Garden Murders: Daughter, Son-In-Law In Court

The daughter and son-in-law of an elderly couple who went missing from Mansfield have appeared in court charged with their murder.

It follows the discovery of the remains of a man and woman who were found buried in the back garden of a house in Blenheim Close, Forest Town, on October 9 this year.

Police have not yet formally identified the pair, but believe they are William and Patricia Wycherley, who lived at the house in the 1990s.

The couple's daughter, Susan Patricia Edwards, 55, and her husband Christopher John Edwards, 57, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court this morning.

The pair, of no fixed address, but who are believed to have been living outside the UK,  were charged with the murders of Mr and Mrs Wycherley between May 1, 1998 and May 31 of the same year.

They were remanded in custody until a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on November 4.

Police arrested the pair at St Pancras International railway station in London on Wednesday evening.

Post-mortem examinations on the remains of Mr and Mrs Wycherley revealed that they had died as a result of being shot.

The elderly couple moved to the address in 1987 and, according to neighbours, disappeared in 1998.

Officers said Mrs Wycherley is believed to have been born in Fulham, west London, and would now have been 79. Her husband would have been 100.

Police said bone analysis had shed further light on the remains.

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Mandela Movie Star Idris Elba In Hospital

The star of the new Nelson Mandela movie is recovering in hospital after suffering an asthma attack on his way to the film's South African premiere.

Idris Elba, who plays the former president in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, fell ill on a plane but was taken off the aircraft before it left the UK.

The 41-year-old British actor missed a news conference in Johannesburg but producers hope he will recover in time for a planned red carpet appearance on Sunday.

Elba, who is best known for his role as a detective chief inspector in the hit TV series Luther, stars alongside Skyfall actress Naomie Harris in the forthcoming film.

She plays Mr Mandela's wife Winnie in the movie, which follows the anti-apartheid leader's journey from childhood, through to his imprisonment on Robben Island and his subsequent release and inauguration as South Africa's first democratically-elected leader.

The biopic had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September, at which Elba won praise for his portrayal of Mr Mandela.

Speaking at the festival, the actor said: "I moved to South Africa for about three months prior to shooting, just so that I could understand what South Africa was like ... and to understand the tribes, especially Mr Mandela's.

"The challenges were massive but we embraced them. He had a very difficult life, so we weren't expecting to make an easy film."

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is released in the UK on January 3, 2014.

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Water Bills: Crackdown On Costs Expected

Water bills may be "rolled back" after the Government vowed to get tough on the rising cost of living.

David Cameron's spokesman indicated that an announcement on water bills would be made next week.

The spokesman said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) would be making the announcement.

He said: "There will be some action next week from Defra with the intention of looking at water bills.

David Cameron says he wants to see household costs cut

"The Prime Minister takes household bills across the piece seriously and wants energy prices to be rolled back and wants various things done, whether it's council tax being frozen, the flex on rail fares being brought down, MoT costs being frozen, these sorts of measures to protect household bills."

He added: "The Prime Minister wants to see household costs across the piece being reduced as low as possible. The intention is to try to reduce the burdens on hard-pressed families."

Mr Cameron "wants regulators to look at the industry they regulate and make sure that they are robust and delivering what they need to deliver for consumers", the spokesman added.

Concerns have been raised that consumers are being ripped off

The move comes after Labour leader Ed Miliband said the market needed to be scrutinised to ensure it was working for consumers.

The soaring cost of living has rocketed up the political agenda since Mr Miliband's pledge to freeze energy prices if his party wins the 2015 General Election.

Mr Cameron, seeking to win back the political initiative on energy policy from Labour, said last week he wanted to "roll back" environmental taxes that bump up energy bills, promising more details in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement on December 4.

Speaking on Friday at an event for regional newspaper journalists, Mr Miliband said: "I think we should be looking at all markets to make sure they are working properly - and that includes the water industry."

The Western Morning News quoted the Labour leader as saying: "Some people will say this is an anti-business agenda. I think it is a pro-business agenda that you have got to reform markets that are not working properly.

"I think the water industry is something that should be scrutinised to make sure it is working properly, and make sure it is working properly for the benefit of consumers, because I know concerns have been raised.

"I'm proud Labour is championing this agenda and I think it is consistent with believing what a market economy can do, and water is part of that."

Labour's environment secretary Maria Eagle said the party would look to amend existing draft legislation, review the need for tougher regulation, and push for new ways to help reduce bills for low-income households.

MPs are set to consider the reform and infrastructure of the water industry on Tuesday next week after Tory Robert Buckland secured a backbench debate.

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Pizza Delivery Driver Murder: Two In Court

By Nick Martin, North of England Correspondent

Two people have appeared in court charged with the murder of a pizza delivery driver in Sheffield.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris had been delivering his last ever pizza when he was stabbed to death in his car in the Southey area of the city on October 27.

Shamraze Khan, 25, of Southey Crescent, Sheffield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who are accused of killing Mr Peiris both appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

The pair were remanded in custody until the next hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on November 15.

Mr Peiris was on his final shift before starting his dream job as an IT consultant.

The 25-year-old was found dead in a silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent at about 10.30pm by fellow Domino's workers who had gone looking for him after he failed to deliver his order.

His family described him as the "most caring and loving son a parent could have".

Speaking from their family home in Sri Lanka, his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris and mother Sudarma Narangoda said: "We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.

"We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son's tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

"Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him."

Mr Peiris came to the UK to finish an IT degree and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011.

His colleagues and police said he had been feeling unwell during his last shift and was going to go home early but agreed to deliver one last order.

Domino's Pizza has said it was funding the cost of flying his family to the UK in the coming days.

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Dagenham Blaze: Fire Strike Row Over Recall

The president of the Chief Fire Officers Association has described the actions of striking firefighters who walked away from a major blaze in east London as "shameful".

Paul Fuller on Saturday urged them to "reflect" on their behaviour and the impact of their actions on their relations with the public.

"Yesterday I said that I didn't agree with strike action in the fire service, but last evening, firefighters all over this country exercised their right to do that with professionalism and dignity, which is the same dedication and courage they use in support of our communities every day," he told Sky News.

"What we saw a few firefighters do at Dagenham last night when they walked away from an incident in progress I think was shameful, and they should be ashamed of that."

He continued: "I think it just goes against my instincts to have firefighters walking away from an incident in progress.

"I understand their right to strike. All over the country firefighters were on strike, and in London as well, and behaved impeccably and professionally.

There are around 1,500 tonnes of metal alight. Picture: fishycol1/Twitter

"What I did not want to see was firefighters on the television walking away from an incident, and I don't think the fire service would want to associate itself with that sort of behaviour."

All on-duty firefighters due to strike in London on Friday night were recalled to their stations by the London Fire Brigade (LBF) under an agreed and voluntary procedure in the event of a major incident.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the London Fire Brigade clashed over the blaze.

The brigade said it expected striking firefighters to remain at the scene because of the seriousness of the incident, but the union said it was not life-threatening.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "There is no reference to risk of life in the agreed protocols to implement a major incident."

Mr Dobson said a major incident could trigger a recall and the agreement was implemented because of the size of the blaze and the resources needed to deal with it.

By not responding to the recall, he said it was the FBU that was in breach of the agreement.

But FBU London Secretary Paul Embery said the recall was not agreed.

He said the London Fire Brigade had been giving assurances that their "contingencies were sufficient".

The London Fire Brigade received 124 emergency 999 calls during the strike, with replacement crews attending 17 incidents in the capital, including the one at Dagenham. 

Of the 27 fire appliances in operation for contingency, a total of 20 fire engines and 120 firefighters attended the blaze on Perry Road.

