but this was changed to the less serious offence of  hooliganism, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years.

No date has yet been set by for their trials.

Greenpeace denies any wrongdoing and is demanding that all the activists -  who come from 18 different countries - and their ship are freed.

Protesters climb the Prirazlomnaya oil platform

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed to Russia to be lenient with the activists, saying environmentalists play a key role in society.

"They (Russia) may have their own domestic rules and regulations but I would hope that they would have some favourable and sympathetic considerations for this case," he said.

"In this world the civil societies ... play a very important role. It is not only the government or business communities who make this world move. A very significant part is now shared by civil society, including Greenpeace."

Meanwhile, Greenpeace has unveiled giant portraits of the 'Arctic 30' as part of its campaign against drilling in the Arctic.

Vivienne Westwood at the Arctic 30 exhibition

The black and white photographs were put up outside the London offices of oil giant Shell.

Greenpeace said it was drawing attention to Shell and Gazprom's planned oil venture in the Arctic.

Entitled Thirty Acts of Courage, the "exhibition" was officially opened by fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who said: "I'm delighted to be able to open this exhibition celebrating the bravery of the Arctic 30.

"Their audacious efforts to protect one of the world's last remaining wildernesses from exploitation by the oil industry are an example to us all."

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Birmingham Needle Attacks: More Reports Probed

Police investigating a string of needle attacks on women in Birmingham city centre have said a further six people may have been attacked.

Detectives said the reported cases, all of which happened within the last six months, could be linked to the same man seen in a CCTV image released last week.

They also appealed for a possible witness to the attacks to come forward, saying he could hold vital information.

He is seen alongside the suspect in the CCTV image, which was taken shortly after a woman felt a sharp pain - later confirmed as a puncture wound - in her thigh at around 3am on November 3.

The motive for the needle attacks remains unknown

Detective Inspector Julie Woods, of West Midlands Police, said officers had received "several calls with information" after the picture of the suspect was released.

"We have also received reports of six further attacks going back over the last six months which could possibly be linked to the same suspect," she said.

"However, we are still keen to hear from anyone who has any information about these incidents and who recognises either of the men in the CCTV images.

"These are strange offences and the motive at this stage is unclear, but we do not underestimate the anxiety and stress that the attacks can cause."

West Midlands Police had already linked the November 3 attack to others involving a 20-year-old and a 28-year-old on June 23 and October 6 respectively.

Superintendent Danny Long said patrols had been stepped up in the city centre to reassure visitors.

"This is an unusual offence which will understandably cause some concern and we are working extremely hard to find the person responsible," he said.

"We have increased the number of officers on patrol in Broad Street and around the city centre, particularly since the attack earlier this month, and are working closely with street wardens, street pastors, licensees, door staff and clubbers themselves to keep people safe."

:: Anyone who recognises either of the men in the images should contact detectives from West Midlands Police on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Four Killed In Derbyshire Village House Fire

Two women and two boys have died in a house fire in Derbyshire, police have confirmed.

A third child, a seven-year-old girl, is in hospital with minor injuries after escaping into the back garden.

The fire broke out at an address on Williamthorpe Road in North Wingfield, a village about four miles south of Chesterfield.

Police said they were still working to identify the victims and told reporters it was too early to say what caused the fire.

Four people were "rescued" by firefighters but later died

 Kam BasiKKamKamKam Basi, from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said "four rescues were carried out" after crews were called to the scene at 5am, but that all four later died.

Chief Inspector Rick Gooch added: "I can confirm that two were women and two young children were taken to hospital and pronounced dead at the hospital.

"I can also confirm that a seven-year-old girl survived the fire and has minor injuries consistent with smoke inhalation."

Police and the fire service are now investigating the fire, with Mr Basi saying that particular attention was being paid to the first floor.

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Hull Named As UK City Of Culture 2017

Hull has been named as the UK City of Culture 2017, beating Leicester, Swansea Bay and Dundee to the title.

The city will hope to see an economic boost from the accolade, which is handed out every four years.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller said: "This is brilliant news for Hull and everyone involved in the bid there.

