NY Cabbie Sets Up Fund For Crash Victim

A New York taxi driver involved in a crash which left a British woman with part of her leg amputated has denied the accident was his fault.

Sian Green has been recovering from surgery at Bellevue Hospital after she was hit by a yellow cab at the start of a city break on Tuesday.

Mohammed Fasyal Himon blamed the crash on a cyclist, who he claimed pounded on his car and yelled at him.

Mr Himon said he was "very sorry" about the accident as he launched a charity fund for Ms Green with the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers

It has so far raised $3,000 (£1,900).

Mr Himon said: "I am praying for her and her family. But it is not my fault. It is just an accident.

Mr Himon's cab mounted the pavement

"This is what cab drivers have to deal with every day. It could have happened to any of us."

New York police said the cyclist has not been charged.

Ms Green has been praised for her fighting spirit by surgeons, who had to amputate her left foot, while she has undergone treatment to wounds on her other leg as a result of the accident.

Dr Spiros Frangos, a senior trauma surgeon at the hospital, said: "Ms Green had her left leg amputated below the knee as a result of the accident.

"Given the condition of the lower leg, replantation was not an option.

"Her right leg sustained multiple deep lacerations which were also cleaned and repaired and will likely regain most functionality with time and physical therapy."

Ms Green's parents Jason and Sonia, who made a mercy dash to be at their daughter's bedside earlier this week, released a statement through the hospital praising the aid and care their daughter had received.

They said: "There are not enough words to express our gratitude to everyone who has helped our family during this difficult time."

Ms Green was at the start of her holiday when she was hit

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Legal Highs: Ban At Reading Leeds Festival

By Frazer Maude, North of England Correspondent

The parents of a man who died after taking a "legal high" drug have welcomed a decision by the organisers of a music festival to ban the products from their sites.

Christopher Scott, 23, from Swindon, died at the Great Western Hospital in July after taking the chemical marketed as AMT (alpha-Methyltryptamine).

His father Michael says the family are "so pleased" that promoters of the Leeds and Reading Festivals have banned the sale or use of legal highs at the events this weekend.

"Everybody knows illegal drugs - there's a big risk behind them - but as soon as you start saying 'oh it's a legal high' you get the misconception that it's okay," said Michael.

"They think it's not dangerous, it's legal, so it must be fine. And then they get the impression they can take as many as they want."

A photo of Christopher Scott at home of his family

Christopher was a father of three and only after his death did his family find out that his partner was pregnant with his fourth child.

The Government finds it hard to legislate against the drugs, as whenever one is banned the manufacturers only have to make slight changes to the chemical formula in order for the new compound to be legal again.

Former legal highs Mexxy and Black Mamba are now classified as Class B drugs, and are therefore illegal.

Sky News bought a number of the legal highs from a shop in the North of England, including AMT which Mr Scott took.

They are also freely available on the internet.

The websites, sales staff and the packaging of the chemicals all warn that these items are not for human consumption, but are for research purposes.

The drug has been banned at Leeds and Reading Festivals

Melvin Benn, organiser of the Leeds and Reading Festivals, said: "We were happy to fall in line with the Home Office request and not allow these legal highs to be sold on site.

"No one really knows what effects these things have, and of course people are still going to take them. But they won't be buying them from retailers at any of my festivals."

Mr Scott and his family used to make annual visits to the Reading Festival.

Although delighted that the festival has banned the drugs, Mr Scott's father believes more needs to be done.

"The Government needs to really seriously rethink what it's doing with this concept of legal highs. Just the word 'legal' is making everyone think it's ok to do it, that it's fine. It's not," he said.

"I'm never going get my son back. I only had one son and I'm never going to get him back."

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Four Dead In Helicopter Crash Are Named

Police have named the four people who died after a helicopter carrying oil workers ditched into the North Sea.

The victims are: Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin; Gary McCrossan , 59, from Inverness; and George Allison, 57, from Winchester.

The Super Puma L2 aircraft went down at 6.20pm on Friday around two miles west of Sumburgh airport as it was returning to Shetland from the Borgsten Dolphin platform.

The helicopter was carrying 16 workers and two crew.

One of the rescued workers is moved on a stretcher

"The bodies of three people have been recovered and work is underway to recover the body of the fourth person," Police Scotland said in a statement.

All the families have been informed.

A search operation involving coastguard, police, RAF and local lifeboats was able to rescue 14 people from the sea, including the two crew. They were taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick for treatment.

"Five were discharged and nine detained overnight either for observation or suffering from exposure," the statement said.

Some of those rescued were able to walk unaided after the rescue

The helicopter is reported to be in several pieces but the wreckage has now been secured by the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution).

Helicopter operator CHC, which operates in 30 countries, said on its website that it was suspending all Super Puma L2 flights worldwide as a precaution.

It said it did not know the cause of the accident, and promised that a "full investigation" would be carried out.

"Also, in deference to the incident and the investigation, we are suspending all flights Saturday by our UK operations," the company said in a statement.

An RNLI spokesman said two of the dead were recovered by a lifeboat crew from Lerwick, Shetland.

A coastguard boat searches the North Sea

"Obviously this is the news that everyone, included our lifeboat volunteers, dreaded - our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those concerned.

"We can also confirm that one of our lifeboats has also been involved in reclaiming wreckage from the scene as part of the operation."