Cylinders were also believed to be involved and a hazard zone was put in place in case they exploded due to the intense heat.

Smoke can be seen from miles around. Picture: JSinghLon/Twitter

Black smoke from the site could be seen from miles around, and residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Police officers and ambulance crews also attended the scene. There are no reported injuries, but several local roads were closed and motorists advised to avoid the area if possible.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said he supported the decision to recall all striking FBU staff.

It came as firefighters in the rest of England and Wales went ahead with the strike in their dispute with the Government over pensions, on what was expected to be one of the busiest days of the year for the service ahead of Bonfire Night and Diwali celebrations.

Members of the FBU walked out at 6.30pm, mounting picket lines outside fire stations until the stoppage ended at 11pm.

A further two-hour strike will be held from 6am on Monday, the day before Bonfire Night.

Fire brigades across the country have urged members of the public to put off any firework displays in their own gardens and to switch it to Saturday, or go to an organised event.

The union held a four-hour stoppage last month but called off another strike after it appeared a deal was in sight, but officials said the Government and fire employers had failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changing the pension age from 55 to 60.

The union fears firefighters will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests, and are unable to find other work in the fire service.

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M25 Closure Causes Severe Delays After Crash

A lorry crash on the M25 is likely to cause rush hour chaos after the Highways Agency announced part of the motorway would be closed for most of the day.

Police said there were severe delays on the northern part of the M25 after it was shut in both directions between junction 23 at South Mimms in Hertfordshire and junction 25 at the junction with the A10 north of Enfield in north London.

Clockwise traffic stuck immediately behind the crash has now been released, according to the Highways Agency. 

Motorists have been asked to consider alternative routes.

One person is in critical condition after the crash

Many drivers took to Twitter to express frustration at the delays.

"Thanks M25 - Nothing like spending 6 hours in traffic to round off your week," wrote David Hobson.

Others were more upbeat about the incident. 

Aerial footage of the crash scene

"M25 is shut in both directions this is the time where all the little rat runs you learn working in a van pay off," wrote Daniel Cooper.

Four people were hurt when the lorry overturned around 9:30am, forcing police to close the carriageway while emergency services attended the scene.

The injured were taken to hospital, one in a critical condition and another with serious injuries, according to police. 

The closed off section of the motorway

The lorry was lying on its side across the central reservation.

It is the second time in three days the M25 has partially closed.

On Tuesday, the M25 had to be closed between J23-25 after the driver of a lorry died when the vehicle overturned and caught fire near J25.

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Bonfire Night Warning As Firefighters Strike

Firefighters in England and Wales will go on strike this evening even though it could be one of the busiest days of the year for the service ahead of Bonfire Night and Diwali celebrations.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will walk out from 6.30pm to 11pm, and again for two hours from 6am next Monday - the day before Bonfire Night on November 5.

The union went on strike last month but called off another stoppage when a deal appeared to be in sight.

However, officials said the Government and fire employers failed to offer guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changes to the pension age from 55 to 60.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said firefighters were keen for the issue to be resolved through discussion but the Government was ignoring its own evidence, which indicates the schemes are unworkable and unaffordable.

Emergency response services will be 'severely reduced' due to the strike

He told Sky News: "We have been trying to negotiate pensions for nearly three years now and it is very frustrating fro our members and firefighters across the country.

"We want a pension scheme that works, that takes account of the job that firefighters actually do, and the Government is completely ignoring the evidence and is expecting firefighters to be working on the frontline, going into burning buildings at 60 or beyond in order to get their pension. That's simply unrealistic and dangerous."

Mr Wrack said older firefighters would be "expected to perform the full range of roles that an 18 or 20-year-old would do, and meet the same fitness standards.

He added: "We have tried to avoid strike action for as long as possible. No firefighter wants to go on strike. We have deliberately chosen not to call action on the busiest nights ... so we have tried to do what we can to keep people as safe as possible.

"The general advice for people around Bonfire Night is to attend organised events."

Peter Holland, the government's chief fire and rescue adviser, told Sky News "firefighters can work up to 60".

"Indeed, there are 500 across the country who are working up to that age," he said.

Firefighters from Tynemouth Community Fire Station on strike in September

"With the right fitness testing procedures, training on fire stations ... firefighters can keep themselves fit, and there are no firefighters who are going to come under pressure to retire prematurely. If they want to retire at 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 they can do. That's built in to the scheme.

"Those firefighters who reach 55 who do have medical problems will be dealt with through an ill health process which the Fire Brigades Union are very happy with."

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said its emergency response service would be "severely reduced" because of the strike.

Chief Fire Officer James Courtney said: "Don't hold your bonfire or fireworks display tonight.

"We're satisfied with the contingency arrangements we are putting in place, but our 999 service will still be severely depleted so we need the public to help keep our fire engines available for real emergencies."

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: "This strike action by the FBU is completely unnecessary and does nothing but damage the good reputation firefighters have with the public.

"We offered firefighters similar fitness principles to those the FBU accepted in Scotland. The FBU should reconsider their decision to strike - announced just four days into discussions - and work for a resolution to this dispute.

"The public will be baffled by the FBU's course of action when they hear that the deal being offered to firefighters gives them one of the most generous pension schemes in all the public sector.

"A firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.

"An equivalent private pension pot would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much."

The union has said the figures were a "myth".

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Mansfield Garden Bodies: 'Daughter' Arrested

The daughter of an elderly couple, found buried in their back garden, has been arrested on suspicion of their murders, according to the Press Association.

Susan Edwards, 55, and her husband Christopher, 57, were arrested at St Pancras International railway station in London on Wednesday evening, said the news agency.

Nottinghamshire Police have refused to confirm the identities of the pair under arrest, but it is understood that they are the daughter of William and Patricia Wycherley and her husband.

The couple, who are believed to have been living outside the UK, are being questioned in police custody.

It comes after human remains - thought to be that of Mr and Mrs Wycherley's - were found at a house in Blenheim Close, Forest Town in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, last month.

Police were led to the site following a tip-off.

The elderly couple moved to the address in 1987 and according to neighbours, disappeared in 1998.

Officers have said Mrs Wycherley is believed to have been born in Fulham, west London, and would now have been 79. Her husband would have been 100.

Police said bone analysis has shed further light on the remains.

One of the bodies is believed to be that of an elderly white man who was older than 60, well-built and around 5ft 8in.

The second set of remains is likely to be that of a well-built white woman, who was 40 or older and around 5ft 6in.

Although the cause of death has yet to be determined in both cases, the female remains have a "distinctive feature in their anatomy".

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Bill and Pat, who would be 100 and 79 respectively if they were to still be alive today, were known to be quite reclusive.

"But with help from relatives and old friends, we are starting to build a picture of their lives and, more importantly, their movements in 1998, when neighbours say they simply disappeared."

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Baby Found In A Bag: Police Release Picture

Police have released a picture of a newborn baby found in a bag in a park in Stechford, Birmingham, as they search for her mother.

The 6lb baby, who has been named Jade by hospital staff, has been described as "alert, happy and contented" as she continues to recover.

She was named after the dog whose walker found her in a community park off Stuarts Road on Thursday.

West Midlands Police released the photo and a video clip of Jade, as they stepped up efforts to locate her family.

Birmingham East Police Chief Inspector Ian Green, said: "It is fantastic news that baby Jade is recovering well in hospital; I'm told she's very alert and a contented happy baby.

"She's doing well and should make a full recovery over the next couple of days - but of course what she really needs is to be in her mother's arms.

