Don Valley: Jessica Ennis' Track To Close

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

The athletics stadium where Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis trains is to close.

Sheffield City Council voted to go ahead with the closure of the Don Valley stadium as part of a package of cuts. The council has to save £50m in the next financial year.

Ennis reacted to news of the closure minutes after it was announced, tweeting: "So sad to lose Don Valley Stadium! Where it all started for me. Great memories."

She had called on councillors to rethink the plans, saying: "It would be a huge shame. I've got some amazing memories, starting my athletic career there and having that iconic stadium in my home city is incredible.

"To lose that would be such a shame for future athletes coming through, so I hope that the right decision's made and we can find a way to keep it."

Thousands cheered Ennis to London 2012 glory on a screen at Don Valley

The stadium will remain open until September 2013 so planned events over the summer, including the British Transplant Games, can still go ahead. Alternative uses for the stadium or site will be considered by the city council until then.

Ennis began her athletics career after attending a summer camp at the stadium in her home city. Thousands gathered at the stadium to watch on a big screen as she won Olympic gold in the heptathlon at London 2012.

Councillors have been accused of failing to build on the Olympic legacy by closing the venue. A smaller, currently mothballed, stadium will be refurbished for athletes in Sheffield.

Jessica's coach Toni Minichiello says he is not convinced sufficient investment will be made in the alternative site and says the loss of the Don Valley stadium is a blow to the sport.

Jessica Ennis did most of her Olympic training at her home town venue

He told Sky News: "It is an iconic stadium and it's a place that has inspired youngsters and none more so than Jessica Ennis.

"It is a fantastic facility and it is an incredible shame to lose something like this from the sporting map.

"Having taken the youngsters all the way through to Olympic gold you see that this actually can be done in Sheffield.

"Why, if you can have one Jessica Ennis, can you not have two or three?

"That opportunity all of a sudden looked to be there and now it's going to be taken away from a whole new generation of youngsters."

Sheffield City Council said in order to keep the Don Valley Stadium open and achieve the same level of saving it would have had to close up to five community sports facilities.

Cllr Isobel Blower says the stadium is too expensive to subsidise

The council says that would have resulted in a loss in sports participation of up to 10 times greater that shutting the athletics stadium.

Councillor Isobel Bowler, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure at Sheffield City Council said "No-one wants to close Don Valley but we can no longer afford to subsidise it by £700,000 a year.

"Over the next 10 years, the council will save over £6m - a huge amount of money."

"We will still provide a home for athletics at Woodbourn, which is less than a mile away and will cost less than £70,000 a year to run.

"This approach has been endorsed by the sport's governing body and the city's two main athletics clubs are already engaged in constructive discussions with the council about the transfer.

"Woodbourn will technically offer the same quality of track and field facilities and in fact will provide uninterrupted access for our local clubs."

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Defence Sec: Cut Welfare Not Troops

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has warned he will resist further cuts to the armed forces in Chancellor George Osborne's forthcoming spending review.

After Downing Street said publicly last month that the military would not be immune from further financial retrenchment, Mr Hammond has vowed to fight against anything more than modest "efficiency savings".

He said other Conservative Cabinet ministers believed that the greatest burden of any cuts should fall on the welfare budget.

A Whitehall source said Mr Hammond's comments were aimed particularly at the Lib Dems following remarks by senior Lib Dem ministers indicating that they believed welfare spending should be protected over defence.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Mr Hammond said there was a "body of opinion within Cabinet who believes that we have to look at the welfare budget again", and that "we should be seeing welfare spending falling" as a result of rising employment levels.

He later told the BBC: "We won't be able to make further cuts without eroding military capability.

Mr Hammond says the welfare budget should be curbed instead

"Of course I understand the Chancellor's challenge. He has to find additional savings in order to consolidate the public finances as we have to do but we need to look broadly across Government at how we are going to do that, not just narrowly at a few departments."

He said the "first priority" for the Government should be "defending the country and maintaining law and order" and that further defence cuts were not possible while meeting stated security objectives.

"I shall go into the spending review fighting the case for the defence budget on the basis that we have made very large cuts to defence, we've done that with the collaboration and co-operation of the military," he told the newspaper.

"Any further reduction in the defence budget would fall on the level of activity that we were able to carry out - the idea that expensively bought equipment may not be able to be used, expensively employed troops may not be able to be exercised and trained as regularly as they need to be.

"I am not going into the spending review offering any further reductions in personnel."

Mr Hammond's comments are likely to be welcomed by Tory backbenchers who have been calling for a return to a core Conservative values in the wake of the party's trouncing in the Eastleigh by-election.

However they will also heighten tensions within the coalition, with the Liberal Democrats resisting a further squeeze on welfare spending.

Sky's Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said: "Philip Hammond's words are significant for two reasons: he's clearly saying to the Lib Dems 'enough is enough' and by so blatantly suggesting that the British armed forces would be unacceptably weakened if subjected to further cuts, he's drawing a line that would be dangerous to cross."  

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Middle-Aged Drinking Takes Toll on 'Ladettes'

By James Matthews, Sky Correspondent

The "ladette" culture of the 1980s and 90s is a key factor in the growing number of middle-aged women turning to drink, according to the founder of a support website.

Lucy Rocca says women between 30 and 50 are turning to alcohol as a natural choice, having grown up in an era when drinking to excess was encouraged. 

Ms Rocca set up the Soberistas website after developing - and overcoming - a dependency on alcohol. 

Within two months, more than 1,500 women had joined the forum to discuss problem drinking. The overwhelming majority are middle-aged and many are professional, career women.

Ms Rocca told Sky News: "I think the reason that women of that age are finding themselves in that position where they are drinking too much is that a lot of them grew up in a ladette culture and went on to get married and have children. 

"They had grown up in a culture where it was acceptable and encouraged, really, to drink excessively and, once they found themselves dealing with motherhood and stresses of work, they swapped the pints for the wine and they drank at home to try to deal with that stress."

Former 'ladette' poster girl Zoë Ball recently gave up alcohol

Figures for hospital admissions reflect a recent increase in problem-drinking among women between 30 and 50. 

According to the Department of Health, in England in 2010 there were 110,128 alcohol-related hospital admissions for women in their mid-30s to mid-50s. This was nearly double the number of admissions of women aged 15-34.

In Scotland, the number of alcohol-related deaths among women aged 30-44 has doubled in the past 20 years. 

In January, the Scottish Government launched a new photo app called Drinking Mirror as part of an initiative it dubbed Drop A Glass Size.

Its aim is to encourage women to curb excessive drinking by showing them a photo of how they will look in 10 years' time, depending how much they drink.

Sarah Turner, 57, who runs a centre for women with drink problems, was a millionaire property developer until she developed an addiction to wine and vodka.

Her business collapsed and her home was repossessed. Having now recovered, she helps middle-class, middle-aged women deal with drink problems. 

She believes their needs are too often ignored, while resources are channelled towards areas like teenage binge-drinking.

She told Sky News: "There is enough being done for the disassociated and the disadvantaged.

"The middle-class, middle-aged woman is so shameful, guilty and fearful of coming forward to talk about this problem and they become hidden, secret drinkers.

"This is happening in the home on an epic scale now."

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Pressure On First Buyers As House Prices Rise

By Nick Martin, Sky Correspondent

House prices edged up month-on-month in both January and February this year, bringing good news for homeowners but adding pressure on first-time buyers.

Building society Nationwide said it was cautiously optimistic that activity will pick up in the months ahead.

It comes after reports revealed more young people were living with their parents while trying to save for a deposit for a property. 

According to the Halifax, the average age of a first-time buyer is 30 years old - up from 29 in 2011.

There has been a significant increase in the proportion of first time buyers receiving financial help in recent years.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) estimate that 65% of first time buyers of had financial assistance in mid 2012 compared with 31% in mid-2005.

Kirsty Gilmore, 26, from Bristol, has been living at home for 18 months and has saved more than £30,000. But that is still not enough to buy a property. She says the market is so competitive it is hard to get a good price.

"I want to have my own place, I want to start a family and have a home to call my own, not just my mum and dad's.

"You feel a bit excluded from society - nobody cares and you're stuck in this rut really - and everyone else my age is," she told Sky News.

Mortgage approvals for home buyers have dipped for the first time since a Government scheme to boost lending was launched last August, Bank of England figures showed.

