Warning After 'Speckled Rolex' Ecstasy Death

An urgent warning about a yellow ecstasy tablet known as "speckled rolex" has been issued after a man died at a house party in Northern Ireland.

Police said the victim was confirmed dead at a house in Twinbrook, Belfast, at around 7.40pm on Friday night.

His identity has not been released.

Four other men have been taken to hospital, where their condition is said to be stable.

The death has been linked with the drug and a post-mortem examination will be carried out later on Saturday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is appealing for anyone in possession of tablets to dispose of them immediately.

It comes after eight deaths in Belfast and Antrim earlier this year were linked to the taking of "green rolex" tablets, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

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Smacking Children Should Be Banned, Says Tsar

Parents should be banned from smacking their children, according to the Children's Commissioner for England.

Maggie Atkinson told The Independent it was her personal view that the law gives pets and adults more rights to be protected from violence than children.

Dr Atkinson said she favours a total ban on smacking, which would see parents face criminal action for corporal punishment.

Current rules make it illegal for a parent to smack a child if it leaves a bruise, but permit a lighter smack or "reasonable chastisement".

Dr Atkinson said: "Personally, having been a teacher, and never having had an issue where I'd need to use physical punishment, I believe we should move to ban it.

"Because in law you are forbidden from striking another adult, and from physically chastising your pets, but somehow there is a loophole around the fact that you can physically chastise your child."

She added: "It's a moral issue. The morals are that, taken to its extreme, physical chastisement is actually physical abuse and I have never understood where you can draw the line between one and the other."

Dr Atkinson, who has two adult step-children, said that despite her strong feelings about the issue, her office was not planning to fight for a ban next year.

She said in the current climate such a move would be "running up a blind alley".

Her comments are likely to re-open the debate about what constitutes "reasonable" punishment of children, the newspaper said.

Tottenham MP David Lammy said early last year that legislation surrounding the smacking of children needed to be relaxed so working-class parents could instil discipline in their homes without fearing prosecution.

He claimed that Labour's 2004 decision to tighten up the smacking law was partly to blame for last summer's riots, which erupted in his north London constituency.

The former education minister said: "Many of my constituents came up to me after the riots and blamed the Labour government, saying, 'You guys stopped us being able to smack our children.'

"I have to say when this was first raised with me I was pretty disparaging. But I started to listen.

"These parents are scared to smack their children and paranoid that social workers will get involved and take their children away."

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NatWest 'Hit By Fourth Online Banking Glitch'

NatWest has been hit by a cyberattack, leaving customers unable to access online accounts.

The bank's online banking service was disrupted after it was deliberately bombarded with internet traffic.   

Twitter users tweeted to say they could not access their bank accounts to pay bills or transfer money.

@TomGilchrist wrote: "Do other banks computer systems/services go down as much as NatWest? I assume not. Time to move banks I think."

@AleexReid tweeted: "Just joined Santander. Fed up with NatWest. Another computer failure tonight. #welldone."

A NatWest spokesperson said: "Due to a surge in internet traffic deliberately directed at the NatWest website, some of our customers experienced difficulties accessing our customer web sites this evening.

"This deliberate surge of traffic is commonly known as a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.

"We have taken the appropriate action to restore the affected web sites. At no time was there any risk to customers. We apologise for the inconvenience caused."

At the beginning of December all of RBS and NatWest's systems went down for three hours on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The group chief executive Ross McEwan described that glitch as "unacceptable" and added: "For decades, RBS failed to invest properly in its systems.

"We need to put our customers' needs at the centre of all we do. It will take time, but we are investing heavily in building IT systems our customers can rely on."

RBS and NatWest also came under fire in March after a "hardware fault" meant customers were unable to use their online accounts or withdraw cash for several hours.

A major computer issue in June last year saw payments go awry, wages appear to go missing and home purchases and holidays interrupted for several weeks, costing the group £175m in compensation.

This latest problem is the fourth time in 18 months RBS and NatWest customers have reported problems with the banks' services.

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Millions Stress About Finances 'Every Day'

By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

In the UK, 18.1 million people feel stressed about their finances every day, according to new research seen by Sky News.

Financial worries are even greater than concerns over health, or even job security, the data from MoneySuperMarket shows.

In a poll of 2,005 British adults, 19% said it is their current financial situation which is the main cause of stress, and a further 17% say it is their future financial situation.

Only 13% say they are most stressed out by their health, and 11% by their job.

Clare Francis, editor-in-chief at MoneySupermarket, said: "Anxiety about money is on the rise for many adults.

"We've experienced a difficult economic climate in 2013, with the cost of living rising, interest rates remaining low, rents remaining high, and wages remaining the same.

"Unfortunately, I expect that the New Year will be just as tough."

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's recently upgraded their estimates for UK growth to 1.4% this year and 2.4% next year, higher than its previous 0.8% and 1.5% forecasts.

Despite this, nearly 75% of those surveyed believe their money stress will get worse next year.

According to the research, 52% of adults said they frequently or occasionally worry about the state of their finances, with women worrying more than men.

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Weather: Ireland And UK Battered By Storms

Hurricane-speed gusts and driving rain have been lashing Britain and Ireland for the second time this week, with warnings of more flooding and trouble for travellers.

Just a few days after thousands of people's Christmas travel plans were ruined, the Met Office has issued another slew of severe weather warnings.

The Bognor Regis rail route was closed after this landslip at Ockley

Hundreds of flights and train journeys have been cancelled and diverted and tens of thousands of homes and businesses are without power.

Police are warning people to take "extreme caution" when driving in the ferocious conditions, which look set to calm over the next 24 hours.

The worst of the winds are hitting Ireland, Wales, the North and western Scotland, while rain falling on already soaked ground in the South East could bring more flooding misery.

In transport, Southeastern trains said it would not be running any services until further notice, while Virgin, East Coast and Southern trains also warned of travel disruption.

There are also no trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport, and between London's Victoria station and Gatwick Airport.

This landslip also blocked the line on the Brighton Main Line near Redhill

Dublin Airport is not allowing aircraft to leave due to the high winds.

A tweet from the airport said: "No flight departures so far this morning due to gale force winds blowing across both runways."

And Gatwick Airport said it had "additional teams of engineers, electrical staff and volunteers at the airport to minimise the risk of disruption".

Cheshire Police said many trees had been uprooted as gales swept across the county.

"Many trees down due to strong winds. We would ask all drivers to exercise extreme caution whilst driving tonight," the force tweeted.

The storm is forecast to spread east across the UK throughout the morning, with the worst-affected areas expected to be northern England and northern parts of Wales.

