Care Home Staff 'Must Have Proper Training'

Compulsory training for care home staff will be introduced under Government plans to better protect the elderly from abuse and neglect, according to reports.

Health minister Norman Lamb said the lack of basic requirements for training care workers was leaving pensioners in the hands of staff who have "no idea what they are doing".

Proposals are expected to include national minimum standards for preparing new recruits to work in nursing homes.

Carers who help with tasks such as washing and dressing elderly people in their own homes will also be required to have the training, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Lamb, the Liberal Democrat care minister, said it was not acceptable that there were no "clear standards of the training that must happen in a care home".

He said: "I would not want a loved one of mine - or indeed myself - to be cared for by someone who has no training."

Criminal prosecutions must follow in the "most outrageous" cases of abuse but reforms are needed to improve the quality of care more widely in nursing homes and in pensioners' own homes, he said.

But Mr Lamb said the new regime must not create "a tick box" culture.

A Department of Health spokesperson told Sky News: "No one should feel that they or their loved ones have to settle for poor quality care.

"Whilst there are many providers that deliver high quality care, more needs to be done to make improvements across the board.

"There are no excuses for failing to keep people safe from abuse or not treating them with kindness, dignity and respect."

Campaigners want all staff to have training in dispensing medication, promoting dignity, the basics of nutrition and hydration, and using equipment such as hoists and lifts.

The reforms, expected by the end of the month, follow a number of scandals involving the treatment of the elderly.

Similar arrangements could be introduced in hospitals after Prime Minister David Cameron said he wanted to end the ability of nursing assistants to "give hands-on care in a hospital ward with no training at all", the newspaper said.

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Tooth Grown From Human And Mouse Cells

Dentists could soon tell patients to throw away their dentures after scientists discovered a way to 'grow' new teeth coated in enamel.

The technique involved growing cells from human gum tissue, then combining them with tooth stem cells taken from a mouse embryo.

These cell clusters were then transplanted by researchers into an adult mouse kidney where they subsequently grew into teeth-like structures.

The tooth grew protective enamel and contained dentin

The human-mouse hybrid teeth were also discovered to contain dentin - the key structural material of teeth - as well as hard protective enamel. There was also evidence of root formation.

The two kinds of cell used were epithelial 'surface lining' cells from human gum tissue, and mesenchymal 'tooth' cells from the mouse embryo.

Professor Paul Sharpe, who led the research at King's College said: "The human epithelial cells are capable of responding to signals from the embryonic tooth cells from the mouse to contribute to crown and root growth.

"These accessible human epithelial cells are thus a realistic source for consideration in human tooth formation."

At present it is not considered ethical or practical to use human embryos in dentistry.

"The next major challenge is to identify a way to culture adult human mesenchymal cells to be tooth-inducing," said Prof Sharpe.

"At the moment we can only make embryonic mesenchymal cells do this.

"What is required is the identification of adult sources of human epithelial and mesenchymal cells that can be obtained in sufficient numbers to make bio-tooth formation a viable alternative to dental implants."

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Falklands: Sky Poll Reveals Nations Divided

By Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent, Falkland Islands

Only 15% of Argentinians think Falkland Islanders should have a say in their own future, and a quarter still believe that the islands will one day be governed from Buenos Aires.

Those answers, in an opinion poll conducted by YouGov for Sky News, come on the eve of a referendum in which Falklanders will be asked whether they want to remain British.

It is expected to result in an overwhelming yes vote, but the islanders' enthusiasm for Britain doesn't seem to be reciprocated in the UK.

When asked what was the most important international issue affecting their country, only 1% of British respondents said the Falklands, while the figure was 24% in Argentina - just ahead of those worried about the economy.

Ballot boxes are prepared for Sunday's referendum

There was an even bigger divergence of opinion between the two countries over the rights of the people on the islands to have a say in their future.

Nearly nine out of 10 (88%) British people who were surveyed thought the islanders should have a say on who ruled them, while six out of 10 (59%) Argentinians thought they should have no say on sovereignty.

Jan Cheek, one of the eight members of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, told Sky News: "Sadly that says a lot about Argentina and their view of democracy.

"It's a populist theme. We saw it used by the military junta in '82 and it's being used in the same way by Christina Fernandez de Kirchner today."

The Union Flag bunting is going up

The Argentinian president has tried to buttonhole David Cameron on the issue and has raised it at the United Nations.

"We've seen a lot of propaganda going out from Argentina. Some of it entirely false, some of it a distortion of the facts," said Ms Cheek.

"We would like people to recognise that we have the right to self-determination and we hope that democratic countries would wish to afford us the same right."

It will arguably be the most significant moment in the history of the Falkland Islands since British forces liberated them 10 weeks after they were seized by an Argentinian invasion force in 1982.

The result is not in doubt, only the precise number voting yes. And those who have organised the referendum acknowledge that they need a high turnout to send a clear message.

Dick Sawle, another member of the Legislative Assembly, said: "I think if we got 100%, people would think it was rigged. I think we will get a very high percentage, in the nineties, voting for yes."

The referendum result is a foregone conclusion

There may be a few no votes, because while nobody is thought to favour Argentinian rule, there are a few who would prefer complete independence from Britain.

"One or two people might think that no means that they could have independence immediately," said Mr Sawle.

"I don't think this country is ready for independence yet, I think we have a long way to go in terms of government structure, in terms of responsibility for elected members and so on. We're too small."

Liam Felton-Short is a typical voter. "I'm British. I'm a sixth-generation Falklander," he said. "We are a British people. We're very much proud to be so."

Sybie Summers owns a gift shop in Stanley and is angry about the detrimental effect the Argentinian government has had on her business which relies on tourism.

It's been a slow year because some cruise ships stayed away under pressure from Buenos Aires.

They were told they would not be allowed to sail in Argentinean waters if they sailed into Stanley.

"It annoys me to think what they're trying to do to our islands," said Ms Summers.

"They're trying to cut us off. And hopefully the rest of the world will realise that they just can't do that."

The anti-Falklands policy has become more inventive in recent years, with adverts being placed in British newspapers, and a video secretly shot in Stanley showing one of their Olympic athletes preparing for the London games by training on what the video said was Argentinian soil.

What angered islanders most was that the video showed deserted streets as if the people didn't exist.

They hope that the referendum will give them a voice which the world can't ignore, even if Argentina continues to deny their right to self-determination.

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Abu Qatada Arrested For 'Breaching Bail'

Abu Qatada has been arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions, days ahead of a new Government attempt to have him deported.

The radical cleric, who has been convicted of terror charges in Jordan, was arrested by UK Border Agency officials on Friday following raids by the Metropolitan Police Service Counter Terrorism unit.

Searches at two residential homes and a business in northwest and west London began on Thursday, while a search on a third property in northwest London is ongoing, Scotland Yard said.

The searches were carried out in connection with ongoing inquiries by the Counter Terrorism Command, a spokesman for Scotland Yard said.

However, no arrests have been made in connection with the police investigation, he added.

The Home Office said: "The UK Border Agency arrested a 52-year-old man from north London for alleged breaches of his bail conditions imposed by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC)."

He added that the breach will be considered by SIAC at the earliest opportunity.

Qatada was reportedly arrested by officials outside his family home in London.

The Sun newspaper showed pictures of him being escorted out of his house with his hands hidden under a jacket.

Qatada is due to appear at the Court of Appeal on Monday for Home Secretary Theresa May's attempt to overturn a judge's decision to allow him to stay in the UK.

Ms May will challenge the decision in front of three Court of Appeal judges led by Lord Dyson, the Master of the Rolls.

Once described by a Spanish judge as "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe", Qatada has used human rights laws to fight deportation for more than a decade.

SIAC decided last November that Qatada could not lawfully be deported to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999.

SIAC judges ruled there was a danger that evidence from Qatada's former co-defendants Abu Hawsher and Al Hamasher, said to have been obtained by torture, could be used against him in a retrial in Jordan.

