High Street Revival 'Has Shown Little Impact'

By Frazer Maude, Sky News Correspondent

The self-titled "Queen of Shops" has come under fire after her Government-backed bid to revive the High Street has shown little impact.

Wolverhampton was one of 12 town centres chosen to pilot retail guru Mary Portas' High Street revival. It got a £100,000 share of the £1.2m in funding.

That helped finance the opening of five retail outlets. Three of them have been a success, one has diversified, and the fifth went under.

Nick Pitt, manager of the local shopping centre, chaired the Wolverhampton Portas Project. He sees it as a success for the town centre.

"A hundred thousand pounds is good value. And it rallied businesses around to come together in a very selfless way to help people get into business," he told Sky News.

"It was quite a humbling experience. I see people who'd never had the opportunity before to have their own shop and now they have.

"And those people are still helping us now to help other people get into business. And we're determined to do it again."

The celebrity trouble shooter was brought in by the Government two years ago to breathe new life into our struggling High Streets.

But some of her key recommendations, like a reduction in business rates and free parking, were ignored.

Some £1.2m in funding was set aside two years ago to boost business

Labour MP and chair of the Government's Business Select Committee, Adrian Bailey, is critical of the scheme, saying: "Overall, and I would emphasise it time and time again, you will not change the basic problems of the High Street just by putting in these sort of pilots.

"You've got to change the business rates and those obstacles which are deterring people from moving into the High Street in order to provide an imaginative variety of retail offers that people will want to buy into."

Mary Portas was not available for interview, but her CEO David Wood issued a statement to Sky News on her behalf.

It said: "We think there's some justified criticism of the way Government originally implemented the programme and the lack of infrastructure to support the town teams.

"There's also justified criticism of the way the majority of the recommendations were accepted but nothing was done - for example we spoke in the report about parking, business rates, landlords, town-centre-first planning approvals and the like but little was done."

Penny Maudaunt, the newly appointed High Streets Minister, says the scheme has been successful.

"There has been a huge amount of really good work that's gone on locally," she said.

"The pilots have been experiments. There have been a lot of good ideas, some ideas that may not have worked so well, but there are a number of ideas that have worked very well for particular areas and what we have to do is replicate that in other High Streets."

But many businesses say the areas that need tackling are the very ones that Ms Portas highlighted months ago, and which the Government ignored.

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Body Parts Found At Waste Recycling Plant

Police say human remains found at a waste recycling plant in Bristol may have got there after being chucked in.

Officers were called to the site in Avonmouth after staff at the Biffa depot made the discovery yesterday.

A police spokeswoman said: "Employees at the site were concerned at what they thought were remains at one of the units.

"We cordoned the site off and are continuing our inquiries. I can confirm that it is believed to be a body of a man."

She said it was too early to say how long the body parts had been dismembered and the victim has yet to be identified.

Forensics officers were conducting investigations at the scene for much of yesterday but officers are now focussing enquiries on Swindon as it is believed the remains could have come from a recycling collection centre there.

Senior investigating officer Gareth Bevan, said: "Police enquiries so far suggest the body was transported with commercial recycling waste collected in Swindon and therefore the focus of the investigation will be in that area. 

"The investigation is at an early stage and we are keeping an open mind about the circumstances leading to this man's death."

Biffa is a specialist, waste-management company covering the collection, treatment and recycling of waste products.

:: Human Remains Found In Ireland

Police are investigating after a human leg was found in a recycling plant in Ireland.

A worker found the severed limb at Thorntons plant in Killeen Road, Ballyfermot, west Dublin, on Thursday night.

A doctor was unable to say whether it is from a woman or a man.

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Rolf Harris Spat At During Prison Scuffle

Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris who is serving a jail sentence for sex abuse has been spat at in prison.

The 84-year-old was targeted during an incident at HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire.

A source said that there was a scuffle and the artist and musician was nearby.

"Someone did aim a spit at him, but he was not spat on, and was not physically hurt," the source added.

News of the incident came as it was announced that Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his convictions for a string of indecent assaults.

A spokesman for the Judicial Office confirmed that lawyers had lodged papers at the Court of Appeal this week.

One of Harris' victims who gave evidence against him during the trial told Sky News: "I perhaps should have expected it but it is still a shock."

The victim who cannot be named added: "It feels like such an insult and just beyond belief for him to do that."

Harris was convicted at London's Southwark Crown Court on June 30 of 12 indecent assaults and sentenced to five years and nine months in jail.

The appeal papers will go before a single judge who will decide initially whether or not Harris has grounds for appeal.

The Judicial Office confirmed to Sky News that no timescale had yet been set for the process.

If permission to appeal is granted then a full hearing at the Court of Appeal would fully assess Harris' case.

If, however, he is denied permission to appeal then he would be able to reapply.

One of the assaults was on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and another on a close friend of his daughter.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Jeremy Wright confirmed Harris' sentence would not be referred to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that it was too lenient, despite 150 complaints that the jail term was not tough enough.

Harris' offences took place between 1968 and 1986 against girls aged between seven or eight and 18.

He was prosecuted in line with the laws in place at the time of his crimes - when the maximum jail term for indecent assault was two years, or five years if the victim was under 13.

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World War One: 'Pals' Battalions Remembered

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Hundreds of events are taking place across Britain to remember the "Pals" - groups of friends, neighbours or colleagues who joined up to form their own battalions in World War One.

A century on exhibitions, concerts and church services are being held in memory of those who joined up to defend their country in what became a highly controversial recruitment campaign.

In towns and cities across the country thousands of men responded to a national appeal by Lord Kitchener, the then-Secretary of State for War.

He believed potential soldiers would be more likely to enlist if they knew they would probably be fighting alongside friends.

It was hailed as a huge success with the majority of recruits in the first few years of war made up of "Pals" battalions.

But heavy casualties led to huge losses in some towns or individual industries.

A banner has been erected in Accrington to remember the 'Pals'

Even today, some areas of the country remain shaped by the sudden loss of so many men within relatively small communities.

One of the best known "Pals" battalions was recruited in and around the hilly Lancashire town of Accrington.

Cath Holmes' great-uncle Walter joined up with the original Accrington Pals in 1914. He ended up at Ypres in Belgium where he died in September 1918.  

He was one of hundreds to die from the same battalion, whose proper name was 11th (Service) Battalion (Accrington), East Lancashire Regiment.

A banner has recently been stretched alongside Accrington's town hall in memory of the area's "Pals". 

Cath's voice wavered and tears formed as she recalled seeing a post about it on Facebook.

"I saw a picture of it being part-way up, so I just ran when I saw it all the way into town just to come and have a look at it," she said.

"I am really proud. I just stood there crying."

The Lancashire town of Accrington was shaped by the loss of so many men

Local historian Helen Barrett told Sky News: "At the end of the war there were so many widows, so many women who'd lost their husbands, brothers, fiancees, friends, cousins.

"There was barely a street that remained untouched. Almost every street had houses where the blinds were drawn as a mark of respect. 

"The widows had very little money to live off and had to suffer the indignities of means tests in order to get some money to bring their families up. It was a terrible time for them."

Untold numbers who had enlisted together in a war expected to last just a matter of months died together in a conflict which continued for four years.

Men had marched through their communities in glory as they headed towards what became the slaughter of battle.

Conscription was introduced in 1916. The idea of Britons fighting together as a community of "Pals" became associated with overwhelming and disproportionate bloodshed. It has never been repeated.

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Ebola: Games Athletes Afraid To Return Home

Many members of Sierra Leone's Commonwealth Games team are afraid to return home because of the outbreak of ebola, it has been reported.

A team representative told The Times newspaper the athletes fear they may not be safe if they go back to their country where a national emergency has been declared.

More than 220 people have died in Sierra Leone after contracting the disease - more than any other country.

