Weather: Flood Warnings As Snow Thaws

There are fears of flooding in the UK as rain moves in and rising temperatures spark a rapid thaw of the snow and ice which built up in the past fortnight.

The Environment Agency has warned there is a risk of surface water and river flooding this weekend across England and Wales.

The agency has issued around 15 warnings, mostly in the South West, and about 80 less serious flood alerts, mainly in the south, the Midlands and Wales.

Warnings mean flooding is expected and immediate action is required, while alerts signify floods are possible.

A spokesman said: "Emergency teams from the Environment Agency will be out in force throughout the weekend to shore up defences, monitor river levels and clear blockages from watercourses."

The Met Office has also issued a severe weather warning about possible localised flooding in many parts of the country on Sunday, and the public should be aware of potential disruption to travel.

Forecasters are predicting up to 50mm of rain on Saturday over high ground.

And temperatures will steadily rise above freezing before reaching more than 10C in the south on Sunday.

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said: "During today much of eastern England and eastern Scotland will be fine but rather chilly, with some good sunny spells. This evening and tonight it will turn wet and windy with snow thawing rapidly. It will be mild.

"Across Western Scotland, western England, the Midlands and Wales there will be a few showers but many places should be dry and sunny.

"Through the afternoon, cloud will increase from the west bringing outbreaks of rain by to most places by evening. Winds will strengthen too bringing in mild air overnight and leading to the rapid thaw of snow.

"Around 30 to 50mm (two inches) of rain is possible over high ground exposed to the strong southerly wind. Some local flooding is possible."

She added: "Sunday will see rain and strong, gusty winds clearing eastern Britain followed by sunshine but scattered blustery showers."

Forecasters are predicting a very wet spell through the latter part of Monday and through Tuesday.

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Weather: Snow Storm Brings M6 To Standstill

Hundreds of drivers spent up to eight hours trapped in their vehicles on the M6 in Lancashire after heavy snow brought the motorway to a standstill.

The motorway became blocked in both directions between junctions 25 and 27, near Wigan, on Friday night after vehicles became stuck in more than a foot of snow and some drivers abandoned their cars.

Many drivers were affected along the stretch between Wigan and Standish after struggling to make it up inclines in the treacherous conditions, while a number of accidents including jack-knifed lorries also blocked lanes.

Prime Minister David Cameroon tweeted: "Huge sympathy for those affected by heavy #uksnow. Govt working closely with transport operators to minimise impact on everyone."

Mountain rescue teams were brought in to help police and the Highways Agency clear roads and assist those who were stranded.

One man had to be taken to hospital after becoming ill in his car while it was stuck.

And some of the stranded drivers passed the time with snowball fights and building snowmen.

The M6 gridlock. Pic Kevin Collister

The M6, as well as the M56 and M58 which were also blocked, are now all moving again but remain heavily congested with long tailbacks, Lancashire Police said.

Motorists contacted Sky News overnight to share their tales of woe.

Kevin Collister, stuck on the motorway just past the M58 junction heading northbound, said: "There is absolutely no movement whatsoever on my side of the carriageway, all the snow is squashed down into ice and there are wagons trying to move and sliding sideways.

"It's an absolute nightmare, we've been here for three hours so far. A few people are saying we might be here for the night but we're just hoping we can get through."

Conservative MP David Morris, stuck on the southbound carriageway, said: "We've ground to a halt on both sides. Nothing is really moving.

"But the emergency services have been fantastic and are doing the best for us, and everyone is in good spirits.

Some M6 motorists made the most of the snow. Pic Ashley Pinches

"I've just seen a snowball fight and the man next door to me has built a snowman on top of his car roof ... it's very surreal."

Barry Pinches, on his way to Blackpool, told Sky News: "At one stage we didn't think we would make it but it looks like things are moving slowly now. We saw some snow ploughs on the southbound carriageway but there doesn't seem to be too many of them - they have their work cut out."

Pete Martin, from the Highways Agency, confirmed to Sky News that the carriageways had been gritted before the snow came down.

"We had an extremely intense fall of snow across Lancashire between 8.30pm and midnight and basically there wasn't enough traffic to keep the lanes moving," he said.

The M6 was blocked both ways in Lancashire

"A number of HGVs lost traction between junctions 25 and 27 and once they blocked the carriageway the snow stacked up and the result was a number of stranded vehicles."

The agency worked throughout the night to clear the routes with snow ploughs. It is urging those who had abandoned their cars to return to them as soon as possible.

A spokesman said: "With the rain falling and ice melting onto very cold road surfaces, we are now warning drivers of the danger of ice."

Hazardous driving conditions led to collisions and delays on many routes across the north of England, including the M18, M60, M65, M56 and M58.

Meanwhile, all flights were suspended at Leeds Bradford International Airport during the morning as a fresh blanket of snow covered most of the Yorkshire region.

North Yorkshire Fire Service said a couple had to be rescued from a snow drift on the North York Moors last night.

North Yorkshire Police said some main roads were blocked by snow and abandoned vehicles including the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton and the B6265 at Rylstone.

Weather experts have warned of the risk of flooding this weekend, as heavy rain moves in and rising temperatures spark a rapid thaw of the built-up snow and ice.

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Many Dead After Football Fans Sentenced

Troops are being sent to Port Said after violent clashes erupted following the sentencing to death of football fans who rioted during a game in 2012.

As the sentence was read out in court and broadcast live on Egyptian television, families of those who died during the match wailed in disbelief and relief and shouted "God is great!" from the public gallery.

Defendants' lawyers said all those sentenced were fans of the Port Said team, Al-Masry. 

Jubilant: Fans of Al Ahly football club celebrate the verdict in Cairo

Meanwhile, relatives of those sentenced attempted to storm the prison where the defendants are being held, leading to fierce clashes with police which left at least 22 people dead, including two policemen.

Residents in Port Said, where the match was played, were also angry that people from their city were being held responsible for the tragedy. On hearing the verdict many rampaged through the streets and some attempted to storm a police station.

Die-hard soccer fans from both teams hold the police at least partially responsible for the Port Said deaths and criticise Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi for doing little to reform the force.

Firearms were used against police who responded with tear gas and troops are being sent to Port Said, a senior army officer said.

Al Ahly fans were considered by many to be the victims of the riot

"It has been decided to deploy some units to work for calm and stability and the protection of public establishments," General Ahmed Wasfi said in a statement.

Shops closed and armoured personnel vehicles were deployed as fighting raged in some streets around the prison.

In Cairo, there were explosions of jubilation at the verdict. One man who lost his son in the Port Said clashes wept outside court and said he was satisfied with the judges decision.

Another, Hassan Mustafa, had pinned a picture of his dead friend to his chest and said he was pleased with the outcome, adding that he wanted "justice served for those who planned the killing."

Joy: Families of fans killed shouted 'God is great' after the verdict

In February 2012 more than 70 people were killed in Port Said during clashes between fans of home side Al Masry and diehard supporters of Cairo's Al Ahly.

Doctors treating the victims said some had been stabbed to death. One player caught up in the rioting described it as "a war".

Witnesses said most of the deaths involved people who had been trampled in the crush of panicked crowds, or who fell from terraces.

After the violence, deputy health minister Hesham Sheiha told state television: "This is unfortunate and deeply saddening. It is the biggest disaster in Egypt's soccer history."

Some of the defendants accused of involvement in the violence

Among those on trial are nine security officials. The riot was the world's deadliest soccer violence in 15 years

The judge said in his statement read live on state TV that he would announce the verdict for the remaining 52 defendants on March 9.

As is customary in Egypt, the death sentences will be sent to religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for approval.

Executions in Egypt are usually carried out by hanging

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Adrian Donohoe Killing Condemned By Irish PM

The Irish leader Enda Kenny has described the fatal shooting of a Garda detective during a botched hold-up as "cold blooded violence".