Famous abolitionist William Wilberforce is among Hull's famous sons

"This year's UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry, demonstrates the huge benefits that the title brings. These include encouraging economic growth, inspiring social change and bringing communities together.

"It can produce a wonderful mix of inward investment and civic pride, and I hope Hull's plans will make the most of all that being UK City of Culture can bring."

Ms Miller praised the three losing cities for the "time, effort and determination" they put into their bids.

"I hope they will still take forward many of the fantastic ideas and events they had planned so that their communities can enjoy these innovative cultural plans," she said.

Referencing Hull band The Housemartins' first big hit, Happy Hour, former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who was a Hull MP for almost 40 years, responded to the news on his Twitter page, writing: "It's Happy Hour again! #HullYes Well done."

TV producer Phil Redmond, who chaired the advisory panel that helped choose the winner, said all four shortlisted cities showed a "real understanding" of what the award was about.

But he said: "Ultimately it was the unanimous verdict of the panel that Hull put forward the most compelling case based on its theme as 'a city coming out of the shadows'.

Hull Marina is a popular attraction in the city

"This is at the heart of their project and reminds both its people and the wider world of both its cultural past and future potential.

"We were particularly impressed with Hull's evidence of community and creative engagement, their links to the private sector and their focus on legacy, including a commitment to enhance funding beyond 2017, and I'd like to congratulate all involved."

Previous holders of the title have sought to improve the image of their city, holding various artistic and cultural events in an effort to increase visitor numbers and offer a boost to the local economy.

Hull's Princes Quay shopping centre

Hull's city council admits one of the aims of the bid is to "change the perceptions" of the city.

It is often derided - up until this year regularly featuring in the comic book Crap Towns - and last month an Economist article cited Hull as one of "Britain's Decaying Towns".

But the current city of culture, Londonderry, has seen visitor numbers double over the course of this year and had around £120m of capital investment pumped into the city since winning the title in 2009.

The Guildhall in the centre of Hull and the city's Prince Street

Its mayor, Councillor Martin Reilly, said: "I am confident that an amazing year awaits Hull as the winning city for 2017.

"I wish them every success and look forward to forming a working relationship with Hull to share our experiences and learning."

Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he was surprised and disappointed at the result.

"I can only guess that Hull desperately needed a shot in the arm while the judges decided we in Leicester are making our way successfully and didn't need it as much," he said.

Meanwhile, Welsh Secretary David Jones said: "As much as today's announcement will come as disappointing news to those who have supported Swansea Bay's bid, they should be rightly proud of all that they have achieved."

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Greenpeace Protest: Britons Released On Bail

Two Britons have been freed on bail after they were arrested following attempts by Greenpeace to occupy an oil platform in the Arctic.

Greenpeace activist Alexandra Harris and independent video-journalist Kieron Bryan were given the news at a court in St Petersburg after spending two months in custody following the protest at the Prirazlomnaya platform in September.

As she heard the news, Ms Harris skipped for joy and said: "This has been the hardest experience of my life. I'm really happy. It's not over yet but there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Journalist Kieron Bryan shows his relief at the news

"It's nice the Russians made the right decision. I love my parents and look forward to speaking to them soon."

Ms Harris' father Chris said: "We're incredibly proud of how she has conducted herself throughout this ordeal.

"I can see when she came into court she was smiling and happy as she'd heard the news the others had been granted bail, but as the hearing progressed she became emotional.

British activist Iain Rogers was denied bail at a hearing in October

"I think she'll make her own mind up what she does in life. She's always been passionate about the Arctic and we're proud of her.

After his release Mr Bryan said: "This has been really difficult and it has been made a lot easier hearing how much support I have in the UK. To my family, 'I love you and I hope to see you soon'."

Speaking of his detention, he said: "I had a couple of phone calls with my girlfriend and that's it. It's the worst possible isolation.

Russian special forces arrested the protesters at gunpoint in September

"The conditions were terrible in Murmansk. I think we're very lucky in the UK. Things were better in St Petersburg because they decorated my cell and made it look nice."

