Ex-Corrie Actor Denies Child Sex Offences

Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel has denied sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

The 42-year-old, who played Frank Foster in the ITV soap, was charged last November under his real name, Andrew Watkinson.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty to six counts of indecent assault of a child under the age of 15.

The charges relate to one alleged victim and the offending is said to have taken place between 1993 and 1994, the court heard.

Lancel's Coronation Street career began in November 2010 when he was cast as Foster, a business associate of Carla Connor.

His role ended in March 2012 when his character was found murdered.

Lancel, from Gateacre in Liverpool, also played DI Neil Manson in The Bill and starred alongside Helen Baxendale in Cardiac Arrest.

He was granted bail until the start of his five-day trial on June 3.

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Measles: Letters Sent To South Wales Schools

Schools in South Wales are sending out letters of consent to parents so their children can be vaccinated against measles.

So far there have been near 700 confirmed cases of the disease and that number is expected to rise - both in Wales and England. About 60 have been hospitalised.

According to experts, the peak of the epidemic will not be seen for nearly four weeks.

The rising number of people infected has prompted fears that a youngster may die from the disease. Experts say that in the developed world around one in 1,000 cases of measles results in a fatality.

About 2,000 pupils could be given the MMR jab this week in South Wales schools to try to slow down the spread of the epidemic, which is centred on Swansea.

Experts believe there are around 40,000 children across Wales who have yet to be vaccinated.

Dr Meirion Evans, of Public Health Wales, said that the number of cases could easily double and that low vaccination rates across the UK mean that no area in the country was safe from an outbreak.

He told the BBC: "Across Wales as a whole there are many, many children who have not had their MMR – we estimate over 40,000 children across Wales.

"Nowhere in Wales is safe from measles and I think that is true of the UK as a whole."

Another immunisation expert, Dr David Elliman, has warned that London and the north of England are most at risk.

Experts believe the epidemic has arisen as a result of an earlier low uptake of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Many people are thought to have refused the vaccination for their children because of now disproven fears that the MMR vaccine could cause autism.

Dr Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who sparked the scare, had tried to blame officials in Wales for the latest epidemic.

But over the weekend, the Government dismissed his claims, with a spokesman for the Department of Health saying: "Dr Andrew Wakefield's claims are completely incorrect."

More than 2,000 people were vaccinated in at special drop-in sessions set up in South Wales over the weekend to give residents free MMR jabs.

Clinics will be open again next weekend and schools will continue being targeted this week as officials try to prevent the epidemic spreading further.

Professor David Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said the problems in Wales were "historic".

"Our immunisation coverage rates, currently, are extremely high, 95% of children are being vaccinated in this country.

About the situation in Wales, he said: "That is a historic problem, the legacy of bizarre suggestions about vaccines and autism from 15 years ago, that's not the situation currently."

Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.

Complications are quite common even in healthy people. These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

Before the introduction of the MMR jab in 1988, about half a million children caught measles each year in the UK. Approximately 100 of those died.

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Thatcher Funeral: Practice Run Of Procession

A full military rehearsal for Baroness Thatcher's funeral procession has taken place in the early hours of this morning.

Timed to last 19 minutes, Wednesday's ceremonial service will involve more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel and see Lady Thatcher's coffin carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage from St Clement Danes, the church of the Royal Air Force, down the Strand.

Led by the Band of the Royal Marines, the solemn procession will then slowly travel along Fleet Street towards St Paul's where around 2,000 mourners are expected to attend the service.

Major Andrew Chatburn, the man in charge of choreographing the parade, said the rehearsal "went very well" and claimed it was "vitally important" to stage a trial.

He said the atmosphere of the thousands of people expected to line the streets could obviously not be replicated, but added those involved, including the horses, were used to big occasions with large crowds.

"We'll have a debriefing and we'll take the points from that. We'll address whatever we have to address. If it's additional rehearsals in barracks we'll conduct those rehearsals and we'll get it right on the day," he added.

The band played the funeral marches of Chopin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn as it made its way along the deserted streets.

The military and police wore their working dress and high visibility clothes respectively, but will be in ceremonial uniform on the day.

The pensioners from Royal Hospital Chelsea did not take part in the trial due to the early start, but they will line the west steps of St Paul's for the real event.

