EuroMillions Jackpot Winner Still Unknown

Top 10 National Lottery Winners

Updated: 7:29am UK, Wednesday 05 December 2012

1. Colin and Chris Weir: £161,653,000

The Scottish husband and wife said they were "tickled pink" after becoming Europe's biggest lottery winners in July 2011. The couple have reportedly bought a fleet of cars for friends since their win, as well as a mansion.

2. Adrian and Gillian Bayford: £148,656,000

The couple, from Suffolk, decided to go public after scooping nearly £150m on the EuroMillions August 10 draw.

Mr Bayford said he would carry on running his music shop in Haverhill. Mrs Bayford, a children's ward healthcare assistant at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, said she would treat herself to her dream car, an Audi Q7.

3. Anonymous: £113,019,926

One British ticket scooped the massive prize on October 2010 but decided not to go public.

4. Dave and Angela Dawes: £101,203,600

The Cambridgeshire husband and wife hit the EuroMillions jackpot in October last year. It was only the third time the couple had played the lottery.

5. Anonymous: £84,451,320

The haul was won in May 2010 but the winner kept their identity secret.

6. Nigel Page: £56,008,113

Self-confessed white van man Nigel Page took home the win in February 2010. The skydiving enthusiast, who lived in a three-bedroom semi near Cirencester, Wiltshire, married his girlfriend Justine and moved into a mansion in the Cotswolds.

7. Anonymous: £46,432,285

A British ticket scooped the massive prize in February this year but also decided not to go public.

8. Les and Sam Scadding: £45,570,835

Unemployed mechanic Les Scadding and his wife Sam from South Wales bought one of two winning tickets which shared a £90m jackpot in November 2009. The other £45m-winning ticket was bought by a syndicate of seven office workers based in Merseyside. They each banked £6.5m.

9. Cassey Carrington: £45,160,170

The 22-year-old from Nottingham banked the staggering total after matching all five numbers and two Lucky Stars in a EuroMillions draw in February this year. The Iceland store supervisor said she planned to marry painter fiancee Matt Topham this September.

10. Gareth and Catherine Bull: £40,627,241

The Mansfield husband and wife scooped the bumper prize in January this year. Mr Bull, a self-employed builder, said he planned to splash out on an executive box at Manchester United and a new carpet.

His wife said she might go back to her job as a health insurance worker. The couple also said they planned to take their two sons, aged nine and 10, to Florida's Disneyland.

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Girl, Four, Dies After Level Crossing Crash

A four-year-old girl who was injured when the car she was travelling in collided with a train at a level crossing has died in hospital.

Emma Lifsey had been airlifted to Sheffield Children's Hospital after the incident in North Nottinghamshire on Tuesday.

A British Transport Police spokesman said "she was sadly pronounced dead in the early hours Wednesday".

The other person injured in the crash, a 67-year-old woman who was driving the car, remains in hospital and was in stable condition.

The girl's parents, Mark and Zoe Lifsey, said in a statement: "Emma meant the world to us. She was our much-loved daughter and a baby sister to her 11-year-old brother Jack.

"We are still trying to come to terms with the terrible incident on Tuesday afternoon and there are no words that can properly express how utterly distraught we are."

The Beech Hill crossing after the crash

The couple said they were thankful for the support received in the aftermath of the incident, but sought privacy at a time of grief.

They added: "This tragic incident has left us shocked and devastated and we would ask that we can be left to grieve in private at this acutely difficult and sad time for us."

The woman travelling in the car, a black Volvo, sustained serious neck injuries and bruising.

Police were investigating the accident, and said they would talk to any witnesses while experts examine evidence from the scene and the car.

Girl's death has left parents 'shocked and devastated'

The train, a Lincoln to Doncaster service, was damaged but remained upright and on the tracks. No injuries have been reported among passengers or staff onboard.

Speaking at the scene on Tuesday, Inspector Andy Selby of the British Transport Police declined to comment on whether the barriers and lights at the unmanned crossing were working correctly.

