Warning As Mers Coronavirus Lands In UK

Air travellers have been warned after a passenger who passed through Heathrow Airport was diagnosed with a potentially deadly Sars-like virus.

The non-UK national was diagnosed with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) after being taken to hospital with respiratory symptoms in the US.

The passenger had flown on a British Airways flight from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to Heathrow on April 24, before transferring to Chicago.

Public Health England (PHE) has contacted UK passengers on BA Flight 262 who were sitting near the affected passenger, but stressed the risk of infection was "extremely low".

Britons on the flight who become unwell or experience respiratory problems have been urged to contact NHS 111.

PHE is also working with US authorities to trace any UK passengers on the onward flight - American Airlines Flight 99 from London to Chicago.

It is thought that coronavirus may have come from camels

It is the first case of MERS-CoV in the US, after diagnosis was confirmed by the United States Centre for Disease Control in Indiana.

Since mid-March, 111 people have tested positive in the Jeddah area of Saudi Arabia, WHO figures show - the biggest increase in the MERS-CoV outbreak since it was detected in April 2012.

There have been 401 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection in 12 countries including 93 deaths, according to the US Centre for Disease Control.

Three people have died so far in the UK as a result of the infection - including one man who died at the end of June.

PHE said the last case to be detected in the UK was in February last year.

Cases have also been reported in France, Germany, Italy and Greece, across the Middle East in Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman and in other countries including Malaysia, Philippines and Tunisia.

PHE said the period between exposure to MERS-CoV and when symptoms might develop is up to 14 days.

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Max Clifford: New Claims Under Police Review

Scotland Yard detectives are looking into new allegations against disgraced publicist Max Clifford, who has spent his first night in prison after being jailed for eight years.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said other people had since come forward with allegations since Clifford was sentenced yesterday for a string of sex sexual offences against four women aged 15 to 19.

"We have received further information and this is currently subject to review," he said.

Meanwhile, children's charity NSPCC helpline said the 71-year-old's "substantial sentence" sent a "clear message" that victims of historic abuse can achieve justice.

Its director Peter Watt said: "It's clear the judge has recognised the pain and suffering Clifford caused and the additional distress he put his victims through by forcing them to relive their ordeal in court.

"His victims showed an enormous amount of courage in coming forward, four through the NSPCC helpline, and were treated with contempt throughout by Clifford, who called them liars and fantasists in court.

The prison van carrying Clifford

"As we heard in the trial, Clifford seriously damaged many years of their lives, with some being left suicidal by their terrible experiences at his hands."

He added: "The sentence, and those of other recent cases up and down the country, sends a clear message that victims of non-recent abuse can get justice.

"All allegations, however long after the abuse took place, must be fully investigated and assessed by the police and CPS, with victims fully supported."

Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Leonard told Clifford: "The reason why (your crimes) were not brought to light sooner was because of your dominant character.

"Your victims thought you were untouchable, something I think you too believed."

Judge Leonard condemned Clifford's 'contemptuous' behaviour

He also blasted Clifford for causing an "additional element of trauma" to the women he abused by his "contemptuous attitude".

Judge Leonard said that due to the age of the offences, that occurred between 1977 and 1984, Clifford was charged under an act from 1956, which set the maximum term for each charge at two years.

Under later legislation passed in 2003, the maximum term would have been 10 years, and for the worst instances would have been charged as rape, which attract a maximum life term.

Clifford, who was taken to Wandsworth Prison in south London, will have to serve at least half his sentence.

The former celebrity agent repeatedly shook his head as the judge made his comments in Southwark Crown Court.

Clifford, who branded his accusers "fantasists", remained defiant ahead of his sentencing, saying: "I stand by everything I have said in the last 17 months."

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Stabbed Leeds Teacher: Minute's Silence Held

Head teachers have held a minute's silence in memory of Ann Maguire who was fatally stabbed at a Leeds school earlier this week.

The tribute was staged at the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) annual conference in Birmingham.

Delegates heard Mrs Maguire described as a "dedicated, inspirational and caring teacher who was loved by so many".

The 61-year-old was fatally stabbed as she taught a lesson at Corpus Christi Catholic College on Monday morning.

The Spanish teacher, who had worked at the school for more than 40 years, was due to retire in September.

A 15-year-old boy accused of murdering Mrs Maguire has been remanded in custody with a provisional trial date fixed for November 3.

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Gerry Adams Questioning Extended By 48 Hours

Police investigating the murder of Jean McConville have been given an additional 48 hours to question Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

The 65-year-old, who has always vehemently denied allegations levelled by former republican colleagues that he ordered the murder of Ms McConville, voluntarily presented himself for interview on Wednesday.

His custody was extended on Friday night after Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness claimed the detention of his long-time party colleague and friend was politically motivated ahead of elections later this month.

Ms McConville was dragged screaming from her home by an IRA gang in 1972

Mr McGuinness accused "very senior people" in the PSNI who were opposed to the peace process of engaging in "political policing".

"There is a cabal in the PSNI who have a different agenda - a negative and destructive agenda - to both the peace process and to Sinn Fein," he said.

Mr McGuinness contrasted the treatment of Mr Adams with a series of cases involving the British military - such as the Bloody Sunday killings of 1972 - where no action had been taken.

Mr McGuinness said Sinn Fein would "reflect" and "review" its support for policing in the region if Mr Adams is charged but urged republicans to remain calm if and until that happened.

Martin McGuinness says the arrest of Mr Adams was politically motivated

Police are questioning Mr Adams about the killing of the Belfast mother of 10 in 1972.

She was wrongly suspected of being an informer to the British Army.

Ms McConville was dragged screaming from her children in the Divis flats in west Belfast by a gang of up to 12 men and women.

She was interrogated, shot in the back of the head and then secretly buried - so becoming one of the "Disappeared" victims of the Troubles.

A new mural of Gerry Adams is painted in Belfast's Falls Road

Her body was not found until 2003 on a beach in Co Louth, 50 miles from her home.

Ms McConville's eldest daughter, Helen McKendry, has told journalists she is now prepared to name the people responsible for her mother's death.

PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott has vowed the investigation into Ms McConville's death will be "effective, objective and methodical".

No one has ever been charged with the murder of the 37-year-old widow.

Helen McKendry says she is ready to name the people who killed her mother

But after years without progress in the criminal investigation there have been a series of arrests in recent weeks.

