Sir Bruce Forsyth: I'm Living On Borrowed Time

Television presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth has said he believes he is living "on borrowed time" but has no plans to retire yet.

The 85-year-old said the relentless schedule of hosting Strictly Come Dancing "can drag you down" and hinted that this year might be his last on the show.

Sir Bruce, who first appeared on Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1958, said he has a number of projects lined up for next year, but did not mention Strictly as one of them.

"I've got three one-man show dates fixed for next year and I'm doing another thing for TV in April that I can't talk about yet," he told The Sun.

"So if I was to leave Strictly Come Dancing, I wouldn't retire. That's the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. While I'm able to walk and play golf I'll still work."

The entertainer plays golf to stay fit and healthy

Sir Bruce admitted the punishing schedule for Strictly was difficult, despite him having a break during the run, saying: "The constant week-after-week can drag you down, especially when you are getting older."

And he was pragmatic about the inevitability of his own mortality.

"I know I'm on borrowed time. There's no getting away from it. When I look at all my friends that have gone - Eric Sykes, Frankie Howerd, Sammy Davis Jr - I know I'm on borrowed time.

"How I'm still here I just don't know. I don't know how, why or wherefore. But I'm not really questioning it that much. The day will come and it could be tomorrow, who knows?

"It's no good saying it's never going to come. You've got to be able to accept it. So I'm conditioning myself so it's not going to be a big surprise. It will just be, 'Ok, time to go'.

Sir Bruce and his wife Wilnelia Merced

"When the time is up I'll be ready for it. I probably won't be very happy about it. But I'll know it's time to go."

The veteran star also explained how he still has ambitions for his career.

"The other thing I'd like to do is a small part or cameo in a wonderful film like Harry Potter. I would be a terrible old man. Scrooge maybe...," he said.

"The trouble with Britain is they tend to cubbyhole you. To most people in this business, I'm a game show host. I can go to Glastonbury and prove all that wrong but people still think of me as the guy from The Price Is Right and The Generation Game.

"In America it's completely different. You can present a game show and have a part in Law And Order or a film."

Sir Bruce also took a gentle swipe at Strictly's main Saturday night TV rival, The X Factor, calling it "boring" and suggesting it may have run its course.

"(Simon Cowell) may wave a magic wand and make The X Factor a completely different show," he said.

"But I don't know how you can revamp a show which is a singer, followed by judges, followed by a singer, followed by a singer, followed by judges, followed by a singer, maybe a guest star, followed by another singer.

"And after two hours, what happens? Another singer. He has done marvels in the past, but I think the end has got to come. I just think people have stopped watching it. It's the kind of show that can get boring. For those kind of shows, the days are numbered."

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'Bed Blocking' Delays Reach Three-Year High

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Reporter

The number of days being lost while patients wait to be discharged from hospital is at the highest level in three years, according to latest figures.

Statistics published by NHS England show that in October some 78,424 hospital bed days were lost because of a delay in discharging patients - a rise of nearly 8,000 compared to last year.

'Bed blocking' happens when people are delayed from leaving hospital because the follow-up care they need is not available.

Government cuts were blamed as one reason for the delays

NHS England has acknowledged the problem in a statement which said: "We are very aware of the pressures on hospitals when patients cannot be discharged when appropriate.

"Across the country we have urgent care working groups set up so the whole health and social care system is pulling together to tackle these important issues.

"The extra £150m that we have just released will help. We need to get every penny we can working hard for patients."

In October, 690 NHS patients had to stay longer in hospital while they waited for the next stage of non-emergency care. Government cuts to councils which provide community and elderly care are highlighted as one of the reasons for the delays.

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association told Sky News: "Unless local government finance is put on a sustainable footing, social care will remain substantially underfunded and services will suffer as a result.

"Helping the old and vulnerable to maintain their independence and dignity is a vitally important job and councils have worked very hard to protect social-care services from the full impact of cuts.

"However, the shortage of funding is being exacerbated by increasing demand and councils need an extra £400m each year just to maintain services at current levels.

"It is not possible to substantially raise the standard of care and access to services on a nationwide basis until more money is put into the system."

In response to the new figures a spokesperson from the Department of Health said: "In an average week NHS hospitals admit a quarter of a million patients. In that context the number of delays is very low.

"But no patients should experience unnecessary delays. We know hospitals need to join up better with social care and community services and are investing £3.8 billion in making this happen."

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Grieve Warns Of 'Ethnic Corruption' In UK

Politicians need to "wake up" to the problem of corruption in ethnic minority communities, the Government's senior law officer has warned.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve said he was referring "mainly to the Pakistani community" in his comments.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the Tory MP pointed out that it could also be found in the "white Anglo-Saxon" community but he said it was a growing problem "because we have minority communities in this country which come from backgrounds where corruption is endemic".

"It is something as politicians we have to wake up to," he added.

The MP for Beaconsfield said: "I can see many of them have come because of the opportunities that they get. But they also come from societies where they have been brought up to believe you can only get certain things through a favour culture.

"One of the things you have to make absolutely clear is that that is not the case and it's not acceptable."

Asked if he was referring to the Pakistani community in his remarks, Mr Grieve told the newspaper: "Yes, it's mainly the Pakistani community, not the Indian community. I wouldn't draw it down to one. I'd be wary of saying it's just a Pakistani problem."

Baroness Warsi said electoral fraud also affects the Asian community

Mr Grieve highlighted electoral fraud as an area of concern, echoing comments made in 2010 by senior Tory Baroness Warsi.

Lady Warsi told the New Statesman magazine there were "at least three seats where we lost, where we didn't gain the seat, based on electoral fraud" and said the problems were "predominantly within the Asian community".

Labour MP Khalid Mahmood told Sky News that Mr Grieve was political point scoring. "What's his statistical evidence?" he said.

"He's the Attorney General, he's the law officer, what more prosecutions had he made since 2008 and what does it come up now? 

"Is it because it's coming up to the general election and is it because the Tory part want another immigration issue or community-based issue race issue they want to move on and I feel this is what he's doing in pushing that."

The Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley, John Hemming, told Sky News that corruption should be dealt with generally rather that on ethnic grounds.

John Hemming MP and Khalid Mahmood MP both questioned Mr Grieve's comments

"It shouldn't be made as an issue for one particular ethnic community we should deal with corruption more generally," he said.

"I worry about the complacency in this country about white Anglo-Saxon Protestant corruption because I see situations on a day-to-day basis where things are going very seriously wrong.

"You see things deteriorating and that shouldn't be made into an ethnic thing, it should be focused on as something we should deal with and have the right checks and balances on."

Mr Grieve also said that the UK's infrastructure could be put under strain if significant numbers of Bulgarians and Romanians come to the UK when controls expire in January.

He acknowledged that "the volume of immigrants may pose serious infrastructure issues".

Later in a statement, Mr Grieve said: "I am very clear that integration between ethnic communities in the UK has worked well and has delivered great benefits for all of us.

"This is a point I clearly made in my interview with the Telegraph, and I'm disappointed that this has not been reflected in their front page story.

"The point I was making is that, as a law officer, it's my duty to ensure the rule of law is upheld, and one of the issues that I feel requires close attention is any potential for a rise in corruption to undermine civil society.

"I believe this is an issue which needs to be addressed calmly and rationally.

"I am absolutely clear that this problem is not attributable to any one community, as I know very well from my many years promoting community cohesion."

Sky News political reporter Darren McCaffrey said Mr Grieve's comments are likely "to prove controversial".

"We have to remember he is an elected politician and he is also the Government's top lawyer, he is someone that we don't usually hear from a lot and this is why his intervention is unusual," he added.

