NY Cabbie Sets Up Fund For Crash Victim

A New York taxi driver involved in a crash which left a British woman with part of her leg amputated has denied the accident was his fault.

Sian Green has been recovering from surgery at Bellevue Hospital after she was hit by a yellow cab at the start of a city break on Tuesday.

Mohammed Fasyal Himon blamed the crash on a cyclist, who he claimed pounded on his car and yelled at him.

Mr Himon said he was "very sorry" about the accident as he launched a charity fund for Ms Green with the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers

It has so far raised $3,000 (£1,900).

Mr Himon said: "I am praying for her and her family. But it is not my fault. It is just an accident.

Mr Himon's cab mounted the pavement

"This is what cab drivers have to deal with every day. It could have happened to any of us."

New York police said the cyclist has not been charged.

Ms Green has been praised for her fighting spirit by surgeons, who had to amputate her left foot, while she has undergone treatment to wounds on her other leg as a result of the accident.

Dr Spiros Frangos, a senior trauma surgeon at the hospital, said: "Ms Green had her left leg amputated below the knee as a result of the accident.

"Given the condition of the lower leg, replantation was not an option.

"Her right leg sustained multiple deep lacerations which were also cleaned and repaired and will likely regain most functionality with time and physical therapy."

Ms Green's parents Jason and Sonia, who made a mercy dash to be at their daughter's bedside earlier this week, released a statement through the hospital praising the aid and care their daughter had received.

They said: "There are not enough words to express our gratitude to everyone who has helped our family during this difficult time."

Ms Green was at the start of her holiday when she was hit

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Legal Highs: Ban At Reading Leeds Festival

By Frazer Maude, North of England Correspondent

The parents of a man who died after taking a "legal high" drug have welcomed a decision by the organisers of a music festival to ban the products from their sites.

Christopher Scott, 23, from Swindon, died at the Great Western Hospital in July after taking the chemical marketed as AMT (alpha-Methyltryptamine).

His father Michael says the family are "so pleased" that promoters of the Leeds and Reading Festivals have banned the sale or use of legal highs at the events this weekend.

"Everybody knows illegal drugs - there's a big risk behind them - but as soon as you start saying 'oh it's a legal high' you get the misconception that it's okay," said Michael.

"They think it's not dangerous, it's legal, so it must be fine. And then they get the impression they can take as many as they want."

A photo of Christopher Scott at home of his family

Christopher was a father of three and only after his death did his family find out that his partner was pregnant with his fourth child.

The Government finds it hard to legislate against the drugs, as whenever one is banned the manufacturers only have to make slight changes to the chemical formula in order for the new compound to be legal again.

Former legal highs Mexxy and Black Mamba are now classified as Class B drugs, and are therefore illegal.

Sky News bought a number of the legal highs from a shop in the North of England, including AMT which Mr Scott took.

They are also freely available on the internet.

The websites, sales staff and the packaging of the chemicals all warn that these items are not for human consumption, but are for research purposes.

The drug has been banned at Leeds and Reading Festivals

Melvin Benn, organiser of the Leeds and Reading Festivals, said: "We were happy to fall in line with the Home Office request and not allow these legal highs to be sold on site.

"No one really knows what effects these things have, and of course people are still going to take them. But they won't be buying them from retailers at any of my festivals."

Mr Scott and his family used to make annual visits to the Reading Festival.

Although delighted that the festival has banned the drugs, Mr Scott's father believes more needs to be done.

"The Government needs to really seriously rethink what it's doing with this concept of legal highs. Just the word 'legal' is making everyone think it's ok to do it, that it's fine. It's not," he said.

"I'm never going get my son back. I only had one son and I'm never going to get him back."

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London: Woman Killed In Double Shooting

A 24-year-old woman has been killed in a double shooting in north-west London.

Scotland Yard said officers were called after reports of gunshots in Kilburn.

Another woman, also 24, was shot but not seriously injured in the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police officers were called to the scene after reports of gunshots

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers were called at 4.20am on Saturday, 24 August, to reports of shots fired in Kilburn High Road.

"Police and London Ambulance Service attended the scene to find two women suffering from gunshot injuries. Both were taken to London hospitals.

"A 24-year-old woman was pronounced dead later on Saturday morning."

Scotland Yard said they believe they know the identity of the woman who was killed, and next of kin have been informed, but she has not been formally identified.

The other woman is not believed to be seriously injured

A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

Officers from Operation Trident - which investigates gang crime and shootings in London - are at the scene.

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Gibraltar Row: Spanish Divers Inspect Reef

The diplomatic row between Britain and Spain has intensified after footage emerged of Spanish police divers inspecting a controversial concrete reef off Gibraltar.

Spanish police published the footage showing one of its divers during an inspection of the artificial reef, which was built by the British overseas territory.

Gibraltar's government has dropped 74 concrete blocks onto the sea floor to create the reef, which it says will boost marine life.

Madrid has reacted furiously to the construction, with Spain claiming that its fishing industry has been damaged as a result.  

Fishermen say there are iron bars protruding from the blocks which tangle and break their fishing nets.

A Spanish police diver approaches the concrete blocks on the sea floor

But the Rock's Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, says the actions of the police divers - as revealed in the footage - mark a "serious violation of British sovereignty".

In a statement, the Government of Gibraltar said: "Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar notes the incident of executive action taken by the Guardia Civil in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters in the area of the new artificial reef.

"The matter of this serious incursion will not assist in de-escalating the present tensions."

Tensions between Spain and the British territory have been described as at their worst in 40 years.

Spain has imposed tighter controls at its border with Gibraltar amid the continuing row, causing long tailbacks at the crossing.

HMS Westminster sails into Gibraltar on Monday

The move has prompted angry words from British officials.

But Gibraltar's chief Minister Fabian Picardo has said the waters could be re-opened to Spanish fishermen again by October, potentially offering a means to resolve the spat.

Mr Picardo said Gibraltar would not remove the concrete blocks, as Spain demands, and rejected four-way talks with Spain, Britain and Andalusia.

On Monday, HMS Westminster arrived in Gibraltar a day after Spanish fishermen were involved in a stand-off with UK military and police boats.

The type 23 frigate was due to spend three days on the Rock, before joining several other vessels taking part in a pre-planned international training exercise in the Mediterranean and Gulf.

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Helicopter Crash: Four Dead In North Sea

Police have named the four oil workers who died after a helicopter ditched into the sea on its way to Shetland.

The victims are: Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin; Gary McCrossan , 59, from Inverness; and George Allison, 57, from Winchester.

The Super Puma L2 went down at approximately 6.27pm on Friday, around two miles west of Sumburgh airport as it was returning to Shetland from the Borgsten Dolphin platform.

The helicopter was carrying 16 workers and two crew.

"The bodies of three people have been recovered and work is underway to recover the body of the fourth person," Police Scotland said in a statement.

At least three of the dead had trouble escaping the upturned helicopter

The body of the fourth victim is understood to be in the wreckage of the aircraft.

All the families have been informed.

A search operation involving coastguard, police, RAF and local lifeboats was able to rescue 14 people from the sea, including the two crew. They were taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.

"Five were discharged and nine detained overnight either for observation or suffering from exposure," the police statement said.

The helicopter is reported to be in several pieces but the wreckage has now been secured by the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution).

One of the rescued workers is moved on a stretcher

Helicopter operator CHC, which operates in 30 countries, said on its website that it was temporarily suspending all Super Puma L2 flights worldwide as a precaution.

It has also suspended flights in Aberdeen "as a mark of respect".

Amanda Smith, the mother of one of the workers, Sam Smith, said that her son had telephoned her from hospital after suffering cuts in the crash.

She told Sky News: "He said it seemed to lose power and there was no time to brace, they just dropped into the sea.

"He was by the window so he was able to escape that way as it rolled over.

"He said he had come off better than a lot of people. It didn't seem real, I would say two hours later it's just beginning to sink in."

CHC said it was flying for French oil company Total and that the aircraft had lost communication as it approached the airport on the southern tip of Shetland's main island.

Some of those rescued were able to walk unaided after the rescue

The four people who died were working for Total through contractor organisations.

A CHC spokesman said: "The aircraft was on approach to Sumburgh Airport at approximately 6.20pm when contact was lost with air traffic control."

Mark Abbey, regional director for CHC, expressed his "heartfelt sympathies to all those involved" but said the company would not be speculating about the cause of the crash.

Investigators from the Department for Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch are looking into the incident.

The helicopter was upside down in the water when rescuers arrived, said Sky's James Matthews in Aberdeen.

