Police Admission Over Cliff Richard Home Search

South Yorkshire Police have admitted working with the media before searching Sir Cliff Richard's home in Berkshire.

They said when they were contacted by BBC journalists with information about an investigation, they decided to "work with them in order to protect the integrity" of that probe.

They added: "Since the search took place a number of people have contacted the police to provide information and we must acknowledge that the media played a part in that, for which we are grateful".

Sir Cliff, 73, has said he did not know officers were planning to search his penthouse apartment on the Charters Estate in Sunningdale and only learnt about it through media reports.

Unmarked police cars leaving the Charters Estate

A search warrant was granted after a historical claim of sex assault was made involving a boy who was under the age of 16 at the time.

The accusation, which Sir Cliff has dismissed as "completely false", relates to an event held by American evangelist preacher Billy Graham in Sheffield in 1985.

A total of eight officers from South Yorkshire and Thames Valley police forces spent about five hours at Sir Cliff's home on Thursday, leaving with a number of items at around 3.30pm.

No one was arrested and police stressed the investigation was in its "really early stages".

Sir Cliff performing at the O2 Arena in London

Detectives said a number of people had contacted them with information following the search.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Sir Cliff, who is in Portugal, said: "For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online. The allegations are completely false.

"Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.

"However, the police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except, it would appear, to the press.

"I am not presently in the UK but it goes without saying that I will co-operate fully should the police wish to speak to me."

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said the inquiry is not part of Operation Yewtree, Scotland Yard's investigation into historical sex crimes launched after the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Conservative MP Nigel Evans said "questions have got to be answered" over Sir Cliff's claims the press had been notified about the search.

Mr Evans, who was cleared of a string of alleged sex offences at a trial earlier this year, told Good Morning Britain: "It appears the press knew what was happening before he did.

"A press helicopter was up before the police even arrived - he is quite right to be angry about that. Questions have got to be answered."

Born Harry Webb in Lucknow, India, in 1940, Sir Cliff has become one of the most enduring pop stars of his era, with hits including Devil Woman, Living Doll and The Young Ones. He was knighted in 1995.

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UK Airport Shut After Landing Gear 'Failure'

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is closed until mid morning on Saturday after a plane's landing gear apparently malfunctioned.

South Yorkshire Police told Sky News they believed the wheels did not come down properly as it made its approach.

Eyewitness pictures show the small plane tilted to one side with its wing tip in the air and a fire engine on the scene.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it took one person to hospital with injuries that are believed to be minor.

The airport, also known as Robin Hood Airport, said on its website: "At approximately 19.30pm today Friday 15 August, there was an incident involving a LinksAir flight at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

"The aircraft was returning from Belfast City Airport and suffered a problem with the undercarriage during landing.

"The aircraft remains adjacent to the runway and cannot be moved until aircraft investigators arrive on site.

"As a consequence the Airport is currently closed and is not expected to reopen until mid morning August 16th.

"Passengers due to travel from the airport should contact their airline for the latest information regarding their flight."

Thomson Holidays said two of its planes that were due to arrive at the airport were diverted to East Midlands Airport.

One outbound plane going to Ibiza would depart from Manchester Airport, the travel company said.

No decision had been made about its two flights out in the morning.

LinksAir is a small UK airline operating British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft, and runs scheduled flights from Doncaster Sheffield, Belfast City and The Isle of Man.

Other operators using the South Yorkshire airport include First Choice, Thomas Cook, Flybe and Thomson.

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One Dead As Sick 'Migrants' Found In Container

A dead man is among more than 30 suspected illegal immigrants found in a container at Tilbury Docks.

At least 19 of those discovered, including seven children, have been taken to Basildon Hospital with "significant health problems".

Basildon Hospital said on its Twitter feed that it is "responding to a major incident".

Basildon Hospital is responding to a "major incident"

It added: "A&E is open, but please be aware that waiting times may be extended."

A spokeswoman for the hospital said they are providing treatment for 19 people including seven children.

She added: "They are all currently being assessed."

The suspected immigrants were found at Tilbury Docks

Essex Police were called after the people were found on the container, which arrived on a ship from Zeebrugge in Belgium and was being unloaded at 7.35am.

A police spokesman said: "Thirty one people, including adults and children of both genders, were found inside.

"One man has sadly died and the others have significant health problems.

Ship freight containers sit at Tilbury

"They are being treated by ambulance crews and are being taken to local hospitals."

Police are dealing with the incident alongside staff from Port of Tilbury, UK Border Force and the East of England Ambulance Service, the spokesman said.

A casualty bureau is being set up.

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New CCTV Footage Of 'Panicked' Burglary Suspect

Police have released new CCTV footage of a suspect wanted over a burglary that left a man with "life-changing" injuries.

