Madeleine McCann Parents In Court Setback

A request by Madeleine McCann's parents to give evidence at a Portuguese libel trial over a book by a former local police chief has been rejected, according to a family source.

Kate and Gerry McCann are suing Goncalo Amaral over claims he made in The Truth of the Lie, which they say damaged the hunt for their missing daughter and greatly added to their anguish.

The McCanns are also taking legal action against his publisher and the makers of a documentary based on the book.

They had wanted to testify in the court case, which is taking place in Lisbon.

Goncalo Amaral at the launch of his book in 2008

But a family source said permission had been refused ahead of the next hearing date, which is on Tuesday.

The couple are said to be disappointed by the decision, and their lawyer Isabel Duarte is likely to appeal against the judge's decision.

An application by Mr Amaral to give evidence is also understood to have been turned down.

Mr McCann's sister Trish Cameron told the court last October that the family's pain over Madeleine's disappearance was "multiplied 100 times" by the book, while the trial previously heard how Mrs McCann had considered suicide in the aftermath of its publication in 2008.

Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in 2007

Madeleine's mother travelled to Lisbon at the start of the trial, and her husband has attended several times in the hope of being able to give evidence.

Madeleine, who was then nearly four, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3, 2007, as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant with friends.

British detectives launched a fresh investigation into the youngster's disappearance in July this year - two years into a review of the case - and made renewed appeals on television in the UK, the Netherlands and in Germany.

After shelving their inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance in 2008, Portuguese authorities said in October that a review had uncovered enough new information to justify reopening it.

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Mark Denton: Two Men Charged With Murder

Two men have been charged with the murder of Mark Denton, who died from serious injuries in Hartlepool on New Year's Eve.

The pair, aged 21 and 23, will appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court today, said a statement from Cleveland Police.

A 17-year-old has been released without charge.

Police said Mr Denton had been at a party in Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, on December 31.

Officers cordoned off the property on New Year's Day to carry out a forensic examination.

Police cordoned off a house in Hartlepool on New Year's Day

Mr Denton's family said his death had left them "devastated and heartbroken".

A statement said: "He was a loving uncle, brother, son and boyfriend and he will be sadly missed by everyone.

"Our hearts will never heal from the loss of Mark, he was a larger than life character and our loss is immeasurable."

Mr Denton is understood to be have been a promising middleweight amateur boxer when he was younger and was well-known in the local boxing community.

A Facebook page has been set up in tribute to him.

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Riot Payouts: Victims 'Failed By PM And Mayor'

Labour has accused David Cameron and Boris Johnson of breaking promises to more than 130 victims of the London riots who have made compensation claims but are yet to receive a single penny.

The Opposition said of all the claims, less than 16% of the requested cash has been paid out more than two years after violence and looting broke out across the capital.

Shadow home office minister Steve Reed, who uncovered the figures through freedom of information requests to the police, claimed  the riot victims felt "abandoned and ignored by the Government and the Mayor of London".

"With the eyes of the country on him, David Cameron promised the victims of the riots they would not be forgotten and would not be left out of pocket," he said.

"It's disgraceful there are still residents and business owners in London facing financial hardship because they have received either too little compensation or nothing at all."

But a spokesman for Mr Johnson's mayoral office for policing and crime said it was "simply untrue to say that people are yet to receive a penny" following the violence.

A carpet showroom in Tottenham was among the buildings torched

"All of the outstanding claims are either funds owed to insurance companies, or to settle under-insured elements of claims," he said.

"Everyone who wasn't insured and made a valid claim has been paid, and over 96% of insured claims have been settled. Only the most complex cases remain.

"In the last year the number of outstanding claims has reduced by over two thirds. During the summer the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime met with a number of claimants and the insurance industry to hear their concerns and to help resolve the final issues around remaining cases, so that they are moved forward in a timely manner."

Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims Minister Damian Green said the Met police and the Mayor's office were "working hard to resolve" the outstanding claims "as quickly as possible".

He added: "In order to make sure the compensation is as quick and efficient as possible in future, the Home Secretary commissioned an independent review in to the Riot Damages Act, which made several recommendations. We will be launching a public consultation on next steps early this year."

The figures released by the Met showed 3,447 claims had been made by March 31, 2013, and 3,535 claims by November 6, 2013. By March 31, 2013, £250.1m had been claimed, and by November 6, 2013, claims had reached £299m.

Cash totals paid out by the Met Police were £35.8m(14.3%) on March 31, 2013, and £46.9m (15.7%) on November 6, 2013.

The total number of outstanding claims on November 6, 2013, was 133.

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Weather: Aberystwyth 'Damage' As Tides Hit UK

Flood warnings remain in place as parts of the UK were hit by high tides, causing widespread flooding and evacuations in coastal areas.

The main beach in Aberystwyth was "destroyed" as 6ft waves broke up paving slabs and slammed into buildings.

Around 100 people living close to the sea front were advised to move to higher ground, with many taking shelter in rest centres

Millie Farmer, 19, a second-year undergraduate at Aberystwyth University, said she had never seen anything like it before.

Barmouth sea front in west Wales also suffered extensive damage

She said: "There were six foot waves crashing on to the beach. It was scary - and quite exciting. It must be awful for people whose businesses and homes have been damaged.

"The promenade has been closed. North Beach has been completely destroyed. The slabs on the promenade have been uprooted."

Images taken on the seafront in the town showed paving slabs and tiles littering the road surface.

The town's university told its students it was deferring the start of examinations for a week because of the extreme conditions.

The worst affected area is the Severn Estuary

Not far away, rail lines in north Wales were left buckled by the power of the sea and a road collapsed in Amroth, Pembrokeshire.

High tides and large waves also flooded streets in Looe in Cornwall and Salcombe and Kingsbridge in Devon.

Harry Martin has not been seen since Thursday

Hundreds of homes have already been flooded inland across the UK as well after rivers from Cornwall to Scotland burst their banks.

The worst affected area is the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire where two of the three severe flood warnings - which indicate a risk to life - are in place.

The other severe warning is on the River Stour in Dorset which broke its banks in Christchurch on Friday.

The danger has been created by a combination of the effects of widespread heavy rain mixed with exceptionally high tides along the west of the UK.

Water levels at the part of the River Severn affected by tidal flows are approaching the highs of 2007 that left huge areas inundated.

The Environment Agency say that defences put in place after the 2007 floods are holding so far.

Forecasters warn the bad weather conditions will continue over the next few days, with many areas already saturated.

The south of England is still subject to dozens of flood warnings

Up to 30mm (1.25ins) of rain is forecast in south east England on Saturday and similar amounts on higher ground on Sunday.

On Friday, it emerged that Scotland had suffered its wettest December on record.

The Met Office has also revealed the month was the UK's "stormiest" (meaning it endured the largest number of Atlantic storms) since 1969.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Outbreaks of rain will push up from the south and spread northwards, but by this afternoon further rain will follow in behind, where it may linger across East Anglia and south-east England.

