Snow: Fifth Day Without Power For Thousands

Costs Rise As Lambs Brought Indoors

Updated: 11:46pm UK, Monday 25 March 2013

By Frazer Maude, North of England Correspondent

The Dean family have been farming in the Yorkshire Dales village of Threshfield since 1236.

Toft House Farm will have seen some harsh winters through the centuries, but weather like this in late March won't have happened too often.

Angus Dean runs the farm with his brother, and during lambing season his day starts at around 5.30am. It doesn't end until past midnight.

With almost 1,000 sheep to care for, this is one of the toughest, but most rewarding, times of year.

The rewards are plain to see. He's gentle with his animals, and still can't hide the smile on his face as he delivers triplets to one sheep in its straw lined barn.

Ordinarily though, these lambs would enter the world in a field, not a barn. Their mother would be eating fresh grass, not expensive feed (called cake).

Drifting snow, biting winds, and sub-zero temperatures, mean the three new arrivals would struggle to last even a few hours outside.

"Even in the fields which aren't totally covered in snow aren't usable at the moment," explains Mr Dean.

"Because the sheep need the shelter provided by the dry stone walls. Only there isn't any shelter, because the walls are where the drifts have collected."

That means all but 70 of the flock have been brought indoors to lamb. Those that are still outside are ewes that are only going to have a single lamb, and so won't be giving birth for another couple of weeks.

If the weather doesn't break before then, they'll be brought inside too.

"Having the sheep inside might seem easier," said Mr Dean.

"But it can lead to confusion between the sheep over whose lambs are whose. So we have to move them around into different pens to keep them separated. And of course the feed costs are massively increased."

But even though his sheep are costing much more to feed than if they were eating grass (the cake costs around £250 per tonne), at least Toft House Farm is accessible at the moment to have the feed brought in.

Others aren't so lucky. Rachael Gillbanks from the NFU says: "I've spoken to some farmers in the Dales who are worried that their feed stocks are running dangerously low, and they can't get any more delivered because the farm roads aren't accessible for the delivery trucks. Several are almost running out of cake and hay."

The good news for Angus is that this has been a good year for the lambs. The quantity and quality of the offspring from his mixed flock of Texels, Mules, Swaledales and Leicester Blues has been high, and prices at the moment are reasonably good.

But with hundreds of sheep yet to give birth, and with space in the sheep sheds at a premium, for Angus, and his neighbours, the thaw can't come soon enough.

But like all Dalesfolk, Mr Dean and his brother are nothing if not resilient. And tough though it is at the moment, a farm that could bounce back after losing the entire flock to the devastation of foot and mouth, will surely survive this

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Mobile Phone 'Steaming' Thieves Are Jailed

A gang of youths who stole mobile phones and tablets worth £150,000 by "steaming" high street stores in broad daylight have been jailed.

The group of males, aged 15 to 22-years-old, raided 42 Carphone Warehouse stores in London and surrounding areas over a six-month period.

Jahreau Shepherd, Perry Hedges (top) and Emmanuel Kakala and Ugo Wilson

CCTV footage showed shoppers and members of staff being caught in the violence as gang members wrenched stock from display stands.

In one clip a frightened mother is shown rushing to pick up her son before he is caught up in the gang's dash for the exit.

The youths caused over £50,000 worth of damage between July and December last year.

They typically operated in a large group, travelling together to the shop they planned to steal from.

They were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to commit burglary.

Detective Inspector Mark Loving, from the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU), said: "This case should act as a warning to anyone involved in this type of activity that the Met and NMPCU will robustly and swiftly deal with those who use intimidation to fulfil their greed."

The gang smashing up one shop

Jahreau Shepherd, 22, of Orsett Street, Lambeth and 21-year-old Ugo Wilson, of Aviation Drive, Barnet, were jailed for four years and 27 months respectively.

Perry Hedges, 18, of Howard Road, Kingston, was sentenced to 26 months' detention in a young offenders' institution.

Emmanuel Kakala, 18, of Cargreen Road, Croydon was given a suspended 18-month prison sentence and ordered to do 80 hours of community service, while 20-year-old Samuel Warnes, of Egleston Road, Merton, received a suspended 12-month prison sentence and one year's supervision.

Three boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, were all sentenced to detention and training for 10, 18 and 12 months respectively.

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Nurses To Spend A Year Learning Hands-On Care

Student nurses will have to give "hands-on" patient care as healthcare assistants for up to a year before they can become a nurse, the Health Secretary will announce today.