The coffin carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage

Amid fears protests could mar the funeral, there was also a large police presence on the streets during the practice run.

The Met has urged groups to let them know what they are planning, and in some cases they have reportedly come to an agreement to allow protesters to turn their backs on the coffin.

Sky's events commentator Alastair Bruce, who watched the rehearsal, said Lady Thatcher "would have wanted to see democracy in action" and that organisers were hoping the protests would not offend mourners or affect the procession.

"The ceremonial has been worked on very hard by the armed forces, and they are doing their very best to represent the United Kingdom. They will want to deliver that duty without interruption," he said.

Some 700 serving members of the Armed Forces took part in the trial run

Lady Thatcher said she did not want a state funeral, but she has been given the next highest honour: a ceremonial funeral with full military honours tailored to her.

With all the the pageantry of a state funeral, it is set to be the largest in Britain since the Queen Mother's.

Downing Street has refused to give details about the cost until after the ceremony but it is expected to run into several million pounds.

The rehearsal came after a poll by ComRes found that only 25% of people think the event should be funded form the public purse and that 60% are against the idea.

But the Government has defended the plans for a lavish ceremonial service.

Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, one of the organisers, told Sky News the ceremony had to be a "fitting event for a very great lady" and argued that the involvement of the armed forces was "not over the top in any way".

George Galloway will attempt to block PMQs delay so MPs can attend funeral

Meanwhile, Respect MP George Galloway will later attempt to scupper plans to cancel Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions so that MPs can attend the funeral.

He has said he will try to block a Government motion dropping Commons questions and delaying the start of business to 2.30pm, after the funeral has taken place.

Ministers had hoped the motion, tabled by the Leader of the House Andrew Lansley, would go through "on the nod" at the end of Commons business.

On Sunday night police charged a series of demonstrators at London's Trafalgar Square who were protesting against Baroness Thatcher's legacy and who marked her death with a party.

Scotland Yard said nine suspects had been charged with various offences including assaulting police, affray and drunk and disorderly, and would appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on various dates in the next few weeks.

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Gunmen Rob Britons On Caribbean Cruise

Some 55 passengers - including ten Britons - from a cruise ship have been robbed by "three" masked gunmen on a tour bus on the Caribbean island of St Lucia.

The gunmen held up the bus at the Botanical Gardens in Soufriere during a tour excursion on Friday, but no one was hurt. Jewellery and money was believed to have been stolen.

Two crew members from Celebrity Cruises' Eclipse vessel were also on the bus along with guests.

One passenger broke down in tears after the ordeal while others were "shaken", according to local broadcaster DBS TV.

One Eclipse passenger, Arizona Cruz Chic, posted on internet forum Cruise Critic: "One of the ships tour was robbed at gunpoint by three masked gunmen. We're not on the tour but friends were.. They said one woman fell and broke her leg, no one else was injured, all their money and jewellery were taken."

Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus said it was "unfortunate and a horrible scenario".

Matthew Beaubrun, Chairman of the St Lucia Tourist Board told DBS : "This is a rare incident …This is such an important industry for us that we need to respond.

"We have taken it very seriously at the highest level and I know the minister's been in touch with the prime minister, so we are not taking this thing lightly."

A statement from Celebrity Cruises said: "No one was injured in the robbery and the guests returned to the ship unharmed.

"We are thankful that none of our guests were injured in this unfortunate event, and will continue to provide them any support they may need.

"A vacation is supposed to be filled with fun, rejuvenation and relaxation. An act of crime should not be part of any vacation, and we regret our guests had to experience those events."

The Eclipse is currently on a 14-night Caribbean cruise that departed Fort Lauderdale in Florida on April 6 and ends there on April 20.

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LSE: BBC N Korea Report Put Students At Risk

Visiting Secretive North Korea

Updated: 2:46pm UK, Friday 12 April 2013

Despite the current tensions on the Korean Peninsula, tourists have been able to travel to North Korea.

A Sky News employee has just returned from a four-day trip. Journalists are strictly banned from the county without visas, which are rarely issued, so we are not revealing her name, but here is her story:

I flew from Beijing to Pyongyang. On the flight with me were lots of North Koreans with plenty of excess baggage: TVs, vegetables and meat.