"I'd urge Jade's mum to make contact with us on the 101 police number so we can reunite them and get her medical attention and emotional support."

The newborn was found in Marlborough House Community Park

Officers have carried out extensive house-to-house enquiries around the park and have checked regional hospitals, medical centres and care homes.

The towel that Jade was wrapped in, along with the carrier bag she was in, have been sent away for fast-track forensic examination.

Police also hope DNA samples taken from the child will help identify her parents.

Chief Insp Green, added: "Paediatricians have confirmed the baby was lucky to be found when she was as even just a few more hours exposed to the elements could have had fatal consequences.

"Thankfully, we now know she's safe and well - and our priority is very much on finding her mum to ensure her safety and to provide whatever support she needs."

Officers are keen to hear from people who were in the park on Thursday and may have seen somebody with a carrier bag from The Entertainer toy shop.

The child's mother, or anyone with information about the birth, is urged to call West Midlands Police on the 101 number.

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Hacking Trial: Coulson Email Said 'Do His Phone'

A jury has heard that former News of the World editor Andy Coulson sent an email telling a journalist to "do the phone" of a celebrity.

Coulson gave the instruction to head of news Ian Edmondson after fears that Calum Best would leak his story to a rival newspaper in 2006.

The NOTW had been chasing a story on a woman who was due to give birth to the celebrity's child. She had planned to sell her story to the newspapers.

Prosecutors said this amounted to Coulson tasking Edmondson and others to hack the phone of Best.

Other alleged targets of the phone hacking included former home secretary Charles Clarke, actors Jude Law and Sienna Miller, and former aide to Prince William and Prince Harry, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the jury heard.

The list also included Lord Archer, cook Delia Smith, and model Abi Titmuss.

Prosecutors said Prince Harry and Calum Best were phone hacking victims

Prosecutors claim journalists at the NOTW used phone hacking as a "perfectly rational but entirely illegal" way of checking stories they had received tip-offs on.

A jury was also shown an email from the paper's former royal editor Clive Goodman to Coulson detailing payments to palace police.

Sky's Mark White said according to the prosecution, the 2003 email is an admission that the pair had been involved in criminality by paying police officers for information regarding the royal family.

A redacted version of the email by Goodman said: "Andy, one of our royal at policemen at St James's Palace has obtained the brand new green book, the telephone directory with all the home numbers of the royal family and their household staff. Incredibly useful.

"The standard price is £1,000. So far, so good, but I had a heck of a time getting cash credits signed off by Stuart (Kuttner) earlier this week to pay a Kensington Palace copper.

"I'm not criticising Stuart at all but these people will not be paid in anything other than cash because if they're discovered selling stuff to us they end up on criminal charges, as could we."

Defendants Stuart Kuttner and Clive Goodman

Coulson replied questioning why he had recently signed off on a payment of £750 for another copy of the directory.

Goodman answered: "This is the harder to get one which has the Queen's direct lines to her family in it."

Goodman, managing editor Kuttner, Edmondson and Coulson are one of eight defendants on trial for phone hacking at the Old Bailey along with former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks.

The jury also heard that phone hacking uncovered a claim that Prince Harry had broken rules at military training academy Sandhurst by asking an aide for help with an essay.

Mr Edis said the NOWT story came from a voicemail that was illegally accessed by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire on behalf of Goodman. It is claimed Coulson also knew what was happening.

Mr Edis said the story, which ran under the headline, "Harry's aide helps out on Sandhurst exams", had "got into the paper and was based entirely on a voicemail".

After Coulson stopped weekly payments to Mulcaire in February 2006, Goodman emailed Coulson asking him to keep them going.

The royal editor said he was a valuable source of stories on the royal family, especially after Prince William started at Sandhurst.

He wrote: "We are the only paper getting any information out of there at all about his movements and Kate's."

Jurors were also told that a top aide to the Prince of Wales was targeted by NOTW journalists, chasing false rumours that the Prince Charles' private secretary Sir Michael Peat had been having an affair.

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Man Held After Six-Year-Old Girl Dies

A 33-year-old man has been arrested after a six-year-old girl died in south London.

Ellie Butler collapsed in her home in Sutton on Monday afternoon.

Paramedics treated her at the scene but she was pronounced dead at hospital.

The Metropolitan Police are treating her death as "unexplained" and a post-mortem examination will be held later.

Officers from the homicide and major crime command unit are investigating.

Her headteacher, Alex Clark, of Avenue Primary School, said pupils, parents and teachers were shocked by her death and their thoughts were with Ellie's family.

"Ellie had many friends at school and this is a very sad time for us all," he said.

"Ellie came to school every morning with a big smile on her face and was always giggling away about something.

"She was polite and well mannered and was a considerate member of the class, always kind and helpful towards her peers."

Mr Clark said Ellie was a patient and caring student who wanted to be an artist when she grew up.

"Ellie was a lovely little girl and she will be greatly missed by all the staff and her friends at Avenue," he said.

A police spokesman said a man has been arrested in connection with the investigation and remains in custody at a south London police station.

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Horsemeat Scandal: Home Bargains In New Alert

A batch of canned sliced beef that was found to contain horse DNA has been withdrawn from sale at two chains in the UK.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the product was manufactured in Romania in January 2013 and supplied to Home Bargains (TJ Morris Ltd) and Quality Save stores in the UK.

Its statement confirmed the 320g packs were described on the label as 'Food Hall Sliced Beef in Rich Gravy' and contained between 1% and 5% horse DNA.

Its presence was identified during routine testing carried out by Lincolnshire County Council trading standards officers but tested negative for the presence of the veterinary painkiller phenylbutazone, known as 'bute'.

Ready meals and frozen products have been previously found to contain horse

The cans were withdrawn, the FSA said, because horsemeat was not identified in the ingredients list.

While the affected batch - which had a 'best before' date of January 2016 and a code of 13.04.C - has been withdrawn from sale, the FSA said customers who had bought any cans could return them to the store of purchase.

The revelation revives painful memories for the grocery industry following the public outcry earlier this year over the presence of horsemeat in everyday products.

Horsemeat contamination was first revealed in January by officials in the Irish Republic and the resulting food crisis then spread across Europe as consumers demanded to know what was actually in the products they were buying.

Independent butchers tried to coax back custom at the height of the scandal

Several supermarket products and school dinners across the UK were found to contain horse DNA - resulting in plunging sales of many ready made meals and items such as burgers.

A report by a Committee of MPs in July criticised the testing regime but acknowledged that horsemeat contamination was limited to a "relatively small" number of beef products - with 99% of tests finding no evidence of equine flesh present.

They demanded the FSA ensure that labelling gave consumers the information they needed.

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Child Killer Alan Giles 'May Be Sleeping Rough'

Police believe missing child killer Alan Giles may be sleeping rough in woodland and have appealed to dog walkers to keep a look out.

The 56-year-old fled from an "open" section of HMP Hewell, near Redditch, in Worcestershire, on Monday morning.

Giles, originally from the Oldbury area of the West Midlands, was jailed for 19 years for kidnapping and murdering Kevin Ricketts in 1995.

The 16-year-old's body was not found until 1998, after Giles asked to speak to West Midlands Police while serving his sentence.

Detectives say Giles could be sleeping rough, possibly in woodland, and are appealing to dog walkers, hikers, and farmers to call police immediately if they spot him. They say he should not be approached.

Police are concentrating their hunt on the Redditch and South Warwickshire areas, although Giles has friends and family in other parts of the West Midlands.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Judge said police have "safeguarding measures in place" to protect Kevin's family who have been told the killer is at large.

