Heart Stutter Condition Affects One Million

By Hind Hassan, Sky News Reporter

A condition that causes the heart to stutter, leading to strokes and heart attacks, now afflicts more than a million people in the UK, campaigners say.

Those with atrial fibrillation often experience irregular and often abnormally fast heart rates, dizziness, breathlessness, palpitations and tiredness.

However, some people who have it display none of these symptoms and are completely unaware of it.

Without treatment, the disease can significantly increase the risk of a blood clot forming inside the heart, which increases the risk of stroke five-fold.

Rates of the illness have soared 20% in the past five years, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which says it is responsible for 22,500 strokes a year in the UK.

High blood pressure, heart valve disease and binge drinking are all blamed for the increase, as well as the fact people are living longer.

Richard Elgar, 43, from Dorset, was diagnosed with the condition last September.

The father-of-two, who is a builder, said: "I'd already had a heart attack when I was 36, so finding out I had atrial fibrillation was another blow.

"I didn't tell my wife about the risk of stroke until I was on medication to help prevent it. I didn't want to worry her and the children.

Richard Elgar, 43, and his eight-year-old son Alfie

"But every tiny ache or twinge still makes me panic that something could be starting that could devastate my family. It's incredibly stressful."

Mr Elgar's eldest son Alfie, eight, completed a 40-mile bike ride last summer to raise funds for the BHF.

He continued despite falling off his bike twice because of the heat and exhaustion.

The schoolboy has said he wants to be a heart surgeon when he grows up so he can "fix Daddy".

BHF chief executive Simon Gillespie said more research into the illness was urgently needed.

"The real danger with atrial fibrillation is that some people don't realise they have it," he said.

"You can be going about your daily routine oblivious to the fact you're five times more likely to have a devastating stroke."

Professor Nicholas Peters, consultant cardiologist at Imperial College Healthcare, said: "The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases dramatically with age so an ageing population, along with better awareness and diagnosis, are the main reasons for the rise in the number of people known to have it.

"In addition, improvements in the treatment of other causes of heart disease means that more of these patients survive to get atrial fibrillation.

"We have a research programme, funded principally by British Heart Foundation, focussed on helping large numbers of patients by combating this important medical challenge."

:: The BHF is leading a fundraising event on February 7 to raise money for research into AF and other heart conditions. Visit www.rampupthered.org.uk to sign up.

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Flood Warnings As River Levels Set To Rise

Homeowners in southern England have been warned to prepare for further flooding today after heavy rainfall caused the River Thames to burst its banks.

The Environment Agency (EA) has warned people living along the lower reaches of the Thames to be aware of the risk of rising water levels.

Further flooding is expected over the weekend in Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey as recent rainfall flows downstream.

There are also risks of flooding along the River Parret in Somerset and the River Severn in the Midlands.

Rainfall in England and Wales over recent weeks. Pic: Environment Agency

Residents in Dorset, south Wiltshire, Hampshire and West Sussex have also been warned of likely flooding caused by high groundwater levels.

The EA has issued 94 flood warnings - meaning immediate action is required due to expected flooding - and 151 flood alerts across England.

The agency estimates that some 570 properties have been flooded since the New Year, while a further 239,000 properties have been protected by flood defences.

"Communities along the River Thames, particularly below Oxford, into Berkshire and through Surrey need to remain vigilant for further flooding," said the agency's head of incident management, John Curtin.

Flooding seen in the village of Muchelney, in Somerset

"River levels on the Thames are high and will continue to rise for the next few days and we urge people keep up to date with the latest flood warnings and take action.

"With so much standing water around, we would also remind people to stay out of flood water and not attempt to walk or drive through it."

The Thames burst its banks on Friday, forcing homeowners to carry out clean-up operations and protect their homes from damage.

Parts of the river, stretching from Buscot in Oxfordshire to Bourne End in Buckinghamshire, were under flood warnings as heavy rain over recent days caused river levels to rise.

Flood warnings along the River Thames (Pic: Environment Agency)

Residents were warned on Thursday to expect flooding, with many moving belongings to prevent damage.

Many homes close to the banks are underwater, with flood waters causing damage to ground floors and gardens.

Affected areas included Marlow and Cookham in Buckinghamshire, as well as Shiplake and Wargrave in Berkshire and parts of south Oxford.

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Armed Forces Launch New Recruitment Drive

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The British Armed Forces have launched a new recruitment campaign in an attempt to reverse the dwindling number of new entrants, particularly to the Army Reserve.

Television, radio, cinema and print adverts will be broadcast and published nationally.

Titled 'More Than Meets The Eye', the ads aim to demonstrate the wide range of roles available in the military after a survey carried out by the Ministry of Defence revealed that nearly one in four Britons were unhappy with their current career.

The research, carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the army, also found that many people were unaware of the diversity of jobs on offer.

Of the 2,000 people polled, 28% thought Army Reserves would not get paid, while 40% did not think a commitment to the reserves was flexible, and 40% also thought signing up to the army was a lifetime commitment.

The campaign hopes to capitalise on New Year's resolutions which see people wanting to transform their lives and careers.

Commenting on it, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, said: "The Army offers people unique opportunities for challenge and adventure, both at home and overseas, during peacetime and on operations.

"It develops personal qualities that are key to success in any walk of life: leadership, judgement, determination, and physical stamina."

A new simplified online application form, a more streamlined medical clearance process, and an Army fitness app, will all also be launched this month.

The campaign is just the latest attempt by the military to boost recruitment numbers and there is much riding on it.

The Ministry of Defence's last Quarterly Personnel Report showed that the number of Reservists decreased between July and September 2013.

By the end of that period there were 1,630 fewer Reservists than at the beginning.

The total strength of the Reserve Force, which includes the Maritime Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force is 21,870, of which the Army Reserve makes up 19,090.

The MoD has committed to increasing the size of the Army Reserve to 35,000 by 2015 - despite recent poor figures, senior officials are adamant they will achieve that target.

A total of £1.8bn has been committed over 10 years to supplement training and equipment for reserve soldiers in order that they receive the same level of kit as their regular counterparts.

A fourth tranche of redundancies will be announced later this month.

Around 5,000 people will be affected, almost exclusively in the Army.

Although running a recruitment campaign alongside a redundancy scheme might seem illogical, the MoD explains that it must always maintain a constant flow of younger, junior recruits to train for the future.

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Teachers 'Should Face Regular Classroom MOTs'

Teachers should be made to have licences and will face the sack if they fail to pass checks on their abilities, the Labour party has said.

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said he wants teachers to be reviewed every few years to improve standards in England's state schools.

A similar proposal was floated by the previous Labour government - and dubbed "classroom MOTs" by former schools secretary Ed Balls - but was opposed by some unions and dropped before the 2010 general election.

Mr Hunt told the BBC: "Just like lawyers and doctors they should have the same professional standing which means re-licensing themselves, which means continued professional development, which means being the best possible they can be.

"If you're not a motivated teacher - passionate about your subject, passionate about being in the classroom - then you shouldn't really be in this profession."

Labour previously said it would insist on all teachers having Qualified Teacher Status, with staff already working in academies given a deadline to acquire a formal qualification.

The plan has not proved popular with teachers. Deputy Secretary General of the National Union of Teacher Kevin Courtney said there had been much reaction on social media.

He told Sky News: "If this turns out to be the same as (previous proposals), that hostility will be there from teachers and won't be supported by the National Union of Teachers.

"We've seen reaction overnight from teachers. There is a large degree of scepticism that Tristram Hunt is going to have to overcome."

A Conservative spokesman said the Government was willing to look any proposals which will "genuinely improve the quality of teaching".

He said: "We have already taken action by allowing heads to remove teachers from the classroom in a term, as opposed to a year previously, and scrapping the three-hour limit on classroom observations.

"We are improving teacher training, expanding Teach First and allowing heads to pay good teachers more.

"Thanks to our reforms, a record proportion of top graduates are entering the profession.

"Fixing the schools system so young people have the skills they need is a key part of our long-term economic plan."

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Duggan Vigil: Police Fear Disorder In Tottenham

Protesters plan to "provoke disorder" at a vigil for Mark Duggan in London, police have warned.

Scotland Yard said it had extra officers on standby and would be ready to "intervene immediately" if trouble broke out.