There were 54,719 approvals in January, showing a 2% decline compared with an 11-month high recorded the previous month and marking the first time that there has been a month-on-month decrease since July.

Mortgage approvals for house purchases had been on a steady upward path since the Government's Funding for Lending scheme, which aims to help borrowers by giving lenders access to cheap finance, was launched at the start of August.

The latest figures echo recent findings from the CML, with some analysts blaming the recent bad weather.

Housing minister Mark Prisk said the Government was trying to help first time buyers get onto the property ladder.

"Many people have to rely on the bank of mum and dad - so what we are trying to do with the builders and the Government by putting equity loans forward is make those deposit affordable for first time buyers. It's already helped 17,000 people. We hope it will help 27,000."

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Rape T-Shirts: Amazon Offers 'Hit Her' Tops Too

Amazon UK has continued to offer controversial clothing on its website hours after an American fashion firm was forced to apologise for selling "Keep Calm And Rape" T-shirts.

The discovery comes after the "Keep Calm And Rape A Lot" shirts, offered for sale by the Solid Gold Bomb company, were withdrawn following widespread criticism.

A spokesman for Amazon UK told Sky News that the 'rape' garments were no longer available and said: "I can confirm that those items are not available for sale."

However, although Amazon has withdrawn that item, it sill offered shirts from the same firm that apparently advocate domestic violence.

One shirt for sale on Saturday morning in both Britain and Germany was emblazoned with the message: "Keep Calm And Hit Her".

Others for sale through Amazon included "Keep Calm And Grope On" and "Keep Calm And Grope A Lot".

Solid Gold Bomb was 'sorry for the ill-feeling this has caused'

Critics of the T-shirts quickly let their feelings be known by posting scores of negative comments on the relevant Amazon pages about the online retailer and the fashion company.

One said: "Do the decent thing and pull this disgusting item now. Remove all items by the same company to show them this will not be tolerated."

Another online customer, Jody, said: "Your on a roll now Amazon. So not content with supporting and encouraging rape your also advocating violence against women.

"Domestic violence is a crime. Real men don't beat there partners."

The firm posted an apology but later shut down Twitter and Facebook

Amazon listed the manufacturing quality as "Fine Jersey T-Shirt", saying the items were made by American Apparel prior to printing in the US.

When Solid Gold Bomb withdrew the 'rape' garment it also posted a statement on its website which said: "We have been informed of the fact that we were selling an offensive T-shirt primarily in the UK.

"This has been immediately deleted as it was and had been automatically generated using a scripted computer process running against 100s of thousands of dictionary words."

Solid Gold Bomb said it received death threats and its Twitter account was bombarded with scores of angry messages - many of which said: "Rape is not a joke."

The Amazon UK site still offered "hit her" T-shirts on Saturday

Solid Gold Bomb replied: "We're sorry for the ill-feeling this has caused! We're doing our best here to fix the problem."

Both its Facebook and Twitter accounts have since been shut down.

It said the scripted programming process that created the slogan was compiled by "only one member of our staff", but that it "accepted the responsibility of the error".

Solid Gold Bomb said it sends its T-shirts from Worcester in Massachusetts to throughout the US, UK, Germany, Canada and 79 other countries daily.

Amazon typically charges companies 7% of the price, postage and any taxes to list and sell items through its website.

With the 'Keep Calm' shirts retailing between £14.99 to £16.99 - excluding postage - Amazon may make more than £1.18 on each sale.

Last year Amazon came under fire from MPs and the public over tax avoidance, after it was claimed the company generated UK sales during three years of between £7.6bn and £10.3bn, but paid virtually no corporation tax.

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Premier League To Use Goal-Line Technology

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Debates over whether the ball crossed the line or not will soon be a thing of the past in the Premier League with the news that goal-line technology will be used from next season onwards.

The Premier League is understood to be in discussions with two companies, thought to be Hawkeye and GoalRef.

Fifa has already confirmed that the technology will be used at next year's World Cup in Brazil, while this summer's Confederations Cup will also employ the system.

A spokesman for the Premier League confirmed that all 20 clubs must have the equipment in place for the first day of the new season, "including those promoted".

Hawkeye works by using six cameras to focus on the goal and when the ball crosses the line an encrypted message is sent to the referee's wristwatch within a second, if a goal has been scored. GoalRef uses sensors on the posts and crossbar which detect any change in the magnetic field when the ball crosses the line.

Lampard reacts after his goal was disallowed

It is likely that the league will now choose one system and deploy it across all 20 clubs, with the same system likely to be employed at Wembley for England international fixtures in the future.

A Premier League spokesman said: "We are in advanced discussions with two of the companies who provide the systems and we are working on the basis of having goal-line technology in place for the start of the season.

"All clubs will have to have the system to ensure the universal integrity of the competition, including those who are promoted."

The Premier League will make its decision on which system to use based on cost and ease of use.

The move should take the pressure off referees whose decisions have been greatly criticised by clubs and fans in the past.

The most high profile case in recent years was a Frank Lampard strike for England against Germany in the 2010 World Cup. Germany ran out 4-1 winners, but the incident happened when England were only trailing 2-1.

The International Football Association Board - effectively the game's rule-makers - will meet in Edinburgh on Saturday where officials are due to be told that the first use of the technology at the Fifa World Club Championship in Japan in December was a resounding success.

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Jessica Ennis Makes Don Valley Stadium Appeal

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis has made an eleventh-hour appeal to save the stadium that helped to inspire her.

Councillors are expected to approve closure of the Don Valley Stadium at a budget meeting today.

It is where the sports star perfected her athletic prowess as a youngster and where she still trains.

The heptathlete was discovered on a summer schools training camp at the Sheffield stadium and thousands watched her charge to Olympic glory on a big screen inside the venue.

But despite the heptathlete's objections it looks likely that councillors will approve a plan to bulldoze the building.

Ennis said: "It would be a huge shame.

"I've got some amazing memories, starting my athletic career there and having that iconic stadium in my home city is incredible.

"To lose that would be such a shame for future athletes coming through, so I hope that the right decision's made and we can find a way to keep it."

Councillors in Sheffield have been accused of squandering the Olympic legacy but they say the 22-year-old stadium is often empty and needs major refurbishment that the city cannot afford.

Ennis won one of Team GB's 29 gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games

The Labour-controlled council argues that it has to save £50m as a result of Government budget cuts and if the venue remained open local leisure centres would have to close instead.

Councillor Isobel Bowler said: "We have to choose where we put our money. If we kept this stadium open we might have to shut two or three or possibly even four local leisure centres. That's not the way to preserve the Olympic legacy."

Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield MP Nick Clegg has urged the city council to keep the stadium open.

The sporting community is also strongly opposed to its closure.

Jessica Ennis' coach Toni Minichiello has invested many years of nurturing young talent at Don Valley and accuses the local authority of short-sightedness.

He told Sky News: "It is an iconic stadium and its a place that has inspired youngsters and none more so than Jessica Ennis.

"It is a fantastic facility and it is an incredible shame to lose something like this from the sporting map.

"Having taken the youngsters all the way through to Olympic gold you see that this actually can be done in Sheffield.

"Why, if you can have one Jessica Ennis, can you not have two or three?

"That opportunity all of a sudden looked to be there and now it's going to be taken away from a whole new generation of youngsters."

The local authority says the building costs £700,000 a year to run.

It aims to redevelop the nearby Woodbourn athletics stadium - an older building that has been mothballed for a few years. That would cost approximately £100,000.

The Don Valley stadium was opened in 1991 to host the World Student Games in the hope that it would help revitalise the largely derelict east end of Sheffield.

The full cost of staging the event is not due to be paid off until 2024.

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Breast Cancer: UK Lagging In Survival Rates

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Ageism and poor treatment are reducing women's chances of surviving breast cancer, new research suggests.

The study, funded by the Department of Health, revealed that women in Britain are far less likely to be alive three years after diagnosis than those in other well-developed countries.

Researchers at the Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group found that 87-89% of women in the UK and Denmark were alive three years after diagnosis, compared to 91-94% in Australia, Canada, Norway and Sweden.

Figures published in the British Journal of Cancer show the biggest difference was in women aged over 70. In the UK the three-year survival rate is 79%, whereas in Sweden it is 91%.