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Police and fire services across both the UK and Ireland have reported road closures because of uprooted trees.

The Environment Agency map showing flood warnings and alerts in the UK

The Met Office recorded a gust of wind in Aberdaron, in West Wales, of 109mph early this morning. General wind speeds were expected to be between 60mph and 80mph.

The Environment Agency (EA) is warning of more "significant disruption" across southern England.

A spokesperson for the agency said overnight rainfall was less than expected, with around 10mm falling in the south east.

A man removes items from his home after flooding in Tonbridge

The spokesperson added: "The levels are still peaking for rivers with bigger catchment areas, such as the Stour through Canterbury and Ashford and the River Medway, which runs through Maidstone."

Around 1,200 properties have been flooded so far, according to the EA, with 50 flood warnings and 150 flood alerts in place.

The highest ever water levels were recorded downstream of the Leigh Barrier, a large storage reservoir which protects Tonbridge in Kent from flooding.

According to ESB Networks, in Ireland, some 35,000 homes and businesses are understood to be without power with engineers dealing with hundreds of individual faults.

A man paddles his canoe past a flooded property in Yalding

Met Eireann imposed red alert warnings in the south and eastern parts, with Wexford, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Waterford experiencing the worst of the stormy weather.

AA Roadwatch described driving conditions on Ireland's country roads as "treacherous" - and advised motorists to drive with extreme care.

Northern Ireland Electricity also said it had around 3,600 customers without power.

In England and Wales, some 13,500 homes had no electricity, according to the Energy Networks Association.

A downed tree in Toys Hill, Kent

Network Rail advises that routes need to be checked and tracks will need to be cleared of any fallen trees and any damage will need repaired before train services can start.

Robin Gisby, managing director of network operations at Network Rail, said: "Passengers have had a tough week of travelling and unfortunately that is likely to continue for at least another day.

"Thousands of railway workers have worked tirelessly over the holiday period to try and repair the significant damage caused by Monday's storm and will be called on again over the next 24 hours.

High waves caused by the winds off the Sussex coast. Pic: Steve Fullerton

"As ever, safety comes first, as we ensure routes are safe for passenger services leading to a delayed start-up in some regions."

More than 43,000 people were left without power following Monday night's storm and around 1,200 properties were flooded in England.

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said: "If you're travelling today, there will be really squally, buffeting winds everywhere, trans-Pennine routes especially, it will be really bad today."

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Northern Ireland Dealing With Daily Bomb Threat

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

Fifteen years after the Good Friday Agreement, the Army's bomb disposal officers in Northern Ireland are still dealing with more than one incident a day.

The senior police officer in charge of their deployment says he cannot afford to be complacent about the "severe" threat posed by dissident republican terrorists.

Drew Harris: 'We need expert assistance dealing with these incidents'

In an exclusive interview for Sky News, Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said: "Undoubtedly some of the devices show a degree of sophistication.

"I'd point towards the recent vehicle-borne bomb in the centre of Belfast, but also the attempt to murder a retired police officer. Now, those were sophisticated devices.

"Other devices are rudimentary in their construction, but equally as dangerous and life-threatening and that's why we need expert assistance and advice in dealing with these incidents."

Deborah McAleese, Crime Correspondent with the Belfast Telegraph, explained: "The dissidents believe that Northern Ireland is a failed state and that the only way to eradicate it is to keep Northern Ireland in a perpetual state of emergency.

"So they would like to bring Northern Ireland back to the 1970s and 80s where you had the Army on the streets and there was open warfare between themselves and loyalist groups."

The unit known as "the bomb squad" was first deployed in the 1970s and 23 bomb disposal specialists were killed in action during "The Troubles".

321 EOD (Explosives Ordinance Disposal) is the British Army's most decorated unit in peacetime with 200 awards, many for acts of bravery in Northern Ireland.

ACC Harris added: "In the middle part of the last decade, particularly the period from 2002 to 2007, we really thought we were closing a chapter and it was shocking then, the upsurge in terrorism and the murders that were associated with that.

321 EOD has collected 200 awards for acts of bravery in Northern Ireland

"And now, just this continuing steady beat of attacks and threat that is directed towards police officers and other members of society. It is surprising, indeed shocking, and very saddening in lots of ways."

There is no indication that Northern Ireland is sliding back towards the atrocities of the past, but bomb alerts reflect continuing strife in republican ranks.

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Sales: Shoppers Ready For More Bargain Hunting

Bargain-hungry shoppers are expected to spend nearly £3bn today on the second day of the post-Christmas sales.

The amount of money spent is predicted to be more than the estimated £2.7bn spent in shops and online on Boxing Day though bad weather is having an impact in some areas.

But while a devastating loss of trade over the crucial festive season could force some local shops out of business, many high streets unaffected by the storms are expected to see a repeat of some of the frenzied scenes witnessed on Thursday as shoppers queued for hours to get the best bargains.

A total of £2.22bn was projected to have been spent in stores on Thursday, up 5.7% on last year, according to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).

Online shoppers spent £540m - a new daily record - on Boxing Day, up 15% on last year, IMRG, the internet retailers' association, said.

Many people queued from before dawn in London

Total spending on Friday could be even higher, with shops expected to take £2.57bn - up more than 7% on last year's £2.4bn on December 27.

Online sales are expected to peak £400m.

Thousands of people hit British high streets yesterday for the traditional Boxing Day sales, with international tourists out in force and spending big.

Many keen bargain-hunters started queuing before dawn to ensure they were first in line when the shops opened.

Shoppers are predicted to spend £2.5bn in the high street on Friday

Selfridges on Oxford Street in central London saw some of the largest queues.

As 3,500 shoppers surrounded the huge shopping emporium, it was apparent the queue was made up of people from all around the world - particularly from China.

The significant presence of international shoppers was confirmed by Global Blue tax-free shopping experts.

Shoppers from Qatar spend the most on average per transaction (£1,714) followed by those from the United Arab Emirates (£1,372).

But a spokesman said Chinese shoppers are the biggest spenders overall.

They spend £1,367 on average per transaction, but are more likely to return to the tills with more goods.

Selfridges celebrated its most successful ever first hour of trade, taking over £1.9m between 9am and 10am - up 16% compared with last year.

Harrods also kicked off its winter sale and offered mugs of hot chocolate, smoked salmon canapes and blankets to keep people warm in the queue.

Department store Liberty offered designer goods at a fraction of their usual price, while both Next and Marks & Spencer boasted discounts of up to 50% on sale items.