"At least three of the four who died had trouble getting out of the wreckage. One body remains in there this morning," said Matthews.

The survivors were aided by waterproof immersion suits that helped keep them afloat and warm in the North Sea.

The tide - which was heading towards the land - also helped survivors.

Jim Nicholson, RNLI rescue co-ordinator, said: "There appears to have been a catastrophic loss of power which meant the helicopter suddenly dropped into the sea without any opportunity to make a controlled landing."

Last year, two Super Puma helicopters ditched in the North Sea only six months apart.

All passengers and crew were rescued in both incidents, which were found to be caused by gearbox problems.

Several helicopters have been involved in the search operation

However, the latest incident marks the fourth in four years involving Super Puma aircraft.

In April 2009, 16 people died when a helicopter returning from BP's Miller platform crashed 11 miles from Peterhead after a "catastrophic failure" in part of its main gearbox.

The Unite union's Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty, said the safety record was "unacceptable" and called on the oil and gas industry to use "every means at their disposal to demonstrate that its fleet is fit for purpose".

Bob Crow, head of the RMT union, said he expected an "outpouring of  anger" after the latest incident.

"The entire Super Puma fleet must remain grounded until the causes of this latest event are established," said Mr Crow.

:: CHC has set up a helpline for concerned relatives on 01224 296 866.

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Dave Lee Travis Faces Sex Charges In Court

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

Broadcaster Dave Lee Travis has appeared in court over 12 alleged sexual offences.

The 68-year-old is charged under his real name of David Patrick Griffin and faces 11 indecent assault charges and one of sexual assault.

As he arrived at court he rebuffed repeated questions from journalists and said that if he wanted to elaborate he could talk for "three hours about it".

He sat in the dock during the short hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London, where he confirmed his name and address.

Travis was again faced by a media scrum as he left court, and said little apart from a reference to the blood sport of hare-coursing.

He said: "I am supported by my wife and my friends.

"My wife is not here today, and the reason she's not here today is because I detest hare-coursing."

The charges Travis faces span from 1977 to 2007 - the youngest of the nine alleged victims was 15-years-old.

The DJ has consistently denied any wrongdoing since he was first arrested at his home near Leighton Buzzard in November 2012.

During a long career in broadcasting, Travis was perhaps best known as the host of the BBC Radio One breakfast show between 1978 and 1980.

The broadcaster famously resigned from the station while on air in 1993.

Recently, he worked for the Magic network of radio stations but has not been on air while the police investigation has been taking place.

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One In 10 Five-Year-Olds Has A Mobile Phone

Nearly one in 10 children has a mobile phone by the time they are five years old, according to a new study.

On average, youngsters are bought their first handset at the age of 11, soon after starting secondary school.

However, some 9% of parents said they bought their children a phone when they were five.

The study by comparison site uSwitch.com also found that mums and dads spend an average £125 on their children's gadgets - and around £246 on their own mobiles.

But despite the cost, 42% said they did not pay close attention to their children's phone bills.

Only a quarter capped their youngster's contracts, while just 3% said they disabled the data function on their phones so that they could only be used for making calls or sending text messages.

Children spend an average £11 per month on their mobiles - less than parents who spend £19.

However, more than one in 10 (11%) of youngsters spends more than their mother or father, the research showed.

The study - of 1,420 parents with children aged under 16 - also revealed that parents were likely to spend more money on their first-born's phone and bills than on those of any younger siblings.

Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said: "As well as arming kids with mobiles for emergencies and peace of mind, I'd imagine that many parents have bought their kids smartphones just to stop them commandeering their own when bored."

He suggested parents cap their children's mobile bills, adding: "Make sure that when they're at home, your kids are browsing the web using wi-fi instead of consuming data by connecting to the internet via 3G or 4G."

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Cardinal Keith O'Brien Halted Sex Abuse Probe

Disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien blocked an independent inquiry into cases of historic sexual abuse a year before resigning over his own inappropriate sexual conduct.

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland commissioned a report into allegations of abuse in 2011 but it was halted the following year when Cardinal O'Brien, then president of the conference, withdrew his support.

He stepped down as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh in February after three priests and a former priest made allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him.

He issued an apology, saying "there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me".

Cardinal O'Brien's opposition to an inquiry into Church-related abuse allegations was revealed by the retired Archbishop of Glasgow, Mario Conti, in a letter to the Catholic newspaper The Tablet.

Archbishop Conti wrote: "It was the intention of all but one member of the Bishops' Conference to commission an independent examination of the historical cases we had on file in all of our respective dioceses and publish the results, but this was delayed by the objection of the then president of the conference; without full participation of all the dioceses the exercise would have been faulty."

The Cardinal has admitted his conduct fell beneath "the standards expected"

A Church spokesman said: "This refers to a decision taken in 2011 by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland to commission an independent academic analysis of statistics relating to abuse and allegations of abuse over a 60-year period from 1952 to 2012.

"This project, with the co-operation of each of the eight dioceses in Scotland, started and ran until 2012, at which time, the then president of the conference, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, withdrew from the project.

"Without the participation of all the dioceses a 'national audit' was not possible so the analysis was stopped."

Following his resignation Cardinal O'Brien, 75, stated that he would play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland and has since left the country for a period of "spiritual renewal and reflection".

Monsignor Leo Cushley, who formerly worked on the Vatican's diplomatic team, was last month appointed his successor.

At a meeting in June, the Bishops' Conference of Scotland agreed to publish audits relating to the Church's eight dioceses since 2006.

The reports, to be published in the autumn, "will detail any complaints made about clergy, church workers, volunteers or anyone else and how these complaints were dealt with", the Church said.

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UK GDP Revised Upward In Second Quarter

UK GDP output for the second quarter of 2013 has been revised upwards, according to officially released figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the economy grew by 0.7% in the three months.

The ONS gross domestic product (GDP) figure was up 0.1% from the estimate released in July.

Rosier growth was seen across all sectors of the economy, with small upward revisions across manufacturing, construction and parts of services.

Second-quarter growth more than doubled from 0.3% expansion in the first three months, raising hopes that the economy is now powering out of its five-year slump.

The Treasury said the upward revision confirmed the UK is "moving from rescue to recovery".

A spokeswoman said: "There is still a long way to go, but the economy is on the right track and the Government is committed to its economic plan that has already cut the deficit by a third and enabled the private sector to create over 1.3 million new jobs."

Construction was one of the hardest hit sectors in the global crisis

Output from the UK's building sites expanded by 1.4% in the second quarter from an initial 0.9% estimate as the housing market was ignited by state stimulus schemes, including Help to Buy and Funding for Lending.

There were also brighter signs from factories, which grew output by 0.7% during the quarter, up from an initial 0.4% estimate.

And output from distribution, hotels and catering firms, was revised up to 1.7% from 1.5%, while growth across business services and finance firms was also revised higher to 0.6% from 0.5%.

The overall services sector expanded by an unchanged 0.6%, but output from the agriculture sector was revised up to 1.7% from the 1.1% first estimate.

Britain's shrinking net trade deficit, which dropped to £3.2bn in the second quarter from a £4.3bn deficit in the first quarter, also contributed to the increase in output as exports leapt to a record level.

James Knightley, economist at ING Bank, said the higher estimate of GDP will "boost optimism on the economy".

Markit chief economist Chris Williamson added it was a "very encouraging picture of a broad-based upturn across almost all sectors of the economy".

But Chris Leslie MP, Labour's shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, said: "These figures confirm that after three wasted years of flatlining we finally have some welcome but long overdue growth.

"But for all George Osborne's complacent claims that the economy is now fixed, for ordinary people things are getting harder. While millionaires have been given a huge tax cut most people are still seeing prices rising much faster than wages.

Agricultural output was revised upward by more than half

"And real risks remain. The Governor of the Bank of England is right to warn that the recovery is weak, and it is the slowest on record."

Pay and pension contributions increased by 2.4% in the second quarter - the highest quarterly increase since late 2000 - with the pay spike boosted by unusually high bonus payments in April.

The ONS said spending across various parts of the economy contributed to growing output.

Spending by households increased 0.4% in the quarter, raising hopes that higher consumer spending will drive the recovery, and is now 1.6% higher than a year earlier.

The ONS said overall economic output is now 3.2% below its peak in the first quarter of 2008 - it dropped as low as 7.2% below the peak in the second quarter of 2009.

The first estimate published in late July was based on 44% of data, while today's estimate is based on 88% of data.

