Burma: British Family Of Four Survived Crash

A British family of four was aboard an aircraft packed with tourists which crash-landed in Burma on Christmas Day.

The Foreign Office has confirmed it provided assistance to the family and that they have now left hospital following treatment for minor injuries.

Two people died and 11 were injured when the Air Bagan plane, carrying more than 60 passengers, crashed two miles short of the runway at Heho Airport.

Details of the crash remain unclear, however the airline and officials have blamed heavy fog for the aircraft's crash into a rice paddy field.

The ageing Fokker 100 jet was carrying Christmas tourists from Rangoon to Heho Airport, via Mandalay. The airport is the main gateway to the popular tourist destination Inle Lake.

Survivors of the Christmas Day crash-landing have told of their terror as the plane struck the ground.

The plane crashed in thick fog about two miles short of the runway

"We felt the first bump, then a few big bumps and then (started) sliding very fast," said Anna Bartsch, a 31-year-old Australian advertising executive.

"In my window I saw the flames, and it was hot and we knew straight away we didn't have much time to get out. We didn't know then that the wings had come off," she said.

Air Bagan says the plane's black box will be sent to Singapore for analysis.

The airline has said "the plane hit electrical cables about a mile from Heho Airport as it descended and landed in rice fields".

All fatalities were Burmese citizens, including a man riding a motorcycle where the plane came down, and a tour guide aboard the plane.

The accident has raised concerns about the safety standards of Burma's overburdened airlines, as foreign visitors flock to the country as it emerges from a half-century of military rule.

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Firefighter Ambush Shooting: Killer Left Note

The gunman who ambushed two firefighters as they approached his burning house left a note saying he wanted to torch the neighbourhood and "do what I like doing best, killing people".

Gerald Pickering, police chief in Webster, New York state, said 62-year-old William Spengler armed himself with three weapons and set his house on fire to lure emergency services into a death trap.

Spengler killed two volunteer firefighters - Mike Chiapperini, 43, and 19-year-old Tomasz Kaczowka - and shot two others before taking his own life in the small town on Monday morning.

Police believe human remains found in the burnt-out home are those of the gunman's 67-year-old sister, Cheryl, who has been missing since the blaze. The remains will be examined before identity is confirmed.

The full contents of the two-page, typed note - which police said does not reveal a motive - have not been published, but Mr Pickering said it clearly shows the killer's "intent".

Victims: Michael Chapperini (left) and Tomasz Kaczowka

One of the guns used was a semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle, the same type of gun used in the December 14 school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. Mr Pickering said Spengler was "equipped to go to war".

Mr Chiapperini's full-time job was as a public information officer with the Webster police department. He was named firefighter of the year for 2012.

Mr Kaczowka worked as an emergency call dispatcher and Mr Pickering described him as "a tremendous young man".

The two injured volunteer firefighters, Joseph Hofstetter and Theodore Scardino, remain in hospital. They are said to be awake and alert and are expected to recover despite suffering "significant" injuries.

Webster is northwest of New York City

Spengler was released from prison in 1998 after serving 17 years for beating his 92-year-old grandmother to death with a hammer in 1980.

Authorities have said he lived a quiet life and had done nothing to bring himself to police attention since his parole.

Spengler's mother Arline, who had lived with her two children, died in October, leaving Spengler on his own with his sister whom he "couldn't stand", according to neighbour Roger Vercruysse.

Spengler "stayed on one side of the house and [Cheryl] stayed on the other," Mr Vercruysse said.

Dozens of people turned out on Monday night for an impromptu vigil to mourn the firefighters, leaving bouquets and messages of condolence at the local fire station.

One man left a crate of beer, the local newspaper told Sky News.

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Weather: Landslide Alert Amid Floods And Rain

A landslide warning has been issued by the Met Office, as continued heavy downpours sparked fears of unstable cliff faces.

Boxing Day walkers were urged to take extra care in "dangerous conditions" with flooding set to worsen across parts of England and Wales today.

The Met Office has issued the warning following advice from the British Geological Survey.

Forecasters said coastal areas in southwest England are in particular danger of collapsing cliff edges, but stressed that all areas with heavy rain are at risk.

Helston in Cornwall has been badly affected by floods

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "We have had such heavy and persistent rain fall over the last few days and weeks and that there is a danger of landslides and rockfall along the coast, even on coastal paths.

"We are advising Boxing Day walkers in the southwest of England to take particular care in these dangerous conditions, especially those not familiar with the area.

"Do not get too close to the cliff edge or walk under the cliff face along the beach and remember that coastal paths could be impacted too."

Many coastal paths have been closed over the last few weeks along the South West and train services have been disrupted by small coastal landslides.

Charlotte Blackman was killed in a landslide during the summer

There have been several landslide tragedies involving walkers in recent years. Last summer, Charlotte Blackman was buried by rocks while walking with her family on the Dorset coast.

Weather experts said up to 15mm of rain fell across southwest England and south Wales, with up to 20mm expected again today.

Sky weather presenter Sarah Pennock said there would be more heavy rainfall over some areas of the UK.

She said: "The main event today is a band of rain already spreading into southwestern Ireland and Scotland.

"This will dump up to an inch in places, will fall on already saturated ground and will exacerbate the risk of further flooding."

The Environment Agency has 120 flood warnings in place, which urge residents to take immediate action against expected flooding.

A further 228 less severe flood alerts have been issued across most of England and Wales.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has removed all its warnings, with lighter showers expected only through the southwest of the country.

Around 470 properties have flooded since Wednesday, while Floodline revealed it has received 18,000 calls during the recent wet weather.

The worst affected areas have been southwest England and stretches along the south coast from Cornwall to Kent, along with Wales and northern Scotland.

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New TV Campaign As Men's Cancer Risk Hits 50%

A TV advertising campaign has been launched as research reveals that half of all men will get cancer.

Cancer Research UK has released figures showing that diagnosis of men with the disease is increasing - but more are also surviving.

The charity used Boxing Day to launch a TV campaign highlighting how research can save lives and featuring stories from survivors.

New figures suggest that by 2027, 50 men out of every 100 are likely to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime.

That compares to 44 out of every 100 in 2010.

Women's lifetime cancer risk is also increasing and is predicted to rise from 40 to 44 out of every 100 women by 2027.

However, the charity says that cancer survival has doubled in the last 40 years thanks to detection techniques and improved treatments.

Age is the biggest risk factor for cancer and the increase in risk is largely due to more people living longer.

The cancers set to increase most in the next 15 years include prostate, bowel and melanoma, Cancer Research UK says.

Prostate cancer remains a continuing challenge. Cases of the disease are rising but it is not yet possible to distinguish which prostate cancers will be life-threatening.

Professor Malcolm Mason, Cancer Research UK's prostate cancer expert, said: "Prostate cancer needs research. We have many questions and research is key to providing answers about the disease.

"As our population ages, growing numbers of men will be diagnosed with the disease.

"Over the last 40 years prostate cancer incidence rates in Great Britain have tripled, and three-quarters of cases are diagnosed in men aged over 65 years."

One example of useful research by Cancer Research UK scientists is work indicating that a protein called MSMB may help identify men at greater risk of prostate cancer.

The researchers showed that this protein seems more accurately linked to prostate cancer than the marker currently tested for - the prostate specific antigen (PSA).

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Boxing Day Sales: Bargain Hunters Hit Shops

Britain's shops look set for a bumper Boxing Day of profits as bargain hunters go on a predicted £3bn spending spree at the sales.

People queued overnight in London's Oxford Street in preparation for stores opening this morning, with thousands pouring through the doors from as early as 6am.

Selfridges bosses said they took £1.5m at the tills in the first hour of opening and stores across the West End expect some £50m of takings in one day.

Sue West, Selfridges director of operations, said handbags and menswear were among the items flying off the shelves.

She said: "Online sales have been great but year on year people still want to experience the Boxing Day sales."

Manchester's Trafford Centre has been enjoying what is thought to be the biggest Boxing Day in its history - with police drafted in to help manage the crowds.

Hundreds of shoppers poured through the doors when Selfridges opened

The centre's Gordon McKinnon said: "Many retailers have kept stock levels much tighter this year, so the sales will not be stretching on into January."

Queues began to form at Kent's Bluewater at 1am on Boxing Day, with around 3,000 waiting for the doors to open at 7am.

Up to 7.1 million shoppers are expected to hit the shops at some stage, with one in 10 venturing out for a deal before 9am, according to research from Green Flag.

According to MoneySupermarket.com, shoppers in the UK are set to spend a total of £2.9bn.

A poll for the website found almost four million Britons (8%) planned to head to the high street on Boxing Day in addition to more than five million (10%) who will be searching online.

Queues formed outside some shops from as early as 1am.