Bluewater in Kent predicted more than 800,000 people would come through its doors between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve.

More than 1.4 million shoppers are expected to spend a total of more than £50m in London's West End today.

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Walsall Christmas Fire: Woman Is Arrested

Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of murder after a man was killed in a house fire on Christmas Day.

The man, 58, died in the blaze in South Street Gardens, Caldmore, Walsall, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

He is yet to be formally identified and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

Detective Inspector Gary Plant, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We are keen to speak to anyone with information which may help our investigation.

"The man's family are being informed and are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time."

The unnamed woman, who is 57 years old, was arrested shortly after the fire. She is being held in custody.

Officers have been patrolling the area surrounding South Street Gardens to offer reassurance to residents following the incident.

Police have launched a murder inquiry and urge anyone with information to contact detectives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department at Bloxwich by dialling 101 or to speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Fox Hunts To Ride Out For Boxing Day Meets

Thousands of supporters are expected to attend Boxing Day hunts across the UK today as a poll shows 80% of people remain opposed to hunting with dogs for sport.

Some 250 hunts will ride out on the biggest day of the hunting calendar, some following an artificial scent while others are expected to hunt foxes within the law.

Groups of hunt saboteurs are also expected to be out in force, monitoring hunts they believe will try to flout the law and hunt foxes illegally.

The poll suggests opinions on hunting are the same in urban and rural areas

The survey commissioned by animal welfare organisation The League Against Cruel Sports reveals 80% of the public think hunting should not be made legal again.

In October, David Cameron said he had "some sympathies" with farmers demanding the use of packs of hounds to flush out foxes if they threatened livestock. Once driven out, the foxes could be shot.

Downing Street suggested it might introduce a government motion to amend the 2004 ban on hunting by relaxing rules that say farmers can only use two dogs to hunt.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said he was particularly worried about hill farmers who have suffered heavy losses of livestock that is threatening their livelihoods.

Joe Duckworth, chief executive of The League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Hunting is a sickeningly cruel blood sport, which, like us, the majority of the British public do not want brought back.

"Voting for repeal would be political suicide. We need to move forward as a nation, not backwards on matters of animal welfare."

The survey, carried out by Ipsos MORI, also suggests that on the issue of legalising fox hunting, there is no difference between people living in rural areas and those in urban areas.

Gavin Grant, chief executive of the RSPCA, which also commissioned the survey, said: "As a rural dweller I have always known that opposition to hunting with dogs has never been an issue of 'town versus country'. This poll proves it once and for all.

"The message to MPs is loud and clear. Hunting wild animals with dogs is unethical, inhumane and cruel."

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Abbas Khan: Funeral For Syria-Death Doctor

The funeral of British doctor Abbas Khan - who died in custody in Syria - is due to take place in London today.

Dr Khan was on the verge of being released when his family were told of his death by what the Syrian government calls suicide - but they say it was political murder.

The 32-year-old orthopaedic surgeon, from London, was captured in November last year in the Syrian city of Aleppo after travelling from Turkey to help victims of hospital bombings.

His death was announced on December 17.

Dr Khan's mother Fatima

Dr Khan's family released a statement via their solicitor Nabeel Sheikh, announcing plans for the funeral and burial.

He said: "Dr Abbas Khan's funeral prayer will take place at midday on Boxing Day at Regent's Park Mosque, London.

"Dr Khan will then be taken to Ilford, east London, to be laid to rest. Anyone who wishes to pay their respects is welcome to attend."

The doctor's mother Fatima denied claims made by Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad that her son killed himself.

The PM wrote a letter to Dr Khan's family

Earlier this month, the family revealed a letter in which the doctor expressed his optimism at being released and his hopes of being home in time for Christmas.

On Sunday, David Cameron wrote a letter to Dr Khan's mother, describing her son's death as an "appalling tragedy" and calling for those responsible to be held to account.

Dr Abbas leaves behind his wife Hanna, 30, son Abdullah, six, and daughter Rurayya, seven.

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Bargain Hunters Flock To Boxing Day Sales

Bargain hunters are set to flock to the high streets in their thousands today as shops open for the Boxing Day sales.

Shoppers had already started queuing before 7am to ensure they were first in line when the shops open.

Harrods kicked off its winter sale with the promise of mugs of hot chocolate, smoked salmon canapes and blankets to keep people warm in the queue.

They were serenaded by a string quartet and be treated to a performance by a street magician.

However, online sales are predicted to steal away some of the crowds.

House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols, Debenhams and John Lewis all launched their sales online on Christmas Eve.

Shopping habits are changing, according to analysts

A survey by Barclaycard found that almost a third (31%) of shoppers had planned to scour the web for bargains on Christmas Day, but only 27% are expected to make the trip to the stores on Boxing Day.

Consumer expert Jasmine Birtles, from Moneymagpie.com, said it's an act of "desperation" that large brands are clamouring for Boxing Day sales.

She said: "I think it's a mark of desperation that even the big names are going, 'look, we're on sale now, come and spend your money with us before you spend it anywhere else'.

"Because I think the shops are very aware that people have limited budgets now and they want a piece of that budget before anyone else does." 

Some 117 million visits to retail websites were estimated to have been made on Wednesday in the UK, with Boxing Day's figure set to rise to over 118 million.

Despite the change in shopping habits, today's sales are still expected to bring in around £2.6 billion, according to Verdict Research.

Robert Goodman, Bluewater's general manager, said the shopping centre had prepared for a "bumper Boxing Day" this year.

"With the strongest retail offer to date, and with 50 new brands launching with us this year, we are expecting visitor numbers to be on a par with Boxing Day last year.

"This will begin what is likely to be our busiest six days of the year."

James Murray, digital insight manager at Experian, said: "Christmas 2013 has consistently outperformed 2012 on virtually every single shopping day this December, with online visits from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day up from last year, a record-breaking Cyber Monday and the emergence of the even busier Middle Cyber Monday.

"Shopping habits are changing, with Christmas Day becoming a significant shopping day during the period.

"As a result, we anticipate a more sustained shopping pattern during this period, moving away from the traditional peaks and troughs usually evident during holiday season."

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Glasgow House Fire Kills Woman On Christmas Day

An elderly woman has been found dead after a house fire in the east end of Glasgow on Christtmas Day evening, police said.

The woman in her 80s was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to the property in Hermiston Road in the Springboig area.

Police Scotland and the fire service have launched an inquiry into the cause of the blaze.

More follows...

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Christmas Benefit Payments: Thousands Miss Out

Tens of thousands of people have not received benefit payments in time for Christmas.