"Here we could see around 20-30mm of rain fall in just 6 hours, so the greatest risk of flooding will be across these areas.

Weather watchers risk a soaking at Westward Ho!, Devon. Pic: Chris Wileman

"Tomorrow more rain is expected from the south-west, spreading across most of the UK and the Republic of Ireland."

:: Send us your weather photos or video to news@sky.com or text your pictures to 84501. But don't take unnecessary risks.

Other areas that have been hit by the latest bout of flooding are the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, and parts of Dorset and Wales.

A major search is ongoing for an 18-year-old who has not been seen since he left his home to take pictures of the weather.

Harry Martin left his home in Membland, near Plymouth, at around midday on Thursday.

River Severn levels are reaching historic highs at Epney, Gloucestershire

Devon and Cornwall Police said Mr Martin was last seen walking towards the coastal path near his home.

Police, Coastguard, the RNLI and helicopters from the police and RNAS Culdrose are conducting extensive searches around the coast.

The Thames Barrier was shut for three hours on Saturday morning to prevent high tides causing widespread flooding.

Evacuation sirens were also sounded in Portland, near Weymouth, Dorset, due to a severe risk of flooding. Members of the public are understood to have been evacuated on Saturday.

A canoeist on Worcester racecourse. Pic by Dave Key

Homes in Newport, South Wales, were evacuated on Friday and rough seas caused part of a cliff at Rock-A-Nore, outside Hastings in East Sussex, to collapse.

Nearly 100 flood warnings remained in place across the UK.

Numerous transport services and routes have been hit by the storms.

Trains were cancelled in Wales and the south and south west of England and several roads and bridges close to the coast have been subject to restrictions.

Parts of Gloucestershire are underwater after the Severn's banks broke

Dozens of lower league football matches across the UK have been postponed because of the weather or water logged pitches.

The Government has been forced to deny claims that austerity cuts will hit flood defences - despite reports that hundreds of frontline jobs are being cut.

Belfast escaped major flooding on Friday, but similar weather conditions are forecast for Sunday and Monday and sandbag barriers along the Connswater River will remain in place.

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Mental Health Nurses In Police Stations Pilot

A £25m pilot scheme aimed at reducing reoffending by mentally ill criminals will place mental health nurses in police stations and courts.

Police officers spend an estimated 15% to 25% of their time dealing with mental health problems - the equivalent of around 26,000 officers.

But the pilot, which is to be tested in 10 areas across England, will mean that people with mental health problems will be treated "as early as possible".

Care and support minister Norman Lamb said identifying people with mental health needs who come into contact with the criminal justice system at the earliest possible stage will help to "divert" them away from offending again.

He said that "too often" criminals with mental health problems, learning difficulties or substance misuse issues are only diagnosed once they reach prison.

The majority of people who end up in prison have a mental health problem, a substance misuse problem or a learning disability, and one in four has a severe mental health illness such as depression or psychosis, a Department of Health spokeswoman said.

Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb (front) at a police station

According to the Mental Health Foundation, more than 70% of the prison population has two or more mental health disorders and the suicide rate in prisons is almost 15 times higher than in the general population

Over the next year, the money will be used to join up police and courts systems with mental health services in Merseyside, London, Avon and Wiltshire, Leicester, Sussex, Dorset, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, Coventry, south Essex and Wakefield.

Mentally ill people, as well as those with substance abuse problems and learning disabilities, will be assessed when they come into contact with police.

The information will be shared with officers and the courts system to ensure charging and sentencing decisions take into consideration a person's health needs, the spokeswoman said.

It will also mean treatment is given sooner which will help stop reoffending, she added.

Paul Jenkins, chief executive of charity Rethink Mental Illness, said: "All too often, the way our criminal justice system deals with people with mental health problems leads to poor outcomes for individuals, frustration from police officers, magistrates and others, and such a waste of resources as people are needlessly sent to prison through a failure to respond to some of the underlying issues in their lives.

"We welcome this initiative, which has the potential to stop people going unnecessarily to prison, reduce reoffending rates and save millions in taxpayers' money."

If the pilot is successful, the measure will be rolled out across the rest of the country by 2017.

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Robert Cerqua Charged With Murder Of Twin

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his identical twin brother in a fight on New Year's Eve.

Robert Cerqua, 31, is accused of inflicting serious injuries on his brother Christopher at the home they shared in Hythe, Hampshire, on Tuesday.

Police were called to the address in Langdown Road, Hythe, at 9pm.

Christopher Cerqua was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he died later.

Robert Cerqua was remanded in custody when he appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court.

He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Trevor Vidler, chairman of the magistrates' panel, asked him if he understood the charge, to which he replied "Yes".

Mr Vidler told him: "You are being sent for trial to the Crown Court and that first hearing will be on Monday.

"You will attend for that preliminary hearing and remain in custody until that date and time. Go with the officers, please."

He is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday.

The murder inquiry is being led by detectives from the Hampshire Major Investigation Team.

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A&E Visits: Third Of GPs Back £10 Charge

By David Crabtree, Sky News Correspondent

A third of GPs are in favour of making people pay if they make unnecessary visits to hard-pressed accident and emergency departments.

A new survey asked GPs whether people should pay £5 or £10 for each visit, with the money being refunded if their attendance was found to be justified.

The poll was carried out by the Press Association for Doctors.net.uk, an online network for doctors, and involved canvassing 800 GPs across England.

One in three (32%) family doctors said introducing patient fees for some visits would be the most cost effective way of cutting unnecessary A&E attendance.

Four in 10 (39%) said placing a GP surgery, with extended opening hours, adjacent to every emergency department would help reduce the numbers seeking A&E help and cut spiralling hospital admissions.

Another 11% thought more NHS walk-in centres would help ease the strain, while 8% believed that an improved 111 phone service - set up to replace NHS Direct - could provide the answer.

People using the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham were sceptical about paying for A&E.

George Price said: "It might stop people going because of the cost and others might think that paying a tenner was a good deal to be seen by an A&E doctor, it sounds like a bad idea to me."

Carole Bailey, who was visiting a relative, had reservations about how it would work.

She said: "Who is going to say someone is wasting their time?

"Most people who go must think they are really ill and where do you draw the line?"

Dr Tim Ringrose, chief executive of Doctors.net.uk, said: "It may be a clear departure from the traditional NHS vision, but many doctors are now saying that radical action has to be taken to reverse the 'free at the point of abuse' culture that is a key contributor to the current emergency care crisis in some areas."

Helen Stokes-Lampard, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "Charging patients for the use of emergency departments would put us on the slippery slope towards the Americanisation of healthcare - where only those who can afford it get the care and attention they need.

"Doctors have a duty to provide healthcare to patients regardless of their ability to pay.

"Patients seek healthcare when they are at their most vulnerable and if they attend A&E, it is usually because they don't know where else to turn.

"Emergency departments are really struggling but the way to solve the crisis is to adequately fund general practice, so that family doctors can provide more care for patients in the community.

"GPs conduct 90% of the NHS contacts for just 8.39% of the NHS budget.