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Norovirus: More Than 600,000 Struck By Bug

More than 600,000 people are believed to have been struck down so far this year by the winter vomiting bug, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said.

Symptoms include a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea, while some people may have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps.

Laboratory tests have revealed a 64% rise in the number of people with the norovirus, with 2,313 confirmed cases on December 2, compared with 1,412 at the same point last year.

But the HPA estimates there are 288 unreported cases for each confirmed one, which means 666,144 people are likely to have contracted the illness.

The agency said it was unsure why more people were suffering with the virus but added that the norovirus season was always "unpredictable".

"The norovirus season is always completely unpredictable as it peaks and falls over several months - usually October to April," said Dr Bob Adak, head of the gastrointestinal diseases department at the HPA.

"However, one thing we do know is that every year we will see a large amount of norovirus activity because it is highly contagious.

"The figures for the last two weeks show that there has been a reduction in the numbers of outbreaks in hospitals although there are clearly a lot of other people becoming unwell as we can see from the number of lab reports.

"We would like to remind people to avoid visiting friends or relatives in hospital or care homes if they have symptoms consistent with a norovirus infection as it can lead to ward closures and severe disruption."

The HPA last week reported an outbreak of norovirus had led to the closure of 45 hospital wards across the previous fortnight - the virus spreads rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools, nursing and residential homes.

Dr Adak added: "Norovirus is a short-lived unpleasant infection but most people will fully recover in a couple of days.

"It is important to remain hydrated as you will be losing a lot of fluids due to the symptoms. Over-the-counter medicines can also be useful in reducing headaches and other aches and pains."

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Starbucks Close To Deal On Paying More Tax

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Starbucks will try to end the damaging row over its UK tax affairs by striking a deal with the Government that it believes will involve paying a comparable level of corporation tax to Costa Coffee, the British-based chain.

The US-owned coffee shops group is close to agreeing with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) a binding agreement over its UK corporate and tax structures.

The new terms could land Starbucks with a corporation tax bill of in the region of £10m for the current financial year.

In the 14 years since arriving in the UK, the chain has paid just £8.6m in corporation tax.

I have learned that the two sides have been in discussions about whether the agreement will be backdated as a gesture from Starbucks that would reflect its concern over the impact of the recent row on its image among British customers.

Sources close to the talks said that a retrospective application of the new structure was now unlikely.

A full statement will be made by Starbucks before the end of the week.

The company is unlikely to refer directly to Costa's tax bill, but insiders said that it had been "a reference point" in talks between Starbucks and the Government.

Tax experts questioned the premise of that discussion because Whitbread, Costa's owner, operates under a different tax structure.

In 2010-11, Costa paid around £15m in UK tax, while a year later it is expected to have paid £18m.

Costa has about 1479 shops in the UK, some of which are run by franchisees, while Starbucks owns approximately 720.

Multinationals with large operations in Britain, including Amazon and Google, have faced intense criticism in recent weeks over their minuscule UK tax bills.

The light tax burdens have been generated by a practice called transfer pricing, which involves charges being made by companies in the same group based in different jurisdictions, with the effect of depressing profits in the higher-tax jurisdiction.

In Starbucks' case, that relates to the royalty fee paid to a sister company in the Netherlands for the right to use its brand and coffee recipe.

People close to the talks said the Treasury had indicated that Mr Osborne may refer to the agreement with Starbucks in today's Autumn Statement.

Earlier this week, the Chancellor committed £77m of additional funding to combat tax avoidance and evasion.

The Treasury and Starbucks declined to comment.

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Pregnant Kate: Hospital Admits Falling For Prank

Prank callers have managed to trick hospital staff treating the Duchess of Cambridge into revealing detailed information about her condition.

Australian radio DJs impersonating the Queen and Prince of Wales were given an update about Kate, who was admitted to London's King Edward VII on Monday with severe morning sickness.

