Liam Sibbons Jailed Over Essex Acid Attack

A 16-year-old found guilty of throwing acid at a woman on her doorstep will serve six years in prison for the attack.

The teenager, who can now be named as Liam Robert Sibbons, was sentenced to eight years and three months but will serve six, with the remaining time served concurrently with a supervision order.

Sibbons' victim, Tara Quigley, 28, who did not know her attacker, suffered horrific injuries to her face and upper body when she was doused with acid at her home in Romford, Essex, on April 30.

Miss Quigley suffered burns to 7% of her body, including her right arm, forearm, shoulder, chest, neck and face and has been left permanently scarred.

She will need regular treatment over the next four years and is due to undergo another operation shortly.

Miss Quigley had been waiting for someone to deliver cannabis on the evening of the attack when she saw someone approaching the house, the court heard.

She opened the door to Sibbons, who asked to speak to "Michelle" at around 9pm.

The teen returned 10 minutes later and squirted an acidic substance into Miss Quigley's face, according to police.

Miss Quigley managed to shut the door after the assault and rinse her face with water while an ambulance was called.

Her pet dog - a long-haired Chihuahua - also required treatment but the animal is not thought to have suffered any long-term injuries.

In a victim impact statement, Miss Quigley, who was in court to see her attacker jailed and wept as details were read out, said: "The attack has left me feeling as though my life has been blown apart.

"I have been left both physically and emotional scarred, and am in constant pain and discomfort owing to burns on my face, chest and arms."

She said her life had been turned upside down and that she did not feel safe returning to her home.

"I have lost confidence in my physical appearance and feel that people will stare at me when they see the scars," she said in her statement, describing the aftermath of the attack as "crushingly stressful".

Sibbons received an acid burn to the left side of his chest in the attack, the court heard.

He has four previous convictions and was on bail at the time of the attack.

Judge David Radford said Sibbons was a drug user who was already known to the police before the events of April 30.

He said a large amount of money had been found after the teenager was arrested, adding: "Another view could be that he was paid to undertake this."

Sibbons, wearing a white shirt and dark tie, remained impassive and stared straight ahead as he was sentenced.

Prosecutor Martin Whitehouse told Snaresbrook Crown Court: "This was an horrific attack, involving a degree of brutality and callousness rarely encountered.

"Almost, one might say, beyond comprehension."

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Recruitment Drive For 11,000 New Army Reserves

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

One of the largest military recruitment events of its kind will be held in London today to help the Ministry of Defence increase the number of Reserve forces.

Hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen from London-based Reserve regiments will take part in the day at Horse Guards Parade. It will include a parachute jump from a Lynx helicopter by four Reservists.

As part of plans for 'Future Force 2020', the government is hoping to increase the number of the Army Reserve from its current size of 19,000 to 30,000.

The Air Force Auxiliary is to expand to 1,800 personnel and the Navy's Maritime Reserve to 3,100. These recruits will offset large redundancies for regular servicemen and women in all three services. The Army will shrink to 82,000 soldiers from 110,000.

It is a plan that has been widely criticised from a number of corners, and there is considerable doubt over the ability of the military to hit the recruitment targets.

A gunner from the Royal Artillery prepares to fire his light artillery gun

The most up-to-date figures will be released next month, but it's generally thought that only a few hundred new recruits have signed up this year, well short of the numbers needed.

As part of the plans, the name of the Territorial Army is changing to Reserve Force in keeping with the new image.

£1.8bn has been committed over 10 years to supplement training and equipment for Reserve soldiers in order that will receive the same level of kit as their regular counterparts.

The number of overseas training exercises will increase to 22 per year from seven last year. But this, and any operational deployments, would put increased strain on small businesses.

To compensate for that, the Ministry of Defence is offering a financial package to any companies losing staff to Reservist duty. This would allow them to recruit temporary replacement workers.

A gunner from the Royal Artillery carries a high explosive shell

Speaking ahead of the recruitment event, the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond defended the controversial plans for the Reserve force.

"We are completely revitalising our Reserve Forces, growing their trained strength with fresh incentives, better pay and more opportunities for working and training alongside Regulars," he said.

"This exhibition highlights just how many fantastic opportunities there are for anyone looking for a rewarding, challenging and exciting second career."

Reservists will be expected to operate alongside their regular colleagues and perform the same role regardless of their part-time nature.

In an interview last month, Andrew Cameron, the Chief Executive of Combat Stress, warned that reservists are twice as likely to suffer mental health problems and predicted a growth in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases if the Reserve Force was expanded.

The Ministry of Defence references other countries, such as the United States, which has a large and successful Reserve element to its military.

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Fat-Fighting Strategy To Slim Down Nation

By David Bowden, Senior Correspondent

A dozen of the biggest food manufacturers and retailers have pledged to cut the amount of saturated fat in their products.

The Department of Health says the move will cut enough fat to fill one-and-a-half swimming pools from our diets and save thousands of people from heart disease.

Supermarket giants Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are among those who have signed up to the Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal to help improve the nation's health.

Sainsbury's director of corporate affairs, Alex Cole, says what is good for our waistline is also good for the company's bottom-line.

"There's absolutely a business case for doing this. We know our customers want products that are healthier. If we can provide them with those options, an easy way for them to make a healthy choice, we do sell more."

With one in four adults obese and one in three children obese or overweight by primary school leaving age, Britain is regularly mocked as a nation of fatties.

But the Government is clear this is not diet by diktat, and health minister Jane Ellison insists this is not about the 'nanny state'.

"We're not trying to tell people, from Whitehall, exactly what they should be eating or manufacturing, this is about us working together with industry to actually try and give people more options to lead a healthier life," she said.

Sainsbury's 'traffic light' system has proved effective

According to NHS Choices, the maximum recommended daily amount of saturated fat for a man is 30g and for a woman it is 20g, yet most Britons eat 20% more than that.

A survey done by Sainsbury's to coincide with the latest phase of the Public Health Responsibility Deal says that most people are confused by which are good fats and which aren't and that one in five believes all fats are bad.

The trouble is saturated fat is the kind of fat found in some of our tastiest treats - pies, cakes, biscuits, sausages, bacon, cheese and chocolate.

But even chocolate firms are getting in on the low-fat act.

Nestle has signed up to cut down on saturates and come up with a new formula for the wafer inside KitKats, though the chocolate itself is unchanged.

But the unfortunate truth is that most of us not only eat too much, we eat too much of the wrong things and unless we start to change our eating habits we're still going to stay fat and probably die before our time.

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Miller Redpath: Body Found In Back Garden

Police searching for a missing teenager have found a body in his overgrown back garden.

Public schoolboy Miller Redpath, 18, went missing from his family home in Wenhaston in Suffolk in August.

Suffolk Police said an officer went to the house on Thursday as part of their inquiries and found the body during a search of the garden.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out, however the cause of death remains unknown, police said in a statement.

"At this stage the death is still being treated as unexplained," the statement said.

"Officers have not yet been able to identify the deceased and further tests are required, however early indications suggest that it is the body of 18-year-old Miller Redpath.

"Further searches are taking place at the property and specialist trained officers continue to support Miller's mother at this difficult time."

The discovery comes after Mr Redpath's mother made an emotional appeal for information about her son's disappearance.

"I think he went out purposefully to do something, in order to return shortly, and something went horribly wrong," Anastasia Miller said earlier this month.

