April Jones: Frantic Mum 'Searched In Bins'

CCTV footage has been released showing Mark Bridger's car and what is thought to be April Jones inside the vehicle on the evening she vanished.

The Land Rover is seen in the top right hand corner of the video passing a garage in Machynlleth, mid-Wales, around 7.20pm on October 1 last year.

Bridger, 47, has denied abducting and murdering the five-year-old, who went missing from her estate in the town some time after 7pm, a court heard.

But he admits running her over and says he does not remember what he did with her body.

According to the prosecution, Bridger told police when he was arrested that he had parked on the estate at 7.10pm and shortly afterwards he ran over April, found her unconscious, put her into the car and then drove off.

April Jones in a leisure centre a couple of hours before she vanished

Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "The image released to the jury is about 10 minutes after that - so by Mark Bridger's own admission when that image was taken of his car driving out of Machynlleth, April was in his car.

"And according to what he told police, she was either dead by then or dying."

It comes as the jury in Bridger's murder trial heard of the frantic moments when April's parents learned their daughter was missing.

The police statements of Coral and Paul Jones were read to the court by prosecutor Elwen Evans QC, who outlined the family's day on October 1.

After April was collected from school, she was taken by her mother for a swimming lesson before they returned home for a tea of spaghetti on toast.

April watched a Disney film and then asked to go out and play on her bike with a friend, her mother said.

April, five, went missing on October 1 last year

Mrs Jones, 43, said: "Paul and I said no, she wanted to take her bike to her friend's next door. She kept on and on and had a little tantrum and I eventually gave in so she went next door to play.

"I told her I didn't want her out for long. I think it was about 7pm and that was the last time I saw her."

Twenty minutes later, Mrs Jones sent April's older brother out to collect his sister as "it was getting dark and a little colder".

"Within a very short time he came running home and he was in a hysterical state. When I calmed him down he said that April's friend had seen her getting into a car with a man and that she had gone.

"I immediately went over and asked April's friend what she had seen. I was told that April had got into a car with a man and he had driven off."

Mark Bridger denies abducting and murdering April Jones

Mrs Jones called the police straight away. She said: "I went out and searched around the estate, everywhere I could think of. I even looked in the bins."

In his statement, Mr Jones, 41, said: "We rang the police and Coral went out to search. I felt so helpless. I went to speak to April's friend who said something about a van.

"When she said that, I went around the corner to look. I then went back home and I just paced. I think that I just paced up and down, waiting for any news, for about 24 hours."

The jury was also shown other CCTV images of the five-year-old before she went missing.

And video said to show her alleged killer's movements in the hours before and after her disappearance was also played in court.

A CCTV camera picked up April, in a white top, and a friend, in a blue top, in the foyer of a leisure centre in Machynlleth, where the five-year-old had gone swimming.

Another sequence shows April and her sister leaving a cafe at the complex and then going towards the changing rooms. They are later seen leaving the changing rooms.

The two are then pictured departing the centre with April's mother Coral and the youngster's friend at 5:40pm, about a couple of hours before she vanished.

The jury was also shown a series of CCTV clips allegedly tracking Bridger's movements in his Land Rover on the day April went missing, and the following morning, walking from the Dyfi bridge direction to Machynlleth.

He is also apparently shown getting on to a bus, then walking his dog near his home around mid-morning.

The trial at Mold Crown Court in North Wales has been adjourned for the day and is due to resume next week.

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NHS 111: Patient Deaths Under Investigation

The deaths of three people are under investigation in connection with the NHS 111 non-emergency phone line, according to a report.

The general practitioners trade magazine Pulse reported that at least 22 possible "serious untoward incidents" (or SUIs) related to NHS 111 have been reported since the launch of the service.

Those incidents included three where a patient died, the magazine has claimed.

Two of the deaths occurred in the East Midlands, and one in the West Midlands.

The deaths reportedly include the case of a 47-year-old who died from a suspected overdose.

That death occurred after relatives contacted NHS 111 requesting mental health assistance, Pulse reported. 

A further 19 possible SUIs have been recorded by providers or commissioners, the magazine added.

Rolled out across most of the country last month, the NHS 111 service is for people urgently seeking medical help or advice but who are not in a life-threatening situation.

The service was introduced to replace NHS Direct in England and is meant to ease pressure on emergency 999 call centres.

