Mum's Plea After Teen Was Denied Cancer Drugs

By Liz Lane, Sky Reporter

The family of a teenage girl who died from a rare form of bone cancer is calling for the relaxation of rules governing who is eligible to take part in potentially life-saving drugs trials.

Despite the pleas of her parents, doctors and politicians, Chloe Drury was refused access to treatment being trialled by American pharmaceutical company BioMarin.

Her family says she was told last September, when she was 17, that she was too young to take part, and that her participation could "jeopardise [her] safety and the integrity of the trial data".

Chloe, from Purley in Surrey, died in February, a month after her 18th birthday. She had finally been allowed on the course to treat her Ewing's Sarcoma, but the cancer had progressed aggressively and it was too late.

Her mother, Debbie Binner, says she felt totally impotent.

Chloe's mum, Debbie, wants age restrictions for drugs trials to be lifted

"We were just sitting there watching our beautiful 17-year-old daughter get weaker and weaker, knowing there is something out there she could have had and it just seems totally wrong to me, and not a world that I want to live in that treats young people like that."

BioMarin said in a statement: "Our deepest sympathy goes out to the parents who are grieving the loss of their child. It is precisely because of patients who suffer from devastating rare genetic diseases that BioMarin develops therapies where there are few, if any, options.

"Ewings Sarcoma is a terrible, aggressive disease, and we hope to make a difference in this type of outcome. We are conducting a Phase 1/2 trial in several genetically defined cancers. Not only is this an early stage trial, but it is the first clinical trial that we have ever done with this therapy. It is premature to know if it is safe or effective."

The family wants age restrictions for clinical trials to be lifted. Currently fewer than 20% of 15 to 24-year-olds who have cancer are on one.

Cancer Research UK's clinical research director Kate Law admits the criteria, which sometimes stop teenagers taking part, are not always logical.

Chloe seen meeting Prince William and the Duchess Of Cambridge

"Actually for many trials I think there is no good reason. They could either go down, and join the children's trial, or they could go up and join an adult trial. And in fact the committee that I'm responsible for specifically looks at the age range for each new application. So I think we've taken on board some of the concerns that pre-dated even this sad case."

Concerns about the potential compromising of the integrity of a trial is one of the reasons drugs companies are reluctant to bend the rules, as is the fear of being sued if something goes wrong.

Les Halpin, from Tetbury in Gloucestershire, who suffers from motor neurone disease, wants experimental drugs to be available in return for terminally ill patients giving up the right to take legal action if they experience side effects.

He believes such a move would benefit not just the patient.

"The numbers of trials are very low because of the cost of having them and the current regulations put a lot of risk into drug trials which will slow the whole process down. The protocol will allow willing patients to force the pace of drug discovery and bring it much more in line with the pace of technological science."

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Police 'Taser Fireball' Death Investigation

A man who had covered himself in petrol became a human fireball after police shot him with a Taser.

A police watchdog will investigate whether firing the weapon at Andrew Pimlott, 32, caused fatal burns.

Mr Pimlott suffered serious injuries in the incident in on the evening of April 18.

He was taken to hospital and subsequently transferred to the specialist burns unit at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol where he died five days later.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said two Devon and Cornwall Police officers responded to a 999 call from a caller who said that Mr Pimlott was in a garden with a can of flammable liquid.

Shortly after the police arrived he sustained serious burn injuries and an ambulance was called.

An officer deployed a Taser during the incident in Honicknowle, Plymouth, the watchdog said.

IPCC Commissioner Sarah Green said: "My condolences go to Andrew's family and friends for their loss.

"This must be a very difficult time for them and we have appointed a family liaison manager who is ensuring the family are kept informed.

A Taser gun similar to that used in the fatal incident

"Our investigators have already carried out a number of actions, including interviewing the two police officers who attended the incident and ensuring relevant evidence has been secured.

"A post-mortem was carried out yesterday and further forensic analysis will be carried out.

"The IPCC had informed the coroner of our investigation and we will share our report in due course.

"Our investigation will be looking at what information was known to the officers attending the scene, the officer's rationale for discharging a Taser on a person known to be doused in flammable liquid, whether the discharge of the Taser caused the fuel to ignite and we will look at training and policies."

In separate statements, Mr Pimlott's family paid tribute.

His parents wrote: "Dear darling son Andrew, you were a fantastic son to us, you will always be in our hearts and thoughts.

"We will never forget you. Be in our heart forever and always, we send a million kisses up to heaven.

"All our love Mum and Dad. xxx"

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Hay Fever Sufferers Set For Tough Spring

By Emma Birchley, East Of England Correspondent

Hay fever sufferers could be set for the toughest spring and summer in decades as scientists predict a possible pollen surge in the coming weeks.

Trees, crops and even the grass are playing catch-up after a long and extremely cold winter.

And it is feared the delayed growing season could cause them to release pollen simultaneously, making hay fever symptoms much worse than usual.

Beverley Adams-Groom, a pollen forecaster at the University of Worcester's National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, said: "We've got a late start to the birch pollen season which means people have had a little bit of relief initially.

"But what that means is the birch pollen season is going to run into the beginning of the grass pollen season. People who are allergic to both those types won't get any relief - they won't have a gap.

"And then if we get good weather in June we'll get some very high grass pollen levels - so it could be a long period of time for people to suffer."

Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to the fine powder released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle.

The Met Office has latest pollen reports

One in five people in the UK suffers from it.

Ciaran Chapman, who is 14, knows exactly what it is like. He is allergic to at least six different types of pollen.

He said: "If I don't take my medication my eyes would also swell up pretty big and so would my skin because I would scratch the pollen in as would be itchy and it would swell up as well."

Ciaran has six different types of medication for when hay fever is at its worst, and he will be relying on it when it comes to his first GCSEs in a few weeks.

His father, Dr John Chapman, is a paediatric consultant who runs an allergy clinic at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.

He expects to see many new patients, particularly teenagers, suffering from hay fever for the first time, once they have been referred by their GP.

Dr Chapman said: "It blocks their noses, which means they can't sleep properly, which means they can't think properly in the day, which is particularly bad at this time of year when children are doing exams and studying."