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NHS Hospitals Aim To Start Clinics In India

By Thomas Moore, Health Correspondent

As many as 20 NHS hospitals are making plans to open lucrative clinics in India, according to a former health secretary.

Patricia Hewitt, who now chairs the UK India Business Council, said between 10 and 20 NHS trusts are in talks with local healthcare providers about opening branches in the country.

The NHS has strong brand recognition in India and UK hospitals hope selling their expertise abroad could generate new income.

"Our ambition is to get as many (NHS trusts, health companies and charities) there as we can," Ms Hewitt told the Health Service Journal.

The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust in North London is in early negotiations with the MIOT Hospital in Chennai to help run a screening programme for the fatal blood disorder thalassemia.

Other NHS organisations, including the Royal Free and King's College hospitals and the London Ambulance Trust, travelled to India in May as part of a delegation led by Cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke.

Patricia Hewitt at a summit in India this January

Ms Hewitt said income from overseas clinics could help the NHS plug a funding gap that is expected to hit £30bn in 2020.

Trusts are allowed to profit from non-NHS services.

India, along with the Middle East, China and Brazil, are being targeted by the cross-government unit Healthcare UK, which acts as a matchmaker for British organisations and possible clients overseas.

The growing middle class in emerging economies are demanding world-standard healthcare that Britain excels at.

King's Heath Partners, a group that includes three London hospital trusts, has signed contracts to open clinics in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The Department of Health said: "NHS patients will always come first, but we should help and support the health service to compete internationally for the benefit of its patients in England.

"Under no circumstances will the quality of NHS services at home be compromised by the sharing of NHS expertise abroad.

"We have no intention to send NHS patients to India for treatment."

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Half Of Seven-Year-Olds Not Exercising Enough

Half of all seven-year-olds do not get enough exercise - with girls far less active than boys according to new research.

Only 51% of all seven-year-olds in the UK achieve the recommended hour of exercise every day.

The figure breaks down to just 38% of girls hitting the target, compared with 63% in boys.

Half of this age group is also sedentary for an average of 6.4 hours or more every day, experts have found.

The research, published in the online journal BMJ Open, found that children of Indian origin and those living in Northern Ireland are among the least physically active of all seven-year-olds.

Experts from the University College London's Institute of Child Health examined data for 6,497 children.

The youngsters wore an accelerometer to measure exercise levels which was attached to an elastic belt round their waist. It was only removed when bathing or when the children went to bed.

In total, the experts were able to record 36,309 days of data based on the children wearing the accelerometer for at least 10 hours a day over the course of a week.

Girls were more sedentary and less active than boys while only one in three (33%) children of Bangladeshi origin met the recommended daily exercise minimum.

Among the four UK countries, children in Northern Ireland were the least active, with just 43% managing the recommended 60 minutes, while children in Scotland were most likely (52.5%) to achieve the target.

Around 52% of all children in England managed the 60 minutes but there were regional differences.

The researchers wrote: "The results of our study provide a useful baseline and strongly suggest that contemporary UK children are insufficiently active, implying that effort is needed to boost physical activity among young people to the level appropriate for good health."

Senior author Professor Carol Dezateux, from the Institute of Child Health, called for policies to promote more exercise among girls.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We have committed to giving primary schools £300m of ring-fenced funding to improve PE and sport, and help all pupils to develop healthy, active lifestyles, and have invested a further £3m to extend Change4Life School Sports Clubs to areas with the highest childhood obesity."

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North Wales Care Home Abuse Inquiry Arrests

Detectives investigating historic sex abuse at children's homes in North Wales have arrested a man and woman on suspicion of indecent assault.

Officers attached to Operation Pallial, the investigation into recent allegations of historical abuse in the North Wales care system, arrested the pair at an address in Seaford, East Sussex.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between 1975 and 1976 against an 11-year-old  boy.

The suspects, aged 63 and 60, have been taken to a police station in Sussex where they will be interviewed by officers from Operation Pallial.

The latest arrests are the sixth and seventh in the inquiry. One person has been charged.

Detectives are looking into 140 allegations relating to 18 care homes between 1963 and 1992.

The former Bryn Estyn Children's Home has been at the centre of claims

A report published in April outlining the first stage of the inquiry revealed the alleged victims were aged between seven and 19.

It said 84 people - 75 male and nine female - had been named by complainants.

Of these, 16 were cited by more than one alleged victim and 10 could now be dead.

In 2000, the Waterhouse Inquiry was established to study claims linked to homes in the former council areas of Gwynedd and Clwyd since 1974.

Following Waterhouse, eight people were prosecuted, seven of whom were convicted.

In July, another damning report which revealed 'extensive' child abuse in North Wales care homes was finally published.

The report claimed police officers and other professionals could have been identified as potential "perpetrators of assaults" 17 years earlier.

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Millions To Share £1.3bn Bank Compensation

CPP Mis-Selling Scandal Q&A

Updated: 11:27am UK, Thursday 22 August 2013

As the UK's battered financial services industry prepares to tell seven million people they may have been the victim of the latest mis-selling scandal, here are some answers to common questions.

:: Why is this happening?

Regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found widespread mis-selling of card protection and identity protection policies which were provided by CPP and sold by several banks, credit card issuers and directly by the firm.

Products offered by banks and card issuers were often sold when customers called to register or activate a debit or credit card.

Customers were given misleading and unclear information about the policies so they bought cover that either was not needed, or to cover risks that had been exaggerated.

:: Which banks and credit card issuers have agreed to the compensation scheme?

Customers bought and renewed about 23 million policies from CPP, a bank or credit card issuer.

The 13 companies which have signed up to the redress scheme are Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Canada Square Operations (formerly Egg Banking), Capital One, Clydesdale Bank, Home Retail Group Insurance Services, HSBC, MBNA, Morgan Stanley, Nationwide Building Society, Santander, RBS and Tesco Personal Finance.

The involvement of the banks and credit card issuers reflects their involvement in introducing customers to CPP's products and so they must share responsibility for putting the situation right.

:: What sort of sum are those entitled to compensation likely to receive?

The total compensation bill could be up to £1.3bn, with redress per customer depending on the type of policy or policies owned and the length of time they were held for.

If you are entitled to compensation you will have the premiums you have paid since January 14 2005 returned to you, less any sums paid out under the policy, plus 8% interest on the amount owed.

This date in 2005 has been chosen because it is the date that the sale of general insurance products came under the scope of FCA regulation.

Card protection costs were around £30 a year and identity protection costs were about £80 a year.

:: What do customers need to do to get their compensation?

Nothing at this stage and they will not have to pay a claims management firm to chase compensation.

CPP is going to write to affected policyholders from August 29 to explain how the compensation scheme will work and what they need to do next.

:: How will the compensation scheme work?

Compensation payouts are expected to be made from next spring and there are several approval hurdles which will need to be cleared first.

After policyholders have received their initial letter from CPP, they will be invited as the scheme's "creditors" to vote on whether they want it to go ahead. This process is a legal requirement.

If the vote goes in favour of the scheme, the High Court will be asked to approve it. If the scheme gets the green light from the High Court, CPP will write to policyholders again to ask whether they want to be considered for compensation.

This would include a claim form that must be completed, signed and returned to CPP before a specified deadline.

Customers who voted against the scheme going ahead would still be able to submit a claim for compensation.

If a customer does make a claim, their policy will be cancelled - even if their claim is rejected.

The FCA advises customers to therefore think carefully about whether they find some features of the product useful before they make a claim.

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MSP Bill Walker Guilty Of Domestic Abuse

An MSP has been convicted of a string of domestic abuse charges against his three ex-wives and a step-daughter.

Bill Walker, 71, from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, was found guilty of a catalogue of attacks on the women between 1967 and 1995.

The Independent member for Dunfermline, who denied all the allegations against him, was convicted following a two-week trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Walker faced 23 charges of assault at addresses in Edinburgh, Stirling, Midlothian and Alloa, and one charge of breaching the peace.

He was convicted of all of the charges during the 28-year period.

Sheriff Katherine Mackie, who heard the case without a jury, found Walker guilty of assaulting his first wife Maureen Traquair on three separate occasions in the 1960s and 1980s.

On one occasion, he punched her in the face two weeks before their wedding day in January 1967, giving her a black eye.

The MSP was also found to have assaulted his second wife Anne Gruber 15 times at various addresses in Edinburgh and Midlothian between 1978 and 1984.

The attacks included punching her on the head and body, slapping her in the face, throwing a bottle at her, kicking her and spitting on her face.

He also brandished an air rifle at her house, committing a breach of the peace, the court found.