The scientists say the findings suggest older women and those with more advanced disease are treated less aggressively in the UK.

Dr Sarah Walters, who led the research, said: "In the UK, women are diagnosed at a similar stage as elsewhere, but survival is lower than women with the same stage of disease in other countries.

"We should now investigate whether the treatment of women with later-stage breast cancer meets international standards. There is particular concern that this is not the case, especially for older women."

Sara Hiom, the group's director of early diagnosis, said the survival gap between the UK and other countries is closing, but Britain still fares worse.

"We know that UK women diagnosed with breast cancer are not routinely given CT scans to check if the disease has spread, which could mean we aren't always accurately staging more advanced disease.

"But we also need to investigate the possibility that fewer women with later stage breast cancer in the UK receive the best treatment for their circumstances."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "This study will help us keep improving breast cancer treatment as part of our cancer strategy to save an extra 5,000 lives a year by 2014.

"We have worked with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve access to assessment, treatment and aftercare for cancer patients over 70.

"The NHS is also working to ensure all patients are treated as individuals and receive care that meets their healthcare needs whatever their age or condition."

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Lloyds: Osborne Plans Taxpayer Stake Sale

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

The Government signalled today that it would begin considering the sell-off of its stake in Lloyds Banking Group when the lender's share price hits 61p - a far lower level than previously thought.

Treasury officials said that reaching 61p would mean that the taxpayer had broken even on the tens of billions of pounds injected into the bank to keep it afloat in 2008.

The news confirmed Sky News' revelation earlier on Friday that UK Financial Investments (UKFI), which manages the taxpayer's 39% stake in Lloyds, and the Treasury would indicate that the privatisation of the Government's stake can begin within months.

The 61p level is the price at which the stake - bought in 2008 at the height of the banking crisis - is booked in the national accounts.

The £1.48m bonus awarded to Lloyds boss Antonio Horta-Osorio can vest if the Government sells at least one-third of its stake above 61p, Lloyds confirmed today.

Antonio Horta-Osorio became Lloyds chief executive in March 2011

"This award is subject to the normal performance adjustment policy and will only vest if a share price of 73.6p has been reached for a given period of time or the Government has sold at least 33% of its shareholding at prices above 61p," Lloyds said.

"The board believes that these additional conditions are in the interests of all shareholders and support our common aim of repaying the taxpayer.

"HM Treasury has informed us that 61p is the average price at which the equity support provided to Lloyds Banking Group is recorded in the Public Finances."

The news comes as Lloyds reported a loss for last year of £570m, down from £3.5bn in 2011.

The loss was attributable to a £3.5bn provision during 2012 for mis-selling payment protection insurance, £1.5bn of which was taken during the fourth quarter.

Lloyds paid out £365m in bonuses for the year, with an employee average of £3,900.

In a statement, a Treasury spokesman said: "The Government's strategy remains to see Lloyds continue the progress it has made in reforming itself into a strong and sustainable bank that supports the British economy, which in time can be returned to full private ownership.

"Today's results show that it is making strong progress in improving its core underlying performance and strengthening its balance sheet, but that there is still work to be done as it continues to deal with the legacy of the past."

Insiders said the Treasury acknowledged that it would have to persuade parliamentarians and the public that selling between 61p and 73.6p would not crystallise a loss for British taxpayers.

George Osborne, the Chancellor, is expected to pave the way for an initial sale of Lloyds shares later this year.

The FTSE 100 share price for Lloyds Banking Group dropped almost 6% to 51.2p in late morning trades on Friday.

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Stuart Hall In Court Over Sex Charges

Veteran BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has made his first Crown Court appearance accused of a string of historic sex offences.

Unsteady on his feet and wearing a dark blue suit, he entered the dock at Preston Crown Court and spoke only to confirm his name in an eight-minute preliminary hearing.

The case was adjourned by the Recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC, until April 16 when the defendant is expected to enter formal pleas to the charges.

A provisional trial date of October 2 was set, estimated to last up to four weeks.

Hall, 83, is charged with one count of rape and 14 offences of indecent assault.

He is alleged to have raped a 22-year-old woman in 1976 and the 14 other alleged sexual assaults relate to 10 girls aged between nine and 16, between 1967 and 1986.

In addition, Hall had earlier been charged with three separate indecent assaults of young girls - aged nine, 13 and 16 - dating between 1974 and 1984, which he also denies.

Last month, the former It's A Knockout presenter said after leaving an earlier hearing at Preston Magistrates' Court that he might have considered suicide had it not been for his family.

He described the accusations as "pernicious, callous, cruel and, above all, spurious" and vowed to clear his name and restore his reputation.

Hall, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century and was last year awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.

His eccentric and erudite football match summaries made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

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Banker Bonus Cap Is 'Deluded', Says Boris

The Mayor of London has launched a stinging attack on European Union officials after they agreed a provisional deal to cap bankers' bonuses.

The plan would see the maximum payout set at a year's salary but that could be increased to two year's salary with shareholder approval.

The Treasury opposed the idea because it feared that limits could cost jobs in the City and prompt firms to leave for more favourable shores.

Boris Johnson said: "This is possibly the most deluded measure to come from Europe since Diocletian tried to fix the price of groceries across the Roman Empire."

He warned that it would play into the hands of the City of London's overseas rivals, while undermining support for the EU in Britain.

"People will wonder why we stay in the EU if it persists in such transparently self-defeating policies," he added.

Speaking in Latvia, David Cameron said that any regulation must be flexible enough to allow UK-based banks to compete and succeed.

"We need to make sure that regulation put in place in Brussels is flexible enough to allow those banks to continue competing and succeeding while being based in the UK."

The measures are part of a sweeping overhaul of EU banking rules, which are designed to ensure that banks in the future have enough capital to withstand financial shocks.

Wednesday night's agreement, reached during an eight-hour session between EU lawmakers, the EU Commission and representatives of the bloc's 27 governments in Brussels, ensures the package can take effect next year.

Currently there is no legal pay limit on top bankers and traders, who can earn performance bonuses many times their base salaries.

But public outrage has grown across Europe over large payments to executives of banks that received huge state bailouts during the financial crisis.

Supporters of the bonus cap say the payments encouraged bankers to take massive risks at the expense of the long-term future of their businesses, which helped to destabilise the financial system.

Othmar Karas, the European Parliament's chief negotiator, said: "For the first time in the history of EU financial market regulation, we will cap bankers' bonuses.

"The essence is that from 2014, European banks will have to set aside more money to be more stable and concentrate on their core business, namely financing the real economy, that of small and medium-sized enterprises and jobs."

Final approval by parliament and government leaders of the package is expected to be a formality.

Britain had tried to rally other EU governments behind its position but failed to garner enough support.

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Woman's Diamond Ring Stolen As She Lay Dying

A dying woman had a treasured diamond ring stolen from her finger in the final moments of her life at a hospice.

The gold band was taken from Wendy Dolton's hand as she lay powerless in her bed.

Hours later, the 65-year-old lost her battle with cancer.

The ring was given to Mrs Dolton by her husband to celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary. It was the last gift he gave her before he died nine years ago.

Her son Sean, 46, said: "It's a violation of morality that is just unbelievable. I'm speechless. Whoever did this is absolute scum.

"I saw her at about 6pm on the Wednesday and she had it on and she died at around 5pm on the Thursday. I feel sick to know that someone could do that in the last hours of her life.

"It's not just any ring. It was a 40th anniversary present from my father in the last months of his life, so the value is hugely sentimental.

"The fact that someone could do that to someone when they are at their most vulnerable is unbelievable. She would have been lying there and unable to do anything."

The theft took place at the Pilgrim's Hospice in Canterbury, Kent, between 6pm on February 13 and 6pm the following day.

The chief executive of Pilgrim's Hospice, Steve Auty, said: "Pilgrims Hospices is co-operating fully with the police and I am leading our own internal investigation.

"We are not aware of an incident like this occurring in our three hospices at any time in our 30-plus years history.

"Clearly it is not a situation that we want to occur in our hospices and especially not at such a difficult time for the family members concerned."

He said that there was no evidence to suggest any members of staff were implicated in the theft.

Pc Chris Poulter, of Kent Police, who is investigating the theft, said: "The theft of the ring has caused a great deal of upset for Wendy's family at a time when they are already trying to cope with her sad passing.

