Boy, 11, Sexually Assaulted On Country Lane

An 11-year-old boy was sexually assaulted as he walked along a country lane in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, police have said.

Thames Valley Police said the attack by a man believed to be in his 40s happened at around 4.40pm on Friday.

The schoolboy was walking along Bacombe Lane, close to a bridleway, when the man approached him.

He was sexually assaulted before being able to run away.

Detective Inspector Ben Gasson said: "I am appealing for anyone who saw a man matching the description or anyone seen acting suspiciously in this area to contact police.

"The victim was not hurt during the incident but has understandably been left shaken.

"Incidents of this nature are extremely rare and are investigated thoroughly however if anyone has any concerns they can call their local neighbourhood team via our non-emergency number 101."

Neighbourhood patrols are taking place in the area and inquiries are ongoing.

The offender is described as a white man aged approximately 40, with stubble on his face.

He was wearing a grey and black diamond-patterned hooded top, dark blue jeans and black shoes.

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Lynne Spalding Death Linked To Alcoholism

A British woman found dead in a locked stairwell 17 days after going missing from her San Francisco hospital room probably died of a chemical imbalance due to complications from alcohol abuse, a coroner has said.

Lynne Spalding, 57, disappeared from the city's general hospital on September 21 but her body was not found until October 8.

Assistant medical examiner Ellen Moffat said in a new report that the mother-of-two had been dead for days before the discovery.

The medical examiner's office said Ms Spalding was confused and delirious on the day she disappeared.

Ms Moffat said Ms Spalding, originally from Peterlee, Co Durham, didn't know the day or time or even why she was in the hospital.

She had been admitted for a bladder or urinary tract infection and arrived at the hospital thin and frail with her children worried about her condition.

San Francisco General Hospital

Although sheriff's deputies at the hospital did a "perimeter search" of the hospital's 24-acre campus within an hour of her disappearance, it was not until September 30 that they attempted a more extensive search of the grounds.

The next day, after it became clear that not all the stairwells used as fire exits had been searched, a supervisor ordered the stairwell searches to continue, yet "only about half the stairwells" ever were, Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi said.

Ms Spalding's friends and relatives spent days scouring the streets of the Californian city with flyers because they were "under the assumption that San Francisco General had been searched and Lynne was not here".

On October 4 a hospital staff member told the sheriff's department that someone had reported seeing a body in a locked stairwell of the building where Ms Spalding had been a patient.

A sheriff's dispatcher told hospital officials the department would respond, but "there is no indication that any one was dispatched to that stairwell".

Ms Spalding had lived in the city for more than 20 years and had two grown-up children, a 19-year-old son and 23-year-old daughter, who both live in the US.

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Portsmouth Shipyard Job Losses: Protests

By Alex Rossi, Sky News Correspondent

Protesters are marching through the streets of Portsmouth to demonstrate against job losses by defence giant BAE Systems.

It was announced last month that more than 900 jobs are being axed, ending shipbuilding in the historic naval city for good.

Lisa Fletcher, a community support officer for Unite, says the job cuts are a disaster not just for Portsmouth, but for the entire Solent region.

"It's not just about the jobs ... it's going to affect the industries in the pubs, restaurants, schools even and transport, " she told Sky News.

According to the local university, for every 100 jobs lost in shipbuilding a further 66 are lost in the wider economy in pubs, restaurants and other service industries.

BAE systems and the Government claim warship building in the UK needs to be consolidated into one site on the Clyde in Scotland if it is to remain sustainable.

And although maintenance and repairs will remain in Portsmouth, the end of shipbuilding is a massive blow to a city steeped in maritime history - ships have been built in Pompey for more than 500 years.

HMS Duncan was built at Portsmouth dockyards

Workers at the BAE dockyard are apprehensive about the future.

Geoff Collins, a shop steward and pipe worker, is still coming to terms with his imminent redundancy. He fears at the age of 63 he will never find work again.

"It's taken the wind out of my sails really, slowed me right up. Thinking what's going to happen next. And what's going to happen for the younger generation with the skills ...?"

But trade union leaders believe the fight for shipbuilding in Portsmouth is not over yet.

They hope the Government will have a change of heart and instead elect for a three-dock solution which would also mean fewer job losses at the shipyards in Scotland that have also been affected.

Prospect negotiator John Ferrett hopes the decision will be reversed: "We believe that there is a solution, whilst that would mean job reductions right across the three yards, we believe we would be able to retain the capability."

The redundancies will begin as the work on two aircraft carriers finishes.

If the decision is not changed, people in Portsmouth fear centuries of shipbuilding will be sunk forever.

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Missing Jayden: More Time To Question Man

Police have been given more time to question a man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of a teenager who went missing earlier this month.

Jayden Parkinson, from Oxford, was last seen leaving Didcot Parkway train station at 4.27pm on December 3 - and did not return home that evening as planned.

Officers from Thames Valley Police were given a further 12 hours to question a 22-year-old man in connection with her disappearance.

A 17-year-old boy has also been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Police said the 22-year-old, who is from  Reading, Berkshire, is in a relationship with Jayden.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Murray told a news conference the man was "part of our enquiries to prove or disprove whether Jayden has come to harm".

Appeal: Superintendent Christian Bunt (L) and Det Ch Supt Andy Murray (R)

He revealed information had come to light to focus the search for the teenager in certain areas, including a wide, rural area between the village of Upton and Didcot.

Mr Murray said teams had been deployed to search a path or track leading from Upton in the general direction of Didcot, partly following a disused railway line.

He said: "We do not know where Jayden is at the moment, but as time progresses it is obvious that we are becoming increasingly concerned about her welfare."

He added officers remained "focused on the hope that she is still out there".

Jayden is described as slim, with shoulder-length dark brown hair and brown eyes.

She was living with her mother in Didcot until November this year, when she found herself homeless.

The teenager relocated to an Oxford service called One Foot Forward, which offers assisted and supported accommodation for young people.

Inspector Chris Simpson, leading the search, said: "She has little access to money and she has not been in phone contact which is out of character for her.

"She could be in Oxford or Reading areas with friends and if this is the case we would urge her or them to get in contact.

"Jayden is not in any trouble but we need to get in touch with her to ensure she is safe and well."

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Thames Valley Police on 101 and quote URN 542 10/12, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Belfast Bomb: Attackers 'Stoop To New Low'

A bomb attack in Belfast city centre is a "new low" for dissident republicans opposed to the peace process, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said.

Theresa Villiers described the blast in the bustling Cathedral Quarter as a "despicable attack that could have put lives at risk and injured many people".

"It's particularly callous to carry out this sort of attack at a time when people are starting their festive celebrations or maybe finishing their Christmas shopping," she said.

"An attack at this time of year is stooping to a new low."

The attack was described as 'an attempt to kill or injure innocent people'

Christmas partygoers were evacuated when the device exploded just before 7pm on Friday evening, although there were no reports of any injuries.

A bomb threat was made to a newspaper but the device was left at a different location to the one named in the call.

Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: "This was an attack on the people of Belfast going about their normal lives on a busy night for socialising in the city.

"Those who carried out this attack have nothing to offer except disruption and destruction."

The security threat level in Northern Ireland remains at severe

Stormont's Justice Minister David Ford said the blast was an "attempt to kill or injure innocent people".

"The people carrying out these attacks have set out no reason and explained no cause for their acts of senseless violence," he said.

"Their only aim seems to be to injure and disrupt. They ignore the strength of public support for normality and peace, especially at this Christmas season."

First Minister Peter Robinson said the bomb was "the work of a mindless minority who are intent on taking the heart out of the city", while his deputy, Martin McGuinness, said the attackers had shown "complete disregard for life".

Hundreds of people were evacuated. Pic: Mark Ashbridge

Security measures have been ramped up in Belfast on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

The threat level remains at severe and police urged local residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour.

The blast comes less than three weeks after a bus driver was forced by masked dissidents to drive a car bomb to a shopping centre that faces a police station.

The 60kg (132lb) device only partially exploded and no-one was injured.

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Cameron: No To University Segregation

Sexism Row: Can Separate Be Equal?

Updated: 6:18pm UK, Wednesday 11 December 2013

By Tim Marshall, Foreign Affairs Editor

On Tuesday I spent much of the day watching the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, a human being who spent his life fighting against segregation.

It was International Human Rights Day. That evening I was driving through central London, noticed a small demonstration, a few photographers, and the glare of a TV camera light.

So I pulled over and joined perhaps 100 people outside the Universities UK (UUK) building. They also were demonstrating against segregation.

Last month, UUK published guidelines saying that if an external speaker at a university wanted to segregate men and women during a lecture, then that should be acceptable.

The National Union of Students (NUS) agreed that religious rights trumped women's rights to sit where they wish. Both organisations say that the decision is not discriminatory.

The report does not specify that if such a scenario ensued it would be because of a demand from a radical Muslim speaker or student group, but everyone knows that is what lies behind the guidelines and some of the speakers at the demonstration said they had been on the end of streams of abuse.

UUK have tangled themselves in knots trying to balance discriminating on religious grounds against discriminating on gender grounds, and end up arguing that because women would be seated one on side of a room, and not at the back of a room, therefore, they would not be discriminated against.

The strength of this argument could be tested if, instead of demanding that women sit in certain areas, a speaker demanded that gay people had to be removed from the midst of the audience.

It could be argued on religious grounds that homosexuality was so abhorrent to the speaker that they would only speak if gays were separated from the rest. I find it difficult to believe the UUK would issue guidelines saying that was acceptable.

So why is segregating women acceptable? The rationale appears to be to uphold deeply-held religious and cultural beliefs and thus those people's rights.

But as argued, if those deeply-held beliefs required gays or black people to sit to one side, they would be challenged, probably by the UUK, the NUS and a lot more than 100 people.

All this is hypothetical, you might say. But it is not. The Student Rights group has done research suggesting that gender separation has already occurred, or been called for, on about 50 occasions at 21 universities. More will follow.

At the rally the demonstrators were of the view that what they called abhorrent views were being accepted because the universities wanted to ensure they attracted enough fee-paying students from South Asia.

Mosques, synagogues and churches can have their own rules, but Britain's institutions of higher learning are supposed to be places for the free exchange of ideas for all. Ideas based on a fear of women's sexuality could indeed be part of that, but if they are to be discussed, surely it should be on an equal basis without segregation.

That argument accepts that the mixing of the sexes is a positive thing and part of freedoms won over centuries, which are indeed the overwhelming views prevalent in the UK, and a right enshrined in law. But the UUK and the NUS are pushing the other way.

"Separate but equal" was the lie the South African apartheid regime pedalled for decades. Only the stupid and the bigoted ever bought it. Mr Mandela never did.

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Food Poverty: 1.5m UK Pensioners Struggling

By Ashish Joshi, Sky News Correspondent

More than 1.5 million British pensioners are now living in food poverty - and the situation is set to worsen this winter, according to new research.

The Centre for Economics and Business says a quarter of over-65s have had to make cutbacks on food over the past three years, and over one million are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition because they are struggling to afford basic nutritious food.

The reason is that while the cost of living has continued to rise, incomes have not kept pace.

Increasing food prices in particular have hit the elderly the most.

The study shows over-65s will spend an average of £699 on food between October and December this year - that's an increase of £138 compared to the same quarter five years ago.

And by 2018 there will be an additional increase of £297 on top of that bill. It all adds up to the over-65s being harder hit than any other demographic.

Members describe the lunch clubs as a lifeline

Raina Barnes, 82, from Perivale, Middlesex, has been attending the Age Concern lunch club in Greenford for the past few months. Hot meals and warm company are provided by the charity.

Mrs Barnes, who was widowed last year, remembers when a £30 shop would easily last a few weeks. These days, she says, you get "hardly anything" for that amount.

"I think the supermarkets are taking us for a ride. One minute they're putting their prices down. The next they're going higher. You've only got a certain amount of money to spend," she says.

"All the basics like bread, milk and eggs are the things you need all the time. I mean eggs have just gone up terrible. You just have to see how it goes."

Sharing the dinner table with Mrs Barnes is 88-year-old Harry Thomas, a World War Two veteran. Mr Thomas says he shops around to compare the best prices in local supermarkets.

"It's a very hard thing these days for people, the price of things. You go to one shop and the price might have been dropped and you go to another and the price goes up a little bit.

"You never know what to buy. All I do is look at the price and say 'too high' and I don't bother."

Danny Woolcott, 87, has been a regular at the lunch club for more than six years. The retired mechanic, from Southall, visits three times a week.

He blames the Government for "letting pensioners down".

"I would like to see any government looking after the elderly people of this country.

"The people who brought this country along are being neglected badly and I think it's disgusting the way things have been left, honestly and truthfully."

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Migrants Told 'Speak English Or No Benefits'

Migrants who cannot speak English well enough to get a job face being denied benefits under a new tougher test, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said.

The upgraded test for migrants who want to claim income-related benefits will be rolled out across Jobcentres this week.

Those applying will have to answer more individually tailored questions, provide more detailed answers and submit more evidence before they can claim.

For the first time migrants will be quizzed about whether their English language skills will be a barrier to them finding employment and about what efforts they had made to find work before coming to the UK.

Officials will have 200 questions to choose from when assessing claimants - 100 more than previously.

Iain Duncan Smith said: "It is vitally important that we have strict rules in place to protect the integrity of our benefits system.

"The British public are rightly concerned that migrants should contribute to this country and not be drawn here by the attractiveness of our benefits system.

"And we are taking action to ensure that that is the case.

"The roll-out of the new habitual residence test is the first in a series of measures to ensure that we have a fair system: one which provides support for genuine workers and jobseekers, but does not allow people to come to our country and take advantage.

"It is a crucial part of our long-term plan to secure Britain's economy."

