By the time a baby takes its first breath many of the key pathways between nerves have already been made. And some of these will help determine how a baby thinks or sees the world, and may have a role to play in the development of conditions such as autism, scientists say. But how this rich neural network assembles in the baby before birth is relatively unchartered territory. Researchers from Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, Imperial College and Oxford University aim to produce a dynamic wiring diagram of how the brain grows, at a level of detail that they say has been impossible until now. They hope that by charting the journeys of bundles of nerves in the final three months of pregnancy, doctors will be able to understand more about how they can help in situations when this process goes wrong. Prof David Edwards, director of the Centre for the Developing Brain, who is leading the research, says: "There is a distressing number of children in our society who grow up with problems because of things that happen to them around the time of birth or just before birth. "It is very important to be able to scan babies before they are born, because we can capture a period when an awful lot is changing inside the brain, and it is a time when a great many of the things that might be going wrong do seem to be going wrong." The study - known as the Developing Human Connectome Project - hopes to look at more than 1,500 babies, studying many aspects of their neurological development. By examining the brains of babies while they are still growing in the womb, as well as those born prematurely and at full term, the scientists will try to define baselines of normal development and investigate how these may be affected by problems around birth. And they plan to share their map with the wider research community. Central to this project are advanced MRI scanning techniques, which the scientists say are able to pick up on details of the growing brain that have been difficult to capture until now. While in the womb, foetuses are free to somersault in their amniotic sacs, and this constant movement has so far hindered clear images of growing brains. But researchers at the Centre for the Developing Brain have found ways to counter the effects of these movements, building up full three-dimensional pictures while the foetus is in motion. And by placing the MRI machine in the neonatal intensive care unit at Evelina Children's Hospital in London they are one of the few centres in the world to have a scanner in such close proximity to the babies who often need it most, Prof Edwards says. This means the same scanning system can be used to find out more about the brains of the sickest and smallest newborn babies, he says. Daniel Rueckert, professor of visual information processing at Imperial College London, who is also involved in the research, says: "We are trying to look

Summary: UK scientists have embarked on a six-year project to map how nerve connections develop in babies' brains while still in the womb and after birth.


All five of these candidates are opposed to a third runway at Heathrow. Find out more about all the candidates in the London elections.

Summary: Find out more about what the London mayoral candidates are promising in May's election.


SolO will take pictures and measurements from inside the orbit of Mercury, to gain new insights on what drives the star's dynamic behaviour. The European Space Agency has signed a contract with Astrium UK to build the satellite, for a launch in 2017. The deal is worth 300m euros (Â£245m), and the work will be done in Stevenage. With an eye on history, the contract signatures on the legal paperwork were timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of UK activity in orbit. It was 26 April 1962 that Britain became a space-faring nation, with the launch of the Ariel-1 satellite. Esa director Alvaro Gimenez and Astrium executive Miranda Mills shook hands on the SolO project in London's Science Museum, where a model of Ariel-1 is on display . After launch, Solar Orbiter will take itself deep into the inner Solar System, flying as close as 42 million km from the Sun. This close proximity will require the spacecraft to carry a robust shield. "Heat will be a huge problem," says Dr Ralph Cordey, the head of science at Astrium UK. "If it were not protected, the face of the spacecraft would get as hot as 500 degrees - which would be disastrous. "We will use a thick heatshield to reduce the temperature within the spacecraft and its systems down to about room temperature so that all the electronics can operate comfortably." SolO's remote sensing instruments - its imagers and telescopes - will look though slots which have shutters that can be closed when no observations are being made. The mission is designed to enhance our understanding of how the Sun influences its environment, and in particular how it generates and accelerates the flow of charged particles in which the planets are bathed. This solar wind can be very turbulent, and big eruptions on the solar surface will create major perturbations in the wind. When this stream of particles hits the atmosphere at Earth and the other planets, it triggers spectacular auroral lights. "Solar Orbiter's mission will tell us how the Sun creates the heliosphere, which you can think of as its atmosphere," explained solar physicist Dr Lucie Green from University College London. "The heliosphere is hot and it expands out into space for about 17 billion km. "We don't really know how it's formed and how it varies with time, but Solar Orbiter will get really deep into that atmosphere to see where on the surface the emissions are coming from, to ultimately understand how the great bubble is made." To sample the solar wind as it comes off the surface, Solar Orbiter has five in-situ instruments. The probe's orbit will also take it high above the plane of the planets so it can see some of the processes at play on the Sun poles. And the speed of SolO around the star means it will be able to follow events and features that would normally rotate out of view of Earth-based observatories. At the heart of the endeavour is a desire to understand better the causes of what solar physicists

Summary: British industry will lead the production of Solar Orbiter (SolO), a spacecraft that will travel closer to the Sun than any satellite to date.


From September, three and four-year-olds in England will be entitled to 30 free hours of care a week in term time. But a Pre-school Learning Alliance poll of childcare providers suggests many will struggle to offer the 30 hours as the funding will not cover their costs. Ministers say affordable childcare is at the heart of their agenda. PSLA Chief Executive Neil Leitch said the plan could force nurseries to close Of 1,332 childcare providers questioned last month, only 44.2% said they definitely planned to deliver the 30 hours, compared with 95.2% who said they were providing the 15 hours currently funded by government, while more than a third (36.5%) were unsure whether to offer it. Almost a fifth (19.3%) said they would not be introducing it and more than half of those (58%) said it was because the funding was not high enough. About two-fifths of nurseries and childminders said they would have to put restrictions on the days and times when families can take their free hours. Of nursery owners expecting to make a loss under the scheme, more than half said they would have to increase fees for any additional hours. More than a third (37.2%) said they would increase fees for children of other ages and nearly half (47.9%) would charge for goods and services that they previously provided for free. More than half (59.7%) said they were confident that they would have the capacity to meet the demand for places under the 30-hour offer, while 40.4% said they were not. Neil Leitch, chief executive of the PSLA, said: "The promise of 30 hours of free childcare was a key part of the Conservative Party's pre-election manifesto and yet these findings show that if the government doesn't address the sector's funding concerns, it's at serious risk of breaking that pledge. "With so few providers currently committed to delivering the 30 hours and so many forced to consider limiting places, raising fees or introducing extra charges in order to remain sustainable if they do offer it, many parents expecting easy access to a 'free' 30 hours place in September are likely to be disappointed. "The fact is that the 30 hours offer cannot succeed without adequate investment. Neither parents nor providers should be expected to pay for a promise that government chose to make." A Department for Education spokeswoman said that by 2020 the government would be investing "a record Â£6bn per year... in childcare support and introducing a fairer Early Years funding formula which will see the vast majority of providers receive increased funding rates to help deliver our 30 hours free offer". The spokeswoman added that pilots of the scheme were already successfully under way in a number of areas, with more due to launch this month. "We are also providing guidance, tools and support for providers to help childcare professionals run their businesses more efficiently," she said.

Summary: Parents could face higher fees and extra charges when the government rolls out a plan to double the number of free childcare hours, warn providers.


The husband-and-wife duo overcame Indonesian pair Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto 21-19 17-21 21-9. It was the Adcocks' fifth straight win over the world number four ranked pair. They will face China's Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen in Sunday's mixed doubles final. Badminton is one of five sports to lose its UK Sport funding for the 2020 Olympics, but is appealing against the decision.

Summary: England's Gabby and Chris Adcock are one match from successfully defending their World Superseries Finals title in Dubai after a tense semi-final win.


But there is one country that, while producing its worst ever performance at the Rio Olympics last month, becomes a world superpower once the Paralympics start - Ukraine. Sixth in Athens in 2004, they finished fourth at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Now they are poised to go one better, sitting a comfortable third in the medal table in Rio. But the Rio performance is particularly astonishing given the country's recent history, with an economic crisis, war in the east and the loss of their main training centre in Crimea after the region was taken over by Russia. The country's President, Petro Poroshenko, has described the performance of the Ukrainian Paralympians as "incredible", adding that the athletes prove "that the impossible is possible". Ukraine's own Paralympic chief, Valeriy Sushkevych, is the man credited with much of the success, in particular a programme he developed called Invasport. Invasport works by having schools and facilities dedicated to Paralympic sports in every oblast (region) of Ukraine. "In Ukraine we have set up the best system of physical education, sport and rehabilitation for people with disability," Mr Sushkevych told the BBC. "There is infrastructure in all regions of Ukraine, with schools for children with disabilities. This system works and brings results. "But the system can't work without peopleâ€¦ people who withstand all these problems: lack of money, political crisis, war and all other troubles. And these people are extremely dedicated." Mr Sushkevych, who himself had polio as a child and who has spent most of his life using a wheelchair for mobility, says the system emphasises rehabilitation for all disabled children who enter it - but promises much more for those who appear promising at sport. "We invite people for rehabilitation, and amongst those 100 who come, we find maybe five who are good at swimming, or football or athletics," he explains. "We have to give them opportunity to realise their own potential." The way that Invasport works means that facilities and recruitment are spread out through the country, rather than concentrated in one area. As Mr Sushkevych told the BBC, this meant that Ukraine's Paralympians were able to come even when the main training base, the Yevpatoria facility in Crimea, was taken over by Russia in 2014. "We had to find other options for athletes to train - and I have to say that those were not the best conditions," he said. "But we had to adjust to those conditions, and even had to train in old post-Soviet facilities. Experience, knowledge and huge professionalism of the team made this result possible." The pay-off has been an extraordinary 72 medals at the time of writing - some 42 of which are in the pool. Powerlifter Lidiya Solovyova, who has won a gold medal, says that her main motivation to succeed is the fact that Ukraine does not offer many opportunities to people with disabilities outside of sport. For many, it is quite literally sink or swim. "This is my main job," she explains. "In our country it is very difficult to find a job for

Summary: When it comes to the Olympics and Paralympics, China, the US, Russia and Britain (these days) are usually to be found near the top of both medal tables.


Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras failed to get enough support for his presidential nominee on Monday and will call an election for 25 January. The price of copper also fell to its lowest in four-and-a-half years on a strong dollar and a slowdown in China. Japan's Nikkei fell 1.6% to 17,450.77 on its last trading day this year. But the index ends the year up 7.1%, driven by aggressive asset purchases by the Bank of Japan and a weaker yen that boosted company profits. The dollar was at 120.41 yen from 120.66 yen in morning trade. Japanese markets will be shut for the reminder of this week and will reopen next Monday. China shares traded in opposite directions with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index down 0.9% at 23,550.44. On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite bucked the trend and was up 0.7% to 3,189.64. In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 1% to 5,416.6 after gaining 1.5% on Monday. Shares of heavyweight miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were both down more than 0.7% on falling commodity prices. South Korean shares were lower despite economic data showing signs of the economy picking up. The country's industrial output rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.3% in November from October, just beating expectations and marking its fastest rise in four months. Meanwhile, its current account surplus was also up to a seasonally adjusted $9.73bn (Â£6.2bn) in November - its highest in seven months. But the benchmark Kospi closed down 0.6% to 1,915.59, down 4.8% for the year. This year marked the first annual decline for the main bourse since 2011. South Korean markets will reopen on Friday.

Summary: Asian shares traded lower as political uncertainty in Greece and a sell-off in commodities weighed on investors' appetite.


Christopher Hannah was driving a car which mounted the pavement and struck Sophie Brannan in Sandbank Street, Maryhill, on 14 November last year. Her friend Chelsea Sommerville, and Chelsea's uncle, Joseph Lloyd, were also badly injured. At the High Court in Glasgow, 33-year-old Hannah, who is said to be a heroin addict, admitted a charge of culpable homicide. Sentence was deferred. Following his guilty plea, the investigating officer Det Insp Colin Hailstones said: "This was an appallingly tragic case. "Many people in the community in Maryhill were deeply affected by this incident, particularly as it resulted in the death of young Sophie Brannan, whose life was sadly taken away from her at the age of 11 and at the hands of someone under the influence of drugs. "Police officers worked tirelessly to piece together the events of that fateful night and I must thank the many members of the local community and those injured who helped provide information about the incident." He added: "The strength shown from the community towards Sophie's family and the other people who were injured is unquestionable and much support continues to be given to them." The court heard that Hannah was driving a hired Vauxhall Astra in the area and lost control. He then fully mounted the pavement before hitting the gable end of a nearby building. The car continued to career forward eventually ploughing into Sophie and the two people with her from behind. Prosecutor Allan Nicol said: "This caused them to be thrown onto the bonnet, windscreen and roof of the vehicle before falling onto the ground." Another driver witnessed the crash and turned back to help Sophie. More witnesses saw Hannah speed onto nearby Maryhill Road with his badly-dented car being "driven erratically". He then crashed into a taxi whose driver decided to follow Hannah, who eventually stopped a short distance away. Mr Nicol added: "At that point, the accused was trying to pull the damaged front bumper then he stopped and walked away before starting to run off. "Both the taxi driver and his passengers noticed that he was under the influence of some substance." Medics found Sophie lying on the pavement. She was rushed to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill where she was found to have swelling to her brain, several fractures and broken bones. The schoolgirl remained in intensive care overnight but was pronounced dead on the morning of 15 November. The court heard that Chelsea suffered a serious leg break which will require long-term physiotherapy. She continues to wear a cast several months after the tragedy. Mr Nicol added: "She also suffers episodes of withdrawal and angry outbursts. "She is due to attend for psychiatric assessment in order to come to terms with her injuries and the loss of Sophie." Chelsea's uncle also suffered a number of fractures, but was initially released from hospital two days later. However, he eventually required surgery and it is likely he will have "long-term restriction" of movement in his right shoulder. Police discovered the Astra had been hired in Hannah's name

Summary: A man has admitted killing an 11-year-old girl in a hit-and-run in Glasgow.


Confessions had been forced from the Muslim men after they were beaten up in custody, a rights activist said. They were among a group of people arrested late last year. Homosexual acts are illegal in the West African state under both Islamic and secular law - the latter was tightened earlier this year. Same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affection are now banned throughout Nigeria. Another Muslim man also received 20 lashes in January after the Islamic court in Bauchi convicted him of homosexual offences. Most states in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria have adopted Islamic law, known as Sharia, since the end of military rule in 1999. The BBC's Ishaq Khalid in Bauchi says details about the latest case are sketchy, but court officials have confirmed the whippings. It seems the court wanted to avoid publicity after an angry crowd disrupted proceedings last month, demanding the death sentence for the four, our reporter says. The judge did not impose the death penalty because the homosexual offences had taken place a long time ago, and the men had repented, he says. Where is it illegal to be gay? The men, aged between 20 and 22, were also ordered to pay a fine of $120 (Â£70) each, Dorothy Aken'Ova, a rights activist with the Nigeria-based International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, told the Associated Press news agency. Rights groups were trying to raise the money - otherwise, they will remain in prison, she said. The men should not have been convicted because they were beaten up and their confessions forced, she said. Their families, mainly subsistence farmers, turned down an offer of legal representation because they preferred to negotiate with the judge and get the case behind them, Ms Aken'Ova said. Nigeria is a deeply conservative country, where most people - Christian and Muslim - are opposed to homosexuality.

Summary: Four Nigerian men have received 20 lashes each after an Islamic court in the northern city of Bauchi convicted them of gay sex, officials say.


The 28-year-old Wales international has been with the Cherries since 2011, during which time they have progressed from League One to the Premier League. MacDonald came through the Swansea youth system and has had four stints out on loan at Yeovil. "He is a terrific pro who understands the way we want to play," boss Gary Caldwell told the club website. He is not available for the Latics' game against Blackburn on Saturday, 13 August but is registered for matches after this weekend. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Wigan Athletic have signed Bournemouth midfielder Shaun MacDonald for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.


As he was in the summer, the 38-year-old has again been linked with the vacant national job following the departure of Sam Allardyce on Tuesday. Howe guided Bournemouth to Premier League safety last season after winning the Championship title in 2015. "My mindset and my full attention is here with AFC Bournemouth," Howe told BBC Radio Solent. "The last thing you need is to be distracted. I certainly won't be, but I know other people will talk about it." Howe was recently asked in an interview with the BBC's The Premier League Show if the role as national coach would ever appeal to him in the future. "The England job, I think, is the ultimate," he told presenter Gary Lineker during filming before Allardyce's departure. "I would never say no, but it's not something I want to consider." Media playback is not supported on this device Howe has now moved to reassure Bournemouth supporters his view has not changed despite subsequent events. "I have pledged my allegiance to AFC Bournemouth time and time again," he said. "When these situations and these stories occur, it's more the press than absolutely anything else. I'm absolutely committed to AFC Bournemouth."

Summary: Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says he will not be distracted by talk linking him with the England manager's role.


Some have seen increases of as much as 900% after a recent revaluation and the situation has been called "ridiculous". It means virtually all of their profits are being handed over to councils, with some energy schemes now making a loss, BBC Wales has heard. The Welsh Government said it was aware and considering the case for specific assistance. The British Hydropower Association accused ministers of "sitting on their hands" while Community Energy Wales said it was "ripping the guts" out of projects. Community energy schemes are often small enterprises run by volunteers, designed to generate income for their area. But the way business rates are calculated means hydro schemes are hit hard: Business rates in England and Wales are calculated by an independent body - the Valuation Office Agency - but the Welsh Government is in charge of how they are raised here. The British Hydropower Association has written to Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford to ask for support. Chief executive Simon Hamlyn said: "Community hydro schemes are suffering and those businesses will say we can't afford to pay these rates and they'll abandon these schemes and that's the last thing we want." Keith Jones, director of Community Energy Wales, said the average increase was 300%. "No-one could foresee this coming, we didn't even put it down as a risk in our business plans that such a blunt instrument would be used to get more money out of us." Mr Jones said the Scottish government had extended a 100% business rates relief for community energy schemes while in England they were capping the increase at £600. Gavin Gatehouse helps run the Ynni Anafon hydro scheme in Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, which has seen its monthly rate rise from about £900 to more than £2,000. It took five years to set up and could generate up to £40,000 of disposable income per year for projects in the area. A charity has been formed so groups and individuals can apply for grants, but this increase means there will be less money to hand out. The community hydro at Bethesda is predicting it will now make a loss. "It's very frustrating and I'm very angry about it," Mr Gatehouse said. "We'll be seeing a huge proportion of our profit eaten away to substitute for lack of government provision of grants to local authorities." Mr Drakeford has said more than £210m of rate relief was being provided for 2017-18 to businesses including community energy projects. "We are going to prepare a new scheme for rate relief for small business from 2018 onwards. I am happy, as part of this, to consider the case for specific assistance and support for some projects, including the community energy projects and community hydro projects." The Green Party said it would remove subsidies to fossil fuels and scrap "regressive taxes" on the community energy sector. Welsh Liberal Democrats pledged to review business rates exemptions and make a presumption in favour of renewable energy projects "in or on suitable publicly owned buildings and land". Plaid Cymru's shadow cabinet secretary for energy, Simon Thomas, said

Summary: The future of many community hydro schemes is in jeopardy due to a sharp rise in business rates, operators say.