NHS England said it could not verify the data reported in Pulse, however it issued a statement in response to the magazine's report.

"The safety of patients must be our paramount concern and NHS England will keep a careful eye on the situation to ensure NHS 111 provides not only a good service to the public, but one which is also safe," the statement read.

Earlier this week, NHS England announced a review of the 111 service.

A spokesman said: "The performance standards which have been introduced for NHS 111 represent a gold standard which the majority of NHS 111 services in England are now meeting, though in some areas performance is still unacceptable, especially at weekends.

"Some local providers of NHS 111 have not provided the prompt, reliable service the public need and want.

"NHS England's board is determined to ensure that the public have access to a gold standard NHS 111 service wherever they live in England."

But Clare Gerada, chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, raised concerns about the free-to-call advice line.

"It is extremely worrying that there is still so much uncertainty around the delivery and reliability of the advice provided by NHS 111 in some areas.

"We are also concerned that patients are losing confidence in the new service before it is even fully up and running.

"We call on NHS England to provide more reassurance about its effectiveness and ability to deliver the necessary standards of care for all patients using the service, right across England."

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Philip Hammond Unsure About F-35 Order

By David Bowden, Defence Correspondent

British operational military pilots have begun flying what is being touted as the world's most advanced stealth fighter jet, the F-35.

But even as they take to the skies, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has given the clearest indication yet that the UK may not now buy all the jets it had planned. 

Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Mr Hammond pledged that the first 48 aircraft on order at a cost of around £100m each would be bought to service the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers from 2020.

But he would not commit to a further 90 planes, which had originally been proposed.

He said: "It's dependent on politics, money and the state of the world, but it's also dependent on what is not yet clearly known, what the mix between manned fighter jets and unmanned aircraft is going to be."

Mr Hammond said there were two trains of thought, one suggesting an 80/20 split of manned to unmanned aircraft in future, the other suggesting the exact opposite.

He said the final decision would determine how many manned F-35s the UK could buy.

The Defence Secretary interrupted a visit to Washington to meet his recently appointed US counterpart Chuck Hagel and fly to the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River in Maryland where the F-35, or the Lightning II as it will be known in Britain, is being tested.

Philip Hammond inspected the F-35 after meeting US counterpart Chuck Hagel

Mr Hammond looked on as former Harrier pilot Pete "Wizzer" Wilson, who now works for defence contractor BAE Systems, which is part of the project team for the F-35, demonstrated the 'B' variant of the aircraft, which is capable of a short take-off and vertical landing.

In Florida at Eglin Air Force Base in the northwest of the state, the first UK military operational pilots began flying the F-35B just six weeks ago.

There are only two of them - Lt Commander Ian "Tidders" Tidball from the Royal Navy and Squadron Leader Frankie Buchler from the RAF.

Both have vast experience on other types of fast jets - Lt Cdr Tidball on Sea Harriers and F-18s, Sqn Ldr Bulcher on the Jaguar and latterly Typhoon aircraft.

After frustrating delays due to problems with the test aircraft and then the weather, both British pilots are now qualified to fly the F-35.

Lt Cdr Tidball told me after his qualifying flight: "Having come back from the Harrier and F-18, the aircraft handles absolutely exceptionally, very responsive even in these bumpy conditions."

Sqn Ldr Buchler is also a fan of the new jet, parts of which are still classified and Sky News was not allowed to film.

He said: "It's awesome, a boyhood dream. I've always wanted to fly the best fast jets in the world and here we are with a fantastic platform and I'm lucky enough to be one of the first guys from the UK flying it.

The F-35B after its first landing on an Atlantic Ocean aircraft carrier

"It's better than working for a living."

The British pilots fly two of the three UK jets so far delivered. But it will be another five years before the first squadron, based at RAF Marham, is set up on UK soil.

In the meantime, 17 Squadron will be the first UK unit to fly the F-35B out of Edwards Air Force base in California from next year.

The F-35 programme comprises three variants in all.

The A model is the "base" model and will be flown predominantly by the US Air Force, the B variant, which the UK is buying, will also be flown by the US Marine Corps, while the C or carrier variant, is adapted with "cat and trap" equipment to fly on and off American aircraft carriers.

