Smart Glasses For Blind 'In Shops By 2016'

By Gemma Morris, Sky News Reporter

Pairs of high-tech smart glasses, designed to help millions of blind and partially sighted people to see, could be in shops in 2016.

The specs use a specially adapted 3D camera to maximise a person's remaining vision by separating and highlighting objects ahead.

They were created by researchers at the University of Oxford, who linked up with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to develop them further.

RNIB Solutions managing director Neil Heslop said trialists had experienced extraordinary things while testing the glasses.

Iain Cairns tries on the hi-tech specs

He told Sky News: "They've recognised faces, they've avoided obstacles, they've even seen their own guide dogs for the first time."

Participant Iain Cairns was impressed with the glasses, despite saying he felt like Star Trek character Geordi La Forge when wearing them.

He said: "To have something that will help me to keep independent, able to walk to work, to make tea - I think it will make a big difference to my quality of life."

The glasses help Mr Cairns to pour a cup of tea without spilling a drop

Around 360,000 people in Britain are registered blind or partially sighted.

The RNIB believes the new smart glasses could help as many as 150,000 of those and around 15 million people could benefit worldwide.

At the moment, the glasses are rather bulky. They are also fairly expensive and participants have to carry around a connected laptop with them.

But the project recently won £500,000 from the Google Impact Challenge - a competition to develop tech to transform lives - which means the team can now modify the headset further.

Sky's Gemma Morris, as seen through the smart glasses

Project leader Dr Stephen Hicks said: "The Google Impact Grant will allow us to make smaller, lighter and cheaper versions that people can carry around.

"It will be powered by something about the size of a mobile phone that can slip into your pocket."

He said nothing like their prototype has ever been made before.

"This is really pushing the limit of what we can do in wearable displays and it's great to be able to have a chance to use this in a way which is potentially going to help millions of people," he said.

Wider trials are soon to get under way and the team hopes to have a smaller version of glasses in shops as early as 2016 with a target price of around £300.

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Don't Drink Two Days In A Row, Government Says

People should only drink alcohol every other day to avoid health problems like cancer, heart attacks and liver disease, government officials are warning.

The new guidelines drawn up by Public Health England, a government quango promoting healthy living, will recommend drinkers follow a "one day on, one day off" rule.

The 92-page paper says: "Daily drinking is a key contributor to increased risk, so it is possible that promoting a simple approach such as never drinking two days in a row would have a positive impact."

However, the advice has been criticised as "nannying" and experts questioned whether it would decrease health risks and encourage heavy drinkers to cut back.

"Giving up alcohol on alternate days is not something most doctors would recognise as a helpful strategy to curb excessive drinking," GP Martin Scurr told the Daily Mail.

"It's hard to see how this plan from Public Health England will persuade excessive drinkers to rein back."

Conservative MP and former minister Gerald Howarth said the advice was "completely unrealistic" and an example of the "nanny state".

"People have the common sense to know how to look after themselves," he told the Mail.

The Public Health England strategy said changes to alcohol pricing as well as the availability and strength of alcohol are more likely to have "immediate positive impacts" and it would continue to work on those areas.

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Laughing Gas Crackdown Amid 'Disturbing' Craze

A "deeply disturbing" laughing gas craze sweeping the country is being fuelled by internet videos that glamorise use of the substance, council leaders say.

Hauls of canisters are confiscated from UK streets every night, with one London council - Hackney - seizing 1,200 on one Saturday alone.  

Officials in Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley have also reported increasing numbers of canisters being found.

Council leaders are so concerned they have launched a campaign to highlight the dangers of the chemical.

Thousands of canisters are seized every weekend (pic Rob Brewer/Flickr)

In particular, the Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for web giants, such as YouTube, to crack down on internet videos which promote the use of laughing gas.

The association, which represents around 400 councils in England and Wales, said it was "deeply disturbing" that people widely view nitrous oxide as a "safe" legal high.

And the LGA warned that the chemical - which is regularly taken at nightspots, festivals and parties by almost half a million young people across the country - has been linked to a number of deaths.

It said abusing nitrous oxide can lead to oxygen deprivation resulting in loss of blood pressure, fainting and even heart attacks.

"It is deeply disturbing that this drug, which can be highly dangerous, is still widely viewed as safe," said Katie Hall, chairwoman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board.

"It is imperative that users understand just how harmful it can be. This gas can kill and much more needs to be done to get this message across.

"We are particularly concerned about internet pages and uploaded clips which are effectively 'promoting' this as a harmless drug.

"The web giants must do more to crack down on this, they cannot simply sit on their hands and ignore what is happening on their own sites.

"We are calling on the big internet corporations to step up to the plate and show responsibility by providing health warnings and links to drug awareness charities."

While inhaling nitrous oxide is not illegal, council officers are able to seize canisters under unauthorised street trading regulations.

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Britain Braced For Flash Floods From Bertha

Heavy rain has caused flash flooding in parts of the UK - and forecasters are warning of further storms on Sunday as the remnants of Hurricane Bertha hit.

The Met Office says Bertha's transition from a tropical to an extra-tropical storm is a "particularly hard one to forecast" but it is expected to affect the UK tomorrow.

The British Red Cross said it was on standby and has enlisted hundreds of volunteers to help people in affected areas.

Lightning hits Eggborough Power Station in Yorkshire. Pic: Phil Lowe

Residents had to be evacuated after heavy rain flooded several streets in the Lincolnshire town of Louth on Friday.

Downpours also led to waterlogged roads in and around York and in Maidstone, Kent.

There were reports of power outages in Cambridgeshire, where the A14 was flooded.

Old Trafford, where England's test match has been disrupted by heavy rain

Environment Agency flood warnings and alerts remain in place in numerous parts of the country.

Friday's rainy weather - which saw more than a month's rainfall overnight - was unconnected to Hurricane Bertha, which has been travelling across the Atlantic.

Bertha wreaked havoc in the Caribbean islands with gusts of more than 90mph, leaving thousands of homes without power.

A flash flood following heavy rain in Maidstone, Kent

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Ex-hurricane Bertha has become more of a typical depression now, albeit with very warm, moist air wrapped up within it.

"It is looking likely that the storm will reach southwest England and Wales by around 6am on Sunday and then track northeast across northern England during the afternoon, to eventually lie off the east coast of Scotland on Sunday night.