:: See Met Office pollen reports

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M62 Crash: Hen Party Minibus Victim Named

A woman who died when a minibus collided with a lorry on the M62 has been named by police as 18-year-old Bethany Jones.

Ms Jones, from Pontefract, died at the scene of the crash about 11.30am on Friday, West Yorkshire police have confirmed.

Her uncle, Anthony Jones, has posted a message on Facebook in the wake of his niece's death.

"Thanking everyone on Facebook for there thoughts sympathy and condolences for the tragic of my niece Bethany Jones rip beth uncle tomy and family and all that new you god bless angle xxx xxx xxx".

Twenty-one people remain in hospital after the collision, which occurred as the minibus travelled to Liverpool for a hen party.

Among the injured is the bride-to-be, who has been named locally as Stefanie Firth.

Seven of those wounded in the collision are suffering serious injuries.

Also among those injured is Ashleigh Warner, who posted a photograph on Facebook with Ms Firth.

The minibus collied with a Farmfoods lorry on the westbound carriage

Before the accident, Ms Firth's friends had posted excited comments about the upcoming hen-do.

On Friday morning, Ms Warner wrote on Facebook: "Jumping on the Liverpool status bandwagon ......... Cos I'm sooooooo excited had my tshirt on since 8 this morning:))) hope Stefanie Firth has the best time xxxx".

The group had set off from South Elmsall, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, when their vehicle collided with a Farmfoods lorry at junction 32 of the westbound carriage of the M62.

The driver of the lorry, a local man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but has since been released on bail.

In total 21 of the women were injured in the crash, which left the minibus on its side across a carriageway and luggage strewn across the motorway.

Six air ambulances were called to the scene, and four took casualties to nearby hospitals.

The collision occurred on Junction 32 of the M62

Firefighters called the crash "the worst they had seen in a number of years", Dave Walton, assistant chief fire officer at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said.

One patient, a woman in her 40s, suffered suspected serious chest injuries and was anaesthetised before being transported, while another was airlifted to hospital also with chest injuries.

Doncaster firefighter John Nichol was passing the scene of the accident as a passenger in his father's car.

Mr Nichol said: "I got out to see if I could help, and realised there was only me there.

"First I saw a lady at the back of the minibus and realised her leg was severely broken. Then I put my head through the roof and just saw a mass of bodies.

"I think there were 11 or 12 in there, with various injuries, and around five people were out of the vehicle, hobbling around.

"I tried to calm people down and, although a bystander had called 999, I called them back to say this was a major incident and that several resources and air ambulances would be needed."

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London Bus Stabbing: Teen Quizzed Over Death

A teenager is being questioned following the death a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed on a bus.

Police were called just after 3pm on Tuesday after the boy, who has been named as Derek Boateng, was stabbed on the route 393 bus.

The bus had stopped at Highbury New Park, and the boy was treated at the scene by the ambulance service.

He was taken by air ambulance to an east London hospital, where he died late on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old boy is currently being held at a north London police station on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to contact a newly set-up incident room on 020 8345 3734 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The boy who died was reported to have been a former pupil at Highbury Grove school.

Residents and parents spoke of their shock at the attack which happened outside the school.

Novelist Mark Cairns, whose son is at the school, told the London Evening Standard: "I heard a lot of noise and shouting. I went to make sure my son was okay.

"The medics were on the bus trying to save this kid's life, pumping his chest. He was bleeding quite badly and I think he was unconscious.

"They carried him off the bus and started treating him on the pavement. It was right outside my house."

Durdane Uckac, 47, whose son is also a pupil at the school, said: "There have been incidents around here but the school itself has been getting better and better. There are gangs who target each other and what has happened is so tragic."

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Wootton Bassett Terror Plotter Jailed

A Muslim convert who plotted a terror attack on Royal Wootton Bassett has been jailed for six years.

Richard Dart, 30, who appeared in a BBC 3 documentary about Islam in 2011, had also planned to target members of the security services after receiving training at camps in Pakistan.

Dart, the son of Dorset-based teachers, was jailed at the Old Bailey with his co-conspirators Jahangir Alom, a former police community support officer, and Imran Mahmood.

Dart, who changed his name to Salahuddin al Britaini when he converted to Islam, was jailed for six years, Alom for four years and six months and Mahmood for nine years and nine months.

Mr Justice Simon told the trio they held "radical Islamist beliefs and have shown yourselves to be committed to acts of terrorism".

Dart, who was also formerly a BBC security guard, refused to stand when he was sentenced, saying: "I don't wish to stand up, I believe ruling and judging is only for Allah."

His extremist beliefs were exposed in the BBC television documentary made by his step-brother Rob Leech, called My Brother the Islamist, in which he is seen having close contact with the radical preacher Anjem Choudary.

Hearses carrying the bodies of fallen soldiers move through Wootton Bassett

Bearded Dart, who had only been a Muslim for six months at that point, declared: "I support the cause of jihad, that's part of being a Muslim."

Dart and Alom had travelled to Pakistan to get terrorist training and took advice from Mahmood who had already visited the country.

Dart and Mahmood discussed bomb-making and also that Royal Wootton Bassett, the military repatriation town, could be a potential target.

In fragments of computer conversations between Dart and Mahmood, which they attempted to hide by writing in Word documents and then deleting them, forensics experts discovered a reference to the town.

They had added: "If it comes down to it it's that or even just to deal with a few MI5 MI6 heads."

The trio admitted engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism between July 2010 and July last year at a hearing last month.

Mr Justice Simon said: "I'm satisfied to the required criminal standard that neither of you had ruled out an attack in the United Kingdom, and that you, Mahmood, were looking at arming yourself with a bomb."

Dart, 30, of  Ealing in west London, Mahmood, 22, of Northolt in west London, and Alom, 26, of Stratford in east London, had all been stopped at airports while travelling to and from Pakistan.

When Mahmood was stopped at Manchester in 2010, traces of explosives were found on two rucksacks that he had with him.

He later admitted that he had received rudimentary training in explosives while in Pakistan.

The three were arrested on July 5 last year just before the start of the Olympics.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Osborne, from the Met's counter-terrorism command, said: "These are dangerous men.

"Mahmood had received terrorist training in Pakistan and suggested he had knowledge of how to make home-made explosives, while Dart and Alom made great efforts to travel to Pakistan and aspired to seek training from terrorist groups there."

