Stephen Sutton's Teen Cancer Appeal Tops £2.5m

A terminally-ill teenager has smashed all records on fundraising website JustGiving, as donations to his charity appeal surged past £2.5m.

Stephen Sutton originally set out to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust but soon upped his target to £1m, as celebrities including Jason Manford, Stephen Fry and Russell Brand gave their support.

By Saturday morning the 19-year-old had raised £2.5m, with more than 102,000 people pledging their support.

Writing on his Facebook page, on which he published a bucket list of things he wants to do before he dies, Stephen said: "I've always been a firm believer that people are 'good' and to see people come together in the way they have is incredibly touching and heart-warming.

Donations to Stephen's JustGiving page have soared past £2.4m

"Thank you from me and thank you from every young cancer patient who will benefit invaluably from the money raised."

Stephen, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, said he was "feeling well" and was in a "stable" condition after his health worsened last weekend.

"The tumours in my body are still rife and dangerous, but I feel so lucky to just still be here," he added.

"In fact, I feel completely privileged to be in a position where I can help make such a difference to other people's lives."

Stephen, who was diagnosed with incurable colorectal cancer at the age of 15, has also released a 10-minute YouTube video called When Life Gives You Cancer, featuring interviews with his mum, his school teachers and his best friend.

Stephen (C) with friends and celebrities at a Teenage Cancer Trust event

His head teacher, Stewart Jones, said: "Stephen is the most amazing person I've ever met, let alone the most amazing student."

Tim Dowling, who runs the sixth form college at Stephen's school, added: "He's very special because he refuses to let his illness beat him or govern the rest of his life."

As donations continued to flood in, JustGiving itself donated £50,000 to Stephen's appeal.

The website stands to make more than £62,000 from the 5% fee it charges charities for online donations.

In a message posted alongside its donation, it wrote: "Stephen, we think you're amazing. It's been a privilege supporting your fundraising. You've now broken all records on JustGiving, so here's a special donation from us."

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British Teenager Dies After Tribal Drug Ritual

By Alex Watts, Online Producer

A British backpacker has died after taking a hallucinogenic drug during a tribal ritual in Colombia.

Henry Miller, 19, was in a remote rainforest area, near the town of Mocoa, with other tourists when he drank yage with a local tribe.

The psychedelic drink, also known as ayahuasca, is made from leaves and is used by native people in South America for healing and spiritual purposes.

Mr Miller took the drug on Sunday without any effects. He took it again on Tuesday and was found dead later.

Filip Goematre, owner of Casa del Rio hostel, where the teenager was staying, told Sky News: "Lots of people come to this area to take the yage drug, which is part of an indigenous ritual.

Mr Miller took the drug in a rainforest outside Mocoa, southwest Colombia

"But I am not a fan of it. I prefer people come here to enjoy the Amazon and look at the animals and nature.

"Henry came here last week and heard about the drug from other tourists and got motivated to do it.

"I'm not involved in the drug and do not promote it in anyway. But it's an indigenous ritual and involves drinking juice from a medicinal plant. One of the effects of it is to hallucinate.

"Henry stayed at the hostel for seven days. He did it (the drug) once on Sunday night, and on the Tuesday he was travelling on.

"But he changed his mind at the last minute and decided to do the ritual. There is a police investigation going on and an autopsy is being carried out on his body, but it looks like the drink.

"It's an intoxicant, and hundreds of people do it and a couple of times people die. It's not considered dangerous, but it can happen."

Mr Miller, from Bristol, travelled with a group of eight people to land belonging to a local shaman, according to the Daily Mail.

The teenager had stayed at Casa del Rio hostel for seven days

After taking the drug, he reportedly started "lashing out with his hands and feet" and then "made weird animal noises, pig sounds and at one point he tried to fly".

The shaman's family told the other tourists they would look after him, but when they woke up in the morning Mr Miller was not there, the paper quoted one of the group as saying.