There are two in the region at the moment - Stockton South's James Wharton and Hexham's Guy Opperman. Few in number then, but uniquely placed to tell the rest of the party how the north is feeling about the fall-out from the Scottish referendum. They are after all from the region closest to the border. Both then have been keen to comment on the future for both Scottish and English devolution following the referendum no vote. They support the push for Scottish MPs to be excluded from votes on English matters, but believe other measures are needed specifically for the North. James Wharton was one of the Conservative MPs invited to Chequers to talk through his concerns with the prime minister. Before the meeting, he made it clear he was prepared to vote against measures to strengthen the Scottish parliament if he thought they might leave the North East unfairly disadvantaged. He wanted to hear how David Cameron might assuage those concerns. After the meeting, he told me it had been "remarkably positive". He believes the PM has taken on board the need to take the North's concerns into account as a new UK settlement is drawn up. James Wharton said: "I do not want Scotland given an unfair advantage over us, and the prime minister acknowledged that and took the time to refer to that in his closing remarks to the meeting. "I am not in favour of new institutions for our region - I opposed the idea of a regional assembly and I still believe it would be wrong. "But I would be keen to look at whether we could use extra tax advantages or enterprise zones to help us compete with Scotland for investment." Guy Opperman is also keen to see the North empowered. But he believes the referendum campaign promise of extra powers for Scotland must be honoured. He does want extra powers south of the border too though. He sees the recently-formed North East Combined Authority of seven councils covering from Berwick in Northumberland to Barnard Castle in County Durham as ideally placed to take on more responsibility. In an online blog, he said: "What our region needs isn't more politicians, it is more powers. Real powers to boost jobs, infrastructure and investment. "The easiest way to do that is to build on the existing combined authority. "They have already come together to make joint decisions on transport, skills and so much more. This is a body which is ripe for more power, and ready to accept it." But his other idea could be more contentious. He would like to see that authority led by a mayor - a kind of Boris Johnson for the North. He added: "My personal view is that we need the leader of the Combined Authority being elected as a mayor - as they have in London, New York and so many other great areas, rather than it being an appointed post as it is now. "I think that is the simplest, cheapest and most sensible way to bring democracy and greater

Summary: North East Conservatives are not an endangered species as such, but they are a select bunch, and their MPs are even thinner on the ground.


There have been grumblings about whether F1 was providing enough of a spectacle for some time, but they have grown in momentum in recent weeks. And on Monday BBC co-commentator David Coulthard finally revealed to the public what many in F1 already knew - the drivers don't like the current cars because they think they are too slow and too limited by artificial restraints. A large part of the reason for that is down to the tyres, which was not addressed by the decisions made by the strategy group on Thursday. But much has been addressed - and the answers F1's bosses have come up with would create a very different-looking sport in two years' time if they are confirmed. The headline change is the return of refuelling for 2017, along with cars that will be between five and six seconds a lap faster. The step-change in speed will be welcomed by drivers and fans alike - the current cars are at some tracks as much as 10 seconds a lap slower in race trim than they were in 2004. With changes to aerodynamics to increase downforce and make the cars look "more aggressive" - wider cars, with bigger front and rear wings and wider rear tyres - and by reducing weight. Engines will also rev higher and be louder - addressing the complaints of some fans and F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone about the new turbo hybrid engines. This will be done by reducing the number of gears from eight to six, which will force teams to rev higher than the 11,000rpm or so they use now - out of a limit of 15,000rpm. Engineers have been tasked with finding solutions to make the engines louder, perhaps by adding another exhaust pipe. That satisfies Ecclestone's demand for more noise, while retaining the hybrids, which was important to the engine manufacturers - and increasing the fuel-flow limit would have meant an expensive redesign to enable engines to cope with what would have been vastly increased power outputs in qualifying. The fuel-flow limit - which has driven the engineers to develop F1 engines with thermal efficiency in excess of 40% - is also central to the development route of these engines - raise it, and they become far less relevant to current road car research. On that front, these new engines have been a conspicuous success. Only last weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell was talking about how the device that recovers energy from the turbocharger - which has been criticised as unnecessary and expensive - will soon be adopted in road cars on a widespread basis. Having 1,000bhp engines was discussed over the winter, but the idea of making changes to facilitate this has been quietly dropped. Although, as the best engines are about 900bhp already, it may well happen through normal development anyway. All of the technical changes to cars and engines had been widely discussed for months, but the reintroduction of refuelling came out of the blue. Reaction from fans on social media was immediate

Summary: The raft of potential changes to the Formula 1 rules announced on Friday amounts to a recognition that something needed to be done to answer the ever-louder questions about the health of the sport.


Kirsty McGuire, from Dover, Kent, said her son Codie McDowell was left screaming with pain. The accident in East Sussex has led his family to warn of the dangers of barbecues on beaches to prevent it happening to anyone else. But Rother council said disposal barbecues were banned from the beach. Ms McGuire said: "He stood on it, yelped 'just get it off me, get it off me' and that's when my brother's picked him up and all the bottom of his foot's just blistered." She said when they looked at the sand they first realised it was bright red and then they saw the barbecue underneath it. "How someone could just be so selfish and not put their rubbish in the bin," she said. "It doesn't take long to put a barbecue out especially with the amount of sea that's there and dispose of it properly." She added: "I felt helpless. He was in so much pain and screaming and there's nothing that I could have done to prevent it and when he's laying there in hospital and he's 'mummy take the pain away', obviously it breaks my heart." She said her son now needed hospital visits every three or four days for his injuries. Councillor Simon Elford, tourism portfolio holder at Rother District Council, said: "We were very sorry to hear at the injuries received by this young boy and wish him a speedy recovery. "To ensure the safety of everyone using this popular beach, disposable barbecues are banned and our officers carry out regular checks of the beach during busy periods."

Summary: A four-year-old child has been badly burned after he stepped on a disposable barbecue that was buried at Camber Sands while it was still alight.


The Tower Blocks - Our Blocks project has been described as a "Domesday Book" of the UK's post-war reconstruction. It will include images of towers which have been demolished over the past 30 years, as well as those which are still standing. It has been created by social and architectural historians from Edinburgh College of Art. The project is to receive a Â£52,900 grant of Heritage Lottery funding. This money will go towards digitising the 3,500 photographs, as well as supporting local outreach initiatives which the team hope will encourage high-rise residents to tell their stories. Glasgow's Red Road flats and Gorbals housing schemes will be among the multi-storey housing projects on show in the publically accessible digital catalogue. Other well know high rises to feature in the archive include the Everton flats in Liverpool, Birmingham's Chelmsley Wood, Manchester's Hulme redevelopment, and London estates such as Broadwater Farm, Thamesmead and Roehampton. The project is due to be completed by late 2017. Prof Miles Glendinning, head of the Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies at the college of art, said: "We hope this project will help contribute to the ongoing shift in public attitudes towards the post-war Modernist housing heritage, which is fast turning from an object of dislike and alienation into a force for potential community empowerment. "Council tower blocks were once the most prominent and dramatic legacy of the post-1945 reconstruction drive, but mass demolitions over the past 35 years, still continuing today, have depleted this vast heritage, leaving it obscured or incomprehensible to the public at a time when popular interest in post-war Modernist heritage is sharply increasing." Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: "Without archives, vast segments of our nation's history would be missing. "As the high rise towers that have dominated many towns' and city's skylines begin to disappear, it is important for us to capture this heritage and give voice to the experiences of those who live in these flats and communities." Glasgow 2014 chiefs faced criticism when they planned to demolish the Red Road flats as part of last summer's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. They eventually ditched the proposal to blow down five of the six remaining 1960s blocks live on television amid fears of a public protest. Critics said it was insensitive to former residents and to the asylum seekers who still occupied the sixth block. When they were built between 1964 and 1969, the Red Road flats were the highest in Europe at 292ft (89 metres).

Summary: Images of every tower block built in the UK are to be catalogued in a fully searchable digital archive.


It is claimed the man was kicked in the head a number of times and verbally abused by a group of men at about 02:30 GMT on Monday after he was chased from the Springfield Road. He was later treated in hospital for facial injuries. Police have appealed for information about the incident.

Summary: Police say an attack on a man in his 20s in Dunboyne Park in west Belfast was a "sectarian hate crime".


Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer are due to join an EDL march in Woolwich, where Drummer Lee Rigby was killed. The pair are prominent "anti-Islamisation" campaigners in the US. Home affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz claims their presence will fuel hatred and is calling for them to be denied visas. Mr Vaz said: "I am alarmed that the EDL is planning this type of march in Woolwich. It is clear that the location, motivation and attendees at this march will incite hatred. "Adding incendiary speakers such as Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer just fuels the fire. "Before we have to pay the costs for the extra policing required for this demonstration, the Home Secretary should consider using her discretion to ban these two speakers from entering the country. "A ban should be enforced properly and physically stop people entering our borders." The Home Office said it did not routinely comment on individual cases but the home secretary was aware of Mr Vaz's letter and would be responding in due course. Mrs May has the power to exclude non-British citizens from the UK if she considers their presence to be "not conducive to the public good" but she must act in a "reasonable, proportionate and consistent" way. Ms Geller, of the Atlas Shrugs blog, and Mr Spencer, of Jihad Watch, are co-founders of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, best known for a pro-Israel "Defeat Jihad" poster campaign on the New York subway. The poster, which caused controversy in the US when it appeared last year, read: "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." The pair plan to join Danish activist Anders Gravers, of Stop Islamisation of Europe, and EDL leaders Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll, at the event, on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, 29 June, where they will lay a wreath at a memorial to Drummer Rigby. Anti-fascist campaign Hope Not Hate has started a petition calling on Mrs May to deny Ms Geller and Mr Spencer a visa on the grounds that "their very presence in the UK will give encouragement to racists and extremists". A spokesman for Hope Not Hate told the BBC News website the group was also unhappy about Mr Gravers' planned presence at the EDL event, but said he could not be denied entry to the UK because he was an EU citizen. He denied the group wanted to stifle free speech and said it would also be against "Islamist hate preachers" entering the UK, adding: "We don't need people coming to this country to cause trouble." On Twitter, Ms Geller has reacted to the campaign by calling it an example of "fascism and hate" and "SS-like thuggery". On her blog, she claimed "Islamic supremacists and leftist thugs are strong-arming British authorities to ban us" and vowed to resist efforts to ban her and Mr Spencer from the EDL event. Scotland Yard said that it was aware of the march and would have an appropriate policing plan in place. Last month, British National Party leader Nick Griffin

Summary: Home Secretary Theresa May is considering banning two US bloggers from entering the UK to speak at an English Defence League rally.


