Dagenham Blaze: Fire Strike Row Over Recall

Striking firefighters and their employers have been embroiled in a row over a major blaze at a scrap metal yard in east London.

All on-duty firefighters due to strike in London on Friday night were recalled to their stations by the London Fire Brigade (LBF) under an agreed and voluntary procedure in the event of a major incident.

However, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) told firefighters not to answer the call saying that the recall was invalid because there was no risk to life.

 London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "There is no reference to risk of life in the agreed protocols to implement a major incident."

Mr Dobson said a major incident could trigger a recall and the agreement was implemented because of the size of the blaze and the resources needed to deal with it.

By not responding to the recall, he said it was the FBU that was in breach of the agreement.

There are around 1,500 tonnes of metal alight. Picture: fishycol1/Twitter

But FBU London Secretary Paul Embery said the recall was not agreed.

He said the London Fire Brigade had been giving assurances that their "contingencies were sufficient".

A total of 20 fire engines and 120 firefighters attended the blaze on Perry Road in Dagenham on Friday night where around 1,500 tonnes of scrap metal in the open air was alight.

Cylinders were also believed to be involved and a hazard zone was put in place in case they exploded due to the intense heat.

Black smoke from the site could be seen from miles around, and residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Of the 27 fire appliances in operation for contingency,  20 were allocated to the Dagenham fire.

Police officers and ambulance crews also attended the scene. There are no reported injuries, but several local roads were closed and motorists advised to avoid the area if possible.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said he supported the decision to recall all striking FBU staff.

Smoke can be seen from miles around. Picture: JSinghLon/Twitter

It came as firefighters in the rest of England and Wales went ahead with the strike in their dispute with the Government over pensions, on what was expected to be one of the busiest days of the year for the service ahead of Bonfire Night and Diwali celebrations.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) walked out at 6.30pm, mounting picket lines outside fire stations until the stoppage ended at 11pm.

A further two-hour strike will be held from 6am on Monday, the day before Bonfire Night.

Fire brigades across the country have urged members of the public to put off any firework displays in their own gardens and to switch it to Saturday, or go to an organised event.

The union held a four-hour stoppage last month but called off another strike after it appeared a deal was in sight, but officials said the Government and fire employers had failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changing the pension age from 55 to 60.

The union fears firefighters will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests, and are unable to find other work in the fire service.

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Paul Gambaccini: BBC DJ Held Over Sex Claims

Veteran BBC broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has been arrested on suspicion of historical sexual offences.

He was held at his home in south London on Tuesday morning as part of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree.

The radio presenter, whose broadcasting career spans 40 years at the BBC, answered questions in police custody before being released on bail.

A BBC spokesman said Gambaccini denies the allegations against him.

"Paul Gambaccini has decided that, in light of [Friday's] media attention, he would rather not be on air at present and we respect that decision," he said.

"Therefore, Paul will not be presenting on BBC Radio in coming weeks and replacement programmes for the period will be announced soon."

Yewtree has been investigating claims of historic sexual offences since the Jimmy Savile scandal broke last year.

Scotland Yard detectives have run the investigation in three strands - allegations involving Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others.

Gambaccini was arrested under the strand known as "others", meaning the arrest is not connected to the Savile inquiry.

The DJ, one of Britain's foremost authorities on music, hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio 2.

He is the 15th person arrested under Operation Yewtree and was bailed until January.

The presenter was highly vocal last year in the wake of Savile's years of sexual abuse being made public, and said it was known among BBC staff that the late presenter targeted vulnerable, "institutionalised" young people.

A 16th person - a 74-year-old who has not been named - was arrested at a separate address in south London on Tuesday, and also bailed until January.

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Water Bills: Crackdown On Costs Expected

Water bills may be "rolled back" after the Government vowed to get tough on the rising cost of living.

David Cameron's spokesman indicated that an announcement on water bills would be made next week.

The spokesman said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) would be making the announcement.

He said: "There will be some action next week from Defra with the intention of looking at water bills.

David Cameron says he wants to see household costs cut

"The Prime Minister takes household bills across the piece seriously and wants energy prices to be rolled back and wants various things done, whether it's council tax being frozen, the flex on rail fares being brought down, MoT costs being frozen, these sorts of measures to protect household bills."

He added: "The Prime Minister wants to see household costs across the piece being reduced as low as possible. The intention is to try to reduce the burdens on hard-pressed families."

Mr Cameron "wants regulators to look at the industry they regulate and make sure that they are robust and delivering what they need to deliver for consumers", the spokesman added.

Concerns have been raised that consumers are being ripped off

The move comes after Labour leader Ed Miliband said the market needed to be scrutinised to ensure it was working for consumers.

The soaring cost of living has rocketed up the political agenda since Mr Miliband's pledge to freeze energy prices if his party wins the 2015 General Election.

Mr Cameron, seeking to win back the political initiative on energy policy from Labour, said last week he wanted to "roll back" environmental taxes that bump up energy bills, promising more details in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement on December 4.

Speaking on Friday at an event for regional newspaper journalists, Mr Miliband said: "I think we should be looking at all markets to make sure they are working properly - and that includes the water industry."

The Western Morning News quoted the Labour leader as saying: "Some people will say this is an anti-business agenda. I think it is a pro-business agenda that you have got to reform markets that are not working properly.

"I think the water industry is something that should be scrutinised to make sure it is working properly, and make sure it is working properly for the benefit of consumers, because I know concerns have been raised.

"I'm proud Labour is championing this agenda and I think it is consistent with believing what a market economy can do, and water is part of that."

Labour's environment secretary Maria Eagle said the party would look to amend existing draft legislation, review the need for tougher regulation, and push for new ways to help reduce bills for low-income households.

MPs are set to consider the reform and infrastructure of the water industry on Tuesday next week after Tory Robert Buckland secured a backbench debate.

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Pizza Delivery Driver Murder: Two In Court

By Nick Martin, North of England Correspondent

Two people have appeared in court charged with the murder of a pizza delivery driver in Sheffield.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris had been delivering his last ever pizza when he was stabbed to death in his car in the Southey area of the city on October 27.

Shamraze Khan, 25, of Southey Crescent, Sheffield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who are accused of killing Mr Peiris both appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

The pair were remanded in custody until the next hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on November 15.

Mr Peiris was on his final shift before starting his dream job as an IT consultant.

The 25-year-old was found dead in a silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent at about 10.30pm by fellow Domino's workers who had gone looking for him after he failed to deliver his order.

His family described him as the "most caring and loving son a parent could have".

Speaking from their family home in Sri Lanka, his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris and mother Sudarma Narangoda said: "We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.

"We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son's tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

"Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him."

Mr Peiris came to the UK to finish an IT degree and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011.

His colleagues and police said he had been feeling unwell during his last shift and was going to go home early but agreed to deliver one last order.