Police have appealed to Giles to hand himself in

"We are urging the public to help us by staying alert and calling us if they think they have seen Alan Giles," he said.

"He could be sleeping rough and may be using barns or other outbuildings to shelter. He may be on foot and could also be using public transport."

Police also made a direct appeal to Giles, who is eligible for consideration for parole next year, to hand himself in.

The motive for him leaving prison is not clear, and detectives are concerned about his state of mind.

Det Chief Insp Judge also warned that anyone harbouring Giles could face serious consequences.

Giles is described as white, 5ft 9in, with short grey hair and blue eyes. He has tattoos of an eagle on his back and a swallow, shark and flower on his left arm.

It is believed he is wearing a grey Rockport sweater, blue jeans and white Asics trainers.

:: Anyone with information should call 101 and ask for Redditch CID.

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Hit-And-Run Revenge Driver Jailed For 20 Years

A motorist caught on CCTV ploughing into a group of men as they crossed the street - leaving one of them brain-damaged - has been jailed for 20 years.

Aqab Hussain was convicted of four counts of attempted murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court at an earlier hearing.

CCTV footage captured the 21-year-old mowing down the men after "horseplay" over a baseball cap led to a fight outside a club in Manchester city centre.

One was catapulted over the roof, another knocked to the side and a third carried down the street before Hussain swerved to dislodge him from the bonnet of his car.

One of his targets managed to jump out of the way of his vehicle.

Rachael Pavion, prosecuting, said the car was used as a "lethal weapon" as Hussain "sought revenge by driving at speed deliberately at the four men with a clear intention to kill".

The attack in John Dalton Street in the early hours of August 21 last year left one of his victims with "life changing" injuries.

Michael Ward, who was carried several metres down the street on the bonnet of Hussain's car, spent many weeks in a coma after suffering injuries to his brain.

The court heard the injuries were so severe Mr Ward could not remember he had three children, and that he would never be able to look after himself.

His wife, Maryrose, was in court for the sentencing, and said of the prison term afterwards: "In a way I am disappointed, but in one way I am happy, because it would have been worse if they never caught the person who ran my husband over.

"It ruined my husband's life, and my life, and my kids ... he can't remember my kids ... so happy in a way and then feel upset in one way."

She added: "He can't talk, he can't walk. He has no concentration, he has no memory of years ago, the kids. We've been married seven years, no memory. He can't wash himself, he can't feed himself ... I will care for him for the rest of my life."

Hussain, who declined to give evidence during the trial, showed "complete disregard" for his actions and fled the country three days after the attack.

Police arrested him at Manchester Airport seven weeks later on his return to the UK.

Witness accounts, CCTV footage and forensic evidence helped prove that he was behind the wheel of the car.

Hussain, from Manchester, was also disqualified from driving for 15 years.

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Brooks And Coulson In 'Secret Six-Year Affair'

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and ex-News Of The World editor Andy Coulson had a long-standing secret affair lasting at least six years, jurors in the phone hacking trial have heard.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC told the Old Bailey that in February 2004, when the pair were both working at the media giant, they had been having a relationship for some years.

:: Click here for live updates from the trial

He said during the police investigation into the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone, a letter was found on Brooks' computer to Coulson from February 2004, that made the relationship clear.

The court heard the letter included a declaration of her love for Coulson.

Mr Edis read out an extract of the letter in which Brooks wrote: "The fact is you are my very best friend. I tell you everything, I confide in you, I seek your advice, I love you, care about you, worry about you, we laugh and cry together.

"In fact without our relationship in my life I am not sure I will cope."

He said it appeared Brooks was responding to Coulson's attempt to end their relationship, adding that he did not know whether or not the letter had been sent.

Mr Edis said: "The point that I'm going to make in relation to that letter is that over the relevant period, what Mr Coulson knew, Mrs Brooks knew too. And what Mrs Brooks knew, Mr Coulson knew too - that's the point.

"Because it is clear from that letter that, as of February 2004, they had been having an affair which had lasted at least six years."

The court heard the pair had been having an affair dating back to around 1998, spanning the period covered by their phone hacking conspiracy charge.

Mr Edis told jurors he was not revealing the affair to deliberately intrude into their privacy or to make a "moral judgement".

"But Mrs Brooks and Mr Coulson are charged with conspiracy and, when people are charged with conspiracy, the first question a jury has to answer is how well did they know each other? How much did they trust each other?

"And the fact that they were in this relationship which was a secret means that they trusted each other quite a lot with at least that secret and that's why we are telling you about it," he said.

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Claudia Lawrence Case: Officers Search House

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The house of missing York cook Claudia Lawrence has been sealed off in a hunt for new clues about what happened to her four-and-a-half years ago.

A murder inquiry was launched in 2009 after the 35-year-old failed to turn up for work at the University of York, having left her passport and bank cards in her terraced home in the Heworth area of the city.

Despite a lengthy inquiry, no arrests were made and extensive searches failed to turn up any sign of Claudia, her mobile phone or a bag of work clothes she was thought to have taken with her.

Now a fresh team of forensic experts, led by new senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn have begun combing her house for clues at the start of an official cold case review.

Forensics officers arrive to search Claudia Lawrence's home

"Forensic science is continually evolving and I hope that scientific advances since Claudia was reported missing in March 2009 will assist with our review of the case," he said.

The review will hope to build on the first investigation, which was led by an officer who has since retired. Any new clues it finds can be checked against previously gathered evidence.

"The work will begin with an initial assessment of the property, followed by approximately two weeks of further forensic work at the house," D/Supt Malyn explained.

Claudia's father Peter says he is grateful for the review

Peter Lawrence, Claudia's father, told Sky News he hoped the review would help establish what had happened to his daughter.

"As I've always said, the worst thing for the family is not knowing what happened to Claudia," he said.

"It's been a nightmare every day. It doesn't get any better in time."

He previously issued a statement welcoming the review of his daughter's case.

Claudia Lawrence and her father Peter

"I am grateful for the initiative by the new team investigating Claudia's case to re-visit her house and conduct further investigations there, including DNA testing," he said.

"Anything which helps the search to find Claudia, or at least find out what happened to her on that morning in March 2009, is welcomed."

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Mason, the head of North Yorkshire Police's crime directorate, said the first aim of the review was to find out essentially what happened in the house when she went missing.

"It's not entirely clear whether Claudia remained in the house on the night she disappeared or whether what ultimately led to her demise happened within that house," he said.

D/Supt Malyn called on anyone who thinks they can assist the review team with information to get in touch.

"It is never too late for people to come forward with information now, that for whatever reason they were unable to share with us in the past," he said.

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Baby P: Ed Balls Slams Shoesmith's Payout

Former children's secretary Ed Balls has said a reported six-figure unfair dismissal payout to the child protection boss sacked over the Baby P scandal will "appall people across the country".

A settlement which could be up to £600,000 has been agreed with Haringey Council, although it is thought Sharon Shoesmith may receive a lower sum.

Mr Balls removed Ms Shoesmith from her £133,000-a-year post as the council's director of children's services after a damning report on the death of Peter Connolly.

She was then fired by the council without compensation in December 2008, after a report from regulator Ofsted exposed that her department failed to protect 17-month-old Peter - then known publicly as Baby P. She has reportedly not worked since.

Mr Balls, now shadow chancellor, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "An independent report said there were disastrous failings in Haringey children's services.

"They said the management was at fault. Sharon Shoesmith was the director of children's services and so of course it leaves a bad taste in the mouth that the person who was leading that department and responsible ends up walking away with, it seems, a large amount of money.