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Man Sought After Schoolgirl 'Touched' On Bus

Police have released CCTV pictures of a man who sat next to a 12-year-old schoolgirl on a bus and allegedly put his hand on her knee.

The youngster, who is said to have been left shaken and upset by the incident, got on the bus in St Mary's Row, Moseley, Birmingham, and sat near the back.

The suspect boarded at the same time and sat next to her and allegedly asked for her mobile phone number before touching her. He then left the bus near Springfield school.

The girl, who was dressed in her school uniform, immediately told her mother when she arrived home. The incident happened on the afternoon of October 9 but the images have just been released.

The man left the bus at Grove Road School, Sparkhill (pic: Google)

Detective Constable Natalie Adkins, from the West Midland's Police public protection unit, said: "The girl was shaken by the incident and did the right thing by telling her mum, who then contacted the police."

She added: "We've scoured hours of CCTV footage in the area to track the man's movements as well as conducting a number of police checks.

"I would ask anyone who can name the man in the CCTV to call me. I would also urge the man himself to contact me - this is his chance to explain what happened and why."

The man is described as Asian, in his 20s, about 5ft 7ins, with short black hair and short trimmed facial hair. He was wearing a black jacket and cream-coloured jeans.

Anyone with information is urged to call DC Adkins at Castle Vale police station on 101. Crimestoppers can be reached anonymously on 0800 555 11.

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Toddler Murder: Teenager Charged Over Death

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a two-year-old girl.

Dean Harris, from Yaxley in Cambridgeshire, spoke only to confirm his age and date of birth during the short hearing at Peterborough Magistrates' Court.

The toddler, who has been named as Amina Agboola, was taken to Peterborough City Hospital by Harris and the child's mother at 11am on Thursday.

She had serious injuries and died just before 1pm.

The girl's 28-year-old mother, who is believed to be Harris's partner, was arrested but has been released on police bail.

Harris, who stood in the dock wearing a dark navy t-shirt and trousers, will appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday.

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Jail Terms For Celtic Fans After Police Clashes

Five Celtic fans have been given jail terms following violence in Amsterdam before the club's Champions League match against Ajax, it has been reported.

A sixth fan was acquitted when the group appeared at Amsterdam District Court.

Two were sentenced to two months, two to six weeks and the other to one month, according to lawyer Kerem Canatan who tweeted from the hearing. 

He said they all had two weeks to appeal.

The men were arrested after clashes between supporters and police ahead of the Ajax game on November 6.

They were accused of acts of violence in a public space - charges they reportedly denied.

Dutch police said 28 Scots were among 44 people arrested following the violence, in which eight police officers were injured.

One officer was knocked unconscious in the fighting in Dam Square while others suffered broken noses.

Mr Canatan tweeted that the judge awarded damages of €250 (£209) to three police officers and €500 (£418) to another.

Twenty-two of the Scots were released with some paying fines of up to €500, Dutch police said.

After the disorder, Celtic responded to claims from fans that they were poorly treated by opening an internal investigation.

The Glasgow-based club said it would be liaising with various authorities in Amsterdam and the UK to get a full picture of what happened.

A club statement issued at the time said there was "no excuse for any form of violent conduct".

But it added: "There is no question that Celtic supporters have been subjected to a high degree of provocation."

Celtic lost the match 1-0. 

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Arrests After Toddler Dies In Peterborough

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a toddler after she was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Cambridgeshire Police are investigating the death of the girl, aged around two, at Peterborough City Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

A 28-year-old woman, believed to be the girl's mother, and her 19-year-old boyfriend have been arrested and are being held in custody in the city.

"The child had been taken to hospital at 11am with serious injuries but died shortly before 1pm," a police spokesman said.

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

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Beckham Clothes On Sale At London Charity Shop

Victoria and David Beckham are selling their unwanted and almost new clothes at a Red Cross charity shop in London in aid of victims of the Typhoon Haiyan.

The shop, at 69-71 Old Church Street in Chelsea, specialises in designer labels donated to the British Red Cross and is extending its opening hours from 11am until 8pm.

The Beckham collection includes shoes by Jimmy Choo and suits by Dolce and Gabbana (D&G) alongside tops, suits, trainers and dresses from the Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer and her footballer husband.

The celebrity couple has urged others to help support victims of the typhoon.

"David and I are supporting the Red Cross Shop Drop for the Philippines campaign and we urge everyone in Britain to do the same," Victoria said.

"Everyone has something in their closet they were holding onto, a dress, suit, or pair of shoes they thought they might wear again. Dig them out, bag them up, drop them off and give someone else the chance to buy them, raising much needed funds for the Red Cross aid effort. "

Victoria's shoes piled up. Pic: Twitter

David and Victoria's D&G suits are on sale for £600 and £800 respectively, and more if they turn out to be especially rare items.

The clothes are being displayed alongside the shop's other stock, with labels marking them as gifts from the Beckhams.

Mark Astarita, director of fundraising for the British Red Cross, said: "We are delighted to have Victoria and David's support for the British Red Cross Shop Drop for Philippines.

"Their generous donation will enable us to raise significant funds towards the enormous humanitarian operation currently under way."

Victoria Beckham earlier tweeted pictures of preparations for the clear out, including dozens and dozens of pairs of shoes.

There is one drawback for those in search of a bargain - the "almost new clothes" owned by Mrs Beckham might be too small for most people to wear, a shop assistant warned.

Philippine officials say the death toll from the typhoon has now passed 5,000.

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Arctic Oil Protest Brits Freed In Russia

Five of the Britons arrested by Russian authorities during a Greenpeace protest against Arctic oil drilling have been released from detention in St Petersburg.

Activists Iain Rogers, Frank Hewetson, Alexandra Harris and Anthony Perrett, and journalist Kieron Bryan are the first of six Britons to be freed on bail. Three Russian nationals were freed on Monday.

Thirty people, including the six Britons aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, were detained after the protest in September.

Anthony Perrett following his release Frank Hewetson

The sixth Briton, Philip Ball, has been granted bail, but has yet to be freed.

Speaking after his release, Mr Bryan told Sky News it felt "very, very good" to be free.

"It's good to be outside and see the sky for the first time for a while," he said.

"To everyone who's supported me and the rest of the group: Keep fighting, we're not free yet, this is first step. It's a glimmer of justice, but it's not finished."

He said being imprisoned had been "tough" and that he was looking forward to "a long shower", "never doing another Sudoku puzzle again" and "an improved diet".

Mr Rogers told Sky News: "It's lovely (to be out). It's been pretty traumatic, but it's good for the campaign.

"I think Gazprom have given us the ideal opportunity and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for publicising our campaign to stop drilling in the Arctic so much."

Iain Rogers at a previous court hearing

Speaking immediately after his release, Mr Hewetson told Sky News: "It feels very good to be out. It's been a long time, two months.

"The campaign's not over. There are many oil companies that are going to be drilling in the Arctic, not only in Russia. In Greenland, America and Canada. The fight continues."

Asked if he would do it again, he said: "That depends."

All 30 of the accused were initially charged with piracy but are now accused of hooliganism, which carries a shorter maximum jail term of seven years.

Ms Harris revealed she was kept in a cell on her own after being taken to a prison in Murmansk.

"For the first week it was really harsh. It was nerve-wracking," she said immediately after being released.

Alexandra Harris after learning her bail application had been successful

"I was in a cell on my own. You do get used to it, but it was tough."

Greenpeace on Thursday unveiled giant portraits of those arrested - the "Arctic 30" - outside the London offices of oil giant Shell.

The protest group said it was drawing attention to Shell and its Russian partner Gazprom's planned joint venture to drill for oil in the Arctic.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: "Shell and Gazprom are not equipped to drill in the Arctic without causing catastrophic damage to the unique ecosystem.