Domino's Pizza has said it was funding the cost of flying his family to the UK in the coming days.

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Garden Murders: Daughter, Son-In-Law In Court

The daughter and son-in-law of an elderly couple who went missing from Mansfield have appeared in court charged with their murder.

It follows the discovery of the remains of a man and woman who were found buried in the back garden of a house in Blenheim Close, Forest Town, on October 9 this year.

Police have not yet formally identified the pair, but believe they are William and Patricia Wycherley, who lived at the house in the 1990s.

The couple's daughter, Susan Patricia Edwards, 55, and her husband Christopher John Edwards, 57, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court this morning.

The pair, of no fixed address, but who are believed to have been living outside the UK,  were charged with the murders of Mr and Mrs Wycherley between May 1, 1998 and May 31 of the same year.

They were remanded in custody until a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on November 4.

Police arrested the pair at St Pancras International railway station in London on Wednesday evening.

Post-mortem examinations on the remains of Mr and Mrs Wycherley revealed that they had died as a result of being shot.

The elderly couple moved to the address in 1987 and, according to neighbours, disappeared in 1998.

Officers said Mrs Wycherley is believed to have been born in Fulham, west London, and would now have been 79. Her husband would have been 100.

Police said bone analysis had shed further light on the remains.

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Bonfire Night Warning As Firefighters Strike

Firefighters in England and Wales will go on strike this evening even though it could be one of the busiest days of the year for the service ahead of Bonfire Night and Diwali celebrations.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will walk out from 6.30pm to 11pm, and again for two hours from 6am next Monday - the day before Bonfire Night on November 5.

The union went on strike last month but called off another stoppage when a deal appeared to be in sight.

However, officials said the Government and fire employers failed to offer guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changes to the pension age from 55 to 60.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said firefighters were keen for the issue to be resolved through discussion but the Government was ignoring its own evidence, which indicates the schemes are unworkable and unaffordable.

Emergency response services will be 'severely reduced' due to the strike

He told Sky News: "We have been trying to negotiate pensions for nearly three years now and it is very frustrating fro our members and firefighters across the country.

"We want a pension scheme that works, that takes account of the job that firefighters actually do, and the Government is completely ignoring the evidence and is expecting firefighters to be working on the frontline, going into burning buildings at 60 or beyond in order to get their pension. That's simply unrealistic and dangerous."

Mr Wrack said older firefighters would be "expected to perform the full range of roles that an 18 or 20-year-old would do, and meet the same fitness standards.

He added: "We have tried to avoid strike action for as long as possible. No firefighter wants to go on strike. We have deliberately chosen not to call action on the busiest nights ... so we have tried to do what we can to keep people as safe as possible.

"The general advice for people around Bonfire Night is to attend organised events."

Peter Holland, the government's chief fire and rescue adviser, told Sky News "firefighters can work up to 60".

"Indeed, there are 500 across the country who are working up to that age," he said.

Firefighters from Tynemouth Community Fire Station on strike in September

"With the right fitness testing procedures, training on fire stations ... firefighters can keep themselves fit, and there are no firefighters who are going to come under pressure to retire prematurely. If they want to retire at 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 they can do. That's built in to the scheme.

"Those firefighters who reach 55 who do have medical problems will be dealt with through an ill health process which the Fire Brigades Union are very happy with."

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said its emergency response service would be "severely reduced" because of the strike.

Chief Fire Officer James Courtney said: "Don't hold your bonfire or fireworks display tonight.

"We're satisfied with the contingency arrangements we are putting in place, but our 999 service will still be severely depleted so we need the public to help keep our fire engines available for real emergencies."

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said: "This strike action by the FBU is completely unnecessary and does nothing but damage the good reputation firefighters have with the public.

"We offered firefighters similar fitness principles to those the FBU accepted in Scotland. The FBU should reconsider their decision to strike - announced just four days into discussions - and work for a resolution to this dispute.

"The public will be baffled by the FBU's course of action when they hear that the deal being offered to firefighters gives them one of the most generous pension schemes in all the public sector.

"A firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.

"An equivalent private pension pot would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much."

The union has said the figures were a "myth".

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Baby P's Mum Tracey Connelly 'Freed From Jail'

Baby P's mother, who was jailed in 2009 over her son's death, has been released from prison, according to reports.

Tracey Connelly was reportedly freed after the Parole Board recommended her release following a second review of her case.

The Ministry of Justice said it does not comment on individual cases and would not confirm or deny the reports.

Connelly was jailed indefinitely with a minimum of five years following her son Peter's death.

The Parole Board confirmed recently that a three-member panel had directed her release.

It said then: "Tracey Connelly first became eligible for parole in August 2012, and at that time a Parole Board panel made no recommendation to release.

"This is the second parole review for Tracey Connelly. The decision to release is a matter for the board, which is independent - arrangements and the date of the release are a matter for the Secretary of State."

Steven Barker (L) and Jason Owen

Baby P died on August 3, 2007, with more than 50 injuries, despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months.

Connelly admitted the offence soon after being charged and served several hundred days on remand.

She was given a so-called imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence, which carries a minimum term.

Connelly will remain on licence for the rest of her life and if she breaches any of the conditions, she will probably be recalled to custody.

Her son died at his home in Tottenham, north London, a day after police told Connelly she would not be prosecuted over abuse of the 17-month-old.

Connelly was jailed with her boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen, who were convicted at trial of the same offence.

Barker was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years for raping a two-year-old girl and given a 12-year term to run concurrently for his "major role" in Peter's death.

Owen was jailed indefinitely with a minimum three-year term but later won an appeal to lower it to a fixed six-year term.

He was freed in August 2011 but was then recalled to prison again in April this year.

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Mansfield Garden Bodies: 'Daughter' Arrested

The daughter of an elderly couple, found buried in their back garden, has been arrested on suspicion of their murders, according to the Press Association.

Susan Edwards, 55, and her husband Christopher, 57, were arrested at St Pancras International railway station in London on Wednesday evening, said the news agency.

Nottinghamshire Police have refused to confirm the identities of the pair under arrest, but it is understood that they are the daughter of William and Patricia Wycherley and her husband.

The couple, who are believed to have been living outside the UK, are being questioned in police custody.

It comes after human remains - thought to be that of Mr and Mrs Wycherley's - were found at a house in Blenheim Close, Forest Town in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, last month.

Police were led to the site following a tip-off.

The elderly couple moved to the address in 1987 and according to neighbours, disappeared in 1998.

Officers have said Mrs Wycherley is believed to have been born in Fulham, west London, and would now have been 79. Her husband would have been 100.

Police said bone analysis has shed further light on the remains.

One of the bodies is believed to be that of an elderly white man who was older than 60, well-built and around 5ft 8in.

The second set of remains is likely to be that of a well-built white woman, who was 40 or older and around 5ft 6in.

Although the cause of death has yet to be determined in both cases, the female remains have a "distinctive feature in their anatomy".