Nothing felt abnormal. There was no feeling of tension.

Only when I arrived at the Demilitarised Zone were we prevented access to some of the buildings because of the current situation.

Throughout the four-day trip, which was organised by a Chinese travel company, we were assigned two North Korean minders.

One of them was more senior than the other. She watched us and watched her colleague too.

They did not want the war but were also determined to fight if the country decided to start a war. They emphasised to us that they believed in the country from their hearts.

We were not allowed to move freely. We could only do tourist things according to the guidance of the tour "guards".

We were not allowed to take photographs in the car or anywhere without the minder's permission. We were told not to photograph anything that looked bad or makes North Korea look bad.

"Don't bring bad impressions out of Pyongyang," they said.

People were very friendly. There was little traffic, so people would stare at our bus wherever we drove.

People there are very aware of the potential war.

Every time we arrived at the places of interest, the tour guides would always ask us in Korean (the minders would translate into Chinese) about the latest situation and our opinions about the situation, particularly our opinions about the US, as they all believe the tensions are the fault of America.

When we asked the minders what would happen if the war breaks out tomorrow, they said: "If the war breaks tomorrow, until midnight tonight, we are still building the socialist constructions."

We also asked them whether they know where Kim Jong-Un lives and works, as we explained to them that in Beijing, all the top leaders work and live in a place called Zhongnanhai. They all said they had no idea.

The two minders liked to sing. One of the songs they sang was apparently written by a South Korean musician to express his admiration toward Kim Jong-Il.

On one of the days we went to Myohyang San, a North Korean mountain. The six of us on the tour were locked in the restaurant because the North Koreans were so afraid that we would wander around.

There is a museum near the mountain, where gifts from foreign countries are displayed. A lot of them came from Japan.

We asked them how could they receive so many gifts from Japan given that North Korea considers the Japanese as enemies. They told us that the Japanese really admire the leaders, so they gave us many gifts.

We stayed in the Yanggakdo International Hotel, where we could watch international TV channels including the BBC, NHK, (Japanese TV), Phoenix (Hong Kong TV) and CCTV (Chinese TV).

The minders live on a specific floor where they only have three North Korean channels to watch. They never ate with us and when we asked what they had eaten, they always refused to tell us.

We were not allowed to use the local currency, and they never showed us their money. We could use Chinese RMB, US dollars or euros.

There were not many opportunities to see any ordinary North Korean people apart from the shopkeepers, tour guides or waitresses in the hotel.

There is a casino on the underground floor of the Yanggakdo International Hotel, where most of the staff members come from Liaoning Province over the northern border in China, and North Koreans are not allowed to enter.

The casino is managed by people from Macau. The staff there told us it was empty because the tensions mean far fewer people are travelling to North Korea.

Staff at the casino are all Chinese. When we asked to go to the casino, one of the minders said to us: "You must be non-communists, because communist members don't go to casinos."

Wherever we go to visit, they always asked us if we think their places or things are pretty. They only wanted to show us the good side of the country.

As soon as we travelled outside the capital city, it felt very like the real North Korea: rural, no tall buildings, only farmland.

We never felt the tension of war on our trip. On the streets, on our tour, in the hotel and even at a school we visited, the students were studying as normal.

The people we spoke to asked us if it was true that living in Beijing is hard. They think living in North Korea is the happiest thing in the world.

It feels as though those North Koreans who have travelled outside the country have never mentioned what the outside world really looks like.

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Thatcher Funeral 'Not Over The Top' Says Maude

The Government has defended the lavish plans for Baroness Thatcher's funeral after a poll showed major opposition to using taxpayers' money to pay for it.

A ComRes survey found that only 25% of people think the event should be funded form the public purse and that 60% are against the idea.

But Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who is one of the organisers of Wednesday's ceremonial service, insisted it had to be a "fitting event for a very great lady".

He told Sky News that the ceremony would be a "fitting send-off" and argued that the involvement of the armed forces was "not over the top in any way".

Speaking on the Murnaghan show, he said: "Of course, with any funeral of any former prime minister the state inevitably plays a big role.