Police arrived and showed them a picture of Mr Miller's body, which was said to have been found by a dirt road.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office told Sky News: "We are aware of the death of a British national on April 23 in Colombia. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this very difficult time."

Henry Miller's parents Elizabeth and David, and brother Freddie issued a statement to the Bristol Post, saying: "In the last 48 hours we received the exceptionally sad news that our son Henry has died whilst travelling in Colombia.

"We are being informed of the circumstances through the Foreign Office. He was in the remote Putumayo region.

"We understand that he took part in a local tribal ritual recommended by the hostel that he was staying at.

"The ritual involves a drink made from local plant infusions. We are awaiting further information from the foreign office but it is likely that a reaction to this drink was the cause."

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Hillsborough Slurs Probe: Andy Burnham's Vow

Labour MP Andy Burnham has promised to hold to account those responsible for using government computers to post what he called "sickening" insults about the disaster.

The Liverpool-born politician said he would not accept "fudges" in the investigation into claims of inflammatory and offensive changes made to the Wikipedia page about the 1989 tragedy.

A total of 96 Liverpool fans were killed in a crush before an FA Cup semi-final at the stadium in Sheffield.

The Liverpool Echo has claimed computers on a secure government network were used to make the amendments.

Among the reported changes was an insertion saying "Blame Liverpool fans", and two years ago the phrase "You'll never walk alone" was changed to "You'll never walk again".

The Cabinet Office has warned it might not be possible to identify those responsible, saying the passage of time and the number of people using the Whitehall intranet would make finding them "challenging".

A total of 96 Liverpool fans were killed in the disaster

But Mr Burnham told the Echo he would not accept "second best".

He said: "We need these individuals named and they need to be held to account. It's unacceptable for a civil servant, a rogue civil servant probably, to have behaved in this way, if that's what the inquiry finds.

"The Government offered for me to be involved and I'm willing to take part. As ever, my main concern will be the families, their welfare and having right done by them.

"I'm not going to let anything stand in the way of that."

The Cabinet Office said the matter was being treated with "utmost seriousness".

A spokeswoman said: "The amendments made to Wikipedia are sickening. The behaviour is in complete contravention of the Civil Service Code. It is entirely unacceptable."

Liverpool were playing an FA Cup semi-final when the crush happened

Further alleged changes included altering the description of a statue of former manager Bill Shankly on the Anfield page from "He made the people happy" to "He made a wonderful lemon drizzle cake".

A description of the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield was also changed to include "nothing for the victims of the Heysel stadium disaster", a reference to the 39 deaths at a European Cup final in 1985 against Juventus.

Jon Davies, chief executive of Wikimedia UK, said the company was "appalled by such vandalism".

He said: "But our community have systems in place to deal with such incidents.

"In this case none of the offensive comments were up for more than a couple of hours, and most were removed within minutes."

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Roehampton Murder: Second Teen Held By Police

A second teenager has been arrested in connection with the death of a man who was stabbed in the chest during a break-in.

Police said a 17-year-old male was being questioned on suspicion of murder, as a 15-year-old boy was due to appear in court later charged with murder.

The victim, believed to be in his 30s, was found seriously injured by police and paramedics on Tuesday at an address in Huntingfield Road, Roehampton, south London.

An air ambulance crew attended, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Although he has not been formally identified, he is thought to be called Martin Thomas.

A post-mortem revealed he died from a stab wound that punctured his lung.

The teenager appearing in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, who for legal reasons cannot be named, was arrested on Thursday night.

Detectives have been keen to trace three men seen loitering in the area before the fatal attack.

Anyone with information should call police on 0208 721 4205 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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The Challenges Of Raising A Disabled Child

By Hannah Stott, Sky News Digital Presenter

I have a beautiful six-year-old son named Curtis who lights up any room the minute he walks into it.

Born on Valentine's Day a seemingly normal baby boy, he was a younger brother to Phoebe. We settled into family life with our new addition.

