Sir Bruce Forsyth: I'm Living On Borrowed Time

Television presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth has said he believes he is living "on borrowed time" but has no plans to retire yet.

The 85-year-old said the relentless schedule of hosting Strictly Come Dancing "can drag you down" and hinted that this year might be his last on the show.

Sir Bruce, who first appeared on Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1958, said he has a number of projects lined up for next year, but did not mention Strictly as one of them.

"I've got three one-man show dates fixed for next year and I'm doing another thing for TV in April that I can't talk about yet," he told The Sun.

"So if I was to leave Strictly Come Dancing, I wouldn't retire. That's the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. While I'm able to walk and play golf I'll still work."

The entertainer plays golf to stay fit and healthy

Sir Bruce admitted the punishing schedule for Strictly was difficult, despite him having a break during the run, saying: "The constant week-after-week can drag you down, especially when you are getting older."

And he was pragmatic about the inevitability of his own mortality.

"I know I'm on borrowed time. There's no getting away from it. When I look at all my friends that have gone - Eric Sykes, Frankie Howerd, Sammy Davis Jr - I know I'm on borrowed time.

"How I'm still here I just don't know. I don't know how, why or wherefore. But I'm not really questioning it that much. The day will come and it could be tomorrow, who knows?

"It's no good saying it's never going to come. You've got to be able to accept it. So I'm conditioning myself so it's not going to be a big surprise. It will just be, 'Ok, time to go'.

Sir Bruce and his wife Wilnelia Merced

"When the time is up I'll be ready for it. I probably won't be very happy about it. But I'll know it's time to go."

The veteran star also explained how he still has ambitions for his career.

"The other thing I'd like to do is a small part or cameo in a wonderful film like Harry Potter. I would be a terrible old man. Scrooge maybe...," he said.

"The trouble with Britain is they tend to cubbyhole you. To most people in this business, I'm a game show host. I can go to Glastonbury and prove all that wrong but people still think of me as the guy from The Price Is Right and The Generation Game.

"In America it's completely different. You can present a game show and have a part in Law And Order or a film."

Sir Bruce also took a gentle swipe at Strictly's main Saturday night TV rival, The X Factor, calling it "boring" and suggesting it may have run its course.

"(Simon Cowell) may wave a magic wand and make The X Factor a completely different show," he said.

"But I don't know how you can revamp a show which is a singer, followed by judges, followed by a singer, followed by a singer, followed by judges, followed by a singer, maybe a guest star, followed by another singer.

"And after two hours, what happens? Another singer. He has done marvels in the past, but I think the end has got to come. I just think people have stopped watching it. It's the kind of show that can get boring. For those kind of shows, the days are numbered."

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Grieve Warns Of 'Ethnic Corruption' In UK

Politicians need to "wake up" to the problem of corruption in ethnic minority communities, the Government's senior law officer has warned.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve said he was referring "mainly to the Pakistani community" in his comments.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the Tory MP pointed out that it could also be found in the "white Anglo-Saxon" community but he said it was a growing problem "because we have minority communities in this country which come from backgrounds where corruption is endemic".

"It is something as politicians we have to wake up to," he added.

The MP for Beaconsfield said: "I can see many of them have come because of the opportunities that they get. But they also come from societies where they have been brought up to believe you can only get certain things through a favour culture.

"One of the things you have to make absolutely clear is that that is not the case and it's not acceptable."

Asked if he was referring to the Pakistani community in his remarks, Mr Grieve told the newspaper: "Yes, it's mainly the Pakistani community, not the Indian community. I wouldn't draw it down to one. I'd be wary of saying it's just a Pakistani problem."

Baroness Warsi said electoral fraud also affects the Asian community

Mr Grieve highlighted electoral fraud as an area of concern, echoing comments made in 2010 by senior Tory Baroness Warsi.

Lady Warsi told the New Statesman magazine there were "at least three seats where we lost, where we didn't gain the seat, based on electoral fraud" and said the problems were "predominantly within the Asian community".

Mr Grieve also said that the UK's infrastructure could be put under strain if significant numbers of Bulgarians and Romanians come to the UK when controls expire in January.

He acknowledged that "the volume of immigrants may pose serious infrastructure issues".

Later in a statement, Mr Grieve said: "I am very clear that integration between ethnic communities in the UK has worked well and has delivered great benefits for all of us.

"This is a point I clearly made in my interview with the Telegraph, and I'm disappointed that this has not been reflected in their front page story.

"The point I was making is that, as a law officer, it's my duty to ensure the rule of law is upheld, and one of the issues that I feel requires close attention is any potential for a rise in corruption to undermine civil society.

"I believe this is an issue which needs to be addressed calmly and rationally.

"I am absolutely clear that this problem is not attributable to any one community, as I know very well from my many years promoting community cohesion."

Sky News political reporter Darren McCaffrey said Mr Grieve's comments are likely "to prove controversial".

"We have to remember he is an elected politician and he is also the Government's top lawyer, he is someone that we don't usually hear from a lot and this is why his intervention is unusual," he added.

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Man Sought After Schoolgirl 'Touched' On Bus

Police have released CCTV pictures of a man who sat next to a 12-year-old schoolgirl on a bus and allegedly put his hand on her knee.

The youngster, who is said to have been left shaken and upset by the incident, got on the bus in St Mary's Row, Moseley, Birmingham, and sat near the back.

The suspect boarded at the same time and sat next to her and allegedly asked for her mobile phone number before touching her. He then left the bus near Springfield school.

The girl, who was dressed in her school uniform, immediately told her mother when she arrived home. The incident happened on the afternoon of October 9 but the images have just been released.

The man left the bus at Grove Road School, Sparkhill (pic: Google)

Detective Constable Natalie Adkins, from the West Midland's Police public protection unit, said: "The girl was shaken by the incident and did the right thing by telling her mum, who then contacted the police."

She added: "We've scoured hours of CCTV footage in the area to track the man's movements as well as conducting a number of police checks.