After resuming on 397-9, on-loan Nottinghamshire all-rounder Will Gidman (75*) and Mitch Claydon (46) extended their last-wicket partnership to 75. When the visitors batted again, 240 behind, George Rhodes (55) reached his maiden first-class half-century. But Gidman took two wickets to help reduce Worcestershire to 213-6. They still trail Kent by 27 runs with four wickets remaining and, barring bad weather, Steve Rhodes' side look on course for only their second Championship defeat of the season. The only consolation for Rhodes was the form of his 22-year-old son George, on only his second first-class appearance. Playing as an emergency opener in the absence of injured new England Lions international Brett D'Oliveira, he scored 55 in an opening stand of 94 with skipper Daryl Mitchell (43). But Gidman removed both openers in quick succession and, despite 32 from Tom Fell, after the loss of Ross Whiteley to James Tredwell in the day's final over, the visitors' slim survival hopes now rest largely in the hands of overnight not out batsman Ben Cox (35*). Kent off-spinner James Tredwell told BBC Radio Kent: "It's been a docile sort of pitch but it's just starting to turn a little. You get your rewards if you stick to your line and length long enough. "It's a patience pitch where you have to try and draw a mistake out of the batsmen. There's a little bit of rough, so I was trying to encourage the occasional drive when there's nothing going on. "We're still 30 runs to the good and we're backing ourselves to finish the job off on the final day." Worcestershire all-rounder George Rhodes told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "It was a great feeling and it would been even better had we not lost six wickets by the close. I really enjoyed the challenge and I'm so glad that I managed to take my opportunity, "I knew on the way down to Kent that I'd be going in up top when Mitch said to me 'get your head around opening'. "It's been a great experience against some pretty decent bowlers. It's a dry pitch and they're very much bowling wicket-to-wicket so it's hard to score fluently now."

Summary: Worcestershire ended the third day at Canterbury in danger of an innings defeat by County Championship Division Two promotion rivals Kent.


The crash, involving several vehicles, happened on the southbound carriageway, near the Hindhead tunnel at Bramshott, at about 07:30 GMT on Thursday. The 32-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said a 33-year-old man from Waterlooville had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention. The road was closed between Thursley and Liphook until early evening while officers investigated the scene.

Summary: A cyclist has died after being in a crash with a car on the A3 in Hampshire.


"I'm 64," he said of his fascination with the 1836 battle. "When I was five or six years old, this thing began." Collins' collection includes a fringed leather pouch used by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie's legendary knife. "There's things in there that will make your mouth drop," the Genesis star said in San Antonio. The donation was accepted on Tuesday by Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who is campaigning for a new historical centre to house Collins' collection. "Texans are deeply indebted to Phil Collins,'' Patterson said. "He is giving us back our heritage. "Now these Texas treasures need a home where all can see them and study from them and learn about how Texans won our liberty.'' The legendary battle, named after a former mission in San Antonio, saw 1,500 Mexican troops lay siege to 200 Texans fighting for Texas independence. Collins said he first became interested in the Alamo after watching a 1950s TV series about Crockett, the famed frontiersman who died in the conflict. The Grammy and Academy Award winner's collection includes more than 200 items and is thought to be the largest in private hands. "My nine-year-old son was saying, 'Why are you going to give it all away, Dad? I thought I was going to have it,''' he told reporters.

Summary: Singer Phil Collins has handed over his large collection of Alamo memorabilia to a Texas museum, calling the donation the end of a six-decade "journey".


Addressing the issue of students getting value for money, he will challenge an "upward spiral" in university leaders' pay. Universities will be asked to publicly justify how they can pay their heads more than the prime minister. The question of university value has been under scrutiny, with fees increasing to £9,250 in England. In a speech to university leaders on Thursday, Mr Johnson will call for universities to set out much clearer contracts for students on what they can expect. He will promise better "consumer protection" for students. An annual study has shown a decreasing sense of value for money among students - with concerns about getting fewer teaching hours than they expected. Mr Johnson will highlight concerns over increases in vice-chancellors' pay - with dozens of university heads now receiving over £300,000 and some being paid more than £400,000. "When students and taxpayers invest so heavily in our higher education system, value for money should be guaranteed. Yet, I am still hearing students say that their course is poor quality. "This is not good enough, especially when some vice-chancellors take home a wage that in some cases exceeds that of the prime minister." There have been concerns about the rising costs of university in England - with tuition fees increasing to £9,250 and interest rates on loans rising to 6.1%. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says that average debts for graduates will now be over £50,000 - and that interest charges will have reached £5,800 before students have even graduated. Former education minister Lord Adonis says such high levels of interest are "indefensible" and predicts that they will be changed. And the head of the Russell Group of leading universities has described such interest charges as "out of touch" and called for them to be reviewed. But Mr Johnson is expected to defend the current system of student finance and university funding.

Summary: Universities Minister Jo Johnson is going to challenge universities over "excessive" pay for vice-chancellors.


Glyndwr University is hosting the first meeting of the North Wales Cyber Security Cluster with local businesses also attending. Prof Vic Grout said the aim is to meet monthly to share good practice. Security agency GCHQ said people and businesses could adopt basic cyber security principals to keep safe.

Summary: Police and experts in cybercrime are meeting in Wrexham to discuss ways to tackle the issue and keep people safe online.


Zeid Raad Al Hussein described the incident, in which 10 people were wounded, as "extremely shocking". Cizre has been the focus of an offensive by Turkey's army against the Kurdish rebel group, the PKK. Mr Al Hussein also expressed concern over reports that the man who filmed the incident was arrested. "Filming an atrocity is not a crime but shooting unarmed civilians most certainly is," he said. "It is essential that there is a thorough, independent, impartial investigation into this and any other events that have led to the wounding or killing of civilians." The incident in Cizre, a predominantly Kurdish city, occurred on 20 January. Video footage posted online purporting to be of the immediate aftermath of the shooting shows people being loaded into ambulances amid screaming and the sound of explosions. Reports suggested that the group who came under fire were attempting to rescue people wounded in an earlier clashes. The video footage also appears to show that some of the group were pushing a cart loaded with bodies across the street, watched by an armoured military vehicle. Mr Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the victims had been "apparently cut down in a hail of gunfire". The unrest came just days after security forces killed 20 Kurdish militants in clashes in nearby Diyarbakir, according to the Turkish military. Three Turkish soldiers also died in a rebel attack, the military said. The region has suffered its worst violence in two decades since a ceasefire between the Turkish government and the PKK collapsed in July. The PKK, which has fought for autonomy for Turkey's Kurdish minority for decades, has been attacking security forces, while the army has been besieging Kurdish-dominated towns. The Turkish Human Rights Foundation says at least 198 civilians, including 39 children, have died in areas under curfew since August. Since July, more than 200 Turkish soldiers and policemen have been killed in attacks by the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and US. The European Union has called for an immediate ceasefire.

Summary: The top UN human rights official has urged Turkey to investigate an apparent shooting by security forces of unarmed civilians in the city of Cizre.


Malachi Love-Robinson, 18, was arrested after examining and providing medical advice to an undercover police officer. He was released on bail on Wednesday. Mr Love-Robinson has denied that he posed as a medical doctor and said he only used the title because he had obtained a PhD online. "This was me simply trying to do something for the community in a light that I saw that was needed," he told WPTV, a West Palm Beach news channel. "Honestly, if you ask me many people are getting tired of hearing that they have to take a script just to feel better." The website of the New Birth New Life Medical Center describes him as a "well rounded professional". In January 2015, at the age of 17, he was reportedly caught walking around a local hospital wearing a white coat and carrying a stethoscope. He has been charged with practising without a medical licence, and theft, after allegedly stealing and forging three cheques from an elderly woman who sought treatment for stomach pain. In a brief media conference on Wednesday evening, he said he was "deeply saddened and a little disrespected" by the accusations and asked for privacy. Mr Love-Robinson has since insisted in media interviews that he has certifications to practise alternative medicine, including naturopathy. Scans of certificates from the American Alternative Medical Association and American Association of Drugless Practitioners had previously been posted to his Facebook page, which now appears to have been taken down. But the state of Florida no longer offers naturopathy licenses and only licensed doctors are allowed to offer such services in the state. Mr Love-Robinson said he became interested in alternative medicine while suffering from illnesses during childhood. According to the Palm Beach Post, he claims to suffer from the auto-immune disease lupus, while a post on his Facebook page earlier this month said he was suffering from kidney cancer. The Palm Beach County sheriff's office says Mr Love-Robinson examined an 86-year-old in December who suffered from severe stomach pain. He allegedly diagnosed her with arthritis and sold her vitamins, receiving more than $3,000 (Â£2,090) for a series of home visits. During one visit, she told police, he called an ambulance to take her to hospital and is alleged to have stolen and forged cheques worth nearly $2,800 after she left her purse and house keys with him.