However, three months in it became clear something wasn't right.

Curtis had been born with Coffin Lowry Syndrome - a rare genetic disorder. He has global delay in his development, which means he is affected both physically and mentally.

The spectrum is so huge that early on we had little idea as to how he would progress. There is no cure and no standard course of treatment.

In Curtis' case his advancements have been slow. At six he doesn't talk and his understanding is limited. He walks but not far due to the hypermobility in his joints. In many ways he is similar to a one-year-old.

Hannah Stott's son Curtis and daughter Phoebe in Dubai this month

He loves cuddles - climbing onto the laps of anyone around him, burying his head into their necks in the tightest embrace.

Curtis engages men, women, children and animals like no one I have ever seen. His affection knows no bounds - if there's a hand to grab he will search it out.

I am blessed to have this wonderful child in my life, but along with the tight hugs and endless giggles, it is tireless hard work and it isn't getting any easier.

The tragic events in New Malden, where three disabled children were found dead in their home, brought the difficult moments of the past six years flooding back.

These children almost attended the same incredible special school as Curtis, Bedelsford School in Kingston-upon-Thames.

I have been thinking of all the amazing children in Curtis' school and how I felt when I walked through its doors for the first time.

It wasn't long after my little boy was diagnosed and I was still in shock.

I was surrounded by children being challenged by difficulties I hadn't given much thought to previously - and I was there with my son.

Curtis suffers from the rare genetic disorder Coffin Lowry Syndrome

It's when I look back at those days I realise how important it was for me to have had some professional help for my state of mind.

I never did and still haven't. I recall being given a leaflet once about counselling that was available to me but I didn't get round to following it up - there was no time.

I had Curtis with all his physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hearing and eye appointments among many others to attend, a job to fit in and a daughter to look after. So I carried on with the help offered from those around me.

The borough I live in has been good when it comes to support. Curtis has transport to and from school most days. They agreed to pay for Bedelsford despite it being in a different borough.

He gets free nappies and I have a wonderful key worker who helps me with appointments and any contacts I need.

It took a long time to work out how this minefield of a system worked. When Curtis was one, a huge folder arrived through the post with details and contacts for people who may be of help when you have a disabled child.

At that time he wasn't even diagnosed, and receiving it while I was home alone was heartbreaking. I shoved it into a cupboard and still avoid it to this day.

At times the level of care shown to my feelings was non-existent.

I was concerned about how floppy Curtis was, and the first paediatrician who looked at him just bluntly told me: "I think we can all see he doesn't look like you, he needs to see a geneticist."

My mind was racing. After a few more appointments and tests I was told: "He is very delayed and I think he is going to stay that way".

I felt physically sick - the shock was unbearable.

Everyone is different but I needed such news to be delivered more carefully and gradually.

The blunt, thoughtlessness of professionals has been a common theme throughout Curtis' life.

The geneticist thought she knew what his condition was almost immediately. She told us the name, took blood and off we went to Google it at home.

If he had CLS he was going to be affected in every way for the rest of his life - reading that was tough to cope with.

Questions were running through my head. Are you sure he has it? Am I a carrier? Did I pass it on to him?

Curtis and Phoebe on their first day back to school in September 2013

The geneticist said she was "80% sure" and it was confirmed a few weeks later.

When I took the call I was alone again - trying to let it sink in as I also contemplated the fact it is a condition which is passed through the mother.

It turned out I am not a carrier - one bit of good news amongst it all.

However, the fault was in my egg and that is why Curtis will live this compromised life forever. I know it's wrong to think this, but at times I feel his care is more my responsibility than his dad's because it was my "fault".

It's impossible to plan for the future - I don't know how much more Curtis will progress and any decisions I make have to take that into account.

My marriage didn't last. But I have a wonderful partner who sees Curtis as a gift to us, a close family whose support has been unwavering and friends who prop me up on the tougher days.