Relatives and supporters of the 29-year-old are gathering outside Tottenham police station and have appealed for those taking part to remain peaceful.

The event was arranged in protest against what his family have branded a "perverse" inquest finding that Mr Duggan was lawfully killed by police, despite jurors also finding that he was unarmed when he was fatally shot.

His killing by armed police sparked riots across the country in August 2011.

Mark Duggan's killing sparked riots across Britain

The statement issued by the Metropolitan Police said: "Today is a busy day in the capital and we have a policing operation in place across London.

"This includes having additional officers on standby that could respond to any incident that occurs.

"Part of this operation includes assessing all available information and intelligence, and we are aware of a limited amount of information that indicates a small number of people are expressing their desire to use this vigil as an opportunity.

"This information includes the intention of protest groups to attend and of people looking to provoke disorder. We will be ready to intervene immediately if required.

"The family has expressed that they wish this vigil to be held in a dignified and peaceful manner.

"The MPS has met with the organiser to ensure that we can appropriately facilitate their plans."

Tottenham MP David Lammy told Sky News police believed some elements of the "criminal fraternity" wanted to cause trouble at the vigil.

"I am absolutely clear and so are (the police), the people of Tottenham do not want trouble, the family do not want trouble, there's no room for it, no excuses for it and of course the police will have to police this event carefully and safely and ensure we do not see silly scenes on our streets again," he said.

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British Woman Dies In Canada Snowmobile Crash

A British woman has died in a snowmobile accident in Canada.

Charlotte Mei Ling Lee, 31, from Bristol, was with her boyfriend, Domynique Tamaire, who was also injured in the incident in Quebec.

According to reports, her snow vehicle smashed into a tree.

Quebec Provincial Police told the Bristol Post that Miss Lee suffered catastrophic injuries in the accident, which happened around 2pm last Saturday.

The court worker and her boyfriend were apparently rushed to Montreal Hospital, which is around 100 miles from the scene of the accident.

Mr Tamaire's injuries are not thought to have been life threatening.

Miss Lee is understood to have been a former student of a sixth form college in Portishead, where her family are believed to still live.

Messages of support to Mr Tamaire have been left on Facebook.

Bon Rayment wrote: "I don't know what to say to you Dom as no words will make this tragedy any better but I wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and send you lots of love.

"I hope you make a speedy recovery from injuries. Thank you for making Charlotte so happy since she met you."

Another, from Annabel Stewart, said: "I'm so sorry she is gone as you made each other so happy. We are all thinking of you and sending you love."

The Foreign Office said it was aware of an incident on January 5 and was providing consular assistance.

Around 20 to 30 people die in snowmobile accidents in Quebec every year, according to the regional government.

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Myleene Klass' Death Wish For Family Mugger

TV presenter Myleene Klass has wished a slow death on the person who mugged her mother and sister.

The singer vented her anger in comments on Twitter but gave no details about where or when the attack took place, or whether her family were hurt.

The 35-year-old, whose mother came to Britain from the Philippines to train as a nurse, wrote: "To the person who mugged my 67-year-old mum and my sister. I hope you get hit by a bus and die. Slowly."

The message received more than 200 retweets and messages from other celebrities including fellow presenter Kate Thornton, Spice Girl Emma Bunton and actress Martine McCutcheon.

Klass, a mother of two, was herself described as "very shaken up" after she was attacked by a gang in Bermondsey, south London, in 2005.

She recently joined TV chat show Loose Women as a guest panellist.

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Parking Tickets: Five-Minute Grace Period Plan

By Tadhg Enright, Sky News Reporter

A five-minute grace period for motorists who overstay their parking is on a list of proposals being considered by the Government to make parking enforcement fairer.

Many councils say they already allow motorists to stay for a few minutes longer before writing a ticket but it is a grey area which would be cleared up if written into law.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said: "The Government is committed to reining in over-zealous parking enforcement and unjust parking practices. It is not fair to motorists and needs to stop.

"We have also recently launched a public consultation proposing a number of changes to make sure local authorities are not short-changing motorists and operate in a fair manner.

"These changes could see the end of CCTV being used for on-street parking, unnecessary yellow lines and the introduction of compulsory 'grace periods' at the end of paid on-street parking."

The proposed changes follow a report by MPs on the Transport Select Committee into problems with parking enforcement that give motorists the perception that fines are imposed simply to raise revenue for local authorities.

Chairperson Louise Ellman MP told Sky News: "People get very concerned when they're paying out penalty charges. Sometimes they think that they were misled and that signs were not clear. 

"And often they believe that those charges are levied for the purpose of raising revenue. It would actually be illegal to do that so councils have to be much more transparent about what money they raise."

The Government is also planning to make signage clearer so motorists do not get confused about local parking enforcement rules.

Councils will have to prepare annual reports in which they reveal how much income they make from parking charges and fines.

They will also be reminded that parking fines are not a "cash cow" and should not be used to raise money for council spending.

Cllr David Simmonds, chair of the Local Government Association, told Sky News: "Local councils receive about £500m a year in income from motorists for parking and penalty charges, all of which is spent on roads and transport. 

"The Treasury received about £45bn a year in taxes from motorists, of which about £10bn goes back into transport, so it's pretty clear that the taxpayer isn't getting as great a deal from central government as they are from local government."

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Costa Concordia May Be Towed To Middlesbrough

The team leading the Costa Concordia salvage operation has revealed they will begin removing the stricken cruise liner from near the Italian island of Giglio in June - before it is demolished later this year.

Exactly where the wreck will be towed to and destroyed has not yet been decided, but some 12 ports are in contention including ABLE Seaton Port, south of Seaton Carew, on the River Tees, among others in Italy, Norway, Turkey, France and the Netherlands.

The job of dismantling and recycling the vessel has been put out to tender which is being overseen by London Offshore Consultants.

It is hoped the salvage team will have made a decision on the ship's final destination by early March.

Italian environment minister Andrea Orlando and experts disclosed the details of the next phase of the mammoth operation at a news conference in Rome - three days before the second anniversary of the tragedy..

A technique known as parbuckling was used to right the ship

The 114,000-ton ship was hauled upright from its partially submerged position in September last year in a complicated 19-hour operation.

More than 1,000 concrete stacks and six underwater platforms are being used to keep the vessel stable.

It is expected to be towed away from the Mediterranean holiday island by the summer and eventually broken up for scrap.

Franco Porcellacchia, who is in charge of removing the wreck, said: "We will start fitting in the systems and equipment that are needed to enable us to remove the ship from mid-April. It is a very complicated operation.

"If there are no unexpected events the whole operation will be completed by the end of June, probably by the middle of June.

"Then we will have to make the wreck float again, and this will take about seven to 10 days, so our reasonable goal is to refloat the wreck by the end of June."

Costa Concordia raised from the depths

Michael Thamm, chief executive officer of Costa Cruises, said: "We are very confident that we can remove this ship within the month of June. This is not very far away - and then a great job will be done."

He said the company would maintain ownership of the vessel "until the very last moment", until the wreck is demolished later this year.

The full cost of the completed salvage operation was expected to reach around €600m (£497m), he added.

Cabin owners of the safes recovered from the wreck are to be contacted soon and their contents returned to them.

The seven-day Mediterranean cruise turned to tragedy just hours after the vessel, packed with more than 4,000 passengers and crew had left the port of Civitavecchia on January 13, 2012.

The Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, is on trial for alleged manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and abandoning ship during a confused and delayed evacuation.

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Benefits Asylum Seekers Have TVs And iPads

Asylum seekers given homes and benefits were found to have iPads, mobile phones and flat screen televisions despite claiming they were "destitute", a report has found.

The National Audit Office found migrants seeking permanent asylum in Britain were earning an income above legal levels required for them to be given housing and pay-outs.

The report warned that these families were taking flats and houses from those asylum seekers whose need was far greater.

Housing officers who saw evidence of wealth, such as tablet computers or expensive plasma screen televisions, suggesting a high level of income, have a duty to inform the Home Office within a day.

The report said: "During the fieldwork for our investigation, we visited a sample of properties used to house asylum seekers.

"In some of these, it was clear that the occupants may have a level of income above that expected of someone receiving the minimum level of support."