He was granted bail following the ruling by three SIAC judges and released from Long Lartin prison in November last year.

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Image Shows Boy Injured In Gang Attack

Police have released an image of a teenage boy's injured face after he was assaulted by a group of men in Manchester.

The assault began when three cars pulled up on Briscoe Lane, Newton Heath, last Saturday afternoon before a gang of around 12 men got out and began attacking a group of youths.

The 15-year-old boy was attacked by up to four of the men who chased him into nearby Harringay Road.

He was later taken to hospital with facial injuries and a broken arm.

Police have released this image of the boy

A teenage girl was also hit in the face and suffered a fractured cheekbone.

After the assault, which was caught on CCTV, the boy's attackers got back into their cars before before driving off towards Ten Acres Lane.

The boy's mother, who does not wish to be named, said: "I barely recognised my boy when I saw him, such were the extent of the injuries to his face.

"I cannot believe a bunch of grown men would attack an innocent teenage boy like this.

"He was not involved in any sort of trouble yet they waded in with fists and weapons and didn't give him any chance to respond or defend himself."

Police believe the incident may be linked to a dispute the previous evening in the Newton Heath area, however neither victim is understood to have been involved in this.

Detective Constable Paddy Connell, said: "While the CCTV footage we released shows a determined effort by a group of men to get at and assault a number of teenagers, what this injury picture shows is the real consequences of their actions.

"The boy is slight in build and was chased and beaten by burly men.

"Their actions were shameless and shocking and I want people to look at the injuries to the boy's face and if they know anything to come forward.

"We think this may be linked to an incident the previous evening and earlier that day in that general area and if that is the case then they have definitely got the wrong people as neither victim was there.

"If anyone knows anything about what may have prompted this or knows who is responsible, please get in touch."

:: Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3832, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Bus Stab Teen Died Of Single Wound To Chest

Teenager Christina Edkins died from a single stab wound to the chest, a post-mortem has revealed.

The 16-year-old was killed on a busy double-decker bus as she travelled to school during rush hour in what police believe was a random attack.

Police have launched a fresh appeal for witnesses to the attack saying that there were 16 people travelling on the number 9 bus when the attack happened but that only half of them had spoken to police.

Detective Superintendent Richard Baker, of West Midlands Police, said: "We know there are a number of passengers who were on the bus yesterday morning when Christina was attacked while she was sitting upstairs.

"Some of these passengers were sitting downstairs on the bus and they haven't yet spoken to police. They may not even have known what happened but may have vital evidence and it is crucial they contact us as soon as possible on 101."

Police have released a CCTV image as part of their investigation

Police also released a CCTV image of a man in a black jacket with a tiger motif on the back and appealed for anyone who had seen him travelling on buses in and around Birmingham on Thursday between 6am and 1pm to contact them.

A woman claiming to have witnessed the attack on the bus said she waited for the girl's attacker to get off the vehicle before performing CPR on the teenager.

Writing on Facebook, Stephanie Bent said: "I was on that bus i knew what he had done and he was stood next to me when he was getting off, all i could think of was i hope he gets off this stop so i can go upstairs and help the girl.

"Thankfully he got off and i was able to go upstairs and help the girl as best i could i gave CPR until medics arrived and am deeply traumatised i could not save her, i certainly wasn't going to confront a knifeman knowing he had just stabbed someone i thought me may stab me too all i cared about was getting up to the girl to help."

Officers are continuing to question a 22-year-old man who was arrested after a manhunt was launched following the 7.30am stabbing.

Police today provided extra patrols on public transport after attack prompted concerns among residents about knife crime and many voiced fears over travelling on the city's transport system on social network sites.

Christina was described as "bright and popular"

A police spokesman said: "Extra police officers will be patrolling public transport this morning in the wake of yesterday's tragedy to reassure commuters."

Christina, who was described as a "bright and popular" pupil at Leasowes High School in Halesowen, was killed shortly after she boarded the double-decker.

The stabbing happened nearly a month after the teenager had voiced concerns on Twitter about the behaviour of a passenger on another bus trip.

On February 8 she wrote: "This man is worrying me on the bus keeps getting up and walking up and down stairs, and sitting in different place."

The bus on Hagley Road after the rush hour stabbing

However, police said there was no evidence to suggest Christina knew her attacker but that they were aware of her "social media presence".

Police officers stood guard at the Edkins' semi-detached house near Birmingham city centre for much of the day on Thursday while family liaison officers sought to comfort relatives.

Neil Shaw, the headteacher of Leasowes High School, led tributes to his pupil and said friends and family were "deeply saddened" by her death.

He said: "Christina was a bright and popular student much loved by staff and students alike.

Forensic officers get to work at the scene of the attack

"We are deeply saddened to hear this tragic news and our thoughts and hearts go out to her family and everyone who knew her.

"The school is working closely with the police and a team of counsellors to provide support to our pupils and staff."

The Most Rev Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, sent his condolences in a message from Rome.

He said: "I am shocked to hear of the terrible attack on young Christina Edkins as she was making her way to school on a bus today.

"My thoughts and prayers are with her bereft family and with all her friends at Leasowes High School, in Halesowen.

"The loss of a young life in these tragic circumstances raises many questions about our respect for life and about safeguarding children in public places."

 

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Weather: Snow Forecast After Brief Spring

Weather forecasters have issued a warning not to pack away the winter woollies because a blast from the east will bring snow back to the UK this weekend.

Despite the glimpse of spring this week, with temperatures reaching a high of 17C (63F) on Tuesday, the winter weather is set to return.

Winds from Eastern Europe will be bringing with them bitterly cold weather, especially for the North East and east.

It might be just three weeks until the clocks go forward but temperatures will plummet to around zero with the wind chill factor making it feel more like -4C (25F).

This is significantly lower than the average temperature for the time of year, which is around 9-10C (50F).

Spring weather saw temperatures hit 17C (63F) on Tuesday

Sunday will see the coldest weather with eastern blast bringing some snow flurries to the North East and east coast.

The beginning of next week will continue to be bitterly cold and it will be midweek before it warms up.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Don't pack your winter woollies away just yet because it's going to be bitterly cold this week particularly in eastern areas.

"Saturday might be an umbrella day, but Sunday will be a day for several layers."

Heavy rain is expected on Friday night and Saturday, which could make difficult driving conditions particularly along the M4 corridor and in the South East for those hoping to get away for Mother's Day weekend.

Both January and February saw widespread snow across the country causing disruption across the transport network.

The Office for National Statistics reported last month that snow at the beginning of the year had a substantial impact on retail sales.

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Tia Sharp: Stuart Hazell Denies Girl's Murder

The man who is accused of murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp has pleaded not guilty in court.

Stuart Hazell, 37, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Belmarsh prison.

He denied murdering Tia, the granddaughter of his partner Christine Sharp, between August 2 and 10 last year.

Hazel, of New Addington, south London, was remanded in custody to face trial at the same court on May 7.

Tia's body was found in the loft at the house, where Hazel and Christine Sharp lived, a week after the girl was reported missing.

Her disappearance sparked searches by police and members of the public.

But the body was missed when the attic was first searched.

Tia's mother, Natalie Sharp, was in court with her partner, and Tia's father, Stephen Carter, watched from the public gallery.

Hazell wore a black T-shirt and gold necklace. He leant forward as the clerk asked him to confirm his name.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.

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Salmonella Confirmed At Newcastle Food Festival

By Andy Hughes, Sky Tyne And Wear

Initial tests have confirmed salmonella to be the cause of a stomach bug after partygoers became ill at a street festival in Newcastle.

Up to 200 people have reported symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea after being struck down by food poisoning at an Asian food festival in Newcastle.

Around 12,000 people ate at the Street Spice Festival held from February 28 to March 2.

Organisers said they were "shocked and upset" to hear of the widespread gastric symptoms among diners.

Environmental health officers are urging anyone who has fallen ill to contact them on the phone number below.