It is hoped the move will "give the public confidence" that people in the profession can be compassionate.

Jeremy Hunt will publish the Government's response to the Francis report into serious failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust which highlighted "appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of people" at Stafford Hospital between 2005 and 2009.

As many as 1,200 patients may have died needlessly after they were "routinely neglected" at the hospital.

Many were left lying in their own urine and excrement for days, forced to drink water from vases or given the wrong medication.

Robert Francis QC, chairman of the public inquiry into the "disaster" at the hospital, made 290 sweeping recommendations for healthcare regulators, providers and the Government.

Mr Francis concluded there was a "completely inadequate standard of nursing" offered on some wards at Stafford Hospital.

Hundreds of people may have died needlessly at Stafford Hospital

His report says: "The complaints heard at both the first inquiry and this one testified not only to inadequate staffing levels, but poor leadership, recruitment and training.

"This led in turn to a declining professionalism and a tolerance of poor standards."

Mr Francis called for an increased culture of compassion and caring in the nursing profession.

Mr Hunt hopes to change the culture by transforming the way nurses are recruited.

Subject to pilot schemes, students seeking NHS funding for nursing degrees will become healthcare assistants or support workers either as part of their degree or as a prerequisite for receiving funding for their degree.

The move will see aspiring nurses giving "hands-on" patient care, Mr Hunt will say.

If it is successful, ministers will see whether the measure should be "extended beyond nursing".

Another aspect of the Government response will see the introduction of minimum training standards and a code of conduct for health and care support workers.

"Frontline, hands-on caring experience and values need to be equal with academic training," Mr Hunt will say.

"These measures are about recruiting all staff with the right values and giving them the training they need to do their job properly, so that patients are treated with compassion."

Labour has urged the Government to take on all 290 of the recommendations made by Mr Francis.

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Immigration: Cameron Says No Job, No Benefits

Tough new measures to curb immigrants' access to housing and benefits will be unveiled later by David Cameron.

The Prime Minister will use a keynote speech to warn those coming to Britain that it will no longer be a "soft touch".

Mr Cameron is the latest party leader after Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to address immigration, which is a top concern for voters.

In moves to tackle the "something-for-nothing" welfare culture, arrivals from the European Union face being stripped of jobseekers' benefits.

They will lose the allowance after six months unless they can prove they have been actively looking for a job and stand a "genuine chance" of finding one.

Immigrant families will also be kept off council house waiting lists for up to five years.

Immigrants will be kept off council housing waiting lists for five years

Local authorities will have to introduce minimum residency times of between two and five years for joining waiting lists - or justify why they are not.

The speech comes as the UK Border Agency faced renewed criticism for its failure to tackle the backlog of asylum cases.

MPs on the Home Affairs select committee condemned the lack of progress as it warned the backlog would take 24 years to clear.

Mr Cameron is likely to cite figures showing that nearly one in 10 new social lettings go to foreign nationals. The proportion has risen from 6.5% in 2007-08 to 9% in 2011-12.

The Government is also pledging to beef up the "range and depth" of questions in the habitual residence test, which checks that people meet residence requirements for housing and income-related benefits.

Immigrants must prove they have a 'genuine chance' of getting a job

Mr Cameron will also target illegal immigration - doubling the maximum fine for companies that employ illegal workers to £20,000.

And he will signal action against so-called "health tourism" that could mean non-EU nationals have to prove they hold insurance before getting care.

"While I have always believed in the benefits of immigration, I have also always believed that immigration has to be properly controlled," the Prime Minister will say.

"As I have long argued, under the last government this simply wasn't the case. Immigration was far too high and badly out of control. Net migration needs to come down radically from hundreds of thousands a year to just tens of thousands.

"And as we bring net migration down so we must also make sure that Britain continues to benefit from it.

Immigrants to the UK take part in a Citizenship Ceremony

"That means ensuring that those who do come here are the brightest and the best the people we really need with the skills and entrepreneurial talent to create the British jobs and growth that will help us to win in the global race."

In his spring conference address over the weekend, UKIP leader Nigel Farage claimed his willingness to talk about immigration was one of the main reasons for the party's surge in popularity.

Concerns have also been rising over an influx from Bulgaria and Romania when movement restrictions are loosened at the end of this year.

The increasing political focus on the issue was emphasised last week when Mr Clegg ditched the Lib Dem policy of offering an amnesty to illegal immigrants who have been in the country for more than 10 years.

