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Pothole Damage Costs Councils £22m In 2011

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 19 Januari 2013 | 18.54

Councils paid out more than £22m in compensation last year to drivers whose cars were damaged by potholes.

Consumer group Which? said the north west of England was the worst affected region with £8m handed out in damages.

The Government allocated an extra £200m to local highway authorities after a review in 2011 revealed a "significant increase in the number of potholes".

But Which? found the backlog of repairs at each English local authority is still growing, up from £53.2million in 2009 to £61.3m last year.

Local authorities have estimated that it would cost £12.93 billion to clear the entire road maintenance backlog in the UK.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Potholes are a menace for all road users. With temperatures plummeting this week and the bitter weather conditions set to continue, the backlog of repairs could grow again.

"Drivers should help themselves and everyone else on the road by pointing out potholes to the local council."

The watchdog said the chance of claims being successful depended on whether the local authority was aware of the pothole in the first place and had not repaired it or if it had not followed road maintenance guidelines.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "We are providing councils with more than £3bn between 2011 and 2015 to maintain their roads and pavements and last month announced an extra £215m to help councils get the best out of their road network.

"This is on top of the additional £200m we gave to councils in March 2011 to repair local roads damaged by the severe winter weather in 2010.

"It is ultimately up to local highway authorities to determine how they prioritise their funding, but we want to help them get the best value for money.

"That is why we are funding the Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme which helps councils work together to deliver a first class service to their residents, at the same time as saving money."

Potholes can be reported via a council's website. The Directgov website lists which council is responsible for specific roads.


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Horse Abattoir Film Reveals Welfare Breaches

By Jason Farrell, Sky Correspondent

Sky News has uncovered shocking animal welfare conditions at a UK horse abattoir.

They include animals being beaten, neglected and illegal procedures in the process of slaughtering British horses destined for European food markets.

It comes amid public anger that some of our biggest supermarkets have been selling beef burgers and other products that contained horse meat.

Sky News visited the Red Lion Abattoir near Nantwich in Cheshire after concerns were raised by Animal Welfare Group Hillside Animal Sanctuary.

Investigators at Hillside fitted secret cameras which filmed horses being beaten with an iron rod to encourage them into the pens. 

Some were then crammed into the slaughter pens in pairs and, on one occasion, a group of three, before being stunned together.

Red Lion Abattoir The video revealed horses hit with sticks to goad them into slaughter pens

In harrowing images the horses fall on top of each other. Under The Welfare of  Animals Act 1995, horses should not be slaughtered in sight of one another because of the distress it causes.

Furthermore, Sky News found that sick or injured horses were left untended overnight rather than put down immediately.

As a result of the investigation, two slaughter men have had their licences revoked.

Craig Kirby, head of approvals and veterinary advice at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) told Sky News: "As soon as we got the footage and reviewed it we took immediate action to revoke the slaughter men's licences.

"That means they cannot work to slaughter animals again. We will also look to gather further evidence to see if we can prosecute."

Former government chief veterinary officer Keith Meldrum, who viewed the footage, said he was shocked by what he described as "appalling" welfare breaches.

"We see three animals stunned at the same time and it is totally illegal and contrary to welfare slaughter regulations," he said.

"It's a significant welfare problem for a number of reasons. It's harder to render them unconscious in a group and they have a higher chance of regaining consciousness before you've completed the procedure."

Another incident filmed included a horse that appeared to come round from the stun while being hung upside down before being bled. Mr Meldrum described it as "totally and completely unacceptable".

Red Lion Abattoir Some 8,426 horses were slaughtered in the UK in 2012

FSA statistics released to Sky News show a dramatic increase in the number of UK horses slaughtered every year, from 3,859 in 2007 to 8,426 in 2012.

Depending on the size and breed they are bought for anything between £100 to £300 and can fetch around 700 euro on the European meat markets.

The animals come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are former pets, others come from show jumping or the race track.

A report last year from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) found: "The number of thoroughbreds reported dead to the Horse Passport Issuing Authority rose by 580 - an increase of 29% - from 1994 to 2574 horses.

"Of these, 1127 horses either in training, breeding or out of training were reported as killed in abattoirs - and reported to the Government Meat Hygiene Service - from 499 horses in 2010, an increase of 126%."