He added: "This case serves as a classic example of how terrorists live in our midst while preparing their acts and their determination to travel overseas to train before returning to the UK."

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Canadian Lynx: Big Cat Prowled UK Countryside

A big cat prowled the Devon countryside over a century ago - in the earliest case of such an animal being at large in Britain.

Scientists identified it as a Canadian lynx, a carnivorous predator more than twice the size of a domestic cat, after its remains were found in a museum's vaults.

The animal, thought to have escaped or been released from captivity, was shot by a landowner in Newton Abbot around 1903 after it killed two dogs, records show.

In recent years, there have been several sightings of mystery "beasts" including the so-called Beast of Bodmin - apparently a wild cat living in Cornwall.

Most of these claims are dismissed as misidentifications or hoaxes, but not this latest one.

The sightings have largely been blamed on the introduction of the 1976 Wild Animals Act, which curbed a growing fashion for exotic and potentially dangerous pets.

Some owners were thought to have freed their animals into the wild to avoid falling foul of the law.

The new research provides further evidence debunking this theory, say the experts.

They claim there is in fact a long history of big cats being at large in the UK. They add there is no evidence that such animals have been able to breed in the wild.

The lynx skeleton was recovered from an underground storeroom at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. It had been stuffed and its remains were preserved.

The skull of the big cat (Pic: Bristol Museum)

"This Edwardian feral lynx provides concrete evidence that although rare, exotic felids (cats) have occasionally been part of British fauna for more than a century," said lead researcher Dr Ross Barnett, from the University of Durham.

"The animal remains are significant in representing the first historic big cat from Britain."

Records also unearthed at the museum indicate the animal had originally been mislabelled by curators in 1903 as a Eurasian lynx - a close relative of the Canadian lynx.

Laboratory analysis of the Bristol specimen's bones and teeth suggest it had been kept in captivity long enough to develop severe tooth loss.

Dr Darren Nash, from the University of Southampton, co-authored the research published in the journal Historical Biology.

He said: "There have been enough sightings of exotic big cats which substantially pre-date 1976 to cast doubt on the idea that one piece of legislation made in 1976 explains all releases of these animals in the UK.

"It seems more likely that escapes and releases have occurred throughout history, and that this continual presence of aliens explains the 'British big cat' phenomenon."

Colleague Dr Greger Larson, from the University of Durham, said: "Every few years there is another claim that big cats are living wild in Britain, but none of these claims have been substantiated.

"It seems that big cats are to England what the Loch Ness monster is to Scotland.

"By applying a robust scientific methodology, this study conclusively demonstrates that at least one big cat did roam Britain as early as the Edwardian era, and suggests that additional claims need to be subjected to this level of scrutiny."

The lynx is now on public display at the Bristol Museum.

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Nationwide Drive To Boost MMR Vaccination

By Gamal Fahnbulleh, Sky News Reporter

One million children will be targeted in a measles vaccination drive across England as an outbreak in Wales continues to grow.

The aim is to prevent measles outbreaks by vaccinating as many unvaccinated and partially vaccinated 10 to 16 year olds as possible in time for the next school year.

The number of people infected with measles in southwest Wales has shot up by 78 in just five days, taking the total who have contracted the disease to 886.

A 25-year-old father-of-one from Swansea, who had the disease, died a week ago.

Experts believe around 330,000 children aged 10 to 16 years remain unvaccinated.

Mairead Flavin is a nurse at a GP surgery in Middlesex. She has seen an increase in the number of parents getting their children vaccinated and believes the message is getting through.

Gareth Williams, who had measles, died a week ago

"It's more standard practice now. Back in the day it wasn't. You had to do a lot of convincing and had to try to encourage parents to vaccinate their children. At this moment in time I think they're very anxious to have it done."

Experts believe the rise in measles cases can be mostly attributed to the proportion of unprotected 10-16 year olds who missed out on vaccination in the late 1990s and early 2000s when concern around the discredited link between autism and the vaccine was widespread.

Professor David Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "At the moment the hotspots in particular are in the North East and North West.

"That's quite different from where the vulnerability is and the vulnerability is all over the country. London is a real risk but we must be sure that any child anywhere in the country who has not had two doses of MMR gets vaccinated."

Dr Paul Cosford, Director for Health Protection at Public Health England, said: " We believe this national framework for a catch-up programme sets out an appropriate response to the situation in England, using the range of expertise and skills across the new public health system.

"Although nationally the numbers needing catch-up vaccination is quite large, the are relatively few in each local area.

"We are confident that local teams have the resources to identify and vaccinate those children most at risk, and the NHS has sufficient vaccine to cover the approaches described in the action plan."

The most effective time to vaccinate babies, Public Health England says, is at 13 months, with a booster follow up at three to provide 95% protection. A baby under the age of 12 months can be vaccinated if he or she comes into contact with a case of measles.

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Weather: Britain Set For Year's Hottest Day

Spring sunshine could see parts of the UK enjoy the country's hottest weather of the year so far - before plummeting temperatures and a sudden cold snap take hold.

Large swathes of east Wales and southern and eastern England have been basking in clear skies and bright sunshine, with 20.5C (68.9F) recorded at Frittenden in Kent on Tuesday.

And while temperatures will plunge by Friday, Wednesday is expected to be the warmest day yet of 2013.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said: "Southeast England looks to keep the warmth over the next few days, but there will be more in the way of cloud around than on Tuesday.

"Temperatures could reach 21C (69.8F) or 22C (71.6F) in the best of the sunny spells there, which would equal the highest temperature we've seen so far in 2013, in Manston and Gravesend on April 14."

But she added that the mercury could drop below double figures in many parts of the country later in the week.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the warmth will last into the weekend," she said.

"Rain will spread across south-east England on Thursday night, allowing the cooler air further north to set in.

"Friday and Saturday look to be fairly cold nationwide, with temperatures reaching a high of just 10C (50F) or 11C (51F) in the South East.

"Scotland and Northern Ireland will see temperatures around 8C (46.4F). It will feel even colder in the northerly wind and we'll also see the return of overnight frosts too.

"Spring is a changeable season so it's not unusual to see spells of warmth along with cold snaps."