Flat screen televisions indicate asylum seekers could have a greater income

It added: "There is a risk that individuals or families may be occupying properties to which they are not entitled, thus taking resources away from those more in need."

An NAO spokeswoman said evidence of prosperity included iPads, mobile phones and flat screen televisions, although he stressed that simply owning expensive gadgets did not necessarily disqualify an asylum seeker from being entitled to accommodation.

She said that inspectors had made around 10 visits in three areas - the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and London - and in at least one instance in each area they had found "indicators of prosperity". 

An asylum seeker qualifies for housing and financial support if they are "destitute", which means they earn no or very little money.

The extent of the problem emerged during an NAO investigation into the ways the private firms G4S, Serco and Clearel were carrying out the contract to provide the accommodation.

The report found that the conditions of the properties being provided for asylum seekers did not meet sufficient standards and that the Government was trying to recover rebates of as much as £4m because of poor performance.

Already under fire, G4S and Serco were again found wanting by the report

Refugee Council chief executive Maurice Wren said: "Failure to provide adequate accommodation is always unacceptable. It's essential the Home Office sets clear standards, provides the resources required to deliver them and is tough on contractors who fail to meet them."

A Home Office spokesman added: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it and we are committed to providing safe and secure accommodation while applications are considered."

G4S and Serco are already under fire for overcharging the Government by millions of pounds for its criminal tagging service.

The private firms admitted they had even charged for tagging of criminals who had died.

Despite the damning findings in the NAO report and their vexed relationship with the Government, G4S and Serco are pushing to be allowed to expand their provision of asylum seeker housing to other areas.

As of April 2013, the Home Office provided accommodation for around 23,000 asylum seekers with around 60% receiving financial support from the department. 

A G4S spokeswoman said: "We agree with all recommendations made and many of these have already been implemented as part of our ongoing commitment to service improvement."

James Thorburn, managing director of Serco's home affairs business, added: "We accept that there remains scope for further improvement and we are committed to working with the Home Office and our partners in local government, the NHS and the voluntary sector to achieve that."

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Man Jailed Over Stun Gun Disguised As Phone

A drug dealer has been jailed for five years for possessing a 50,000-volt stun gun disguised as a mobile phone, Hampshire Police have said.

Wesley Walters, 26, was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing the firearm.

Police said Walters was arrested after the weapon was discovered in the back of a drawer at his home in Southampton.

"The weapon, which was capable of discharging 50,000 volts, will be destroyed," police said.

DC Simon Woods, from Hampshire Police, said: "We targeted Walters' home after he sold heroin on two occasions to an undercover officer in March.

"At court he claimed the stun gun was bought as a novelty item. He said he'd misplaced the charger and had put the weapon at the back of the drawer and hadn't used it since. 

"Even so, he had access to a dangerous weapon which still held a charge and was capable of delivering a very powerful blow."

Officers also found a "police-style metal baton" at his home.

Walters was arrested in September last year as part of Operation Fortress, which targeted serious violent crime linked to drugs in Southampton.

Alongside the five-year sentence Walters will also serve three and a half years in prison for supplying heroin. He will serve the two terms concurrently.

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Third Of Drivers Admit To Nodding Off At Wheel

By Adele Robinson, Sky News Correspondent

Almost a third of drivers admit to "nodding off" behind the wheel, according to a survey.

A poll by road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line has found that nearly half of men (45%) say they have momentarily "head nodded", compared to one in five (22%) of female drivers.

One in fourteen people overall (7%) have actually fallen asleep while driving -  14% of male drivers and just 2% of female drivers.

Also, 49% of the 1,000 drivers surveyed said they had driven after less than five hours of sleep.

Men (55%) were also more likely than women (45%) to drive after less than five hours sleep.

Vicki Radford's husband died after falling asleep at the wheel

Vicki Radford's husband Andrew, from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, died after falling asleep at the wheel in 2008, just minutes from home.

Mrs Radford said: "Before he lost consciousness he did actually say to the guy who was treating him, the paramedic, he said 'I was so close to home I thought I would be ok'.

"That's why he didn't stop, if only he had stopped the car and been late home, that would have been much better than not coming home."

Dr Louise Reynor, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, says people should not be driving if they are "head nodding".

"You first of all start by taking lots of blinks then you have head nods then eventually you fall asleep and that period can last up to 20 minutes ... that's a very dangerous situation to be in when your head is nodding you're on the verge of going to sleep."

The Sleep Research Centre's Dr Louise Reynor

Brake says studies show that tired driving kills at least 300 people on UK roads every year.

Deputy chief executive of the road safety charity, Julie Townsend, said: "The fact that so many drivers - especially men - have head-nodded at the wheel is horrifying, even more so that many don't recognise this means they have fallen asleep briefly.

"Brake urges all drivers to pledge to get a good night's sleep before driving, take breaks every two hours, and never try to 'plough on' when they're tired, because sleep can ensue so quickly."

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Online Driving Licences To Cut Insurance Costs

Drivers could see their insurance premiums drop £15 from March as driving licences go online.

Insurers will be able to check a digital database for drivers' licence details, including endorsements for speeding offences.

Firms are at present unable to check these details when they sell policies so end up factoring in the risk that applicants may have lied to them. The online register could also see a reduction in the price of car hire.

The system, which will be launched by the DVLA, is part of the Government's push to move services on to the internet.

Cabinet Minister Francis Maude says this is part of a digital drive

The Association of British Insurers estimates it will save motorists up to £15 each year in their car insurance payments.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said: "To win the global race and save hard-working taxpayers more money, we need world-class public services available online 24/7 from anywhere.

"That is why it is great news that DVLA is about to launch online driving records which can be used by anyone with a driving licence as well as by the insurance industry."

Motoring organisation AA said that an overwhelming number of drivers backed the move saying it would also help to tackle fraud.

In a poll of its 17,883 members, 92% supported the online database and most of those who responded said they had no problem giving their driving licence to insurers to check their motoring records.

AA president Edmund King said: "We welcome any efforts to bring down the cost of car insurance and being able to accurately check driving licence records will help insurance companies to overcome fraud and hence offer lower premiums."

Last month the Competition Commission announced that motorists were paying too much for their insurance and that car repairs after an accident were not carried out to sufficiently high standards.

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Chris Smalling 'Sorry' For Suicide Bomber Costume

A Premier League footballer has apologised for his "ill-thought out and insensitive" decision to host a fancy dress party wearing a suicide bomber costume.

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling sought to make a "comedy play" on the popular Jagerbomb drink by strapping bottles of Jagermeister and Red Bull to his body when he held a party at his home, according to his management.

But he has been described as 'thoughtless' by a survivor of the July 7 bombings in London.

Jacqui Putnam, who survived the Edgware Road blast in 2005, said people should "think twice" before making light of terrorism.

The England international is pictured in The Sun appearing to wear an army-style vest with the alcohol bottles, a mock circuit board and cables attached.

Smalling has made eight appearances for England

He also appears to be wearing an Arab kaffiyeh headdress.

Ms Putnam said that even after eight years, people affected are still coming to terms with the terror attack.

"It does not make it any easier when you see people who make light of it," she said.

"It is silliness really. I do not think people who do these things mean any harm but unfortunately the affect it has on people like me and people who are in a worse position - those who lost loved ones - is hurtful.

"I am sure that he did not mean to offend anyone but I wish people would think twice."

Wasserman Media Group said in a statement: "Chris and his girlfriend hosted a fancy dress party to celebrate Christmas and their belated birthdays with close friends in the assumed privacy of his own home.

"He dressed in a costume consisting of empty bottles of Jagermeister and cans of Red Bull strapped to his chest in an attempted comedy play on the popular 'Jagerbomb' drink.

"Although he fully accepts in hindsight it was an ill-thought out and insensitive decision, absolutely no harm was intended whatsoever and he apologises for any offence caused."

Smalling signed for Manchester United from Fulham in January 2010. He has made 20 appearances under new boss David Moyes this season.

He made his senior England debut in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria in September 2011 and has gone on to make eight more appearances for the national team.

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Duggan: PM Calls For Calm As Vigil Announced

David Cameron has appealed for a calm response to the inquest verdict that Mark Duggan was lawfully killed by a police marksman despite being unarmed.