The politician was convicted of four assaults on his third wife Diana Walker, three of which involved slapping or punching her on the face.

The attacks happened between June 1988 and January 1995.

Mrs Walker said he "whacked" her with full force before their wedding, "thumped" her in the face, threw a tray at her and slapped her repeatedly.

The court heard he also made her sign an agreement saying she would do all the shopping and cleaning.

Walker was also found guilty of assaulting Mrs Gruber's daughter Anne Louise Paterson by repeatedly striking her on the head with a saucepan during a row over a trifle in 1978.

Mrs Gruber told the court: "He turned on her and whacked her repeatedly over the head with a yellow saucepan that was so badly broken up it was put in the bin.

"He battered her so hard she was down on the floor. Her head was bleeding and she was bruised."

The politician had claimed he acted in self-defence after being assaulted by Ms Paterson, who was then 16.

His behaviour was described by the prosecution as being "violent, domineering, controlling and relentless". Procurator fiscal Les Brown said he had acted like a "caveman".

He engaged in "systematic physical and emotional abuse" towards the women over a prolonged period of time, the court was told.

The MSP had alleged he was being smeared and this his ex-wives were colluding in an attempt to "score some points".

But Sheriff Mackie said she did not find him a credible witness and rejected his claim the evidence was fabricated.

Walker, who will return for sentencing on September 20, was tight-lipped as he left court with his solicitor but a short statement was read on his behalf.

Russel McPhate said: "Mr Walker is obviously disappointed to be convicted of all the charges today. The verdicts, in particularly the comments of the sheriff, will be very carefully considered.

"In the meantime, he'd like to thank his wife, his family, his colleagues, his staff and his friends, who have supported him throughout this ordeal, which of course has lasted since March last year and is not over yet."

Mrs Gruber and Mrs Walker were both in court but left without making any comment.

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Jermain Defoe Cousin's Pool Death A 'Mystery'

The mother of England footballer Jermain Defoe's cousin, who was electrocuted in a hotel swimming pool in St Lucia, has begged to be told the "truth" about her daughter's death.

Hannah Defoe, 20, was killed after diving into the water while on holiday on the Caribbean island last summer - just three weeks before her 21st birthday.

Hope Defoe, 50, clutched a picture of her daughter as she told an inquest relatives had been fobbed off with '"excuses" from St Lucian authorities for more than a year.

She wept as she described how relatives had battled for more than an hour to rescue her daughter from the electrified water.

In her quest for answers Mrs Defoe emailed an official in the island's tourism department.

She wrote: "You were all so kind and gracious when we were in St Lucia, promising to help us, but we have been abandoned.

"We haven't even been told if anybody has been charged. Look your daughter in the eye and then imagine her electrocuted and lying in a pool, at the bottom, for an hour and a half while you and others are suffering electric shocks as you try to rescue her.

"Now imagine nobody tells you how or why that happened but fobs you off with polite excuses."

Jermain Defoe

Ms Defoe, an aspiring actress, was on holiday as a reward for her hard work during her first year at the Performers College in Essex when she was killed.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Defoe was on the club's pre-season tour of America when he was told about her death. He was allowed to return to the UK to be with his family.

Hannah's parents, who travelled to St Lucia the day after the tragedy, were assured by senior officials that a full and proper investigation would take place.

They were told the electricity board had previously informed the hotel owner of the existence of a fault but that it had not been fixed

But the findings from any investigation by authorities in the Caribbean have not been disclosed to the Defoe family.

The coroner adjourned proceedings until next March to await the receipt of vital documents from St Lucia.

The student's death is one of a number of losses suffered by footballer Defoe, 30.

He flew home from England's Euro 2012 camp in Poland last June following the death of his 49-year-old father Jimmy from throat cancer.

In 2009 his half-brother Jade, 26, died after falling into a coma following a street attack in east London.

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Prisoners Cold Call From Jail Call Centres

Prisoners are being employed to gather insurance details from members of the public at call centres set up inside jails.

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed inmates are working as call centre operatives at HMP Oakwood in Wolverhampton and HMP Drake Hall in Staffordshire.

They carry out market research for insurance companies as part of a scheme officials claim prepares them to return to work after their release.

Without revealing they are in jail, they read from a script, which reports suggested included asking possible customers their names and postcodes.

The Government denied claims they could inquire about the total value of homeowners' possessions and any items that were particularly valuable.

Sources also made clear the workers do not have access to the "full address details" of any members of the public.

The cold callers work from secure computers with no internet access and are not allowed a pen to stop them recording any of the data.

The Ministry of Justice said prisoners should not 'sit idle'

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Prisoners placed in call centres are risk assessed and their work subject to stringent security measures, with calls supervised and recorded.

"At no point can they ask the value of items, record data outside of the secure systems or deviate from a carefully worded script.

"These small pilots are being carefully monitored and would only be rolled out if deemed to be successful."

The spokesman added: "It is crucial that offenders do not sit idle in their cells.

"Ensuring prisoners learn new skills through work opportunities makes them more employable in the future - that means a lower risk of reoffending, lower crime and fewer victims."

However, critics warned the scheme could put customers are risk.

Peter Cuthbertson of the Centre for Crime Prevention told The Sun: "Trusting criminals with people's financial details is incredibly naive. Burglars will know who to target when they are released."

HMP Drake Hall has been a prison for women since the 1970s, while HMP Oakwood, which is now run privately by security firm G4S, is a prison for men.

The MOJ announced plans to pay prisoners to work in call centres last year to enable them to learn new skills.

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Taxi Crash: 'Devastated' Father Flies To US

The father of a British woman who had part of her leg severed by a New York taxi says the family is "devastated" by what happened.

Sian Green, 23, suffered the leg injury when a yellow taxi mounted the pavement in the centre of New York and struck her.

Sian Green was with a friend when she was hit. Pic: Instagram

"We are a really close family we are all devastated by what has happened," her father Jason told the Leicester Mercury.

"We don't know what to say.

"We just want to be at our daughter's side right now," he said, adding that he is flying to New York to keep a bedside vigil.

He added: "She is in recovery now, and they have had to amputate what's left of her foot."

A street vendor helps by packing the severed foot with ice. Pic: NBC

The cab hit a cyclist and then ploughed into Ms Green in front of a fountain outside the Rockefeller Center at 49th Street, news reports say.

Ms Green was walking down the road with her friend, eating a hot dog she had just bought nearby, when she was hit, according to the New York Post, which cited witnesses.

Among those who helped the victim was also celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, who records his talk show in a nearby studio.

Dr Mehmet OZ and plumber David Justino. Pic. Facebook

Dr Oz said emergency medical crews were already treating the injured woman.

A plumber who was working in the area, David Justino, used his belt to make a life-saving tourniquet for Ms Green's leg.

Mr Justino said: "I just grabbed my belt, went over, lifted her up, put it on and held it.

"From the shin down, (her leg) was gone."

He added: "I just worried about the blood, there was too much blood."

A friend witnesses the accident. Pic: NBC

Mr Justino told the New York Daily News that she "was conscious the whole time, the poor thing. I wished she would have passed out".

A street vendor reportedly raced to put her severed foot on ice. She was then transport to the hospital.

Sergeant John Buthorn of the New York Police Department said: "The circumstances are still under investigation, whether it was some sort of rage or an accident.

Ms Green is taken to hospital on a stretcher. Pic: NBC

"It looks like her leg or part of it was severed during the accident."

Reports said Ms Green is being treated at Bellevue Hospital, where she underwent surgery to reattach her leg.

According to the New York Daily News, the cab driver was issued a summons for being an unauthorised driver, but was then set free.

Ms Green, 23, had reportedly just started her holiday. Pic: Instagram

Both the driver and the cyclist were treated for injuries, police said.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of a traffic incident involving a British national in New York City.

"Staff at the British Consulate General in New York are providing consular assistance at this difficult time."

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Lifeguards Rescue Children At Treyarnon Beach

A group of nine people, including six children, who were trapped on a beach in Cornwall have been saved by lifeguards.

The group, who were stranded on Treyarnon beach by the incoming tide, huddled together on a small platform above a gully as water began to rush in.

A RNLI spokesman said it was "too dangerous" for crews to reach them by lifeboat as 5ft (1.5-metre) waves lashed the rocky coastline, forcing two lifeguards to abandon their inflatable and swim towards the gully.

One of the lifeguards involved in the rescue spots the stranded group

Zahli Lowe and Dan Lee, who are based at nearby Constantine, swam the youngsters, aged between seven and 12, to a safe part of the bay, where they were picked up by an inshore rescue boat.