The suspect is seen removing a pair of surgical gloves as he walks across a car park within minutes of the attack at a home in Wimbledon, south London.

Detectives described the man as being "panicked" in the footage from the Wimbledon Theatre car park, shortly after 10pm on August 11.

The man is believed to be part of a four-member gang involved in the violent burglary at the home of leading London academic Paul Kohler, 55.

Paul Kohler (l) was left with severe injuries after the attack

The balaclava-clad gang had barged into the home of Mr Kohler and demanded money.

The men violently assaulted Mr Kohler and attempted to tape his 50-year-old wife to a chair.

The alarm was raised by the couple's two grown children, who barricaded themselves in an upstairs room and called 999.

Response team police arrived within minutes and apprehended two men, however the other two fled the scene on foot.

Detective Inspector Dan O'Sullivan, of Merton Burglary Squad, said: "This new piece of CCTV is crucial in the identification of one of the outstanding suspects, and we are calling to anyone who recognises this man to come forward.

The man was spotted removing a pair of surgical gloves

"It is my firm belief that this man and his other outstanding associate would have been stained with blood spatter from the violent attack inside the house."

It is still not known in which direction the fourth man headed after leaving the scene in Kings Road, SW19.

Both suspects are believed to be of Eastern European heritage and aged between 20 and 30.

Police are also keen to speak to anyone who saw a silver Volkswagen two-door cabriolet style car which was believed to have been used by the gang.

The last images of the suspect as he leaves the area in SW19

Mr Kohler remains in a south London hospital receiving treatment for multiple facial injuries, including a fractured eye socket, and bruising to his body and limbs.

The two men apprehended during the raid have appeared before magistrates charged with grevious bodily harm and aggravated burglary, and remanded in custody until August 27.

:: Anyone with information is asked to call the Met on 020 8649 3159. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Murder Arrest After Child Drowns In Hotel Pool

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a three-year-old girl drowned in a hotel swimming pool near Blackpool.

The youngster is believed to have been staying with her parents at the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes, where she got into difficulty in the water on Thursday morning.

She was pulled from the swimming pool and taken to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in a critical condition but died later.

A 40-year-old woman, from Galashiels, Scotland, was arrested on suspicion of murder and child neglect.

She remains in police custody.

Detective Inspector Nick Connaughton, of Blackpool CID, said: "This is a tragic situation where a young girl has lost her fight for life.

"We are now treating this sad death as suspicious and are investigating just how the child came into difficulties in the pool."

The Dalmeny Hotel, which overlooks St Annes beach, is described as a family-friendly resort with a heated indoor pool, a spa and three restaurants.

A spokesman for the 100-bedroom complex declined to comment on the girl's death.

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Murder Suspect Dewani 'Fit To Stand Trial'

A South African court has ruled that murder suspect Shrien Dewani is fit to stand trial for the honeymoon murder of his wife.

A mental health panel in South Africa unanimously decided that the 34-year-old businessman is not mentally ill and should be tried in October.

He is accused of the murder of his wife Anni Dewani in Cape Town.

Her sister Ami Denborg said: "It's a relief for all of us. We've been waiting quite a long time for this.

"I know this autumn is going to be tough for us but we still want the trial to start so that we can get the information we need, we can get to know what really happened.

"It feels like we're moving forward. It's still a long way to go but at least we're taking steps in the right direction, and this feels like a huge step in the right direction."

Announcing the decision, Judge John Hlophe said the trial date had been set for October 6.

"The draft handed in by the state is hereby made an order of the court," said Judge Hlophe, after receiving an expert assessment which stated Dewani was not mentally ill.

Today director of public prosecutions Rodney de Kock told the Western Cape High Court: "The accused is not mentally ill.

"The accused is not certifiable in terms of the Mental Health Act."

The South African Press Association reported that Dewani's lawyer Francois van Zyl said the mental health panel had made a unanimous decision.

The panel included members such as Professor Tuviah Zabow, who was appointed by the court as a psychiatrist for Dewani.

"We are in agreement. There is no objection," Van Zyl said.

Dewani, whose family attended court, is expected to appear again on September 9 for a pre-trial hearing, before his trial starts on October 6.

The millionaire, from Bristol, is accused of ordering Anni's murder during their honeymoon in November 2010.

She was shot in the neck as the couple travelled in a taxi on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Dewani, who has not yet entered pleas, faces charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

He has previously claimed that the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint as they drove through Gugulethu township.

He says he was released unharmed but his wife's body was found in the abandoned car the next day.

His trial date follows a protracted legal battle over the seriousness of his mental health problems.

Dewani has been detained in a hospital in Britain for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and was extradited from the UK in April to face trial.

A panel of three psychiatrists and a clinical psychologist assessed Dewani's mental health over 30 days.