Adrian Donohoe was with a colleague escorting a cash delivery to a credit union in Dundalk, County Louth, when he was killed.

Several shots were fired during the attack at the Lordship Credit Union, on the Cooley Road in the town at around 9.30pm.

Mr Kenny said: "This was an outrageous act of cold blooded violence that has left a family without a husband and father and the Garda Siochana without a brave and valued member.

"On behalf of the Government and of the people I would like to express my condolences to Adrian's wife and children and to all his extended family at this unbearably sad time."

It is believed the force is hunting four men who fled the scene in a grey Volkswagen Passat.

The shooting happened in Cooley Road, Dundalk

Sky's Ireland correspondent David Blevins said: "The Irish police set up checkpoints on the southern side of the Irish border and the Police Service of Northern Ireland have checkpoints on the northern side of the Irish border."

The officer, who was based at Dundalk Garda station, was fatally injured in the shooting.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of my colleague Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

"Detective Garda Donohoe died as a result of injuries sustained in the course of his duty following a shooting incident in Dundalk.

"At this time my thoughts and prayers and those of the entire force are with the family, friends and close colleagues of Adrian."

Det Donohoe is understood to leave behind three children. He lived in the Lordship area, half a mile from the credit union where he was killed.

Local councillor Jim Loughran described him as a quiet, decent family man.

"I just spoke to him last week on the street in town. I can't believe this has happened," he said.

The Sinn Fein councillor, who knew the detective through their local GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) club St Patrick's, also condemned those responsible for the shooting.

"This was not just an attack on a Garda detective, it was an attack on the whole community," he said.

It is believed staff at the credit union were locking up when the shooting occurred.

Gardai have appealed for witnesses to contact them at Dundalk Garda Station on 042-9388400.

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Murder Confession: Teen Copies Halloween Film

A Texas teenager has confessed to police that he shot his mother and sister after repeatedly watching a horror film about a boy who kills without remorse.

Newly released evidence in the case includes a four-page document handwritten by Jake Evans.

In it he calmly explained how he planned to kill several members of his family last October - inspired by the 2007 remake of the horror classic Halloween.

The film is about a young boy who knifes to death his sister and others, and escapes a mental hospital years later to continue killing as an adult.

Jake Evans repeatedly watched the 2007 remake of Halloween

"While watching it, I was amazed at how at ease the boy was during the murders and how little remorse he had," the 17-year-old wrote, just hours after the event.

"Afterward, I was thinking to myself it would be the same for me when I kill someone."

He said in the confession that he initially planned on using a knife to murder his mother Jami and 15-year-old sister Mallory at their home in Aledo.

"I went back upstairs and kept pacing back and forth imagining killing Mallory," he wrote.

"Thoughts of causing her pain kept entering my mind and were really bothering me. But then I'd think about the times she hurt my feelings."

Evans described how earlier that day, he and his sister had argued after he accused her of making a racist comment.

He said he sat on the sofa having a pillow fight with his sister with a knife in his pocket.

But then he changed his mind.

"After a while, I thought to myself that if I were to kill my mom and Mallory, I wouldn't want them to feel anything, so I decided to kill them both with the .22 revolver I stole from my grandpa," he wrote.

"I then spent probably over an hour walking nervously around the house thinking how life will never be the same and how I would never see them again."

Evans described knocking on his sister's bedroom door at about 11.15pm and shooting her in the back and head.

The teenager's police statement was released on the orders of the judge

He then went downstairs and shot his mother.

"As I emptied the shells on my bed, I heard noises and realised that Mallory was still alive," he wrote.

"While I loaded the gun back up, I was shouting that I was sorry and then ran as fast as I could to kill her. I made sure my mom was dead and shot her again in the head."

Evans called 911 and told the dispatcher what he had done.

"I know now though that I'm done with killing," he said at the end of his statement. "What happened last night will haunt me forever."

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Murray Beats Federer To Reach Oz Open Final

Tennis star Andy Murray is through to the Australian Open final after beating Roger Federer in a five-set thriller.

The British number one will face top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia for the title on Sunday.

Murray, who beat Djokovic in the US Open final last September, won his semi in Melbourne 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6-7 (2/7) 6-2 in four hours.

The 25-year-old Briton had never previously defeated Swiss star Federer in a grand slam tournament.

And third seed Murray had looked the more likely to win the match from the outset with a superior service game and aggressive shotmaking.

The Scot was two points away from winning the semi-final in the fourth set.

But 17-times grand slam winner Federer, who was seeded two, proved he was still a force to be reckoned with by forcing a fifth.

However, Murray got off to a storming start in the final set, racing to a 3-0 lead - and was not prepared to let an opportunity slip again.

Cricket star Shane Warne caught one of the match balls

The Briton has extended his victory record over Federer to 11-9, and it was his first victory over the former world number one in four grand slam matches.

It will be Murray's sixth grand slam final and he is the first Briton to reach three Australian Open finals.

Speaking afterwards, the Olympic gold medallist, who beat Federer in the final at London 2012, said: "It's always tough against him. Slams are when he plays his best tennis.

"When I was serving for the match at 6-5 in the fourth, he came up with some unbelievable shots.

"I didn't play the best tiebreak. It's hard when you're serving for a place in the final and a few minutes later you are into a fifth set."

As for the meeting with Djokovic, who thrashed David Ferrer in Thursday night's semi, he added: "I didn't see much of his game although I heard about it.

"I heard he played very well. I will have to play my best tennis to win it."

During the Murray match, Australian cricket legend Shane Warne raised a few smiles when he caught one of the balls.

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UK GDP Falls By 0.3% In Last Quarter

The UK's national output has fallen by 0.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The contraction of gross domestic product (GDP), which was worse than most forecasts, compared to a 0.9% rise in the previous three months.

Britain now appears closer to its third recession in four years, or the so-called triple-dip recession.

GDP is seen as the broadest measure of a country's economic output, and the figure undergoes regular revision as more data reaches statisticians.

The ONS said GDP contracted partially because of lower output from North Sea resource producers and manufacturers.

Mining and quarrying were hard hit in the last quarter

Mining and quarrying also suffered its biggest fall in output since records began in 1997.

Quarries supply a range of other sectors including construction, railways and road-building - including pothole repairing.

The ONS also said it was the biggest contraction in Government and other services sector since the second quarter of 2008.

The figure now raises more concerns over the economic policy of the coalition Government.

On Thursday it defended its austerity programme against criticism from the International Monetary Fund's chief economist.

The economy is now 3.3% smaller than at its peak in Q1 2008, recovering only about half the output lost during the financial crisis - a worse performance than other major economies.

The disruption to North Sea oil and gas fields was partially attributed to a maintenance programme which saw the shut down of certain key pumping infrastructure.

This knocked 0.18% off GDP, while slightly smaller amounts of damage were done by a fall in factory output and in the 'Government and other services' category.

Britain's high streets have been hit by four major chain collapses recently

In the third quarter this sector was boosted by the London Olympics effect on sports and recreation services.

At the start of 2013, one-off factors, such as January's snow, may seal the fate of an economy on a knife-edge between growth and contraction, with major retailer John Lewis already warning that snow had hit sales growth.

Some experts believe the country can still avoid the feared return of recession.

Experts on the Sky News Money Panel had mixed feelings on the results and risk of triple-dip, ahead of the results.

Ross Walker, UK economist at RBS Global Banking & Markets, said: "I think a formal triple dip will be narrowly avoided.

"The early signs of chaos around the January snow fall threatened to tilt the balance of risks the other way but, anecdotally, the disruption to the wider economy does not seem as bad as initially feared."

James Daley, money editor at Which?, added: It's quite possible that Britain is heading for a triple-dip recession - though I think the importance of this could be overplayed.