People surprise me on a regular basis with their empathy but I find it hard if that turns to pity. He's my gorgeous boy and I don't want to be pitied for having him.

I am thankful for having all of them in my life and consider them to be my greatest backing. It's hard to imagine relying on this system if I was alone.

But most of all I am thankful for the personality "Curtie" has. It gets him a long way in life and I am so proud of him.

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Parents Weep In Court Over Dead Children

A mother arrested over the deaths of her three disabled children has appeared before magistrates accused of their murders.

Tania Clarence wept in the dock as she was remanded in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

She spoke only to confirm her name, age and address and no formal plea was entered.

The 42-year-old is accused of three counts of murder between April 20 and April 23 this year.

A bail hearing will be held on April 29 before she appears at the Old Bailey on May 9.

Gary Clarence is pictured with his twin sons and their New Malden home

Her husband, Gary Clarence, 43, also broke down in tears as he sat in the public gallery during the brief hearing. A group of people, thought to be family and friends, supported him during the proceedings.

He was in his family's native South Africa with the couple's eight-year-old daughter when he heard about the deaths.

Sky News Reporter Joe Tidy, who was in the courtroom, said: "When Tania Clarence walked in the 42-year-old broke down immediately and began to cry when she looked over to the public gallery.

"She could barely read her name, her date of birth and her address details.

"Gary Clarence arrived ahead of proceedings and sat in the public gallery. He had tears in his eyes and was greeted with lots of support and hugs from people who seemed to know him in the gallery."

Fiona Abbott, chairwoman of the bench, said: "For these three charges you will be sent to the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on May 9.

"There will be a bail application at the Central Criminal Court at 10am on April 29."

Police were called to the house on Tuesday night

Tania Clarence was arrested after her four-year-old daughter, Olivia, and three-year-old twin sons Ben and Max were found dead at the family's home in New Malden, southwest London, on Tuesday night.

Post-mortem examinations were due to be carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital on the three children on Thursday. They are understood to have had spinal muscular atrophy.

The life-limiting genetic condition is also known as floppy baby syndrome and leaves children with little or no control of their movement.

Mrs Clarence is originally from South Africa and moved to Britain with her husband some years ago.

The couple moved into their £1.2m house around six months ago after the property was redeveloped with mobility equipment, including a lift.

A neighbour of the family, retired nurse Joy Devis, 86, described the Clarences as a "delightful couple".

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Paedophile Teacher: New Details About Attacks

Child Predator: Husband And 'Popular Teacher'

Updated: 11:44am UK, Thursday 24 April 2014

The serial child predator at the centre of an FBI investigation had a wife and two adult children and was a popular teacher among his students, officials have said.

William James Vahey travelled the world for four decades before his suicide in a Minnesota motel last March.

While teaching, he also served as coach on various school sports teams.

The FBI said he was a "popular and highly respected teacher".

"He had access to children because of his position of trust," said FBI special agent Patrick Fransen.

"He created a system that gave him the opportunity and the means to molest children."

The FBI says he may have carried out child molestation on an unprecedented scale, often drugging his victims.

Vahey told investigators he suffered molestation as a child and went on to prey on boys.

The New York native graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, according to a resume cited by the FBI.

He received a master's degree in curriculum development from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont.

At the time of his death, he was 64, approximately 6ft (182cm) tall, and weighed about 190 pounds (86kg).

He was teaching ninth-grade world history and geography at the American Nicaraguan School in Managua.

Vahey maintained two residences, one in London, where he had taught at an elite school, and another on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the FBI said.

In 1969, Vahey was arrested in California on six counts of child molestation.

He pled guilty to one count of child molestation and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by five years' probation.

The conviction required Vahey to register with California's sex offender registry for the rest of his life.

However, Vahey eluded that requirement.

Officials said he had not renewed his registration as a sex offender since 1970. He went on to pursue his teaching career in Nicaragua, the UK, Venezuela, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Iran, Spain, and Lebanon.