"Pilgrim's Hospice has been fully co-operative and our investigation continues. We have already visited some second-hand shops and will continue to make inquiries."

Anyone with information about the theft of the ring, described as a gold band with a large square diamond, is asked to call Kent Police on 101.

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Secret Baggage Searches For Air Passengers

Air passengers are having their bags secretly searched for alcohol and cigarettes in a practice that is "prohibited", an inspector's report has found.

Customs staff routinely searched travellers and holidaymakers bags without the owners being present, according to the report.

However, it raised concerns that "there were no assurances that this power was being used in a lawful, proportionate and controlled manner".

The report, by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, John Vine, found that: "There had been an absence of any assurance being undertaken to ensure that the correct procedures were being followed to protect Human Rights obligations during these searches."

Covert searches of luggage are prohibited under the current Border Force Enforcement Handbook guidance.

According to the report into practices at Birmingham Airport, information from the Border Force indicated 1,147 seizures were made as a result of the secret searches between October 2011 and September 2012.

The searches were carried out to try to catch those bringing more than their allocated allowance of cigarettes and alcohol into the country.

However, despite the large number of successful seizures, there were no records to show occasions where bag searches were made and nothing was found.

Civil liberties campaigners say that the searches that could not be guaranteed to be either "lawful or proportionate" were an abuse of power.

Passengers' bags may have been rifled through without their knowledge

Nick Pickles, director of privacy and civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: "Security on aircraft is clearly important, however people shouldn't be afraid that their luggage will be searched on spurious grounds or at random.

"People can't challenge these searches if they don't even know they're going on.

"The glaring absence of any detail about how these powers have been used leaves open a number of troubling questions, particularly how many people's luggage was searched without anything being found."

Senior managers at the airport had said that the searches were carried out in accordance with the 2008 HMRC consultation and the draft Code of Practice.

After the inspection, Mr Vine's team was told that the internet-based Border Force Enforcement Handbook had now been updated to reflect the HMRC consultation paper.

However, when the inspectors checked: "Our access to the web-based Border Force Enforcement Handbook established it had not been updated to include this guidance."

A Border Force spokesperson said: "Border Force protects the public and our economy by stopping the importation and exportation of illegal and restricted goods.

"Searching baggage, including when the owner is not present, is a legal and proportionate response to this issue. Any such searches must be authorised by a senior officer.

"We have already taken action on the recommendations the Chief Inspector made in his report."

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Sports Direct To Buy 116 Republic Stores

Sports Direct is to buy 116 stores and the website from the administrators of fashion retailer Republic, saving more than 2,100 jobs.

Joint administrators from Ernst & Young confirmed the sale, which would include the head office in Leeds.

Administrator Hunter Kelly said: "In what has been a very challenging time and volatile climate for retailers, it is particularly pleasing to have completed the successful sale of Republic (Retail) Limited, saving 2,100 jobs across the UK high street and at its Leeds-based headquarters.

Republic is famous for its onesies

"The brand Republic is well recognised and well respected by customers for offering quality, high fashion goods and it is a testament to its strength that Sports Direct has made this investment to secure its future and high street presence."

Republic was originally established as a men's denim retailer in 1986 under the Best Jeans brand, in Leeds.

It currently offers casual fashion, under multiple brands to young adults, including the Jack Jones and SoulCal labels.

On February 12 Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman revealed the retailer was poised to enter administration.

But hours later it still promoted itself as a viable concern with a tweet about its all-in-one outfits, known as onesies.

Republic was owned by private equity firm TPG, which had more than $54bn (£35bn) under management.

After the retailer went into administration on February 13, the investment firm's website still promoted Republic as "one of the United Kingdom's top young adult fashion retailers".

However TPG has since removed the retailer from its portfolio of more than 260 companies.

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Tia Sharp: Neighbour Denies Time-Wasting

A neighbour of the grandmother of murdered schoolgirl Tia Sharp has denied wasting police time.

Paul Meehan, 40, is accused of causing wasteful employment of the police by making a false report saying he had information linked to an inquiry in August last year.

Meehan, from Croydon, south London, entered a not guilty plea at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

During the short hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and to deny the offence.

He was released on bail and will next appear at the same court on May 3 for a one-day trial.

Meehan is the neighbour of Tia's grandmother, Christine Sharp, whose boyfriend, Stuart Hazell, is due to stand trial for the 12-year-old's murder in May.

Christine Sharp's boyfriend Hazell is due to stand trial

Tia's body was found in the loft of her grandmother's house in New Addington, south London, in August last year, more than a week after she went missing.

Hazell, 37, from New Addington, is charged with murdering the schoolgirl between August 2 and 11.

Christine Sharp was arrested on suspicion of murder but in December she was told she would face no further action in relation to the case.

The disappearance of the schoolgirl sparked a huge search around the Croydon area with family members leading the campaign.

Police officers had previously visited Christine Sharp's home, but it was only days into the search that Tia's body was discovered hidden in the loft.

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Horsemeat: Tesco To Source More Meat From UK

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business and Economics Correspondent

Tesco has announced a commitment to source more of its meat from the UK at a farming conference in Birmingham today.

The supermarket kingpin has told the National Farmers Union meeting that by July all its chicken will come from British farms, and pork products will follow.

Tesco will also offer suppliers two-year contracts to help companies plan their business for the longer term.

The company's chief executive, Phillip Clarke, addressed the conference today, told Sky News: "We feel the need to bring the food closer to home.

"We think it's right to bring more of it back to the UK, so long as we can get the demand from the UK."

Earlier this month, Mr Clarke said in a video on Tesco's website that the company would take a more open approach to food processing after it was found to be selling products contaminated with horsemeat.

Tesco was one of the first retailers to pull products from its shelves after the horsemeat contamination was revealed on January 16 after analysis was undertaken by Irish food officials.

Tesco has blamed its suppliers for the meat contamination

Tests on Findus beef lasagne revealed that some of the ready meals were made entirely from horsemeat.

And Tesco found levels of horse DNA exceeded 60% in tests on its Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese.

Since the horsemeat scandal broke, supermarkets have been criticised for not communicating with customers quickly enough.

They have also seen frozen burger sales and ready meal sales plunge dramatically, data by Kantar Worldpanel showed.

In an attempt to be more transparent, Tesco said it would put cameras on the supply chain so shoppers could see where the food they are eating has come from and how it was produced.

"There's nothing for anybody to hide. There never should be," said Mr Clarke.

While it already sources all its beef products from the UK and Ireland, the food retailer admits suppliers had cut corners.

"The impact so far on sales is minimal," Mr Clarke added, though he acknowledged that some customers are buying fewer frozen ready meals.

George MacDonald, Retail Week executive editor, told Sky News, "The shopper can feel fairly confident that anybody involved is going to be looking very closely indeed at how they can sort out these problems."

As the nation's biggest supermarket, Tesco should be at the forefront of campaign to restore trust in food, Mr MacDonald believes.

"It is essential for them to fully reconnect with the customer," he said.

Sky News has confirmed that Harvester has become the latest outlet to withdraw burger products for precautionary reasons over horsemeat fears.

The firm withdrew its 6oz burgers from sale after equine DNA was found in burgers destined for Whitbread their Doncaster-based supplier, Paragon Quality Foods Ltd.

Paragon has confirmed no contamination of burgers supplied to Harvester has occurred.

A Harvester spokesperson told Sky News: "The Harvester burger had a negative test result but as Paragon had received a positive test result for a batch of 6oz burgers in the factory we removed our product as a precautionary measure in case of any possible contamination.

"We are in the process of replacing all existing stock with a fresh batch."

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UK Economy Grew More Than Thought In 2012

The economy performed better than expected across 2012 despite shrinking in the final quarter, according to new official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), in its second estimate for the fourth quarter, maintained its finding that output fell by 0.3% between October and December.

Slow wage growth hitting consumers' pockets was a major factor.

However, compared with a year ago, the UK economy was 0.3% bigger - better than the first reading which suggested output was flat.

Sky's Economics Editor Ed Conway says this means Britain is only a small revision away from having never suffered a double-dip recession at all.

The better-than-expected scenario is a boost to Chancellor George Osborne ahead of his Budget next month.

However, the fourth quarter's output performance continues to highlight the risk of a triple-dip recession.