"I would ask anyone who can name the man in the CCTV to call me. I would also urge the man himself to contact me - this is his chance to explain what happened and why."

The man is described as Asian, in his 20s, about 5ft 7ins, with short black hair and short trimmed facial hair. He was wearing a black jacket and cream-coloured jeans.

Anyone with information is urged to call DC Adkins at Castle Vale police station on 101. Crimestoppers can be reached anonymously on 0800 555 11.

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Toddler Murder: Teenager Charged Over Death

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a two-year-old girl.

Dean Harris, from Yaxley in Cambridgeshire, spoke only to confirm his age and date of birth during the short hearing at Peterborough Magistrates' Court.

The toddler, who has been named as Amina Agboola, was taken to Peterborough City Hospital by Harris and the child's mother at 11am on Thursday.

She had serious injuries and died just before 1pm.

The girl's 28-year-old mother, who is believed to be Harris's partner, was arrested but has been released on police bail.

Harris, who stood in the dock wearing a dark navy t-shirt and trousers, will appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday.

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Tessa Jowell Hints At London Mayor Contest

Dame Tessa Jowell, who is widely credited with bringing the 2012 Olympics to London, has fuelled speculation that she is preparing to join the race to become London Mayor.

The former Culture Secretary revealed on Thursday she is stepping down as an MP at the next election.

In a letter to her Dulwich and West Norwood constituency party, Dame Tessa, 66, said quitting the south London seat was "the hardest decision I have ever taken".

It had been an "extraordinary privilege" to serve in government throughout the whole of Labour's three terms in office from 1997, she said.

"I know that you share with me a belief in the extraordinary responsibility of representation, the power of politics, the decency of politics and its capacity to make known, and put to use, the best of human nature," she told local activists.

"We also accept that the job is never done, but I feel that the time is now right, for the constituency definitely and for me probably, to give somebody else the chance to take the next steps forward."

Dame Tessa is credited with bringing the Olympics to London in 2012

But she left the door wide open to seeking a still more prominent role in the capital when Boris Johnson's current term in City Hall ends in 2016.

"It is really too early for anyone to be declaring themselves ahead of the local elections next year and the general election in 2015," she said.

"I love London and, of course, when the time comes will think hard about whether I should offer myself as a candidate."

The Labour stalwart's announcement of her decision to step down drew tributes from Tony Blair and Lord Coe who said she had been an "inseparable part" of the success of the Games.

Mr Blair, whose initial reluctance to bid for the 2012 games was overcome by Dame Tessa, said that as well as being an able and determined politician, she was "kind, decent and loyal in a way I have seldom seen in politics".

British Olympic Association chairman Sebastian Coe said she was the "political driving force" behind the 2012 bid and "an inseparable part of their ultimate success".

And Labour leader Ed Miliband, who kept her on as shadow Olympics minister after becoming leader in 2010, said that while the Olympics would be her "greatest legacy", she was a "unique politician" of warmth, spirit, loyalty and generosity.

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Arrests After Toddler Dies In Peterborough

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a toddler after she was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Cambridgeshire Police are investigating the death of the girl, aged around two, at Peterborough City Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

A 28-year-old woman, believed to be the girl's mother, and her 19-year-old boyfriend have been arrested and are being held in custody in the city.

"The child had been taken to hospital at 11am with serious injuries but died shortly before 1pm," a police spokesman said.

A post-mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of death.

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Beckham Clothes On Sale At London Charity Shop

Victoria and David Beckham are selling their unwanted and almost new clothes at a Red Cross charity shop in London in aid of victims of the Typhoon Haiyan.

The shop, at 69-71 Old Church Street in Chelsea, specialises in designer labels donated to the British Red Cross and is extending its opening hours from 11am until 8pm.

The Beckham collection includes shoes by Jimmy Choo and suits by Dolce and Gabbana (D&G) alongside tops, suits, trainers and dresses from the Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer and her footballer husband.

The celebrity couple has urged others to help support victims of the typhoon.

"David and I are supporting the Red Cross Shop Drop for the Philippines campaign and we urge everyone in Britain to do the same," Victoria said.

"Everyone has something in their closet they were holding onto, a dress, suit, or pair of shoes they thought they might wear again. Dig them out, bag them up, drop them off and give someone else the chance to buy them, raising much needed funds for the Red Cross aid effort. "

Victoria's shoes piled up. Pic: Twitter

David and Victoria's D&G suits are on sale for £600 and £800 respectively, and more if they turn out to be especially rare items.

The clothes are being displayed alongside the shop's other stock, with labels marking them as gifts from the Beckhams.

Mark Astarita, director of fundraising for the British Red Cross, said: "We are delighted to have Victoria and David's support for the British Red Cross Shop Drop for Philippines.

"Their generous donation will enable us to raise significant funds towards the enormous humanitarian operation currently under way."

Victoria Beckham earlier tweeted pictures of preparations for the clear out, including dozens and dozens of pairs of shoes.

There is one drawback for those in search of a bargain - the "almost new clothes" owned by Mrs Beckham might be too small for most people to wear, a shop assistant warned.

Philippine officials say the death toll from the typhoon has now passed 5,000.

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Arctic Oil Protest Brits Freed In Russia

Three of the Britons arrested by Russian authorities during a Greenpeace protest against Arctic oil drilling have been released from detention in St Petersburg.

Activists Alexandra Harris and Anthony Perrett and journalist Kieron Bryan are the first of six Britons to be freed on bail. Three Russian nationals were freed on Monday.

Thirty people, including the six Britons aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, were detained after the protest in September.

Fellow Britons Frank Hewetson and Iain Rogers have also been granted bail, but have yet to be freed. The sixth, Philip Ball, was due to have his bail application heard on Friday.

Speaking after his release, Mr Bryan told Sky News it felt "very, very good" to be free.

"It's good to be outside and see the sky for the first time for a while," he said.

Anthony Perrett following his release

"To everyone who's supported me and the rest of the group: Keep fighting, we're not free yet, this is first step. It's a glimmer of justice, but it's not finished."

