Freddie Flintoff Wins First Heavyweight Fight

Flintoff Swaps Lord's For The Ring

Updated: 12:46pm UK, Saturday 01 December 2012

By Charlie Thomas, Sports Presenter

What to do when you hang up the boots? It's the perennial dilemma for the professional sportsman. And the answer these days comes in a variety of forms.

You might choose to replace the discipline of training by going into coaching, or management.

Miss the dressing room banter? You could head for the studio and take up punditry.

There's always the celebrity circuit of dancing in sequined suits or eating bugs in Australian jungles.

And if you're a cricketer you might well think about becoming a correspondent, as Mike Atherton and Derek Pringle have done with notable success.

Few, though, plunge feet first into a completely different sport, which was what made Freddie Flintoff's desire to take up boxing so compelling.

Would he fall flat on his face or would he reveal skills hitherto hidden? In other words, was this just reality TV in another guise?

But then Freddie's life has never run according to most normal rules.

Comparisons with that other great England all-rounder Ian Botham followed him throughout his playing career, and Freddie also seems to share Sir Ian's maverick appetite for new experiences.

Where Beefy replaced life on the road with marathon charity walks over the Alps or the length of Britain, Freddie chose to raise money for Sport Relief by breaking various unlikely world records, like the farthest distance to score a bullseye and popping the most party poppers in a minute.

To his credit, Flintoff appears to have thrown himself into his latest sporting incarnation with complete professionalism.

Few expected him to win last night; most, especially his wife Rachel and trainer Barry McGuigan, were simply hoping he didn't get badly hurt.

But while there was scant evidence that Freddie had missed his calling by becoming a cricketer rather than a boxer, Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch told Sky News he was impressed by Flintoff's fitness and dedication.

The irony is that Freddie is probably fitter now than at any time during his professional cricketing career.

Had he shown such dedication to the gym in his younger years it's probable that he wouldn't have suffered the weight-related injuries that cut short his playing days.

But then again, he wouldn't have been Freddie Flintoff then would he?

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Snow Starts To Fall As Britain Shivers

A dusting of snow has fallen across parts of the UK, with more predicted over this weekend.

The frosty conditions are in contrast to the torrential rain and windy weather that played havoc in some parts of the Midlands and in North Wales at the start of the week.

Around 1cm of snow has settled in parts of northern England and Scotland, including Cumbria, Teesside and County Durham, while 2.5cm has covered the Pennines and the Southern Uplands.

In the midlands, southern England and Wales temperatures are below freezing, and as low as -5C in some areas.

The frosty weather is expected to last for the next few days, with more snow predicted in the north and Scotland tomorrow night.

Snow and ice follow torrential rain and floods earlier in the week

The freezing temperatures have brought with them a risk of ice, following the recent heavy rainfall.

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The Met Office issued a low-level warning of severe weather, affecting much of the UK for the morning.

It said: "Due to the recent wet weather there is an increased risk of icy patches, even on roads that have been treated with salt, where water run off/seepage may wash off any earlier salt treatment.

"The public should be aware of the risk of ice on roads and pavements."

Patroller Andy Smith warned the weekend would be "winter's first serious test for drivers and their cars".

"Ice is the real concern, as it's been so wet recently, and it's very hard to distinguish between a puddle on the road and treacherous black ice."

Forecasters expect more snow this weekend

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "For much of the day, it will be sunny for most.

"Snow showers will continue to run into northern and eastern Scotland, and may occasionally run into North Sea coasts.

"Top temperatures will reach 5 or 6 Celsius. In western parts, cloud will increase and temperatures will rise as rain spreads off the Atlantic.

"Progress will be slow, however, and it will be Sunday before that rain makes much impact on mainland UK, by which time, there is the risk of seeing some snow on the leading edge.

"For the bulk of the country, there will be a fine end to the day followed by a cold and frosty night, and a bright start to Sunday morning."

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Former Corrie Star Faces Child Sex Charges

Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel will appear in court later this month to face five counts of indecent assault on a child under 16.

Merseyside Police said the 42-year-old had been charged under his real name - Andrew Watkinson.

He was charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charges relate to "historic" child sex offences, the force said.

Lancel, from Gateacre in Liverpool, is best known for his appearance as the scheming businessman Frank Foster in the ITV1 soap.

His Corrie career began in November 2010 when he was cast as Foster, a business associate of Carla Connor.

Lancel's role ended in March this year when his character was found murdered.

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

He has been bailed to appear at South Sefton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, December 19.

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Leveson: 50,000 Sign Hacked Off Petition

An online petition demanding the Government act on Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations in full has attracted 50,000 supporters in less than 24 hours.

Support for the petition launched by Hacked Off, the group campaigning for victims of phone hacking, has doubled overnight.

It comes as the Culture Secretary warned newspaper editors not to drag their feet in acting on Lord Justice Leveson's calls for setting up a new press watchdog.

Maria Miller will meet the newspaper industry's most powerful editors next week to push for urgent action on the task they have been given.

Lord Hunt of Wirral, the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, who will also attend, told The Times he wanted a speedy industry resolution to help persuade the public and MPs that laws were not needed to underpin the new independent regulator.

Paul Dacre has acknowledged that swift action is needed

"There's an awful lot we can agree on and I have suggested to the industry (that we) all read the report, digest it and seek out the common ground and unite with one voice," he said.

Ms Miller's warning will come the day before editors on the Code of Practice Committee, chaired by Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, meet to decide how to tackle the Leveson recommendations.

Mr Dacre said: "Lord Justice Leveson has set us a number of challenges: our task is to address them as urgently as possible."

It comes as reports emerged that Foreign Secretary William Hague warned Cabinet colleagues earlier this week that a "Leveson law" would undermine the UK's ability to address freedom of speech issues globally, particularly on cases like the jailing of punk band Pussy Riot in Russia.

A government source told The Daily Telegraph: "It was a very serious presentation. He warned that Britain demonstrating that we have a free press is part of our ability to say we believe in democracy."

Best-selling novelist JK Rowling at the inquiry last November

But David Cameron is under intense pressure to drop his opposition to a law backing up the new watchdog the press has been tasked with devising.

The Prime Minister is facing a backlash from victims of media intrusion over his resistance to legislation.

Author JK Rowling has said that she felt "duped and angry" by Mr Cameron's hesitance to "cross the Rubicon" and introduce a press law.

The Harry Potter author, who gave evidence about press intrusion into her family's privacy to the inquiry, said: "If the Prime Minister did not wish to change the regulatory system even to the moderate, balanced and proportionate extent proposed by Lord Leveson, I am at a loss to understand why so much public money has been spent and why so many people have been asked to relive extremely painful episodes on the stand in front of millions."

The most high-profile victims of phone hacking refused to meet the Culture Secretary yesterday, saying they felt let down by Mr Cameron's response.

Gerry McCann said it was time for politicians to 'do the right thing'

Despite the boycott, Ms Miller last night met the leaders of the Hacked Off campaign and described the talks as frank..

Madeleine McCann's father Gerry said giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry would have been "almost useless" if the proposals were not implemented in full, and urged the Prime Minister to "do the right thing".

London bombing hero Paul Dadge, a victim of phone hacking, said he was very disappointed with Mr Cameron's stance and called on him to back the public rather than the press.

Christopher Jefferies, the landlord wrongly arrested for the murder of Joanna Yeates, warned it would be a "disaster" if the recommendation on legislation was ignored, and said he would feel "let down" by Mr Cameron.

Lord Justice Leveson condemned the "culture of reckless and outrageous journalism" that dominated sections of the press for decades as he unveiled the findings of his 16-month inquiry on Thursday.