They also helped a weaker adult swimmer to safety, while two adults made their own escape from the gully.

"It was a very difficult and long process, made even worse by the time pressures of the incoming tide and a building swell," Mr Lee said.

Two of the youngsters are taken to shore in an RNLI inshore rescue boat

"Thankfully we all know this beach and stretch of coastline very well and were able to read the waves and get them all out safely."

Treyarnon, near Padstow, is popular with families during the summer, when up to 200 swimmers and surfers can be in the water at any time.

A large cave at the end of the gully in which the group was trapped can be explored at low tide.

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Tulisa Accused Of V Festival Blogger Assault

Former X Factor judge and N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos has been accused of assaulting a blogger at V Festival.

Essex Police are investigating after celebrity writer Vas Morgan claimed that the 25-year-old charged towards him in a "drunken and angry state" in the backstage area of the Chelmsford event on Sunday.

A representative for Constostavlos issued a statement saying: "Tulisa strongly denies assaulting Mr Morgan; she specifically denies punching Mr Morgan in the eye.

"She has placed this matter in the hands of her lawyers for immediate and appropriate action."

A force spokeswoman confirmed that officers received the allegation of an assault on Tuesday. The attack is alleged to have taken place just after midnight.

She added: "We are making further inquiries."

Earlier this year Tulisa was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs following a newspaper report about an alleged cocaine deal.

Her bail has been extended until October.

She was dropped from the X Factor and replaced by Sharon Osbourne.

In 2012 Tulisa won an apology from her ex-boyfriend after he leaked footage on to the internet of the two of them performing a sex act.

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Queen's Swan Found Cooked Near Windsor Castle

A swan owned by the Queen has been found barbecued on the banks of the Thames in the shadow of Windsor Castle.

The Royal bird was found on Baths Island, in the middle of a picnic area popular with children and tourists.

It had been cooked with its feathers still attached, and meat had been stripped from its carcass.

Park wardens made the gruesome discovery in Windsor, Berkshire, at 3pm on Sunday, and called Swan Lifeline, which cares for sick or injured birds along the Thames.

Wendy Hermon, treatment centre co-ordinator for Swan Lifeline, told Sky News Online: "They were in the middle of their walkabout when they phoned us to say we've found what looks like the remains of a cooked swan.

"It's absolutely disgusting doing something like that. We've heard for years that sort of thing goes on; we've never actually seen it.

The Queen has the right to own any swan in the UK she chooses

"But to barbecue a swan and leave its body in the centre of Windsor with all the tourists and children about is absolutely disgraceful."

She added: "We have shot swans from time to time, and swans attacked by dogs and foxes, but that's nature and we accept it.

"But when it's something like this it's disgusting. It was so so selfish and wrong just to leave it there in the middle of the grass.

"They'd stripped the meat off it, they'd carved the breasts off the bones. There were no remains of a fire, but they're always having barbecues up there even though they're not allowed.

"And I think that's why the park wardens had gone up there, to tell people not to barbecue."

She said the carcass was taken back to the Swan Lifeline centre to be cremated.

The first record of the swan as a Royal bird dates back to the 12th century

David Barber, The Queen's Swan Marker, said he was appalled by the incident.

"It's an absolutely shocking situation and as far as I'm concerned the police are investigating this," he told Sky News.

"All swans are considered by people to be Royal birds and it's quite a shock to people to see this in a middle of a picnic lawn in a public area."

He said all swans on the Thames belong to the Queen, apart from those owned by the Vintners and Dyers livery companies.

The suspects face a maximum six months jail sentence and £5,000 fine because wild swans are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

But Mr Barber said if the dead swan is claimed by the Crown, the suspects could also be prosecuted for damaging Crown property.

The first written record of the swan as a Royal bird dates back to the 12th century.

Cygnets were highly prized for their gourmet qualities and were often served at banquets. Anyone caught stealing the birds was severely punished.

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David Miranda To Launch Legal Challenge

The boyfriend of an investigative journalist who was held under UK terror laws has started legal action over his detention.

David Miranda has appointed law firm Bindmans LLP to pursue a civil action over his treatment at Heathrow Airport on Sunday.

The solicitors have written to the Home Secretary and Met Police chief to ensure none of the material taken from him is looked at until the case is resolved.

Bindmans said it had asked for assurances that "there will be no inspection, copying, disclosure, transfer, distribution or interference, in any way, with our client's data".

Russia has given Edward Snowden temporary political asylum

Mr Miranda, whose partner Glenn Greenwald reported the Edward Snowden spying revelations, was held for the maximum nine hours after trying to change planes in London.

He was travelling to Brazil from Germany, where he had visited US filmmaker Laura Poitras who has been working on the Snowden NSA files with Mr Greenwald and The Guardian.

Scotland Yard insists the detention was "legally and procedurally sound" and the Home Office has now given police its full support.

A department spokesman said: "The Government and the police have a duty to protect the public and our national security.

"If the police believe that an individual is in possession of highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism, then they should act and the law provides them with a framework to do that.

Laura Poitras was nominated for an Oscar

"Those who oppose this sort of action need to think about what they are condoning. This is an ongoing police inquiry so we will not comment on the specifics."

The detention has prompted a storm of protest from civil rights campaigners and an apparent coalition split.

Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Julian Huppert called it unacceptable and "a clear abuse of terrorism powers".

A change.org petition calling for an urgent review of the laws, launched by Four Lions actor Adeel Akhtar who says he was held under similar legislation in the US in 2002, has already gathered 30,000 names.

"I'm not saying there shouldn't be a law in place to protect us from terrorist threats, but these laws that are being used, I don't think are being applied in the right way," he said.

Labour's Yvette Cooper called for an urgent investigation

Reporter Mr Greenwald called the detention a "profound attack on press freedoms and the newsgathering process".

He argued it was "clearly intended to send a message of intimidation to those of us who have been reporting on the NSA (National Security Agency) and GCHQ."

But the Metropolitan Police said: "The examination of a 28-year-old man under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at Heathrow airport on Sunday … was subject to a detailed decision-making process.

"The procedure was reviewed throughout to ensure the examination was both necessary and proportionate. Our assessment is that the use of the power in this case was legally and procedurally sound."

It added: "Contrary to some reports the man was offered legal representation while under examination and a solicitor attended. No complaint has been received by the Metropolitan Police Service at this time."

White House officials have revealed the US was given advance notice by police about their plan but says America did not request the move and was not involved.

Downing Street has now also said it was kept informed of the operation but denies any political involvement in the decision.

Mr Miranda claims UK officials were doing the bidding of the US by trying to force him to reveal passwords for his electronic devices.

He said: "They were threatening me all the time and saying I would be put in jail if I didn't co-operate.

"They treated me like I was a criminal or someone about to attack the UK … It was exhausting and frustrating, but I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong."

The row has deepened after Guardian editor Rusbridger claimed agents from GCHQ were sent to The Guardian's head office to destroy hard drives containing Snowden data.

Mr Rusbridger, in a comment piece for his own paper, said he was told by phone a few weeks ago: "You've had your fun. Now we want the stuff back."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, in a new statement on Tuesday, said: "The Government needs to explain who authorised the use of terrorism legislation in this case and what the justification was."

The police and security services work hard to safeguard our national security, and they need powers to prevent terrorism.

"However for public confidence to be maintained it is important that the Government, police and security services are seen to abide by the rule of law, and to operate proportionately with proper checks and balances in place."

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Bank Intern Dies After 'Pulling All-Nighters'

A 21-year-old Bank of America Merrill Lynch intern who died in London last week had reportedly been working more than 20 hours a day.

Moritz Erhardt, a University of Michigan student from Germany, was coming to the end of a seven week internship when he collapsed in the shower last Thursday.

He was found unconscious at Claredale House, a student residence in Bethnal Green, and was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

One anonymous poster on website the wallstreetoasis.com said: "He was found dead in the shower by his flatmate. Intern at BAML [Banking of America and Merill Lynch] who went home at 6am three days in a row."

A fellow intern told the Evening Standard Mr Erhardt was a "superstar" who worked "very hard and was very focused".

BAML would not comment on speculation that Mr Erhardt had recently worked very long hours.

However, in response to being asked if it is common for people to occasionally work through the night there, a spokesperson said: "We've all done it."

In a statement the company said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Moritz Erhardt's death.

"He was popular amongst his peers and was a highly diligent intern at our company with a promising future. Our first thoughts are with his family and we send our condolences to them at this difficult time."