He said being imprisoned had been "tough" and that he was looking forward to "a long shower" and "never doing another Sudoku again" and "an improved diet".

All 30 of the accused were initially charged with piracy but are now accused of hooliganism, which carries a shorter maximum jail term of seven years.

Greenpeace on Thursday unveiled giant portraits of those arrested - the "Arctic 30" - outside the London offices of oil giant Shell.

The protest group said it was drawing attention to Shell and its Russian partner Gazprom's planned joint venture to drill for oil in the Arctic.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: "Shell and Gazprom are not equipped to drill in the Arctic without causing catastrophic damage to the unique ecosystem.

"But what makes their Arctic plans so blindly stupid is that they're only able to drill there because of the huge loss of Arctic sea ice from climate change."

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Cows Crash Through Cornish Weaver's Roof

A weaver had the shock of her life when two cows crashed through the roof of her home in Cornwall.

Sue Marshall was using her vacuum cleaner when she heard a crash and, on investigation, found an equally surprised cow standing in her workshop, having just missed the loom she had been using only a short while earlier.

After some careful manoeuvring, Mrs Marshall managed to get the animal out of her home but then a second cow plunged through the roof.

The animals had escaped from their field, situated above Mrs Marshall's converted barn, and walked down onto her house.

Mrs Marshall herds the second cow out of her garden. Pic: Cornish Mutual

Mrs Marshall, from Lamorna, near Penzance, said: "I was hoovering at the time and heard an almighty crash.

"I assumed that a tree had come down. I was astonished to find that a cow had fallen through the roof of the workshop, narrowly missing my loom and leaving a huge hole in the roof.

"No sooner had I let the startled animal out than another one fell through another part of the roof! Both cows narrowly missed the loom, which was incredibly fortunate, and neither was injured. I was in absolute shock.

The workshop backs onto the field where the cows live. Pic: Cornish Mutual

"The two cows were clearly distressed, the first careered out of the yard into an adjacent field, the second decided to hang around and made a bit of mess of the garden. I looked up at the fence and saw the rest of the herd looking on, a helpful neighbour came to our aid and made sure no more came through the fence.

"We had to make the workshop waterproof, but I wasn't able to continue working. It's been quite a stressful experience; the cows clearly thought that there was some good grazing on the other side of the fence.

"The boundary has been repaired now so hopefully we won't be getting any more uninvited guests."

Cornish Mutual, the insurer that is dealing with the claim said: "This very unusual case really does highlight the importance of keeping boundary fences in good condition."

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Bus Crash Injured Freed By Emergency Crews

Firefighters have released a teenage girl and a bus driver after they were left trapped following a crash involving two buses.

The pair were taken to hospital with "serious injuries", according to Essex Police.

Crews used specialist cutting equipment to release the pair after the collision near Epping.

Around 20 walking wounded were checked over at a nearby hospital, according to Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

Police said they were called to Epping Road at 4.27pm following reports of a crash between a school bus and local bus near the junction with Coopersale Common Road.

The road was closed at The Plain, Epping and at Woodside, and traffic was being diverted through Thornwood.

Police asked witnesses to call the Serious Collision Unit on 101.

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Britain's Cancer Survival Rates 'Unacceptable'

Around 10,000 lives a year could be saved if the UK matched cancer survival rates in the rest of Europe, a study has found.

Britain's cancer survival rates are lagging behind the rest of Europe and other major economies, with just Poland and Ireland faring worse in some strains of the disease.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report compares key health records from its 34 member countries as well as the so-called BRIC countries and other nations where possible.

It found that women with breast cancer were more likely to reach the five-year survival point in almost all countries other than Britain, with only the Czech Republic, Poland and Ireland trailing behind.

According to the research only the Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark had worse rates for surviving bowel cancer than Britain while cervical cancer rates were worse in only Ireland and Poland.

Cancer specialist Karol Sikora told The Daily Telegraph: "This is a really sad indictment of the priority we give to cancer - our place in the league tables is tragic.

"If we just met the average of the rest of the European league tables we could save 10,000 lives a year.

"In Britain there are lots of delays in the system; we need to speed up the whole process."

Macmillan Cancer Support chief executive Ciaran Devane told the newspaper: "It is simply unacceptable that cancer survival rates in the UK continue to lag behind those in the rest of Europe, and these latest figures are very disappointing.

"Clearly, more needs to be done to encourage better screening attendance and early diagnosis."

The UK also had higher rates of infant death than most other countries, the Health At A Glance 2013 study found.

It recorded 4.3 deaths out of every 1,000 births compared with the OECD average of 4.1.

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Daniel Radcliffe Warns Social Media Celebrities

By Richard Suchet, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent

Celebrities who tell fans what they are doing "moment to moment" on social media sites cannot expect to have a private life, according to Daniel Radcliffe.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the Harry Potter star said he tries to avoid the limelight.

"There's certain things you can do to make it a lot easier on yourself," the 24-year-old said. 

"If you don't, for instance, go to premieres that aren't for a film you're in, or don't just turn up at other events and stuff like that, then that's going to help to not fuel the interest.

"Also, I don't have Twitter and I don't have Facebook, and I think that makes things a lot easier because if you go on Twitter and tell everybody what you're doing moment to moment and then claim you want a private life, then no one is going to take that request seriously."

Radcliffe says he has a 'chip on his shoulder'

Speaking ahead of the launch of the second series of A Young Doctor's Notebook on Sky Arts 1 (Thursday, 9pm), he said that when he was younger he resented the attention that his success as a young actor had brought, but that he has no regrets.

"When I was 18 or 19 there was definitely a level of frustration around ... I did have to think where I went more than a lot of my friends and you do get a little frustrated around that age, but ultimately it's childish, petulant - oh I want that too.

"People always say to me 'Do you feel like you missed out on a childhood? Do you feel like you had your childhood taken away?' And I'm like 'No, ridiculous... kids who are abused have their childhoods taken away from them'."

