Royal Baby: The 'Great Kate Wait' Continues

The Duchess of Cambridge is thought to have returned to London from her family home fuelling speculation the arrival of the royal baby may be imminent.

The Duchess has been dividing her time between her official London residence at Kensington Palace and her parents' home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

But Sky's Royal Correspondent Paul Harrison says it is widely believed that the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge have travelled back to London.

The Duke is with his wife because he is on annual leave from his job as a search and rescue helicopter pilot. His two-week paternity leave will begin when the baby is born.

However, it is unclear whether the couple have gone straight to the private Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington where Kate is due to give birth, or back to Kensington Palace to sit out the wait.

Kensington Palace confirmed the Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth this month, but has never specified an exact due date.

The royal couple have kept their baby's due date under wraps

Only 4% of women give birth on their due date. Most women go into labour one week either side of 40 weeks and statistically women pregnant with girls have shorter pregnancies than those having boys.

Louise Silverton, of the Royal College of Midwives, told Sky News: "One would presume the Duchess of Cambridge would have had a scan early on in her pregnancy and that's a very accurate way of determining the size of the baby at that stage.

"So I suspect they know pretty much when the baby is due  -  theoretically."

Since the start of the month, the world's media have been camped outside St Mary's Hospital waiting for the Duchess to arrive.

Harrison said: "Since disappearing off the scene in mid-June the Duchess of Cambridge has maintained kept a very low profile, keeping her due date a closely-guarded secret.

"In the 'Great Kate Wait' due date debate perhaps the biggest clue lies in where the Duchess is at any one time and the thought is she is back in London."

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Female Genital Mutilation: Campaigners' Rally

By Lisa Holland, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Campaigners against the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) will rally in Trafalgar Square later to highlight the issue of girls being taken abroad to be 'cut' during the summer holidays.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 girls as young as four are at risk of mutilation in Britain. But there is a lack of accurate recent figures.

As many as 66,000 women and girls are thought to be living with the consequences of being ritually cut in England and Wales.

That is a staggering amount considering the latest crime figures suggest only four FGM crimes were detected in the UK last year.

There has never been a prosecution even though FMG is illegal in Britain.

The issue is a taboo subject and has prompted the NSPCC to recently open a new helpline to encourage concerned children to contact them.

The problem appears to be predominantly with children being taken abroad to a parent's cultural homeland for FGM to be carried out.

We went to meet Sarian Kamara. She has four daughters and a son - but it has been a difficult journey to motherhood.

She now lives in London. But as a child in Sierra Leone at the age of 11 she was subjected to female genital mutilation - a cultural practice in which some or all of a girl's external genitals are cut away.

The NSPCC has launched a FGM helpline

She recalls how her family celebrated in her village as the practice was considered normal to mark a girl's transition from childhood to womanhood. But the grim reality was quite different. It is a way of controlling a woman's sexual desires and relationships by men.

She said: "I was lying flat on the floor. This huge woman was sitting on my chest - very big. I was so skinny. My legs were spread apart and I felt a sharp cut - I cannot even explain.

"I am still trying to find the words that would fit the kind of punishment I went through on that day as a child. Nobody should expose their children to this kind of thing.

"It is wrong - it is child abuse. As a parent we should protect our children from harm. You should not subject your child to this kind of harm."

But the desire to protect young girls is complex. 

Efua Dorkenoo is a campaigner with Equality Now with over 30 years' experience in the field. It is a very difficult crime to detect.

She said: "Screening is a very controversial issue for the UK. It's done in France and I think it's been the quick way to detect whether it's happened but in the UK politically it doesn't seem to fly and therefore we should be focusing on soft monitoring in terms of education."

That education involves trying to get the message across, particularly during the school summer holidays. 

Jane Ellison, the Conservative chairwoman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Female Genital Mutilation, said: "There's still very widespread ignorance about the fact that the law covers you when you go abroad.

"So actually one of the things we most want to do, particularly at this time of the year, is simply get across to people what the law is - that you can go to jail for 14 years if you are found to commit this on a girl."

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Woolwich Suspect 'Attack': Prison Staff Suspended

Five prison officers have been suspended following allegations that Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo was assaulted at one of Britain's top-security jails.

Adebolajo, 28, who is accused of killing soldier Lee Rigby, reportedly lost two teeth as he was being restrained at Belmarsh prison in southeast London on Wednesday.

The Prison Service has refused to comment on the detail of what happened, but the Met Police confirmed it was investigating an allegation of assault.

During an investigation of this kind, the suspension of staff is standard practice, the Ministry of Justice said.

Adebolajo is in Belmarsh Prison awaiting trial for the murder of Lee Rigby

The Prison Officers Association (POA) has denied any wrongdoing by the officers and said its members would challenge the allegations made by the prisoner.

"We are aware of an incident that took place on Wednesday July 17, which involved a prisoner being subjected to restraint using approved techniques called Control and Restraint," it said in a statement.

"Our members strenuously deny any wrongdoing and the POA will be supporting them legally and emotionally during this difficult time.

"The use of restraint is only used where necessary when dealing with incidents up and down the country."

It said it will fully co-operate with any police investigation, and expects the officers to be "fully exonerated".

The prison officers' trade union also accused the Ministry of Justice of not doing enough to avoid what they described as "sensationalist reporting" of the alleged assault.

Adebolajo is accused together with Michael Adebowale, 22, of hacking Drummer Rigby to death near Woolwich Barracks in southeast London on May 22.

The pair are due to stand trial at the Old Bailey on November 18.

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Dubai Pardons Brits Jailed Over Drug Offences

Three Britons who claimed they were tortured after they were arrested over drug offences in Dubai have returned home after being pardoned, according to Sky sources.

Grant Cameron, 25, Suneet Jeerh, 25, and Karl Williams, 26, all from London, were each jailed for four years for possessing synthetic cannabis after being arrested in Dubai in July last year while on holiday.

The men, who denied any wrongdoing, claimed they had signed documents in Arabic, a language none of them understands, following their arrests after they were threatened with guns to their heads.

Dubai police denied the claims.

After Cameron arrived back in the UK, his mother Tracy said: "After a year of waiting, we are deeply relieved and overjoyed to have Grant back home with us after his terrible ordeal.

"Obviously what Grant has been through has been very distressing for him, and the family as a whole. We'd ask that people give him the time, space and privacy he needs to settle back in.

"In the meantime, we'd like to thank everyone who has helped support Grant and his friends throughout their ordeal."

David Cameron discussed the case with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

The Britons were pardoned by authorities under a United Arab Emirates amnesty.

Although the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it would not discuss details of specific cases, a spokesman said: "We are aware that the 2013 amnesty list has been announced in the United Arab Emirates and that the local authorities have begun the process of releasing those included.

In May, Prime Minister David Cameron raised the case with Emirati president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and talks have been continuing through other official channels.

Reprieve investigator Kate Higham said: "After everything Grant has been through, his release is welcome but long overdue.

"No one should have to go through what he experienced, and we are glad that he is safely back home. We hope the same will soon be true of his friends Karl and Suneet."

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Chris Froome Cheered On By Kenyan Mentor

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent, in Kenya

David Kinjah can still remember the day 17 years ago when an 11-year-old boy and his mother came to see him in the village of Kikuyu, in the hills 40km northwest of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Kinjah, 42, was an elite Kenyan rider back then and was asked by Froome's mother if he would show her son how to ride and stay safe on the country's pothole-riddled roads.

Now that boy is about to make history and win the 100th Tour de France.

"He was an energetic boy with a little BMX and he was just bike mad," said Kinjah, who coaches a group of young riders called the 'Safari Simbaz'.

"He got a lot of strange looks from people being the only white kid in the village, it was unusual. But he quickly learned to speak Swahili and some of our regional language Kikuyu and he was completely comfortable. The best language he spoke was the language of the bicycle. That was all he was interested in."

Soon Kinjah and Froome were embarking on gruelling 70kms training sessions together and when the teenager left Kenya to go to another school in South Africa, he still kept coming back in the holidays.

A group of cyclists train in Kenya, where Chris Froome learned to ride

"I always thought that my training would be too hard for him, but he never flinched, never complained. Chris knew what he wanted and he worked hard to get there. But back then you could never have predicted that he would go on to top the world of cycling. It was always cycling, cycling, cycling with us but we had such fun together."

Froome has gone on to dominate this year's Tour de France and his progress is followed closely in the village of Kikuyu, where local riders gather at Kinja's house to watch coverage of the race on the only TV with a satellite feed.