"Everything was on track for him as he was doing well at school, he was thinking of London University, had lots of friends and I just don't understand what happened," she added.

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'Hurricane': UK Will Take Full Force Of Storm

A storm which could reach hurricane strengths of 80mph or more will definitely hit Britain on Monday, weather experts have warned.

There were hopes the huge storm brewing over the Atlantic Ocean would miss the UK, and sweep instead through the English Channel.

But meteorologists are now certain it will strike the south west of England and could leave a trail of destruction as it gusts north-east across the country, causing structural damage, and bringing down trees and power lines.

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Severe weather alerts are in place for England and Wales, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

There is a lesser yellow warning, meaning "be aware", for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday - which takes in the rush hour when people are trying to get to work.

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees.

"There's also the possibility of flooding with torrential downpours and leaves blocking drains. South Wales and southern England are most at risk.

"There is likely to be flash flooding on roads and the AA will be out in force."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm will develop on Saturday and intensify on Sunday fairly close to the coast before it strikes with full force.

The storm will intensify on Sunday and hit the UK on Monday morning

A strong jet stream and warm air close to the UK are contributing to its development and strength.

Winds could top 80mph as they hit seaside towns and villages before slowly losing power as they gust across the UK and out to the North Sea.

Some have compared its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in south Wales in 1989.

It will strike two weeks later than the Great Storm of 1987, which left a trail of destruction on October 15 and 16.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

Winds could top 80mph as the storm hits seaside towns and villages

This time he warned people to "batten down the hatches" and keep checking the forecasts as the powerful storm approaches.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads.

"If it's bad where you are, keep tuned to the weather and traffic reports - in case of road or bridge closures - and heed any local police advice about whether it's safe to travel.

"At a minimum, take a fully-charged mobile phone and warm, weatherproof clothing."

He said the AA's specialist flood rescue team, driving modified Land Rovers, have been working all week and are on stand-by.

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

A spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is reminding Londoners to dial 101 when contacting police when it's not an emergency with expected increases in demand brought about by high winds in the next few days."

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Weather: Storm Alerts As UK Set For 'Hurricane'

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Missing Belfast Zoo Monkeys Spark Hunt

A search is continuing for two missing monkeys who escaped from Belfast Zoo on Monday.

The two are part of a group of six lion-tailed macaques who made the great escape from their enclosure, wrong-footing their keepers who remain in hot pursuit.

One of the escapees was brought down in a "rugby tackle" by a keeper that, a member of the public suggested, would make him a shoe-in for the Ireland rugby team.

Four of the animals have since been caught but the elusive duo are still at large.

A statement from zoo manager Mark Challis said: "Six lion-tailed macaques escaped from Belfast Zoo on Monday.

"Four of the macaques have since been returned to their enclosure, where they have rejoined the rest of the group.

The monkeys are not dangerous but should not be approached

"The other two animals have been sighted onsite or in close proximity to the zoo.

"We have been monitoring their movements over the past few days and we have a number of traps and staff located in the areas where they are frequently being spotted.

"We are confident that all of the macaques will soon be found and returned to their enclosure.

"If anyone sees the lion-tailed macaques we would ask them to contact the zoo immediately. 

"Although they pose no danger to the public, we would ask that you do not attempt to approach or catch the animal."

Lion-tailed macaques can reach up to two feet in length.

Sightings can be reported to the zoo on 028 9077 6277.

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Grangemouth's Future Saved In Last-Minute Deal

Grangemouth petrochemicals plant has been saved following a last-minute deal.

The 800 workers who were due to lose their jobs at the Falkirk plant - Scotland's largest industrial site and its only refinery - were told the news at 11am today.

It came after the Unite union confirmed it would now "embrace" a survival plan in an effort to reverse a decision by Swiss-based owner Ineos to close the business.

Calum MacLeod, chairman of Ineos' petrochemicals division, told a news conference a "great cheer" went up from workers as he told them their jobs were safe.

But he said "very limited redundancies" would have to be made.

Asked by one reporter if he had held a gun to Scotland's head, he replied: "I don't think that's the case."

He pointed out that Ineos had invested £1bn in the business and would invest another £300m to secure its future for at least the next 15 years.

Another £300m will be invested at the site, Ineos says

He said it was "only right" that by making such a "huge investment" the company had to make sure it had a "long-term sustainable base".

The agreement will see fuel production resume at the company's oil refinery today after a shutdown of more than a week.

The closure would have been a major setback for the Scottish National Party, which is leading the campaign for Scotland's independence from the UK.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This news is a tremendous fillip for the workforce and the whole Grangemouth community, following what could have been a potential disaster."

Later, in an interview with Sky News, Mr MacLeod declined to say how many redundancies would be made. He said the £300m would be spent on building a new gas terminal at the site.

Asked what he thought of union tactics during the negotiations, he said it would have "saved a lot of traumatic effects" if union officials had begun the talks a week ago with the same attitude they had had over the past two days.

The closure would have been a huge blow for Alex Salmond

Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos Group, said: "This is a victory for common sense. Unite advised employees to reject change and vote for closure. Thank goodness people finally came to their senses. Grangemouth now has a great future."

Ineos said Unite had made a "dramatic U-turn" and had agreed to a three-year pay freeze, no strikes for three years, and moving to a "modern" pension scheme.

Earlier, Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey said shop stewards had decided to accept the company's survival plan "warts and all" in the wake of the closure decision.

Unite's Scottish secretary, Pat Rafferty, said: "Grangemouth is the powerhouse of the Scottish economy - it now has a fighting chance of upholding this crucial role into the future.

"Obviously today's news is tinged with sadness - decent men and women are being asked to make sacrifices to hold on to their jobs, but the clear wish of our members is that we work with the company to implement its proposals."

Ineos caused shockwaves on Wednesday when it announced it could not continue to operate its loss-making petrochemicals division, leaving 800 jobs at risk and many more contractors facing the axe too.

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Weather: Storm Alerts As UK Set For 'Hurricane'

Severe weather alerts have been issued amid fears Britain is about to be hit by the most powerful storm in years.

A Met office image shows a forecast for the storm on Monday

A series of wind, rain and flood alerts are now in place as forecasters predict gales of more than 80mph - classed as hurricane strength. 

The Met Office warned people to "be prepared for the risk of falling trees as well as damage to buildings and other structures".

The storm is currently developing over the Atlantic and will potentially hit UK land on Sunday night and into Monday.

Forecasts show how the storm might develop and move towards the UK

Today, forecasters urged people to prepare for the storm, with some comparing its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in Wales in 1989.

Sky weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "Late October is notorious for strong storms, with a wind gust of 124mph recorded in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1989.

"Should this storm achieve its potential, it is likely to bring down trees and to cause damage to roads and buildings, possibly causing major transport disruption and power cuts."

The Met Office website shows amber and yellow alerts for Monday

Wheeler said the storm was due to develop over the Atlantic in the next 24 hours as a strong jet stream and warm air combine to create a deep low-pressure system.

While its trajectory is unclear, there are fears it may hit land, wreaking chaos over England and Wales.

If it does make land, it is likely to hit Wales and the South West first before sweeping east and touching most of the country.

Exposed coasts in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent are most likely to feel the brunt of the winds.

The storm could also miss land completely - sweeping instead through the English Channel.

Met Office senior forecaster Helen Chivers said: "Winds of that strength are damaging winds - there will be a risk of damage to homes and trees and disruption to travel.