Summary: A teenager charged with operating a fake medical practice in the US state of Florida has said he was just trying to help people through alternative medicine.


Thanks to his personal trough of only 638 runs in 27 innings since he made a century against New Zealand at Headingley in May 2013 and his team's 10-match winless streak, people have been queuing up to criticise the England captain. His 95 on the first day of the third Test against India at Southampton, a day which England closed on 247-2, means he now has every right to stick a couple of fingers up at some of those people. He won't, because he's far too nice a bloke to do that. Even through all his troubles, Cook, 29, has retained support from a large section of England fans. Everyone in Southampton was willing him to get a hundred and even the ovation he got when going to lunch on 48 was quite amazing. But, though a century would have been perfect, sometimes these things are not meant to be. And, yes, the wait for that three-figure score goes on, but he can still take a huge amount away from this innings. Cook was dropped on 15 by Ravindra Jadeja at third slip, so he needed some luck, but even that can be a sign that things have turned for you. He played in an uncomplicated manner and looked as though he was enjoying it. After winning the toss and batting first in conditions where he could have justifiably taken the easy option of bowling, he accumulated nicely against an India attack that was not quite up to the standard of the previous two Tests. Cook's innings was not only a contribution for himself, but also for the other senior players in the England side who have been underperforming. Maybe now the likes of Ian Bell, James Anderson and Stuart Broad will put in the sort of display that Cook has. After all, it is the younger players who have been impressing for England recently, none more so than Gary Ballance. A record of three hundreds in his first six Tests is extraordinary and puts him in a list that only includes Len Hutton, Les Ames, Ravi Bopara and Jack Russell (not the wicketkeeper, the batsman of the 1920s). Some people doubted the Yorkshire batsman's ability to fill the number three spot, but he's becoming like a left-handed Jonathan Trott. Cook will take the headlines, but it was Ballance who became the cornerstone. Now, England have got to make sure they take full advantage of their first day's work. Batting collapse after batting collapse has ruined good, strong positions and this time they have to nail it down. You hope that through Cook turning it around, the team will turn with him and get back to playing more disciplined, careful and successful cricket. Until that happens, Cook will still have his detractors because, they will say, we always knew he could bat. The question is, will this translate in to a more confident, effective and decisive style of captaincy? That is what people want to see. Now he has got runs, he won't have the likes of me asking him about his

Summary: I can only imagine what Alastair Cook has been going through during his and England's wretched run of form.


The turkey firm was sold to the food tycoon Ranjit Boparan on Tuesday. There had been fears that the new owners would not take on the existing workers' pension scheme. But Unite regional officer Steve Harley said: "We had productive talks and we were given guarantees that all current agreements will be honoured." Unite said it understood that the Bernard Matthews final salary pension scheme was closed in 2004 and that its members presently have an alternative pension scheme which is unaffected the takeover. The Boparan Private Office, the "chicken king" Mr Boparan's private investment, confirmed that the current pension arrangements with Bernard Matthews would continue under the new ownership. Mr Harley met with representatives from Boparan at the Great Witchingham headquarters. He said: "It was made clear that the new owner wishes to restore Bernard Matthews to its former position as a highly profitable business. "This would be achieved by greater investment in the business, cost savings and utilising the present spare capacity at Bernard Matthews to process chicken and not just turkeys."

Summary: A union has welcomed reassurances from the new owner of Bernard Matthews over job security and pensions.


To secure more rights for people with disabilities, she makes frequent visits to courtrooms where the world of beauty contests is but a dream. But the first Miss Wheelchair India contest in Mumbai in late November changed much of that. She found herself amid the humdrum of the green room, glitter of the stage and the usual chatter one associates with a beauty pageant. But there were some marked differences - the stage was much smaller than the ones set up for Miss India pageant and the contestants were treated as winners even before the event started. Ms Kewlani's reply is an emphatic "no" when asked if the smaller stage and venue dimmed the importance of India's first Miss Wheelchair contest. "Nobody really cared about how many people attended the event or how big the stage was. It was a night to celebrate the courage and fighting spirit of the contestants. We all won that night." She says that her "rich and challenging" life has taken another positive turn after winning the contest. "Polio made me wheelchair-bound early on in life but I never saw it as a disability and worked hard to be trained as a media professional like other normal people in the country. "And winning the pageant is just another way of showing that disability cannot stop you from feeling and looking beautiful," the 41-year-old says. Divya Arora feels her first runner-up crown has strengthened her belief that "beauty is boundless". Ms Arora, who earlier worked for a leading newspaper, says her faith that "disability can never overshadow her beauty and abilities" helped her do well in the pageant. The contest is the idea of tax consultant Sounak Banerjee whose life changed in 2006 when muscular dystrophy forced him to use a wheelchair to get around in the bustling city of Mumbai. Mr Banerjee liked watching Bollywood films and TV shows but often found the absence of people with disabilities in the entertainment industry "disturbing". "Disabled people are also consumers of the entertainment industry but they are seldom represented," he says. He then came up with the idea of the Miss Wheelchair India contest to fill the gap and provide a platform they could call their own. Planning the event was tough due to a lack of funding and human resources, he says but adds that the struggles were forgotten when the final day approached. "I felt satisfied and happy when I saw these women wearing their best costumes and a winning smile. It all came together nicely in the end - I had done something for these courageous contestants," he says. "I found the contest very unique because it honoured beauty irrespective of contestants' physical disabilities," says scientist Gopika Anand, 31, who won the second runner-up crown. Ms Anand met with a road accident while studying engineering and was soon confined to a wheelchair. But she persevered, completed her course and found work as a scientist at a leading consumer manufacturing firm. Shelly Bhutani, another contestant, hopes that the corporate world will take notice of the event in

Summary: Neenu Kewlani is a communications professional and works for disability rights in India.


But the original timescale, which envisaged the closures taking place by the end of 2015, has slipped. Calls have been made by Opposition MSPs for the work on the reorganisation to be postponed pending a review of the way calls to police are handled. The review, by HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS), is due to report in October. The closure of the Aberdeen control room was originally scheduled to be completed the previous month. But a north-east MSP has said the programme, which has already seen control rooms in Dumfries, Stirling and Glenrothes closed, should be halted until the HMICS review is published. It was ordered following the deaths of two people in a car crash on the M9 in Stirlingshire on July 6, and will examine the case for shutting regional control centres. Although the incident was reported to police at the time, officers only attended the scene three days later after a second call from a different person. John Yuill, 28, was found dead and 25-year-old Lamara Bell critically injured. She later died in hospital from injuries including broken bones and kidney damage caused by dehydration. The initial call had been handled by the Bilston Glen call centre which takes calls from Central Scotland and Fife following the closure of Stirling and Glenrothes. Lewis Macdonald, Labour MSP for north-east Scotland said the programme of closures - which has already seen a number of skilled staff leaving Aberdeen - should be halted by police until after HMICS has reported. He said: "It would be absolutely unacceptable for them to continue with the closure plans while the decision is being looked at and while the future delivery of police control rooms across Scotland is under review. "So I hope that we will hear from Police Scotland very, very shortly to the effect that they will take no steps leading to the closure of the Aberdeen control room, the service centre which answers 101 calls in Aberdeen or indeed the control room in Inverness. "Because it is quite clear the local knowledge that is accumulated in these control rooms cannot be replicated, will be lost if they close and will simply heap further pressure on the control rooms in the Central Belt." In a statement Assistant Chief Constable Val Thomson, commander of Police Scotland's C3 Division which is developing the control room reorganisation, said: "We remain committed to the C3 change programme and are in discussion with the Scottish Police Authority (SPA)." A police spokesman said any decision on closures would have to be ratified by the SPA, which oversees the single police force. It said the original timescale was now unlikely to be adhered to. A spokesperson said: "Consultation with staff has not started yet. The timeline over the coming months needs to allow both proposals from staff via official consultation and any key findings from the HMICS work to be considered, before any final decisions are made."

Summary: Police have confirmed they are continuing with plans to close control rooms in Aberdeen and Inverness.