"If general practice was better funded many people who are seen in emergency departments could be seen by a local GP."

The survey revealed the overwhelming majority believed changes announced by the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in November regarding GP contracts would do little to ease the pressure on A&E units.

It also found that three quarters of GPs (74%) disagreed that giving older people a named GP would cut the numbers ending up in A&E.

Just one in 10 doctors agreed this would help alleviate pressures on the system.

:: All next week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Libya: Briton 'Found Dead With Gun Wounds'

A British man has been found dead in western Libya, with reports suggesting he had suffered gunshot wounds.

The Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the tragic death of a British national in Libya. We stand ready to provide consular assistance."

A woman from New Zealand was found dead alongside the Briton, according to a Libyan security source.

The pair are said to have been found near the Mellitah oil and gas complex, about 60 miles west of Libyan capital Tripoli.

The complex is co-owned by Italian company Eni

Sky News Foreign Affairs correspondent Lisa Holland said: "There are reports that these two people were teachers which begs the question 'what were they doing in this area'.

"What we don't know at the moment is whether they were connected with the oil and gas complex."

She added that the deaths, along with the unrelated death of an American teacher a month ago, show "Libya is a very unstable, insecure place at the moment without a coherent police or army".

After the US teacher was shot dead in the eastern city of Benghazi, the Foreign Office said further attacks against Westerners were likely.

The Mellitah facility is co-owned by Italy's Eni and Libya's state-owned National Oil Corp (NOC).

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Nick Griffin: BNP Leader Declared Bankrupt

Nick Griffin, chairman of the British National Party, has said his bankruptcy will not prevent him from "being or standing as an MEP".

He insisted he would continue as a member of the European Parliament and run for re-election in May.

"This order will not prevent me fighting for the interests of the British people or leading the British National Party to a fresh round of electoral victories. It's of no political significance whatsoever," he said in a statement on the BNP website.

The MEP revealed he had been declared bankrupt on Twitter - and said he would use the experience to produce a leaflet on how to deal with debt.

He tweeted: "A note for all: Being bankrupt does NOT prevent me being or standing as an MEP. It does free me from financial worries. A good day!

"Party funds are not affected in any way. Our campaign in May will be our most professional yet & I will be lead candidate in the North West.

"I am now turning the experience to the benefit of hard-up constituents by producing a booklet on dealing with debt. No surrender!"

A listing at the Insolvency Service showed he was declared bankrupt at Welshpool and Newtown County Court on Thursday.

He had offered to pay 42p in the pound over five years to all his creditors. This was rejected by the petitioning creditor.

The politician will be automatically discharged from bankruptcy in one year, on January 2, 2015, in accordance with the Insolvency Act.

He was elected to represent the North West region of England in 2009.

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Weather: Flood Warnings As Tidal Surges Hit

Some roads are now under water and rivers have burst their banks as parts of the UK are deluged by further flooding.

At least eight severe flood warnings, which indicate a risk to life, were in place for England and Wales as heavy rain and strong winds, combined with exceptionally high tides, struck western parts.

:: Send us your weather photos or video to news@sky.com or text your pictures to 84501

Among the areas affected were the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Newport in South Wales as the latest violent storm swept in from the Atlantic.

Two of the severe warnings were for the South West, with three in Wales and three in the Midlands.

Over the next few hours, high tides will threaten coastal communities further north up to Liverpool and Belfast.

Further inland, the risk is that rivers - already swollen from weeks of rain -  will rise still further and burst their banks.

Eight severe flood warnings have been issued

Around 130 flood warnings (meaning flooding is expected) and 230 less serious alerts are also in place, affecting every region of England and Wales.

Flooding in Lynmouth, north Devon

The Thames Flood Barrier has been closed due to a high flow of water over Teddington Weir combined with a spring tide.

It is has also been announced that December 2013 was the wettest month in Scotland since records began in 1910.

In Cornwall, there has been flooding in areas including Penzance, Newquay, Looe and Polperro and there have been road closures. In Devon, towns including Kingsbridge and Salcombe were affected.

This was the scene in Kingsbridge, Devon. Pic: norsphoto/Twitter

But the situation in the two counties has been slightly better than was anticipated, according to the RNLI.

Spokesman Tom Mansell said: "There has been flooding in places like Looe, Kingsbridge and Salcombe but it is not as bad as we had been expecting."

He added a man in Cornwall had a "very lucky escape" when his car was swept away as he wave-watched.

There are around 130 flood warnings for England and Wales

"People think they are in a strong metal box but moving water on tarmac becomes very buoyant," he said.

One man in Penzance was evacuated from his home after it was "severely affected" by floods.

In Christchurch, Dorset, the River Stour burst its banks. Sky's Stephen Douglas at the scene said: "A number of homes have been evacuated so people are listening to the warnings hoping it doesn't get any worse than this."

In Burrowbridge, Somerset, the River Parrett burst its banks as did the River Severn in Minsterworth, Gloucestershire.

The scene in the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire

Some roads in Gloucestershire were "impassable" due to flooding, including in Tewkesbury.

In the South East, Yalding in Kent was deluged again overnight but not on the same scale as over Christmas, according to reports.

The unsettled conditions in the UK are expected to remain for the next few days, forecasters say.

Flooding in Salcombe, Devon. Pic: RNLI

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "We will continue to see the risk of further flooding as more rain falls on already saturated ground. However, this is not our only concern.

"Very strong winds today, combined with spring tides will bring big waves that could cause coastal flooding, mainly across western and southern coasts of the UK.

"The area most at risk today will be the south-west of England where the second high tide today will be during this evenings rush hour time.

Floods in Newport, South Wales

"Tonight the winds will ease, but rain is expected across southern parts of England and Wales by the morning. This rain will spread north on Saturday. On Sunday more rain will spread across all parts of the UK and next week remains unsettled with further downpours."

There are also suggestions that there may be snow across northern England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Saturday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 38 flood warnings for Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway, Skye and Lochaber, Tayside and West Central Scotland.

There are flood warnings all across the UK

In Northern Ireland, police have warned the docks area close to Belfast city centre could flood in a tidal surge later.

Residents of Sydenham in east Belfast had been told to pack a bag and prepare for potential evacuation. Sandbags were distributed to the public through the night while the authorities built up river defences.

But later, officers said the densely-packed neighbourhood may avoid "serious flooding".

Assessments for Londonderry, Killough, Newcastle, Newry, Larne and Strangford areas also showed a slightly reduced flood risk from what had previously been expected.

A train passes through the coast at Saltcoats in Scotland

In the Irish Republic, forecasters have issued a "status orange" weather warning, with gusts of up to 80mph hitting Connacht, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

High tides, strong winds and rainfall have caused flooding in parts of Cork, Galway, Salthill, Waterford, Tralee, Clare and Mayo, while the River Shannon has burst its banks in Limerick.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who will chair another emergency meeting later in London, said: "The Environment Agency and local authorities have teams on the ground monitoring the situation as it emerges.