Unisa Deen Kargbo, the team's chef de mission, told The Times: "Many people are thinking whether or not to go home now.

"Everybody is worried and many of them don't want to go home now because of the ebola.

Medecin Sans Frontieres medics have been treating victims in Sierra Leone

"We have held several meetings with them, but they are still worried. This virus is spreading around our country and everyone is at risk of catching it.

"The problem is, if they want to stay on after the Commonwealth Games end, who will take care of them?

"They will have no accommodation, no work. How do they meet their needs? How will they get themselves employed?"

It was reported in the Daily Telegraph that one of Sierra Leone's athletes, Mohamed Tholley, had failed to turn up to a time trial event he had been due to take part in.

Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol are being flown to the US for treatment

Strathclyde Police told Sky News that Mr Tholley had not been reported missing, but there was said to be confusion over his whereabouts.

Sierra Leone cyclist Moses Sesay, 32, was tested for ebola last week after he was admitted to a Glasgow hospital feeling unwell.

At least 729 people are said to have died as a result of the ebola outbreak in the four African countries worst affected.

Two American aid workers seriously ill with the virus are being transferred from west Africa to the United States for treatment.

They will be the first cases of ebola to be treated on US soil and will be treated in one of the most tightly sealed isolation units in the country.

The Americans will be flown home in a specially adapted private jet

One was due to arrive on Saturday and the second will arrive a few days later. Both are in a "stable but grave condition".

The two Americans - Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol - worked for US missionary groups in Liberia at a hospital that treated Ebola patients.

The World Health Organisation's director-general warned on Friday that the ebola outbreak, which has killed at least 729 people, is out of control but can be stopped.

Margaret Chan told the presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - the worst affected nations - that the consequences could be "catastrophic" if the situation continued to deteriorate.

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'Kids At Risk' By Overdue Nursery Inspections

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

Ofsted has been accused of putting pre-school children at risk and of not being fit for purpose over a backlog of nursery and childminder inspections.

Sky News has discovered that a quarter of early years providers have not been inspected for at least four years despite Ofsted insisting all inspections must take place within that time.

Jill Rutter, head of policy and research at the Family and Childcare Trust, accused the regulator of putting children in danger.

"Ultimately it does increase risks to children," she said.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said Ofsted has questions to answer.

"If you've got providers out there that haven't been inspected for years and years and years that's not a healthy position and that's not, if you like, fit for purpose," he said.

The delays are the result of Ofsted quietly resetting the clock on inspections on September 1, 2012.

In a statement Ofsted said all early years providers "must be inspected at least once within 47 months".

It went on to say: "The current cycle began on 1st September 2012 and will end on 31 July 2016."

Over 19,000 early years providers have not been inspected for four years

Under the Freedom of Information Act Sky News obtained data on inspections of settings on England's Early Years Register as of 31 March 2014.

It shows 19,204 nurseries and childminders out of a total of 77,509 have been waiting for four years or more for an inspection.

Of those, 342 have never been inspected by Ofsted at all, while 3,655 were judged to be only "satisfactory" at their last inspection - a grading now re-classified as "requiring improvement".

The data also shows 7,280 registered providers have not been inspected for at least five years and 611 have been waiting for six years or more.

Nurseries and childminders used to be inspected every two years, but in 2005 the interval was extended to every three to four years to save £4.7m a year.

At the time a government memorandum stated: "It could be argued that the proposed reduced inspection frequency for childcare providers might lead to very young children being at greater risk."

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Rolf Harris Plan To Appeal 'An Insult'

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

One of Rolf Harris' victims has told Sky News his request to appeal his conviction is "an insult".

Lawyers for the disgraced entertainer lodged papers at the Court of Appeal this week, the Judicial Office has revealed.

One of the women who gave evidence against him during the trial told Sky News: "I perhaps should have expected it but it is still a shock."

The victim who cannot be named added: "It feels like such an insult and just beyond belief for him to do that."

The artist and musician was convicted at London's Southwark Crown Court on June 30 of 12 indecent assaults and sentenced to five years and nine months in jail.

The appeal papers will go before a single judge who will decide initially whether or not Harris has grounds for appeal.

The Judicial Office confirmed to Sky News that no timescale had yet been set for the process.

If permission to appeal is granted then a full hearing at the Court of Appeal would fully assess Harris' case.

If, however, he is denied permission to appeal then he would be able to reapply.

One of the assaults was on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and another on a close friend of his daughter.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Jeremy Wright confirmed Harris' sentence would not be referred to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that it was too lenient, despite 150 complaints that the jail term was not tough enough.

The artist and TV presenter's offences took place between 1968 and 1986 against girls aged between seven or eight and 18.

He was prosecuted in line with the laws in place at the time of his crimes - when the maximum jail term for indecent assault was two years, or five years if the victim was under 13.

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Athlete Tested For Ebola At Commonwealth Games

An athlete competing for Sierra Leone at the Commonwealth Games has revealed he spent four days in isolation over fears he had brought the deadly ebola disease into the UK.

Moses Sesay, who came to Scotland to compete in the cycling time trial, fell ill last week and was admitted to hospital.

"I felt tired and listless," he said. "All the doctors were in special suits to treat me. They dressed like I had ebola. I was very scared."

Tests eventually gave Sesay the all-clear and he was allowed to compete in the event, ultimately finishing last.

Medical staff treating ebola patients have to wear special protective suits

But the 32-year-old said he and his team-mates are worried about returning to their homeland once the Games are over.

More than 220 people have died in Sierra Leone after contracting the disease - more than any other country.

"All of us are scared about going back," Sesay told the Mirror.

"We have a three-month visa in our passports and, if I have the opportunity, I will stay here until this ends."

More than 700 people have died after contracting the disease in Africa

Health officials have been warned to be on the lookout for any unexplained illness in people returning from countries where ebola is present.

One union leader said British border, customs and immigration staff feel unprepared to deal with potential cases of the disease, although the Home Office said there was a "well-established plan to deal with different scenarios".

Dr Colin Ramsay, from Health Protection Scotland, said patients could be screened for ebola if they show symptoms including a fever, headache or sore throat, especially if they have travelled from an affected area within the last three weeks.

Putting such patients in isolation is a "standard precaution" and not unusual, he added.

Games organisers stressed the athletes' village has not been affected

A spokesman for Glasgow 2014 stressed there is "no ebola in the athletes' village", while Dr Ramsay said there is nothing to suggest there is any risk to sports stars competing in Glasgow.

"People have a misconception about ebola," he said.

"It is spread, primarily, through contact with bodily fluids, not casual conflict, so it wouldn't be sufficient just to share a house with someone.

"There has to have been close contact to have a substantial risk of being infected with the disease."

Meanwhile, a US doctor infected with ebola has insisted the only available dose of an experimental serum go to a fellow American patient in Liberia.

Dr Kent Brantly asked for the unit of blood to go to missionary Nancy Writebol, as the World Health Organisation announced a $100m (£59.2m) plan to tackle the outbreak.

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Eastbourne To Receive £2m After Pier Blaze

Eastbourne is to get £2m in government cash to deal with the devastating damage caused by a fire that ravaged the town's historic Victorian pier.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne made the funding announcement during a visit to the 144-year-old, Grade-II listed structure.

They also met members of the emergency services involved in tackling Wednesday's fire which reduced a large section of the 1,000ft pier to a charred shell.

Flames ripped through the historic structure at the height of the blaze

Up to 80 firefighters tackled the blaze, pumping water on to the burning structure from the shore and sea.

The fire has come at a bad time for the seaside resort at the height of summer season and with the town due to host its biggest tourist event - the annual airshow Airbourne - in the next fortnight.

Mr Cameron said: "I know that the loss of one of Eastbourne's most prominent and well-loved landmarks will have hit the town hard and I am determined to do all I can to help local businesses recover."