Mewn cam annisgwyl, wrth siarad o flaen 10 Downing Street, dywedodd fod y wlad yn dod at ei gilydd yn dilyn pleidlais Brexit y llynedd, ond nad oedd gwleidyddion y gwrthbleidiau yn San Steffan wedi gwneud hynny. Bydd pleidlais yn cael ei chynnal yn y Senedd ddydd Mercher ar argymhelliad y Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r blaid Lafur wedi dweud y bydd yn pleidleisio gyda'r llywodraeth. Rhaid i Theresa May dderbyn cefnogaeth y senedd i gynnal etholiad cyn dyddiad swyddogol yr etholiad nesaf oedd wedi ei chlustnodi - yn 2020. Byddai etholiad cyffredinol ym mis Mehefin yn sicrhau arweinyddiaeth gref a chadarn wrth i'r llywodraeth gynnal trafodaethau gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y misoedd i ddod, meddai Mrs May. "Ar foment genedlaethol arwyddocaol fe ddylai fod undod yn San Steffan ond yn lle hynny mae rhwygiadau. Mae'r wlad yn dod at ei gilydd ond dyw San Steffan ddim." Dywedodd Mrs May bod y pleidiau eraill yn gwneud eu gorau i lesteirio amserlen y DU i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Ychwanegodd: "Mae ein gwrthwynebwyr yn credu bod mwyafrif y llywodraeth mor fach y byddwn yn simsanu, y gallen nhw ein gorfodi i newid llwybr. Ond maen nhw'n anghywir. "Os nad ydyn ni'n cynnal pleidlais gyffredinol rŵan bydd eu gemau gwleidyddol yn parhau." Dywedodd hefyd bod y rhwygiadau yn peryglu ymdrechion y llywodraeth i gael bargen dda i Brydain wrth adael ac yn achosi "ansefydlogrwydd" i'r wlad. Ychwanegodd ei bod wedi bod yn gyndyn o gymryd y cam o alw am etholiad, ond y byddai'r etholiad er budd y wlad. Dywedodd arweinydd y blaid Lafur yn San Steffan, Jeremy Corbyn: "Rydw i'n croesawu penderfyniad y Prif Weinidog i roi cyfle i bobl Prydain i bleidleisio dros lywodraeth fydd yn rhoi buddiannau'r mwyafrif yn gyntaf." Ychwanegodd arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew RT Davies mai dyma'r "penderfyniad iawn i'r wlad". "Rydyn ni eisiau i Gymru a Phrydain ddod allan o'r cyfnod yma yn gryfach, yn decach ac yn edrych fwy tuag allan nag erioed, ac fe fyddwn ni'n glynu wrth ein cynllun ar gyfer Prydain gryfach," meddai. Ond yn dilyn ei chyhoeddiad, trydarodd Prif Weinidog Cymru Carwyn Jones: "Wel, nes i ddim gweld hynny'n dod. Mae galw etholiad yng nghanol etholiad arall yn od. Proses heddwch Gogledd Iwerddon yn cael ei hanwybyddu?" Ychwanegodd mewn ail neges: "Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud nad yw'r etholiad yma "er budd y wlad". Dylai'r ffocws fod ar Brexit a'r economi, nid polau piniwn." Dywedodd arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood: "Mae llywodraeth y DU wedi ymrwymo ein gwlad i lwybr economaidd afreolus eithafol. "Mae Cymru angen ASau fydd yn herio'r Torïaid a bod yn llais rhesymol yn y Senedd, gan amddiffyn cysylltiadau economaidd hanfodol ein gwlad gydag Ewrop a gweddill y byd." Cafodd y cyhoeddiad ei groesawu hefyd gan arweinydd UKIP yn y Cynulliad Neil Hamilton: "Mae hyn yn gyfle gwych i'r etholwyr bleidleisio i gael gwared â'r ASau oedd eisiau aros yn rhan o'r UE yng Nghymru, ac ethol AS UKIP fydd yn cynrychioli eu buddiannau yn y senedd." Ychwanegodd Mark Williams, arweinydd y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yng Nghymru y byddai'r etholiad yn

Summary: Mae'r Prif Weinidog Theresa May wedi cyhoeddi y bydd yn gofyn i Dŷ'r Cyffredin bleidleisio o blaid cynnal etholiad cyffredinol ar fyr rybudd ar 8 Mehefin.


The venomous green-and-yellow snake has been missing since Wednesday, its owner told the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The owner is an "experienced snake handler" and has a permit to have the snake as a pet, said the commission's spokesman Greg Workman. Local residents are warned not to get close to the snake. The owner, Mike Kennedy, is an exotic animal dealer and star of the Discovery Channel reality show Airplane Repo. He could face criminal charges for not alerting authorities about the escape immediately. Officials are scanning the area surrounding the home in the search for the reptile, which is not native to Florida. "Most likely no one is going to see it," Florida Fish and Wildlife captain Chris Roszkowiak said. "We believe it's going to stay on the property here." His group is asking people to call an alert hotline if they spot the snake, but the escape has neighbours on edge. "I'm going to go load my guns. Well, they're already loaded, but I'm going to have them ready for sure. I mean, that thing's big enough to take you down for sure," James McLeod told WESH, a local TV station.

Summary: Florida wildlife officials are hunting for an 8-foot-long (2.4m) king cobra snake escaped from an Orlando home.


The influential EY Item Club said higher inflation caused by a weaker pound would result in GDP growth of 1.3% in 2017 and just 1% next year. But it said rising demand for exports would offset this somewhat. A separate survey has found optimism in the financial services sector hit its lowest level since the 2008 crash. Sterling has fallen by 17% against the dollar since the UK voted to quit the European Union last June, increasing import costs and pushing up shop prices. In its latest forecast, the EY Item Club said it expected inflation to rise to 3.1% by the final quarter of 2017 before easing back to 2% by the end of 2018. On top of this, it said unemployment was likely to climb from 4.8% in the final quarter of last year to more than 6% by the end of 2018. "[These factors are] expected to have a knock-on impact on consumer spending, as growth in disposable incomes is eroded," the think tank said. But the agency also said that a "weaker pound and a softer domestic market" were likely to encourage higher levels of UK exports, as businesses seek income opportunities overseas. It expects exports to increase by 3.3% this year and 5.2% in 2018. Peter Spencer, chief economic advisor to the EY Item Club, said that the fall in sterling after the Brexit vote signalled "a permanent shift" in the fundamental value of the currency. "We know that it will crush consumer spending, we'll see a progressive slowdown in retail sales and indicators like that this year," he told the BBC. However, he also said it would offer a "permanent incentive to investors to go out, win new customers [overseas], and build capacity and expertise". "The hard bit comes from getting exports up to pick up the slack left by the fall in consumer spending," he said. He said that a weak pound should boost experts in the near term, but that "trade and growth in 2019 and beyond" would largely be determined by the terms of Britain's exit deal with the EU. If exports did not pick up, the UK could be "stuck in a slow growth economy", he added. Financial services It comes as a PwC survey found optimism among Britain's financial services firms fell for a fourth consecutive quarter in December. The consultancy, which surveyed 103 financial services firms on behalf of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), found 2016 to be the "gloomiest" year for the sector since 2008. Banks were especially pessimistic, with 90% saying that preparing for the impact of Brexit was their biggest challenge. Many have signalled they are working on plans to deal with a so-called "hard" exit from the EU, after Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain will leave the single market. Two of the largest banks with operations in London - HSBC and UBS - said last week they were considering moving thousands of jobs abroad.

Summary: The UK economy will see three years of "relatively slow growth" as it comes to rely more on trade and less on consumer spending, a think tank says.


The 24-year-old ex-Manchester United forward will stay at the City Ground until the end of the season. Macheda has not started a Championship match this season, with all but one of his eight appearances for the Bluebirds coming as a substitute. Meanwhile, Forest midfielder David Vaughan has signed a one-year contract until the summer of 2017. But Andre Moritz, who Forest were chasing, will not be joining the club. The deal for midfielder Moritz fell through because of complications getting him released from his contract with Thai Premier League side Buriram United. Macheda began his career at Old Trafford and played for QPR, Stuttgart, Doncaster Rovers and Birmingham City on loan before joining Cardiff in May 2014. He has only started 13 league games for the Welsh side and boss Russell Slade said they wanted him to "go and get a few games" - but confirmed there would be a 24-hour recall clause in any deal. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Nottingham Forest have signed Cardiff City striker Federico Macheda on loan, subject to international clearance.


Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of heavy construction equipment. The firm has operations in Larne, Newtownabbey and west Belfast. Caterpillar's Northern Ireland business employs 1,800 people and mainly makes diesel generators. The firm has been hit by a global downturn in mining and oil exploration which has reduced demand for its products. It is understood that the company may announce cuts across its global operations beyond Northern Ireland. It has already axed thousands of jobs worldwide since last year as part of a major restructuring programme. Since 2011 it has shed more than 1,000 posts in Northern Ireland and moved some work to factories in China. It is understood night-shifts have been cancelled, with staff told to expect official news on Thursday. Caterpillar refused to comment on any jobs announcement yesterday. But a spokesman added: "Caterpillar is committed to communicating regularly and directly with our employees about the business environment and any resulting changes". Sinn FÃ©in MP for West Belfast Paul Maskey said yesterday: "Uncertainty over the future of Caterpillar's operations in the north will be no doubt distressing for workers and their families." "It is vitally important that management keep all employees up to date with the latest information as soon as possible," he added. The American company bought FG Wilson in 1999. There have been significant manufacturing job losses in Northern Ireland over the past year, including Michelin, JTI Gallahers and Bombardier.

Summary: Workers in Northern Ireland factories operated by US firm Caterpillar will be given details of job cuts later.


Mole Valley Council will get Â£21m from the developer Barratt Homes if the proposals go ahead. Nearly 2,800 people have signed a petition against the sale of the allotments. Campaigners say schools and doctors surgeries are "already full". Council leader Chris Townsend said the plans would provide more housing and financial support for council services. There are more than 100 plots at the Barnett Wood Lane allotments. The authority has said more than 100 allotment holders would get new plots and is suggesting a split site with allotments on both the Leatherhead and Ashtead sides of the M25. Linda Weller, from the Leatherhead Poors' Allotment Society, who organised the petition, said the council had tried to address most of the issues the society had raised. "We do still have issues with what we're being offered, " she said. "We need time to go and assess both sites but we're slightly relieved that we're not going to the awful site that they originally dumped us on." She said wildlife, including at least one badger sett, would be disturbed. Allotment holder David Wells said local schools and doctors surgeries were already "rammed full" and that the roads were "a nightmare at the moment". He added: "As a resident for over 60 years I've looked out at the allotments and now to be faced with 500 houses and the development prior to that, well it's not good news." The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Surrey said it would continue to campaign to protect green belt land and open spaces. "We are extremely disappointed by Mole Valley Council's determination to dispose of a vital community asset and to allow building on adjacent green belt fields," the spokesman said. "[The council's] approach to the Barnett Wood Lane site indicates a failure to think strategically about the role of Mole Valley's countryside and green belt. "It also shows a woeful disregard for the needs of local people."

Summary: Five hundred homes could be built on allotments and green belt land next to the Leatherhead bypass in Surrey.