Vegetarians Prem Kaur and her 15-year-old daughter Devindar became violently sick the day after attending the food festival.

Not everyone was hit by the bug - some people said they had a great time

The 36-year-old caterer, from South Shields, said: "I woke up the next morning and had to run to the toilet. I felt like I was going to vomit.

"My daughter was so bad we had to call an ambulance to come. This has put me off street food for life."

Her husband Malta Singh, 39, an IT consultant said: "As a concerned father and husband, seeing them in that state is very concerning.

"You've got to ask questions about the hygiene."

Dozens contacted Sky Tyne and Wear using Facebook and Twitter following the event, with some saying they had been ill for more than four days and were too ill to go to work.

Others were in touch to say they had suffered no symptoms at all and had thoroughly enjoyed the event.

More than 10,000 attended the festivities

Newcastle City Council's environmental health officers have been working closely with the Health Protection Agency to establish the source of the outbreak.

Stephen Savage, director of regulatory services and public protection, said: "The event organisers are cooperating fully and we are continuing to investigate the source of the outbreak.

Street Spice organiser Bob Arora said: "I must emphasise that the Street Spice at Life Festival was held to raise money for Brain Tumour UK, and we consulted with experts throughout the project with many years of experience in the food industry. 

"We also took hygiene and food safety extremely seriously at the event with measures far outweighing normal food festival conditions, ie walk-in fridges, constant temperature probing, hot and cold water sinks, with experienced national and local exhibitors supplying their own equipment.

"Over 10,000 visitors attended the festival, the vast majority having a fantastic experience.

"I send my sincerest thoughts and apologies to anyone who has become ill and emphasise that we are currently co-operating fully with the Health Protection Agency and Newcastle Council with a view to analysing the source of the outbreak in due course."

:: To report symptoms, call Regulatory Services and Public Protection at Newcastle City Council on (0191) 278 7878

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Carlos Tevez Arrested For Driving Offence

Carlos Tevez has been arrested by police in Macclesfield on suspicion of driving while disqualified.

The Manchester City player was under a six-month driving ban when he was stopped by officers on the edge of the town on Thursday evening. He has since been released on bail

A statement from Cheshire police said: "At 5.13pm on Thursday 7 March police arrested a 29-year-old man from Alderley Edge on the A538 in Macclesfield on suspicion of driving while disqualified.

"The man was arrested and has since been released on police bail."

In 2009 Tevez was stopped by Greater Manchester Police on the M60 and found to be driving without a licence and with illegally tinted windows. Officers impounded his car and issued him with a prohibition notice.

As well as Manchester City, Tevez has also played for Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United and Manchester United.

More follows...

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Foster Care Baby Left On Bus In North London

An investigation has been launched by the council which was responsible for the welfare of Baby P after a baby in foster care was left on a bus.

Scotland Yard says officers were alerted when it was realised that the child had been abandoned on the 491 bus in north London.

The child abuse investigation unit is looking into what happened along with Haringey Council, which was criticised over its handling of the care of toddler Peter Connelly.

Police were called just after 2pm on Friday to Bull Lane, Enfield, near North Middlesex Hospital.

Baby P died in Tottenham in August 2007

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A woman, who identified herself as the child's foster carer, contacted emergency services.

"The child was checked at hospital before being handed back to the care of social services.

"Inquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests. Social services are investigating the matter in partnership with the MPS Child Abuse Investigation Command."

Baby Peter was 17 months old when he died in Tottenham, north London, on August 3, 2007.

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

A series of reviews have identified missed opportunities when officials could have saved him if they had acted properly on the warning signs.

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Child Heart Surgery: Campaigners In Court Win

Campaigners have won a High Court challenge over proposed changes to children's heart surgery services in England.

Save Our Surgery (SOS), which is trying to stop the closure of the heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary, argued the consultation process leading up to the changes was "unfair and procedurally flawed".

Justice Nicola Davies, sitting at London's Royal Courts of Justice, ruled that the challenge must succeed - but what the victory means for the future will be decided at a later date.

Outside the court, SOS spokeswoman Sharon Cheng said  the ruling did not necessarily mean the Leeds heart unit was saved.

She said much would depend on what orders the judge decided to make when the matter returns to court later this month.

"We have won this case on every point. It doesn't necessarily mean the heart surgery is saved, but fresh reconsideration will have to be given as to what is to happen next and the fight will go on," she said.

"We knew it was time to fight because of the strength of feeling of families.

"The campaign started small, like David and Goliath, then grew and grew out of all proportions."

Nearly 600,000 people signed a petition against closure of the Leeds unit

The legal challenge stems from a decision last July by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) that paediatric cardiac surgery should be concentrated at fewer, larger sites to improve standards across the country.

Sir Neil McKay, chair of the JCPCT, said he was very disappointed with the court's decision.

"The pressing need to reform children's heart services is long overdue and experts have cautioned that further delay in achieving the necessary change would be a major set back in improving outcomes for children with heart disease," he said.

"The judgement focuses on a single matter of process, but the case for the reconfiguration of children's heart surgical services remains strong."

The sites currently chosen to stay open are at Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Southampton and two London centres.

As well as the Leeds site, units at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital and London's Royal Brompton are also facing closure.

The Brompton lost an earlier legal challenge to the proposals.

Nearly 600,000 people signed a petition against closure of the Leeds unit.

Children in the area would have to travel to Newcastle or Liverpool for surgery if the Leeds unit is shut down.

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PM: We'll Come Through If We Hold Firm

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

David Cameron has rejected calls for a U-turn on spending cuts and vowed he is "sticking to the plan" on the economy.

In a major economic speech in West Yorkshire, the Prime Minister insisted it is the right policy for jobs, good public services, and looking after people in their old age.

But his defiant message risked being undermined by Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable, who opened up a Cabinet rift by calling for more borrowing to fund capital spending.

Labour seized on Mr Cable's intervention, in an article for the New Statesman, as proof that he "may at last be seeing sense" but said his failure to influence the Tories meant he was in office but not in power.

Mr Cameron argued that those who "falter" would plunge the UK "back into the abyss" just at a time when there were signs the Government's plan was starting to work.

The PM said: "I know some people think it is being stubborn to stick to a plan. That somehow this is just about making the numbers add up with no care whatsoever for what it means for people affected by the changes we make.

"But nothing could be further from the truth. My motives for sticking to the plan are exactly about doing the right thing to help families and business up and down the country."

Mr Cameron's visit to West Yorkshire coincided with an announcement by BT that it is creating more than 1,000 engineering jobs in its Openreach business.

Mr Cameron says he is doing the right things to reduce the dole queue

He argued that changing course and borrowing more would burden future generations with debt and leave Britain unable to afford good public services.

He claimed "squandering billions on welfare for people who could work" would leave the nation unable to look after people in their old age.

"Of course the challenges are huge and there is a long way to go but already there are signs that our plan is beginning to work," he said.

"The biggest deficit in peacetime history is already down by a quarter, interest rates are at a record low. Exports are starting to turn around too.

"Of course, these signs of progress are just the beginning of a long hard road to a better Britain," he will add.

"But the very moment when we're just getting some signs that we can turn our economy round and make our country a success is the very moment to hold firm to the path we have set.

"And yes the path ahead is tough but be in no doubt, the decisions we make now will set the course of our economic future for years to come.

"And while some would falter and plunge us back into the abyss we will stick to the course."

Mr Cable's article, ahead of a speech in the City, suggested that it was time to ask whether the "balance of risk" had changed since 2010 when Chancellor George Osborne made deficit reduction the keystone of his fiscal policy in order to maintain market confidence in Britain's ability to pay its way.

Vince Cable's suggestion about more borrowing is off message

He said the £5bn boost for infrastructure investment announced last year was a "modest" sum and had so far had "little effect" on domestic demand.

He went on to ask "whether the Government should ... borrow more, at current very low interest rates, in order to finance more capital spending: building of schools and colleges; small road and rail projects; more prudential borrowing by councils for house-building".