The Prime Minister said he hoped people would respect the "proper judicial process" and welcomed the stance taken by Mr Duggan's aunt Carole, who said she wanted "no more violence".

Mr Cameron spoke as Mr Duggan's family confirmed plans for a vigil to be held outside Tottenham Police Station on Saturday at 2pm.

Pastor Nims Obunge - who presided over Mark Duggan's funeral - said the family want the event to be about "peace and respect".

Earlier one of the Metropolitan Police's most senior officers told Sky News the force could have shown "better transparency" in its response to the shooting.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley was responding to allegations that officers may have colluded when they put together their notes of the incident.

He told Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt: "We've already made some changes and I think there's more we can do.

An aerial shot shows the taxi in which Mr Duggan was travelling

"Every officer has to give their own account of what they recollect, so while they're witnesses, they're sitting down, they're making statements and they put hundreds of pages of evidence into the IPCC - it has to be their own accounts.

"Clearly, the way that was done, there's ways we could have better transparency, more clear supervision and we've put some changes in place."

Mr Duggan, whose death sparked protests that led to riots and looting across the country, was shot and killed when police stopped the taxi in which he was travelling in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011.

Following a four-month inquest, on Wednesday the jury found that although the 29-year-old had a gun in the cab, he probably threw it onto a nearby grass verge as soon as the car came to a stop.

Assistant Commissioner Rowley, who was heckled outside the Royal Courts of Justice by Mark Duggan supporters, said he had not had any response to an offer to meet Mr Duggan's family.

He told Sky: "They're angry at the verdicts, I can understand they might not want to meet me. I'd rather express our sympathy and have a conversation in private."

Tottenham MP David Lammy was among community leaders who met with Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe at Scotland Yard on Thursday.

Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley was heckled as he spoke outside court

He told Sky News there was "dismay and anger" in Tottenham at the inquest verdicts, but that people were also "looking forward" and are planning a peaceful vigil for the weekend.

Firearms officers will trial the use of body-worn video cameras to improve public confidence in the wake of the Mr Duggan's killing, it has emerged.

Senior officers want to use the camera technology from April, to avoid the dispute and uncertainty which has dogged the Duggan investigation.

Assistant Commissioner Rowley said earlier: "There are great benefits to having these incidents on video. Look at the Lee Rigby case - everyone knows what happened.

"We don't need all these different opinions and conjecture - it's much easier to get to the facts."

The cameras are already used by some US police forces.

During his weekly LBC phone-in, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said there were "questions that need to be asked" about the handling of complaints about the police.

He said: "I was struck when I went there (Tottenham) that locals said about how when the IPCC gets involved the details aren't allowed to be publicised at the time when people need to talk to each other." 

Wednesday's verdict sparked angry scenes outside the Royal Courts of Justice, which Mr Duggan's family called "perverse", claiming he had been "executed" by the police.

Mr Duggan's aunt Carole Duggan said: "The majority of the people in this country know that Mark was executed. We are going to fight until we have no breath left in our body for Mark and his children."

Their solicitor Marcia Willis-Stewart said: "On August 4, 2011 an unarmed man was shot down in Tottenham. Today we have had what we can only call a perverse judgement.

"The jury found that he had no gun in his hand and yet he was gunned down. For us that's an unlawful killing."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the shooting had led to a "significant reduction in trust" between the capital's black communities and the police.

He said: "I know that we have much work to do with black Londoners to build trust and confidence in the Metropolitan Police.

"My officers do not set out to run an operation that results in someone dying. They are brave people who risk their own lives to keep the public safe."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was looking at new evidence that had emerged from the inquest, and the Duggan family are now considering whether to try to get the inquest conclusion judicially reviewed.

Mr Duggan was being followed by officers who believed he planned to pick up a gun from another man, Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, and then move on to Broadwater Farm, also in Tottenham.

Hutchinson-Foster has since been found guilty of supplying a gun to Mr Duggan.

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England's Matt Prior Rescues Suicide Bid Man

Cricketer Stuart Broad has said he is proud of friend and England colleague Matt Prior after he pulled a suicidal man to safety from a bridge near their hotel in Sydney.

Prior reportedly pulled the man away from the edge of the bridge in Darling Harbour, before both players spoke to the him for nearly an hour ahead of police officers' arrival.

Broad tweeted: "@MattPrior is a best friend of mine and I'm very proud of him.

Stuart Broad paid tribute to his colleague on Twitter

"It was a tough situation but so glad he was there."

The pair's actions earned praise from Twitter followers, including comedian Al Murray, who hailed them as "courageous".

"Nicely done chaps," the Pub Landlord performer wrote.

England and Sussex cricketer Luke Wright tweeted: "Top work lads! Great effort!"

Prior told the Daily Telegraph: "We just did what anybody would do in that situation.

"We were trying to help a bloke who was struggling and in a bad way. I look back and I'm just glad we left the bar when we did and we were there for him."

Comedian Al Murray was among those to praise the duo's actions

Prior and Broad had been returning from a charity event with England fans organised to raise money for motor neurone charity the Broad Appeal, when they spotted the man, believed to be British, standing on the bridge railings.

Team security officer Terry Minish helped Prior in stopping the man jumping.

Mr Minish told the Telegraph: "He was saying he just wanted to drown. Matt helped to pull him down off the edge of the bridge and sat with him until the police arrived.

"It all happened very quickly and we acted on impulse. It is what you do in these situations."

Both players took part in England's failed attempt to win the Ashes test series against Australia, who secured their 5-0 victory by winning the final match last weekend.

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Suspected Child Sex Offender Hunted By Police

Police are hunting a suspected child sex offender who poses a "significant risk to children".

Saber Haldari, who is believed to be in the country illegally, is wanted in connection with child sex offences in Bristol.

The offences are alleged to have been committed against a young boy between January and August last year.

Haldari has links to both the Afghan and Iranian communities and may have travelled to Birmingham, London or Leeds since August.

His date of birth is not known, but officers believe he is around 30-years-old.

Detective Constable Katherine Flanagan, of the public protection unit in Bristol, said: "Haldari is wanted in connection with serious offences and we believe he poses a significant risk to children.

"He is described as about 5ft 8in, of medium build, with short dark hair. He is clean-shaven and has a square face.

"If anyone has seen him or knows where he is, please call us via the 24-hour non-emergency number 101."

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Sheffield: Family Jailed Over 'Slave' Beatings

Three members of a family have been jailed for keeping a vulnerable man as a "slave" and subjecting him to daily beatings.

Ice cream man David Rooke, 44, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after admitting falsely imprisoning and assaulting 34-year-old Craig Kinsella.

The family had used him like a "punchbag", said the judge at Sheffield Crown Court.

Disturbing CCTV of the family beating Mr Kinsella was shown in court.

The abuse took place over a six-week period between May and July 2013 and the court heard how Mr Kinsella was kept in "grotesque" conditions in a garage, had to use a bucket for a toilet, and scavenged for food in bins.

David Rooke admitted false imprisonment and five counts of ABH

Rooke's wife Donna, 40, was jailed for four months for battery, while their son Jamie, 19, received four-and-a-half years for five counts of actual bodily harm and affray.

"He was just your punchbag, all three of you. If you were in a bad mood you would just go and kick and punch Craig Kinsella," said Judge Kelson.

"It is staggering that this is happening in our society, absolutely staggering. It is almost unbelievable."

Police found Mr Kinsella in a shocking physical state after responding to reports of a man being abused outside the Rooke house on July 6 last year.

David Rooke's son, Jamie, was jailed for more than four years

He had a broken right arm, a fractured rib, extreme bruising to his back and around his kidney, a fractured chin and cuts, as well as lumps and bruises on his head and legs.

Prosecutors said Mr Kinsella was beaten with weapons that included a pick-axe handle and crowbar.

They said he was so scared of the beatings he would work from 7.30am to midnight for no money, cleaning the family's garden and vans.

Mr Kinsella had learning difficulties, and had first worked for the family a number of years ago, receiving £40 a week so he could keep claiming benefits.

Donna Rooke admitted a charge of battery and received four months in jail

David Rooke was also ordered to pay Mr Kinsella £15,000 that police found in his home.

Detective Inspector Vicky Short, who led the investigation, said: "It is hard to understand how any human being could treat an individual in such a grotesque, callous and inhuman manner.

