'Rigby Killers' Memorial Graffiti: Man Held

A man has been arrested on suspicion of daubing "Lee Rigby's killers should hang" on the RAF Bomber Command War Memorial in London, it has emerged.

Scotland Yard said the 20-year-old was held at his home in Manchester last Tuesday on suspicion of an act of criminal damage at the memorial in Green Park on June 5.

The memorial, which was created to remember the thousands of RAF crew who lost their lives in World War Two, was vandalised twice in just over a week following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, southeast London, on May 22.

In the first incident on May 27, the word "Islam" was scrawled across the monument.

Red graffiti was also found on the Animals In War Memorial in Hyde Park, which honours animals that have served and died for the British military forces.

After the second attack on the Bomber Command Memorial, Crimestoppers said it was offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for vandalising the memorials.

The RAF Benevolent Fund released CCTV footage of the first attack which appeared to show someone spraying it.

The person stopped a few times as traffic passed and looked around several times before eventually moving out of the shot.

In a separate CCTV clip from a camera pointing towards the centrepiece of the memorial, a person was captured walking around the statue and looking up at it.

:: Anyone with information about the acts of vandalism is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Weather: Wildfire Warning As Heatwave Continues

Swathes of the British countryside could be at risk from wildfires as the country continues to swelter in its longest heatwave for seven years.

Soon-to-be-harvested crops such as wheat and winter barley are thought to be among the most vulnerable.

Six days of 30C-plus temperatures and a lack of rainfall have led to an "elevated risk" of fires, a spokesman for the Met Office said.

The warning echoes that issued by firefighters in London, who have dealt with twice as many grass fires this summer than in 2012.

A blaze at Mitcham Common, which destroyed an area of grass and gorse equivalent in size to four football pitches, was one of around 40 wildfires extinguished by crews in just 24 hours.

Temperatures in Hampton, around 12 miles away, soared to 32.2C on Wednesday - the highest temperature recorded in the UK this year.

Dave Brown, head of operations, prevention and response at London Fire Brigade, urged smokers to be especially careful when disposing of their cigarettes.

"A small spark from a cigarette is often all it takes to start a grass fire in these dry conditions," he said.

"Drivers also need to take care not to throw cigarettes out of car windows as they can easily burn grass verges.

"If you see a grass fire, don't attempt to put it out yourself as grass fires can be fast moving and change direction without warning. Call the fire brigade and let us know where the fire is."

Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid to high-20Cs for many parts of England and Wales well into next week.

The prolonged hot spell prompted the Met Office to issue level three heatwave health warnings for southwest and southeast England, London and the West Midlands.

Health officials urged people to drink plenty of cold water and keep an eye on vulnerable people, including the elderly and the very young.

It comes after a four-week-old baby was among 10 children admitted to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, with sunburn.

Meanwhile, police officers and firefighters warned about the dangers of attempting to escape the heat by swimming in open water after a number of deaths in recent weeks.

Four people died in separate incidents on Tuesday in the sea, rivers and lakes in Norfolk, the Shropshire-north Wales border and Cornwall.

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'Rigby Killers' Memorial Graffiti: Man Held

A man has been arrested on suspicion of daubing "Lee Rigby's killers should hang" on the RAF Bomber Command War Memorial in London, it has emerged.

Scotland Yard said the 20-year-old was held at his home in Manchester last Tuesday on suspicion of an act of criminal damage at the memorial in Green Park on June 5.

The memorial, which was created to remember the thousands of RAF crew who lost their lives in World War Two, was vandalised twice in just over a week following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich, southeast London, on May 22.

In the first incident on May 27, the word "Islam" was scrawled across the monument.

Red graffiti was also found on the Animals In War Memorial in Hyde Park, which honours animals that have served and died for the British military forces.

After the second attack on the Bomber Command Memorial, Crimestoppers said it was offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for vandalising the memorials.

The RAF Benevolent Fund released CCTV footage of the first attack which appeared to show someone spraying it.

The person stopped a few times as traffic passed and looked around several times before eventually moving out of the shot.

In a separate CCTV clip from a camera pointing towards the centrepiece of the memorial, a person was captured walking around the statue and looking up at it.

:: Anyone with information about the acts of vandalism is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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2012 Olympics Have Given UK A £10bn Boost

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

The UK economy has received a massive trade and investment boost from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a new report.