"But what makes their Arctic plans so blindly stupid is that they're only able to drill there because of the huge loss of Arctic sea ice from climate change."

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Police: No More Suspects In 'Slavery' Case

Police investigating alleged slavery and domestic servitude at a house in London are not looking for any more suspects or victims.

Officers arrested two people after three women aged between 30 and 69 were rescued from a house in Lambeth, south London, following a probe sparked by a Sky News report.

More follows...

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Northern Ireland Bus Bomb Blamed On Dissidents

A bomb planted on a bus in Northern Ireland which police say was capable of causing death or serious injury has been blamed on dissident republicans.

A masked man boarded the vehicle and ordered the driver to take the viable explosive device to the main police station in Derry-Londonderry.

The alert began at about 6.15pm on Wednesday in the Ballymagroarty area.

The bomb, which was concealed inside a holdall and had a two-hour timer, was placed directly behind the driver's seat.

Up to 10 passengers on board at the time were ordered off.

The city's police chief, Superintendent Stephen Cargin, said: "This was a reckless attack on the community.

"To be prepared to put a bomb on a public bus, to put the lives of the driver and the passengers at risk and in the knowledge that it had to be driven through a built-up area is totally mindless."

The would-be bomber was dressed in a black jacket and used a black scarf and hood to hide his identity. Supt Cargin said he claimed to have been from the IRA.

"We believe this was one of the dissident groups," he said.

The female driver was able to abandon the bus in a place of safety in the Northlands area and raise the alarm. She has been left extremely distressed by the ordeal.

Supt Cargin said she should be praised for her bravery.

In the past, dissident extremists opposed to the peace process have forced taxi drivers to transport bombs, but it is understood this is the first time a public transport worker has been targeted.

Ciaran Rogan, from Translink which operates the network, insisted services would not be affected.

Stormont transport minister Danny Kennedy condemned those responsible.

He said: "Attacks on public transport impact the entire community who depend on buses and trains to get to work, school, hospital and go about their daily business."

About 70 families from 40 houses were evacuated while Army bomb disposal teams worked to make the device safe.

The alert ended at about 3.30am on Thursday, when residents were allowed to return home.

Supt Cargin said: "So many people had to be evacuated and were put a serious inconvenience for over nine hours.

"You have to question what these people were trying to achieve."

Strand Road PSNI station has been the target of a number of bomb attempts, including thwarted mortar attacks in March and October.

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Daniel Radcliffe Warns Social Media Celebrities

By Richard Suchet, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent

Celebrities who tell fans what they are doing "moment to moment" on social media sites cannot expect to have a private life, according to Daniel Radcliffe.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the Harry Potter star said he tries to avoid the limelight.

"There's certain things you can do to make it a lot easier on yourself," the 24-year-old said. 

"If you don't, for instance, go to premieres that aren't for a film you're in, or don't just turn up at other events and stuff like that, then that's going to help to not fuel the interest.

"Also, I don't have Twitter and I don't have Facebook, and I think that makes things a lot easier because if you go on Twitter and tell everybody what you're doing moment to moment and then claim you want a private life, then no one is going to take that request seriously."

Radcliffe says he has a 'chip on his shoulder'

Speaking ahead of the launch of the second series of A Young Doctor's Notebook on Sky Arts 1 (Thursday, 9pm), he said that when he was younger he resented the attention that his success as a young actor had brought, but that he has no regrets.

"When I was 18 or 19 there was definitely a level of frustration around ... I did have to think where I went more than a lot of my friends and you do get a little frustrated around that age, but ultimately it's childish, petulant - oh I want that too.

"People always say to me 'Do you feel like you missed out on a childhood? Do you feel like you had your childhood taken away?' And I'm like 'No, ridiculous... kids who are abused have their childhoods taken away from them'."

However, he admitted he now has a "chip on his shoulder" that people might think he was fortunate to win the Harry Potter role and now feels he needs to prove himself again.

Radcliffe stars with Mad Men actor John Hamm in A Young Doctor's Notebook

"It's as much to myself, as to anyone else. People always say 'oh he's got a chip on his shoulder' like it's a bad thing. I think it's a perfectly good thing if you let it motivate you.

"When you fall into a position when you're 11 years old, you do tend to think that, you know, everyone, you were lucky to get there. And I was lucky to get there. And I think there's a sense that you just fell into it and that you rode the wave and carried on.

"And that's not what I'm about. I don't know how many people think like that - there may be none, there may be millions, but it doesn't matter. It fires you up."

Radcliffe, who stars in the show with Mad Men actor Jon Hamm, also reveals that despite being worth an estimated £50m, his biggest indulgence is books.

"The only time I will spend a wad of cash in one go - and this is going to sound so nerdy - is in bookshops. I've gone out of bookshops with a pile of 15 to 20 books before. It's excessive.

"I have this thing in bookshops where if I see this thing that there's a good chance I may never ever see again or sounds interesting then I have to get it.

"So that's a way of bleeding your money. The only slightly lavish thing that I do sometimes is that I might take all my friends out for a night out. And that's, like, once a year. I'm refreshingly boring."

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Russia: Brit Greenpeace Activists Granted Bail

Two more British Greenpeace activists held after the Russian oil rig protest in the Arctic have been granted bail.

Frank Hewetson, 45, and 37-year-old Iain Rogers were among 30 people arrested by Russian security forces following the action two months ago.

Three other Britons, Alex Harris, Anthony Perrett and journalist Kieron Bryan, are also due for release after winning their bail applications on Wednesday.

More than 20 of those on the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise have now been allowed bail by courts in St Petersburg.

Many view this as a sign that Russia is taking a softer line after mounting criticism over its treatment of the so-called Arctic 30.

(L to R) Ms Harris, Mr Bryan and Mr Perrett

Brazilian Ana Paula Maciels, 31, was the first to be released from custody on Wednesday after Greenpeace paid her £38,000 bail.

She was followed on Thursday morning by three Russians - activist Andrei Allakhverdov, photographer Denis Sinyakov and the ship's doctor Yekaterina Zaspa.

The 'Arctic 30' were detained in September after their vessel entered Arctic waters despite Russian warnings.

Some of the activists tried to scale an offshore drilling platform owned by the state gas giant Gazprom.

Ms Maciels after she was released from detention

The protesters were initially charged with piracy but this was changed to the less serious offence of  hooliganism, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years.

No date has yet been set by for the trials.

Greenpeace denies any wrongdoing and is demanding that all the activists -  who come from 18 different countries - and their ship are freed.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed to Russia to be lenient with the activists, saying environmentalists play a key role in society.

Protesters climb the Prirazlomnaya oil platform

"They (Russia) may have their own domestic rules and regulations but I would hope that they would have some favourable and sympathetic considerations for this case," he said.

"In this world the civil societies ... play a very important role. It is not only the government or business communities who make this world move. A very significant part is now shared by civil society, including Greenpeace."

Meanwhile, Greenpeace has unveiled giant portraits of the 'Arctic 30' as part of its campaign against drilling in the Arctic.

The black and white photographs were put up outside the London offices of oil giant Shell.

Greenpeace said it was drawing attention to Shell and Gazprom's planned oil venture in the Arctic.

Entitled Thirty Acts of Courage, the "exhibition" was officially opened by fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who said: "I'm delighted to be able to open this exhibition celebrating the bravery of the Arctic 30.

"Their audacious efforts to protect one of the world's last remaining wildernesses from exploitation by the oil industry are an example to us all."

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CCTV: 'Shears Intruder' Tasered Off Car Roof

Video has emerged of a man being Tasered after jumping on a disabled woman's car and reportedly threatening to cut off a police dog's head with garden shears.