Three men have been convicted and jailed over Mrs Dewani's death, including taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Xolile Mngeni, who prosecutors claim was the hitman, was convicted of premeditated murder over the shooting.

Another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, pleaded guilty to murder and was handed a 25-year prison sentence.

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Student Cleared Of Knickers Plot For Jihadists

A 27-year-old woman who tried to smuggle cash in her knickers on a flight to Turkey has been cleared of funding jihadists in Syria.

Nawal Msaad tried to take €20,000 (£15,830) in rolled-up notes on a flight from Heathrow to Istanbul in January, the Old Bailey heard.

She did it for her friend Amal El-Wahabi, 27, whose husband Aine Davis, 30, asked for the money, after leaving Britain to join jihadists in Syria last year.

The plot failed when she was stopped at the departure gate and produced the cash, which had been hidden in a condom, from her underwear.

Ms Msaad, from Holloway, north London, and El-Wahabi, from northwest London, both denied making money available with "reasonable cause to suspect that it would or may be used for the purposes of terrorism".

The jury cleared Ms Msaad but convicted mother-of-two El-Wahabi after deliberating for five days.

El-Wahabi will be sentenced on September 12

El-Wahabi is the first Briton to be convicted under terror laws of funding jihadi fighters in Syria.

She wept in the dock as the jury returned its guilty verdict, saying: "I can't breathe, no, I can't breathe."

The pair are London-born of Moroccan descent and had been close friends for years, the court heard.

Ms Msaad, who had been studying human resources at London Metropolitan University, agreed to take the money in return for €1,000 in expenses, jurors were told.

When she was stopped at the departure gate, she said the three-day trip to Istanbul was a "short break" to buy gold for her mother.

Ms Msaad, left, said she never meant to smuggle cash to bankroll terrorism

She was taken into a private room and produced the cash from her underwear.

The smuggling arrangements were made days before in phone calls and WhatsApp messages between El-Wahabi and her husband and Ms Msaad.

The same day Ms Msaad was arrested, police seized mobile phones and computer equipment from El-Wahabi's home.

Davis, who used the Muslim name Hamza, kept in regular contact with El-Wahabi after leaving London to pursue a jihadist cause.

After six months, El-Wahabi, who was living on benefits, was coming round to the idea of joining him wherever he was, the court heard.

The jury was shown a "selfie" Davis sent her, as well as videos containing jihadist propaganda.

El-Wahabi denied knowledge of any terrorist activities or their funding.

When Ms Msaad went into the witness box, she accused El-Wahabi of "stitching" her up by not telling her where the money came from.

She insisted she had never meant to smuggle cash abroad to bankroll terrorism.

Davis, who was born in London with roots in Gambia, met El-Wahabi at a local mosque and became increasingly interested in Islam six or seven years ago, the court heard.

His current whereabouts are unknown. El-Wahabi will be sentenced on September 12.

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Medical Chiefs 'Call Time On Failing GP Services'

GP services that continue to offer poor care to patients will be shut down, health regulators have said.

Surgeries are set to receive Ofsted-style ratings - where they will be deemed to be outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) chief inspector of general practice, Professor Steve Field, said from October failing practices will face being put into special measures.

Those given the lowest rating face closure if they fail to make the necessary improvements.

"Most GP practices provide good care," Prof Field said.

"We have confirmed this in our pilot inspections so far. But we can't allow those that provide poor care to continue to let their patients have an inadequate service.

"I want to do all I can to drive up standards in those that are not providing the services people deserve."

The regime could also see more doctors referred to the doctors' regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC).

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, added: "Whenever CQC's new inspection system raises concerns about the competency of individual GPs, the matter will be referred to the GP's local responsible officer and if necessary to the GMC.

"Family doctors are now subject to regular checks, but the inspections in England are bound to expose areas of weakness as well as good practice."

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee said: "It is important not to create a counter-productive blame culture based on isolated examples that would wrongly damage patient trust in wider GP services.

"We need to focus on providing support and enabling improvement in those GP practices that need help."

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Record Numbers Off To Uni As A* Grades Rise

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

A record number of students have been accepted into university, with a rise in the number achieving top marks in their A-level exams.

Ucas, the organisation which handles the admissions process, said 396,990 young people had been awarded places on degree courses - up 3% on last year.

Meanwhile, the number of students achieving at least one A* grade rose 0.6% to 8.2%, although the number gaining an A grade or above fell by 0.3%.

The overall pass rate also fell for the first time in 32 years, with the number of students achieving an A*-E grade down 0.1% to 98%.

Students who received lower grades are expected to enjoy unprecedented access to university, with up to 30,000 new places created.

A decision by the Government to abolish the cap on student numbers could have a dramatic effect on this year's cohort, with fierce competition among universities seeking to attract school leavers.