"I am confident that if we had not received that phone call that day last July we would have been investigating a murder."

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PC David Rathband Took His Own Life - Coroner

The policeman shot and blinded by gunman Raoul Moat took his own life, a coroner has ruled.

Police Constable David Rathband was found hanged at his home in Blyth, Northumberland, in February 2012. 

The 44-year-old was out on patrol when Moat, 37, shot his former partner Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown in July 2010. After a tense stand-off he was shot dead.

The inquest into Mr Rathband's death heard that his encounter with Moat was the "first step" in a series of events which led to the father-of-two's suicide. 

Raoul Moat was killed after a six-hour stand-off with armed police

He became a national hero after the incident and used his profile to establish the Blue Lamp Foundation to support 999 staff injured on duty. But Mr Rathband became desperate after the breakdown of his marriage and struggled to cope with his disability. 

Coroner Eric Armstrong said none of those involved in what happened should blame themselves.

In a statement read out by her lawyer after the hearing, his widow Kath said: "It has been an immensely difficult few years for us all. Now that the inquest has been concluded I would like to ask for privacy for Ashley, Mia and myself so we can look to rebuild our lives while remembering David and all that he meant to us."

During the hearing in Newcastle it was revealed Mr Rathband, who lived alone, had made threats to kill himself and told his lover - 7/7 survivor Lisa French - that he had attempted to hang himself but could not do it.

Ms French saw him on the day he died. Although his family were concerned for his welfare they did not consider him to be at immediate risk of suicide.

Kath Rathband (centre) at her estranged husband's funeral

The three-day inquest was told Mr Rathband's wife had put up with his previous infidelity, but his affair with Ms French effectively ended their marriage. He moved out of the home they shared in August 2011.

Mrs Rathband told her husband their marriage was finished before he flew to Australia for a holiday with his identical twin brother Darren. While he was there Mr Rathband desperately tried to contact her, often calling up to 50 times a day.

The last time Mrs Rathband saw her husband alive was on the night he died - February 29. She said he looked "awful" and needed help. However, she thought she was not the right person to do that and contacted his sister Debbie Essery and his welfare officer Inspector John Heckles.

Mrs Essery contacted DC Brown via Facebook to raise her concerns. Later that evening, officers broke into Mr Rathband's home and found him hanging in the dark with music playing on his mobile.

Some of his friends and family believe the police could have done more before he died. Superintendent Jim Napier said that, because Mr Rathband had made suicide threats on previous occasions and his family had only raised their concerns via Facebook, he did not think there was an immediate threat to his life.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Essery said they would continue with Mr Rathband's legal action against Northumbria Police.

:: Samaritans is available 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90 in the UK or in the Republic of Ireland on 01850 60 90 90.

Emergency service workers carry the coffin of PC David Rathband

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Mark Duggan Inquest Jury Reaches Decision

The jury in the Mark Duggan inquest has reached a conclusion into his death, which will be announced at 3.30pm.

Mr Duggan was was shot dead by armed police in Tottenham in August 2011, sparking rioting in London.

Police intelligence suggested Mr Duggan was a gang member involved in gun and drugs crimes and officers believed he had just collected a gun in east London.

A firearms officer shot him twice as he emerged from a minicab that police had forced to stop. One bullet went through his arm, the other hit his chest and killed him.

At the centre of the inquest was the issue of a handgun, found, said police, 10 to 20 feet from Mr Duggan's body and on the other side of park railings.

In heated exchanges with the Duggan family lawyer, police denied suggestions they had planted the gun.

The weapon was wrapped in a sock.

The handgun Mr Duggan was alleged to have been carrying

Neither had any trace of Mr Duggan's DNA or fingerprints, but his prints were found on a shoebox police said had been used to carry the gun inside the minicab.

The firearms officer who shot Mr Duggan was granted anonymity for the inquest and appeared under the code name V53.

Various members of Mr Duggan's family attended the inquest and his mother Pam said at the start that she hoped "the truth" of her son's death would finally come out.

The scene of the shooting in Tottenham, north London

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is still investigating the incident.

In an interim statement in August, it said it had so far found no evidence of criminality by police officers.

But Mr Duggan's family has complained it has not been kept fully informed of the investigation's progress and condemned the IPCC for suggesting early on that Mr Duggan, a father-four, had died in "a shoot-out with police".

The inquest was shown a dummy pinpointing where the shots hit Mr Duggan

Mr Duggan's death prompted rioting in Tottenham, which eventually spread to other areas of the capital and beyond.

The jury began its deliberations before Christmas following a three-month hearing.

It can come to one of three conclusions - unlawful killing, lawful killing or an open verdict.

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Hundreds Of NHS Direct Staff Face Job Losses

Hundreds of people working for NHS Direct, a failed provider to the NHS helpline, have been told they face losing their jobs.

NHS Direct announced in July that it was planning to pull out of its contracts due to severe financial problems.

In October it said it would close after projecting a £26m deficit for this financial year.

Some 200 of its 700 staff have already been told their jobs are safe, as they move to other providers.

Of the remaining 500, many may also escape redundancy, with back office staff most likely to lose their jobs.

A spokeswoman said: "NHS Direct has today written to around 500 employees, including around 140 nurses, giving them formal notice that they are at risk of redundancy at the end of March.

"The final number of redundancies is likely to be less than this, since we are seeking to mitigate as many redundancies as possible by supporting these staff to find alternative employment within the wider NHS.

"At this stage we do not know what the final number of redundancies will be as it is dependent on several factors including the number of 'at risk' staff who obtain suitable alternative employment elsewhere."

The 111 line, which replaced NHS Direct as the number to call for urgent, but non-emergency care, has been riddled with controversy since its inception on April 1 last year.

Patients complained of calls going unanswered, poor advice being given and calls being diverted to the wrong part of the country.

A month after its launch, leading medics warned the "problematic" roll-out of the system had left many patients not knowing where to turn.

An investigation was launched by NHS England after a number of incidents, including three deaths, were linked to the service.

NHS Direct originally won 11 of the 46 contracts across England to provide the 111 service.

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, claimed 158 nursing staff at NHS Direct would lose their jobs.

He said: "This is sad news indeed for the individuals affected, and could to lead to patients seeing their NHS 111 service stretched even further.

"After the dismantling of NHS Direct, we've been left with a fragmented, localised NHS 111 service that offers uncertainty and inconsistency across many parts of the country."

:: All this week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

We also want to hear your experiences of the NHS - the good and the bad - tweet us using the hashtag #NHSlifeanddeath

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Obese Pregnant Women 'Putting Strain On NHS'

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

NHS chiefs have ordered the first official survey of older and fatter women giving birth following new evidence that maternity units are under increasing pressure from complex pregnancies.

Figures obtained by Sky News show there has been a boom in pregnant women who are obese or over the age of 40.

Some units reported that the number of obese mums had more than doubled in just two years.

And NHS England revealed it will for the first time monitor the data to ensure women are receiving appropriate care.

Dr Catherine Calderwood, NHS clinical director for maternity, said: "Knowing this data is one of the most important things to improve the outcomes for these women and their babies.

"So we are investing in that with a new audit for the first time."

Sky News sent a Freedom of Information request to all maternity units in England.

Dr Catherine Calderwood, NHS clinical director for maternity

Of the 104 that replied, 67 were able to supply data on obesity between 2010/11 and 2012/13.

On average there was a 12.5% rise in women with a body mass index (BMI) over 30.

But Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust reported a rise of 192% and Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said obesity had risen 177%.

Our survey also shows an upward trend in the number of older mums, with an average 7.5% rise in the number of women aged over 40 over the two years.

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust has been at the forefront of one of the biggest baby booms in the country.

Our statistics show that the number of obese mums rose by 59% in two years. Women aged over 40 rose by 33%.

Nicky Griffin, maternity ward manager at the hospital, said obese women need additional care.

"It is a consideration you need to make for their safety when they are in labour," she said.

"There is a risk of deep vein thrombosis, clotting in the leg.

"We have to give medication to prevent that because bigger ladies can be less mobile."

Obese women are also more at risk of diabetes, dangerously high blood pressure and having a premature delivery. Older mums face similar risks.