However, in a statement to Sky News, the BHA added: "This is a wider equine issue and not an issue for the British racing industry, which is one of the country's most highly regulated equine pursuits.

"However, if there are allegations that any horse, whether thoroughbred or not, is being inhumanely treated in an abattoir we would fully support any investigation and subsequent action, if appropriate."

During the investigation, Hillside Animal Sanctuary rescued one racehorse called Underwriter by bidding against the abattoir at auction. They discovered it had a distinguished career.

John Watson, from Hillside, said: "It's not just ill and old horses being killed. There are very many fit and healthy horses, horses with foals, pregnant mares, and thoroughbreds that are being treated badly.

Red Lion Abattoir Red Lion Abattoir said they had revoked the license of two slaughtermen

"It blows away the myth of humane slaughter, and there is a misery in that place that is palpable."

Hillside's lead investigator, who did not want to be identified, added: "What we've found has shocked us deeply; animals left with horrendous injuries and horses shot on top of each other.

"In all the years I've been doing this work, without doubt it's the most harrowing experience I've come across. All the horses in there had their heads hung down."

The Red Lion Abattoir told us it views animal welfare and public health with paramount importance.

In a statement it said: "In attendance at the The Red Lion Abattoir are three full time Food Standards Officers comprising of an official veterinarian and full-time meat hygiene inspectors throughout production."

It said the incidents were "not the norm, but of an isolated nature" and they have taken disciplinary action against the individual featured.

The statement continued: "I agree horses should individually enter the stunning area and most certainly not three at a time.

"However, small horses and ponies having spent years together as companions are difficult to separate. Horse lovers would understand that.

"My opinion and that of other veterinarians is it is better to keep those types together to reduce the stress, providing swift dispatch is achieved."

The Red Lion Abattoir also insisted it meat was not part of the recent supermarket burger scandal.

The horses there are destined to be served in European food markets. The scandal this time is the way they are treated, in the last moments of their lives, in a licenced British abattoir. 

Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, viewed the footage and said: "The breaches, from what we've seen, are throughout; from the care of the animals to the slaughter process.

"Horses are intelligent animals. When they see an animal stunned in front of them you can only imagine the distress that animal is going through. There are, without doubt, welfare issues here and it is plain illegal."

The RSPCA said "The footage is shocking and upsetting to watch."  They have requested a full copy of the film with a view to investigating.


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Blockbuster Shuts 129 Shops And Slashes Staff

The collapsed DVD and games rental firm Blockbuster is to close 129 of its 528 shops and axe 760 workers in the coming weeks.

Some 31 branches have already been put on notice of closure, according to the company's administrators Deloitte.

The move means the chain is already planning to close a quarter of its branches and make 18% of its workforce redundant.

It was announced just days after the chain went into administration in a run of bad news for the British high street.

There will be fears that this is just the first step in taking apart a company that employs more than 4,000 people in the UK.

Lee Manning, of administrator Deloitte, said: "Having reviewed the portfolio with management, the store closure plan is an inevitable consequence of having to restructure the company to a profitable core which is capable of being sold.

"We would like to thank the company's employees for their support and professionalism during this difficult time. We are also grateful to the customers for their continued support."

An employee helpline and an "employee assistance programme" have been set up to help staff find other jobs.

The firm's trading woes were blamed on competition from internet firms and digital streaming of movies and games.

Blockbuster had struggled to adapt to the changing market and rivalry from internet retailers including Netflix, Amazon's LoveFilm and iTunes, which now offers a movie rental service.

Its collapse came after its own plans to break into film-streaming appeared to stall in recent months.

It follows the demise of camera chain Jessops and electricals group Comet, which also blamed competition from online players for their downfall.

Just a day before Blockbuster went into administration, the music and entertainment chain HMV went under following dismal Christmas sales.


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Weather: Snow And Ice Causes Heathrow Misery

Hundreds of flights have already been cancelled on another day of weather misery for Britain after heavy snow gave way to ice.

Passengers at Heathrow Airport in west London faced further disruption after many were stranded on planes for seven hours or forced to sleep on the floor.

More than 100 flights have been cancelled and travellers have been complaining about check-in queues of up to two hours as staff battle to clear a backlog caused by 400 cancellations on Friday.