Iain Duncan Smith says the public is 'rightly concerned' about immigration

Britain is already in a legal battle with the European Commission which says that it unlawful to test immigrants before they can claim benefits.

It comes amid concerns over an influx of Romanians and Bulgarians next month when they will be entitled to come to the UK for work and will be able to claim benefits like other EU citizens.

The Prime Minister was accused of "hysteria" and turning Britain into the "nasty country" last month when he announced new measures that would bar EU migrants from claiming out-of-work benefits, such as jobseeker's allowance, for their first three months in the UK.

Labour's shadow welfare minister Chris Bryant said: "For generations, people have come to this country and worked hard to contribute to Britain, but the principle of contribution is an important one, and the controls on immigration must be fair to those who live here.

"That is why Labour called for stronger restrictions on benefits for new arrivals from the EU, including proposals eight months ago to strengthen the habitual residence test to make it clear that people should not be able to claim benefits when they first arrive.

"At the time, the Government dismissed those proposals, but eight months later they have changed their minds and keep re-announcing their proposals.

"Yet the Government are still doing nothing to tackle the serious problem of low-skilled migrant workers being exploited, undercutting local workers and responsible businesses too.

"That is bad for everyone, yet they are doing nothing about it."

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Escalator Warning For Festive Rail Travellers

More than 400 people had an accident on an escalator at the 17 busiest train stations managed by Network Rail this year - but the number of people hurt is down by at least 20%.

The main causes remain the same - trying to carry heavy luggage, wearing high heels, and being under the influence of alcohol.

To reduce the number of incidents this Christmas, a video and poster campaign has been launched by Network Rail to raise awareness of the dangers.

Alcohol was one of the main causes of accidents last year

Accidents caught on CCTV at major stations including Birmingham, Paddington, Leeds and Edinburgh have been uploaded to YouTube to highlight the dangers.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail's managing director of network operations, said: "Stations are increasingly busy places but the majority of slips and falls we see could still be avoided.

"We often see people struggling with several pieces of luggage on escalators when the lift would be easier for them.

Taking a little extra care could make for an uneventful escalator ride

"It might sound obvious, but simply holding the handrail can be the difference between an uneventful escalator ride and a bump and bruise - or worse.

"We hope the new campaign will act as a friendly reminder to take a little extra care when you're travelling during this busy festive period."

Ian Prosser, director of railway safety at the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), said: "This is a timely reminder that a seasonal mix of alcohol, presents, luggage and in some cases high heels can leave rail users more prone to injuries over the festive period."

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Missing Jayden: Man Arrested In Hunt For Teen

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old girl who has been missing for 10 days.

Jayden Parkinson, from Oxford, was last seen in the Iffley Road area of the city around mid-afternoon on December 3 and did not return home that evening as planned.

A 22-year-old from Reading, Berkshire, has been detained in connection with her disappearance and is currently in police custody.

Detectives are now believed to be searching for a body.

Superintendent Christian Bunt, from Thames Valley Police, said: "At this stage we are continuing to ask the public for their help in tracing Jayden's whereabouts since last Tuesday.

"I appeal to anyone who has any information, however significant it may be, to contact police immediately."

Jayden is described as white, of slim build with shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes.

During a public appeal on Wednesday, Inspector Chris Simpson, leading the search, said officers were "becoming increasingly concerned" for the teenager's welfare.

"She has little access to money and she has not been in phone contact which is out of character for her," he said.

"She could be in Oxford or Reading areas with friends and if this is the case we would urge her or them to get in contact.

"Jayden is not in any trouble but we need to get in touch with her to ensure she is safe and well."

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Thames Valley Police on 101 and quote URN 542 10/12, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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MPs' Pay: Politicians To Get 11% Pay Rise

MPs are to get an 11% pay rise, taking annual salaries to £74,000, but will lose out on pensions.

In a move the parliamentary watchdog insists will not cost taxpayers "a penny more", MPs will get a "one-off" pay rise but see cuts to pensions, a tightening of business costs and expenses, and an end to golden goodbyes.

The pay increase will come into effect from May 2015, but from then on increases to annual salaries will be in line with average earnings.

The reforms contained in the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) report put the watchdog, which was set up in the wake of the expenses scandal, on a collision course with politicians.

Sir Ian Kennedy remains determined to carry through reforms

Ipsa's chairman, Sir Ian Kennedy, said: "For the first time, MPs' pay and pensions will be set independently, and away from political deals cooked up in Westminster.

"We are sweeping away the out-of-date and overly generous benefits, and introducing a one-off uplift in pay. Crucially, thereafter MPs' pay will be linked to everyone else's.

"We have designed these reforms so they do not cost the taxpayer a penny more. When taken with the tens of millions we have saved by reforming the business cost and expenses regime, we have saved the taxpayer over £35m with the changes we have introduced since 2010."

David Cameron threatened on Wednesday he was "ruling nothing out" if Ipsa did not rethink the hike, suggesting he could scrap the watchdog - or at least curtail its ability to set MPs' pay.

He said it was "unacceptable" for MPs to accept such a rise at a time when public sector pay rises are capped at 1%.

However, Sir Ian remained determined to proceed with reforms, telling Sky News: "I was not appointed to this job to be popular, I was appointed to chair an independent body and independent bodies have to sometimes say no to people even if they happen to be party leaders."

Both Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, and Nick Clegg, his Liberal Democrat counterpart, have said the rise cannot be justified amid a cost-of-living crisis. Mr Miliband called for cross-party talks to put an end to the planned increase.

David Cameron has called the pay rise 'unacceptable'

Speaking on his Call Clegg LBC radio station ahead of the release of the report, Mr Clegg said that any increase in MPs' pay must go with the "grain of public consent".

He said: "I think at a time when this Government is saying to millions in the public sector, 'you cannot have a pay rise more than 1%' I think it really would be very difficult - to put it mildly - to explain why MPs should be treated differently."

However, Sir Ian has stressed that 43% of the public supports the reform package, saying that Ipsa had carried out significant polling before making the recommendations. The polls also found that 45% felt the package was too generous.

The Ipsa changes will see:

:: A one-off 9.26% pay rise to come into effect in May 2015 - when added to the previously announced pay rise, MPs will get in 2014, it represents an 11% increase from today's salary of £66,396.

:: MPs' pay increases linked to average earnings from 2015-16.

:: A new pension in line with other public sector workers and an increase in MPs' contributions.

:: Scrapping golden goodbyes worth tens of thousands when MPs leave office, even if they lose their seat.

:: Tightening of business costs and expenses, including the scrapping of dinner allowances.

The watchdog was set up to stop MPs voting through their own pay increases.

Critics have said that while voting against the pay increase seemed to be good PR for MPs, they would effectively be endorsing the continuation of a pension and expenses system that the public has already found wanting.

The former Labour cabinet minister Jack Straw said at the weekend that there was never a good time to increase an MP's pay but that it was important to help attract "people from modest backgrounds" to politics.