"With a number of severe flood warnings still in place I urge everyone to follow the advice from the Environment Agency and police and to take every precaution."

A search for a 27-year-old man who was swept out to sea while celebrating the new year on the beach with friends near Porthleven, in Cornwall, was called off on Thursday after a body was found.

That came after a woman, thought to be on holiday with her family, died in the surf in north Devon.

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Rail Overcrowding: First Class May Be Axed

Rail Fare Rises Revealed By Route

Updated: 2:21am UK, Thursday 02 January 2014

The rise in rail fares depends on the route passengers are taking. Here are some examples.

ROUTE                                   JAN 2013   JAN 2014     PERCENTAGE

RISE

Leeds-Wakefield                    £964           £992             2.9%

Basingstoke-London              £3,952        £4,076          3.13%

Ramsgate-London                  £4,864        £5,012          3.04%

Folkestone Central -London   £4,836         £4,984          3.06%

Bedford-London                     £4,172         £4,300          3.07%

Sevenoaks-London                £3,112         £3,208          3.08%

Cheltenham Spa-London        £9,184        £9,468          3.09%

Deal-London                            £4,864          £5,012         3.04%

Woking-London                       £2,896         £2,980         2.9%

West Malling-London             £3,876         £3,996         3.1%

Guildford-London                    £3,224         £3,320         2.98%

Dover Priory-London             £4,864          £5,012          3.04%

Ludlow-Hereford                    £1,992         £2,032          2%

Morpeth-Newcastle               £1,008         £1,040           3.17%

Milton Keynes-London           £4,620          £4,772           3.29%

Tunbridge Wells- London      £4,132          £4,260           3.1%

Aylesbury-London                  £3,632          £3,732           2.75%

Hastings-London                   £4,304          £4,432           2.97%

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Jailed Terrorists Refuse To Change Beliefs

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

Almost three-quarters of those jailed for Islamist terror offences in the UK have rejected efforts to steer them away from extremism, Sky News has been told.

Sources said 110 of the country's 150 terrorist offenders, who are currently in prison or on parole, are resisting rehabilitation.

Analysts have told Sky News the security services will be faced with an increasing challenge trying to monitor those who retain extreme views once released.

The Government's counter-terrorism strategy, Contest, is aimed at encouraging extremists to re-examine their beliefs and choose a path of non-violence.

But experts say tackling the terrorist mindset is extremely challenging.

Many terrorism-related inmates are housed at Belmarsh prison

Dr Usama Hasan is a senior researcher in Islamic studies at the counter-extremist think tank, the Quilliam Foundation.

He said: "It shows the extent of the challenge that, 12 years after the 9/11 attacks in the US, you've still got the majority of these people not wanting to deal with any examination or discussion of their hardline ideas."

Whitehall sources have told Sky News that every single senior jihadist jailed in the UK in recent years has refused to engage with the anti-extremism programme.

They include the likes of Abdullah Ahmed Ali, who led a terror cell which planned to blow up airliners with liquid bombs.

It has been claimed the plot could have been more deadly than the 9/11 attacks. Ali and his fellow plotters were arrested and jailed in 2009.

Dr Hasan said it was not surprising that every senior terrorist figure had rejected overtures by prison authorities.

The Government is trying to get inmates to re-examine their beliefs

"If you look at their background and ideology, it is hardline jihadists' ideology which is the same as that of al Qaeda. 

"It is very fanatical, it's narrow minded, it's entrenched. It is absolutely certain that it is the correct world view and anybody who opposes it is its enemy and is the enemy of God.

"It's very difficult to change that view amongst such individuals."

Of the 150 people convicted of terrorist related offences in recent years, 40 have agreed to participate in the Government's anti-extremism programme.

The 40 are drawn from the ranks of those who were jailed for lesser offences - so-called foot soldiers.

Raffaello Pantucci, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said reaching such offenders remained extremely challenging for the authorities.

He said: "I think individuals who have pursued a path of radical extremist ideas are very difficult to persuade away from those ideas.

"I think trying to persuade them when they're within the context of a prison is understandably even harder.

"The news that around three-quarters of these individuals are not responding to Government attempts to reach out to them with deradicalisation programmes is certainly negative, but is not entirely surprising."

Around 30 terrorist offenders are already back out on Britain's streets on probation - some continue to hold extremist beliefs.

Mr Pantucci said that monitoring growing numbers of these offenders will prove increasingly challenging for the authorities. 

"It poses a difficulty for the security services because you are seeing a lot of people coming back out of prison who don't necessarily seem to have rejected the beliefs that they had before," he said.

"These are individuals that the security services have to watch out for and they need to be aware of these people and watching someone requires a substantial amount of resources."

He added, though, that it wasn't necessarily the case that all those coming out of prison still retaining some radical beliefs, would pose a threat to national security.

"We've certainly seen, historically, that people have rejected these ideas for a variety of reasons, sometimes because they've reached a decision they simply want to move on to another stage in their lives," he said.

Dr Hasan said the authorities still had plenty of time to reach the senior convicted jihadists as they are serving much longer prison sentences.

But he said a more robust approach might eventually be needed to try to influence their thinking.

Experts acknowledge there is only so much the authorities can do to persuade inmates to address their offending behaviour.

Even if they continue to hold on to their extremist beliefs, once they've served their sentence - like everyone else - they will be eligible for release.

Official sources have said they are encouraged that 40 terrorist offenders have agreed to participate in efforts to put them on a path away from violent extremism.

Although officials are hopeful other inmates will follow suit, there is a real risk significant numbers of convicted terrorists will re-join society in the future with the same beliefs that got them jailed in the first place.

In response to the revelations, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told Sky News: "Challenging the extremist ideologies of individual prisoners can be a long and complex process.

"There is no one size fits all solution.

"Such interventions are a process - not an event.

"That is why we have a range of robust interventions to address these dangerous beliefs and to manage offenders effectively while they are in prison."

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Debenhams CFO Quits After Profits Warning

The chief financial officer at Debenhams has quit the retailer, just 48 hours after it issued a post-Christmas profits warning.

Simon Herrick had already been under pressure, according to media reports, after he asked suppliers for a discount on goods just eight days before Christmas in what was seen as a 'Santa tax'.

The department store chain denied at the time of his letter to suppliers that it was an attempt to boost fragile festive trading.

In the letter he wrote: "As we will mutually benefit from the growth of Debenhams we are now seeking a contribution from our suppliers to support our commitment to on-going investment."

He said this would include: "A single-sum contribution on all outstanding payments on your account at close December 17.

"An additional discount of 2.5% applied to all open orders on our system at close on December 17.

"This is a contribution and not a permanent amendment to your trading terms with Debenhams," the letter said.

The company, which lowered its profit outlook on Tuesday after the hoped-for surge in last-minute Christmas shopping failed to materialise, said a search to find a replacement for Mr Herrick was under way.

Neil Kennedy, director of finance, has assumed the role of acting chief financial officer on an interim basis, Debenhams said.

The chain blamed its poor Christmas performance on the continuing decline of the high street, the impact of the recession on household incomes and bad weather.