His victims are believed to be multinational as many of those schools were attended by the children of American diplomats or military personnel stationed overseas.

Vahey coached boys on middle school, varsity boys' basketball, softball, flag football, and soccer, among other things.

He also served as activities director, student council adviser, cooking club adviser and forensics adviser. 

He often accompanied students on cultural studies or sports trips, the FBI said.

Vahey killed himself two days after agents in Houston sought a warrant to search a computer thumb drive belonging to him.

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Bogus Social Worker Examines Newborn

An investigation has been launched after a woman claiming to be a social worker called at a house in Gloucestershire and examined a baby.

The woman, carrying a fake ID badge and a black zip-up folder, visited a new mother in Quedgeley on Wednesday at around 2pm claiming to be from Gloucestershire social services.

She told the mother there were concerns about the welfare of her four-month-old son.

The woman then listened to the child's heartbeat with a stethoscope.

Detective Inspector Andy Dangerfield, of Gloucestershire Police, said: "We don't know what the motivation for this was but clearly it is very concerning.

"Our inquiries are ongoing. We have visited houses in the area to warn local people and would urge everyone to be vigilant.

"Remember, do not accept people into your house unless you are 100% sure you know who they are."

The woman is described as white with "slightly tanned skin" and dark shoulder-length bobbed hair.

She is in her late 20s or early 30s and is around 5ft 6ins tall.

Police said she had freckles on the left side of her face and was wearing a black trouser suit with a cream v-neck blouse with frills at the front.

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire County Council said: "When a social worker calls at your house you will be shown an ID badge, and the reasons for the visit will be explained to you.

"If you doubt whether the visit is genuine, you should call Gloucestershire County Council on 01452 425000 and the visit will be verified."

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Cornish Get Minority Rights And Protections

The Cornish have been officially recognised as a national minority group alongside the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.

Residents of the far-flung county in the South West will be accorded the same rights and protections as other minorities in the UK, Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has announced.

The Cornish will be classified under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, meaning the Government must agree to "combat discrimination and promote equality".

There are concerns Cornish views have been ignored in Whitehall in the past

Whitehall departments and other public bodies will be required to take Cornish views into account when making decisions.

It follows concerns among campaigners in recent years that policies affecting the Cornish were being made in London without them being considered.

This was highlighted during the protests against the controversial "pasty tax" in 2012.

Half a million people signed a petition against the move, while thousands marched through Cornwall and in Westminster in an ultimately successful campaign to get the Government to rethink plans to slap VAT on hot Cornish pasties.

Official recognition could also have economic benefits by helping strengthen the Cornish brand.

David Cameron's daughter, Florence, was born in Cornwall in 2010

Among those who could gain from the new status is David Cameron's daughter, Florence, who was born during a family holiday in Cornwall in 2010.

Mr Alexander, who is visiting Bodmin, said: "Cornish people have a proud history and a distinct identity. I am delighted that we have been able to officially recognise this and afford the Cornish people the same status as other minorities in the UK."

Communities Minister Stephen Williams said: "This is a great day for the people of Cornwall who have long-campaigned for the distinctiveness and identity of the Cornish people to be recognised officially.

"The Cornish and Welsh are the oldest peoples on this island and as a proud Welshman I look forward to seeing Saint Piran's Flag flying with extra Celtic pride on March 5 next year."

The announcement follows the official recognition of the Cornish language back in 2002.

Plans for a controversial "pasty tax" were dropped after protests

In March, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Government would be investing a further £120,000 into the Cornish Language Partnership to promote and develop the language.

Campaigners have long argued Cornwall deserves special measures - including economic concessions, such as reductions in fuel duty - in recognition of its geographical location and cultural heritage.

Dick Cole, leader of Cornish independence party Mebyon Kernow, said: "This is a fantastic development.

"A lot of people have been working for many years to get Cornwall the recognition other Celtic people of the UK already receive.