An email sent to students staying at Claredale House after the student's death said: "Some of you might be aware that the emergency services were called to Claredale.

"The reason for this is that we were made aware of an incident involving one of our residents. Sadly the resident concerned had passed away.

"To avoid any rumours or misinformation, we would like to inform you all that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death."

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Tax Office Warns Football Clubs Over Low Pay

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Dozens of top-flight English football clubs are to receive a letter from tax inspectors warning them that they must pay staff the minimum wage or face a fine of up to £5,000 and potential prosecution.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says it will soon begin "targeted checks" amid claims that some club mascots are not paid at all for their match-day work.

National minimum wage laws make it illegal not to pay people classed as workers.

"Paying the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is not a choice, it's the law," said Michelle Wyer, assistant director of HMRC's minimum wage team.

"It can't be right that as some players are paid millions of pounds, other members of staff are paid below the legal limit.

"HMRC enforces the rules, protecting workers from rogue employers and ensuring they get at least the wage to which they are legally entitled.

"Where an employer ignores these rules, we will take steps to ensure arrears are paid out in full and the employer fined. In the most serious cases, criminal prosecution can follow."

The move is being described as "pre-emptive" ahead of a "series of targeted checks" within football after HMRC received complaints about non-payment from at least one current club mascot.

In April Swansea City and Reading advertised for unpaid interns, including one position which lasted for a year.

Many people will be surprised that this happens within football - where some players can earn as much as £250,000 per week - but given the high profile nature of the English game clubs will always have a ready supply of young people keen to break into what they see as a glamorous, attractive industry.

Last year HMRC enforcement action resulted in 708 employers receiving automatic penalty charges of up to £5,000 and 26,519 employees receiving back pay totalling over £4m, topping up wages that had previously been below the legal minimum rate.

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Gary Bolton Jailed Over Fake Bomb Detectors

A businessman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for making and selling fake bomb detectors.

Gary Bolton, 47, made millions of pounds selling the devices around the world, boasting they could detect explosives, drugs, ivory, tobacco and even money.

In actual fact they consisted of nothing more than empty boxes with handles and antennae which he made at home and at his Global Technology Ltd offices in Kent.

He denied two counts of fraud as a judge at the Old Bailey described the equipment as "useless" and "dross".

Bolton had background in research or security

Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt, at the court, said Bolton spent £1.82, plus the glue and antennae, on each product and then sold them for up to £15,000 each.

The court was told Bolton's company had a turnover of almost £3m, with up to 5,000 devices made.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC said tests proved the detectors, first called the Mole and later remarketed as the GT200, performed no better than random searches for explosives.

Bolton claimed they worked with a range of 700 metres at ground level and 2.5 miles (4km) in the air and said they were effective through lead-lined and metal walls, water, containers and earth.

But "double-blind" tests on a Mole device as far back as 2001 showed it had a successful detection rate of just 9%.

Sentencing the father-of-three, judge Richard Hone QC said Bolton had maintained the "little plastic box" was a piece of working equipment, and that he continued to "peddle" it to scores of international clients - including for use by armed forces - despite evidence proving it was "useless".

He added: "You were determined to bolster the illusion that the devices worked and you knew there was a spurious science to produce that end.

"They had a random detection rate. They were useless.

Bolton's company had a turnover of almost £3m

"Soldiers, police officers, customs officers and many others put their trust in a device which worked no better than random chance.

"The jury found you knew this but you carried on. Your profits were enormous."

Mr Whittam said Bolton admitted in interview to having no background in science, research, training or security, the court heard.

Around 1,200 devices were sold to Mexico, while orders were also shipped to parts of Asia and the Middle East.

The devices are still being used in Thailand.

Detective Inspector Roger Cook, from the City of London Police's Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit, said Bolton put "people's lives and livelihoods at serious risk, but his sole consideration was how much money he could make".

"Bringing Bolton to justice is the result of a long, complex and far reaching international investigation and his seven-year prison sentence should act as a warning to others who seek to act corruptly overseas with the belief that they will go undetected," he added.

In May James McCormick was jailed for 10 years for also selling fake bomb detectors. He made £50m selling his devices for up to £27,000 each to groups including the Iraqi military and police in Kenya.

Prosecutors in the case said British officers in Iraq believed the detectors may have cost dozens of lives.

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Northern Ireland: Arrest Over Three Deaths

A man has been arrested over the deaths of three of his former girlfriends, all of whom died in suspicious circumstances.

The 66-year-old was arrested in Dromore, County Down, a quiet market town where all three women died.

Michelle Bickerstaff, 47, died in April last year; Margaret Weise, 50, in August 2007; and Elizabeth McKee, 52, in December 2002.

It is understood they died from physical injuries, with detectives working to establish how they were caused.

The arrested man was taken to a police station in Antrim, where he is also being questioned on suspicion of other offences relating to other women.

A police spokesman said the families of the three women who died had been informed of his arrest.

An obituary for Ms Bickerstaff, who had four children, said she died suddenly in hospital.

Police said a 64-year-old was arrested in connection with her death at the time. He was released unconditionally.

Dromore is a small town 17 miles southwest of Belfast, with a population of 48,300.

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MasterChef Judge Gregg Wallace In Hotel Brawl

MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace knocked a diner to the floor and punched him in the face for allegedly groping his girlfriend, according to reports.

The former greengrocer and restaurateur - known for using the phrase "cooking doesn't get tougher than this" - was pictured brawling with the man after a five-hour evening of food and wine at a plush hotel.

Wallace, 48, is reported to have punched the man several times because he apparently pinched his 27-year-old girlfriend Anne-Marie Sterpini's bottom.

The fight broke out after he had hosted Dinner With Gregg Wallace at the Wood Norton Hotel in Evesham, Worcestershire.

The hotel's website described Wallace as "the bald one who likes puddings" and promised guests a champagne reception followed by a five-course dinner.

But the scene turned ugly.

A picture in The Sun showed white-shirted Wallace grappling with the man while another man tries to restrain him as other guests look on.

The BBC host was eventually led from the oak-panelled room at the Grade II-listed building and taken upstairs.

Claire Shepherd, 31, who was at the £75-a-head evening, told The Sun: "He kept doing speeches and then we had a Q and A session.

"It became quite obvious that he was very self-important, so a woman on our table tried to make a joke, saying his bakery chain Greggs was doing really well and he must be happy.

"But he didn't laugh. He just said: 'End of questions, enjoy your meal.' It was a tumbleweed moment."

A source told the Daily Mail: "The vast majority of those present were very drunk. I'm pretty sure Gregg had enjoyed a few drinks too.

"In fact, his girlfriend was one of the only people there who seemed sober. Gregg took exception to this man who was supposed to have been touching his girlfriend up.

"A table was knocked over as they grappled."

The newspaper reported that three-times married Wallace and the man later calmed down, apologised to each other and shared a whisky.

Wallace's spokeswoman told Sky News Online: "I can confirm Gregg was involved in a disagreement at an event last night. The situation was swiftly resolved."

She confirmed that police had not been called to the event.

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Seal Count Finds Over 700 In Thames Estuary

There are more than 700 seals living in the Thames Estuary, according to the first count of its kind by conservationists.

Teams of volunteers carried out the count by air, land and water and recorded 708 grey and harbour seals along the Thames for the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) survey.

The figure has surprised scientists who said it was an "incredible" number.

The animals spotted from boats, from the air or by teams on the ground investigating small creeks and rivers, were recorded alongside the GPS co-ordinates of sightings.

The aerial survey enabled researchers to count seals on the outer sandbanks of the estuary where colonies of up to 120 seals were recorded in remote and undisturbed spots away from people and boats.

The county was carried out by land, water and air

It is the first such complete assessment of the seals in the Thames following a boat survey by ZSL last year.

The survey was timed to coincide with the annual seal moult, when harbour seals shuffle on to sandbanks to shed their coats and grow a new layer in time for the winter, making them easier to spot.

ZSL's conservation scientist Joanna Barker said: "We knew there were a lot of seals in the Thames but 708 is pretty incredible.

"In previous results there's been a good few hundred in the Thames, but it's great to have a figure we can use as a baseline."

Scientists will repeat the count in a few years to check whether numbers are declining or increasing.

"Now we know the numbers and where they are, it can help with conservation," Ms Barker added.

A rescued seal pup

The presence of so many seals is good news for the Thames Estuary, which was declared biologically dead in the 1950s as a result of heavy pollution.

Ms Barker said: "It's a really good indicator because the seals are the top predators in the marine food chain, and it shows that the marine environment is relatively good and is producing enough food for the seals to eat."