Amanda Smith, the mother of one of the workers Sam Smith, said her son had telephoned her from hospital after suffering cuts in the crash.

She told Sky News: "He said it seemed to lose power and there was no time to brace, they just dropped into the sea.

"He was by the window so he was able to escape that way as it rolled over.

Several helicopters have been involved in the search operation

"He said he had come off better than a lot of people. It didn't seem real, I would say two hours later it's just beginning to sink in."

CHC said it was flying for oil company Total and that the aircraft lost communication as it approached the airport on the southern tip of Shetland's main island.

A spokesman said: "The aircraft was on approach to Sumburgh Airport at approximately 6.20pm when contact was lost with air traffic control.

Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch were travelling to the scene.

Jim Nicholson, RNLI rescue co-ordinator, said that the weather was not "particularly good" at the time of the incident.

He said: "There was a fresh wind, not overly strong, visibility is not particularly good and it was misty in the area but I doubt if that would have had any impact on causing whatever happened to the helicopter.

Last year, two Super Puma helicopters ditched in the North Sea only six months apart.

All passengers and crew were rescued in both incidents, which were found to be caused by gearbox problems.

However, the latest incident is the fourth in four years involving Super Puma aircraft.

In April 2009, 16 people died when a helicopter returning from BP's Miller platform crashed 11 miles from Peterhead after a "catastrophic failure" in part of its main gearbox.

The Unite union's Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty, has called for an urgent investigation.

"It's unacceptable and it can't go on," he said.

"A full investigation must now take place and the industry's helicopter operators must use every means at their disposal to demonstrate that its fleet is fit for purpose."

:: CHC has set up a helpline for concerned relatives on 01224 296 866.

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Dave Lee Travis In Court On Assault Charges

Veteran DJ Dave Lee Travis has arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with 12 counts of sexual offences.

The 68-year-old, whose real name is David Patrick Griffin, is accused of committing the offences between 1977 and 2007 against alleged victims aged between 15 and 29.

Travis, from Mentmore in Bedfordshire, has denied any wrongdoing since he was first arrested on suspicion of sexual offences in November last year.

When prosecutors announced the charges, his lawyer Martin Bale released a statement to say: "Mr Travis is naturally disappointed that charges have been preferred and we will be taking stock of the position in the coming weeks once we have full details of the prosecution case.

"Mr Travis denies the allegations and looks forward to having the opportunity to clear his name."

He was charged as part of Operation Yewtree, the police investigation prompted by the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, but the accusations against Travis have no connection to the disgraced television presenter.

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One In 10 Five-Year-Olds Has A Mobile Phone

Nearly one in 10 children has a mobile phone by the time they are five years old, according to a new study.

On average, youngsters are bought their first handset at the age of 11, soon after starting secondary school.

However, some 9% of parents said they bought their children a phone when they were five.

The study by comparison site uSwitch.com also found that mums and dads spend an average £125 on their children's gadgets - and around £246 on their own mobiles.

But despite the cost, 42% said they did not pay close attention to their children's phone bills.

Only a quarter capped their youngster's contracts, while just 3% said they disabled the data function on their phones so that they could only be used for making calls or sending text messages.

Children spend an average £11 per month on their mobiles - less than parents who spend £19.

However, more than one in 10 (11%) of youngsters spends more than their mother or father, the research showed.

The study - of 1,420 parents with children aged under 16 - also revealed that parents were likely to spend more money on their first-born's phone and bills than on those of any younger siblings.

Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said: "As well as arming kids with mobiles for emergencies and peace of mind, I'd imagine that many parents have bought their kids smartphones just to stop them commandeering their own when bored."

He suggested parents cap their children's mobile bills, adding: "Make sure that when they're at home, your kids are browsing the web using wi-fi instead of consuming data by connecting to the internet via 3G or 4G."

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Bin Bag Stuffed With Cash Found On Doorstep

A bin bag stuffed with thousands of pounds of cash has been left on the doorstep of a former vicarage.

North Yorkshire Police will not reveal the exact amount of money in the sack that was handed in to officers on Tuesday.

A spokesman said Tuesday was bin collection day in that part of the city.

Officers are appealing for the public's help to work out what has happened.

Detective Inspector Andrea Kell, of York CID, said: "This is a very unusual find which remains unexplained and we would like to find out where the money came from and rule out any criminal connection."

Det Insp Kell said the bag was found outside the former vicarage at 10am and she believes it was left at some point during that morning.

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Millions To Share £1.3bn Bank Compensation

Regulators have confirmed a compensation fund of £1.3bn for up to seven million victims of another insurance mis-selling scandal.

The announcement, which was made 12 hours after Sky News was handed details of the Financial Conduct Authority's agreement with banks, outlined how Card Protection Plan Limited (CPP) and 13 high street banks and credit card issuers would pay.

The FCA said the mis-selling centred on CPP's Card Protection and Identity Protection policies between 2005 and 2011 - with many people not even needing the cover.

York-based CPP - which has already been fined £10.5m for its behaviour - was brought to the brink of bankruptcy by the case but secured a new £36m financing deal with its lenders last month to assure its future.

The FCA said today: "Customers were given misleading and unclear information about the policies so that they bought cover that either was not needed, or to cover risks that had been greatly exaggerated.

CPP needed new funding to survive the mis-selling scandal

"As well as CPP selling directly to customers, high street banks and credit card issuers introduced millions of customers to CPP," the regulator said.