The bulk of the projected orders will come from the US - close to 2,500 planes - with the UK originally due to buy 138 in total and the other "partner" nations, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Denmark and Norway, due to buy about 500 between them.

The projections from Lockheed Martin, the lead contractor, suggest that including sales to other "coalition" countries there will be 3,922 F-35s sold during its planned 30-year production run.

That's good news for the UK economy too, because 15% by value of each sale comes to these shores, largely through the contribution of BAE Systems in Lancashire, where much of the tail of every F-35 is manufactured.

The biggest danger to the programme at the moment is the immense cost, estimated at £2.5bn so far, given that defence budgets across the world - particularly in the West - are being slashed.

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Roadworks Taskforce To Tackle Repair Woes

By Enda Brady, Sky Correspondent

Hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been wasted over the last two years as a result of poor repairs to roads dug up by contractors, according to the Local Government Association.

The latest research by the LGA estimates that the amount - £435m - would be enough to fill in the equivalent of eight million potholes.

A new taskforce - comprising councils, utility companies and business representatives - has been set up in the wake of a summit called by the LGA to try to reduce the cost and the disruption caused by roadworks across Britain.

"Most roadworks are essential and in many cases carried out efficiently and to a good standard," said Cllr Peter Box, chairman of the LGA's Economy and Transport Board.

"However, all too often the rush to get on to the next job leaves in its wake patches of shoddy resurfacing.

"Not only is the taxpayer left to foot the bill to do the resurfacing properly, it means needless frustration for motorists and thousands of pounds in lost trade for small businesses.

Some 20% of roadworks last year were considered not up to standard

"For many years people have been complaining about these problems, but very little has changed. Hopefully now that the councils, utility companies and businesses have agreed to work together something will be done so the disruption and frustration of motorists and traders is kept to a minimum."

The LGA's claims are based on research by the Asphalt Industry Alliance's Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (Alarm) surveys, carried out among highways departments.

Acoording to the Alarm 2013 report, 20% of contractors' work was not up to standard last year, meaning the jobs had to be redone properly at the expense of local councils, causing more disruption and delays. This was up 3% on 2011.

Problems can also be caused by the same stretch of road being dug up by different companies in quick succession, rather than carrying out the work in the same trench.

The new taskforce will aim to use new technology to better coordinate projects and monitor the contractors' performance.

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Prison Van Escape: £10k Reward Offered

By Nick Martin, North Of England Correspondent

Police are offering a £10,000 reward for any information leading to the capture of two fugitives who escaped from an ambushed prison van.

Ryan McDonald, 20, and Stevie McMullen, 31, have been on the run since Tuesday when the vehicle in which they being taken to court in Manchester was intercepted.

Three men wearing dark clothing and balaclavas stopped the GEOAmey prison van in Salford just after 9am and threatened the driver with a shotgun.

All five are then thought to have fled in a dark-coloured Saab car which was driven about half a mile to a motorway intersection approach road and abandoned.

Three of the men are then believed to have run into a nearby estate while two others escaped on a motorbike that was later found abandoned.

McDonald had been on his way to court where he was due to be sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.

McMullen was on trial having been charged with conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to commit arson and other serious offences.

Police warned the public that the men were dangerous and not to approach either of them.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "The investigation to recapture these fugitives is progressing well and we have been following up a number of leads.

"This work will continue until the moment all those involved are returned to their prison cells.

"However, we are now offering a large sum of money to anyone with information that leads to their arrests.

"I need to once again reiterate the potential danger posed by all these men - the public should not approach either man and if anyone knows where they are or saw these men escaping I would urge them to contact police immediately."

The van was attacked on Regent Road, Salford near to its junction with Gloucester Street. The Saab then went along Regent Road to a point near to the M602 roundabout, where it was abandoned.

Three of the men ran south towards Phoebe Street in the Ordsall estate, Salford.

The motorbike on which the other two are thought to have escaped was found abandoned on Thurlow Street, between the M602 and Salford Quays.

The prison van was travelling from HMP Altcourse, near Liverpool, to Manchester Crown Square.

A 28-year-old woman and 24-year-old man have been detained at a house on the Ordsall estate in connection with the incident on suspicion of being involved in assisting an offender.

They have been released on bail pending further inquiries until June 26, 2013.

They remain in police custody for questioning.