He admitted the move would risk "undermining public confidence".

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White Easter Looms As Cold Snap Continues

Thousands of homes are still without power and many roads still impassable as the freezing cold weather and snow continues to cause disruption.

The severe weather and bitterly cold temperatures are set to continue across most parts of the country right up until the weekend, forecasters have said.

This could mean the first white Easter in five years, as the nation enters British summertime.

The Met Office has said there is a 90% chance the unseasonal cold snap will continue to keep large parts of Britain frozen for the rest of the week.

An amber weather alert - which means severe weather is on its way - has been issued for the North of England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, and the East of England.

A yellow warning - meaning be prepared for bad weather - is in place for London and the Southwest.

Cutting through snow at Saddleworth Moor (Pic: Oldham Mountain Rescue Team)

But it is the ice that is causing the biggest concern, with large parts of the country being warned about the danger of black ice as commuters wrestle with journeys on foot, by car or public transport to work and back.

"Lying snow in many areas will melt on roads and pavements by day, refreezing by night to give icy patches," a Met Office spokesman said.

"Snow blowing off fields in strong to gale force winds will also affect some roads, especially over high ground."

The Department for Transport has warned motorists to take precautions and only set off from home if they have checked the latest travel conditions.

A spokesman said: "The unseasonal weather is affecting transport networks. Our staff and other transport operators are working tirelessly around the clock to keep roads open, and keep other services running."

The scene in Largs, Ayrshire (Pic: Neil Fraser)

Nearly 20,000 homes across the UK are still without power since Friday and numerous roads remain closed because of snow.

Engineers are working to restore supplies to around 7,000 homes in Northern Ireland and 10,000 in Scotland, as well as 500 properties on the Isle of Man.

Emergency oxygen supplies had to be airlifted to an elderly man trapped by heavy snow in Northern Ireland.

Those living in remote areas there have been warned it could be days before they have electricity again, but water supply has now been restored to most of the 1,000 homes affected.

A man found dead in deep snow after he started walking home in severe weather has been named by police.

The body of Gary Windle, 25, was found by a farmer in Brierfield, near Burnley, in Lancashire, at around 1.30pm on Saturday.

Gary Windle (left) was found dead in deep snow near Burnley

Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious and there were indications it was a "very tragic incident" after he started walking home from a night out with friends.

On Friday, a woman, named locally as Susan Norman, died when her house in Looe, Cornwall, collapsed during a landslip following torrential rain.

A 57-year-old hill walker, named by police as James Jack, died in the Scottish Highlands, although police said it was not clear whether his death was linked to the poor weather.

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said the heavy snow had subsided but added: "The risk of more unsettled conditions with rain and further snow increases towards the Easter weekend."

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has cut the odds of snow at Easter to 4/5 after taking a flurry of bets in the past 48 hours.

Forecasters have predicted it could be the coldest March in 50 years. In 1962, average temperatures for the month were 2.8C (37F).

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Airfares: Heavier Passengers 'Should Pay More'

Airlines should make heavier passengers pay more for their plane tickets and lighter ones less, it has been suggested.

The controversial pay-as-you-weigh pricing scheme has been mooted by a Norwegian professor who argues that weight and space should be taken into account by airlines pricing their tickets.

Writing in this month's Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Dr Bharat P Bhatta has put forward three proposals.

The first would see fares directly linked to the weight of a person and their belongings, with a fixed rate for kilograms per passenger.

Under this method, a person weighing 60kg (132lb or 9st 6lb) would pay half the airfare of a 120kg (264lb or 18st 12lb) person.

Dr Bhatta's second proposal involves charging a fixed base rate, with an additional charge for heavier passengers to cover the extra costs.

Every passenger could have a different fare according to this option.

The professor's final suggestion is for passengers to have the same fare if they have an average weight, but this could be discounted for weights below a certain limit or added to for excess weight above it.

This option would result in three types of fares: high, average and low.

Dr Bhatta, of the Sogn og Fjordane University College in Norway, thinks the third option is most suitable for implementation.

"Charging according to weight and space is a universally accepted principle, not only in transportation, but also in other services," he said.

"As weight and space are far more important in aviation than other modes of transport, airlines should take this into account when pricing their tickets."

Dr Ian Yeoman, editor of the Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, threw his weight behind the suggestion.

"For airlines, every extra kilogram means more expensive jet fuel must be burned, which leads to CO2 emissions and financial cost," he said.