Only bottom-club Rotherham have conceded more goals in the last 10 minutes than Cardiff. "The late goals are frustrating I am sure for the fans, but is devastating for especially a defender, all of us in the back four," he said. "It is something we have to improve on, the whole team, not just the back four. We have to see games out." Cardiff have conceded almost 30% of their goals between 80-90 minutes this season, including in their last three games. The Bluebirds were held by Birmingham last time out as Lukas Jutkiewicz bundled in a rebound after his header was saved. Cardiff also conceded an injury-time equaliser against Blackburn, while defeat at QPR in their previous fixture came courtesy of an 83rd-minute own goal by Jazz Richards. "The last couple of games we have controlled and then let slip right at the end," said Morrison. "We need to learn lessons now for next season, which is what the gaffer is trying to build on, finishing well this year." Morrison also says the whole team has a responsibility to improve their "game management". "It does start from the front, it is not just the defenders and a goalkeeper," he said. "It is game management, one of the boys made a good point yesterday. He said 'we can win a game 1-0'. "You don't have to win two or three; you don't get any more points for scoring an extra goal. "And there are certain periods in the game we just need to see it out. "That nous and knowhow is down to us, the players. It just hasn't been good enough. "It is hugely disappointing and something we know we have to improve on, from now until the end of the season and then next year." Ahead of hosting Ipswich on Saturday 18 March, Cardiff boss Neil Warnock said he is enjoying "weekly" meetings to discuss transfer targets for next season. However, Morrison believes knowing that Warnock has grand plans to strengthen City is only going to have a positive effect on the current squad. "We know there will probably be new faces next year so it is about building a solid base to give it a right good go. "Maybe we are driven by knowing new players are coming in. I just think that is what the football industry is. "I have never been at a club where there aren't new signings every year. "You are always wary that if they come in, in your position, they are going to be a 'liked' player. "It is just one of those things you need to take on the chin. It is business, it is football and if you have to fight for your position, that's football. "If you do well week in week out, you probably won't lose your spot."

Summary: Captain Sean Morrison says late goals have been "devastating" for Cardiff City's back four.


Beat estimates 80% of those affected by eating disorders in the UK have misused laxatives in order to lose weight. It says supermarkets have done nothing to restrict sales of the medicine to young people. UK supermarkets say their sale of laxatives complies with regulation set by the medicines regulator, the MHRA. Beat says eating disorders most commonly develop during adolescence. Teens are turning to stimulant laxatives believing they can quickly lose weight, with some children known to be taking dozens of laxative pills on a daily basis, they say. Medical professionals warn that laxative abuse can cause diarrhoea, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that can lead to kidney failure. It can also damage the liver and potentially damage the heart leading to heart failure and death. Beat wants supermarkets and retailers to reduce the ease with which young people can buy laxatives in large quantities. The charity is calling for a minimum purchase age of 16, the maximum pack size reduced to ten tablets, sales restricted to pharmacies and a warning label on packets that states "this is not a weight loss product". The Dulcolax and Senokot tablets currently have age restrictions on the packets. Dulcolax states that the dosage instructions are for adults and children over 10, and children under 10 should consult a doctor before taking them. The Senokot packet advises the dosage instructions are for adults and children over twelve, and that children 6 years and older should consult a doctor before taking them. They do not recommend the drug for children under 6. Both and Dulcolax and Senokot say that they treat the issue of eating disorders very seriously and say they fully comply with all the legal requirements made by MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). "We've seen a 30% increase in calls to our help lines over the last year where people have mentioned overusing laxatives in unhealthy way," Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Beat, told BBC Watchdog. "And that does include a significant number of young people as well," she added. Lottie Hall is 17 years old. She started taking stimulant laxatives to help her lose weight when she was 13 and now has long term damage from laxative abuse. "At first it would start with just a few, 4 or 5. Over time my body just got used to it and in the end I could be taking 20 to 30 a day to get them to have the desired effect. "It was a long time, probably about 3 years before my parents found out and I started getting help for it. "They'll be times where I'm out and all of a sudden it gets really uncomfortable and I have no control over it. "I was a school once and I was in the corridor and was crouching down and holding my stomach in agony and my friend found me and she asked me what was wrong and I had to tell her and it was a really embarrassing situation. "She actually had to tell my teacher and my teacher had to tell

Summary: The UK's leading eating disorder charity has called for the sale of laxatives to children to be more strictly regulated.


The England Lions batsman ended on 117 as the hosts made 255-6 in 92 overs in their pursuit of overhauling Kent for second spot and £43,000 prize money. Skipper Daryl Mitchell weighed in with 67 as he completed 1,000 first-class runs for the fourth time in his career. Ben Cotton picked up 3-46for Derbyshire on his firstteam recall. The visitors have not managed a Championship away victory and are hoping to avoid going an entire season without a win on the road for the first time since 2008. Worcestershire batsman Joe Clarke told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "It was quite difficult out there. The pitch is very slow. Once you get in, it is a lot easier but to start with it is very tough. "It has got a little bit more pace in it now but this morning it was very slow and credit to Daryl Mitchell. He did a fantastic job in getting us through that period. "It meant a lot to get a hundred because we've been struggling a little bit with the bat. In the last few weeks, we haven't been getting the scores we'd have liked and to be there at the end is very pleasing. Derbyshire bowler Ben Cotton told BBC Radio Derby: "It was nice to take a couple of wickets on my return. It took me a while to settle in for the first five or six overs, then I found a nice rhythm and took the wickets we needed. "You've just got to put as many balls as you can in the right area and hopefully there is enough there to take an edge or get an lbw. "Tony Palladino and Tom Milnes started well after tea and put some pressure on them and due to their hard work I took a wicket and managed to get another near the end as well."

Summary: Joe Clarke made his fifth County Championship century of the summer as Worcestershire batted out the opening day against Derbyshire at New Road.


Longer life expectancies combined with higher living costs means working until you physically can't is a reality for many. However, that also means there's a trend emerging for a post-retirement career. Juliana Liu visited a Hong Kong restaurant where the hiring policy emphasises life experience over other skills, while Matthew Wheeler and Priti Gupta picked up some tips from the knitting grandmothers of Bangalore in India. When Choi Chor Tung approached his 65th birthday, he applied for a job at Gingko House, a Hong Kong social enterprise that mainly hires elderly workers at its four restaurants and the organic farm it uses to supply its eateries. Mr Choi, who was at that point a butcher, wanted to join Gingko as he was afraid of being fired from his previous job because of his age. "If you want to retire, then you have to have a lot of savings. But most people in Hong Kong don't have a lot of savings or pension money. It goes very quickly," he says. "Only a place like this will employ someone of my age. I'm 66. I will keep working until I can't work any more." Now he is a full-time kitchen worker making salads and pizza at Gingko's flagship restaurant, which serves both Chinese and Western food. In Hong Kong, the sight of wizened, weather-beaten men and women bending over rubbish bins to collect scraps for sale is all too familiar. They are part of a dark secret: this city is one of the world's most unequal places in terms of income distribution. About one in five of its seven million people live in poverty, according to government figures. Among the elderly, one in three lives below the poverty line. In fact, the most recent official data suggests the poverty rate among people over 65 years of age has risen by 19% between 2009 and 2014. City officials believe the best way to reduce poverty is to expand economic growth and create jobs but elderly people say age-related discrimination is pervasive. That's why Joyce Mak, a former social worker, started the social enterprise 10 years ago. She had no experience in the restaurant business but wanted to provide a sustainable way of employing senior citizens for as long as they were willing to work. Since then, Gingko has employed more than 1,000 elderly people. Bangalore is one of the world's major tech cities. It is India's IT hub. And, thanks to Lima Das and her team of industrious grannies, it is now India's knitting hub too. In 2011, Lima set up grannysloveindia.com, a website that sells children's clothes knitted by grandmothers. It's an idea that has enabled women "in the second innings of their life" to find new purpose and make new friends. "I had no clue it would reach a stage like this where people accept it, love the social cause of it," Lima says, sitting in her Bangalore apartment surrounded by stacks of wool. "It's been great to be part of such a change. The grannies have now become more confident. They have

Summary: There's no such thing as retirement any more for millions of elderly workers around the world.


Set 302 to win from 46 overs at Taunton, Middlesex completed a dramatic run chase with two balls remaining. "If we were serious about winning the title, we want to win games. You can't just keep playing for draws and expect to be up there," he told BBC Somerset. "We are here to provide entertainment. We came up short but gave everything." Defeat left Somerset sixth in the County Championship Division One table with 96 points, 45 behind league leaders Middlesex. Centuries from Marcus Trescothick and Peter Trego had given Somerset a healthy lead in their second innings, having trailed by 145 runs after both sides had completed their first innings. Somerset took eight wickets as Middlesex chased their target on Wednesday, but a six from wicketkeeper John Simpson in the final over won the match. "Hindsight is a wonderful thing," former Australia Test opener Rogers added. "We're here to play a game, play to win. "How are the young guys here, who have a lot of potential and can go quite far, going to learn if they don't put themselves in those situations? "It would have been lovely to win it. But we played a good brand of cricket. No regrets. We tried our hardest out there and we weren't far off."

Summary: Somerset captain Chris Rogers says he has "no regrets" about his declaration against Middlesex on Wednesday, despite losing the match by two wickets.


Johnny McGurk, 49, appeared in court in County Londonderry accused of theft from quarry firm Patrick Bradley Ltd. Mr McGurk, an accountant, was released on bail and will appear in court again on 19 November. He won an All-Ireland football championship and All-Star award in 1993. Mr McGurk also captained his club Lavey to an All-Ireland senior club championship in 1991. The accused's name was given to Coleraine Magistrates Court as John Malachy McGurk of Oakland Crescent in Knockloughrim, Magherafelt, County Londonderry. He was charged with stealing £572,206 from Patrick Bradley Ltd, based in Kilrea, also in County Londonderry. Mr McGurk was also accused of 36 counts of fraud relating to sums of allegedly stolen money lodged in his bank account. All the offences are alleged to have happened between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2011.