The recent police activity followed a decision by a US court compelling a Boston university to hand over to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recorded interviews with republicans about the murder.

Boston College interviewed a number of former paramilitaries about the Troubles on the understanding transcripts would not be published until after their deaths.

But that undertaking was rendered ineffective when the court ordered last year that tapes that contained claims about the killing be given to detectives.

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Man Charged Over Egg Attack On UKIP's Farage

A man has been charged with common assault after UKIP leader Nigel Farage was hit by an egg during a campaign visit to Nottingham.

Mr Farage was pelted as he arrived in the city to rally support in the East Midlands for UKIP candidates in the European elections.

Frederick Glenister, 33, was charged in connection with an alleged assault in Wheeler Gate, Nottingham, at around 1.30pm on Thursday, according to police.

Glenister, of Radford, Nottingham, has been released on police bail to appear before city magistrates on May 22.

After the protest, Mr Farage quickly jumped back in his chauffeur-driven car, abandoning a planned walkabout.

He instead went to the Bell Inn near the city's town hall, and ordered a pint of traditional Robin Hood beer.

Earlier, he ruled out running as an MP in the forthcoming Newark by-election.

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Peaches Geldof Death: Police Hunt Drug Dealer

Peaches Geldof Inquest: Full Police Statement

Updated: 4:32pm UK, Thursday 01 May 2014

Peaches Geldof's husband believed she was sleeping after he struggled to reach her on the morning she was found dead, police have said.

Here is the full statement given by Kent Police at the inquest into her death.

Family History:

Peaches Geldof-Cohen is the daughter of Bob Geldof KBE and the late Paula Yates and was born in London in 1989.

She has three siblings, Fifi Trixibelle Geldof, Pixie Geldof and Tiger-Lily Geldof.

Peaches married Thomas Cohen late 2012 and they have two sons; Astala born 18th April 2012 and Phaedra born 24th April 2013.

Timeline of relevant events:

On Thursday 3rd April 2014 Thomas Cohen went with his two sons to stay for the weekend at his parent's house in South East London.

This is a normal occurrence that enables Peaches and Thomas to complete work within their respective careers.

Thomas maintained phone contact with Peaches and it has been established she saw friends on the night of Friday 5th April.

It is believed that Peaches spent Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday morning at her home address alone, throughout this period she maintained telephone contact with various family and friends including contact with Thomas's mother to arrange a family activity but this was cancelled due to poor weather.

Peaches maintained contact with family and friends throughout Sunday and at 5pm, Thomas's father, Keith Cohen, took the youngest child Phaedra back to Wrotham and spent around half an hour with Peaches before leaving the child with her.

At present it is believed that the last contact directly between Peaches and anyone else was at 7.45pm when she had a telephone conversation with a friend.

All of the friends and family who had contact with Peaches during this period describe how she seemed her normal self and was making plans for the future, including booking a family outing for her sons the following weekend. There was no cause for any concern.

On the morning of Monday 7th April Thomas Cohen made repeated efforts to contact his wife but had no success. He travelled with his mother Sue Cohen and their other son Astala to the home address arriving there around 1.30pm.

Thomas entered the property and went upstairs thinking that Peaches may have been sleeping.

Thomas then located Peaches in a spare bedroom and it was obvious to him that she was deceased.

She was located on the edge of a bed with one leg hanging down to the floor with the other leg tucked underneath her; she was slumped forward across the bed.

Thomas called for his mother and they quickly located Phaedra and called the emergency services.

The police arrived and was shown to Peaches location; paramedics then attended and confirmed 'life extinct' without any need to alter Peaches position on the bed.

Kent Police detectives attended the scene and initiated an investigation into the full circumstances of the death.

The SIO referred the death to the coroner having made an initial conclusion that the death was unexplained but there was no evidence to suggest a third party was involved.

The coroner agreed that the body should be removed to a mortuary for a post-mortem and the investigation into the circumstances of the death should be completed.

Post-mortem:

A post-mortem was carried by Dr Peter Jerreatt, Forensic Pathologist and initial results were inconclusive.

Forensic samples were obtained and sent for examination with the results concluding there was recent use of heroin and that the levels identified were likely to have played a role in her death.

There is currently an on-going police investigation into this incident on behalf of the coroner.

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British Fighters Filmed In Syria 'War Crime'

By Tom Rayner, Middle East Reporter

Video has emerged implicating British fighters in Syria in an apparent war crime.

Footage uncovered by researchers at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) shows jihadist rebels killing a prisoner, said to be a loyalist of President Bashar al Assad.

The incident is thought to have happened in the last two weeks near Raqqa in northern Syria.

The footage was posted on the Instagram account of a man believed to be from London.

The caption accompanying the video describes the prisoner as one of "Bashar [al Assad's] dogs" and says the killing was retribution for the deaths of four fellow rebels and the rape of a woman.

The ICSR monitors the social media accounts of hundreds of foreign fighters inside Syria.

Researchers say one of the executioners is a Briton seen in other videos

They believe the man that posted the video is part of a group of British fighters, known as Rayat al Tawheed, an affiliate of the Sunni jihadi movement ISIS, which controls large swathes of northern Syria.

Shiraz Maher, a senior ICSR researcher based at King's College London, said the killing of prisoners is a war crime in international law.

"It's incredibly serious," he said.

"We believe the main characters involved with Rayat al Tawheed come from London.

"We have deduced this based on our discussions with foreign fighters, our extensive record-keeping of foreign fighter activity in Syria, and our maintenance of social network maps which allows us to plot activity and associations in a visual form."

In one video a British fighter says a bullet is "the pen of the mujahid"

Although no audible English is spoken in the video itself, analysts from the ICSR believe they have identified one of the gunmen as being a British citizen.

A man is seen in the video firing shots into the body of the prisoner in the seconds after the initial bullet was fired by the main shooter.

Analysis of the gunman's physical build, wristwatch and balaclava led the ICSR to conclude he is the same man seen speaking English with a London accent in other videos posted by the group.

"We don't know if the prisoner was alive or dead when he fired, but he did partake in the execution, he did fire shots at the individual from his weapon, and we believe he is a British citizen," said ICSR researcher Joseph Carter.

On two separate videos posted on YouTube, the man identified as the gunman by the ICSR is heard berating the British Muslim community for failing to provide sufficient financial support for the jihad or the families the fighters have left behind.