"This is not a storm you see every winter. The storm of 1987 is one, and the Burns day storm in January 1990 is another."

Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But this one is unusual in that it is expected to appear much closer to land, potentially moving across the country while it is in its most powerful phase.

The storm is expected to strike two weeks later than the Great Storm of 1987, which left a trail of destruction on October 15 and 16.

There are already fears the storm may compare to the Great Storm of 1987

It flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

Forecasters at the time famously failed to predict the severity of the storm.

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UK Economy: GDP Growth Accelerates To 0.8%

The Chancellor claims there is now "real momentum" in the UK's economic recovery after GDP growth of 0.8% was measured in the third quarter.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it marked the strongest period of growth in more than three years - with services, construction and manufacturing all expanding.

It was also the third successive period of improving output, in line with the expectations of economists, though some had forecast growth to have reached 1%.

The ONS said construction - a sector bolstered by Government initiatives such as Help to Buy - surged by 2.5%.

George Osborne said: "This shows that Britain's hard work is paying off & the country is on the path to prosperity."

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Today's encouraging #GDP growth figures are another sign we are turning a corner."

Labour argued the growth was "long overdue".

Overall GDP was 1.5% ahead of the same period last year - a time when the economy was being boosted by the Olympics and Paralympics.

But the economy remains 2.5% off its pre-recession peak at the start of 2008.

During the third quarter, construction was boosted by new work on private housing and private commercial building as well as domestic home repair and maintenance but remained 12.5% off its 2008 high.

Housebuilders have been buoyed by the Government's Help to Buy scheme, which recently launched a new phase offering mortgage guarantees.

Production grew by 0.5%, though this remains 12.8% off its 2008 level, while within this manufacturing improved 0.9% in the third quarter.

The powerhouse services sector, which represents three-quarters of economic output, grew by 0.7% and is now 0.6% above its pre-crisis peak.

The largest contributions here came from business services and finance, followed by distribution, hotels and restaurants.

But the wider statistics highlighted one piece of bad news - in terms of UK growth.

The contribution from utilities - including gas and electricity - tumbled by 6.8% in the period, possibly a result of the warm summer compared to the same period last year which was largely a washout and cool.

The figure was seen as a potential factor behind the decision among energy suppliers to increase household bills - to make up for lower demand.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: "Britain is booming again with the economy showing the most sustainable and robust-looking upturn since the financial crisis."

But Alan Clarke of Scotiabank said the figure was a "tad disappointing" - given survey data indicating growth nearer 1% - and "wasn't a home run".

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: "After three damaging years of flatlining, it's both welcome and long overdue that our economy is growing again.

"But for millions of people across the country still seeing prices rising faster than their wages this is no recovery at all."

Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said growth figures will "mean nothing to the vast majority of people in this country faced with mounting household bills and stagnant wages."

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Serco Boss Quits Amid Contracts Scandal

Serco, the outsourcing firm at the centre of a Government contract scandal, has confirmed its chief executive has stepped down.

The company said Chris Hyman was leaving in a last-ditch bid to restore its reputation amid a wider restructuring - splitting the British central government work into a separate unit - to improve transparency.

It was told in September it could be investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) alongside rival G4S after an audit showed they charged for tagging criminals who were either dead, in prison or never tagged at all.

The study resulted in Serco's £285m prison escorting contract - which covers London and East Anglia - being placed under administrative supervision in August.

Serco then agreed to repay all past profits made on the prison escorting contract and forgo any future profits but insisted that no member of the board had knowledge of the alleged fraudulent practice.

Mr Hyman - who has run Serco since 2002 - said: "I have always put the interests of Serco first. At this time, nothing is more important to me than rebuilding the relationship with our UK government customer.

"In recent weeks it has become clear to me that the best way for the company to move forward is for me to step back.

"I have been fortunate enough to have had the privilege of working at a great company with extremely talented people.  I wish everyone at Serco the very best for the future."

An inquiry, requested by both the Ministry of Justice and Serco's directors, is currently being carried out by City of London police.

It is investigating the actions of the staff working on the prison escorting contract.

Serco said Ed Casey, who has led its Americas Division, will become acting group chief executive and its board would be strengthened as part of its efforts to bolster scrutiny.

A Government spokesman said: "The Government will take full account of all the changes Serco have made today.

"Whilst it is early days in their programme of renewal, this is a positive move by Serco and a step forward."

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Footballer Toure Wants Action Over Race Chants

A black Premier League footballer has demanded action from Uefa after rival fans in the crowd made monkey noises during a match in Russia.

Manchester City's Yaya Toure, who is from the Ivory Coast, said he was furious at the behaviour by supporters of CSKA Moscow during Wednesday night's Champions League clash.

TV footage showed a group of topless CSKA fans waving their arms and chanting in a way that Toure said he found "unbelievable".

The 30-year-old, who was wearing a "No to racism" armband during the match, said: "I'm not just disappointed, I'm furious.

"I'm very, very disappointed about what those fans have done and I think Uefa has to take action because players with the same colour of skin will always be in the same position.

Toure tackles a CSKA Moscow player

"It's stupid these people. I don't know, it just happens in football. It's unbelievable.

"Uefa has to take action to right it otherwise I think they will just continue."

Toure called for CSKA to be forced to play in an empty ground for a several months as a punishment.

City, who won the match 2-1, confirmed they intend to make a formal complaint to Uefa over the matter.

City's regular captain Vincent Kompany, who was not involved due to injury, later tweeted: "Racist chants again in Moscow today. We've all said enough. @UEFAcom, @GovernmentRF, CSKA, all eyes are on you now.. #StopRacism."

The incident comes amid widespread criticism of prejudice connected to a number of sporting events in Russia.

The country is hosting the World Cup in 2018 and the Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014.

Campaigners recently attempted to get the UK and other countries to boycott the Sochi games over allegations of homophobia by the Russian state.

Sky's Ian Woods said there have been a series of recent racist incidents at football matches.

Bananas have been thrown onto the pitch or waved in the direction of black players such as Christopher Samba and Roberto Carlos.

Fans of Zenit St Petersburg last year issued a manifesto calling on the club to halt the signing of black players and later marched through the streets of the city repeating their demands.

Under Uefa rules, a player has to complain to a referee during a match to prompt an investigation to be carried out afterwards.

Toure said he did complain, which means Uefa will be obliged to investigate.

A spokesman for CSKA Moscow on Thursday told Sky News claims of racism were a "fabrication". He asked for a tape of the behaviour to be sent to him to look at and said he would not comment further until he had seen it.

The Russian player's union refused to comment.

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Murder Investigation After Death Of Boy, 2

A murder inquiry is under way after the death of a two-year-old boy who was admitted to hospital with serious head injuries.

West Midlands Police said a 21-year-old man and a woman, 25, were being held on suspicion of murder after the boy died at Birmingham Children's Hospital on Tuesday.

The boy, who has not been named, was initially admitted to hospital in Coventry at about 1pm on Monday, and later transferred to Birmingham for treatment.

Police were alerted to the boy's admission to hospital by medical staff.

A post-mortem examination that was carried out was inconclusive, and further tests are needed to establish the cause of death, according to a force spokesman.

A house in Richmond Street, Coventry, has been cordoned off as part of the investigation.

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Madeleine McCann: Portugal Cops Reopen Case

Police in Portugal have reopened the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann - five years after the original probe was closed.

The team is said to have had no involvement in that investigation which ended in 2008 and was heavily criticised in the British media.