On Thursday, he played down the suggestion that his comments indicated a change in policy - insisting it was just what he has long called "Plan A-plus".

"That is financial discipline and getting down the deficit and at the same time pursuing growth. That's what we are doing and will continue to do," he said.

Nick Clegg, speaking during his LBC radio phone-in, also stressed that Mr Cable was not calling for the Government to "borrow pots of money tomorrow".

"He is saying this is where the balance of judgment is. This is where we need to balance the risks," he said.

"The risk ... is that unwittingly, of course, you then make it more difficult for everyone else because interest rates might then go up."

"I am afraid there is no cost-free, magic-wand solution to this. We all want more money into capital, the debate is how do you find that money."

Labour Treasury spokesman Chris Leslie said: "Now is the right time to bring forward infrastructure investment and build thousands more affordable homes. It would kick-start our flatlining economy, create jobs and in the long-term strengthen our economy and help get the deficit down.

"Labour, business groups and even the IMF have spent the last two years making the case for this. If Vince Cable is finally coming round to that view, he needs to start winning the argument round the Cabinet table."

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RBS To Compensate Customers Hit By IT Glitch

RBS blames a "hardware fault" for a glitch that meant customers were unable to use their accounts online or withdraw cash for several hours.

The technical problems, which started on Wednesday evening, come less than a year after RBS, Natwest and Ulster Bank customers were hit by a major computer issue.

The meltdown left millions of people unable to access their money and cost the group £175m to put right.

In a statement, the bank apologised for the recent disruption and said its systems were fixed and running as normal.

Complaints piled up on Twitter as customers could not access cash

"This problem was caused by a hardware fault and was not related to the issues we experienced last summer. It was much easier to fix, though clearly an unacceptable failure," it said.

"Any customer who was left out of pocket due to this outage should get in touch so we can put things right for them."

The banks said the problem was fixed around three hours after they admitted there was a problem - but not before hundreds took to the internet to voice their frustration.

RBS boss Stephen Hester had to apologise for a glitch last June

Many said they had difficulties using cash machines or logging into online banking, while others complained their cards had been declined.

Steve Ireland, who lives in London, told Sky News he discovered the problem when he tried to pay with his card at a supermarket.

"I was out shopping after a night out with my partner to celebrate a birthday," he said. "I went into a very big chain supermarket and got to the cash desk with all my shopping, only to be told the card was declined.

"It was a really bad experience and very embarrassing. You get evil looks from the cashier when you can't pay."

Stuart Keel, from Cornwall, said he tried to use a cash machine but it was not working.

"We went to the supermarket thinking we could use our cards in there, no problem," he said.

"While we were walking around I was using my NatWest (smartphone) app and it wasn't working at all."

He said his card was then declined at the checkout.

"I thought, 'There's something not right here'," he added.

A section of NatWest's website was swamped by a string of complaints, with one customer writing: "Really upset that NatWest comms have failed yet again.

"We understand that things sometimes go wrong - but 'helpful banking' is all about helping people and communicating with them. After last year's fiasco I stuck with you, but now I'm not going to..."

Another said: "I can't get to work as card declined on train, so lost a day's wage and (you) expect me to pay to call for info!"

In June last year, millions of people were affected when a software update failed at the banks.

Customers were unable to view up-to-date balances, while payments such as direct debits for bills were not made and some wages were not received.

Stephen Hester, the chief executive of the banks' parent company RBS Group, which is 80% state-owned, was forced to apologise for the problems at the time and £100m was put aside to compensate customers.

It is unclear whether those affected by the latest systems outage will receive compensation but it is understood the matter is under consideration on a 'case by case' basis.

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Manhunt As Teenager Stabbed To Death On Bus

Police have launched a manhunt for an "extremely dangerous" man who could be armed after a 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death on a bus.

The teenager was travelling to school on a packed double-decker bus during rush hour in Birmingham when she was killed in what police described as a "short sporadic" attack.

Passengers, paramedics and police officers were called just after 7.30am and tried to save the girl's life but nothing could be done and she died at the scene.

Armed police are on patrol in the city and police have described the suspect as "extremely dangerous" and warned members of the public not to approach him but to contact officers instead. He could still be armed.

Forensic officers get to work at the scene of the stabbing

Detective Superintendent Richard Baker, of West Midlands Police, said: "In relation to the offender, we are currently actively undergoing a manhunt operation in Birmingham.

"We are utilising every specialist officer, local policing officers and investigators in order to identify, locate and arrest the offender who is currently outstanding."

He said police were investigating the possibility the murder was a random attack, but said: "We're looking at a number of motives at the moment."

The girl was stabbed on the crowded number 9 service

The suspect is described by witnesses as black and in his late teens or 20s. He was wearing dark-coloured trousers and a dark-coloured hooded top with a distinctive tiger or leopard motif on the back.

Witnesses said he may have been carrying a small white bag or have had a bandage around his right hand.

Police officers are working to identify CCTV systems around the Hadley Road area where the incident happened which may have caught the attack on camera.

Det Supt Baker said he also had either a white bandage around his right hand or was carrying a small white bag. He appealed to members of the public to help police find the man.

Paramedics were called but nothing could be done to save the teenager

Specially trained family liaison officers were sent to break news of the death to the girl's family.

National Express West Midlands said the vehicle was heading out of the city when the stabbing happened.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that a tragic incident occurred on a number 9 service this morning.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of the person involved and we will offer all possible support to the police in their investigation of this matter."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said they had been called to the scene shortly after 7.35am.

Anyone who has information on the suspect should call West Midlands Police on 0800 096 0095.

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Pregnant Woman Murder: Ex-Boyfriend Jailed

A man who beat his pregnant ex-fiancee to death, causing the death of their unborn baby, has been jailed for at least 27 years.

Unemployed alcoholic Tony McLernon, 24, of North Grove, Harlow, in Essex, was found guilty of murder and child destruction after a trial lasting just over two weeks at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The trial heard he lured Eystna Blunnie, 20, to her death in July last year after telling friends she was trying to ruin his new relationship.

Estyna Blunnie was found dying with her unborn baby in a road

When they met in Howard Way, near her home in Harlow, he jumped on her, kicked her and left her to die in a pool of blood.

Miss Blunnie was due to give birth to a girl within days.

Ordering a minimum tariff of 27 years of a life sentence, Mr Justice Fulford said: "It is undoubtedly the case that he brutally and repeatedly attacked Eystna Blunnie during the course of their relationship.

"He told friends he wanted her significantly harmed or killed. In April he strangled her, causing the baby distress.

"This killing was not the result of an unthinking moment of anger but instead he had contemplated the attack over a long period of time.

"The killing was truly terrible. The horrific screams heard by those nearby show the suffering and pain she suffered and for some period of time she would have been aware of the fatal consequences for herself and her child.

"He has shown not the slightest shred of remorse."

McLernon showed no emotion as he was led from the dock.

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Fan Claims Kate 'Revealed' Sex Of Royal Baby

The Duchess of Cambridge has sparked speculation that she is expecting a baby girl after an apparent slip of the tongue during a trip to Grimsby.

One member of the 2,000-strong crowd has made headlines after saying Kate may have accidentally hinted that she and Prince William are having a daughter.

The exchange happened during Kate's walk-about in the foggy fishing port, when she was handed a teddy bear by 41-year-old Diana Burton.

Sandra Cook, 67, who was standing next to Ms Burton, reportedly heard Kate say: "Thank you, I will take that for my d..." before cutting herself off.

Sandra told reporters: "I leant over and said to her: 'You were going to say daughter weren't you?'.

"She said, 'No, we don't know!'. I said, 'Oh I think you do,' to which she replied: 'We're not telling'."

If correct, the exchange means Britain will have another Queen, as changes to the laws of succession mean even if William and Kate one day have a son, he would not be able to claim the throne ahead of his big sister.