"As the airline industry is fraught with financial difficulties, marginally profitable and has seen exponential growth in the last decade, maybe they should be looking to introduce scales at the check-in."

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Kit Kat Bars Recalled After Plastic Found

Nestle has recalled four varieties of Kit Kat Chunky bars after pieces of plastic were found by seven people.

The company said the 48g peanut butter, hazelnut, choc fudge and caramel flavour chocolate bars were being recalled "to avoid any risk whatsoever to our consumers".

Kit Kat Chunky Collection Giant Eggs were also being called back.

Nestle advised consumers not to eat the products and return them unopened for a full refund.

A spokesman said: "The safety and quality of our products are non-negotiable priorities for the company. We sincerely apologise to our consumers for any inconvenience caused by this voluntary recall."

The affected chocolate treats are:

:: Kit Kat Chunky Peanut Butter (48g) with a best before date range of September 2013 to February 2014.

:: Kit Kat Chunky Hazelnut (48g) with a best before date range of September to October 2013.

:: Kit Kat Chunky Choc Fudge (48g) with a best before date range of September to October 2013.

:: Kit Kat Chunky Caramel (48g) with a best before date range of June to July 2013.

:: Kit Kat Chunky Hazelnut Multipack with a best before date range September to December 2013.

:: Kit Kat Chunky Collection Giant Egg with a best before date of July 2013.

Any consumers who have purchased the products have been asked to return them to Kit Kat Chunky Recall, PO Box 205, Freepost 1374, York, YO91 1XB.

Consumers wanting more information can telephone Freephone (land line only) 0800 604604 (from UK) or 00800 6378 5385 (from Republic of Ireland) from 8am to 8pm from Saturday, March 23.

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'Huge Problem' Of Male Suicide Rate In UK

Nelson Fell Through The Cracks

Updated: 4:19am UK, Sunday 24 March 2013

To the outside world Nelson had the world at this feet. A professional snowboarder, on the cover of magazines, coach to the British Olympic snowboard team, as physically fit as it was possible to be, universally loved by everyone that knew him and from a loving family.

Nelson was a truly aspirational human being and a role model to many. How could someone like Nelson take his own life? He had so much to live for.

His death in the summer of 2012 sent shockwaves through the UK snowboarding community and with everyone that knew him. His family and friends were left distraught as there had been no glaring warning signs. I had seen Nelson only days before and even though I felt I knew him better than anyone, even in my darkest fears I had no idea what was coming.

Nelson did suffer from anxieties and at periods of his life had been touched by bouts of depression. Like so many men, Nelson found it very hard to openly talk about these powerful inner thoughts. He had great friends and a loving family but found it very hard to be truly honest - especially in perhaps such an image conscious sport as snowboarding?

Men as a rule are supposed to battle on through strife and illness. For a man to show weakness and say they're feeling down is frowned upon and the stigma attached to depression and other mental illnesses is huge. Nelson felt this, and often telling your close friends and family you feel depressed has its own pressures attached - I'm sure Nelson felt the worry of not letting loved ones down. It is obvious now Nelson had incredibly powerful emotions locked deep inside him that ultimately took control of him towards the end.

One of Nelson's last acts was to take himself to his local GP the day before he took his life, obviously seeking help and support. I know how much courage this must have taken for Nelson. Nelson was asked to fill in various questionnaires to assess his mood, he scored very highly for anxiety and was classed as moderately depressed. Unfortunately all the GP could do for him at the time was to tell him to return in two weeks if he still felt bad, and was given the web address of an online cognitive programme.

Like many, Nelson fell through the cracks. He died the next day. I understand how much pressure GPs are under, but also feel frustrated that he could have been given more options - a few telephone numbers maybe, a help line, a link to CALM's website or even a call to his family to say he may be at risk. This may have helped him feel he wasn't struggling alone, that there was help out there, that other guys were struggling with exactly what he was feeling. Why, for instance, is it so hard to get a referral to see a psychiatrist, my local GP told me he doesn't even know the name of his and even if he did it would take weeks for an appointment. Things have to change.

Only after this tragic event do the shattering statistics hit home. Suicide in young men is the biggest single killer in the UK right now, on average three a day and more deaths in 2011 than traffic accidents, HIV and murder alone. BUT only 1 in 10 people have any idea of these brutal stats. Awareness has to be top priority, there must be a focused strategy to suicide in the UK. The minister of care and support Norman Lamb stated that the government has a "complete responsibility to reduce men taking their own lives." Now's the time for action - not words.