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Man Found In Chimney Of Law Firm Named

A man whose body was found in the chimney of a solicitors in Derby city centre has been named by police.

Kevin Gough, of no fixed abode, was found at Moody & Woolley Solicitors in St Mary's Gate around noon on May 1.

The area was cordoned off while the 42-year-old's body was removed.

Staff at the firm told the local paper they noticed a gap in the wall in an unused part of the building about a month ago and thought it looked as if someone had tried to break in.

Julie Marson, senior partner at the firm, told the Derby Telegraph: "It's such a dreadful way for anybody to die, regardless of what the chap was trying to do."

Police are not treating his death as suspicious.

An inquest will open at Derby Coroner's Court later on Friday.

More follows...

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British Poker Player Jailed For Wife's Murder

A British professional poker player has been jailed for 20 years for killing his wife in America in the "heat of passion".

Marcus Bebb-Jones had denied killing his wife Sabrina in 1997, but pleaded guilty earlier this year under an agreement that meant he avoided a trial on a first-degree murder charge.

The couple were running the Melrose Hotel in Grand Junction, Colorado, when Mrs Bebb-Jones disappeared in September 1997.

Her skull was found in 2004 in a national park near Douglas Pass in north-west Colorado.

Bebb-Jones was arrested at his home in Kidderminster in Worcestershire in 2009 amid accusations he went on to spend thousands of dollars on her credit cards before botching a suicide bid.

The 49-year-old lost his appeal against extradition to the US in 2011 and was due to stand trial.

He pleaded guilty at a hearing in the 9th Judicial District Court in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, in February.

District Attorney Sherry Caloia said he made a plea bargain, admitting murder in the second degree, in exchange for a sentence of no more than 20 years.

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Afghanistan: MoD Names Troops Killed In Blast

Three British soldiers killed after an explosion hit their armoured vehicle in Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Corporal William Thomas Savage, Fusilier Samuel Flint and Private Robert Murray Hetherington died in the Helmand province blast.

Corporal Savage and Fusilier Flint were from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland (2 SCOTS).

Private Hetherington served in the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland (7 SCOTS).

All three died of injuries sustained on April 30, the MoD said. Another six soldiers were wounded when their Mastiff vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.

The soldiers were riding in a heavily armoured Mastiff vehicle

They were part of a patrol travelling along Route 611 between forward operating base Ouellette and patrol base Lashkar Gah Durai, in Nahr-e-Saraj district, when the blast happened.

They were evacuated by air to the military hospital at Camp Bastion where it was confirmed that they had been killed in action.

Irvine-born Corporal Savage, 30, joined the Army shortly after the Iraq war commenced, and deployed once to Iraq and was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.

A keen sportsman, he was married to wife, Lyndsey, who is expecting their first child.

His wife said in a statement: "I am completely devastated by this news but extremely proud of 'Sav' and everything that he has achieved.

A piper &officer saluted 2 Scots when they deployed (MoD/Crown Copyright)

"I have lost the love of my life and the father of our son. I know his life will live on through so many amazing memories that we shared together. He will be deeply missed amongst family, friends and the regiment."

Fusilier Flint, 21, joined the Army in November 2011 and was considered to be extremely fit and motivated.

The Blackpool-born soldier was an avid supporter of Manchester City and was a motorsport enthusiast.

He was also based in forward operating base Ouellette in the northern Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province.

The Flint-Broughton family released a statement and said: "The whole family is completely devastated. Everyone should know that Sam loved his job and made his whole family and everyone that knew him very proud.

"Sam was always the life and soul of the party, a real ladies' man, witty funny, the real cheeky chappy. He was a loving son, the protective brother, courageous nephew, the caring uncle, the loyal grandson that anyone would wish to have.

The explosion was in Helmand province near Kandahar

"We want to thank everyone for the kind tributes and strong support."

Private Hetherington, 25, was born in the US before being educated in Scotland.

He represented Scotland in lacrosse and the music-lover joined the Territorial Army in 2006 before being mobilised to join The Royal Highland Fusiliers last November.

Private Hetherington, who held a BSc in Environmental Geography, was a reservist who hoped to attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst following his debut Afghan deployment in 2013. He was expected to excel.

Lance Corporal Russ MacLean said: "Bobby was my best friend. He was the life and soul of the party and one of the kindest and friendliest people I have ever met.