It named those institutions as Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Canada Square Operations (formerly Egg), Capital One, Clydesdale, Home Retail Group Insurance Services, HSBC, MBNA, Morgan Stanley, Nationwide Building Society, Santander UK, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Tesco Personal Finance.

The scandal - while already in the public domain - marks another round of compensation by banks for their past behaviour in the wake of the mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) which may eventually cost UK banks a total of £20bn.

This means redress itself is not expected to be paid out until Spring 2014. The time between now and then will be spent seeking Court approval of the Scheme and ensuring CPP customers' voices are heard.

The compensation scheme must be approved by victims

Martin Wheatley, chief executive of the FCA, commented: "We have been encouraged that, working closely with the FCA and despite their different business needs, a large number of firms have voluntarily come together to create a redress scheme that will provide a fair outcome for customers.

"This kind of collaborative and responsible approach is a good example of how firms are taking more responsibility and helping - step by step - to rebuild trust.

"We believe this will be a good outcome for customers who may have been mis-sold the card and identity protection policies.

"Subject to CPP's customers approving the scheme, these policy holders will be able to claim a full refund of premiums with interest."

The FCA added that if the scheme were approved, it could start making payments to victims from spring 2014.

A CPP spokesperson added: "Our priority is to achieve the best outcome for customers affected by these historic issues and ensure customers receive a fair and high quality end-to-end service."

Shares in the company plunged more than 20% today at one stage as investors balked at the cost of the redress scheme.

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GCSE Results: Record Fall In Top Grades

The proportion of GCSEs awarded at least a C grade has suffered its biggest fall in the exam's 25-year history.

For the second year in a row. the number of pupils given an A*-C grade has dropped - down 1.3% on last year to 68.1%.

The number of A* grades awarded was also lower, falling 0.5% on last year from 7.3 to 6.8%, according to official figures.

The figures show that the overall A*-G pass rate also fell slightly this year, to 98.8% compared to 99% last year.

In contrast to last week's A-level results, girls are still outperforming boys at GCSE and achieved better results at A*-C across every subject.

The national picture emerged as hundreds of thousands of teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their results.

The fall in top grades comes amid major upheaval in the exam system.

It is thought a huge rise in entries among 15-year-olds, changes in science and an increase in those doing international GCSEs led to the dip.

The number of 15-year-olds taking the exam has rocketed by 91,000 in just a year.

In maths, thousands of pupils also sat the exam more than once. Almost 90,000 were entered for at least three and two sat it eight times.

Major overhaul: Michael Gove

More children took exams in languages and humanities subjects with the overall number of GCSEs taken up 4.2% on last year.

But there was a fall in the number scoring at least a C in key subjects, including English, maths and science.

In English, 63.6% achieved a C or higher, down from 64.1% in 2012, as 61,000 more entries were recorded in the subject - more than two-fifths were from pupils aged 15.

The Joint Council of Qualifications (JCQ) said there had been "significant early and repeated entries" in maths, with more than half a million before the summer exams.

Results for 16-year-olds were "virtually unchanged" but those for 15-year-olds showed a decline. Overall, 57.6% of entries scored A*-C - down from 58.4%.

Moves by Ofqual to toughen up qualifications prompted a 7.6% fall in the number of entries achieving a top grade in science.

This is the first summer results have been given for the revamped GCSEs, which were changed after a 2009 report by the regulator found they were too easy.

There was a "dramatic" rise in entry levels for modern languages, with French up 15.5%, German up 9.4% and Spanish up 25.8%.

This could be due to the introduction of the English Baccalaureate, which is awarded to pupils with at least a C in English, maths, science, history or geography and a foreign language.

JCQ director Michael Turner said: "This year's upturn in languages will be welcomed across the education sector and beyond. Not since 2008 have there been this many entries in languages.

"However, it remains to be seen if this is the start of a trend and if more students decide to continue to study a language at A-level."

Experts raised concerns about the number of 15-year-olds taking the exams.

Andrew Hall of the exam board AQA asked: "Why oh why do we now got a significant increase in 15-year-olds taking GCSE?" and said it "needs to be looked at".

Mark Dawe, from another exam board OCR added: "Early entry does not benefit the students. The results are far lower for 15-year-olds.

"These qualifications are designed for 16-year-olds. Students should be left to learn for those two years and that is what we would encourage."

Mr Hall said pupils taking repeat and multiple entries was "really damaging education in this country".

Some schools have already reported record grades.

King's College School in Wimbledon, a private boys' school, said 96% of its entries had scored an A* or A, with 35 pupils each gaining 12 or more A* grades in their GCSEs and IGCSEs.

At Wellington College in Berkshire, half of results were at A*, with 82% of entries gaining an A* or A grade.

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Prison Guard Siege: Three Inmates Charged

Three prisoners will be charged with allegedly taking a guard hostage after an investigation by counter-terror police.

Feroz Khan, Fuad Awale and David Watson, who were all inmates at HMP Full Sutton in North Yorkshire, are accused of false imprisonment on May 26 when they are said to have held a prison officer against his will.

Khan and Awale are also accused of threatening to kill the officer, and Khan will be charged with grievous bodily harm on the guard, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a second officer.

Rakesh Sarin, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Following an investigation by the police's north east counter terrorism unit, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges against three men currently detained in prison.