However, he admitted he now has a "chip on his shoulder" that people might think he was fortunate to win the Harry Potter role and now feels he needs to prove himself again.

Radcliffe stars with Mad Men actor John Hamm in A Young Doctor's Notebook

"It's as much to myself, as to anyone else. People always say 'oh he's got a chip on his shoulder' like it's a bad thing. I think it's a perfectly good thing if you let it motivate you.

"When you fall into a position when you're 11 years old, you do tend to think that, you know, everyone, you were lucky to get there. And I was lucky to get there. And I think there's a sense that you just fell into it and that you rode the wave and carried on.

"And that's not what I'm about. I don't know how many people think like that - there may be none, there may be millions, but it doesn't matter. It fires you up."

Radcliffe, who stars in the show with Mad Men actor Jon Hamm, also reveals that despite being worth an estimated £50m, his biggest indulgence is books.

"The only time I will spend a wad of cash in one go - and this is going to sound so nerdy - is in bookshops. I've gone out of bookshops with a pile of 15 to 20 books before. It's excessive.

"I have this thing in bookshops where if I see this thing that there's a good chance I may never ever see again or sounds interesting then I have to get it.

"So that's a way of bleeding your money. The only slightly lavish thing that I do sometimes is that I might take all my friends out for a night out. And that's, like, once a year. I'm refreshingly boring."

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Boy, 16, Charged With Attempted Murder

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a father was stabbed while confronting intruders at his home.

The charges relate to an alleged burglary at an address in Wellfield Avenue, Luton, in the early hours of Saturday.

Tony Abrahams, 47, was found with serious injuries by his wife and daughter.

Three men are believed to have forced their way into the victim's home at about 3am.

The boy, who was arrested in London and cannot be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with aggravated burglary and will appear at Luton Magistrates' Court.

Detective Constable Mo Hussain, of Bedfordshire Police, said: "Although a person has been charged in relation to this incident, I would remind members of the public that this is still an ongoing investigation and we are still keen to speak with anyone who can help this inquiry."

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Hull Named As UK City Of Culture 2017

Hull has been named as the UK City of Culture 2017, beating Leicester, Swansea Bay and Dundee to the title.

The city will hope to see an economic boost from the accolade, which is handed out every four years.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Miller said: "This is brilliant news for Hull and everyone involved in the bid there.

Famous abolitionist William Wilberforce is among Hull's famous sons

"This year's UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry, demonstrates the huge benefits that the title brings. These include encouraging economic growth, inspiring social change and bringing communities together.

"It can produce a wonderful mix of inward investment and civic pride, and I hope Hull's plans will make the most of all that being UK City of Culture can bring."

Ms Miller praised the three losing cities for the "time, effort and determination" they put into their bids.

"I hope they will still take forward many of the fantastic ideas and events they had planned so that their communities can enjoy these innovative cultural plans," she said.

Referencing Hull band The Housemartins' first big hit, Happy Hour, former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who is from Hull, responded to the news on his Twitter page, writing: "It's Happy Hour again! #HullYes Well done."

TV producer Phil Redmond, who chaired the advisory panel that helped choose the winner, said all four shortlisted cities showed a "real understanding" of what the award was about.

But he said: "Ultimately it was the unanimous verdict of the panel that Hull put forward the most compelling case based on its theme as 'a city coming out of the shadows'.

Hull Marina is a popular attraction in the city

"This is at the heart of their project and reminds both its people and the wider world of both its cultural past and future potential.

"We were particularly impressed with Hull's evidence of community and creative engagement, their links to the private sector and their focus on legacy, including a commitment to enhance funding beyond 2017, and I'd like to congratulate all involved."

Previous holders of the title have sought to improve the image of their city, holding various artistic and cultural events in an effort to increase visitor numbers and offer a boost to the local economy.

Hull's Princes Quay shopping centre

Hull's city council admits one of the aims of the bid is to "change the perceptions" of the city.

It is often derided - up until this year regularly featuring in the comic book Crap Towns - and last month an Economist article cited Hull as one of "Britain's Decaying Towns".

But the current city of culture, Londonderry, has seen visitor numbers double over the course of this year and had around £120m of capital investment pumped into the city since winning the title in 2009.

The Guildhall in the centre of Hull and the city's Prince Street

Its mayor, Councillor Martin Reilly, said: "I am confident that an amazing year awaits Hull as the winning city for 2017.

"I wish them every success and look forward to forming a working relationship with Hull to share our experiences and learning."

Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he was surprised and disappointed at the result.

"I can only guess that Hull desperately needed a shot in the arm while the judges decided we in Leicester are making our way successfully and didn't need it as much," he said.

Meanwhile, Welsh Secretary David Jones MP said: "As much as today's announcement will come as disappointing news to those who have supported Swansea Bay's bid, they should be rightly proud of all that they have achieved."

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Birmingham Needle Attacks: More Reports Probed

Police investigating a string of needle attacks on women in Birmingham city centre have said a further six people may have been attacked.

Detectives said the reported cases, all of which happened within the last six months, could be linked to the same man seen in a CCTV image released last week.

They also appealed for a possible witness to the attacks to come forward, saying he could hold vital information.

He is seen alongside the suspect in the CCTV image, which was taken shortly after a woman felt a sharp pain - later confirmed as a puncture wound - in her thigh at around 3am on November 3.

The motive for the needle attacks remains unknown

Detective Inspector Julie Woods, of West Midlands Police, said officers had received "several calls with information" after the picture of the suspect was released.

"We have also received reports of six further attacks going back over the last six months which could possibly be linked to the same suspect," she said.

"However, we are still keen to hear from anyone who has any information about these incidents and who recognises either of the men in the CCTV images.

"These are strange offences and the motive at this stage is unclear, but we do not underestimate the anxiety and stress that the attacks can cause."

West Midlands Police had already linked the November 3 attack to others involving a 20-year-old and a 28-year-old on June 23 and October 6 respectively.