However, figures from one survey, by comparison website Pricerunner, suggested that almost half (47%) of those questioned were not planning on buying anything in the post-Christmas sales.

A strike by London tube drivers about bank holiday pay does not seem to have had too much impact on the sales.

Extra buses were laid on for those travelling to the West End, as well as the Westfield shopping centres in Stratford, east London, and White City, west London, Transport for London said.

Jason Tyrrell from the New West End Company told Sky News: "We were prepared for this strike and had coaches for staff. The shoppers are out in force, but I hope both sides get round the table and sort it out."

Stores reported an influx of shoppers from abroad

Online retailers tried to stay one step ahead of the competition by offering heavy discounts on Christmas Day with Amazon's UK website seeing a 263% rise in sales over the last five years.

Analyst Experian predicted that Christmas 2012 would be the "biggest and busiest ever" for online retailers in the UK, with visits to retail websites expected to reach 126 million today, up 31% on 2011 and consumers predicted to spend £472.5m online.

But there was more gloom for the high street in the run-up to Christmas with shoppers preferring to buy presents online, according to Business recovery group Begbies Traynor.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said high street spending was "acceptable but not exceptional" this festive period - blaming it on poor accessibility to high streets and weak consumer demand rather than online shopping.

Richard Dodd of BRC said: "There are a lot of myths around online retail - 10% of overall retailing over the year comes from online shopping and actually it presents lots of opportunities for the retail sector."

A Begbies Traynor report said almost 140 high street firms were in a critical condition in the fourth quarter, meaning they are on the brink of collapse, while more than 13,700 were in "significant" distress - up 35% during the three months to December 17.

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China Opens World's Longest High-Speed Railway

By Mark Stone, China Correspondent, in Beijing

The world's longest high speed rail route has opened in China, covering a distance of 1,427 miles (2,298km).

The first passenger train departed from Beijing in the north for Guangzhou on the country's southern coast at 9am local time, with another leaving an hour later.

The line carries new bullet-style trains at speeds of up to 220mph (350kph) and reduces the travel time from 22 hours to just eight hours.

There are 35 stops along the route in major cities spanning the length of the country including Shijiazhuang, capital of the northern Hebei Province; Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan; Wuhan, the capital of the central Hubei Province; and Changsha, in Hunan Province.

The high-speed passenger service is under way

The building cost has not been revealed, but it was built in a fraction of the time it has taken to build the Crossrail system in London, which spans a distance - through new tunnels - of 13 miles (21km) and is not due for completion until 2017, and the new UK High Speed Two (HS2), which is still awaiting the construction green light.

But China does not have the planning regulations required for UK projects and there is not as much concern about the environmental considerations.

China currently has 5,350 miles (8,600km) of operating high-speed railway, more than any other nation in the world.

The plan is to extend the rail network to a staggering 9,950 miles (16,000km) of track by 2015.

The improved and expanded services have lured people away from the growing number of domestic airlines in China.

The line runs from Beijing in the north to Guangzhou in the south

With the Chinese airline industry increasingly suffering from chronic delays because of congested airspace and bad weather, the train is seen by many as a more reliable and cheaper alternative.

In a statement, China's ministry of railways said: "This service marks a significant milestone of our high-speed rail construction.

"It will ease pressure on the rail transport between Beijing and Guangzhou, especially during the peak Chinese New Year holiday."

The new line will compete with the first domestic route used by the Airbus superjumbo, the A380.

China Southern Airlines has operated the double decker A380 between Beijing and Guangzhou for the past year.

The cost of a ticket is higher, but the journey time is just three hours.

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Woman Found Murdered On Christmas Day

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 37-year-old woman was found dead at home on Christmas Day.

Officers were called to a property in Maes Yr Ysgol, Carmarthen, west Wales, at 10.50am on Tuesday.

"A 28-year-old local male was arrested at the location on suspicion of murder," a police spokesman said.

"A 37-year-old female was found deceased at the address and police have launched an investigation.

"The community are continuing to support the investigation and Dyfed-Powys Police would like to thank them for their assistance.

"Any member of the public who may have information that could assist this inquiry should contact police on 101."

Police would like to hear from anyone who was in the area between 5pm on Christmas Eve and 11am on Christmas Day.

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M6 Car Crash: Police Appeal For Information

Police are appealing for information about a Christmas Day crash on the M6 which killed three people, including two brothers aged four and 10.

The third victim of the accident, involving a red Ford Focus, on a busy stretch of the motorway in Staffordshire was a 32-year-old woman.

The boys' mother, who was believed to have been driving the car, and another female passenger were taken to University Hospital North Staffordshire for treatment but have now been discharged.

Staffordshire Police said the crash happened on the northbound carriageway of the M6 near junction 15 at around 11.25am.

Chief Superintendent Martin Evans said: "Colleagues from the emergency services have worked seamlessly throughout the day in these very sad and exceptionally difficult circumstances.

"Unfortunately the outcome is extremely tragic and our thoughts are with the family of those who have died."

The motorway was closed in both directions following the accident but reopened after several hours.

The accident occurred on the M6 between junctions 14 and 15

A West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) spokesman said: "Crews arrived to find a single vehicle that had crashed and overturned.

"Two children and an adult that were travelling in the vehicle suffered serious injuries.

"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance crews, nothing could be done to save the two boys and one woman, and they were confirmed dead at the scene.

The crash is being investigated by the Central Motorway Police Group and anyone with any information is urged to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 01785 234094.

In a separate accident on the M6, four adults and three young children were injured on the southbound carriageway, near Corley Services, at around 7pm on Christmas Day.

A WMAS spokesman said two cars were substantially damaged and it was fortunate nobody was more seriously injured.

Earlier on Christmas Day, Ann Mary Goodrich, 57, and her husband Paul John Goodrich, 56, from Hampshire, died following the collision on the B3349 Odiham Road at Heckfield Heath, near Basingstoke.

A 29-year-old man from Farnborough, believed to be the driver of the other vehicle involved, received medical attention at the scene before being taken to hospital with serious injuries.

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Kickboxer Lee Aldhouse Charged With Murder

A British kickboxer could face the death penalty in Thailand after being charged with murdering an ex-US Marine at a popular holiday resort.

Lee Aldhouse, originally from Birmingham, told media crews he was being mistreated as he was taken to court in Phuket in the south of the country.

Prosecutor Chiengsan Panya said Aldhouse could be facing execution or a lengthy jail sentence.

He told the court: "The prosecutor has decided to proceed with charges against the suspect.

Lee Aldhouse competed in kickboxing fights in Phuket

"According to the law article 288, the suspect can be executed, or serve life in prison, or be imprisoned for 15 years and 20 years."

The 29-year-old is accused of stabbing to death 23-year old Dashawn Longfellow after an argument in a bar on August 14, 2010.

Police launched a manhunt for Aldhouse following the murder and he was arrested four days later at London's Heathrow Airport.

He was flown to Thailand from the UK earlier this month in the first-ever extradition of a criminal suspect from Britain to Thailand.

Victim Dashawn Longfellow had served in Iraq and Afghanistan

Local media said Aldhouse had been living for several years in Phuket and was a semi-professional kickboxer who fought under the nickname 'Pitbull', while Mr Longfellow had also been studying the sport

The victim's mother said her son served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was injured when a roadside bomb exploded under his truck.

He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injury.

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Japan: PM Shinzo Abe Lays Out His Priorities

Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been laying out his priorities after his election victory was rubber-stamped by parliament.

The veteran named the cabinet he hopes will help him push through the economic revitalization of the country's depressed economy.

His appointment marks an end to three years of liberal administrations and restores power to the conservative, pro-business party that has run Japan for most of the post-World War II era.

Abe, who was PM in 2006-7 before resigning for health reasons, has promised to restore growth to an economy that has struggled for 20 years.

His administration also faces souring relations with China and a debate over whether Japan should wean itself off nuclear energy after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused a meltdown at the Fukushima atomic power plant.

Abe posed for pictures with his new cabinet

Abe, 58, told reporters before Wednesday's parliamentary vote: "I feel as fresh as the clear sky today."

His new Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declared the country's new leaders a "crisis breakthrough cabinet".

He said: "Disaster reconstructon and economic recovery are our first and foremost tasks."

Abe is expected to push for a 2% inflation target to combat dropping prices and a boost of as much as 10tn yen (£74bn) to public works spending.

In foreign policy, Abe has stressed his desire to make Japan a bigger player on the world stage, a stance that has resonated with many voters who are concerned that their nation is taking a back seat economically and diplomatically to China.

The new PM looked relaxed as he arrived at his official residence

He has said he will support a reinterpretation of Japan's pacifist post-war constitution to loosen the reins on the military, stand up to Beijing over an ongoing territorial dispute and strengthen Tokyo's security alliance with Washington.