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GP Failings Exposed As Maggots Found In Surgery

Sin Doctors: Bad Surgeries Summary

Updated: 2:47am UK, Thursday 12 December 2013

Here is a summary of what inspectors found in a number of surgeries that have been subject to enforcement action by the CQC:

Dr Harira Syed's practice in Rochdale, Lancashire:

:: No equipment available, such as oxygen, to use in the case of a patient emergency.

:: Most staff had not been trained in safeguarding, and some were unaware there was a safeguarding policy in place.

:: There were not enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to safeguard people's health, safety and welfare. T

Norris Road Surgery, Sale, Cheshire:

:: Staff had not undergone criminal record checks.

:: Confidential records left unattended or not securely stored in a number of areas of the practice.

:: A number of medicines used to treat patients in emergency situations were past their expiry date and also found some vaccines stored in the fridge that were six months out of date.

Wolds Practice, Horncastle, Lincolnshire:

:: Inspectors found "a number of recent errors relating to medicines being supplied incorrectly to patients due to errors when medicines are bagged up and handed to them".

:: There were also problems relating to the management of controlled drugs.

Kingshurst Medical Practice, Kingshurst, Birmingham:

:: Conditions were so bad that the surgery has now voluntarily opted out of registration with the CQC and services are being run by a new provider.

63 Lincoln Road Surgery, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire:

:: Practice was "visibly dusty, poorly maintained and there were inadequate systems in place to prevent and control the spread of infections.

:: There were no risk assessments and staff were not familiar with the fire alarm system.

:: In the main treatment room, where minor surgical procedures were performed, they found "dusty fixtures and fittings which included an examination light and a wall-mounted fan".

:: Reuseable instruments were not stored properly.

Northfield Surgery, Thorne, Doncaster, South Yorkshire:

:: Shortfalls in prescribing had resulted in one patient receiving medicine they were not supposed to have been prescribed.

:: Staff had access to training but there were some gaps in the training plan and appraisal system. There were also shortfalls in systems to monitor the quality

of the service provided to patients.

Dr Satish Patel's surgery, Newtown, Reading, Berkshire:

:: Was clean and tidy but did not follow guidance for infection control.

Long Street Surgery, Wigston, Leicestershire:

:: There were problems with staff training, including on protecting patients from abuse. Appointment processes had improved.

:: Personal information found on a desk and in folders on an open bookcase.

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Celebrity Sex Offenders Face Tougher Sentences

Celebrities who use their public image to commit a sexual offence could soon face longer prison terms.

Although work on the new guidelines for judges started a number of years ago, the changes follow a series of high-profile sex offence cases, which have had an impact on attitudes towards sex crimes.

Revelations about disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile saw high numbers of sex attack victims come forward, while cases involving grooming gangs in Rochdale and Oxford raised questions about social care and attitudes to victims.

Covering more than 50 crimes including rape, child sex offences and trafficking, the official guidance places more emphasis on the long-term and psychological impact on victims than the previous 2004 guidelines it will replace next year.

It also brings in higher starting points for sentences for some offences, such as rape, which will now have a starting point of 15 years for top-category sentences.

Other significant changes include the removal of "ostensible consent" from the guidance, that is, the idea that a child over 13 can agree to sex, while greater emphasis will be placed on grooming by individuals and gangs.

Sentencing Council chairman Lord Justice Treacy said: "This guideline will make real changes to the way offenders are sentenced for these very serious, sensitive and complex offences.

"It will help judges and magistrates sentence in a way which protects our communities from this kind of offending and the suffering it causes."

The new guidance also takes into account the increased use of technology in sex offending since the previous guidelines were issued.

In many of the offences, a new aggravating factor is "recording the crime", as filming and photographing victims has become more common.

Due to the growth in online offending, the council has included offending committed remotely, such as via a webcam, when dealing with offences like sexual activity with a child.

Judges will also have to take into account aspects such as offenders lying about their age, grooming via social media or asking children to share indecent photos of themselves.

The guidelines, which will come into effect next April, are the largest and most complex produced by the council and were drawn up after a consultation with victims groups, judges, magistrates, lawyers, the police, NGOs, the Government, academics, medical practitioners and the wider public.

Barnardo's deputy director of strategy Alison Worsley said: "The publication of this new sentencing guideline will help to ensure the focus is on the perpetrator and not the victim."

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: "It is important that sentencing reflects the severe damage caused by highly manipulative and devious sex offenders, who may use positions of trust or celebrity status to target children.

"Increasingly technology is playing a part in the way offenders seek out and groom children, who may attempt suicide or self-harm as a result of their abuse.

"It is right that the guidelines reflect the harm caused and the people who cause this misery feel the full weight of the law.

"The outdated view that children can in some way be complicit in their abuse must be stamped out. The new guidance is a step in the right direction towards addressing this terrible myth."

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Boots: Baby Medicine Pulled Over Plastic Fears

Boots has recalled specific batches of cold and cough medicines for small children after it identified a possible fault during manufacturing.

The retail giant issued a precautionary recall last month asking patients to return specific medicines purchased since September 2013.

But it has now extended the scope of the original recall to include further batches, and is asking people to return all batches of specific paracetamol, gripe mixture and cough and cold medicines.

The recall comes after a possible fault was identified in the manufacturing process of the tamper seals which could result in small pieces of plastic getting into the liquid medicines.

There is no evidence of people suffering problems as a result of the fault, Boots has said.

Adam Burgess, head of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) Defective Medicines Reporting Centre said the move was precautionary.

He said: "This is a precautionary recall by Boots and there is a low risk of plastic being found in bottles.

"There is currently no evidence that people have had any problems with these medicines.

"People should check their medicine cupboards at home and return these products to Boots."

Boots is offering customers a refund if they return the medicines.

They include:

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Chesty Cough Relief 100mg/5ml Oral Solution, PL 00014/0554

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Dry Cough Relief Oral Solution, PL 00014/0550

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Mucus Cough Relief 100mg/5ml Oral Solution, PL 00014/0554

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Paracetamol 6 years Plus 250mg/5ml Oral Solution 200ml, PL 00014/0619

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Paracetamol 6 Years Plus 250mg/5ml Suspension 100ml PL 00014/0619

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Ibuprofen 3 Months plus 100mg/5ml Oral suspension Strawberry flavour, PL 00014/0652

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Tickly Cough Relief Oral Solution PL 00014/0550

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Paracetamol 3 Months Plus 120mg/5ml Suspension 100ml PL 00014/0638

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Paracetamol 3 Months Plus 120mg/5ml Suspension 200ml PL 00014/0660

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Cough Syrup 3 Months Plus PL 00014/0500

:: Boots Pharmaceuticals Gripe Mixture 1 Month Plus PL 00014/5236

:: Anyone with questions can contact their local Boots store or the Boots customer care on 0800 915 0004.

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Bond Composer's Daughter Kate Barry Dies

Kate Barry, the daughter of James Bond composer John Barry and actress Jane Birkin, has died after falling from her Paris apartment.

Police said the 46-year-old photographer was found on Wednesday and investigations into her death are ongoing.