The group lobbies for donations to buy more weapons and ammunition

"You know who you are, from the capital, the Midlands, up north, wherever you may be… it's a disgrace, that brothers know where these wives are, where these families are, and yet you are buying your nephew or your child a PlayStation 4 or taking them out to Nando's," he said.

The Government's counter-terrorism programme last week launched a campaign urging the families of young men planning to travel to Syria to intervene.

It is estimated that up to 400 Britons have travelled to fight or train in Syria in the last two years. 

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "This demonstrates why we have consistently called for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

"Horrific atrocities have been committed by both the Assad regime and by extremists. The international community must ensure that all those responsible are held to account.

"Our priority is to dissuade people from travelling, but any extremists should know we are prepared to take action to protect national security, and intelligence agencies and police are working to identify potential threats."

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Philippines: Online 'Sextortion' Plot Smashed

An online sexual extortion plot that is thought to have led to the suicide of a British teenager has been broken by authorities in the Philippines.

Police have arrested 58 people in the archipelago for their involvement in what they describe as a global internet "sextortion" network.

Victims have been lured into giving sexually explicit photos or videos of themselves by people posing online as attractive, young women.

Alan Purisima, the Philippines' national police chief, said those involved in the plot blackmailed their victims by threatening to upload the photos or videos to the internet.

Some have been forced to hand over thousands of dollars, the authorities said.

Hundreds people have fallen victim to the plot in Britain, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the US in the last three to four years.

DCI Gary Cunningham, from Police Scotland, told a news conference in Manila there was strong evidence the British teenager who killed himself had chatted with somebody from the Philippines.

DCI Gary Cunningham of Police Scotland speaks at a news conference

Three of those arrested were alleged to have targeted Daniel Perry, a 17-year-old mechanic who took his own life by jumping off a bridge in Scotland in July last year after being blackmailed.

Daniel was said to have believed that the person he was speaking to online was a girl from America.

His mother, Nicola Perry, said: "The manner of Daniel's death is every parent's worst nightmare. After being targeted by complete strangers online, he was left so traumatised by his ordeal that he chose to take his own life."

The syndicates involved find their victims using a number of internet platforms, not only social media, such as Facebook, said Mr Cunningham.

Mr Purisima added that the gangs involved often ask their victims to use a webcam.

He added: "After getting acquainted with the victims ... they engage in cybersex, and this will be recorded unknown to the victims.

"These images or information are then used to extort sexual favours or money from the victim with the threat of sharing these (images and information) with others."

He added that some of the "sextortion" groups operate like call centres where operators hire men and women, sitting in rows of computer cubicles, to lure in foreign clients.

They usually ask for £300 ($500) from a victim but there have been demands of up to £8,000 ($15,000), Interpol said.

Sanjay Virmani, director of Interpol's Digital Crime Centre, said: "The scale of this extortion network is massive."

Asif Ahmad, British Ambassador to the Philippines, said: "This is not an issue directly involving the Philippines exclusively.

"Cybercrime is international, and is an international problem, it respects no nationality or borders. We are all potential victims of cybercrime, none of us are immune."

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org

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Tube Strike: Lines Open Despite 'Solid' Support

Union leaders say a 48-hour strike by Tube workers has been "solidly" supported, despite all 11 London Underground lines opening to passengers.

Transport for London (TfL) said the Northern and Victoria lines were running a good service, as commuters headed to work on the second day of the walk-out over plans to close ticket offices and cut jobs.

However, a special service was operating on other routes beneath the capital and there were queues for buses and trains as passengers made alternative travel plans.

The latest bout of industrial action in a long-running row involving members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is due to end at 9pm.

The union's acting general secretary, Mick Cash, accused London Underground of refusing to budge from an "entrenched position" and "flagrantly violating" promises.

Commuters queue at Oxford Circus Underground station

"It's scandalous that TfL is blowing what we estimate to be hundreds of thousands of pounds on politically-motivated adverts and propaganda designed to deflect attention from (Mayor of London) Boris Johnson's broken promises," he added.

London Underground said half of its services ran yesterday and two-thirds of stations were open - much more than during another stoppage in February.

Managing director Mike Brown said 15% more staff were at work on Tuesday compared to the previous strike and appealed for fresh talks.

He added: "It's infuriating that London's commuters and businesses are the ones being forced to pay the price with this unnecessary disruption."

Extra buses have been brought in, including this old green Routemaster

According to TfL, almost 90% of the usual number of Oyster cards were used on its network on Tuesday.

Mr Johnson said any suggestion the strike enjoys strong support is "farcical".

"This action is the result of a minority of just one union, the RMT, which is refusing to see the logic of what we're trying to achieve," he added.

Another three-day strike is planned for next week.

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Co-op Bank Review Sparks Pay Clawback Demand

The Main Findings Of The Co-op Bank Review

Updated: 10:38am UK, Wednesday 30 April 2014

The review by Sir Christopher Kelly into what went wrong at the Co-operative Bank is summarised below:

:: THE REVIEW

The independent review was commissioned in July 2013. It is based on more than 130 interviews of current and former employees, board members and others, as well as examinations of internal papers and external reports.

Its conclusions are scathing. In its own words it is a "sorry story of failings in management and governance".

The review states that contributory factors to the "debacle" include the economic environment and increasing capital requirements by regulators but Sir Christopher Kelly identifies two key areas of failing:

:: BRITANNIA MERGER

It says the Britannia merger of August 2009 "lies at the heart" of the problems at the bank. At the time of the merger, Britannia was the second largest building society in the UK with assets of £35bn, 2.8m customers and 254 branches, compared with Co-Op Bank's assets of £15bn, 500k customers and 90 branches.

Britannia had more exposure to sub-prime lending (loans to people who may struggle to repay them) than any other building society. The review found out Britannia would sometimes complete transactions that no other lender would take on.

It was put on a "watch list" by the city regulator, then-called the FSA, but it makes clear neither Britannia, nor the Co-op Bank were aware of this.

It calls the due diligence process preceding the merger "cursory" and "startling". Accountancy firm, KPMG was not given access to Britannia premises so could only perform high level checks on the information provided. But adviser JP Morgan Cazenove advised the Co-op that KPMG's due diligence "exceeded that normally undertaken for listed companies".

The Bank's board was not alerted to the deteriorating business case of Britannia as property prices plummeted. Something the review calls "a major error of judgement".