"It is alleged that on May 26 2013 Feroz Khan, Fuad Awale and David Watson, all of whom were at that time prisoners at HMP Full Sutton, unlawfully imprisoned a prison officer and detained him against his will. They will be jointly charged with one count of false imprisonment, contrary to common law.

"A number of demands were made during the incident which resulted in the case being handled by counter-terrorism officers and specialist prosecutors."

All three men are due to appear by videolink at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Mr Sarin said: "Feroz Khan will also be charged with making a threat to kill the prison officer, and one charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on him. He will further be charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a second prison officer.

"Fuad Awale will also be charged with making a threat to kill the first prison officer.

"All these offences are alleged to have taken place during the same incident on May 26 this year."

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Skin Cancer Death Rates 70% Higher Among Men

Hundreds more men die from the most serious form of skin cancer than women - despite similar numbers being diagnosed with the disease each year.

Latest figures from Cancer Research UK show death rates from malignant melanoma are 3.4 per 100,000 men - 70% higher than the 2.0 figure for women.

Incidence rates are similar, with 17.2 men per 100,000 diagnosed compared with 17.3 women.

The figures mean that, of the 6,200 men who develop melanoma each year, 1,300 die from the disease, while 900 of the 6,600 women who develop it die.

Experts say that since the early 1970s, death rates in men have increased by 185% compared to a rise of only 55% in women.

And Professor Julia Newton-Bishop, a Cancer Research UK dermatologist, said key risk factors for melanoma included excessive exposure to UV from sunlight or sunbeds, pale skin colour and a high number of moles, and a family or personal history of the disease.

"Research has suggested the difference between the sexes could be in part because men are more likely to be diagnosed when melanoma is at a more advanced stage," she said.

"But there also seem to be strong biological reasons behind the differences and we're working on research to better understand why men and women's bodies deal with their melanomas in different ways.

"We also know that men and women tend to develop melanoma in different places - more often on the back and chest for men and on the arms and legs for women. If melanoma does develop on your back then it may be more difficult to spot - asking your partner to check your back is a good idea."

Sara Hiom, director of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, said: "One of the reasons for the difference may be attitudes towards seeing a doctor. We tend to be reluctant to 'waste the doctor's time - men are especially likely to put it off.

"If something goes wrong with the car then you sort it out straight away. The same should go for you - if you, or your partner, notice any unusual or persistent changes then see your GP. The key thing is to get to know your skin and what's normal for you so you're more likely to notice something out of the ordinary.

"It's also essential to take care not to burn, particularly given the sunny weather we've had this summer. Sunburn is a clear sign that the DNA in your skin cells has been damaged and, over time, this can lead to skin cancer.

"When the sun is strong, pop on a t-shirt, spend some time in the shade and use a sunscreen with at least SPF15 and good UVA protection - the higher the star rating, the better.

"These habits are particularly important for young men and women, because it's far better to prevent skin cancer in the first place. That means avoiding sunbeds, as well as taking care in the sun. Research has shown that using sunbeds for the first time before 35 can increase your risk of malignant melanoma by nearly 60%."

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Missing Teen Adela Found - Three Men Arrested

A 14-year-old girl who sparked a police search when she went missing from home has been found.

Adela Copakova was located in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Three men have been arrested in connection with her disappearance and are being held in custody.

The teenager had been missing from her home in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, for three days.

The last time she had been seen was at 8pm on Sunday outside a house in the Bradway area of the city.

Police originally said they were searching around the Sheffield area, but later said the teenager had connections to the West Yorkshire area.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said on Wednesday: "Missing 14-year-old Adela was found in Bradford this morning. Three men are in custody re her going missing. Thank you for your assistance."

She is the second teenager from the Sheffield area to go missing recently who was subsequently found in Bradford.

That girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found in Bradford city centre.

At least four men and one woman were arrested as part of that inquiry. All have since been released on police bail.

Police earlier said there were no links between the two.

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Bolton: Pensioner Dies After Intruder Attack

An 87-year-old man who was robbed and beaten in his home by an intruder has died from his injuries in hospital.

Frank Worsley was attacked when he was woken up by a man who broke into his home on Longfield Road, Bolton, in the early hours of August 3.

He was taken to hospital after suffering a stroke and bleeding to his brain, but died there yesterday afternoon.

Senior Investigating Officer Andy Tattersall, from GMP's Major Incident Team, said: "Our thoughts and sympathies go out to Frank's family at this devastating time for them, after he sadly passed away in hospital yesterday.

"We will do all we can to support them.

"Our investigation into this case is ongoing and we are appealing for anyone that may have seen a suspicious person or vehicle in the Longfield Road area of Bolton in the early hours of Saturday 3 August, to contact us."

A 24-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been charged with robbery in connection with the incident.

He is due to appear at Bolton Crown Court on Friday.

:: Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 2448 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Prince George Photos: First Official Pictures

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Duchess of Cambridge's father, Michael Middleton, has taken the first official photographs of William, Kate and their son Prince George.

The Royal couple with Prince George and the pet dogs

The two pictures from the new Cambridge family album were taken by the young prince's grandfather in the back garden of the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Kensington Palace confirmed.

Taken in "early August", the first photograph is a simple parents and child shot.

The couple, back-lit by the sun, are standing in the gardens of the Berkshire home with Kate cradling her two-week-old son.

In the second, William and Kate can be seen sitting on a rug, also in the garden.

Kate continues to hold Prince George, but they are this time joined by their cocker spaniel, Lupo, and the Middletons' retriever, Tilly.