Mr Osborne said: "Eastbourne Pier is a much-loved local attraction and this fire is devastating news. I am therefore delighted to be able to provide financial support so we can minimise the effect on business and tourism.

"We will work with Eastbourne as a matter of urgency to ensure that the funding is provided without delay so people can start enjoying the pier again."

As fire crews scaled down operations at the scene, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the investigation into the fire's cause could take "a number of days".

A fire brigade spokesman said they were keeping "an open mind and ruling nothing out" over the cause of the fire.

The fire on the pier was fought from both the land and sea

Sussex Police have called on people to submit pictures or video footage they shot of the pier going up in flames, which they could use as part of their investigation.

David Tutt, Eastbourne Borough Council's leader, has said he understood the fire could have been started by an electrical fault.

Meanwhile, the local MP Stephen Lloyd said the pier could open as soon as next year.

Two thirds of the pier was untouched by the fire and the structure seemed "pretty sound", Mr Lloyd said after talks with the chief fire officer of East Sussex.

Eastbourne is the latest in a series of Victorian piers to suffer major fire damage.

In 2003, the 148-year-old West Pier in Brighton was reduced to a mangled mass of metal by two major fires within two months.

And in Eastbourne's neighbouring town of Hastings, the Grade II-listed pier was almost destroyed in a fire in 2010 following years of neglect.

Southend Pier in Essex was badly damaged by fire in 2005 and Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare was wrecked by a blaze in 2008.

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PM Hails £300m Project To Unlock Power Of DNA

UK scientists are to map 100,000 complete DNA code sequences in a "landmark" project that aims to revolutionise medicine, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.

Mr Cameron said the 100,000 Genomes Project, funded by a package of deals worth £300m, will "see the UK lead the world in genetic research within years".

The project will sequence the genetic codes of about 75,000 patients with cancer and rare diseases, and those of their close relatives.

Both the healthy and the tumour cells of the cancer patients will be mapped, meaning about 100,000 will be sequenced in total.

Mr Cameron said: "I am determined to do all I can to support the health and scientific sector to unlock the power of DNA, turning an important scientific breakthrough into something that will help deliver better tests, better drugs and above all better care for patients.

"As our plan becomes a reality, I believe we will be able to transform how devastating diseases are diagnosed and treated in the NHS and across the world, while supporting our best scientists and life science businesses to discover the next wonder drug or breakthrough technology."

Scientists hope that identifying tiny changes in the genetic code that can trigger disease will allow for personalised and more effective treatments.

It is hoped more drugs like Herceptin will be designed for specific cancers

One example of such a therapy that already exists is Herceptin, a drug specifically designed for women with a type of breast cancer characterised by over-activity of the Her2 gene.

DNA samples have already been donated by a few hundred participants in a pilot, and about 10,000 are expected to have donated by the end of the year.

The project is expected to be completed by 2017.

Among the cancers due to be targeted are bowel, breast, leukaemia, lung, ovarian, prostate and leukaemia.

Charity the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council and the National Health Service are contributing to the project, which will be overseen by Genomics England, set up by the Department of Health.

The Californian DNA sequencing company Illumina, which won a contract to provide the technology for the project, will also invest about £162m in the project over its lifetime.

Wellcome Trust director Jeremy Farrar said genome sequencing could transform medicine.

"Twenty years from now academics and industry will have developed therapies which will be targeted at you and specific forms of cancer," he said.

"We will look back in 20 years' time and the blockbuster chemotherapy drugs that gave you all those nasty side effects will be a thing of the past."

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NHS Hospital Paid £1,800 A Day For Nurse

By Thomas Moore, Science and Health Correspondent

NHS hospitals are so short staffed on public holidays they are paying almost £150 an hour for nurses to work, a Sky News investigation has found.

On May Day Bank Holiday this year a locum agency was paid more than £1,800 to supply a nurse for a 12-hour shift, new figures show.

And one hospital paid £2,500 for a doctor to work that day.

The statistics - obtained through a Freedom of Information request - lay bare how much the NHS is relying on private locum staff on public holidays.

In one hospital, half of the doctors who worked on May 5 were locum medics.

And at another, almost one third of the nursing staff was supplied by a private agency.

Experts say that using locum staff unfamiliar with the hospitals they are working in can put patient care at risk.

With the NHS under increasing financial pressure, a nursing body wants the amount hospitals pay agencies to be reviewed.

One trust paid nearly £1,800 for a mental health nurse shift. Pic: File

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "These figures are truly shocking.

"Many (of the nurses) will never have been to that ward before and will probably never be there again.

"It says nothing about continuity of care. Even finding your way round the ward, the geography, it makes life really difficult.

"Agency nurses do not provide good value for money … and the employers who use these extraordinary levels should be held to account for it.

"This is public money that is not being well spent. This is something that should be looked at with the utmost urgency."

Eighty of the 150 NHS trusts in England replied to a Sky News request asking how many locum staff they employed and at what rates on May 5 this year.

At the Heart of England NHS Trust in the West Midlands, half the doctors working that day were temporary locum medics, the figures show.

Experts say a large percentage of locum staff can put patient care at risk

More than three in ten nurses at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust and at Southend NHS Trust were from agencies.

Meanwhile, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay (NHS Foundation Trust) paid an agency £2,500 for a locum doctor to work a single shift.

University Hospitals Bristol (NHS Foundation Trust) paid £1,800 for a nurse on a shift of just over 12 hours - equivalent to almost £150 an hour.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust paid almost as much (£1,798) for a middle grade nurse specialising in mental health - almost a month's pay for the average nurse.

Separate figures published in April suggested that the NHS has spent £2bn on agency staff since 2010/11.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "We now have 6,700 more doctors and 6,200 more nurses directly employed by NHS organisations than in 2010.

"The figures … are not a full picture of staffing in the NHS, but we encourage all trusts to maintain a tight grip on their staff costs and we will hold poor performers to account."

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Poisoned Spy: CPS Wanted To Prosecute Russians

A public inquiry into the death of poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko has been formally opened in London.

Coroner Sir Robert Owen suspended the current inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death before opening the inquiry, which was announced by Home Secretary Theresa May last week.

It will allow investigators to probe whether Moscow was behind the former KGB officer's murder and comes at a time of worsening relations between the UK and Russia.

Mr Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 while drinking tea with two Russian men, one a former KGB officer, at the Millennium Hotel in London's Grosvenor Square.

His family believes he was working for MI6 at the time and was killed on the orders of the Kremlin.

Mr Litvinenko was killed on the orders of the Kremlin, his family believes

Former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun have been identified as suspects, but both deny any involvement and remain in Russia.

Opening the public inquiry, Sir Robert said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) wanted to prosecute the pair for murder, but extradition was refused by Moscow.

He said there is a "prima facie case" that the Russian state was responsible for Mr Litvinenko's death.

Secret government documents relating to the case will not be heard in public during the inquiry, which is due to start in January and may last a year.

The Government previously resisted launching a public inquiry, and instead said it would "wait and see" what a judge-led inquest found.

Andrei Lugovoi denies any involvement in the spy's murder

But Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, challenged this and the High Court said the Home Secretary must reconsider her decision.

Ms Litvinenko told Sky News she hopes the public inquiry will find out the truth to her husband's murder.

"I think the coroner will do the right decision in the end," she said.

Ministers had been under pressure to hold a public inquiry since last year when Sir Robert said he could not hold a "fair and fearless" investigation with an inquest.

The aim of the inquiry is "to conduct an investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko in order to ascertain who the deceased was; how, when and where he came by his death; identify where responsibility for the death lies and make appropriate recommendations".

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UK Border Staff 'Unprepared' For Ebola

Border, customs and immigration staff feel unprepared to deal with people arriving in Britain who may be carrying the deadly ebola virus, a union leader has warned.