:: MANAGEMENT AND CULTURE

It says the executive team of the bank "failed to exercise sufficiently prudent and effective management of capital and risk" and that the board "failed" in its oversight of the executive. Combined it says "they badly let down the Group's members".

The bank's culture accepted mediocrity and "did too little to discourage wrong behaviours". It failed to address poor performance and tolerated under-performers – "something which might take a week in most banks would take months in the Co-operative Bank".

It advises that considering the Group still owns 30% of the bank, the Group board should take on an experienced banker. It notes that both Sainsbury's and Tesco, which are trading companies with banking subsidiaries smaller and less complex than the Co-op Bank, have experienced bankers on their main boards.

Other areas of note:

:: Payment Protection Insurance

In relation to PPI mis-selling it notes that in spite of the fact the Bank had an avowedly ethical policy, it "manifestly failed to treat its customers fairly". Total provisions for PPI compensation up to the end of 2013 were £347m.

:: PROJECT VERDE (LLOYDS BRANCHES)

Paul Flowers, the disgraced former chair of the Bank, is called in the report a "wholly unsuitable person to chair the Co-operative Bank board".

Flowers has asserted the Treasury pressured the Bank into buying branches of Lloyds, in the deal known as Project Verde.

He declined to be interviewed by the review but the report has found "no compelling evidence of pressure from government ministers or anyone else".

:: CONCLUSION

The report concludes the circumstances that led to the lessons laid out by the report "must pain all who care about the co-operative movement".

:: CONTEXT

In the past few weeks both the Co-operative Group and the bank have announced major losses.

The group's losses were £2.5bn for 2013 - the worst results in the group's 150-year history, with £2.1bn of that coming from the Co-op Bank.

The Bank's figure contained a trading loss of £1.44bn for the year to December, when the group lost control of Co-op Bank to US hedge funds.

The interim chief executive of the group, Richard Pennycook, on April 17 called the past year a "disastrous year for the group" - the worst in its history.

:: AGM

On May 17 there will be an AGM for Co-operative members. It is expected the mutual's board will seek backing for Lord Myners' proposals to reform corporate governance.

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Ann Maguire: Memories Of A Much-Loved Teacher

By Becky Johnson, Sky Correspondent

Ann Maguire was a teacher loved by generations of pupils at Corpus Christi Catholic College.

In working at the school for 40 years she saw pupils grow up and become parents themselves.

Julie Langton, 42, was delighted when she found out Mrs Maguire was still teaching when her daughter and son joined the school.

She told Sky News: "You knew that she had the best interests at heart of any child that went to school.

"I was really pleased when I knew that my kids were going to get taught by her, that she'd make them better.

"There's teachers that come and go and there's other teachers that do make that impression.

"She was one that obviously stuck in my mind."

Julie Langton was taught by Ann Maguire in the 1980s

Mrs Langton says when she was a pupil in the 1980s, Mrs Maguire's husband Donald also worked at the school.

"Mr Maguire was an extremely funny maths teacher. He was lovely as well.

"He was one that used to have a good sense of humour, but I must admit that Mrs Maguire was one that came across with the warmth.

"She was a bit of a mother figure."

Mrs Langton has shown her daughter Tamzin, 14, and son Austin, 12, a photograph she has kept of her favourite teacher from her time at school.

Tamzin told Sky News the death of a much-loved teacher has shocked pupils.

"We're still expecting her to walk down the corridor, opening doors, saying good morning to everyone.

"We've grown to love her and she's been this role model for everyone. Even teachers, teachers really adore her. She was amazing."

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Teacher Stabbing: More Time To Question Suspect

Police have been granted more time to question a 15-year-old boy as police continue to investigate why a popular teacher, just months from retirement, was fatally stabbed in front of her class.

Ann Maguire died from multiple stab wounds in the incident at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, where she had taught for more than 40 years.

Police were due to interview the boy held in connection with the death yesterday, a task officers said would be handled sensitively due to his age.

Corpus Christi headteacher Steve Mort and two pupils walk to lay flowers

Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon, of West Yorkshire Police Protective Services, said: "Given his young age, this is a process which needs to be handled sensitively and can take some time to complete.

"We will obviously give consideration to our powers to extend the period of his detention if that is required."

Meanwhile, it was reported in The Sun that Mrs Maguire was stabbed to death after going to work on her day off to help pupils prepare for next month's GCSE Spanish exams.

Students and staff paid tribute to the much-loved Spanish teacher on an emotional first day back at school.

A mass was held to remember Mrs Maguire

It was also being widely reported that Mrs Maguire had brought up her sister's two young sons after their mother died of cancer.

The Times said the teacher, who had two adult daughters, looked after her nephews following the death of sister Eileen Poole in 1986.

Police have also confirmed that the school had a dedicated 'safer schools' officer, but that she was helping at another school on the day Mrs Maguire was killed.

The 61-year-old, who taught generations of children during her time at the school, was due to retire in September.

Children began arriving early to add tributes to more than 200 bouquets of flowers that cover the railings outside the school gates.

Mrs Maguire was also remembered at a service in the neighbouring Corpus Christi Church.

Students who witnessed the incident are being interviewed by specialist officers.

Some reported hearing screams as other members of staff rushed to her classroom and restrained her attacker.

Her death is the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom.

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School Teacher Stabbing: Tributes At Memorial

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The Tuesday morning mass held at Corpus Christi church, next to the Catholic school where teacher Ann Maguire was stabbed to death on Monday, was packed.

As a testament to her popularity among generations in the local community, the usually sparse congregation was swelled by hundreds of pupils past and present who came to pay their respects.

There were few tears at the service.

Instead, many of the teenagers said they were there to celebrate a teacher who had helped them personally in both their school work and their lives.

One of the many handwritten tributes to school teacher Ann Maguire

Parish priest Monsignor Paul Fisher offered prayers for Mrs Maguire and her family, telling the congregation: "Today we pray for the light of hope - hope for ourselves that we will eventually come to terms with what has happened."

He alluded only briefly to the horror of what happened just a few hundred yards away in the school's languages block.

"We offer prayers too for the family of the man who unfortunately did what he did," he said.

Prayers were also said for the family of the boy who stabbed the teacher

Pupils walking back from the service passed the hundreds of flowers lining the pavement underneath the school railings.

One message, written by a boy preparing for exams, appeared to sum up the attitude of many in the school community.