Meanwhile, hay fever sufferers have received some good news as experts predicted a shorter hay fever season this summer.

Cold weather over recent months is thought to have delayed the release of silver birch and grass pollen.

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Porn: Bid To Block Sex Sites On Public WiFi

Children will be protected from seeing pornography in public WiFi areas under plans being pushed by David Cameron.

Downing Street has confirmed the Prime Minister wants a Government-backed code of conduct that blocks certain websites in places such as cafes and train stations.

The plan to impose a ban where children are likely to be present follows high-profile campaigning by children's charities for a complete block on unacceptable sites in public areas.

It would stop them accessing inappropriate web content on their smart phones or mobile computers when they are in certain locations.

David Cameron wants a new code of conduct

However, there could be logistical difficulties in defining particular WiFi spots that are child-friendly, and it is not yet clear how the restrictions would be enforced.

Internet companies could automatically restrict access, or it may be the responsibility of individual shops and other public areas to implement the ban.

Number 10 sources have also indicated that there is no time frame in place yet for when the code will be unveiled.

Mr Cameron, speaking to The Telegraph while campaigning in the local elections, said he wanted "good, clean WiFi".

He stressed the importance of parents having confidence in public internet systems and that their children "are not going to see things they shouldn't".

Internet service providers and government officials have been discussing how to proceed for months.

John Carr, secretary of the coalition of charities behind the campaign, told The Telegraph: "We welcome any deal which is long overdue."

Wireless internet access in public places has mushroomed in recent years as technology improved and is now widely available.

Parents are able to restrict and police their children's web use while they are at home, which campaigners believe makes them more likely to access inappropriate websites when they are out.

The coalition has already backed moves to introduce other web controls.

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Eye Poster Puts Off Bike Thieves, Says Study

Bike thefts have been cut sharply at a university just by placing a poster of watchful eyes above the cycle racks, according to researchers.

The two-year experiment at Newcastle University was suggested by a security manager at the campus who had seen similar studies indicating that people behave better when they feel they are being watched.

Academics found that bike racks where the poster was present had 62% fewer thefts than the previous year, while those without the poster saw thefts rise by 63%.

For the first year, the team monitored the level of bike thefts from all racks across campus for a control figure.

They then placed the posters in three locations, leaving the rest of the racks without signs. Crime levels were monitored at all the sites for a year.

Professor Melissa Bateson and Professor Daniel Nettle, of the Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, and Ken Nott, of Newcastle University's security team, were behind the study.

"We don't know exactly what is happening here but this just adds to the growing evidence that images of eyes can have a big impact on behaviour," said Professor Nettle in the journal PLoS ONE.

"We think that the presence of eye images can encourage co-operative behaviour. One strong possibility is that the images of eyes work by making people feel watched. We care what other people think about us, and as a result we behave better when we feel we are being observed."

Mr Nott said: "I had followed previous work done by this team and thought it might be able to make a difference to levels of crime, so I decided to suggest this experiment.

"The results were clear and we have now put these pictures up across all the bike racks on the campus."

A 2006 study found that staring eyes made people pay almost three times as much into a tea-room honesty box.

And research in 2010 showed that people using a canteen were more likely to clear away their tray after a meal when there were eyes watching them.

The crime-fighting idea is now being tried by British Transport Police, with train company C2C, on a route between London's Fenchurch Street station and Southend in Essex.

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Motorist Admits Killing Couple On Tandem

By Isabel Webster, West Of England Correspondent

A driver has admitted killing a couple after mowing them down in his car as they rode their tandem.

Nicholas Lovell entered guilty pleas to causing the deaths of Ross Simons, 34, and his wife Clare, 30, in a crash in Hanham, near Bristol, on January 27 this year.

Lovell fled the scene of the crash, leaving his partner Louise Cox to give a false account of who was driving the vehicle to the officers.

Louise Cox owns the car driven by Lovell

He handed himself into police hours after the collision and was arrested.

Appearing via videolink, the 38-year-old pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one of driving while disqualified.

He spoke only to confirm his name and enter the guilty pleas during the 10-minute hearing.

Ross and Clare Simons died less than 24 hours after celebrating the news that they could undergo fertility treatment to start a family.

Friends described them as "two peas in a pod" and "the perfect couple".

Cox, who owns the Citroen Picasso driven by Lovell, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

The 35-year-old from Bristol admitted providing police with a false name and description when she was asked to identify who had been driving her car.

The judge remanded Lovell in custody while Cox was released on police bail.

They will be sentenced on May 22.

Tributes left at the scene in Hanham

Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Williams, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The pleas entered today by both Nicholas Lovell and Louise Cox reflect that both have taken some responsibility for the deaths of Ross and Clare.

"While these pleas will never bring Ross and Clare back, I hope they go some way to providing comfort for their families."

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Independent Scotland Could Lose The Pound

George Osborne has warned Scotland there is no guarantee it can retain the pound if it becomes independent.

The Chancellor said independence would force Scotland to adopt new currency arrangements, which would be a "very deep dive into uncharted waters".

The Scottish Government has outlined plans to keep the pound if the country becomes independent after next year's referendum.

But in a new report, the Treasury said the economic case for creating a "sterling zone" was not clear and cast doubt on whether a deal could be reached.

Mr Osborne, launching the report in Glasgow, said the analysis showed the imperative to agree a currency union would be less strong for the UK than for Scotland.

"Why would 58 million citizens give away some of their sovereignty over monetary and potentially other economic policy to give million people in another state?" he asked.

He added: "Could a situation where an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK share the pound and the Bank of England be made to work? Frankly, it's unlikely."

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is pushing for independence

With a currency union off the table, the only other options are for Scotland to unilaterally keep the pound, to create its own currency or to join the euro.

 "All of these alternative currency arrangements are less suitable economically than we have now for both Scotland and the rest of the UK," Mr Osborne said.

He added: "The conclusion is clear - the pound we share works well. The saying goes 'If it ain't broke, why fix it?' but I say 'If it ain't broke, don't break it'.

"The alternatives to the way Scotland now uses the pound are second best. Is second best really good enough for Scotland and for all our United Kingdom? We are better together."

The Scottish Government wants a "sterling zone" and economic experts there have concluded it is "sensible" and an attractive choice for the rest of the UK.