The virus - which has no vaccine and a fatality rate of up to 90% - has now killed nearly 700 people in West Africa, and it is feared it could be spread around the world by infected air passengers.

Public Health England has warned health officials to be on the lookout for any unexplained illness in people returning from affected countries.

But Immigration Service Union general secretary Lucy Moreton said members are "very concerned" about their personal safety and are not sure what to do if they think someone is infected.

"They serve on the front line; they are the first point of contact usually for people coming off an aircraft and the concern is what do they do if they're confronted with someone that doesn't appear well who appears at the border," she told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme.

"There is no health facility at the border, there is no containment facility and until extremely recently there has been no guidance issued to staff at all as to what they should do."

Ms Moreton said members had been contacting the union for guidance on what to do and how to protect themselves, but it had no answers for them.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff at an isolation area in Kailahun

There have been concerns the disease could spread to the UK after it emerged two people have been assessed for the virus in Britain.

A man was given the all-clear following tests in Birmingham after he travelled from Benin in Nigeria, while doctors ruled out the need for an ebola test on a second male in west London.

The Government's emergencies committee Cobra met to discuss the situation on Wednesday.

Afterwards, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it is "most unlikely" the disease could spread in the UK.

A story about Liberian diplomat Patrick Sawyer who died from ebola in Lagos

A Home Office spokesman said: "Border Force has a well-established plan to deal with different scenarios including infectious diseases and we work closely with partners like NHS England to minimise any affect on passengers and staff."

Meanwhile, two US volunteers have been placed in isolation amid fears they could have contracted the virus in West Africa.

The pair - working for America's Peace Corps movement  - have not displayed symptoms but are under observation after coming into contact with an Ebola sufferer, who later died.

The Peace Corps said it was evacuating 340 volunteers from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the three countries worst affected in the outbreak.

:: Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, who covers Africa for Sky News, answers your questions on the ebola crisis.

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Gatwick Staff To Help Ease Baggage Crisis

Gatwick Passengers Suffer Baggage Delays

Updated: 7:29am UK, Monday 28 July 2014

Hundreds of people arriving into Gatwick Airport's South Terminal have faced long delays in picking up their luggage, with many being told to go home without it.

An airport spokesman said the overnight Saturday disruption was caused by "resourcing issues" involving baggage handlers Swissport.

"Due to resourcing issues with the baggage handlers Swissport there were overnight issues and delays with passengers' luggage," he said.

"Gatwick provided extra staff to help the airlines and their baggage handlers improve their service, as well as providing welfare and water for passengers waiting in the baggage areas, but we are sorry for the delays they faced.

"Baggage operations are now returning to normal."

Passengers of four airlines have been advised to go home without their luggage.

Travellers arriving at the terminal on Sunday night were being processed, however rows of luggage could be seen belonging to passengers from July 26.

Officials at the airport informed passengers of British Airways flights who had waited more than an hour on their bags being returned, and those on Monarch, Thomas Cook or Thompson flights who had been waiting 90 minutes or more, that their luggage would be forwarded to their home address.

It is understood easyJet passengers have also been affected but had not been advised to leave without their baggage.

Some passengers took to social media sites to voice their frustrations over the delays - some up to five hours.

Julian C Adams tweeted: "Such shocking service at Gatwick airport! Waiting for the arrival of baggage for over 2 hours now! #shouldhaveflowntoheathrow."

Sophie Wood ‏tweeted: "3 hrs in #gatwick baggage handling ... Apparent Lack of staff appalling shambles #Gatwick#idiots."

Oliver Webb wrote: "‏@2 hour delays at #gatwick for baggage reclaim. #Swissport to blame apparently. No info from airport staff. Rubbish."

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West Ham Footballer Remanded In Custody

Premier League footballer Ravel Morrison has been remanded in custody after being charged with assaulting two women in Manchester.

The West Ham midfielder is alleged to have attacked his ex-girlfriend Reah Mansoor, 19, and her mother Parveen Mansoor, 39, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Morrison, who spoke only to confirm his name and age, closed his eyes and puffed his cheeks out after being refused bail at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

Morrison, from Urmston, Manchester, was arrested on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old, who did not enter a plea, has been charged with two counts of common assault, and was remanded in custody until August 7.

Morrison was sold by Manchester United to West Ham in 2012.

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Ebola Cure 'A Long Way Off': Facts About Virus

A cure for the deadly ebola virus, which has killed hundreds of people in West Africa, is "a very long way off", an expert has told Sky News.

David Evans, a professor of virology at Warwick University, said ebola is the latest disease to be transmitted "very efficiently" because of international travel.

More than 670 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria have fallen victim to the viral illness, which has a fatality rate of up to 90%.

Those with ebola will often be overcome by a sudden onset of fever, as well as weakness, muscle pain and headaches.

The body is then gripped by vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes, kidney and liver problems and bleeding.

Medical staff bring food to patients in an isolation area in Sierra Leone

The time between infection and symptoms appearing is anything from two days to three weeks.

Ebola is spread through the direct contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of those infected.

The liquid that bathes the eye and semen can transmit the disease, Prof Evans said.

Horeshoe bats are believed to be the natural host of the viral disease, he said.

"These bats transmit the virus between themselves, but periodically it then ends up in probably primates or other types of bushmeat which are then hunted by villagers and the virus is then transmitted from the sick animals to humans," he said.

The latest outbreak is centred on four countries in west Africa

Transmission has also been documented through the handling of chimpanzees, gorillas and porcupines.

One of the reasons for the disease's rapid spread is a tradition at burial ceremonies for mourners to have direct contact with the body of the deceased.

"Therefore barrier methods that prevent that direct contact, including things like washing of hands and things like that provide a reasonable level of protection," he said.

Healthcare workers treating patients are particularly at risk.

Public Health England said in a risk assessment published earlier this month said that the current outbreak could increase the risk for Britons working in humanitarian and healthcare delivery.

The first outbreak was recorded in 1976

But the threat to tourists, visitors and expatriates is still considered "very low if elementary precautions are followed".

Prof Evans said there had been "periodic outbreaks" of ebola since the first recorded instances in 1976, but this is the deadliest so far.

There were two simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku, a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo located near the Ebola River.

Data from the World Health Organisation shows the previous deadliest outbreak was in the one in the DRC, when 280 out of 315 people infected died.

In the same country in 1995 another outbreak claimed 254 lives, with 315 patients infected.

In 2000, there were 425 cases in Uganda and 224 people died.

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Cobra Meeting As UK Doctors Warned Over Ebola

The Government's emergency committee is to discuss how to tackle the "new and emerging" threat of ebola, as doctors in Britain are put on alert to spot symptoms of the deadly disease.

The outbreak is the largest in history, with the virus killing more than 670 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria since February.

Infection results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids and tissues of infected animals or people.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has told Sky News that while there are no cases in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron regards the disease as a "very serious threat".

"We are very much focused on it as a new and emerging threat which we need to deal with," Mr Hammond said.

UK and European flight routes to the countries affected by ebola

A person from Birmingham was tested for ebola after returning from Africa, but the tests came back negative.

The man was tested earlier this week after reportedly travelling from Benin in Nigeria via Paris to the Midlands.

Another man visited Charing Cross Hospital in west London after fearing he had the virus, but it was decided by doctors that he did not need an ebola test. 

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global health at Public Health England (PHE), said the risk to British travellers and workers was low, but doctors needed to be vigilant for "unexplained illnesses" in those who have returned from the affected countries.

Medical staff prepare to bring food to patients in an isolation area

Dr McCloskey said: "The continuing increase in cases, especially in Sierra Leone, and the importation of a single case from Liberia to Nigeria is a cause for concern as it indicates the outbreak is not yet under control."