The money for jobseekers, low earners and pensioners had been due to arrive in their accounts on Tuesday, but will now not arrive until Friday.

Up to 32,000 people are believed to be affected. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) blamed an administration error.

Those affected include new claimants, those owed arrears and people awarded Social Fund budgeting loans for essentials such as clothes, rent and furniture.

The DWP said that if individuals had contacted them by 5pm last night the payment would have been rushed through within three hours.

A spokesman said: "The vast majority of regular benefit payments have been made on time this Christmas.

"However due to an administrative issue, a number of one-off or more irregular payments will now be paid on December 27 rather than December 24.

"We have procedures in place to ensure that anyone who has been affected by this and who contacted us would have had their benefits paid, usually within three hours.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

A total of 32,200 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Social Fund and certain categories of pension could have been hit by the delay, the spokesman said.

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Queen's Message: Monarch Reflects On 2013

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Queen will reflect on key events of the past 12 months in her traditional Christmas broadcast, including the birth of her great-grandson Prince George and the 60th anniversary of her coronation.

In her message, recorded earlier this month at Buckingham Palace, the 87-year-old monarch will say: "We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection.

"With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock." 

The head of the Commonwealth will also use the theme of "reflection" to look ahead to the Commonwealth Games being staged in Glasgow next year.

It is expected to be a full house at Sandringham this year with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joining the family for the festivities, including the traditional Christmas Day church service.

It will be their son Prince George's first Christmas at the Norfolk estate.

The Monarch will reflect on the birth of her great-grandson, Prince George

The Queen will refer in her message to her growing family by saying the arrival of a baby "gives everyone the chance to contemplate the future with renewed happiness and hope".

During the broadcast, behind-the-scenes footage will be shown for the first time of the photoshoot at Clarence House in October, shortly after the Christening of Prince George at the Chapel Royal.

One photograph taken was that of the Queen with the next three generations of monarchs including Princes Charles, William and George.

As the Queen speaks to the British people, and those of the Commonwealth, the historic photograph takes pride of place next to her at the Palace alongside a framed image of her father George VI and mother, the Queen Mother.

The Christmas address is written by the Queen and is one of the rare occasions when she does not turn to the Government for advice but is able to voice her own views.

It was this year recorded in Buckingham Palace's Blue Drawing Room which features a large Christmas tree decorated with coloured baubles.

During her message, the Queen is seated wearing a single crepe-wool primrose dress designed by Angela Kelly, which she wore to William and Kate's wedding in April 2011.

On her left shoulder is a diamond, ruby and sapphire brooch, a present from her parents to celebrate the birth of Charles in 1948, which she wore at George's Christening.

The message will be broadcast on Sky News at 3pm.

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Stafford: Motorist Arrested After Road Death

A 22-year-old motorist has been arrested after the body of an elderly man was found in the road in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The discovery was made at the junction of Shakespeare Road and Wordsworth Avenue on Stafford's Highfields estate at around 12.50am.

Specially-trained police officers were sent out to support the family of the elderly man, who has not been named.

The 22-year-old is being held on suspicion of being unfit to drive through either drink or drugs in connection with the death.

He is now being questioned as investigations are carried out at the scene.

The victim was found dead on Stafford's Highfields estate

Police want anyone who spotted a white van in the area, or saw or heard anything suspicious, to contact them.

A spokesman said: "The family of the elderly local man who died as a result of this tragic incident ... are being supported and kept informed about the progress of the investigation.

"We would ask that no names of the man who died are posted on to social media until the formal identification has been released so that the family affected can ensure all relatives and loved ones are informed first.

"We want to thank everyone affected by the road closures for their understanding and support at this difficult time."

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Adverts 'Should Feature More Disabled Children'

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands correspondent

The owner of the UK's largest child talent and model agency says advertising companies should use disabled youngsters more often in campaigns.

Debi Clark has two disabled children on the books of her talent agency Bizzykids. But despite sending their details to advertisers, production companies and photographers, she has only had three requests for disabled children in 20 years.

She says: "It's great that they've broken the boundaries by using them at all, but what they do is they use them, and they hit the headlines, and it's sensationalising it, it's absolutely wonderful, great; but they're not used again."

Her comments come after clothing firm Boden used eight-year-old Holly Greenhow, who has athetoid cerebral palsy, in an online advertising campaign.

Last Christmas, Marks & Spencer used Seb White, who has Down's Syndrome, in one of their campaigns, and Francesca Griffiths, who has the same condition, was cast by Boots in their catalogue.

Holly's mother Fiona, 42, said: "It may be a token thing ... I'd like to think it wasn't ... If it does something to help promote children with learning difficulties in modelling, and make it more inclusive, then fantastic. I'd like her to do more of it as an ambassador."

Rosemary Frazer, community campaigns manager at disability charity Scope, said: "It's extremely rare indeed either in advertising campaigns or really anywhere in the media. You would struggle to find any disabled people - and that's a real shame.

"I think it's only through having that sort of high-profile role in the media that you begin to sort of challenge people's perceptions about disability, and actually then they can come to see that disabled people, like myself, we're very much like everybody else".

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Adoption: New Online Maps To Ease Process

Would-be adopters are being urged by a minister to use online maps to help match them to some of the 6,000 children in need of a home.

The interactive maps include local information such as the ratio of children in need of waiting adopters and the approval rate.

Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson said there had been "promising progress" to improve adoption rates, but significantly more needed to be done.

The online system has information about each council area

"This Christmas I want anyone considering adoption to look carefully at the information in our interactive maps and consider whether they can offer a child a stable and loving home," said Mr Timpson, who has two adopted brothers.

"There remains significant work to do next year.

"Our new adoption leadership board will play an important role ensuring local authorities and adoption agencies stay on track and recruit more adopters.

"A further £50m for councils in 2014 will help them put the building blocks in place to implement our reforms."

Department for Education figures show a 34% increase in willing adopters and successful adoptions up by 15% following the implementation of reforms.

Adoption UK chief executive Hugh Thornbery said: "We've seen a rise in adoptions this year, but we still need more adopters to provide loving homes for some of society's most vulnerable children.

"We know that key to attracting more adopters is the assurance of accessible, timely and appropriate support."

Successful adoptions are up by 15% following reforms

David Simmonds, chair of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said an increased focus on improving adoption services was a "positive move, but this isn't new money".

He said it represented a net reduction in funding for local authorities and could impact on services for vulnerable children.

"Councils have been working hard to recruit more adoptive mums and dads and are doing everything in their power to ensure that vulnerable children get the best start in life," he said.