Sky News understands the two photos were selected from a larger collection taken while the Duke of Cambridge was on paternity leave.

For their official engagement and wedding photographs, the Royal couple opted for well-known celebrity photographers Mario Testino and Hugo Bernand.

Michael Middleton took the photographs

Asking Mr Middleton to take the photos is yet another example of the Duke and Duchess choosing to do things their way throughout their marriage.

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George are thought to have joined Prince William in Anglesey in recent days.

The couple will next be seen together in public on September 12 for an awards dinner hosted by conservation charity Tusk Trust.

In his first interview since he became a father, William said his young son reminded him of himself or Prince Harry.

The Duke told CNN: "He's a little bit of a rascal, I'll put it that way.

"He either reminds me of my brother or me when I was younger, I'm not sure, but he's doing very well at the moment."

:: Do you have a favourite family photo? Are you proud of a particular snap, even though it wasn't taken by a professional photographer? Is there an image you love despite the fact it is a bit blurred and the lighting is dodgy?

Send it to us through our Your Photos page and we will publish a selection in a picture gallery.

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Cameron's Bad Back Stops His Deer Stalking

David Cameron has been treated for a "phenomenally bad back" after it stopped him from going deer stalking on holiday.

The Prime Minister insisted he had not given up on the sport because of opposition from animal rights campaigners, adding that these days he'd simply rather go for a walk.

Mr Cameron spoke about his health in an interview recorded several days ago, as he enjoyed a holiday with his family on the Scottish island of Jura, and said "it's all in good nick".

He, wife Samantha and their three children were staying on a 20,000 acre estate owned by Mrs Cameron's stepfather Lord Astor before moving on to Cornwall.

Friends have previously described the Tory leader - who has been deer stalking for 20 years - as a crack shot who can shoot two stags in one go.

David Cameron also spoke of his family's love of riding Pic: BBC Scotland

But in the interview he said: "I'd rather go for a walk.

"This year I've got a phenomenally bad back so I don't really think I'll be able to crawl. It's a lot of crawling through the heather, sometimes for a very, very long time.

"I have had a scan so I know what it is, it's a protruding disc. I could have got this injection last week but I just thought I'll wait and give it a little bit of time. So we'll just see if it eases up a bit.

"It's not a slipped disc. Sometimes people slip a disc and they have to be put in a stretcher and taken to hospital. It's not quite that. He said everything was in reasonable shape.

"When you get into your mid-40s stuff like this starts to happen. It's all in good nick, but this thing has happened, which is a bore."

Mr Cameron, 46, later revealed on Twitter that he had been forced to have a painkilling injection on the way to Cornwall, but downplayed the problem.

He wrote: "I've been treated for a bad back/protruding disc at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre today. The staff say all will be back to normal very soon."

Traditional deer stalking in Scotland

Walking by the sea on the Hebridean island, Mr Cameron had told BBC Scotland that he still liked active holidays.

"I walk, I like fishing, I like going for a run. I even swim in this actually. I've caught some sea trout but we're not talking Moby Dick," he said.

He added that he had not waterskied for a few years and felt his days enjoying that sport were over.

"I think when you get to mid-40s it's time to hang up the water skis. Sometimes when you hit the water the impact knocks everything out of alignment a little bit," he said.

He also spoke of how happy his children are on the Scottish island.

"They can spend all day long looking for crabs, digging up shells, making sandcastles, damming streams. It is just the biggest best playground they could possibly have."

The Prime Minister said he often looked at a picture of the family on horseback in the sea as a reminder of their holidays.

He joked that he was not riding "bare-chested - no Vladimir" in a reference to the Russian leader.

"I think Putin would like it up here. He'd go for a bit of that fishing, maybe a bit of stalking," he added.

Mr Cameron insisted that he was "effectively in charge" of the country despite being on holiday somewhere so remote.

"I check my Blackberry, I contact the office, but I can do that and then say right it's holiday time, it's children time," he said.

The Camerons are now on their fourth holiday of the year, having earlier also visited Ibiza and Portugal.

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David Miranda: Police Defend Heathrow Hold

The detention of the partner of the journalist who reported the Edward Snowden spying revelations was "legally and procedurally sound", according to Scotland Yard.

David Miranda was questioned for nine hours after being held at a London airport under anti-terror laws - the legal limit before a suspect must be charged or released.

Mr Miranda, the partner of The Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, was changing planes en route from Germany to his home in Brazil and called it a "total abuse of power".

Mr Greenwald - the reporter who interviewed American whistleblower Edward Snowden - called Mr Miranda's detention a "profound attack on press freedoms and the newsgathering process".

Russia has given Edward Snowden temporary political asylum

"To detain my partner for a full nine hours while denying him a lawyer, and then seize large amounts of his possessions, is clearly intended to send a message of intimidation to those of us who have been reporting on the NSA (National Security Agency) and GCHQ," he said.

However, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "The examination of a 28-year-old man under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at Heathrow airport on Sunday … was subject to a detailed decision-making process.

"The procedure was reviewed throughout to ensure the examination was both necessary and proportionate.

"Our assessment is that the use of the power in this case was legally and procedurally sound."

It added: "Contrary to some reports the man was offered legal representation while under examination and a solicitor attended. No complaint has been received by the Metropolitan Police Service at this time."