The new inquiry - which will run alongside the probe by British police - follows an internal review of the case.

Portugal's public prosecutors approved the move following a request from officers in Oporto who have identified witnesses who were never questioned during the original probe, new lines of inquiry and a number of issues they want to clarify.

A spokesman for the Attorney General's office said in a statement: "The Public Ministry has determined the reopening of the inquiry relating to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann following a request from the Policiia Judiciaria."

Kate and Gerry McCann believe their daughter is still alive

Madeleine McCann's parents Kate and Gerry said they were "very pleased" at the decision by Portuguese authorities and hoped that it would uncover "the answers we so desperately need".

"We hope that this will finally lead to her being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime," the couple said in a statement.

"We once again urge any member of the public who may have information relating to Madeleine's abduction to contact the police in Portugal or the UK.

"Please be patient and respect the work of the police as they endeavour to find the answers we so desperately need."

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is leading the Scotland Yard team, also welcomed the move as "good news".

"Combined with the formal reopening of the Portuguese investigation today, and our ever closer working relationship, I believe that we have the best opportunity yet to finally understand what happened to Madeleine."

Sky's Martin Brunt said: "This of course is what Madeleine McCann's parents have always wanted.

"They were very disappointed when it was shelved after 15 months - after their daughter disappeared - the investigation having got nowhere.

"They were distraught at that, have argued ever since that it should be reopened and now they have got that wish."

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NHS Trusts: One In Four Labelled 'High Risk'

44 NHS Trusts At High Risk

Updated: 10:01am UK, Thursday 24 October 2013

There were 44 trusts in the two bands with the highest risk, with 24 trusts in the highest possible band 1.

Band 1:

Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Band 2:

Barts Health NHS Trust

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation TrustN

Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

Weston Area Health NHS Trust

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Royal Mail Sale: Union Demands Cable Quits

The union representing Royal Mail staff is demanding the business secretary Vince Cable quits amid revelations by Sky News over the privatisation.

Shortly after City Editor Mark Kleinman learned that Wall St bank JPMorgan had valued Royal Mail for the Government at £9.95bn ahead of the flotation, the Communication Workers' Union called for Mr Cable to go.

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Benefits Fraudster Living In Spain Arrested

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

A fugitive benefit fraudster exposed by Sky News has been arrested in Spain and is likely to be brought back soon to face justice in Britain.

Norman Brennan, 70, was held at his home in Mijas on the Costa del Sol five years after admitting crimes and jumping bail at Liverpool Crown court.

His ex-pat neighbours had alerted UK authorities to his presence there, but nothing had been done to arrest him until we confronted him three weeks ago.

It's understood Brennan had been receiving his old age pension for most of his time in Spain, even receiving letters from the Department for Work and Pensions in Whitehall.

When four Spanish police officers arrived at his house last night he had just been driven away by a friend and there were fears he had slipped the net.

But they were wating when he returned an hour or so later and took him into custody.

Brennan bought two properties when he arrived in Spain in 2008

One neighbour said: "About time, too. Several of us have been telling police and officials in the UK exactly where this man has been living, but we have been ignored. And yet we keep reading how the British government is supposed to be clamping down on benefit cheats."

When we told Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith of the scandal earlier this month he described it as "outrageous" and promised to investigate.

Brennan is expected to be taken to Madrid and appear in court there before being extradited to the UK, where he will go back to court to be sentenced.

In 2008 he admitted seven fraud charges after claiming £120,000 in housing and council tax benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance and pension credits.  

He had pretended to be his brother Leslie who was living in Germany.

His neighbours in Spain insited that over the past three years they alerted Merseyside Police, the DWP, Crimestoppers, Spanish Police and Sefton Council which prosecuted Brennan.

Crimestoppers said they did pass on information on Brennan to other agencies.

The former joiner bought two adjoining properties beside a gold course when he arrived in Spain several weeks after jumping bail.

When we confronted him three weeks ago he appeared to spend most of his time indoors, emerging occassionally to walk his dog Ben and to drink at a nearby open-air bar.

He refused to discuss his life on the run.

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Stuart Hall Re-Arrested: New Child Sex Claims

Disgraced broadcaster Stuart Hall has been re-arrested and is being questioned by detectives over new, more serious, child sex allegations.

The former It's A Knockout presenter was taken to a police station from prison, where he is serving a 30-month jail term for sexually abusing 13 victims, one as young as nine, over a period of nearly 20 years.

The latest allegations relate to two alleged female victims, aged between 12 and 15 at the time, according to Lancashire police.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said the alleged offences took place in Manchester and Derbyshire between 1974 and 1980.

"One of these two women claims that he raped her over several years on a regular basis," said Brunt

A police spokeswoman said: "This morning an 83-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire was produced from prison and arrested by detectives on suspicion of a number of sexual offences.

"The allegations are historic and relate to two alleged female victims aged between 12 and 15 at the time.

"They allegedly took place in the Manchester and Derbyshire area between 1974 and 1980. We are not prepared to discuss further details at this stage.

"The man will be interviewed at a Lancashire police station during the course of the day.

"We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously.

"We would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse or who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge it will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity."

It comes after it was confirmed that Hall had been stripped of his OBE for broadcasting and charity in the wake of his conviction for sex offences against children.

Hall was initially given a 15-month prison term at Preston Crown Court, but the Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence was "inadequate" and it was doubled in July.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said his initial denials of his crimes were a "seriously aggravating" feature in the case.

In April, Hall, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, eventually admitted 14 counts of indecent assault against girls aged between nine and 17, and a reporting ban on his pleas was lifted the following month.

He had previously been strident in condemning the accusations, which he labelled "pernicious, callous, cruel and above all spurious".

Hall, whose full name is James Stuart Hall, said he had endured "a living nightmare" and, but for his "very loving family", may have considered taking his own life.

He was a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century, and his eccentric and erudite football match summaries made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He also wrote a weekly sport column for the Radio Times magazine up until his arrest.

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Primark Death: Woman Falls From Liverpool Store

A woman has died after falling from a third-floor balcony at a Primark store in Liverpool.

Officers were called to the clothing store in Church Street by paramedics at 6pm on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old woman was found at the bottom of the escalators on the ground floor.

Moments earlier, she had been seen on the balcony next to the escalators on the third floor, police said.

A doctor, who was in the area at the time, treated the woman at the scene before paramedics arrived.

She was taken to the Royal University Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

A police spokesman said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that an investigation is under way after a woman was found with serious injuries inside a clothes store in Liverpool city centre on Tuesday evening."

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish a cause of death.

The police spokesman added: "Detectives are speaking to witnesses and viewing CCTV to establish the full circumstances of the incident."

Anyone with any relevant information about the incident should call St Anne Street CID on 0151 777 4065 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

At the same store five years ago a three-year-old girl fell through a gap between the escalators.

She survived the fall, but suffered multiple injuries, including a broken arm and leg.

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Godparents Named Ahead Of Royal Christening

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named Zara Tindall and six other friends as the godparents of Prince George.

The names were revealed ahead of the christening of the future king and supreme governor of the Church of England at St James's Palace later today.

His other godparents include William and Kate's former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who continues to serve part-time as their principal private secretary and equerry.

Kensington Palace said the five others are Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Julia Samuel and William van Cutsem.

Zara Tindall has been named as godmother of the newest royal heir

Mr Baker is an old university friend who attended St Andrews with William and Kate, while Earl Grosvenor, whose first name is Hugh, is the son of the Duke of Westminster.