It says additional export sales have brought in £5.9bn, while £1.5bn has come from firms winning new contracts and £2.5bn from new foreign investment.

The latter includes the redevelopment of London's Battersea Power Station by a Malaysian consortium and projects involving the Chinese technology company Huawei.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "This £9.9bn boost to the UK economy is a reminder to the world that, if you want the best, if you want professionalism, if you want jobs done on time and on budget then you should think British.

"With companies across the country we are harnessing the Olympic momentum and delivering the lasting business legacy of the Games that will help make Britain a winner in the global race.

"But that's not where the good news ends. The Games are also delivering a strong social legacy.

The success of UK athletes has not had a dramatic effect on participation

"Last summer, Games Makers changed the way Britain views volunteering. Since then, thousands of people have been inspired to get involved with their local sports clubs."

Business Secretary Vince Cable has rejected claims the £9.9bn figure is exaggerated.

"It has been independently audited and not been plucked out of the air," he told Sky News.

He also rejected suggestions a lot of the investment would have happened anyway, saying: "The people who've done the analysis have adopted a method of working that tries to screen that out."

Research carried out for the Government suggests that over the long term the total benefit could reach up to £41bn by 2020.

With four golds, David Weir was one of Britain's star performers

But a poll conducted exclusively for Sky News suggests a lasting legacy for sport and volunteering is proving harder to achieve.

The poll found that while more than half of respondents believe the Games delivered on their promise to "inspire a generation", the vast majority were unmoved to take up a new sport or commit to volunteering.

Asked if London 2012 had inspired them to take up a new sport or recreation activity, 88% said it had not.

Among existing participants there was also very little impact, with 80% of those asked saying the Olympics had not prompted them to do more sport.

Among volunteers there was a similar picture, with 89% of respondents saying they had not increased the amount of time they gave as a result of the Olympic example.

The Aquatics Centre may encourage the public when it opens next year

Just 6% said they had done more and 3% said they had done less.

While the results challenge the notion that the Olympics could transform behaviour, they do offer some comfort to organisers of what was otherwise a hugely successful Olympics.

Among 16 to 18-year-olds, responses were more positive, with 20% saying they had tried a new sport, 31% saying they had done more sport and 21% saying they had spent more time volunteering.

The poll also revealed mixed attitudes to the Games one year on.

Lord Coe says he believes more young people are now playing sport

Asked if the Olympics were value for the near £9bn spent on staging them, 41% of people said they were good or very good value for money, while 30% felt they were not worth the investment.

As to whether Britain should stage the Games again the poll revealed a split, with 40% in favour and the same percentage opposed to repeating the 2012 experiment.

Despite these findings, key figures in the Olympic project insist that the Games are delivering on the legacy promises.

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the organising committee and now the Prime Minister's legacy ambassador, told Sky News: "I think in large part we have inspired.

"Look at waiting lists in sports clubs, they are both optimistic and challenging, but I think there are more people playing sport, and a good chunk of them are young people."

Lord Coe said his experience was that the appetite was particularly keen in schools.

"I've spent a lot of time in the last year, particularly with my legacy work in schools, in primary schools, secondary schools and even in colleges.

"And there's no doubt at all that PE teachers - and certainly teachers - that did not get sport up until the Games recognise that there is a very powerful momentum and that young people want more sport and so do their parents."

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said participation was growing, citing Sport England figures that show 1.4 million more people doing sport at least once a week than before London successfully bid for the Games.

"The legacy is undoubtedly genuine," he said. "More people are playing sport now than when we started on the Olympic journey, but this was never ever going to be one smooth uphill journey."

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Wolverhampton Mosque: Explosive Device Found

Debris from an explosive device has been found close to a mosque in Wolverhampton, a police statement has said.

"The find was made late last night (Thursday 18 July) by officers and army bomb disposal experts as they searched land in and around the building on Waterloo Road," the statement said. 

"The debris, found on Fiveways roundabout, has been declared safe and further detailed forensic enquiries will be conducted at the scene throughout the day," it added. 

The mosque was evacuated on Thursday evening but has been reopened for worship following the discovery.

Information about the device, which police believe was activated on June 28, was uncovered as part of an investigation into recent attacks near mosques in Walsall and Tipton.