Jamie Swann, 28, attacked Jane Green's car as it sat on her Nottingham driveway in the early hours of October 14.

CCTV shows Swann standing on the roof gesturing wildly with the shears as police try to talk him down.

Officers eventually floor Swann with an electric stun gun, sending him tumbling off the car with the shears flying out of his hand.

Ms Green, 59, said she was "petrified" by the incident, according to the Nottingham Post.

The retired medical secretary, who suffers with a chronic pain syndrome, said she thought Swann was going to break into her house.

"The man was totally unknown to me and he was shouting about guns and waving around my garden shears which he picked up," said Ms Green.

Despite her concerns, the video shows her bravely creeping past Swann to unlock her gate.

"I didn't want to be locked in with him," she said. "So I ran past him to unlock it for the police."

Swann later pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and using threatening words and behaviour to cause alarm or distress.

He was jailed for 22 months, which included 18 months for breaching a previous suspended sentence for theft and burglary.

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Tube Row As Modernisation Will Cost Jobs

Unions and Labour have attacked plans to modernise London's Tube operations, which will include a 24-hour service at weekends but result in 750 job losses.

Mayor Boris Johnson and London Underground (LU) managing director Mike Brown said their proposals would result in greater use of technology, including contactless bank card payments from next year, extended wi-fi coverage at underground stations and improved ticket machines.

From 2015, travellers would be able to take the Tube home at any hour of the night on Fridays and Saturdays on core parts of the system, initially the Piccadilly, Victoria, Central and Jubilee lines, and parts of the Northern line, they said.

The pair insisted all Tube stations would continue to be staffed and billions of pounds of investment would continue, but admitted the plans were designed to deliver savings of £50m a year as all ticket offices would close by 2015.

LU said it was committed to delivering the reduction in operational staff numbers without any compulsory redundancies.

LU argues passenger services must be fit for a modern London

Mr Johnson said: "For 150 years the Tube has been the beating heart of London, its tunnels and tracks providing the arteries that have transported millions of people and helped to drive the development and economic growth of our great city.

"Now it is time to take the Tube to the next level and so for the first time in London's history, we will provide a regular 24-hour Night Tube service at weekends.

"This will not just boost jobs and our vibrant night-time economy, it will further cement London's reputation as the best big city on the planet to in which to live, work, visit and invest."

Mr Brown insisted: "People are at the heart of this vision - our customers and staff. My commitment to London is that all Tube stations will continue to be staffed and controlled in future, with more staff visible and available to help customers buy the right ticket, plan their journey and keep them safe and secure."

Unions reacted with fury - with the leader of the TSSA rail union, Manuel Cortes, accusing Boris Johnson of being the "hypocrite of the decade".

He said the announcement would lead to the closure of all 268 Tube ticket offices by the end of next year.

The general secretary of the RMT union raised the threat of industrial action.

Bob Crow said: "No matter how this is dressed up by Boris Johnson and his officials, today's announcement is all about slashing almost £250m from the annual London transport budget and the proposed cuts will decimate staffing levels and hit the most vulnerable users of tube services the hardest.

"The mayor must believe he is some sort of magician if he thinks he can slash jobs and still run safe services when everyone knows that staffing has already been cut to the bone while passenger demand continues to rise."

Shadow London minister Sadiq Khan claimed the mayor had "ripped up his manifesto promise to the people of London".

He added: "Commuters will have nowhere to turn when their Oyster card is lost, stolen or broken.

"It will make the daily commute more difficult for everyone but, more worryingly, there are serious concerns about whether there will be enough staff at London's busy stations to respond in emergency situations.

"We support looking at the way TfL (Transport for London) staff work so that it reflects the changing needs of the modern underground system, but the mayor is using this as an excuse to cut staffing levels, which is reckless and irresponsible."

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Boy, 16, Charged With Attempted Murder

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a father was stabbed while confronting intruders at his home.

The charges relate to an alleged burglary at an address in Wellfield Avenue, Luton, in the early hours of Saturday.

Tony Abrahams, 47, was found with serious injuries by his wife and daughter.

Three men are believed to have forced their way into the victim's home at about 3am.

The boy, who was arrested in London and cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with aggravated burglary and will appear at Luton Magistrates' Court.

Detective Constable Mo Hussain, of Bedfordshire Police, said: "Although a person has been charged in relation to this incident, I would remind members of the public that this is still an ongoing investigation and we are still keen to speak with anyone who can help this inquiry."

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Church Of England Backs Women Bishops Move

The Church of England General Synod backs proposals that could see women bishops given final approval by 2014.

The Synod voted 378 in favour and 8 against with 25 abstentions.

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Birmingham Needle Attacks: More Reports Probed

Police investigating a string of needle attacks on women in Birmingham city centre have said a further six people may have been attacked.

Detectives said the reported cases, all of which happened within the last six months, could be linked to the same man seen in a CCTV image released last week.

They also appealed for a possible witness to the attacks to come forward, saying he could hold vital information.

He is seen alongside the suspect in the CCTV image, which was taken shortly after a woman felt a sharp pain - later confirmed as a puncture wound - in her thigh at around 3am on November 3.

The motive for the needle attacks remains unknown

Detective Inspector Julie Woods, of West Midlands Police, said officers had received "several calls with information" after the picture of the suspect was released.

"We have also received reports of six further attacks going back over the last six months which could possibly be linked to the same suspect," she said.

"However, we are still keen to hear from anyone who has any information about these incidents and who recognises either of the men in the CCTV images.

"These are strange offences and the motive at this stage is unclear, but we do not underestimate the anxiety and stress that the attacks can cause."

West Midlands Police had already linked the November 3 attack to others involving a 20-year-old and a 28-year-old on June 23 and October 6 respectively.

Superintendent Danny Long said patrols had been stepped up in the city centre to reassure visitors.

"This is an unusual offence which will understandably cause some concern and we are working extremely hard to find the person responsible," he said.

"We have increased the number of officers on patrol in Broad Street and around the city centre, particularly since the attack earlier this month, and are working closely with street wardens, street pastors, licensees, door staff and clubbers themselves to keep people safe."

:: Anyone who recognises either of the men in the images should contact detectives from West Midlands Police on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Four Killed In Derbyshire Village House Fire

Two adults and two children have died in a house fire in Derbyshire, police have said.

A third child, a seven-year-old girl, is in hospital in Chesterfield with minor injuries.

The fire broke out on Williamthorpe Road, North Wingfield, a village about four miles south of Chesterfield.

Fire crews from Clay Cross, Chesterfield and Staveley were called to the scene at 5am and an investigation is now under way into the cause of the fire.

Police said Williamthorpe Road will be closed for several hours and local diversions are in operation.

More details of the incident are expected at a police news conference from the scene at 2pm.

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Hull Named As UK City Of Culture 2017

Hull has been named as the UK City of Culture 2017, beating Leicester, Swansea Bay and Dundee to the title.

The city will hope to see an economic boost from the accolade, which is handed out every four years.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller said: "This is brilliant news for Hull and everyone involved in the bid there.

Famous abolitionist William Wilberforce is among Hull's famous sons

"This year's UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry, demonstrates the huge benefits that the title brings. These include encouraging economic growth, inspiring social change and bringing communities together.

"It can produce a wonderful mix of inward investment and civic pride, and I hope Hull's plans will make the most of all that being UK City of Culture can bring."

Ms Miller praised the three losing cities for the "time, effort and determination" they put into their bids.

"I hope they will still take forward many of the fantastic ideas and events they had planned so that their communities can enjoy these innovative cultural plans," she said.