His new Cabinet will feature another former prime minister, Taro Aso, as finance minister.

Heading the foreign ministry is Fumio Kishida, an expert on the southern island of Okinawa, where many residents angry over crime and overcrowding want a big reduction in the number of US troops they host - now at about 20,000.

The new defence minister is Itsunori Onodera, who was in Abe's previous administration.

Abe has already named a roster of top party executives that includes two women - more than in previous Liberal Democratic Party administrations - and is younger than earlier ones, with three of the four in their fifties.

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April Jones: Search To Continue Into New Year

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

As police continue their search for the body of April Jones, her parents say their tragic loss does not get any easier to bear.

It has been 10 weeks since the five-year-old vanished near her home in Machynlleth, Powys.

A statement from her parents, Coral and Paul, said: "We understand that Christmas will be a particularly difficult time without April being amongst us, but as parents of Harley and Jazmin, we will obviously acknowledge the festive season as best we can.

"We realise that this is a big news story, but for us it is our life, and we are coming to terms with the fact that our baby girl has been taken from us."

Police say officers from all corners of the UK are helping in the search operation.

There are 16 search teams comprising of a leader and six officers, as well as twelve specially trained dogs.

They are involved in one of the largest search operations in police history.

Specialists have been searching rivers and the sea as well as mines and quarries.

Superintendent Ian John said: "We will keep looking until we are satisfied that we have exhausted all lines of inquiry.

"We are not putting an end date on the operation and we are not willing to speculate how long it will last.

"But we will say that we are committed to stay here until we can be sure that there are no more viable places to look for April's body.

"The investigation team will continue their work to uncover what happened that evening and to prepare for the trial."

Mark Bridger, 46, from Ceinws, near Machynlleth, has been charged with April's murder, child abduction and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He remains in custody with a court appearance set for next month.

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Weather: Ice And Fog Hit Dozens Of Flights

Freezing fog has descended on parts of the UK, forcing airports to cancel flights - and more delays are expected.

Heathrow Airport says 70 flights due to take off on Wednesday have been scrapped.

A spokesman said further cancellations were likely as adverse conditions affecting large areas parts of the country worsen.

Flights to Warsaw, Nice, Stockholm, Aberdeen and several German cities are among those cancelled.

British Airways planes wait to depart from Terminal 5 at Heathrow, London.

"There have been some delays as well as cancellations. There is bound to be a bit of a knock-on effect during the day. Also, some European airports are also affected by the cold weather."

There are also 20 cancellations at London City Airport. Passengers are urged to contact airlines to check details.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The freezing fog patches across central and eastern England, and eastern Wales, will continue to lift from the west this afternoon.

"However, it may linger for most of the day across parts of eastern England which could pose a problem during this evening's rush hour, as well as further flight disruptions.

Passengers sleep as flights are delayed at Heathrow.

"Into tonight we'll see the return of fog again, however it should be less extensive than Tuesday night as the breezes pick up in strength."

Monday night was one of the coldest of the year, with temperatures falling as low as minus 10C (14F), with Scotland worst affected.

After another bitterly cold night on Tuesday, much of the country woke up to sub-zero temperatures this morning.

The fog hit areas including central England, Wales and East Anglia.

There was congestion on a number of major road routes, while a section of the A1(M) between junctions 39 and 40 in Yorkshire was closed.

On the railways, overhead wire problems caused 50-minute delays in the rush-hour between Bedford and Luton, while a broken-down train at Watford Junction in Hertfordshire also caused hold-ups.

An electrical supply problem led to delays to train services between Seaford and Lewes in East Sussex, while a signalling problem caused hold-ups to services in and out of another Sussex coastal station - Brighton.

In Scotland, a broken-down train at Bathgate led to delays between Edinburgh and Airdrie.

On the Tube, there were severe delays on the Metropolitan line between Rickmansworth and Amersham and minor delays on the rest of the line due to a lack of trains.

There were also severe delays between High Barnet and Finchley Central on the Northern line due to a signal failure at Woodside Park.

Another signal failure - at Arnos Grove in north London - led to delays on the Tube's Piccadilly line between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters.

Police closed a three-mile stretch of the A24 southbound in the Horsham area of West Sussex after "treacherous" black ice caused 12 vehicles to skid and crash since 9.45am this morning.

Nobody was seriously hurt but a few drivers suffered minor injuries and damage to their cars, Sussex Police said. The northbound lane of the A24 is open but traffic is heavy.

The coldest spot in the UK on Tuesday night was Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands, where the temperature was minus 10.2C (13F).

• Is your area affected by adverse weather? Get in touch here.

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Ex-Royal Butler: 'Max Clifford Sold Me Out'

By David Bowden, Sky News Senior Correspondent

Just days after being questioned by police in connection with alleged sex offences, which he says are completely untrue, Sky News has learned that Max Clifford is being sued by one of his former clients for alleged breach of confidentiality - accusations the publicist denies.

Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell claims he hired Mr Clifford in a bid to limit bad press coverage about him a decade ago, but now the former royal servant alleges that rather than stopping stories Mr Clifford passed them on to The News of the World.

His lawyer Mark Lewis says Paul Burrell claims that Mr Clifford asked him to write down personal details which he feared might be uncovered by the media so that he could deal with them if they appeared, but instead of keeping the details confidential it is alleged Mr Clifford faxed the handwritten documents to the News of the World.

He said: "The police say they raided the News of the World's offices and there is a fax header there showing that things were sent from Max Clifford Associates to the News of the World concerning Paul Burrell. Paul's own notes, Paul's own handwriting that he'd given to Max suddenly finds itself at the News of the World."

But Mr Clifford has issued a robust response.

"The claims made by Mr Burrell have no merit. His allegations are opportunistic and are denied," he said.

"It is an affront to common sense to suggest that Mr Burrell, who has sold stories to the newspapers, made countless appearances on TV and has even written a book about his dealings with the royal family, now feels able to claim that any information he provided was confidential.

"We will defend these claims in court and will be asking the judge at the earliest opportunity to strike out these claims as having no prospect of success and an abuse of process."

Mr Clifford has made a very successful, very lucrative and high profile career managing the publicity of some of the world's biggest stars and he has often spoken to the media on a range of PR issues.

If he was to have sold out one of his clients in the way Mr Burrell alleges then that lucrative career would be badly damaged.

Whatever the truth of these allegations, the coming together of the former butler to the one time most famous woman in the world and the publicist to the stars is bound to create a lot of interest.

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Mutant Rats: Catchers Call For Stronger Poison

Rat catchers are asking for permission to use stronger poisons to deal with a plague of super rats that have developed resistance to common vermin control methods.

The mutant brown rats, which carry life-threatening diseases, have been emerging from their traditional havens in sewers and ditches and taking refuge in people's homes.

The problem has been made worse by recent wet weather, which has driven hordes of rats from flooded drains.

Some of the worst-hit areas are in the affluent home counties including Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxford and Henley-on-Thames, home to the Royal Regatta.

The Health and Safety Executive has been running a consultation after poison manufacturers applied to use stronger poisons, including brodifacoum which is currently restricted to indoor use, to control the UK's estimated 80 million rat population.

Graham Chapple says the mutant rats are "breeding prolifically"

Graham Chapple from Newbury-based Rapid Pest Control told Sky News: "They're super rats in that they've genetically mutated and developed resistance to the poisons we currently use.

"The recent wet weather and flooding we've had has seen them pushed out of the sewers and we've had a lot more calls about people seeing rats in the loft or spotting them during the day, which used to be relatively rare.

"They're just looking for somewhere safe to do what rats do, which is breed prolifically.

"The mutations seem to be spreading reasonably quickly and I know they are having problems in Birmingham, Scotland, Hampshire and other areas.

"It is not so much that brodifacoum is a stronger poison, just that the rats haven't developed resistance to it, so it will be much more effective."

Rats carry diseases that can be passed on to humans, including Weil's disease, which can lead to kidney failure.

Olympic champion Andy Holmes, Sir Steve Redgrave's partner in the 1988 Seoul Games, died from Weil's disease in 2010 after falling ill following a rowing event in Lincolnshire.

Last month a couple in Camden, north London, found their baby girl covered in blood after being bitten by a rat.

Brian Watson, with the "giant rat" he found and killed

In April, grandad Brian Watson told how he battered a "giant rat" to death in Consett, County Durham.

University of Reading researcher Alan Buckle has backed the use of new poisons after finding evidence of rats in Oxfordshire and Berkshire developing resistance to conventional rodenticides.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "Studies show a large part of southern England has rats who have mutated to resist standard poisons.

"Pest controllers are having problems and more potent poisons need to be used carefully and responsibly."

Environmental experts have raised concerns about the danger of brodifacoum - which bleeds the rodents to death - and other strong poisons killing other wildlife, such as barn owls who would eat dead rats, if used outdoors.