"The economy has effectively been flatlining for almost four years now - with the odd quarter or two of growth quickly offset by a few quarters of contraction.

North Sea infrastructure maintenance adversely affected the GDP

"Sadly, there are still no green shoots of recovery, and with many of the public sector cuts still working their way through, 2013 looks set to be another tough year for consumers."

Asked how the retail sector could be improved, Louise George, from Peter Popple's Popcorn, said: "(The Government) could offer more funding and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"So that they are able to grow their businesses and are able to offer lower prices to consumers through economies of scales of having more cashflow."

Anthony Thomson, the founder and former chairman of Metro bank, also warned of the disparity between SMEs and and large firms.

"We continue to be a two-speed economy in the business sector. Small businesses are still keeping their heads down and hoarding cash," Mr Thomson said.

"There is credit available for them if they want it but they are being very cautious. Big businesses are using the incredibly low interest rate environment to tap the bond market, bypassing traditional bank lending."

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Man Jailed For 25 Years For Toddler's Murder

A man has been ordered to serve at least 25 years for murdering the 15-month-old daughter of his former partner.

Barry McCarney, 33, of Co Tyrone, was found guilty last month of Millie Martin's murder in Enniskillen in 2009.

Setting the minimum tariff McCarney must serve before being considered for release, Mr Justice Ben Stephens told the labourer at Belfast Crown Court he was a "deeply manipulative man" who had carried out a "sadistic sexual assault"  on the child.

Millie was 15-months-old when she died in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital after being badly beaten at a house in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the day before.

Millie was subjected to a 'sadistic sexual assault' by McCarney

Millie's mother Rachel, 25, had gone briefly to a local shop in December 2009, but when she returned home her daughter and partner were not in the house.

She later said: "I was literally minutes away and when I got back... I got a phone call telling me to get to the Erne hospital quick - Millie wasn't well - I was in hysterics."

McCarney was filmed on hospital CCTV carrying Millie into the emergency ward before she was transferred to Belfast's Royal Victoria hospital where she was put on a life-support machine until members of her family arrived to say goodbye.

At the time, Millie's grandmother Margaret said the child "could never be replaced - it's just a nightmare, a nightmare every day."

During McCarney's trial the jury heard Millie had received a fatal blow to the back of her head as well as a number of other injuries, including serious internal injuries which could also have proved fatal.

It was claimed that Injuries to her abdomen had been caused by regular punching in the weeks before her death.

McCarney had also found guilty of grevious bodily harm with intent and sexual assault of Millie. He must serve at least six years and two years for those crimes respectively, but those terms will run concurrently with his murder tariff.

McCarney showed little emotion as the judge delivered his sentencing remarks.

Millie's mother Rachael Martin looked on from the public gallery. She was previously acquitted of charges of allowing her daughter's death and cruelty through wilful neglect.

Outside court, Ms Martin criticised the length of tariff handed to her ex-boyfriend. "I don't think it was long enough, 25 years isn't long enough," she said.

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Chelsea Kick Ballboy Made 'Timewasting' Joke

The ballboy who was kicked by Chelsea star Eden Hazard after refusing to let go of a ball had earlier joked about "timewasting" in a tweet.

Hazard has apologised for the kick during his losing side's Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea last night and he is not facing criminal charges.

South Wales Police said they have spoken to 17-year-old Charlie Morgan - who did not suffer any injuries - and his father, a Swansea club director, and no complaint has been made.

The teenager was kicked by the Belgian player after refusing to give him back the ball late in the match.

Before the game, Charlie had tweeted: "The king of all ball boys is back making his final appearance #needed #for #timewasting."

Hazard was sent off and Chelsea lost 2-0 on aggregate, sending Swansea through to the cup final against Bradford at Wembley.

Hazard later insisted he had kicked the ball - not the ballboy.

The boy lay on the ground grimacing after being kicked

He told Chelsea TV: "The boy put his whole body onto the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise.

"The ballboy came in the changing room and we had a quick chat and I apologised and the boy apologised as well, and it is over. Sorry."

Next month's Capital One Cup final will be Swansea's first major final in their 100-year history but the achievement was overshadowed by Hazard's kick.

With just over 10 minutes remaining and Chelsea needing to score twice to take the tie to extra-time, he lost patience when Charlie refused to hand over the ball after it had gone out of play for a goal-kick.

The teenager fell to the ground as Hazard attempted to get the ball from him - and the Blues forward then tried to kick it from under him but instead he appeared to make contact with the youngster.

Hazard's team-mates reacted angrily to the sending off

Several Chelsea players went to tend to Charlie, who was left holding his ribs, before referee Chris Foy produced a red card.

After the game Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said that Hazard and the ball boy had exchanged apologies in the dressing room after the match.

"The boy knows he was wasting time," he said. "Hazard was frustrated and trying to get the ball back.

"We can not change the situation. We are disappointed because we lost a player. The best thing for us is to move forward."

A Swansea spokesman confirmed no action would be taken, and that Chelsea had invited Charlie, who has been a ballboy at Swansea's Liberty Stadium for six years, into their dressing room.

He said: "The ballboy has been into the Chelsea dressing room after the game and shaken hands with Eden Hazard.

The boy later received an apology from Hazard

"Chelsea asked if he could come in and our kit lady took him in and they shook hands, he is fine.

"As far as we are concerned the matter is closed. He has been a ballboy here for six years with no incidents here at the stadium."

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said he expected Hazard would regret the incident when he viewed it on television.

"I saw it from a very big distance from the bench," he said. "I've since seen it after the game. Hazard is a great player. When he sees the images I think he will regret it."

But he added: "I can understand all the frustrations when you are behind."

There was a storm of reaction on online fans' forums after the match.

At TheShedEnd.com, Chelsea fan Mike Carefree posted: "Ballboy should get an Oscar", while on unofficial Swansea site PlanetSwans.co.uk, forum user Copenhell wrote: "Sign him as a goalkeeper now, that ball boy."

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Burger King Dumps Products Over Horsemeat Row

Burger King is dumping thousands of beefburgers from the supplier at the centre of the horsemeat scandal - despite insisting its food was not contaminated.

Staff have been ordered to box up Whoppers and Angus burgers and ensure they are not sold to customers.

The fast-food giant was bitten by the controversy last week after tests showed the Silvercrest meat processing plant in Ireland and another site in Yorkshire had supplied burgers with traces of equine DNA to supermarkets.

Several supermarkets took burgers off the shelves, but Burger King said last Thursday it would not be following suit.

By the weekend its restaurant managers were being ordered to remove all Silvercrest burgers.

Burger King has now said it is switching to a different supplier for its British and Irish restaurants as a "voluntary and precautionary measure".

The ABP Food Group, one of Europe's biggest suppliers and processors, stopped work at its Silvercrest plant in Co Monaghan after new tests last week revealed contamination in frozen burgers.

But ABP has insisted that meat for Burger King was stored and processed separately and there is no evidence that its burgers are affected.

Work was stopped at Silvercrest after new tests revealed contamination

Burger King said the withdrawal could lead to shortages of burgers in its restaurants.

It said: "We apologise to our guests for any inconvenience. However, we want to let them know that they can trust us to serve only the highest quality products.

"We take this matter seriously and will continue with our investigations to determine how this situation occurred and what lessons can be learned."

Ten million burgers have been removed from supermarkets across Ireland and the UK as a result of the scandal.

Tesco took out full-page adverts in a number of newspapers apologising for selling the contaminated beefburgers, and Aldi, Lidl and Iceland also withdrew burgers after they were found to contain horsemeat, which is safely eaten by millions on the Continent.

Sainsbury's, Asda and the Co-op later withdrew some frozen products but stressed that the move was "purely precautionary" and they had not been found to be selling contaminated food.

Meanwhile, Labour has claimed a drug with the potential to cause cancer in humans might have entered the food chain through meat from horses slaughtered in UK abattoirs.