It is believed that anti-depressants were found and that the front door was locked.

Her famous parents separated the year of her birth in 1967 and she was brought up until her teenage years by Birkin and her partner, French singer Serge Gainsbourg.

Her father, John Barry, who composed 11 of the James Bond soundtracks, died in 2011.

She was also the half-sister of the actress Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Barry's photos were featured in British Vogue and the Sunday Times magazine, and were recently in an exhibition in Paris.

She also set up an addiction treatment centre outside Paris after previously struggling with drink and drugs when she was a teenager.

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Damien Hirst Works Of Art Stolen From Gallery

Two signed Damien Hirst works of art worth more than £30,000 have been stolen from a gallery in London, Scotland Yard has said.

The pieces were stolen from the Exhibitionist Gallery in Notting Hill in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police say a suspect forced open the front doors of the gallery and drove the items away in a dark-coloured hatchback-type vehicle towards Ladbroke Grove.

The stolen pieces feature the artist's recognisable multi-coloured dots and are signed.

The larger of the two is called Pyronin Y. It was created in 2005 and is worth £15,000.

The second work is entitled Oleoylsarcosine and was created in 2008. It is worth £18,000.

Hirst first came to fame with his formaldehyde shark

"It appears the suspect has specifically targeted the two pieces," said Detective Sergeant Jon Lightfoot, from Kensington and Chelsea Borough.

"The items would have been visible in the back of the car and we are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to please come forward."

Hirst was awarded the Turner Prize in 1995.

His more recent works include Verity, a 66ft bronze-plated statue of a pregnant, naked woman wielding a sword, unveiled on Ilfracombe harbour in north Devon last October.

The artist rose to fame first as part of a group known as the Young British Artists and is probably best known for a series of works in which he preserved animals in formaldehyde, including a shark and a sheep.

Pyronin Y is 103cm x 116cm and valued at £15,000

His solo show at Tate Modern last year was the most popular in the gallery's history, with around 463,000 visitors queuing to see exhibits including a diamond-encrusted human skull called For The Love Of God.

Hirst's commercial success is not always matched by critical acclaim and he has been criticised by other artists, including fellow Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry who described Hirst's work as "hackneyed" and "tatty".

The potter, known for his cross-dressing, said the "phenomenally successful" Hirst was playing "a good game".

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious Acquisitive Crime Unit at Notting Hill Police Station on 020 8246 0230 or, to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Fog Causes Heathrow Flight Cancellations

Heavy fog in southern and eastern England has disrupted flights and created hazardous driving conditions for commuters.

Heathrow Airport cancelled 52 incoming and outgoing flights on Wednesday morning.

The Met Office had warned of visibility of less than 50 metres on some of the region's roads.

A murky view over Westminster and the Houses of Parliament

Sky News' Harriet Hadfield, in west London, said there were reports of "almost no visibility" during the rush hour on motorways such as the M25.

London's City Airport also experienced disruption to inbound and outbound flights, with eight out of 10 flights cancelled or delayed.

By late morning, sunshine began to break through the London fog

Among the services axed were British Airways flights to Zurich, Glasgow and Dusseldorf.

Gatwick operated normally but there were delays and cancellations at Southampton Airport, with no aircraft able to land.

The flight problems follow last Saturday's major disruption at all airports after difficulties at the headquarters of air traffic control company Nats.

The Met Office issued a 'yellow' fog warning

Ferry services were also affected by the fog, with delays to Wightlink Ferries - which operates routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Customers are being advised to check company websites to get the latest information before travelling.

The fog, which extended to the East Midlands and East Anglia, was thinning in most places by late morning with sunshine breaking through in parts of Kent, Suffolk and London.

:: For the latest weather forecasts watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202

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Dog Attack: Leeds Mother Dies From Injuries

A mother-of-four has died after she was attacked by dogs.

Emma Bennett died on Tuesday evening after suffering serious bite injuries in an incident at a house in Dawlish Avenue in the Osmondthorpe district of Leeds.

It was reported that the attack on Monday afternoon happened while the 27-year-old was suffering an epileptic fit.

She reportedly lived in the house with her boyfriend and an American pitbull and Staffordshire bull terrier.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Two dogs were seized following the incident and police enquiries remain ongoing this evening.

"Officers would like to speak to anybody who has information about the incident and the dogs involved in it.

"Anyone who has information should contact Protective Services at West Yorkshire Police on 101."

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post after the attack, one neighbour said: "It is usually quiet here.

"It is just not the kind of thing that happens around here."

Earlier, police said the injured woman had been taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

Officers responded to reports that a woman was "in distress" at the address in Dawlish Avenue.

The force added: "One dog which got loose from the property was contained by officers in Back Dawlish Road and recovered. Another was safely removed from the address a short time later."

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Sian Green Sues Over New York Taxi Accident

A British tourist who lost part of her leg when a taxi jumped a kerb and hit her in New York has launched a $27.5m (£16.7m) damages claim against the city.

Sian Green filed a notice of claim in November over the incident, which happened at the Rockefeller Center. 

The 24-year-old's lawyer Daniel Marchese said other parties could also face lawsuits.

Ms Green's city claim says the taxi driver's yellow cab licence should have been suspended before the August 20 accident because he had prior driving violations.

New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission has claimed a computer problem, which has since been fixed, was to blame.

Doctors had to amputate the lower part of Ms Green's left leg after she was hit while sightseeing with a friend.

Ms Green was "dismayed" that the taxi driver would not be facing charges

She spent four weeks in a New York hospital following her accident, also sustaining cuts to her right leg.

Immediately after the crash, quick-thinking plumber David Justino used his belt as a tourniquet, tying it around Ms Green's leg, earning praise from medics.

He was also recognised by US celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, who had been filming scenes for his television show nearby and rushed to help.

In November, Ms Green was "incredibly dismayed" to learn that cabbie Mohammed Fasyal Himon, who has said the accident was not his fault, would not be facing criminal charges.

The city's Law Department said it would review her damages claim.

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Cameron: 11% MPs' Pay Rise Is Unacceptable

David Cameron has said an 11% pay rise for MPs is unacceptable and warned the parliamentary watchdog to reconsider the hike.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Mr Cameron warned that if Ipsa forged ahead with its plans for the increase he was "ruling nothing out".

His comments suggested that if the parliamentary watchdog, which was brought in following the MPs' expenses scandal and which has responsibility for setting politicians pay, he would be willing to consider abolishing the body.

Ipsa is expected to recommend on Thursday that MPs' pay increases by £7,600 to £74,000. The rise would come into effect in May 2015.

It comes as all other public sector workers have seen their pay capped at 1%.

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Bolton House Fire: Inquiry After Three Die

Police and the fire service are investigating after three people died in a house fire.

Two bodies were recovered from the semi-detached property in the Heaton area of Bolton, Greater Manchester, while a woman was taken to hospital but died a short time later from burns.

Next-door neighbour Maria Taylor, 48, said she was woken by the sound of fire engines and then heard smashing glass as firefighters broke in to gain access to the property.