:: All this week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

We also want to hear your experiences of the NHS - the good and the bad - tweet us using the hashtag #NHSlifeanddeath

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Missing Nida: Teenager 'Upset At Studies Ban'

A teenager who has been missing for more than a week was upset because she had been told she could not go to university as her family were asylum seekers.

Nida Ul-Naseer, 18, of Newport, South Wales, vanished while taking out the rubbish on December 28.

The family, originally from Pakistan, had their request for asylum in Britain turned down a year ago which meant Nida chose to retake a business studies course that she had already passed.

"I think that not being able to go to university is the reason for her leaving," sister Shamyla, 23, speaking alongside other family members at Newport Central police station.

Nida vanished outsider her home in Linton Street on December 28

"Nida, please come back home", her sister said.

"Nida, please come back home. We are desperately worried about you. Nida, we need you. Nida, please come back home, we cannot live without you."

Her sister had been upset and angry about the situation before she vanished, Shamyla said.

It emerged that the teenager might also have been barefoot when she disappeared three days after Christmas.

Nida reportedly suffers from a medical condition and needs iron pills in order to prevent anaemia.

Her father, Naseer Tahir, who was also at the news conference, said in broken English that he was happy for his daughter to attend university.

He added that he was sad he was not able to provide her with what she wanted.

Nida did not have a boyfriend and was described by her family as "very religious".

The family's plea to Nida came as the police also made a direct appeal to the teenager during the press conference.

Superintendent Mark Warrender said: "Nida, if you are watching or listening to this please, please get in touch.

"Your family is desperately worried about you and all they want to know, and we want to know, is that you are safe and well."

He also gave an update on the progress of the investigation, but acknowledged there had been no sightings of Nida since she left home.

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Benefits Street: Police To Probe 'Criminality'

Police are considering launching an investigation following claims a documentary about benefits claimants showed elements of criminal activity.

The first episode of Benefits Street was shown on Channel 4 on Monday night and prompted hundreds of comments by viewers concerned about its content.

The five-part series focuses on residents in the James Turner Street area of Winson Green in Birmingham and "reveals the reality of life on benefits".

However, as the show hit screens there was an immediate reaction on Twitter with many claiming the footage showed residents breaking the law.

Some of the tweets also contained abuse, including death threats, aimed at the programme's participants.

West Midlands Police have said they will investigate these threats and are also looking at whether the show's content can help them with ongoing investigations or will prompt any new inquiries.

Superintendent Danny Long said: "Throughout the programme and in the hours that have followed, we have been inundated with comments from members of the public, many of whom are concerned about elements of show which showed criminal activity."

The programme showed that some of the residents had already had involvement with local police.

"The Winson Green area of Birmingham is a diverse and vibrant community and the Soho neighbourhood policing team - which covers James Turner Street - enjoys a very positive relationship with local residents and community groups.

"Neighbourhood officers work alongside the area housing associations, partner organisations and the council on a daily basis to address the concerns of residents around issues of crime and anti-social behaviour - with local people very supportive of police action to tackle community safety issues."

James Turner Street residents told the Birmingham Mail newspaper on Monday that they had been tricked into appearing on the show, which they were told would highlight community spirit in the neighbourhood.

Instead they say they have been depicted as lazy scroungers, drug takers and irresponsible parents.

"They said they wanted to film for a TV show about how great community spirit is in the street and how we all help each other out on a daily basis," Dee Roberts told the Birmingham Mail.

"I participated in the show on that belief, but this programme has nothing to do with community, which you can tell from the title. It makes people out as complete scum.

Channel 4 told Sky News: "The production crew were filming in a purely observational capacity - at no stage was criminal behaviour encouraged or condoned.

"All contributors were briefed that if they carried out criminal activity on camera this could result in criminal investigations after broadcast."

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Twitter Abuse: Pair Admit 'Menacing' Messages

A man and a woman have admitted sending "menacing" tweets to a feminist campaigner who wanted a female face on the new £10 banknote.

Isabella Sorley, 23, and John Nimmo, 25, both pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court to sending the messages to Caroline Criado-Perez last July.

Ms Criado-Perez was subjected to abuse on the microblogging site Twitter after successfully calling for the 19th century novelist Jane Austen to be put on the note.

Labour MP Stella Creasy was said to have also been targeted when she came to the defence of the freelance journalist.

Ms Criado-Perez helped persuade the Bank of England to put Austen on the new £10 from 2017 following a petition signed by more than 35,000 people. 

The Crown Prosecution Service had announced last month that Sorley, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Nimmo, of South Shields, were both charged.

However the CPS said it would not be in the public interest to prosecute over messages allegedly sent to Ms Creasy.

More follows...

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Parliamentary Sketch Writer Simon Hoggart Dies

Simon Hoggart, the broadcaster and Guardian parliamentary sketch writer, has died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 67.

The journalist, who had written for the newspaper for 45 years, was diagnosed with the illness three and a half years ago but kept writing columns until December 19.

Hoggart, the elder son of literary and cultural academic Richard Hoggart, had returned to his family home for Christmas Day but went back to the Royal Marsden hospital shortly afterwards and died on Sunday, the newspaper confirmed in an obituary.

The Guardian's editor, Alan Rusbridger, said: "Simon was a terrific reporter and columnist – and a great parliamentary sketch writer.

"He wrote with mischief and a sometimes acid eye about the theatre of politics. But he wrote from a position of sophisticated knowledge and respect for parliament.

"A daily reading of his sketch told you things about the workings of Westminster which no news story could ever convey. He will be much missed by readers and his colleagues."

Hoggart, who has published 20 books, appeared regularly on radio and television, including on Sky News, and chaired Radio 4's The News Quiz for 10 years. He joined the Guardian straight from university in 1968.

According to his obituary in the Guardian, Hoggart's final parliamentary sketch appeared in the newspaper the day after Chancellor George Osborne's autumn statement. In it he likened Mr Osborne to Mr Micawber and said of David Cameron that "he smiled like the Cheshire Cat after a large sherry".

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Jailed Ex-Marine Challenges Murder Conviction

A former Royal Marine jailed for life last year for murdering an injured insurgent in Afghanistan is seeking to appeal his conviction.

Alexander Blackman, who was found guilty of the killing and dismissed from the Marines when he was sentenced in December, has lodged an appeal application, the Judicial Office has confirmed.

He is bidding to overturn both his conviction and sentence.

On November 8 a court martial board in Bulford, Wiltshire, found the 39-year-old guilty of murdering the insurgent who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter in Helmand more than two years ago.

The murder of the Afghan fighter was filmed on a colleague's helmet camera

Two other Marines were acquitted. Charges against a further two were previously discontinued.

Blackman, who denied murder, had 15 years' experience in the Royal Marines.

He completed tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland during his military career and, before a video of the murder came to light, he was being considered for promotion to Colour Sergeant.

He has said he feels ashamed at his actions, describing them as "a stupid lack of self-control and lapse in judgment".

Blackman shot the injured Afghan fighter in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol.

The murder was filmed by a camera mounted on the helmet of one of his colleagues.

A recording of his words captured him admitting he had broken the Geneva Convention on the treatment of war prisoners.

He was named after three leading judges overturned an anonymity ruling in what had become known as the "Marine A" case.

The killing took place in 'the most dangerous square mile in Afghanistan'

Sentencing Blackman in December, Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett told him: "You intended to kill him and that shot certainly hastened his death.

"This was not an action taken in the heat of battle.

"You treated that Afghan man with contempt and murdered him in cold blood.

"This offence was unique and unprecedented in recent history.

"You were obliged to care for him, instead you executed him."

After his sentencing, Blackman said he was "devastated" at being given a life sentence.

The married commando, known to friends and family as Al, said he was "very sorry" for his actions, which were filmed while on patrol in "the most dangerous square mile in Afghanistan".

The killing happened five months into an arduous six-month tour of Helmand province in 2011 with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.

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Jimmy Savile Victims Call For Single Inquiry

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

A single, judge-led inquiry should replace the multiple investigations currently taking place into Jimmy Savile, according to the lawyer representing some of the people abused by the late BBC presenter.

There are now at least 30 inquiries into the activities of Savile - who escaped justice after sexually abusing young people for half a century.

These take in the NHS, Crown Prosecution Service, Independent Police Complaints Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Solicitor Alan Collins, who represents 60 people abused by Savile, told Sky News Online: "There should be one, single inquiry, that's the view of the victims.