Laura Poitras was nominated for an Oscar

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the UK gave the United States advance notice that London police intended to detain Mr Miranda but added the US did not request the detention and was not involved in the decision.

But Mr Miranda claimed UK officials did the bidding for the US in trying to force him to reveal passwords for his electronic devices.

Mr Miranda said: "They were threatening me all the time and saying I would be put in jail if I didn't co-operate.

"They treated me like I was a criminal or someone about to attack the UK … It was exhausting and frustrating, but I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong."

Meanwhile Mr Greenwald's editor, Alan Rusbridger, published an article revealing two agents from GCHQ visited the newspaper's London head office and watched as hard drives loaded with Snowden data were destroyed.

Labour's Yvette Cooper called for an urgent investigation

Mr Rusbridger said the action was agreed to after intense pressure from the heart of Government, amid the possibility of prior restraint being used to thwart further revelations in The Guardian. He said in future the paper would publish details from abroad.

In Germany, Mr Miranda had visited US filmmaker Laura Poitras who has been working on the Snowden NSA files with Mr Greenwald and The Guardian.

Labour called for an urgent investigation into the use of the powers to question Mr Miranda after he said agents took his "computer, video game, mobile phone, my memory card. Everything".

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Any suggestion that terror powers are being misused must be investigated and clarified urgently - the public support for these powers must not be endangered by a perception of misuse."

Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that the move was an attempt to intimidate a journalist.

He said: "Journalism may be embarrassing and annoying for governments but it is not terrorism."

Downing Street said the case was an "operational matter for the police".

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Peru: Drugs Case Lawyer To Meet Police

A lawyer for one of two women accused of smuggling £1.5m of cocaine is expected to discuss her case with police later.

Human rights lawyer Peter Madden will go to a police holding centre in Peruvian capital Lima, where Michaella McCollum and co-accused Melissa Reid are being detained.

In a statement released through his Belfast-based firm, Mr Madden said he would not be commenting on the case until after the meeting.

Ms McCollum from Dungannon, County Tyrone, and Ms Reid, from Glasgow, are being held on drug trafficking allegations.

The pair, both 20, were arrested last week while trying to board a flight from Lima to Madrid. Police said they found around 11kg of cocaine hidden inside food packages in their luggage.

Ms Reid's father, William, has flown to Lima to see her

Both women deny the allegations and claim they were forced to carry the bags by armed men.

It has been reported that Peruvian police are expected to hand their investigation to the state prosecutor's office so that formal charges can be made against the two women.

The findings will form the basis of a pre-trial hearing that will determine what the pair are to be charged with.

Both women had travelled separately to the party island of Ibiza in search of work this summer.

Peter Madden, Ms McCollum's lawyer, is also in Peru

On Sunday it was reported that a third girl may have been due to take part in the alleged smuggling plot but that she changed her mind at the last minute and left Ibiza for the UK.

The girl said in an anonymous interview with the Sunday People she is in hiding and fears for her life

Meanwhile, a senior Spanish police officer said he did not believe Ms McCollum and Ms Reid had been acting under duress.

First sergeant Alberto Arian Barilla, the head of the Ibiza police unit responsible for countering organised crime, said if the girls were being forced they would have alerted the airport's passport control.

Further questions about the women's version of events were raised after photographs emerged which allegedly showed them posing on a balcony and on a beach with glasses of beer days before their arrests.

The cocaine was hidden in food packets

The pair say they were told to take photos of themselves at tourist spots to make it look like they were friends travelling together, the Daily Mail said.

Ms Reid's father, William Reid, who flew to Peru to be with his daughter, agreed the photos were ambiguous, but told the newspaper: "I want to know who took that picture of them on their balcony. Was it taken by a third person or by a minder, and who was drinking the beer?

"That wasn't Melissa's beer in the photo because I have never in my entire life seen her drink beer. She drinks a lot of water and, if she is drinking, it would be vodka."

He added: "I believe the trip to the beach was part of a set-up that they asked them to smile to build up a portrayal of them as happy holidaymakers.

"Melissa said they said they had been told by the men that they weren't smiling enough in the pictures and they told them to look happier."

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Families Struggling With £150k Child-Rearing Costs

The cost of raising a child has risen by 4% in the last year to almost £150,000, a study has found.

The research published by Child Poverty Action Group and co-funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals that British parents face a growing struggle to provide a decent standard of living for their families.

The study found it now costs a minimum of £148,000 to bring up a child to the age of 18 and meet their minimum needs, including childcare and housing, which is around £160 a week.

The minimum necessary cost for raising a child rose by 4% in 2013, but in comparison average earnings rose by just 1.5%, the minimum wage increased by 1.8%, and child benefit did not go up at all.

The study also found the value of both child benefit and child tax credit relative to the costs of raising a child has decreased in the last year.

Many low-income families have also seen cuts in housing support with the introduction of changes such as the spare-room subsidy, dubbed the "bedroom tax" by Labour.

At the same time, working families have had to contend with rapidly increasing childcare costs, which have risen by 5.9% in the last year.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: "This research paints a stark picture of families being squeezed by rising prices and stagnant wages, yet receiving ever-diminishing support from the Government over the course of the last year.

"Every parent knows it's getting harder to pay for the essentials their children need, and they don't feel like politicians see them as a priority.

"Child benefit and child tax credit have been cut at the very time families need them most. Families are getting worse off and parents know it.

"If every child in Britain can grow up healthy, well-educated and an active participant in their community, we all benefit from a more prosperous economy.