"At 3pm every day we stop what we are doing and we watch the Tour. We're very proud of Chris. He hasn't changed one bit. He's not the kind of guy to walk on people's heads, he respects everybody. He never stops working hard, that's why he is where he is today."

As we chat, I notice Kinjah's beautifully stitched cycling shoes. He's proud to wear them, he tells me, because Froome wore this exact pair in last year's Tour where he finished second behind Bradley Wiggins.

"Chris likes to send me some of his stuff that he wears. We have the same size feet, a perfect fit really. I like cycling in them because it makes me feel the weight of the Tour de France. I can feel the weight of that history when I ride here in Kenya and it makes me feel honoured."

Chris Froome and his Sky Procycling team members during stage 16 of Le Tour

One question Kinjah is tired of answering, however, is the issue of doping in cycling. He's adamant that his protege has got where he is today through nothing more than hard work.

"People should not judge a book by the cover. They don't know Chris Froome and they don't know where he has come from and where he has been," he said.

"He wants to win seven Tours so he can delete the Lance Armstrong wins and put them all back clean. That's what he wants to do."

Kinjah plans to celebrate his friend's victory with a 'yellow jersey ride' on Sunday and he's predicting Froome's success will have a huge impact on African cycling.

"The potential is here, there is so much talent. It's only a matter of time before we find another Chris Froome.

"I'm proud of what he has achieved. His mother was a marvellous woman, she got into cycling too and helped us greatly. She would be very proud of what her boy has done with his life."

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Wolverhampton Mosque: Explosive Device Found

Debris from an explosive device has been found close to a mosque in Wolverhampton, a police statement has said.

"The find was made late last night (Thursday 18 July) by officers and army bomb disposal experts as they searched land in and around the building on Waterloo Road," the statement said. 

"The debris, found on Fiveways roundabout, has been declared safe and further detailed forensic enquiries will be conducted at the scene throughout the day," it added. 

The mosque was evacuated on Thursday evening but has been reopened for worship following the discovery.

Information about the device, which police believe was activated on June 28, was uncovered as part of an investigation into recent attacks near mosques in Walsall and Tipton.

Two men aged 25 and 22, both of Eastern European origin, were arrested in Small Heath, Birmingham, on Thursday in connection with the blasts.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the mosque after reports of a blast

They continue to be held under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

No one was injured in the Wolverhampton blast.  

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who is leading the investigation, said: "Officers searching the area have found the seat of an explosion and debris on the island near the mosque.

"The investigation is being led by specialist officers and staff from our Counter Terrorism Unit who are being supported by a range of departments from across the force.

"We recognise the impact news of the latest find will have on the communities of Wolverhampton and further afield. We're working hard to complete our enquiries so that the area can be returned to normality.

"We are keen to hear from people who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously on or near to the roundabout on the night of the 27 or the morning of 28 June," said ACC Beale.

"Whether people feel the information is important or not, I would urge them to contact us so that we can assess that information."

:: Anyone with information which could assist the inquiry is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Weather: Wildfire Warning As Heatwave Continues

Swathes of the British countryside could be at risk from wildfires as the country continues to swelter in its longest heatwave for seven years.

Soon-to-be-harvested crops such as wheat and winter barley are thought to be among the most vulnerable.

Six days of 30C-plus temperatures and a lack of rainfall have led to an "elevated risk" of fires, a spokesman for the Met Office said.

The warning echoes that issued by firefighters in London, who have dealt with twice as many grass fires this summer than in 2012.

A blaze at Mitcham Common, which destroyed an area of grass and gorse equivalent in size to four football pitches, was one of around 40 wildfires extinguished by crews in just 24 hours.

Temperatures in Hampton, around 12 miles away, soared to 32.2C on Wednesday - the highest temperature recorded in the UK this year.

Dave Brown, head of operations, prevention and response at London Fire Brigade, urged smokers to be especially careful when disposing of their cigarettes.

"A small spark from a cigarette is often all it takes to start a grass fire in these dry conditions," he said.

"Drivers also need to take care not to throw cigarettes out of car windows as they can easily burn grass verges.

"If you see a grass fire, don't attempt to put it out yourself as grass fires can be fast moving and change direction without warning. Call the fire brigade and let us know where the fire is."

Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid to high-20Cs for many parts of England and Wales well into next week.

The prolonged hot spell prompted the Met Office to issue level three heatwave health warnings for southwest and southeast England, London and the West Midlands.

Health officials urged people to drink plenty of cold water and keep an eye on vulnerable people, including the elderly and the very young.

It comes after a four-week-old baby was among 10 children admitted to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, with sunburn.

Meanwhile, police officers and firefighters warned about the dangers of attempting to escape the heat by swimming in open water after a number of deaths in recent weeks.

Four people died in separate incidents on Tuesday in the sea, rivers and lakes in Norfolk, the Shropshire-north Wales border and Cornwall.

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2012 Olympics Have Given UK A £10bn Boost

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

The UK economy has received a massive trade and investment boost from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a new report.

It says additional export sales have brought in £5.9bn, while £1.5bn has come from firms winning new contracts and £2.5bn from new foreign investment.

The latter includes the redevelopment of London's Battersea Power Station by a Malaysian consortium and projects involving the Chinese technology company Huawei.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "This £9.9bn boost to the UK economy is a reminder to the world that, if you want the best, if you want professionalism, if you want jobs done on time and on budget then you should think British.

"With companies across the country we are harnessing the Olympic momentum and delivering the lasting business legacy of the Games that will help make Britain a winner in the global race.

"But that's not where the good news ends. The Games are also delivering a strong social legacy.

The success of UK athletes has not had a dramatic effect on participation

"Last summer, Games Makers changed the way Britain views volunteering. Since then, thousands of people have been inspired to get involved with their local sports clubs."

Business Secretary Vince Cable has rejected claims the £9.9bn figure is exaggerated.

"It has been independently audited and not been plucked out of the air," he told Sky News.

He also rejected suggestions a lot of the investment would have happened anyway, saying: "The people who've done the analysis have adopted a method of working that tries to screen that out."

Research carried out for the Government suggests that over the long term the total benefit could reach up to £41bn by 2020.

With four golds, David Weir was one of Britain's star performers

But a poll conducted exclusively for Sky News suggests a lasting legacy for sport and volunteering is proving harder to achieve.

The poll found that while more than half of respondents believe the Games delivered on their promise to "inspire a generation", the vast majority were unmoved to take up a new sport or commit to volunteering.

Asked if London 2012 had inspired them to take up a new sport or recreation activity, 88% said it had not.

Among existing participants there was also very little impact, with 80% of those asked saying the Olympics had not prompted them to do more sport.

Among volunteers there was a similar picture, with 89% of respondents saying they had not increased the amount of time they gave as a result of the Olympic example.

The Aquatics Centre may encourage the public when it opens next year

Just 6% said they had done more and 3% said they had done less.

While the results challenge the notion that the Olympics could transform behaviour, they do offer some comfort to organisers of what was otherwise a hugely successful Olympics.

Among 16 to 18-year-olds, responses were more positive, with 20% saying they had tried a new sport, 31% saying they had done more sport and 21% saying they had spent more time volunteering.

The poll also revealed mixed attitudes to the Games one year on.

Lord Coe says he believes more young people are now playing sport

Asked if the Olympics were value for the near £9bn spent on staging them, 41% of people said they were good or very good value for money, while 30% felt they were not worth the investment.

As to whether Britain should stage the Games again the poll revealed a split, with 40% in favour and the same percentage opposed to repeating the 2012 experiment.

Despite these findings, key figures in the Olympic project insist that the Games are delivering on the legacy promises.

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the organising committee and now the Prime Minister's legacy ambassador, told Sky News: "I think in large part we have inspired.

"Look at waiting lists in sports clubs, they are both optimistic and challenging, but I think there are more people playing sport, and a good chunk of them are young people."

Lord Coe said his experience was that the appetite was particularly keen in schools.

"I've spent a lot of time in the last year, particularly with my legacy work in schools, in primary schools, secondary schools and even in colleges.

"And there's no doubt at all that PE teachers - and certainly teachers - that did not get sport up until the Games recognise that there is a very powerful momentum and that young people want more sport and so do their parents."

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said participation was growing, citing Sport England figures that show 1.4 million more people doing sport at least once a week than before London successfully bid for the Games.