"There are now so many inquiries taking place, there is a danger that an opportunity to get to the whole truth may be lost.

"But there has to be a political will for this to happen because it will need to be sanctioned by Parliament. It's make-or-break time now.

"Many of the victims have had to give evidence to the police and to some of these inquiries.

"People want the truth, they want two questions answered: How? And why? That's all they want."

The former DJ and TV presenter died in 2011, but a year later an ITV programme exposed him as a serial abuser.

Within weeks of it being broadcast, hundreds of people had contacted various police forces across the UK to claim they too had been abused by Savile.

Children's charity the NSPCC has received 326 calls about Savile to date since that programme aired.

There has been an 81% increase in contact to its helpline about sexual abuse and a rise of more than a quarter (30%) in calls about all types of abuse.

A NSPCC spokesman said it agreed there needed to be some way of bringing together all of the lessons learned from the inquiries currently taking place.

But the charity believes that the current inquiries should not be stopped or merged into one all-encompassing investigation, the spokesman added.

Peter Watt, the helpline's director, said the NSPCC was still receiving calls from victims and witnesses about Savile, the most recent of which was just before Christmas.

He said: "The emerging picture is that the key to stopping abuse like this is helping children to speak out and then taking them seriously when they do.

"Savile escaped justice because people didn't want to hear or believe what children were saying.

"If one glimmer of hope is to come from this torrid affair, it is that children today will be safer because we all learn to listen."

The BBC's independent inquiry into what the Corporation knew about Savile is due to report its findings this month.

Led by Dame Janet Smith, it has contacted 720 people and spoken to 140 witnesses.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed in November that 19 hospitals are carrying out their own inquiries into Savile.

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NHS 'Needs £1bn' For Longer GP Opening Hours

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

More than 20,000 extra GPs, nurses and other NHS staff are needed if the Prime Minister wants his plan for longer surgery opening hours to work, the head of the Royal College of GPs has warned.

In her first major TV interview since taking up the post, Dr Maureen Baker told Sky News that GPs needed an extra £1bn of taxpayers' money to recruit sufficient staff to keep practices open seven days a week.

Without the extra money, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable as GPs and hospitals struggle to cope with the extra demand from patients over the winter months, she said.

"If we were to move to seven days a week we would need 10,000 more GPs.

"We probably need the same number of practice nurses and a proportionate number of support staff.

"We don't think seven days a week is realistic."

Dr Baker took over as head of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in November, a month after the Prime Minister declared his intention to get GPs to work more hours.

According to the British Medical Association (BMA), there are just over 40,000 GPs currently working in the UK.

The RCGP wants that figure to rise by a quarter.

In a dire assessment of the current state of GP practices, Dr Baker said family doctors feel "besieged" as they struggle to deal with the influx of patients, particularly in the winter months.

"It is constant demand with very little let-up," she said.

"We know our colleagues are working 11 to 12-hour days, and that is really difficult to do day after day when it is a job you need to be on top form for.

"They are feeling pressurised and besieged and looking for a bit of respite."

She said GPs need more resources, adding: "The consequence (of not having extra resources) will be the winter pressure effect that comes up every year gets longer and longer.

"My fear is the whole of the NHS becomes unsustainable due to the failure to properly invest in general practice."

She also criticised the Government's £500m handout to hospitals to help them cope this winter.

David Cameron wants longer opening hours for GP surgeries

"It wasn't the best use of money. It was a short-term fix, finger-in-the-dyke stuff," she said.

"There is nothing about the use of that money that will stop the same pressures emerging again and again."

In October, the Prime Minister said he would like GP surgeries to open from 8am until 8pm and at weekends to fit in with the lifestyles of working people.

He told Sky News: "Sometimes people using accident and emergency really just need to see a GP.

"But for hard-working people it is often too difficult because you are at work, you can't get an appointment at the time that fits."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "GPs do a vital job which is why we increased their overall budget last year as part of our protection of NHS funding.

"We have made £50m available to help innovative GPs to extend their services and stay open longer - either on their own or by working with other local practices.

"We have also asked Health Education England to see how we can get 50% of medical students to become GPs."

Some GP surgeries are testing out new ways of working to improve waiting times for appointments.

Under a system devised by the organisation Patient Access, GPs call back patients within an hour of them ringing the surgery.

Within a week of introducing the system GPs at the Phoenix Surgery in Swindon were dealing with 60% of patients over the phone.

The rest were given same-day appointments for a face-to-face consultation.

Dr Peter Swinyard said: "I can deal with two or three patients in the time it used to take me to deal with one.

"I was terrified. You have been working in a certain pattern for 29 years and now you're doing something different.

"But we are providing a better service, a service that patients have a right to expect."

:: All this week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

We also want to hear your experiences of the NHS - the good and the bad - tweet us using the hashtag #NHSlifeanddeath

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Amina Agboola: Mum Charged Over Toddler Death

A mother has been charged with causing the death of her two-year-old daughter after she died in hospital.

Amina Agboola died in November after being taken to Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries.

Mum Sarah Raqueman, of Scott Drive in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, has been charged with causing or allowing the toddler's death and two counts of neglect against two other children.

The 28-year-old was due to appear at Peterborough Magistrates' Court.

Dean Harris, her 19-year-old boyfriend, also of Scott Drive, has already been charged with murder.

He is next due to appear in court on February 28.

The couple were arrested after taking Amina to hospital.

After her death Amina's father, Reuben Agboola, said: "I want to thank everyone for the continuing love, prayer and support for my little princess.

"I am extremely grateful and proud to have her as my child, I believe she is now at a better place."

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CJD: Call For Widespread Test To Detect Disease

By Stephen Douglas, Sky News Reporter

MPS have launched an inquiry to check the safety of donor blood after hearing new evidence on the human form of mad cow disease.

The Commons Science and Technology Committee was responding to a study that revealed one in every 2,000 people in the UK could be carrying variant CJD.

Christine Lord's son Andrew died from the disease which causes degenerative brain disorder.

She told Sky News: "Every single minute of the day there was relentless pain and memory loss. He was unable to move, unable to walk and unable to talk. Then he would get light bulb moments where he would ask what was happening.

"The public think it's gone away but it hasn't. Andrew could be any mum's son and unfortunately there will be more Andrews."

Variant CJD is thought to be caused by prion proteins in the brain.

These infectious agents can clump together and destroy cells which causes holes in brain tissue.

Infected blood transfusions could spread the infectious agent causing CJD

How many people in the UK carry these prions is unclear, but the latest study in the British Medical Journal estimates it could be as many as one in every 2,000.

At the moment donor blood isn't tested for the disease.

Dr Simon Mead, from University College London, told Sky News: "What we fell would be right is to move towards a way to screen people who are silent carriers from blood donation and to identify them prior to organ donation for example. That way the infection wouldn't be spread further."

The Department of Health says it is supporting studies into how widespread vCJD is. It points out there has only been one case in the last three years.

Andrew pictured with his mother, Christine, before he was infected

But Mrs Lord believes more testing is needed.

"When Andrew was ill with vCJD and started to get very ill he said mum find out why I've become so ill and make sure no one else ever gets this," she said.

"He died in my arms and I buried him three days before Christmas in the cathedral where I used to watch his nativity plays. No mother should have to go through that."

According to data released by the Health Protection Agency, 177 people in the UK have died from vCJD after eating contaminated beef.

Cases have tailed off in recent years with none reported last year and only one so far in 2013.

But previous studies have found that many others are harbouring the infection without developing clinical symptoms.

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Cameron's Pledge To Guarantee State Pensions

David Cameron has fired the starting gun for the next general election by promising a cash boost to taxpayers and the elderly.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Conservative leader has pledged to raise pensions by a minimum of 2.5% each year up to 2020.

He also said he wanted to cut the top rate of income tax.

The Prime Minister pledged to continue guaranteed rises in the basic state pension by retaining the "triple lock" system if the Conservatives win the 2015 general election.

Mr Cameron also sought to reassure older voters that their pay-outs would continue to rise in line with the higher of inflation, wages or 2.5% at least until 2020.

Pensioners are facing a post-election squeeze on benefits such as winter fuel payments, bus passes, TV licences and prescriptions as MPs try to provide for an ageing population.