"This was well understood by the post-war generation who prioritised universal benefits for all children despite being much deeper in debt than we are today.

"As we move towards a 'living standards election', now would be a good time to renew our national commitment to all our children."

Katie Schmuecker, policy and research manager at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, added: "The next election is likely to be the first since the 1930s where living standards are lower than the last poll.

"All parties must go to the country with policies and a commitment to help the prospects of low-income families.

"The risk and costs otherwise are enormous. Child poverty costs the Treasury £29bn a year - a price we can scarcely afford to pay, particularly in the current economic context."

The coalition insists it has to slash the welfare bill to reduce the burden on the taxpayer and to rebalance the system so that it pays to work.

A Government spokesman said: "We know times are tough, and we are securing a recovery for everyone who wants to work hard.

"That is why we are taking action to help families with the cost of living by cutting income tax for 25 million people, which will save a typical taxpayer over £700, taking 2.7 million out of income tax altogether and freezing council tax for five years, saving a typical household £600."

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Gibraltar: HMS Westminster Arrives At Rock

HMS Westminster has arrived in Gibraltar a day after Spanish fishermen were involved in a stand-off with UK military and police boats.

The Royal Navy warship sailed in as tensions between Spain and the British territory were described as their worst for 40 years.

The type 23 frigate, which left Portsmouth naval base six days ago, is due to spend three days on the Rock, before joining several other vessels taking part in a pre-planned international training exercise called Cougar 13 in the Mediterranean and Gulf.

Its visit was described by the Ministry of Defence as "long-planned".

But Sky's David Bowden, in Gibraltar, said given the growing diplomatic spat, the warship's presence will be seen as a "strong symbol" of Britain's desire to defend its territory.

Spanish fishing boats were intercepted as they entered UK waters

Yesterday, a flotilla of more than 30 fishing boats was "corralled" by Royal Navy vessels after protesting near the spot where Gibraltar's government placed 70 concrete blocks in disputed waters next to the Rock.

Gibraltar says it has created the concrete artificial reef there to protect local fish stocks from trawling, but Madrid says it restricts their right to fish.

The Spanish government has accused Gibraltar of laying the blocks "without the necessary authorisation" in "waters that are not theirs".

It responded by introducing additional checks at the fenced border, and suggesting a 50 euro (£43.30) fee could be imposed on every vehicle entering or leaving Gibraltar.

Yesterday's protest prompted calls for renewed efforts from the European Union to solve the dispute.

Gibraltar border checks have led to long queues that take hours to clear

Julie Girling, a Conservative MEP for Gibraltar, called the flotilla a "provocative attempt to stir things up yet again" by a government in Madrid facing allegations of corruption.

Afterwards, Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's chief minister, thanked the British authorities for their help.

Mr Picardo, who has reportedly received death threats and been targeted by Spanish internet trolls, wrote on Twitter: "Big thank you also to Royal Navy, Gib Defence Police, HM Customs and Port Authority for their deployment too.

"Cool, professional and calm!"

He said "hell will freeze over" before Gibraltar removes the concrete reef and accused Spain of behaving like North Korea.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he will take all legal measures to defend his country's interests.

HMS Illustrious is also due to take part in the Cougar 13 wargames

On Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron raised the dispute with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

He said the checks - which have seen huge delays at the border in recent weeks - were "politically motivated and disproportionate" and therefore contrary to the EU right of free movement.

The row has set relations between Spain and the territory back 40 years, according to Edward Macquisten, chief executive of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce.

He said it was also having an impact on Gibraltar's high season tourist trade, which usually sees hordes of British visitors from Spanish resorts.

Spain ceded sovereignty of Gibraltar to Britain in 1713, but has persistently sought to regain the tiny enclave.

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Prince Harry 'Irritated' By Landmine Failings

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

Prince Harry is "irritated" by the reluctance of some countries to assist financially with clearing landmines in countries like Angola, one of his charities has revealed.

The Prince is following in the footsteps of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, by taking up the cause of clearing landmines from African countries scarred by years of conflict.

HALO Trust chief executive Guy Willoughby told Sky News that Harry has been frustrated by the lack of progress on the issue in some areas.

He said: "The Prince has got quite a bee in his bonnet about it, and that's good.

"He is irritated that the countries which supplied these landmines are not actually putting in any funds to clear them, 25 years on."

Harry travelled to Angola last week to see mine clearance projects run by The HALO Trust. The 28-year old is Patron of the Trust's 25th Anniversary Appeal. 

Harry visited the most heavily mined town in Africa during his trip

During the visit, the Prince met de-mining teams and toured minefields in the Angolan town of Cuito Cuanavale, the most heavily mined town in Africa.

"People love having Prince Harry here because he's so engaged and because he's technically minded. He just gets it, from what the de-miners are trying to do, to the latest technology", added Mr Willoughby.

Diana, Princess of Wales, made a controversial visit to Angola in support of The HALO Trust in the months before she died in 1997.

She called for an international ban on landmines and was accused of being a "loose cannon", meddling in politics.

Asked whether the Prince will court similar criticism should he take on the countries who he believes are falling short of their obligations, Mr Willoughby said: "I don't know. Whether by nailing his colours to the mast he court the same criticism as his mother did, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Harry's mother Diana, Princess of Wales, visited Angola in 1997

In photos from his Angola trip, Harry is seen talking with members of a de-mining team, surrounding a Russian TM-57 anti-tank mine.