She said: "There were some flames inititally and then a lot of smoke coming from the kitchen area. It was going up the stairwell, up to the landing.

The property was cordoned off as investigators conducted examinations.

"An ambulance then arrived and a body was brought out. They were doing CPR on the person in the garden at the front."

She said she knew the couple who lived there as Mona and Hassan and thought they had two children who were away at university.

"They were a lovely, lovely family," she said: "They have lived here for about 10 years. I don't know them well but we would always say hello to each other and exchange pleasantries.

"I think they were Iranian. They have been trying to sell their house for quite a while - I think they wanted to downsize after the children left home."

Another neighbour said he believed an elderly relative had been staying with the couple.

Bolton Mayor Colin Shaw, who lives in Albert Road West, said: "I am absolutely shocked. We only live down a few doors down the road.

"At about 3.15am the police came and told me what had happened. I understood there was one fatality at the time, so I'm shocked it's now three."

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are trying to establish the cause of the blaze which began early this morning.

A spokesman for GMP said: "Just before 2.20am, police were called by the fire service following a blaze at a house on Albert Road West, Heaton, Bolton.

"A woman was taken to hospital but died a short time later of burns. 

"Following a search of the house, a further two bodies were discovered. 

"The flames have since been extinguished.

"A joint investigation has now been launched between police and fire to establish how the fire started and to identify the bodies."

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Northumberland Wins Dark Sky Park Protection

A swathe of Northumberland's night sky has been granted special protection in a move set to boost tourism from stargazing visitors in the remote part of England.

In recognition of the quality of its spectacular cosmic vista, around 580 square miles of the North East countryside has secured dark sky status, making it the largest such area in Europe.

The US-based International Dark Skies Association (IDA) has granted Gold Tier Dark Sky Park status to the combined areas of Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park, between Hadrian's Wall and the Scottish border.

The special designation means the spread of light pollution will be halted, with people encouraged to fit more sophisticated outdoor lighting to homes.

The night sky needs protecting says impressionist and stargazer Jon Culshaw

The new zone - which will be called the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park - is the first of its kind in England and one of the largest in the world, joining the likes of Death Valley and Big Bend Dark Sky Parks in America.

Gold tier designation is the highest accolade that the IDA can bestow.

It is set to prove popular among astronomers seeking to escape the glare of the city.

The bid for protected status has taken two years, and has been spearheaded by Northumberland National Park Authority, Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust and Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society.

TV impressionist Jon Culshaw, an amateur astronomer, said: "It's a sad thought that such genuinely dark sky sites are becoming increasingly rare.

"We must value them, preserve them and ensure they can be enjoyed by as many visitors as possible who may take in the majesty of a spectacularly non-light polluted night sky."

The area of English countryside joins the likes of Death Valley in the US

Elisabeth Rowark, chair of the Northumberland Dark Skies Working Group and director of the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, said: "We do not want to turn off the lights, but rather encourage better lighting using the latest technology."

Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal for England, said: "It is important to ensure that there will be somewhere in England where young people can fully enjoy a cosmic panorama."

Councillor John Riddle, chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: "This move will reclaim the night and protect this rich legacy for future generations."

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Spot-Fixing Claims: Footballer Among Six Held

Blackburn Rovers striker DJ Campbell has been arrested as part of a football spot-fixing investigation, his club has confirmed.

The 32-year-old is one of six people detained in an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), after it acted on information passed on by the Sun on Sunday newspaper.

In a statement, Blackburn Rovers FC said: "Following reports in today's national media, Blackburn Rovers can confirm that striker DJ Campbell has been arrested.

The claims were made in the Sun on Sunday

"The club will be making no further comment on what is now an ongoing legal matter."

The six in custody were arrested in connection with a second probe into football spot-fixing following claims that a player rigged a football league game for cash.

The Sun on Sunday reported that an undercover investigator met ex-Portsmouth defender Sam Sodje, who allegedly said he could arrange a yellow card booking in the Football League, in exchange for tens of thousands of pounds.

The former Premier League player and Nigerian international also allegedly told how he punched an opponent in the groin during a game earlier this year to get sent off in exchange for a £70,000 payout.

He further claimed he could rig Premier League games, and even said he was preparing to fix matches at next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Another player, Oldham Athletic's Cristian Montano, also allegedly told how he attempted to get booked during a match against Wolves, in return for cash.

Ex-Portsmouth defender Sam Sodje is filmed by an undercover reporter

The ex-West Ham player said: "From minute one I was hacking people down.

"People running past me and I would go clip.

"I run against one player and barged him."

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey, said: "We treat any allegations of criminal activity in our competitions with the utmost seriousness.

"Given that there is an ongoing police investigation into this matter, we cannot comment further at this time.

"Although, we would encourage anyone with any evidence to report it to the police.

The National Crime Agency is investigating separate fixing claims

"We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation."

The NCA said an active investigation is now under way.

A spokesman said: "The NCA can confirm that the Sun on Sunday has passed material from its own investigation to the National Crime Agency.

"An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission. Six people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage."

In a statement, Portsmouth Football Club said: "If these serious allegations are true, then we are extremely shocked and saddened by them, as match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game.

"The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would cooperate fully with any inquiry."

The new probe comes after the NCA announced at the end of last month that it had launched a separate investigation into "a suspected international illegal betting syndicate".

Gambling on the matches is thought to have taken place on Asian-based betting services and so far investigators to do not believe British betting markets are involved.

That inquiry was launched after an undercover investigation by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which recorded one alleged fixer offering to rig two games.

It is understood to involve clubs in the English Football Conference, the level below the Football League.

On Thursday, the NCA revealed that two footballers from Brighton-based Conference South team Whitehawk FC had been charged over match-fixing allegations.

Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22 and from the Croydon area of south London, were charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.

The two men have been bailed to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on December 11.

They are the third and fourth people charged to date in connection with the NCA investigation into the alleged international illegal betting syndicate.

Chann Sankaran, 33, from Hastings, East Sussex, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, from Singapore, were charged on November 28 with plotting to defraud bookmakers.

Both were remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on December 13.

Sky News sports presenter Charlie Thomas said the two NCA investigations were being carried out separately.

He added: "This is a situation that football has been fearing and had hoped it had nothing to do with football at all, but now it appears it is encroaching on the league as well as the non-league."

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Woolwich: 'I Am A Soldier And This Is A War'

One of the men accused of murdering off-duty soldier Lee Rigby has told the Old Bailey he is a "soldier" fighting a war.

Michael Adebolajo also spoke of his "love" for al Qaeda, telling the court he considers members of the terrorist group to be his "brothers".

Mr Adebolajo began giving evidence at the Old Bailey, dressed in black and surrounded by five security guards.

The soldier's relatives sat feet away as the defendant spoke to the court.

He and Michael Adebowale, 22, are accused of murdering Fusilier Rigby by running him down with a car and then hacking him to death with a meat cleaver and knives near Woolwich Barracks in south east London on May 22.