Some were offering cash "scholarships", while others were offering reductions on accommodation and free tablet computers.

Mary Curnock-Cook, chief executive of Ucas, told Sky News: "Compared with their brothers and sisters two or three years ago, students will feel it's a little easier (to get into university)."

Coventry University, which is offering £1,000 cashback, said the giveaways did make a difference but did not unduly influence students.

Deputy vice chancellor Ian Marshall said: "Most students come to university on the basis of the subject they are interested in and the reputation of the institution."

The decision to expand the number of student places comes amid increasing concern about quality assurance in higher education and job prospects for graduates, with recent figures showing almost half of graduates were in non-graduate level jobs.

However, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "This shouldn't be about ever higher numbers - it should be about ever higher standards.

"An A-level is still a significant achievement ... and we want an A-level that future employers and universities have confidence in."

Rhasan Brunner, who received an offer to study at London Goldsmith's University, said he was deferring his place to take an apprenticeship.

The 19-year-old, who studied at Brooke House Sixth Form College in Hackney, northeast London, said students should think twice about doing degrees, which now cost up to £9,000 a year in tuition fees alone.

"That debt is going to stay over their head for quite a long time," he said.

"Plus jobs are really rare and scarce and quite competitive nowadays, so it doesn't really guarantee you a job after university."

Access to university has been expanding since the 1960s, when a report by economist Lionel Robbins advocated opening up higher education to all those who qualified by virtue of ability and attainment.

Two years ago, the Government abolished the cap on students with the highest grades, essentially paving the way for the expansion of the elite Russell Group of universities.

But the new expansion for students with lower grades - which could also include an additional 60,000 extra students next year - has prompted concerns about quality.

Jude Heaton, from Teach First, a charity set up to end inequality in education, said: "The risk is we create a two-tier system, where pupils from richer backgrounds go to the most selective institutions ... (while) people from poorer backgrounds have an almost second tier university education."

Earlier this week, social mobility charity Sutton Trust warned students from disadvantaged backgrounds are 10 times less likely to apply to the UK's 13 most selective universities.

There are also reports that today's results will confirm a deepening of the gender divide, as girls continue to shun STEM - science, technology, engineering and maths.

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Teachers To Publish Alternative League Tables

Headteachers will publish their own league tables to give parents more information about schools and to address concerns the Government's data serves "political aims rather than pupils' needs".

The rankings, which school leaders say will provide more information than Government league tables, will initially focus on secondary schools.

They will cover GCSE results, extra-curricular activities, the curriculum and other details like class sizes and subjects.

The proposals have been drawn up by two unions: the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

The independent school and academy group United Learning, and PiXL, which works with schools to raise standards, were also involved in the plan.

Teachers have expressed concerns about the current league tables, including a Government decision last year that only a pupil's first attempt at an exam would be counted towards a school's overall results.

Under the plans, secondary schools in England are being asked to submit their GCSE results for this summer.

The results, which are due to be released next week, will then be published on a new website later in the autumn, before the Department for Education publishes its data in January.

NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said the Government's data often failed to address pupils' needs.

"Schools must be accountable, but the Government's performance tables have become a sledgehammer to crack the system - too often serving political aims rather than pupils' needs and driving the wrong decisions," he said.

"This initiative will, over time, give parents stable, accurate and neutral information about schools.

"It is good to see the school leaders seizing the initiative and building a connection to parents that bypasses all the politics."

Jon Coles, chief executive of United Learning, said that over time a school's performance has become less about giving parents information, and instead become a way for successive governments to influence decisions headteachers make about running schools.

"This is too crude an approach to defining a great school or encouraging improvement and at different times, it has been detrimental in different ways," he said.

"For example, promoting too much focus on the C/D borderline, especially in English and maths, or promoting choices of qualification which do not serve individual children well.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "We agree that information about school performance should be freely available to parents.

"That's why we have taken steps to make our league tables clearer and, in addition to our data, all schools must publish extensive information on their website - including pupil progress."

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Two People Found Dead With Gunshot Wounds

An elderly man and woman have been found dead with gunshot wounds at a property in Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Herefordshire Police confirmed they had gone to an address in Bosby at 10.20am on Monday after family members raised concerns.

The pair were found dead at the property.

Police said an investigation into their deaths is continuing.

Detective Sergeant Tim Powell said: "This enquiry is at an early stage and we are looking into the cause of death.

"We are not currently looking for anyone else involved in this incident."

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Petition To Stop Ched Evans' Sheffield Return

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Almost 60,000 people have signed an online petition urging Sheffield United not to re-employ disgraced footballer Ched Evans.

The striker is due to be released from prison in the autumn after serving a sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman.