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Bill and Pat, who would be 100 and 79 respectively if they were to still be alive today, were known to be quite reclusive.

"But with help from relatives and old friends, we are starting to build a picture of their lives and, more importantly, their movements in 1998, when neighbours say they simply disappeared."

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Hacking Jury Sees Palace Police Payment Email

A jury has been shown an email from News Of The World's Clive Goodman to editor Andy Coulson detailing payments to palace police.

Sky's Mark White said according to the prosecution, the 2003 email is an admission that the pair had been involved in criminality by paying police officers for information regarding the royal family.

A redacted version of the email by Goodman said: "Andy, one of our royal at policemen at St James's Palace has obtained the brand new green book, the telephone directory with all the home numbers of the royal family and their household staff. Incredibly useful.

"The standard price is £1,000. So far, so good, but I had a heck of a time getting cash credits signed off by Stuart (Kuttner) earlier this week to pay a Kensington Palace copper.

"I'm not criticising Stuart at all but these people will not be paid in anything other than cash because if they're discovered selling stuff to us they end up on criminal charges, as could we."

Former NOTW royal editor Goodman, managing editor Kuttner and editor Coulson are one of eight defendants on trial for phone hacking at the Old Bailey along with former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks.

More follows...

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Baby Found In A Bag: Police Release Picture

West Midlands Police have released a picture of a newborn baby girl found in a bag in a Stechford park, Birmingham.

More follows...

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Child Killer Alan John Giles On The Loose

Police are hunting a child killer who is on the run from prison while serving two life sentences for kidnap and murder.

Alan John Giles, 56, fled from an "open" section of HMP Hewell, near Redditch, in Worcestershire, on Monday, West Mercia Police said.

Giles, originally from Oldbury in the West Midlands, was jailed in 1997 at Birmingham Crown Court for murdering 16-year-old Kevin Ricketts in 1995.

At the time of Giles' trial, the body of Kevin, a student from Quinton, near Birmingham, had not been found.

Appealing for the public's help to trace Giles, Detective Inspector John Cashion, of West Mercia Police, said: "We have a dedicated investigation team working expeditiously to locate and apprehend Giles, and to that end we are also liaising with our colleagues in West Midlands Police and in the Prison Service.

"We have information that gives us concern for his welfare and it is important that we trace him as soon as possible.

"It should be borne in mind that Giles was in an open part of the prison when he went missing.

"However, we would appeal to anyone who sees him not to approach him, but to contact police immediately on 999.

"Furthermore, we would urge anyone who may be helping him or sheltering him to contact us without delay."

Giles, who has had recent contact with family in the West Midlands, is described as white, 5ft 9in, and of proportionate build with short grey hair and blue eyes.

He has tattoos of an eagle on his back and a swallow, shark and flower on his left arm.

It is believed Giles is wearing a grey Rockport sweater, blue jeans and white Asics trainers.

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Back-To-Work Schemes 'Legally Flawed'

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

The Government's back-to-work schemes, under which people on benefits work for free, are legally flawed, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Judges upheld an earlier Court of Appeal ruling which found that 2011 regulations underpinning the schemes, which have been criticised as "slave labour", were invalid.

However, the judges ruled that regulations did not constitute forced or compulsory labour, leaving both sides claiming victory.

The legal battle focused on several cases including graduate Cait Reilly who had been made to work for two weeks cleaning and stacking shelves in a Poundland store in Kings Heath, Birmingham.

The 24-year-old graduate said she gained nothing from the fortnight and felt as though she was simply giving her labour for free.

The other case was that of 40-year-old unemployed HGV driver Jamieson Wilson, from Nottingham, who had to do unpaid work cleaning furniture and was stripped of his jobseeker's allowance for six months.

The Supreme Court dismissed Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith's appeal on the issue of the legality of the back-to-work schemes, holding that the regulations were "invalid" as they did not give sufficiently detailed "prescribed description" of the schemes.

Iain Duncan Smith is pleased with the ruling on 'slave labour'

It also held that the Secretary of State had failed to provide sufficient information about the schemes to Ms Reilly and Mr Wilson.

Following the judgment Miss Reilly, who said she had been unfairly labelled a 'job snob' for challenging the scheme, said: "I am really pleased with today's judgment, which I hope will serve to improve the current system and assist jobseekers who have been unfairly stripped of their benefits.

"I brought these proceedings because I knew that there was something wrong when I was stopped from doing voluntary work in a local museum and instead forced to work for Poundland for free.

"I have been fortunate enough to find work in a supermarket but I know how difficult it can be. It must be time for the Government to rethink its strategy and actually do something constructive to help lift people out of unemployment and poverty."

Following the Court of Appeal ruling in February, the Government retrospectively passed legislation to correct problems in the system.

That new legislation rendered much of today's Supreme Court ruling academic but the Government trumpeted its success.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "We are very pleased that the Supreme Court today unanimously upheld our right to require those claiming jobseeker's allowance to take part in programmes which will help get them into work.

"We have always said that it was ridiculous to say that our schemes amounted to forced labour, and yet again we have won this argument.

"Ultimately this judgment confirms that it is right that we expect people to take getting into work seriously if they want to claim benefits."

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt lost his appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling, which found he had no power to announce cuts to A&E and maternity services at Lewisham Hospital.

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Supermarkets Announce New Petrol Price Cuts

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

The cost of fuel is being slashed at pumps across the UK in the latest phase of a supermarket petrol price war.

It was sparked by Asda, which is cutting prices to its lowest this year. Sainsbury's,Tesco and Morrisons have acted quickly to announce reductions.

Asda has launched a national cap on prices, saying drivers filling up at its forecourts will pay no more than 126.7p a litre for petrol or 133.7p for diesel.

Sainsbury's says it is cutting prices by up to 3p - their cheapest for two-and-a-half years.

Tesco will reduce prices by up to 2p. Morrisons will do the same "at the majority of its sites".

Quentin Wilson, from the campaign group FairFuel UK, said: "Don't get excited, everybody, because this will not stay. We will see it go up again.

"But at least now we have a much faster reflection of wholesale prices at the pump. We don't have to wait two or three or four weeks for the fuel to come down in price when we know it goes up in a heartbeat, so I'm pleased, FairFuel is pleased."

There are words of caution from campaigners that lower prices may not last

The AA has welcomed the move, saying it reflects a fall in the wholesale price of fuel, but the continued uncertainty over Libyan oil production continues to leave the market unpredictable.

An AA spokesman said: "The average price of petrol in the UK has hovered around the 132p a litre mark since mid-October, making 126.7p a very good price."

At Asda in Leamington Spa, motorists greeted the news with delight.

Susan Cooper, who drives 50 miles a day, said: "This will save me a lot of money. It is about time we had some better news with gas and electricity going up."

Another customer, Martin Cavanagh, said: "It has to be good news. I know oil and everything is a complicated commodity and that's why we get the price jumping around. Let's hope it goes low and stays low."