The Health and Safety Executive said it had been running a consultation on the issue for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A spokesman said: "We recognise there may be problems with resistance to some rodenticides in certain areas within the UK and therefore there is a demand for certain products to be used outdoors, which currently are restricted from such use.

"We are considering the current position for dutyholders to be able to use these products.

"To help inform the decision making process HSE has recently conducted a stakeholder engagement initiative and HSE is in the process of reviewing the responses received as a result."

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Royal Prank Call Nurse 'Was Found Hanged'

Timeline: Kate Prank Call Tragedy

Updated: 4:38am UK, Tuesday 11 December 2012

Here are some of the key developments surrounding the death of hospital nurse Jacintha Saldanha following a hoax phone call by two Australian radio hosts.

Monday, December 3
The Duchess of Cambridge is admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in London with severe morning sickness.

Tuesday, December 4
2Day FM presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian make their hoax call to the hospital in the early hours of the morning, posing as the Queen and Prince Charles. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha puts them through to a colleague who divulges details of how doctors have been treating the Duchess.

Wednesday, December 5
A King Edward VII's Hospital spokesman confirms the Australian radio station made the prank call, saying it "deplores" the act and is conducting a review of its phone system.

Thursday, December 6
The Duchess of Cambridge leaves hospital.

Friday, December 7
:: Ms Saldanha is pronounced dead at staff accommodation close to the hospital. She is thought to have taken her own life, although a post-mortem examination is yet to be held.

:: King Edward VII's Hospital releases a statement saying: "It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Ms Saldanha. She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues."

:: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge send their condolences to Ms Saldanha's family.

Saturday, December 8
:: Ms Saldanha's family in southwest India speak of their heartache. Her mother-in-law, Carmine Barboza, says: "Jacintha was a very caring woman. She used to call us every Sunday without fail. We just cannot believe what has happened."

:: Ms Greig and Mr Christian go on indefinite leave from the radio station after they are bombarded with abusive and threatening messages on social media websites.

::  Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the King Edward VII's Hospital, writes a latter to 2Day FM calling for the "truly appalling" broadcast to "never be repeated".

:: Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of Southern Cross Austereo which owns 2Day FM, describes the events over the past few days as "tragic", but adds: "The outcome was unforeseeable and very regrettable."

Sunday, December 9
:: It emerges Mel Greig and Michael Christian may be questioned by London's Metropolitan Police.

:: Ms Greig and Mr Christian express a desire to speak about the tragedy, but are still in hiding.

:: The Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates radio broadcasting, says it is considering whether it should launch an investigation into whether the presenters breached the commercial radio code of practice.

Monday, December 10

:: Mr Christian and Ms Greig break their silence, expressing their regret and sorrow over the tragedy in a series of emotional Australian TV interviews. They insist they never expected their phone call to go so far and thought hospital staff would hang up on them. Both extend sympathy to Ms Saldanha's family.

:: Ms Saldanha's family pay tribute to a "loving mother and wife". Speaking on their behalf, MP Keith Vaz says: "They are really grateful for the support of the British public and the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness."

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'Shocking' State Collusion On Finucane Murder

The notorious murder of Pat Finucane in Northern Ireland may never have happened had it not been for "shocking" state collusion, according to a new report.

A review by a leading QC found there was "significant doubt" that Mr Finucane would have been shot dead without the involvement of state agents.

State employees "actively furthered and facilitated" the murder, which was carried out by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989 as Mr Finucane ate dinner with his family.

Sir Desmond de Silva's report concluded that they and state agents played "key roles" in the killing, which is one of the most controversial in Northern Ireland's bloody history.

MPs heard that this involved targeting Mr Finucane, supplying and then helping dispose of a murder weapon and later seeking to obstruct the police investigation.

"It cannot be argued that these were rogue agents," Prime Minister David Cameron said in a sombre statement to the Commons.

Geraldine Finucane and daughter Katherine

The report even said that an officer with the Royal Ulster Constabulary - the official police force at the time - probably proposed Mr Finucane as a possible target.

However, it did dismiss the idea of a wider conspiracy - stressing that no ministers had been aware of the plot or later cover-up.

Despite the stark findings, Mr Finucane's family claimed the review was a "suppression of the truth" that sought to exonerate the British government, Army and intelligence services.

The solicitor's wife Geraldine said: "The dirt has been swept under the carpet without any serious attempt to lift the lid on what really happened to Pat and so many others.

"This report is a sham, this report is a whitewash, this report is a confidence trick dressed up as independent scrutiny and given invisible clothes of reliability but most of all, most hurtful and insulting of all, this report is not the truth."

Other shocking conclusions in de Silva review include:

:: The Army and Special Branch had advance notice of a series of planned assassinations by loyalists but nothing was done.

:: Brian Nelson and William Stobie were agents in the pay of the state involved in the Finucane murder and a third man became an agent after the shooting.

:: There was a "relentless" effort to cover up after the killing as senior Army officers "deliberately lied" to investigators and tried to mislead the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Finucane represented high profile republicans including IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and was at the peak of his career when he died.

He was shot 14 times in front of his wife and children in the attack on February 12 1989.

His family have led a long campaign for a full public inquiry but their pleas were rejected last year in favour of a new review conducted in private.

David Cameron deliving his statement on the report in the Commons

Sir Desmond wrote: "My review of the evidence relating to Patrick Finucane's case has left me in no doubt that agents of the State were involved in carrying out serious violations of human rights up to and including murder.

"However, despite the different strands of involvement by elements of the State, I am satisfied that they were not linked to an over-arching State conspiracy to murder Patrick Finucane."

The report was handed to the family earlier on Wednesday before the Prime Minister updated MPs in an address reminiscent of his statement after the Bloody Sunday inquiry.

Describing the killing as "an appalling crime", Mr Cameron said reading the findings was "agony".

"The collusion demonstrated beyond any doubt by Sir Desmond - which included the involvement of state agents in murder - is totally unacceptable," he told MPs.

"We do not defend our security forces - or the many who have served in them with great distinction - by trying to claim otherwise.

"Collusion should never ever happen. So on behalf of the Government and the whole country, let me say again to the Finucane family: I am deeply sorry."

Mrs Finucane said she accepted Mr Cameron's apology but suggested he had little choice but to offer one.

"He is a human being. He probably does think it is an atrocious act. But unfortunately he is quite removed from Northern Ireland or what went on in the late 80s so maybe it isn't very hard for him to apologise.

"I will give him the benefit of the doubt and accept the apology but it doesn't go far enough because I don't really know what he is apologising for."

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Bosnian Serb Commander Jailed For Genocide

A former senior Bosnian Serb Army commander has been jailed for life for his role in Europe's worst massacre since World War Two.

Judges at the UN court in The Hague said that General Zdravko Tolimir was the "right hand" of Bosnian Serb military chief General Ratko Mladic.

Mladic is considered the chief architect of the murder of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys at the Srebenica enclave in eastern Bosnia in July 1995.

Tolimir, 64, is the latest Serb soldier to be convicted in the bloody Bosnian war between 1992 and 1995, which left around 100,000 dead.

Mladic and his political master Radovan Karadzic are still on trial for overseeing Serb atrocities throughout the war, including the Srebrenica massacre.

Presiding Judge Christoph Fluegge said: "The accused not only had knowledge of genocidal intent of others but also possessed it himself.

"He is therefore responsible for the crime of genocide."

Judge Fluegge added: "The suffering these men went through in the moments leading up to their deaths must have been unbearable.

"On many occasions those waiting to be shot saw others executed."

Tolimir stood, crossed himself three times and removed his glasses, but showed no emotion when he was told he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Before the judgement was read, he told the court: "I wish for these proceedings to be concluded in accordance with God's will."

He was the top Bosnian Serb intelligence officer and a trusted aide of Mladic.

Bosnian Serb forces overran Srebenica in 1995 despite the presence of Dutch UN peacekeepers who - outgunned and outnumbered - put up virtually no resistance.

Women were bussed away from the area before the Muslim men and boys were rounded up, taken to remote locations, executed and their bodies put into mass graves.

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M6 Chemical Tanker Fire: 10 People Treated

Firefighters were among a group of people treated at the scene of a chemical tanker fire that closed the M6, north of Coventry.

Emergency services said 10 people, including the lorry driver and eight firefighters, were taken to hospital as a precaution after the tanker caught fire at about 9.40am.

One person remained in hospital, authorities said.

A section of the motorway was closed in both directions and motorists experienced long delays, the Highways Agency said.

Some drivers caught up in the traffic queue behind the accident were evacuated from their cars after firefighters put in a 1km exclusion zone.