Those who experience symptoms such as fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and a sore throat within three weeks of their return from such countries should "immediately seek medical assistance", Dr McCloskey said.

The Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Mark Walport, has told the Daily Telegraph that ebola was "potentially a major threat" to Britain due to the increasingly "interconnected" nature of the world.

British Airways, which flies to Sierra Leone and Nigeria, said in a statement it complies with guidance from local health authorities and will "continue to monitor the situation closely".

Countries affected by the ebola outbreak

Cabin crew are advised to contact air traffic control if they see someone on board who they suspect could have the disease.

In 2012, a man with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, which is related to ebola, was flown from Glasgow Airport to London by the RAF to be treated at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are well-prepared to identify and deal with any potential cases of ebola, though there has never been a case in this country.

"Any patients with suspected symptoms can be diagnosed within 24 hours and they would also be isolated at a dedicated unit to keep the public safe."

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NOTW Journalists Charged With Phone Hacking

Former News Of The World journalists Jules Stenson and Neil Wallis are to be charged with phone hacking, prosecutors have confirmed.

Ex-deputy editor Wallis and Stenson, who was the features editor, will face Westminster Magistrates Court on August 21.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the decision to charge the pair came after new evidence was provided in June.

Both men are accused of conspiring to illegally listen to voicemails between January 2003 and January 2007.

Gregor McGill, a senior lawyer at the CPS, said: "The CPS has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Jules Stenson, former features editor of the News of the World, and to summons Neil Wallis, former deputy editor of the News of the World, with an offence of conspiracy to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, commonly known as 'phone hacking'.

"These decisions were taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the DPP's guidelines on the public interest in cases affecting the media.

"We have decided there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest."

Six other journalists who were also held as part of the inquiry have already been told they will face no further action.

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No Appeal Over 'Lenient' Rolf Harris Jail Term

Rolf Harris's jail term for sex offences will not be referred to the Court of Appeal for being too lenient, the Attorney General's office has confirmed.

The veteran entertainer was sentenced to five years and nine months behind bars for 12 indecent assaults against four women earlier this month.

The office of Attorney General Jeremy Wright MP received 150 complaints that the jail term was not tough enough.

A spokeswoman for Mr Wright said it was decided that the Court of Appeal would be unlikely to increase the sentence.

She said: "The Attorney General understands that his decision not to refer the case may be a disappointment to some people.

"However, he did give extremely careful consideration to this sentence and he concluded that he could not refer it.

"The sentencing judge was bound by the maximum sentence in force at the time of the offending.

"The judge made some of the sentences consecutive to reach the total sentence, but he could not simply add up sentences on individual counts.

"The overall sentence had to be just and proportionate to the overall offending.

"The judge was also required to take into account the age of the offender."

The artist and TV presenter's offences took place between 1968 and 1986 against girls aged between seven or eight and 18.

He was prosecuted in line with the laws in place at the time of his crimes - when the maximum jail term for indecent assault was two years, or five years if the victim was under 13.

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Shooting: Ex-Police Officer Faces Murder Charge

A former police officer is to face a murder charge over the fatal shooting of Azelle Rodney in 2005.

The 24-year-old robbery suspect was shot by a police marksman in Edgware, north London, in April 2005.

He was hit six times - four times in the head and once in the arm and back - when the VW Golf he was travelling in with two other men was stopped by police.

The former police officer who is being charged has been granted anonymity and will only be known as E7.

Mr Rodney's mother, Susan Alexander, said: "I am very pleased at the CPS's decision to prosecute the officer who killed my son.

"I have waited a long time to see this day and hope this prosecution will lead to justice for Azelle."

Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "Azelle Rodney died after the discharge of a police firearm on 30 April 2005.

"Following the outcome of the public inquiry, the Independent Police Complaints Commission re-referred the matter to the CPS, providing us with the evidence previously gathered and the further evidence and material which has emerged since the initial referral.

"We have carefully considered the new file of evidence submitted to us and have decided that a former Metropolitan Police officer, currently identified only as E7, will be prosecuted for murder.

"The individual currently has anonymity granted under section 19(2)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005, made on 16 January 2012 by the chairman of the inquiry.

"The decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.

"E7 will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, 10 September 2014."

She added: "Criminal proceedings have now commenced and the individual known as E7 has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

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Kate's Got A Real Fan At Commonwealth Games

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be hoping the home nations' gold rush continues as they return to the Commonwealth Games in Scotland where they spent a fun-packed day.

Kate and William joined Prince Harry and Prince Edward as they saw several English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish competitors take part in a games that is proving highly successful for the four countries.

The pair laughed, joked and grimaced - and at one point William fanned his wife with her identity pass, as she pulled a funny face. 

Both the Duke and Duchess fan themselves while watching swimming

Host nation Scotland won its 13th gold medal, taking it way beyond the 11 golds it won in Melbourne in 2006. England has 27 golds and Wales has three.

Prince Harry met two Australian players whose selfie of them and the Queen went viral last week.

Jayde Taylor was posing for a photo with team-mate Brooke Peris when the Queen moved into the background as she took the snap.

Harry is photographed with the England women's hockey team

Taylor said: "We asked [William] if he would do a selfie with us so we could add it to our collection, but he said 'I hate selfies but I will definitely do a photo with you'."

Kate, William and Harry went on to join the Earl of Wessex to watch Scotland take on Wales in the women's hockey.

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UK Bankers Face Toughest Bonus Rules

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Staff at British banks could be made to hand back bonuses more than six years after the money has been paid to them under a regime that will amount to the world's toughest rules on clawing back remuneration.

Sky News has learnt that the Bank of England (BoE)'s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has decided to enforce, and potentially augment, a draconian proposal outlined in March.

In a policy statement to be published on Wednesday, it will confirm that banks will have to amend the employment contracts of senior staff in order to implement the new rules, which will come into force on January 1 next year.

Coming in the wake of a series of market manipulation and mis-selling scandals which have triggered tens of billions of pounds in fines and compensation to consumers, the tougher pay framework is likely to be welcomed in Westminster but spark opposition from bank executives who argue that the City's international competitiveness will be undermined.

In its consultation paper published earlier this year, the regulator proposed that clawback should operate for a six-year period after vesting.

That period is still expected to apply to awards made prior to the beginning of next year, in line with the statute of limitations for employment contracts, Sky News understands.

The PRA is to enforce the bonus policy on bankers

However, insiders said the PRA had also been examining whether bonus awards made after January 1 next year could be reclaimed for up to seven years.

The Bank of England declined to comment on Tuesday on whether it had opted to pursue clawback for post-2014 bonuses over the longer, seven-year period.

Either way, the final details will represent tougher rules for City bankers than those based in other international financial centres such as Frankfurt, Hong Kong or New York.

The tougher regime follows last year's report by the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, which was chaired by the Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie.

Under the BoE's plans, banks will be obliged to reclaim money already paid to employees even where they have not been directly culpable of misconduct.

Lenders will instead be required to demonstrate that they have done so where "there is reasonable evidence of employee misbehaviour or material error; the firm or the relevant business unit suffers a material downturn in its financial performance; or the firm or the relevant business unit suffers a material failure of risk management".

The new framework could mean that many senior employees of UK-based banks have to wait for more than a decade between the point at which they are awarded a bonus and that at which it can no longer be either cancelled or reclaimed by their employer.

The rules will also apply to the overseas employees of UK-based banks, which the likes of HSBC and Standard Chartered will argue will put them at a major disadvantage in their key Asian operations.

Major lenders already operate lengthy bonus deferrals meaning that share awards do not vest until the end of a three- or five-year period, during which time part or all of the awards can be cancelled under a mechanism called malus.