Otherwise Kate was careful not to give any clues, referring to her unborn child as "it" in one exchange.

When asked by a woman: "Can you feel the baby kicking?", the Duchess replied: "Yes. I can feel it kicking."

The Duchess began her visit at the northeast Lincolnshire town's National Fishing Heritage Centre before visting Grimsby's Peaks Lane Fire Station, where she was greeted with more loud cheers from the estimated 200 people who were waiting for her.

One of the women who had been waiting up to three hours to meet her, Claire Moss-Smith, 86, said she had said to the Duchess: "I'm waiting for you to be Queen."

She said Kate laughed and replied: "You might be waiting a long time."

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Sex Attacks On Prostitutes In Manchester

Four prostitutes have been sexually assaulted in the Fairfield Street area of Manchester city centre.

Each victim was attacked separately by a man between 8.30pm and 10.30pm on Tuesday.

Police have launched a probe into what they have described as "serious sexual assaults" on the women.

It is believed the attacks are linked.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the attacks - or who may have been a victim - to come forward.

They can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of serious sexual assault and is currently in police custody.

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Thomas Cook To Cut 2,500 UK Jobs

Holiday firm Thomas Cook says it is planning to axe 2,500 UK jobs to "secure" its future.

It plans to consult on proposals to close 195 of its 1,069 high street travel agencies, with the details being announced at a later date, though a union representing staff has already spoken of its fury at the scale of the cuts.

Thomas Cook is also planning to shut its Accrington office in the North West in a move impacting around 100 roles while administrative and managerial jobs are at risk across its head office in Peterborough and its Preston site.

The job losses amount to 16% of its 15,500 workforce in the UK and Ireland.

In a statement, the company said: "As Thomas Cook UK & Ireland continues to focus on the turnaround of the business it has today entered  a 90 day consultation process with a number of its UK employees on the next phase of the three-year programme to transform its operations.

"The need to evolve the UK business has been a clearly stated goal, accelerated by the appointment of Peter Fankhauser, an experienced Thomas Cook leader as UK CEO.

"The UK business needs to reduce cost to ensure back-office costs are not passed on to customers and that the necessary operational changes are made to reflect  evolving customer needs, and purchasing requirements."

It continued: "The company has 1,069 stores in the UK, making it the largest high street travel retailer. A number of these stores do not meet the performance targets of the business and are in communities where Thomas Cook has more than one retail outlet."

Mr Fankhauser added: "Thomas Cook is a much loved brand that needs to make the proposed changes to secure our future and provide continued employment for many thousands across the UK and better meet the needs of our customers going forward.

"We firmly believe these proposals will mean a better – more profitable – Thomas Cook that continues to be a major employer in the UK and offer the widest range of holidays for travellers and voyagers in the future.

"We are already consulting with our Unions and employee representative bodies to minimise the impact of these changes and I am speaking personally to all employees today to provide information and support through this period of consultation."

Thomas Cook's transformation plan was blamed for deeper losses in its last financial year.

The 171-year-old company reported a statutory loss of £590m for the 12 months to the end of September - worse than the £518m loss recorded the previous year.

Thomas Cook was under pressure to tighten its purse strings at a time of a slowdown in consumer spending and had already cut planes, stores and other costs ahead of today's announcement.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), which represents employees, said it was "shocked and angry" at the scale of the job losses.

General secretary Manuel Cortes said: "This constant policy of slash and burn, with the axing of one in four stores and the loss of jobs, is simply self-defeating.

"The company needs new products if it to come to come to terms with the age of the internet and prosper in the 21st century."

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UK To Supply Military Aid To Syria Opposition

The UK is to supply armoured vehicles and body armour to Syrian opposition forces in a bid to end a crisis that has reached "catastrophic proportions", the Foreign Secretary has said.

In a statement to the Commons, William Hague said Britain would increase aid to Syrian opposition forces, including providing "new types of non-lethal equipment for protecting citizens".

He said the UK would contribute at least £20m of non-lethal support.

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Death Rate: Britain Lagging On Life Expectancy

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent

Britons are more likely to die early than people in most wealthy nations, research suggests - and experts are warning the gap is widening.

A study has found the UK is now 14th out of 19 Western countries for life expectancy.

In 1990, Britain ranked tenth in a league table - with Alzheimer's disease, cirrhosis of the liver and drug use disorders being blamed for our falling position.

The research was published as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt prepares to address a "shocking underperformance" that is costing 30,000 lives every year.

Co-authored by Public Health England, the Global Burden of Disease Study, published in the Lancet journal, looks at the state of health in the 15 original members of the EU along with Canada, Australia, Norway and the US.

The report compares death rates, disease and health risks in 1990 and in 2010.

In these 20 years, life expectancy has increased in the UK - by an average of 4.2 years to 79.9 years - but it has failed to keep pace with other nations.

While we are living longer, we are experiencing longer periods of ill health and disability.

Obesity another major concern for health professionals

The UK is now below average compared with 18 other countries on many important indicators.

The biggest risk to health in the UK is tobacco, which accounts for 12% of the disease burden, followed very closely by high blood pressure and high body mass and then physical inactivity, alcohol and poor diet.

As a result, early death rates have not reduced among 20 to 54-year-olds for 20 years.

There have been improvements in many cancer treatments and in road safety, but there has been an increase in alcohol-related and drug-use deaths.

Among all age groups, drug disorders have risen nearly six-fold.

Co-author Professor Kevin Fenton said the report was a "wake-up call and an opportunity".

He said: "While it's encouraging that overall the health of the UK has improved substantially since the last report the pace of improvement is not enough."

Across all ages, the top eight diseases causing the most years of life lost in the UK remain largely the same as those reported in 1990.

In order, these are heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and self-harm.

Prof Fenton said there needed to be more focus on prevention as well as "high quality and accountable" clinical care.

The Health Secretary has previously pledged to cut the number of avoidable deaths from cancer, heart disease, strokes, respiratory and liver disease.

He now wants more people to be trained to use defibrillators and conduct CPR, while relatives of people who have died from cardiac conditions will get tests to see whether they too are at risk.

Mr Hunt said: "Despite real progress in cutting deaths we remain a poor relative to our global cousins on many measures of health, something I want to change.

"For too long we have been lagging behind and I want the reformed health system to take up this challenge and turn this shocking under-performance around."

Co-author Professor John Newton, chief knowledge officer at Public Health England, said: "We should be proud that life expectancy in the UK has increased as much as it has since 1990, but we need to make sure that these extra years are healthy ones."

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Bafta Games Awards: Indie Title Could Be Hit

Video gamers are gearing up for tonight's Baftas - with Journey leading the field with eight nominations, including best game.

The Walking Dead comes in with seven nominations, while Far Cry 3 has six and fellow indie game Dear Esther has five nods.

This year a total of 53 games have been recognised across 17 categories, showcasing some of the most popular and groundbreaking games of the last 12 months.

The full complement of titles chasing the coveted best game gong are Journey, The Walking Dead, Far Cry 3, Mass Effect 3, Dishonored and Fifa 13.

First person shooter fan Dara O'Briain resumes his hosting duties

Journey and The Walking Dead are both nominated for game design, story and original music.

Journey also receives nominations for artistic achievement, audio achievement, game innovation and online-multiplayer.

The Walking Dead is also up for mobile & handheld as well as two nominations for performer.

Far Cry 3 and Dear Esther are both up for artistic achievement and audio achievement.

Far Cry 3 is also nominated for action, story and game design, and Dear Esther for British game, debut game and performer.

Halo 4 is nominated for action, artistic achievement, audio achievement and online-multiplayer.

Borderlands 2 receives nominations for action, artistic achievement, game design and online-multiplayer.

Assassin's Creed III is up for audio achievement, online-multiplayer, original music and performer.

The Room is nominated for artistic achievement, British game, debut game and mobile & handheld.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops II, Mass Effect 3, Dishonored, Forza Horizon, The Unfinished Swan and Thomas Was Alone all receive three nominations.