Some motorists were evacuated (Image: Andrew Hawley)

The ambulance services said more than 100 people were taken to a nearby service station to undergo checks, while local residents were advised to shut their windows.

Warwickshire Police said the drama happened after a tyre blew out and caught fire.

Andrew Hawley, who was at the scene, said on Twitter that the situation was "a nightmare" and he expected to be stuck for hours.

Drivers were advised to stay away from the area as delays were expected to continue late into the day.

Motorists experienced long delays

The motorway was closed northbound between J3 and J3A and southbound between J4 and J3.

The J2 and J3 northbound access and the slip road from Corley Services between J3 and J4 were also closed.

The Highways Agency advised northbound traffic to come off at J2 and use the A46 southbound, A45 and then A452 in order to rejoin the motorway at J4.

Motorists wanting to travel along the M6 from the junction of the A14 and M1 J19 at Catthorpe are advised to use the M1 and A50 instead, while those heading north from London were advised to use the M40.

"Due to the motorway being closed there is a massive tailback of traffic and we are currently advising people to stay away from the area," a police spokeswoman said.

"Fire service are in attendance at the moment at the vehicle and it looks like it could be quite a long job."

Three ambulances were sent to the scene, as well as a rapid response vehicle, paramedics and specialist hazardous area response teams.

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Syria Conflict: Explosion At Interior Ministry

A bomb has struck the interior ministry in Damascus, according to Syrian state TV.

The blast reportedly occurred at the main entrance to the building situated in the southwest district of Kafar Souseh - a battleground for rebels and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

"An explosion rocked the district of Kfar Sousa, and initial reports say a bomb targeted the main entrance to the interior ministry," state television said.

A resident who heard the blast said she head sirens and shouting after a "huge explosion".

Sky's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall, who is in Damascus, said: "We think we heard it. It was an explosion much, much louder than most of the ones we hear. You could actually feel the shockwave

"There was a huge plume of white smoke near the government buildings.

"We hear the artillery firing every few minutes - it is a certain sort of boom. This was a much, much deeper sound and a much louder sound.

"I think that was the bomb that went off. The most likely thing would be a car bomb."

There are no details of the size of the bomb, the damage caused, or reports of any injuries yet.

More follows...

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Submariner Jailed Over State Secrets Breach

By Niall Paterson, Sky News Correspondent

A Royal Navy submariner who attempted to pass top secret information to Russian spies - who later were revealed to be British agents - has been jailed for eight years.

Edward Devenney, 30, was told he had betrayed his country and his colleagues.

Petty Officer Devenney, a mariner with over 11 years service, met two men he believed were named "Vladimir" and "Dimitri" in a London hotel and provided them with sensitive material regarding the movement of British nuclear submarines and operations they had conducted.

But the men were British agents and Devenney was soon arrested and charged with a breach of the Official Secrets Act and misconduct in a public office.

The court heard that Devenney, from Northern Ireland, had suffered bouts of depression and was drinking heavily following a trial for rape, for which he was acquitted.

Police handout of Devenney

His performance at work suffered, so much so that he withdrew himself from a training course and was told in January of this year that if he did not improve by April he would be discharged.

Mr Justice Saunders, sentencing him at the Old Bailey, said Devenney knew what he was doing when he met the two men in January.

He added: "He did supply details of movements and operations carried out and to be carried out by nuclear submarines.

"I am satisfied that in the wrong hands it was capable of affecting the operational effectiveness of nuclear submarines.

"This is a very serious case. The defendant was prepared to betray his country and his colleagues."

Devenney pleaded guilty to breaching the Official Secrets Act by gathering classified information and misconduct by meeting the supposed spies.

Outside court, solicitor Richard Cannon read a statement on behalf of Devenney which said: "I am deeply sorry for the hurt and shame that I have brought on my family and loved ones.

"Prior to these events I gave the Royal Navy 11 and a half years of service and I deeply regret my actions and the effect they have had on the Submarine Service and colleagues."

Mari Reid, unit head for the CPS counter-terrorism division, said: "This was a classic story of betrayal.

"Edward Devenney was employed by the Royal Navy to protect this country from potential threats to our security. Instead, he pursued a course of conduct likely to put his country at risk.

"We rely on the men and women of our armed forces to keep us safe. It is hard to imagine a greater breach of that role than Devenney's actions."

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Olympic Stadium: West Ham Poised To Take Over

West Ham United are poised to win the battle for the Olympic stadium after being named as "first ranked" bidder to take over the venue.

The London Legacy Development Corporation board (LLDC) unanimously made the decision in favour of the Premier League club ahead of rivals from Intelligent Transport Services in association with Formula One, UCFB College of Football Business and Leyton Orient.

London Mayor and LLDC chairman Boris Johnson said: "We had four good bids, as everybody knows. The bid that has been ranked top is West Ham United. I am very pleased about that.

"It will, if it goes through, mean a football legacy for the stadium but there is still a lot of negotiation to go on between the LLDC and West Ham United about the terms of the deal."

If the move goes ahead, West Ham would move from their Upton Park home, but the new stadium is not expected to open before August 2015 at the earliest.

The main issue still to be resolved is how future commercial windfalls from the £468m stadium will be split.

West Ham's owners David Sullivan and David Gold will be expected to share the profits from any future sale of the club to ensure the taxpayer is not left out of pocket.

The deal would see West Ham leave their Upton Park home

Other undecided factors include adaptations to the stadium and who bears the cost, and gaining planning permission and appropriate national governing body approvals.

If football use can be agreed, the stadium would be reconfigured to provide retractable and moveable seating so there could be a quick changeover between athletics and football use.

That work is expected to cost £130-£150m, with the bulk funded by public money, including a £40m loan from Newham Council, the local authority.

Mr Johnson said: "There is no deal-breaker as such - it is just a question of making sure that an asset which is a public asset and something that taxpayers put half a billion pounds into, that the value of that is properly reflected in the commercial deal that is now being done with a private sector entity.

West Ham's David Gold and Karren Brady welcomed the decision

"People will understand that my job is to get the best possible deal for the taxpayer."

West Ham said the LLDC's decision "guarantees a true and lasting legacy for east London and the best possible outcome for the British taxpayer".

Vice-chairman Karren Brady said the stadium could become a "multi-use destination of which east London and the nation as a whole can be proud".

"I have never lost sight of our vision to play our part, along with the Stadium's major stakeholders, in ensuring it grows into a global asset. It is the 'jewel in the crown' of the Park, watched by the world," she added.

A previous deal for West Ham to take up the lease collapsed in October 2011 due to legal challenges from Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur.

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Dewani Murder: 'Trigger Man' Jailed For Life

A South African man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Swedish woman Anni Dewani on her honeymoon.

Xolile Mngeni, 25, was convicted by a court in Cape Town of firing the shot that killed the 28-year-old woman in 2010.

Judge Robert Henney called the shooter "a merciless and evil person" who deserved the maximum punishment for his crime.

"He had no regard to her right to freedom, dignity, and totally disregarded and showed no respect to her right to life by brutally killing her with utter disdain," Judge Henney said.

Mngeni, who had surgery to remove a brain tumour while facing trial, maintained his innocence.

Two of the men accused of being his accomplices are already serving lengthy prison sentences after entering into plea bargains.

Zola Tongo and Mziwamadoda Qwabe both implicated Mngeni and said they had been hired by Mrs Dewani's British husband, Shrien, to kill his wife.

Shrien Dewani pictured last year

A motive has never been clearly explained for why Dewani, a businessman from Bristol, would want his new bride killed.

He has denied he hired anyone to kill his wife and was allowed by authorities to leave South Africa for the UK, where he was later arrested.

He is currently being treated in a secure mental health hospital for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In March, a High Court ruled that it would be "unjust and oppressive" to extradite Dewani to South Africa, as his mental condition had worsened since his arrest.

Mrs Dewani was shot when a taxi the couple were travelling in was hijacked in Gugulethu township on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Prosecutors said Mngeni, Qwabe and Tongo were paid 15,000 rand (£1,066) for the killing.

Mngeni's left palm print was found on the car in which Mrs Dewani's body was recovered, the court heard during his trial.

Her watch, bracelet and mobile phone were also discovered in Mngeni's friend's shack.

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Dettori Suspended From Racing For Six Months

Frankie Dettori has been suspended from riding for six months after being found guilty of taking a banned substance.

The three-times British champion jockey tested positive following a routine examination at Longchamp racecourse in France on September 16.

French horseracing's governing body France Galop issued the ban following a recent hearing, and the British Horseracing Authority is likely to follow suit.

The 41-year-old's solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said the jockey "fully accepts" the ban, which lasts until May 19.

"France Galop have today announced their finding Frankie Dettori has committed a breach of their rules relating to prohibited substances," said Mr Stewart-Moore.