"The legacy is undoubtedly genuine," he said. "More people are playing sport now than when we started on the Olympic journey, but this was never ever going to be one smooth uphill journey."

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Fracking Water Warning As Tax Break Announced

UK water companies have warned shale gas 'fracking' should not be allowed to compromise public health as the Chancellor unveiled plans for a "generous" tax relief regime for the industry.

Water UK policy and business adviser Dr Jim Marshall said public health should not be put at risk by attempts to cash in on the controversial energy resource.

"Provision of drinking water is a cornerstone of our public health and as such a service that cannot be compromised," he said.

"There are arguments for and against fracking and the water industry is not taking sides. If it goes ahead, we want to ensure corners are not cut and standards compromised, leaving us all counting the cost for years to come.

"We want greater clarity from the shale gas industry on what its needs related to water are really going to be and a true assessment of the impacts."

George Osborne's planned new shale gas allowance will more than halve the tax due on a proportion - which will be determined following consultation - of income from production in order to encourage exploration of the unconventional energy resource in the UK.

Supporters say fracking will reduce the UK's reliance on energy imports

The backing from the Treasury comes after a recent report from the British Geological Survey revealed there was twice as much shale gas in the north of England as previously thought. Other areas of the country could also be exploited for the gas.

Ministers believe the experience of the US, which has seen a shale gas boom, shows it could boost tax revenues, create jobs, reduce energy imports - which have reached record highs in the UK - and bring down household fuel bills.

George Osborne said: "Shale gas is a resource with huge potential to broaden the UK's energy mix. We want to create the right conditions for industry to explore and unlock that potential in a way that allows communities to share in the benefits.

"This new tax regime, which I want to make the most generous for shale in the world, will contribute to that. I want Britain to be a leader of the shale gas revolution - because it has the potential to create thousands of jobs and keep energy bills low for millions of people."

But opponents warn that the process for extracting shale gas, by fracturing rock with high-pressure liquid to release the gas, or "fracking", can cause earthquakes, pollute water supplies, blight the countryside and affect house prices.

Questions have also been raised about how much of an impact efforts to develop home-grown shale resources will have on household energy bills, and environmental campaigners warn a new "dash for gas" will undermine efforts to develop clean energy, cut emissions and create green jobs and growth.

Environmentalists warn against 'industrialising' the countryside

Greenpeace energy campaigner Lawrence Carter said: "The Chancellor is telling anyone who will listen that UK shale gas is set to be an economic miracle, yet he's had to offer the industry sweetheart tax deals just to reassure them that fracking would be profitable.

"Experts from energy regulator Ofgem to Deutsche Bank and the company in receipt of this tax break, Cuadrilla, admit that it won't reduce energy prices for consumers.

"Instead we're likely to see the industrialisation of tracts of the British countryside, gas flaring in the Home Counties and a steady stream of trucks carrying contaminated water down rural lanes."

New planning guidance on shale gas is set to be published by the Communities Department as the Government attempts to drive forward exploration.

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Heatwave: 30C Temperatures Into Next Week

Britain will continue to bake in temperatures of 30C (86C) right through into next week, forecasters say.

Six days of 30C-plus temperatures have already been recorded, the longest heatwave for seven years.

And this is expected to continue over the weekend and into the early part of next week.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Western areas will still remain very warm into the weekend, in fact it will feel hot for some with temperatures possibly reaching up to 30C locally.

"There will be a brief respite from the heat in the east with cloudier skies during the mornings and perhaps the cloud lingering into the afternoon.

"But into the start of next week there will be plenty of sunshine across the UK and Ireland and feeling hot again, especially across southern counties where we could see temperatures up to 31C, perhaps a little higher locally."

She warned that the heat and humidity are likely to trigger some thunderstorms in the west.

The prolonged hot spell has prompted the Met Office to issue level three heatwave health warnings for northwest and southwest England, and the West Midlands after a similar alert for London and the South East on Wednesday.

Level three warnings are only one notch below the most serious alerts and are put out when high temperatures place the very young, the very old and those with chronic diseases at risk.

Ambulance call outs have increased by 30% as Britain's heatwave continues and The Met Office has already warned of an increased wildfire risk due to the dry, hot conditions.

The warning echoes that issued by firefighters in London, who have dealt with twice as many grass fires this summer than in 2012.

Meanwhile, the death toll from swimming accidents  during the heatwave has reached 13, as people look to lakes and the sea to cool off in the sweltering sun.

There have also been reports of people arriving at hospitals with extreme sunburn, including a four-week-old baby.

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New Crime Stats Show Lowest Total On Record

The estimated number of crimes fell to 8.6 million in England and Wales in the year up to March 2013, the lowest figure since records began in 1981.

It was a 9% decrease compared with last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Overall crime is now running at half the level it peaked at in 1995.

Recorded crime was also down, with police reporting 3.7 million offences in the year ending March 2013, a decrease of 7% compared with the previous year.

But in these times of financial hardship for many, fraud is up by 27%, with over a quarter of a million offences recorded.

Theft from the person - pickpocketing and snatch crime, such as stealing someone's mobile phone - is up by 9%.

The PM said: 'Britain is gettin safer as well as stronger'

The number of rapes recorded by police has risen by 2% in the past year, with the increase thought to be linked to the knock-on effect of the high-profile Jimmy Savile investigation, the ONS said.

The figures - showing drops in many categories, and coming at a time of economic crisis and decreasing number of police officers - were welcomed by the Government.

David Cameron said the figures were "good news".

"We should congratulate the police. As a government we've asked them to do more with less resources and they performed, I think, magnificently.

"I think also all the work that's gone into crime prevention has made a difference, too.

"This is good news. Britain is getting safer, as well as stronger," the PM said during a visit to Hammersmith police station in west London.

Home Secretary Theresa May praised the police forces but also her own government, which she said had "played its part by slashing red tape and scrapping targets to enable the police to focus on crime fighting".

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "It's one of the great triumphs of recent years that we've seen crime come down." 

The stats also showed that firearm offences have dropped by 15% in year ending March 2013, continuing to fall since a peak registered in 2005/2006.

Offences that involved a knife or sharp instrument decreased by 15% compared with the previous year.

The number of police officers in England and Wales has dropped for the fourth consecutive year - by 3.4% or 4,516 - taking the total to its lowest level since 2002, the Home Office said.

Theresa May said the drop was a 'significant achievement'

Sky News Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said the figures were "extremely encouraging" from the point of view of the Government.

"From David Cameron's point of view, he'll be wanting to press home that sort of political advantage," explained Jones.

"As long as those statistics keep coming along those lines, it clearly makes things that much more comfortable from the Government's point of view."

Javed Khan, the chief executive of the charity Victim Support, said: "The progress that has been made is encouraging, but we should also be clear that there is no room for complacency."

"There remain some clear areas for concern, not least the increase in offences of theft from the person."

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A&E Admissions Rise In Britain's 30C Heatwave

Hospitals have reported a rise in A&E admissions as Britain's 30C heatwave continues.

Doctors at North Middlesex University Hospital said they have treated people for severe dehydration, heatstroke and breathing difficulties.

In Plymouth, the Derriford Hospital urged people to take extra care after heat-related admissions soared.

A Level Three health warning has been put in place by the Met Office in London, the South East, the West Midlands, and the South West due to the unusually high temperatures.

Public Health England advised people to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, store medicines in the fridge and keep an eye on elderly neighbours.

Crowds of people have headed to the beach in the hot weather

The aged, the very young, and those with respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, are among those most at risk.

"The risk of death and risk of illness really concerns us," Professor Virginia Murray, head of extreme events and health protection at Public Health England (PHE), said.

"Those with pre-existing illnesses are at much greater risk of not being able to cope with heat. It's much harder for them to cope with cooling."

She warned that those with breathing difficulties could find themselves struggling to regulate their temperature, while those with heart problems were more likely to suffer a heart attack.

As part of the heatwave plan in the South East, high-risk people are being contacted by hospitals.

Health experts have estimated that hundreds may have died already as a result of the heatwave.

The death toll for the first nine days of the heatwave is between 540 and 760 people in England alone, according to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

If the hot weather continues until the end of next week, as many predict, the number could rise substantially.

The figures were produced by using temperature data supplied by the Met Office and comparing it with studies conducted on death rates during previous heatwaves in Britain.

Ben Armstrong, a professor in epidemiological statistics at LSHTM, said risk increases at temperatures above 26C.