"The detail is still to come out on what this might mean, but make no mistake that this is a proud day for Cornwall."

Fellow campaigner and comedian Edward Rowe, also known as the Kernow King, added: "This is obviously great news for the people of Cornwall.

"I think there is always going to be a certain degree of pessimism when politicians are involved - are they going to be chasing votes, for example.

"But it is great for Cornwall to get the recognition for its culture and heritage that it deserves."

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Camilla 'Utterly Devastated' At Death Of Brother

The Duchess of Cornwall's brother Mark Shand has died after suffering a serious head injury during a fall in New York.

Law enforcement sources have told Sky News the 62-year-old travel writer fell at around 3am on Wednesday outside the Rose Bar on Lexington Avenue.

It has also been reported that Mr Shand was lighting a cigarette at the time.

Prince Charles and Camilla are "utterly devastated" at Mr Shand's death

A statement from Clarence House said: "The Duchess, The Prince of Wales and all her family members are utterly devastated by this sudden and tragic loss.

"Mark Shand was a man of extraordinary vitality, a tireless campaigner and conservationist whose incredible work through The Elephant Family and beyond remained his focus right up until his death."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also released a statement.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were 'saddened' to hear the news

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were saddened to learn this morning of the tragic death of Mark Shand. Their thoughts are with The Duchess of Cornwall and her family at this time."

Mr Shand, Camilla's only brother, was in the city for an auction at Sotheby's in aid of a charity for underprivileged children and the Elephant Family.

A statement from the charity said: "Today we have lost the head of our family.

"Mark Shand was a true force for conservation. He was both a legend and inspiration and above all our great friend. We will miss him always."

Mr Shand fell outside the Rose Bar on New York's Lexington Avenue

The charity, which Mr Shand was the chairman of, aims to save the endangered Asian elephant from extinction in the wild.

The auction was the finale for the month-long Big Egg Hunt NYC by Faberge, in which egg sculptures were sold to the highest bidder.

It raised £950,000 ($1.6m).

Camilla with her brother Mark Shand in 2010

Mr Shand wrote a number of books and appeared in documentaries, with elephants and India common themes.

He won the 1996 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Prix Litteraire d'Amis for his book Queen Of The Elephants, which was later made into a BBC documentary.

When Mr Shand was younger he was known for partying.

Prince Charles and Mark Shand during a visit to India

He was expelled from Milton Abbey School in Dorset for smoking cannabis and spent time as a rally driver and bobsleigh star.

Major Bruce Shand, his father, opted to send him to Australia when he was expelled and Mr Shand stopped off in India, where his fondness for elephants developed.

He was romantically linked to the likes of Bianca Jagger, Jackie Onassis' sister Lee Radziwill and Jackie's daughter, Caroline Kennedy.

Mr Shand married the French actress Clio Goldsmith in 1990 and they had a daughter together called Ayesha.

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Gym Fees 'Could Stop Mortgage Approvals'

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

Homebuyers could find themselves turned down for a mortgage because of their gym memberships, phone bills and pension payments, under new rules introduced this weekend, experts have warned.

Mortgage advisers said new restrictions introduced under the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) would drastically increase the intrusiveness of checks undergone by applicants.

The warning coincided with advice from economists, who claim the rules could dampen down activity in the housing market.

The new rules, part of a push to prevent lenders handing out loans to those unable to afford them, will stipulate banks and building societies must inspect customers' spending commitments to ensure they can keep up their monthly payments.

Those commitments might include items as innocuous as informal club memberships, according to Peter Marriott of Westexe Mortgage Solutions.

He said: "They might have a gym membership, they might be contributing to a pension plan - anything that's deemed by a mortgage lender to be a commitment could be held against them as an ongoing expense, which would in turn affect the affordability and the lender's decision on how much they can borrow."

The MMR changes will also mean lenders have to test whether homebuyers will be able to afford their mortgage payments if interest rates rise sharply, to 7% or above.

The Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee has recommended it should be able to change the suggested stress test rate in future, giving it an extra lever to influence house prices.

The changes come amid growing consternation about rising house prices.

According to the Office for National Statistics, house prices across the UK have increased by 9.1% in the past year.

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Labour Looks At Breaking Ties With Co-op Bank

Labour is considering breaking its historic links with the struggling Co-operative Bank.

The party has confirmed it is "reviewing its financial arrangements", insisting it is for commercial reasons.

It is reported Labour is looking to move loans worth more than £1m to the trade union-owned Unity Trust Bank, in which the Co-op Bank is in the process of selling its 27% stake.

This could pave the way for Labour to move all its current account facilities to the same bank.

Among those on the board of directors of the Unity Trust Bank are union leaders Dave Prentis of Unison and Billy Hayes of the CWU, according to its 2013 report and accounts. Mr Prentis is listed as president.

The move by Labour follows a year of turmoil at the Co-op bank, which came close to collapse and saw the resignation of its chairman Paul Flowers, who is now facing drug charges.

The bank recently reported a pre-tax annual loss of £1.3bn, and said it would not return to profit for at least two years.

And the parent Co-op Group, confirmed a loss of £2.5bn for 2013, in what it described as a "disastrous year".

A Labour Party spokesman said: "The Labour Party is constantly reviewing its financial arrangements. All decisions are taken for commercial reasons."

The step would see one of the oldest political and banking relationships come to an end.

The Co-op Movement and Labour joined as parties in 1927, and the financial links are thought to have started then.

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps claimed the move "would hand the trade unions even more control over Ed Miliband and the Labour Party" as the Unity Trust Bank was already 75% union-owned.

"The unions already pick the candidates, buy the policies and choose the leader. Now Ed Miliband wants them to hold the purse strings as well," he said.

"If Ed Miliband is too weak to stand up to the trade union barons then he is too weak to stand up for hardworking people. This would put Britain's economic security at risk."

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Teachers Warn Of 'Constant' CCTV Surveillance

Teachers say they are being subjected to constant surveillance by CCTV cameras in schools which are supposed to be used to keep pupils safe.

A poll conducted by the NASUWT union has revealed 8% of 7,500 members questioned said classroom cameras record their lessons. They felt the footage was being used by school leaders to monitor their performance.

The survey comes as delegates attending the union's annual conference in Birmingham discuss a motion suggesting there is too much surveillance of teachers.

Teachers have complained the cameras are being used to judge performance

It says the monitoring is unreasonable, without justification, and adds little value to pupils' progress.

The motion adds: "Its impact is to stifle creativity in education, disempower teachers, put procedure before purpose and increase the workload of teachers."

One teacher said of their school: "CCTV has been used against staff to imply they are handling a situation incorrectly even though the CCTV has no sound."

Another said: "In my school it has been used specifically with newly qualified teachers that the senior leadership team think are not performing well."

Nearly 90% of teachers who have CCTV in their classroom say they cannot switch the cameras off and 40% claim the recordings are monitored by school leaders and the footage used to make judgments about staff performance.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: "Teachers are already wrestling with excessive monitoring, masquerading as classroom observation, carried out by senior management and a host of other people regularly visiting their classrooms.

"The stories teachers recounted to us in the survey are a shocking catalogue of professional disrespect and unacceptable intrusion.

"No other professionals are subjected to such appalling treatment; no one should be subjected to the stress and pressure of being watched constantly. Lab rats have more professional privacy."

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Nurse 'Lost Her Job Over Christian Beliefs'

A nursery nurse has said she lost her job after telling a gay colleague her beliefs on homosexuality as a Christian.

Sarah Mbuyi said she made the comment after she was asked about her Christian beliefs by a co-worker at New Park Childcare in Highbury, north London, in January.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre which is assisting Ms Mbuyi, said the Government has "seriously let down" the Christian community.