Superintendent Danny Long said patrols had been stepped up in the city centre to reassure visitors.

"This is an unusual offence which will understandably cause some concern and we are working extremely hard to find the person responsible," he said.

"We have increased the number of officers on patrol in Broad Street and around the city centre, particularly since the attack earlier this month, and are working closely with street wardens, street pastors, licensees, door staff and clubbers themselves to keep people safe."

:: Anyone who recognises either of the men in the images should contact detectives from West Midlands Police on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Four Killed In Derbyshire Village House Fire

Two adults and two children have died in a house fire in Derbyshire, police have said.

A third child is in hospital with minor injuries.

The fire broke out on Williamthorpe Road, North Wingfield, a village about four miles south of Chesterfield.

Fire crews from Clay Cross, Chesterfield and Staveley were called to the scene at 5am and an investigation is now under way into the cause of the fire.

Police said Williamthorpe Road will be closed for several hours and local diversions are in operation.

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Co-op Chair Quits Amid Flowers Drug Scandal

Len Wardle, chair of the Co-operative Group, has resigned after "serious questions" were raised by the scandal over its former banking chairman Paul Flowers.

Mr Wardle had announced last month that he planned to step down amid the wider financial crisis at the bank but quit on Tuesday with immediate effect.

Reverend Flowers, who has already apologised for doing things that were "stupid and wrong" - but without elaborating - has been suspended from the Methodist Church and by the Labour Party after being filmed in a newspaper sting allegedly trying to buy illegal drugs.

The substances said to be at the centre of the claims include cocaine and ketamine - a horse tranquilliser - used as a party drug. 

Len Wardle joined the Co-op's board in 2002 (image credit Co-op)

The allegations against Reverend Flowers, which are the subject of a police inquiry, exacerbated pressure on Britain's biggest mutual which is having to explain the background to the bank's financial difficulties - largely a result of its merger with Britannia in 2009.

Mr Wardle said in a statement: "The recent revelations about the behaviour of Paul Flowers, the former Chair of The Co-operative Bank, have raised a number of serious questions for both the Bank and the Group.

"I led the Board that appointed Paul Flowers to lead the Bank Board and under those circumstances I feel that it is right that I step down now, ahead of my planned retirement in May next year.

"I have already made it clear that I believe the time is right for real change in our operations and our governance and the Board recently started a detailed review of our democracy.

"I hope that the Group now takes the chance to put in place a new democratic structure so we can modernise in the interests of all our members."

The Co-op confirmed Mr Wardle would be replaced by Ursula Lidbetter, currently Group deputy chair and chief executive of the Lincolnshire Co-operative Society.

His decision was announced hours after The Co-op Group launched a fact-finding probe and a root-and-branch review of its structure after "serious and wide-ranging" allegations about Reverend Flowers, who resigned in June after three years as chair of the banking arm after a £1.5bn black hole was discovered in its finances.

The Group statement on Monday said: "Given the serious and wide-ranging nature of recent allegations, the new executive management team has started a fact-finding process to look into any inappropriate behaviour at the Co-operative Group or the Co-operative Bank and to take action as necessary.

Paul Flowers is being investigated following the Mail On Sunday's claims

"In addition, the board of the Co-operative Group has launched a root and branch review of the democratic structure of the organisation.

"We need to modernise to ensure that the interests of all our seven million members are properly and directly represented in the oversight of our business activities."

While announcing Mr Wardle's decision to quit, the Co-op said on Tuesday that Ms Lidbetter would chair the Group through the governance review, which will include consideration of how the Board is constituted and chaired.

The Co-op Bank discovered a massive gap in its finances following the purchase of Britannia Building Society in 2009 and abortive attempts to take on hundreds of Lloyds branches.

It faces a rescue which will see 50 branches close and investors including US hedge funds take control of 70% of the business, leaving the wider Co-operative Group with just 30% - described as a "tragedy" by former group chief executive Peter Marks.

The scandal surrounding Reverend Flowers has intensified the focus on the bank's troubles.

Critics have questioned how he could have been appointed given his apparent lack of experience in banking and Andrew Tyrie MP, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, has said that it was clear he was "manifestly unsuitable".

Regulators have said he went through the appropriate process when he joined the Co-op's board as a non-executive director but did not face further scrutiny when he became its chairman.

In a separate development, Labour has come under pressure to return a £50,000 donation backed by Reverend Flowers.

The donation, made by the Co-operative Group, emerged as the party suspended his membership over the drug allegatons.

Labour's leadership has since attempted to distance itself from Mr Flowers, a former councillor, after it emerged he attended a private meeting with Ed Miliband in March.

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Last Guantanamo Briton Speaks From Cell

A British prisoner who has been held at Guantanamo Bay for 11 years without charge has spoken from his prison cell for the first time.

Shaker Aamer, who is accused of being a close associate of Osama bin Laden - a charge he denies - said he was being treated like an animal and begged to be left to die.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister David Cameron raised Aamer's case with President Barack Obama at a G8 summit and the British Government has repeatedly stated that it wants him returned to the UK.

Shouting from his cell, Aamer told CBS's 60 Minutes show: "Tell the world the truth ... Please, we are tired. Either you leave us to die in peace - or either tell the world the truth. Open up the place. Let the world come and visit. Let the world hear what's happening.

"Please colonel, act with us like a human being, not like slaves."

He added: "You cannot walk even half a metre without being chained. Is that a human being? That's the treatment of an animal...

"It is very sad what is happening in this place."

Aamer has been cleared for transfer by both the Bush and Obama administrations, according to Reprieve, the legal charity and human rights group that is representing him.

Shaker Aamer says he is being "treated like an animal"

Despite having British residency and a British wife and four children living in Battersea, south London, US authorities have repeatedly threatened to send him back to Saudi Arabia, his birthplace, against his wishes.

Clive Stafford Smith, his lawyer and Reprieve's director, said: "CBS' show gives a very rare and very shocking glimpse inside Guantanamo Bay. Everyone in the prison - the guards and the men - is suffering horribly, day after day.