Lady Thatcher at a Royal Hospital Chelsea event in 2008

"Normally there would be a funeral followed by a memorial service. She was very adamant that she didn't want that, she wanted a single service. So this needs to be a fitting event for a very great lady."

Amid fears protests could marr the funeral next week, Mr Maude also urged critics of Lady Thatcher to be respectful.

"It is a free country. People must be free to express their views," he said, but added: "I would simply ask that they respect the wishes of the mourners for this event to take place in a dignified way."

Lady Thatcher said she did not want a state funeral, but she has been given the next highest honour: a ceremonial funeral with full military honours tailored to her.

With all the the pageantry of a state funeral, it is set to be the largest in Britain since the Queen Mother's, bringing to the fore the issue of who will pay.

The former prime minister's estate will contribute with the taxpayer picking up the rest of the tab.

Downing Street has refused to give details about the cost until after the ceremony but it is expected to run into several million.

Labour's former deputy prime minister John Prescott angrily denounced the cost in his column for the Sunday Mirror.

David Cameron will do a Bible reading at the funeral

"Thatcher split this country, North and South, the haves and have nots, 'one of us' or 'the enemy within'. This country paid enough thanks to that woman. So why the hell should we continue to pay now she's dead?," he wrote.

"Privatise her funeral. It would be a fitting tribute," he added.

David Cameron and William Hague both already defended using taxpayers' money last week, insisting it would be wrong not to mark Lady Thatcher's huge contribution to the nation.

The Foreign Secretary said: "The rebate she negotiated for this country from the EU has brought us so far £75 billion - which is twice the size of our annual defence budget.

"I think that puts money in perspective ... so I think we can afford to contribute to a funeral."

The poll for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror came as the Government released the Order of Service for the funeral at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday.

Lady Thatcher's coffin will be carried through the streets of London on a gun carriage, allowing the public to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passes by. 

It is the same honour bestowed on Diana, the Queen Mother and Winston Churchill.

Then there will be a single bell will toll as the funeral cortege draws up to St Paul's, and 14 Chelsea pensioners will line the steps as the coffin is taken into the cathedral.

The presence of the pensioners - the oldest aged 90 - is aimed at reflecting the strong connection Lady Thatcher built up with the Royal Hospital Chelsea over the last 10 years.

In front of the coffin, Michael and Amanda Thatcher, grandchildren of the former prime minister, will carry cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit and lay them on the Dome Altar.

The service, attended by the Queen, will be "framed" by British music, with traditional pieces by great British composers played at the beginning and at the end.

Lady Thatcher's love of poetry will be reflected in her choice of TS Eliot's Little Gidding, which will be printed on the opening page of the Order of Service and William Wordsworth's Ode: Intimations of Immortality on the final page.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Amanda Thatcher will deliver the readings from the King James Bible - of which she was particularly fond.

It was confirmed that the hymns will be He Who Would Valiant Be, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Psalm 84 set to the music of Johannes Brahms, and the patriotic verse I Vow To Thee My Country.

The funeral address will be delivered by the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.

The military procession leading to the service will feature more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel from units particularly associated with the Falklands War, including some from the Welsh Guards, the regiment that suffered some of the heaviest losses.

Plans are also developing for Lady Thatcher's legacy to be enshrined in the creation of a major new institution to promote her political philosophy and shape future Tory politics.

Supporters of the former leader are working on a Margaret Thatcher library for London as a lasting memorial.

Backers also aim to raise £15m in private funds to establish the combined library, museum and training centre.

It is planned that visitors will be able to view key artefacts from her time in office, such as her trademark blue Aquascutum suits and handbags.

:: ComRes interviewed 2,012 Great Britain adults online on April 10 and 11.

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Firefighters Tackle Blaze At Scottish Zoo

A fire has ripped through part of a Scottish zoo, killing a sustantial number of reptiles and insects.

The blaze began in the early hours at the reptile house of the Five Sisters Zoo at Polbeth in West Lothian and quickly took hold.

Described as "fierce", it took 11 fire engines and around 50 firefighters several hours to bring it under control.

The alarm was raised at just before 4am by which time the tropical house was described as "well alight".

Crews were hampered by high winds and had to use lines of hose to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings.