The anti-inflammatory drug, phenylbutazone, is banned from being allowed in the human food chain in the EU.

Labour's shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh told the Commons there was evidence the drug - also called Bute - was found in "several" horses slaughtered in the UK last year.

Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) said Bute was found in five cases during checks on slaughtered horses in 2012. None of the meat had been placed for sale in the UK and foreign safety authorities were informed, the FSA said.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has retested all burgers found to contain traces of horsemeat and all were negative for Bute.

Companies involved in the separate horsemeat scandal that emerged last week have blamed meat suppliers on the Continent rather than British abattoirs.

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Police In 'Muslim Vigilantes' Victim Appeal

Officers investigating "Muslim vigilante" attacks are appealing for a victim who was abused by the gang for being "gay" to come forward.

Scotland Yard says the man is crucial to their investigation into a number of incidents where a gang calling themselves Muslim Patrol have harassed members of the public.

Videos of the attacks in east London where the self-styled gang appear to have started to operate have been posted on YouTube.

The police are appealing for the man in the footage, titled Muslim vigilantes in London harass and taunt gay male, to contact them.

In the film, the gang can been seen to abuse and intimidate the man using homophobic language, shouting: "Get out of here you f** …don't stay around here any more."

Investigating officers from the Community Safety Unit on Tower Hamlets borough said they are unsure where and when the video took place.

In a second video, posted online, men from the gang in Whitechapel, east London, tell another man "no drink in this area, it's a Muslim area" before ordering him to pour away his alcohol.

Another video posted on YouTube featured a woman wearing a miniskirt being told not to "expose" herself near a mosque.

Detective Chief Inspector Wendy Morgan from Tower Hamlets borough said: "The Met takes such homophobic behaviour very seriously.

"This man is a crucial witness in the investigation and would encourage him and anyone else with information relating to this incident to make contact in confidence as soon as possible."

Additional police patrols are being mounted across east London to reassure the public.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in Acton, west London on Sunday, and a 19-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after going to an east London police station.

The pair were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and public order offences and were bailed to return to an east London police station in February and March pending further inquiries.

A police spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service takes these incidents very seriously and is pursuing various lines of inquiry with a view to identifying and prosecuting the individuals concerned."

Islamic leaders in east London condemned the vigilantes.

A spokesman for the East London Mosque said: "These actions are utterly unacceptable and clearly designed to stoke tensions and sow discord. We wholly condemn them.

"The East London Mosque is committed to building co-operation and harmony between all communities in this borough. The actions of this tiny minority have no place in our faith nor on our streets.

"We advise anyone who has been harassed by these individuals to contact the police.

"We will monitor the situation closely and our Imams will be speaking out against such actions."

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British Nationals Urged To Leave Benghazi

The Foreign Office has urged Britons to leave the Libyan city of Benghazi in response to a "specific and imminent threat" against Westerners.

The FCO has been advising against travel to most of the country since last September, but has now stepped up its warning.

A spokesman said: "We are now aware of a specific and imminent threat to Westerners in Benghazi, and urge any British nationals who remain there against our advice to leave immediately.

"We have updated our travel advice to reflect this. The British Embassy in Tripoli has been in contact with British nationals for whom we have contact details to alert them to the advice."

Sky News foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said: "As I understand it there are somewhere between one and two dozen Britons in Benghazi.

"This is not to do with the oil fields. This is to do with the city of Benghazi and its immediate surroundings itself.

"I believe all of the Britons have been told of this credible threat to them. Benghazi airport is working, so they have a choice to go or not."

The threat against Westerners comes one day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded fiercely to a review of security at US diplomatic missions.

The review followed an attack on the US mission in Benghazi in September last year which killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

In her last formal congressional testimony on Capitol Hill as America's top diplomat, Mrs Clinton took full responsibility for the department's mistakes leading up to the attack.

"Nobody is more committed to getting this right. I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure," she said.

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Russia Crash: Baby Thrown Into Path Of Lorry

A one-year-old girl has had an amazing escape after being involved in a road smash that saw her flung in front of oncoming traffic.

The Mitsubishi car that the child was travelling in with her parents spun out of control while trying to overtake on an icy road in Russia.

The vehicle skidded backwards and crashed into traffic on the opposite side of the road, sending the little girl flying out of the window into the middle of the carriageway.

The baby, circled in red, was lying in the path of oncoming traffic

A lorry driver coming the other way spotted the child - crawling in the middle of the road - and swerved, missing her by just a few inches.

Her parents then ran from their wrecked car and picked up their baby daughter from road, just as another lorry was coming the other way.

The child suffered cuts and bruises to her head and was taken to a nearby hospital. 

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Weather: Drivers Rescued After More Snow

More snow has fallen across some parts of the UK causing disruption to schools and travel networks and stranding motorists in their cars.

Motorists walk back to their cars after a fire in Dartmoor blocked the road

Up to 9cm fell overnight across parts of south and south-west England, the West Midlands and parts of Wales, but it has been generally light.

In Somerset, 30 people were forced to abandon their cars and spend the night in a shelter after heavy snow and fallen trees blocked the A39 between Bridgwater and Wilton.

Police rescued the stranded drivers in the early hours of the morning and took them to a local village hall where they spent the night.

Ablaze: a car fire on the B3212 at Dartmoor, Devon

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: "At 1am we became aware that about 30 people were stuck on a road that was impassable, primarily because of snow but also because of fallen trees.

"Officers from different districts in 4x4s were first on the scene to help and we asked the local fire station to open up and serve hot drinks and spoke with the council and identified a key holder for a nearby village hall.

"It was a group effort by the emergency services and a bit of community spirit."

Driver Matthew Shipton was on his way home from work when the blaze started

Another driver had a lucky escape after his car caught fire on the B3212 at Dartmoor in Devon. Matthew Shipton, 21, was driving home from work when his engine suddenly burst into flames.

Firefighters were called and put out the blaze.

Emergency services were called to Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield where a boy, believed to be 15, had apparently tried to walk on the frozen surface of a large pool of water.

Fire crews use a raft to reach a boy who fell through the ice (Pic: WMFS)

After falling through he managed to escape the icy water and reach an island about 30 metres (100ft) from the shore, but was suffering from the effects of the cold.

Fire crews from Sutton Coldfield, Erdington and Perry Barr were sent to the park, along with the police and ambulance service.

They were able to rescue the boy using an inflatable raft, and he was taken to hospital.

Children make their way through the ice to school in Princetown, Dartmoor

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "This incident is a very timely reminder about the need for us all to stay safe and sensible in these very cold weather conditions.

"As sturdy as it might look, there is no way of knowing the thickness of ice on pools, lakes and other waterways. Please stay off it, and make sure that any children you know are aware of the dangers.

"People who put themselves at risk by venturing on to ice also endanger the lives of anyone who might have to rescue them.

Snow today is expected to be generally light

"We're also urging dog owners to keep them on leads, so that they and their pets don't get into difficulties."

The icy weather has already caused problems across the country this week with hundreds of schools closed, dozens of flights cancelled and train networks disrupted.

It has also led to the deaths of at least nine people, including a man who is believed to have died after slipping on ice near his home in in Accrington, Lancashire after a night out.

Police said 54-year-old James Hurst fell over after he had been dropped off by taxi following an evening at a local pub on Saturday.

Blizzard: People struggle across a car park in Shepton Mallet

Neighbours saw his body lying near a doorstep at about 8am the next day. Police confirmed Mr Hurst suffered a head injury which they were treating as an accident.

Tributes were also paid yesterday to postman John Bircham, who collapsed as he approached the end of his deliveries in and around the Somerset town of Dulverton on Saturday.

It is understood that the 57-year-old father of two was towed out of a snowdrift by a farmer before collapsing soon afterwards.