"The fact remains that we still need thousands more potential adopters to come forward to offer loving homes.

"Councils also rightly acknowledge that there is variation in performance across the country and the LGA is working with the Government to help support improvement.

"However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach and decisions must be made on what is in the best interests of each individual child."

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Northern Ireland Talks End Without Deal

Talks being held throughout the night in Northern Ireland aimed at finding a solution to peace process issues have ended without agreement.

The marathon session in Belfast between Stormont's five executive parties and chaired by US former diplomat Richard Haass broke up at 4am.

It had been hoped that a resolution over flags, parades and other matters connected with the troubles of the past could be found before Christmas.

Mr Haass and co-chairwoman Meghan O'Sullivan, a US foreign affairs expert, had hoped to return to the US with an agreement.

Instead, they will fly back home for Christmas empty handed and will instead ask all those involved a number of questions, the answers to which will, they hope, lead to another draft set of proposals - the fifth - that may bring a deal closer.

The pair have said they will consider returning next weekend if an eleventh hour deal can be struck.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness appointed Richard Haass to the job

Emerging from the meeting at the Stormont Hotel, Mr Haass insisted the process was not dead.

"I am not in the business of doing post mortems here because the patient is still alive," he said.

Mr Haass said there continued to be "significant differences and divisions" among the parties on all three issues being discussed.

While some progress had been made on parades and dealing with the past, there was no immediate prospect of a deal on flags, he said.

"The work done on flags is quite disappointing by any measure," he explained. "But the other two areas have been, I believe, quite impressive and I believe it would be a real shame not to be able to turn that work into a reality."

He added: "We would like to think there is reason to return....Let me be clear about this - we don't have an agreement, (but) in no way have we given up the possibility of still reaching an agreement before the end of the year."

Mr Haass has already said that neither he nor Ms O'Sullivan will be able to continue to be involved in the process beyond the end of the year because of other commitments.

As the talks were going on, a gun attack was carried out at a police station in Lisnaskea in County Fermanagh, according to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. No injuries were reported.

Justice Minister David Ford's office tweeted: "Those who tried to kill police officers in Lisnaskea are to be condemned. They have nothing positive to offer."

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Alan Turing: WWII Code-Breaker Granted Pardon

Second World War code-breaker Alan Turing has been given a posthumous royal pardon for a 61-year-old conviction for homosexual activity.

Dr Turing, who played a pivotal role in breaking the Enigma code, arguably shortening the war by at least two years, was chemically castrated following his conviction in 1952.

His conviction for "gross indecency" led to the removal of his security clearance and meant he was no longer able to work for Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) where he had continued to work following his service at Bletchley Park during the war.

There's been a long campaign to clear the mathematician's (far right) name

Dr Turing, who died aged 41 in 1954 and is often described as the father of modern computing, has been granted a pardon - effective from today - under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy by the Queen following a request from Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.

He said: "Dr Alan Turing was an exceptional man with a brilliant mind. His brilliance was put into practice at Bletchley Park during the Second World War where he was pivotal to breaking the Enigma code, helping to end the war and save thousands of lives.

"His later life was overshadowed by his conviction for homosexual activity, a sentence we would now consider unjust and discriminatory and which has now been repealed.

"Dr Turing deserves to be remembered and recognised for his fantastic contribution to the war effort and his legacy to science. A pardon from the Queen is a fitting tribute to an exceptional man."

Dr Turing died of cyanide poisoning and an inquest recorded a verdict of suicide, although his mother and others maintained his death was accidental.

Bletchley Park was Britain's main decryption base during World War Two

There has been a long campaign to clear the mathematician's name, including an e-petition backed by 37,404 signatures and private member's bill, along with support from leading scientists such as Stephen Hawking.

The Justice Secretary has the power to ask the Queen to grant a pardon under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy for civilians convicted in England and Wales.

A pardon is only normally granted when the person is innocent of the offence and where a request has been made by someone with a vested interest such as a family member. But on this occasion a pardon has been issued without either requirement being met.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Alan Turing was a remarkable man who played a key role in saving this country in World War Two by cracking the German Enigma code.

"His action saved countless lives. He also left a remarkable national legacy through his substantial scientific achievements, often being referred to as the father of modern computing."

Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, who was involved in the campaign to secure a royal pardon, said it was a "just reward  for a man who was stripped of his honour, his work and the loyalty he showed his nation".

The World War II Enigma decoding machine at Bletchley Park

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice chancellor of the University of Manchester, where Dr Turing had worked, also welcomed the news and said: "His legacy will live on as one of the most significant scientists of his or any other generation."

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the granting of the royal pardon was "long overdue" and called for the same treatment to be given to others convicted in similar circumstances.

A GCHQ spokesperson said: "We are delighted about the pardon and point to the personal tribute that Director GCHQ made to Alan Turing in a speech at the University of Leeds in Oct 2012.

"Sir Iain Lobban said at the time: 'If I had to single out one piece of Turing's legacy to GCHQ today, it would be the way that his contribution was part of the irrevocable change that turned the Code and Cypher School from being the mainly cryptanalytic bureau it was between the wars to becoming the highly technological intelligence organisation that GCHQ is today'."

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Weather: Christmas Travel Plans Hit By Storms

Fire crews have rescued approximately 25 people from cars trapped in flood water in Dorset as severe weather batters the UK.

Dorset fire control said rescuers helped get people out of stranded vehicles in the Sturminster, Blandford, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Wimborne areas.

In Shropshire, a woman was killed and a man seriously hurt in a car crash which happened in "difficult weather conditions".

Strong gales and heavy rains are forecast to sweep most of the country bringing travel chaos to people hoping to get home in time for Christmas.

Engineers are working to restore power to as many as 150,000 homes across the country, with no guarantee the lights will be back on in time for Christmas day.

The fatal crash in Shropshire happened near Shrewsbury just after 9.30pm on Monday.

Fire crews rescued motorists from cars Pic: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service

West Midlands Ambulance Service said in a statement: "Weather conditions at the time were very difficult.

"On arrival, crews found three cars at the scene. Firefighters were undertaking life support on a woman in one of the cars.

"Sadly despite all efforts, it was not possible to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene. A man from the same car was assessed but was uninjured.

"A man in his 30s from a second car was trapped for over half an hour. He had suffered facial, hip and leg injuries. A woman in the third car was uninjured."

Five teenagers were also injured in a separate incident after their car rolled over in "wet and windy" weather conditions north of Wolverhampton, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Some 900 passengers were stuck on the Spirit of Britain ferry outside Dover for 15 hours as it was considered too dangerous to enter Dover harbour.