Summary: A Gaelic footballer who won an All-Ireland championship with Derry will stand trial accused of stealing over £500,000 from his employer.


The victim is in a stable condition in the Royal Sussex County Hospital after being seriously injured in a confrontation in Portslade on Saturday. A 15-year-old boy from Hove was held on suspicion of attempted murder and causing GBH with intent. An 18-year-old man from Portslade was arrested on suspicion of affray. Both have been bailed until 18 November. A 16-year-old boy from Portslade, also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, remains in police custody. Sussex Police said emergency services were called to Abinger Road at 17:17 BST where a group of youths were gathered in the car park of the Co-op store.

Summary: Two teenagers arrested after a 16-year-old boy suffered "potentially life threatening injuries" in a stabbing in Brighton have been released on bail.


Media playback is not supported on this device Gregory will tee off at Augusta National for the first time on Thursday after securing his place by winning the British Amateur Championship last summer. Before even setting foot on the famous Georgia course, the 22-year-old from Waterlooville, Hampshire had his eyes glued to hours of footage from the past four years. "I've watched a lot of clips on YouTube," he told BBC South Today. "I've got clips of all the pins from the past four years from every day. "I know roughly where the pins will be as they don't change them too much from year-to-year. So, I've had a good idea of what kind of approach shots I need to work on in my practice rounds." As well as staring at a screen, Gregory has also warmed-up for his Augusta bow with some on-course preparation. Victory in the Georgia Cup over US amateur champion Curtis Luck following a play-off justified his decision to head out to the States three weeks before the Masters to acclimatise. Along with Gregory and Luck, the three others amateurs competing at Augusta are Americans Brad Dalke and Stewart Hagestad, and 19-year-old Toto Gana from Chile. Gregory is hoping for better fortunes than his mixed experience over two rounds of The Open at Royal Troon last July. Having briefly held an early lead on four under par after 11 holes, he faded to shoot a first-round 78 and then missed the cut after a 73 in the second. "I'm fortunate enough to have got all the excitement and hype of being at a major tournament out of the way," Gregory reflected. "It's more normal now, so you just have to make sure you turn up and play golf and the sooner you get the thought of loads more people watching you, the easier it gets." Gregory also hopes some wise words from 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose, who also learnt his trade as an amateur in Hampshire, will give him another invaluable Augusta insight. "I'm hoping to pick up some tips from Justin," he said. "He's been great for my development being from the same area of the country and just seeing what he's gone on to achieve. "I'm hoping to play the Par Three tournament with him before Thursday and he's out there doing what I want to do for the rest of my career."

Summary: They say you can learn almost anything on YouTube these days and Scott Gregory is hoping the video sharing website holds the secrets to a perfect US Masters debut.


LGBT Youth Scotland said its research suggested more needed to be done to ensure LGBT young people felt safe. It urged those affected to understand their rights and report discrimination. The charity said not every young person was aware of what constituted a criminal act under hate crime legislation . In an online survey of LGBT people aged 13 to 25 conducted by the charity, 49% of the 273 respondents said they felt safe and supported by the legal system. The figure fell to 40% among those who identified as transgender. Half of those surveyed said they were aware of their rights, while a similar proportion (53%) said they would feel confident in reporting a crime they experienced to the police. Among transgender young people the figure dropped to 48%, while bisexual women were the least likely to feel confident reporting a hate crime at 46%. Just over half (51%) of transgender young people said they felt safe using public transport. While the charity has welcomed an increase in the reporting of hate crimes, YGBT Youth Scotland has recommended that campaigns, activities and lesson plans be developed for use in schools, with specific reference to hate crime. Chief executive Fergus McMillan said: "In Scotland, we are fortunate to have strong hate crime legislation that is inclusive of transgender identities yet the safety report shows a gap in knowledge and confidence for transgender young people in particular. "When young people know about their rights, and have confidence in the process, they are more likely to be willing to report. "An increase in reported crimes since the introduction of the legislation is certainly positive, yet more must be done to ensure that LGBT young people feel safe in their communities, understand their rights and how to report discrimination and harassment, and have the confidence to report."

Summary: Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) young people still encounter harassment in public spaces, according to a Scottish charity.


Easyjet was down 3% and IAG down 2.4%. Madame Tussuad owner Merlin also fell 2.4%. The wider FTSE 100 closed slightly lower, slipping 0.3% to 7525.55. Ocado shares closed down 1.7% despite the online retailer securing its first overseas deal to set up an online grocery service for a European retailer. Ocado's shares had initially greeted the news with a 7% surge. Ocado, which had originally pledged an overseas deal by the end of 2015, did not name the retailer or say how much the contract was worth. Ocado's shares have risen by 37% in the past two months and Neil Wilson, analyst at spread betting firm ETX Capital, said the drop could be linked to investors deciding to take profits. However, he said it was still unclear what value the deal would bring to Ocado. "We don't even know who the company is - Ocado simply dubs it a 'regional' retailer (not a national one). This is progress after a lot of promises, but it's not exactly like doing a deal with Wal-Mart - yet," he said. Old Mutual was among the biggest risers, gaining 2.4% The firm was continuing to gain from Friday's announcement that the firm's wealth management arm had snapped up the financial adviser network Caerus Capital Group. Mining stocks were among the top losers with Antofagasta down 3.6%. The pound was up 0.25% against the dollar at $1.2926 and 0.55% higher against the euro at 1.1487 euros.

Summary: Shares in Easyjet and BA owner IAG both closed lower in the wake of Sunday's assaults in London.


BBC correspondents from around the UK reflect on how people have been voting and the implications at a local level. The north of England has roared back at London - this result underlines the disconnect between the capital and the outlying parts of England, writes Danny Savage. It showed in the results - London overwhelmingly In, huge parts of the north Out. For many this wasn't just about Europe, it was about a metropolitan elite telling them what to do. And then rebelling against it. Throughout the campaign nearly everyone I talked to across this vast area was Out. A sunny day at Cartmel races in May saw people sporting 'vote leave' badges. "This is a north versus south vote", one race-goer told me. A day in Goole saw elderly women confiding that they didn't recognise their town any more and couldn't understand the language people in it spoke. One prominent poll got it wrong last night - calling a Remain victory. That was soon shaken by a Remain win in Newcastle but one which was not as large as predicted. The rest is history. What may be the case is that some people voted against the establishment rather than the EU. As was said during the campaign, the Remain argument was accused of being "too much Hampstead, not enough Hull". In Scotland the biggest and most pressing question is whether this vote could spell the break-up of the UK and hasten the day we see an independent Scotland, writes Scotland editor Sarah Smith. Every region in Scotland voted to remain but the UK-wide result means that Scotland will nonetheless be leaving the EU. This is exactly the scenario SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon envisaged when she said that if Scotland is "dragged out of the EU against its will", that could trigger a second referendum on Scottish independence. Already, her predecessor as SNP leader Alex Salmond is saying that Ms Sturgeon will now call for a second referendum - indyref 2, as it is known in Scotland. Ms Sturgeon said a second referendum was "highly likely" on Friday. It was the biggest single voting district in the UK - around 700,000 registered voters - and one of the closest results of the night, writes Nick Higham. Birmingham voted Leave by just 3,800 votes. In its West Midlands hinterland the vote was much clearer. In manufacturing districts like Coventry they ignored the dire warnings from big business that a leave vote would hit the economy. And some of the poorest areas voted by the largest margin to quit: 68% to 32% in Dudley. In Birmingham itself the mood of commuters on their way to work ranged from exultation to disbelief. "We're strong enough and brave enough and confident enough to get out there and show the world what we're really made of," said Lisa, who works in banking. "We've got our democracy back and we can build an absolutely brilliant future for ourselves," said a smartly-dressed man who did not want to give his name. "It's going to be democracy not bureaucracy." Area-by-area

Summary: Very different visions of where the UK's future should lie have been put under the spotlight by the vote to leave the EU.


DSI Plumbing and Heating Ltd of Hampshire was also ordered to pay £1,000 costs at Bournemouth Crown Court after admitting two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Faults were found at 309 properties in Poole and 40 flats in Reading. Homes in Harbour Reach, Poole, were evacuated following a gas leak in 2009. The court heard that a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that between 2005 and 2007 flues and gas supply pipes had not been properly fitted in the new development. Two self-employed men who worked for the company, Robert Percival, 49, of Legion Road, Poole, and Andrew Church, 42, of Ensign Drive, Gosport, both pleaded guilty to a single breach of the same legislation. Percival admitted commissioning a gas installation at one property between June 2007 and April 2008 and Church admitted making false entries into documents, which he completed without carrying out the required checks between January 2006 and March 2007. They were both given a two year conditional discharge and were each ordered to pay costs of £250. HSE's head of operations, Harvey Wild said the faults, found in more than 90% of Harbour Reach and two thirds of the Caversham Road development, were only discovered after residents complained about ill-health. He called the breaches "serious failings" after the sentencing and said: "It is fortunate that in this case, no-one suffered long term ill-effects but the consequences of the faults, if left undetected, could have been fatal. "Gas installers need to make sure flues and pipes can be properly checked and all installations are checked for safety as part of commissioning to ensure lives are not put at risk."

Summary: A heating firm has been fined £10,000 after faulty gas installations were discovered in more than 300 properties across Dorset and Berkshire.