Mr Bryan said the moment of his arrest when Russian special forces abseiled onto the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise was like something out of a Hollywood movie.

"They didn't declare who they were they just pointed their guns at us and took over the ship. I had no idea it was going to carry on like this. If I knew that was the beginning of this nightmare I would have behaved differently."

The ship's Captain, Pete Wilcox, was also freed on bail

The group were initially charged with piracy but are now accused of hooliganism, which carries a maximum jail term of seven years.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Birgitte Lesanner said she was "proud" of the protesters, including six Britons, and said their resilience had been "amazing".

"We need to remember they're still charged with really horrible charges and we've no clue as to the next steps, so we're not celebrating yet," she said.

Anthony Perrett will learn later if his bail application was successful

"But that moment when they (said) they're released on bail (was) quite amazing."

Earlier, as she was led into the courtroom by police, Ms Harris told supporters she felt "trapped inside a political game".

Speaking from inside a metal cage, she told Sky News correspondent Katie Stallard: "I will not dishonour Greenpeace or my country by trying to flee Russia or the investigation."

Ms Harris' father said her family were overjoyed at news of her release

Ms Harris, whose bail was set at two million rubles (£38,098), said she was nervous and that the past two months had been "horrible".

"When I talk about the last two months, it's hard not to get emotional," she said.

"The conditions (in prison) at first were awful and the food was disgusting.

"They're better now but it's still prison. I'm still trapped, I can't speak to anyone (and I'm) cut off from the world. It's no better."

A total of 30 people aboard the Arctic Sunrise were detained after the protest in September.

Greenpeace activist Anthony Perrett is expected to have his bail application heard later.

A fourth Briton, Iain Rogers, the Arctic Sunrise engineer, was refused bail at a hearing in October.

Dutch protester Faiza Oulahsen and the ship's captain, Pete Wilcox, were granted bail earlier, while Sini Saarela of Finland and Francesco Pisanu of France had their applications approved yesterday.

However, Australian activist Colin Russell was denied bail at an earlier hearing and will be kept in detention until February.

:: Watch Sky News for live coverage of the hearing.

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Church Of England Backs Women Bishops Move

The Church of England General Synod has backed proposals that could see women bishops given final approval by 2014.

Members of the Synod voted 378 in favour and eight against with 25 abstentions.

The endorsement came alongside a "declaration" by the Church of England bishops setting out guidance for those parishes that reject female ministry.

The new package received widespread support across the General Synod from both opponents and supporters of women bishops and the vote could pave the way for final approval of women bishops by the General Synod in July next year.

Several General Synod members spoke of the marked improvement in the atmosphere since the collapse of the legislation last year.

The Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, said: "From where we are today, compared to where we were a year ago, it is, as someone said to me the other day, 'nothing short of miraculous'."

The Rev Rod Thomas, chairman of Reform, the conservative evangelical grouping, and a member of the steering committee which drew up the proposals, paid tribute to the "generosity of spirit" which had led to the package.

But he and other leading conservative evangelicals said there still remained "major issues" to be resolved - prompting the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu to warn against "opening the champagne" yet.

"We need to agree to work together until the end," he added.

The new set of proposals would include an ombudsman, or independent reviewer, to rule on disputes over arrangements for traditionalists who will not accept the authority of a woman.

Clergy who failed to co-operate with the ombudsman's inquiries could be subject to disciplinary proceedings.

The move follows bitter recriminations within the Church of England after the legislation failed by just six votes to get approval at the General Synod a year ago.

Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested the first women bishops in the Church of England could be fast-tracked into the House of Lords.

"I strongly support women bishops and I hope the Church of England takes this key step to ensure its place as a modern church, in touch with our society," he said at Prime Minister's Questions.

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Co-op Boss Quits Amid Flowers Drug Scandal

Len Wardle, chair of the Co-operative Group, has resigned after "serious questions" were raised by the growing scandal over its former banking chairman Paul Flowers.

Mr Wardle had announced last month that he planned to step down amid the wider financial crisis at the bank but quit on Tuesday with immediate effect.