Mel Greig and Michael Christian from Sydney's 2Day FM were transferred to a duty nurse who divulged details of how doctors were treating the duchess.

The hospital has said it "deplores" the stunt and will be conducting a review of its phone system.

As Prince William arrived to visit his wife as she spends her third day in hospital, St James's Palace declined to comment on the incident.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes can confirm that an Australian radio station made a hoax call to the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Prince William visits his wife on her third day in hospital

"This call was transferred through to a ward and a short conversation was held with one of the nursing staff. King Edward VII's Hospital deeply regrets this incident."

John Lofthouse, chief executive at King Edward VII's Hospital, said: "This was a foolish prank call that we all deplore. We take patient confidentiality extremely seriously and we are now reviewing our telephone protocols."

Michael Christian has been posting congratulatory Tweets and reports of the prank from around the world on his Twitter page.

He tweeted: "Can't believe we got put through!"

The radio station has since apologised - saying the the DJs had "the best intentions".

In a statement, 2Day FM said: "2Day FM sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by the inquiry to Kate's hospital, the radio segment was done with the best intentions and we wish Kate and her family all the best."

Knowingly or recklessly obtaining personal information without consent is an offence under Section 55 of Data Protection Act 1998, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

During the debate over UK press standards, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called for those guilty of obtaining personal information by deception - known as "blaggers" - to be jailed.

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15 Police Injured In Belfast Union Flag Riots

Eighteen people, including 15 police officers, have been injured during a riot at Belfast City Hall after the passing of a vote to stop flying the Union flag all year round.

The violence spread to parts of east Belfast on Monday night where loyalists who had earlier tried to smash their way into the grounds of City Hall attacked a Catholic church.

A police spokeswoman said reinforcements had to be called in to deal with hundreds of loyalists throwing missiles, including fireworks, bricks and bottles.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said three men had been arrested over the disorder. 

An 18-year-old was arrested in Clandeboye Street on suspicion of riotous behaviour and possession of a petrol bomb.

A 22-year-old was arrested in the Donegall Square area, and a 17-year-old was detained on suspicion of riotous assembly in east Belfast.

Two female officers were taken to hospital

Trouble broke out minutes after Belfast city councillors voted to remove the flag from City Hall.

It is the first time the Union flag has been taken down from the Edwardian building since it opened in 1906.

Councillors agreed by 29 votes to 21 to bring City Hall into line with Stormont and other Government buildings and fly the flag on 17 designated days.

Sinn Fein Policing Board member Gerry Kelly said the PSNI had serious questions to answer about their operation.

He said: "I have to say, and I don't use these words unless I really mean them, it was a disgraceful police operation - or lack of a police operation.

"If that had been 1,000 or more republicans out there ... they would not have left it that they were able to come into the back of City Hall.

Loyalist protestors carrying Union flags block the back of City Hall

"They indiscriminately attacked cars. We are very, very lucky that they didn't get into the building or we could have been dealing with a lot more injuries."

Cars belonging to elected members and council staff were damaged during the disorder.

DUP councillor Christopher Stalford condemned those responsible for violence.

He said: "The violence has distracted from the issue we should be focusing on - the parties in Belfast City Council who have voted as a block to strip the City Hall of its flag."

Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said: "The violence which took place at the City Hall and round St Matthew's Church was the responsibility of two groups of people.

The Union flag will now be flown on 17 designated days

"The first is those who went to the City Hall spoiling for a fight, who attacked police officers and council staff.

"But there is a second group which bears responsibility. DUP and UUP politicians fomented this protest, with both leaflets and the use of social media. They called people on to the streets.

"They must have known, from experience as recent as this summer, that violence was almost inevitable. They cannot avoid their responsibility.

"Such violence should be condemned by all civic and community leaders."

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Christmas Shopping Leaves Retailers Nervous

There are signs that Christmas shoppers are adopting a "wait and see" approach in the hope of a price war among retailers in the run-up to December 25.