Campaigners say his return to Sheffield would send out a damaging message about rape. 

Speaking exclusively to Sky News his girlfriend says he should be allowed to return to professional football.

Jurors found Evans guilty following a two week trial in 2012.

The Prosecution argued that when Evans had sex with his victim in a hotel bedroom she was too drunk to consent.

His friend and fellow footballer Clayton MacDonald was cleared of the same charge, but Evans was given a five-year sentence following a unanimous guilty verdict.

He will be released in October after serving half of his term.

Alan Smith, who is a member of the Sheffield United Supporters Club executive, told Sky News that he's been given an assurance that Evans will be returning to Bramall Lane.

He believes that most fans will welcome the club's former top goal-scorer back.

"He has served his time, he has served his sentence and we would have him back. Good players like that have got to carry on playing and if not for Sheffield United it would be for someone else, and we would regret that," he said.

But Rape Crisis England and Wales say they are seriously concerned about reports of Evans' possible return.

The organisation does not usually comment on specific cases, but has made a rare exception in appealing to the Sheffield club.

Director of communications Katie Russell said: "It is of course any convicted criminal's right to serve their sentence and then go back into employment. We absolutely stand by that.

"But at the same time we would urge Sheffield United to think very carefully about the message that they send when they immediately re-employ someone who's been convicted of such a very serious crime.

"If they choose to do that, which is their right, we urge them to seriously consider the impact that will have on huge numbers of their supporters and we urge them to make a very strong statement condemning sexual violence, condemning violence against women and girls and making it clear that misogyny, sexism, violence and sexual violence in particular won't be tolerated within football."

Ched Evans' girlfriend Natasha Massey told Sky News that he is determined to clear his name and rejected the possibility of being "in denial" about his guilt.

"At the time I was devastated. I was heartbroken, but the fact that Ched got charged with this crime, that kind of took over the fact that he had cheated so I dealt with that myself," she said.

"It wasn't nice for the whole world to know what happened. My boyfriend had sex with another woman and that wasn't nice for the world to see, but I stood by Ched and still do.

"If Ched wasn't a professional footballer we wouldn't be having this conversation, because that was his job before he went to prison.

"That's part of the whole rehabilitation process when you leave the prison and you go back to work. All Ched wants to do is go back to work, do the job that he loves, play football, score goals and then just come home and have a family life."

Ched Evans' attempts to overturn his conviction have twice been rejected, but his legal team has now referred his case to the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission in another effort to clear his name.

Sheffield United have refused to comment on reports that manager Nigel Clough has been to visit Evans in prison but has confirmed that the club was in contact with him "subsequent to his conviction".

Although some Blades fans at the club's Bramall Lane ground said they did not want the player back the majority - both men and women - said his return would be welcomed.

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Boy, 4, Killed In West Yorkshire House Fire

A four-year-old boy has died after he and a 10-year-old child were rescued from a blaze at a house in West Yorkshire.

Emergency services were called to the property after smoke was seen rising from a rear bedroom at the home in Keighley, near Bradford, around 2pm on Monday.

Both children were rescued from the property and taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The 10-year-old boy is now recovering from his injuries, which are not life-threatening. The four-year-old died in hospital.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire, which was confined to the bedroom.

Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson said: "Initial inquiries are under way with colleagues in the fire service to determine the cause of this fire and are at a very early stage.

"Clearly this has been a tragic incident in which a young child has lost his life and a full investigation will be carried out."

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Scottish Voters 'Anxious About UK Break Away'

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A survey of Scottish attitudes has detailed the country's hopes and fears over independence.

The Survey of Scottish Social Attitudes found a small rise in support for breaking away from the UK, but exposed reservations over the economy and of diminished international influence.

Researchers also found the gap in support between men and women had doubled in size.

Last year, 26% of women backed independence compared to 27% in 2014. The comparative rise among men was from 32% to 39%.

Researchers believe that women are more wary of the uncertainties of independence and so are less inclined to support it.

The annual survey's other key findings include:

:: Independence

In 2013, excluding undecided voters, 36% of Scots backed independence. This year, that's risen to 39%.

In contrast, those against independence numbered 64% in 2013. This year that has fallen to 61%.

:: Economy

In 2013, 34% thought Scotland's economy would be worse under independence. In 2014, the figure has increased to 44%

:: International influence

In 2013, 25% of Scots believed independence would make Scotland's voice weaker. In 2014, the figure has risen to 38%

:: Britishness

When forced to choose one single identity, the number of Scots describing themselves as British has increased from 15% in 2011 to 23% now.

:: Currency

On one of the key issues at the heart of the referendum debate, people were asked what currency an independent Scotland would be using a few years after breaking away.

Some 46% of respondents thought it would be using the pound. This is in spite of pro-Union parties warning that an independent Scotland would be denied the pound.