Oil analyst Richard Mallison said it was significant that retailers were passing on the fall in wholesale oil prices to consumers on the forecourt.

He told Sky News: "The biggest reason for supermarkets being able to slash prices at the pump has been the change in the dollar-to-pound exchange rate.

"The dollar's weakened, that's brought down the cost of oil and wholesale fuel and that's now being passed on."

But he warned that low prices may not last for long.

He said: "We've seen the UK recovery stronger than expected, we've seen the troubles with the US shutdown and debt ceiling - both of those effects might fade in terms of the exchange rate, which would then mean petrol prices starting to go up again."

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Suspect Package Sparks Belfast Court Scare

A suspect package sparked a security scare at a Belfast court complex, prompting an evacuation.

The Chichester Street law courts complex in the south of the city was closed while army bomb disposal experts examined the package.

But the parcel, which was addressed to a High Court judge, was found to be harmless.

It follows the discovery of four letter bombs in Northern Ireland in less than a week. Those devices have been blamed on dissident republicans opposed to the peace process.

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Sheffield Pizza Man Killed On Final Delivery

A 25-year-old student has been stabbed to death as he made his final pizza delivery before starting a career as an IT consultant.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, who was originally from Sri Lanka, was found slumped at the wheel of his car on Sunday evening, in the Southey area of Sheffield, as he was on his way to deliver a takeaway.

Detectives say they cannot explain the "brutal and shocking death" of a "career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man".

According to South Yorkshire Police, Mr Peiris was making his last delivery for Domino's Pizza when he died.

Southey Crescent in Sheffield, where Mr Peiris was found dead in his car

He had been working for the chain's branch on Halifax Road in the city, while he studied IT at Sheffield Hallam University.

Mr Peiris had been taking an order to an address in Southey Crescent, which was due around 10pm.

When he failed to arrive, his work colleagues went to look for him.

He was found dead at 10.30pm in the driver's seat of his silver Toyota Yaris, outside the address he was delivering to.

A post-mortem examination showed that he died from stab wounds.

A 50-strong police team is now working on the murder inquiry.

Mr Peiris's family are hoping to travel to South Yorkshire, police said.

The branch of Domino's Pizza in Halifax Road, where the 25-year-old worked

Detective Superintendant Lisa Ray, who is leading the investigation, said no motive had yet been established for the murder, and police were keeping an open mind.

But as the crime was not committed on a main through road, she believed it likely the fatal attack was carried out by somebody locally.

Extensive house-to-house inquiries are being carried out, and CCTV footage is being examined. His car had also been taken to a specialist forensic garage.

Det Supt Ray said: "This was his last delivery he was going to make, so it's an absolute tragedy. At the moment we don't have any positive leads as to who was responsible."

But she added: "Somebody, somewhere knows something."

Police stress it was an isolated incident, but had increased the number of patrols in the area to reassure residents.

Det Supt said: "Thavisha Lakindu Peiris was a bright, hard-working, intelligent and caring man who had worked hard to develop his career in Sheffield.

"Everything we have learned from his family, friends and workmates at Domino's suggests he was a career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man who was very much planning his future.

"To date, we have found no explanation for his brutal and shocking death.

"I need to hear from anyone who knows anything about his murder.

"A family is grieving for a young man whose life has been taken from him in the most brutal of fashions, and we owe it to him and his family to find the person or persons responsible."

He spoke to his mother in Sri Lanka every day.

A number of people have been arrested and questioned by detectives since the murder, but have since been released without charge, according to a force spokesman.

A spokesman for Sheffield Hallam University said Mr Peiris graduated in 2011.

He said: "The university is saddened to hear of the tragic death on Sunday of Thavisha Peiris, who successfully graduated in 2011 with a degree in information technology.

"We encourage anyone with information to contact South Yorkshire Police."

Anyone with information is urged to contact South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 1253 of October 27.

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Savile Chauffeur David Smith Found Dead

A former driver charged with sex offences as part of the investigation triggered by allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile has been found dead.

David Smith, 66, was the first person to be charged by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree investigation.

He had pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency on a child following his arrest in December.

Smith leaving court in May

But he failed to turn up at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for the start of his trial, prompting police to go to his home in Effingham Road, Lewisham.

Scotland Yard said: "At approximately 14:20 officers entered the address and found the body of a man. A FME (forensic medical examiner) attended and pronounced the man dead at the scene. Next of kin are being informed."

Smith's barrister, Sandy Canavan, had told the court she was "concerned" that her solicitor had been unable to contact him ahead of the trial as she had regularly been in touch with him.

She told the court Smith was the sole carer for his elderly mother.

Police have separated the Yewtree investigation into three parts, the first concerned with the actions of Savile, while the second concerns allegations against what has become known as 'Savile and others'.

Smith was investigated under the third strand, concerning accusations of sexual abuse unconnected to Savile, but made by people who came forward following publicity surrounding the Savile allegations.

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Energy Prices: MPs To Turn Up Heat On 'Big Six'

Energy: Who Are The Big Six?

Updated: 10:56am UK, Tuesday 29 October 2013

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

As energy bills continue to dominate in Westminster, MPs will today hear from the "Big Six" companies – who together supply over 99% of British homes. So who are they?

:: British Gas

Much to the annoyance of MPs and the public, five out of six of the companies have failed to put up their chief executives. British Gas will instead put up Ian Peters, managing director of energy.

He will be seen as a key witness because British Gas (which also operates as Scottish Gas) is the UK's largest supplier of energy to households with almost 10 million residential customers.

British Gas has announced that the bills for dual-fuel customers will rise by 9.2% from 23 November. That is an 8.4% increase in gas prices and 10.4% in electricity.

The average annual bill will go up by £123 to £1,444. That is despite an overall profit in 2012 of over £600m.

:: E.ON

Tony Cocker is the only chief executive agreeing to stand in the spotlight today. His company, E.ON, has yet to announce price rises although it is expected to do so soon.

E.ON – which used to be called Powergen – operates in over 30 countries, serving 26 million customers.

Its price increases last year brought the average bill to £1,370. Its sales revenues in 2012 rose by 5% to £132.1bn with profits in excess of £800m

But the previous chief executive said the results were down to one-off effects and warned that parts of the business remained barely profitable.

:: EDF

Martin Lawrence, the managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply, will represent EDF today.

The company – which supplies around 3.7 million households in Britain - has also not announced a price increase as yet although it was one of the later ones to do so last year as well.

In 2012 it put up the average dual-fuel bill by 10.8%

The company's UK retail arm made a loss of £92m in 2012. But the success of its power generation arm – with nuclear power stations, coal plants and a gas power station – meant it was able to announce profits above £900m in the summer.