There could be more floods on Sunday

"Gusts of 50mph to 60mph are expected, especially along the south coast with large waves, spray and the chance of some coastal flooding.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said there was still a chance that the storm may pass to the south of the country, giving the UK a brighter day.

But Environment Agency flood risk manager, Craig Woolhouse, said: "Heavy rain on Sunday may lead to localised surface water flooding in some parts of England and Wales.

"On Sunday and Monday a combination of high spring tides and strong westerly winds brings a risk of large waves and spray and possible flooding to the South West coast of England and along the Severn Estuary."

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Israeli Shells Pound Gaza As Fighting Resumes

Hamas has vowed it will not back down as Israel pounded Gaza with a fresh wave of strikes, killing five Palestinians.

The Israeli military has launched 30 airstrikes on Gaza since midnight on Saturday as talks to extend the temporary ceasefire stalled.

Palestinian health officials claim senior Hamas official Moaaz Zaid was among three Palestinians killed in an attack on a mosque. Two people travelling on a motorcycle died when they were struck by a bomb.

Another two Palestinians were shot dead by soldiers and dozens wounded in clashes with Israeli forces amid violent protests in occupied West Bank.

Palestinians pray over the bodies of three members of the same family

The deaths bring the number of dead in the month-long conflict to nearly 1,900. The United Nations, which has condemned Israel's actions, say 1,354 of those killed have been civilians.

Israel has lost 64 soldiers during the conflict, while three civilians have died from rocket fire into the country.

Israel says Hamas has fired six rockets across the border since the 72-hour ceasefire ended on Friday morning.

Smoke rises from what witnesses said was an Israeli strike on Gaza City

Hamas spokesman Fawzy Barhum said: "There will be no going back, the resistance will continue. The occupier's intransigence will get it nowhere and we will make no concessions on the demands of our people."

The resumption of violence came as Britain announced it would send a team of NHS experts to help victims wounded in Gaza.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The conflict in Gaza has taken a terrible toll.

"The NHS has always stepped up to the plate to help those in need and this expert team will play a crucial role in helping hundreds caught up in this conflict."

Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli border guards in West Bank

The UK team consists of doctors, nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists and paramedics - and their specialities include trauma and plastic surgery.

And the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said its appeal for Gaza had raised £4.5m from the British public in less than 24 hours.

Mr Cameron is under increasing pressure to suspend arms exports from British manufacturers to Israeli forces following the resignation of foreign minister Baroness Warsi over the Government's line on Gaza this week.

A Palestinian boy sleeps in a UN-organised shelter

Lady Warsi said the Government's approach had been "morally indefensible" and has stepped up her call for action to be taken.

"For me at that moment the concern that I had was that even if the ceasefire had held, and I sincerely hoped it had, there was still no clear language from the Government in relation to the condemnation of what had happened," she said.

"There was no clear commitment that we would lead the international effort on accountability on both sides for what had happened.

Protesters in London march on Hyde Park

"Our language was not there. It was lagging behind. I don't think it was just words that would have stopped me from doing what I did.

"I think it was a combination of issues. It was the language that we were using, I think it was our lack of support for international justice and accountability for the crimes that had been committed."

In London protesters calling for an end to the "massacre" in Gaza marched on Hyde Park.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has urged the coalition to halt arms export licences for ammunition, drone parts and armoured vehicles, which are being used in Operation Protective Edge. He had indicated on Thursday an announcement would be imminent.

Baroness Warsi's resiganation has placed pressure on David Cameron

The United States said it still hoped the three-day ceasefire could be revived and Egypt, which attempting to broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians with US and European mediators, insisted negotiations were making progress.

However, little movement seems to have been achieved and the two sides are still far apart on meeting terms of agreement.

In an interview with the New York Times on Friday, Barack Obama urged Israel to recognise Palestinians had a right to land and space to live.

He said: "It has consistently been my belief that you have to find a way to live side by side in peace with Palestinians ... You have to recognise that they have legitimate claims, and this is their land and neighbourhood as well."

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Britons Told To Leave Kurdish Capital Irbil

Britons have been warned to leave Irbil, the capital of Kurdish Iraq, as Islamist fighters advance towards the city.

The move comes as UK Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon said that Britain was offering help to the Americans in their efforts to provide humanitarian support to people trapped by the advance.

About 50,000 members of the Yezidi community, including many women and children, have been forced to flee into the Sinjar mountains in north-west Iraq following threats from ISIS fighters in the area.

ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, have moved across northern Iraq and are also said to be threatening Kurdish territory.

The Foreign Office advised against all travel to areas hit by recent fighting and said that Britons already in Kurdistan, including those in Irbil, should remove themselves from areas nearby.

A statement outlining the updated travel advice said: "The FCO advise against all travel to Anbar, Ninewah, Salah-ad-Din and Diyala provinces and all of the area south of Kirkuk City limits in Tam'mim province.

"The FCO also advise against all travel to those areas of the Kurdistan Region (Irbil, Suleymania and Dohuk provinces)."

UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK was ready to offer help to the US operation.

He told Sky News: "We welcome what the Americans are doing, in particular to bring humanitarian relief and to prevent any further suffering.

Christian refugees who have fled Irbil, which is now threatened by ISIS

"But our focus is on assisting that humanitarian mission using our military in support of the Americans, in terms of refuelling and surveillance, to under pin their mission and to add to it with food drops of our own."

His comments came as it emerged that the US had carried out air strikes to hit ISIS forces on the ground.

Earlier, David Cameron had insisted the world must help Iraq's Yezidi community in their "hour of desperate need".

The Prime Minister said he "utterly" condemned "the barbaric attacks", adding he was "especially concerned" for people trapped on Mount Sinjar.

He added that he fully backed President Obama's decision to press ahead with airstrikes, which he said had been requested by the Iraqi government.

Iraqi Ambassador to the UK Faik Nerwayi told Sky News that he had heard the the air strikes had already brought a wave of optimism to some of the those who had been forced to flee.

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Breast Cancer Drug 'Too Expensive' For NHS

By Adele Robinson, Sky News Correspondent

A life-extending breast cancer drug has been rejected for routine use by the NHS because it is "too expensive".

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has issued a final draft blaming the high price for making it "impossible to recommend".