Two men aged 25 and 22, both of Eastern European origin, were arrested in Small Heath, Birmingham, on Thursday in connection with the blasts.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the mosque after reports of a blast

They continue to be held under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

No one was injured in the Wolverhampton blast.  

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who is leading the investigation, said: "Officers searching the area have found the seat of an explosion and debris on the island near the mosque.

"The investigation is being led by specialist officers and staff from our Counter Terrorism Unit who are being supported by a range of departments from across the force.

"We recognise the impact news of the latest find will have on the communities of Wolverhampton and further afield. We're working hard to complete our enquiries so that the area can be returned to normality.

"We are keen to hear from people who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously on or near to the roundabout on the night of the 27 or the morning of 28 June," said ACC Beale.

"Whether people feel the information is important or not, I would urge them to contact us so that we can assess that information."

:: Anyone with information which could assist the inquiry is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Weather: Wildfire Warning As Heatwave Continues

Swathes of the British countryside could be at risk from wildfires as the country continues to swelter in its longest heatwave for seven years.

Soon-to-be-harvested crops such as wheat and winter barley are thought to be among the most vulnerable.

Six days of 30C-plus temperatures and a lack of rainfall have led to an "elevated risk" of fires, a spokesman for the Met Office said.

The warning echoes that issued by firefighters in London, who have dealt with twice as many grass fires this summer than in 2012.

A blaze at Mitcham Common, which destroyed an area of grass and gorse equivalent in size to four football pitches, was one of around 40 wildfires extinguished by crews in just 24 hours.

Temperatures in Hampton, around 12 miles away, soared to 32.2C on Wednesday - the highest temperature recorded in the UK this year.

Dave Brown, head of operations, prevention and response at London Fire Brigade, urged smokers to be especially careful when disposing of their cigarettes.

"A small spark from a cigarette is often all it takes to start a grass fire in these dry conditions," he said.

"Drivers also need to take care not to throw cigarettes out of car windows as they can easily burn grass verges.

"If you see a grass fire, don't attempt to put it out yourself as grass fires can be fast moving and change direction without warning. Call the fire brigade and let us know where the fire is."

Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid to high-20Cs for many parts of England and Wales well into next week.

The prolonged hot spell prompted the Met Office to issue level three heatwave health warnings for southwest and southeast England, London and the West Midlands.

Health officials urged people to drink plenty of cold water and keep an eye on vulnerable people, including the elderly and the very young.

It comes after a four-week-old baby was among 10 children admitted to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, with sunburn.

Meanwhile, police officers and firefighters warned about the dangers of attempting to escape the heat by swimming in open water after a number of deaths in recent weeks.

Four people died in separate incidents on Tuesday in the sea, rivers and lakes in Norfolk, the Shropshire-north Wales border and Cornwall.

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2012 Olympics Have Given UK A £10bn Boost

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

The UK economy has received a massive trade and investment boost from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a new report.

It says additional export sales have brought in £5.9bn, while £1.5bn has come from firms winning new contracts and £2.5bn from new foreign investment.

The latter includes the redevelopment of London's Battersea Power Station by a Malaysian consortium and projects involving the Chinese technology company Huawei.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "This £9.9bn boost to the UK economy is a reminder to the world that, if you want the best, if you want professionalism, if you want jobs done on time and on budget then you should think British.

"With companies across the country we are harnessing the Olympic momentum and delivering the lasting business legacy of the Games that will help make Britain a winner in the global race.

"But that's not where the good news ends. The Games are also delivering a strong social legacy.

The success of UK athletes has not had a dramatic effect on participation

"Last summer, Games Makers changed the way Britain views volunteering. Since then, thousands of people have been inspired to get involved with their local sports clubs."

Business Secretary Vince Cable has rejected claims the £9.9bn figure is exaggerated.

"It has been independently audited and not been plucked out of the air," he told Sky News.

He also rejected suggestions a lot of the investment would have happened anyway, saying: "The people who've done the analysis have adopted a method of working that tries to screen that out."

Research carried out for the Government suggests that over the long term the total benefit could reach up to £41bn by 2020.

With four golds, David Weir was one of Britain's star performers

But a poll conducted exclusively for Sky News suggests a lasting legacy for sport and volunteering is proving harder to achieve.

The poll found that while more than half of respondents believe the Games delivered on their promise to "inspire a generation", the vast majority were unmoved to take up a new sport or commit to volunteering.