Under its March proposals, the new clawback rules would kick in at the end of these deferral periods, making a total ranging from nine years to more than a decade before bankers will be able to spend bonus awards safe in the knowledge that they will not have to repay it.

However, bankers argued it was conceivable that the BoE would say that the deferral and clawback periods would be allowed to overlap, meaning that the total delay would be seven years.

Andrew Bailey is the chief executive of the PRA

The British Bankers' Association argued in its response to the consultation that the PRA's plans were fraught with legal difficulties and that the 'clawback clock' could start ticking at the time bonuses were awarded rather than the point of vesting.

The BoE will set out its policy just days after accusing employees of Lloyds Banking Group of "reprehensible" and "possibly criminal" behaviour for attempting to manipulate an emergency funding scheme set up to help banks like it avoid outright collapse during the 2008 financial crisis.

In a report published on Tuesday, the think-tank Respublica suggested that bankers should swear an oath that "would put them on the path to absolution".

Speaking in March, Andrew Bailey, the PRA chief executive said: "We have an objective to ensure the safety and soundness of the firms we regulate and we won't allow remuneration schemes to exist that encourage behaviour likely to jeopardise financial stability.

The policy we are consulting on will ensure bonuses can be clawed back from individuals, where they have already been paid, if it becomes apparent they have put the stability of their firms at risk or engaged in inappropriate actions.

"This will provide a clear message to individuals of what is expected from them and the consequences of not acting properly."

Alongside the clawback policy statement, the BoE will also publish further details of the City watchdog's senior managers' regime and other details of its remuneration policies.

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House Prices Force Adults To Live With Parents

By Gerard Tubb, North Of England Correspondent

Millions of young workers have been dubbed the "clipped wing generation" because they are forced to live with their parents by rising house prices.

Housing charity Shelter has published census data showing almost two million workers aged 20-34 in England alone - a quarter of the total - are living with parents or grandparents.

A YouGov poll found 48% of them say housing costs are to blame.

At the Coast and Country Housing Association headquarters in Redcar, out of 11 people working in one office, nine were aged 20-34 and four of them were still living at home.

Laura Wood is living at the family home while she saves up for a deposit

Laura Wood, 26, moved back into the family home after graduating and has lived there ever since while she saves up for a deposit on a house.

"It's obviously difficult when you mum's still asking what time are you going to be in, where are you going what are you doing, so I don't feel like I'm 26 half of the time," she said.

Her co-worker Liz Wilson, 65, still has her 30-year-old son living at home and says the problem of unaffordable housing is forcing her to stay at work.

"I can't retire because we have to provide a larger property for him to have his own room, his own space, and as such we can't downsize," she said.

Unaffordable housing is forcing Liz Wilson, 65, to stay at work

Campbell Robb, Shelter's chief executive, accused the Government of not doing enough to help.

He said: "The 'clipped wing generation' are finding themselves with no choice but to remain living with mum and dad well into adulthood, as they struggle to find a home of their own.

"Rather than pumping more money into schemes like Help to Buy, we need bolder action that will meet the demand for affordable homes and not inflate prices further."

In a statement, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said measures including the Help to Buy scheme were addressing the issue.

"We're determined to ensure anyone who works hard and wants to get on the property ladder has the help they need to do so," he said.

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PM: 'We Will Find You And Send You Home'

David Cameron has put illegal immigrants on notice telling them: "When we find you - and we will find you - we will make sure you are sent back to the country you came from."

Announcing a number of new measures to tackle problems of immigration, Mr Cameron said he wanted to send a clear message that those in the UK illegally would not be able to work or have a home.

He was speaking after attending a raid on illegal immigrants in Slough and said: "We want an immigration system that puts Britain first."

It came after he unveiled a new policy that would mean EU migrants would be able to claim benefits for only three months - half the current time - unless they had serious job prospects.

David Cameron says Britain is 'not a soft touch' for EU migrants

In another pledge to safeguard jobs for British people he said he would limit to 500,000 the number of UK jobs being advertised across the EU through a jobseekers' website - down from 1.1 million jobs currently on offer.

There will also be curbs on "bogus colleges" which offer studying visas for cash.

Outlining his plans in The Daily Telegraph, David Cameron wrote: "Taken together, this is about building a different kind of Britain - a country that is not a soft touch, but a place to play your part; a nation where those who work hard can get on."

The number of Europeans currently claiming benefits is unclear. However, Government estimates from 2013 suggest only 6.7% of non-UK nationals (397,000) claimed benefits, of which 62,000 were Europeans and 58,000 from EU accession countries.

In contrast 16.4% of UK nationals claim benefits.

All job centre posts are advertised across Europe

Sky News' Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said: "Welfare and immigration are two touchstone issues for the General Election. The idea of benefits tourism, whether real or not, is where the two collide. 

"All the evidence is the Tories have been outflanked by UKIP on this territory, but in the General Election the main objective is to steal a march on Labour. That's what these announcements are all about."

The benefits plan builds on changes laid out in January to make EU migrants wait three months after arriving in Britain before claiming out-of-work benefits.

Mr Cameron has previously been warned restricting benefits conflicts with the EU agreement on freedom of movement.

Yvette Cooper says the Government has 'failed' on immigration

Currently more than a million British posts are advertised on European Commission jobs website called Eures, which is partly funded by the UK taxpayer.

Britain's job centres automatically upload available posts to the site. However, Mr Cameron has pledged this will now be limited to 500,000 roles and will only be included if an employer requests it is shared across the EU.

A number of employers, particularly in manufacturing and agriculture, have routinely complained they are unable to find British recruits and have to fill the posts with workers from across Europe.

It is unclear how many EU residents actually find jobs through the website.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "We need less talk from the Prime Minister on immigration and more action.

"It's almost a year-and-a-half since Labour called for benefit restrictions on new migrants. In that time we've had reannouncement after reannouncement from the Tories but little in the way of firm action."

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Rigby Killer Adebolajo Appeal Bid Rejected

Lee Rigby's Family Says Justice Has Been Served

Updated: 9:58pm UK, Wednesday 26 February 2014

The family of Lee Rigby are "satisfied" with the sentences handed to his killers and believe they received the "right prison term".

Michael Adebolajo, 29, was given a whole-life term, and Michael Adebowale, 22, was jailed for at least 45 years for hacking the soldier to death in Woolwich last year.

In a statement read by a family liaison officer outside the Old Bailey after the sentencing, the family said: "We feel that no other sentence would have been acceptable and we would like to thank the judge and the courts for handing down what we believe to be the right prison terms.

"We would also like to thank everyone who has supported us in the last nine months.

"It has brought us a lot of comfort and we feel satisfied that justice has been served for Lee. We now ask to continue to grieve in private."

Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, who heads Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said the sentences reflected the "true horror of their actions in taking this young man's life in such a barbaric way".

Meanwhile, Sue Hemming of the Crown Prosecution Service said the murderers had "revelled in one of the most appalling terrorist murders" she had ever seen.

She said: "Not only was the attack brutal and calculated, it was also designed to advance extremist views. As a soldier, Fusilier Lee Rigby was targeted in a clear act of revenge, deliberately carried out in full view of members of the public for maximum impact."

As sentencing began, the two murderers shouted at the judge in protest at his remarks. 

They then fought with guards in the dock before they were pinned down and taken to the cells. Sentencing resumed without them.

The soldier's family were visibly distressed and sobbed at the developments and one relative needed medical treatment.

There were also dramatic scenes outside the Old Bailey as members of the public shouted at prison vans leaving the building.

Far right protesters had gathered outside the court calling for the killers to face the death penalty.

The British-born extremists ran Fusilier Rigby down in a car before hacking him to death in the street in front of horrified onlookers near Woolwich Barracks in southeast London in May last year.

They both claimed that they were "soldiers of Allah" and were motivated by the plight of Muslims abroad to carry out the killing, and have shown no remorse.