But the Treasury report said it "would only be possible if both an independent Scotland and the continuing UK could reach an agreement that satisfied both countries' economic interests".

It argues a formal sterling currency union would be "very different to the current arrangements and would be a profound economic change for both states".

Scottish banks currently issue their own sterling notes

An independent Scotland would "need to agree a negotiated set of constraints on its economic and fiscal policies", the report said.

It added: "In practice, this would be likely to require rigorous oversight of Scotland's economic and fiscal plans by both the new Scottish and the continuing UK authorities.

"Even with constraints in place, the economic rationale for the UK to agree to enter a formal sterling union with a separate state is not clear.

"The recent experience of the euro area has shown that it is extremely challenging to sustain a successful formal currency union without close fiscal integration and common arrangements for the resolution of banking sector difficulties."

The paper argues the "current currency and monetary policy arrangements within the UK serve Scotland well", describing the UK as "one of the most successful monetary, fiscal and political unions in history".

It concluded: "All of the alternative currency arrangements would be likely to be less economically suitable for both Scotland and the rest of the UK."

It also claims both the Scottish and UK governments would need to agree for the commercial banks in an independent Scotland to continue issuing sterling notes as part of a currency union.

The Treasury has said the role of the Bank of England, as the central bank of the UK responsible for issuing notes by all commercial banks, would have to be reviewed under independence.

Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney condemned suggestions that Scottish banknotes could be lost under the SNP's plans as "insulting" and insisted they would be kept.

He also claimed that the pound was "every bit as much Scotland's currency as it is England, Wales and Northern Ireland's".

He said: "If this scare story is the best George Osborne can do in advance of his visit to Scotland then it betrays the utter weakness of his case."

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Abandoned Baby Alia Was Alive When Born

A newborn baby found abandoned by dog walkers was not stillborn, police have revealed.

Detectives believe the girl, given the name Alia, lived for a short period of time after her birth.

They have released images of items which were recovered along with her body in the hope of tracing her parents.

The child was discovered shortly before 4.55pm on Thursday March 14 in Ox Hey Lane, Lostock, near Bolton, by a man and woman out walking their dog.

The cotton trousers found at the scene

She had been wrapped in clothing and placed inside a plastic bag, and there was a message requesting that she receive an Islamic burial.

Following discussions with the Bolton Council of Mosques, detectives named her Alia, meaning beautiful.

A specialist neonatologist has established that she was born alive and lived independently of her mother for up to two hours.

However, the cause of her death has yet to be established, as does her ethnicity.

Three items recovered along with her body included a Tesco bag, with the words "Please please bury him Islamic way please please" written on it in English

It is believed baby Alia was wrapped in a white shirt and cotton trousers and placed in this bag, which was in turn placed in a JD Sports bag.

A pair of three-quarter length, paint-stained cotton trousers were also found at the scene.

Detective Inspector Aaron Duggan, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "Despite the passage of time, our primary concern still remains the welfare of baby Alia's parents, in particular her mother.

"She was found almost six weeks ago and we still need to make sure both mum and dad are OK, both physically and mentally.

The JD Sports bag in which the Tesco bag was placed

"This will have been a traumatic experience for them, particularly if they are young."

DI Duggan added: "What we don't know, and what we are trying to establish, is how, where and when she died and when she was placed at Ox Hey Lane and by whom.

"I want people to think about someone that perhaps they knew or suspected was, up until recently, pregnant and, coupled with these images, now think they know who the mother or father is and to call us in confidence.

"I want to appeal to the parents directly to come forward, to talk to us and explain what happened to their daughter. I want to reassure them that specialist help is still available if required."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5448, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Millwall FA Cup Violence: Four More Arrested

Three men suspected of violence at an FA Cup semi-final between Millwall and Wigan have been arrested in morning raids and one has handed himself in, police have said.

In total, 27 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes at the April 13 match at Wembley Stadium, Scotland Yard said.

Three people have been charged.

In addition, a further 17 images have been released of people at the match whom police want to speak to.

The images of violence were seen by millions on television

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Barnes, who is leading the investigation, said: "We expect to make further arrests.

"Our message is clear. Violence at football is unacceptable. If you were involved in the violence come forward and speak with us.

"We will pursue all those responsible."

The police raids happened in London

During the second half of Millwall's 2-0 loss to Wigan, around 20 Millwall fans were involved in clashes behind the goal.

The disturbing scenes, which were witnessed by millions on television, left some fans bloodied and youngsters in tears.

The three men arrested in Tuesday's raids, aged 21, 22 and 27, were picked up at addresses in London by officers from Operation Arrowtip, which targets football-related crime.

A 34-year-old man has handed himself in at a police station in south London and was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Anyone with information about the violence or who recognises the people in the pictures is urged to call police on 020 8246 0076 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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HSBC Cuts Over 1,100 British Jobs

HSBC has announced further redundancies in Britain as part of the bank's three year rivival plan.

It said 3,166 positions in the UK would be affected by the cost-cutting exercise - but that just over 2,000 would be redeployed, resulting in 1,149 jobs losses.

It comes after 2,200 UK job cuts a year ago at the bank, which employs just over 47,000 staff in Britain.

The cuts will mainly come from HSBC's wealth management division, as it starts to move advisors to its consumer retail banking business in June.

More follows...

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Stephen Lawrence Murder 'Sparked Change'

The Prime Minister says the racist killing of Stephen Lawrence "sparked monumental change" in British society - but that "more still needs to be done".

David Cameron made the comments ahead of a memorial service today to mark the 20th anniversary of the teenager's death.

Stephen, 18, was killed by a gang of racists who stabbed him as he waited for a bus in Eltham, southeast London on April 22, 1993.

The police investigation into his death was marred by incompetence and allegations of racism, and it took 19 years to bring any of his murderers to justice.

Mr Cameron described the "senseless killing" of Stephen as "a tragedy". 

A 2012 memorial at the site where Stephen was killed

"It was also a moment that sparked monumental change in our society - change that has been brought about by the tireless efforts of Stephen's family in challenging the police, government and society to examine themselves and ask difficult questions," he said.

"I believe that many of those questions have been answered: from improved community relations to more accountability in policing.