Asked if London 2012 had inspired them to take up a new sport or recreation activity, 88% said it had not.

Among existing participants there was also very little impact, with 80% of those asked saying the Olympics had not prompted them to do more sport.

Among volunteers there was a similar picture, with 89% of respondents saying they had not increased the amount of time they gave as a result of the Olympic example.

The Aquatics Centre may encourage the public when it opens next year

Just 6% said they had done more and 3% said they had done less.

While the results challenge the notion that the Olympics could transform behaviour, they do offer some comfort to organisers of what was otherwise a hugely successful Olympics.

Among 16 to 18-year-olds, responses were more positive, with 20% saying they had tried a new sport, 31% saying they had done more sport and 21% saying they had spent more time volunteering.

The poll also revealed mixed attitudes to the Games one year on.

Lord Coe says he believes more young people are now playing sport

Asked if the Olympics were value for the near £9bn spent on staging them, 41% of people said they were good or very good value for money, while 30% felt they were not worth the investment.

As to whether Britain should stage the Games again the poll revealed a split, with 40% in favour and the same percentage opposed to repeating the 2012 experiment.

Despite these findings, key figures in the Olympic project insist that the Games are delivering on the legacy promises.

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the organising committee and now the Prime Minister's legacy ambassador, told Sky News: "I think in large part we have inspired.

"Look at waiting lists in sports clubs, they are both optimistic and challenging, but I think there are more people playing sport, and a good chunk of them are young people."

Lord Coe said his experience was that the appetite was particularly keen in schools.

"I've spent a lot of time in the last year, particularly with my legacy work in schools, in primary schools, secondary schools and even in colleges.

"And there's no doubt at all that PE teachers - and certainly teachers - that did not get sport up until the Games recognise that there is a very powerful momentum and that young people want more sport and so do their parents."

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said participation was growing, citing Sport England figures that show 1.4 million more people doing sport at least once a week than before London successfully bid for the Games.

"The legacy is undoubtedly genuine," he said. "More people are playing sport now than when we started on the Olympic journey, but this was never ever going to be one smooth uphill journey."

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Wolverhampton Mosque: Explosive Device Found

Debris from an explosive device has been found close to a mosque in Wolverhampton, a police statement has said.

"The find was made late last night (Thursday 18 July) by officers and army bomb disposal experts as they searched land in and around the building on Waterloo Road," the statement said. 

"The debris, found on Fiveways roundabout, has been declared safe and further detailed forensic enquiries will be conducted at the scene throughout the day," it added. 

The mosque was evacuated on Thursday evening but has been reopened for worship following the discovery.

Information about the device, which police believe was activated on June 28, was uncovered as part of an investigation into recent attacks near mosques in Walsall and Tipton.

Two men aged 25 and 22, both of Eastern European origin, were arrested in Small Heath, Birmingham, on Thursday in connection with the blasts.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the mosque after reports of a blast

They continue to be held under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

No one was injured in the Wolverhampton blast.  

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, who is leading the investigation, said: "Officers searching the area have found the seat of an explosion and debris on the island near the mosque.

"The investigation is being led by specialist officers and staff from our Counter Terrorism Unit who are being supported by a range of departments from across the force.

"We recognise the impact news of the latest find will have on the communities of Wolverhampton and further afield. We're working hard to complete our enquiries so that the area can be returned to normality.

"We are keen to hear from people who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously on or near to the roundabout on the night of the 27 or the morning of 28 June," said ACC Beale.

"Whether people feel the information is important or not, I would urge them to contact us so that we can assess that information."

:: Anyone with information which could assist the inquiry is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Weather: Hot Spell Set To Last Rest Of Week

The hot weather is set to continue until at least the weekend with Wednesday expected to be another contender for the hottest day of the year.

Sky News Weather Producer Joanna Robinson said: "The summery spell is set to continue for many this week, with temperatures rising further over the next couple of days.

"Wednesday looks to be the hottest day of the week, with temperatures widely in the high twenties across England and Wales.

"In fact, 32 or 33C (91.4F) is possible across southeast England, which would be the highest temperature of the year so far."

Scotland and Ireland are forecast to see a more gradual rise in temperature, reaching the mid to high twenties by the end of the week.