"I have spoken to Frankie since the announcement was made and he has told me he fully accepts France Galop's decision. He also accepts that he has let down the sport he loves and all those associated with it, as well as the wider public.

"But most of all, and this is his greatest regret, he has let down his wife and children."

Mr Stewart-Moore said Dettori was "enormously grateful" for the support of his fans, adding: "Racing has been good to Frankie and he knows that his privileged position brings with it responsibility.

"For this reason he is determined to rebuild his reputation when he returns to the saddle. Frankie could make excuses. He has, after all, regularly been tested for prohibited substances throughout his career. He is clear, however, that the responsibility for his current situation lies squarely with him."

The length of the ban means he will be able to return in time for the key Derby and Royal Ascot race meetings.

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Girl, Four, Dies After Level Crossing Crash

A four-year-old girl who was injured when the car she was travelling in collided with a train at a level crossing has died in hospital.

Emma Lifsey had been airlifted to Sheffield Children's Hospital after the incident in Nottinghamshire on Tuesday.

A British Transport Police spokesman said "she was sadly pronounced dead in the early hours Wednesday".

The other person injured in the crash, a 67-year-old woman who was driving the car, remains in hospital and is in stable condition.

The girl's parents, Mark and Zoe Lifsey, said in a statement: "Emma meant the world to us. She was our much-loved daughter and a baby sister to her 11-year-old brother Jack.

"We are still trying to come to terms with the terrible incident on Tuesday afternoon and there are no words that can properly express how utterly distraught we are."

The Beech Hill crossing after the crash

The couple said they were thankful for the support received in the aftermath of the incident, but sought privacy at a time of grief.

They added: "This tragic incident has left us shocked and devastated and we would ask that we can be left to grieve in private at this acutely difficult and sad time for us."

The woman travelling in the car, a black Volvo, sustained serious neck injuries and bruising.

Police were investigating the accident, and said they would talk to any witnesses while experts examine evidence from the scene and the car.

Girl's death has left her parents 'shocked and devastated'

The train, a Lincoln to Doncaster service, was damaged but remained upright and on the tracks. No injuries have been reported among passengers or staff onboard.

Speaking at the scene on Tuesday, Inspector Andy Selby of the British Transport Police declined to comment on whether the barriers and lights at the unmanned crossing were working correctly.

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18th Century Chateau Wrecked 'By Mistake'

Residents of a sleepy French village near Bordeaux have been astonished to discover that their local 18th-century chateau was completely bulldozed "by mistake".

The mayor's office in Yvrac said workers who were hired to renovate the grand 13,000-square-metre (140,000-square-foot) estate in November and pull down a small building mixed them up.

"The Chateau de Bellevue was Yvrac's pride and joy," former owner Juliette Marmie said, adding: "The whole village is in shock. How can this construction firm make such a mistake?"

The chateau's current owner, Russian businessman Dmitry Stroskin, was away at the time and returned to discover his chateau - with a grand hall that could seat some 200 people - was nothing but rubble.

According to Sud-Ouest, Mr Stroskin had no idea what was going to happen.

"I didn't know the chateau was destroyed, I'm shocked," the businessman said, insisting he was commissioning an architect from Paris to rebuild the chateau to make an exact replica.

The Russian, who is reported to run an import-export company which exports products from France to Poland and Russia, says he is not going to pursue the builders over their mistake.

"I totally understand the excitement among local community members and the procedure at the prosecutor's (which is looking into the matter), but I'm not going to look for those responsible for this error; the damage is done."

The company that did the building work has its cars registered in Poland, according to Sud-Ouest.

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Weather: Flights Delayed After Snow In London

A dusting of snow across the South East has caused transport chaos, temporarily closing a major airport and delaying road and rail journeys.

Forecasters said the snow had amounted to no more than "one or two centimetres in places", yet thousands of people's journeys were delayed.

Stansted airport in Essex was shut from about 6am to 8.30am, with passengers complaining they had been given incorrect information.

No trains were able to run between Watford Junction in Hertfordshire and Harrow and Wealdstone in North West London, while snow caused delays of up to 90 minutes between London and Reading in Berkshire.

Motorists were stranded on the A169 high up on the North Yorkshire Moors.

Trains were unable to run between Barnes and Hounslow via Brentford in West London, while there were delays between London and Ashford International in Kent.

There were also delays on the London Overground, and the Metropolitan, Central and Bakerloo Tube lines, while a faulty train led to delays on the Victoria line.

The snow also caused significant transport problems elsewhere in the country.

National Rail has reported delays in Nottingham, Doncaster, Crewe, and Congleton in Cheshire, where a person was struck by a train.

Cheetahs at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire survey the winter scene

The snowy conditions led to a crash involving ten vehicles on the London-bound carriageway of the A299 Thanet Way at Whitstable in Kent. Police say there were no serious injuries.

Essex Police said there were 78 crashes between 6am and 11.30am, injuring 13 people - one seriously.

Buses had to replace trains between Redhill in Surrey and Tonbridge in Kent. The A120 was one of the many roads in Essex to be affected by the weather. The A171 near Scarborough was one of Yorkshire's snow-hit routes.

The AA has attended more than 5,000 breakdowns, with a peak at around 8am of 1,300 an hour.

Passengers queue to board a delayed flight at Stansted Airport

It said the Home Counties, particularly Essex, had been badly hit.

British Gas said it had put its 10,000 engineers on red alert as it expected to receive almost 250,000 calls for help from customers this week.

That is nearly 70,000 more calls than British Gas receives in an average week.

Meanwhile motorists in Scotland have been warned to prepare for difficult driving conditions on Thursday morning, with more snow forecast for much of the country.

The temporary runway closure had a knock-on effect at the airport

The Met Office issued amber warnings of snow in the Highlands, Central, Tayside, Fife, Strathclyde and Grampian regions, and yellow warnings of snow for Orkney, Shetland and Lothian and Borders.

Sleet and snow are expected to spread in the early hours after a cold night with widespread frost.

Forecasters said four to six inches of snow is likely to fall on levels above 1,300ft and two to four inches is expected on areas above 650ft.

Travel networks are likely to be disrupted, especially over the M8 corridor to the east of Glasgow, across Perthshire and over much of inland eastern Scotland.

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Autumn Statement: Fuel Duty Hike Is Scrapped

Autumn Statement's Important Bits

Updated: 3:48pm UK, Wednesday 05 December 2012

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

The Autumn Statement is what the Treasury likes to call a "fiscal event", the rough translation of which is that although this isn't the kind of tax-and-spend measure-fest we see in the spring Budgets, there are nonetheless plenty of measures to get one's head around.

So here, in roughly descending order of significance, are the key points from today: and their implication for the economy and for families around the UK.

1. The Government will miss its debt target

One of the two fiscal rules George Osborne set himself in 2010 was that by the end of this Parliamentary term (for example, between 2014/15 and 2015/16) total government debt should be falling, as a percentage of gross domestic product. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said that he is on course to miss this target - that debt will only start falling the year after that.

However, rather than pledging to take action to meet the rule, the Chancellor has, intriguingly, said he will, instead, stick to his existing plans. While some might quibble that his existing plans involved meeting his targets, what this means in practice is that he will not impose extra austerity in the short term purely to meet this target.

It remains to be seen whether the Chancellor will, ultimately, manage to get the public finances back in such a state that he meets this rule. The OBR is, after all, merely making predictions about what will happen in a few years' time.

Nonetheless, the decision to ignore the target, for the time being, is an important one. It took the previous government ten years to miss their fiscal targets. This Chancellor has missed one of his in barely more than two.

The big question now is whether the markets construe this as a blow to the UK's fiscal credibility. The reaction from gilts markets has been relatively muted, with the interest rates charged on Britain's Government debt remaining close to 1.8%.

2. Slashed forecasts, and the threat of a triple dip

The OBR also cut its forecasts for economic growth sharply for this and the coming years. So whereas in March it expected the economy to expand by 0.8%, it now expects a contraction of 0.1%.

On top of this, it's also predicting that GDP - the broadest measure of the country's economic output - will shrink by 0.1% in the final quarter of the year.

Given that the generally-accepted definition of a recession is two successive quarters of contraction, this would put the UK within a whisker of an unprecedented triple-dip, just when it had bounced back from the double-dip earlier this year.

However, it is worth emphasising that the OBR believes it will only be one quarter of contraction, rather than two.

As far as the OBR is concerned (and this is something others are likely to dispute) the main reason for the lower growth is the impact of the euro crisis on the European economy, and the subsequent effect on Britain's trade with the EU.

That fits in with evidence that one of the main drags on GDP in recent quarters was trade - however some have argued that the Government's austerity policies may have been more of a drag on growth than had been previously anticipated.

3. A decade of crisis fiscal policy

This is the first opportunity the Treasury has had to plot its broad fiscal plans into 2017/18, and the upshot is yet another year of austerity.