The drug, Kadcyla, is known to increase life expectancy by an average of around six months, with minimum side effects.

It treats people with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Kim Mawby, 45, has been trialling the drug for three years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She was initially given six months to live but now lives a normal life with her husband and three children.

Kim Mawby says the drug has given her a normal life

"I think it costs about £6,000 a month," she said.

"A lot of people are going to say that's too much money but I don't think you can put a price on someone's life.

"When I wake up I do feel incredibly lucky that I am still here, that I am able to just get up and go to work, see the kids off to school.

"I do sit back and think 'wow, if it wasn't for this drug I wouldn't be watching (my son) going to school on his first day'."

Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of Nice, says the cost of the drug works out at £90,000 per patient, per year.

Jennifer Cozzone, from Roche, says Kadcyla is good value for money

"This drug is so expensive that it's way beyond even that additional flexibility that we can offer," he said.

"I can't negotiate the price with the manufacturer. It's entirely in Roche's hands, the manufacturer's hands, now. They know what they need to do."

However, Roche says the price reflects the value it provides to patients.

Jennifer Cozzone, from Roche, told Sky News that Nice was the first organisation to reject the drug, which she said demonstrated the system in the UK was broken.

A campaign made breast cancer drug Herceptin more widely available

"Every other country, including countries nearby like Norway or Sweden or Switzerland, who have very similar economies to ours, have considered Kadcyla to be good value for money and made it available routinely at very similar prices to what we're talking about here," she said.

Nice says other countries have different arrangements for funding pharmaceuticals.

Kadcyla is available to some patients in the UK through the Cancer Drugs Fund, but Nice says that is not a "long-term mechanism".

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Nice is an independent expert body that is responsible for evaluating what drugs should be available from the NHS, taking into account cost, demand and effectiveness.

"Kadcyla will still be available to patients through the Cancer Drugs Fund if their doctor thinks it is right for them and we remain open to discussions with the manufacturer about the price of Kadcyla to the NHS."

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Caroline Graham: Man Held Over 1989 Murder

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a man on suspicion of murdering a young woman who disappeared 25 years ago.

Caroline Graham, 19, was living in Portadown, County Armagh when she went missing in 1989.

The arrest comes as forensic scientists examine items of potential interest found during a search of Caroline's last known address.

The items were uncovered by specialist victim recovery dogs brought into the Hanover Street flat.

A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the murder of Caroline Graham in Portadown in 1989 have arrested a 53-year-old man.

"He has been arrested on suspicion of Caroline's murder and possession of a firearm. He was arrested in County Antrim this morning and is being questioned at the Serious Crime Suite in Antrim town."

Police re-opened the case two years ago following a search of waste ground near the flat.

The search of Caroline's flat was conducted under warrant but with the consent of the current owner of the property.

Detectives do not believe the owner has any knowledge of the events of 1989.

They have appealed without success for two soldiers, who gave Caroline a lift in a black XR3i, to come forward.

Earlier this week, Detective Chief Inspector Pete Montgomery said: "Despite all the hurdles posed by the passage of time, I still believe that a form of closure is possible for Caroline and her family.

"It is appropriate to once again begin a planned search operation, primarily to locate Caroline's remains but also as an important part of the overall investigation into her murder."

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Penguin Defends 'Creepy' Roald Dahl Cover

Publisher Penguin is standing by its decision to use an image of a doll-like girl for the cover of a new edition of Roald Dahl's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The image of a young girl wearing a pink fur coat and make-up has been criticised for its lack of relevance to the storyline of the classic.

Author Joanne Harris tweeted: "Seriously, Penguin Books. Why not just get Rolf Harris to design the next one?"

Dahl wrote about Charlie Bucket in 1964

Writer Lucy Coats, the author of more than 30 books for children, told The Bookseller: "It is sexualised and has nothing to do with the book."

Other people have called it "lewd", "bizarre" and "creepy".

A Penguin spokeswoman told Sky News the girl is not meant to represent any of the female characters in the book such as Veruca Salt.

The book is now 50 years old

The picture is used on the Penguin Modern Classic version of the book which is intended for adults and one of three editions of the novel being published to mark 50 years since it first came out.

The publisher said: "This design is in recognition of the book's extraordinary cultural impact and is one of the few children's books to be featured in the Penguin Modern Classics list.

"This new image for Charlie And The Chocolate Factory looks at the children at the centre of the story, and highlights the way Roald Dahl's writing manages to embrace both the light and the dark aspects of life."

The spokeswoman said the company is "happy to split opinions" and that they welcome the debate about the choice of picture.

Dahl's novel, which has inspired several film versions and a hit stage musical, was written in 1964 and follows the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory owned by the eccentric Willy Wonka.

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Man Dies After E-Cigarette Explodes Into Flames

A 62-year-old man has died after his e-cigarette exploded and ignited a home oxygen machine he is believed to have been using.

The unnamed victim's body was found in the living room of a property in Wallasey, Merseyside.

An investigation by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service found an e-cigarette that had been charging caught fire and ignited an oxygen concentrator, which may have been in use by the man.

There was a small amount of smoke damage to the property, but the fire was out by the time firefighters arrived.

An inquest will be held to determine the cause of death.

It is the ninth fire involving e-cigarettes on Merseyside alone this year, fire chiefs said.

Area manager Myles Platt, from MFRS, said: "The investigation into the cause of this fire is continuing but at this stage it is thought that the charging device being used at the time may not have been the one supplied with the e-cigarette.

"We urge people to always use electrical equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and guidance, always ensure that no electrical items are left charging overnight or left unattended for a long period when being charged and do not mix parts from different e-cigarettes.

"Only use the original charger or electrical cables supplied and ensure you purchase electrical items from a reputable source."

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Top Footballer 'Threatened To Kill Girlfriend'

A Premier League footballer threatened to blow up the house of his ex-girlfriend during a four-year campaign of harassment, a court heard.

England under-21 player Ravel Morrison was also accused of threatening to throw acid in the face of 19-year-old Reah Mansoor and to have her killed.

The former Manchester United midfielder appeared at Manchester Crown Court at a preliminary hearing at which the charges were laid out.

The 21-year-old, who has played for Queens Park Rangers and now plays for West Ham, was initially arrested and charged with two counts of common assault.