It read: "To Mrs Maguire. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I will put all my effort into my exams for you. Rest in peace."

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Tube Strike Leads To Long Queues Across London

Commuters have faced long delays after a Tube strike over ticket office closures took effect in London.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union mounted picket lines outside stations after walking out at 9pm on Monday.

The action is planned to last for 48 hours and will be followed by a three-day stoppage next week.

Large queues built up as early rush-hour passengers waited until 7am for the first Tube trains to run.

Passengers outside Stratford Underground, DLR and Overground station

London Underground (LU) said it was running services on nine lines despite the "pointless" strike, although there were no trains on the Waterloo and City or Circle lines.

There were almost 8,000 buses on the roads - the most ever operated in London - after an extra 266 were put into service.

LU managing director Mike Brown said: "Thousands of staff and volunteers are working hard this morning to keep London working and our customers informed in the face of this pointless strike.

"More London Underground staff have come to work this morning than during the strike back in February and a record number of London buses are operating."

At Euston station in north London, customers crowded around the entrance to the Underground, waiting for the clock to tick round to 7am.

On the busy Victoria line, where trains normally run approximately every two minutes, there was just one service every 10 minutes.

At Victoria station in central London, passengers pouring off mainline trains were confronted with a wall of people waiting for Tube services.

There were large crowds at Clapham Junction in the southwest of the capital, with many passengers choosing to take Overground services and some platforms restricted.

Commuters wait to board a busy Underground train on the Northern Line

Heathrow Express trains between Paddington and Heathrow were running as scheduled due to staff reserves.

The RMT union is embroiled in a fresh row over the ticket office closure plans, which officials warn threaten safety as well as almost 1,000 jobs.

LU denied there would be any impact on safety and said ticket office staff would provide a better service if they were moved to other parts of stations.

The RMT said its members were solidly supporting the industrial action, as the union again attacked the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, over the future of ticket offices.

Bus and train services were also much busier than normal

Mick Cash, the union's acting general secretary, said: "London Underground have dug themselves into an entrenched position and have refused to move one inch from their stance of closing every ticket office.

"It is scandalous that Transport for London are blowing what we estimate to be hundreds of thousands of pounds on politically-motivated adverts and propaganda designed to deflect attention from Mr Johnson's broken promises."

However, Mr Brown said: "The RMT leadership appears to remain implacably opposed to the modernisation of the Tube that will radically improve customer service and help us keep fares down."

Business groups warned the strikes will cost the capital's economy millions of pounds.

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UK Economy Grows 0.8% In First Quarter

The UK's economic recovery continued in the first quarter of 2014, with the first estimate of GDP growth coming in at 0.8%.

The figure, while weaker than the 0.9% most economists had expected, meant that output was 3.1% higher than on the same period the previous year, marking the fastest annual growth since the last quarter of 2007.

However, the economy remains 0.6% smaller than at its peak in the first quarter of 2008, after the recession wiped 7.2% off total output.

News of the economy's latest performance, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed growth across each major sector of the economy, though construction output was damaged by the impact of the winter storms.

The ONS said while widespread flooding appeared to have no overall effect on output it said bad weather in January and February did hit efforts to meet demand for new homes, with construction recording just 0.3% growth.

Mr Osborne says the figures show Britain is "coming back"

Output in the service sector - which makes up more than three quarters of UK GDP - rose by 0.9% and continued to be driven by consumer spending.

Manufacturing grew by 1.3%, its strongest quarter for nearly four years, bolstering hopes for a rebalancing in the recovery away from its reliance on consumers.

Industrial production rose 0.8% though mining and quarrying, electricity and gas production and agriculture shrank over the quarter.

The GDP figures were seized upon by the union organisation the TUC as evidence the recovery was not gaining enough momentum to sustain a raise in interest rates, which is widely expected next year.

The figures were released at the same time as statistics showing a 2.5% rise in the number of people being declared insolvent in England and Wales over the same period.

There were 24,931 individual insolvencies recorded during the three months - a period when wage increases finally caught up with inflation for the first time since the recession.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "Today's figures show that Britain is coming back - but we can't take that for granted. We have to carry on working through our long-term economic plan.

"For the first time in a decade all three main sectors of the economy - manufacturing, services and construction - have grown by at least 3% over the last year.

"The impact of the great recession is still being felt, but the foundations for a broad-based recovery are now in place.

"The biggest risk to economic security would be abandoning the plan that is laying those foundations".

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: "Now that growth has finally returned, the question is whether ordinary working people will properly feel the benefit and we have a balanced recovery that's built to last."

He told Sky News: "Most people are experiencing a cost of living crisis, which David Cameron and George Osborne try to deny. Its a reality for most people in our country".

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Leeds Teacher Died From Multiple Stab Wounds

A post-mortem examination has found a teacher killed at a Leeds school died from multiple stab wounds.

Ann Maguire, 61, who taught at Corpus Christi Catholic College for more than 40 years, had been due to retire in September.

Police say they will be interviewing the 15-year-old held in connection with her death at some point during the day.

Due to his age, officers said this would have to be handled sensitively.

The students who witnessed the incident are being interviewed by specialist officers.

The authorities have stressed the fatal stabbing is an isolated incident.

Flowers have been left outside the school in Leeds where Mrs Maguire taught

Detective Superintendent Simon Buldon said: "This is clearly an unprecedented and tragic incident that's left the school and wider community in a state of shock."

The school's chair of governors Martin Dowling said: "This has been a shocking but isolated incident.

"Ann was a wonderful, dedicated teacher and will be remembered fondly by all of us."

He said it would be "very difficult" for the school to move on as Mrs Maguire was a "very popular and long-serving member of staff".

In a statement, school head Steve Mort said: "Our whole school community remains in shock today.

"Ann Maguire was a long-serving, highly-regarded and much-loved member of staff and our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.

"She will be sadly missed by colleagues, current and former pupils, and the community as a whole."

Chief Inspector Nic Adams said: "This is a horrific incident. It's unprecedented nationally, but very much in this local community it's something that's caused a lot of shock and distress."

Prayers were said at a church service for the popular teacher

The school opened as normal on Tuesday to allow staff and students to remember Mrs Maguire, and support each other.

Children began arriving early to add tributes to the more than 200 bouquets of flowers that cover the railings outside the gates.

Mrs Maguire was also remembered at a service in the neighbouring Corpus Christi Church.