The ship left Calais last night and managed to dock safely at around 7.30am.

Shortly before the ship reached Dover, Digvijay Rathod told Sky News: "Many people haven't slept. I have 53 people to take care of. There are mothers, there are children who have been sick.

The departures board at Waterloo station shows dozens of cancelled trains

"It's been a tough night - people just want to get home. We left Calais at 4pm and we were supposed to reach here within two hours.

"It was really choppy. Things were falling out of shelves, people were not able to stand properly. We were instructed to be seated and not move around. People were panicking a bit."

With the worst of the storms now likely to affect Scotland and Northern Ireland, the severe weather has caused four deaths.

The Environment Agency has issued hundreds of flood warnings across all of England and Wales, with a severe flood warning - the highest level warning of danger to life - in the South West, where properties are expected to flood.

Rail delays and cancellations are hitting commuters this morning and the Highways Agency has warned of widespread localised flooding and road closures.

Flooded tracks in West Horndon, Essex, show the challenge facing rail firms

There are no trains to Gatwick or Stansted airports this morning and services to Heathrow are affected by delays, while a power outage at Gatwick's north terminal added to flight problems.

By late morning, 15 flights had been cancelled at Gatwick and some others were delayed.

Passengers took to Twitter to complain, first, that there were too few announcements and secondly, that the announcements that were made were inaudible.

One angry traveller said on Twitter: "@Gatwick--Airport is a disaster zone. Power failed, no computers and baggage cannot get to planes. Floors covered with people."

A Gatwick spokeswoman said: "All North Terminal arriving flights are operating normally and all flights to and from South Terminal are unaffected.

Families in Edenbridge, Kent, say water levels are rising in their street

"We are looking into the cause of the power outage. It's definitely weather-related. We are doing everything we can to get people away for Christmas and we understand passengers' frustrations.

Southern Railway have advised passengers not to make any plans to travel today until further notice because of damage caused by the storm overnight.

South West Trains said there would be no service before 10am due to 35 trees blocking lines and flooding across the network.

People travelling on First Great Western's service from London Paddington to Devon and Cornwall were left stranded at Taunton in Somerset shortly before 1am because of flooding and signal problems.

Passengers described delays after leaving London before the service was terminated at Taunton with First Great Western then having to put people on buses and taxis to get them to their destination.

Passengers on a Calais to Dover ferry spent a miserable 15 hours at sea

Network Rail asked for passengers' patience and said in southern England the storm damage had been greater than that of the "St Jude's Storm" a few weeks ago.

Customers are being advised to check the latest travel situation before starting their journeys.

Tim Field from the Energy Networks Association told Sky News that it was not possible to promise that power would be restored to homes cut off by the storm in time for Christmas Day.

He said: "We've been able to restore about 60,000 properties yesterday evening and last night but with the storms that have come in, people are waking up this morning to find themselves without power.

"We've been facing some very difficult conditions. Fallen trees have brought down power lines and blocked roads, which has affected engineers' progress."

The RNLI released dramatic footage of dog rescue at sea

The RNLI released footage of the rescue of a Labrador swept out to sea and thought by its owner to be dead.

The pair had been out walking when it went into the waters off Sea Palling, on the north Norfolk coast, and was taken away by the tide.

The RNLI crew took to their boats and searched the reefs half a mile off the coast for the dog.

The crew finally heard barking coming from one of the reefs and there found the animal cold, wet and frightened, but otherwise unhurt.

The Environment Agency Flood Line can be contacted on 0845 988 1188 for advice and up to date information.

Christmas Day is expected to be calmer with just a few wintry showers in the north and west, while Boxing Day looks mainly fine, but stormy conditions look set to return on Friday.

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Sarah's Law Reveals
 700 Child Sex Offenders

More than 700 sex offenders have been unmasked using powers under Sarah's Law since it was rolled out nationwide in April 2011.

New figures - released by police forces in England, Wales and Scotland under the Freedom of Information Act - show on average about five child sex offenders have been revealed every week since the scheme was launched.

Avon and Somerset Police uncovered the most paedophiles, with 42 separate individuals being identified, followed closely by Devon and Cornwall Police which disclosed 39 offenders.

The figures also show police forces received 4,754 applications from parents and guardians wanting to know whether people who have contact with children pose a risk - meaning just one in seven result in a disclosure.

However, applications have fallen since the scheme was launched, from 1,944 in 2011/2012 to 1,106 so far in 2013/2014, while disclosures have also declined from 281 in the first year to 122 in current year to April.

Sara Payne led the campaign for the law to be implemented

Charities and campaigners have expressed concern that only one in seven applications result in a disclosure and raised questions over how well the scheme is being publicised in the face of waning numbers of applications.

However, other groups said the figures highlighted a "worrying shift of responsibility" away from the state and onto ordinary members of the public in dealing with sex offenders.

Donald Findlater, director of research and development at Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity which works with sexual abusers as well as victims, said: "Given the apparent drop in applications since the start of the scheme, albeit small, we have some concern that people may not know the scheme is available to them.

"We would like to see continued public awareness and publicity, whether by local forces or nationally by the Home Office, so that people know that this means of checking someone out exists.

"While the number of applications being made is small, at 4,754 over two and half years, the conversion rate of one in seven applications resulting in a disclosure is encouraging. It shows that adults can and do notice worrying behaviour in others around them - a key factor in keeping children safe.

"Our concern here would be the other six out of seven people who made an application but did not get a disclosure. The police know of only a proportion of offenders - many have not been caught and are not on any police database. For members of the public to make an application to police they must have had some concerns in the first place."

Sarah Payne's killer Roy Whiting was a known paedophile

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, known as Sarah's Law, was brought in following a campaign by Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter Sarah was murdered by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000.

The scheme is a watered-down version of laws in the US under which details of where convicted paedophiles live are actively publicised.

Under the Home Office scheme, parents can ask police about anyone with access to their children and officers will reveal details confidentially if they think it is in the child's interests.

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Rolf Harris Faces Three More Sex Charges

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9:53am UK, Monday 23 December 2013

Rolf Harris pictured at an earlier court hearing

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Weather: Storm 'Everywhere By Lunchtime'

Dozens of flood alerts are in place as heavy rain and winds of up to 80mph sweep across the country, bringing chaos for Christmas travellers.

The stormy weather started in the South West and is moving eastwards and northwards throughout the day.

Hundreds of homes were left without power in Cornwall.

East Coast has already announced cancellations to and from London

A spokeswoman for Western Power Distribution said high winds brought down overhead power lines.