"A lot of evidence has been pulled together that the risk in London, for instance, is greatest when it is above 32C in the day and above 18C at night," he said.

On Wednesday, temperatures in London reached 32C (89F), the hottest day of the year so far.

On Call Clegg the Deputy Prime Minister said that temperatures on London transport were brutally hot, after being told the temperature on a Northern Line tube had hit 35C.

He said: "Other countries are used to very hot summers, we are not ready for this. 35 degrees is pretty brutal and you need to be careful, particularly if you're frail.

"My small kids don't realise when they're overheating. I was padding around in the office wearing no shoes yesterday, and I am relaxed about staff not overheating in my private office - providing they're not engaging in public facing tasks."

Extreme heat can lead to heatstroke, in which the body is unable to stay cool - leading to brain damage and death.

Temperatures are considered significant if they are high relative to the normal temperature for that area.

During the summer of 2003, there were 2,000 excess deaths in Britain.

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Man Guilty Of Church Organist Killing

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

A man accused of killing Sheffield church organist Alan Greaves has been found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.

Ashley Foster had been charged with murdering Mr Greaves, 68, but a court decided he had not intended to kill the lay preacher.

Foster's friend Jonathan Bowling, with whom he was accused of carrying out the attack, had earlier admitted murder.

A jury at Sheffield Crown Court was told that Mr Greaves' injuries were similar to those found on victims of high speed car crashes.

Ashley Foster and Jonathan Bowling

The retired social worker and dedicated community volunteer died three days after being found lying in the street a few hundred yards from his home in High Green area of the city.

Bowling, 22, admitted last month that he had killed Mr Greaves, but Foster, also 22, denied murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter after a three-week trial.

The pair, described in court as "virtually brothers", were caught on CCTV walking behind Mr Greaves seconds before he was smashed over the head with a pickaxe handle and with another weapon which has never been found.

Mr Greaves was carrying a briefcase containing sheet music to play at his local church Christmas midnight mass as he had done every year for 40 years, but the police found nothing had been taken from him by his attackers.

Bowling and Foster had been drinking during the day and prosecutors had claimed that they went out to look for a victim.

Prosecutor Robert Smith QC, told the jury: "If it had not been Mr Greaves it would have been someone else."

The court heard that both men had talked about how "sick" they were, but the jury found that only Bowling had intended to kill the victim.

Foster told the court: "Jonno [Bowling] started running up towards the man, he pulled out a pick axe handle. I shouted 'no' to stop him doing it.

"He jumped off the ground and smacked that man on the head. He hit him hard. All you could hear was a big bang sound," he said.

Foster handed himself into police after being recognised by family and friends, but said he was a "witness" to the murder and he and his partner Natalie Evers claimed they were frightened of Bowling.

The jury heard Foster has never had a proper job, although he did casual work at a local farm.

The pair had known each other since their early teens when Bowling's father was in a relationship with Foster's mother.

After the verdict was clarified, Mr Greaves' widow Maureen sobbed in the public gallery, where she had sat throughout the trial, and was comforted by members of her family.

Speaking outside court, Mrs Greaves said: "Alan was a man driven by love and compassion and he would not want any of us to hold on to feelings of hate and unforgiveness.

"So, in honour of Alan and in honour of the God we both love, my prayer is that this story doesn't end today.

"My prayer is that Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster will come to understand and experience the love and kindness of the God who made him in his own image and that God's great mercy will inspire them to true repentance."

Both men will be sentenced on Friday.

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Michael Cope: Fugitive Murder Suspect On CCTV

Detectives have released CCTV images of what they believe is a recent sighting of fugitive murder suspect Michael Cope.

Cope, 28, is wanted in connection with the "sustained and vicious" killing of mother-of-two Linzi Ashton, who was found at her home in Winton, Salford, by relatives late last month.

The pictures are from a convenience store in Hindley, Wigan, where Cope withdrew money and was seen buying food at about 1.25pm last Sunday.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton said: "It has now been almost three weeks since Linzi's murder, since which officers have been working very hard to find Michael Cope."

Michael Cope is wanted in connection with the murder of Linzi Ashton

He said Ms Ashton's family were being updated on the investigation, and he urged the public to get in touch if they spotted anything suspicious in the area.

"We believe Cope is familiar with the canal pathways between Salford and Leigh, and may have spent time near the canal and waterways in Hindley," he explained.

"He may have been sleeping rough and we would urge people to report any suspicious behaviour around outbuildings, sheds or gardens as well as disused railway lines and open land."

He added: "However, in their vigilance we would like to remind people that if Cope is seen he is not to be approached, as we do believe that he is dangerous and could be armed. Anyone who sees him should call the police immediately."

Cope had a brief and "acrimonious" relationship with Ms Ashton, 25, who had two daughters, Destiny, seven, and Daisy, two.

A post-mortem concluded she died as a result of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries.

A reward of £25,000 is being offered for anyone with information that leads to Cope's arrest and conviction.

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MP Whip Withdrawn After "Zionist" Tweet

Lib Dem MP David Ward has had his whip withdrawn after a controversial tweet in which he refered to "#Zionists" losing the battle.

In his post, Mr Ward questioned the continued existence of the state of Israel saying: "Am I wrong or are (sic) am I right? At long last the #Zionists are losing the battle - how long can the #apartheid State of #Israel last?"

It follows comments he made in January ahead of Holocaust Day in which he said that "the Jews", who had suffered during the Holocaust, had inflicted "atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel".

He insisted at the time that his comments had not been anti-Semitic but apologised if his words had caused offence.

More follows...

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Little Gaddesden Murder: Man Arrested

Police have arrested an escaped murderer in connection with the killing of a retired businessman who was trying to save an elderly neighbour from an attack.

Convicted murderer Ian McLoughlin was arrested in London on Wednesday morning after going on the run for three days following the killing of Graham Buck in the quiet village of Little Gaddesden, near Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, police have confirmed.

Ian McLoughlin: Arrested in London

Mr Buck, a 66-year-old father of three, was stabbed to death as he went to the aid of Francis Cory-Wright, an 87-year-old convicted paedophile, at the elderly man's home after hearing his cries for help.

Oxford-education Old Etonian Mr Cory-Wright was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries and has now been released and taken to an undisclosed address.

Police issued an all-ports alert for 55-year-old McLoughlin, who was on day release from Springhill Prison near Aylesbury, Bucks, at the time of the murder and warned the public he was a danger as they launched a manhunt.

McLoughlin, also known as Ian John Baker, was 22 years into a 25-year sentence at Springhill prison in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, after being convicted in 1992 for the murder of 56-year-old Peter Halls, from Brighton, police have said.

He was was also jailed for manslaughter in 1983 following the death of 49-year-old Len Delgatty, from Stoke Newington, north London. He was sentenced to 10 years for this offence which was later reduced to eight years on appeal.

He killed Mr Halls just months after being released from prison for Mr Delgatty's killing.

The Little Gaddesden home of Francis Cory-Wright

Mr Cory-Wright had been in prison twice for sexually assaulting young boys. He attacked a 10-year-old boy in Berkhamsted in the 1970s after taking him for rides in his vintage car and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old in a garden shed in 1979.

Mr Buck leaves a wife, Karen, a 55-year-old nurse, two sons, a daughter and two grandchildren.

After his death Mrs Buck described her husband as her "rock".

The family released a statement in which they said: "We have no words to express how much Graham will be missed. We were all in such a happy place as a family. We were all so settled, with growing numbers of grandchildren whom he adored being around.

"We haven't seen him happier than being around his grandchildren, he was so proud. We cannot get over that we have lost him."

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Thatcher Pushed For Jimmy Savile Knighthood

By Sophy Ridge, Political Correspondent

Margaret Thatcher made repeated attempts to give Jimmy Savile a knighthood despite the concerns of her aides, newly released documents show.

The former Prime Minister is said to have ignored advice that he should not be recommended for an honour because of "unfortunate revelations" about his private life.

Previously unseen Cabinet Office documents, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, show Baroness Thatcher tried several times to get Savile knighted before succeeding in her final year in office.

The television star was knighted for his services to charity in 1990, but a spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said there was "no indication in the papers that anything was known then about the allegations that have subsequently come to light".

One adviser's letter to the Prime Minister at the time said: "Mr Savile is a strange and complex man … Fears have been expressed that Mr Savile might not be able to refrain from exploiting a knighthood in a way which brought the honours system into disrepute."