Monsignor Paul Fisher said: "Today we pray for the light of hope: hope for ourselves that eventually we will come to terms with what has happened.

"We offer prayer too for the family of the man who unfortunately did what he did."

Officers were called to the school just before noon on Monday after a report a member of staff had been stabbed. A knife was recovered from the scene.

Around 30 pupils witnessed Mrs Maguire, who is believed have two grown-up daughters, being stabbed repeatedly in class.

Some reported hearing screams as other members of staff rushed to her classroom and restrained her attacker.

Her death is the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom.

Head teacher Philip Lawrence was murdered outside a school in Maida Vale, London, in 1995 when he went to help a pupil who was being attacked.

A recent Sky News investigation revealed almost 1,000 pupils were caught with weapons including guns, axes and a meat cleaver in schools in the last three years.

More follows...

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Children Over Five 'Wearing Nappies In Class'

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

Children are still wearing nappies in class after the age of five in hundreds of schools across the country, a Sky News investigation has found.

Teachers have reported pupils as old as 15 who have no medical conditions or developmental issues, but who are unable to use the toilet on their own.

In what is believed to be the first survey of its kind, Sky News commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to ask head teachers and staff in England about their experiences of children coming to schools wearing nappies.

Almost one in 10 heads and senior staff who responded said in the past year a child aged between five and seven had worn a nappy to school.

The figure was 5% for classroom teachers.

Almost one in 20 heads and senior staff said that in the last year a child aged seven to 11 had worn a nappy to school.

And 1% of classroom teachers surveyed had experience of older children in nappies.

The survey was completed by 602 teachers in primary schools and 561 teachers in secondary schools.

The figures suggest that head teachers and senior staff at a substantial number of England's 16,000 primary schools have experience in the past 12 months of at least one pupil above the age of five still wearing nappies.

There has been growing evidence in recent years that increasing numbers of children are starting school in nappies.

But this is the first research to suggest the problem extends beyond the Reception year.

And experts say it is not just pupils from deprived backgrounds who are not being toilet trained, but those who have working parents too busy to address the issue.

Anne-Marie Middleton, a deputy head teacher from Dover, says many pupils are too embarrassed to admit they still wear nappies.

She said: "We're seeing more and more children wearing nappies. We find that more and more children have an issue with toilet (training) further up the school.

Ms Middleton says that the busy lives of parents are often at the root of the problem, with pupils arriving at school without many basic skills including toileting, or being able to use a knife and fork.

Janet Marsh says it is an 'incredibly serious situation'

Janet Marsh runs a programme on behalf of Kent Community Health NHS Trust to try to help pupils toilet train.

She said she knew of 14 or 15 year olds without medical problems who still had toilet-training issues.

"It's an incredibly serious situation," she said.

"There are children who miss 25% of their education in Reception because they're being taken out to be changed. How are they going to catch up?"

Asked if teachers are being asked to do too much by expecting them to act as surrogate parents, Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, replied: "I do think hard about how much we ask of teachers, because we do ask a lot."

Mr Gove said the Government needed to support frontline teachers and listen to their concerns.

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Afghanistan Helicopter Crash Victims Named

Tributes have been paid to the five British servicemen killed in a Lynx helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan.

The victims included Captain Thomas Clarke, Warrant Officer Spencer Faulkner and Corporal James Walters from the Army Air Corps.

They were all based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, along with Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan from the Royal Air Force, who also died, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas of the Intelligence Corps was another victim.

An investigation is taking place into why the aircraft crashed on Saturday morning in the Takhta Pul district of Kandahar, 30 miles from the Pakistan border.

The crash site has been cordoned off and the wreckage will be inspected.

The MoD has denied Taliban claims that insurgents shot down the helicopter, and initial investigations indicated a "tragic accident" during the routine flight rather than enemy action.

Captain Clarke, 30, from Cowbridge, Wales, was described by his commanding officer as a "fantastic young officer, full of life and immensely committed to his soldiers and friends".

The helicopter involved in the crash was a Lynx (file pic)

He added: "In the short time he had served in the unit he had proven to be an exceptional aviator and forthright leader who always placed himself at the centre of squadron life."

Captain Clarke's family said: "Tom brought so much happiness and love to everyone he knew with his sparkling blue eyes and cheeky smile. He had an absolute passion for life and was the best part of us; we are all poorer today without him."

Warrant Officer Faulkner, 38, was an "experienced aviator, loving husband and hugely dedicated father to two children" who had been deployed to Afghanistan on numerous occasions.

His commanding officer said he had been "a stalwart of the squadron for many years" and "consistently displayed the guile, leadership and bravery so closely associated with his squadron".

"The loss of a warrant officer of his calibre and commitment will leave a huge void in the close knit fabric of the unit."

His family said: "Spen was a loving husband to Cally and devoted father to Natasha and Jack, and will be greatly missed. A huge gap has been left in our hearts forever. He has been tragically taken away whilst serving his Country, a job he loved. God rest his soul".

Corporal Walters, 36, was a "highly competent" crewman, deploying to Afghanistan on a number of occasions.

Flowers have been left at RAF Odiham following the tragedy

His commanding officer said: "Corporal James Walters, or 'Bungle' as he was known, was a hugely committed soldier who had served with distinction throughout the Army Air Corps.

"Respected and well liked, he was always a mentor and friend to the less experienced members of the Unit. Never afraid to face the challenges of operations in Afghanistan, he served with immense skill and bravery.  A huge character, the loss of Bungle has devastated the squadron."

His family said: "We cannot begin to comprehend the tragic loss of a beautiful and loving husband, daddy, son, and brother. James has left a huge hole in all our hearts."

Flight Lieutenant Chauhan, 29, from Birmingham, was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan as an intelligence officer when he died.

His commanding officer said he was "a hugely influential and well respected officer whose enthusiasm and professionalism permeated every aspect of his work. Charming, funny and sharp as a tack, he was immensely proud of his role and of his service."

He added he was an "exceptional officer, he clearly had a bright future ahead of him. His loss has devastated the station."

Lance Corporal Thomas, 26, who was from Brecon in Powys, Mid-Wales, volunteered to be mobilised from the Army Reserves for deployment to Afghanistan and arrived last December to be part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

His commanding officer said: "This tragic incident has taken a young, enthusiastic and highly capable Intelligence Corps soldier away from us and his loss is deeply felt by all members of the unit and the Intelligence Corps as a whole."