His arrest came after he allegedly punched and slapped Miss Mansoor and her mother Parveen Mansoor, 39 in the early hours of July 27 in Salford.

As well as the assault charges, he was also charged with causing his ex-girlfriend to fear violence would be used against her during the period January 1, 2010, to July 20 this year.

Ravel Morrison currently plays for West Ham United

The charge alleges he threatened to throw acid in her face, blow up her house and have her killed and that he made other threats of violence.

Morrison spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

David Fish QC, representing Morrison, said his client would be pleading not guilty to the charges.

Morrison was bailed by District Judge Khalid Qureshi to appear at Manchester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on August 28.

The footballer, originally from Manchester, was initially remanded in custody after he was arrested last week, before being bailed.

The conditions of his bail were that he must live in Canary Wharf, London, must not contact the two women complainants directly or indirectly and must not go to the street where they live.

He was told he must also not enter the Greater Manchester area except for a court appearance, to see his lawyers or to visit for a West Ham game in the area and, if he does so, he must return to London immediately after the match.

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UK Student Murders: Four Face Death Penalty

Four Malaysian men are facing the death penalty after admitting killing two British medical students in Borneo.

Neil Dalton and Aidan Brunger, both 22, were stabbed to death after arguing with a group of men in a bar in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak state.

Two of the four men who have confessed to the killings

Chai Khin Chung, the area's deputy police chief, said four men, aged between 19 and 30, have confessed to the killings.

He said the two Newcastle University students had been drinking and began arguing loudly in a bar when the suspects confronted them and told them to be quiet.

"Then one of the British students slapped one of the locals, turned over a table, and walked out," he said.

The four men followed them in a car and one of them stabbed them with a knife.

Mr Dalton was from Ambergate, Derbyshire

The bodies of the students were found lying a few metres apart in a road near the bar.

The pair were on a six-week placement in a hospital in Kuching as part of their studies, said Newcastle University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Tony Stevenson.

"This has come as a huge shock to us all and our thoughts are with their families and friends at this very difficult time," he said.

Aidan Brunger's family released a photo showing him at his Borneo hospital

Malaysia is generally considered to be a safe place for foreigners, but some recent incidents have damaged that image.

In June, police found the body of 34-year-old British tourist Gareth Huntley on the resort island of Tioman.

They are yet to announce the cause of death.

Last month, a Malaysian shopkeeper was sentenced to death for killing French tourist Stephanie Foray in May 2011, also on Tioman.

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Five Boys Charged With Raping A Child Under 13

Five boys have been charged with the rape of a child under the age of 13, police have said.

West Yorkshire Police said two of the youngsters who have been charged are aged 13 and three aged 14.

One of the 13-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been charged with two counts of raping a child under 13.

Another 13-year-old has been charged with one count of raping a child under 13 and the sexual assault of a child under 13.

The other two, both aged 14, have been charged with one count of the rape of a child under 13.

All the charges relate to two incidents which are alleged to have taken place in July last year in the Calderdale area.

All five have been released on bail and have been told to appear at Calderdale Youth Court on August 20.

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Prince William To Take To The Skies Again

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

The Duke of Cambridge is preparing to take the controls of a helicopter once more - to train as an air ambulance pilot.

Prince William has made no secret of how much he enjoyed his role as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, which he left last September.

Now, he faces five months of training before beginning his new job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) based in Cambridge in the spring.

A palace spokesman said the Duke was "very much looking forward to" the next step in his career.

Two doctors make their way towards the EAAA helicopter in Cambridge

But it is also great news for the EAAA which relies entirely on charitable donations to keep two helicopters in action seven days a week.

Patrick Peal, chief executive of the service, said he was "delighted" William had decided to join them.

"We're very fortunate that we currently enjoy tremendous levels of support but fundraising is always a challenge," he said.

"We're looking to raise £7.5m a year to continue the lifesaving work and I'm sure that this will help to raise the profile of the charity.

Mr Peal emphasised that the Duke would become an important part of the team.

"It is a very close-knit crew with the pilot operating closely with the doctor and paramedic so we need a strong team in every operation we go on."

William and the family will live near the base

The EC135 helicopters used by the EAAA fly out of Norwich as well as Cambridge. They have one pilot on board as well as a doctor and a critical care paramedic, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

But it is thought Prince William will fly a new aircraft due to be delivered called the EC145 which can carry two pilots, three medical crew as well as the patient.

His base will be 50 miles south of his new home with the Duchess of Cambridge and their baby, George, at Anmer Hall on the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The family is expected to split its time between that residence and an apartment at Kensington Palace in central London.

The Duke may have trained as military pilot but must pass 14 exams and a flight test to gain his air transport pilot licence, initially being employed as a co-pilot.

Last year, the EAAA's helicopters went on 1,670 call-outs ranging from traffic accidents to cardiac arrests.

The prince will have to have more training before he goes "live"

Alastair Wilson, the charity's medical director, said he felt the Duke was well-suited to the role.

"The pilot is part of the team and he will be looking after patients with conditions that would be horrifying for many and some pilots may not like that very much," he said.

"Compared to his role as a search and rescue pilot, he may be dealing with more injury patients than he is used to, but I'm sure he will adapt very well to that."

The Duke is coming to the end of what was described as "a transitional year" while working out what to do next and carrying out Royal duties, which he will continue.

His salary from his new job will be donated back to the EAAA.

A palace spokesman said: "The job will build on the Duke's operational experience in the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue force.

"During this time he undertook more than 150 search and rescue operations."

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Cemetery 'Ghost' Fined For Shouting 'Woooo'

A man who pretended to be a ghost while behaving in a "rowdy" way in a cemetery has been fined.

Anthony Stallard of Southsea, Hampshire, has been ordered to pay £35 after throwing his arms in the air and shouting: "Woooooo."

Portsmouth Magistrates' Court heard that Stallard had been out drinking with friends when they went to Portsmouth's Kingston Cemetery where they played football.

Hampshire police said a number of witnesses made a complaint that Stallard had acted rowdily and pretended to be a spooky apparition.

A spokesman said: "The witnesses reported the group engaging in rowdy behaviour and one of them throwing their arms in the air and saying 'woooooo'."

The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause distress.

Stallard was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £20 in costs.

The court heard that he had also breached the conditions of an earlier punishment when he had been charged with harassment.