However, she warned there had been drastic declines in numbers of harbour seals recently across Scotland, and that seal populations elsewhere could be vulnerable.

The reasons for the declines are unclear but could be down to disease, climate change, the shifting of prey species and competition with grey seals.

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Cancer Data Website Reveals Local Divide

People living in parts of the North West are twice as likely to die prematurely from cancer as those in central London, according to a new website set up by a leading cancer charity.

The site, launched by Cancer Research UK, allows people to compare local statistics with data from other parts of the country.

It reveals the death rate among under-75s in Liverpool is 157 per 100,000 people, compared to just 78 in Kensington and Chelsea.

The national average between 2009 and 2011 was 110.

The website, called Local Cancer Statistics, can be searched by postcode, constituency, local authority or healthcare area and shows how common various types of cancer are in different parts of the country.

It also reveals where people are most and least likely to survive the disease and highlights how extensive an area's screening programmes are.

Sara Hiom, director of patient engagement and early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, said: "In the UK, we're privileged to have access to valuable information about cancer diagnosis and treatments for different parts of the country.

"Cancer Research UK is well placed to add valuable context and insight to such data to make it more useful for busy people.

"We've created this website because we hope that it will allow policy-makers and healthcare professionals to understand what's going on in their area and support local insight and decision-making."

The website, which uses data from a number of publicly-available sources, reveals more than a quarter (27%) of cancer deaths in England and Wales are due to smoking.

It also shows that, on average, 98% of cancer patients receive their first treatment within one month.

Just 1% wait longer than six weeks for their first diagnostic test.

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Gibraltar: HMS Westminster Arrives At Rock

HMS Westminster has arrived in Gibraltar a day after Spanish fishermen were involved in a stand-off with UK military and police boats.

The Royal Navy warship sailed in as tensions between Spain and the British territory were described as their worst for 40 years.

The type 23 frigate, which left Portsmouth naval base six days ago, is due to spend three days on the Rock, before joining several other vessels taking part in a pre-planned international training exercise called Cougar 13 in the Mediterranean and Gulf.

Its visit was described by the Ministry of Defence as "long-planned".

But Sky's Defence Correspondent David Bowden, in Gibraltar, said given the growing diplomatic spat, the warship's presence will be seen as a "strong symbol" of Britain's desire to defend its territory.

Yesterday, a flotilla of more than 30 fishing boats was "corralled" by Royal Navy vessels after protesting near the spot where Gibraltar's government placed 70 concrete blocks in disputed waters next to the Rock.

Gibraltar says it has created the concrete artificial reef there to protect local fish stocks from trawling, but Madrid says it restricts their right to fish.

Spanish fishing boats were intercepted as they entered UK waters

The Spanish government has accused Gibraltar of laying the blocks "without the necessary authorisation" in "waters that are not theirs".

It responded by introducing additional checks at the fenced border, and suggesting a 50 euro (£43.30) fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving Gibraltar.

Yesterday's protest prompted calls for renewed efforts from the European Union to solve the dispute.

Julie Girling, a Conservative MEP for Gibraltar, called the flotilla a "provocative attempt to stir things up yet again" by a government in Madrid facing allegations of corruption.

Afterwards, Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's chief minister, thanked the British authorities for their help.

Gibraltar border checks have led to long queues that take hours to clear

Mr Picardo, who has reportedly received death threats and been targeted by Spanish internet trolls, wrote on Twitter: "Big thank you also to Royal Navy, Gib Defence Police, HM Customs and Port Authority for their deployment too.

"Cool, professional and calm!"

He said "hell will freeze over" before Gibraltar removes the concrete reef and accused Spain of behaving like North Korea.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he will take all legal measures to defend his country's interests.

Locals waving Union flags gathered on the quayside to watch HMS Westminster come in.

Andrea Jones, 46, who works for an online gaming company and has lived in Gibraltar for 12 years, said the frigate's arrival was "a two-fingered salute towards Spain".

Retired Royal Gibraltar Police officer Michael Sanchez, 53, said he would like to see British warships off Gibraltar more often.

HMS Illustrious is also due to take part in the Cougar 13 wargames

"It is getting to be out of control, it is not a spat any more," he said. "If you park something out there grey (a warship) for a couple of days you can see them (the Spanish) calm down.

He added: "These guys need to be taught a lesson. It is no good having (William) Hague, (David) Cameron sending protests galore.

"You have got to stick your nose in there, your face into their face. If not they just get away with it."

On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron raised the dispute with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

He said the checks - which have seen huge delays at the border in recent weeks - were "politically motivated and disproportionate" and therefore contrary to the EU right of free movement.

The row has set relations between Spain and the territory back 40 years, according to Edward Macquisten, chief executive of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce.

He said it was also having an impact on Gibraltar's high season tourist trade, which usually sees hordes of British visitors from Spanish resorts.

Spain ceded sovereignty of Gibraltar to Britain in 1713, but has persistently sought to regain the tiny enclave.

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Tesco Strawberry Blunder Leads To £300k Fine

Tesco has been fined £300,000 for misleading customers after a single shopper complained about a national strawberry price promotion.

The case - brought by Birmingham City Council - related to the cost of 400g punnets of British strawberries sold at a store in the city.

The woman complained they were marked up as "half price" at £1.99 - with an apparent original cost of £3.99 crossed out.

She asked trading standards to investigate because she had never seen the original price and wondered if it was excessive and misleading.

The company admitted a number of offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008 after failing at an earlier hearing to prevent the council bringing the case on a national basis.

Trading Standards told the court that Tesco's offer (at £1.99) fell foul of rules as it ran for 14 weeks, but the strawberries were sold at the higher price of £3.99 for a much shorter length of time.

The case also included a similar promotion when a pot of cream was included in the discount.

Birmingham City Council argued both offers were presented in a way that misled or was likely to deceive the average consumer.

The judge described Tesco's turnover as a result of the promotions as "excessive" but agreed that while the supermarket chain had breached customers' trust, it was not the retailer's intention to deliberately mislead them.

In a statement Tesco said: "We apologise sincerely for this mistake, which was made in the summer of 2011.

"We sell over 40,000 products in our stores, with thousands on promotion at any one time, but even one mistake is one too many.

"Since then, to make sure this doesn't happen again, we've given colleagues additional training and reminded them of their responsibilities to ensure we always adhere to the guidelines on pricing."

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Diana's Death: Police Handed New Information

New information that alleges Princess Diana was murdered has been passed to Scotland Yard through military sources, it has emerged.

The information, thought to include the allegation that the Princess of Wales, Dodi al Fayed and their driver were killed by a member of the British military, will be assessed by officers from the Specialist Crime and Operations Command.

According to Sky sources it was given to the police by the former parents-in-law of a former soldier.

The deaths of Princess Diana and Mr al Fayed in Paris in 1997 were investigated and examined during a 90-day inquest led by Lord Justice Scott Baker at the Royal Court of Justice in 2007.

On April 7, 2008, the jury concluded their verdict as "unlawful killing, grossly negligent driving of the following vehicles and of the Mercedes".

Princess Diana and Dodi al Fayed leaving the Ritz Hotel on August 31, 1997

The Metropolitan Police said its assessment was not a re-investigation and does not come under Operation Paget, the inquiry led by Lord Stevens into conspiracy theories surrounding Princess Diana and Mr al Fayed's deaths.

A royal spokeswoman said there will be no comment on the matter from Prince William or Prince Harry, or from Clarence House.

After the inquest, the Metropolitan Police said it had spent £8m on services arising from it and the Operation Paget investigation from 2004 to 2006.

Former Met Police commissioner Lord Stevens published his report in December 2006, rejecting claims that Princess Diana and Mr al Fayed had been murdered.

The wreckage of the Mercedes the pair were travelling in when it crashed

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "We understand this information includes an allegation that Princess Diana and Dodi al Fayed and the driver of their car were killed by a member of the British military.

"The information we're told was passed to Scotland Yard quite recently. It also includes, we understand, references to something known as Diana's diary.

"These are very early days, the information has just come in, and Scotland Yard is adamant in saying that this is not a reopening of its investigation from 2004 when it spent three years looking into the circumstances of the Princess' death.

"But it is taking the information seriously and it is considering and it is possible that a new investigation may open."

Princess Diana, Mr al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul died after the Mercedes crashed in a Paris tunnel on August 31, 1997.

Diana was 36 at the time of her death and Mr al Fayed, the son of former Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed, 42.