Ms Samuel was a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales, and is the founder patron of Child Bereavement UK, which has William as its royal patron.

Mr van Cutsem is an old family friend of William and Harry, while Ms Jardine-Paterson is an interior designer and an old Malborough College friend of Kate, who also uses her maiden name d'Erlanger in her working life.

Kensington Palace confirmed that those invited to the christening include the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, who has become a grandfather for the first time, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry.

William van Custem and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton are named as godparents

Kate's family - parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa and James - will also attend, along with the godparents and their partners.

The royal couple have chosen celebrity portrait photographer Jason Bell to take the official pictures to mark the christening.

Mr Bell is renowned for his images of showbiz figures like Sir Paul McCartney, actress Scarlett Johansson and former England footballer David Beckham.

The historic 45-minute service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury will see four generations of British monarchs photographed together for the first time since 1899.

While the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William were all christened at Buckingham Palace, the Duke and Duchess have chosen to break with tradition, holding the baptism in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace.

The intimate gathering in the chapel where Diana, Princess of Wales' coffin rested before her funeral in 1997 will see William and Kate joined by up to 60 close family and friends.

"This is a hugely significant moment for the Queen. It's terribly important for her to be there with her heir, her heir's heir and her heir's heir's heir," said Sky's Royal Commentator Alastair Bruce.

The last time a monarch was photographed alongside three heirs was in 1899 at the christening of Edward VIII. He was cradled by great-grandmother Queen Victoria, alongside his father George V and grandfather Edward VII.

Prince George will be brought from Kensington Palace by his parents dressed in a Honiton lace christening gown, a replica of the one used by more than 60 members of the Royal Family since 1841.

The christening of Queen Elizabeth II in 1926 and of Prince Charles in 1948

Alastair Bruce added: "The Queen decided a number of years ago that the original gown was no longer in a fit state to be used for christenings and so had a new one made, first worn by the Earl and Countess of Wessex's son at his christening."

The Lily font used by the Archbishop will be brought to the Chapel Royal from the Tower of London where it is normally housed as part of the crown jewels.

Not expected to attend the christening are family members Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, who have other commitments.

Former Daily Mirror photographer Kent Gavin took the official photographs at Prince William's christening and realised one vital shot was missing.

"I was told not to approach the Queen, but when I realised they'd forgotten to have the Queen Mother hold Prince William, I had to say something," he said.

"The Queen called the Queen Mother into the Music Room, she put her drink down and Diana passed Prince William to her. That's how we got an award-winning shot."

:: Watch coverage of the christening throughout the day on Sky News.

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Pensioner Jailed For Raping Trafficked Girl

A pensioner who repeatedly raped a deaf and mute girl he trafficked into the UK to work as his domestic servant has been jailed for 13 years.

Ilyas Ashar, 84, sexually abused his vulnerable victim who he brought into the UK from Pakistan aged 10 in June 2000.

The girl, who is profoundly deaf and cannot speak, was beaten and slapped and forced to sleep and work in the cellar of the Ashars' family home in Cromwell Road, Eccles in Salford.

The girl was also used to steal more than £30,000 in benefits on her behalf.

The youngster was even taught enough sign language by the family so she could agree to the benefit money being handed over.

For almost a decade the girl had to work for the Ashar family, who are understood to have a number of business interests in market stalls.

Their victim had no family or friends in the UK and had never been to school in Pakistan or Britain.

Ilyas Ashar would routinely rape the girl in the cellar and other houses the family owned - though she would try to fight him off.

Ashar was convicted of 13 specimen counts of rape by a jury last week, though the court heard the rapes happened "many, many times more".

He had also been convicted at an earlier trial of two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation, two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit and one of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit.

His wife, Tallat Ashar, 68, is to be sentenced for two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation and four counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit.

Their daughter, Faaiza Ashar, 46, was found guilty at an earlier trial of two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit and one count of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit.

More follows...

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Stuart Hall: Jailed Broadcaster To Lose OBE

Shamed broadcaster Stuart Hall is to be stripped of his OBE following his conviction for sex offences against children, say Sky News sources.

The 83-year-old is set to officially lose the honour, which he was awarded in 2012 for services to broadcasting and charity, later today.

An independent forfeiture committee decides whether recipients should lose honours if they have brought the system into disrepute.

Their decision is then announced in the London Gazette.

Former It's A Knockout presenter Hall was jailed this year for 15 months after admitting 14 charges of indecent assault on girls aged between nine and 17 between 1967 and 1985.

The former broadcaster was jailed in June for sexual assault

He had previously publicly declared his innocence.

Last month it was revealed detectives wanted to question Hall over dozens of new rape allegations.

A woman has told police that Hall raped her regularly over several years when she was a young teenager.

The alleged victim is thought to be a relative of friends of the disgraced presenter.

Hall could be re-arrested in prison and, if charged and convicted, he may never be freed.

At the time, a single rape charge was not pursued and was left on the file.

His sentence was later doubled when the Attorney-General appealed after some of Hall's victims complained he had been dealt with too leniently.

If Hall is charged with further offences, prosecutors would have to decide whether more expensive and time-consuming court action is in the public interest.

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Prince George Christening: Archbishop's Message

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken for the first time about the christening of Prince George and the moment he will mark the future king's forehead with the sign of the cross.

In a message released by Lambeth Palace, the Most Reverend Justin Welby spoke of the "great times" the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have as parents in the years to come.

The 45-minute christening will take place on Wednesday at 3pm at the Chapel Royal within St James's Palace.

The Chapel Royal at St James's Palace

The ceremony will be conducted by the Archbishop in what he called a celebration of "the next hugely important moment" in Prince George's life.

He said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had so much advice they could probably fill a house with it.

"My message to them would be 'what a treat, what an amazing gift, what wonderful times you will have'.

"A few months ago millions of people around the world celebrated the birth of Prince George.

"Now we're celebrating the next hugely important moment, which is his christening."

The Chapel Royal has been the setting for historic royal occasions ever since the reign of Henry VIII, such as the marriage of Queen Victoria in 1840.

Beneath the ornate Hans Holbein ceiling, the third-in-line to the throne and future supreme governor of the Church of England will be christened George Alexander Louis.

The Eton-educated Archbishop said: "I will mark Prince George with the sign of the cross on his forehead and that's exactly what every priest always does every single baptism.

"It's an extraordinary moment because that is the sign by which we understand this person belongs to God.

The ceremony will be a private family occasion and an historic event

"There'll be great times, there'll be tough times - there always are with children.

"Through christening you are bringing God into the middle of it all and I know that when he's in the middle of it all, somehow, it's held in his hands, and that's extraordinary."

Mr Welby also talked about how Prince George's baptism means he joins almost 2,000 million people around the world in what he calls the "family of the Church".

Kate and William have 'great times' ahead, according to the Archbishop

But Prince George is entering a family that is dwindling in number.

Both Anglican and Catholic Churches have seen a steady decline in the numbers choosing to christen their children in recent decades.

Reverend Sally Hitchiner, who has worked alongside Mr Welby in the past, told Sky News: "I don't think it's an entirely bad thing.

"My experiences as a priest are that people I meet coming forward to have their child christened tend to be more sincere.

"There tends to be a genuine interest in faith and I always think that being honest in front of your newborn child is a good thing."