Referencing Hull band The Housemartins' first big hit, Happy Hour, former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who was a Hull MP for almost 40 years, responded to the news on his Twitter page, writing: "It's Happy Hour again! #HullYes Well done."

TV producer Phil Redmond, who chaired the advisory panel that helped choose the winner, said all four shortlisted cities showed a "real understanding" of what the award was about.

But he said: "Ultimately it was the unanimous verdict of the panel that Hull put forward the most compelling case based on its theme as 'a city coming out of the shadows'.

Hull Marina is a popular attraction in the city

"This is at the heart of their project and reminds both its people and the wider world of both its cultural past and future potential.

"We were particularly impressed with Hull's evidence of community and creative engagement, their links to the private sector and their focus on legacy, including a commitment to enhance funding beyond 2017, and I'd like to congratulate all involved."

Previous holders of the title have sought to improve the image of their city, holding various artistic and cultural events in an effort to increase visitor numbers and offer a boost to the local economy.

Hull's Princes Quay shopping centre

Hull's city council admits one of the aims of the bid is to "change the perceptions" of the city.

It is often derided - up until this year regularly featuring in the comic book Crap Towns - and last month an Economist article cited Hull as one of "Britain's Decaying Towns".

But the current city of culture, Londonderry, has seen visitor numbers double over the course of this year and had around £120m of capital investment pumped into the city since winning the title in 2009.

The Guildhall in the centre of Hull and the city's Prince Street

Its mayor, Councillor Martin Reilly, said: "I am confident that an amazing year awaits Hull as the winning city for 2017.

"I wish them every success and look forward to forming a working relationship with Hull to share our experiences and learning."

Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he was surprised and disappointed at the result.

"I can only guess that Hull desperately needed a shot in the arm while the judges decided we in Leicester are making our way successfully and didn't need it as much," he said.

Meanwhile, Welsh Secretary David Jones said: "As much as today's announcement will come as disappointing news to those who have supported Swansea Bay's bid, they should be rightly proud of all that they have achieved."

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Teenager Held Over Luton Man's Stabbing

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a father was stabbed during a suspected burglary.

Tony Abrahams, 47, suffered serious injuries after he confronted intruders in the early hours of Saturday at his home in Wellfield Avenue, Luton.

The teenager was arrested in London and taken to Luton for questioning, Bedfordshire Police said.

The suspected burglary happened in Wellfield Avenue, Luton

Three men, described by Bedfordshire Police as black and in their twenties, are believed to have forced their way into the victim's home at about 3am.

Speaking after the incident, Detective Constable Mo Hussain said a man was "attacked and stabbed" by the offenders, who then fled the scene.

He added that the victim's wife and daughter, believed to be Catrina, 52, and Jade, 23, raised the alarm after finding Mr Abrahams injured.

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Supermarkets Taken To Task Over Offers

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business And Economics Correspondent

Some of Britain's biggest supermarkets have been accused of running so-called special offers that often see customers "paying over the odds".

Consumer group Which? analysed more than 70,000 grocery prices and found examples of what they call misleading multibuys and dodgy discounts.

Richard Lloyd, executive director, told Sky News: "People are at best paying what they would have done, or often we have found paying over the odds, paying extra when they think they are getting a discount. That can't be fair.

"These special offers simply aren't special at all. That is why we need to see the rules change to force the supermarkets to play fair."

One example found by Which? was a Sainsbury's special offer for Carex Aloe Vera & Eucalyptus Moisturising Antibacterial Handwash, where the item was priced at £1.80 for seven days, then was on offer at "was £1.80, now 90p" for 84 days.

Ocado sold a 12-pack of Beck's beer as "was £12.19, now £9" for almost a month but had only sold the item at the higher price for three days.

Asda increased the regular price of Muller Light Greek Style Yoghurt from £1.50 to £2.18 before it went on a "two for £4" offer, costing shoppers £1 more.

Shoppers are being urged to look carefully at special offers

It also increased the price of Uncle Ben's Express Basmati Rice from £1 to £1.58 before offering for "two for £3" and then returning the rice to £1 when the offer ended.

With inflation having outpaced average wage growth for about five years, rising food prices are one of the top worries for consumers.

Which? wants the Government to make the rules for special offers simpler, clearer and stricter.

The consumer group says if these changes are not made swiftly, it will consider using its formal legal powers to ensure the practice is tackled.

In the meantime shoppers should look carefully at the special offers, Mr Lloyd added.

"Make sure that you are not getting misled into buying something that you think is a good deal when that is just not the case," he said.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents the supermarket industry, said in a statement: "Across the tens of thousands of promotions available every day, regrettably, occasional errors do slip through.

"Retailers work very quickly to rectify these mistakes whenever they are found."

Both Asda and Sainsbury's also issued statements apologising for what they called pricing errors.

Sainsbury's said: "We are absolutely committed to fair and transparent promotions and carry out regular audits and thorough training on this."

Asda's statement said: "We take pricing seriously, and we've recently employed a new team within the business that looks at all aspects of our pricing process and pricing practices in store and online.

"Sometimes mistakes can happen, but we would never deliberately mislead our customers ... "

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Co-op Boss Quits Amid Flowers Drug Scandal

Len Wardle, chair of the Co-operative Group, has resigned after "serious questions" were raised by the scandal over its former banking chairman Paul Flowers.

Mr Wardle had announced last month that he planned to step down amid the wider financial crisis at the bank but quit on Tuesday with immediate effect.

Reverend Flowers, who has already apologised for doing things that were "stupid and wrong" - but without elaborating - has been suspended from the Methodist Church and by the Labour Party after being filmed in a newspaper sting allegedly trying to buy illegal drugs.

The substances said to be at the centre of the claims include cocaine and ketamine - a horse tranquilliser - used as a party drug. 

Len Wardle joined the Co-op's board in 2002. Pic: Co-op

The allegations against Reverend Flowers, which are the subject of a police inquiry, exacerbated pressure on Britain's biggest mutual which is having to explain the background to the bank's financial difficulties - largely a result of its merger with Britannia in 2009.

Mr Wardle said in a statement: "The recent revelations about the behaviour of Paul Flowers, the former Chair of The Co-operative Bank, have raised a number of serious questions for both the Bank and the Group.

"I led the Board that appointed Paul Flowers to lead the Bank Board and under those circumstances I feel that it is right that I step down now, ahead of my planned retirement in May next year.

"I have already made it clear that I believe the time is right for real change in our operations and our governance and the Board recently started a detailed review of our democracy.

"I hope that the Group now takes the chance to put in place a new democratic structure so we can modernise in the interests of all our members."

The Co-op confirmed Mr Wardle would be replaced by Ursula Lidbetter, currently Group deputy chair and chief executive of the Lincolnshire Co-operative Society.

Paul Flowers is being investigated following the Mail On Sunday's claims

His decision was announced hours after The Co-op Group launched a fact-finding probe and a root-and-branch review of its structure after "serious and wide-ranging" allegations about Reverend Flowers, who resigned in June after three years as chair of the banking arm after a £1.5bn black hole was discovered in its finances.

The Group statement on Monday said: "Given the serious and wide-ranging nature of recent allegations, the new executive management team has started a fact-finding process to look into any inappropriate behaviour at the Co-operative Group or the Co-operative Bank and to take action as necessary.

"In addition, the board of the Co-operative Group has launched a root and branch review of the democratic structure of the organisation.

"We need to modernise to ensure that the interests of all our seven million members are properly and directly represented in the oversight of our business activities."

While announcing Mr Wardle's decision to quit, the Co-op said on Tuesday that Ms Lidbetter would chair the Group through the governance review, which will include consideration of how the Board is constituted and chaired.