Millions of people have been outside taking advantage of the sunshine

Northwest Scotland will be the main exception to the hot weather, where it will be relatively cloudy and cool with rain at times.

Last week's blazing temperatures peaked on Saturday with the mercury hitting 31.9C (89.4F) in Southampton - making it the hottest day of the year and the hottest day in July since 2006.

Sunday was another scorcher with temperatures into the high 20s in many regions and the Met Office issued a level three heatwave alert for southwest England.

But the soaring temperatures are still some way off the highest ever recorded in the UK, which stands at 38.5C (101.3F) - at Faversham in Kent on August 10, 2003.

The latest heatwave has seen shoppers spend thousands of pounds on the high street and online, buying barbecues, food, sunscreen and garden furniture.

Emergency services have warned about the dangers of swimming in open water

Paddling pool sales are up 816%, said online retailer Amazon, while Tesco predicted a sausage surge of nine million bangers over the weekend.

But the searing heat has prompted warnings from health authorities urging the public to take care in the potentially "dangerous" conditions.

And with people taking to the water to cool off, emergency services have warned against swimming in lakes and quarries after three people died in the West Midlands in the last week.

"Please think twice about going into open water," said Commander George Marshall, of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.

"If you must take a dip please do it in the safety of a public swimming pool where there are lifeguards on duty."

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Belfast Violence Flares For Third Night

Loyalist protesters hurled several petrol bombs and a range of other missiles at police for a third successive night in Belfast.

Trouble again flared in the Woodvale Road area in the north of the city as the fall-out from a decision to ban a controversial Orange Order parade passing through the nearby republican Ardoyne area continued.

But the violence was on a much smaller scale than previous nights.

There was also "some public disorder" in Newtownabbey on the outskirts of the north of the city, police said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said one officer had been injured in the violence.

On Saturday night, seven police officers were injured.

Injured MP Nigel Dodds was released from hospital on Sunday

Those police casualties came after 32 officers were injured on Friday night and MP for North Belfast Nigel Dodds was taken to hospital after being struck by a missile thrown by a rioter. He was discharged on Sunday morning.

Around 35 arrests have been made since Friday though police expect to make many more after analysing video footage of the disorder.

A special sitting of Belfast Magistrates' Court was held on Sunday with contingencies in place to keep courts open if the trouble continues.

Loyalist protesters have taken to the streets since Friday

Stormont's Justice Minister David Ford warned of the consequences of getting involved in the violence.

"To young people in particular I would say this: 'Do you want to leave home today with a clean record and by tonight have a criminal record, which could have consequences which will stay with you for the rest of your life?'," he said.

"My message is clear; do not get involved in rioting on our streets, but if you choose to do so then be prepared to face the courts within hours."

Trouble first broke out on Friday as police attempted to enforce a decision banning Orangemen from passing the Ardoyne on the Crumlin Road on their way back from traditional Twelfth of July commemorations.

Hundreds of extra officers have been drafted in

Around 400 extra British police officers were deployed to Northern Ireland on Saturday.

The Orange Order had originally called for protests against the Ardoyne determination of the Parades Commission adjudication body but, in the wake of Friday's violence, senior Orangemen called for protest action to be suspended.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott has condemned those responsible for the trouble and also criticised those within the Orange Order leadership who called for protests.

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Soldiers Died 'Trying Out For Special Forces'

Police are continuing to investigate the deaths of two servicemen who are thought to have died during a special forces selection process on the hottest day of the year.

A third serviceman is in a serious condition in hospital.

The three were part of a group training in the Brecon Beacons, some of Wales' most rugged terrain, on Saturday when temperatures topped 29.5C (85.1F).

It is understood that the men were taking part in the selection process for the Territorial Army section of the SAS.

Sky News Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the "very rigorous selection process" would have meant "long yomping walks carrying an awful lot of weight".

The soldiers were thought to be in the final test week of their trial for the SAS.

For the regular version of the special forces elite this would involve a 40 mile speed march with about 55lbs on their backs, including a replica rifle, normally completed over a 20 hour period. It is likely that the process would be slightly reduced for the TA version or split up, but nevertheless gruelling, Bunkall explained.    

With military sources indicating soaring temperatures may have been to blame for their deaths, Bunkall added that the investigation into their deaths was like to focus on the climate and whether enough preparations were put in place.

Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, pointed out the difference between the selection processes for the regular Army and the special forces, where the onus is on individual achievement and self-motivation.

He told Sky News: "The Army relies a lot on the buddy-buddy system, in other words of either a commander or fellow soldier looking out for their mates to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of heat illness.

"Of course if they are doing SAS selection ... then a lot of that is done as individuals."

The Ministry of Defence and police are both investigating what happened. The soldiers' families have been informed.

The MoD has refused to confirm that the three were members of the TA aspiring to join the reservists' branch of the SAS.

And a spokesman said there are no plans to change "routine exercises" in light of the incident.

The Brecon Beacons is one of several locations British military use as part of their training. The deaths occurred near the Storey Arms activity centre.

The area's rugged and sprawling terrain helps prepare soldiers physically and mentally for warfare as well as put their logistic skills to the test, making it an ideal area for elite forces personnel like the SAS.

However the Beacons' jagged topography can prove dangerous even to the most hardened and physically fit.

Earlier this year, an army captain was found dead on a snow-covered Corn Du mountain.

It was thought that Rob Carnegie had been taking part in a gruelling 17-40 mile march in freezing conditions in the Brecon Beacons as part of a selection process for the special forces regiment, when he collapsed and died.

However, this time investigators are examining whether hot temperatures played a major factor.

A source said: "It is a case of the people succumbing to being affected by the training that they were doing."

The soldiers who died were thought to be trying out for the SAS

The Army's website said the Brecon Beacons were used because they are so demanding and prepare soldiers for the "extraordinary things" they have to do on deployment.

The website says: "Training for high-intensity, light-role war fighting is the way soldiers and officers are prepared for any operational situation they may face - conventional war, counter insurgency, security sector reform, peacekeeping or supporting civil authorities.

"This ensures that the training is as close to current operations and pre-deployment training as possible, whilst maintaining the ability to train for high intensity war fighting."

News of the deaths has been met with shock in the nearby town of Brecon, which is home to The Infantry Battle School.

Brecon mayor and Powys county councillor Matthew Dorrance said: "It's incredibly sad for the friends and family of the people who have lost their lives and our thoughts are with the person who is injured.

"In one way we've been blessed with the weather but for people working in this heat, they're tough conditions."

Members of all four of South Wales' mountain rescue teams said they had been called out to assist when the two servicemen died.

Thirty members of Central Beacons, Brecon, Western Beacons and Abergavenny-based Longtown Mountain Rescue Teams joined the operation near Pen y Fan, which is the highest mountain in south Wales.

Mark Moran, from Central Beacons MRT, paid tribute to its members who took part in the rescue operation.

"They are all volunteers, who are highly trained and dedicated" he said.

"We were working alongside military personnel who remained extremely calm and professional during this tragic incident. Our thoughts are now with the families of those involved."

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New London Airport Shortlist Revealed

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Boris Johnson has unveiled a shortlist of three locations on which a new London airport will be built.

He put forward his outer Thames Estuary, artificial island plan - dubbed "Boris Island" - for a new four-runway hub airport in a report published on Monday.

He also said that a new, four-runway airport on the Isle of Grain on the Hoo Peninsula in Kent - a plan already outlined by architect Lord Foster - should be considered.

And Mr Johnson's third proposal for a four-runway hub would be at Stansted in Essex, where the existing airport would be expanded.

Mr Johnson's plans, which rule out expansion at Heathrow airport in west London, will be submitted later this week to the Government-appointed Airport Commission headed by Sir Howard Davies.

A list of 20 options were whittled down to the final three.

Mr Johnson said that a new hub airport would be able to support more than 375,000 new jobs by 2050 and add £742bn to the value of goods and services produced in the UK.

He said a new hub airport could be delivered by 2029, with a hybrid bill being passed by parliament to secure approval for the airport, the surface access and the acquisition of Heathrow.

He suggested that the land on which Heathrow stands could be used for housing and a university.

"This is a global race and we can still win it," Mr Johnson told reporters as he unveiled the plans at City Hall.

"Ambitious cities all over the world are stealing a march on us and putting themselves in a position to eat London's breakfast, lunch and dinner by constructing major airports that plug them directly into the global supply chains that we need to be part of.

"Those cities have moved heaven and earth to locate their airports away from major centres of population in areas where they have been able to build airports with four runways or more."

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