His family said: "Oliver was a truly amazing person, living his life to the full, while fulfilling some of his many dreams and adventures. He was very much loved and will be greatly missed by his grieving family and friends."

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Inquiry Into Cyril Smith Sex Abuse 'Cover-Up'

An independent inquiry will investigate claims of a cover-up of the alleged sexual abuse of children at Rochdale schools by Sir Cyril Smith.

It will examine allegations of sexual and physical abuse of boys under the age of 18 by the 29-stone politician between 1961 and 1995.

It will also look at whether there was a culture at the council that "tolerated, facilitated or promoted" the alleged abuse.

Announcing the review, Rochdale council leader Colin Lambert said the QC appointed to head the review would investigate whether council staff or members did anything to stop the alleged assaults being "prevented" or "exposed".

Police said as many as 11 new suspects and a number of new victims had been identified in the course of the ongoing investigations into sexual abuse at the Knowl View residential school.

Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said officers were also looking at whether there was a case of a criminal cover-up and urged further victims or witnesses to come forward.

He said: "There are a significant number of people we are trying to trace, obviously made more difficult by the passage of time.

Sir Cyril's family has always denied the allegations against him

"I would just like to point out that investigations into abuse are extremely difficult. They do take a long time because of, often, the damaged effects on the particular victims and the need for corroboration.

"But we are determined to do a very thorough investigation and obviously when we are carrying out investigations into abuse at institutions, clearly we look at the liability of those who may have been running those institutions."

The announcements follow information contained in a newly published book by the Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who now has the Rochdale seat the late Lib Dem MP used to hold.

In the book, Mr Danczuk claims police repeatedly investigated sex abuse allegations against Smith, a former Labour councillor in Rochdale who served as an MP from 1972-92.

He said attempts to prosecute Smith were blocked and police officers threatened with the sack in corruption that could be traced back to the "very top of the establishment" despite 144 complaints by victims.

Mr Danczuk told Sky News: "Everyone has known for 20 years that there has been a cover-up."

He said it was time arrests were made.

Greater Manchester Police said in 2012 that Smith abused boys at the Cambridge Hostel in Rochdale in the 1960s when he was secretary of the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association.Three files were passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions but none was pursued.

Earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats denounced Smith, who died aged 82 in 2010, as "repugnant" but claimed they knew nothing of the allegations.

The party has come under increasing pressure over the matter from those who say the accusations against Smith were so widely known it is a "nonsense" to suggest no one knew about it.

Smith's family has always denied the allegations against him, details of which were first published in 1979.

Mr Lambert said he expected the review by Neil Garnham, which will also look at whether any culture at the council continued after 1995, would be completed by the end of July.

The council had previously announced an independent inquiry into the allegations, however, Mr Lambert said it was clear this now needed to be widened.

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Sheffield Fire: Three Children Among Five Dead

Five people, including three young children, have died in a house fire in Sheffield despite heroic efforts to save the youngsters.

The children - a nine-week-old girl and two boys aged seven and nine - died alongside their aunt, Shabina Begum, 20, and grandmother, Anum Parvaiz, 54. 

The older boy was named as Adhyan Nazim and his younger brother Amaan Nazim. The baby has not yet been named.

Wake Road is about one mile from the centre of Sheffield

Residents in the street were woken shortly after midnight by the sound of wailing and screaming.

Witnesses said that neighbours banged on doors of the home and smashed a window to raise the alarm. 

A neighbour told how they saw the grandmother run distraught from the blazing home, before going back inside to try and rescue the others. 

Police are investigating the cause of the blaze

It is understood the children's father, taxi driver Nazim Parvaiz, was out working when the fire broke out but their mother, Razia Nazim, survived the blaze.

They are said to be devastated and are being comforted by relatives.

Scenes of crime officers have erected a tent outside the three-storey terraced home in Wake Road, Sharrow, and are searching for clues.

Ishfaq Hussain Kayan, the cousin of one of the women who died, said: "Words cannot describe how sad this is. It's a tragedy beyond description.

Police have sealed off the road

"They (the children) were full of life, quite bubbly, very energetic. They were looking forward to attending school."

He said the children's mother "is in a state of shock".

"She's beyond consoling, really. I just hope and pray that they recover from this tragedy."

Mr Hussain Kayani said he believed Ms Nazim, the mother, was in the house when the fire broke out .

"She managed to escape. The grandmother of the children, she made attempts to rescue the children but obviously it wasn't to be," Mr Hussain Kayani  said.

Ishfaq Hussain Kayan says the family were 'joyous and prosperous'

"She came out then went back in, tried her level best. Frantic attempts were made to rescue the children."

He told Sky News: "The father had taken the boys for haircuts for school and the 20-year-old was getting ready to start university.

"Just in a matter of minutes the whole family has been destroyed. They were such a lovely family, such a prosperous family, such a joyous family, well-respected."

The five victims died after the blaze broke out shortly after midnight.

Phil Shillito, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue area manager, said 25 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze.

"They were faced with a very challenging fire, lots of flames coming out of the property, and they were aware family members were in the premise and they went in wearing breathing apparatus enabling them to breathe in the hot and smoky environment.

"Unfortunately they did find five casualties in the property."

Sky's North of England Correspondent Mike McCarthy said Wake Road had been sealed off while investigations continued.

"A 999 call was made at 12.15am and an operation involved an aerial ladder to reach an upper floor," McCarthy said.

"There's a white scenes of crime tent outside the house and there's a window open there. I can still smell the smoke from the fire." 

Four fire engines were called to the scene, as well as police and ambulance services.

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PM: Paedophiles Will Be Treated Like Terrorists

Paedophiles will be given the same treatment as terrorists as part of a crackdown on child abuse, the Prime Minister has said.

David Cameron wants to close a loophole that allows sexual predators to produce and possess manuals containing tips on identifying victims, grooming them and avoiding capture.

Under a new law to be included in the Queen's Speech, paedophiles will face the same kind of punishment as extremists who download guides to bomb-making.

Mr Cameron told the Sunday Times: "It's completely unacceptable that there is a loophole in the law which allows paedophiles to write and distribute these disgusting documents.

"I want to ensure we do everything we can to protect children - and that's why I am making them illegal."

William Vahey was being investigated by the FBI when he took his own life

The loophole emerged after the intelligence agency GCHQ and the National Crime Agency found examples of the guides in the chaotic part of the internet known as the "dark web".