A gold proof kilo coin worth £50,000 struck to commemorate the event

She believes William, Kate and of course Prince George, are in safe hands.

She said of the Archbishop: "He's actually quite normal.

"He makes a joke when things are funny and he's not afraid to smile if something goes wrong.

"I would imagine his welcome would be very warm and very personal."

:: For coverage of Prince George's christening on Wednesday October 23 watch on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad.

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Health Tourism: NHS Can Save £500m A Year

The NHS could save £500m a year if it was better at charging foreign nationals to use its services, according to a new report.

This represents a quarter of the annual £2bn cost of treating temporary migrants and foreign visitors given by the Department of Health (DoH).

The savings would come from a crackdown on so-called health tourists, who travel to the UK to access free treatment.

The Government is currently consulting on a package of measures, including a £200 annual levy on migrants from outside Europe.

A new cost recovery unit would also work to recoup money owed by other governments for treating foreign nationals.

Health tourists, such as women who come to the UK in late pregnancy to give birth, cost the NHS at least £70m each year, according to the study on migrant access to NHS care in England.

It also estimates £388m could be recovered from patients who should pay for care but are not always charged.

Officials say that only around 16% of this money - £62m - is currently recouped.

The independent report conducted for the DoH says the NHS has "some of the most generous rules in the world".

At the moment, only hospitals are required to charge for services and even then, emergency care is free.

Jeremy Hunt says the NHS is not an 'international' service

The figures were released ahead of the second reading of the Government's Immigration Bill, which aims to bring in measures to stop migrants abusing public services.

A key measure in the Bill will see temporary migrants, such as overseas students, pay to access the NHS.

Ministers hope the levy on students or foreign workers who come to the UK for more than half a year will generate £200m a year.

The surcharge, combined with better recovery of costs and a deterrent on health tourism, could save the NHS "well over half a billion pounds", a DoH spokesman said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the NHS is a "national health service - not an international one".

He told Sky News: "I have absolutely no problem at all with foreigners and international visitors using the NHS, but if they are not contributing to it through their taxes they should make a fair contribution in another way.

"Other European countries have much better systems in place. We have to recognise that we are one of the most open economies in the world, London is the most international city in the world and we have an NHS that is free at the point of use.

"We need to have some sensible checks so that we can recover money that will pay for more doctors and nurses."

Labour's shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "We are in favour of improving the recovery of costs from people with no entitlement to NHS treatment."

However, he claimed the figures were based on "old and incomplete data" and were more about "spin than substance".

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Grangemouth: Owner 'In Dark' As Buyer Sought

The owner of the Grangemouth refinery, currently shut down during a bitter dispute with staff, has told Sky News it did not know the Scottish Government was seeking a new buyer.

Ineos said it would announce on Wednesday morning whether it planned to keep the site open following a shareholder meeting - hours after Finance Secretary John Swinney confirmed talks with several parties.

The developments emerged after two-thirds of workers at the refinery refused to accept new terms and conditions as part of a survival plan for the site's future.

Unite has welcomed the prospect of a sale

The Scottish Government's move was seen as a precaution - given the threat the shutdown poses to fuel supplies.

In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland Mr Swinney warned that the dispute between the current owner and the Unite union was heading for a stalemate and said "alternative options" were being considered.

"I don't think it will come as any surprise to anybody that the Scottish Government is looking at alternative options and there will be other players around the globe who will be interested in this particular plant.

"There are discussions...going on with other parties. The Scottish Government will continue to pursue those discussions because we think that is the right and the responsible thing to do."

Mr Swinney dismissed any idea of Government ownership of the site as "not appropriate".

"We are in a situation where the plant is operating successfully within the marketplace and it can work and operate more successfully in the market place," he said.

He urged Ineos to accept a trade union statement that there would be no strike action during negotiations at "face value".

"I can see no good reason for the plant lying idle today and I think it should be started as a matter of urgency," he said.

Ineos had set a deadline of 6pm on Monday for its employees to sign up to changes to pay, pensions and terms and conditions.

The company said hundreds of workers had accepted the proposals, but Unite maintained that, as the deadline passed, two out of three of its members had said no.

Last Thursday, Ineos sent a letter to all 1,350 workers at the site asking them to indicate their rejection or acceptance of the plan.

It said those who supported the survival plan would receive a transitional payment of up to £15,000.

The two sides have been embroiled in a bitter dispute for weeks, initially over the treatment of Unite convenor Stephen Deans, who was involved in the row over a selection of a Labour candidate in Falkirk, where he is chairman of the constituency party.

He was suspended, then reinstated, and is facing an internal investigation, which is due to report on Friday.

The dispute has since widened to the future of the entire site, with Ineos warning that it will close without fresh investment and changes to pensions and other terms and conditions.

The company said the plant, which has been shut down since last week because of the dispute, is losing £10m a month.

Ineos shareholders are expected to meet today to discuss the dispute and Unite released the text of a letter to the company's chairman ahead of the meeting which accused him of standing in the way of an agreement.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey welcomed news of the buyer talks with the Scottish Government - slamming the company's chairman in the process.

He said: "Jim Ratcliffe's behaviour has exposed a dreadful frailty at the heart of our energy supply, which is that one man's power and wealth can hold our governments and citizens to ransom.

"Our politicians need now to step up. Our public utilities cannot be run by those indifferent to considerations of social responsibility.

"Unite calls upon politicians in Edinburgh and Westminster to support a new beginning for Grangemouth, free of the tyranny of one man's whims.

"If this means securing financial assistance - or even nationalisation - then this must be done. We can have no objections from Westminster when they have handed our nuclear energy future over to the state-owned Chinese and French nuclear industries."

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No National Rollout Of 'Go Home' Migrant Vans

The Government has dropped its controversial "go home" van campaign aimed at tackling illegal immigration.

The policy will not be rolled out nationwide, following a storm of criticism after it was piloted in six London boroughs this summer.

Posters on the side of vans asked: "In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest" and showed a pair of handcuffs and an official with a Home Office badge.

The advertising watchdog recently ruled that the arrest statistics cited were misleading, but rejected complaints that the posters were offensive or racist.

The pilot cost £10,000 and its critics included the coalition's own Business Secretary Vince Cable, who called it "stupid and offensive".

Tory Immigration Minister Mark Harper said only last week that the approach could be adopted nationwide if it was effective.

But the Home Office now says they will be no extension after an initial evaluation showed unconvincing results.

Home Secretary Theresa May confirmed the move during a Commons debate on the coalition's flagship plans to tighten the immigration system.

Government 'gimmicks': Yvette Cooper

"We won't be rolling out the vans, they were too much of a blunt instrument," she told MPs, while also attacking Labour's lack of action when it was in power.

Lib Dem party president Tim Farron branded the policy a "cheap political stunt" as he welcomed the move to scrap it.

"The vans represented the worst kind of divisive politics and it seems only one immigrant went home because of them," he said.

"This is a failed project and the Home Office should hold their hands up and admit it was wrong both practically and morally.

"It is important that our borders are protected and secure but this policy - driving a van around some of the most diverse communities in London - is not the way to deliver that."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper claims Labour's plans on immigration are in contrast to Government "gimmicks" like the vans or texting immigrants.

The Opposition is tabling a string of amendments during the Immigration Bill debate as it argues it does nothing to tackle border control or the exploitation of foreign workers.

Under the coalition's crackdown, which forms the centrepiece of its legislative programme this year, illegal immigrants will be stopping from opening bank accounts.