In another, he is seen standing next to a South African Olifant tank destroyed in the battle for Cuito Cuanavale in 1988.

Since 1988 The HALO Trust has found and destroyed  more than 1.4 million landmines and more than 11 million items of large calibre ordnance, including 195,000 cluster bombs,

Mr Willoughby said: "The commitment shown by Prince Harry plays an invaluable role in helping us to raise awareness of HALO's work and mission. 

"Wars may be over but many people are still unable to resume their normal lives, facing the threat of death or injury by landmines every day."

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Drug Mule Lindsay Sandiford's Bali Jail Ordeal

By Jonathan Samuels, Sky News Correspondent

British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford is on death row in Bali, Indonesia, and Sky News is the first UK broadcaster to have been given rare access behind the walls of the notorious prison since her sentencing for drug trafficking.

Kerobokan jail is nicknamed Hotel K by its inmates but it could not be more different from the luxurious resorts just down the road on the holiday island.

Behind its decrepit walls, violence, corruption, drugs and filthy conditions are commonplace.

Sandiford, 57, was sentenced in January to death by firing squad for smuggling more than £1.5m worth of cocaine into Bali.

In a recent photograph, obtained by Sky News, she is seen looking dishevelled in her stifling hot cell.

With a cigarette in her mouth she crouches over what appears to be an article of clothing that she is sewing.

Kerobokan jail, nicknamed Hotel K by its inmates

In the background another inmate sleeps on the floor. This overcrowded jail, built for 350 inmates, now houses more than 1,000.

Sandiford did not want to speak to us on camera, but fellow inmate and drug mule Renae Lawrence, who the Brit has befriended, gave a glimpse into how she is managing.

"I think people should already know how she is coping. She doesn't deserve what she got," Lawrence said.

Asked if Sandiford was finding it tough, she replied: "I think anybody would."

Prosecutors recommended Sandiford be given a 15-year prison term but judges disagreed and sentenced her to execution.

Australian Myuran Sukumaran, who was born in west London, is also on death row for smuggling drugs.

An inmate shows off a weapon which is said to be commonplace in the prison

Intelligent, softly spoken and full of remorse, he knows his execution could come at any moment.

"You can be strong for a short time, almost invisible, but after a long time stuff just wears you down," he said.

"After eight-and-a -half years it does weigh heavy, especially on our families."

Once a death row prisoner has lost appeals through Indonesia's high court and supreme court, only the president can grant clemency.

If that fails, eventually and without warning, the inmate will be removed from his/her cell in the middle of the night and taken to a remote wooded area, beach or neighbouring island. There he/she will be executed by firing squad.

The last decision a prisoner will make is whether to stand or kneel to be shot.

Australian Paul Conibeer served time for not paying a hotel bill

Former inmate Australian Paul Conibeer, 44, was recently released from the jail after serving a sentence for not paying a hotel bill.

Providing an insight into the bizarre world of Kerobokan prison, he said: "Murderers, rapists, and paedophiles, it's just too crazy."

He added: "You can't have women and men in a prison together. You can't have drugs and alcohol and hookers and all this crazy stuff going on. It's not supposed to happen that way."

Sandiford has lodged a further appeal against her death sentence. She awaits the outcome while sweating it out in Hotel K.

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HS2 Rail Project Cost To 'Double To £80bn'

The cost of the new High Speed 2 rail network will be £80bn, double the current estimate, according to a new report.

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) says the plan "defies economic logic" and is calling for the project to be cancelled.

The Department for Transport's official estimate currently stands at £43bn  - a rise from its original figure of £33bn.

The think tank argues that the £80bn price tag could deliver £320bn of value if spent on road and other rail and transport projects.

Work on the first leg between London and Birmingham is due to begin in 2017.

The report's author Dr Richard Welling told the Sunday Telegraph: "It's time the Government abandoned its plans to proceed with HS2.

"The evidence is now overwhelming that this will be unbelievably costly to the taxpayer while delivering incredibly poor value for money."

Map of the HS2 route

A spokesman for the DfT said: "HS2 is absolutely vital for this country, providing a huge economic boost which will generate a return on investment that will continue paying back for generations to come.

"Without it the key rail routes connecting London, the Midlands and the North will be overwhelmed. HS2 will provide the capacity needed in a way that will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of pounds worth of economic benefits.

"The Government is committed to managing the cost within the budget we have set for the project and to securing maximum value for money for the taxpayer, while also ensuring that preparations are properly made for the most significant infrastructure investment the UK has seen in modern times."

The IEA's 58-page report on the cost will be published on Monday.

Meanwhile campaigners are claiming that more than half a million people across Middle England will have their lives affected by the construction of the project.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) is warning that life in towns and villages up to 25 miles from the rail route will be disrupted by the movement of construction vehicles while the line is being built.

The organisation is publishing its analysis of the impact of the project, in the form of a series of maps, based on information it has obtained from HS2.

According to advance details released to The Mail on Sunday, towns along a 40-mile wide corridor - such as Thame in Oxfordshire, Princes Risborough and Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, and Leamington Spa in Warwickshire - will be affected by the millions of extra lorry journeys.

When it is built, some of the country's most tranquil areas will be blighted by train noise of up to 95 decibels near the track - the equivalent of a Tube train - from up to 16 trains an hour travelling at 225mph, the paper said.

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