Elsewhere, drivers are being warned of treacherous conditions after heavy snow on Friday across much of Britain turned to ice overnight.

A young woman from Peterborough was killed in a crash involving a number of vehicles shortly after 6pm on Friday, Lincolnshire Police said.

It is not known if anyone else was injured in the accident, which happened in bad weather on the A1 at Little Ponton, near Grantham.

The Met Office is forecasting less snow for Saturday but has issued yellow warnings for ice for large swathes of the country.

Heathrow airport Planes grounded at Heathrow Airport

With more heavy snow possible on Sunday, the Highways Agency has said its fleet of snow ploughs and gritters will be out in force throughout the weekend.

Heathrow said its runways were open on Saturday with no restrictions, but services were still being disrupted following Friday's heavy snow.

Of 104 flights cancelled on Saturday, 100 were with British Airways, which has faced criticism for its handling of the disruption so far.

Husband and wife David and Janet Brindle, from Cumbria, branded BA's customer service and treatment of passengers caught up in the chaos as "appalling" and said some people had been close to tears.

The couple sat on a plane at Manchester airport from 9am until 3pm on Friday and have been stuck at Heathrow since missing their connecting flight to New Zealand.

Mrs Brindle said: "They got us off the plane but our bags weren't off. Not a single person came to tell us what was happening.

"Most people missed their connecting long-haul flights from Heathrow. We were advised to make our own way to Heathrow, so that's what we did.

Heathrow Airport snow delays A woman sleeping on the floor at Heathrow

"Nobody knew what they were doing. They couldn't tell us anything - they were quite rude, actually."

A British Airways spokesman said: "We have unfortunately had to make a number of cancellations today, mainly due to knock-on disruption from yesterday.

"So we've got a number of aircraft out of position and it's quite a complex operation to put that back together."

BA says it is offering customers who no longer wish to travel this weekend the chance to rebook their flight at a later date and providing refunds and overnight accommodation, or letters to make a claim, to those who could not fly.

Some passengers on British Airways flights told Sky News that they have spent up to seven hours on aircraft which have never left the runway.

Sky Reporter Clare Fallon, at Heathrow, said: "It's a surreal sight, there are hundreds of people on the floor trying to get some sleep because they are essentially stranded here. Some have told me they have been here since 11am yesterday morning.

Heathrow Airport snow delays Hundreds of flights have been cancelled since Friday

"People feel very frustrated and stressed, and they don't understand how a relatively small amount of snow has been able to cause so much chaos."

A Gatwick spokeswoman said the airport is operating as normal on Saturday, with 505 flights scheduled and no knock-on effect from earlier bad weather.

The Highways Agency said several motorway lanes and major A roads had closed due to the snow and ice, as well as several crashes.

Drivers have been warned to be extra careful as freezing temperatures turn the snow to treacherous ice.

The deepest snowfall has been measured at 26cm in Sennybridge, Wales, although snow has been thawing in other areas and some train services have been returning to normal.

There have also been severe hold-ups for rail passengers, with many companies cancelling services to help them cope with problems caused by the weather. Train firms are advising passengers to check with operators before travelling.

But while commuters have been facing misery, the winter wonderland scenes have brought joy to thousands of youngsters who were given the day off school.

Few parts of the UK will escape the wintry weather as it continues into the weekend.

:: Send in your weather photos and videos

There is up to 10cm of snow likely in northern and eastern England as well as Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland on Saturday. Snow elsewhere will be lighter but it will be bitterly cold.

Sunday could also bring persistent but light snow to southeast England and some flurries for Scotland.

Darron Burness, from the AA, said commuting in the wintry conditions was "likely to test man and machine".

Those who decide to travel have been urged to travel prepared with a fully charged mobile phone, warm waterproof clothes, boots and a blanket, some food and drink, and have a torch, ice scraper, de-icer and a shovel.


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Jon Culshaw Fronts Prostate Cancer Campaign

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 18 Januari 2013 | 18.54

Impressionist Jon Culshaw has been impersonating famous faces from the world of sport to raise awareness of the alarming odds of getting prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer kills one man every hour and the number of men with the disease is rising at an alarming rate.

It is already the most common cancer in men, but is predicted to become the most common cancer of all in the UK by 2030.

And due to a prolonged period of under-investment on research, diagnosis and treatment is still decades behind other cancers, according to campaigners.