"Much has been achieved, but we know that more still needs to be done.

"We owe this to the memory of Stephen."

David Norris (L) and Gary Dobson (R)

Stephen's mother Doreen will be joined by friends and relatives at the memorial service which is taking place at St Martin-in-the-Fields church near Trafalgar Square.

A number of high-profile supporters of the charitable trust that she set up in her son's name are also expected to attend, and public figures including Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.

He and his predecessors have attended previous memorial events for Lawrence, despite the troubled background of the case.

To mark the anniversary, a poster has been put up in New Scotland Yard featuring a personal message from Sir Bernard about the investigation.

Doreen Lawrence carrying the Olympic Torch last summer

The poster says: "Twenty years ago the Lawrence family lost their loved son, Stephen.

"We let them down by not catching his murderers. Then last year we finally brought two of his killers to justice. The Met won't forget Stephen Lawrence."

Stephen's father Neville has chosen to remember his son privately in Jamaica, taking flowers to his grave and saying a prayer with a friend who is a pastor.

Neville and Doreen Lawrence were forced to battle for nearly two decades for justice for their son, and they finally saw Gary Dobson and David Norris jailed for his murder in January last year.

The aspiring architect was set upon by a gang of five or six men, but the remainder of the killers have never been punished.

Neville Lawrence has chosen to remember his son privately

The detective leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll, said the inquiry is still live and that his team will follow any leads that come up.

"It's a live investigation. All avenues of the investigation will be left open and we will revisit them whenever we feel we have to. You never close your mind to anything," said Detective Chief Inspector Driscoll.

"We will endeavour to follow all the leads that we can."

Mrs Lawrence said she does not dare to get her hopes up about the future of the case, while her former husband said he has not given up hope of further charges being brought.

"It took us nearly 20 years to get this result and we did not know whether we would get it," Mr Lawrence said.

"I do not know if I am going to live another 20 years but I have not given up on the detectives finding a way to get the others."

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Lufthansa Strike Sees UK Flights Cancelled

Lufthansa staff have gone on strike over a pay dispute, forcing the company to cancel the majority of its scheduled flights.

Around 100 flights - including departures and arrivals - have been cancelled at airports in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dublin.

Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg airports have also been hit by the strike, which started early on Monday morning.

Only about 20 of more than 1,650 scheduled short-haul flights are expected to go ahead as result of the day-long industrial action.

Lufthansa's chief personnel officer, Stefan Lauer, estimated that around 150,000 passengers would be affected.

Lufthansa is Germany's biggest airline

"This time it is a strike ... with a massive impact, completely excessive, that has only one aim - to position itself as a union at Lufthansa against many other unions and groups," he told German television channel ARD.

Germany's largest airline said those hit by the cancellations can re-book their flights at no extra charge.

The ver.di trade union announced the "warning strike" - which is often used by German unions to increase pressure in wage talks - on Friday.

It comes after the airline rejected the union's demand for job guarantees and wage increases of 5.2% over the next year.

Lufthansa is attempting to cut costs to cope with high fuel prices and increasing competition from budget airlines and Gulf operators like Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.

Last year, the airline and a union representing cabin crews went to arbitration to settle a pay dispute after the union staged a series of short-term stoppages that caused numerous flight cancellations.

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Weather: Spring Sunshine As Temperatures Rise

Parts of the UK are set to bask in unseasonably warm temperatures this week - with the mercury expected to break the 20C mark.

The South East, East Anglia and the South West will receive a blast of spring sunshine on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

But while temperatures are forecast to soar well above the April average of 13C in the south, the rest of the UK will be stuck with colder weather and patchy rain.

Meteorologists say the north-south split is down to a frontal system.

Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "There will be some spring warmth this week, but it will be limited to southeast England and looks to be fairly short-lived too.

"Mild air will extend across southeast England allowing temperatures to reach about 21C by Wednesday. There will be a fair amount of cloud around, but sunny spells are likely.

"Elsewhere it will be cooler and more unsettled, with rain stalling over northern England, north Wales and the Republic of Ireland by the middle of the week."

She added that those in the warmer parts of the country should make the most of the midweek weather.

"Unfortunately it doesn't look like the warmth in the South East will last into the weekend, with rain on Friday allowing cooler air to set in," she said. 

"Saturday looks to be fairly cold nationwide, with temperatures reaching a high of just 10 or 11C in the South East.

"Scotland and Northern Ireland will see temperatures around 8C, but a strengthening northerly wind there will make it feel even colder.

"A patchy overnight frost can be expected too. 

"Spring is a changeable season so it's not unusual to see spells of warmth along with cold snaps."

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Luis Suarez: 'Anger Management' After Bite

Liverpool's Luis Suarez has been offered counselling after he apologised for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovich during a Premier League clash.

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) said on Monday the Uruguayan will be approached over anger management counselling following the incident during the 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.

The striker, 26, revealed on his personal Twitter account that the club has fined him for the altercation.

He wrote: "For my unacceptable behaviour yesterday the club has fined me today, I have asked the club to donate money to the Hillsborough Family Support Group for the inconvenience I have created to the Liverpool fans and to Ivanovich."

The striker also used Twitter to apologise around three hours after the final whistle blew on the game.

He wrote: "I'm sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologise Ivanovic and all football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I'm so sorry about it!!"

Suarez revealed on his Twitter page he had been fined by Liverpool

In a statement issued through his club, he added: "I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally.

"I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down."

The FA says it will review match footage - seen by millions of television viewers - that shows Suarez biting the Chelsea defender on the arm.

A spokesman told Sky News: "We will speak to match officials today and review any report in relation to the matter and decide on an appropriate course of action."

The spokesman added that the FA "governance team" were looking at the incident and any video footage would be "very important" to that process.

Merseyside Police confirmed officers had spoken to Ivanovich after the game and he did not wish to make a complaint.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers told Suarez the bite was 'unacceptable'

Cameras captured the striker appearing to sink his teeth into his opponent's upper arm during the second half.

Ivanovic remonstrated with referee Kevin Friend following the incident and the match official briefly spoke to Suarez before allowing the game to continue.

The match ended 2-2, with Liverpool's controversial star - who is a contender for this year's player of the season awards - scoring an equaliser in the dying seconds.