Asked directly for his defence to the charge of murder, Adebolajo told the jury: "I am a soldier. I am a soldier of Allah and I understand that some people might not recognise this because we do not wear fatigues and we don't go to the Brecon Beacons to train.

"But we are still soldiers."

He told his councel David Gottlieb that he considered al Qaeda to be "Mujahideen".

He said: "I love them, they're my brothers. I have never met them. I consider them my brothers in Islam."

Mr Adebolajo said he had been raised as a Christian by his parents, but grew frustrated with family visits to church and converted to Islam in his first year at the University of Greenwich.

He said that he held former Prime Minister Tony responsible for the death of one of his childhood friends who had become a soldier but was killed by an IED blast in Iraq.

Mr Adebolajo told the court that he took the name Mujahid, meaning fighter, in 2002 or 2003.

He told the court that the 2003 invasion of Iraq - particularly the "shock and awe" bombing campaign launched by the US - had been a big influence on him.

He said: "Growing up I never did think of killing a man. This is not the type of thing that the average child thinks of and I was no different.

"When a soldier joins the Army he perhaps has in his head an understanding that he will kill a man at some stage. When I became a mujahid I was aware that perhaps I might end up killing a soldier."

Mr Adebolajo, 28, and his co-defendant Michael Adebowale, 22, deny murdering Fusilier Rigby, attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder.

The trial continues.

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Mandela Memorial: Four British PMs To Attend

SA Prepares For Leaders' Arrival

Updated: 7:24am UK, Monday 09 December 2013

By Emma Hurd, Sky News Correspondent

South Africa is preparing for the arrival of scores of world leaders as the official mourning continues for Nelson Mandela.

Some 60 heads of state have confirmed their attendance at this week's memorial events, including US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

They will be joined by former US presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and their wives.

Prime Minister David Cameron will attend the main memorial service on Tuesday, while Prince Charles will represent Britain at Sunday's state funeral.

The leaders of France, Australia, Germany, Canada, Spain, Brazil and a host of other nations will also fly into the country.

Celebrities, including Bono, Oprah Winfrey and Sir Richard Branson are also expected to head to South Africa to pay their personal tributes to the man they considered a friend.

Later today, a special joint session of parliament will be held in Cape Town to allow South African politicians from all political parties to mark the passing of the nation's first black president.

President Jacob Zuma has urged the country to remember the values of peace and forgiveness that Mr Mandela lived by and uphold them.

His sentiments were echoed by the anti-apartheid icon's family, who released a statement calling for South Africans to "keep the dream alive".

On Tuesday, the focus will shift back to Johannesburg where a huge memorial service is due to take place at the FNB Stadium, the scene of Nelson Mandela's last public appearance ahead of the 2010 World Cup Final.

Some 80,000 people are expected to attend the event, including President Obama, his wife Michelle and other visiting dignitaries.

From Wednesday, Mr Mandela's body will "lie in state" in Pretoria at the Union Buildings where he governed as president between 1994 and 1999.

A funeral cortege carrying the icon's remains will pass through the capital daily until Friday, with South Africans being urged to line the streets to form a "guard of honour".

The state funeral will take place in Mr Mandela's ancestral homeland of Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

It is still not clear whether President Obama will still be in the country, but many other world leaders are expected to travel to the usually sleepy rural village to join Mr Mandela's family, friends and former comrades in bidding farewell to the revered statesman as he makes his final journey home.

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Poverty Report: Hard Work Is Not Paying Off

For the first time, there are more people in working families living below the poverty line (6.7 million) than in workless and retired families combined (6.3 million), a report has found.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that almost 13 million Britons are now living in poverty, having suffered a "sustained" and "unprecedented" fall in their living standards.

The social policy research charity found people remaining in poverty despite moving in and out of work, with some facing "very severe hardship".

At the same time the study finds that the support on offer to people who fall on hard times is "increasingly threadbare".

The report found that job insecurity is common for millions of people, with one in six of the workforce claiming Jobseekers' Allowance at some point in the last two years.

There have also been big shifts in terms of which groups are experiencing poverty: the largest group in poverty are working age adults without dependent children - 4.7 million people are in this situation, the highest on record. Pensioner poverty is at its lowest level for 30 years.

Not all of the findings are negative. There has been an improvement in the labour market with falling unemployment and underemployment, and, over the longer term, improvements in health and education outcomes.

Young adult unemployment has peaked at 21%, and unemployment among the whole population has begun to fall.

The number of people underemployed - ether unemployed, economically inactive and wanting work or working part time but wanting a full time job - fell by 100,000 over the last year.

One of the author's of the report, Dr Peter Kenway, told Sky News: "People are hard hit everywhere. It remains the case that young adults are on low incomes, but more than half of people who are low paid are above the age of 30.

"This is not a phenomenon of people who are at the start of their working lives. We've got people who are really hard-pressed and unable to progress."

Julia Unwin, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's chief executive, added: "This research shows millions of people are moving in and out of work but rarely out of poverty.

"Hard work is not working. We have a labour market that lacks pay and protection, with jobs offering precious little security and paltry wages that are insufficient to make ends meet."

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UKIP Politician In 'Send Them Back' Video

UKIP has again become embroiled in controversy after one of its politicians was caught on camera saying immigrants should be sent home.

Victoria Ayling, 54, who defected from the Conservatives in March, made the comments in a 20-minute video seen by The Mail on Sunday newspaper.

She talks about restricting the numbers of foreigners entering Britain, and then between takes, adds: "I just want to send the lot back, but I can't say that."

Mrs Ayling - a Lincolnshire County councillor and deputy leader of the local UKIP party - then jokes that the inflammatory remark may one day come back to haunt her.

"(It could be used for) some future get back at me. Bribery, blackmail - we need the blackmail music don't we."

Mrs Ayling hit the headlines earlier this year when she confronted David Cameron during the Tory conference and told him she was leaving the party.

It is the latest in a string of controversies for UKIP after MEP Godfrey Bloom sparked fury when he referred to "Bongo Bongo Land" and then resigned from the party for calling female activists "sluts".

UKIP leader Nigel Farage described Mrs Ayling's comments as "slightly odd".

He told The Mail on Sunday: "I have met her two or three times and I have discussed policy at length before accepting her into the party.

"I had no reason to believe she held views that were extreme or inconsistent with ours. While this comment looks odd and unpleasant there may be a context here that is slightly different to the way it appears."

Godfrey Bloom resigned from UKIP after his 'sluts' comment

Mrs Ayling's husband, Rob, from whom she has since divorced, helped shoot the footage in 2008 to promote her political career.

At one point, she says: "We must basically repatriate those that shouldn't be here. That's not quite policy yet. Maybe I should soften it a bit." She then added: "OK. Send them back."

Her ex-husband is then heard to mutter: "National Front."

She replies: "Multiculturalism is dead, I'm allowed to say that, but maybe Britishness is waving the National Front flag a bit."

Mrs Ayling told the paper she stood by her comments. She said they had been taken out of context because she was only referring to illegal immigrants.