Reverend Flowers, who has already apologised for doing things that were "stupid and wrong" - but without elaborating - has been suspended from the Methodist Church and by the Labour Party after being filmed in a newspaper sting allegedly trying to buy illegal drugs.

The substances said to be at the centre of the claims include cocaine and ketamine - a horse tranquilliser - used as a party drug. 

Len Wardle joined the Co-op's board in 2002. Pic: Co-op

The allegations against Reverend Flowers, which are the subject of a police inquiry, exacerbated pressure on Britain's biggest mutual which is having to explain the background to the bank's financial difficulties - largely a result of its merger with Britannia in 2009.

Mr Wardle said in a statement: "The recent revelations about the behaviour of Paul Flowers, the former Chair of The Co-operative Bank, have raised a number of serious questions for both the Bank and the Group.

"I led the Board that appointed Paul Flowers to lead the Bank Board and under those circumstances I feel that it is right that I step down now, ahead of my planned retirement in May next year.

"I have already made it clear that I believe the time is right for real change in our operations and our governance and the Board recently started a detailed review of our democracy.

"I hope that the Group now takes the chance to put in place a new democratic structure so we can modernise in the interests of all our members."

The Co-op confirmed Mr Wardle would be replaced by Ursula Lidbetter, currently Group deputy chair and chief executive of the Lincolnshire Co-operative Society.

Paul Flowers is being investigated following the Mail On Sunday's claims

His decision was announced hours after The Co-op Group launched a fact-finding probe and a root-and-branch review of its structure after "serious and wide-ranging" allegations about Reverend Flowers, who resigned in June after three years as chair of the banking arm after a £1.5bn black hole was discovered in its finances.

The Group statement on Monday said: "Given the serious and wide-ranging nature of recent allegations, the new executive management team has started a fact-finding process to look into any inappropriate behaviour at the Co-operative Group or the Co-operative Bank and to take action as necessary.

"In addition, the board of the Co-operative Group has launched a root and branch review of the democratic structure of the organisation.

"We need to modernise to ensure that the interests of all our seven million members are properly and directly represented in the oversight of our business activities."

While announcing Mr Wardle's decision to quit, the Co-op said on Tuesday that Ms Lidbetter would chair the Group through the governance review, which will include consideration of how the Board is constituted and chaired.

The Co-op Bank discovered a massive gap in its finances following the purchase of Britannia Building Society in 2009 and abortive attempts to take on hundreds of Lloyds branches.

It faces a rescue which will see 50 branches close and investors including US hedge funds take control of 70% of the business, leaving the wider Co-operative Group with just 30% - described as a "tragedy" by former group chief executive Peter Marks.

The former Co-op bank chief executive who steered through its ill-fated merger with Britannia told MPs today it was years before anyone believed it was a "daft" idea.

David Anderson told the Treasury Select Committee he did not believe that a £550m write-off ascribed to the Britannia's commercial loans was enough on its own to sink the bank.

The scandal surrounding Reverend Flowers has intensified the focus on the bank's troubles.

Critics have questioned how he could have been appointed given his apparent lack of experience in banking and Andrew Tyrie MP, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, has said that it was clear he was "manifestly unsuitable".

Regulators have said he went through the appropriate process when he joined the Co-op's board as a non-executive director but did not face further scrutiny when he became its chairman.

In a separate development, Labour has come under pressure to return a £50,000 donation backed by Reverend Flowers.

The donation, made by the Co-operative Group, emerged as the party suspended his membership over the drug allegatons.

Labour's leadership has since attempted to distance itself from Mr Flowers, a former councillor, after it emerged he attended a private meeting with Ed Miliband in March.

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G4S In £24m Apology For Overbilling Taxpayers

Security firm G4S has apologised and offered to repay more than £24m after it overcharged taxpayers for the electronic tagging of offenders.

The company admitted its part in the scandal - currently being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office - which included bills for monitoring criminals who had died.

But it insisted an independent review it commissioned had "not identified any evidence of dishonesty or criminal conduct by any employee".

G4S refused to co-operate with a forensic audit of its work - and that of fellow contractor Serco - which a public spending watchdog revealed had already cost the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) more than £2m.