"Obama must fulfil his promise to close the prison and Shaker Aamer must come home to his family in the UK, which is what David Cameron has said he wants."

According to Reprieve, Aamer was detained in Kabul in Afghanistan in 2001 after he went to the country to carry out voluntary work for an Islamic charity.

It is alleged that he was tortured at the Bagram air base while being questioned by US forces.

In February 2010 it emerged that the Metropolitan Police was investigating allegations of MI5 complicity in his torture.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "Mr Aamer's case remains a high priority for the UK Government and we continue to make clear to the US that we want him released and returned to the UK as a matter of urgency."

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Supermarkets Taken To Task Over Offers

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business And Economics Correspondent

Some of Britain's biggest supermarkets have been accused of running so-called special offers that often see customers "paying over the odds".

Consumer group Which? analysed more than 70,000 grocery prices and found examples of what they call misleading multibuys and dodgy discounts.

Richard Lloyd, executive director, told Sky News: "People are at best paying what they would have done, or often we have found paying over the odds, paying extra when they think they are getting a discount. That can't be fair.

"These special offers simply aren't special at all. That is why we need to see the rules change to force the supermarkets to play fair."

One example found by Which? was a Sainsbury's special offer for Carex Aloe Vera & Eucalyptus Moisturising Antibacterial Handwash, where the item was priced at £1.80 for seven days, then was on offer at "was £1.80, now 90p" for 84 days.

Ocado sold a 12-pack of Beck's beer as "was £12.19, now £9" for almost a month but had only sold the item at the higher price for three days.

Asda increased the regular price of Muller Light Greek Style Yoghurt from £1.50 to £2.18 before it went on a "two for £4" offer, costing shoppers £1 more.

Shoppers are being urged to look carefully at special offers

It also increased the price of Uncle Ben's Express Basmati Rice from £1 to £1.58 before offering for "two for £3" and then returning the rice to £1 when the offer ended.

With inflation having outpaced average wage growth for about five years, rising food prices are one of the top worries for consumers.

Which? wants the Government to make the rules for special offers simpler, clearer and stricter.

The consumer group says if these changes are not made swiftly, it will consider using its formal legal powers to ensure the practice is tackled.

In the meantime shoppers should look carefully at the special offers, Mr Lloyd added.

"Make sure that you are not getting misled into buying something that you think is a good deal when that is just not the case," he said.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents the supermarket industry, said in a statement: "Across the tens of thousands of promotions available every day, regrettably, occasional errors do slip through.

"Retailers work very quickly to rectify these mistakes whenever they are found."

Both Asda and Sainsbury's also issued statements apologising for what they called pricing errors.

Sainsbury's said: "We are absolutely committed to fair and transparent promotions and carry out regular audits and thorough training on this."

Asda's statement said: "We take pricing seriously, and we've recently employed a new team within the business that looks at all aspects of our pricing process and pricing practices in store and online.

"Sometimes mistakes can happen, but we would never deliberately mislead our customers ... "

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Body In Well Had Been There For Two Years

Police believe the body of a man found in a well in Surrey had been there for about two years before it was discovered last week.

Detectives also say the man had been assaulted and tied up and the incident is being treated as murder.

The body was discovered by workmen at an address in Audley Drive, Warlingham, on Friday.

Seven men aged between 21 and 27 arrested on suspicion of murder have been bailed to a date in late December, pending further investigation.

A post-mortem on Sunday did not discover a cause of death, and further tests are being carried out.

But it did reveal that the body, confirmed as that of a white man, had injuries consistent with an assault before it was bound up and placed in the well, Scotland Yard said.

Specialist police officers recovered the body

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons said officers were reviewing missing person reports to try to establish the man's identity.

"Given the complex nature of this investigation, it is likely that forensic work at the property will continue for a further month as we attempt to secure all available evidence," he said.

"While our work continues to establish the facts of how this male came to sustain his injuries and his body end up in the well, our focus is also on finding out his identity.

"This is someone's son and my team owe it to him and his family to find out the truth and bring those who committed this atrocious act to justice."

The investigation has so far seen the well where the body was found partly demolished and water taken away for forensic examination.

Anyone with information was urged to call police on 020 8721 4961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Google Agrees To Block Child Abuse Images

Internet searches for child abuse images will be blocked for the first time by Microsoft and Google after months of mounting pressure.

The groundbreaking move will soon prevent illegal images and videos from appearing in more than 100,000 search terms associated with abuse.

Google says it has also developed technology that will allow illegal videos to be "tagged" so all duplicate copies can be removed across the internet.

The changes will apply across the world in more than 150 languages.

Microsoft, which operates and powers Bing and Yahoo, will reportedly confirm at a Downing Street summit on online pornography today that it is introducing similar reforms.

Google chairman Eric Schmidt, writing in the Daily Mail ahead of the No 10 talks, said: "We've listened.

"We've fine-tuned Google Search to prevent links to child sexual abuse material from appearing in our results."

Illegal images showing child sex abuse will not appear in search results

The Prime Minister welcomed the move as a "really significant step forward", but threatened to bring forward new legislation if search engine companies failed to deliver on their promises.

Some child protection experts have raised doubts over the changes, saying paedophiles rarely use search engines but instead use services such as peer-to-peer sharing.

Jim Gamble, former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), told Sky News it was "not a solution".

He said: "My fear is that it simply masks the symptoms... It is a positive step forward and the prime minister's involvement is a good thing but at the end of the day the fact remains that paedophiles don't search out their images on the internet.

"Nor does the internet make people become paedophiles - we need to get to the root cause of this."

Calls for internet companies to take action against searching for illegal content grew following the trials of child killers Mark Bridger and Stuart Hazel earlier this year.

The UK's National Crime Agency is to join forces with America's FBI

Bridger, who murdered five-year-old April Jones, and Hazel, who killed 12-year-old Tia Sharp, both used the internet to search for child abuse images before the killings.