In a later Twitter message, Suarez said he had spoken to Ivanovic and his apology had been accepted.

He wrote: "I've just spoken to Ivanovic on the phone and I could apologise directly to him. Thanks for accepting."

A Chelsea spokesman said: "Luis Suarez called Branislav Ivanovic this evening. Branislav appreciated the call and his apology."

Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre, who cancelled a trip to Australia to deal with the fallout from the incident, said on Monday the incident would have no bearing on his future at the club.

He told liverpoolfc.com: "It affects his future in the sense that we have to work with him on his discipline - but Luis is a very important player to the club.

Suarez said he spoke directly to Branislav Ivanovic after the incident

"As we keep saying, he signed a new four-year contract last summer and we'd all love to see him here throughout that contract.

"He's a fantastic player, top scorer and everything we'd want in a striker, so there's no change there.

"This is more about getting him back on the right track and it's largely down to (manager) Brendan (Rodgers) now to work with him on that side of his character."

Brendan Rodgers added: "Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this."

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness said the Uruguayan striker had "crossed a line".

He said: "I'm not sure what to make of it. Embarrassing. He's making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool, that puts him in the last chance saloon.

"Most important is safeguarding the good name of the football club. Liverpool are world renowned. People will be talking about this for a long, long time, and it will show Liverpool in a very bad light.

Suarez's new Twitter follower: Tyson, who took chunk out of his challenger

"This is not the first time he has bitten someone in the football match. He is risking everything this great club stands for. I've never seen something like that in a football match before.

"There are lines you just can't cross, and he has crossed it today."

PFA chief Gordon Taylor said the union would offer the striker help to deal with his temper.

He said: "There is no doubting his football ability, that's why it is so disappointing and embarrassing when he lets himself down.

"We have to work hard on anger management now. We have trained counsellors in this field and we will be offering their services to Liverpool and the player to try and improve matters."

But Marseille's Joey Barton took to Twitter to urge Liverpool to back their player.

He wrote: "Suarez is a good as a player as there is in world football at the minute. Yes, he's messed up and shouldn't have bitten another player but a player like him has to play right on the edge.

"Without it he wouldn't be the talent he is. LFC would be mad not to back him IMO. If they don't I'm sure the queue of Champions League clubs would stretch round the block."

It is the second biting incident in Suarez's career. He served a seven-match ban in the Netherlands while at Ajax after biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal.

Meanwhile, Suarez has found a new brother in arms in former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who famously bit the ear of opponent Evander Holyfield.

According to Tyson's profile page on Twitter, he made Suarez his 432nd and most recent follow.

Tyson took a chunk out of Holyfield's right ear in the third round of a bout in Las Vegas in June 1997, after which Holyfield, nicknamed the 'Real Deal', became known as the 'Meal Deal'.

Tyson was disqualified from the fight and fined $3m (£1.9m).

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Arsenal Co-Owner Is Now UK's Richest Man

Britain has a new richest man - Russian co-owner of Arsenal Football Club Alisher Usmanov has taken the top spot from the previous Rich List number one Lakshmi Mittal.

Mr Usmanov, who has a near-30% stake in Arsenal, is worth £13.3bn, putting him into the top spot of the 25th annual Sunday Times Rich List.

Researchers found the 1,000 richest people in Britain have wealth totalling almost £450bn.

There are now a record 88 billionaires among the country's wealthiest 1,000 individuals and families, up from 77 billionaires in 2012 and just nine in 1989.

The combined wealth of the top 200 people in the 2013 Sunday Times Rich List is £318.2bn, a more than eightfold rise on the £38bn for the combined wealth of the 200 people featured in the first Rich List in 1989.

In 1989, the Queen was Britain's richest person.

Russian businessman Mr Usmanov started off making plastic bags, but went on to found a business empire with numerous interests.

As well as Metalloinvest, the country's biggest iron ore producer, he owns a stake in mail.ru, the largest internet company, and has a big holding in MegaFon, a mobile phone operator that listed on the London and Moscow stock markets last year.

Uzbekistan-born Mr Usmanov, 59, also owns Sutton Place, the former Surrey home of the late oil baron J Paul Getty, as well as a £48m mansion in north London.

He shares a passion for sport with his wife, Irina Viner, 64, head coach of Russia's rhythmic gymnastics team, whom he met when he was a young fencer.

Second in the list is Ukrainian Len Blavatnik, the highest riser in the list in wealth terms.

Mr Blavatnik is now worth £11bn, an increase of £3.4bn on last year.

Odessa-born Mr Blavatnik, who owns Warner Music, received £2bn last month for his stake in TNK-BP, when company was sold to state-owned Russian oil company Rosneft.

After eight years at the top of the Sunday Times Rich List, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal has dropped down to fourth place.

Mr Mittal is now only worth £10bn, making him the biggest faller in wealth terms.

The 40% stake Mr Mittal and his wife Usha hold in the steelmaking giant ArcelorMittal has plummeted from £28bn at its peak to £5.95bn.

The highest placed UK-born person in the 2013 Sunday Times Rich List is The Duke of Westminster, ranked eighth and worth £7.8bn. The Duke's interests are mainly in London land and property.

Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovic was fifth with £9.3bn.

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Measles Victim Died 'After He Was Sent Home'

The first victim to die in the measles outbreak in South Wales had been sent home from hospital, his mother has claimed.

Gareth Williams, 25, was discovered dead on Thursday morning at his home in the Port Tennant area of Swansea.

Initial tests revealed that Mr Williams, who is believed to have suffered from asthma, was infected with measles at the time of his death.

Further investigations are being undertaken by the Swansea Coroner to establish whether his death was due to measles or something else.

Mr Williams' mother, Angela Colfer, said he had been admitted to Swansea's Morriston Hospital after breaking out in red spots.

However, she said he had been released from hospital after several days because doctors thought he was over the worst of it.

More than 800 cases of measles have been reported in Swansea

Ms Colfer told the South Wales Evening Post: "He was covered in a rash, and what with the measles epidemic in Swansea we wanted to get him to hospital.

"He had been in Morriston Hospital for five or six days before he was sent home."

The claim came as hundreds more MMR jab vaccinations were administered over the weekend at emergency sessions at four hospitals around Swansea.