Culshaw will appear on screens as football manager Harry Redknapp, racing pundit John McCririck and Italian sports journalist Tiziano Crudeli.

Three adverts, created by Prostate Cancer UK, involve various betting scenarios that include spoofs of well-known Ladbrokes and Bet 365 adverts to warn men that the likelihood of getting prostate cancer is 8 to 1.

Prostate Cancer UK aims to reach more than one-third of men over 45 through the campaign.

It coincides with the launch of the Sledgehammer Fund fronted by comedian Bill Bailey which runs until March.


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Earthquake: Tremor Felt In Leicestershire

An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 has been felt in the east Midlands, according to the British Geological Survey.

The tremor was reported across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Julian Bukits, of the BGS, said the earthquake happened at 5.20am and was "average" for the UK.

Leicestershire Police and the county's fire and rescue services said they had not been called out to any incidents.

The epicentre of the seismic activity was located near Loughborough, Leicestershire, where residents would have felt a bang and a slight vibration.

Mr Bukits said that properties in the area, which has a history of earthquakes, would not have suffered any structural damage.

Mike Flood, 45, who lives in Loughborough with his family, felt the earthquake.

"I was awake, actually - I get up quite early. It was about 5.10am," he said. "It was almost like a plane going over or an explosion in the distance.

"The house creaked - there was no house moving or pictures falling off the wall, but the house just creaked. It was strange. You know something's happened and you know it's not a normal thing."

He said his teenage children were woken up by the quake.

"They were asking what it was, and I said 'Oh, it could have been a plane or it might have been an earth tremor', just to allay their fears.

"Our daughter is in the bedroom at the top of the house so she probably felt it a bit more.

"It woke our son up. I don't think he knew what had happened or didn't hear it, but it woke him up afterwards."

On October 28, 2001, there was a 4.1 earthquake near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, which Mr Bukits described as "big by UK standards".

Putting this quake into perspective, the expert said it was a million times weaker than the 8.9 earthquake which struck off the Japanese coast, causing a devastating tsunami in March 2011.

"Earthquakes generally have to be of 4.5 to 5 magnitude to cause damage," he added.

Earthquakes in the UK are described as intraplate seismic activity, as they take place far from tectonic plate boundaries.


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Snow: Travel Chaos Fears In Freezing Weather

Heavy snow has caused significant delays for commuters and sparked airport disruption around the country - and the downpours are expected to continue.

Heathrow Airport was forced to close one of its runways because of snow and ice and flights from Cardiff, Southampton and Bristol airports have been cancelled.

South Wales has had to bear the brunt of the wintry weather, with a rare "red warning" in place from the Met Office there and up to 30cm - a foot - of snow expected.

More than 1,200 Welsh schools have closed and 10,000 people are without electricity.

Major commuter belt areas of southern England have escaped the worst - but with snow blanketing much of the country, people in many areas now face the prospect of a difficult journey home.

Winter weather Jan 18th Some have been making the most of the weather

The West Country, eastern England, the North East and Scotland have also been hit hard this morning.

Merthyr Tydfil was among the worst hit areas, with reports of panic-buying causing some local shops running out of stock.

The A4232 leading into Cardiff was jam-packed with commuters who braved the conditions and the closure of a section of the M4 at Bridgend caused rush hour headaches for many.

Temperatures are expected to remain below zero in most parts on Friday, while blizzards and strong winds are set to make conditions treacherous on the roads.

No bread at Sainsbury's in Ripley as panic-buying is reported ahead of snow Panic-buying has been reported at supermarkets in Derbyshire and Wales

Some train companies have cancelled services or altered timetables to help them cope with problems caused by the weather.

Eurostar axed four services between London and Brussels. Train companies are advising passengers to check with operators before travelling.

Fleets of gritters have been out in force around the country and many schools have also been closed as a precaution.

Sky's David Crabtree said pupils at well over 100 schools were told to stay at home across the West Midlands as the region braces for a 14-hour deluge of snow.

But Midlands motorways were running well, Crabtree reports: "It suggests many people have heeded warnings and stayed at home."

A red alert in South Wales - with up to 30cm expected.Yellow and amber alerts for other parts of the country. The Met Office has a red alert in South Wales - amber and yellow elsewhere

Few parts of the UK will escape the wintry weather, which is expected to continue into the weekend.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said between 20-30cm of snow could fall in South Wales, with blizzards and snow drifts in higher areas.