Senior figures from Google, Microsoft and BT were summoned to Parliament for a meeting with Culture Secretary Maria Miller in June where they were told they had to do more to combat the issue.

The crackdown comes as Mr Cameron is set to reveal at the summit that Britain's National Crime Agency is to join America's FBI to tackle online child abuse.

The transatlantic taskforce is being established by the US assistant attorney general and the British to target criminals who use the internet to hide from the law.

It will be specifically tasked with tracking down offenders who use the "dark web" - secret and encrypted networks that are increasingly being exploited by paedophiles and other criminals.

The NCA estimates the number of UK daily users of secret or encrypted networks will have risen to 20,000 by the end of the year.

Joanna Shields, the chief executive of Tech City UK, said it would be looking to spot the "threats of future" to protect the most vulnerable in society.

"It's vital that governments and industry work together to eradicate child abuse content from the internet, and that we mobilise the best and brightest in the technology industry to come up with innovative solutions to tackling this problem," she said.

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Rapper Watsky Sorry For 'Stupid' Gig Rig Jump

A rapper who jumped from a lighting rig and injured two people has apologised for his "stupid and wildly irresponsible" stunt.

George Watsky climbed a rope ladder before leaping into the crowd at Alexandra Palace in north London during a performance at the Vans Warped Tour.

The 30ft fall broke a girl's arm and left another fan in hospital, although Watsky himself escaped with only "nicks, bruises and the shame of endangering the crowd".

In a lengthy apology posted to his Facebook page, the musician said: "The jump was not awesome, it was not badass and it was not ballsy.

The American rapper climbed a rope ladder to reach the lighting rig

"It turned what should have been a great day for the people who got hurt into a nightmare.

"It was stupid and wildly irresponsible, plain and simple."

Video of Watsky's jump has already been viewed more than 180,000 times on YouTube.

The stunt was described as "pretty idiotic", "dumb" and "definitely stupid" by some users, although many of his 200,000 fans on Facebook expressed their support for the star following his apology.

Watsky prepares to jump into the crowd during a gig at Alexandra Palace

Conceding that it was "extremely lucky" no one was more seriously injured, Watsky wrote: "Putting your own body on the line is one thing, but putting other people in harm's way is inexcusable."

He said he would not be cancelling any of his forthcoming tour dates but insisted he "will not be jumping off anything".

"I am deeply sorry and I promise to learn from this mistake," he added.

Watsky said he spent six hours waiting at the hospital while the injured man was seen by doctors and planned to return to the ward to apologise to him.

The musician falls into the crowd, injuring two fans

The artist, who is originally from San Francisco but now lives in Los Angeles, describes himself as a "versatile lyricist who switches between silly and serious, technically complex and simply heartfelt".

His self-titled hip hop track Watsky reached number seven on a specialist iTunes chart in 2010.

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Burton's Biscuits Bought By Canadian Fund

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan has agreed to buy the British maker of Wagon Wheels and Jammie Dodgers.

Burton's Biscuits is the UK's second-largest biscuits manufacturer, employing 2,000 people around the UK with annual sales of £340m.

The deal was first reported by Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman on Saturday.

The pension fund has not revealed the value of the deal to buy the biscuit maker.

Burton's is also the name behind Cadbury Fingers and Maryland Cookies.

Based in Hertfordshire, Burton's traces its roots back to the mid-1800s when it was founded by George Burton.

It employs more than 2,200 people around the UK in manufacturing facilities in Llantarnam, Edinburgh and Blackpool, a chocolate refinery in Moreton and a central distribution hub in Liverpool.

Ontario Teachers has become a voracious acquirer of British companies in recent years, taking over National Lottery operator Camelot and nursery chain Busy Bees.

Burton's is one of a sizeable number of mid-sized British companies which has been through several phases of private equity ownership.

In 2009, Apollo and the Canadian bank CIBC seized control of the company after Duke Street Capital, its previous owner, was forced to surrender control to the biscuit-maker's lenders.

Another private equity group, HM Capital, had bought the company in 2000 from Associated British Foods, owner of the Primark retail chain.

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Bodies In Ditches: Woman Admits Three Murders

A woman has pleaded guilty to murdering three men whose bodies were found in remote ditches in Cambridgeshire with stab wounds.

Joanna Dennehy admitted killing Kevin Lee, Lukasz Slaboszewski and John Chapman between March and April this year.

The 30-year-old also pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the attempted murders of Robin Bereza and John Rogers.

More follows...

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Father Stabbed After Confronting Burglars

A 47-year-old man woken by burglars forcing their way into his Luton home was stabbed several times when he went to investigate.

Three men are thought to have got into the man's home in Wellfield Avenue in the early hours of Saturday morning as his family slept.

Bedfordshire Police said the man suffered multiple stab wounds when he confronted the burglars. The suspects then fled on foot.

The victim, said to be in a serious but stable condition, was taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital after the alarm was raised by his wife and daughter.

Detective Constable Mo Hussain said: "This was an appalling attack on a family man within his own home and I would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak with us.

"While the victim has suffered some very nasty injuries, he is in a stable condition and has responded very well to treatment."

Police said the burglars were believed to be three black males aged around 20.

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Antibiotics Warning: Resistance 'Growing'

By Enda Brady, Sky News Reporter

The world faces "unimaginable setbacks" unless it tackles the growing threat of resistance to antibiotics, according to an international group of experts.

The latest research by the 26-strong group predicts major problems unless governments work together immediately.

Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the drugs which are used to fight infection.

"The causes of antibiotic resistance are complex and include human behaviour at many levels of society," said lead author Professor Otto Cars, of Uppsala University in Sweden.

"The consequences affect everybody in the world. Within just a few years, we might be faced with unimaginable setbacks - medically, socially, and economically - unless real and unprecedented global co-ordinated actions to transform the way antibiotics are regulated and developed are taken immediately."

In September, the UK Government announced plans for a five-year strategy to tackle the problem, setting aside £4.5m.