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Drug Mule Lindsay Sandiford's Bali Jail Ordeal

By Jonathan Samuels, Sky News Correspondent

British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford is on death row in Bali, Indonesia, and Sky News is the first UK broadcaster to have been given rare access behind the walls of the notorious prison since her sentencing for drug trafficking.

Kerobokan jail is nicknamed Hotel K by its inmates but it could not be more different from the luxurious resorts just down the road on the holiday island.

Behind its decrepit walls, violence, corruption, drugs and filthy conditions are commonplace.

Sandiford, 57, was sentenced in January to death by firing squad for smuggling more than £1.5m worth of cocaine into Bali.

In a recent photograph, obtained by Sky News, she is seen looking dishevelled in her stifling hot cell.

With a cigarette in her mouth she crouches over what appears to be an article of clothing that she is sewing.

Kerobokan jail, nicknamed Hotel K by its inmates

In the background another inmate sleeps on the floor. This overcrowded jail, built for 350 inmates, now houses more than 1,000.

Sandiford did not want to speak to us on camera, but fellow inmate and drug mule Renae Lawrence, who the Brit has befriended, gave a glimpse into how she is managing.

"I think people should already know how she is coping. She doesn't deserve what she got," Lawrence said.

Asked if Sandiford was finding it tough, she replied: "I think anybody would."

Prosecutors recommended Sandiford be given a 15-year prison term but judges disagreed and sentenced her to execution.

Australian Myuran Sukumaran, who was born in west London, is also on death row for smuggling drugs.

An inmate shows off a weapon which is said to be commonplace in the prison

Intelligent, softly spoken and full of remorse, he knows his execution could come at any moment.

"You can be strong for a short time, almost invisible, but after a long time stuff just wears you down," he said.

"After eight-and-a -half years it does weigh heavy, especially on our families."

Once a death row prisoner has lost appeals through Indonesia's high court and supreme court, only the president can grant clemency.

If that fails, eventually and without warning, the inmate will be removed from his/her cell in the middle of the night and taken to a remote wooded area, beach or neighbouring island. There he/she will be executed by firing squad.

The last decision a prisoner will make is whether to stand or kneel to be shot.

Australian Paul Conibeer served time for not paying a hotel bill

Former inmate Australian Paul Conibeer, 44, was recently released from the jail after serving a sentence for not paying a hotel bill.

Providing an insight into the bizarre world of Kerobokan prison, he said: "Murderers, rapists, and paedophiles, it's just too crazy."

He added: "You can't have women and men in a prison together. You can't have drugs and alcohol and hookers and all this crazy stuff going on. It's not supposed to happen that way."

Sandiford has lodged a further appeal against her death sentence. She awaits the outcome while sweating it out in Hotel K.

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HS2 Rail Project Cost To 'Double To £80bn'

The cost of the new High Speed 2 rail network will be £80bn, double the current estimate, according to a new report.

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) says the plan "defies economic logic" and is calling for the project to be cancelled.

The Department for Transport's official estimate currently stands at £43bn  - a rise from its original figure of £33bn.

The think tank argues that the £80bn price tag could deliver £320bn of value if spent on road and other rail and transport projects.

Work on the first leg between London and Birmingham is due to begin in 2017.

The report's author Dr Richard Welling said: "It's time the Government abandoned its plans to proceed with HS2.

"The evidence is now overwhelming that this will be unbelievably costly to the taxpayer while delivering incredibly poor value for money."

Map of the HS2 route

A spokesman for the DfT said: "HS2 is absolutely vital for this country, providing a huge economic boost which will generate a return on investment that will continue paying back for generations to come.

"Without it the key rail routes connecting London, the Midlands and the North will be overwhelmed. HS2 will provide the capacity needed in a way that will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds worth of economic benefits.

"The Government is committed to managing the cost within the budget we have set for the project and to securing maximum value for money for the taxpayer, while also ensuring that preparations are properly made for the most significant infrastructure investment the UK has seen in modern times."

The IEA's 58-page report on the cost will be published on Monday.

Meanwhile campaigners are claiming that more than half a million people across Middle England will have their lives affected by the construction of the project.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) is warning that life in towns and villages up to 25 miles from the rail route will be disrupted by the movement of construction vehicles while the line is being built.

The organisation is publishing its analysis of the impact of the project, in the form of a series of maps, based on information it has obtained from HS2.

According to advance details released to The Mail on Sunday, towns along a 40-mile wide corridor - such as Thame in Oxfordshire, Princes Risborough and Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, and Leamington Spa in Warwickshire - will be affected by the millions of extra lorry journeys.

When it is built, some of the country's most tranquil areas will be blighted by train noise of up to 95 decibels near the track - the equivalent of a Tube train - from up to 16 trains an hour travelling at 225mph, the paper said.

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Mo Farah Knighthood Backed By Cameron

David Cameron has said he would "warmly welcome" a recommendation for Mo Farah to be knighted.

The 30-year-old athlete achieved a historic double-double in Moscow on Friday night as he added two world titles to the twin Olympic triumphs from last summer.

The feat, completed by racing to 5,000m glory at the Luzhniki Stadium, sealed his status as perhaps the best British athlete in history.

Last summer he also took both the 5,000 and 10,000m crowns at London 2012.

Farah has had an incredible year

The Prime Minister said: "The Olympic and world double-double is one of the great sporting achievements.

"If the honours committee were to recommend Mo for a knighthood, I would warmly welcome it."

The Somalia-born, British-raised long-distance runner has been one of the stars of a remarkable period for sport in the UK.

Speaking after his victory on Friday he said: "What a year I've had. It has been, you know, hard work but I enjoyed this year.

"It is great being able to achieve what I have achieved.

"I can't quite believe it at all. It is something I never dreamt of. I am honoured to be able to achieve what I have."

Farah was awarded a CBE at the end of last year.

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Gibraltar: Spanish Boats In Royal Navy Stand-Off

Spanish fishermen have been involved in a stand-off with Royal Navy boats after making an illegal incursion into British waters around Gibraltar.

A flotilla of more than 30 fishing boats was "corralled" by UK military and police vessels after protesting near the spot where Gibraltar's government placed 70 concrete blocks in disputed waters next to the British territory.

The demonstration comes 24 hours before the Royal Navy warship HMS Westminster is due to arrive in Gibraltar in a visit described by the Ministry of Defence as "long-planned".

Gibraltar says it has created the concrete artificial reef there to protect local fish stocks from trawling, but Madrid says it restricts their right to fish.

The move has led to further tensions between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain - which has imposed tougher border checks in retaliation.

Chief Inspector Castle Yates, of the Royal Gibraltar Police, said the Spanish boats crossed into Gibraltan waters before being "pushed" out again.

"We had our own police cordon along with Royal Navy and other assets and we corralled them in the area of the south mole," he said.

"They tried to breach the cordon several times but they were not successful."

HMS Illustrious docks at Rota naval base on Gibraltar

More than 30 fishing vessels set out from the "Campo de Gibraltar" in southern Spain to form a floating protest - a smaller number than expected.

Sky's David Bowden, at the scene, said hundreds of Gibraltarians turned out in force to rebuff the protest.

"They lined the bay as a flotilla of small fishing boats sailed across from Spain at the other side of the Bay," he said.

"The flotilla, only a dozen or so boats strong, was escorted by a handful of sleek Spanish Guardia Civile speedboats.

"They were met by an equally strong show of force from the Gibraltar marine police in patrol vessels and highly manouvreable ribs making sure the Spanish invaders did not stray off the imaginary line in the sea that marks Spain from British Gibraltar."

The Spanish government has accused Gibraltar of laying the blocks "without the necessary authorisation" in "waters that are not theirs".

The border checks have led to massive queues in recent weeks

It responded by introducing additional checks at the fenced border, and suggesting a 50 euro (£43.30) fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving Gibraltar.

On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron raised the matter with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

He said the checks - which have seen huge delays at the border in recent weeks - were "politically motivated and disproportionate" and therefore contrary to the EU right of free movement.

UKIP MEP William Dartmouth, member for the South West of England and Gibraltar, has suggested that a member of the Royal family should visit Gibraltar to mark 300 years of British sovereignty.

"Nothing could demonstrate more to the citizens of Gibraltar how strongly Britain stands behind them in wishing to stay part of the United Kingdom than a visit by a member of the royal family," he said.

The row has set relations between Spain and the territory back 40 years, according to Edward Macquisten, chief executive of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce.

He said it was also having an impact on Gibraltar's high season tourist trade, which usually sees hordes of British visitors from Spanish resorts.

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