The Co-op Bank discovered a massive gap in its finances following the purchase of Britannia Building Society in 2009 and abortive attempts to take on hundreds of Lloyds branches.

It faces a rescue which will see 50 branches close and investors including US hedge funds take control of 70% of the business, leaving the wider Co-operative Group with just 30% - described as a "tragedy" by former group chief executive Peter Marks.

The scandal surrounding Reverend Flowers has intensified the focus on the bank's troubles.

Critics have questioned how he could have been appointed given his apparent lack of experience in banking and Andrew Tyrie MP, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, has said that it was clear he was "manifestly unsuitable".

Regulators have said he went through the appropriate process when he joined the Co-op's board as a non-executive director but did not face further scrutiny when he became its chairman.

In a separate development, Labour has come under pressure to return a £50,000 donation backed by Reverend Flowers.

The donation, made by the Co-operative Group, emerged as the party suspended his membership over the drug allegatons.

Labour's leadership has since attempted to distance itself from Mr Flowers, a former councillor, after it emerged he attended a private meeting with Ed Miliband in March.

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Stafford: Cover-Up Hospitals To Lose Insurance

Hospitals which try to cover up failings that lead to deaths or patients being seriously harmed will lose their insurance cover.

Under new moves to ensure patient safety, the Health Secretary also said that nurses and doctors will have an "explicit and consistent" duty of candour.

It means they must tell patients and relatives where a mistake has led to death or serious injury and even in cases of "near misses".

Failure to be honest will lead to action from the General Medical Council and the nursing regulator. Wilful neglect will also be made a criminal offence.

Speaking to the House of Commons, Mr Hunt said: "Nobody makes these mistakes intentionally but if you cover them up, lessons don't get learnt."

The measures are part of the Government response to the Stafford Hospital scandal, where up to 1,200 patients are thought to have died needlessly as a result of poor care between 2005 and 2009.

An inquiry by Sir Robert Francis QC, into the failings, highlighted "appalling and unnecessary suffering" of hundreds of people who were "routinely neglected".

Sir Robert made 290 sweeping recommendations for healthcare regulators, providers and the Government in his report - 281 have been accepted by the Government.

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Cyclist Tweeter Cleared Of Careless Driving

By Rachel Younger, East of England Correspondent

A driver who tweeted about knocking a cyclist off his bike has been found not guilty of driving without due care and attention.

Emma Way was cleared of the charge by magistrates in Norwich but convicted of failing to stop after a crash and failing to report an accident.

The court heard the 22-year-old trainee accountant was involved in a collision with cyclist Toby Hockley on a narrow country lane in Rockland All Saints, a small village near Thetford, Norfolk.

The case came to the public's attention when Way posted a tweet which read: "Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier. I have right of way. He doesn't even pay road tax!"

She ended her message with the hashtag #bloodycyclists.

Mr Hockley told the court he had been riding in the 100-mile Bouddica Sportive with a friend and had slowed down to about 18mph for a bend when a car came around the the corner "on my side of the road".

He said the car clipped his leg, telling the bench: "The car collided with my right hand side and tipped me over. I was hit on the right arm by the mirror."

Mr Hockley said he ended up in the hedge, bruised, scratched and stung by nettles.

He said there had been "quite a loud crunch" but admitted that despite newspaper reports at the time, he had not come off his bike.

Asked who had been driving the car, he replied: "I could tell it was a fair-haired woman."

Jason Sexton, who was riding with Mr Hockley, told the court he had been riding just in front of his friend and had shouted to warn him before pulling into a lay-by.

He told the court he had also shouted at the driver, adding that his friend had been cycling on the left-hand side of the road and was "as far across as he could be to avoid traffic".

Way admitted her wing mirror had clipped Mr Hockley's bike with a "donk" but claimed she'd been left with nowhere to go.

She told the court he had been cycling on her side of the road, and said she did not stop to check if he was unhurt because she felt the collision had been his fault.

"I saw he had slightly wobbled. I hadn't hurt him. He was fine. I just carried on," she said.

Asked whether she had thought any damage or injury had been caused, she replied: "No. I would definitely have stopped."

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Twitter Launches 'Lifesaving' Alerts Service

An emergency alert system that highlights urgent tweets with potentially lifesaving text messages and pop-up notifications has been rolled out across the UK and Ireland.

Police forces in both countries have signed up to Twitter Alerts, which will be used in "crisis, disaster and emergency" situations.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales will use the service to warn of flooding, while the Foreign Office will send alerts in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster overseas.

London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service will post critical updates during emergencies in the capital.

The service, which also highlights alerts on Twitter with an orange bell symbol, launched in the US, Japan and Korea in September.

The Met Police is among dozens of organisations which have signed up

It has since been used to warn of tornadoes, child abductions and gun attacks.

A spokesman for Twitter said British and Irish organisations are able to choose what type of information is posted as an alert.

"All of the organisations participating in the launch already use Twitter as a tool to communicate important information to their followers," he said.

"The added functionality of Twitter Alerts will help them reach their followers with important and accurate information during emergencies, natural disasters or when other communications services aren't accessible."

John Curtin, head of incident management at the Environment Agency, said digital communication had improved the way it shares information during times of crisis.

Twitter Alerts were launched in the US earlier this year

"During an incident such as flooding, we see significant spikes in related conversation," he said.

"Twitter Alerts provide an excellent opportunity to increase the visibility and urgency of our most vital warning messages so that people can take action to protect themselves and their property."

Commander David Martin, who is in charge of emergency planning for the Metropolitan Police, added: "Getting fast and accurate information to the public in a major incident or terrorist attack really could make a lifesaving difference."

Twitter users can activate and disable alerts on the subscription pages of participating organisations' accounts.

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Burton's Biscuits Bought By Canadian Fund

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has agreed to buy the British maker of Wagon Wheels and Jammie Dodgers.

Burton's Biscuits is the UK's second-largest biscuits manufacturer, employing 2,000 people around the UK with annual sales of £340m.

The deal was first reported by Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman on Saturday.

The pension fund has not revealed the value of the deal to buy the biscuit maker.

Burton's is also the name behind Cadbury Fingers and Maryland Cookies.

Based in Hertfordshire, Burton's traces its roots back to the mid-1800s when it was founded by George Burton.

It employs more than 2,200 people around the UK in manufacturing facilities in Llantarnam, Edinburgh and Blackpool, a chocolate refinery in Moreton and a central distribution hub in Liverpool.

Ontario Teachers has become a voracious acquirer of British companies in recent years, taking over National Lottery operator Camelot and nursery chain Busy Bees.

Burton's is one of a sizeable number of mid-sized British companies which has been through several phases of private equity ownership.

In 2009, Apollo and the Canadian bank CIBC seized control of the company after Duke Street Capital, its previous owner, was forced to surrender control to the biscuit-maker's lenders.

Another private equity group, HM Capital, had bought the company in 2000 from Associated British Foods, owner of the Primark retail chain.

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Google Agrees To Block Child Abuse Images

Internet searches for child abuse images will be blocked for the first time by Microsoft and Google after months of mounting pressure.

The groundbreaking move will soon prevent illegal images and videos from appearing in more than 100,000 search terms associated with abuse.

Google says it has also developed technology that will allow illegal videos to be "tagged" so all duplicate copies can be removed across the internet.

The changes will apply across the world in more than 150 languages.

Microsoft, which operates and powers Bing and Yahoo, will reportedly confirm at a Downing Street summit on online pornography today that it is introducing similar reforms.

Google chairman Eric Schmidt, writing in the Daily Mail ahead of the No 10 talks, said: "We've listened.

"We've fine-tuned Google Search to prevent links to child sexual abuse material from appearing in our results."