Some 18% said it would use the euro, while 17% said it would use a new currency.

John Curtice, the co-director of the Scottish Social Attitudes survey at ScotCen Social Research commented: "Although support for a Yes vote has increased during the last 12 months, more voters have in fact become nervous about the consequences of leaving the UK.

"Support for independence has only increased because those who are convinced it would be beneficial for Scotland are more willing to put their cross in the Yes box.

"However, at present there are still insufficient voters who are of that view to deliver a majority for independence."

Rachel Ormston, research director at ScotCen said: "In the final weeks of the campaign, capturing women's votes remains a key challenge, particularly for the Yes campaign.

"Put off by uncertainty and less likely to be persuaded by patriotic arguments around 'pride', women still need to be convinced that independence will deliver on the economy and other areas."

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Prisoners Lose Voting Rights Compensation Bid

A group of British prisoners have lost a compensation bid for being denied the right to vote.

However, the European Court of Human Rights said in its ruling that denying them the vote was a breach of their human rights.

Ten prisoners took the case to the ECHR after being denied the right to vote in elections to the European Parliament on June 4, 2009.

They asked for compensation or costs - which the court refused.

Explaining their decision that being denied a vote was a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the judges said the case was identical to another case brought by a UK prisoner when it was ruled that a ban was a breach.

More follows ...

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Wine Should Carry Health Warning, Say MPs

Wine, beer and spirits should carry health warnings to combat alcohol abuse, politicians have said.

Warnings already feature on tobacco and food products - but consumer information on alcohol extends only to volume strength.

The All Parliamentary Party Group on Alcohol Misuse wants labels on products such as wine to explain the harmful effects of drinking.

The recommendation is one of 10 aimed at reducing the harm of alcohol in the UK.

The document states: "Health warnings are a familiar and prominent feature on all tobacco products.

Tobacco products have carried health warnings since 1971

"Likewise, detailed nutritional labelling is ubiquitous on food products and soft drinks.

"Yet consumer information on alcohol products usually extends no further than the volume strength and unit content.

"In order to inform consumers about balanced risk, every alcohol label should include an evidence-based health warning as well as describing the product's nutritional calorific and alcohol content."

The group also wants a mandatory minimum price per unit for alcohol, tougher regulations on advertising and a reduction of the drink-drive limit.

The group also wants a minimum price per unit of alcohol

A phased ban on the sponsorship of sport by alcohol firms should also be introduced, while GPs and other health workers should ask people about their drinking habits.

Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse, said: "The facts and figures of the scale of alcohol misuse in the UK speak for themselves: 1.2 million people a year are admitted to hospital due to alcohol; liver disease in those under 30 has more than doubled over the past 20 years; and the cost of alcohol to the economy totals £21bn.

"Getting political parties to seriously commit to these 10 measures will be a massive step in tackling the huge public health issue that alcohol is."

After smoking, alcohol is the second biggest preventable killer, the group said.

A Government spokeswoman said: "We are taking action to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and to give people better information about the impact drinking can have on your health.

"Through our Responsibility Deal, the drinks industry has committed to putting unit and health messages on 80% of all bottles and cans.

"And we have banned alcohol sales below the level of duty plus VAT to tackle the worst cases of very cheap and harmful alcohol."

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Weather Warnings As Bertha Moves Up North

Weather warnings have been issued by forecasters as the remnants of Hurricane Bertha continue to move across the country.

After Wales and southern England were left drenched on Sunday, northern parts braced themselves for the unpleasant conditions today.

By early this morning the town of Lossiemouth, in Moray, Scotland, had recorded almost a average month's rainfall in just 12 hours, while Aberdeenshire saw gusts of 50mph.

A First World War flypast over the white cliffs of Dover involving three bi-planes escorted by modern-day Tornado GR4s to commemorate those who flew and fought in the Great War has been cancelled due to unstable winds across the Channel.

A crane attempts to remove a fallen tree in Hull on Sunday

And the Environment Agency has issued six flood warnings, indicating flooding is expected, and 47 flood alerts across England and Wales, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has 12 flood alerts in place.

While parts of England and Wales are under Met Office warnings for rain and wind, forecaster Emma Corrigan said it is likely to clear up as the storm continues its course.

"It is expected to be a much drier day for southern parts but we'll still see some scattered showers in the west although these will spread eastwards as the day moves on," she said.

"It is expected to feel quite cool with temperatures in the mid to high teens.

It could reach around 21C in the south east but with blustery winds it will feel a little cooler than that."

Many areas were flooded on Sunday, including parts of Grimsby

In Scotland, motorists have been warned to expect disruption and Transport Scotland alongside its partners, including the local authorities, Sepa and Police Scotland, said they are monitoring the situation closely to ensure they are well prepared for the conditions.