:: SSE

This latest storm of controversy around energy bills began with an announcement by SSE of an 8.2% increase in dual-fuel prices. This pushed up the average to £1,380

That is despite profits of over £400m in 2012. The company blamed wholesale prices but also green levies attached to bills through Government policy. The row led David Cameron to pledge to roll back the levies.

The company is putting forward Will Morris, managing director of retail.

:: npower

With 3.5 million UK customers npower is a huge player in the UK and one of the largest gas and electricity companies across Europe.

The company has announced its price rises to come in at the start of December. The electricity price will increase by 9.3% with gas going up by 11.1% – making the average bill 10.4% higher – up to £1,459.

In March the company faced controversy when it announced a 34% increase in profits to £413m – although the figure relating to domestic supply is lower.

The company is putting up Guy Johnson, its external affairs director.

:: Scottish Power

Neil Clitheroe, CEO retail and generation, will appear in front of MPs. The company is the most recent to announce price rises this winter of 8.6% - an 8.5% rise in in gas and 9% in electricity.

That means the average household bill will go up by £113 to £1,424.

It revealed that it had more than doubled pre-tax profits to £712m in July – and an £890m divided to its Spanish parent, Iberdrola, also caused anger.

:: Watch MPs question representatives from the Big Six on Sky News from 2.30pm.

:: Watch a live debate on energy between shadow energy minister Caroline Flint and energy minister Michael Fallon at 5.30pm on Sky News.

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Spurs Fan Stabbed In Rome: Two Men Jailed

Two Italian football hooligans have been jailed for launching a brutal assault on Tottenham Hotspur supporters, including one who suffered a near-fatal stabbing.

The English fans were drinking peacefully at a pub in the centre of Rome last November before a Europa League match against Lazio when thugs launched what police described in court as a well-planned "urban guerrilla warfare" operation using smoke bombs and tear gas to help "neutralise" their victims.

The Italian gang tore through the Drunken Ship pub in the Campo de Fiori piazza, smashing windows and attacking fans with knives, iron bars and even ripped-off chair legs, the court heard.

Thirteen people were injured, including Ashley Mills, from Brentwood, Essex, who suffered massive blood loss when one hooligan plunged a knife into his thigh.

He was taken to hospital where doctors fought to rebuild his femoral artery.

The raid caused an estimated 18,000 euros (£15,400) damage to the pub

Mr Mills described at the time how the mob "came out of nowhere".

"I was standing outside the bar drinking, and the next thing I know there are loads of them. It happened very quickly, I don't remember much. I remember being pulled out, along the ground, after I had been stabbed," he said.

Mr Mills, who grew up in Tottenham, north London, had travelled to the game with his brother Bradley Mills, a 30-year-old interior designer, who was in the bar and was also injured.

On Monday, a Rome judge sentenced Francesco Ianari, 27, to four years and five months in prison, and Mauro Pinnelli, 26, to five years and six months in jail, for assaulting 12 of the 13 people injured.

Both fans of Rome side AS Roma, they formed part of a larger group of 20 who took part in the raid.

Ianari, a door-to-door salesman who has previously been banned from attending football matches, and Pinnelli, a builder, were arrested on the night of the attack after they were spotted behaving suspiciously near the pub.

People peer inside the venue the morning after the attack last November

Hardcore "Ultra" fans of another Rome team, Lazio, were initially accused of organising the raid.

Some Lazio fans were accused of singing anti-Semitic chants at the match against Spurs the night after the attack, boosting suspicions the attack was linked to the London team's Jewish heritage.

But the court heard that Roma fans first spotted the Spurs fans drinking at the pub and then called on Lazio fans they knew to join them, suggesting thugs from the two traditional rivals have forged a violent alliance.

Damage to the pub was estimated at 18,000 euros (£15,400).

In February, police said they had identified nine others suspected of taking part in the violence, and took three men into custody, including two Lazio fans.

They have since been release and have been banned from attending Lazio matches.

Police used CCTV footage to build their case as well as bringing in anti-terrorism police who used mobile phone records to identify the assailants and track their movements on the night.

Officers concluded that the gang first put the bar under surveillance then gathered in nearby Piazza Navona to plan the raid.

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Claudia Lawrence Case: Officers Search House

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The house of missing York cook Claudia Lawrence has been sealed off in a hunt for new clues about what happened to her four-and-a-half years ago.

A murder inquiry was launched in 2009 after the 35-year-old failed to turn up for work at the University of York, having left her passport and bank cards in her terraced home in the Heworth area of the city.

Despite a lengthy inquiry, no arrests were made and extensive searches failed to turn up any sign of Claudia, her mobile phone or a bag of work clothes she was thought to have taken with her.

Now a fresh team of forensic experts, led by new senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn have begun combing her house for clues at the start of an official cold case review.

Forensics officers arrive to search Claudia Lawrence's home

"Forensic science is continually evolving and I hope that scientific advances since Claudia was reported missing in March 2009 will assist with our review of the case," he said.

The review will hope to build on the first investigation, which was led by an officer who has since retired. Any new clues it finds can be checked against previously gathered evidence.

"The work will begin with an initial assessment of the property, followed by approximately two weeks of further forensic work at the house," D/Supt Malyn explained.

Claudia's father Peter says he is grateful for the review

Peter Lawrence, Claudia's father, told Sky News he hoped the review would help establish what had happened to his daughter.

"As I've always said, the worst thing for the family is not knowing what happened to Claudia," he said.

"It's been a nightmare every day. It doesn't get any better in time."

He previously issued a statement welcoming the review of his daughter's case.

Claudia Lawrence and her father Peter

"I am grateful for the initiative by the new team investigating Claudia's case to re-visit her house and conduct further investigations there, including DNA testing," he said.

"Anything which helps the search to find Claudia, or at least find out what happened to her on that morning in March 2009, is welcomed."

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Mason, the head of North Yorkshire Police's crime directorate, said the first aim of the review was to find out essentially what happened in the house when she went missing.

"It's not entirely clear whether Claudia remained in the house on the night she disappeared or whether what ultimately led to her demise happened within that house," he said.

D/Supt Malyn called on anyone who thinks they can assist the review team with information to get in touch.

"It is never too late for people to come forward with information now, that for whatever reason they were unable to share with us in the past," he said.

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Letter Bomb Sent To NI Secretary Villiers

A letter bomb addressed to Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has been found at Stormont Castle, prompting an evacuation.

The building in Belfast, which is used by First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, was evacuated and an army bomb disposal unit sent to the scene.

During the alert, Mr Robinson and dozens of staff were moved to Parliament buildings in Stormont, the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Because the Assembly is in recess, Mr McGuinness was not in Stormont Castle at the time.

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HS2 Alternative 'Will Cause Years Of Gridlock'

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

Railway services between the north and south of England will be crippled by 14 years of weekend closures if HS2 is abandoned for an alternative, ministers will claim this week.

The warning will be part of a Coalition "business case" for the high-speed rail link published on Tuesday in a bid to fight off critics of the increasingly controversial project.