The retailer said it was planning to slash prices in January and February.

Michael Sharp, chief executive of Debenhams, said on Tuesday: "As has been widely commented on in the media, the market was highly promotional in the run-up to Christmas and we responded to these conditions to ensure our offer was competitive.

"However, this extremely difficult environment has inevitably had an impact on both our sales and profitability."

The announcement, which had been due on January 17, saw the retailer reveal an £85m profit for the 17 weeks to December 28 – some way off the £114.7m in the same period last year, a 26% drop.

The company's statement showed that online sales had increased by 27% during that time and accounted for 15.6% of total sales, compared to 12.4% for the same period last year.

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Jobless Youngsters 'Have Nothing To Live For'

More than 750,000 young people in the UK may feel they have nothing to live for, according to a survey by the Prince's Trust.

The study found that long-term unemployed youngsters are facing "devastating" symptoms of mental illness and often self-harm - and almost a third have contemplated suicide.

Jobless 16 to 25-year-olds are also twice as likely as their peers to have been prescribed anti-depressants, with 40% of those who were out of work saying they faced symptoms of mental illness.

Out of more than 2,000 people who took part in the charity's survey, those unemployed for more than a year were more likely to say they had no one to confide in.

The study found that 9% agreed with the statement: "I have nothing to live for", and in its report the Trust pointed out that if 9% of all young people felt the same, there would be 751,230 across the country feeling that way.

Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince's Trust, said: "Unemployment is proven to cause devastating, long-lasting mental health problems among young people.

"Thousands wake up every day believing that life isn't worth living, after struggling for years in the dole queue.

"More than 440,000 young people are facing long-term unemployment, and it is these young people that urgently need our help.

"If we fail to act, there is a real danger that these young people will become hopeless, as well as jobless."

Danielle Stevens told Sunrise she "went down a suicidal path"

In December, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that UK unemployment fell by 99,000 to 2.39 million in the three months to October - the lowest level since 2009.

But the Prince's Trust Macquarie Youth Index found that 16-25 year-olds were not necessarily feeling the benefits of the economic recovery.

Around 280 of those surveyed were not in employment, education or training, 166 had been unemployed for more than six months and 135 had been jobless for a year or more.

Prince's Trust ambassador Danielle Stevens was diagnosed with depression and attempted suicide after being kicked out of college in her teens.

She told Sky News' Sunrise programme: "I felt like I had no reason to be here. I didn't feel like it was worth living. I had no job, no education at the time."

Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, commented: "This research proves that unemployment is a public health issue.

"It is one that must be tackled urgently and it is essential that youth unemployment is added to the public health agenda.

"Unemployed young people are struggling in many aspects of their lives, from their mental health and wellbeing to their relationships and their qualifications and we must act quickly to end this."

The Prince's Trust has called for urgent support from the Government, health agencies and employers to help fund its work with long-term unemployed young people battling mental health issues.

The youth charity said it would support 58,000 disadvantaged young people this year.

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Weather: More Torrential Rain On The Way

Fresh warnings of severe weather and widespread flooding have been issued for the UK, as the Government called an emergency meeting over the conditions.

Floods and strong winds have hit households across the country, with roads closed, train services disrupted and hundreds of homes without electricity.

Authorities are urging people to be extra vigilant as the country prepares for more vicious weather, severe gales and torrential rain.

More than 270 weather warnings and alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency, affecting every region of England and Wales.

Its floods manager Wendy Brooks told Sky News that it would be issusing some "severe flood warnings" later, which means there "couid be risk to people's lives and property".

The flood risk will extend along the UK coastline from north-west England, through Wales and south-west and southern England. Areas particularly at risk include the Isles of Scilly, the north and south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and the coastline of Wales.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also issued several flood warnings, with some 14 throughout Tayside.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired an urgent meeting in response to flooding that has wreaked havoc.

Bad weather has been lashing Britain for a number of weeks

"We had a range of ministers from right across government attending, who will be working very closely with local councils, power companies, utilities and transport companies, making sure that all those organisations are absolutely prepared for the bad weather that is coming," he said.

"I would appeal to everyone to keep in very close touch with the warnings that are being put out on a regular basis by the Environment Agency, to pay heed to them, as these floods and the coast will be dangerous."

Dozens of flood warnings have been put in place, mostly in the South East and South West, with strong winds of up to 60 to 70mph, heavy downpours and more flooding forecast over the coming days.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "There is further heavy rain coming in this evening from the west and spreading eastwards. It is going to be quite heavy at times.

"It is not anything too unusual for the time of year. It is just that we are having so much rain coming in, in a short space of time, falling on the already saturated ground.

Just under 300 flood alerts and warnings are in place in England and Wales

"Therefore, we are going to see the risk of further flooding in many areas, and the winds are going to be strong tomorrow with gusts up to 60 to 70mph along exposed western coasts. This could cause some damage as well, some travel disruption is likely too.

"It is going to remain stormy for the rest of the week, even into the start of next week as well."

A search for a 27-year-old man who was swept out to sea while celebrating the new year on the beach with friends at Loe Bar, near Porthleven, in Cornwall, was called off on Thursday after a body was found

That came after a woman, thought to be on holiday wither her family, died in the surf in north Devon.

The coastguard is also searching for a man who is believed to have fallen into the River Stour, near Iford Bridge in Christchurch, Dorset.

And emergency services across the country are searching for several people who have not been seen since New Year's Eve.

Some 300 homes in the south and east of England had no power last night

Pete Fox, head of strategy at the Environment Agency, said: "We are expecting flooding along the west and south coasts of England and Wales, due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides, from the early hours of Friday and into the weekend.

"Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline.

"The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation closely, working alongside partners including the Met Office and local authorities. Environment Agency teams are out on the ground making sure that flood defences are in good working order, monitoring sea levels and preparing to issue flood alerts and warnings.

A Cornwall police spokesman said: "There are people who enjoy swimming in all weathers as well as those who may under-estimate the danger a rough sea can pose.

"During the current bad weather, we would appeal to everyone to use common sense and not put themselves in unnecessary danger."

Meanwhile, in Liphook, Hampshire, 300 homes lost power after lines were brought down in the stormy weather.

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Online Music Streaming Doubles In UK In 2013

Online music streaming in the UK has doubled in the last year, according to new figures.

But that has come at the expense of album sales, which have seen an overall dip during 2013 due to the decline in CD sales as people turn to digital listening.

Research by music trade body the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Official Charts Company shows 7.4 billion tracks were played on paid-for or ad-funded streaming services in the last year - twice the 3.7 billion figure of 2012.

Around £103m was brought in over the past 12 months by subscription services - up £26m on the previous year.

Runners-up Bastille saw their album Bad Blood become the most streamed

The total income generated by streaming will be much higher as the figure does not include the cash from advertising on free streams and on services such as YouTube.

Album sales were worth £772m last year, which is down £29m compared with the previous year.

CD sales of 60.6 million were down almost 13% on 2012, but still account for almost two-thirds of the album markets in the UK.