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'Rivers Of Hail' As Freak Storm Sweeps Coast

A freak summer storm has brought chaos to the south coast of England with lightning, floods and hailstones and a power cut on the railway lines.

Forecasters said a "deeply unstable airmass" had brought with it the risk of heavy, thundery showers across East Anglia, the South East and London throughout the day. The Met Office said nearly half a month's worth of rain fell in an hour in some areas.

The scene in Brighton after hail and torrential rain swept in

London Fire Brigade rescued two women from a car which in flood water in South Ruislip, northwest London.

Firefighters also rescued five people from three neighbouring houses which were flooded in Thaxted, Essex. One family remained on the first floor of their home while crews pumped water from the property after flood water affected the electrics.

Lighting strikes Hove, Sussex, taken from the bedroom of Jon Hughes

Commuters in West Sussex braved torrential rain and hailstones as they struggled to work, though the main Brighton to London line was unaffected.

People in Brighton, Hove and Worthing who posted pictures on social media websites described seeing cars submerged and people taking shelter in the town hall.  

Commuters were left stranded after the south-coast line was closed

Network Rail said electrical supply problems had been caused by a lightning strike, near Hove, during the morning, causing delays of up to 30 minutes to trains between Worthing and Hove/Brighton.

South West Trains said Woking-bound trains would not be calling at Esher, Hersham or Walton-on-Thames because of flooding.

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue told Sky News they received some 300 calls from the public.

A street in Worthing which became impassable

Richard Fowler said: "The control room started receiving calls at six o'clock this morning. We have had 300 calls so far in the south coast area from Brighton and Hove.

"The power to the track has had to be isolated because the tracks are flooded, and we have sent one of our high pumps over to assist with that.

"People are phoning and saying they have flooded basements which are affecting electrics. We did not expect this kind of extreme weather this morning. There are large hailstones on the ground. It is almost like winter."

Worthing Station was closed after flood water poured into the underpass

Hove resident Adam Batchelor emailed a picture to Sky News of the road outside his home in Hove. "The basement flats flooded and people evacuated to the town hall," he said. "Thankfully I stayed away last night!" he said.

Laurence Hill wrote on Twitter: "Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it."

Hailstones that fell across Sussex

The Environment Agency issued a flood warning - meaning flooding is expected - for the Kidbrooke stream at Forest Row, East Sussex.

It said: "Heavy showers will bring a chance of some localised surface water flooding issues across parts of Sussex and Kent this afternoon.

Hail and slush gave some streets the appearance of being hit by snow

"Further heavy showers are expected from around dawn tomorrow across much of southeast England which may result in some surface water flooding, especially in urbanised areas."

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Domestic Abusers 'Not Being Brought To Justice'

By Ashish Joshi, Sky News Correspondent

The victims of domestic abuse are being failed by the Government because their abusers are escaping justice, claims Labour.

The Opposition says more than 10,000 perpetrators have not faced justice because police forces are wrongly using community resolutions to deal with violence against women.

Community resolutions were introduced to deal with low-level crime such as vandalism and anti-social behaviour. They are supposed to be used as an alternative to ending up in court.

Victims are asked what they would like to see happen - it could end with an apology, compensation or remedial action like cleaning up graffiti.

In the words of West Midlands Police: "Community resolutions mean children and adults with no previous convictions need not be criminalised for one stupid mistake."

But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper claims the use of community resolutions to deal with domestic violence has more than doubled in the past five years from 1,337 in 2009 to 3,305 in 2013.

"These figures are deeply worrying. Domestic violence is an incredibly serious crime. Two women a week are killed by their partner or an ex and 750,000 children will grow up witnessing domestic violence," she said.

Yvette Cooper says community resolutions are often used inappropriately

"Some senior police officers say (community resolutions) are only used for first-time offences," said the shadow home secretary, speaking in Birmingham.

"The problem with domestic violence is we know by the point the victim picks up the phone and calls 999 there have usually been repeated cases of abuse before they became brave enough to call.

"And the idea of taking an abuser to see a domestic abuse victim for a state-sanctioned apology to make amends is just dangerous.

"Far too often victims are trapped in a cycle of abuse that outsiders don't take seriously and community resolutions risk perpetrating this."

But the Home Office has rejected Labour's claim that violent partners are escaping justice.

It said: "No government has done more to tackle the abhorrent crime of domestic abuse than this government. Our groundbreaking Claire's Law will help protect women from abusive relationships, while domestic violence protection orders are cracking down on the destructive cycle of repeated abuse.

"It is not acceptable for the police to use out of court settlements for serious criminality and that is why the government is already reviewing how they are used."

But Labour says an inspectorate report "looked at 66 police cases of informal resolution, and judged that the resolution was inappropriate in 14".

Women's charities and campaigners against domestic violence have backed Labour's claims. They are worried community resolutions trivialise violence against women.

Jane Keeper from Refuge said: "Anyone with experience in domestic violence knows that most perpetrators regularly apologise.

"It's a feature of the violence, they abuse, batter, they control, and in the middle of it every now and again they say sorry and they'll never do it again.

"To have police encouraging this with perpetrators and keeping them away from being held accountable, is just playing right into hands of those who perpetrate violence."

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Tulisa: I Was Suicidal After Fake Sheikh Sting

By Lucy Cotter, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent

Tulisa Contostavlos has revealed she was suicidal after a sting by The Sun on Sunday led to her being charged over drugs allegations.

The former X Factor mentor saw her trial for brokering a drugs deal collapse last week when the judge said there were strong grounds to believe undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - also known as the "fake sheikh" - had lied at an earlier hearing.

In an interview with Sky News ahead of a TV documentary, Tulisa - who had been told she could face four years in prison - explained it had been the worst year of her life.

"When I found out I was being charged I lost all hope," she said.

"I didn't have any fight left in me. I don't know who that person was but she was in a very dark place."

Tulisa reads a statement after her trial collapses

Tulisa was charged with helping to supply cocaine to The Sun on Sunday journalist after an expose was published in the paper last June.

The fake sheikh posed as a film producer and led Tulisa to believe she was in the running for a £3,500,000 film deal along with Keira Knightley and Kate Winslet.

She says she played up to the role of a bad girl and as well as being plied with alcohol, Tulisa says she believes her drinks were also spiked – an allegation Mr Mahmood strongly denied in court.

"I fully understand the media and the press. I don't see that that in any way justifies what they've done to me. You don't create something that didn't happen."

Tulisa will soon be back in court after she was found guilty of assaulting a celebrity blogger at a music festival last year - a ruling she is appealing.

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Fracking: More Protection For National Parks

Fracking will be allowed in national parks and areas of outstanding beauty only in "exceptional circumstances", ministers say, as new bidding for shale exploration licences opens.

The policy is part of new guidance published by Government which is aiming to offer up vast swathes of Britain for fracking.

The Government has committed to going "all out for shale", claiming development of the gas and oil resource is needed to improve energy security, and boost jobs and the economy.

But opponents say the high-pressure injection of water risks polluting water supplies, damaging the environment and causing minor earthquakes, and argue further fossil fuels should not be extracted due to climate change.

Areas licensed for oil/gas exploration. Pic: Google

Business and energy minister Matthew Hancock said: "The new guidance will protect Britain's great National Parks and outstanding landscapes, building on the existing rules that ensure operational best practices are implemented and robustly enforced.

"Ultimately, done right, speeding up shale will mean more jobs and opportunities for people and help ensure long-term economic and energy security for our country."

Where an application in National Parks is refused and the developer launches an appeal, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles will consider whether to make the final decision himself to ensure the policy is being properly applied.

But Greenpeace campaigner Louise Hutchins warned: "Eric Pickles' supposed veto power over drilling in National Parks will do nothing to quell the disquiet of fracking opponents across Britain.