The Appeal Court judge called for a new watchdog with statutory underpinning to be given the power to require prominent apologies and impose fines of as much as £1m.

Mr Cameron immediately voiced "serious concerns and misgivings" about legislative action, and said the press should be given a "limited period of time" to show it could get its own house in order.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Many of the victims of sections of the press will be feeling utterly betrayed by David Cameron."

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New York Good Cop Explains Act Of Kindness

It was meant to be a private gesture, but the New York policeman who bought a homeless man a $100 (£62) pair of boots has won international and official praise.

Officer Larry DePrimo appeared before throngs of reporters and cameras on Thursday after being awarded a pair of cufflinks by his boss, NYPD Commisioner Ray Kelly.

The 25-year-old explained that he had been inspired by his grandfather to buy the anonymous barefoot man a pair of shoes, after encountering him during his beat near Times Square on a cold evening in early November.   

"He told me when I was much younger, 'If you are going to do something, do it 100%. And do it, or don't do it at all,'" Officer DePrimo said.

"I didn't really think anything of it at the time," he added. "What sticks out in my mind is he was such a kind gentleman that I had to help him. I wanted to."

Larry DePrimo's family home in Suffolk County, where the officer lives in a basement apartment, was also besieged by satellite trucks and journalists.    

And both he and the tourist who secretly snapped the photo - a civilian police worker from Arizona - were doing the rounds of US breakfast TV shows on Friday.

Jennifer Foster posted the image to the NYPD's Facebook Page and kicked off the internet phenomenon which has seen millions viewing the story and thousands of 'likes' and positive comments.

Officer Larry DePrimo pictured in 2011 on the NYPD Facebook page

But amid all the praise, there has been inevitable cynicism and some concern for the unidentified man at the centre of the modern-day fairytale of New York. 

"I walked by this man in Union Square Wednesday, November 21," wrote Melissa Gallaher-Smith. "And he was again barefoot. I remember very clearly because his pants were also hiked up and his feet were very large."

Several others reported seeing the same man - always without shoes. One told how she had bought a pair for him on a previous occasion, leading to speculation among others that he may be working some kind of scam.

Homeless charities also waded in, praising Officer DePrimo's actions but pointing out it is not in line with the NYPD's usual treatment of vagrants.

Patrick Markee, from the Coalition for the Homeless told the LA Times that successive New York mayors had sought to clean the city's streets of rough sleepers.

"It was a really moving photo and a moving story," he said, "and a stark contrast to a mayor who has largely ignored the homeless crisis that has spiralled out of control on his watch."

Whatever the truth of the situation, others argue, it does not detract from the young officer's caring and inspirational gesture.

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Floods: £120m Extra Cash For Defences

The Government has announced £120m of new funding for flood defences which it says will improve protection for up to 60,000 homes.

It comes amid clean-up operations across the UK in the aftermath of the recent flooding which devastated communities in the South West, Midlands, Wales and North East.

Ministers said £60m will targeted at areas where improving defences against flooding could unlock investment and growth in the area, and the rest will go to speed up delivery of up to 50 schemes already in the pipeline.

They believe the money, which will be delivered between next year and 2015, will not only boost defences, but also provide £1bn in economic benefits.

Potential projects which could benefit from the funding targeted at unlocking economic benefits include Leeds, where the riverside area is regularly threatened by floods and defences could protect 250 businesses, employing more than 100,000 people, and more than 3,100 homes.

The money is in addition to the £2bn being spent on flooding and coastal erosion this spending period up to 2015 - half of which is for capital projects such as flood defences.

But ministers have faced criticism that they have cut flood defence spending at a time when their own advisers say hundreds of millions of pounds more cash is needed to help the UK cope with greater risk of flooding as the climate changes.

This summer, Government climate advisers said flood defence spending is 12% below levels in the last spending review period, with a gap opening up of £860m between money pledged for 2011/15 and what is needed to maintain protection.

Figures released this week by the Environment Agency showed some 1,600 properties were flooded during the recent bout of bad weather, while flood defences had protected more than 54,000 homes.

More follows...

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UK To Withhold £21m Aid Due For Rwanda

The UK will be withholding £21m of aid to Rwanda amid concerns the state is supporting rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Announcing the decision, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the money, which was due to be handed over next month, would not be released because President Paul Kagame's regime had breached agreements.

"The Government has already set out its concerns over credible and compelling reports of Rwandan involvement with M23 in DRC," she said.

"This evidence constitutes a breach of the partnership principles set out in the Memorandum of Understanding and, as a result, I have decided not to release the next payment of budget support to Rwanda.

"We are committed to finding lasting solutions to the conflict in this region and will work with the Governments of Rwanda and DRC to secure a peaceful resolution to the situation in eastern DRC."

She added that the department will provide a further £18m of immediate humanitarian support in DR Congo, providing emergency food for 100,000 people, clean water and education.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame

Violence in DR Congo has been spiralling, with reports of summary executions by the rebel M23 group and growing numbers of refugees.

Rwanda has been accused of equipping them with sophisticated weaponry, including night vision goggles and 120mm mortars.

Last week, the rebel group seized Goma - a crucial provincial capital in eastern Congo - sparking international concern.

The UN has around 1,400 peacekeepers in and around Goma but it could do nothing to stop the rebels' advance through the lakeside city of one million people because they do not have a mandate to engage them.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Rwandan President Paul Kagame to contact the M23 leaders and halt their advance amid fears their next target is Bukavi, another provincial capital, south of Goma.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has also called for a "cessation of hostilities" and urged the rebel group to engage in talks to avoid further bloodshed.

However, the rebels have refused to withdraw from Goma and have threatened to march all the way to the Congolese capital Kinshasa, about 950 miles (1,500km) away.

The fighting has left thousands of people displaced

The UK suspended the last tranche of £16m of aid in July after an interim UN report highlighted Rwanda's role in backing the insurgents.

However, Ms Greening's predecessor, Andrew Mitchell, controversially reinstated the aid on his last day in the job. He authorised £8m as direct budgetary support, and diverted the other half to specific development programmes.

Pressure to halt aid payments intensified again earlier this month when UN experts presented more evidence of Rwanda's involvement in fuelling the conflict.

Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman denied that the decision to reinstate aid in September had been a mistake. He also insisted the decision was not taken by Mr Mitchell alone, but was a "Government decision".

TaxPayers' Alliance campaign manager Robert Oxley demanded an urgent re-examination of the UK's aid policy.

He said: "It's appalling that British taxpayers' money has gone directly to a government involved in a proxy war that has brought untold misery to hundreds of thousands of people.

"This announcement leaves a huge question mark over why DfID, and specifically Andrew Mitchell, reinstated the aid programme to the Rwandan government which was fanning the flames of conflict in DRC."

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Weather: Snow On The Way As Britain Shivers

A light dusting of snow is expected to fall across parts of the country tonight with up to 4cm forecast to fall in some areas.

Upland areas such as the Pennines, the North Yorkshire Moors and north east Scotland, could be blanketed in white by tomorrow.

Temperatures are expected to plummet to a freezing -5C tonight leaving icy conditions on the roads which are expected to last until Sunday afternoon.

Sky's weather forecaster, Chris England, said: "A band of showers spreading from north-west Scotland to north Wales and the north Midlands overnight will bring a centimetre or two of snow to the mountains, and perhaps a light dusting to lower levels of northern England later as temperatures fall to freezing and below.

"There's a small chance of some snow across central England and Wales for a time tomorrow morning, especially over the highest ground, but most places, if they get wet at all, will see rain.

"Icy surfaces forming where the showers leave the ground wet will be a bigger problem tonight and early tomorrow".