The firm said it now accepted it had "wrongly considered itself to be contractually entitled to bill for monitoring services when equipment had not been fitted or after it had been removed".

The admission was branded "staggering" by Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee.

Mr Vaz has called for all G4S contracts with the Government to be reviewed "immediately", and for the firm to be "banned from bidding for any more".

"Contracts of this kind need to be conducted in good faith and represent value for money," he said.

G4S said: "This billing practice ... was not consistent with the contract or G4S's values and the company has apologised to the Ministry of Justice and issued credit notes totalling £23.3m for amounts incorrectly billed between 2005 and May 2013.

"A further credit note of £0.8 million will be issued for billings for the period from June 2013 to date."

The MoJ would not be drawn on whether it would accept the G4S offer. A spokesman said: "The Secretary of State has been clear: we are determined to secure a refund for the taxpayer."

The MoJ said it would not comment further until a criminal investigation was completed. 

G4S said it was ready for further negotiations with the MoJ if the audit concluded that it had overcharged by more than the sum offered.

The company said there was no evidence that its errors extended to any of its other Government contracts. It has faced repeated criticism of its performance, not least over security for the 2012 Olympics.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "The admission of G4S today is staggering.

"The company refused to co-operate with the Government, which led to the referral to the SFO, and that should have rung alarm bells. It represents serious corporate failure.

"Contracts of this kind need to be conducted in good faith and represent value for money. Every G4S contract with the Government needs to be reviewed immediately, and they should be banned from bidding for any more."

An audit by big four accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), launched in May, revealed that overcharging began at least as far back as the start of the current contracts in 2005 - but could have dated as far back as the previous contracts in 1999.

Auditors discovered the firms had charged the Government for tagging offenders who were back in prison, had had their tags removed, had left the country or had never been tagged in the first place but had been returned to court.

The Government has handed over material from the PwC audit of Serco to the Serious Fraud Office while G4S was referred to it after declining to take part in the audit, which included looking at email trails between top executives.

The revelations sparked a Government-wide review of all contracts held by Serco and G4S. G4S UK and Ireland chief executive Richard Morris will face questions from MPs over the scandal tomorrow when he appears before the Commons public accounts committee.

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Teenager Held Over Luton Man's Stabbing

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a father was stabbed during a suspected burglary.

Tony Abrahams, 47, suffered serious injuries after he confronted intruders in the early hours of Saturday at his home in Wellfield Avenue, Luton.

The teenager was arrested in London and taken to Luton for questioning, Bedfordshire Police said.

The suspected burglary happened in Wellfield Avenue, Luton

Three men, described by Bedfordshire Police as black and in their twenties, are believed to have forced their way into the victim's home at about 3am.

Speaking after the incident, Detective Constable Mo Hussain said a man was "attacked and stabbed" by the offenders, who then fled the scene.

He added that the victim's wife and daughter, believed to be Catrina, 52, and Jade, 23, raised the alarm after finding Mr Abrahams injured.

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Boris Johnson Wants Cyclist Headphone Ban

Boris Johnson has said cyclists who wear headphones should be banned from the capital's roads.

The London Mayor said those who chose to take to their bikes while listening to music were an "absolute scourge".

His comments came after a man in his 60s became the sixth cyclist to be killed on London's roads in two weeks. He died after a crash with a lorry on Camberwell Road in southeast London on Monday afternoon.

"I'm very alarmed about cyclists wearing headphones," Mr Johnson told BBC London 94.9.

"I would not be against a prohibition or ban on cyclists wearing headphones.

"Call me illiberal, but it makes me absolutely terrified to see them bowling along unable to hear the traffic."

The recent spate of cyclist deaths has sparked calls for better road safety measures for cyclists, as well as demands for cyclists to take more responsibility for their own safety.

Cyclist Chris Boardman has called for HGVs to be banned from London's roads during rush hour or, he said, more cyclists will be killed.

The former Olympic gold medallist said London should follow Paris, where lorries are only allowed on the roads between 10pm and 7am. No cyclists were killed on the French capital's roads last year.