Baby Peter suffered some 50 injuries despite being on 'at risk' register

"The payout is something that will appall people across the country. What it can't do is bring back a little boy who lost his life because he was failed by Sharon Shoesmith and that department. That's the truth and that will never change."

Ms Shoesmith won a 2011 ruling that she had been unfairly sacked from her job following the report into the death of 17-month-old Peter, who died in 2007 following months of abuse.

Her lawyers argued that she was the victim of a "flagrant breach of natural justice" fuelled by a media witch-hunt.

In May 2011, the Court of Appeal concluded she had been unfairly sacked because Mr Balls and Haringey had not given her a proper chance to put her case before she was removed.

The Department for Education and Haringey sought permission to attempt to overturn the ruling in the Supreme Court, but judges rejected the applications, clearing the way for Ms Shoesmith to receive compensation, which some experts predicted could even be as high as £1m.

Peter's ordeal at the hands of his mother and Steven Barker shocked the UK

Some of the cash for her settlement will come from central government funds, but the council will have to foot most of the bill, according to BBC Newsnight.

Mr Balls said at the time at the time of the Court of Appeal ruling he was "surprised and concerned" by the decision, which he warned would make it "difficult for ministers to act swiftly" when children are at risk.

Peter died in Tottenham, north London, at the hands of his mother Tracey Connelly, her lover Steven Barker and their lodger Jason Owen.

He had suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over the final eight months of his life.

A series of reviews identified missed opportunities when officials could have saved his life if they had acted properly on the warning signs in front of them.

Ms Shoesmith had been due in court later this week, seeking a declaration that she remained employed by Haringey Council.

That action has now been dropped, and the settlement reached between the two parties is understood to be a final one.

The council said the terms of the settlement were confidential.

A spokesman said: "Following the decision of the Court of Appeal in favour of Ms Shoesmith, and the court's direction that the parties seek to resolve the issue of compensation, the London Borough of Haringey and Ms Shoesmith have reached a settlement in this case."

Earlier in October it was reported that Tracey Connelly was due to be released from prison on parole. 

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Savile Chauffeur David Smith Found Dead

A former driver charged with sex offences as part of the investigation triggered by allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile has been found dead.

David Smith, 66, was the first person to be charged by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree investigation.

He had pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency on a child following his arrest in December.

Smith leaving court in May

But he failed to turn up at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for the start of his trial, prompting police to go to his home in Effingham Road, Lewisham.

Scotland Yard said: "At approximately 14:20 officers entered the address and found the body of a man. A FME (forensic medical examiner) attended and pronounced the man dead at the scene. Next of kin are being informed."

Smith's barrister, Sandy Canavan, had told the court she was "concerned" that her solicitor had been unable to contact him ahead of the trial as she had regularly been in touch with him.

She told the court Smith was the sole carer for his elderly mother.

Police have separated the Yewtree investigation into three parts, the first concerned with the actions of Savile, while the second concerns allegations against what has become known as 'Savile and others'.

Smith was investigated under the third strand, concerning accusations of sexual abuse unconnected to Savile, but made by people who came forward following publicity surrounding the Savile allegations.

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Savile Sex Abuse Investigation: Two Arrests

Two men have been arrested as part of the investigation sparked by allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile.

The pair, aged 64 and 74, were detained at separate addresses in south London on suspicion of sexual offences as part of Operation Yewtree.

They have been taken into police custody to be questioned about the allegations.

Scotland Yard detectives have run the investigation in three strands - allegations involving Savile, those involving the Savile and others, and those involving others.

The claims against both men are being dealt with under the "others" strand.

They are the 15th and 16th people arrested as part of the national police probe into alleged sexual offences which was originally launched when claims were made against Savile.

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Energy Crisis: MPs Turn Spotlight On Big Six

Energy firms have been accused of setting prices at the "maximum they think they can get away with" knowing people won't switch.

The claim came as the Energy and Climate Change Committee hearing into the price hikes implemented by the Big Six energy firms got under way.

MPs asked representatives from E.ON, British Gas, npower, EDF, Scottish Power and SSE, how they could explain the level of the recent rises - an average of 9.1% - and questioned whether it was justified against the increase in wholesale price.

:: Watch a live debate on energy between shadow energy minister Caroline Flint and energy minister Michael Fallon at 5.30pm on Sky News.

:: There is a special edition of Jeff Randall Live tonight looking at the energy crisis. Watch on Sky News from 7pm.

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HS2 Alternative 'Will Cause Years Of Gridlock'

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

Railway services between the north and south of England will be crippled by 14 years of weekend closures if HS2 is abandoned for an alternative, ministers will claim this week.

The warning will be part of a Coalition "business case" for the high-speed rail link published on Tuesday in a bid to fight off critics of the increasingly controversial project.

It will paint a picture of chaos for commuters if other investments are chosen instead of HS2.

The closest alternative would require 2,770 weekend closures - equivalent to 144,000 hours - on the East Coast Mainline, Midland Mainline and West Coast Mainline, the report will say.

That will increase a typical journey from London to Leeds by two hours and 10 minutes to more than four-and-a-half hours overall.

Map of the HS2 route

The Government has drawn the evidence from a study by Network Rail and transport consultant Atkins. It also finds that houses and businesses would have to be demolished.

A Government source said: "We need to do something because our railways are nearly full but the alternative to HS2 is a patch and mend job that would cause 14 years of gridlock, hellish journeys and rail replacement buses.

"The three main routes to the north would be crippled and the economy would be damaged."

The strong language is a response to heavy criticism of HS2 - including from the Labour Party which is no longer promising to support the project.

The party wants to introduce a "cancellation trigger" to the legislation, forcing the Government to reveal if total costs rise about £50bn. Ministers may support the amendment.

Labour's role is seen as key after David Cameron admitted that "multi-year, multi-parliament infrastructure projects … can't go ahead without all-party support".

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Phone-Hacking Trial: Coulson And Brooks Arrive

The Prime Minister's former director of communications, Andy Coulson, and ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks have arrived for the first day of the phone-hacking trial.

The two former editors of the News of the World face charges linked to phone hacking and alleged corrupt payments to public officials.

Rebekah Brooks arrives at the Old Bailey with her husband Charlie

The Old Bailey trial, which is expected to call 100 witnesses and will involve 22 barristers, could take up to six months.

It is the first trial to result from the phone-hacking scandal, which saw the closure of the News of the World two years ago.

Former Sun and News of the World editor, Brooks, 45, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, is accused of conspiring to intercept communications by illegally access voicemails between October 3, 2000 and August 9, 2006.

She is also charged with two counts of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office linked to alleged inappropriate payments to public officials - one between January 1, 2004 and January 31, 2012, and the other between February 9, 2006 and October 16, 2008.

She faces another two allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

One of those is with her former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, 49, with whom she is alleged to have conspired to remove seven boxes of material from the News International archive.

Brooks' personal assistant Cheryl Carter

The second relates to allegations that Brooks, her race horse-trainer husband Charlie Brooks and former head of security at News International Mark Hanna tried to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police officers who were investigating allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers.

Coulson, 45, from Preston in Kent, is charged with conspiracy to intercept communications in the course of their transmission by illegally accessing voicemails.

The Prime Minister's former spin doctor, Andy Coulson, outside court

He is also facing two allegations that he conspired with the tabloid's former royal editor Clive Goodman, 56, and persons unknown to commit misconduct in public office

News of the World head of news Ian Edmondson, 44, from Raynes Park, southwest London, and the tabloid's ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, 73, from Woodford Green, Essex, are also accused of conspiracy to illegally access voicemails between October 3 2000 and August 9 2006.

Goodman, from Addlestone in Surrey, also faces two charges of committing misconduct in public office.