No-one was injured in the fire - which has now been extinguished - but many animals in the single-storey building perished.

The olive green steel-clad building was scorched and buckled by the heat

As well as the reptiles and insects, an otter is although believed to have died.

Lesley Coupar, head of marketing and visitor services at the zoo said: "We are devastated. It's the worst nightmare."

"We're in the business of rescuing animals, giving a safe haven to animals - to look now at the shell of the reptile house and everything gone from there.

"The owners are obviously distraught, as are we all. We're all animal lovers."

On Saturday, Ms Coupar had posted a message on the zoo's website saying: "Hey! If you are not busy today, why not come and 'hang' out at the zoo, suns out and so are the animals:)"

The blaze appeared to destroy sections 3, 4 and 6 at the zoo

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it had been able to rescue some animals during the blaze.

"Firefighters were able to help them rescue two dwarf crocodiles and an otter but sadly some animals have perished in the fierce fire," it said.

"Full details of the animals affected will not be available for some time until it is safe for zoo staff to access affected areas."

Officers described it as a "fierce fire" and a large metal-clad building appeared to have been gutted by the intense heat.

Police said road closures were in place in the immediate vicinity.

The privately-owned zoo was established in 2005 and is some 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh.

According to the zoo's website, it is "probably one of the few places in the world where you can see at close hand a West African dwarf crocodile".

The non-profit zoo is home to some 130 species of animals, including meerkats, monkeys and assorted reptiles.

The fire service added: "An investigation into the cause of the blaze will now take place."

The attraction is around 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh

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TV's Andrew Marr: 'I'm Lucky To Be Alive'

BBC presenter Andrew Marr has told how he feels "lucky to be alive" three months after suffering a stroke.

Marr, 53, made his first television appearance on his own show on Sunday morning and spoke of his battle to regain his health.

Despite still struggling to walk properly, he insists he will return to his previous job as one of the BBC's top presenters and interviewers.

He said: "I had a major stroke, I'm frankly lucky to be alive. I had been heavily overworking - mostly my own fault - in the year before that.

"I'd torn the carotid artery, which takes blood into the brain, and had a stroke overnight - which basically wipes out a bit of your brain.

"In my case, luckily not my voice or memory or anything like that, but the whole left hand side of my body, which is why I'm still not able to walk fluently - I do a kind of elegant hobble is the best I can manage.

"My left arm isn't much good yet. I've got a lot of physio still to do."

Andrew Marr in December 2012 weeks before his stroke

The presenter explained that the stroke in January came after he had been working very hard and also exercising intensively.

He said: "I'd had two minor strokes, it turned out, in that year - which I hadn't noticed - and then I did the terrible thing of believing what I read in the newspapers.

"The newspapers were saying what we must all do is take very intensive exercise, in short bursts, and that's the way to health.

"Well I went on to a rowing machine and gave it everything I had, and had a strange feeling afterwards - a blinding headache, and flashes of light - served out the family meal, went to bed, woke up the next morning lying on the floor unable to move."

Mr Marr pre-recorded interviews with the Conservative former Cabinet minister Lord Parkinson and the Labour peer Baroness Kennedy on Saturday at Broadcasting House.

The live section of his programme is still being hosted by guest presenters, with newsreader Sophie Raworth standing in on Sunday.

Mr Marr assured her that he remained determined to return to full-time duties in time.

"The only way through is intensive physio and doing a lot of it. And I'm now in the period where if I really concentrate on the physio, I will get better, and if I don't, I won't. Which is why I'm not back trying to do the job full-time, I have to say," he said.

"I'm going to be taking your chair I'm absolutely sure, when I'm ready. I'm certainly coming back. I've got a lot more to say about it all, but I'm going to wait until I've gone through the physio to do so."

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Thatcher's Ironclad Funeral Plans Revealed

Baroness Thatcher left instructions that the current prime minister should give a reading at her funeral, it has been reported.

Britain's first and only female PM will be given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday, which will be attended by the Queen.

It is the same status as that accorded to the Queen Mother and Diana, Princess of Wales, although some Tories want a full state ceremony.

Her friends and family indicated that Lady Thatcher said she did not want such treatment; she did not want to lie in state and thought a fly-past would be a waste of money.