George Osborne is under intense pressure to stimulate growth

Last week, ratings agency Moody's downgraded Britain's triple-A credit rating, citing weak growth which it said was damaging the Government's fiscal targets.

The move dominated debate between Ed Miliband and David Cameron during Prime Minister's Questions.

According to the ONS output in the service sector, which makes up 75% of the UK economy, fell by 0.1% in the final quarter of 2012.

Industrial production was the big loser, contracting by 1.9% - its biggest decline since the first quarter of 2009 - while construction output grew by 0.9%.

Activity surveys for the first quarter of 2013 have given a mixed picture but have so far pointed to a picture of slight GDP growth for the period which, if realised, would mean the UK avoiding a new third period of recession.

Economists believe the continued and deepening squeeze on consumer spending as a result of low wage growth and rising prices is one of the greatest risks.

Chris Williamson, of Markit, said: "With political tensions rising in the eurozone due to the inconclusive Italian elections, low consumer confidence at home, signs of still weak bank lending and businesses remaining reluctant to invest due to economic uncertainty, none of the main causes of weak growth have been resolved.

"The outlook for the rest of the year is therefore one of very modest economic growth at best with ongoing, heightened risks of another slide back into contraction."

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Coronation Street's Michael Le Vell In Court

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England Correspondent

The Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell has appeared in court for the first time to face six charges of raping a child.

Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster in the ITV soap opera, is accused of 19 child sex offences.

The actor sat glum-faced in the dock as charges of raping a child were put to him.

During the eight-minute hearing, Le Vell - whose real name is Michael Turner - spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Le Vell looked shaken as he arrived for the hearing

Four members of his family sat towards the back of the court.

The alleged offences relate to one complainant and all took place between 2001 and 2010, the court heard.

District Judge Khalid Qureshi asked Le Vell's solicitor, Richard Gowthorpe, if there was any indication of plea, to which he replied: "No indication of plea today other than the fact that the charges are contested, and will be fully contested in the Crown Court."

Le Vell was bailed on the condition he surrenders his passport, does not contact named witnesses or have unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 14.

Asked if he understood the conditions, Le Vell nodded.

Le Vell is one of television's most famous faces

As he left the court, he said to waiting photographers:  "You must have enough pictures of me by now."

When the charges were announced earlier this year, the 48-year-old father-of-two said he intends to fight them "vigorously".

"I would like to make it quite clear that following the serious allegations that have been brought against me on Thursday 14th February 2013, I am innocent of these charges and intend to fight them vigorously," he said.

"I will now put all my efforts into clearing my name and proving my innocence."

ITV dropped the actor from any further episodes of the show after the charges became public.

Minders clear the path for Le Vell outside the Manchester court

An ITV spokesman said: "Given the serious nature of these charges, Michael Le Vell will not be appearing in Coronation Street pending the outcome of legal proceedings. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time."

Le Vell, who split from his wife Janette Beverley last year, is one of television's most famous faces after playing car mechanic Kevin Webster for the past 30 years in the TV show.

Originally from Manchester, he began his acting career in the Oldham Theatre Workshop after taking an interest in amateur dramatics while at school.

He first joined the soap in 1983 and quickly endeared himself to fans who have followed the trials and tribulations of Kevin, from Brian Tilsley's apprentice mechanic through to his stormy marriage to Sally, played by Sally Dynevor, and fathering two teenage girls as well as a love child from his affair with Molly Dobbs.

Le Vell is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on March 20.

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Lord Rennard: Clegg Admits 'Serious Mistakes'

Nick Clegg has admitted his party made "very serious mistakes" in its handling of sexual harassment claims against its then chief executive Lord Rennard.

The Deputy Prime Minister continued to insist that he was personally unaware of any specific allegations by women in the party until they were broadcast last week.

But he said the issue was "in the background" when the peer - who strongly denies the claims - retired from his senior role on grounds of ill-health in 2009.

"There were some very serious mistakes and the women were not listened to and were let down," Mr Clegg said as he was questioned on the controversy during his weekly phone-in on LBC 97.3 radio.

Lord Rennard has strongly denied the allegations

"I so much believe that it is crucial that you treat people with respect and dignity in everything you do - and that is what I expect of people in the organisation I lead. That, clearly, did not happen here, to put it mildly."

Mr Clegg said an email sent to a senior aide by the Daily Telegraph shortly before the 2010 election setting out detailed allegations "was not passed on to me".

"He felt that four days before the general election, because he knew what the answer was - that I didn't know anything about the allegations - and he would just send an answer back to the Daily Telegraph.

"Clearly something went seriously wrong in the organisation as a whole that people were not talking to each other."

He also insisted that a face-to-face conversation with then MP Sandra Gidley after he became leader in 2007 had been "of a general nature".

"She raised it in general terms. She wasn't aware of any specific allegations and, as she has confirmed today, I didn't either," he said.

The programme's final caller - called Herbie - asked Mr Clegg: "How in God's name do you expect (people in Eastleigh) to vote for you with this scandal going on and uneasiness?"

Mr Clegg answered by outlining the party's record in the area, where voters will pick Chris Huhne's replacement on Thursday.

When pressed on details of what was said during various discussions, the party leader said he could not be expected to remember what was said in conversations six years ago.

"All I can tell you is the truth as I recollect it now," he added.

Lord Rennard issued a fresh denial of any wrongdoing on Wednesday and has said he is ready "co-operate with any properly-constituted inquiry".

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Badger Culls To Go Ahead In Two Areas

Two pilot badger culls to tackle the spread of bovine tuberculosis will go ahead in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset.

The culls, which will see 70% of badgers killed in each area, were authorised by Government agency Natural England after final licence conditions were met.

The two pilot culls were delayed last year in the face of bad weather and the discovery that there were more badgers in the areas than previously estimated.

From June 1, up to 5,000 badgers will be killed across the two areas annually over a six week period for four years.

An area in Dorset will be prepared as a reserve in case one of the existing licensed cull areas cannot be used, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said.

He said tackling bovine TB had cost the taxpayer £500m in the past 10 years, and costs could reach £1bn over the next decade if the disease was left unchecked.

Owen Paterson at the National Farmer's Union conference

Speaking at the National Farmers' Union conference in Birmingham, he said: "Bovine TB is spreading at an alarming rate and causing real devastation to our beef and dairy industry.

"The authorisation letters issued today confirming culling can proceed this summer in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset is an important step towards taking the action we need to tackle the spread of this disease in wildlife.

"I am determined that there are no further delays this year."

The pilots are being carried out to test whether free shooting is an effective and humane way to remove badgers.

Mr Paterson said Britain had to learn from experience elsewhere that TB could not effectively be curbed without tackling the problem in wildlife.

He said he wanted to see effective and affordable vaccines deployed for both cattle and badgers as quickly as possible but it was likely to take another decade before the deployment of a cattle vaccine which is validated and legal under EU regulations could take place.

National Farmers' Union president Peter Kendall welcomed the move which he said would help reduce the damage TB did to the country's food production base.

He described the 35,000 cattle which had to be slaughtered because of the disease in 2012 as a "scandalous waste".

But the measure has been criticised by Labour, which has consistently opposed a badger cull.

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said 150,000 people had signed a petition against it last year and scientists had warned against the "untested and risky approach".

She said: "As incompetent Defra ministers stagger from one crisis to the next, the policing costs, paid by the taxpayer, will balloon to £4m while bovine TB will increase in the next two years as the shooting displaces badgers.

"Ministers should listen to the public and the scientists and drop this cull before any more public money is wasted."

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Ben Nevis Climber Killed In 165ft Fall

A climber has died after falling 50 metres (165ft) on Ben Nevis.

The man was climbing with a friend in the Raeburn's Buttress area of the UK's highest mountain, in the Scottish Highlands, when he fell at around 12.30pm on Monday.

Two helicopters flew to the scene with Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, but the man died during the rescue.

Police are trying to establish the exact circumstances around the death and will not release information on the victim until his family have been informed.

Raeburn's Buttress is a popular climbing area on the north face of Ben Nevis, which stands at 1,344 metres (4,409ft).

Last month a 22-year-old climber died after falling 100 metres on the mountain.

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Tom Maynard: Dead Cricketer Was On Drugs

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent

A promising young cricketer had cocaine and ecstasy in his system and was nearly four-times over the drink drive limit on the night he died, an inquest has heard.