The latest sales figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show a rise of 0.4% during November, a figure it said was flattered by weak comparisons with last year.

The organisation stated that shops were in a "state of nervousness" about the festive season as a result.

Its survey quoted several toy retailers as saying that Christmas shopping was starting later this year, while online sales also delivered their third worst performance of the year.

Retailers had been hoping for stronger November trading after a battering the previous month when retail sales volumes dropped 0.8% month-on-month, amid declining consumer confidence and rising inflation.

David McCorquodale, head of retail at BRC's survey partner KPMG, said November had been a cautious month: "It appears that consumers know they have to spend before Christmas but are holding off for as long as they can to see if there might be bargains available in the next few weeks.

"Pricing throughout the month and strategic promotions will be fundamental in a key month," he said.

But the BRC said tablet computers were a strong driver of growth in the electrical goods market in November, which also benefited as people bought cooking items ahead of Christmas.

Clothing sales were boosted by the fashion for all-in-one pyjamas, known as onesies.

Singers Rihanna and Robbie Williams are among the celebrities who have stepped out in their own versions of the adult romper suits.

The colder weather helped boost winter clothing ranges and boots.

Food sales faded throughout the month but the launch of festive Christmas adverts helped boost sales of Christmas crackers and confectionery.

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Andrew Parsons Charged Over Wife's Death

A man has been charged with murdering his American beauty therapist wife at their home in Oxfordshire.

Andrew Parsons, 38, will appear at Oxford Magistrates Court, accused of killing his wife Janee in Lucerne Avenue, Bicester.

Mrs Parsons, 31, was found by police after they were called to her detached home on Saturday.

Despite attempts by officers and ambulance staff to resuscitate her, she was declared dead at hospital.

A post-mortem examination found that the mother-of-two died from multiple stab wounds, police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Kidman, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are keen to speak with anyone in Lucerne Avenue who may have important information to help us establish the circumstances of this tragic incident."

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Corfu Sex Attack Video Given To Essex Police

Police are trying to trace a young woman, believed to be British, who was videoed being sexually assaulted while on holiday in Corfu.

Essex Police were handed footage from a video camera in August which features the "shocking" attack alongside more routine holiday clips.

They are now trying to track the woman who was subjected to the ordeal on a hotel bed in Kavos during the early hours of July 30.

It is suspected that her attacker was a fellow Briton who was holidaying with a group of friends.

Most of the people staying in the resort at the time are thought to have been British.

Police have been investigating for months but have now decided to make their appeal public.

Detective Inspector Hayley King said: "We don't know when the young woman returned to the UK or which airport she flew back into. We strongly believe that she is from the UK.

"The offence took place in a hotel room. We don't though know which hotel it is in Kavos, and there are many."

In a bid to help the victim identify herself, police have said she was wearing a number of coloured wristbands obtained from local clubs.

:: Anyone with information is urged to contact Essex Police's sexual offences investigation team in Brentwood on 01279 625428 or email soit@essex.pnn.police.uk

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West Ham Denies Carroll Attacked Photographer

West Ham football club has denied claims that its player Andy Carroll physically attacked a photographer in Dublin.

According to The Sun, Paddy Cummins, who works for the paper, was assaulted while Carroll and his teammates were out for a Christmas party after beating Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Sun said the photographer had been knocked down during the alleged attack.

No arrests have been made. The club confirmed players had given statements to Irish police.

West Ham said in a statement: "Andy Carroll was in Dublin as part of a social trip with full permission of the management team.

"Andy agreed to have a number of pictures taken at the request of a photographer who was waiting on the street.

"Despite this, the photographer then carried on taking photos in the close proximity of Andy and was politely asked to stop by the private security team working on the trip.

"When he then continued taking more photos he was restrained by the security team for Andy's safety.

"Eyewitnesses state at no point was there any physical contact between Andy and the photographer."

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