Chris Boardman has called for a lorry ban

In an open letter to Mr Johnson, he wrote: "When I rode alongside you to help you launch your vision for cycling in March this year, you made a verbal promise to look at the successful experiences of Paris and many other cities in restricting the movements of heavy vehicles during peak hours.  

"London has an opportunity to emulate and surpass Paris and to lead the way for the other ambitious cycling cities across Britain. Let's not waste this opportunity to do something now. The longer we delay, the more lives will be lost."

There have been 14 cyclist deaths on London roads so far in 2013. HGVs were involved in nine of them, accounting for 64% of the fatalities even though they only make up less than 5% of traffic.

One of London's top police officers has urged cyclists to take more responsibility for their own safety as he launched a new initiative that will see 2,500 officers reinforcing traffic rules in the city's most notorious blackspots.

Chief Superintendent Glyn Jones said: "I think the more vulnerable you are, the more careful you need to be - even if the law is on your side.

"It is no comfort to a grieving family, but yes, the more vulnerable you are, the more care you need to take."

His comments echo those made by Mr Johnson last week when he told Nick Ferrari on LBC 97.3: "Some of the cases that we've seen in the last few days really make your heart bleed because you can see that people have taken decisions that really did put their lives in danger.

"You cannot blame the victim in these circumstances. But what you can say is that when people make decisions on the road that are very risky.

"Jumping red lights, moving across fast-moving traffic in a way that is completely unexpected and without looking to see what traffic is doing - it's very difficult for the traffic engineers to second-guess that."

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Cyclist Tweet Is My Biggest Regret - Driver

By Rachel Younger, East of England Correspondent

A driver who tweeted about knocking a cyclist off his bike has said sending the message is the "biggest regret" of her life.

Emma Way, who was convicted of failing to stop after a crash and failing to report an accident but cleared of driving without due care and attention, clipped cyclist Toby Hockley on a country road in Norfolk last May.

She was fined £337 and given seven penalty points on her licence when she appeared at Norfolk Magistrates' Court.

The case came to the public's attention when the 22-year-old posted a tweet which read: "Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier. I have right of way. He doesn't even pay road tax!"

She ended her message with the hashtag #bloodycyclists.

Way, who has since left Twitter, sent this message hours after the crash

Mr Hockley told the court he was riding with a friend through Rockland All Saints, near Thetford, and had slowed down to about 18mph for a bend when a car came around the the corner "on my side of the road".

He said he ended up in a hedge, bruised, scratched and stung by nettles, after the car's wing mirror clipped his right arm.

He told the court there had been "quite a loud crunch" but admitted he had not come off his bike.

Jason Sexton, who was riding with Mr Hockley, told the court he had been riding just in front of his friend and had shouted to warn him about the approaching car before pulling into a lay-by.

He told the court he had also shouted at the driver, adding that his friend had been "as far across (on the road) as he could be to avoid traffic".

The crash happened in the village of Rockland All Saints, Norfolk

Way, a former trainee accountant from Watton, Norfolk, admitted her wing mirror had clipped Mr Hockley's bike with a "donk" but claimed he had been on the wrong side of the road, leaving her with nowhere to go.

She said she felt the collision had been his fault, telling the court: "I saw he had slightly wobbled. I hadn't hurt him. He was fine. I just carried on."

Asked whether she had thought any damage or injury had been caused, she replied: "No. I would definitely have stopped."

Way, who lost her job over the tweet, said she had been annoyed by the cyclist and sent the message on the "spur of the moment".

Asked by the defence to rate the stupidity of the post on a scale of one to 10, she replied: "I'd score it at 11."

"It was ridiculous and stupid and I apologise to all cyclists," she added. "It is the biggest regret of my life so far."

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Google Agrees To Block Child Abuse Images

Internet searches for child abuse images will be blocked for the first time by Microsoft and Google after months of mounting pressure.

The groundbreaking move will soon prevent illegal images and videos from appearing in more than 100,000 search terms associated with abuse.

Google says it has also developed technology that will allow illegal videos to be "tagged" so all duplicate copies can be removed across the internet.