The move comes in the week it was revealed a prolific paedophile abused up to 60 children at a London school before killing himself.

William James Vahey taught history and geography at Southbank International School from 2009 to 2013.

The law is expected to be in force by the general election next year, and the Sunday Times reports it could be implemented in an amendment to the Obscene Publications Act 1959.

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Sunday's National Newspaper Front Pages

The deaths of five British troops in Afghanistan, concerns about diet in British schools, and positive poll results for UKIP all feature on the front pages of Sunday's newspapers.

The Observer reports on comments made by Professor Terence Stephenson, the chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

Professor Stephenson told the newspaper that children's health is being put at risk because schools are allowed to opt out of serving pupils healthy lunches.

The deaths of five British troops in a military helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan are reported on the front page of The Sunday Telegraph.

The helicopter crash also features on the front page of The Daily Star Sunday.

Comedian Jason Manford has urged Britons to support the fundraising efforts of cancer patient Stephen Sutton, according to The Sunday Mirror.

The Sunday People reports that Prince William and Prince Harry will travel to the US to attend a friend's wedding.

The Sunday Express reports on the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

David Cameron will refuse to make further concessions to Eurosceptics, despite UKIP taking the lead in the polls for the first time, The Sunday Times reports.

The Mail On Sunday has a report about the Downing Street "Plebgate" row.

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Paedophile Teacher's Abuse 'Led To Suicides'

A former student of paedophile William James Vahey has said she believes three of her classmates killed themselves after being abused by the teacher.

Alicia, who was taught by Vahey during the 1980s in Saudi Arabia, said she heard rumours about the teacher years after she left school.

"The rumours were, later on, when we would have reunions ... that certain people in my circle, there were three suicides of very popular students of his that were molested by him," she said.

"That was the rumour, and I cannot believe that this guy was still teaching students.

"That was the rumour: that Bill Vahey molested children and that ultimately three children had committed suicide as a result."

Asked to clarify the rumour further, Alicia said: "It's not a rumour. I mean, I know these people."

The FBI application for a search warrant

Vahey, who killed himself last month, is thought to have abused up to 90 boys during his career as a teacher, many of them in Britain.

The FBI says it is believed Vahey abused dozens of pupils at a London school. The American agency is leading the investigation into Vahey's crimes.

FBI special agent Shauna Dunlap said: "Without a doubt, this is certainly one of the most prolific suspected sexual predators that we've seen, given the numbers of children, potential victims, his position of trust, and so forth.

"And some of the allegations and the methods that are being alleged that he may have employed while committing these crimes."

Ms Dunlap added the FBI would not "stop seeking justice" just because Vahey is dead.

FBI agents are in the UK to assist with the investigation into abuse at Southbank International School in London. The 64-year-old taught history and geography there from 2009 to 2013.

Executive principal Graham Lacey said images of between 50 and 60 pupils at the school were found on the American national's computer.

The FBI is in possession of pictures of at least 90 different boys aged 12 to 14 and is concerned there could be more.

Because Vahey drugged some of his victims, many might not even know they were abused.

Southbank International School in London

The school was closed on Friday and is asking for any pupils with disturbing experiences to come forward.

Parents of children there will have to chance to express their concerns to police at a meeting on Monday.

Chair of Governors Sir Chris Woodhead said: "The main anxiety of parents is predictable, they want information as soon as possible about whether there are images of their children discovered on Vahey's computer."

One of those concerned he may have been abused by the serial child molester during a field trip has spoken to The Guardian.

Jonathan told the newspaper: "I had my suspicions from the beginning. There was something a bit off about him.

"This was discussed among the boys: it was a case of Mr Vahey - the paedo."

Sky News has also obtained an FBI affidavit which reveals the extent of Vahey's abuse.

The document explains how Vahey reported a theft from his apartment in Nicaragua in 2013.

His maid was dismissed, but handed a memory stick she stole to the American Nicaraguan School in Managua, Nicaragua.

The images it contained "depict minor males in various states of undress" who "appear to be asleep, unconscious or possibly drugged".

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Helicopter Crash: Probe After 5 Servicemen Killed

An investigation has been launched into why a Lynx helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing five service personnel.

The crash site, near Kandahar, has been cordoned off by investigators from the Military Aviation Authority.

The Taliban claimed its insurgents shot down the helicopter, but the Ministry of Defence denied this and said initial indications were a technical problem during the routine flight caused it to crash.

Experts have said the investigation will examine the aircraft's log books, weather conditions and whether the the helicopter was carrying out an authorised job in keeping with its capabilities.

Flowers left outside RAF Odiham in Hampshire

A spokeswoman said: "The investigation is now under way, and the area of the crash has been cordoned off.

"We cannot go into further details. At this stage it is not known how long the investigation might last or when investigators will deliver their report, but it will be a thorough inquiry."

Three of the servicemen were from the Army Air Corps, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

A Royal Air Force serviceman also stationed at the base was among those killed, along with a member of the Army Reserve from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion.

Major General Richard Felton, commander of Joint Helicopter Command at RAF Odiham, said: "It is with the deepest sadness that I must confirm the death of five service personnel.

The aircraft went down in the Takhta Pul district of Kandahar

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families at this most difficult time.

"The focus for the immediate future is to ensure that the families receive the support they need at this most difficult of times."

Next of kin for all five servicemen have been informed.

It is the third biggest single loss of life of British troops since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001. A total of 453 UK service personnel have been killed.

It comes after Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday his "heart goes out to the families and friends of those killed in this terrible tragedy".

Lynx helicopters are deployed for a wide variety of operations

He said: "Every British fatality is a source of deep sadness.

"This latest incident, which has cost the lives of five UK service personnel, brings home to us all once again how our armed forces continue to put their lives on the line to help the people of Afghanistan."

Foreign Secretary William Hague told Sky News the deaths appeared to have been a "tragic accident".

He said: "This appears to have been a tragic accident, although it is still being investigated.

"It is a reminder of the work that our troops still do in Afghanistan."

Kandahar provincial police spokesman Zia Durrani said the helicopter went down in the Takhta Pul district of Kandahar province, around 30 miles from the Pakistan border - and that it was not attacked by militants.

The helicopter involved was a Westland Lynx, an aircraft with a range of uses including transport and resupply.

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