As a result of that breach he had an extra three months added to his conditional charge, a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Stallard had also been charged with causing criminal damage to the gravestones, but the charge was dismissed.

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Chicken Bug Retailers Could Be Named

A consumer group is urging food standards bosses to name retailers found selling fresh chickens containing a bug blamed for tens of thousands of cases of food poisoning every year.

The bug campylobacter was found in 59% of samples in a survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which also found it on the outside of packaging in 4% of samples.

The agency has declined to name supermarkets and other retailers involved until it has more data from its 12-month survey which runs until February 2015.

Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said: "The FSA's survey reveals unacceptably high levels of campylobacter and they must now publish the names of the retailers so consumers are aware of the best and worst performing shops.

"Campylobacter is responsible for thousands of cases of food poisoning and the deaths of 100 people every year so much more must be done to minimise the risk of contamination at every stage of production."

The FSA says chicken is quite safe as long as it is thoroughly cooked

FSA chief executive Catherine Brown said: "There is still a lot more to be done by all elements of the supply chain to ensure that consumers can be confident in the food they buy.

"As soon as we have enough data to robustly compare campylobacter levels in different retailers we will share that data with consumers."

Over the 12 months 4,000 samples of whole chickens bought from UK retail outlets and smaller independent stores and butchers will be tested. The new results are for the first quarter and represent 853 samples.

Ms Brown said the survey "will give us a clearer picture of the prevalence of campylobacter on raw poultry sold at retail and help us measure the impact of interventions introduced by producers, processors, and retailers to reduce contamination".

The survey is aimed at helping stem the prevalence of the campylobacter bug

She added: "The chicken supply chain is looking at how interventions such as improved biosecurity on farms, rapid surface chilling, and anti-microbial washes can help reduce campylobacter.

"So when they take action and invest in interventions designed to make a difference, these survey figures will enable us to see if they really do make an impact."

She said low levels of contamination on packaging may show that leak-proof wrappers used by most retailers is working.

Campylobacter is killed by thorough cooking, but is the most common form of food poisoning in the UK. It affects an estimated 280,000 people a year, and the majority of these cases come from contaminated poultry.

The FSA said that previous studies carried out into the prevalence of the bug had also shown around two thirds of raw poultry carry it.

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Daily Aspirin Pill 'Helps Prevent Cancer'

Taking a daily dose of aspirin could help ward off some types of cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers say that long-term use of the drug can significantly cut the chance of dying from gastrointestinal illnesses such as bowel and stomach cancer.

It is estimated that 130,357 cancer deaths could be prevented over two decades if everyone in the UK between 50 and 64 took the drug for 10 years.

However, widespread aspirin use could cause just under 18,000 deaths over the same time period, mainly due to internal bleeding and strokes.

Researchers from the Centre for Cancer Prevention at Queen Mary University of London pulled together data from more than 200 studies on the preventative use of aspirin.

The research examined more than 200 studies on the drug

Lead researcher Professor Jack Cuzick said he believed GPs should recommend healthy patients take a daily dose of the drug.

His team found bowel cancer incidence could be cut by 35%, and deaths by 40%, if people took aspirin for 10 years.

Stomach and oesophageal cancer were reduced by 30%, and deaths from these diseases by 35% and 50%.

But the effect on non-gastrointestinal cancers was less dramatic.

Lung and prostate cancer were reduced by 5% and 10%, and deaths from both by 15%. It also reduced breast cancer incidence by 10% and deaths by 5%.

Heart attack risk went down by 18%, but there was only a 5% dip in mortality rates.

Professor Cuzick said: "Until our study, where we analysed all the available evidence, it was unclear whether the pros of taking aspirin outweighed the cons.

"Whilst there are some serious side effects that can't be ignored, taking aspirin daily looks to be the most important thing we can do to reduce cancer after stopping smoking and reducing obesity, and will probably be much easier to implement."

Long-term aspirin use also increases the risk of dying from a stroke

The risks of daily aspirin use include a sharp increase in serious or fatal bleeding in the gut for people over 70, due to the drug's blood-thinning effect.

It also raised the risk of peptic ulcer by 30% to 60%, and the chances of dying from a stroke by 21%.

There is also no evidence that taking more than a low dose of 75-100 milligrams produces any greater benefit.

Professor Cuzick said anyone considering taking a daily aspirin dose should see their GP as some people are more susceptible to the potential negative effects.

Dr Julie Sharp, head of health information for Cancer Research UK, which co-funded the study, also sounded a note of caution.

She said: "Aspirin is showing promise in preventing certain types of cancer, but it's vital that we balance this with the complications it can cause."

Dr Sharp said the charity was planning a five-year study with 10,000 cancer patients to find out more about how best to use the drug.

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Woman Arrested After Elderly People 'Poisoned'

A woman has been arrested for "administering a noxious substance" after 16 people fell ill at a care home, police have said.

The 23-year-old was held after a number of people at Goldfield Court in West Bromwich were taken ill with what police described as food poisoning symptoms.

Four of the people were taken to hospital for treatment, with two being kept in overnight.

The woman was arrested on Monday and is now at a secure unit after she was released on bail while investigations continue, a force spokeswoman said.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Keiley Gartland said: "Further tests and enquires are underway to determine the exact nature and cause of the illness.

"An individual has been arrested and is currently assisting the police with their enquires.

"Anyone with information in relation to the investigation should contact Sandwell Police by dialling 101, anyone with any concerns should contact the extra care unit."

Goldfield Court, which is run by Housing & Care 21, is described as  "extra care housing" for older people. There are 93 flats at the site.

In a statement issued on its website, Housing & Care 21 confirmed a care worker had been suspended.

It said: "Housing and Care 21 can confirm that a care worker has been suspended from Goldfield independent living scheme in West Bromwich.

"We are providing information and assistance to the police and Sandwell Social Services and will support them with any further investigation.

"Our thoughts are with both residents and staff at the Goldfield community and we will ensure they are fully supported during this difficult time."

Police said they were working with Goldfield Court's management and with Sandwell social services department.

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Walgreens Confirms Full Takeover of Boots

US pharmacy chain Walgreens has confirmed it is to take full control of Boots.

In a deal worth £5.6bn worth of cash and shares, the drugs giant will acquire the remaining 55% of Alliance Boots that it does not already own.