She said: "There will be heavy snow across Wales for most of the day.

"Southwest England can also expect snow, and it will continue spreading east into the Midlands, northwest England, central and southern England by this afternoon."

Amber alerts are in place for parts of the Midlands, London and the South, the east of England, the North West and Northern Ireland.

:: Send in your weather photos and videos

Winter weather Jan18th A red panda braves the icy cold at Bristol Zoo

Snow will later reach Scotland, northeast England, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and East Anglia, she said.

There is up to 10cm of snow likely in northern and eastern England as well as Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland on Saturday. Snow elsewhere will be lighter but it will be bitterly cold.

Sunday could also bring persistent but light snow to southeast England and some flurries for Scotland.

The Highways Agency has placed a 500-strong fleet of salt-spreaders, ploughs and snow-blowers on standby.

Darron Burness, from the AA, said commuting in the wintry conditions was "likely to test man and machine".

Those who decide to travel have been urged to travel prepared with a fully charged mobile phone, warm waterproof clothes, boots and a blanket, some food and drink, and have a torch, ice scraper, de-icer and a shovel.

There have also been reports of panic-buying at shops in Derbyshire.

At a supermarket in Ripley every loaf of bread and all the bananas had been bought up. One customer reportedly went home with 20 loaves.


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Parents Guilty Of Son's Methadone Death

A couple wept in court as they were convicted of the manslaughter of their two-year-old son who died from drinking methadone.

Riley Pettipierre died in hospital after drinking the heroin substitute from a beaker left in a bedroom at his family's flat in Belper, Derbyshire, last March.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court found his parents, Sally Dent, 33, and Shaun Binfield, 45, guilty of his manslaughter following a two-week trial.

More follows...


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Helicopter Crash: Pilot Worked On Major Films

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 17 Januari 2013 | 18.54

The pilot of a helicopter which crashed in central London was one of the country's most experienced and had flown in films such as Die Another Day and Saving Private Ryan.

Pete Barnes was killed when the AgustaWestland 109 Power he was flying hit a crane on a high rise building in Vauxhall and plummeted to the ground.

Mr Barnes had amassed around 12,000 hours of flying time, including 3,500 hours in Agusta helicopters.

During his 18-year career as a pilot the 50-year-old had flown air ambulances and worked as a pilot on adverts and films such as James Bond's Die Another Day, Saving Private Ryan and Tomb Raider II.

The Managing Director of Helivision, Captain Peter L Barnes. Pic Credit Helivision Mr Barnes had a wife and two children

He had been working as a freelance pilot for RotorMotion, a company which counts among its clients the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron, former PM Tony Blair and the Dalai Lama.

In a statement the firm, which describes itself as a "boutique helicopter charter business", paid tribute to Mr Barnes, referring to the crash as a "tragic accident".

"Captain Peter Barnes, aged 50, from the Reading area, has been flying with RotorMotion since it was established over 15 years ago," the company said.

"He was a very highly skilled pilot, one of the most experienced in the UK, with over 12,000 flying hours.

"We are devastated by the loss of a highly valued colleague and very dear friend. Our thoughts and condolences are with Peter's wife and children."

In 2004 Mr Barnes helped rescue a motorist from a flooded ford in County Durham while working for the Great North Air Ambulance.

Helicopter crash in London The Agusta 109 which Mr Barnes was flying at the time of the crash

Jolyon Palmer, a racing car driver who competes in the Formula One feeder GP2 series, said the pilot saved his life in 2007.

He tweeted: "Helicopter pilot Pete Barnes helped save my life in 2007 after I had a serious quad bike accident. Extremely sad news today."

Mr Barnes also flew the Newcastle Traffic and Travel helicopter as the Voice of Metro FM and worked as a helicopter instructor.

Broadcaster Alan Robson, of the Tyneside-based radio station, said the pilot was a pioneer of "eye in the sky" traffic reports in this country.

Mr Robson, an award-winning radio host, also worked with Mr Barnes on TV shows, and said that while he would pull off daring manoeuvres, he was safety-conscious.