The changes will apply across the world in more than 150 languages.

Microsoft, which operates and powers Bing and Yahoo, will reportedly confirm at a Downing Street summit on online pornography today that it is introducing similar reforms.

Google chairman Eric Schmidt, writing in the Daily Mail ahead of the No 10 talks, said: "We've listened.

"We've fine-tuned Google Search to prevent links to child sexual abuse material from appearing in our results."

Illegal images showing child sex abuse will not appear in search results

The Prime Minister welcomed the move as a "really significant step forward", but threatened to bring forward new legislation if search engine companies failed to deliver on their promises.

Some child protection experts have raised doubts over the changes, saying paedophiles rarely use search engines but instead use services such as peer-to-peer sharing.

Jim Gamble, former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), told Sky News it was "not a solution".

He said: "My fear is that it simply masks the symptoms... It is a positive step forward and the prime minister's involvement is a good thing but at the end of the day the fact remains that paedophiles don't search out their images on the internet.

"Nor does the internet make people become paedophiles - we need to get to the root cause of this."

Calls for internet companies to take action against searching for illegal content grew following the trials of child killers Mark Bridger and Stuart Hazel earlier this year.

The UK's National Crime Agency is to join forces with America's FBI

Bridger, who murdered five-year-old April Jones, and Hazel, who killed 12-year-old Tia Sharp, both used the internet to search for child abuse images before the killings.

Senior figures from Google, Microsoft and BT were summoned to Parliament for a meeting with Culture Secretary Maria Miller in June where they were told they had to do more to combat the issue.

The crackdown comes as Mr Cameron is set to reveal at the summit that Britain's National Crime Agency is to join America's FBI to tackle online child abuse.

The transatlantic taskforce is being established by the US assistant attorney general and the British to target criminals who use the internet to hide from the law.

It will be specifically tasked with tracking down offenders who use the "dark web" - secret and encrypted networks that are increasingly being exploited by paedophiles and other criminals.

The NCA estimates the number of UK daily users of secret or encrypted networks will have risen to 20,000 by the end of the year.

Joanna Shields, the chief executive of Tech City UK, said it would be looking to spot the "threats of future" to protect the most vulnerable in society.

"It's vital that governments and industry work together to eradicate child abuse content from the internet, and that we mobilise the best and brightest in the technology industry to come up with innovative solutions to tackling this problem," she said.

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Twitter Launches 'Lifesaving' Alerts Service

An emergency alert system that highlights urgent tweets with potentially lifesaving text messages and pop-up notifications has been rolled out across the UK and Ireland.

Police forces in both countries have signed up to Twitter Alerts, which will be used in "crisis, disaster and emergency" situations.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales will use the service to warn of flooding, while the Foreign Office will send alerts in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster overseas.

London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service will post critical updates during emergencies in the capital.

The service, which also highlights alerts on Twitter with an orange bell symbol, launched in the US, Japan and Korea in September.

The Met Police is among dozens of organisations which have signed up

It has since been used to warn of tornadoes, child abductions and gun attacks.

A spokesman for Twitter said British and Irish organisations are able to choose what type of information is posted as an alert.

"All of the organisations participating in the launch already use Twitter as a tool to communicate important information to their followers," he said.

"The added functionality of Twitter Alerts will help them reach their followers with important and accurate information during emergencies, natural disasters or when other communications services aren't accessible."

John Curtin, head of incident management at the Environment Agency, said digital communication had improved the way it shares information during times of crisis.

Twitter Alerts were launched in the US earlier this year

"During an incident such as flooding, we see significant spikes in related conversation," he said.

"Twitter Alerts provide an excellent opportunity to increase the visibility and urgency of our most vital warning messages so that people can take action to protect themselves and their property."

Commander David Martin, who is in charge of emergency planning for the Metropolitan Police, added: "Getting fast and accurate information to the public in a major incident or terrorist attack really could make a lifesaving difference."

Twitter users can activate and disable alerts on the subscription pages of participating organisations' accounts.