Digital sales of 32.6 million - up nearly 7% - now represent almost 35% of the total market.

Rock quartet Arctic Monkeys were the most streamed artists of the year.

The band, who headlined Glastonbury and whose fifth album AM was nominated for the Mercury Prize, beat Bastille into second place, with French duo Daft Punk third.

The biggest-selling album of the year was the compilation Now That's What I Call Music 86, selling 1.1 million copies, way ahead of the biggest seller by an artist which was One Direction's Midnight Memories, shifting 685,000 copies.

A report in trade magazine Music Week last month said 2013 is the first year since the 1980s in which there has been no million-album-selling artist in the UK.

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Cornwall: New Year Paddler Swept Away By Sea

A major search is under way for a person who was swept out to sea after going for a New Year's Eve paddle with friends.

They were in the sea at Loe Bar, near Porthleven, Cornwall when the missing person, who has not been named, was swept off their feet by a large wave.   

One of the group alerted Falmouth Coastguard, which mobilised rescue teams from Penzance, Porthleven, Mullion and Porthoustock, and RNLI lifeboats from Penlee and Lizard.

A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose also helped in the search in atrocious conditions.

Phil Mathias, Falmouth Coastguard watch manager, said: "The weather for searching has been particularly challenging and as the night has gone on, conditions have deteriorated."

The search was suspended at 4.30am, but resumed at first light with fresh search teams.  

Meanwhile, a woman has drowned after being swept out to sea off the north Devon coast.

A coastguard helicopter and lifeboat crews were sent to find the unnamed woman, who was pulled from the water at around 1pm on Tuesday.

"She was airlifted to North Devon District Hospital where attempts to revive her were sadly unsuccessful," a Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said.

The woman, thought to be a holidaymaker visiting Croyde Bay, was swept out in rough waves near Braunton.

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Weather: Floods Warning For Start Of 2014

Heavy rain could bring more floods at the start of 2014, the Environment Agency (EA) has warned.

Counties at increased risk of flooding are Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Cumbria.

Parts of western Scotland are also at risk.

The EA has 19 flood warnings in place in England and Wales, meaning flooding is expected, and 151 flood alerts, where flooding is possible.

The Met Office has said that as much as 40mm (1.6in) of rain could fall on higher ground or coastal areas, and there are likely to be gales of 50-60mph.

The latest bad weather is set to push in from the Atlantic, crossing the UK from west to east.

Heavy rain caused flooding in Scotland on Monday

With the ground already saturated, some minor flooding is likely, the Met Office said.

Sky meteorologist Chris England said: "Heavy rain over central and southern England and Wales will add to the flood risk there, while there will be gales over southern and western coasts and hills.

"Thursday will bring a spell of mostly fine weather, with just the odd coastal shower, but the next storm system will bring rain into Cork and Kerry by dusk.

"That rain will push across all parts overnight, clearing eastern England on Friday morning, but gales or severe gales following will bring squally showers to most areas.

"It will stay unsettled with further rain and strong winds into next week."

Councils are preparing for the worst, with emergency accommodation lined up in case people are forced to leave their homes.

The Local Government Association is urging people to look on council websites to keep updated with information.

An EA spokeswoman said: "People travelling this week are reminded to check the latest flood updates ahead of making journeys and should not drive through dangerous floodwater."

Much of southern England is at risk from more flooding at the start of 2014

To date, there have been 1,300 properties flooded across England. 

Seven people were airlifted to safety on Monday after heavy rain caused flooding in Scotland.

The group, which included four children, were rescued from a farmhouse near Closeburn in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, by a Royal Navy helicopter.

Rain forced families to be evacuated from dozens of homes and caused major road disruption.

Advice on what to do before, during and after flooding is available on the Environment Agency website or by calling Floodline on 0845 9881188.

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New Year: 'Multi-Sensory' Fireworks For London

Revellers in London have been treated to the world's first "multi-sensory" fireworks display as people around the world welcomed in the New Year.

More than 250,000 people lined the Thames for the display, which saw peach snow and orange-scented bubbles descend on a section of the crowd.

Fireworks explode over Edinburgh Castle

In Scotland, about 80,000 were in Edinburgh city centre for the famous Hogmanay street party.

There was music from the Pet Shop Boys as well as traditional Scottish sounds at an outdoor dance event.

But those venturing outside to welcome in 2014 were contending with some horrible weather - with the Met Office issuing more than 100 flood alerts.

Thousands enjoyed the celebrations in London

Spectators in London said the show was the best ever.

Harriet Dudley, from Brighton, said: "This was the best ever show and I'm so glad I came to watch - I feel so emotional. It was, like, four-dimensional."

Referring to London's show, Mayor Boris Johnson said: "There is no better way to celebrate the highs of 2013 and the start of an exciting new year than by seeing one of the world's most dazzling firework displays, now augmented in more ways than one.

Dubai's fireworks display is billed as the largest ever

"Watched by millions around the world, and hundreds of thousands of people from the banks of the Thames, it highlights our capital's fantastic community spirit and its premier position on the global stage."

Up to 100,000 people in key viewing areas by the Thames were given packs featuring scratch 'n' sniff programmes and LED wristbands.

They also had seven kinds of fruit-flavoured sweets that linked to the tastes and smells of the multi-sensory display.

Peach snow and orange-flavoured bubbles descended in London

The UK celebrations were among displays from around the world including the largest ever fireworks display in Dubai.

The six-minute extravaganza included 500,000 fireworks from 400 firing locations, all synchronised by 100 computers from stations across the city.

Spectators said the show was better than last year's

Later, there will be a celebration parade in London which features music from around the globe.

It leaves from the Ritz Hotel at noon before winding through Piccadilly, Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square and ending in Parliament Square.

Fireworks in Moscow

About half a million people are expected to attend.

Those attending the event may have to contend with a miserable start to the year, weather-wise, with rain and strong winds predicted.

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Hartlepool Murder: Teen Held Over Boxer Death

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

A murder inquiry has been launched after a man died at a New Year's Eve party in Hartlepool.

Mark Denton, a 31-year-old amateur boxer, was taken to hospital after suffering what the police have described as serious injuries at a house in the town.

A 17-year-old was arrested and is being questioned in connection with the incident, Cleveland Police said.

Officers were called to the house in in Hutton Avenue at 10.20pm.

Mr Denton was found at a semi-derelict property in the affluent street, a few doors away from the house lived in by Lord Mandelson when he was the local MP.

Bobby Gill, a friend of Mr Denton, told Sky News he had gone to the house with another man to attend a party.

He said: "He was a good lad, he was no angel but no one deserves this do they on New Year's Eve?"

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

Officers have cordoned off the address and are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them on 101.

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NHS: Migrants To Be Charged For A&E Care

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Political Reporter

Visitors and migrants who use NHS accident and emergency services in England are to be charged, ministers have announced.

The move is part of an extension of the NHS charging strategy intended to deter so-called "health tourists" while trying to recoup up to £500m a year.