Pete Barnes Mr Barnes had also worked on air ambulances

"He was a stylish, lovely guy. He could have auditioned for James Bond," Mr Robson recalled.

"He was handsome, the girls melted. He walked it and he talked it.

"He was a genuinely lovely guy. I am absolutely gutted."

Mr Barnes originally worked as a ski instructor and guide in Europe after completing a business studies degree, before going into advertising.

But he later moved to the US to train as a helicopter pilot, earning a US Commercial and Instructors Licence flying helicopters around Florida and the East Coast before moving back to the UK.


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Helicopter Crash: Crane Operators Late For Work

The mother of a workman who should have been in a crane that was hit by a helicopter in central London has spoken of her relief that he overslept.

Richard Moule and Nicki Biagioni were late for work and hurrying to climb the crane in Vauxhall when the helicopter clipped the structure and plunged 700ft to the ground.

Maureen Biaginoi wrote on her Facebook page: "Thank God my son is ok a bit shaken but alive.

"He defo has a guardian angel thank you thank you ssssooooo much."

Pilot Peter Barnes was killed in the crash and Scotland Yard named a second man who died as Matthew Wood, 39, from Sutton, south London.

He is believed to have been walking to work when he was killed.

The Managing Director of Helivision, Captain Peter L Barnes. Pic Credit HelivisionMatthew Wood killed in London helicopter crash Pilot Peter Barnes and Matthew Wood were killed in the crash

Twelve other people were injured and police said it was a "miracle" more were not hurt when the helicopter crashed on to the busy rush-hour street.

The crash happened at 8am on Wednesday near Vauxhall Station when an AgustaWestland 109 Power hit a high-rise crane at The Tower in St George Wharf - one of Europe's largest skyscrapers.

Mr Moule, 31, a father of two from Harlow, Essex, was supposed to be at work at 7am with his colleague Mr Biagioni, 30, but they were both late.

Mr Moule told the Daily Mail: "It was the first time I've been late since starting this job three years ago. I just woke up late.

"Call it divine intervention if you like."

He was in the basement of the building when the helicopter struck the crane and was evacuated.

He added: "The first thing I did was call my wife Stephanie and tell her 'you'll be hearing about this but I'm OK'."

Mr Biagioni, from Ongar, Essex, told The Sun he was late because his four-year-old son slept in.

His wife Leanna told the newspaper: "Nicki was at the site minutes before it happened. He gets a lift to a certain level and then climbs a ladder the rest of the way.

"If he'd been climbing he would have died from the fall for certain. It's too horrible to think about."

Mr Barnes, 50, from Berkshire, was alone in the aircraft in thick cloud when it hit the crane. It came down on land near to the building, strewing burning wreckage across the road.

The helicopter was undertaking a commercial flight from Redhill, Surrey, to Elstree, Hertfordshire, but Mr Barnes asked to be diverted to Battersea heliport because of bad weather.

Witnesses described hearing a loud bang and a flash of light as the twin-engine aircraft crashed near Wandsworth Road.

Video footage and photos flooded on to social media sites revealing chaotic scenes, burning wreckage and vehicles charred by flames.

Mother-of-five Sharon Moore, who lives on the nearby Wyvil Estate, said she saw the aircraft slice through the crane "as if it was a piece of paper".

She said: "The helicopter did not seem to know which way to turn and then it just dropped, it sliced, screeching into the metal."

Residents from nearby houses in Lambeth and Wandsworth were not allowed to return home on Wednesday night after debris was scattered over a large area, including on rooftops.

The eight-seater helicopter is owned by Cornwall-based Castle Air but was leased to another firm RotorMotion, which is based at Redhill Aerodrome.

Tributes have been paid to Mr Barnes.

Kevin Hodgson, who worked alongside him on life-saving missions with the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA), said: "Pete was as good a guy as you can imagine and one of the best pilots I've ever had the pleasure of flying with."

Mr Barnes, who also flew aircraft for films Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan, had around 9,000 hours of flying time, including 3,500 hours on the type of craft involved in the incident.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said helicopter regulations for flying over London included "requirements for lighting on tall structures".

The authority said: "In addition, where appropriate, very tall structures are also notified to pilots for flight planning purposes, as was the case with the crane that was involved in this morning's accident."

Scotland Yard and the London Fire Brigade are working with other agencies including the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the CAA.


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