Banks, employers and landlords will also have to check people's status and the rights of appeal for illegal immigrants and foreign prisoners will be slashed.

Temporary residents will also have to pay an annual levy to fund NHS treatment in an attempt to tackle the costs of so-called "health tourism".

The Opposition is trying to regain the initiative on what is a top public concern by tabling a package of measures designed to limit immigration from within the EU.

Freedom of movement rules in Europe mean it is impossible to stop migrants coming to the UK to work but Labour wants to tighten the rules to stop Britons being penalised.

It claims its proposals are the "first serious attempt by any party" to deal with the problems caused by EU migration, which are among voters' top concerns.

Labour's plans include:

:: Making it illegal for employers to deliberately run shifts for foreign workers only;

:: Forcing large firms hiring a worker from outside the EU to offer an apprenticeship in return;

:: Banning unsuitable housing being used as tied accommodation to offset the minimum wage;

:: Increasing the fine to £50,000 for not paying the minimum wage;

:: Trebling the fine to £30,000 for employing illegal immigrants.

Mr Miliband's proposal for firms who bring in foreign workers to be forced to create apprenticeships has already been condemned by business leaders.

The British Chambers of Commerce denounced it as an "apprentice tax" while the Institute of Directors said it was "completely removed from reality".

The Government argues its measures will help reduce net migration from outside the EU to less than 100,000 a year.

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Tesco Vows To Cut Waste Food Mountain

Every family in the UK wastes an estimated £700 a year throwing away food, according to Tesco, which is launching a campaign to help curb the problem.

The supermarket's first ever food waste figures for its operations reveal that in the first six months of this year, 28,500 tons of food waste were generated in Tesco stores and distribution centres.

The research shows that 68% of salad to be sold in bags is thrown out, as are just under half of bakery items.

Around 40% of apples are chucked away, a quarter of grapes are wasted between the vine and the fruit bowl, and a fifth of all bananas are unused - with customers throwing one in 10 in the bin.

As a result of the findings, the retailer is to end multibuys on large bags of salad and is developing mix-and-match promotions for smaller bags to try to help customers reduce the amount they are wasting.

It is also removing "display until" dates from fresh fruit and vegetables, using smaller cases in stores and rearranging 600 in-store bakeries to reduce the amount of bread on display, with the aim of better stock control and less waste.

The supermarket tracked 25 best-selling products and combined information with data from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) to give an overall food waste "footprint" for each item.

Tesco says it is making changes to its processes as a result of the data

The last figures published by Wrap in 2011 estimate that 15 million tons of food waste is generated each year in the UK.

Tesco commercial director of group food Matt Simister said: "We've all got a responsibility to tackle food waste and there is no quick-fix single solution.

"Little changes can make a big difference, like storing fruit and vegetables in the right way.

"Families are wasting an estimated £700 a year and we want to help them keep that money in their pockets, rather than throwing it in the bin.

"We're playing our part too and making changes to our processes and in store. Ending multi-buy promotions on large packs of bagged salads is one way we can help, but this is just the start and we'll be reviewing what else we can do.

"We're working with our suppliers to try to cut waste at all stages of the journey from farm to fork."

Wrap director Richard Swannell said he welcomed Tesco's approach to tackling food waste across the whole supply chain.

"Food waste is a global issue, and collaborative action is essential if we are to successfully reduce food waste and reap the financial and environmental benefits of doing so," he added.

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Scotland: Two Boeing 747 Planes In Near Miss

Two jumbo jets with around 1,000 people on board were just 100ft from crashing over Scotland because pilots confused their flight instructions, it has emerged.

The two Boeing 747s were 30 miles north of Glasgow and preparing to cross the Atlantic when an air traffic controller spotted they were moving closer together.

The UK Airprox Board report shows the two planes heading towards each other

He immediately ordered the plane on the left to make a left turn and the one on the right to make a right turn to move them further apart.

But they did the opposite - bringing the two passenger jets closer together.

When the danger was first spotted the 747s were 10 miles apart, but within a minute they were three miles away and still closing in.

A crash was only averted when the two pilots on each aircraft saw each other and took evasive action, with one plane climbing and the other diving.

At one point, one plane was just 100ft above the other.

Details of the incident, which occurred on June 23 this year, were revealed in a report by the UK Airprox Board, which examines near misses in UK airspace.

Investigators are at a loss to explain how the crews of both aircraft either misheard or misinterpreted their orders.

The report said: "It was apparent that both crews had taken each others' instructions, and the board found it hard to determine why this had occurred; unfortunately no human factor report was available from either crew.

At one point the two jets were only 100ft apart in height

"The board was surprised that all four pilots had misheard or misinterpreted the avoiding action instructions despite at least one of the crews reading them back correctly.

"One airline pilot member wondered if there could have been call-sign confusion; this was discounted because they were not similar ... the transmissions were clear on the RT recording."

The board said the danger was needlessly increased because the planes had earlier been ordered by air traffic control to fly at the same height of 34,000ft.

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Man Admits Murder Of Hertfordshire Pensioner

A 55-year-old man has admitted the murder of a pensioner who was stabbed after going to the aid of his neighbour - a convicted paedophile - during a robbery.

Ian McLoughlin, 55, appeared at the Old Bailey and admitted killing Graham Buck in Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, in July.

Mr Buck, 66, suffered fatal stab wounds when he responded to cries from the home of 86-year-old Francis Cory-Wright in the village near Berkhamsted.

McLouglin met Mr Cory-Wright while in prison and showed up at his house claiming to need help setting up a charity for elderly ex-offenders.

But McLoughlin, already a convicted killer, suddenly grabbed him and demanded money and valuables.

He tied up Mr Cory-Wright, who was jailed for 30 months for indecently assaulting a 10-year old boy in the 1970s, and stuffed silver family heirlooms into a pillowcase and demanded his bank cards and pin numbers.

Mr Buck, a father-of-three, who lived two doors away from Mr Cory-Wright, went to help him after hearing shouting in his front garden.

He confronted McLoughlin as he tried to flee Mr Cory-Wright's house and was stabbed in the neck.

In a police interview, McLoughlin apologised for killing Mr Buck.

"I'm not sorry for what I did to the nonce, but I'm sorry for what I did to the pensioner."

Witnesses described seeing Mr Buck with his throat slashed "wide open", prosecutor Ann Evans said. He died on his front lawn, with his pet dog sitting beside him.

McLoughlin, who has also admitted robbery, is due to be sentenced this afternoon.

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Boy, 14, Pleads Guilty To Uni Sex Assaults

A 14-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual assault on five separate women near Manchester University.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Manchester City Magistrates Court and was given conditional bail.

The case is adjourned until December 2.

The five assaults, including three near the grounds of Manchester University, occurred over a two-week period late last month.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin thanked the public for their assistance in the case.

"I am extremely grateful to the public for all the calls we received this weekend after putting an appeal out for information in connection with these incidents," he said.

An 18-year-old man also arrested in connection with the assaults has been bailed pending further enquiries.

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Maria Mystery: Roma Couple In Greek Court

A Roma couple are in court charged with abducting a mystery blonde, blue-eyed girl in Greece.

The pair - named in local papers as Hristos Salis, 39, and Eleftheria Dimopoulou, 40 - were escorted into the back of a courthouse in Larissa from a police van.

Their friends and family waited at the front of the building, with reporters and TV satellite crews. It is understood that no press are allowed into the court.