A woman found dead in a garden early on Sunday is believed to have collapsed in the snow after a night out.

Icy: Snow and ice covers Bradgate Park in Newtown, Leicestershire

Bernadette Lee, 25, was discovered in the front garden of the house next to her sister's by a man walking his dog in Church Meadows, Deal, Kent, at 7.30am.

Kent Police are investigating the cause of death but there have been reports that she had no visible injuries and was found without a coat.

Temperatures are expected to become milder at the weekend; however melting snow coupled with rainfall could lead to flooding.

Sky's weather producer, Joanna Robinson, said: "The next few days will be quieter in terms of snowfall, but ice and freezing fog will remain hazards.

Snow is cleared by a farmer on a road near Auchterarder, Scotland

"The next spell of heavy, possibly disruptive, snow will be on Friday in the north and east, but it will be fairly short lived as it will turn milder over the weekend. Flooding will then be an issue.

"In terms of snowfall today, there will be patchy outbreaks across the West Midlands, Wales and south-west England, but it will be much lighter than last night.

"Parts of Wales and south-west England could see another 2-5cm, locally 10cm over the hills.

"Generally the snowfall should ease today but there may be some very local issues of disruption across the south-west.

"Tonight and Thursday night look very cold, with temperatures dropping below minus 10 Celsius in some rural spots."

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Police Officers 'Abuse Positions For Sex'

Police officers are buying steroids from criminals and abusing their positions to have sex with vulnerable women, a police leader has warned.

Mike Cunningham said that most forces were investigating cases where officers had become embroiled with criminals after gym use escalated to taking body-building drugs.

There were also probes into claims of officers using their positions to persuade vulnerable women to sleep with them, he said.

Mr Cunningham, the Chief Constable of Staffordshire, said the two were the greatest corruption risks among the country's police officers.

He said: "We do our own assessment of corruption threats, one of them is steroid abuse and gym use by officers.

"What that starts off is very often officers going to the gyms, beginning to dabble in steroids, then the relationships they form when they're using steroids become corrupt and corrosive.

Stephen Mitchell who was given two life sentences

"There is good evidence of officers getting way out of their depth with serious criminals who they are beholden to."

He also said that dozens of officers across England and Wales were abusing their positions to have sex with vulnerable women.

Mr Cunningham said: "We found that when we asked force professional standards departments that again most forces were investigating allegations against individual officers abusing their position for sexual favour."

One example is Stephen Mitchell, who worked for Northumbria Police and was given two life sentences in 2011 for two rapes and three indecent assaults.

The court heard how the 42-year-old abused women he met on duty, including a disabled teenager, heroin addicts and shoplifters.

Chief constables are to discuss plans for tackling corruption.

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David Cameron Promises 'In-Out' EU Referendum

Mixed Reaction To Cameron Speech

Updated: 12:59pm UK, Wednesday 23 January 2013

David Cameron's key speech on Europe has sparked a predictably mixed reaction from within Britain and beyond. Here are the key quotes.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

"It's entirely for the Prime Minister, as leader of the Conservative Party, to set out what he wants to put in the Conservative Party manifesto and what he wants to do if there was a Conservative majority government.

"My priority remains, and will always remain: yes, reform in Europe; yes, a referendum where the circumstances are right, as we've set out in law; but above and beyond anything else, promoting growth and jobs and building a stronger economy in a fairer society."

Labour leader Ed Miliband

Mr Miliband said that his party "do not want an in/out referendum".

"He is going to put Britain through years of uncertainty and take a huge gamble with our economy. He has been driven to it not by the national interest, he has been dragged to it by his party...

"He is running scared of Ukip and has given in to his party and he can't deliver for Britain."

Mayor of London Boris Johnson

"David Cameron is bang on. What most sensible people want is to belong to the single market but to lop off the irritating excrescences of the European Union.

"We now have a chance to get a great new deal for Britain - that will put the UK at the heart of European trade but that will also allow us to think globally."

Labour peer Lord Mandelson

Claims Mr Cameron has conceded "game, set and match to the hardliners in his party".

"It is not a search together in unity with our partners in Europe. Effectively, it's an ultimatum to them with a deadline.

"In my view, what he is doing is treating the European Union like a cafeteria service at which you arrive with your own tray and try to leave with what you want.

"Whether you believe that Mr Cameron's European gamble is a sincere attempt to reform and improve the European Union or a cynical ploy to head off opposition to his leadership in his own party, there is no mistaking he is playing for very high stakes indeed and I do not believe he is going to get what he wants by attempting to put a pistol to the heads of his fellow member states."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage

"Winning this referendum, if and when it comes, is not going to be an easy thing but I feel that UKIP's real job starts today.

"For the first time, a British prime minister is at least discussing the fact that leaving is an option. I remember many long, very lonely years in UKIP when, without a friend in the world, we were advocating this point of view.

"What today means is that in terms of the overall debate, the genie is out of the bottle and from now on the European debate will be taking place on terms that UKIP wants."

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna

"After this speech, we know that global companies looking to situate European headquarters are probably going to shy away from the UK, which will cost growth and cost jobs."

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell

"This is more about Ukip than it is about the UK. The Prime Minister's efforts to reconcile his own position with that of his eurosceptic backbenchers leads logically to the position that if he could not get what he wanted out of Europe, he would be willing for the UK to leave.

"This will hardly commend his approach to those in the EU whose co-operation he requires."

Tory MP Dominic Raab

The Tory hailed a "moderate, statesman-like approach ... rightly focused on a fundamental change in strategic direction rather than tactics". "The ball is now in the EU's court," he said.

CBI director general John Cridland

"The EU single market is fundamental to Britain's future economic success, but the closer union of the eurozone is not for us.

"The Prime Minister rightly recognises the benefits of retaining membership of what must be a reformed EU and the CBI will work closely with Government to get the best deal for Britain."

Tory donor Lord Ashcroft

"Tories must remember that we can only get what we want once we win an election. The more we talk about changing our relationship with Europe, the less likely it is to happen.

"The new policy will be in the manifesto. The only question is whether we will get a chance to implement it - and that depends on whether we get a majority at the next election.

"And that depends on how voters think we are doing on the economy, jobs, public services, welfare, crime, immigration: whether we are on their side and understand their priorities.

"It is time for Tory Eurosceptics to declare victory and talk about something else."

Fiona Hall, leader of the Liberal Democrat delegation in the European Parliament

"David Cameron spoke not as Prime Minister but as a Tory Party leader backed into a corner by his outspoken tea-party backbenchers.

"Cameron has failed to reassure our European partners over the UK's commitment to push for EU-wide reform rather than unilateral repatriation and cherry-picking.

"As a result, the UK will lose further influence in Europe as other member states anticipate a 'Brexit' and discount the UK's views altogether."

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors

"A future referendum to decide the workings of our relationship is the best way to affirm Britain's participation in a free-market Europe which is competitive and deregulated.

"It is far better to deal with these issues than to shy away from them. British business is resilient. It is flexible and it can cope with change - or uncertainty. The eurozone crisis is the source of far more uncertainty than a referendum."

UKIP MEP and ex-European Commission chief accountant Marta Andreasen

"Mr Cameron fundamentally fails to understand the federal EU freight train. Whilst flexibility sounds great and was probably dreamed up by the Prime Minister whilst sitting in his slippers in Chequers, there is a different reality in Brussels.

"I can assure the Prime Minister that there is no such thing as flexibility when it comes to the EU's objective: a deeper federal Europe where member states' sovereignty becomes an anachronism.

"His speech, therefore, was naive. The train is on a one-way track."

Daniel Hannan Eurosceptic MEP

"This is David Cameron's finest speech."

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius

"We are like a football club, and if you want to join the football club, you can't then say you want to play rugby."

Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament

Mr Schulz accused Mr Cameron of "playing a dangerous game for tactical, domestic reasons".