Ms Mbuyi is claiming unfair dismissal on the grounds of religious discrimination.

She said: "When I said 'no, God does not condone the practice of homosexuality, but does love you and says you should come to Him as you are', she became emotional and went off to report me to my manager."

During an internal disciplinary hearing she claimed her colleague had alleged she raised the issue of homosexuality of a number of occasions. She was dismissed for gross misconduct.

Ms Mbuyi added: "My disciplinary hearing was hopelessly one-sided because they put my accuser's claims to me as fact, without any forewarning and so I wasn't prepared.

"It seemed to me they had already made up their minds to justify sacking me, before hearing my side of the story."

Ms Williams called for Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene in the case.

She said: "Sharing Biblical truths out of genuine love and concern for colleagues is being outlawed in the workplace by a dominating cultural correctness.

"Sarah's case demonstrates the confusion we're experiencing in current times.

"David Cameron has given public recognition of the enormous positive impact that Jesus Christ has had on our nation but he wants to mould Christianity to his political agenda."

In an article for the Church Times this week, Mr Cameron said Britain should be "more confident about our status as a Christian country".

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Teen Thrown Around Ride Like A 'Rag Doll'

A teenager is recovering in hospital after falling 15ft from a fairground ride in Worthing, Sussex.

Beth Thorpe, 18, suffered bruises, head and neck injuries after slipping from the Rocker ride on Marine Parade on Thursday night.

A witness to the incident said Miss Thorpe was flung around like a "rag doll" during the ride before coming out of her seat.

Friend Faith Paine, 18, told The Argus newspaper: "Seconds after the ride started she was flung about like a rag doll and started foaming at the mouth, immediately I knew something was wrong.

"She then started to come out of her seat as her body turned to jelly and just slipped out. I was trying to scream stop and help, but it was too late.

"It was without a doubt the most horrific thing I have ever seen in my life."

Miss Thorpe suffered cuts, grazes and bruising in the accident

The A Level student was later taken to the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton.

Her father, Robert Thorpe, said: "It was traumatic for her and it's traumatic for us, we are just happy she is recovering, I could have lost my child.

"She has got bruising, cuts and grazes all over her body.

"We do not know exactly what happened, we weren't there, we just got a phone call and all we know is that she was flung out of the ride and she blacked out."

A spokesperson from Worthing Borough Council said: "Following an accident on a fairground ride at Worthing seafront our thoughts are with the woman injured in the accident and her family.

"We wish her a full and speedy recovery. We are grateful to the emergency services who attended the scene promptly.

"The fairground ride operators and Worthing Borough Council will fully co-operate with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and relevant authorities into the investigation that will take place.

"In the meantime, the ride will remain closed until HSE clearance is received to reopen the ride. At the current time we are unable to confirm when the investigation will be completed."

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Islamist Extremism 'A Deadly Problem For Charity'

A charities' watchdog has warned that Islamist extremism is the "most deadly" problem the sector faces.

William Shawcross, chairman of the Charity Commission, said it was "ludicrous" that people convicted of terrorism offences or money laundering are not barred from setting up charities.

He told The Sunday Times the commission was taking action against any charity that was "sending cash to extremist groups in Syria" or "dispatching young Britons for training in Syria by al Qaeda or other extremist groups".

He said: "The problem of Islamist extremism and charities... is not the most widespread problem we face in terms of abuse of charities, but is potentially the most deadly. And it is, alas, growing.

"I'm sure that in places like Syria and Somalia it is very, very difficult for agencies always to know what the end use of their aid is, but they've got to be particularly vigilant."

In February, the Charity Commission was criticised as "feeble" after an investigation by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee, which found it had failed to act robustly on clear cases of abuse.

Mr Shawcross described the criticism as "completely wrong", but said the watchdog needs better funding and legal powers to improve its function.

He added he had written to the Prime Minister asking for legislation to strength its powers.

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