But there were far more details left by Lady Thatcher on how she thought her memorial service should be carried out, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mark Thatcher greets his sister Carol as she arrives at their mother's home

They were said to include the choice of hymns - among them the patriotic I Vow to Thee, My Country - and readings from the Bible.

She specified that the prime minister at the time of her death should read a lesson from the Gospels.

Her choice of reading was John 14.1, which says: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.

"I go to prepare a place for you."

Another lesson will be read by Lady Thatcher's 19-year-old granddaughter Amanda, the Telegraph said.

The service will also include readings from the Book of Common Prayer, including the burial prayer that begins: "Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower."

The service will be held at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday

There will be the traditional reading for meeting the body arriving at a church, which begins: "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord. He that believeth in me, yea, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

Among the other hymns selected by Lady Thatcher are John Bunyan's To Be A Pilgrim and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

It has also been announced that MPs and peers will be able to pay their respects to Lady Thatcher in Parliament's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft on the eve of her funeral.

The chapel will be open on Tuesday evening so members and staff from both Houses can visit the former prime minister's coffin.

Around 100 people, mainly family members and MPs, will also be invited to a short service led by the Dean of Westminster welcoming Lady Thatcher's body.

A painting of Lady Thatcher in the Downing Street study

Downing Street said she requested her body rested overnight in the historic chapel, and the Queen had given her consent.

Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Lady Thatcher's daughter Carol arrived at her mother's home ahead of the funeral.

Miss Thatcher flew in from overseas and was driven to the Belgravia townhouse in central London, where she was greeted outside by her brother Sir Mark.

Earlier Sir Mark said his family has been overwhelmed by the messages of support, as well-wishers continued to leave floral tributes throughout the day outside the Chester Square property.

He said his mother would have been very proud to know the Queen would attend her funeral.

She will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, and other heads of state and foreign dignitaries from around the world are attending.

The Queen will attend Lady Thatcher's funeral

The Queen also went to Sir Winston Churchill's state ceremony in 1965.

The funeral plans were revealed as Downing Street released two collections of photographs on the Flickr website documenting Lady Thatcher's time in office and her lasting influence inside Number 10.

The photos show renovations she ordered during her time in power, while her third general election victory is featured with her giving a three-fingered salute outside Number 10.

Lady Thatcher died at The Ritz in central London on Monday morning after suffering a stroke. She had battled ill health for a number of years.

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Weather Turns As Spring Finally Starts

Spring is at last set to begin in earnest this weekend, with forecasters predicting temperatures of up to 20C (68F).

Sunday is expected to be the warmest day of the year so far after what has been a dismal and extended winter dogged by snow and freezing conditions.

Sunshine in the South East and East Anglia will deliver the highest temperatures, with weather in the North and West due to remain wet and cloudy.

But even there, temperatures will still be in double figures after months struggling to rise above freezing - with highs of 14C (57F).

Temperatures in most of England and Wales are not forecast to drop below 10C (50F) on Saturday night.

Supermarkets are bracing themselves for an increased demand for ice cream and barbecue meats, with Asda predicting a 50% surge in sales of sunglasses.

March was one of the coldest on record

Sky weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said SAturday would see some unsettled conditions that it would still feel warmer.

"Despite the rain and the strong winds, temperatures should be in double figures for most places today so feeling milder than recently," she said.

Looking ahead to Sunday, she added: "It is likely to stay dry and warm across parts of south-east England and East Anglia, ahead of the rain.

"Temperatures will be in double figures for most and across East Anglia and the London area we could see highs of 18-20C."

However, next week is set to bring an unsettled spell of spring weather, with bands of rain and showers moving across the UK.

The change in the weather is due to the jet stream, the narrow band of strong wind that moves weather systems around the globe, finally moving north.

It had been diverted south in recent weeks, making March one of the coldest on record and extending the winter for Britain.

Temperatures for last month were an average of 2.5C (36.5F), according to the Met Office, which makes it the coldest March since 1962.

It would also make it the fourth coldest March since records began in 1910.

Hundreds of farmers lost livestock in the snow, which hit just as spring lambs were being born across the country.

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