Illegal images showing child sex abuse will not appear in search results

The Prime Minister welcomed the move as a "really significant step forward", but threatened to bring forward new legislation if search engine companies failed to deliver on their promises.

Some child protection experts have raised doubts over the changes, saying paedophiles rarely use search engines but instead use services such as peer-to-peer sharing.

Jim Gamble, former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), told Sky News it was "not a solution".

He said: "My fear is that it simply masks the symptoms... It is a positive step forward and the prime minister's involvement is a good thing but at the end of the day the fact remains that paedophiles don't search out their images on the internet.

"Nor does the internet make people become paedophiles - we need to get to the root cause of this."

Calls for internet companies to take action against searching for illegal content grew following the trials of child killers Mark Bridger and Stuart Hazel earlier this year.

The UK's National Crime Agency is to join forces with America's FBI

Bridger, who murdered five-year-old April Jones, and Hazel, who killed 12-year-old Tia Sharp, both used the internet to search for child abuse images before the killings.

Senior figures from Google, Microsoft and BT were summoned to Parliament for a meeting with Culture Secretary Maria Miller in June where they were told they had to do more to combat the issue.

The crackdown comes as Mr Cameron is set to reveal at the summit that Britain's National Crime Agency is to join America's FBI to tackle online child abuse.

The transatlantic taskforce is being established by the US assistant attorney general and the British to target criminals who use the internet to hide from the law.

It will be specifically tasked with tracking down offenders who use the "dark web" - secret and encrypted networks that are increasingly being exploited by paedophiles and other criminals.

The NCA estimates the number of UK daily users of secret or encrypted networks will have risen to 20,000 by the end of the year.

Joanna Shields, the chief executive of Tech City UK, said it would be looking to spot the "threats of future" to protect the most vulnerable in society.

"It's vital that governments and industry work together to eradicate child abuse content from the internet, and that we mobilise the best and brightest in the technology industry to come up with innovative solutions to tackling this problem," she said.

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Rapper Watsky Sorry For 'Stupid' Gig Rig Jump

A rapper who jumped from a lighting rig and injured two people has apologised for his "stupid and wildly irresponsible" stunt.

George Watsky climbed a rope ladder before leaping into the crowd at Alexandra Palace in north London during a performance at the Vans Warped Tour.

The 30ft fall broke a girl's arm and left another fan in hospital, although Watsky himself escaped with only "nicks, bruises and the shame of endangering the crowd".

In a lengthy apology posted to his Facebook page, the musician said: "The jump was not awesome, it was not badass and it was not ballsy.

The American rapper climbed a rope ladder to reach the lighting rig

"It turned what should have been a great day for the people who got hurt into a nightmare.

"It was stupid and wildly irresponsible, plain and simple."

Video of Watsky's jump has already been viewed more than 180,000 times on YouTube.

The stunt was described as "pretty idiotic", "dumb" and "definitely stupid" by some users, although many of his 200,000 fans on Facebook expressed their support for the star following his apology.

Watsky prepares to jump into the crowd during a gig at Alexandra Palace

Conceding that it was "extremely lucky" no one was more seriously injured, Watsky wrote: "Putting your own body on the line is one thing, but putting other people in harm's way is inexcusable."

He said he would not be cancelling any of his forthcoming tour dates but insisted he "will not be jumping off anything".

"I am deeply sorry and I promise to learn from this mistake," he added.

Watsky said he spent six hours waiting at the hospital while the injured man was seen by doctors and planned to return to the ward to apologise to him.

The musician falls into the crowd, injuring two fans

The artist, who is originally from San Francisco but now lives in Los Angeles, describes himself as a "versatile lyricist who switches between silly and serious, technically complex and simply heartfelt".

His self-titled hip hop track Watsky reached number seven on a specialist iTunes chart in 2010.

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Bodies In Ditches: Woman Admits Three Murders

A woman has pleaded guilty to murdering three men whose bodies were found in remote ditches in Cambridgeshire with stab wounds.

Joanna Dennehy admitted killing Kevin Lee, Lukasz Slaboszewski and John Chapman between March and April this year.

The 30-year-old from Peterborough also pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of all three victims, as well as the attempted murders of two other men, Robin Bereza and John Rogers.

The bodies were found close to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

She was arrested after a manhunt, during which police distributed her picture and described the distinctive star tattoo she has under her right eye.

Appearing at the Old Bailey, Dennehy told the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney: "I've pleaded guilty and that's that."

Her barrister, Nigel Lickley QC, said: "The course of the arraignment is not one we had anticipated."

Mr Slaboszewski (L) and Mr Lee were found with stab wounds on April 3

The bodies of Mr Slaboszewski, 31, who was stabbed in the heart, and Mr Chapman, 56, who died from neck and chest wounds, were found at Thorney Dyke, near Peterborough, on April 3.

Mr Lee, 48, was discovered dead in a ditch in Newborough, around 10 miles away, four days earlier with stab wounds to his chest.

He was last seen on Good Friday and reported missing later that day when his Ford Mondeo was found burnt out near a farm in Yaxley.

Mr Lee's body was discovered in a village north of Peterborough

In a statement released after his death, his family described him as a "wonderful husband, father, loving brother and son".

They said he had a "naturally infectious personality (that) touched everyone who knew him", adding: "He will be hugely missed by all his friends and family."

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Antibiotics Warning: Resistance 'Growing'

By Enda Brady, Sky News Reporter

The world faces "unimaginable setbacks" unless it tackles the growing threat of resistance to antibiotics, according to an international group of experts.

The latest research by the 26-strong group predicts major problems unless governments work together immediately.

Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the drugs which are used to fight infection.

Lead author Professor Otto Cars, of Uppsala University in Sweden, said: "The causes of antibiotic resistance are complex and include human behaviour at many levels of society.

"The consequences affect everybody in the world.

"Within just a few years, we might be faced with unimaginable setbacks - medically, socially, and economically - unless real and unprecedented global co-ordinated actions to transform the way antibiotics are regulated and developed are taken immediately."

In the UK, research is focusing on how plant chemicals keep insects at bay

In September, the UK Government announced plans for a five-year strategy to tackle the problem, setting aside £4.5m.

Recent decades have seen vast increases in the use of antibiotics across medicine and agriculture, but the scientists argue that without adequate regulatory controls and better patient awareness, the huge global surge in antibiotic resistance will continue.

They say the problem is compounded by a desperate shortage of new drugs to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

Prof Cars added: "Antibiotic resistance is a complex ecological problem which doesn't just affect people, but is also intimately connected with agriculture and the environment.

"We need to move on from 'blaming and shaming' among the many stakeholders who have all contributed to the problem, towards concrete political action and commitment to address this threat.

Prof Laura Piddick says more funding is needed to develop new treatments

"Consumers and providers of antibiotics alike need to be empowered to tackle antibiotic resistance, as well as ensuring that those in need benefit from affordable, effective antibiotics."

One of the British scientists who helped compile the report said that alarm bells have been ringing - and ignored - for many years.

"For a long time there has been a sense of crying wolf over this," said Professor Laura Piddock, from the University of Birmingham.

"Science has been telling us about this problem for years. We need more academic research and funding. New treatments have been hampered by a lack of funding. It has always been viewed that this is something that the pharmaceutical industry should do."

At the John Innes Centre in Norwich scientists are going back to nature for the answers, studying how plants like eucalyptus trees produce chemicals to keep insects at bay.

"Plants have a distinct disadvantage in that they can't move out of the way of predators," Tony Maxwell, the centre's head of biological chemistry, told Sky News.

"And they have no end of predators, large and small animals, insects and bacteria. They have to produce a whole array of chemicals to defend themselves. What we are trying to work out is how we can use those chemicals for our own usage in antibiotics."