"The Prime Minister increasingly resembles the sorcerer's apprentice, who cannot tame the forces that he has conjured - forces that want to leave the EU for ideological reasons, to the detriment of the British people.

"Attempting to revisit major parts of the Acquis Communautaire and picking and choosing the bits of which the UK approves, sets a dangerous precedent.

"Indeed, it could lead to piecemeal legislation, disintegration and potentially the breakup of the Union.

"In a globalised world, it is not in the UK's interest to seek to downgrade to some kind of 'second class' EU membership and so choose to weaken its own influence on European and global affairs.

"We need a UK as a fully fledged member, not harbouring in the port of Dover."

Guido Westerwelle, German foreign minister

"Germany wants the United Kingdom to remain an active and constructive part of the European Union."

However, he insisted EU membership was an all-or-nothing proposition, saying: "Cherry-picking is not an option."

Ex-Belgian prime minister and Liberal Democrat leader in the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt

"By holding out the prospect of renegotiating the terms of Britain's membership of the EU and subjecting it to a referendum, David Cameron is playing with fire.

"He can control neither the timing nor the outcome of the negotiations and in so doing is raising false expectations that can never be met.

"There can be no question of individual renegotiation or opt-out by a single member state from agreed policies.

"To do so would precipitate the unravelling of the internal market as other countries sought their own concessions in return.

"Mr Cameron will not succeed if he attempts to hold his European partners to ransom."

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Bali: Death Penalty For British Drug Smuggler

British woman Lindsay Sandiford has been sentenced to death for drug smuggling on the Indonesian island of Bali.

The 56-year-old grandmother, originally from Redcar, Teesside, had been found guilty of violating the country's strict drug laws.

Sandiford was arrested in May 2012 at Bali airport when customs officers found 3.8kg of cocaine worth £1.6m in her luggage. She claimed she had been forced to smuggle the drugs into Bali from Thailand by a criminal gang.

Prosecutors announced in December that they would be recommending a 15-year prison sentence, after she agreed to co-operate in a sting operation in which police swooped on four other suspects alleged to be her accomplices, including Britons Rachel Dougall, Julian Pounder and Paul Beales. 

Sandiford is consoled by her sister Hilary Parsons after being sentenced

Pounder is accused of receiving the drugs in Bali, where cocaine and ecstasy are often bought and sold between foreign nationals. A verdict is expected in his trial on Wednesday.

Delivering Sandiford's verdict, a judge panel headed by Mr Amser Simanjuntak said that Sandiford had damaged the image of Bali as a tourism destination and weakened the government's programme of drug annihilation.

Composed: Sandiford rose to her feet during her sentencing

"We find Lindsay Sandiford convincingly and legally guilty of importing narcotics. We found no reason to lighten her sentence," said Mr Simanjuntak.

In her witness statement, Sandiford said: "I would like to begin by apologising to the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian people for my involvement.

"I would never have become involved in something like this but the lives of my children were in danger and I felt I had to protect them."

Local journalist Amelia Rose was in court when Sandiford was sentenced.

"She was in shock, but she managed to hold her composure and stand up while the judge read out her sentence," she said.

Tears: the grandmother looked shocked as the verdict was read out

"Her eyes turned red from tears for a second but she managed to hold her composure again.

"There is still a long way to go before an execution can take place. She can appeal to the High Court then the Supreme Court in Jakarta. If she can present new evidence she can have a judicial review.

"Then there is also the chance of clemency with the President."

Caught: Sandiford was paraded in front of journalists after she was charged

Sandiford's defence lawyer, Esra Karo-Karo, said: "She was very shocked. This is unpredicted, she never thought of receiving the death penalty.

"The judge did not even consider our reason for leniency as we proposed in our defence. We will appeal."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We can confirm that a British national is facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

"We remain in close contact with that national and continue to provide consular assistance and the UK remains strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances.

"We will intervene at whatever stage and level is judged appropriate and will use high-level political lobbying when necessary".

Happier times: Sandiford in her forties

Dougall, whose young daughter is reportedly being cared for by their maid and gardener on the island, has claimed she was the victim of a "fit-up".

Reprieve, a charity which seeks to enforce human rights for prisoners, said Sandiford was targeted by drug traffickers.

Spokeswoman Harriet McCulloch said: "Lindsay was targeted by drug traffickers who exploited her vulnerability and made threats against her children.

"Following her arrest, she was interrogated by the Indonesian police without a translator, legal representation or the assistance of the British Embassy for 10 days.

A statement by Dr Jennifer Fleetwood, an expert on the coercion of women in the international drug trade, was also read out, which suggested that Sandiford's "vulnerability" would have made her an ideal target for drugs traffickers. 

"There is evidence to suggest that a trafficker would seek someone who was vulnerable. Having reviewed extracts from Lindsay's medical records I know that Lindsay has a history of mental health issues.

Co-accused: Paul Beales (L), Rachell Dougall and Julian Ponder

"This may have unfortunately made her an attractive target for threats, manipulation and coercion by one or more parties over a period of time, which led to her being stopped at Ngurah Rai International Airport".      

At the end of 2011 there were 13 British nationals sentenced to death and awaiting execution, and approximately 40 British prisoners facing charges that may attract the death penalty.

Indonesia has 114 prisoners on death row, according to a March 2012 study by Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy. Five foreigners have been executed since 1998, all for drug crimes, according to the institute.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has granted clemency to four drug offenders on death row since he took office in 2004.     

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Sun Reporter Faces Corruption Charges

A Sun journalist and a former police officer will be charged over alleged corrupt payments, prosecutors have said.

Ex-Metropolitan Police constable Paul Flattley and The Sun's defence editor Virginia Wheeler are accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

It is alleged that Flattley was paid at least £4,000 in cheques and £2,450 in cash in exchange for information, including about the death of a 14-year-old girl.

The payments allegedly occurred between May 2008 and September 2011.

Alison Levitt QC, adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "The information provided included information about the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl, as well as details about both suspects and victims of accidents, incidents and crimes.

"This included, but was not limited to, information about high-profile individuals and those associated with them."

The charges are being brought as a result of Operation Elveden, Scotland Yard's inquiry into alleged corrupt payments to public officials.

So far, 56 people have been arrested as part of the inquiry, six have been charged, and two - a retired police officer and a former journalist - have been told they will face no further action.

Those charged include former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, Sun chief reporter John Kay and Ministry of Defence employee Bettina Jordan-Barber.

Both Coulson and Brooks have been charged in Operation Elveden

It is alleged that Brooks and Kay conspired to pay Jordan-Barber around £100,000 for information.

David Cameron's former spin doctor Andy Coulson and former News Of The World royal correspondent Clive Goodman also face charges.

They are accused of conspiracy to pay for information including a royal phone directory known as the 'Green Book'.

It contained contact details for the Royal family and members of their households.

Coulson and Goodman face two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office - one between August  2002 and January 2003, and the other between January and June 2005.

All five are due to appear at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing on March 8.

In a separate case, Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn was found guilty of misconduct in public office earlier this month for offering to sell information to the News of the World.

She will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on February 1.

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Defence Cuts: 5,300 Soldiers To Lose Jobs

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

More than 5,000 soldiers will be made redundant in the latest round of job cuts, the Government has announced.

The Army will bear the heaviest burden in this third wave of redundancies because the Navy and RAF have already completed most of their necessary cuts.

Up to 5,300 soldiers will lose their jobs, although anyone serving in Afghanistan when redundancy notices are issued on June 18 will be exempt.

It will also not affect soldiers recovering from a recent tour of duty or those preparing to deploy within the next six months.

No-one will actually be made redundant immediately and the announcement marks the start of the process for the latest round of cuts. Final decisions will be made by June.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The Army is actively managing recruitment to reach the target numbers, but unfortunately redundancies are unavoidable due to the size of the defence deficit that this Government inherited and the consequent scale of downsizing required in the Army.