The jury was selected at the court with the judge telling them: "It's critical to the jury system ... that a jury takes the case free from any preconceptions. From now on you do not discuss the case with anyone."

The prosecution is expected to begin later this week.

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Storm Causes Major Headache For Commuters

Rail passengers left stranded by hurricane-strength winds have criticised train companies, claiming they were not kept fully informed.

Hundreds of services were cancelled as a severe storm battered the South and the South East, felling more than 200 trees.

The strong winds also caused damage to overhead power lines, with parts of the rail network so badly affected that several operators, including East Coast, Virgin and East Midlands, urged customers heading to or from London not to travel at all on Monday.

Passengers at London Waterloo were going nowhere fast

Network Rail, the company responsible for Britain's rail infrastructure, defended its response to the storm and the decision to cancel early morning services, saying: "Safety remains our top priority."

However, Graham Collins, who was among those trying to get from Guildford, Surrey, to the capital, told Sky News: "The problem is that you're drip fed information. It's just frustrating."

A mother who was attempting to travel to north Wales with her son for a half term walking holiday said: "It would have been better if there was more accurate information on the internet. The people at the station are doing the best they can but I overheard one of them saying the information on their websites is inaccurate anyway."

A tree on the tracks between Farnham and Alton. Pic: Network Rail/Twitter

Dominic Tuohy, a South African who was stuck at Ipswich train station, added: "It's ridiculous. In my country we manage to get around (any severe weather) but here there's a bit of wind ... and everything gets closed down."

Many train companies announced cancellations or suspensions to services as early as Sunday, as the storm, dubbed St Jude, raced across the Atlantic.

However, asked whether they had overreacted to the risk posed by the storm, Prime Minister David Cameron said:  "Everyone has to act on the basis of the evidence that they are given.

A London bus was hit by a falling tree in Haringey. Pic: Ben Hewis/Twitter

"Afterwards we'll be able to look back and see whether people made the right decisions but right now what matters is listening to the evidence, working together and getting things back to normal."

The strong winds and heavy rain also caused disruption on the roads, with a number of major routes affected.

Both Severn estuary crossings were closed, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing in Kent.

A lorry overturned on the M11 in Essex, while the A2 was shut in west Kent because of the number of fallen trees.

The clean up begins in London. Pic: madebymartha/madebymartha/Twitter

Countless local roads were also closed, as emergency services and council crews battled to remove fallen trees and other debris.

At Heathrow airport, about 130 flights were cancelled, although Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service".

Rough seas whipped up by the strong winds also caused cancellations to ferry services, including English Channel, Irish Sea and Penzance-Isles of Scilly crossings.

Brittany Ferries also cancelled services between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

Among the transport operators which continue to experience disruption are:

Trains

:: Stansted Express services are suspended until further notice.

:: Southern Railway has reopened most of its routes, although the Tonbridge to Redhill line is still blocked by fallen trees.

:: South West Trains is operating a "significantly reduced timetable" for the remainder of the day and asked passengers not to travel. There is no service between Weymouth and Bournemouth, Eastleigh and Fareham via Botley and Hedge End, Lymington and Brockenhurst, Ascot and Aldershot via Camberley, Aldershot and Guildford via Wanborough, Shepperton and Fulwell, Virginia Water and Weybridge via Chertsey or on the Hounslow Loop via Chiswick and Brentford.

:: Southeastern Railway has resumed service on most of its lines. However, tracks between Deal and Dover, Bat and Ball and Sevenoaks, Eynsford and Shoreham and Otford and Maidstone East remain closed.

:: East Coast Trains has no service south of Peterborough, with no trains running in or out of London King's Cross. There is "no firm indication" about when services will be resumed and passengers are advised not to travel.

:: East Midlands Trains has advised customers travelling to or from London not to attempt their journeys. It has suspended services between Bedford and London St Pancras for the rest of the day because of fallen trees.

:: London Midland has an "extremely limited service" between Northampton, Milton Keynes, Watford and London Euston but urged passengers not to travel into London where possible.

:: Virgin Trains services to and from London Euston are subject to delays and cancellations.

:: Greater Anglia Trains has suspended services on most routes, with customers advised not to travel for the rest of the day.

:: First Capital Connect has advised passengers not to travel, warning that some lines, including London to Luton, may remain closed all day.

:: C2C says all services are suspended between Shoeburyness and London Fenchurch Street.

:: London Overground services have been part suspended, although trains are running between Highbury and Islington and New Cross/New Cross Gate, between Euston and Watford Junction and between New Cross Gate and West Croydon/Crystal Palace.

:: London Underground trains continue to experience minor delays due to part suspensions on the District and Piccadilly lines.

Planes

:: Heathrow airport is experiencing some disruption following earlier cancellations, with passengers advised to contact their airline before travelling.

Ferries

:: Brittany Ferries has announced cancellations between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

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Energy Bills: Costs-Charges Gap 'Doubles'

The energy regulator has highlighted a doubling in the gap between what customers are paying for electricity and gas and suppliers' costs over the past 12 months.

Ofgem figures indicated average net margins more than doubled between October 2012 and October 2013 from £45 to £95 per household on a rolling month-on-month basis, while wholesale prices rose by just 1.7%.

The wholesale cost - what energy firms pay to generate electricity and produce gas - has been cited by the firms as a core reason for the recent spike in household bills by an average 9% ahead of this winter.

The so-called big six companies collectively made profits of £3.7bn in 2012.

But energy industry sources insisted each company's costs were complicated by when energy was bought - often two years in advance to ensure supply.

Firms employ varying hedging strategies - essentially financial bets on wholesale prices - in a bid to limit their exposure to the trend of sharply rising prices.

Bosses of the big six are due to appear before the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee on Tuesday to explain hikes in bills that many politicians have claimed will force people to chose between "heating and eating".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that it was up to the companies to justify their charges to consumers.

"It is for the energy companies to explain the decisions they have taken around bills to their customers," the spokesman said.

The average energy bill breakdown. Pic: Ofgem

Ofgem pointed out that wholesale costs were now rising for this current winter - by 8% for gas and 13% for electricity.

Nevertheless, its analysis of the wholesale costs versus profit margins sparked an immediate backlash from the industry while Platts, a provider of energy industry information, suggested near-term energy costs were at a record high during the summer.

Energy bills and the battle for the consumer has sparked a febrile game of political brinkmanship since Ed Miliband announced Labour would freeze prices for two years at the party's annual conference.

David Cameron responded by announcing last week that he would roll back green taxes, which account for £112 of the average fuel bill each year.

The Liberal Democrat response has been furious, given environmental issues played high on the  Liberal Democrats' election manifesto, and they have refused to give ground on green levies. However, Nick Clegg has yet to suggest an alternative.

Simon Hughes, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has suggested a rebate of £50 on energy bills for low-income households be included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander suggested the Liberal Democrats would be willing to shift some of the burden of the levies - which cost households an average £112 a year - from energy bills to general taxation.

Labour's shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint called for a rethink of the biggest levy, the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), which she described as expensive, bureaucratic and failing to reach those who really need it.

The ECO scheme operated by the big six power companies adds £47 annually to the average bill to pay for energy-efficiency measures like insulation and new boilers for households in fuel poverty.

A report by the IPPR think tank suggested that 1.3 million of those in greatest need have not received help because £434m - 80% of the total £540m budget - was being targeted at homes that are not fuel-poor.

Labour has pledged to "reset the market" if it wins the next election and freeze bills for 20 months - a policy Mr Cameron has described as a "con."

He has pointed to growth in smaller competitors in the market - insisting there is value in switching now the big six have some rivalry.