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Unions Probe: Review Into Intimidation Claims

David Cameron has set himself on a collision course with the unions by announcing an independent review into allegations of intimidation and bullying.

The move follows claims of sabotage and harassment related to the bitter industrial dispute which almost led to the closure of the petrochemical plant at the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland.

Downing Street said the wide-ranging review, headed by Bruce Carr QC, will investigate allegations of the use of so-called "leverage" tactics by the unions as well as the impact of such disputes on the critical national infrastructure.

However, in a sign of renewed coalition tensions, the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable made clear he had only agreed to the inquiry on the basis that it would also examine the practices of employers.

The Unite union dismissed the review as a "Tory election stunt" and warned that no trade union would be prepared to "collaborate" with it.

The review follows claims that Unite sought to intimidate executives from Ineos, the refinery's owners, including sending "mobs" of demonstrators to protest outside their homes and premises associated with Ineos chairman, Jim Ratcliffe.

In recent weeks the Prime Minister has repeatedly attacked the union in the Commons, challenging Labour leader Ed Miliband to hold an inquiry into claims of vote-rigging in the Falkirk constituency party in an attempt to secure the selection of Unite's favoured candidate for parliament.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey has always denied any intimidation or bullying on the part of the union, insisting that it was acting within the law.

As part of his remit, Mr Carr will consider whether existing laws are sufficient to prevent what Government sources described as "inappropriate or intimidatory actions" in trade disputes as well as the response of the police to complaints.

Unite claimed Grangemouth employees had been bullied during the dispute

More generally, the review will look at the underlying causes of industrial relations difficulties in affected industries, the potential impact on the UK's critical national infrastructure and the consequences for investor confidence in key sectors.

It will also make recommendations on the respective roles of government, employers and employee representatives in ensuring effective workforce relationships.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, a Conservative, said: "Allegations about trade union industrial intimidation tactics, including attempts to sabotage businesses supply chains and harass employers' families are deeply concerning.

"That's why we need an independent review to get to the bottom of these activities, as well as to look at the role played by government, employers and employees in industrial disputes.

"This forms part of our long-term plan to ensure Britain remains competitive and to secure an economic recovery for hard-working people."

Mr Cable, in contrast emphasised that Britain had generally enjoyed good industrial relations for the past two decades while strikes were at a historically low level.

"There were clearly some very serious matters going on in Grangemouth," he said.

"That is why I have agreed to a proportionate and rational review of industrial disputes, including leverage and other tactics used by both unions and employers.

"There are rogue unions but there are also rogue employers, some of whom have in the past engaged in illegal tactics like blacklisting. This Government will tolerate neither."

A Unite spokesman said: "This review is a sorry attempt by the coalition to divert attention from the cost of living crisis.

"Vince Cable may not have noticed but the Grangemouth dispute has been settled.

"This review is nothing more than a Tory election stunt which no trade unionist will collaborate with."

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Prince Charles' Bid To Curb Gang Violence

The Prince of Wales is launching a campaign aimed at increasing the number of young people doing voluntary work in a bid to tackle gang violence.

Charles believes that street murders can happen due to the lack of organised activities for youngsters.

In an article in the Mail On Sunday, he says he often reflects on the courage shown by Barry and Margaret Mizen, whose teenage son Jimmy was murdered in 2008.

"The Mizens are convinced - as I have been for the past 40 years - that part of the solution is in providing more structured activities for young people.

"In my opinion, tragedies such as the murder of Barry and Margaret's son are the extreme result of too many young people no longer guided through a rite of passage; young people who would benefit from the guidance and help of organisations such as the Guides, Scouts, cadets and other youth organisations.

"However, these are all groups which are hampered in their growth by a lack of adult volunteers."

Speaking with the Mizens and members of Families United - a group for parents whose children have been killed by gang violence - made him even more determined to start a long-term leadership campaign.

"This kind of initiative can help to provide a constructive team-based substitute for destructive gang violence, so that no more families like the Mizens should have to suffer such untold misery in the future."

The Prince was determined to act after speaking to Jimmy Mizen's parents

Charles said that this week at Buckingham Palace he would join other influential figures including the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, plus 50 young people, to launch a pledge campaign called #iwill, through a collaborative youth initiative called Step Up 2 Serve.

Those taking part will pledge to support young people take every opportunity to help others.

"At present, just 29% volunteer regularly, although more may do so informally," the Prince wrote.

"The campaign proposes that we should support and inspire 50% of all those aged between 10 and 20 to take part in practical action in the service of others by 2020.

"Young people have an immense contribution to make to society, but we are failing to do enough to unlock their talent to help tackle all sorts of challenges.

"Young people are the solution to so much and yet, too frequently, they are seen as the problem.

"If you think that all over our country there are thousands of lonely old people who need company, younger children who need alternatives to hanging about on street corners, crucial  environmental work that needs doing, and local causes that need espousing, it is not difficult to see how any small voluntary contribution can help."

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Age Of Consent: No 10 Rejects Calls To Change

Downing Street has rejected a call from a leading public health expert to consider lowering the age of consent for sex to 15.

Professor John Ashton, president of the Faculty of Public Health, said society sends "confused" signals about when sex is permitted.

But a No 10 spokesman said: "We reject the call to lower the age of consent.

"The current age is in place to protect children and there are no plans to change it."

Prof Ashton's intervention comes against a backdrop of official figures which suggest that up to a third of teenagers have sex before the present age of consent of 16.

He told Sky News: "The problem we have got is we have got this massive sexualisation and pornographication of childhood and early adolescence.

Lowering the age would make it easier for 15-year-olds to get contraception

"Huge commercial interests - pop music, fashion, internet pornography everywhere, social media.

"There doesn't seem to be any real appetite among politicians and leaders to address this.

"In the meantime, our young people are becoming sexually active at younger and younger ages.

"If we are not going to create an environment where they are not sexualised, then we need to address their needs."

He added: "What we know from other European countries that have lower ages of sexual consent, I am thinking here particularly about the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, is that very often what that leads to is where there's an atmosphere of discussion within the family, within the school, within the social environment, they actually defer putting off sex, even though the age of consent is lower, and that they have lower teenage pregnancy rates.

"It also means if they are not indulging in what's illegal activity, they won't be frightened to come forward for help if they are getting involved in a dangerous situation with an older male who's grooming them or what have you.

"We have got this conundrum. Where you have got illegal activity which large numbers of people are engaging in, you are creating an environment of risk, potential abuse, potential exploitation.

"We need to do something about the sexualisation of childhood, and we need to do something about responding properly to the needs of young people who are becoming sexually active, perhaps with somebody of a similar age where it is part of a normal maturing process into adult life, but also so that we can begin to tackle this problem of girls particularly, being exploited by older males."

The Faculty of Public Health, part of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, gives advice to ministers and civil servants although it is independent of government.

David Tucker, head of policy at the NSPCC, said he would be happy to have a debate on the issue but said he would want to see the evidence for Prof Ashton's claims.

He said: "Has there really been a significant change in the amount of young people having sex over the past 20 or 30 years?

"If it has changed, then is reducing the age of consent the most sensible way to deal with it?"

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Seven Men Bailed In Well Body Inquiry

Seven men arrested over the discovery of a body in a well in Surrey have been bailed by police.

The body was recovered by specialist police officers on Saturday.

Two workmen made the discovery as they were doing clearing work in the front garden of a large house in Audley Drive, Warlingham, Surrey, which stands in an acre of grounds in an affluent area.

The seven held on suspicion of murder are aged between 21 and 27. They have been bailed to a date in late December, pending further investigation, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place today at East Surrey Hospital mortuary.

More follows...

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