"Ministers waited until the parliamentary recess to make their move, no doubt aware of the political headache this will cause to MPs whose constituencies will be affected."

Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Tony Bosworth said: "Today the risk of fracking has spread. This threat to the environment and public health could now affect millions more people.

"Those who thought that fracking would only happen in other places will now worry about it happening on their doorstep."

The shale exploration licences which can be applied for from now provide the first step to start drilling, but do not give an absolute agreement to drill.

Planning permission, permits from the Environment Agency and agreement from the Health and Safety Executive will be required for further drilling.

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Lloyds Banking Group Fined £218m Over Libor

Rate-Fixing Scandal: What Is Libor?

Updated: 3:07pm UK, Wednesday 06 February 2013

By Ursula Errington, Business Reporter

Every day the banks borrow and lend money to each other as trades are done in all sorts of markets like equities and commodities.

The interest rate they charge each other is called the London Interbank Offered Rate or Libor.

It is set every morning at 11am at the British Bankers Association.

A panel of banks put forward the rate of interest they believe they would have to pay to borrow money across ten currencies for loans ranging from a matter of hours to a year.

The figures are listed in descending order and split into four sections.

Rates in the top and bottom sections are discarded and it's the mean of the middle two sections that determine the benchmark rate.

So how could it be tampered with?

Well, we know traders at banks including Barclays and RBS were influencing the bankers submitting the rates - asking for them to be higher or lower depending on their trading position.

If there was wider collusion too with other submitters, you can soon see how the mean of those figures could be manipulated.

Since Libor underpins trillions of pounds in derivatives, a trader who knows which way it's going to go, could make tens of millions of pounds on a single transaction.

The rate submitted is also a reflection of an institution's credit worthiness in the market.

So if it's low, the perception is - this bank is a safe bet to pay it back.

The implication is that during the 2008 bank crisis the rate may have been manipulated to make some banks look healthier than they were.

It affects ordinary people because it's used to help calculate interest rates on everyday products like credit cards and mortgages.

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Loyal Dog Stands Guard Over Attack Victim

Police have released a photo of a dog found standing guard over his owner who had been violently attacked in the hope it may jog the memories of potential witnesses.

The 49-year-old man was out walking his dog in Bolton, Greater Manchester, when he was knocked unconscious in the early hours of Friday morning.

Passers-by found him lying across a pavement in Chorley Old Road, near the junction with Chorley New Road.

Officers found the faithful pet next to the victim after they were called to the scene.

The man, who suffered a life-threatening head injury, was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

The dog is now being cared for by his owner's family.

Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick said: "This man is extremely poorly and, from the extent of his injuries, we believe he was violently assaulted.

"He was out walking his dog when he was attacked and we are urging people to come forward if they were in the area at that time and witnessed the attack or remember seeing the dog in the photo."

:: Anyone who has information is being urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Gatwick Passengers Suffer Baggage Delays

Hundreds of people arriving into Gatwick Airport's South Terminal have faced long delays in picking up their luggage, with many being told to go home without it.

An airport spokesman said the overnight disruption was caused by "resourcing issues" involving baggage handlers Swissport.

"Due to resourcing issues with the baggage handlers Swissport there were overnight issues and delays with passengers' luggage," he said.

"Gatwick provided extra staff to help the airlines and their baggage handlers improve their service, as well as providing welfare and water for passengers waiting in the baggage areas, but we are sorry for the delays they faced.

"Baggage operations are now returning to normal."

Passengers of four airlines have been advised to go home without their luggage.

Gatwick said it provided extra staff for airlines to help reduce the delays

Officials at the airport informed passengers of British Airways flights who had waited more than an hour on their bags being returned, and those on Monarch, Thomas Cook or Thompson flights who had been waiting 90 minutes or more, that their luggage would be forwarded to their home address.

It is understood easyJet passengers have also been affected but had not been advised to leave without their baggage.

Some passengers took to social media sites to voice their frustrations over the delays - some up to five hours.

Julian C Adams tweeted: "Such shocking service at Gatwick airport! Waiting for the arrival of baggage for over 2 hours now! #shouldhaveflowntoheathrow."

Sophie Wood ‏tweeted: "3 hrs in #gatwick baggage handling ... Apparent Lack of staff appalling shambles #Gatwick#idiots."

Oliver Webb wrote: "‏@2 hour delays at #gatwick for baggage reclaim. #Swissport to blame apparently. No info from airport staff. Rubbish."

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Controlled Explosions After Homes Evacuated

A number of controlled explosions have been carried out at a flat in Derbyshire where police say "potentially volatile" substances were found.

A 55-year-old man has been arrested after the substances were discovered during a search of the flat in Belvoir Crescent, Newhall, South Derbyshire.

Around 200 residents had to be evacuated after the discovery, and officers warned it could take until this afternoon before they are allowed to return to their homes.

Police had been called to the scene on Saturday afternoon by neighbours worried about loud bangs coming from a block of flats.

Firefighters and bomb disposal experts also attended.

Homes have been evacuated in Newhall, South Derbyshire

Resident Leslie Wood, who is staying with friends after being evacuated, told Sky News: "Fire officers came to me and said there had been an incident and we had to vacate the premises for at least 24 hours."

A local school is being used as a coordination centre and temporary shelter.

Superintendent Paul Callum, who is in charge of the incident, said: "The safety of the public is paramount in these situations.

"We apologise for any inconvenience to the evacuees. We will let them return to their homes as soon as we can be sure the area is safe."

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Clegg: Russia Should Be Stripped Of World Cup

Russia should be stripped of the 2018 World Cup in the wake of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, says Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

He said it was "unthinkable" at present that the tournament could go ahead in the country blamed by the West for supplying arms to pro-Russian separatists suspected of shooting down the jet.

Football's world governing body Fifa this week ruled out calls from some German politicians for Russia to be boycotted, insisting the tournament could be "a force for good".

But Mr Clegg told The Sunday Times that allowing it to go ahead without a change of course by Russian President Vladimir Putin would make the world look "so weak and so insincere" in its condemnation of Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support for the rebels.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

"If there's one thing that Vladimir Putin cares about, as far as I can see, it's his sense of status," he said.

"Maybe reminding him that you can't retain the same status in the world if you ignore the rest of the world, maybe that will have some effect on his thinking."

Russia has reacted angrily to additional sanctions imposed by the EU, saying they would hamper co-operation on security issues and undermine the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

Russia's foreign ministry also accused the US of contributing to the conflict in Ukraine through its support for the pro-Western government in Kiev.

Part of the fuselage from the plane

It comes as 30 Dutch forensic experts cancelled a trip to the crash site in eastern Ukraine due to intensifying fighting in the area between Ukrainian government forces and the rebels.

Malaysia says it has secured an agreement with the separatists to allow international police to enter the site.

Officers would be allowed access to the area to provide protection for international crash investigators to recover human remains and establish the cause of the disaster.

Meanwhile, a Malaysia Airlines official has called for the creation of a new body to decide which flight paths are safe following the downing of the Boeing 777-200 in which all 298 people on board died.

Hugh Dunleavy, the company's commercial director, said airlines could no longer rely on decisions made by existing industry bodies on which volatile regions are secure to fly over.

This map shows the flight path of MH17 before it crashed

Despite flying over a conflict zone, MH17's flight path had been approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the Ukrainian authorities and the European airspace service provider Eurocontrol, Mr Dunleavy said.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he called for airlines and existing aviation bodies to "review existing processes and set more stringent standards".

"Ultimately, we need one body to be the arbiter of where we can fly," he said.

"This tragedy has taught us that despite following the guidelines and advice set out by the governing bodies, the skies above certain territories are simply not safe.

"For the sake of passenger and crew safety we need to insist on a higher level of authority."

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