Speaking at an event at the Mini plant in Oxford, Mr Cameron said: "I'm frustrated about the big six. I want to see the big 60, I want to see many more energy companies.

"Since we came to office, there have been eight new companies come in and start in terms of selling electricity and gas. That's helping competition."

One of those companies, Co-op Energy, said today that it had tripled customer numbers in a year.

The fledgling gas and electricity supplier, which recently called on larger rivals to put customers before profits, saw its total six monthly sales increase seven-fold.

It raised its tariffs by 4.5%, half the rate of its bigger competitors.

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Storm: Three People Killed By Falling Trees

Three people have been killed by falling trees in the worst storm to hit Britain in a decade.

Bethany Freeman, 17, died after a 30ft tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent.

Paramedics and firefighters attended the scene in Hever, Edenbridge, but were unable to save the teenager, known as "Gia" to her friends.

The caravan in which Bethany Freeman was sleeping when it was hit by a tree

Neighbours also tried to rescue the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School pupil. One described someone coming to her door, asking for a chainsaw.

Her mother and brother, who were sleeping in a neighbouring caravan, were said to be deeply traumatised by the accident.

The family had been living in the mobile homes for a year while outbuildings on the grounds were transformed into a new house.

Her driving instructor Neil Chapman turned up at the address unaware of the tragedy and said: "I can't believe it. What a shock. She was a super kid. She was a great girl, good fun ... her family must be so devastated. I can't believe it."

A man in his 50s, from Harrow, north-west London, was killed after a tree fell on his car whilst he was driving along Lower High Street in Watford.

A police officer at the scene, who did not want to be named, said: "This is a major artery into Watford and we were lucky it was school half-term. If it wasn't we'd have had a lot more traffic coming through here."

The body of the storm's third victim was found at an address in Hounslow, west London, which was devastated after a tree struck a gas main which led to an explosion.

A map showing the trail of destruction and disruption of the storm

One woman was taken to hospital, and a second was still missing following the blast in Bath Road, which destroyed three houses and damaged two others.

Fire crews rescued a dog from one of the homes and some 12 people were evacuated from neighbouring premises as a precaution.

A 14-year-old boy, named locally as Dylan Alkins, is also feared dead after being swept out to sea on Sunday in Newhaven, East Sussex.

Up to 600,000 homes suffered power cuts as hurricane-speed winds of up to 100mph swept across the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England.

People climb over a fallen tree in Shepherd's Hill, north London

Power has been restored at 320,000 homes, however 270,000 are still without.

The Dungeness nuclear power station in Kent automatically shut down both reactors after power to the site was cut off.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, according to the Met Office, while the Environment Agency said some 16 flood warnings and 134 flood alerts were in place.

Winds topped 80mph along southern coastal areas and became turbulent inland reaching 81mph in Portland, Dorset, 75mph in Yeovilton in Somerset and 79mph at Andrewsfield in Essex.

A tree crashes through several homes in Hounslow Pic: London Fire Brigade

Some 50mm of rainfall in 12 hours was recorded in Otterbourne in Hampshire and about 44mm in Cardiff.

Fierce winds overturned a double-decker into a field in Coram Street, Hadleigh in Suffolk, injuring the driver and several passengers.

The driver, a man in his 40s, was initially trapped and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

A police spokesman said: "He was suffering from neck pain, had taken a bash to his head and was in and out of consciousness.

A bus carrying passengers is blown over onto its side in Hadleigh, Suffolk

Whitehall was closed in both directions in Westminster, London, after a crane collapsed onto the Cabinet Office which was evacuated.

A helter-skelter at Clacton Pier in Essex was blown over by the storm, but did not fall into the sea.

Rush-hour commuters suffered chaos on the roads and train network, with falling trees and debris blocking roads and covering railway tracks.

Network Rail said: "Trains will not be allowed to run until the worst of the storm has passed and engineers have been able to check railway lines ... branches or any other debris which may have blown onto or damaged the infrastructure."

Scaffolding has been blown down in Francis Road, Leyton Pic: Mark Davies

Several London Underground and train services were suspended, the port of Dover in Kent temporarily shut after gusts of 65 knots were recorded in the area, and more than 130 flights at Heathrow Airport were cancelled because of the weather.

The Environment Agency said there were 11 flood warnings in place across the South West, the Midlands and the East of England. There were also 124 flood alerts telling people to be prepared for flooding.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks with Government departments and agencies at the weekend to ensure they were prepared for the impact of the storm, said the loss of life as a result of St Jude's storm was "hugely regrettable".

A tree crashes onto a London bus Pic: @Casawa2011

He said the Government was working to make sure that the emergency services were able to do as much as possible to provide assistance.

Mr Cameron said: "Any injury or loss of life is hugely regrettable. We have to make sure the emergency services can act as fast as they can to help people."

:: Send us your photos and videos of the storm

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Live Updates: Britain Hit By Ferocious Storm

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Energy Poll: Majority Oppose Green Levies

A large majority of consumers oppose green levies on household energy bills and support the Prime Minister's plans to "roll them back", according to a new poll.

The survey found that 60% said they are against the green taxes which add an average £112 to annual bills, compared to 18% who supported them.

Some 61% said they would support the repeal of some of the levies, against 11% who would not.

Of the 1,000 people questioned, 40% prefer David Cameron's approach to the issue, 33% support Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is promising a price freeze and 7% back Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has indicated he will fight to protect the green taxes.

Some 35% said Mr Miliband's plan for a 20-month freeze on prices following the 2015 general election would help keep the cost of bills down, but 54% said that energy companies would get round it by raising prices before or after the freeze period.

Four of the Big Six energy firms have raised their prices so far

The Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday revealed almost three-quarters (72%) believe energy prices will affect the way they vote in the general election.

It found more people blame the energy companies (59%) than either the current government (15%) or the previous Labour administration (15%) for the spiralling cost of gas and electricity.

The survey came as energy minister Greg Barker promised to "come down like a ton of bricks" on energy firms which are stockpiling cash from customers' direct debits.

Unless customers ask for the money back, energy companies are able to hold on to sums from monthly payments in excess of the amount owed for power used, and are able to earn interest on the money while it is sitting in their accounts.

Industry observers believe the total held could be as high as £2bn.

The Big Six suppliers are being summoned to talks with ministers about the issue, and Whitehall sources told the Mail on Sunday they could face fines or be encouraged to pay customers interest on the money.

Mr Barker told the paper: "Customers will rightly feel outraged that they signed up to direct debit payments for cheap tariffs but instead find their cash stockpiled.

"We need to stamp this out now and energy firms must come clean on how much cash they are sitting on. If we find serious abuse, rest assured we will come down on them like a ton of bricks."

An Npower spokesman said the company automatically refunds customers with over £60 credit.

A Scottish Power spokesman said it pays a customer £1 for every full multiple of £33 above a minimum credit value of £100 - to the maximum payout of £12 for a credit balance of £496.

An SSE spokesman said if customers are more than £100 in credit, they are automatically refunded the credit back to their bank account.

A British Gas spokesman said: "The amount of time customers are in debit far outweighs the amount of time customers are in credit."

And an EDF spokesman said: "Monthly direct debits are the cheapest way for people to pay their bills."

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Miller Redpath: Body Found In Back Garden

Police searching for a missing teenager have found a body in his overgrown back garden.

Public schoolboy Miller Redpath, 18, went missing from his family home in Wenhaston in Suffolk in August.

Suffolk Police said an officer went to the house on Thursday as part of their inquiries and found the body during a search of the garden.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out, however the cause of death remains unknown, police said in a statement.