By tapping into organisations such as CALM, the government can educate themselves and potentially hit the key demographic and most at risk. CALM are using people, brands, musicians, artists etc that young men can associate with, a voice they respect, raising awareness. A strong communications strategy is clearly needed for the government. 

Obviously this is huge problem and not easily tackled. It will take time. Stigma amongst men, families and society in general is a huge hurdle but we have to start somewhere. It's clear from Nelson's story that there isn't a set stereotype for someone who ends their own life.  He appeared to have everything. If there is any positive to come out of his death, it's that suicide and depression can hit anyone and there is no shame in admitting you need help. Help is out there, you don't have to suffer alone, there is always hope. Ride on Nelly.

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Snow And Ice: Man Dies Trying To Get Home

The freezing weather is thought to have led to the death of a 27-year-old man who was trying to get home after a night out with friends.

The man's body was discovered in deep snow by a farmer yesterday afternoon, but the emergency services struggled to get to the area because of the poor weather conditions.

Lancashire Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Chief Inspector Derry Crorken said: "Early indications suggest that it appears to be a very tragic incident where a young man has been out with friends and has become caught up in the weather last night on his journey home.

"The snow and ice has been severe in the area with many roads not passable. I would urge people to take precautions and only go out if it is necessary.

"If you do go out, then make sure friends and family know where you are and that you have suitable clothing on and your phone with you."

The man's death comes as police said the body of a hill walker had been found in the Scottish Highlands following a mountain rescue search.

The 57-year-old man was found yesterday in the Streap area, near Fort William, in the West Highlands, which is still under heavy wintry conditions.

Police said it was not yet possible to say whether the walker's death was related to the poor weather.

Snow and ice are causing treacherous driving conditions in many places

On Friday, police in Looe, Cornwall, found a body in a block of flats that had been flattened by a landslide thought to have been triggered by torrential rain.

Northern Ireland Electricity said 29,000 homes were still waiting to be reconnected - and it could be days before they all have power. About 1,000 homes in Northern Ireland were also without water last night.

In Scotland, about 5,000 homes in Kintyre are without power, with a further 1,500 homes in the north and west of Arran also without supply.

Meanwhile, the Met Office warned of a risk of ice, despite lifting its yellow "be aware" weather alert.

"Lying snow in many areas will melt on roads and pavements by day, refreezing by night to give icy patches," it said.

"Also, snow blowing off fields in strong to gale force winds will affect some roads, especially over high ground."

Sky News weather forecaster Isobel Lang said the snow would become "less of a concern after today" but added: "The risk of more unsettled conditions with rain and further snow increases towards the Easter weekend."

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has cut the odds of snow at Easter to 4/5 after taking a flurry of bets in the past 48 hours. If it does snow, it would be the first white Easter in five years.

Forecasters have predicted it could be the coldest March in 50 years. In 1962, average temperatures for the month were 2.8C (37F).

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Huhne 'Moves To Comfortable Open Prison'

Former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne has reportedly been moved to a "comfortable" open jail after spending seven days in Wandsworth prison.

Huhne was jailed earlier this month after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice for asking his wife to take speeding points for him in 2003.

The 58-year-old served his first week at HMP Wandsworth, in south London, but has now been moved to HMP Leyhill in Gloucestershire for the remainder of his eight month term, The Sun reported.

The Category D jail is described on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) website as somewhere that prisoners can "assume more responsibility and benefit from opportunities to make decisions for themselves before returning to the outside community".

HMP Leyhill, which has farms and gardens in its grounds, offers a number of courses and employment opportunities for prisoners, such as making door and window frames and prison furniture.

Ex-wife Vicky Pryce was also said to have moved to a more 'pleasant' prison

On March 15, Huhne's ex-wife was moved to a "pleasant" open jail after spending only four nights in Holloway prison, according to reports.

Vicky Pryce, 60, was jailed for eight months after a jury found her guilty of perverting the course of justice.

She was convicted following a retrial at Southwark Crown Court after a jury disagreed with her defence of marital coercion.

The mother-of-five was transferred from Holloway prison in north London to East Sutton Park prison in Maidstone, Kent, it was reported.

The category D jail is described on the MoJ website as "a pleasant mansion house overlooking the Weald of Kent".

An MoJ spokesman has previously said it will not comment on individual prisoners or where they are held.

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