Tom Maynard stepped on a live rail and was electrocuted before he was struck by a London Underground train in June last year.

An hour earlier, the 23-year-old was stopped by police near Wimbledon Park station.

Forensic pathologist Simon Poole tested a hair sample from Mr Maynard to find it contained ecstasy and cocaine.

Toxicologist Fiona Perry confirmed the presence of drugs and high levels of alcohol, which she said would cause "significant impairment in coordination and judgement".

Earlier, Tom's father Matthew Maynard, a former England international, described his son as a "consummate professional" who "did not suffer from depression".

Tom Maynard's girlfriend, Carly Baker, a model, was also in court. The inquest heard he was heading to see her after drinking with friends in Wandsworth.

After his death, Ms Baker wrote on Twitter: "You're the most special man I have ever met. You made me the happiest girl. I love you always X."

Tributes to Mr Maynard were left outside the Oval

At around 4.15am on June 18, police officers stopped a vehicle after it was seen being "driven erratically" in Wimbledon.

Mr Maynard got out of his black Mercedes C250 and made off on foot. The officers searched the area but were unable to find him.

At 5.10am, he was found half a mile away on a London Underground line.

The court heard he was hit by a train but appeared to already be unconscious on the track. Dr Poole said his injuries included "burns consistent with contact to a live train rail".

The driver of the train told the inquest that Mr Maynard lay "perfectly still", adding that "at no time did he move or flinch" as he attempted to brake.

Born in Cardiff, Mr Maynard came through the ranks at Glamorgan Cricket Club before moving to Surrey and was considered a rising star in the game.

He had played a Twenty20 game for Surrey against Kent just 14 hours before he died, scoring seven runs.

The previous month he had made his highest first-class score of 143 against Worcestershire and may well have got his first England call-up later in the year.

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Police Allowed 'Rapist' To Go Free And Kill

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

A maverick Scotland Yard rape squad allowed a rape suspect to go unquestioned and free to later kill his two children, it has emerged.

A woman who alleged Jean Say, 62, had raped her was persuaded to retract her complaint by untrained officers under pressure to hit crime targets, said the Independent Police Complaints Commission watchdog.

Say later slashed the throats of his two children, aged 10 and eight, when they went to stay with him for a weekend two years ago.

He was jailed at the Old Bailey for a minimum of 30 years.

The IPCC report has condemned the squad, a specialist Sapphire unit investigating rape and serious sexual crimes in Southwark, South London.

The rape allegation against Say was dismissed by a detective sergeant in the Sapphire unit who said the circumstances did not constitute rape because the woman "consented".

The IPCC said: "The findings of our investigation into the rape ... were also deeply disturbing. The victim was failed by the people from whom she sought help."

It added: "There is no doubt from the evidence that the woman made an allegation of rape at Walworth police station which should have been believed and thoroughly investigated."

Deputy chairwoman of the IPCC Deborah Glass said: "There's no doubt this was an incredibly serious, shocking incident. We know with all the cases that we've dealt with that the consequences of not dealing with allegations of rape can be extremely serious. This is yet another tragic illustration of that."

It has also emerged that three senior officers recommended by the IPCC for gross misconduct disciplinary hearings around failures in another case escaped serious sanctions. Two were promoted.

The IPCC has investigated the Met's sexual crime squads nine times in recent years, five probes involved the Southwark squad. Nineteen officers have been disciplined, three dismissed and one was jailed.

Ms Glass added: "Given the number of cases where the (Metropolitan Police Service's) response to victims has failed, either through individual officers' criminality or neglect or more systematic problems of training, priorities and resources, the response that 'lessons have been learned' begins to ring hollow."

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Tamara Ecclestone's Ex Jailed Over Plot

The former boyfriend of socialite and model Tamara Ecclestone has been jailed for four years after trying to blackmail her in a £200,000 plot.

Derek Rose, who dated the daughter of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone in 2002, had threatened to reveal intimate details about their relationship.

An email sent to Ms Ecclestone's manager in November 2011 suggested the 33-year-old had been offered £200,000 to sell his story to the press.

It talked about the possibility of a "non-release fee" and a confidentiality contract - but no newspaper had actually made an offer.

Judge Andrew Goymer, at Southwark Crown Court, said: "It was nothing more than a cynical and greedy attempt to extract a large sum of money.

"No doubt you thought that £200,000, which is a large sum to most people, would be small change to somebody with the amount of money that she and her family are reputed to have.

"You also thought that for this reason they would readily part with it to buy your silence. She did not do this."

Rose, from Camden, north London, dated Ms Ecclestone when she was 17 before changing his name by deed poll from Jonathan Ketterman.

The email in 2011 was sent after the socialite had starred in Billion Dollar Girl, a reality TV show exploring her life as an heiress, and after she had featured in charity campaigns.

Southwark Crown Court heard the message had "pernicious" implications and was sent to elicit money from Ms Ecclestone, 28.

It claimed Rose had been asked by television shows, radio programmes and a major tabloid to talk about their relationship.

The judge said Rose's relationship with Ms Ecclestone had ended acrimoniously and left him feeling "extremely hurt".

The court heard during the trial how he sold a story about his ex to the Daily Mail for £10,000 in the year of the break-up.

But the former couple had not been in contact for almost a decade before the blackmail attempt.

Ms Ecclestone lawyer Charlotte Harris said: "Tamara Ecclestone is relieved that Judge Goymer has acknowledged, in his sentencing of Derek Rose, the serious nature of blackmail and the need to deter others from attempting to commit similar offences.

"Ms Ecclestone was content to waive her anonymity in giving evidence because she strongly believes that all people have a right to be protected from such cynical and vicious behaviour. The sentence of four years is welcomed."

The jury failed to reach a verdict on Rose's co-accused Jakir Uddin, 20, of Old Walsall Road, Birmingham, and the prosecution is considering whether to seek a retrial.

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Teachers Suspended Over 'Pupil Wellbeing'

A headteacher and five staff have been suspended as an investigation is launched into "pupil wellbeing" at their Blackpool school.

The suspensions at Revoe Community Primary School came after a member of council staff raised concerns following a routine visit.

Blackpool Council confirmed the allegations are not of a sexual nature.

Cllr Sarah Riding, cabinet member for education and schools, said temporary staff had been hired and parents were being informed of the situation.

She said: "Before half term we were made aware of an issue at Revoe Primary School that raised concerns to us about the professional judgement made by a number of staff in relation to pupil wellbeing.

"These concerns have led to the suspension of six members of staff while a full investigation is carried out.  It would not be appropriate to comment further on the nature of the investigation until it has been concluded.

"Although we have no reason to suspect any child has come to harm this is a serious situation that needed immediate action to be taken.

"In the meantime temporary staff have been recruited and there will be no disruption to children's learning. All parents will receive a letter explaining the current arrangements in place."

The school, on Grasmere Road, teaches children aged between two and 11 years old. It has more than 400 pupils and employs about 70 people, including teachers and support staff.

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April Jones Murder: Mark Bridger On Trial

Former lifeguard Mark Bridger will go on trial today accused of the murder of schoolgirl April Jones.

Bridger, 47, was arrested the day after the five-year-old vanished while playing on her bike near her home in Machynlleth, Wales, on October 1 last year.

April vanished in October last year

The disappearance of April, who had cerebral palsy, sparked a massive outpouring of support for her family, with hundreds of people joining the search.

The girl's body has never been found despite a major operation led by Dyfed Powys Police.

Bridger, of Ceinws, is charged with abducting and murdering April, and of unlawfully disposing of and concealing her body with intent to pervert the course of justice.

He pleaded not guilty to the allegations on January 14 when his barrister Brendan Kelly QC told Mold Crown Court that Bridger is "probably responsible" for her death.

The trial, also at Mold, is expected to be occupied with legal matters and jury selection today and is due to open later this week.

On the day she went missing, Mr and Mrs Jones had allowed April to play out late as a treat after she received a glowing report from school.

Bridger was arrested the following day.

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Dagenham Acid Attack: Two People Arrested

Police investigating an acid attack on a woman in east London have arrested two people on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

Naomi Oni, 21, suffered injuries to much of her face when she was attacked in Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, at around 12.40am on December 30.

She was returning home from work at a shopping centre in Stratford and was on the phone to her boyfriend at the time.