Fifa 13, LEGO: The Lord Of The Rings, Need For Speed Most Wanted, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, New Star Soccer and Diablo III all have two nominations.

The British Academy Games Awards take place at 9pm and will be hosted for the fifth consecutive year by comedian and gamer Dara O'Briain.

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'Fast Eddie' Admits Stealing Security Van

A British man who went by the nickname of Fast Eddie and spent almost 20 years as a fugitive in the US has admitted the theft of a security van containing £1.2m.

Eddie Maher was wanted by Suffolk Police after the Securicor van he was driving disappeared from outside a Lloyds Bank in Felixstowe, Suffolk, on January 22, 1993.

The 57-year-old, originally from South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, was arrested by US authorities in February last year and held in custody awaiting trial after denying the theft following his deportation.

But he entered a last-minute guilty plea at Southwark Crown Court in London as he was due to stand trial. He is expected to be sentenced this morning.

Maher, who used the false identities of Stephen King and his brother Michael Maher while on the run, intended to fight the allegation on the grounds that he had been forced to commit the crime after racking up "significant debts".

But Suffolk Police and the Crown Prosecution Service built up evidence proving that the former soldier and firefighter had profited to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

During his time on the run, Maher built a new life with his partner, Deborah Brett, and their son Lee, who was three-years-old at the time of the theft.

After his conviction, detectives revealed details of a series of property investments they say he funded from the proceeds of the crime in Suffolk.

Eddie Maher admitted stealing a Securicor van in 1993

This included a house in Colorado bought with $120,000 (£79,300) in cash just six months after the theft.

Later Maher built a ranch on 80 acres in Colorado before moving around various US states.

At the time of his arrest on February 9 last year, he was working as a cable engineer in Missouri.

But his attempts to escape justice unravelled as he was arrested for illegally possessing firearms.

When US authorities contacted their UK counterparts about immigration issues, it became clear he was a wanted man.

Speaking outside court, Detective Inspector David Giles, from Suffolk Police, said: "Maher said he was forced to carry out this crime and that he only got a small amount of money from it.

"He never named the people who he claimed forced him into it and never put forward a credible story.

"We have succeeded in proving that he profited substantially from the theft and was a key player in the planning and execution of it.

"Since his arrest, he has displayed no remorse for what he did - but I get the impression he has spent 20 years looking over his shoulder and hoping the law would not catch up with him."

None of the £1.2m stolen from the van, which filled 30 sacks, has ever been found.

Ms Brett, 47, Maher's sister Margaret Francis, 64, and a 54-year-old man, from Woodford Green, east London, are all on bail after being arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft.

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NHS Boss Nicholson 'Determined' To Stay On

NHS boss Sir David Nicholson has rejected calls for him to quit and insisted he is "absolutely determined" to lead the organisation through the coming health reforms.

Sir David warned that the NHS is currently at "maximum risk" and insisted his experience meant he was "absolutely the right person" to be in charge during the transformation.

The NHS chief executive has faced calls to quit in the wake of a damning report into serious failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

He was in charge of the strategic health authority (SHA) for part of the time when patients were mistreated and potentially hundreds died needlessly because of neglect.

Sir David, in evidence to the Health Select Committee, said he would not go back on his vow to see through the Government's radical reforms despite the criticism.

"I said two years ago that I would take the responsibility of leading the NHS through this enormously complex set of changes," he told MPs.

"I promised both the Government and the NHS that I would see that through and I am absolutely determined to do that over the next period."

Sir David (centre) flanked by Sir Bruce Keogh and Liz Redfern

Sir David denied he was just a "process man" but admitted patients had been sidelined across the NHS at the time of the scandal because of changes being pushed through.

"I put my hands up to that and I was a part of that, but my learning from that was to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.

He stressed that, although he was responsible for three strategic health authorities, trusts like Mid-Staffordshire were in control of their own hospitals.

The chair of the SHA had never raised concerns with him about the standard of care and that the wider health authority had "no idea" what was going on, he added.

"I was running three [hospitals] and at the time I was responsible for national work on HR. The amount of time I could spend in each individual one was limited," he said.

Sir David admitted he visited Stafford Hospital during the time of the problems but said he was not alerted to any neglect or poor care, and also had no access to mortality rates.

And he pointed out that many senior figures at Mid-Staffs did go in the wake of the scandal so "it is not true to say that people weren't held to account".

Tory MP and GP Sarah Wollaston asked: "How far do you take personal responsibility for an organisation that has been shown to minimise patient complaints, to gag whistleblowers, to massage mortality data, and bury bad news and frankly to lose sight of the patient in the bed?"

Sir David rejected the description and said: "I have spent 35 years being a chief executive in the NHS and I am completely dedicated to improving services for patients.

"Of course when I hear bad stories about the NHS, of course I feel responsible. I have got the privileged position when I can try and do something about it which it seems to me is what I need to focus my attention on."

Sir David has faced calls to quit because of the Stafford Hospital scandal

Amid concerns about clinical staff being gagged to stop them blowing the whistle over patient safety, he insisted the practice was unacceptable and illegal.

"If they want my permission to speak out in public - speak out. Because we will protect them in whatever way we need to do," he said.

Sir David also expressed regret that he had not personally met Cure The NHS campaigners when they first raised concerns about Mid Staffordshire.

But campaigner Julie Bailey, from the group, continued her call for him to take "ultimate responsibility" and step down.

"He is the chief executive of the NHS. He is paid an awful lot of money to ensure that the NHS is well-managed. He has failed so he needs to resign," she told Sky News.

"In any other profession, he would have been sacked. We are talking about hundreds of people here who have lost their lives - lost their lives years ago and we are still here today fighting for accountability."

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Bieber Blames Technical Problems For O2 Delay

Justin Bieber has blamed technical issues for his late arrival on stage at last night's gig at the O2 Arena.

In a series of tweets to his 35 million followers, the teenage singer apologised to his fans.

"last night i was scheduled after 3 opening acts to go on stage at 935 not 830 but because of some technical issues i got on at 10:10..so.

The singer insisted on Twitter that tonight's show will be 'great'

"I  was 40 min late to stage. there is no excuse for that and I apologize for anyone we upset. However it was great show and Im proud of that.

"and tonight we will run on time and look forward to putting on an amazing show for everyone in attendance.

On time? Bieber was pictured last month wearing two watches

"my relationship with the media is not always easy but im trying. Im all about the music and the performance and i respect my fans.

"i never have any intent to upset or let anyone down. and Im not okay with things being exaggerated. once again sorry for anyone upset.

"now we have a show to do today and Im gonna focus on the positive and put on a great show tonight here in London.

"NIGHT 2 at the 02 is gonna be even better. get ready. thanks".

The Canadian star had infuriated parents and upset fans who waited almost two hours for him to appear on stage.

Many complained they had been left waiting with no explanation or apology from O2 staff.

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Funding For Lending Credit Cut Sharply

British lenders taking part in a Bank of England scheme to boost firms' and households' access to credit cut lending sharply in the last three months, official statistics have revealed.

The lower than expected Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) figures have dampened hopes that the project could help revive economic growth.

The BoE bank announced the scheme jointly with the government in June 2012, as a way to unblock a credit log-jam which some economists say is a big factor behind Britain's weak economic recovery.

Banks and building societies cut lending by a net £2.425bn between October and December.

The figure compares to an increase of around £1bn in the first months of the FLS's operation.

Total net lending by banks and building societies taking part in the scheme - which includes all major British lenders apart from HSBC - is now down by £1.502bn since June 30.

The bank said that the scheme's benefits will not be fully clear until later in 2013.

"I would not expect to see a return to rising aggregate quantities until we start getting data for 2013 at the earliest," the bank's Paul Fisher said.

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Queen In 'Good Spirits' As Treatment Continues

Queen Has Rarely Fallen Sick In Her Reign

Updated: 9:19am UK, Saturday 02 March 2013

During her six decades as monarch, the 86-year-old Queen has rarely taken time out of her active schedule of public engagements because of ill health.