Given that the crisis first hit in mid-2007 with the collapse of Northern Rock, followed by the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy the following year, it means, in effect, that the post-crisis mopping-up operation will have lasted for at least a decade.

And the scale of the austerity in 2017/18 is not to be sniffed at: combined tax increases and spending cuts of £4.9bn in that year alone.

4. The giveaways

There were, of course, a few Christmas goodies in the Chancellor's bag, and unlike at the Budget most of them - save for extra capital spending - had been kept secret.

The tax-free personal allowance (the amount of salary every Briton can earn before paying any tax on it) will rise to £9,440 from next April - equivalent to an extra £47 of cash.

The Chancellor cancelled (not deferred) the 3p fuel tax rise due in January. And he also cut the main rate of corporation tax by 1 percentage point to 21% in 2014.

In broad terms, this will be a £2.27bn giveaway over this and the next three fiscal years. But that's then followed by a £5.2bn takeaway the following two years.

However, this excludes the effect of the following point.

5. 4G

The auction of the 4G spectrum, for the next generation of mobile phones, is forecast to bring in a whopping £3.5bn - even though it hasn't actually happened yet(!)

This will mean that money effectively flatters this year's fiscal figures, and allows the Government to claim that the overall deficit is coming down this year (rather than rising, as it would if the 4G proceeds were not included).

Some will consider this a fiddle. Although others will recall how much money Gordon Brown made from the 3G auction.

6. Cuts for the rich and the poor

In order to keep the public finances under at least some semblance of control, and to help the Chancellor meet his other fiscal target (more on which below), there will be further cuts and controls on spending.

Welfare bills will be fixed at 1% for three years on working age benefits and tax thresholds, raising an extra £3.5bn by 2015.

But this will be balanced out by measures targeting wealthier households: in particular the tax relief people can claim on pensions will be reduced. The lifetime pension pot will be reduced from £1.5m to £1.25m, while the annual allowance one can put into a pension scheme tax-free will drop from £50,000 to £40,000.

According to the Treasury this will only affect the top 2% of pension pots - so is aimed squarely at the wealthy. Although it isn't as deep a cut as had been expected: some thought the annual allowance would drop to £30,000.

On top of this, as announced on Tuesday, there will be an extra £5bn spent on capital investment projects, including new schools and, in London, the Northern Line extension of the London Underground. These will be paid for by money saved from government departments' budgets.

7. Deficit target met, with or without controversial QE switch

The Chancellor's second borrowing rule is that he needs to balance out the cyclically-adjusted budget (in other words, once you've taken account of the temporary fiscal impact of booms and busts) over five years.

This is a rolling target, rather than the static one incorporated into the debt rule, so it's marginally easier for the Chancellor to meet, provided he commits to tightening his accounts towards the end of that time horizon. And that is indeed what has happened this time around.

The structural deficit will indeed be eliminated within five years, according to the OBR.

This achievement threatened to be overshadowed by what many saw as a suspicious shift in cash from the Bank of England's accounts to the Treasury. The Bank was sitting on about £35bn of profits from its quantitative easing scheme: that now goes across to the Government's accounts.

However, the Treasury would have met his deficit target with or without this accounting change, the Chancellor said.

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AK-47 Shipment: British Man Gary Hyde Jailed

A British arms dealer who helped ship thousands of AK-47 assault rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition from China to Nigeria has been jailed for seven years.

Gary Hyde, 43, looked tearful as he was sentenced at London's Southwark Crown Court following his conviction for two counts of breaching UK trade controls and concealing criminal property.

Hyde, of Mask Lane, Newton on Derwent, near York, moved the weapons without a licence and hid more than £620,000 in commission payments.

The deal between the two countries' governments was lawful, but Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said middleman Hyde was caught out by his own greed.

He failed to apply for a licence to take part in the deal, fearing it would be refused, but was attracted by the "enormous profits" to be made, the judge said.

Hyde, who was supported in court by his family, legitimately ran and expanded the wholesale business York Guns to the point where it employed 20 staff in 2003.

He helped broker various arms deals including some for the British government.

But in 2006 he got involved in the deal between China and Nigeria which saw up to 40,000 AK-47s, 30,000 rifles and 10,000 9mm pistols go to the African nation along with 32 million rounds of ammunition.

Hyde was convicted after a retrial on two counts of becoming knowingly concerned in the movement of controlled goods between March 2006 and December 2007.

He was also found guilty of one count of concealing criminal property between March 2006 and December 2008 after he hid the profits in a bank in Liechtenstein.

Hyde, who was of previous good character and served as a special constable for seven years, was also reluctant to apply for a licence in case the UK authorities discovered his tax haven account and his "very substantial earnings", the judge said.

He told him: "You got carried away by the enormous profits that could be made elsewhere and, it would seem, in some less responsible company."

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Pregnant Kate: Hospital Admits Falling For Prank

Prank callers have managed to trick hospital staff treating the Duchess of Cambridge into revealing detailed information about her condition.

Australian radio DJs impersonating the Queen and Prince of Wales were given an update about Kate, who was admitted to London's King Edward VII on Monday with severe morning sickness.

Mel Greig and Michael Christian from Sydney's 2Day FM were transferred to a duty nurse who divulged details of how doctors were treating the duchess.

The hospital has said it "deplores" the stunt and will be conducting a review of its phone system.

As Prince William arrived to visit his wife as she spends her third day in hospital, St James's Palace declined to comment on the incident.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes can confirm that an Australian radio station made a hoax call to the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Australian duo Mel Greig and Michael Christian have apologised

"This call was transferred through to a ward and a short conversation was held with one of the nursing staff. King Edward VII's Hospital deeply regrets this incident."

John Lofthouse, chief executive at King Edward VII's Hospital, said: "This was a foolish prank call that we all deplore. We take patient confidentiality extremely seriously and we are now reviewing our telephone protocols."

Michael Christian has been posting congratulatory Tweets and reports of the prank from around the world on his Twitter page.

He tweeted: "Can't believe we got put through!"

The DJs and their radio station have since apologised - saying the hosts had "the best intentions".

Mel Greig and Michael Christian said: "We were very surprised that our call was put through, we thought we'd be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents. 

Prince William visits his wife on her third day in hospital

"We're very sorry if we've caused any issues and we're glad to hear that Kate is doing well."

In a statement, 2Day FM said: "2Day FM sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by the inquiry to Kate's hospital, the radio segment was done with the best intentions and we wish Kate and her family all the best."

Knowingly or recklessly obtaining personal information without consent is an offence under Section 55 of Data Protection Act 1998, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

During the debate over UK press standards, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called for those guilty of obtaining personal information by deception - known as "blaggers" - to be jailed.

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Autumn Statement: The Key Points At A Glance

The main measures and forecasts from the Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement:

:: Most working age benefits, including Jobseeker's Allowance, will rise by 1% in each of the next three years. Changes to welfare "save £3.7bn by 2015/16". Child benefit to rise by 1% for two years from April 2014.

:: ISA limit raised to £11,520 and basic state pension to rise 2.5% from April. Public sector workers to see average 1% rise in earnings.

:: National pay arrangement in NHS and prison service to continue, and no changes to civil service arrangements, but greater freedom for schools to set pay in line with performance.

:: Will collect £7bn more in tax than the last Government to tackle "evasion" and loopholes. More resources (£77m) to ensure multinational firms "pay their fair share" and avoidance is reduced.

:: Fuel duty escalator "scrapped". Planned 3p a litre rise due in January is cancelled.

:: Income tax threshold increased by £235 in 2013. Means no tax paid on earnings under £9,440.

:: "Need to ask more of the better off": No new homes tax. From 2014/15 the pension lifetime pot relief will fall from £1.5m to £1.25m; annual allowance down from £50,000 to £40,000. This affects top 2% of pension pots.

:: Threshold for 40% rate of income tax to rise by 1% in 2014 and 2015 from £41,450 to £41,865 and then £42,285.

:: Corporation Tax rate cut by further 1% from April 2014.

:: The Bank Levy Rate will be increased to 0.130% next year.

:: Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount to increase by 1% over the same period, reaching £11,100 and Inheritance Tax nil-band rate to rise from £325,000 now to £329,000 in 2015/16.

:: £1bn more for road improvements - upgrading A1, A30, and M25. Funding guarantee for extension to Northern Line tube.

:: £600m more on scientific research infrastructure.

:: £1bn to expand good schools and build more.

:: The deficit has fallen by a quarter in "just two years". Forecast to fall this year to 6.9% of GDP. Borrowing forecast for 2012/13 is therefore £108bn. It will take one extra year to reach his debt target.

