Manchester Dogs' Home Fire Fund Tops £1m

More than 110,000 people have donated £1m to an online appeal following the devastating blaze at Manchester Dogs' Home in which more than 50 animals died.

Police are continuing to question a 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of arson after the outbreak of the fire which prompted a huge response from local people who came out to try to rescue the dogs and provide support.

A member of staff at the dogs home told Sky News it was "like something out of a horror film".

Colin Ballance, the liaison officer for Manchester Dogs' Home, in the Harpurhey area of Manchester - one of the country's largest kennels - said the scene was "horrendous" with flames up to 20 feet in the air when he arrived on Thursday night.

A woman saves a dog from the fire. Pic: @manchesterfire

Mr Ballance managed to rescue two dogs from the building complex before thick black smoke stopped him.

"You could hear them screaming but the thing was, you couldn't do anything," he said.

Mr Ballance said: "It was unbearable, it was like something out of a horror film. Something I don't want to remember if you know what I mean, but I will never forget it."

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jones, from Greater Manchester Police, said a youth from the local area was detained within an hour of the fire being reported just after 7pm.

Residents reported hearing "dogs yelping" as the fire spread through the buildings.

There were reports of people risking their lives by running into the burning building to save animals.

Mr Ballance says he will never forget what happened

Part of the roof of the single-storey kennels collapsed and 30 firefighters battled the flames, said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service station commander Paul Duggan.

Outrage and shock at the blaze resulted in several fundraising campaigns being launched, which raised hundreds of thousands of pounds within a few hours.

On its Twitter page, Manchester Dogs' Home said: "Words are not enough. Thank you everyone, you have touched our hearts and surrounded us with love and we are truly grateful.

"We are overwhelmed with the offers of help, support and money. Grateful and humbled."

Anna Stansfield, manager of the home's sister facility, Cheshire Dogs' Home, described the fire as "soul destroying".

Firefighters said 150 dogs were rescued. Pic: Manchester Fire

She said all the 150 dogs rescued by the fire service would be transferred to its site in Grappenhall, Warrington.

The blaze provoked an angry response on social media, but police warned people not to "take matters into their own hands".

A JustGiving site set up by the Manchester Evening News with the aim of raising £5,000 had secured £500,000 by 11.30am. It hit the £1m mark at about 7.15pm. 

The home has cared for more than one million dogs since it was established in 1893.

It is said to care for more than 7,000 stray and unwanted dogs each year.

Police were asking people with donations of bedding, food or bowls to take them to Central Park Police Station.

Reverend Mike McGurk from the nearby Christ Church said they had received donations of dog food and blankets throughout the night.

"People have come from York, Derby and even Stevenage to donate supplies. It's been incredible how strong the support is and how generous people have been," he told Sky News.

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Major Blaze Hits Nottingham University Campus

Around 60 firefighters have brought a major blaze under control at Nottingham University.

The "significant incident" began at approximately 8.30pm on Friday at the GlaxoSmithKline building on the Jubilee Campus.

Witnesses said they have heard loud explosions from the building, which is under construction and unoccupied.

No one was injured and no other buildings were affected as fire crews fought to gain control of the fire while it tore through the timber-framed building, sending burning debris into the sky above.

Nottingham Fire and Rescue group manager Joanne Wooler-Ward said: "No other buildings have been affected, fortunately no people were involved in this fire and we've had 12 crews here, that's over 60 firefighters.

Smoke was seen billowing from the university campus. Pic: Sam Bradley

"Credit to those firefighters who pulled out all the stops to prevent this fire spreading.

"When we arrived, the fire was a significant size - it could be seen from quite a distance - and there was a smoke plume spreading towards the campus area so we sent out a message for people to keep doors and windows closed.

"The firefighters have worked hard to contain that fire and stop it from spreading to any other buildings."

The building is under construction and is unoccupied. Pic: Sarah Armes

In a statement, university registrar Dr Paul Greatrix said: "Thankfully, there have been no casualties as this is a building that was still under construction."

The carbon-neutral building, which was due to be opened early next year, cost £15.8m and would have had enough laboratory space for more than 100 researchers.

Some eyewitnesses on Twitter have claimed that the complex has been "completely destroyed".