She has had occasional problems with her back. In October, she was forced to cancel an appearance at a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony, and she also had to miss a church service in Scotland a few days earlier.

In 2006, she suffered a strain to her back during her annual summer break at Balmoral which led to her cancelling a tour of Arsenal's new stadium.

A firm believer in homeopathy like her son the Prince of Wales, the Queen has often supplemented more conventional medical opinion with herbal remedies.

As a young woman, in January 1949, she caught measles and had to be separated from the newborn Charles.

The first time the Queen was admitted to hospital was in July 1982 when she had  a wisdom tooth extracted at the exclusive King Edward VII Hospital in central London.

In March 1993, she was forced to cancel several engagements because she had the flu.

However, in the same month, she refused to cancel a visit to a handbag factory despite having had three stitches in her left hand after being bitten by one of her corgis.

In January 1994, she wore a plaster cast after breaking her left wrist when her horse tripped during a ride on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The injury was not diagnosed until almost 24 hours later after she had remounted and ridden back to Sandringham unaware of the damage. Her wrist was X-rayed and set in plaster at a hospital in King's Lynn.

She was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in January 2003 for keyhole surgery on her injured right knee.

She had torn cartilage when she jarred the knee walking on rough ground during a private visit to Newmarket, Suffolk.

A 45-minute operation to remove the cartilage was a complete success and the Queen used a walking stick during convalescence when her official engagements were scaled down.

In December the same year, the Queen, then 77, returned to the King Edward VII for a similar operation on her left knee.

This time the damage appeared to be due to her advancing age or general wear and tear rather than a specific injury.

At the same time, surgeons removed minor - non-cancerous - lesions from her face in a double procedure lasting an hour and a quarter.

The Queen cancelled and postponed engagements but was fully active again in a few weeks.

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Weather: Cold Spell Set To Follow Spring Sun

Extreme UK Weather Prompts Warning

Updated: 8:59am UK, Monday 04 March 2013

The extremes of weather that Britain has experienced over the past year highlight the urgent need to plan for a changing climate, the head of the Environment Agency has warned.

Analysis by the Government agency reveals that one in every five days last year saw flooding in England and Wales, while one in four days were spent in drought.

There was flooding on 78 days of the year, and for 95 days there was official drought declared for some areas, figures from the EA show.

Rivers such as the Tyne, Ouse and Tone went from record low levels to experiencing their highest flows since records began, in the space of four months, the agency said.

Recent Met Office analysis suggests the UK could experience a 1976-style drought every 10 years.

The EA said that with the population of London and the South East set to grow by 23% by 2035, action should be taken now.

Modelling suggests some river flows could be cut by up to 80% during the summer in the next 40 years as the climate changes, putting more pressure on businesses that rely on taking water from rivers for irrigation.

The EA has called for an increase in small-scale water storage reservoirs, which can take advantage of wet times and help farmers, commercial turf growers, golf clubs, sports stadiums and racecourses cope with dry periods.

There are currently around 1,700 such water storage reservoirs in England and Wales, supplying around 30% of irrigation needs, but they will need to increase as the UK faces more extreme weather as the climate changes, the agency said.

EA chairman Lord Smith said: "The extremes of weather that we saw last year highlight the urgent need to plan for a changing climate.

"In 2012 we saw environmental damage caused by rivers with significantly reduced flows, hosepipe bans affecting millions and farmers and businesses left unable to take water from rivers.

"But we also saw the wettest year on record in England, with around 8,000 homes flooded.

"Interestingly 2007 - which also saw some of the most severe flooding in recent memory - also started the year with hosepipe bans.

"More of this extreme weather will exacerbate many of problems that we already deal with including flooding and water scarcity, so taking action today to prepare and adapt homes, businesses, agricultural practices and infrastructure is vital."

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More Horsemeat Found In School Dinners

Minced beef has been removed from all school menus in Leicestershire after tests showed it contained traces of horse DNA.

In a message to parents, Leicestershire County Council said it was taking "prudent action" but insisted there is "no health risk".

"The vast majority of food we supply is Red Tractor assured and we will continue to regularly seek assurances from our school food suppliers to ensure that they comply with legislation," it said.

"The council only uses food produced within the UK but sought reassurances for two items which aren't processed on site by the supplier."

The second product tested by trading standards officers - a beef grill steak - was not found to contain horsemeat and will continue to be served in school canteens.

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Woman Jailed For Life For Grandmother Murder

A woman has been jailed for a minimum of 37 years for murdering a grandmother in a knife attack in the street.

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PM Meets Families Facing Poverty At Food Bank

By Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent

The Prime Minister has made a secret visit to his local food bank, after criticism that Downing Street does not understand the increasing role they are playing in 'Austerity Britain'.

Mr Cameron visited the charity, which operates out of a church hall in his constituency in Oxfordshire, and spoke to volunteers who supply up to 10 families each week with emergency food parcels.

Nationally, the use of food banks has grown, with the largest operator, the Trussell Trust, now running 310 centres. The trust helped 260,000 people in the past year, an increase of 60,000 on the year before.

The Witney food bank was set up by Jo Cypher, who told Sky News: "We've had people coming in saying 'we've had a choice this week, either we buy electric, we buy gas, we pay bills, or we eat'."

Her colleague Julie Walker-Lock said they were helping a variety of people. "We're seeing from the elderly down to the families with young children. We've had a barrister in - he'd been looking after his wife and she'd passed away and he'd lost everything, and he came here, and we helped him out."

Melody Hopkins is one of the those who has used the Witney food bank. She told Sky News she was a victim of domestic violence, and then lost her job as a carer for disabled people.

More and more people are relying on food banks

Despite receiving benefits and child tax credits, she said she struggles to pay rising food and heating bills, and care for her eight-year-old son Toby who requires daily medication for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. She found it difficult to make the transition from wage earner to welfare recipient.

"My wages had stopped, so I had to wait for the benefits to kick in. We were desperate. We didn't have any food. At one point I had a fiver, in my back pocket, to just go and get some food.

"It's sad to think that I used to work, I used to do three meals a day, it was great, and now it's come down to one meal a day, because Toby gets free lunch at school. So I haven't eaten today - I'll eat later with him. I have gone without because Toby comes first ... it's sad when I can't give Toby the food he wants."

Difficulties in finding childcare after school for a child with special needs mean Ms Hopkins cannot get a full-time job, so she does voluntary work instead.

"I don't want to be on benefits. I want to go back to work and do a job. I've always worked. This is the only one or two years I haven't had a job," she said.

The food bank in Witney is housed in a church hall

Ms Hopkins added that she shops for clothes once a year, gets furniture from charity shops and avoids big supermarkets. 

"Every aisle is temptation, you need to go around those shops and not even look at the prices. I can't do that. I go in with a basket and it's the bare essentials - can we make tea out of what we've got? And you see people walking out with big trolleys and you think OK, I haven't got that, we've got what we need and we will go," she explained.

To help as many people as possible, and to avoid dependency, food banks permit only three visits per year, and recipients have to have been referred by a charity or other agency. GPs are now prescribing food as well as medicine to patients.

Dr Raj Kohli, from the Deer Park Medical Centre in Witney, told Sky News: "I do come across families who are struggling to appropriately feed their children. Particularly with fresh fruit and vegetables, it's expensive.

"We're not necessarily seeing the physical effects of malnutrition at this stage, but they are struggling. We need to look at their immediate needs, and a food bank can help their immediate needs."

Food bank user Melody Hopkins prepares a meal

Witney is not the sort of place you might expect to find poverty. The Cotswolds town has only 909 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and its unemployment rate is less than half of the national average. 

But there are enough people struggling to make ends meet to mean the food bank has become a vital resource. Even the local Brownie pack saved loose change and then put all their money together to buy tins of food to give to the poor. Shoppers and supermarkets both donate groceries which can be used in food parcels.