'A strange and complex man': the words of one aide to Mrs Thatcher

Another letter, from Lady Thatcher's then private secretary Nigel Wicks, stated: "We have again considered the name of Mr Jimmy Savile, whom you have of course considered on previous occasions. We have again concluded that he should not be recommended."

The Jim'll Fix It presenter raised more than £30m for charity, including £12m to rebuild the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

It appears that Mrs Thatcher was pushing for him to be honoured because of his charity work, with a letter from Mr Wicks saying: "She wonders how many more times his name is to be pushed aside, especially in view of all the great work he has done for Stoke Mandeville."

Savile died in October 2011 but evidence that he sexually abused scores of victims only came to light the following year.

More than 200 offences have been recorded against the disgraced TV presenter. Most involved children, including youngsters as young as eight.

The details emerged in heavily-redacted Cabinet Office documents

The allegations caused the Honours Forfeiture Committee to look into the possibility that he brought the honours system into disrepute.

It appears the aides were concerned about Savile's promiscuity, rather than suspicions involving underage children.

One 1986 letter said: "None of us would want to denigrate his many services. But my Committee, and I still fear that his manner of life - on his own confession - has been such that a high award for him would be an unhelpful signal when we are still having to grapple with an Aids problem which threatens to intensify; and that a knighthood for him would not benefit the honours system in the eyes of the public."

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Weather: Heatwave Health Alert As Mercury Rises

Health warnings have been issued as Britain continues to swelter in the country's first heatwave for seven years.

After five consecutive days basking in 30C-plus temperatures, forecasters said Britain was in the midst of its first prolonged heatwave since 2006.

The Met Office responded by issuing a "level three heat health watch" for London and the South East and advised "alertness and readiness" for those in the North West and North East.

Level three warnings are only one notch below the most serious alerts and are put out when high temperatures place the very young, the very old and those with chronic diseases at risk.

Forecasters said Wednesday could break the record for the warmest day of the year, with temperatures expected to creep as high as 32C (89.7F) in parts of England.

Two men have died in Norfolk after seemingly ignoring swimming bans

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Wednesday could be the hottest of the current heatwave across the London area with a high of 32C, topping Heathrow's 31.4C on Monday and Kew Gardens' 31.2C yesterday."

Referring to the level three heat-health warning for London and the South East, she added: "The temperature threshold for the region is for daytime highs of 31 or 32C (90F) and night minima of 16 to 18C (64F) over two days and the intervening night."

The alert comes after a series of tragic accidents in which people have died trying to cool off.

Emergency services have reiterated a warning of the dangers of swimming in open water after the bodies of two men were recovered from the water at a beauty spot in Norfolk where swimming is banned. A teenage boy and man in his 40s were found in separate lakes at the Bawsey Pits.

There have been four water-related deaths in Wales over the last week. In the latest accident a man in his twenties was reported dead on Wednesday morning after being pulled from the River Ceiriog at Pont-y-Blew, near Wrexham, the previous evening.

In the Brecon Beacons, a 24-year-old man died while swimming at the Cantref Reservoir and a 52-year-old man did not return from his swim in Pontsticill Reservoir in Merthyr Tydfil.

Only days earlier the body of 14-year-old Hollie McClymont from Glasgow was found in the sea near Fontygary in the Vale of Glamorgan. She was last seen in difficulty in the waters near Barry Island.

Two TA soldiers died of suspected heat exhaustion during an SAS assessment in the Beacons on Saturday.

Doctors at the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) health board, which covers Swansea, say they have been inundated with people suffering with sunstroke and sunburn.

Londoners relax in the high temperatures on the Southbank

Other cases have included toes being amputated due to gardening accidents as well as a rise in those hurt in falls.

Emergency departments have become so busy that people not seeking urgent medical attention are being urged to instead contact their GP or pharmacist to avoid long waits.

ABMU emergency medicine consultant Andy MacNab said: "We are very busy, and we would urge people to take great care during this hot weather. They need to stay cool, avoid sun burn and keep well hydrated.

"If they are using a lawnmower or strimmer, then they need to have sturdy footwear and not cut grass in flip-flops.

"If they are taking part in sports, then they should ensure they are using all the necessary safety gear for their activity, like helmets, for example."

Firefighters in London have dealt with with twice as many grass fires this summer compared with last year, with 1,010 so far.

Motorists have been advised to prepare for summer "getaway" traffic as schools start to break up at the end of this week - including basic checks on coolant levels, tyre pressures and cooling fans.

Traffic is expected to peak on the weekend of July 26-28, with the busiest routes expected to be in the South West as people head for beaches.

Some relief from the heat is in sight, with cooler northeasterly winds set to bring cloudier skies across eastern Scotland and eastern and southeast England from Thursday.

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British 'Drugs Baron' Owns 10 Luxury Villas

More details have emerged about the wealth of suspected British drugs baron Brian Charrington, who has been arrested at his Spanish villa.

Charrington, from Middlesbrough, was one of 13 alleged drug traffickers detained in a joint operation - seven in Spain and six in Venezuela.

The suspects also included one of Charrington's sons and his girlfriend, who was among those held in South America.

Charrington, 57, was detained at his home in Alicante - one of 10 he is said to own in Spain.

Spanish police said he also has a string of expensive boats and cars.

They described Charrington as "a longtime British criminal who is one of the top 10 most investigated criminals by European police forces".

It added Andrew Moran, a Briton wanted on charges of aggravated robbery, was arrested in May while relaxing by the pool at one of Charrington's properties.

Andrew Moran was staying at one of Charrington's villas

Police say they found 220kg (485lbs) of cocaine and seized assets worth around five million euros (£4.33m) in the operation, which involved Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).

It is claimed Charrington headed a gang that brought cocaine in luxury boats from South America to Spain for distribution in Europe.

The arrests follow a three-year investigation conducted by authorities in Spain, the UK and South America with the support of Ameripol, an international police agency that includes Caribbean states.

Venezuela's justice minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres said the gang was thought to have smuggled "more or less" 25 tons of cocaine to Europe from South America over the last decade.

"We'll continue investigating and identifying the assets that these people have registered in different parts of the country," he told Venezuela's state television.

Charrington is the third suspected British drugs trafficker to be arrested in recent weeks.

On July 10 Kevin Hanley, who was wanted in connection with a multimillion-pound drug seizure, was caught in a sting operation in Athens.

Two days before convicted drug trafficker Mark Lilley was caught hiding in a panic room in his luxury villa in Malaga.

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Formula 1's Ecclestone Faces Bribery Charges

Motor racing boss Bernie Ecclestone has been indicted by German prosecutors on accusations he paid a bribe to a German banker in connection with the sale of a stake in Formula One.

Ecclestone has been under investigation since the German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky was convicted of taking an illegal payment from him worth $44m (around £29m) in the 2006 deal.

It is alleged that Ecclestone bribed Gribkowsky, who was in charge of managing German bank BayernLB's  sale of a 48% stake in a Formula One holding company to CVC Capital Partners.

Ecclestone was allegedly keen to see the private equity investor brought in as a new shareholder.

During Gribkowsky's trial Ecclestone told the Munich state court he felt pressured into paying the cash because he was worried the banker would make unfounded allegations about his tax affairs to Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs.

A spokesman for a Munich court said an indictment charging Ecclestone with bribery and breach of trust had been issued.

The 82-year-old confirmed that an indictment against him had been filed.

"The lawyers have accepted an indictment. It means they have to reply to the indictment which they are strenuously doing," he told the Associated Press.

Ecclestone has yet to read the indictment but said: "They are alleging I bribed someone". He added that he had done "nothing illegal".

In addition to taking the money from Ecclestone, prosecutors maintained during the trial that Gribkowsky used BayernLB's funds to pay the F1 chief a commission of $41.1m and agreed to pay a further $25m to Bambino Trust, Ecclestone's family trust.

Ecclestone told the court that he had deserved a commission for the sale, saying "I did a very, very good job."

Gribkowsky, who largely admitted to the charges, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after being found guilty last year of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust.

Ecclestone remains central to the motor racing business he built into a global money-spinner and has always said he has no plans to retire. There is no obvious successor in place, although CVC's ambition of floating Formula One's parent company on the Singapore Stock Exchange will partly depend on the case being resolved.

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Susan Taylor: Donations Up After Swimmer Dies

Donations have poured in for a charity swimmer who died while attempting to cross the English Channel.

Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed just one mile from the French coast on Sunday and she was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Mrs Taylor was pulled from the water and on to a support boat by her brother David, a paramedic, who battled to save her.