On Sunday, a rain-band spreading from the west will bring a spell of snow to northern hills, and perhaps to some lower levels for a time, but the snow won't amount to a great deal away from the Scottish peaks  and will mostly turn to rain quite rapidly.

The wintry weather is in contrast to the torrential rain and floods have caused havoc in some parts of the Midlands and in North Wales.

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Pensioner Dies After Stones Thrown At House

Four boys have been arrested by detectives investigating the death of a pensioner after youths hurled stones at her house.

Joyce Moulson, 84, collapsed around 10 minutes after her terraced home in Bradford was attacked on Tuesday night.

She was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary but was pronounced dead soon after she arrived.

The boys - two aged 12 and two aged 13 - were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

One of the 13 year olds has been released without charge.

Local residents described Ms Moulson as "a lovely old lady who always had time for you".

A post-mortem established the cause of death as heart-related illness - further tests are being carried out.

A friend and close neighbour said: "She was helpful, chatty and always had time for you and a tale to tell."

The woman, who asked not to be named, added: "She was just a lovely old lady. I heard the kids outside last night and basically ignored it because I'm so used to it now."

Nicola Taylor, 29, who lives on the other side of the road, said: "It's devastating. She must've been really, really scared.

"There's always a lot of kids hanging round on the corner. It's quite scary. We were really worried when we heard what had happened."

Another neighbour, Laura Schofield, 26, said: "I heard sirens last night but that's just a normal thing here."

Julie Taylor, who owns a shop near Mrs Moulson's house in Fair Road, said: "Youths are always jumping on the wall outside her house and in the garden. Some of them have no respect.

"I didn't know her personally but used to see her coming and going from her house. I'm shocked."

Police are patrolling the Wibsey area of Bradford following the incident, which happened at around 6pm.

Officers are also studying CCTV footage, a police spokesman said.

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Teen Toyboy Jailed For Killing Lover's Son

The teenage lover of a former Army medic has been jailed for five years for killing her three-year-old son.

Cameron Rose, who was 16 at the time, swung the child by his leg and his head smashed into a wall, while the boy's mother, Sadie Henry, was out on the school run with her other son.

When paramedics arrived at Miss Henry's home in Erith, Kent, Rhys Lawrie's face was so swollen they were unable to open his eyes to shine a light into the pupils. He was also found to have suffered a broken leg.

It was the second time in a week that Rose had attacked Rhys, who suffered from epilepsy so badly it left him barely able to walk.

Just four days before the killing in January last year, he had hit the boy hard enough to cause a brain injury but the boy was discharged from hospital.

Miss Henry, 28, lied to police, paramedics and hospital staff about the attacks because she was trying to hide her relationship with her schoolboy lover.

Rose, who was attending a school for emotionally disturbed children when he began the affair, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Rhys Lawrie suffered from epilepsy

Sentencing him, The Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont, told him: "Rhys died a dreadful, violent death at your hands and that must not be forgotten."

The couple had met at a bonfire party but they kept their relationship quiet and although Rose spent every weekend at Miss Henry's home he told his parents he was staying with friends.

The court had heard how she continued her relationship with Rose in secret after Rhys' death despite having been told that she must not have anything to do with him.

Miss Henry broke off the affair when Rose was arrested for murder in September 2011. She was cautioned for trying to cover up the relationship.

She told the court: "I felt guilty because my three-year-old son died and the person I cared about saw him die.

"I thought he died from natural causes. I thought I should have been there."

Rose, who had previously been found guilty of arson and had been cautioned twice for damaging his home, claimed the injuries were accidental and that the boy had suffered a fit.

He grinned as he came into court and gave a thumbs-up sign to the Recorder of London. The teenager has been kept in solitary confinement at Feltham Young Offenders' Centre after other inmates learned about the killing.

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Leveson Calls For New Press Regulator

Leveson Inquiry: Your Questions Answered

Updated: 1:31pm UK, Thursday 29 November 2012

Why was the Leveson Inquiry set up, what was its remit and will the Government have to implement its recommendations? The answers to these and other key questions.

Why was the inquiry set up?

David Cameron commissioned the inquiry in July 2011 after allegations of illegal phone hacking at the News Of The World, including claims that the voicemail messages of missing teenager Millie Dowler may have been intercepted. The allegations brought to a head a growing tide of complaints from celebrities and politicians that the Sunday tabloid eavesdropped on their calls. Days before Lord Justice Leveson was named as the chairman of the inquiry, the News Of The World was shut down.

What did the Leveson Inquiry look into?

The inquiry investigated the culture, practices and ethics of the press. It also looked at the contacts and relationships between national newspapers, politicians and the police and their conduct. It also considered the extent to which the existing regulatory system had failed.

What was Lord Justice Leveson asked to do?

The judge was tasked with making recommendations for a new, more effective policy and regulatory regime for the press, which will support the integrity and independence of the press and media plurality, while encouraging the highest ethical and professional standards.It will make recommendations about the future conduct of politicians and police in relation to the press and how future concerns about the media should be dealt with by the authorities.

Did it consider the specific allegations surrounding the News Of The World?

The first part of the inquiry did not because of the ongoing police investigations and court cases. A second stage was due to look at the extent of unlawful or improper conduct in the media but Lord Justice Leveson himself has raised questions about its value.

What is the biggest question the report had to address?

The most controversial issue for the judge is whether the Press can be trusted to continue to regulate itself or whether a new form of statutory regulation, enforceable by law, should be introduced.

Is the Government bound to implement the recommendations?

No. It will be for the Government to decide how to take forward any recommendations the report makes.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said that he intends to implement Leveson's recommendations, provided they are not "bonkers".

What are the current press regulations?

The British print media has been subject to a system of voluntary self-regulation since 1953 when the Press Council was established in response to a Royal Commission report. Continuing complaints about breaches of privacy and lack of redress led to the establishment of the Calcutt Review of press regulation and the replacement in 1991 of the industry-dominated Press Council by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), which has a majority of lay members.

Critics complain that the PCC has insufficient teeth because its greatest sanction is the issuing of a critical adjudication which the paper must publish with "due prominence". Supporters of the system say that this is an effective mechanism, as editors do not like to publish adjudications against them.

Is there support for statutory regulation?

Hacked Off, which represents many alleged victims of hacking, argues that voluntary self-regulation has failed and calls for a new system of regulation independent of both the industry and the Government.

An opinion poll for the campaign group in October suggested that there was strong public support for an independent press regulator backed by law, with 78% of those questioned by pollsters YouGov backing this option.

Former Justice Secretary Ken Clarke told the inquiry he believed a new regulator was needed and did not believe statutory underpinning would amount to state control. Labour shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman has also said the media should not be given another chance to regulate itself.

But Education Secretary Michael Gove has warned about the effects of regulation on free speech and insisted the best approach is to boost existing laws. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has also said minister should be "very, very, very reluctant" to legislate.

The press is strongly opposed to statutory regulation and warns it will put newspapers' independence at risk. In an apparent bid to fend off legislation, PCC chair Lord Hunt and Lord Black of the Press Standards Board of Finance announced plans earlier this year for a new beefed-up self-regulation body to replace the PCC, with tougher sanctions and an investigative arm to probe wrong-doing.

How much has it all cost?

The Leveson Inquiry sat for 88 days and by the time oral hearings had finished, the cost was £3,903,000. It is projected to hit around £6m before it is wrapped up because of the costs of preparing the report. Just over £1.2m has gone on staff costs, counsel to the inquiry and supporting barristers cost another £1.22m. Money paid to the inquiry assessors totalled £126,700 although two waived their fee. Other costs included £200,600 for accommodation, £464,600 for IT and communications, £15,600 on officer running costs.