It will paint a picture of chaos for commuters if other investments are chosen instead of HS2.

The closest alternative would require 2,770 weekend closures - equivalent to 144,000 hours - on the East Coast Mainline, Midland Mainline and West Coast Mainline, the report will say.

That will increase a typical journey from London to Leeds by two hours and 10 minutes to more than four-and-a-half hours overall.

Map of the HS2 route

The Government has drawn the evidence from a study by Network Rail and transport consultant Atkins. It also finds that houses and businesses would have to be demolished.

A Government source said: "We need to do something because our railways are nearly full but the alternative to HS2 is a patch and mend job that would cause 14 years of gridlock, hellish journeys and rail replacement buses.

"The three main routes to the north would be crippled and the economy would be damaged."

The strong language is a response to heavy criticism of HS2 - including from the Labour Party which is no longer promising to support the project.

The party wants to introduce a "cancellation trigger" to the legislation, forcing the Government to reveal if total costs rise about £50bn. Ministers may support the amendment.

Labour's role is seen as key after David Cameron admitted that "multi-year, multi-parliament infrastructure projects … can't go ahead without all-party support".

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Hunt: NHS At Risk Of BBC-Style Excessive Pay

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

The NHS is in danger of developing a BBC-style "culture of excessive pay and pay-offs", the Health Secretary has warned.

In a letter to health chiefs, Jeremy Hunt says the time has come for a "collective reality check" on pay.

Public trust will be damaged if NHS bosses see lucrative wage increases while frontline staff face a salary freeze, he warns.

Mr Hunt is planning a cap on the number of managers earning more than £100,000 and stricter redundancy rules.

"It is vital that we stay in tune with the public mood at a time when there is unprecedented pressure on the pay of frontline staff," he writes in the letter, which was sent to the heads of health quangos this weekend.

It follows revelations that 48 senior figures in the NHS organisations earn more than the Prime Minister.

Sir David Nicholson, the chief executive of NHS England who will step down next March, has been criticised over his £211,000 salary.

His successor, Simon Stevens, is taking a lower wage of £189,000 - a decision praised by the Health Secretary.

In the letter, he adds: "I believe that it is time for a collective reality check; we must not develop a culture where very high pay is normalised.

"I do not want the NHS to make the same mistakes as the BBC, where a culture of excessive pay and pay-offs was tolerated for too long and damaged public confidence in one of our great national institutions."

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Cancer Patients Denied Wish To Die At Home

Around 36,000 cancer patients in England are being denied their wish to die at home, new figures from Macmillan Cancer Support show.

This is the equivalent of almost three-quarters of all cancer sufferers, says the charity which is calling on the Government to make social care free for everyone in their final weeks.

The 2012 National Bereavement Survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed relatives and carers of cancer patients who died thought care in hospitals was often below the care received at home.

Some 63% of those whose loved one died at home rated the overall quality of care received as excellent or outstanding, compared to only 37% of those whose loved one died in hospital.

And 41% of people with terminal cancer were not always treated with dignity and respect by hospital doctors, the survey found.

Macmillan said too many people are still spending their last hours and days on hospital wards, two years after the Palliative Care Funding Review (PCFR) recommended free social care for those at the end of their life.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "As the Government makes up its mind about whether to fund and implement free social care at the end of life, thousands of people with terminal cancer are being left to die in hospital beds against their wishes.

"This is putting an unnecessary strain on our A&E departments because people are not getting access to social care for themselves or for their carers which would enable them to be cared for in the comfort of their own home.

"It's simply not good enough to pay lip service to this issue - we need to see action. If the Government wants the NHS to deliver world-class care at the end of life in the UK, it needs to start by giving people a real choice about where they die."

Lacey Phillips, 31, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, whose father died of head and neck cancer in 2012, agrees.

She said: "Nobody explicitly told my dad he was at the end of his life or explained what might be available in terms of support.

"We would have liked to have been given more options on his care - what they could do, what he was entitled to or what potential costs might be involved. We would all have preferred him to die either at home or in a hospice, where he would have felt more comfortable."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We are committed to improving and increasing the choice available for patients at the end of their life so they can choose where to spend their last days.

"As part of our work to improve end of life care, the current system for funding palliative care is being reviewed, with the intention to introduce a new system in 2015/16."

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Storm: Two People Killed By Falling Trees

Two people have been killed by falling trees in the severe storm which has been battering southern England.

A 17-year-old girl died after a tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent.

Paramedics and firefighters attended the scene in Hever, Edenbridge, but were unable to save the teenager.

The caravan in which a girl was killed after a tree fell on it in the storm

A man in his 50s was killed after a tree fell on his car in Lower High Street, Watford, in the early hours of this morning.

A 14-year-old boy, named locally as Dylan Alkins, is also feared dead after being swept out to sea on Sunday in Newhaven, East Sussex.

Around 270,000 homes suffered power cuts as hurricane-speed winds of up to 100mph swept across the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England.

The Dungeness nuclear power station in Kent automatically shut down both reactors after power to the site was cut off.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, according to the Met Office, while the Environment Agency said some 16 flood warnings and 134 flood alerts were in place.

Winds topped 80mph along southern coastal areas and became turbulent inland reaching 81mph in Portland, Dorset, 75mph in Yeovilton in Somerset and 79mph at Andrewsfield in Essex.

One tree devastated three houses and damaged two others when it fell on a gas main and led to an explosion in Hounslow, west London.

Three people escaped from the properties before firefighters arrived, and an elderly woman was taken to hospital.

People climb over a fallen tree in Shepherd's Hill, north London

Crews rescued a dog from one of the homes and some 12 people were evacuated from neighbouring premises as a precaution following the blast.

Fierce winds overturned a double-decker into a field in Coram Street, Hadleigh in Suffolk, injuring the driver and several passengers.

The driver, a man in his 40s, was initially trapped and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

A police spokesman said: "He was suffering from neck pain, had taken a bash to his head and was in and out of consciousness.

A tree crashes through several homes in Hounslow Pic: London Fire Brigade

Whitehall was closed in both directions in Westminster, London, after a crane collapsed onto the Cabinet Office which was evacuated.

A helter-skelter at Clacton Pier in Essex was blown over by the storm, but did not fall into the sea.

Rush-hour commuters suffered chaos on the roads and train network, with falling trees and debris blocking roads and covering railway tracks.

Network Rail said: "Trains will not be allowed to run until the worst of the storm has passed and engineers have been able to check railway lines in daylight for fallen trees, branches or any other debris which may have blown onto or damaged the infrastructure."

A bus carrying passengers is blown over onto its side in Hadleigh, Suffolk

Several London Underground and train services were suspended, the port of Dover in Kent temporarily shut after gusts of 65 knots were recorded in the area, and more than 130 flights at Heathrow Airport were cancelled because of the weather.