Almost all of the UK will be affected by the wet weather by midday and winds will reach 70-80mph in eastern and central areas in the afternoon.

The Met Office's severe weather alert started at dawn on Monday and 71 amber "be prepared" warnings are in place for London, southeast and southwest England, and South Wales.

Five areas, including three in the South West, have been issued with "immediate action required" flood warnings.

Localised flooding is possible and winds of 50-60mph are forecast in inland areas, gusting up to 80mph along the coast.

Essex Police said the Dartford QEII bridge will be closed from 12.30pm on Monday to 4am on Tuesday.

The Met Office's more serious "be prepared" warnings are in the south

Sky News' weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said rain would be the biggest problem for most people on Monday.

"There will be heavy downpours bringing 20-40mm of rainfall quite widely and over 60mm likely across parts of the high ground.

"As the rain is falling on already saturated ground that could cause both surface water and river flooding in these areas."

:: See the latest weather forecast here.

Emma Compton from the Met Office said: "By lunchtime it will be everywhere. It's going to be fairly persistent."

Trains are expected to bear the brunt of the weather and at least 21 train companies are predicting changes to timetables and cancelled services.

Virgin Trains is one of many operators warning of delays and disruption

An emergency go-slow limit of 50mph is likely on many routes.

Train bosses say "hundreds of engineers" will be on call over the next two days to deal with any blocked tracks or technical problems.

Passengers are being urged to check the latest information before setting out.

Network Rail Managing Director Robin Gisby said: "I want to be very clear that our priority is running as many trains as we can safely, rather than worrying about hitting the timetable bang on."

Many companies have removed limits on day tickets to deter people from travelling at the height of the bad weather.

Virgin Trains is advising passengers to travel before 3pm and says advance tickets for specific trains will be accepted on any service.

The A82 in Scotland, where there is an ice alert. Pic: @pressscotland

It says fewer trains than normal will run between London and Manchester, and London and Birmingham - where the 50mph limit is likely to be enforced.

South West Trains is another operator warning of "significantly reduced speeds" on its network.

Motorists are also being urged to be take special care on the roads and check the flood updates ahead of their journey.

The Environment Agency and the AA strongly advise not entering flood water that is moving or more than 10cm deep.

David Jordan, Director of Operations at the Environment Agency, said: "Tragically people die because they've taken risks and attempted to drive through flood water just to save a few minutes.

"Flood water is dangerous. If there is widespread flooding in your area then don't travel and if a road is closed then turn around and make a detour."

The Highways Agency said high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists should be especially careful in the high winds and and has put out a list of potentially treacherous routes.

John McTaggart, head of on-road services at the Agency, said: "We are working closely with the Met Office to monitor conditions.

"In the event of persistent high winds we may need to close certain bridges to traffic for a period, so please be alert for warnings of closures and follow the clearly signed diversion routes."

The RAC is predicting that 13 million people will take to the roads from December 24 to 26.

Visitor attractions are also playing it safe ahead of the bad weather, with the popular Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park staying shut on Monday

The worst of the weather is expected to clear by the end of Christmas Eve.

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Denis MacShane Jailed Over Expenses Claims

Former Labour minister Denis MacShane has been jailed for six months after admitting making £13,000 of bogus expense claims.

The ex-MP previously pleaded guilty to false accounting by filing 19 fake receipts for "research and translation" services from 2005 to 2008.

MacShane, 65, used the money to fund a series of trips to Europe, including one to judge a literary competition in Paris.

His guilty plea followed more than four years of scrutiny into his use of Commons allowances.

Mr Justice Sweeney, sitting at the Old Bailey, stressed that this expenses case was different to others because it was not for "personal profit".

But he added: "The dishonesty involved was considerable and was repeated many times over a period.

"In your case you have no one to blame but yourself."

Flanked by two security officers, MacShane, wearing a dark suit with a blue striped tie and glasses, said "Cheers" as the sentence was delivered, before adding, "Quelle surprise" as he was led from the dock.

MacShane resigned as MP for Rotherham

Sky's Darren McCaffrey, at the court, said MacShane argued with the dock officer before sentencing after being told he could not take his luggage and mobile phone in with him.

MacShane was told he must serve half his sentence in prison and was ordered to pay costs of £1,500 within two months.

Parliamentary authorities began looking at his claims in 2009 when the wider scandal engulfed Westminster, and referred him to Scotland Yard within months.

But the principle of parliamentary privilege meant detectives were not given access to damning correspondence with the standards commissioner in which MacShane detailed how signatures on receipts from the European Policy Institute (EPI) had been faked.

The body was controlled by MacShane and the general manager's signature was not genuine. One message, dated October 2009, said he drew funds from the EPI so he could serve on a book judging panel in Paris.

It was not until after police dropped the case last year that the cross-party Standards Committee published the evidence in a report that recommended an unprecedented 12-month suspension from the House.

MacShane, 65, who served as Europe minister under Tony Blair, resigned as MP for Rotherham last November before the punishment could be imposed.

Police then reopened their inquiry in the light of the fresh information and he was charged in May - even though the letters are still not thought to be admissible in court.

MacShane is reportedly in a relationship with Vicky Pryce, the ex-wife of former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

Huhne and Pryce were released from jail in May after serving sentences for perverting the course of justice.

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Heather Mills' Anger Over Paralympic Boot Row

Heather Mills has revealed her anger over a dispute about a ski boot which ended her hopes of representing Britain at next year's Paralympic Games.

Speaking in a six-minute video posted on YouTube, the ex-wife of Sir Paul McCartney claimed an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) official "had it in for me".

The row erupted when the 45-year-old Paralympic skiing hopeful was told by IPC official Sylvana Mestre that she would have to change her ski boot to comply with IPC rules.

Ms Mills reacted angrily to the request, and reportedly told Ms Mestre she would "make your life a misery".

Ms Mills competing in Queenstown, New Zealand, in August

The IPC later accused Ms Mills of having committed a "disgraceful outburst".

But in her statement on YouTube, Ms Mills said Ms Mestre "wouldn't listen to me at all" and rejected reports that she had threatened to harm the official.

"She wouldn't listen to me at all. I never physically touched her, like the misreporting in the media (said I did)," she said.

"She has never made a statement saying I physically harmed her. The ridiculous reports that she begged me not to hit her are just tabloid rubbish.

"I just said to her, very loudly, I was very upset, that I'd had enough of this, and that I wouldn't be involved in these ridiculous rules."

Ms Mills had her left leg amputated below the knee after a road traffic accident in 1993.