The volunteers at the Witney food bank were sworn to secrecy about the Prime Minister's visit, and no cameras were present.

But they said that he listened to their comments about why the food bank was needed and their fears that changes to the benefits system in April could bring a fresh influx of people who find it hard to pay their bills.

Previously, a Downing Street spokesperson has said: "Benefit levels are set at a level where people can afford to eat. If people have short-term shortages, where they feel they need a bit of extra food, then of course food banks are the right place for that. But benefits are not set at such a low level that people can't eat."

Affluent Witney is not necessarily where you would expect to find poverty

Volunteer Julie Walker-Lock told Sky News: "I think that was a very ill-informed statement they made. There is a genuine need for us to be here." 

Ms Cypher said: "We were glad he came, because I think he was blind to the fact that, like everybody else, supposedly Witney is very rich. It's actually quite the opposite. It's not.

"I think he went away with a better understanding of how the system works and why we're here. I'm hoping that we went away with some of those thoughts, and he will act on them."

For those who use the food banks, items like pasta and tins of soups can be an essential part of their diet. But sometimes it's having an occasional treat which can lift people out of depression. An unexpected Christmas hamper made all the difference to Ms Hopkins and her son.

"To everybody else they're not luxuries, but to me and my son they were luxuries. They were things I wanted to buy but couldn't afford to buy, and it brought some tears to our eyes.

"Christmas Day we just had a standard chicken. Most people have turkey, we didn't, we had tinned veg. I mean, it was OK, but we had the little extras like a cracker each, and mince pies. My son was like 'I got sweeties' and I actually wrapped them up and put them in his stocking - that's how important it is to us," she said.

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Councils 'Not Providing Enough Childcare'

More than two thirds of councils are failing to provide enough childcare for working parents, campaigners for families' rights have warned.

Only one in five local authorities have enough childcare for parents with children under two, and just one in three for school-age children, according to the Daycare Trust and Family and Parenting Institute.

And just one in seven have enough childcare for disabled children - a figure that has not improved in five years, it said.

The charity's chief executive, Anand Shukla, said the shortage is linked to the financial squeeze.

"Councils across England and Wales are failing families by presiding over a continuing shortage of high-quality, affordable childcare," he said.

"Local authorities have a legal duty to ensure a sufficient supply of childcare in their areas, but no doubt their failure to do so is linked to the tight financial squeeze they find themselves in, with ever more austere funding settlements.

"Only the Government can address this situation by investing more in providing support for parents."

Britain has some of the highest childcare costs in the world.

Figures published recently by the Department for Work and Pensions showed that a third of parents who want to work more cannot because they are unable to find affordable childcare.

The Government is set to announce childcare reforms

As part of coalition efforts to cut childcare costs, staff are to be able to take charge of six two-year-olds rather than four, while the ratio for children under the age of one will go up from three to four

But the charity's Childcare Costs Survey 2013 suggests such plans will have little impact on childcare costs.

Mr Shukla said: "Staffing costs are only part of a complicated picture, so allowing adults to look after more children at once is not only a risky idea, but an ineffective one too.

"With private and non-profit childcare providers exposed to the full force of a harsh business economy, we doubt whether parents will ever see any of the money saved by cutting nursery staff."

Ministers have still not finalised a much-heralded, wider shake-up of childcare funding and tax breaks.

The Government will make an announcement soon, a spokesman said.

"We are reforming the childcare system so that providers have more flexibility when they have highly qualified staff and childminders are better supported," he said.

"Ratio changes, which are not compulsory, will allow providers to have the flexibility to increase pay for better qualified workers.

"High quality providers will be able to expand and more childminders will enter the market - this will mean parents have more affordable childcare."

The charity's study will be published on Wednesday.

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Nurses Who Raise Concerns 'Fear Consequences'

A majority of nurses who raise concerns over patient care believe they are being ignored or punished for speaking out, a survey has found.

Research for the magazine Nursing Times suggested that an NHS attitude of discouraging staff from reporting problems is putting patients at risk.

Many nurses are afraid of being labelled troublemakers or being ostracised by senior staff if they highlight concerns, the research found.

More than 800 nurses were questioned in the survey.

Half of nurses who had raised concerns about the NHS said they were not dealt with properly, while a third felt they were likely to face negative consequences or be ignored as a result of raising concerns.

The survey revealed that 84% of respondents had previously raised concerns about a colleague's practice or attitude - of which 23% said they had done so "several times" or "regularly", and 23% "at least once".

But of those who had raised such concerns, 52% said there had been no appropriate outcome as a result of speaking out and a similar percentage said doing so had led to them suffering negative consequences.

Almost 30% of nurses said being viewed as a troublemaker was the biggest barrier to speaking out, with inaction by managers cited by 23%.

Eight out of 10 nurses said the ability to raise concerns in the NHS could be a lot better.

Nursing Times editor Jenni Middleton said: "I have personally spoken to nurses who, having raised concerns, have been sidelined and ostracised by their employers, bullied and marginalised by their colleagues - and end up feeling ashamed and guilty, as well as concerned that their careers are over."

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said the findings were "extremely worrying" and called for greater transparency.

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said: "We are determined that staff who have the courage and integrity to speak out in the interests of patient safety are protected and listened to."

He listed measures taken by the Government to support whistle-blowers in the NHS, such as funding a national helpline, and said the NHS Commissioning Board will be required, starting in April, to include a contractual duty of openness in all commissioning contracts.

"We are now considering the recommendations of the Francis Report in full and whether we need go further," he added, referring to the report on the care provided by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust after an inquiry by Robert Francis QC.

Dean Royles, chief executive of the NHS Employers organisation, said that while "enormous efforts" had been made by employers to encourage staff, more needed to be done.

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Paul Gascoigne: I've Never Been As Bad As This

Paul Gascoigne says he is not ready to give up his fight against alcohol addiction after his emergency admission to a US rehab clinic.

The Sunday Mirror reported that the former football star told his friend Jimmy Gardner: "The drink nearly finished me off this time.

"I know I've never been as bad as this before. But I'm not ready to give up the fight.

"I'm getting better now. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting there."

Friends of Gascoigne, 45, clubbed together to pay for his £6,000-a-week detox treatment, after a relapse in January.

He was transferred to a hospital following a seizure, where he spoke to Mr Gardner, 46, from his ward.

Mr Gardner told the Sunday Mirror: "Paul sounded frail and weak and scared.

"But I could hear something else in his voice too. I could hear grit and determination.

"No one knows Paul like I do and I can tell you, he's not for throwing in the towel.

"I love him to his bones. I can't think about him not being here. He'll beat the booze. He's done it before and he'll do it again."

He will now spend time in isolation in rehab, and has had his phone taken away as part of his therapy.

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Retired Police Officer Shot Dead With Partner

The bodies of a retired police officer and his partner have been found shot dead at a house in Devizes, Wiltshire police say.

The discovery was made at a house on Moonrakers Estate, shortly before 11am on Saturday.

The man has been named as Bill Dowling, and is a retired police officer.

It is being described as an "isolated incident" and no-one else is at risk.

The families have been informed but formal identification has not yet taken place.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that at shortly before 11am on Saturday, March 2, officers were called to a property at Moonrakers Estate, Devizes.

"On arrival the bodies of a man and a woman were found. An investigation into the circumstances of their deaths is under way.

"This is an isolated incident and we have no reason to believe that anyone else is at risk."

Cordons have been placed around the scene as investigators continue their enquiries.

Chief Inspector Mark Sellers said: "News of these tragic deaths will have been a shock to the community and our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two people involved.

"I would like to reiterate that this is an isolated incident and reassure members of the community that Devizes is a safe place.

"I would like to thank residents for their understanding as there will be an increased police presence on the estate as officers continue to conduct vital enquiries."

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Saunders added: "We understand him to be a retired police officer. He retired five years ago from the Wiltshire police service."

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