The Environment Agency said there were 12 flood warnings in place across the South West, the Midlands and the East of England. There were also 132 flood alerts telling people to be prepared for flooding.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks with Government departments and agencies at the weekend to ensure they were prepared for the impact of the storm, said the loss of life as a result of St Jude's storm was "hugely regrettable".

Scaffolding has been blown down in Francis Road, Leyton Pic: Mark Davies

He said the Government was working to make sure that the emergency services were able to do as much as possible to provide assistance.

Mr Cameron said: "Any injury or loss of life is hugely regrettable. We have to make sure the emergency services can act as fast as they can to help people."

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said: "The worst is just about over. The storm is clearing out into the North Sea, but it is currently bringing 70 to 80mph gusts to East Anglia and Kent. These winds should slowly subside in the next hour."

Some 50mm of rainfall in 12 hours was recorded in Otterbourne in Hampshire and about 44mm in Cardiff.

A tree crashes onto a London bus Pic: @Casawa2011

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Storm Causes Major Headache For Commuters

Rail passengers left stranded by hurricane-strength winds have criticised train companies, claiming they were not kept fully informed.

Hundreds of services were cancelled as a severe storm battered the South and the South East, felling more than 200 trees.

The strong winds also caused damage to overhead power lines, with parts of the rail network so badly affected that several operators, including East Coast, Virgin and East Midlands, urged customers heading to or from London not to travel at all on Monday.

Passengers at London Waterloo were going nowhere fast

Graham Collins, who was among those trying to get from Guildford, Surrey, to the capital, told Sky News: "It's disappointing. The problem is that you're drip fed information. It's just frustrating. I don't know what's going on, so I'm probably going to quit and go home now."

A mother who was attempting to travel to north Wales with her son for a half term walking holiday added: "It would have been better if there was more accurate information on the internet.

"The people at the station are doing the best they can but I overheard one of them saying the information on their websites is inaccurate anyway."

A tree on the tracks at Keymer, West Sussex. Pic: Network Rail/Twitter

Many train companies announced cancellations or suspensions to services as early as Sunday, as the storm, dubbed St Jude, raced across the Atlantic.

However, asked whether they had overreacted to the risk posed by the storm, Prime Minister David Cameron said:  "Everyone has to act on the basis of the evidence that they are given.

"Afterwards we'll be able to look back and see whether people made the right decisions but right now what matters is listening to the evidence, working together and getting things back to normal."

Some vehicles overturned in the storm, including this bus in Suffolk

The strong winds and heavy rain also caused disruption on the roads, with a number of major routes affected.

Both Severn estuary crossings were closed, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing in Kent.

A lorry overturned on the M11 in Essex, while the A2 was shut in west Kent because of the number of fallen trees.

The clean up begins in London. Pic: madebymartha/madebymartha/Twitter

Countless local roads were also closed, as emergency services and council crews battled to remove fallen trees and other debris.

At Heathrow airport, about 130 flights were cancelled, although Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service".

Rough seas whipped up by the strong winds also caused cancellations to ferry services, including English Channel, Irish Sea and Penzance-Isles of Scilly crossings.

Brittany Ferries also cancelled services between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

Among the transport operators which continue to experience disruption are:

Trains

:: Southern Railway is reporting that a small number of large trees are still blocking lines on its network. The Brighton mainline has been cleared of trees and Gatwick Express services have resumed.

:: Most South West Trains routes do not have a service operating. The company said a "significantly reduced timetable" would operate for the remainder of the day while dozens of trees are removed. Its trains can run at a maximum speed of 50mph.

:: Southeastern Railway is running a high speed service between Ashford and St Pancras International but warned passengers the service would be "very busy". Many of its metro and mainline routes remain blocked.

:: East Coast Trains said customers are advised not to travel today. It has no service south of Peterborough, with no trains running in or out of London King's Cross. There is "no firm indication" about when services will be resumed.

:: East Midlands Trains advised customers travelling to or from London not to attempt their journeys. It has suspended services between Bedford and London St Pancras for the rest of the day because of fallen trees.

:: Virgin Trains has urged customers not to travel "unless absolutely necessary" on services to and from London using the West Coast Main Line. Services to and from London Euston are subject to delays and cancellations.

:: Greater Anglia Trains has suspended services on most routes, with customers advised not to travel for the rest of the day.

:: First Capital Connect advised passengers not to travel, warning that some lines may remain closed all day.

:: C2C said all services are suspended between Shoeburyness and London Fenchurch Street.

:: London Overground services have been part suspended, although trains are running between Highbury and Islington and New Cross/New Cross Gate.

:: London Underground trains continue to experience minor delays due to part suspensions on the District, Northern and Piccadilly lines.

Planes

:: Heathrow airport cancelled about 130 flights, with passengers advised to contact their airline before travelling.

:: Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service", while Stansted, Luton and Bristol airports have not yet announced any cancellations.

Ferries

:: Brittany Ferries has announced cancellations between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

:: The Port of Dover has reopened after a temporary closure, although passengers are urged to contact their ferry operator before travelling.

:: Ferries have been cancelled between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.

Roads

:: The Highways Agency issued a severe weather alert for high-sided vehicles, caravans, motorbikes and other vulnerable vehicles.

:: Both crossings over the Severn estuary were closed but have since reopened.

:: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the southbound Dartford Crossing, has reopened after an earlier closure.

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Energy Poll: Majority Oppose Green Levies

A large majority of consumers oppose green levies on household energy bills and support the Prime Minister's plans to "roll them back", according to a new poll.

The survey found that 60% said they are against the green taxes which add an average £112 to annual bills, compared to 18% who supported them.

Some 61% said they would support the repeal of some of the levies, against 11% who would not.

Of the 1,000 people questioned, 40% prefer David Cameron's approach to the issue, 33% support Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is promising a price freeze and 7% back Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who has indicated he will fight to protect the green taxes.

Some 35% said Mr Miliband's plan for a 20-month freeze on prices following the 2015 general election would help keep the cost of bills down, but 54% said that energy companies would get round it by raising prices before or after the freeze period.

Four of the Big Six energy firms have raised their prices so far

The Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday revealed almost three-quarters (72%) believe energy prices will affect the way they vote in the general election.

It found more people blame the energy companies (59%) than either the current government (15%) or the previous Labour administration (15%) for the spiralling cost of gas and electricity.

The survey came as energy minister Greg Barker promised to "come down like a ton of bricks" on energy firms which are stockpiling cash from customers' direct debits.

Unless customers ask for the money back, energy companies are able to hold on to sums from monthly payments in excess of the amount owed for power used, and are able to earn interest on the money while it is sitting in their accounts.

Industry observers believe the total held could be as high as £2bn.

The Big Six suppliers are being summoned to talks with ministers about the issue, and Whitehall sources told the Mail on Sunday they could face fines or be encouraged to pay customers interest on the money.