Dr Greatrix added: "(Saturday) we are due to welcome prospective students and their families to Nottingham for our Open Day and we would like to stress that this is still going ahead as planned."

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'Great Depression' Warning For Scottish Voters

A leading bank's warning that a Yes vote could be a mistake akin to those that sparked the Great Depression has threatened to overshadow the biggest weekend of political campaigning in Scotland's history.

At least 2.6 million leaflets will be delivered to households in 48 hours as polls suggest Thursday's vote is on a knife-edge.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend a rally by the Orange Order in support of the Union in Edinburgh - and their cause has been backed by Deutsche Bank.

The financial institution claims the economic arguments against independence are "overwhelming".

Alex Salmond arrives in Dundee on the latest leg of his Yes campaign

Chief economist David Folkerts-Landau said a Yes vote could be a "mistake as large as Winston Churchill's decision in 1925 to return the pound to the Gold Standard or the failure of the Federal Reserve to provide sufficient liquidity to the US banking system, which we now know brought on the Great Depression in the US".

Mr Folkerts-Landau said he found it "incomprehensible" that Scots were even contemplating withdrawal from the UK, and pointed to the "recessions, higher taxes, lower public spending and higher interest rates" that had afflicted nations seen as potentially heading for the eurozone exit.

But Scotland's SNP Government accused him of failing to take into account the country's "strong fiscal position".

Gordon Brown is applauded after his Glasgow speech supporting a No vote

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be in Glasgow having promised on Friday to use the occasion to explain what independence will mean for jobs and wealth creation.

She said the Yes campaign's "momentum is still growing and will soon become unstoppable, as people reject the Downing Street-orchestrated campaign to talk Scotland down".

The Yes side was planning to have more than 35,000 volunteers on the streets of Scotland over the weekend, manning 473 registered street stalls.

Meanwhile, Labour big-hitters such as former prime minister Gordon Brown and shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran will be trying to persuade the public to vote No in the country's east.

Yes supporters have grafittied over a No campaign banner

The latest opinion poll by ICM in Saturday's Guardian put decided voters 51-49% in favour of No. 

Many of Britain's newspapers reported on comments by a former SNP deputy leader which appeared to threaten recriminations against businesses that backed a No vote.

Jim Sillars said there would be "a day of reckoning with BP and the banks" if Scotland votes Yes, adding that BP would "need to learn the meaning of nationalisation".

Nigel Farage attacked Alex Salmond but suffered protests from demonstrators

In a fiery interview with Sky News, Mr Sillars said he was simply using "robust" language to draw attention to the "orchestrated fear campaign coming from Downing Street".

Meanwhile, UKIP leader Nigel Farage arrived in Scotland on Friday and used a rally to hit out at what he described as Alex Salmond's "entirely false prospectus" being offered to voters north of the border.

New research revealed increasing polarisation among those on both sides of the border as the vote approaches.

A survey by debt management company PayPlan found a majority of Scots in debt are worried their debts will worsen after independence.

A separate poll among English voters for the Daily Mail found that while 70% want Scotland to stay in the Union, if they do go 53% believed Scotland should not be able to keep the pound, and 83% think Scotland should be forced to take its share of the multi-billion pound national debt.

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New Poll Gives 'No' Small Lead In Scotland Vote

The Better Together campaign in Scotland is retaining a marginal lead, according to a new poll that puts No on 52% and Yes on 48%.

The YouGov poll of 1,300 people on the issue of Scottish independence for The Sun and The Times was taken over Tuesday to Thursday.

It covered a period when the leaders of the three main parties all visited Scotland and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown stepped up his involvement in the drive to keep the union.

Thursday was considered a good day for the No campaign as several independent heavyweights expressed their concerns if Scotland was to vote to become a separate country.

Asda and John Lewis said the increased costs of operating in an independent Scotland would inevitably be passed on to the consumer, leading to higher prices.

RBS, which has been based in Scotland since 1727 and employs 11,500 people there, also confirmed it would be moving its headquarters to London if Scotland voted for independence.

Shoppers were warned that independence could mean higher prices

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), meanwhile, said a vote for independence could have a negative effect on the markets in the short-term because of "uncertainty".