"He was always at the end of the phone or across the table at a pub if you had problems you needed to talk about."

Lance Corporal Russ MacLean added: "My heart truly goes out to his family who will be as distraught as I am.

"He had a loving and caring family, along with his girlfriend Maeve, and my thoughts are completely with them. Love you mate."

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Bill Roache: Actor To Respond To Rape Charges

Coronation street star Bill Roache is expected to give a statement later after being accused of raping a teenager in 1967.

The 81-year-old, who has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since its launch in 1960, was arrested at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on Wednesday.

Some 12 hours later, he was charged with two counts of rape of a 15-year-old girl.

Lancashire Police said it followed a consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "We have carefully considered all the evidence gathered by Lancashire Police in relation to William Roache following allegations of rape.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged with two offences of rape relating to a girl, aged 15, in 1967."

Police officers stand guard outside Roache's secluded Cheshire home

ITV said in a statement that Roache - the world's longest-serving soap actor - will not be appearing in Coronation Street until legal proceedings have finished.

After his Coronation Street co-star Michael Le Vell was charged with 19 child sex offences, Roache called for anonymity for those accused of such crimes because of the stigma they face even if innocent.

Speaking to Sky News in March, he said: "If there is to be anonymity for the accusers at this stage, then there should most certainly be anonymity for those accused, until such time as there is strong evidence to show that there was some truth to the allegations at least."

Le Vell, who will not appear as mechanic Kevin Webster while he awaits his trial, has stated publicly that he is innocent and will fight the allegations.

Roache will appear at Preston Magistrates' Court on May 14.

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Brit Explorer Dies In Trek Across Arctic

A British adventurer has died during an attempt to cross part of the Greenland ice sheet with two colleagues.

Philip Goodeve-Docker, 30, described as a "rookie to the Arctic" was taking part in the unsupported 400-mile trek with friends Andy Norman, 33, and expedition leader Roan Hackney.

Despite being new to the Arctic he had been 'training furiously'

The men had planned to negotiate part of the ice cap from east to west in 30 days, pulling heavy sleds known as 'pulks' containing their food, equipment and supplies.

But they got into difficulties two days and 120 miles into the trip after they were engulfed by a severe snowstorm known as a 'Piteraq' which blew away their tent.

The men radioed for help but a helicopter was unable to reach their position until the next morning. By the time it arrived, Mr Goodeve-Docker was already dead and his colleagues were suffering from frost-bite and shock.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said: "We are aware that three British nationals were in difficulty during an expedition in Greenland, and have been rescued by the authorities. 

"Sadly one of the team, Philip Goodeve-Docker, died. The other two British nationals are in hospital. We are providing consular assistance to their families at this difficult time."

An expedition website that had been set-up by the men states that Mr Goodeve-Docker was "completely new" to the Arctic, but that he had been "training furiously" for the trip.

Mr Goodeve-Docker with team members Roan Hackney and Andy Norman

Expedition leader Roan Hackney is described as an experienced adventurer, having completed several Arctic expeditions, including being part of a team that attempted the same trip two years ago.

The team are said to have been remotely supported and monitored in the UK by Paul Walker, described as a world leader in managing Greenland expeditions.

On the JustGiving page before he left for Greenland, Mr Goodeve-Docker wrote of the dangers he would face travelling across one of the most "deadly landscapes in the world".

"Part of my reasons for this frankly nutty adventure is my Grandfather, Patrick Pirie-Gordon, who passed away two years ago.

Greenland presents one of the most challenging terrains on earth

"Amongst his achievements were his key roles as Treasurer and Honorary Vice-President for the Royal Geographical Society, helping fund polar exploration, and Treasurer for the QNI. He was intensely passionate about both these institutions.

"It gave me added incentive to say yes to the expedition and, because of their fantastic work in nursing & helping those in need at home, to do my part for QNI. They really do fantastic work.

"So please dig deep and donate now. All the support will be great incentive to come back in one piece! :) I'm going back outside to stumble around with tyres again..wish me luck!"

A statement issued by Mr Goodeve-Docker's family, said: "To our son, brother and friend, we are so glad that you were on your adventure and expedition that you had wanted to do for so long. You will be unbelievably missed and your memory cherished. Xx"

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