Her husband, Stephen, was also on board as attempts were made to resuscitate his wife, her family said.

More than 2,000 people have now donated to Mrs Taylor's fundraising page as the current total raised soared to more than £40,000.

She had been attempting to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK through her Facebook page Create A Ripple Channel Swim.

Comedian David Walliams - who swam the Channel in 2006 - is believed to have pledged £1,000 after a donation was made under his name.

Walliams swam the English Channel in 2006

"Sending all my love to Susan's family and friends," a message from Walliams said on the page. 

The Little Britain star tweeted later: "Despite the shock & sadness, it's good to see heroic Susan Taylor's charity total rising. Please give what you can."

Walliams also tweeted a link to the page, writing: "Susan Taylor's channel swim attempt very sadly ended in tragedy. This is her charity page if you want to donate."

Mrs Taylor had reportedly written in a blog post her ambition to follow in Walliams' footsteps by swimming the Channel.

"I've had an ambition to follow in comedian David Walliams' strokes and swim the Channel since I was a child," she wrote.

The charities which Mrs Taylor was raising money for also paid tribute to her.

Mrs Taylor collapsed a mile from the French coast

Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows Hospice, described her as a "wonderful woman".

"She has been a much loved ambassador at Rainbows for over two years, helping out at events and tirelessly fundraising for us," he said.

"She was more than an ambassador; she was part of the Rainbows family."

Barbara Young, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said the charity was "extremely sad" to hear of Mrs Taylor's death and offered condolences and support to her family.

Speaking from the family home in Barwell, Leicestershire, Mrs Taylor's father said he was devastated.

"I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful," Arthur Wright said.

The tracker map showing Mrs Taylor's progress stopped near the French coast

Mrs Taylor had given up her full-time job to carry out charitable work and was working part-time as an accountant, her father said.

She had also done wing-walking and a parachute jump, and was a qualified rally driver.

Mr Wright said he had been told the accident happened during the last leg of the swim, which Mrs Taylor had spent 18 months training for.

Supporters who were following Mrs Taylor's progress through a tracker link on her Facebook page began to leave concerned messages when the updates stopped and the boat appeared to travel off course.

Mrs Taylor's crossing was being overseen by the Channel Swimming Association, one of the two official British organisations that authorise the attempts.

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Birmingham Stab Murder: Four Teens Arrested

Four teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 15-year-old was stabbed during a fight between two groups.

Two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested on Monday evening after the teenager was stabbed in a confrontation in Birmingham and died later in hospital.

The teenager was killed in what police described as a "fight which has tragically gone too far" when two groups of young people clashed in the South Yardley area of the city.

Emergency services were called at 5.55pm and officers, who flooded the scene, arrested four teenagers nearby. Further searches of the area were continuing today.

The stabbing victim, who has not been named, was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save him. His family has been informed of his death.

The incident happened in the South Yardley area of Birmingham

Detective Inspector Tom Chisholm said: "This was a tragic incident and our deepest condolences go out to the young man's family.

"A murder investigation was immediately launched. We have a team of detectives working with local officers to gain an understanding of what happened.

"We are aware that there were groups of young people in the area, some of whom may have left the scene before the police arrived.

"There is some suggestion that this was a fight which has tragically gone too far.

"I would ask that people who were in the park or anyone else with information to contact us immediately."

Officers are examining CCTV cameras which may have captured the stabbing.

:: Anyone with any information about the incident should contact DI Chisholm on 101. Alternatively those who don't want to speak to the police can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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UK To Send Protection For Syrian Opposition

The British Government is to give Syrian opposition forces £656,000 worth of equipment to protect against chemical and biological weapon attacks.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said 5,000 escape hoods will be sent, along with nerve agent pre-treatment tablets and chemical weapons detector paper.

He said the chemical weapons hoods protected against Sarin attacks for up to 20 minutes. Those who wear them are able to move away from an affected area but cannot continue to fight, he said.

The tablets can give those under a chemical weapons attack the time to get to a medical centre to receive atropine, the drug needed to overcome Sarin.

In a written ministerial statement to MPs, Mr Hague said the assistance would be offered to the Supreme Military Council and the Syrian National Coalition.

Bashar al Assad is thought to have used chemical weapons

The cost of the non-lethal assistance would be met from the Government's conflict pool fund.

Mr Hague said the Government needed to "gift" the Syrian opposition fighters the equipment without going through the proper parliamentary procedures because it was "a matter of special urgency" as there was evidence Syrian President Bashar al Assad was using chemical weapons in the conflict.

He said: "We have to be prepared to do more to save lives. There is evidence of attacks using chemical weapons in Syria - including Sarin.

"We believe that the use of chemical weapons is sanctioned and ordered by the Assad regime."

Last week, MPs passed a Commons motion calling on the Government to seek the "explicit" consent of Parliament before deciding to arm rebel fighters in Syria.

The motion - that "this House believes no lethal support should be provided to anti-government forces in Syria without the explicit prior consent of Parliament" - was passed by 114 votes to one.

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Police Under Fire For Using Dead Children's IDs

Concerns about the use of dead children's names as fake identities for undercover police have been "swept under the carpet", it has been claimed.

The Metropolitan Police came under fire as it released details about the use of 42 deceased children's identities by covert officers.

A newly published report said the bereaved families had not been told because it would put police at risk, although Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe apologised for the "shock and offence" the tactic caused.

Sir Bernard said: "It was never intended or foreseen that any of the identities used would become public, or that any family would suffer hurt as a result.

"At the time this method of creating identities was in use, officers felt this was the safest option."

He said he did not foresee the force confirming or denying which identities were used because to do so would potentially endanger officers who had signed up as undercover police "with the expectation that we would always protect their identity".

Sir Bernard apologised over the 'shock' the tactic caused

But Jules Carey, solicitor for Barbara Shaw who fears that her son Rod Richardson's name was used, said: "The families … deserve better than this.

"They deserve an explanation, a personal apology and, if appropriate, a warning of the potential risk they face, in the exceptional circumstances, that their dead child's identity was used to infiltrate serious criminal organisations.

"Ms Shaw has told me that she feels her complaint has been 'swept under the carpet' and she has instructed me to appeal this outcome."

He said the public had no reason to be reassured by the "hotchpotch" investigation into the deployment of undercover officers.

The identities taken by covert officers were of children born between 1940 and 1975 and it came to be accepted as "standard practice", Tuesday's report revealed.

It said the practice could have been more widely used outside Scotland Yard's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) and the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), by police officers and possibly the security services.

Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon, who is leading a probe into the activities of police moles, said that while the relatives deserve an apology, revealing the names used "would and could put undercover officers at risk".

The report said there was a need for undercover officers to create identities that could "withstand invasive scrutiny by their target".

So far, investigators have found 106 covert names that were used by the SDS between 1968 and 2008, 42 of which are believed to have been based on the details of dead children.

Another 45 were fictitious, and the rest have not yet been categorised.

The force has apologised directly to one family who found out their child's identity had been used.

The earliest confirmed officer to have used such an identity was in the field between 1976 and 1981, the report said.

The practice was phased out from 1994 in the SDS, but potentially used by the NPOIU up to 2003.

Officers are unlikely to face criminal charges for using the identities.

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NHS Report: 11 Trusts In 'Special Measures'

The Health Secretary has revealed that 11 hospital trusts listed in a shocking report of care failures have been placed under "special measures".

Speaking in the House of Commons ahead of the publication of Professor Sir Bruce Keogh's review into 14 trusts, Jeremy Hunt said we can "no longer ignore mediocre treatment".

All of the trusts have been ordered to act on recommendations made by health officials.

The review found that none of the hospitals investigated was providing "consistently high quality care to patients".

Mr Hunt told MPs: "No statistics are perfect but mortality rates suggest that since 2005 thousands more people may have died that would normally be expected at the 14 trusts reviewed.

Sir Bruce Keogh said "mediocrity is simply not good enough"

"Worryingly, in half of those trusts, the Care Quality Commission - the regulator specifically responsible for patient safety and care - failed to spot any real cause for concern, rating them as 'compliant' with basic standards."

Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester was one of the worst trusts in England.

The investigation found "insufficient levels of nursing staff", "poor supervision of junior doctors by consultants" and a "lack of compassion" from staff dealing with patient complaints.

Mr Hunt said where failures have been found in hospitals like Tameside "they have been confronted straight away".