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Lindsay Lohan Arrested Over Nightclub Assault

Actress Lindsay Lohan has been arrested after she allegedly hit a woman during an argument at a New York nightclub.

The Mean Girls and Freaky Friday star was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning and has been charged with third-degree assault.

She got into a spat with the woman at Club Avenue, in Manhattan's Chelsea area, before she struck the woman in the face with her hand, police said. The victim did not require medical attention.

Lohan's publicist did not immediately comment.

The arrest is Lohan's latest brush with police in New York City.

She was involved in a NYPD investigation in September after alleging a man had assaulted her in a New York hotel, but charges against the man were later dropped.

Also in September, the actress was accused of clipping a man with her car outside another Manhattan nightclub, but prosecutors chose not to move ahead with charges.

In October, police were called to her childhood home on Long Island after a report of a fight between her and her mother. An investigation revealed "no criminality".

The actress was also involved in a car accident in California this summer that sent her and an assistant to a hospital, but did not result in serious injuries for anyone. The accident remains under investigation.

In May, she was cleared of allegations that she struck a Hollywood nightclub manager with her car.

Lohan remains on informal probation for taking a necklace from a jewellery store without permission last year. Under its terms she does not have to check in with a judge or probation officer but could face a prison term if arrested again.

Her latest film, Liz & Dick, in which she portrays screen icon Elizabeth Taylor, premiered on Sunday.

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Gas Blast: Man Admits Two-Year-Old's Killing

A man has admitted the manslaughter of a two-year-old boy killed in a gas explosion at his home.

Jamie Heaton died while watching TV when the blast levelled several homes in Buckley Street, Shaw, in Oldham.

Andrew Partington, an unemployed father of six, admitted causing the explosion when he let his house fill with gas overnight.

The 27-year-old suffered 40% burns and a broken back in the blast and pleaded guilty via videolink from prison during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

Three houses were "obliterated" in the explosion

The explosion in June "obliterated" Partington's rented terrace house and two neighbouring homes, with the rest of the row and surrounding streets also left devastated.

Neighbours found Jamie's body as they searched the debris of his wrecked home.

The boy's parents sat in the public gallery holding hands for the brief hearing.

They were flanked by police officers and other members of their family, who wiped away tears as the defendant admitted his guilt.

As well as manslaughter, Partington pleaded guilty to eight charges of destroying neighbouring houses. He was remanded in custody until February 11 when he will be sentenced.

Judge Gilbart also ordered a psychological assessment of Partington before he is sentenced, to assess his dangerousness.

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Louis Walsh Wins £403,500 Over Sun Sex Slur

Louis Walsh has won a 500,000 euro (£403,500) settlement from The Sun after the newspaper carried false sex assault allegations.

The X Factor judge sued the newspaper after it published a story that was based on a false allegation that he sexually assaulted a man in a Dublin nightspot after a Westlife concert.

The newspaper has admitted that the claim, which was made by an unemployed dance teacher, Leonard Watters, was false and apologised to Walsh accepting that the "alleged assault did not occur in the first place".

Speaking outside court following the out-of-court settlement, Walsh said he would not have wished what happened to him on his worst enemy.

He said: "I'm very relieved. This has had a terrible effect on me guys. It was all lies.

"And I'm very satisfied with this total vindication for me, but I remain very angry at the treatment I received at the hands of The Sun."

Eoin McCullough, senior counsel for News Group Newspapers, read an apology to Walsh at the High Court in Dublin.

It said: "The Sun unreservedly apologies to Louis Walsh for any distress caused to him as a result of our article."

Louis Walsh lines up with his fellow X Factor judges

The Sun published an article in its editions on June 23, 2011, with the headline "Louis Probed Over 'Sex Attack' on Man in Loo" in which it was wrongly claimed Walsh has groped Watters at the celebrity nightclub Krystle following a Westlife concert in April 2011.

When the official complaint was made, The Sun and the Irish Sun printed the story before Walsh was questioned under caution. He denied the accusations against him.

Watters was subsequently jailed for six months for making the false allegations.

The newspaper accepted that the accusation was false but initially denied defamation, saying it had acted fairly as the story was based on police inquiries into the allegation.

Walsh's lawyer, Paul Tweed, said that a great deal of damage had been done to his client because of the online spread of the story and added that it was something he hoped Lord Leveson would address in his report on media standards, due to be published tomorrow.

Mr Tweed said: "Although the person who fabricated the story has since been convicted in the criminal courts, this is a prime example of the serious damage that can be inflicted on an individual, whether they are well known or not, by the publication of totally unfounded allegations which, in the age of the internet, can circumnavigate the globe in a matter of seconds."

The Prime Minister's spokesman said that half a dozen copies of the Leveson report had been received by Downing Street today, ahead of its publication tomorrow. The report will recommend the best way to regulate the country's press.

The case was settled before the President of the High Court in Ireland, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns.

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Runaway Emu Captured By Police In Barnstaple

An escaped emu has been captured by police after it was spotted running through a town and trying to enter people's homes.

Two officers found the 4ft-tall bird "in a state of panic" after they were called out by concerned residents in Barnstaple, North Devon.

Acting Sergeant Zoe Parnell said the emu was "running up and down the street, trying to get into people's houses" before it was caught.

She said: "When we first had the call from the public, I thought it was a bit of a wind-up.

"But when I arrived at the scene to check it out, I could see this bird in the street. It was trying to get into people's houses.

"Obviously it was finding that difficult, and would try the next one. I must admit that while I'm not normally scared of birds, I was a bit nervous with this one."

Officers said the 4ft bird was in a 'panicked' state

The bird was later caught by PCSO Stephen Huxtable, who picked up the fugitive and put it in the back of a police car.

He said: "It's a bit of a state in the back of the car now - there's mud, feathers and a few other things...

"This (catching a wild bird) is not the sort of thing we get taught during training, so I was a little unsure of how best to deal with this.

"I asked one woman if she would mind taking the bird into her lounge to catch it, and understandably she was a little reluctant to do that.

"I've been in the police force for seven years now, and I must say this is one of the most bizarre incidents I have ever been called to.

"I'd only been back in the office for a few minutes and already a few of my colleagues started cracking jokes about me 'feeling peckish'."

The emu has been handed to Diana Lewis, who runs an "animal ambulance" service in north Devon, and will later be reunited with its owner, police said.

The emu is native to Australia, and was propelled into popular culture in Britain in the 1970s by entertainer Rod Hull, whose routine included an aggressive, mute emu puppet.

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Flood Warnings Remain As River Levels Stabilise

Residents of flood-ravaged towns across England and Wales are continuing to battle high water levels as a week of torrential rainfall works its way through river systems.

A total of 148 flood warnings and 152 alerts remain in place despite the rains easing.

The Environment Agency said areas around slow-responding rivers including the Thames, Trent and the Severn were a particular concern but had now  reached their peak.

An EA spokesman said: "After several days of heavy rain, the ground is saturated and floodwater from small watercourses continues to flow into larger rivers like the Thames.

"The Environment Agency is carefully monitoring the levels in these rivers and will issue flood warnings if necessary."

An RNLI life boat rescues residents in the flooded streets of St Asaph

It has lifted two severe flood warnings - meaning a potential danger to life - for the River Elwy in the small city of St Asaph and the A55 to Rhuddlan in North Wales.

St Asaph remains severely flooded after the River Elwy reached a record high of 14ft 3in (4.35m) and burst through flood defences - making it more than 3ft (1m) deeper than its previous record of 11ft 4in (3.47m) in November 2009.

Hundreds of people spent the night away from their homes.

Insurance assessor David Flatley told Sky News there had been "significant" damage caused by the flooding in St Asaph.