Traffic Scotland operator manager Stein Connelly said drivers in parts of the North East and Highlands & Islands are likely to face difficult road conditions due to heavy rain.

"We would advise people in these areas to prepare for some travel disruption and to allow extra time for their journeys," he said.

"They should also check the relevant websites for up to date travel information."

The Met Office said people should be prepared for some disruption to transport with localised flooding likely.

It said outdoor activities will also be hazardous due to heavy rain combined with strong winds.

Police Scotland said: "There is a possibility of flooding in low-lying land, roads and to rivers which could cause delays to early morning traffic.

"Police are asking that the public allow extra time for travel and if driving, to be aware of possible flooding."

Ms Corrigan said a return to the sunshine and heat of earlier this summer does not look likely any time soon.

"Towards the end of the week we will see calmer, more settled conditions but temperatures will on average stay on the cooler side," she said.

"There is no real indication of a return to the hot conditions we've seen."

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'Pay Before You Die' Inheritance Tax Plan

People suspected of trying to avoid inheritance tax could have to pay before they die under proposals being considered by ministers.

HM Revenue & Customs could demand "accelerated payment" where savers are using potentially illegal avoidance schemes.

The measures - at the consultation stage - are a response to concern that growing numbers of people are using trusts to shield their estates from inheritance tax.

But Stuart Phillips, of tax planning firm the Private Office, said the policy could have "unintended consequences".

HMRC says the proposals will only affect a small minority of wealthy people

"The concern is that the Revenue takes a highly aggressive stance, just like with the film schemes for which celebrities have been under scrutiny, and terrifies families who have been engaging in legitimate tax planning that has been used for many years," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"I'm apprehensive that large-scale action could have unintended consequences."

Inheritance tax is levied at 40% on the value of an estate above the £325,000 threshold. Married couples can combine their allowances.

The Tories pledged to raise the threshold from £325,000 to £1m at the last election, but the policy was blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

A HMRC spokesman said: "We are seeking views on tackling inheritance tax avoidance schemes. This is an ongoing consultation and no final decisions have yet been taken.

"The proposals in the consultation paper will only affect a small minority of wealthy individuals who actively seek to avoid inheritance tax.

"Couples would still be able to leave up to £650,000 tax free to benefit their children or grandchildren."

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Senior UKIP Politician In 'Copy Hitler' Row

A senior UKIP politician has defended reports he urged young party members to "copy Hitler".

The Mail On Sunday acquired a recording of West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge telling prospective candidates to "pick up little moments" of Hitler's speaking style.

Mr Etheridge can be heard saying the Nazi leader was "a hateful figure who achieved a great deal".

The Mail carried its story under the headline: "UKIP urges its youth wing: copy Hitler."

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Etheridge called the article a "silly, unpleasant attack".

"Hitler was an evil, monstrous tyrant but that doesn't mean he wasn't good at public speaking," said the 44-year-old.

The Mail On Sunday front page

"I wish he hadn't been, but we must be able to discuss historical figures without being slurred as agreeing with them.

"I speak about Tony Blair, Dr Martin Luther King and President Ronald Reagan - all kinds of people who were great public speakers.

"I regret that the Mail should stoop so low - it's embarrassing for all of us."

The recording - which Sky News has verified - was made last week at a conference for UKIP's youth wing, Young Independents.

Mr Etheridge, who is also a Dudley councillor, is heard saying: "If you look back to the most magnetic and forceful public speaker possibly in history.

"When Hitler gave speeches, and many of the more famous ones were at rallies, at the start he walks, back and forth, looked at people - there was a silence, he waited minutes just looking out at people, fixing them with his gaze.

"And they were looking back and he would do it for a while. And then they were so desperate for him to start that when he started speaking they were hanging on his every word.

Bill Etheridge urged candidates to "pick up moments" from Hitler speeches

"Again, I'm not saying direct copy - pick up little moments."

Labour MP Mike Gapes told the Mail On Sunday: "I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, but this just goes to show that (Nigel) Farage has completely failed to clean up his party.

"One of his MEPs training young candidates to speak like Hitler? Simply unbelievable."

But UKIP said The Mail On Sunday's interpretation of the speech was "truly disgusting".

A spokesman added: "Bill Etheridge gave a seminar on public speaking and highlighted great speakers of the past, like Churchill, Blair, Martin Luther King and Hitler as people whose style, not content could be studied.

"It is no surprise that two national newspapers have covered this conference - The Guardian and The Mail on Sunday. One gave it a fair hearing, the other as a Tory paper is terrified by the rise of UKIP and apparently will stoop to nothing to attack the party. We are disappointed, but unsurprised.