But as US markets opened following the news, shares in Walgreens were 16% lower, wiping $10.6bn (£6.3bn) off the company's market value.

The transaction is expected to be completed early in 2015, following full shareholder approvals.

The new enterprise will be named Walgreens Boots Alliance and will keep its headquarters in the US.

Meanwhile, UK-based Boots will remain headquartered in Nottingham.

Walgreens Boots Alliance will be led by chief executive Greg Wasson, with senior executives from both companies on the management team.

Mr Wasson said: "We are excited to move forward with the next important step in becoming a new kind of global healthcare leader. 

"Expanding globally with Alliance Boots will make quality healthcare more affordable and accessible to communities here in America and around the world."

It comes after Sky News exclusively revealed news of the deal yesterday.

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British Students Stabbed To Death In Borneo

Two British medical students have been stabbed to death after leaving a bar in the Borneo city where they were on a hospital placement.

The two men, named by Newcastle University as Neil Dalton and Aidan Brunger, both 22, died after they were attacked by a group of men in Kuching.

The friends were reportedly followed in a car and knifed as they returned to a backpacker lodge from the bar, where a row had earlier taken place.

Four men have been arrested following the murders in the Jalan Padungan district.

The fourth-year students were in the Malaysian part of the island in Sarawak province on attachment to a hospital in Kuching, the university's acting vice-chancellor Professor Tony Stevenson said.

Prof Stevenson said in a statement: "We were informed this morning of the very sad news that two of our fourth-year medical students working at a hospital in Kuching, Borneo, have been tragically killed.

"Neil Dalton and Aidan Brunger, both 22, were on a six-week work placement, along with five other medical students, to put the skills they had learnt during their time here at the university into practice.

The city of Kuching in Borneo where the two men died. Pic: CoolCityCat

"This has come as a huge shock to us all and our thoughts are with their families and friends at this very difficult time.

"Two of our members of staff are flying out to Kuching as soon as possible and we are working closely with the British high commissioner to support the other students and to co-ordinate their return to the UK."

The students were due to finish their placement on Friday.

Mr Dalton was from Ambergate, Derbyshire, had achieved four A* grades in his A-levels and had been featured in the local paper when he took part in a sponsored bike ride for the Alzheimer's Society, the Derby Telegraph reported. 

Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung said the arrests were made two hours after the 4.15am attack, the Malaysian State News Agency Bernama reported. A knife was also recovered.

Dr Chai told a news conference that two of the suspects have criminal records for drug abuse and armed robbery.

He also said a police forensic team found the first victim lying face down on the road with two stab wounds in the chest and two in the back.

The second victim was lying on a path, about two metres from the first victim, with a single stab wound to his chest.

The Borneo Post reported that they were attacked by a group of men as they made their way back to a backpacker lodge from the Travillion bar in the early hours. It followed a row in the bar over noise.

The students' bodies are at Sarawak General Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

An FCO spokesman said: "We are providing consular assistance to their families at this difficult time."

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Plane Scare: Man Held Over Hoax Bomb Threat

Manchester Police have arrested a man on suspicion of making a hoax bomb threat after a plane was escorted into the city's airport by an RAF fighter jet.

The emergency came when the pilot of Qatar Airways flight QR23 from Doha to Manchester reported concerns about a possible device. It landed safely. 

Josh Hartley, who boarded the plane at Doha, said: "The flight was pretty calm all the way through, but some people are shaken up, quite a few. It was scary.

A man is escorted of the Qatar Airways flight by police in Manchester

"One guy has been escorted off the plane already but we're still on it. We've heard nothing yet."

The alarm is thought to have been raised when a passenger passed a note to a member of the cabin crew.

The message is understood to have been  passed on to the captain, who alerted air traffic control - prompting the quick reaction alert Typhoon to be scrambled.

In a statement Qatar Airways said the plane was an Airbus A330-300 with 269 passengers and 13 Qatar Airways crew on board.

Qatar Airways flight QR23 on the ground at Manchester Airport

The airline said: "The crew onboard had received a threat about a possible device on board and Qatar Airways immediately took all the necessary precautions to alert British authorities.

"The crew is now fully assisting police at the airport with their inquiries. 

"The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority."

Greater Manchester Police tweeted that officers were working to get other passengers off "as swiftly and safely as possible".

Passenger @MattPeterC took this picture from the plane

"The plane has been moved to allow specialist officers who are dealing with the incident to board," said another tweet.

Chief Superintendent John O'Hare said in a statement as events unfolded: "An incoming plane has been escorted into the airport by the Royal Air Force as a result of information received by the pilot about a possible device on board.

"We don't know how genuine this threat is but it is absolutely vital we deal with the situation as a full emergency.

"As a result people will see the police and other agencies at the airport and on the airfield.

The RAF Typhoon escorts the Qatar Airways flight. Pic @Josh Hartley

"At this time I would urge them not to be alarmed.

"Our response will be as comprehensive as it is proportionate with the safety of those on board and in and around the airport our paramount concern."

Eye witness Paul Bell, who is heading for a holiday flight due to leave from the airport's Terminal 1, told Sky News his family saw the drama unfold as they were heading to the airport.

"We heard the fighter jet circling over Stockport and about 10 minutes later we saw the aircraft coming in.

The airport lies south of the city centre

"It was literally looping round the aeroplane."

Manchester Airport said nine incoming flights had to be diverted to other airports, with five of these landing at Leeds Bradford airport.

"There are a few minor delays to outgoing flights but we're pretty much back to normal," said an airport spokesman.

An RAF spokesman said: "We can confirm that Typhoon aircraft were launched from RAF Coningsby in their quick reaction alert role this afternoon to investigate a civilian aircraft whose pilot had requested assistance."

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Chancellor Backs £15bn Northern Transport Plan

George Osborne has backed a £15bn plan to create a "northern global powerhouse" which will rebalance the country's economy.

The vision to connect five cities will see improvements in transport across the north of England, including a 125mph transpennine rail link dubbed "HS3" or the "Crossrail of the North".

The Chancellor was presented with the One North plan, drawn up by the cities of Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle upon Tyne, in Manchester where he was speaking.

Mr Osborne said: "Of course £15bn is a lot of money - it's about the size of the Crossrail project in London.