In the UK, research is focusing on how plant chemicals keep insects at bay

Recent decades have seen vast increases in the use of antibiotics across medicine and agriculture, but the scientists argue that without adequate regulatory controls and better patient awareness, the huge global surge in antibiotic resistance will continue.

They say the problem is compounded by a desperate shortage of new drugs to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

Prof Cars added: "Antibiotic resistance is a complex ecological problem which doesn't just affect people, but is also intimately connected with agriculture and the environment.

"We need to move on from 'blaming and shaming' among the many stakeholders who have all contributed to the problem, towards concrete political action and commitment to address this threat. Consumers and providers of antibiotics alike need to be empowered to tackle antibiotic resistance, as well as ensuring that those in need benefit from affordable, effective antibiotics."

One of the British scientists who helped compile the report said that alarm bells have been ringing - and ignored - for many years.

Prof Laura Piddick says more funding is needed to develop new treatments

"For a long time there has been a sense of crying wolf over this," said Professor Laura Piddock, from the University of Birmingham.

"Science has been telling us about this problem for years. We need more academic research and funding. New treatments have been hampered by a lack of funding. It has always been viewed that this is something that the pharmaceutical industry should do."

At the John Innes Centre in Norwich scientists are going back to nature for the answers, studying how plants like eucalyptus trees producing chemicals to keep insects at bay.

"Plants have a distinct disadvantage in that they can't move out of the way of predators," Tony Maxwell, the centre's head of biological chemistry, told Sky News.

"And they have no end of predators, large and small animals, insects and bacteria. They have to produce a whole array of chemicals to defend themselves. What we are trying to work out is how we can use those chemicals for our own usage in antibiotics."

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Prince Charles' Bid To Curb Gang Violence

The Prince of Wales is launching a campaign aimed at increasing the number of young people doing voluntary work in a bid to tackle gang violence.

Charles believes that street murders can happen due to the lack of organised activities for youngsters.

In an article in the Mail On Sunday, he says he often reflects on the courage shown by Barry and Margaret Mizen, whose teenage son Jimmy was murdered in 2008.

"The Mizens are convinced - as I have been for the past 40 years - that part of the solution is in providing more structured activities for young people.

"In my opinion, tragedies such as the murder of Barry and Margaret's son are the extreme result of too many young people no longer guided through a rite of passage; young people who would benefit from the guidance and help of organisations such as the Guides, Scouts, cadets and other youth organisations.

"However, these are all groups which are hampered in their growth by a lack of adult volunteers."

Speaking with the Mizens and members of Families United - a group for parents whose children have been killed by gang violence - made him even more determined to start a long-term leadership campaign.

"This kind of initiative can help to provide a constructive team-based substitute for destructive gang violence, so that no more families like the Mizens should have to suffer such untold misery in the future."

The Prince was determined to act after speaking to Jimmy Mizen's parents

Charles said that this week at Buckingham Palace he would join other influential figures including the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, plus 50 young people, to launch a pledge campaign called #iwill, through a collaborative youth initiative called Step Up 2 Serve.

Those taking part will pledge to support young people take every opportunity to help others.

"At present, just 29% volunteer regularly, although more may do so informally," the Prince wrote.

"The campaign proposes that we should support and inspire 50% of all those aged between 10 and 20 to take part in practical action in the service of others by 2020.

"Young people have an immense contribution to make to society, but we are failing to do enough to unlock their talent to help tackle all sorts of challenges.

"Young people are the solution to so much and yet, too frequently, they are seen as the problem.

"If you think that all over our country there are thousands of lonely old people who need company, younger children who need alternatives to hanging about on street corners, crucial  environmental work that needs doing, and local causes that need espousing, it is not difficult to see how any small voluntary contribution can help."

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Age Of Consent: No 10 Rejects Calls To Change

Downing Street has rejected a call from a leading public health expert to consider lowering the age of consent for sex to 15.

Professor John Ashton, president of the Faculty of Public Health, said society sends "confused" signals about when sex is permitted.

But a No 10 spokesman said: "We reject the call to lower the age of consent.

"The current age is in place to protect children and there are no plans to change it."

Prof Ashton's intervention comes against a backdrop of official figures which suggest that up to a third of teenagers have sex before the present age of consent of 16.

He told Sky News: "The problem we have got is we have got this massive sexualisation and pornographication of childhood and early adolescence.

Lowering the age would make it easier for 15-year-olds to get contraception

"Huge commercial interests - pop music, fashion, internet pornography everywhere, social media.

"There doesn't seem to be any real appetite among politicians and leaders to address this.

"In the meantime, our young people are becoming sexually active at younger and younger ages.

"If we are not going to create an environment where they are not sexualised, then we need to address their needs."

He added: "What we know from other European countries that have lower ages of sexual consent, I am thinking here particularly about the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, is that very often what that leads to is where there's an atmosphere of discussion within the family, within the school, within the social environment, they actually defer putting off sex, even though the age of consent is lower, and that they have lower teenage pregnancy rates.

"It also means if they are not indulging in what's illegal activity, they won't be frightened to come forward for help if they are getting involved in a dangerous situation with an older male who's grooming them or what have you.

"We have got this conundrum. Where you have got illegal activity which large numbers of people are engaging in, you are creating an environment of risk, potential abuse, potential exploitation.

"We need to do something about the sexualisation of childhood, and we need to do something about responding properly to the needs of young people who are becoming sexually active, perhaps with somebody of a similar age where it is part of a normal maturing process into adult life, but also so that we can begin to tackle this problem of girls particularly, being exploited by older males."

The Faculty of Public Health, part of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, gives advice to ministers and civil servants although it is independent of government.

David Tucker, head of policy at the NSPCC, said he would be happy to have a debate on the issue but said he would want to see the evidence for Prof Ashton's claims.

He said: "Has there really been a significant change in the amount of young people having sex over the past 20 or 30 years?

"If it has changed, then is reducing the age of consent the most sensible way to deal with it?"

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