:: Office for Budget Responsibility now forecasts GDP growth -0.1% in 2012, blaming Eurozone crisis. Sees growth of 1.2% in 2013, 2% in 2014 and 2.3% in 2015. OBR expects jobless rate to peak at 8.3% (currently 7.9%).

:: Has delivered £12bn in Whitehall spending cuts. More on the way. Government department resource budgets reduced by 1% next year with schools and hospitals protected.

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Runaway Emu Captured By Police In Barnstaple

An escaped emu has been captured by police after it was spotted running through a town and trying to enter people's homes.

Two officers found the 4ft-tall bird "in a state of panic" after they were called out by concerned residents in Barnstaple, North Devon.

Acting Sergeant Zoe Parnell said the emu was "running up and down the street, trying to get into people's houses" before it was caught.

She said: "When we first had the call from the public, I thought it was a bit of a wind-up.

"But when I arrived at the scene to check it out, I could see this bird in the street. It was trying to get into people's houses.

"Obviously it was finding that difficult, and would try the next one. I must admit that while I'm not normally scared of birds, I was a bit nervous with this one."

Officers said the 4ft bird was in a 'panicked' state

The bird was later caught by PCSO Stephen Huxtable, who picked up the fugitive and put it in the back of a police car.

He said: "It's a bit of a state in the back of the car now - there's mud, feathers and a few other things...

"This (catching a wild bird) is not the sort of thing we get taught during training, so I was a little unsure of how best to deal with this.

"I asked one woman if she would mind taking the bird into her lounge to catch it, and understandably she was a little reluctant to do that.

"I've been in the police force for seven years now, and I must say this is one of the most bizarre incidents I have ever been called to.

"I'd only been back in the office for a few minutes and already a few of my colleagues started cracking jokes about me 'feeling peckish'."

The emu has been handed to Diana Lewis, who runs an "animal ambulance" service in north Devon, and will later be reunited with its owner, police said.

The emu is native to Australia, and was propelled into popular culture in Britain in the 1970s by entertainer Rod Hull, whose routine included an aggressive, mute emu puppet.

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Gas Blast: Man Admits Two-Year-Old's Killing

A man has admitted the manslaughter of a two-year-old boy killed in a gas explosion at his home.

Jamie Heaton died while watching TV when the blast levelled several homes in Buckley Street, Shaw, in Oldham.

Andrew Partington, an unemployed father of six, admitted causing the explosion when he let his house fill with gas overnight.

The 27-year-old suffered 40% burns and a broken back in the blast and pleaded guilty via videolink from prison during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

Three houses were "obliterated" in the explosion

The explosion in June "obliterated" Partington's rented terrace house and two neighbouring homes, with the rest of the row and surrounding streets also left devastated.

Neighbours found Jamie's body as they searched the debris of his wrecked home.

The boy's parents sat in the public gallery holding hands for the brief hearing.

They were flanked by police officers and other members of their family, who wiped away tears as the defendant admitted his guilt.

As well as manslaughter, Partington pleaded guilty to eight charges of destroying neighbouring houses. He was remanded in custody until February 11 when he will be sentenced.

Judge Gilbart also ordered a psychological assessment of Partington before he is sentenced, to assess his dangerousness.

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Euromillions: £64m Hitchin Prize Unclaimed

A EuroMillions player has just seven days to identify themselves as the winner of £64m - the biggest unclaimed prize in UK lottery history.

The winner in the June 8 draw matched the five main numbers 05, 11, 22, 34, 40 and the two Lucky Stars 09 and 11.

Lottery bosses have made several public appeals since establishing that the ticket was bought in the Stevenage and Hitchin area of Hertfordshire.

Posters were even put up at Luton Airport in case the lucky punter was a holidaymaker.

The winner is richer than Princes William and Harry - but may be unaware

The winner has until 11pm on Wednesday, December 5 to claim the £63,837,543.60 fortune, which would put them ahead of Harry Potter Star Daniel Radcliffe and Princes William and Harry on the Sunday Times Rich List.

The other half of the £127m prize was shared with a winner from Belgium, who has already collected their cash.

The previous biggest unclaimed prize was £9m in Doncaster in the 90s.

The National Lottery says prizes have previously been claimed on the deadline day - including £2.5m in the Worcester and Malvern area in 2009.

The Weirs from Largs scooped the UK's biggest ever jackpot

Players who believe they may have lost or destroyed their tickets have 30 days from the date of the draw to contact lottery operator Camelot so it can investigate their claim.

However that deadline passed five months ago for this ticket, so now only the ticket-holder can come forward.

If no-one claims the money by next week the sum and all the interest it has generated will go to National Lottery good causes - adding to the £29bn already raised through ticket sales since the game's 1994 launch.

Britain's biggest jackpot winners are Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs in North Ayrshire, who won £161m in July 2011.

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Louis Walsh Wins £403,500 Over Sun Sex Slur

Louis Walsh has won a 500,000 euro (£403,500) settlement from The Sun after the newspaper carried false sex assault allegations.

The X Factor judge sued the paper after it published a story that was based on a false allegation that he sexually assaulted a man in a Dublin nightspot after a Westlife concert.

The newspaper admitted the claim made by unemployed dance teacher Leonard Watters was false and apologised to Walsh accepting that the "alleged assault did not occur in the first place".

Speaking outside court following the out-of-court settlement, Walsh said he would not have wished what happened to him on his worst enemy.

He said: "I'm very relieved. This has had a terrible effect on me guys. It was all lies.

"And I'm very satisfied with this total vindication for me, but I remain very angry at the treatment I received at the hands of The Sun."

Eoin McCullough, senior counsel for News Group Newspapers, read an apology to Walsh at the High Court in Dublin.

It said: "The Sun unreservedly apologies to Louis Walsh for any distress caused to him as a result of our article."

Louis Walsh lines up with his fellow X Factor judges

The Sun published an article in its editions on June 23, 2011, with the headline "Louis Probed Over 'Sex Attack' on Man in Loo" in which it was wrongly claimed Walsh has groped Watters at the celebrity nightclub Krystle following a Westlife concert in April 2011.

When the official complaint was made, The Sun and the Irish Sun printed the story before Walsh was questioned under caution. He denied the accusations against him.

Watters was subsequently jailed for six months for making the false allegations.

The newspaper accepted that the accusation was false but initially denied defamation, saying it had acted fairly as the story was based on police inquiries into the allegation.

Walsh's lawyer, Paul Tweed, said that a great deal of damage had been done to his client because of the online spread of the story and added that it was something he hoped Lord Leveson would address in his report on media standards.

The case was settled before the President of the High Court in Ireland, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns.

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German Train Driver Killed 10 In Crash

A freight train driver has been convicted of manslaughter after he smashed into a passenger train, killing 10 in one of Germany's worst rail crashes.

The 41-year-old missed two stop signals and drove head-on into an express train travelling in the opposite direction.

The collision, which happened in heavy fog, was so loud it was heard in a village more than four miles away.

The driver, who has not been named because of Germany's privacy laws, told a regional court in Magdeburg that he did not know why he had passed though the red light.

He was given a year's suspended sentence for manslaughter and negligent bodily harm.

The youngest to die in the crash on January 29, 2011 was a 12-year-old girl. Three women and six men were also killed and 22 others were injured.

Investigators at the scene of the crash in 2011

The freight train nearly obliterated the first carriage of the Harz-Elbe-Express in the collision in Hordorf, near Magdeburg, the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt.

At the time Holger Hoevelmann, interior minister of Saxony-Anhalt, said: "We are still speechless and shocked by the images and the level of destruction."

Almost 200 police and rescue workers rushed to the crash site around 125 miles southwest of Berlin.

The crash was Germany's worst since 2006, when 23 people were killed in Emsland in the north of the country.

It is unclear whether the driver will appeal the sentence.

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Comet: Jobs At Risk As Shops Face Closure

Comet's administrators have confirmed a further 125 stores will close by the end of the year if they fail to get a firm offer for the whole business.

Around 70 stores of the original 236 will remain open until the electricals retailer's remaining stock is sold, Deloitte added. 

Some 5,000 jobs remain in the balance at the embattled retailer, which called in the administrators earlier this month.

Deloitte's Chris Farrington said a "small number of interested parties" remained and he hoped a positive outcome could still be achieved.  

"Should any acceptable offers be received for stores we will delay the closure process," he said.

"Unfortunately, in the absence of a firm offer for the whole of the business, it has become necessary to begin making plans in case a sale is not concluded."

Stores will begin closing in December, he added.

Since Deloitte was appointed to work for the electricals chain, some 1,500 jobs have already been axed.

Last week, the entrepreneur behind Appliances Online confirmed he had tabled a bid for Comet's web-based operations - but not for the whole business.

John Roberts said he had put in a "seven-figure offer" for Comet's website, although the deal would see the business disappear from the UK's high streets.

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