"It's a project over a number of years, out to 2030. We have got a £100bn capital budget to the end of the decade.

"I think this kind of proposal is affordable."

He added: "I'm prepared to roll up my sleeves and get it done, so let's get on with it."

The plan could mean up to 150% additional capacity on roads and as much as 55% quicker journey times on a faster, more frequent interconnected rail network.

The One North plan looks ahead to the next 15 years.

Cutting travel times across the Pennines would be worth billions

Speaking about the proposals to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield, said: "Getting the right investment in our transport systems would deliver unprecedented change to better connect people and jobs, which is crucial if we also want to rebalance the national economy.

"This report demonstrates once again that only through tackling our out-dated transport system will the North be able to fulfil its true economic potential, benefiting our own local communities and the country as a whole."

Speaking on the BBC's Today programme, Labour Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said the Government could not forget the North if it was serious about rebalancing the economy.

He said: "When we talk about economic powerhouses, Manchester and Liverpool, if you just take those two cities in the North together, of course we are one economic powerhouse, it is just we haven't got the connectivity."

Mr Osborne told the programme: "If the North of England's GDP grew at the rate of the average GDP of the UK, we would add over £50bn to our economy to 2030. That is a massive benefit to the people living in the north of England, over £1,600 per person but is also of huge benefit to our country."

The North will play a significant part come the 2015 General Election as both Labour and UKIP could deliver a significant blow in the region so Mr Osborne will be keen to be seen to be backing development.

Shadow Treasury minister Shabana Mahmood said: "We welcome this report and the city regions of the north of England working together to strategically plan to deliver the growth and jobs we need.

"But only Labour will properly back our city and county regions with ambitious plans to devolve more funding and economic power to them."

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Referendum TV Debate Could Be A Game-Changer

When Hollywood gets its hands on the Scottish referendum, maybe in a few hundred years, it'll be a smash hit.

A swashbuckling adventure in which a boisterous, William Wallacey guy wages war against the swotty nemesis who can inflict death by grey hair and treasury statistics. It'll be box office.

Tonight's TV debate? Not so much.

Alex Salmond versus Alistair Darling. Independence versus the Union. Like The Odd Couple without the gags.

And yet it will be compulsive viewing.

Sure, the audience knows it will trawl through a familiar script - currency, defence, EU, border controls, etc.

Yes, it might well feel like a repeat we've been watching for years - the one where both sides batter each other to a standstill on the key issues. 

The referendum is set to take place next month

But the attraction of STV's debate - and similar events to follow - is that it is the arena most likely to produce a 'game-changer'.

Bear in mind that Scots have lived this referendum campaign for years and many just want the noise to stop. The big arguments on the big issues don't resonate the way they once did, and still should.

What television provides is the opportunity to make a judgement on who to trust. The presentation under pressure in which voters will assess degrees of assurance and conviction. It will be critical in the effort to sway undecided voters. 

There will be no Nick Clegg-style national awakening - Darling and Salmond have been around too long to benefit from any new-discovery status. Both men face different challenges. 

Of the two, it's Darling who has most to lose. He has retained a consistent poll lead for the pro-Union Better Together campaign and, as such, he needs not to lose.

It is the challenge facing a football manager who's team's playing for a nil-nil draw - the position you might choose, yet fear. Too little ambition can lead to defeat and frequently does.

Alex Salmond might consider he has an advantage. If the arguments have become tired by repetition and neutralised by claim and counter-claim, then the point-scoring could lie with the independence message. 

Whatever the context, independent is something that people, generally, want to be. It is something the 'Yes' campaign benefits from in a way that its 'No' opposition does not. 

So listen for the buzzwords of independence from Scotland's First Minister as he reaches through the ribcage to squeeze the Scottish heart.

The word 'victory' might yet hinge on it.

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Scotland's Future Up For Debate In TV Contest

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

The two men leading the fight for Scotland's future will go head to head in a TV debate tonight.

First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond will face Alistair Darling MP, leader of the Better Together campaign, with just over six weeks to go until the September 18 referendum on independence.

Broadcast by STV, it is the first such encounter between the pair during the campaign and kicks off its closing stages. 

Alex Salmond had initially refused to face Mr Darling, instead insisting he would only take on David Cameron. The Prime Minister has consistently refused the offer. 

Tonight's two-hour debate will take place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and the men will cross-examine each other, as well as take audience questions.

Alex Salmond (L) will go head-to-head with Alistair Darling

Alistair Darling's Better Together campaign has consistently been ahead in the polls and he is expected to press the First Minister for answers on independence.

Blair McDougall, his campaign director, said: "Voters in Scotland have been listening to the independence debate for over two years now.

"Surely if Alex Salmond had convincing answers on the details of separation, we would have heard them by now.

"Scots tuning in deserve to finally get straight answers from Mr Salmond to the questions they have been asking. What would separation mean for our pound, pensions and public services?

"Unlike the leaders' debates in the 2010 General Election, this debate isn't a job interview between candidates.

"Instead, it is a discussion about what separation would mean for our children and grandchildren's futures."

The big vote on Scotland's future is little more than a month away

For Alex Salmond, the TV debate and similar events that are expected to follow present an opportunity to strive for the game-changing moment that his campaign needs to turn the polls around.

Blair Jenkins, chief executive of the Yes campaign, said: "Independence is the opportunity of a lifetime for the people of Scotland, and the Yes campaign are looking forward immensely to the debate.

"We know that Scotland is one of the richest countries in the world, wealthier than the UK, France and Japan, and only the powers offered by a Yes vote will enable us to make this wealth work better for everyone in Scotland.

"Viewers will get the chance to hear why decisions made on Scotland's future should be taken here in Scotland.

"Our experience is that most undecided voters choose Yes when they hear both sides of the debate, and therefore we believe the mass TV audience will benefit our positive campaign.

"We also believe that the No campaign have a problem with both the negativity of their message and the unpopularity of their messengers."

On the morning of the debate, the three main UK party leaders announced they had signed a pledge to increase the powers of the Scottish Parliament. 

David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg all put their name to a declaration made earlier this year by their parties' Scottish leaders to guarantee an increase in Scotland's powers under devolution.

It is a pre-debate move to bolster Alistair Darling before the big event and protect "their man" against accusations that increased devolution is an empty promise that won't be delivered.