"It is nothing different from what the Home Secretary is advocating now any way. And the blackmail music is from a Monty Python sketch. I don't think there is anything there that can be seen as offensive or politically incorrect," she said.

In an official statement, a UKIP spokesperson said: "These comments were made five years ago when Ms Ayling was a Conservative candidate. Off the cuff remarks have been deliberately miscontrued.

"We believe, and she assures us, that these comments refer to the status of illegal entrants to the UK.

"We cannot comment on material made while she was a Conservative candidate but we believe her to be a good councillor and upstanding citizen and will support her through this."

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Iraq Deaths: UK Troops To Face 11 Inquiries

British troops are facing 11 separate inquiries into their conduct in Iraq following a ruling by the High Court, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The "semi-inquests" will be held into cases of 11 Iraqi civilians who died in UK custody after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Each of the hearings will take an average of three months and the total cost to the taxpayer will be £2m, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

They follow an increasing amount of legal scrutiny being turned on the Armed Forces in the wake of the case of Sgt Alexander Blackman, the Royal Marine sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison for murdering a wounded Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan.

There have been calls for his sentence to be reduced or quashed over fears he would need special protection in prison because of the danger he will be attacked by Islamists.

One in three people (35%) believes he should serve no jail time at all, according to a poll by the Mail on Sunday.

Another 23% believe he should do five years, 20% are in favour of 10 years, while 22% think he should be imprisoned for more than 10 years.

One in three believes Blackman should serve no jail time, says a poll

Commenting on the poll, Sir Gerald Howarth, a former defence minister and current MP for army garrison town Aldershot, said he agreed the sentence was too harsh.

"The highest standard of discipline must be maintained in the Armed Forces and this man obviously committed an offence," Sir Gerald told the MoS. "But 10 years is too much. Five years would be more appropriate."

But former Lib Dem leader and ex-Royal Marine Lord Ashdown said he was content with the judge's decision.

An order banning the naming of Blackman, 39, was lifted by High Court judges after he was found guilty at a court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire.

Former senior officers and MPs reacted against that decision, amid claims he may need protection from Islamists in prison, the Sunday Telegraph said.

Lord West of Spithead, a former first lord of the Admiralty, said: "This is a man who has put his life on the line many times. I am not sure due account has been taken of this."

Blackman shot the Afghan, who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter, in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol.

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Air Traffic Control Glitch Delays Continue

Dozens of passengers have been forced to spend the night in airports after an air traffic control glitch caused major delays across the UK and Ireland.

The now-fixed computer problem spread chaos throughout Britain's airports as hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled, creating disruption for thousands of passengers.

While the disruption is likely to have a knock-on effect today, the three main London airports predicted a largely trouble-free day.

At Heathrow, eight arrivals and four departures were cancelled. At Gatwick, there were three delayed flights but "no significant disruptions". Stansted confirmed a normal flight schedule but advised passengers to check with their airlines before setting out.

The National Air Traffic Service (Nats) is investigating the glitch which it said was fixed at 7.30pm on Saturday night.

Passengers bedded down at Heathrow Airport

The firm said the computerised telephone system, which air traffic controllers use to handle flights, failed to switch correctly from night time to day time mode.

It meant they had to carry out the process manually, leading to 8% of all air traffic in Europe - around 1,300 flights - being delayed.

The problem occurred when the 23 controllers on a night shift at Swanwick, in Hampshire, handed over to the 125 controllers on the day shift at 6am on Saturday morning.

Nats' control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire

Nats said that by 4pm they had handled 2,576 flights compared with the 2,905 flights that were dealt with at the same time last week, meaning they were operating at about 88% of normal capacity.

Ryanair called for action to prevent it happening again.

In a statement, the airline said: "Ryanair is calling on the Civil Aviation Authority to intervene and prevent further chaos for thousands of passengers affected by this ATC failure. While we acknowledge problems can occur, where is the contingency? It's simply not good enough and the CAA needs to act now."

Heathrow Airport was the worst affected, with 228 cancellations - 112 arrivals and 116 departures - on Saturday.

Flight misery at Heathrow's Terminal 5

A spokesman for the airport said the cancellations represented 15% of their usual daily total of 1,300 flights going in and out of the airport.

Many passengers expressed their anger on Twitter and spoke of "chaotic scenes" at airports.

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Football Spot-Fixing Claims: Three In Custody

Three people are in custody and being questioned by police in connection over football spot-fixing allegations.

The  National Crime Agency, which is working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission, confirmed it had launched its investigation after being contacted by the Sun on Sunday.

As part of its investigation, the Sun on Sunday recorded footage that appears to show players allegedly arranging spot-fixing.

Ex-Portsmouth defender Sam Sodje allegedly claimed he could arrange a yellow card booking in the Football League, in exchange for tens of thousands of pounds.

The former Premier League player and Nigerian international also allegedly told how he punched an opponent in the groin during a game earlier this year to get sent off in exchange for a £70,000 payout.

The Sun on Sunday

And he claimed he could rig Premier League games, and even said he was preparing to fix matches at next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Another player, Cristian Montano, for Oldham Athletic appears to explain in the video how he attempted to get booked during a match against Wolves, in return for cash.

The ex-West Ham player said: "From minute one I was hacking people down.

"People running past me and I would go clip.

"I run against one player and barged him."

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey, said: "We treat any allegations of criminal activity in our competitions with the utmost seriousness.

"Given that there is an ongoing police investigation into this matter, we cannot comment further at this time.

"Although, we would encourage anyone with any evidence to report it to the police.

"We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation."

The NCA said an active investigation is now under way.

The National Crime Agency is investigating separate fixing claims

A spokesman said: "Three people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage."

In a statement, Portsmouth Football Club said: "If these serious allegations are true, then we are extremely shocked and saddened by them, as match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game.

"The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would cooperate fully with any inquiry."

The new probe comes after the NCA announced at the end of last month that it had launched a separate investigation into "a suspected international illegal betting syndicate".

Gambling on the matches is thought to have taken place on Asian-based betting services and so far investigators to do not believe British betting markets are involved.

That inquiry was launched after an undercover investigation by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which recorded one alleged fixer offering to rig two games.

It is understood to involve clubs in the English Football Conference, the level below the Football League.

On Thursday, the NCA revealed that two footballers from Brighton-based Conference South team Whitehawk FC had been charged over match-fixing allegations.

Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22 and from the Croydon area of south London, were charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.

The two men have been bailed to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on December 11.

They are the third and fourth people charged to date in connection with the NCA investigation into the alleged international illegal betting syndicate.

Chann Sankaran, 33, from Hastings, East Sussex, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, from Singapore, were charged on November 28 with plotting to defraud bookmakers.

Both were remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on December 13.

Sky News sports presenter Charlie Thomas said both NCA investigations were being carried out separately.

He added: "This is a situation that football has been fearing and had hoped it had nothing to do with football at all, but now it appears it is encroaching on the league as well as the non-league."

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