But Mr Cameron insisted that pensions would not be hit by continued austerity measures.

"A Conservative government will offer pensioners a more secure future by pledging today that we will carry on using the triple lock after the next election to protect the basic state pension," he said.

"We can only afford to do this because we are taking difficult decisions to cut the deficit and get spending under control as part of our long-term economic plan.

"I want to do everything we can to help people who have worked hard and done the right thing."

Alex Salmond wants to hold a TV debate with Mr Cameron

The basic state pension will be around £440 a year higher from April than if it had been increased in line with average earnings since 2011-12, Downing Street said.

Mr Cameron has already indicated that the state pension would be the only spending exempt from a new cap on overall welfare spending.

The Sunday Times interview comes as a poll carried out by Lord Ashcroft reveals more than a third of people who voted Conservative in the last General Election say they would not vote for the party in the next election.

The former Tory Party deputy chairman's findings revealed around half of the 'defectors' had switched allegiance to the UK Independence Party (UKIP), with a fifth aligning themselves with Labour or the Lib Dems and a third undecided.

Mr Cameron has also come under renewed pressure to commit to a head-to-head TV debate with Alex Salmond over the referendum on Scottish independence.

The PM has steadfastly refused Mr Salmond's challenge but an SNP poll found over three-fifths of people in Scotland and over half of people in the rest of the UK want to see a public debate.

In a new letter to Number 10, Mr Salmond told Mr Cameron that his New Year plea to Scots to stay in the UK undermined this argument.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has pledged action to close a legal loophole used to exploit cheap foreign labour if his party wins in 2015.

Writing in The Independent on Sunday, he said he wanted to address "understandable" public fears over lifting work restrictions on Bulgarians and Romanians, conceding some UK nationals "lose out" as a result of new arrivals.

Mr Miliband said the key was ending the country's "chronic dependency on low-skill, low-wage labour".

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WW1 Cemetery At Heart Of Commemorations

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent, in Mons

In an immaculately kept cemetery, a few miles east of the town of Mons in Belgium, two graves face each other only yards apart.

They mark the final resting place of two Privates: John Parr, of the Middlesex, the first Briton to die on the Western Front, and George Ellison, of the Royal Irish Lancers, the last British soldier to die - killed just 90 minutes before the Armistice was signed.

That they should be buried so close to each other is, to the best of anyone's knowledge, pure coincidence.

The St Symphorien Military Cemetery was established by the German Army in 1914.

They were granted permission to bury their dead on the land by a local farmer, but on one condition: that they should bury the British dead with equal respect.

There are 284 German and 230 Commonwealth casualties buried on this site, which will be the focus of international commemorations on August 4 honouring the dead on all sides.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission looks after 268,000 graves in Belgium and France including St Symphorien.

Work at the St Symphorien Military Cemetery is happening around the clock

In preparation for the centenary, the CWGC has been working literally day and night, cleaning existing headstones and making new ones.

"Our aim is to see that all casualties are adequately commemorated throughout out this centenary period," Carl Liversage, from CWGC, explained.

"What we have done in the past few months is increase the production with extra machines on site and made the day longer working 24/5 significantly."

The CWGC is also installing digital panels in many of the cemeteries so that visitors can interact using mobile phones. The panels will reveal the personal stories of soldiers and details of nearby battles.

At 8pm every evening in the town of Ypres, a ritual is observed as it has been since 1928.

The road under the Menin Gate, the great arch that recognises the Commonwealth soldiers whose bodies were never found, is closed to traffic.

The Last Post ritual in Ypres

Hundreds of tourists and locals gather all year round to listen to The Last Post, played by the town's firemen. It is sounded in memory of the Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient during World War One.

In the four major battles that took place around the town, more than 250,000 soldiers from Britain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand  Canada, India and Pakistan, lost their lives.

More than 100,000 of these soldiers have no known grave. The names of 54,896 of those are inscribed in the stone of the Menin Gate.

The sober ceremony under this awesome memorial has continued as Ypres's recognition of the soldiers' sacrifice.

"I do it with pleasure. Every night I do it with pleasure," said Brian Clays, from the Ypres Last Post Association. "I am Belgian, I'm not British but I do it with pleasure."

Politicians, historians and commentators might disagree on the legacy of World War One, but for most people who visit the Western Front, and walk silently among the graves, it is tragically simple: The Great War is now a conflict summed up by tales of unthinkable horror and the most phenomenal death toll - impossible to comprehend.

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Wind Warning Prompts New Coastal Flood Fear

Gust of up to 70mph are set to hit the west coast of Britain and Ireland on Monday, prompting fears of further coastal flooding.

More than 200 homes have already been flooded along the west of the UK from Cornwall to Scotland, with miles of coastline battered and roads left under water.

The devastation left in wake of the stormiest December since 1969 has prompted David Cameron to pledge that lessons will be learned.

A new warning has been issued by the Met Office saying that high winds from 3am on Monday along the coast of Scotland, Wales and southwest England could result in waves of up to 10 metres high.

In response, Aberystwyth University is putting plans in place to evacuate students from seafront halls on Sunday night.

High winds and a storm surge could reproduce the damaging waves of Friday

Aberystwyth was one of the worst affected places on Friday when the bad weather caused widespread damage in coastal areas and damaged rail lines in north Wales.

Sky News's weather producer Joanne Robinson said that waves are expected to reach heights of 7-10 metres around the coasts of western Scotland, Wales and southwest England.

Southern and western parts of Ireland could see waves higher than that while the English Channel would see 3-7 metre high waves.

She said: "There'll be an on-going risk of flooding, with concerns for some coastal areas again tomorrow.

"The winds will continue to pick up over the next 24 hours, bringing gusts up to 70mph in exposed parts of the south and west on Monday.

Fields around the Severn have been inundated, like these in Upton

"Along with the strong winds tomorrow, there will be large waves for southern and western parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The waves could reach 10m in some spots bringing the risk of flooding at high tide."

The Met Office has also issued yellow warnings for rain in the south of England and snow in the north of England and southern Scotland on Sunday.

Up to 40mm of rain could fall on higher ground on Sunday and there are more warnings of flooding and travel disruption.

Among the weather related disruption is a landslip near Ockley which is preventing Southern Trains travelling between Horsham and Dorking.

Repairs mean the line is not expected to open until early February.

Police are searching for Harry Martin for a third day

:: Send us your weather photos or video to news@sky.com or text your pictures to 84501. But don't take unnecessary risks.

The Environment Agency have been warning that the south and west coasts of England and the Severn estuary are at risk of coastal flooding into next week.

The warnings come as searches resumed in south Devon for missing 18-year-old university student Harry Martin, who was last seen leaving his home in Newton Ferrers, near Plymouth, on Thursday to take photographs of the weather.

Hundreds of local people joined in with the search by police dogs, Navy and police helicopters and an RNLI lifeboat on Saturday.

No public are involved today but police said more resources have been brought in and the search area has been expanded.

Prayers were said at the Sunday service in Mr Martin's local church.

Drivers and spectators have been warned to take care in at risk areas

Two people have already died in the storms. A 27-year-old man from Surrey was found on Porthleven Sands beach in Cornwall after he was swept out to sea on New Year's Eve.

And a woman died after being rescued from the sea in Croyde Bay, north Devon.

There are currently 69 flood warnings and 214 flood alerts in place in England and Wales. Ten flood warnings and 16 flood alerts are in place in Scotland.

The government has come under criticism for planning to cut the number of jobs in the Environment Agency, which has the responsibility for flood protection.

David Cameron told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: "You are going to see record levels of spending on flood defences. We've guaranteed that, right out into 2020, so they can really plan right out into the future.

The Thames Flood Barrier has been closed again

"Local authorities have had to make difficult decisions. The Environment Agency does have to make sure it controls its budgets carefully but we are making sure they invest in the front line."

"Huge sympathy to anyone who has had their house flooded. Anyone who has had a house or an office flooded knows it is absolutely dreadful.

"There are always lessons to learn. I think we're doing a lot more things better."

Meanwhile, the RAC has warned motorists to make sure their vehicles are ready for what they are calling 'manic Monday'.

They are expecting it to be one of their busiest days of the year as many people return to work after an extended break.

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