"When I first saw my face, I was shocked," she told ITV's This Morning. "I was angry that someone had done that to me. I couldn't understand why someone would want to hurt me like that.

"I want them to realise the pain they've put me and my family through.

"They may have burned my face but they can't burn me as a person."

The Metropolitan Police said a 21-year-old woman, who is not Ms Oni, and a 28-year-old man were arrested on Friday and Sunday respectively. They have been bailed while investigations continue.

Officers now want to speak to a potential witness who got off the route 368 bus in Lodge Avenue around five minutes after the attack.

He is described as black, aged between 20 and 30 years old, around 5ft 5ins tall and of medium build. He was wearing a black jacket, a black hooded top and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Barking and Dagenham CID on 020 3276 1058 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Ikea Meatballs Withdrawn Over Horsemeat Fears

A batch of meatballs has been taken off the menu at Ikea's UK stores after traces of horsemeat were discovered in the supply chain.

The Czech Republic's state veterinary administration - which made the discovery - said the 1kg packs of frozen meatballs were labelled as beef and pork.

Ikea said it had taken the result "seriously", and was removing meatballs from sale in countries across Europe.

The checks were carried out in response to a European-wide scandal that erupted last month when tests carried out in Ireland revealed some beef products also contained horsemeat.

Traces of horsemeat were found in meals sold by several British retailers.

An Ikea spokesman said: "Ikea takes the test result from the Czech Republic authorities showing indications of traces of horse meat seriously.

"The concerned production batch of meatballs has been withdrawn from the Swedish Food Market in the Ikea stores.

"Already two weeks ago, Ikea Group initiated DNA analyses of all meat products in the range.

"12 tested samples of different batches of meatballs showed no traces of horsemeat."

The European Union's agriculture ministers gathered in Brussels Monday to discuss the widening scandal's fallout, with some member states pressing for tougher rules to regain consumer confidence.

The 27-nation bloc must agree on binding origin disclosures for food product ingredients, starting with a better labelling of meat products, German agriculture minister Ilse Aigner said.

"Consumers have every right to the greatest-possible transparency," she said the consignment of meatballs that was tested had not been distributed to consumers, the statement said.

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Vet's Killer Jailed For At Least 37 Years

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England Correspondent

A man who murdered a vet in North Wales before cutting up and disposing of her body had a long-standing fantasy to imprison, rape and kill a woman, a court has heard.

Production manager Clive Sharp, 47, was jailed for a minimum of 37 years at Mold Crown Court after admitting murder.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Griffith Williams told Sharp: "This is a horrific, cold hearted murder, carried out to gratify your perverted sexual desires."

The court had been told that Sharp had bought a Halloween mask, bleach, a hacksaw, bin bags and heavy duty tape before going to the home of Catherine Gowing,37, in Flintshire.

Sharp initially denied murdering Miss Gowing but his DNA was found on her mattress and parts of her body subsequently found in police searches.

The court heard that the evidence suggested that the victim had been tied up and raped before being murdered.

A length of fabric was found tied to the leg of her bed. It matched material found at the factory where Sharp worked.

Miss Gowing's sister Emma told the court: "My parents are heart-broken.

"They miss her smiling face, her kindness, her compassion and the energy she exuded."

The judge Mr. Justice Griffith Williams described the crime as "carefully pre-meditated and planned."

He told Sharp: "You are in my view a very serious danger to women."

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Britain's Top Cardinal Keith O'Brien Resigns

Britain's most senior priest in the Roman Catholic Church Cardinal Keith O'Brien has resigned over allegations of inappropriate behaviour up to 30 years ago.

The news comes just a day after claims by three priests and a former priest first emerged in a newspaper.

Cardinal O'Brien confirmed that he was to step down immediately, saying in a statement: "The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today.

"Looking back over my years of ministry: For any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended."

The 74-year-old Cardinal - Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh - should have been travelling to the Vatican this week to help choose the next Pope.

He said he would not be joining the conclave to choose a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, adding: "I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me - but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor."

The Vatican confirmed the news soon after.

The Cardinal missed the traditional Sunday Mass at his main Cathedral, St Mary's in Edinburgh, on Sunday (February 24) after the Observer newspaper carried allegations relating to actions by him 30 years ago.

The claims emerged just days after Cardinal O'Brien had called for the Catholic Church to end its celibacy rule for the priesthood.

He had told the BBC: "I realise that many priests have found it very difficult to cope with celibacy as they lived out their priesthood, and felt the need of a companion, of a woman, to whom they could get married and raise a family of their own."

Cardinal Keith O'Brien was the only British Roman Catholic cleric able to vote in the upcoming conclave electing Pope Benedict XVI's successor.

The conclave is expected to take place in the next three weeks.

March 15 had been the date when most commentators expected the conclave to start but an announcment by the Vatican on Monday raised the possibilty that it could start sooner.

The Pope has now decreed that it can start as soon as all the eligible cardinals are in Vatican and agree that it can begin.

Cardinal O'Brien's resignation means Britain now has no one able to vote in the forthcoming conclave to elect the next leader of the 1.2bn Roman Catholics worldwide.

Bishop Stephen Robson, who is auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, made a statement at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh explaining why the Cardinal could not attend the week's main mass on Sunday.

He said: "A number of allegations of inappropriate behaviour have been made against the Cardinal.

"The Cardinal has sought legal advice and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time."

In his resignation statement, Cardinal O'Brien said he had previously offered his resignation but it had only been accepted now.

Cardinal O'Brien had been expected to resign on March 17 as it was the date of his 75th birthday. Cardinals older than 75 are not allowed to vote in the conclave.

He is no stranger to making the news with his views.

He has been an advocate of priests marrying but an outspoken opponent of plans to legalise same-sex marriage.

Last year his stance landed him the award, Bigot of the Year, from the gay rights group Stonewall.

In 2007 he caused controversy when speaking on the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act he said the termination rate north of the border was equivalent to "two Dunblane massacres a day".

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Banksy Mural Withdrawn From Auction

By Liz Lane, Sky News Reporter

A Banksy work that was removed from the side of a north London Poundland shop under mysterious circumstances has been withdrawn from sale in the US.

The world's most famous street artist painted the mural on the side of Poundland in Wood Green last May, before the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Called Slave Labour, it showed a boy hunched over a sewing machine making Union Flag bunting.

It was suddenly removed from the wall last weekend, to the anger of local people, and turned up at Fine Art Auctions in Miami where it was expected to fetch up to £460,000 ($700,000).

It looks like a week-long campaign by Haringey Council to stop the sale may have worked as, at the last-minute, the lot was pulled.

A spokesman for the Florida auction house said there were "no legal issues" regarding the sale but that it had decided to withdraw two Banksy lots. No further explanation was given.

Wood Green councillor Alan Strickland said: "To have the mural withdrawn from sale at the 11th hour is a wonderful surprise for the community here in Wood Green.

"It suggests the level of international media attention has had a real impact."

Mr Strickland emailed FAA owner Frederic Thut to ask why the sale had not gone ahead and if there were any plans to auction it in the future.

"Local people have already been in touch about the brilliant news, but we need to know what's going to happen now," he said.

A stencil of a rat holding a sign saying "Why?" has appeared on the wall

"It seems like we're half-way there. The next step is to get it returned."

It is still unclear who intended to sell the artwork via the auction house, but the Metropolitan Police had said there had not been any reports of theft.

A solicitor for Wood Green Investments, which owns the Poundland site, told Sky News: "My clients do not court publicity, but find themselves in the quite remarkable position that if they deny removing the mural then they will become embroiled in an international criminal investigation that has already involved the FBI.

"But if they admit to consenting to the removal of the mural then they will become the target of abuse."

The episode has started a debate about who, if anyone, owns street art.

Artist "Stik" is clear about who he paints for: "Street artists are putting their work on the street for people. It's for communities, and it's an artistic expression. It's a public gallery. It's open 24 hours a day and it's the biggest gallery in the world, because it is the world."

This isn't this first time murals have been removed to be sold for huge sums. French artist Thierry Noir contributed to the longest concrete painting in the world on the Berlin Wall.

He told Sky News that when the wall came down, his work was stripped by East German soldiers and sold in Monaco for £2m: "It was the soldiers so what can I do against soldiers? Nothing except look at those soldiers.

"It took them one week to take the complete pieces I paint in Berlin, but it was too strong for me so I had to accept it."