Thousands of children have received the MMR jab over the last three weeks amid rising concern at the rocketing rate of measles cases.

Mr Williams was treated at Morriston Hospital before his death

The headline rate rose to 808 on Thursday after 43 separate new cases of measles were recorded over a two-day period.

Up to 2,000 more children were vaccinated in school this week as efforts were targeted in communities most at risk.

With the pool of unprotected children reducing on a daily basis, hundreds have still turned out to hospital drop-in sessions.

Rapid vaccination teams at all four locations were well able to deal with the large numbers turning up.

Thousands of children missed out on MMR jabs from the late 1990s due to unfounded fears linking the vaccination with autism.

Despite the progress made in reaching thousands of unprotected children, the health board and Public Health Wales (PHW) are still urging those who have not been vaccinated to come forward.

They warn that people in the 10 to 18 age group, who missed out on the MMR jab in the past, are being hardest hit by the disease.

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London Marathon: Show Of Solidarity For Boston

Thousands of runners have observed a moment of silence at the start of the London Marathon to remember the victims of the Boston bombings.

The poignant 30-second tribute was followed by applause as Mo Farah and other competitors gathered at the start line for the elite men's and mass race.

Many of the 36,000 fun runners, athletes and fundraisers wore a black ribbon as a mark of respect to those affected by the attack.

Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia won the men's race, while Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya won the women's event.

Before the start, event commentator Geoff Wightman said over loud speakers: "Marathon running is a global sport. It unites runners and supporters on every continent in pursuit of a common challenge and in the spirit of friendship and fellowship.

"This week the world marathon family was shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon."

The marathon has drawn thousands of people

The 30 seconds of silence appeared to be widely observed.

Virgin London Marathon has pledged to donate £2 for every finisher to The One Fund Boston, which was set up to raise money for the victims of the explosions.

Security has been stepped up for the event, which takes place less than a week after the Boston Marathon bombings.

Barbara Stephenson, charge d'affaires at the US Embassy in London, told Sky News the show of respect by London Marathon runners for the Boston victims underlined the "special relationship" between the two countries.

"We've had responses from Her Majesty the Queen, all through Twitter from the British people, and now we have got tens of thousands of London Marathon runners wearing a black ribbon in solidarity with the people of Boston."

She went on to say that "it's moments like this when you know what the special relationship's really all about."

Three people, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed at the Boston Marathon blasts and scores were injured, some seriously.

Even with one of the suspects dead and the other now in custody, hundreds of extra police officers have been deployed to reassure the runners and spectators.

The Met has been in close contact with the FBI and Boston Police, and there were no suggestion of any link with the bomb attacks.

Police said the increased security was aimed at reassuring the public and was not a response to a specific threat.

The police presence during the London race is being stepped up by 40%

Malcolm Baker, a former Police Counter-Terrorism Officer, told Sky News: "The main objective of the police is to provide reassurance and public safety for both the runners and spectators, and secondly it will be to deter any copycat attacks."

Despite the 40% increase in police presence, the marathon maintained its happy atmosphere, with many runners turning out in fancy dress.

The winding route from Black Heath to Buckingham Palace takes the runner past some of the capital's most famous landmarks, with tens of thousands of people lining the streets to watch the runners.

Farah, the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion, ran about half of today's race, stepping off the course at  the 13.1 mile mark near Tower Bridge.

He described the atmosphere as "incredible".

He revealed before the event that he had overslept. "I'm late! I woke up late! I'm going to miss the bus!" he joked.

Mo Farah says he overslept ahead of the race

However, the build-up to his participation in the marathon had been shrouded in controversy as he will be paid a reported £425,000 for taking part in the 2013 and 2014 events.

But Farah, who won the mini-marathon event three times in a row between 1998 and 2000 as a schoolboy, has said the race brings back plenty of happy memories.

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Waterloo Good, But Not UK's Greatest Battle

Waterloo and the D-Day landings have lost the title of Britain's greatest battle to a vital - but lesser known - clash against the Japanese in World War Two.

The Battle of Imphal, and the simultaneous Battle of Kohima, saw British Empire troops fight Japanese forces in horrendous jungle conditions in northeast India in 1944.

Imphal/Kohima was picked over the more celebrated land battles in a contest organised by the National Army Museum in London.

Rorke's Drift in the 1879 Zulu War and the Battle of Aliwal in the Anglo-Sikh War in Punjab in 1846 brought up the rear.

"Great things were at stake in a war with the toughest enemy any British army has had to fight," historian Robert Lyman said of Imphal/Kohima.

Gurkhas supported by an M3 Grant tank advance along the Imphal/Kohima road

If Lieutenant General William Slim's army of British, Indian, Gurkha and African troops had lost, the consequences for the Allies would have been catastrophic, he said.

The criteria of the contest included the battles' political and historical impact, the challenges the troops faced, and the strategy and tactics employed.

Waterloo had topped an online poll which produced a list of 20 land battles fought since the English Civil War. The top five were then debated at the museum before going to an audience vote.

The winner was something of a surprise given the enduring prominence of Waterloo and D-Day/Normandy in Britain.

The troops who fought in India and Burma in World War II called themselves "The Forgotten Army".

Rorke's Drift saw just over 150 troops fight off up to 4,000 Zulu warriors

The Battle of Imphal/Kohima took place in 1944 in Nagaland when Japanese troops poured over the Burmese border to strike at India.

Fought over a vast area of jungle and mountain, it was marked by vicious hand-to-hand fighting.

The successful British defence meant they were then able to push into Burma and roll back the Japanese from mainland Asia.

"The victory was of a profound significance because it demonstrated categorically to the Japanese that they were not invincible," said Mr Lyman.

"This was to be very important in preparing the entire Japanese nation to accept defeat."

Saving Private Ryan depicted the US view of the Normandy landings

He ranked it with Midway, El Alamein and Stalingrad as the main turning point battles of World War II.

His adversary in debate, former Parachute Regiment Colonel Stuart Tootal, argued a strong case for the D-Day landings and subsequent Battle for Normandy against Nazi Germany in 1944.

Although movies such as Saving Private Ryan have highlighted the US role in the campaign, the operation was under the command of Britain's Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

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