Mr Barker told the paper: "Customers will rightly feel outraged that they signed up to direct debit payments for cheap tariffs but instead find their cash stockpiled.

"We need to stamp this out now and energy firms must come clean on how much cash they are sitting on. If we find serious abuse, rest assured we will come down on them like a ton of bricks."

An Npower spokesman said the company automatically refunds customers with over £60 credit.

A Scottish Power spokesman said it pays a customer £1 for every full multiple of £33 above a minimum credit value of £100 - to the maximum payout of £12 for a credit balance of £496.

An SSE spokesman said if customers are more than £100 in credit, they are automatically refunded the credit back to their bank account.

A British Gas spokesman said: "The amount of time customers are in debit far outweighs the amount of time customers are in credit."

And an EDF spokesman said: "Monthly direct debits are the cheapest way for people to pay their bills."

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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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William: England Team Can Inspire The Nation

The Duke of Cambridge says the England football team could inspire the nation as British Olympians and Paralympians did at London 2012.

Speaking at the Football Association's 150th anniversary gala, Prince William, who is the FA president, said: "Our national players are role models for millions of young people and I think we need to give those highly pressured and driven players the support and training they need to live up to their rightly exalted status.

"We were as a nation so proud of our Team GB athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics, for their success on the field but also for the way they conducted themselves in interviews and with their competitors.

"It is perfectly possible to say the same about our national teams - they are good people, ambitious for success and to a man and woman aware of their status as role models."

Dozens of dignitaries including FIFA boss Sepp Blatter attended the gala

The gala event was staged at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, the site where the founding fathers of English football met in 1863.

As well as congratulating Roy Hodgson's England on reaching next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil, William also praised FA chairman Greg Dyke's commission to look into improving the fortunes of the national side.

"I am glad to see that, under the new chairman and commission, there is renewed vigour to improve the competitive quality of our national game, for all our sakes.

"But I would also encourage us to make sure we retain sportsmanship at the heart of this energetic drive for success.

"Regrettably, Her Majesty's reign includes only one time that England won the World Cup, but I know that Greg and Roy are trying to make up for lost time now."

The Prince is president of the FA

William said he was "heartened" to see how seriously the FA and other organisations are trying to stamp out racism and discrimination in the game, but said there is "sadly more work to do".

His comments came after Manchester City's Yaya Toure complained of fans making monkey noises during his team's midweek Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow in Russia.

England manager Roy Hodgson hailed William as a "tremendous supporter" of the national side when he took his turn to speak at the gala dinner on Saturday evening.

Hodgson revealed the second in the line to the throne also offered his congratulations after England qualified for the World Cup next summer, but steered clear of predicting any success in Brazil.

"We obviously spoke about the qualification. The Prince has been a tremendous supporter all the way through and has been up at St George's Park (the National Football Centre) to meet us, and I have thanked him for that once again this evening.

"He sent me a letter to congratulate us on the qualification and has also just given his congratulations once again and praised us on achieving the goal we set out to reach: Brazil."

Prince George with his proud parents

William's speech came as Buckingham Palace released a new portrait of Prince George with his parents following his christening at Clarence House.

The photo shows George smiling at his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, with William by her side.

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Boots Sells Sperm Count DIY Fertility Kit

A DIY male fertility test has gone on sale in Britain, allowing men to carry out sperm count checks at home for the first time.

The SpermCheck fertility kit went on sale in Boots stores across the UK this weekend.

The kit takes 10 minutes to test if a man has a normal or below normal sperm count.

The US-designed kit - which looks similar to a home pregnancy test - is able to determine with 98% accuracy whether a man has a low sperm count or not.

However, the test is unable to determine the health of the sperm.

Around one in six couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving a child.

Up to a fifth of young men suffer from a low sperm count, defined as having fewer than 20 million sperm per millilitre of semen.

A low sperm count or poor sperm quality is the cause of infertility in about 20% of couples in the UK, and is a contributory factor in a further 25% of couples.

SpermCheck chief executive Ray Lopez told the Mail on Sunday: "With this test we can truly help couples suffering from infertility.

"A lot of the time, the woman is the one who is burdened with finding out what is wrong, but the reality of the situation is that in 40% to 60% of cases, male factor infertility is to blame."

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Storm: Britain Braced For Hurricane-Speed Winds

An amber weather warning has been issued across large parts of England and Wales as a hurricane-strength storm builds over the Atlantic and moves towards Britain.

Meteorologists have warned the fierce winds of up to 80mph and torrential rain  - which will first strike the south-west of England  - could leave a trail of destruction as the storm sweeps north-east across the country, damaging buildings 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.

Storm clouds gathering over Brighton earlier Pic: Phil Beaven ‏@beevr001

Prime Minister David Cameron said he had chaired a call with Government departments and agencies to hear about their plans to "ensure people are protected from tonight's storm".

He was updated on preparations and contingency planning for transport, schools. hospitals, councils and power supplies.

Mr Cameron was told that the storm could have "a widespread impact", but that transport providers, local Government, emergency services and power companies had plans in place to respond.

The much-anticipated storm - which the Met Office has said will affect Britain on Sunday night and Monday morning - has been named St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is tomorrow.

Some have compared its potential to the Great Storm of 1987.

Rough seas at Porthleven, Cornwall

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.

This time he has warned people to "batten down the hatches" and to delay their journey by two or three hours on Monday morning.

He told Sky News' Murnaghan show: "There is certainly a severe storm on the way - and we certainly do need to worry about it.

"If you draw a line from about Aberystwyth to the Humber - everywhere south of there looks like getting affected by strong winds, to the north of that the problem is going to be heavy rain and localised flooding.

"These strong winds aren't going to last all that long, but they are going to be unfortunately getting up around about rush hour time, so the message we're trying to convey at the moment is to delay your journey just by two or three hours in the morning, and then you should be safe."

The storm will intensify very quickly when it reaches the UK

Insurance companies have advised households to take steps to protect themselves and their property.

People should also establish evacuation plans, place valuable items upstairs to limit flood damage and ensure gutters are clear so water can drain away.

The Environment Agency says 20-40mm of rain could fall within six to nine hours.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts, and are closely monitoring water levels so they are ready to issue flood warnings if necessary.

A spokesman said: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle."

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

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

A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", has been issued for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Ferry services between Plymouth and Roscof, as well as Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, have been cancelled.

Brittany Ferries, which runs the Plymouth-Roscoff route, said on its website: "We are in the process of contacting all passengers booked on these sailings. We apologise for the inconvenience the cancellation of these services will cause."

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday.

"So Monday morning's rush hour looks like being chaotic with travel and power interruptions anticipated.

"The public are advised to take the greatest care - and to carry a fully charged mobile if travel is necessary.

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

It has been compared to the Great Storm of 1987

"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."

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 is expected to intensify near to the mainland before it hits the south-west coast with full force, with a strong jetstream and warm air close to the UK contributing to its development and strength.

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."

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

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