A pedestrian pushes his bike through flood water in Tewkesbury

"It is not just clean water, it is from the river so there are contaminants - there's mud and oil that has run off from the roads," he said.

"People often don't appreciate that things like their kitchens have got to be ripped out, the skirtings have got to be ripped out.

"So as well as the drying out process, which can takes four to six weeks, there is the ripping out before the reinstatement ... in reality it may be more like four or five months before the majority of these people are back in their homes."

Four people have died since the latest bout of wet weather struck and around 900 people in England and Wales have fled their water-logged homes after heavy rain left many properties uninhabitable.

At Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron praised the emergency services and "good neighbours" who have helped tackle the flooding.

Flood waters in Oxford

He also defended Government spending plans on flood defences.

"The Government is planning to spend over #2 billion over the next four years. That is 6% less than over the previous four years, but we believe by spending the money better and by leveraging from private and other sectors we can increase that level of flood defence spending," he said.

"The spending that is already under way will protect an additional 145,000 homes between now and 2015 but if we can go further, of course we should."

Thousands of motorists and train services are subject to hold-ups and reduced services in the West Country and the North East.

The River Ouse in York peaked at 4.5 metres, flooding city centre businesses. The Environment Agency said while it does not expect the flood-prone river to rise any further today, it will remain high.

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Arafat Poisoning Probe: Remains Tested

Timeline: Yasser Arafat

Updated: 9:52am UK, Tuesday 27 November 2012

Here are some of the key dates in Mr Arafat's life.

:: February 4, 1969 Mr Arafat, the fifth child of a Palestinian merchant, takes over the PLO chairmanship. He transforms it into a force that makes the Palestinian cause known worldwide.

:: June 6, 1982 Israel invades Lebanon to crush the PLO, forcing Mr Arafat and loyalists to flee Beirut.

:: October 1, 1985 Mr Arafat narrowly escapes death in an Israeli air raid on the PLO's Tunisian headquarters.

:: April 16, 1988 Khalil al Wazir, Mr Arafat's military commander, is assassinated in Tunis. Israel is blamed.

:: December 12, 1988 Mr Arafat accepts Israel's right to exist and renounces terrorism. Nearly two years later, Iraq invades Kuwait, Mr Arafat supports Saddam Hussein and the PLO is isolated.

:: November 1991 Mr Arafat marries his 28-year-old secretary, Suha Tawil. Their daughter Zahwa is born in 1995.

:: April 7, 1992 Mr Arafat is rescued after a plane crash lands in the Libyan desert during a sandstorm.

:: September 13, 1993 Israel and the PLO sign an accord on Palestinian autonomy in Oslo, Norway, giving Mr Arafat control of most of the Gaza Strip and about a quarter of the West Bank. He shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the White House lawn. The two later share the Nobel Peace Prize with Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres.

:: July 1, 1994 Returning from exile, Mr Arafat sets foot on Palestinian soil for the first time in 26 years.

:: September 28, 2000 Israel's then opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits a Jerusalem shrine holy to Jews and Muslims, leading to clashes that escalate into a Palestinian uprising.

:: December 3, 2001 After three suicide bombings, Israel destroys Mr Arafat's helicopters in Gaza City, confining him to the West Bank town of Ramallah.

:: March 2002 Israel declares Mr Arafat an "enemy" two days after a Palestinian suicide bomber kills 29 people at a Passover holiday meal, prompting an Israeli incursion into the West Bank.

:: June 24, 2002 President George W Bush calls on Palestinians to replace Mr Arafat as leader. A year later, his deputy Mahmoud Abbas becomes the first Palestinian prime minister in a move pushed for by the US and Israel to sideline Mr Arafat.

:: June 4, 2003 At the first major Israeli-Palestinian summit without Mr Arafat, Mr Sharon and Mr Bush launch "road map" peace plan, which aims to end fighting and create Palestinian state by 2005.

:: October 21, 2003 Mr Arafat is diagnosed with gallstones. Nearly a year to the day later, he collapses and is flown to hospital in France with a serious, undisclosed illness.

:: November 9, 2004 A French medical team acknowledges that Mr Arafat has been in a coma for a week. He dies two days later at the age of 75.

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Two And A Half Men Star Says Show Is 'Filth'

A teenage actor on Two And A Half Men has criticised the hit US television show, calling it "filth" and urging viewers not to watch it.

Angus T Jones, 19, made the comments in a recording in his production trailer.

He reportedly earns $350,000 (£218,000) an episode playing the character Jake in the show, which now stars Ashton Kutcher.

Charlie Sheen was fired last year after he criticised its producers in a series of bizarre media appearances.

Jones' video was posted by US Christian website Forerunner Chronicles on YouTube on Monday.

In it, the actor, who has been in the show since he was 10, said: "Jake from Two And A Half Men means nothing. He is a non-existent character.

"If you watch Two And A Half Men, please stop watching Two And A Half Men. I'm on Two And A Half Men, and I don't want to be on it.

"Please stop watching it. Stop filling your head with filth. Please. People say it's just entertainment.

"Do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you'll have a decision to make when it comes to television, and especially with what you watch."

In an apparent reference to Satan, Jones said in the video: "A lot of people don't like to think about how deceptive the enemy is. He's been doing this for a lot longer than any of us have been around.

"There's no playing around when it comes to eternity."

Warner Bros, which produces the show along with CBS, has declined to comment.

Two And A Half Men is the third most popular comedy on US television with an average audience of 14.5 million per episode.

The Forerunner Chronicles' MySpace page says it is "dedicated to proclaiming the TRUTH that you need to know".

"Jesus Christ is our General," it goes on. "He gives the orders ... we put in the work! No questions asked."

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Welfare-to-Work Scheme Misses Its Target

The Government has defended its flagship employment scheme after new figures showed the programme has missed its target.

Only 3.5% of the long-term unemployed helped by the scheme were still employed six months later, according to data published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Figures showed that 800,000 people had started the Work Programme since it was launched last year, but that only 31,000 stayed in a job for six months.

A target of 5.5% was set for finding sustainable jobs.

But employment minister Mark Hoban defended the scheme, saying the programme is succeeding in getting people off benefits and into work.

He said that 56% of people who joined the scheme were no longer receiving benefits, with one in five of the earliest participants spending at least six months without them.

Mr Hoban also revealed that notices had been sent to a number of organisations involved in the programme, asking them to come up with plans to improve their performance

But Labour leader Ed Miliband criticised the programme and said it was on course to be a "miserable failure".

Labour leader Ed Miliband has called the scheme a "miserable failure"

During a visit to Stevenage, he said: "It is just not working. What we've seen from the Government is a failure to reform welfare."

The initiative, which was launched in June 2011 to help the long-term unemployed find work, divides the country into regions, with each comprising a range of private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

It is a two-year scheme which supports some of the hardest-to-help claimants, including the long-term unemployed, disabled and ex-offenders.

Employers are paid by results to get people into work, and providers can earn between £3,700 and £13,700 per person, depending how hard it is to help an individual.

The DWP says the scheme so far has cost just over £2,097 for every participant.

The statistics were expected to be poor after various leaks showed the programme slowly "descending into chaos" as one source put it.

Unemployment is now slowly falling despite a stagnation in GDP, a phenomenon that has become known as the "productivity puzzle".

The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), the trade body for the welfare-to-work industry, said criticism of the scheme was unfair, predicting that an increasing number of people will be helped into a sustained job.

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Weather: Hundreds Flee Homes As Floods Rise

Rain-battered Britain is struggling to cope with rising flood levels after further heavy rain brought misery to thousands of residents and motorists across the UK.