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Bodies In Ditches: Woman Admits Three Murders

A woman has admitted murdering three men whose stabbed bodies were found in remote ditches in Cambridgeshire.

Joanna Dennehy pleaded guilty to killing Kevin Lee, Lukasz Slaboszewski and John Chapman between March and April this year.

The 30-year-old, from Peterborough, also pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of all three victims, as well as the attempted murders of two other men, Robin Bereza and John Rogers.

The bodies were found close to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

She was arrested after a police hunt, during which officers distributed her picture and described the distinctive star tattoo she has under her right eye.

Appearing at the Old Bailey, Dennehy told the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney: "I've pleaded guilty and that's that."

Her barrister, Nigel Lickley QC, said: "The course of the arraignment is not one we had anticipated."

Mr Slaboszewski (L) and Mr Chapman were found with stab wounds on April 3

The bodies of Mr Slaboszewski, 31, who was stabbed in the heart, and Mr Chapman, 56, who died from neck and chest wounds, were found at Thorney Dyke, near Peterborough, on April 3.

Four days earlier, Mr Lee, 48, was discovered in a ditch in Newborough, around 10 miles away. He had been stabbed in the chest.

He was last seen on Good Friday and reported missing later that day when his Ford Mondeo was found burned out near a farm in Yaxley.

Mr Lee's body was discovered in a village north of Peterborough

In a statement released after his death, his family described him as a "wonderful husband, father, loving brother and son".

They said he had a "naturally infectious personality (that) touched everyone who knew him", adding: "He will be hugely missed by all his friends and family."

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Woman Denies Causing Sister's Death In Crash

A 20-year-old woman has denied causing the death of her older sister in a car crash.

Appearing in Hull Crown Court, Rosie-Ann Stone pleaded not guilty to careless driving causing the death of Jennie Stone, 28, on February 18.

The defendant is understood to have been driving her own car on the A165 near Fraisthorpe, in East Yorkshire, when the crash happened.

Jennie's car hit a tree and she suffered fatal head injuries.

The crash happened just a few months after their brother, Private Gregg Stone, was shot dead while serving in Afghanistan.

Pte Stone, of the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, was killed while attempting to rescue an Afghan policeman in Helmand Province in June last year.

Stone will attend a plea and case management hearing on November 18. Her trial is set for January 13 next year.

Judge Simon Jack granted her unconditional bail.

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Benefits Cheat Tracked Down By Sky Jailed

An on-the-run benefits fraudster tracked down and confronted in Spain by Sky News has been jailed for three years.

Norman Brennan jumped bail in 2008 and fled to the Costa del Sol after admitting a £120,000 benefit fraud.

The 70-year-old was brought to justice after he was found living in Malaga in October this year.

The judge Mr David Aubrey QC said: "Your claims were dishonest through and through.

"Week by week, month after month, year after year you were stealing from the public purse.

"The amounts were large, the fraud persistent, prolonged, systematic and sophisticated." 

More follows...

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Strictly Come Dancing Venue Hit By Theft

Police are investigating the theft of items from a dressing room being used by Strictly Come Dancing stars.

Detectives say jewellery, an iPad and phone were taken from the female dressing room of Blackpool Tower Ballroom, where the show was filmed on Saturday night.

Lancashire police would not say who owned the stolen items, but they said the large room was being shared by dancers and contestants.

"We are investigating a theft that has occurred this evening at the Tower Ballroom at Blackpool," police said.

"It was reported to us at around 9.45pm that some items had been taken from a dressing room within the building.

"Officers are investigating the theft and are making a number of enquiries to trace the person or people responsible."

Cohen took part in Saturday night's show

Police said it was not clear how the thieves managed to gain entry to the room.

Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around the building to contact them.

The BBC programme is usually filmed Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, but was hosted in Blackpool this weekend.

The contestants on this year's show include model Abbey Clancey, actress Natalie Gumede, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, BBC presenter Susanna Reid and rugby player Ben Cohen.

Gumede, who recently had back problems and missed the previous week's show, scored the joint top score of the programme.

The former Coronation Street actress and Reid were both awarded 39 out of a possible 40 points.

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