The couple's lawyer Matetta Palavra was surrounded by journalists as he went to visit his clients in holding cells at the back of the courthouse.

"You will leave us alone for now, we have a difficult road ahead of us," he told them.

Asked by one reporter what stage the case was at, he replied: "We will see the prosecutor at noon."

The pair were taken by police van into the back of the courthouse

The mystery girl - known as Maria - was discovered living in a Gypsy camp near the Greek town of Farsala on Wednesday after a raid by police looking for drugs and weapons.

British police say there is no link between her case of and that of missing boy Ben Needham, who was 21 months old when he vanished on the Greek island of Kos in 1991.

A prosecutor who accompanied police on the raid thought it odd that Maria did not look like her darker-skinned "parents".

DNA tests later confirmed the couple are not her biological parents.

The pair claim they were given the child by a Bulgarian woman who was unable to look after her, two weeks after she was born on January 31 2009.

The couple are appearing at a court in Larissa

Greek authorities have put out a worldwide appeal to help identify the youngster and find her real family.

Maria is being cared for in Athens by the Greek charity Smile Of The Child, and is said to be "doing well".

Charity spokesman Panagiotis Pardalis told Sky News that Maria is still in hospital and waiting for medical examinations to be completed.

"She is talking to hospital staff and seems happy, and is playing with staff and showing normal child behaviour," he said.

The Roma couple claim Maria is four years old. But medical and dental tests have confirmed she is a year or two older than that.

Maria seen in a family video as a toddler

The little girl will be transferred to one of the charity's homes when she leaves hospital.

He said the charity has been inundated with more than 8,000 calls about the girl from people in the US, Scandinavia, Australia, South Africa and other countries.

A few of the calls had specific details and have been forwarded to police.

Neighbours in Farsala's ramshackle Roma camp said Maria's real father had come to look for her soon after she was taken away by police.

Babis Dimitriou, chairman of the local Roma community, told The Daily Telegraph: "There was a Bulgarian husband and wife who were working around Greece in temporary jobs, who used to stay here sometimes.

Maria was found in a Roma camp in Farsala

"At one point they left the girl to be raised by the family here in the village.

"The family raised the child as if it was their own, although her father would come back every now and then to see her. The last time he visited was only five days ago, after the arrests had been made.

"All the other Roma here were telling the Bulgarian man to explain to the police that the girl was his, but he has now disappeared."

His account was backed by other residents, the paper reported.

The Roma community in Farsala is said to be anxious about the world-wide media attention the case is attracting.

In a country already devastated by economic crisis, the Roma in the camp make a living selling fruit, carpets, blankets, baskets and shoes at local markets.

They are already considered by some to be social outcasts, thieves and beggars, and now they are worried they will be wrongfully stigmatised as kidnappers and child traffickers.

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Alps Murders: Brother Denies Involvement

The brother of a British-Iraqi businessman whose family were shot dead in the French Alps has again claimed he was not involved in the massacre.

Zaid al Hilli, whose brother Saad was found dead in a bullet-riddled BMW in September last year, admitted to The Sunday Times newspaper that they were engaged in a bitter inheritance dispute, but said he had nothing to do with the murders.

"I have told the police from the beginning that I am an open book. I have nothing to hide," he said.

The 54-year-old, who was arrested in June on suspicion of masterminding the killings, accused French police of failing to carry out a proper investigation.

Saad al Hilli was shot dead with his wife and mother-in-law

He said they should look at the possibility that the real target was Sylvain Mollier, a Frenchman who was shot dead near the family's car as he cycled through the hills above Lake Annecy.

"They are covering up for someone in France in that region and they know it," Mr Hilli told the BBC.

"Mollier was involved in family disputes and was an outsider to (his) rich family. There is something more to it locally ... most crime has local roots."

The scene of the shooting in France

Saad al Hilli, 50, was shot dead in his car parked in a lay-by on a mountain road. His wife Iqbal, 47, and her mother Suhaila al Allaf, 74, were also killed. Mr Mollier's body was found nearby.

The couple's daughter Zainab, seven at the time, recovered after being shot and pistol-whipped and her sister Zeena, who was four, was found unhurt hiding beneath her mother's body.

French investigators believe Mr Mollier was an innocent bystander who was killed because he stumbled upon the murder scene.

Their lead theory is that a family inheritance dispute was the motive for the killings.

Saad al Hilli's family home in Claygate, Surrey

Mr Hilli, who is due to answer police bail on Wednesday, also denied any involvement in the shooting when he was approached by Sky News last month.

He told The Sunday Times that the last time the brothers spoke, Saad had physically attacked him as they argued over the £1m house in Claygate, Surrey, they inherited from their mother.

"I was on the bed in my bedroom and he pinned me down," he said.

Mr Hilli, who works as a payroll manager for a leisure company, said he had given 25 hours of interviews to British police but has refused to go to France for further questioning.

The killings took place near Lake Annecy

"The French, I don't trust them at all," he told The Sunday Times. "My brother was killed there in that region and I am not going to take the risk."

He revealed that he had taken a day off work on the day of the murders and gone to Worthing, in West Sussex, with a friend.

He said the brothers, who were born to middle-class parents in Baghdad before the family moved to Britain in 1971, had enjoyed a close relationship but fell out over the house.

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Energy Bills: Welby Slams 'Severe' Price Rises

The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched a stinging attack on Britain's energy firms, warning the latest round of price hikes seem to be "inexplicable".

Justin Welby insisted the so-called Big Six energy companies had an obligation to behave morally rather than to simply maximise profit.

His intervention, published in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, came after British Gas followed in the footsteps of SSE by announcing a 9.2% increase in prices.

The head of the Church of England, himself a former oil executive, said he understood the anger the rises had generated.

"The impact on people, particularly on low incomes, is going to be really severe in this, and the companies have to justify fully what they are doing," Mr Welby said.

Last week British Gas announced a 9.2% increase in prices

"I do understand when people feel that this is inexplicable, and I can understand people being angry about it, because having spent years on a low income as a clergyman I know what it is like when your household budget is blown apart by a significant extra fuel bill and your anxiety levels become very high. That is the reality of it."

The Archbishop urged firms to be "conscious of their social obligations", saying they had to "behave with generosity and not merely to maximise opportunity".

"They have control because they sell something everyone has to buy. We have no choice about buying it. With that amount of power comes huge responsibility to serve society," he said.

"It is not like some other sectors of business where people can walk away from you if they don't want to buy your product and you are entitled to seek to maximise your profit.

"The social licence to operate of the energy companies is something they have to take very, very seriously indeed."

Electricity prices are rising faster than those for gas

But the Church Of England owns a significant number of shares in energy companies.

Sky's Chief Political Correspondent Jon Craig said: "Justin Welby has now joined in this increasingly politically charged debate about energy prices - the only embarrassment really for the Church of England really is that it owns more than £7m of shares in Centrica and about £6m of shares in SSE.

Craig added: "The remarks have been welcomed already by the Labour Party - but they will infuriate government ministers, the Prime Minister and the Energy Secretary."

An ongoing bitter political spat over energy has seen Labour leader Ed Miliband attempt to seize the initiative by pledging a 20-month-long price freeze.

Prime Minister David Cameron has dismissed the idea as a "con", and encouraged consumers to switch suppliers to keep bills down.

But polls have suggested that Labour's promise is popular with voters, putting pressure on the coalition to respond.

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