Householders have already evacuated over 900 properties after deluges left many properties uninhabitable and caused road and rail chaos.

Hundreds of people were urged to flee their homes after the River Elwy reached record levels and surged through flood defences into the beleaguered city of St Asaph in North Wales.

The torrential downpours spread overnight from the South West to North Wales and northern England, leading to the Environment Agency issuing more than 200 flood warnings and almost 300 flood alerts across the UK.

Residents in St Asaph say they do not remember the area flooding so badly since the 1960s. Some have used canoes to salvage as many possessions as they could carry.

Tina Bailey and her family are rescued in Maisemore, Gloucestershire

Resident Vincent Jones was asked to leave his home in the early hours of the morning. He said: "I had a knock at 12.30am to say there was an imminent flood, and then at 4.30am we were told to leave.

"When I left, within an hour the water had engulfed us. I put some personal possessions upstairs and made sure we took the children to safety. My sister-in-law on the other side of St Asaph has taken the kids in.

"I'm absolutely devastated. I don't have insurance. It doesn't bear thinking about at the minute. My kids are safe, we'll just have to plod on and sort it out one way or another."

The Environment Agency says that  flood defences in St Asaph which were designed to cope with up to 4m (13ft) of water, appear to be holding.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has expressed sympathy with residents but said most of the flood defences around the UK had held up well.

Hotel owner Charlie Ryan and his dog leave their home in St Asaph

"We offer our sympathies to all those affected. I did see that our flood schemes in the South West are protecting properties. Six thousand key properties were protected in Exeter despite a torrent of water. Fifteen thousand properties in the country are being protected.

"We're spending £2.17bn on flood defences over this spending round. We've opened up new arrangement partnerships with local councils and these flood schemes provide real benefits.

"It's bitterly disappointing and awful for residences who feel safe behind defences which then fail. I can't comment on what's happened in St Asaph because I need to get the details of what's happened there.

"The vast majority of the schemes we've built are designed to withstand floods except under extraordinary circumstances."

But Mr Paterson added that the current system for insuring people against floods is flawed, after claims that hundreds of thousands of homes could be left without flood cover due to a row between ministers and the insurance industry over how future flooding bills would be covered.

Firemen filled sandbags to deliver to residents in North Wales

He also criticised the way insurance companies have raised the issue.

"We're trying to come up with an improved system that gives affordable and universal insurance which isn't a huge burden on the taxpayer.

"We've been involved in detailed negotiations with the Association of British Insurers (ABI), but it was unhelpful of them to throw this into the mix yesterday when people were still struggling to recover from the flooding."

The ABI had claimed that talks about a "safety net" deal to ensure those in flood-risk areas can continue to afford their policies were at "crisis point".

Graeme Trudgill from the British Insurers Brokers Association said the solution could lie in insurers themselves being insured.

"The insurance brokers we represent want to find a solution. It's a question of getting government and insurers to find the right balance.

Residents of St Asaph wade to safety

"Flood mapping technology is so advanced now we can tell which properties are at risk of flooding and we can insure 98% of the properties in the UK. It's the top 200,000 properties that are very high risk.

"Specialist brokers can insure most of them but it's a case of those properties working with their broker and agreeing to things like air-brick covers on their homes so they're prepared if the worst happens.

"We're looking at a re-insurance solution to provide insurance for the insurance companies. We're confident that next year there will be some broker solutions in place.

Flood levels are continuing to rise in the worst hit areas across the UK despite the forecast of drier spells.

Sky's weather presenter Isobel Lang, said: "Drier weather is on the way. That is definitely welcome news after the exceptional rain of the last few days. However the flood risk will not go away.

"Some slow responding rivers such as the Severn, Trent and Thames will continue to rise over the next day or two leading to local flooding problems.

A resident collects her belongings in Willington, central England

"Areas with high ground water could still experience flooding, and Dorset is a county at risk.  There is still a risk of river or surface water flooding across northeast England, north Wales and Northamptonshire, too".

Across the UK, three people have died in the flooding and around 900 homes have been evacuated following a weekend of almost non-stop rain.

There is still a risk of flooding, as the heavy rain in northern England and Wales moves southwards. But the wind and rain are expected to ease over the next few days which are expected to be drier, with freezing temperatures taking hold of the UK instead.

The EA remains particularly concerned about the River Thames, Trent and the Severn, as well as the Northamptonshire area.

The A417 at Maisemore has already flooded and is closed, while the River Severn at Tewkesbury is expected to peak at 4.8m - a metre less than its peak in 2007.

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Winter Weather: Sub-Zero Temperatures Forecast

Winter weather is set to bite later this week with sub-zero temperatures predicted.

Heavy rain will give way to ice, frost and bitterly cold northerly winds from Tuesday onwards.

Temperatures could plummet to as low as -6C in some places, with highs of just 4C.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "The weather is set to change dramatically this week as the area of low pressure bringing today's heavy rain slips away southeastwards drawing in cold northerly winds.

"Conditions look a good deal drier from Tuesday onwards, and much of south-west England, the Midlands and Wales could remain dry for the remainder of the week.

"On the flip side, it will feel considerably colder with brisk northerly winds and much lower night and daytime temperatures. Expect sharp frosts and the risk of icy stretches.

"Some showers are still likely to feed in on the winds, but these should mainly affect North Sea coastal counties where they may bring some snow to the North Yorkshire Moors or Cheviots along with higher ground in eastern Scotland."

The cold snap follows a weekend of heavy rain and strong wind, leaving three people dead and forcing hundreds from their homes.

The heavy rain will continue to deluge parts of the South West today, but North Wales and the North East is expected to bear the brunt of the wet weather.

There are nearly 300 flood warnings and 300 flood alerts in place across the country.

Prime Minister David Cameron he promised to ensure "everything is being done to help".

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Second Pensioner Dies In Newbury 'Mystery'

A second pensioner has died after suffering multiple injuries in a house where an elderly woman was found dead.

Thames Valley Police said it was treating the death of the 94-year-old man as "unexplained".

He had been taken to John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, with injuries to his head, ribs and shoulder but died overnight.

Officers are also yet to establish how an 89-year-old woman found at the same property in Berkeley Road in Newbury, Berkshire, died. She was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Earlier, Detective Chief Inspector Gill Wooton said there were no signs of a forced entry.

He added: "We are continuing to treat both of these deaths as unexplained until the post mortem results are known.

"We are yet to determine fully the circumstances which led to these people's deaths and will keep an open mind until all forensic tests and investigative searches are carried out on the property where they were found."

Post mortems into the deaths of both pensioners are expected to take place later.

Anyone with information that might help officers with their investigation is asked to contact the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

Those not wanting to speak directly to the police can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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Man Held After Girl, 11, Raped In Park

Detectives have arrested a man on suspicion of raping an 11-year-old girl in a north London park.

The youngster is being treated in hospital after she was grabbed by a man on her way home from school on Friday afternoon.

She was dragged into Jubilee Park, in Enfield, north London, before being raped near a pitch and putt course.

The girl, who had caught a bus from Enfield town to Bury Street, was snatched as she was walking along Galliards Road at around 4.15pm.

She eventually returned home after the attack at 7.45pm.

A 26-year-old man was arrested at an address in Edmonton and is in police custody.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless school girl making her way home via her usual route, along one of Enfield's busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush hour.

"She says the attack happened for some considerable time - possibly in the region of two to three hours.

"At present an extensive search of the park is underway and local officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries, and we have already been receiving helpful information from members of the public.

"Given the significant and unaccounted amount of time between the incident and the victim's arrival home, we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her possibly appearing confused or dishevelled following her ordeal. All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence."