Other examples of problems included patients being left unmonitored on trolleys for excessive periods of time, staff working up to 12 days in a row and low levels of clinical cover.

Jeremy Hunt said he was "deeply proud" of the NHS

Sir Bruce, NHS England medical director, was asked to conduct a series of 'deep-dive' reviews into other hospitals with mortality rates which have been consistently high for two years or more after the Francis report into failures at the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust.

Mr Hunt said the trusts under special measures must implement all of the recommendations of the report and external support will be provided to help them do this.

"The quality of leadership will be assessed and any senior managers who are not up to the job will be removed. And each hospital will be partnered with high performing NHS organisations to act as mentors," he said.

He added that three trusts not in special measures will still be "held to account".

Sir Bruce said: "Higher mortality rates do not always point to deaths which could have been avoided but they do act as a 'smoke alarm' indicator that there could be issues with the quality of care.

"Not one of these trusts has been given a clean bill of health by my review teams. These reviews have been highly rigorous and uncovered previously undisclosed problems.

"I felt it was crucial to provide a clear diagnosis, to write the prescription, and, most importantly, to identify what help these organisations might need to support their recovery or accelerate improvement."

Hospitals in special measures:

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

Hospitals not in special measures:

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

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British Woman Dies Swimming English Channel

A British woman has died while attempting to swim the English Channel, French authorities have said.

Having set off in the early hours of Sunday, married accountant Susan Taylor was just a mile off the coast of France, near Sangatte, when she collapsed.

The 34-year-old was pulled from the water and treated by support staff on the ship accompanying her attempt, who alerted French emergency services and requested a defibrillator.

She was airlifted by a French naval helicopter to a hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where she was pronounced dead at 7.15pm on Sunday.

Tributes were left on Ms Taylor's Create A Ripple Channel Swim page

She had been attempting to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK through her Facebook page Create A Ripple Channel Swim.

A message apparently posted by her sister on the page said: "Whilst attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday my sister, Susan collapsed suddenly in the water. She was immediately recovered from the water and treated on the support boat.

"She was then airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Boulogne. Susan tragically passed away.

"Thank you for your messages of support. If you would like to leave a sign of respect please feel free to donate to her fund raising page."

She set off from Samphire Hoe at around 1am on Sunday and weather conditions were reported to be relatively good when she encountered difficulties, with water temperatures of 15C.

Posts on her Facebook page show supporters began to fear for Ms Taylor at around 9pm.

Sarah Taylor wrote: "Any news Susan Taylor? Can't seem to get any track since 6.30? Xxxxxxxx."

The tracker map showing Ms Taylor's progress stopped near the French coast

A short time later, Clare Biddle posted: "Hope all is ok?? Tracker has stopped!! Susan you are a star xxx."

At around 11pm, a user called Maverick Marc Richardson wrote: "What's going on no news and tracker doesn't look good."

The messages reflected mounting concerns among her supporters, with Lauren Boat writing at 10am today: "Really hope your OK Susan, thinking of you xx."

More than 100 comments followed within an hour of the message from Ms Taylor's sister.

Ms Taylor just before starting her swim (pic: Create A Ripple Channel Swim)

One post, from Rebecca Adie-Drackley, said: "RIP Susan. Swimming was your life all through school from Barwell Infants we all grew up together. I am so sad I cannot think of any words at this time. God bless you, it was an honour to grow up with you xxx."

Ms Taylor's crossing was being overseen by the Channel Swimming Association, one of the two official British organisations who authorise the attempts.

Kevin Murphy, who is secretary of the other official body, the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CS&PF), oversaw Ms Taylor's six-hour assessment swim - which everyone attempting to swim the Channel must undertake.

He told Sky News: "She was a very nice woman, a very good swimmer and we're all very upset.

"I got to know her while overseeing her assessment swim. It is an extreme sport but has a safety record that is second to none among extreme sports. Both the official organisations work within the strictest of conditions in terms of safety.

"Susan has passed away doing something she loved and raising money for two fantastic causes. I would hope people recognise that and feel moved to donate money to those causes in her memory."

He said the zig-zag pattern on the tracker charting her progress was normal and reflected the tidal flows that affect swimmers' routes during the attempts.

Ms Taylor is the eighth person to die while trying to swim the channel since the first recorded attempt in 1875.

Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, said: "Susan was a wonderful woman who would do anything for anybody.

"She has been a much loved ambassador at Rainbows for over two years, helping out at events and tirelessly fundraising for us.

"She was more than an ambassador; she was part of the Rainbows family."

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Weather: Hot Spell Set To Last Rest Of Week

The hot weather is set to continue until at least the weekend with Wednesday expected to be another contender for the hottest day of the year.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said: "The summery spell is set to continue for many this week, with temperatures rising further over the next couple of days.

"Wednesday looks to be the hottest day of the week, with temperatures widely in the high twenties across England and Wales.

"In fact, 32 or 33C (91.4F) is possible across southeast England, which would be the highest temperature of the year so far."

Scotland and Ireland are forecast to see a more gradual rise in temperature, reaching the mid to high twenties by the end of the week.

Millions of people have been outside taking advantage of the sunshine

Northwest Scotland will be the main exception to the hot weather, where it will be relatively cloudy and cool with rain at times.

Last week's blazing temperatures peaked on Saturday with the mercury hitting 31.9C (89.4F) in Southampton - making it the hottest day of the year and the hottest day in July since 2006.

Sunday was another scorcher with temperatures into the high 20s in many regions and the Met Office issued a level three heatwave alert for southwest England.

But the soaring temperatures are still some way off the highest ever recorded in the UK, which stands at 38.5C (101.3F) - at Faversham in Kent on August 10, 2003.

The latest heatwave has seen shoppers spend thousands of pounds on the high street and online, buying barbecues, food, sunscreen and garden furniture.

Emergency services have warned about the dangers of swimming in open water

Paddling pool sales are up 816%, said online retailer Amazon, while Tesco predicted a sausage surge of nine million bangers over the weekend.

But the searing heat has prompted warnings from health authorities urging the public to take care in the potentially "dangerous" conditions.

And with people taking to the water to cool off, emergency services have warned against swimming in lakes and quarries after three people died in the West Midlands in the last week.

"Please think twice about going into open water," said Commander George Marshall, of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

"If you must take a dip please do it in the safety of a public swimming pool where there are lifeguards on duty."

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Belfast Violence Flares For Third Night

Loyalist protesters hurled several petrol bombs and a range of other missiles at police for a third successive night in Belfast.

Trouble again flared in the Woodvale Road area in the north of the city as the fall-out from a decision to ban a controversial Orange Order parade passing through the nearby republican Ardoyne area continued.

But the violence was on a much smaller scale than previous nights.

There was also "some public disorder" in Newtownabbey on the outskirts of the north of the city, police said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said one officer had been injured in the violence.

On Saturday night, seven police officers were injured.

Injured MP Nigel Dodds was released from hospital on Sunday

Those police casualties came after 32 officers were injured on Friday night and MP for North Belfast Nigel Dodds was taken to hospital after being struck by a missile thrown by a rioter. He was discharged on Sunday morning.

Around 35 arrests have been made since Friday though police expect to make many more after analysing video footage of the disorder.

A special sitting of Belfast Magistrates' Court was held on Sunday with contingencies in place to keep courts open if the trouble continues.

Loyalist protesters have taken to the streets since Friday

Stormont's Justice Minister David Ford warned of the consequences of getting involved in the violence.

"To young people in particular I would say this: 'Do you want to leave home today with a clean record and by tonight have a criminal record, which could have consequences which will stay with you for the rest of your life?'," he said.

"My message is clear; do not get involved in rioting on our streets, but if you choose to do so then be prepared to face the courts within hours."

Trouble first broke out on Friday as police attempted to enforce a decision banning Orangemen from passing the Ardoyne on the Crumlin Road on their way back from traditional Twelfth of July commemorations.

Hundreds of extra officers have been drafted in

Around 400 extra British police officers were deployed to Northern Ireland on Saturday.

The Orange Order had originally called for protests against the Ardoyne determination of the Parades Commission adjudication body but, in the wake of Friday's violence, senior Orangemen called for protest action to be suspended.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott has condemned those responsible for the trouble and also criticised those within the Orange Order leadership who called for protests.

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New London Airport Shortlist Revealed

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Boris Johnson has unveiled a shortlist of three locations on which a new London airport will be built.