Critics have accused the Government of trying to grab headlines rather than helping the NHS.

Ministers say no-one will be turned away in an emergency, but there will be a bill to pay afterwards for those from overseas.

Health Minister Lord Howe said: "Having a universal health service free at the point of use rightly makes us the envy of the world, but we must make sure the system is fair to the hard-working British taxpayers who fund it.

"We know that we need to make changes across the NHS to better identify and charge visitors and migrants. Introducing charging at primary care is the first step to achieving this.

"We are already looking at taking action and next year we will set out our detailed plans to clamp down on the abuse of our NHS."

Doctors' leaders warned the proposed changes could cost more to administer than they would actually raise for the NHS while deterring some people desperately in need of treatment from seeking care.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) council, said: "This could mean the system of administering the new charging system will end up actually costing more to run than it collects in revenue."

The announcement has been timed less than 48 hours before restrictions on migrants from Bulgaria and Romania end.

A major influx of immigrants could put additional strain on the NHS and other public services.

Labour argue ministers are putting spin before substance.

Lord Hunt said: "Labour is in favour of improving the recovery of costs from people with no entitlement to NHS treatment. Rather than more grand-standing, the Government needs to deliver practical, thought-through changes to make that happen.

"Instead this out-of-touch government is left asking doctors and nurses to act as surrogate immigration officials."

Also under the proposed changes, migrants and overseas visitors will have to pay for primary care services such as minor surgery carried out by GPs, while prescription charges will be extended.

There will also be higher charges for services which are subsidised for patients entitled to free NHS treatment, such as optical and dental care.

But consultations with GPs and nurses will remain free of charge, to ensure initial access remains to prevent public health risks such as TB, HIV and sexually-transmitted infections.

Details of the scheme are still being worked out and ministers won't have a full plan until March.

But the Government will be hoping its crackdown down on health tourism will resonate home and abroad.

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Crime Statistics Revamped To Boost Transparency

Police in England and Wales are to change the way crime statistics are recorded to show the public the reasons why many are not solved.

Policing minister Damian Green said the new system, to be phased in from the start of the new year, should bring greater transparency to the way crimes are dealt with.

However Labour expressed concern that the Government was simply trying to disguise the impact of its policing cuts on the crime figures.

Currently around 70% of crimes are recorded as "undetected", with no indication as to why they did not lead to criminal charges.

But under the new framework, there will be a series of category headings indicating why no action was taken.

They will include "prosecution prevented" on the grounds that a suspect has been identified but is below the age of criminality or is too ill to stand trial.

Other headings will include "evidential difficulties", such as a key witness is unable or unwilling to give evidence, and "prosecution not in the public interest".

Mr Green said: "Recording offences as 'undetected' leaves victims feeling neglected and police investigations misunderstood - it does not properly reflect police work and that is why we are scrapping it.

"By introducing new categories, the police will be able to demonstrate the hard work they do and increase public transparency in policing."

For Labour, shadow crime and security minister Diana Johnson said that while greater transparency in the crime statistics was welcome, it could not disguise the fact that fewer cases were being solved under the current Government.

"No amount of changing the statistics can get away from the fact that fewer prosecutions are taking place for domestic violence, child sex abuse and rape on this Government's watch despite more crime being recorded for these most serious crimes," she said.

The new framework will come into force in Humberside on January 1 and will be rolled out across the rest of England and Wales from April.

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Weather: More Rain And Strong Wind On The Way

Further rain and strong winds have been sweeping the UK - just as engineers restored power to homes hit by poor weather over Christmas.

The last households cut off from electricity by the Christmas storms have now had power restored, the Energy Networks Association says.

Tens of thousands of homes across the south east of England, north Wales and Cumbria have been without electricity over the last week because of damage caused by the storms.

The latest storm is now moving across the UK from west to east.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings. Northern England could see gusts of 50mph to 60mph inland, and up to 80mph over coasts and hills.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has more than 20 flood warnings in force, while the Environment Agency (EA) has almost a dozen for England.

And the unsettled weather looks set to continue into the New Year after the Met Office issued a severe weather warning for rain on New Year's Day.

Some 1,300 properties have been flooded during the recent storms in England.

Meanwhile, energy companies have been criticised for their slow reaction to storm damage.

The executive of one of the UK's biggest power distributors has admitted its efforts to restore power to thousands of people should have been better.

Basil Scarsella, chief executive of the UK Power Networks, said the company it was not prepared for the storm and too many staff were on holiday.

A Christmas bauble lies in a puddle in Yalding, Kent

The company, which owns electricity lines and cables in London, the south east and east of England, said it will increase payments for 48 to 60-hour outages from £27 to £75 for those affected on Christmas Day.

Additional payments will be made to customers who have been without electricity for longer than that time - up to a maximum of £432.

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CBI: Firms Must Boost Pay After Long Squeeze

The director general of the CBI has called on businesses to improve pay levels as the Labour leader Ed Miliband charts what he sees as the "biggest cost-of-living crisis in a generation".

In his New Year message, Mr Miliband signalled his determination to keep up the pressure on the Government over the squeeze on living standards, despite growing signs the economy is finally beginning to pick up strength.

He sought to counter the increasing optimism of the Conservatives about the state of the economy by accusing them of ignoring the fact that many people were still no better off.

He said: "People are thinking they have made the sacrifices - and the Government keeps telling them that everything is fixed. But it does not seem fixed to them. Surely we can do better than this as a country.

"The Tories want to change the conversation from the cost of living crisis. They will talk about anything else. Inherent in their vision is not a solution to the cost of living crisis, but the problem."

Ed Miliband says living costs must be fair for all famlies

He said the party would use the coming year to show how it would make "big changes" to the economy to enable the country to "earn and grow our way to a higher standard of living for people.

"People do not want the earth. They would much prefer some very specific promises, specific things about what a government will do - whether it's freezing energy bills, taking action on pay day lenders, or tackling issues around childcare which lots of working parents face.

"All of this is adding up to a programme for how we can change things. It's clearly costed, it's credible and it's real."

John Cridland wants the spoils of recovery to filter to all workers

Families have been facing a squeeze on living standards as levels of pay increases fail to match the speed of rising prices.

As Mr Miliband outlined his attack on the Government, the CBI's John Cridland said firms face a challenge to make sure economic growth filters through to the workforce as economic recovery takes root.

In his own New Year message he said that businessmen and women have a "spring in their step" compared with a year ago and firms "must support employees in every part of the country to move up the career ladder, while also giving a helping hand to young people taking their first tentative steps into the world of work".

Mr Cridland said: "As the financial situation of many firms begins to turn a corner, one of the biggest challenges facing businesses is to deliver growth that will mean better pay and more opportunities for all their employees after a prolonged squeeze."

He said it was positive news that jobs were being created, adding it was shaping up to be a full-time recovery with the majority of new jobs being permanent.

For the first time since the start of the recession, 2014 will see most firms increasing the size of their workforce, boosting their graduate intake and the number of apprentices they take on, he predicted.