"We will have smaller Armed Forces but they will in future be properly equipped and well funded, unlike before. These redundancies will not affect current operations in Afghanistan, where our Armed Forces continue to fight so bravely on this country's behalf."

Chief of the General Staff General Sir Peter Wall added: "The Army is unfortunately reducing to 82,000 by 2015 and this tranche of redundancy is essential to achieving that.

Around 9,000 British personnel are deployed to Afghanistan

"I fully recognise the unwelcome uncertainty and pressure for those who will be liable in the employment fields announced today. For some it may present an opportunity; for others it will curtail their Service prematurely.

"Our aim now is to apply the process as fairly as possible and to prepare to support those individuals who are selected as they and their families transition to civilian life."

In the last stage of cuts, in June 2012, 72% of the redundancies ended up being voluntary. Military leaders and politicians are hoping for a similar outcome this time round.

Anyone accepted for voluntary redundancy will be expected to work a six-month notice period and those selected for compulsory redundancy will have a full year to find alternative employment before leaving the service.

They will also be given resettlement support.

By the end of the process, the Army will have shrunk to 82,000 soldiers - a reduction of around 20,000 - mostly through a redundancy process but also achieved through slower recruitment.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Tuesday that further cuts to the Army, Navy and RAF are "likely" but gave no indication of timing.

The job losses are part of a strategic review driven by budget cuts which aims to produce a new look military by 2020.

The biggest commitment by some way is in Afghanistan - 9,000 personnel are deployed in the country - but the withdrawal process is due to start this year and by the end of 2014 most soldiers will have returned home.

Final numbers have not been announced.

In October last year the Defence Secretary announced plans to rename the Territorial Army the "Reservists" and double its members to 30,000.

There is also a hope that some of those leaving the military because of the redundancy scheme might sign up to the TA so that their experience is not lost.

By the end of the redundancy process, the number of serving personnel in all three services will be reduced to 150,000 from 180,000.

It will result in the smallest army since the 18th century and plenty of concerns over effectiveness.

It is not just serving military personnel taking the hit - the Ministry of Defence is in the process of cutting around 25% of its staff.

The aim is to save £3.8m a year and to make the department less top-heavy with management.

The UK still faces real or potential threats around the globe, demonstrated in the past few weeks by the hostage situation in Algeria and conflict in Mali.

Some, particularly retired service chiefs, question the UK's ability to face these threats with a reduced military and gaps in the equipment locker.

The Government will again need to convince detractors, home and abroad, that the UK military can still earn international respect despite its reduced size.

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Ecstasy: Police Warning After Third Death

By Nick Martin, North Of England Correspondent

Police in northwest England are warning drug users that a possible contaminated batch of ecstasy tablets could be on the streets.

It comes after two men died in Greater Manchester and another collapsed and died in Liverpool.

Up to six other people were admitted to hospital with symptoms including shaking, shivering and complaints of a fever.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington from Wigan CID, talking about the men who died in Greater Manchester, said: "We are very concerned at how these deaths of two apparently fit young men have occurred.

"It is possible that they are linked and this is something we are exploring as part of the investigation.

"Our main concern is that there may be a contaminated quantity of illegal drugs and if this goes unchecked it could result in further deaths.

Jordan Chambers, 19, who died in Manchester on Saturday

"If you are suffering adverse effects after taking one of these tablets I would advise you to go to hospital for a check up.

"I would always urge people not to take illegal drugs and remind them that you do not know what they have been made up with. They can contain poisons and illicit chemicals that can have potentially fatal effects."

The ecstasy tablets are said to be heart-shaped in purple, green, yellow and blue.

One of the men was admitted to Wigan Infirmary on Monday (pic:David Long)

Greater Manchester Police have urged anyone who may have purchased such pills to contact them.

Superintendent Andrea Jones, said the men are believed to have bought the drugs in the Wigan area.

"These deaths were closely linked, both had taken drugs prior to admitting themselves to hospital.

"We want to raise awareness in the community of the risks and dangers of taking illegal drugs. No one knows what poisons these drugs contain."

The men who died in Greater Manchester were 19-year-old Jordan Chambers, who was treated at the Royal Oldham Hospital on Sunday and 28-year-old Gareth Ashton, who died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday. Both had similar symptoms.

Deadly: the batch of ecstasy pills are known to be heart-shaped (file pic)

In Liverpool, a 26-year-old man collapsed and died in the early hours of Sunday. Merseyside Police believe it was also drugs related.

Greater Manchester Police are not currently linking his death to the two in their region, but said they could not discount a connection.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Emergency services were called at about 3.30am to a guest house in Tuebrook to a report that a male guest was unwell and had collapsed. Paramedics attended and the 26-year-old was taken to hospital where he unfortunately died a short time later.

"Although the investigation is in the early stages it appears that the deceased man visited Liverpool on Saturday and is believed to have taken tablets, possibly ecstasy somewhere in the city."

Anyone with information has been urged to phone police on 0161 856 7149 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Message In A Bottle Reunited With Family

A message in a bottle found 76 years after it was thrown into the sea has been reunited with the family of the man who wrote it.

The bottle was found on a beach in New Zealand by Geoff Flood in November 2012, but had been set adrift in 1936.

Inside was a note, dated March 17, which said: "At sea. Would the finder of this bottle kindly forward this note, where found, date, to undermentioned address."

Underneath the note was written the name: "H E Hillbrick, 72, Richmond Street, Leederville, Western Australia".

The message had been written on headed paper bearing the mark of the shipping company P&O and the ship's name SS Strathnaver.

Mr Flood had been out for a walk on Ninety Mile Beach at the top end of New Zealand's North Island when he made the discovery.

He told local media he was astonished and quickly decided to find out how the bottle had got there.

He said: "As I picked it up and started looking, I could see it was an old envelope with P&O on it and I thought this might be something special.

"There was a bit of mad panic to carefully extract it. I carefully cut a couple of bits of wire and quietly wound it up with the bits of wire so we didn't damage it.

"[I thought] Who knows where it's been. How many times around the world, you just wouldn't know, would you?"

It took him a couple of months to find the sender, who turned out to be a man called Herbert Ernest Hillbrick.

Sadly, Mr Hillbrick had died in the 1940s, but further investigation led Mr Flood to Herbert's grandson Peter Hillbrick, who was living in Perth, Western Australia.

Peter Hillbrick, who was also amazed by the discovery, said: "For this one to be floating around in the ocean for 76 years and just all of a sudden pop up in New Zealand. Where has it been? What story is it going to tell?"

His only theory was that his grandfather had dropped it into the sea during a P&O cruise. His family still have photos that Herbert and his wife Ethel took on board the ship.

The SS Strathnaver was a British Royal Mail Ship that carried people between England and Australia, but which also travelled between ports Down Under at the time.

He said that because his grandfather had died so many years ago, he had never got to know him so was delighted another link had turned up.

"The only connection I have with Grandfather is now that bottle. That's about all. So, it's a fascinating story," he said.

Mr Hillbrick has decided to donate the bottle to a maritime museum in New Zealand.

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Avalanche Survivor Leapt To Safer Ground

A survivor of an avalanche that killed four climbers in the Scottish Highlands escaped by leaping from the collapsing sheet of snow and wedging his ice pick into firmer ground.

The man, who did not want to be named, said in a statement: "All in the group loved the mountains and are experienced winter walkers.

"My sincere thanks goes to the members of the public, mountain rescue teams and other emergency services who assisted."

PhD students Christopher Bell and Tom Chesters, and junior doctor Una Finnegan, were swept 1,000ft (305m) to their deaths while descending from a mountain in Glencoe on Saturday afternoon.

A second woman was also killed in the accident. Her next of kin have asked for her name to be withheld until her extended family have been informed.