He put forward his outer Thames Estuary, artificial island plan - dubbed "Boris Island" - for a new four-runway hub airport in a report published on Monday.

He also said that a new, four-runway airport on the Isle of Grain on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent - a plan already outlined by architect Lord Foster - should be considered and was his first choice.

And Mr Johnson's third proposal for a four-runway hub would be at Stansted in Essex, where the existing airport would be expanded.

Mr Johnson's plans, which rule out expansion at Heathrow airport in west London, will be submitted later this week to the Government-appointed Airport Commission headed by Sir Howard Davies.

A list of 20 options were whittled down to the final three.

Mr Johnson said that a new hub airport would be able to support more than 375,000 new jobs by 2050 and add £742bn to the value of goods and services produced in the UK.

He said a new hub airport could be delivered by 2029, with a hybrid bill being passed by parliament to secure approval for the airport, the surface access and the acquisition of Heathrow.

He also wants to shut Heathrow at a cost of £15bn and create a new London borough for 250,000 residents, with housing and a university.

"This is a global race and we can still win it," Mr Johnson told reporters as he unveiled the plans at City Hall.

"Ambitious cities all over the world are stealing a march on us and putting themselves in a position to eat London's breakfast, lunch and dinner by constructing major airports that plug them directly into the global supply chains that we need to be part of.

"Those cities have moved heaven and earth to locate their airports away from major centres of population in areas where they have been able to build airports with four runways or more."

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Soldiers Died 'On First Day Of SAS Assessment'

Two TA soldiers who died while attempting to get into the special forces were on the first day of a week-long assessment when they collapsed with suspected heat exhaustion, according to Sky sources.

Police are investigating the deaths of two servicemen on the hottest day of the year while a third serviceman is in a serious condition in hospital.

The three were part of a group training in the Brecon Beacons, some of Wales' most rugged terrain, on Saturday when temperatures topped 29.5C (85.1F).

It is understood that the men were on the first day of a week-long assessment as part of the Territorial Army section of the SAS.

The selection process was running alongside regular SAS trials and has now been abandoned due to the deaths.

For the regular version of the special forces elite, the trials would involve a 40 mile speed march with about 55lbs on their backs, including a replica rifle, normally completed over a 20-hour period. It is likely that the process would be slightly reduced for the TA version or split up, but nevertheless gruelling.

Sky News Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the "very rigorous selection process" would have meant "long yomping walks carrying an awful lot of weight".

With military sources indicating soaring temperatures may have been to blame for their deaths, Bunkall added that the investigation into their deaths was like to focus on the climate and whether enough preparations were put in place.

Police are investigating the deaths

Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, pointed out the difference between the selection processes for the regular Army and the special forces, where the onus is on individual achievement and self-motivation.

He told Sky News: "The Army relies a lot on the buddy-buddy system, in other words of either a commander or fellow soldier looking out for their mates to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of heat illness.

"Of course if they are doing SAS selection ... then a lot of that is done as individuals."

Chris Hunter, a former special forces bomb disposal officer who was training for a marathon on the Brecon Beacons over the weekend, told Sky News that every member of the armed forces is taught how to survive in extreme heat as soon as they join up - using techniques such as carrying lots of water, rehydrating with salts and adding and removing layers of clothing as necessary.

But he added: "Of course when they are trying to meet very tight timelines, carrying lots of equipment, literally speed marching up the mountains, running down them and navigating at the same time it can be quite difficult to do so."

Mr Hunter said a medical assessment by a doctor is always carried out before "any extreme training" and "the individual soldiers would certainly have been physically fit".

The Ministry of Defence and police are both investigating what happened. The soldiers' families have been informed.

The MoD has refused to confirm that the three were members of the TA aspiring to join the reservists' branch of the SAS.

And a spokesman said there are no plans to change "routine exercises" in light of the incident.

The Brecon Beacons is one of several locations British military use as part of their training. The deaths occurred near the Storey Arms activity centre.

The area's rugged and sprawling terrain helps prepare soldiers physically and mentally for warfare as well as put their logistic skills to the test, making it an ideal area for elite forces personnel like the SAS.

However the Beacons' jagged topography can prove dangerous even to the most hardened and physically fit.

Earlier this year, an army captain was found dead on a snow-covered Corn Du mountain.

It was thought that Rob Carnegie had been taking part in a gruelling 17-40 mile march in freezing conditions in the Brecon Beacons as part of a selection process for the special forces regiment, when he collapsed and died.

However, this time investigators are examining whether hot temperatures played a major factor.

A source said: "It is a case of the people succumbing to being affected by the training that they were doing."

The soldiers who died were thought to be trying out for the SAS

The Army's website said the Brecon Beacons were used because they are so demanding and prepare soldiers for the "extraordinary things" they have to do on deployment.

The website says: "Training for high-intensity, light-role war fighting is the way soldiers and officers are prepared for any operational situation they may face - conventional war, counter insurgency, security sector reform, peacekeeping or supporting civil authorities.

"This ensures that the training is as close to current operations and pre-deployment training as possible, whilst maintaining the ability to train for high intensity war fighting."

News of the deaths has been met with shock in the nearby town of Brecon, which is home to The Infantry Battle School.

Brecon mayor and Powys county councillor Matthew Dorrance said: "It's incredibly sad for the friends and family of the people who have lost their lives and our thoughts are with the person who is injured.

"In one way we've been blessed with the weather but for people working in this heat, they're tough conditions."

Members of all four of South Wales' mountain rescue teams said they had been called out to assist when the two servicemen died.

Thirty members of Central Beacons, Brecon, Western Beacons and Abergavenny-based Longtown Mountain Rescue Teams joined the operation near Pen y Fan, which is the highest mountain in south Wales.

Mark Moran, from Central Beacons MRT, paid tribute to its members who took part in the rescue operation.

"They are all volunteers, who are highly trained and dedicated" he said.

"We were working alongside military personnel who remained extremely calm and professional during this tragic incident. Our thoughts are now with the families of those involved."

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JK Rowling Rumbled Over Secret Crime Novel

JK Rowling has admitted to secretly writing a crime novel under a false name.

The Sunday Times said the Harry Potter author won plaudits for The Cuckoo's Calling, about a war veteran turned private investigator called Cormoran Strike.

Rowling used the moniker Robert Galbraith for the book, which was published in April, and was only rumbled after the newspaper investigated how a first-time novelist could produce such an assured debut work.

She said: "I had hoped to keep this secret a little longer because being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience.

"It has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation, and pure pleasure to get feedback under a different name."

According to the Sunday Times, The Cuckoo's Calling has sold 1,500 copies in hardback so far.

The book was published by Sphere, part of Little, Brown, which published her last novel, The Casual Vacancy.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Belfast: Clashes In Second Night Of Rioting

Police have used plastic bullets against protesters during a second night of rioting in parts of Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said so-called attenuated energy projectiles (AEP) were used in one location.

Water cannon were also deployed against demonstrators in several areas.

Police said they fired "a number of AEPs" in the Woodvale area of north Belfast on Saturday night.

It was the second night of trouble in the area.

Over 30 police officers were injured in the first night of clashes

Bottles and other missiles were thrown at officers on Woodvale Road.

Sky News Ireland Correspondent David Blevins said: "For a second consecutive night police came under sustained attack.

"It is mainly from youths pelting police lines with bricks, bottles, masonry and fireworks.

"There has also been a number of petrol bombs."

Youths set fire to bins and threw objects at officers

The PSNI also responded to isolated incidents elsewhere in north Belfast, at Rosapenna Street and North Queen Street.

Police said the disorder in the Woodvale area was "sporadic", but said one officer was struck by a petrol bomb.

The PSNI said the officer had been examined by medical personnel and remained on duty.

Officers said a 40-year old male was arrested in the Castlereagh Street area of east Belfast on suspicion of breach of the peace following a protest in the area.

A 17-year-old male and a female, also 17, were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of riotous behaviour during Friday's clashes in east Belfast.

Over 30 police officers were injured in the first night of clashes

The Woodvale Road and the Newtownards Road in east Belfast witnessed the worst violence on Friday, with 32 police officers injured.

MP for North Belfast Nigel Dodds was taken to hospital amid the clashes in Woodvale after being struck by a brick.

He was discharged from hospital on Saturday morning.

Around 400 extra police officers have been sent to Northern Ireland after the clashes.

More than 600 officers from forces in England, Scotland and Wales were already in the region supporting the PSNI operation.

On Saturday PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott condemned those responsible for the trouble.

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