"During a period of respectful and pensive commemoration of those who gave their lives in war, the Tory Mail on Sunday's tasteless and desperate front page attack is truly disgusting."

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Police Trial On-The-Spot DNA Testing Machines

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

British police have begun trialling on-the-spot DNA testing, which could help trace serious criminals within hours, rather than days.

The Home Office has given extra funding to police in Lancashire and Nottinghamshire to begin operating the machines.

The machines are about the size of a small photocopier and can be transported to a crime scene and used in the early stages of an investigation.

The machine's developers, Key Forensic Services, claim the Rapid DNA technology will allow investigators to input samples from a crime scene into the machine themselves.

Any match to samples on the national DNA database will be found in less than two hours.

DNA technology helped police convict serial killer Steve Wright

Currently, police have to send DNA samples off to forensic laboratories and any match can take several days.

Key Forensic Services' Chief Executive Paul Hackett told Sky News: "It essentially duplicates what we currently do in three or four laboratories using a large number of people and a lot of instrumentation. 

"So the results are directly comparable with the current lab-based process, they're simply faster - just two hours."

As well as analysing any traces of DNA found at a crime scene, the machine will also allow investigators to take swabs from potential suspects.

These swabs can then be quickly compared with the DNA evidence recovered.

Senior police officers hope the technology will give detectives the means to identify a suspect much more quickly.

They hope it will prevent them from going on the run, or committing other offences before they are identified.

Vincent Tabak was matched to DNA found at Joanna Yeates' murder scene

West Midlands Chief Constable Chris Simms, the Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesman on forensic science, said: "The hope is that eventually this will become the dominant technology, that it's affordable, that it's reliable and we are in the position that at every single crime scene we're able to get DNA within a couple of hours. 

"I think that will then begin to revolutionise the way we investigate crime."

Developers say the portable analyser is the biggest advance in DNA profiling since the technique was introduced by the British geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984.

Police first used Sir Alec's new technique in 1988 to help secure the conviction of Colin Pitchfork who raped and murdered two schoolgirls in Leicestershire.

Over the years DNA evidence has helped prosecute thousands.

It allowed detectives to connect the serial killer Steve Wright to the five women he targeted in Suffolk in 2006.

Vincent Tabak was matched to traces of DNA found at the scene of the murder of landscape architect Joanna Yeates in Bristol in December 2010.

But technological advances can only go so far and detectives will still have to do the leg work, according to renowned criminologist Professor David Wilson.

"Of course it's a breakthrough because of the speed, but at the end of the day even if you gather DNA results, you have to have a suspect, with which you can compare that result, so you have got to have someone who you've arrested with a view to charging," he said.

The Home Office has awarded £431,000 to help develop the faster DNA detection technique in Lancashire and Nottinghamshire. 

If successful, the technology will be rolled out to other forces.

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Weather Warnings As Bertha Hits Britain

The remnants of Hurricane Bertha has brought gale force winds, heavy rains and flash flooding to Britain.

The deluge landed at Cornwall in the early hours and was sweeping across the UK from the south west of the country with gusts of 45mph reported on the Isles of Scilly.

The Red Cross has put hundreds of volunteers on standby in response to concerns that homes in some areas will need to be evacuated.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Heavy rain, associated with the remnants of hurricane Bertha, has already spread up across southwest England, Wales, eastern parts of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

"Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, received 21mm of rain in two hours between 4am and 6am and 15mm of rain fell in Cardiff between 6am and 7am with an area of thunderstorms now spreading across much of south Wales. 

The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for much of the UK

"Wind gusts to around 40mph have been recorded along the south coast as the low pressure area has moved in.

"Intense thundery weather and gusty winds are now spreading into Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

"As the low tracks northeast into the Midlands and northeast England the winds are likely to become stronger across much of England and Wales with 50mph gusts expected, perhaps up to 60mph in exposure, with large waves also expected along the south coast."

Alister McHardy, from the Met Office, said: "Anywhere in England and Wales could get two inches - even the far south east of England could get a good dollop of rain.

The A14 in Cambridgeshire was flooded on Friday

"Britons should brace themselves and be aware that the rainfall could bring some flooding in places.

"It is a quick dose of autumn in the summer."

Today's forecast means part of the RideLondon-Surrey 100 bike ride has been cancelled.

Organisers have reduced the event to 86 miles to miss out a section including Leith Hill and Box Hill, where heavy rain is predicted.

Hurricane Bertha has already torn through the Caribbean, with 90mph winds leaving thousands of homes without power.

Its aftermath is not as potent - but the Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings telling people to "be aware" of rainfall for England, Wales and Scotland.

It follows flash flooding across eastern England on Friday.

More than 1,400 homes were without power after the heavy downpours.

Further bad weather is expected at the start of next week.

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