"The good news is that wages will pick up in the year ahead as growth beds down and productivity improves.

"But there are still far too many people stuck in minimum wage jobs without routes to progression, and that's a serious challenge that businesses and the Government must address."

Mr Cridland spoke of the importance of skills, calling for a Ucas-equivalent vocational system to help raise awareness and parity of esteem for alternative routes to higher skills.

"If 2013 was the year that business trust took a hammering on a range of issues from corporate taxation to energy prices, then 2014 must be the year that business leaders take action to rebuild that trust," he said.

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Migrant Controls: Call To Extend Restrictions

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Political Reporter

Ninety senior Conservative activists have joined calls for the Prime Minister to extend controls on Bulgarians and Romanians entering the UK.

In an open letter, Conservative Grassroots, a network of party members, wants David Cameron to a use clause in EU law because of "exceptional economic circumstances".

They are the latest to call for prolonging the restrictions rather than scrapping them as planned on New Year's Day.

The letter argues that full access to the UK labour market would prompt a "wave of mass immigration" and called for an "emergency" recall of Parliament.

James Joshua, director of Conservative Grassroots, said: "In just a couple of days Britain faces a wave of mass immigration from Bulgaria and Romania at the end of the seven-year moratorium put in place by the last Labour government.

"Some estimates have suggested that more than 300,000 Romanians and Bulgarians will travel to the UK.

"This will put huge pressure on public services at a time when the country is struggling under a mountain of debt with on-going acute challenges within the economy."

The PM has been under substantial pressure to be tough on immigration

The UK, like every other EU country, imposed the seven-year restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria after they joined in 2007 - only allowing citizens a visa if they were self-employed, had a job offer, or were given a specialist role.

The Prime Minister has said, in the past, that he is unable to act to extend the transitional controls.

Mr Cameron has been under substantial pressure in recent months to be tough on immigration ahead of European elections next year.

Backbench Tory MP Nigel Mills' amendment to the Immigration Bill would extend transitional arrangements on the two countries joining the European Union's freedom of movement rules by a further four years to 2018.

Conservative support behind the amendment has been building and now stands at more than 50 MPs.

The Government has said it will be "business as usual" on January 1 at the UK border and it remains unclear if additional staff or measures are being put in place at airports and ferry ports in the event significant numbers arrive.

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Anti-Smoking Campaign: New Ad Targets Addicts

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Smokers are being targeted by a new TV advertising campaign which aims to scare them into giving up.

Graphic images of polluted blood flowing through the body of a smoker and damaging cells in his brain are used to reinforce the message that smoking increases the risk of dementia and strokes.

The campaign, funded by Public Health England, was launched by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies.

"We know about the serious effect smoking has on the heart and lungs but smokers need to be aware of how much potential damage is being done to the brain and other vital organs through toxins in cigarettes entering the blood," she said.

"Smoking is the major cause of premature death, with one in two smokers dying prematurely from smoking related diseases, and it is extremely worrying that people still underestimate the health harms associated with it."

Government figures show more than one in five adults in the UK admits to smoking, at an estimated cost to the economy of £5bn per year in health costs, sick leave and lost productivity.

More than one in five adults in the UK admit to smoking

The TV advert, to be shown in England from tomorrow, along with a billboard advertising showing clotted blood dripping from a cigarette, has been welcomed by Joe Korner from The Stroke Association.

"It is well known that smoking harms our health but the link between smoking and stroke is less well known," he said.

"Stroke is a major cause of death and adult disability in the UK and you are twice as likely to have a stroke if you smoke. The more you smoke, the more your risk increases."

Smokers outside the Sant' Angelo restaurant in Wetherby in West Yorkshire who watched a preview of the advert said it encouraged them to consider giving up, or smoking less.

Jo Maltby, 40, has smoked for 20 years and says she tried to give up many times before.

"That probably would give me a bit more of an inclination to (give up) because I have children," she said.

"Obviously the more damage I do to myself the less chance they've got of me being around."

:: 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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Fresh Misery As Another Storm Heads For UK

Fears of fresh flooding have been raised as another band of persistent rain and heavy winds heads towards the UK.

The latest storm pushing in from the Atlantic will arrive in the West on Sunday evening, before spreading northeastwards overnight and potentially causing disruption on Monday morning.

It comes as the chief executive of one of the UK's biggest power distributors admitted its efforts to restore power to thousands of people should have been better.

Basil Scarsella, chief executive of the UK Power Networks, said the company was not prepared for the storm and too many staff were on holiday.

Flood alerts remain in place in Odda's Chapel in Deerhurst, Gloucestershire

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning over fears of severe gales with gusts up to 80mph affecting Wales, and southwestern and southern England.

It has also warned of the danger of ice patches in the South West as temperatures plummet below freezing.

That is likely to add to the misery of thousands who have been left without power and suffered flooding in their homes over the Christmas period.

A Christmas bauble lies in a puddle in Yalding, Kent

The Energy Networks Association said the number of homes still without power was now around 1,500.

UK Power Networks, which owns power lines and cables in London, the South East and East of England, said it will increase payments for 48 to 60-hour outages from £27 to £75 for those affected on Christmas Day as a "gesture of goodwill".

Additional payments will be made to customers who have been without electricity for longer than that time - up to a maximum of £432.

Mr Scarsella said: "We could not have avoided the damage caused by the storm but we could have responded to it better.

Floodwaters have still not receeded in Apperley, Gloucestershire

"A lot of our employees had gone away for holidays so it meant we had a level of depletion in our resources - and that caused problems with getting people's power restored.

"It's difficult to justify saying the company has performed well when customers have been without power for five days, but once we had an idea of how bad it was we were able to mobilise as many engineers and office staff as possible."

The company said 169 customers in Kent, 22 in Surrey and 112 in Sussex remained without power as a result of storm damage.

In a statement, regulator Ofgem reminded energy companies they are obliged to get power back on as soon as possible.

It said: "These obligations are backed by strong regulatory incentives put in place by Ofgem on the companies to maintain service levels and restore supplies. These include loss of revenues and awarding compensation payments to customers off supply."

A satellite map showing the storm front moving in. Pic: Met Office

Around 1,300 properties have been flooded during the recent storms in England, the Environment Agency said, while flood defences have protected more than 80,000 properties. Some 71 flood alerts and 14 more serious flood warnings remain in place across the country.

It warned the predicted rainfall meant there is a "continued heightened flood risk" across southern England, especially southwest England where river levels remain high and the ground is already saturated.

Flood warnings and alerts in England. Pic: Environment Agency

A Downing Street spokesman said ministers held a Cobra emergency meeting on Saturday where it was agreed financial assistance will be given to local authorities facing an undue financial burden because of the storms through a process known as the Bellwin scheme.

Nazaneen Ghaffar, Sky News weather presenter, said: "Outbreaks of rain and strengthening winds will continue to quickly spread eastwards overnight.

"It will potentially give some high rainfall totals and strong winds, particularly across southern England and South Wales where gusts in excess of 50mph are likely."

:: 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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