"At this stage the death is still being treated as unexplained," the statement said.

"Officers have not yet been able to identify the deceased and further tests are required, however early indications suggest that it is the body of 18-year-old Miller Redpath.

"Further searches are taking place at the property and specialist trained officers continue to support Miller's mother at this difficult time."

The discovery comes after Mr Redpath's mother made an emotional appeal for information about her son's disappearance.

"I think he went out purposefully to do something, in order to return shortly, and something went horribly wrong," Anastasia Miller said earlier this month.

"Everything was on track for him as he was doing well at school, he was thinking of London University, had lots of friends and I just don't understand what happened," she added.

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William: England Team Can Inspire The Nation

The Duke of Cambridge says the England football team could inspire the nation as British Olympians and Paralympians did at London 2012.

Speaking at the Football Association's 150th anniversary gala, Prince William, who is the FA president, said: "Our national players are role models for millions of young people and I think we need to give those highly pressured and driven players the support and training they need to live up to their rightly exalted status.

"We were as a nation so proud of our Team GB athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics, for their success on the field but also for the way they conducted themselves in interviews and with their competitors.

"It is perfectly possible to say the same about our national teams - they are good people, ambitious for success and to a man and woman aware of their status as role models."

Dozens of dignitaries including FIFA boss Sepp Blatter attended the gala

The gala event was staged at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, the site where the founding fathers of English football met in 1863.

As well as congratulating Roy Hodgson's England on reaching next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil, William also praised FA chairman Greg Dyke's commission to look into improving the fortunes of the national side.

"I am glad to see that, under the new chairman and commission, there is renewed vigour to improve the competitive quality of our national game, for all our sakes.

"But I would also encourage us to make sure we retain sportsmanship at the heart of this energetic drive for success.

"Regrettably, Her Majesty's reign includes only one time that England won the World Cup, but I know that Greg and Roy are trying to make up for lost time now."

The Prince is president of the FA

William said he was "heartened" to see how seriously the FA and other organisations are trying to stamp out racism and discrimination in the game, but said there is "sadly more work to do".

His comments came after Manchester City's Yaya Toure complained of fans making monkey noises during his team's midweek Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow in Russia.

England manager Roy Hodgson hailed William as a "tremendous supporter" of the national side when he took his turn to speak at the gala dinner on Saturday evening.

Hodgson revealed the second in the line to the throne also offered his congratulations after England qualified for the World Cup next summer, but steered clear of predicting any success in Brazil.

"We obviously spoke about the qualification. The Prince has been a tremendous supporter all the way through and has been up at St George's Park (the National Football Centre) to meet us, and I have thanked him for that once again this evening.

"He sent me a letter to congratulate us on the qualification and has also just given his congratulations once again and praised us on achieving the goal we set out to reach: Brazil."

Prince George with his proud parents

William's speech came as Buckingham Palace released a new portrait of Prince George with his parents following his christening at Clarence House.

The photo shows George smiling at his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, with William by her side.

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Boots Sells Sperm Count DIY Fertility Kit

A DIY male fertility test has gone on sale in Britain, allowing men to carry out sperm count checks at home for the first time.

The SpermCheck fertility kit went on sale in Boots stores across the UK this weekend.

The kit takes 10 minutes to test if a man has a normal or below normal sperm count.

The US-designed kit - which looks similar to a home pregnancy test - is able to determine with 98% accuracy whether a man has a low sperm count or not.

However, the test is unable to determine the health of the sperm.

Around one in six couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving a child.

Up to a fifth of young men suffer from a low sperm count, defined as having fewer than 20 million sperm per millilitre of semen.

A low sperm count or poor sperm quality is the cause of infertility in about 20% of couples in the UK, and is a contributory factor in a further 25% of couples.

SpermCheck chief executive Ray Lopez told the Mail on Sunday: "With this test we can truly help couples suffering from infertility.

"A lot of the time, the woman is the one who is burdened with finding out what is wrong, but the reality of the situation is that in 40% to 60% of cases, male factor infertility is to blame."

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Storm: Train Companies Warn Of Cancellations

Train companies are warning commuters of widespread cancellations and disruption ahead of the approaching storm.

Southern said it was "highly unlikely" it would run services before at least 9am on Monday morning.

The train operator, which serves Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and London, said it had been advised that "trees and other debris may fall on and obstruct railway lines".

A weather warning has been issued across large parts of England and Wales as a hurricane-strength storm builds over the Atlantic.

Winds of up to 80mph are predicted to hit Britain late on Sunday night and Monday morning.

South West Trains has warned people not to travel at all on Monday.

Storm clouds gathering over Brighton earlier Pic: Phil Beaven ‏@beevr001

It said it would be running a "significantly reduced timetable ... with the majority of services not expected to run until at least 0800".

Greater Anglia, whose network includes stations in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, has acted in advance and suspended all services until 9am on Monday.

The company hopes to run a reduced service after that time but says "significant disruption" is likely.

East Coast services from London Kings Cross are also running an amended timetable on Monday.

Southern Railway says early morning services on Monday are unlikely to run

Some have compared the approaching storm to the Great Storm of 1987, when 18 people died and thousands of homes were without power for several days.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

This time he has warned people to "batten down the hatches" and to delay their journey by two or three hours on Monday morning.

He told Sky News' Murnaghan show: "There is certainly a severe storm on the way - and we certainly do need to worry about it.

"If you draw a line from about Aberystwyth to the Humber - everywhere south of there looks like getting affected by strong winds, to the north of that the problem is going to be heavy rain and localised flooding.

"These strong winds aren't going to last all that long, but they are going to be unfortunately getting up around about rush hour time, so the message we're trying to convey at the moment is to delay your journey just by two or three hours in the morning, and then you should be safe."

Rough seas at Porthleven, Cornwall

His comments were echoed by senior fire chiefs who have urged people to stay indoors if possible, and to take extra care if venturing out.

Meteorologists have warned the fierce winds and torrential rain could leave a trail of destruction, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and power lines.

The storm will intensify very quickly when it reaches the UK

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he had chaired a call with Government departments and agencies to hear about their plans to "ensure people are protected from tonight's storm".

He was updated on preparations and contingency planning for transport, schools. hospitals, councils and power supplies.

Mr Cameron was told that the storm could have "a widespread impact", but that transport providers, local Government, emergency services and power companies had plans in place to respond.

The much-anticipated storm - which the Met Office has said will affect Britain on Sunday night and Monday morning - has been named St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is tomorrow.

Insurance companies have advised households to take steps to protect themselves and their property.

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

People should also establish evacuation plans, place valuable items upstairs to limit flood damage and ensure gutters are clear so water can drain away.

The Environment Agency says 20-40mm of rain could fall within six to nine hours and has put in place more than 60 flood alerts.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts, and are closely monitoring water levels so they are ready to issue flood warnings if necessary.

A spokesman said: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle."

Severe weather alerts are in place, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", has been issued for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Ferry services between Plymouth and Roscoff, as well as Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, have been cancelled.

The Great Storm of 1987 left thousands without power

Brittany Ferries, which runs the Plymouth-Roscoff route, said on its website: "We are in the process of contacting all passengers booked on these sailings. We apologise for the inconvenience the cancellation of these services will cause."

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday.

"So Monday morning's rush hour looks like being chaotic with travel and power interruptions anticipated.

"The public are advised to take the greatest care - and to carry a fully charged mobile if travel is necessary.

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm is expected to intensify near to the mainland before it hits the south-west coast with full force and sweeps north-east across the country, with a strong jetstream and warm air close to the UK contributing to its development and strength.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads."

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

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