She earned a place in the development squad of the British Disabled Ski Team (BDST) in 2010 and won a silver medal in a slalom race in New Zealand in August.

She has since quit the BDST, ending her hopes of competing at the Games in Russia next March.

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Clutha Tragedy: Comedy Gig To Help Raise Cash

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Glasgow's comedians are lining up to raise a laugh for victims of the Clutha Pub tragedy.

They also hope tonight's comedy gig will raise several thousand pounds for the Clutha Appeal Fund, which has already amassed more than £220,000.

Friends and relatives of the 10 people who died when the Police Scotland helicopter crashed into the Glasgow pub have been invited to the show at the city's O2abc Academy. 

They will be joined in the audience by emergency service workers who helped at the scene of the tragedy.

Comedian Janey Godley told Sky News: "The love and affection of Glaswegians will carry every laugh from that stage right up into the rafters. That's who we are, as a people; you might knock us down but we'll get up and - do you know what? - we'll get up laughing."

Jai McDowall recording the tribute song Won't Forget

The comedy show is one a number of initiatives aimed at raising cash for bereaved families suffering financial hardship as a result of the crash on November 29.

Those who died included the three occupants of the helicopter along with seven customers in the pub. Five people remain in hospital, being treated for a range of serious injuries.

Four police officers who attended the scene of the accident have recorded a song called Won't Forget, which features Britain's Got Talent winner Jai McDowall on vocals.

Police officers Paul Keenan (L) and Jamie Easton

PC Paul Keenan, who wrote the song, told Sky News: "It obviously involved our friends and colleagues, so we felt personally touched by it. It was a tragic loss of life, so we came up with the idea of recording a charity single."

PC Jamie Easton said: "The police is such a close-knit family and it was such a terrible disaster, everybody felt it. Being at the scene myself, it was terrible both for the emergency services and the public. You could see the effect it had on everybody, so I'm grateful to be able to play on the track."

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Volunteers Keep Revellers Safe Over Christmas

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

A front-line team of volunteers has been confronted with the aftermath of assaults, drug abuse and too much to drink as the Christmas festivities for some got out of hand in Norwich.

Sky News spent the night following staff on board the city's SOS bus and medical unit as they coped with one of the busiest party nights of the year.

It was not until after 1am that the trouble really started.

The police called the bus to say a woman was intoxicated nearby. It emerged she had not only drunk too much but had also taken drugs.

She was taken in a minibus back to the main bus to be checked over.

Shift leader Holly Brown said: "People can go unconscious, choking on their own vomit, they can be incontinent.

The volunteers help ease the workload for emergency services

"We need to judge what has happened. We need to make sure they are OK as we want them to get home safely."

Next it was a trip to a report of an assault on a young woman inside a club. She had cuts on her face and was ushered onto the minibus.

Some people will still end up in hospital, but by responding to reports of injury and sickness the pressure is taken off other services such as Accident and Emergency and ambulance crews.

Leigh Baggaley, 25, works for St John's Ambulance Service and first started helping on the bus five years ago.

"It's an eye-opener. If we weren't here there would be lots more A&E admissions.

"We don't tell people what to do but we try to educate people on how they should drink."

The SOS bus was the first of its kind to be set up in the UK

The volunteers even keep every type of phone charger so that drinkers can get back in touch with lost friends. And they offer flip-flops in return for a small donation for those finding their high heels a challenge.

The SOS bus was the first of its kind to be set up in the country back in 2001 and operates every Friday and Saturday night.

Action was taken after two teenagers were found dead in the river following a night out in Norwich. A short time later,  the body of a 21-year-old was discovered in the toilets of a nightclub in the city after drinking too much.

As well as the setting up of the bus, a radio system was installed linking the SOS team with the police, pubs and nightclubs.

Toby Middleton is operations manager of four clubs in the city including Roccos and Mercy.

He said: "Having the facility of having the bus and the people who are prepared to do it free of charge and help us with our duty of care ... is a great asset."

In the past five years alone the SOS bus and medical unit have looked after more than 3000 people.

It has proved such a success that towns and cities are following Norwich's lead.

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Death Of UK Doctor In Syria 'Despicable'

The family of a British doctor who died after 13 months in a Syrian prison have said it is "absolutely despicable" that the regime has not fully explained the circumstances surrounding his death.

They were speaking on Sky News as Doctor Abbas Khan's body was due to be flown home, after it was received by family members in Lebanon almost a week after his death.

The 32-year-old father of two was arrested more than a year ago after travelling to the rebel-held city of Aleppo to treat injured civilians.

His family believe he was abused while in custody and have blamed the Syrian regime for his death, despite authorities in Damascus claiming he took his own life.

His brother and sister, Shahnawaz and Sara Khan, told Sky News that nobody has explained to the family how or why he died and that they feel he was let down by the British authorities.

Dr Khan's brother and sister, Shahnawaz and Sara Khan

Shahnawaz Khan told Sky News: "We are still unclear why there's been such a protracted process in releasing his body.

"Everything that the Syrian government has done over these past 13 months to us has been arduous and has inflicted much insult upon us. I guess this was their final attempt to inflict as much misery upon us as they could.

"They had already embalmed him and carried out some tests that we had requested them not to.

"It has been a difficult time. We haven't had a chance to grieve properly because we are still fighting to get him back."

Dr Khan was arrested in Aleppo where he was helping civilians

The married British surgeon was due to be released from prison and allowed home for Christmas.

Sara Khan said: "We still haven't been given a clear explanation as to what happened to him, which is absolutely despicable, that the Syrians can feel that they can give us multiple explanations for his death.

"We want the British Government to help the family in getting those answers from the Syrians as somebody needs to own up for this absolutely cruel injustice that has been done to my brother."

The family has criticised what they said was a lack of support given to them by the Foreign Office during Dr Khan's incarceration.

Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson has said: "There is no excuse whatsoever for the treatment that he has suffered by the Syrian authorities who have in effect murdered a British national who was in their country to help people injured during their civil war."

Claims that the surgeon had picked sides and had jihadi links, and was in the country without a visa, were dismissed by his brother.

"The accusation of any sort of terrorist activities has never been levied to us," Shahnawaz Khan said.

"There is no sense that he was ever involved in any sort of activities.

"The only reason why that question is raised is because he is a British Muslim, and throughout he has been treated with a degree of suspicion by their authorities and unfortunately the authorities in the British Government.

"In Syria he has been executed for being British and he has been let down by his own government for not being British enough."

He added: "We will have to move on, but moving on now will include attaining some answers around the circumstances of his death and the steps that could have possibly saved him."

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