Another survivor, a 24-year-old woman, remains in a critical condition after suffering severe head injuries.

She is being treated at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, where she was flown after initially being treated at Belford Hospital in Fort William.

Christopher Bell and Una Finnegan died in the avalanche

Friends have been paying tribute to the three young climbers killed.

Mr Bell, 24, from Blackpool, Lancashire, was studying for a PhD in ocean mapping in Oban, while 28-year-old Mr Chesters had been living in Leeds and working towards his qualification at Hull University.

Their friend Sam Morris, 35, said both were elite outdoor pursuits competitors who spent most of their free time on the mountains.

"It was so few years lived but I know there's not much either one of them would have done differently," he said.

"They seized every opportunity. They'd do things that people who spend their whole lives sitting behind a desk wish they could have done.

"When they died they were with the people they loved, doing what they loved."

Ms Finnegan, 25, who was living in Edinburgh, was originally from Coleraine in Co Londonderry.

Independent councillor David McClarty said his thoughts and prayers were with the Finnegan family.

"This young woman, a qualified doctor, had her whole life ahead of her and then it is tragically cut short.

"The family is a Christian one and hopefully they will get some comfort from the fact that she died doing something she enjoyed."

Prayers were held for the victims at St Munda's Church in Glencoe on Sunday

The tragedy struck at about 2pm as the group of six made their descent on Bidean Nam Bian.

A major search operation was launched involving both Glencoe and Lochaber mountain rescue teams, and specialist police dogs.

Andy Nelson, deputy head of Glencoe Mountain Rescue, who co-ordinated the rescue, said the avalanche would have unfolded in "a split second".

"Being in an avalanche is literally like standing on a carpet and having it pulled out from underneath you. Any thoughts of trying to swim out from out of it is futile," he said.

"You are on steep ground, essentially standing on a raft of snow that is sliding downhill at speeds of maybe 40mph to 50mph.

"It would have unfolded in a split second, they would have felt the snow moving and then they would have been travelling at a speed that was impossible to stop.

"The man that survived was standing above the snow and we think he actually jumped and got his ice axe into firmer snow.

"They slid over some very rocky ground and ended up about 1,000 feet below, under between 1.5 and two metres of snow.

"It's a brutal experience. There are enormous forces at work and you are being twisted about at high speed," he added.

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Two Die As Winter Weather Continues Grip On UK

A 25-year-old woman found collapsed in the snow could have died after falling in sub-zero temperatures after a night out, Kent police said.

The woman, named as Bernadette Lucy Lee by Sky sources, was discovered by a man walking his dog in Church Meadows in Deal at 7.30am on Sunday morning.

A man also died following a crash in snowy conditions on the A12 near Kelvedon in Essex about 7pm on Sunday.

Ms Lee was found dead in Deal (Kent Online)

Police are still investigating the cause of Ms Lee's death but confirmed they are looking at the possibility that the she got into difficulties as she made her way to her sister's house, which was near to where she was found. 

A police spokesman said: "There are other possibilities we are looking out but one theory is that this is a tragic accident where a young woman was on her way home from a night out, but she didn't make it to where she was staying.

"We don't know if that was because of the cold, or she slipped or she was drunk or she became ill."

Earlier, police said the woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the death was not being treated as suspicious but it was unexplained.

A post-mortem examination will be held later this week.

Police said Ms Lee's death may have been a "tragic accident"

The man killed in the car crash was a 59-year-old from the Colchester area, police said. He died at the scene after his car left the road and crashed into a tree on the embankment.

His passenger, a 57-year-old woman, also from the Colchester area, was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. 

And a teenager who was badly injured while sledging in Middlesbrough remains critically ill in hospital, police said.

Liam Stafford, 16, hit a tree in Flatts Lane Country Park, Normanby, about 1pm on Sunday.

He would usually be playing football for his team North Ormesby FC Under-16s, but the game was cancelled due to the weather.

He was flown by the Great North East Air Ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough suffering from head injuries.

In Kent, a man was taken to hospital with broken bones in his face when he was racially attacked after confronting a group of youngsters throwing snowballs at him.

Also, a young woman who was seriously hurt in an avalanche that killed four of her friends in the Scottish Highlands remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The freezing temperatures and icy conditions are once again causing delays and disruption, with more than 1,500 schools shut and motorists being urged to take extra time and care on roads.

As much as 10 to 20cm (four to eight inches) of snow is expected across Scotland and northern England, prompting the Met Office to issue amber warnings which urge the public to be prepared.

Yellow warnings - which advise people to take extra care - continue for parts of the north, east and southeast England as well as Northern Ireland, where up to five centimetres (around two inches) of snow could fall. 

"Today's snowiest areas will be northeast England and eastern Scotland," said Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang.

Spennymore in County Durham

"Although sleety on the east coast, it will be snow inland where 10 to 20cm is forecast. Drifting snow, poor visibility and blizzard conditions are likely over higher routes.

"The snow will continue in the northeast tonight and into Tuesday although it should turn drier across northeast England.

"Later tonight and during Tuesday morning the weather is set to deteriorate across the southwest with the potential for some heavy snow across South Wales and parts of southwest England."

The temperatures will not start rising until the weekend, said Lang.

"Until then there will be further problems with ice and snow and daytime temperatures will continue to struggle to climb much above freezing," she said.

"Wednesday and Thursday look largely dry and cold with ice and patchy fog. Friday should see a slow change spread eastwards and westerly winds bring a rise in temperature later and a slow thaw."

On the roads, there are lane closures on motorways up and down the country, with hazardous driving conditions on the M4 at Bristol.

A man walks his dog in the snow in Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire

Heavy snowfall has closed two major roads across the Pennines, the A628 Woodhead Pass and the A66 between Brough and Bowes.

The Highways Agency said both routes were closed for some hours and advised drivers to find alternative routes across the Pennines.

A section of the M6 in Cumbria was temporarily closed after a Land Rover vehicle towing a trailer of bullocks overturned.

Heavy falls in the North East made for a tricky morning commute for many. Northumbria Police said the A68 in Northumberland was blocked, with problems at its junction with the A69.

Drivers were advised to avoid the B6341 at Rothbury and reported a four-vehicle collision on the Spine Road at Cramlington, next to the 3 Horse Shoes roundabout.

Officers also said the A1 in the Newcastle area suffered traffic congestion.

Freddy the Boston Terrier plays in the snow in Nottingham

There is also another day of snow and ice-related delays and cancellations on the country's rail network.

Virgin Trains warned of some cancellations in its services between London and Birmingham and the North West, while services into London King's Cross were also affected.

Eurostar said snow and ice in the UK and northern France were leading to speed restrictions and delays on all its trains. Six services were also cancelled, with customers told they could exchange their tickets for another date.

South West Trains said it was running a revised timetable throughout its network because of the weather, and would be concentrating on its mainline services.

The company said there would be no services between Ascot in Berkshire and Ash Vale in Surrey, between Virginia Water and Weybridge, or from Salisbury to Bristol. It was also running revised timetables on other routes.

Southern said trains were unable to operate between Lewes and Haywards Heath in Sussex or between Horsham and Dorking or Reigate and Redhill in Surrey. The Southern service between South Croydon and Milton Keynes was also suspended.

Raby Castle in County Durham

At Heathrow Airport planes have been grounded for a fourth day and passengers were advised to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. More than 180 flights have been cancelled - about 10% of the day's capacity.

People were left fuming after 260 flights were cancelled - 20% of the airport's usual business - on Sunday.

Gritters have been out in force at Gatwick Airport to keep the planes running. The airport has only had two cancellations on Monday morning, although there are delays of around an hour on the Gatwick Express train service.

Flights have also been suspended at Leeds Bradford, Doncaster Sheffield, Norwich airports and East Midlands airports.

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