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Typhoon Jet - The Quick Responder

The deployment of Typhoon fighter jets on short notice is known as QRA - Quick Response Alert.

It is something the RAF has been doing since the Second World War when Spitfires and Hurricanes would be scrambled to meet the German Luftwaffe over the skies of Britain.

QRA operates out of two stations: RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire which covers the southern sector and RAF Leuchars in Fife which covers the northern United Kingdom.

Typhoon pilots do a QRA shift normally once or twice a month. Each shift lasts 24 hours and is normally uneventful. Ground crew do week-long shifts.

The jets are based in Lincolnshire and Fife, covering north and south

The pilots wait to be scrambled in a small building called the Aircrew Ready Room. Either side, the single-seater Typhoons stand ready in what are called Q-sheds, a nickname that dates back to Cold War days when the teams were much busier than they are now.

If an air traffic controller notices a plane behaving erratically, then they might alert the QRA team. This could be because the plane is not "talking or squawking" - not sending out the right data or not responding to communications.

In other scenarios, as seems to be the case in the Manchester incident, a pilot might send out a distress signal.

Pilots wait to be scrambled in the Aircrew Ready Room

It is a monitored at RAF Scampton, also in Lincolnshire, the old home of the Dambusters.

Analysts at the CRC (Control and Responding Centre) monitor all civilian, commercial and military air traffic and receive information from the security services daily - Radar maps, flight plans, aircraft squarks.

They will build a 3D model of planes movements - this is called a Recognised Air Picture to identify any anomalies.

RAF Air Command in High Wycombe decides what to do next.

The QRA pilots could be put on high alert, known as a "call to cockpit".

The pilots will race to the plane and do everything short of turning the engines on so they are ready to take off within minutes.

The aircraft are armed.

They first came into operation for WW II

Everything possible will be being done to make contact with the suspect plane and resolve the situation, but if unsuccessful, the order comes via a black box called a telebrief. The words haven't changed since WW2: "Scramble, scramble, scramble."

The jets will taxi to the runway.

Air Traffic controllers at whichever station has been given the order - Coningsby or Leuchars - will make sure the skies above are clear and free of traffic.

The RAF is still scrambled to observe Russian military jets flying close to UK airspace. That has happened a number of times in the past 12 months.

The pilots record images of the plane or planes they are tracking, and feed them back to base.

It remains a relatively secret process as it is always in an emergency scenario.

No QRA aircraft has had to fire its weapons over British skies in peacetime but they could if ordered to. That order would probably come from the Prime Minister himself.

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World War One And The 'Short-War Illusion'

By Professor David Stevenson

In August 1914 German Emperor Wilhelm II famously promised to his departing troops that they would return before the autumn leaves fell.

Yet most of Europe's military chiefs did not, in fact, expect a short war.

The Chief of the German General Staff had predicted a struggle lasting between 18 months and two years. His French and Austrian opposite numbers took a similar view.

A clash between two great alliance blocs, each fielding armies that numbered millions and were supported by the resources of entire nations, would not be settled in weeks. 

Even the direst military predictions, however, failed to foresee a conflict lasting four and a half years that would claim at least 10 million lives.

Lord Kitchener warned the Cabinet of a drawn-out bloodbath in Europe

And civilian politicians seem not to have been informed about the military leaders' pessimism.

When Europe's governments decided for war, they expected heavy casualties, but nothing resembling what actually occurred.

Lord Kitchener, the colonial hero who was brought in as Britain's Secretary of State for War, stunned the Cabinet by warning them to prepare for a three-year bloodbath.

And as for members of the ordinary public, evidence from diaries and letters suggests that many really did expect a struggle that would last only a few months.

Newspaper sellers in the run-up to war on August 1, 1914

Much of this optimism may have been wishful thinking. And research by historians has made clear that 'war enthusiasm' was skin-deep.

To be sure, there was excitement, and cheering crowds gathered round the royal palaces in Berlin and London, but these demonstrations were quite small, composed mostly of well-to-do young men, and most prominent after war had been declared.

Up until then, pacifist and anti-war protests rivalled them - for example in Trafalgar Square as late as Sunday August 2, only two days before Britain came in.

British soldiers in a shallow trench during the Battle of the Somme

On 31 July the London Stock Exchange was closed for the first time in its history, due to a run on the Bank of England's gold reserves and sell-offs of government bonds across Europe, while both in Britain and on the Continent queues formed outside savings banks and there was panic food-buying.

Although The Times consistently advocated British intervention, The Manchester Guardian remained unconvinced, and many civilian diarists expressed anxiety and foreboding.

In all the combatant countries political parties suspended their differences for the duration of the war effort.

But it seems to have been only later, once reports came in of heavy fighting and massive casualties, that a deeper pro-war consensus formed on both sides.

The public had not begun this business, but now they were in it they would see it through.

In Britain, hundreds of thousands flocked to the recruiting offices in late August and September. Although the volunteers had many motives, patriotism was certainly one of them.

And even after the campaigning bogged down into opposing lines of trenches, many still (without the benefit of hindsight) expected it to carry on for only a few more months. The short-war illusion did not end in 1914.

:: Professor David Stevenson is the author of With Our Backs To The Wall: Victory And Defeat in 1918, and 1914-1918: The History Of The First World War. He teaches at London School of Economics & Political Science

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Driver 'Lucky To Survive' Pub Toilet Smash

A driver had a lucky escape after his car travelled over a wall and smashed into a pub toilet block in Staffordshire.

Emergency blood supplies were taken to the scene of the crash on the A5 in Cannock as firefighters cut the motorist free of the wreckage.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Crews arrived to find a car that had left the road, travelled over a wall and entered the toilets of the Longford House Beefeater public house.

"The car was embedded in the building and the man driving the car was significantly trapped."

The driver suffered leg injuries in the accident

Pictures of the scene showed the flattened, mangled wreckage of the car had destroyed a large portion of the wall. Firefighters could be seen working to release the driver.

"The man, believed to be in his late 30s, continued to receive treatment to his leg injuries for the 90 minutes that he was trapped," the ambulance spokesman said.

"Considering the damage to the car and the extensive damage to the building, it is extremely fortunate no one was more seriously or fatally injured in the crash."

After the man was released, he was taken to a major trauma unit for emergency medical treatment. His condition was unknown.

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