Chief Inspector Taylor Wilson said: "Over the course of the weekend police have been working using every resource available to support the victim, identify the suspect and provide a police response to increase confidence and provide reassurance to residents.

"Although this is an isolated and extremely rare incident, we are treating this with the utmost seriousness."

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Weather: Northern England Braced For Flooding

North East England and North Wales are braced for flooding after the band of heavy rain that swamped southern England moved north.

There are just over 200 flood warnings in place across the country and nearly 300 less serious flood alerts, following a weekend of almost non-stop pouring rain left at least 800 homes swamped with water.

Parts of South West England were particularly badly hit, now people in the North East and North Wales are preparing for possible flooding.

A soldier carries a sandbag in Catterick, North Yorkshire

In North Yorkshire, residents of Richmondshire are being offered emergency sandbags to protect their homes from floodwater.

On the outskirts of Darlington, County Durham, the River Skerne was reported to have burst its banks, while pumps are being used to keep parts of the A66 open in the area.

Days of rain and strong winds have left three people dead, forced hundreds from their homes and brought chaos to the roads.

Residents load sandbags onto a trolley elsewhere in the town

Prime Minister David Cameron vowed he would "ensure everything is being done to help".

Parts of Devon and Cornwall are among the worst hit areas so far - but hundreds of other areas have also been affected, with the South and the Midlands getting badly hit.

Thousands of motorists have had to be rescued from water-logged roads over the past few days.

A man rows through a car park in Keynsham, Somerset

Rainfall is estimated to be around 15mm across the spine of Britain today, less than the 30mm of rain in parts of the West Country, but meteorologists said it would offer little respite to homeowners keen to begin cleaning up.

Mr Cameron wrote on Twitter: "Shocking scenes of flooding in Cornwall and around the country. Govt will help ensure everything is being done to help."

A 21-year-old woman was killed in Western Way, Exeter, after becoming trapped under a fallen tree which injured two others.

A homeless woman died after being crushed by a tree in Exeter

Inspector Andrew Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News that the dead woman had been living in a small tent sheltered against a wall at the roadside.

"It was a very large oak tree that had been there for ... many years. Obviously we've had lots of heavy weather, it's been raining an awful lot, and the tree for whatever reason came down."

Her death follows that of a man on Thursday, who died when his car became wedged under a bridge near a ford in Rectory Fields, Chew Stoke, Somerset.

A car is partially submerged in standing water in Ruishton, Somerset

A 50-year-old man, named as Kevin Wilkinson, also died after falling into a canal in Watford on Saturday.

Both the RAC and AA breakdown services reported surges in flood-related call-outs as roads and highways across the country have been closed due to perilous standing water.

But that has not deterred many motorists from taking their chances.

Homes are left flooded on Cheats Road in Ruishton

In Warwickshire three people became stranded on the roof of a four-wheel drive after deciding to go off-road driving.

Police issued a post on Twitter to say the men had been shouting abuse at those who tried to come to their aid. They were eventually rescued by boat.

National Rail said the severe weather is disrupting services around the country.

Hay bales stand in flood water in fields surrounding the Glastonbury Tor

Nearly 71,000 properties have been told they could be at risk, according to the Environment Agency.

Jo Wheeler, Sky News weather presenter, said: "The heaviest rain has now moved north, and there'll be a period of some hours before further wet weather is likely.

"Meanwhile, the storm system has taken the wettest weather into central, eastern and northern parts of England.

Flood water blocking the A361 near Taunton, Somerset

"And the strongest winds are to the south and east of the system, with gale force gusts for eastern England, East Anglia and the South East.  These blustery conditions will also abate as the low pressure system clears away into the North Sea."

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Hatton Retires Again After Losing Fight

Ricky Hatton's fairytale return to the ring ended in defeat after he was knocked out by a ninth-round body shot from fellow former champion Vyacheslav Senchenko.

Hatton, 34, was back in the ring for the first time since a devastating second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in 2009.

The Mancunian started aggressively without landing anything of note, until a left hook and short right connected.

But as the fight went on the Ukrainian landed several power shots which did seem to take their toll in the eighth as his momentum built.

Then Hatton was floored in the ninth by a left to the body which sent him crashing to the floor.

The crowd urged their hero to rise but he was simply in too much agony as referee Victor Loughlin stopped the fight with eight seconds left in the round.

Hatton was hoping to prove something to himself, his critics and his demons after seeing his life fall to pieces since the Pacquiao loss.

Hatton waves goodbye after his brief return to the ring

He had decided not to warm up against a soft touch and instead opted to fight against credible opposition in the form of former WBA champion Senchenko.

After the fight an emotional Hatton said he was retiring from boxing for a second time.

"I needed one more fight to see if I had still got it - and I haven't. I found out tonight it isn't there no more. I can look at myself in the mirror and tell myself I did my best, but there is always an excuse to find.

"I got in the best shape I possibly could but if I hadn't been hit with that body shot I would have just scraped over the line with a points win and I honestly think I would still be telling you all the same thing.

"A fighter knows and I know it isn't there any more. I got the opportunity and I got the answers and, no matter how upsetting it is, I have got to be a man and say it is the end of Ricky Hatton."

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Flood Scenes 'Shocking' Says David Cameron

David Cameron has said the scenes of flooding around the country are "shocking" and pledged help for all those affected.

The Prime Minister took to Twitter to voice his concern about the pictures of devastation coming from the South West as Britain braces for more bad weather to come.

He tweeted: "Shocking scenes of flooding in Cornwall and around the country. Govt will help ensure everything is being done to help."

It comes after a 21-year-old was killed when she became trapped under a fallen tree in Exeter on Saturday night. Two men were also injured.

Inspector Andrew Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News that the dead woman had been living in a small tent sheltered against a wall at the roadside.

"It was a very large oak tree that had been there for... many years. Obviously we've had lots of heavy weather, it's been raining an awful lot, and the tree for whatever reason came down," he said.

The site of a fallen tree in Exeter, where a 21-year-old woman died

Rescue services in the West Midlands have appealed for drivers of 4x4s to stop taking unnecessary risks. They say a remarkable number of their call outs have been to people in four-wheel drive vehicles.

Nathan Hudson, of West Midland Ambulance Service, said: "Perhaps surprisingly, we have had to deal with a remarkable number of stuck 4x4s.  Just because your vehicle has four wheel drive, does not make it amphibious.  They too can become stuck in deep flood water.

"We would urge people to not try and get across flood water and instead take a short detour, rather than become trapped in their cars and have to be rescued."

The warning follows a report from Warwickshire Police that three people who had decided to go off-road driving in the bad weather had become stranded and were stuck on the roof of their vehicle shouting abuse at rescue teams.

The Environment Agency has issued two severe flood warnings, which means serious threats to life and property, in the South West.

Cars stranded in floodwaters outside homes in Malmesbury, Wiltshire

There are 220 flood warnings in place across the country, mainly in the South West and the Midlands, and 266 less serious flood alerts.

Emergency services were called to rescue people from their homes in the historic town of Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, where waters were 3ft deep in places due to flooding from the River Avon.

A spokeswoman for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "It's been building up there for a few days and has flooded now in the area down by the river.

"Streets and houses have been flooded and we've rescued four people from two properties, three people from one house and a chap with asthma from another."

In Devon 60 people were evacuated from 12 locations because of safety concerns, while in Cornwall 80 properties had been hit by flooding.

Emergency teams have been working to shore up defences, deploy temporary barriers, monitor river levels, clear blockages from watercourses and pump-out flood water from towns.

British team kayaker Sam Anderson takes to the water in Exeter

Richard Benyon, the Environment Minister, said: "We recognise that while somewhere over 400 homes have been flooded, we have actually managed to protect over 24,000 homes by recently constructed flood defences, and so that is, if you like, the silver lining to this cloud."