A rat holding up a sign saying "Why?" has been stencilled next to the empty space where the Banksy mural stood, with some speculating it could be another work by the elusive artist.

Whether Slave Labour will be returned to the community it was meant for, remains as mysterious as the artist.

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Doctors From Abroad Must Take English Test

By Lisa Dowd, Sky News Correspondent

New checks will be introduced to make sure all NHS doctors can speak English well enough to treat patients, the Government has announced.

It comes five years after David Gray, 70, was killed by a German doctor on his first out-of-hours shift in the UK.

Daniel Ubani accidentally gave the pensioner 10 times the recommended dose of the painkiller diamorphine.

The locum was struck off the medical register in the UK, but still practises in Germany, despite admitting death by negligence in a German court.

Mr Gray's son Stuart, 53, himself a GP, said: "What Ubani had done was try to register with Leeds PCT (Primary Care Trust).

"They'd made him sit an English language test to see if he was proficient. He failed that, so he decided to apply to another PCT, this being Cornwall.

"They didn't bother to test his English language skills, put him on the list, once he was on the list he can practise anywhere in the country and he then went to practise in Cambridgeshire where he killed my father."

Daniel Ubani caused the death of 70-year-old David Gray (pictured)

Last year, research by Pulse magazine for GPs found that 792 EU doctors were on the so-called "performers lists" of 51 Primary Care Trusts, allowing them to work in the UK. Of those, 657 doctors, or 83%, hadn't had their English skills tested.

From April 1 there will be one national list which every GP will have to be on before treating patients. There will also be a legal duty to ensure those on it have good English.

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said: "It's not something that should cause huge public alarm, but it's something that we do know from the case of Doctor Daniel Ubani, and other doctors, who are sometimes flown in to do short-term locums in the NHS from Europe, that it is something that has actually caused deaths in this country.

"That's completely unacceptable and that's why we're introducing language checking for all overseas doctors including those within the EU."

But Dr Gray, of Blakedown, Worcestershire, has his doubts. He said: "I'd like to know how they're going to police it.

"If they say it's going to be illegal for the doctor to work here if they can't communicate in English, well, it was illegal for Cornwall PCT to put Ubani on their list, and no one has been held to account for breaking the law there."

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, welcomed the Government's plans. "This is good news for patients," he said. "The Health Minister's announcement today will help strengthen patient safety across the UK.

"Our position is clear - patients must be confident that the doctor who treats them has the right communications skills to do the job.

"If doctors cannot speak English to a safe standard then the GMC must be able to protect patients by preventing them from practising in the UK."

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Cardinal Keith O'Brien Contests Accusations

Britain's most senior Roman Catholic clergyman has been reported to the Vatican over claims of inappropriate behaviour, a newspaper has claimed.

The Observer reports that three priests and a former priest have made the allegations against Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

A spokesman for the Scottish Catholic Church told Sky News that Cardinal O'Brien "contests these claims and is taking legal advice".

According to the Observer, the four claimants reported to nuncio Antonio Mennini, the Vatican's ambassador to Britain, that Cardinal O'Brien had committed "inappropriate acts" going back 33 years.

The claimants, all from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, are also demanding the cleric's resignation, the paper said.

Cardinal O'Brien has a vote in the forthcoming papal conclave to choose Pope Benedict XVI's successor.

The claimants are said to be worried that their report will not be properly addressed if he is allowed to travel to Rome.

"It (the church) tends to cover up and protect the system at all costs," said one of the complainants, according to quotes published by the paper.

"The church is beautiful, but it has a dark side and that has to do with accountability. If the system is to be improved, maybe it needs to be dismantled a bit."

Cardinal O'Brien, who is due to retire next month, has angered the gay community with his conservative stance on homosexuality.

He recently said that same-sex marriages would be "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved" and has long voiced opposition to gay adoption.

When Pope Benedict announced his decision to resign on February 11, Cardinal O'Brien said: "Like many people throughout the world, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the decision by Pope Benedict XVI to resign.

"I know that his decision will have been considered most carefully and that it has come after much prayer and reflection."

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'Gas Poison' Deaths: Caravan Park Trio Named

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

The three people who died of suspected carbon monoxide in Cornwall have been named locally as John and Audrey Cook, and their daughter, Maureen.

Mr Cook, 90, his 86-year-old wife and their 46-year-old daughter were found dead along with a pet dog on Saturday in their static home near Camborne, Cornwall.

The alarm was raised when a neighbour tried to call in to help the elderly couple.

Devon and Cornwall Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious but it is thought a faulty appliance may be to blame.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that claims around 50 lives a year and leaves some 200 people seriously ill.

Neighbour Julie Taylor told Sky News how, within hours of hearing of the tragedy, she went out and bought two carbon monoxide alarms: "It's just absolutely devastating.

"Having seen it in the neighbourhood and myself living on my own I went out straight away and bought them.

Audrey and John Cook

"It is frightening, you can't hear it, you can't see it, you can't smell it - it is the silent killer."

The Cook family had lived on the peaceful Tremarle Home Park for many years and were well known to neighbours.

Neighbour Andrew Stevenson said he was "very, very shocked".

Mr Stevenson was himself a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning in the 1990s when his chimney became blocked.

He told Sky News it was only his parents' decision to open a window that saved his life.

"I got out and we worked out eventually what caused it.

"It felt like someone had given me a head cold and then I got up in the early hours of the morning and it felt like somebody had rugby tackled me but there was nobody there."

He added: "You need to have a carbon monoxide tester even if it is a basic one."

Emergency services were called to the caravan park where they were living at lunchtime on Saturday after the couple's helper was unable to reach them.

Firefighters broke into their home and found the bodies inside.

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Clegg Unaware Of Sex Claims, Lib Dems Insist

Nick Clegg was only recently made aware of the allegations of sexual harassment surrounding the party's former chief executive, the Liberal Democrats have insisted.

Aides said the Deputy Prime Minister only learned about the complaints being made against Lord Rennard following a Channel 4 News report earlier in the week.

Several women accused the peer of inappropriately touching and propositioning female party workers, which he strenuously denies.

The women claimed they reported Lord Rennard's behaviour to senior party officials at the time, but no further action was taken.

And the Mail On Sunday reported that one of the women who came forward to the Channel 4 programme had discussed the allegations with a friend on Facebook as long ago as January 2009.

"I just don't know how nick can know and not do anything.. :-( makes me very sad," she is said to have written.

Her friend apparently replied: "Unless women come forward and go through a formal process ... there isn't much Nick can do."

Lord Rennard is facing accusations of sexual harassment

A Lib Dem spokesman said he had no idea why the Facebook comment had been made, adding: "Nick Clegg only knew of these allegations when we were contacted by Channel 4 News."

Mr Clegg has been on holiday on Spain since the story broke, but is likely to be asked to respond in person as the party launches an investigation into the matter.

Lib Dem Jeremy Browne told Sky News' Murnaghan programme he had known Lord Rennard for 20 years but had not heard "gossip" or the specific allegations before - and said the same applied to Mr Clegg.

He said the party would look at bringing in independent figures to ensure the its investigations are open and transparent.

He said: "My understanding is that what we're doing initially is bringing on the people within the party's structures who have obvious expertise and a record of integrity within the party.

"But if we can introduce an independent element, people who are not Liberal Democrat members but could lend us their expertise in looking at how we can have the best procedures, then that may give people even more confidence."

Business Secretary Vince Cable was asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show whether he knew about the Lord Rennard allegations prior to the Channel 4 programme, and replied: "Absolutely not."

Equalities minister Jo Swinson - a former parliamentary aide to Mr Clegg - has said she "took action" after some women confided in her, but she has not been specific about what she did. She said she welcomed the review so that "lessons can be learned".

The development came as current Lib Dem chief executive Tim Gordon said it appeared the party "did not fully live up to our political ideals" in dealing with the complaints about Lord Rennard.

The peer was a key party strategist and adviser to a succession of Liberal Democrat leaders before standing down due to ill health in 2009.

He said he was "deeply shocked" by the allegations, which he "strongly disputes" and regards as a "total distortion" of his character.

The Lib Dems have launched an internal investigation into the specific allegations against him under the party's disciplinary procedures.

Party president Tim Farron is also conducting a review into the way the party deals with such allegations.

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