In Exeter a member of the British kayaking team, Sam Anderson, took advantage of the white waters generated by the floods and took to the River Exe in his kayak.

He told Sky News that he would not encourage others to do the same thing but that he had been kayaking for 10 years and was wearing safety equipment, including a helmet.

He said: "It's really powerful the current. You just cannot go against it you have to go with it because it is really strong and it's really deep as well."

The rest of Britain is also bracing itself for more flooding and travel disruption, with forecasters predicting further heavy downpours.

Jo Wheeler, Sky News Weather Presenter, said: "The low pressure system that brought flooding rain across the country last night, will slowly clear north-eastwards through the day. 

Flooding in Newlyn, Cornwall (Pic: Adam Gibbard)

"The heaviest hit areas of Devon and Cornwall received over two inches of rain in some places.  But the heaviest rain has now moved north, and there'll be a period of some hours before further wet weather is likely.

"Meanwhile, the storm system has taken the wettest weather into central , eastern and northern parts of England. 

"And the strongest winds are to the south and east of the system, with gale force gusts for eastern England, East Anglia and the south-east.  These blustery conditions will also abate as the low pressure system clears away into the North Sea."

Network Rail said trains were likely to be suspended between Exeter and Bristol until Monday. Landslips at Honiton and Dawlish have led to the cancellation of a number of train services.

In North Yorkshire flooding has caused the closure of major roads including the A66, between the A1 and A67.

North Yorkshire Police tweeted: "Please take care when travelling in North Yorkshire. There is lots of standing water on many roads. Reduce your speed."

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PM 'Open-Minded' On Leveson's Press Report

David Cameron is said to be keeping an "open mind" about the future regulation of the press and will make no decisions before he has seen Lord Justice Leveson's much-anticipated report.

Downing Street has rejected any suggestion that the Prime Minister has already decided to rule out full-blown state regulation following reports he is heading for a showdown with Lord Justice Leveson when he delivers his report into the findings about the British press.

The Mail On Sunday claimed Mr Cameron would back a new, tougher model of self-regulation to replace the Press Complaints Commission - but with the threat that a statutory system could be brought in later if matters do not improve.

The Leveson report is supposed to be shrouded in secrecy until its publication on Thursday.

Mr Cameron and some other senior Government figures will have access to it on Wednesday so that he can make a substantive response when it is released.

"The Prime Minister is open-minded about Lord Justice Leveson's report and will read it in full before he makes any decision about what to do," a spokesman said.

The Prime Minister himself gave evidence to the inquiry

Victims of press intrusion are calling for an independent regulator, backed up by law, while editors fear that statutory regulation could serve only to limit press freedom.

Christopher Jefferies, the landlord who was wrongly arrested for the murder of his tenant Joanna Yeates, revealed today he has yet to receive a written apology from any of the editors and reporters responsible for his "vilification" in the press.

The 67-year-old retired teacher won substantial libel damages from eight newspapers following their coverage of his arrest in connection with the architect's disappearance in 2010.

He was released without charge while another tenant, Vincent Tabak, was later sentenced to life for murder.

And Mr Cameron set up the Leveson Inquiry in July last year in response to revelations that the News Of The World (NOTW) commissioned a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002.

Lord Justice Leveson's report will be published on Thursday

This Thursday's report follows the first part of the Leveson Inquiry looking at the culture, practices and ethics of the press, and will include recommendations for press regulation.

Speaking to Sky's Dermot Murnaghan, the Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission Lord Hunt said he had made his own recommendations.

"I think some time ago (the PCC) realised it needed to be replaced by a tough independent regular, so I came along, I was given a blank piece of paper, I set out what I thought was the best way forward, basing the whole structure on contract rather than statute, and that's what I put to Lord Justice Leveson," he said.

"It's got to have enough power to deal with the sort of outrageous behaviour we have seen uncovered."

He added that he wanted to see more "internal regulation".

"We're dealing with publishers, some of whom have hundreds of editors, I think they have taken insufficient responsibility. I want the buck to stop there."

London Mayor Boris Johnson told Sky that the present system, "doesn't really carry confidence amongst the public at large."

"There needs to be a tougher system of self-regulation," he added.

"Where I think we don't want to go is in the direction of a media that is controlled by politicians."

Members of campaign group Hacked Off, including victims of press intrusion, want an independent regulator - possibly backed up by law to ensure newspapers comply.

Hacked Off director Professor Brian Cathcart said they wanted "something effective that will make a difference" - probably backed by law to give it the necessary "clout" - but said if the chairman found a way of doing that without law, they would be happy as long as it was effective.

But Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society Of Editors, called for "proportionality", saying he hoped Lord Justice Leveson had not only taken the "headline evidence" into account.

"Some of the points that came out were absolutely dreadful and nobody is trying to hide away from the fact that there were some pieces of behaviour in some parts of the press that were quite appalling," he said.

"But it's got to be seen in context - we want to see some proportionality."

Former Crimewatch presenter Jacqui Hames, who was placed under NOTW surveillance along with her husband, said victims wanted to "draw a line under all this".

"We want to be able to trust our journalists again and pick up our newspapers and be confident that what we're reading is accurate and it hasn't been obtained illegally or at the detriment of somebody's life," she said.

"We have a fantastic historical tradition of newspapers and journalism in this country and I would love to see that restored.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to look to the future so that in 50 years' time people will look back and see this as a pivotal moment and a restoration of faith in our free press."

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Spurs Attack: No Attempted Murder Charges

Two men who were charged with attempted murder following an attack on a Spurs fan in Rome have had the charges against them dropped.

Ashley Mills, a Tottenham Hotspur fan who was in Rome to watch the team play Lazio, suffered serious injuries to his skull and thigh when violence broke out in one of the city's bars.

The 25-year-old builder had been drinking with his brother in The Drunken Ship pub before the match when 50 masked assailants stormed in.

Two men, who were charged with attempted murder following the attack last week, appeared in court today.

Lorenzo Contucci, a lawyer for one of the men, said that the attempted murder charges had been dropped but the men instead face charges of aggravated wounding with a weapon.

Mr Contucci said the judge said the violence in the pub had not been racially motivated but that it was a "football-related crime".

The two men are understood to be supporters of Lazio's cross-town rivals, AS Roma.

The attack left seven people injured, including an American and a Bangladeshi, and the pub in tatters, its windows broken, chairs and tables overturned.

Police named other injured British fans as Dave Lesley, Stephen Tierney and Christopher Allen.

The group of attackers covered their faces with motorbike helmets and scarves and were armed with knives, baseball bats and knuckle dusters when they stormed The Drunken Ship pub late on Wednesday night, according to police.

The pub in Rome following the attack

Mr Mills remains in hospital in Rome. The 25-year-old builder from Brentwood, Essex, has spoken of the attack, and said: "There was a good atmosphere in the bar. Everyone from back home having a few drinks, we were having fun. And then the atmosphere changed really quickly.

"I was standing outside the bar drinking, and the next thing I know there are loads of them. It happened very quickly, I don't remember much. I remember being pulled out, along the ground, after I had been stabbed.

"I am not scared now, I was scared at the time."

Mr Mills received head wounds when he was beaten and a knife wound to the top of his right thigh, causing prolonged bleeding from his femoral artery.

The next thing he remembers is waking up at Rome's San Camillo hospital, where his groin wound, considered life-threatening by doctors, was operated on, while his head wound was treated with stitches.

A statement issued by the hospital said Mr Mills remained in a serious condition and would be kept under observation "for a few days".

He has been cheered up by three friends who have travelled to Rome to see him.

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