The Yes campaign, led by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, had been buoyed at the weekend with one YouGov poll putting it marginally ahead of former Chancellor Alistair Darling's Better Together.

There had been fears that a poor performance by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, who all travelled north of the border on Wednesday, could result in Yes gaining further ground.

It was also not known how Mr Brown's intervention, in support of the No campaign, would go down with the electorate.

The former premier spoke to Sky News on Sunday and made a speech on Monday setting out an alternative timetable to give the Scottish Parliament more control over finance, welfare and taxation, in the event of a No vote.

RBS will be moving its headquarters to London if there is a Yes vote

Asda CEO Andy Clarke said on Thursday: "If we were no longer to operate in one state with one market and - broadly - one set of rules, our business model would inevitably become more complex. We would have to reflect our cost to operate here.

"This is not an argument for or against independence, it is simply an honest recognition of the costs that change could bring."

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said Mr Salmond could not continue to ignore the warnings of retailers, oil companies and the financial services sector.

Mr Salmond attacked a Treasury leak that resulted in RBS's plans being announced in the press of Wednesday night, before the official announcement the following morning.

He wrote to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood demanding to know how the leak had occurred and calling on Mr Cameron to explain the Treasury's conduct.

Yes campaign leader Alex Salmond demanded an investigation into a leak

A Treasury source responded on Thursday night, telling Sky News: "It's nonsense - desperate distraction tactics."

Sir Jeremy responded that the Treasury had simply been confirming what the situation was after reports had appeared elsewhere in the media and there was no breach of the Ministerial Code.

Scotland's Clydesdale Bank also confirmed it would be re-registering in England if voters opted for independence, and Standard Life, which employs 5,000 in Scotland, said it would move some operations south of the border.

A poll released on Thursday, by Survation, found 53% were expected to vote No, and 47% yes. This was unchanged from August 28.

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Scotland Postal Voters 'Regretting Their Choice'

New Poll Gives 'No' Small Lead In Scotland Vote

Updated: 5:48am UK, Friday 12 September 2014

The Better Together campaign in Scotland is retaining a marginal lead, according to a new poll that puts No on 52% and Yes on 48%.

The YouGov poll of 1,300 people on the issue of Scottish independence for The Sun and The Times was taken over Tuesday to Thursday.

It covered a period when the leaders of the three main parties all visited Scotland and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown stepped up his involvement in the drive to keep the union.

Thursday was considered a good day for the No campaign as several independent heavyweights expressed their concerns if Scotland was to vote to become a separate country.

Asda and John Lewis said the increased costs of operating in an independent Scotland would inevitably be passed on to the consumer, leading to higher prices.

RBS, which has been based in Scotland since 1727 and employs 11,500 people there, also confirmed it would be moving its headquarters to London if Scotland voted for independence.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), meanwhile, said a vote for independence could have a negative effect on the markets in the short-term because of "uncertainty".

The Yes campaign, led by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, had been buoyed at the weekend with one YouGov poll putting it marginally ahead of former Chancellor Alistair Darling's Better Together.

There had been fears that a poor performance by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, who all travelled north of the border on Wednesday, could result in Yes gaining further ground.

It was also not known how Mr Brown's intervention, in support of the No campaign, would go down with the electorate.

The former premier spoke to Sky News on Sunday and made a speech on Monday setting out an alternative timetable to give the Scottish Parliament more control over finance, welfare and taxation, in the event of a No vote.

Asda CEO Andy Clarke said on Thursday: "If we were no longer to operate in one state with one market and - broadly - one set of rules, our business model would inevitably become more complex. We would have to reflect our cost to operate here.

"This is not an argument for or against independence, it is simply an honest recognition of the costs that change could bring."

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said Mr Salmond could not continue to ignore the warnings of retailers, oil companies and the financial services sector.

Mr Salmond attacked a Treasury leak that resulted in RBS's plans being announced in the press of Wednesday night, before the official announcement the following morning.

He wrote to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood demanding to know how the leak had occurred and calling on Mr Cameron to explain the Treasury's conduct.

A Treasury source responded on Thursday night, telling Sky News: "It's nonsense - desperate distraction tactics."

Sir Jeremy responded that the Treasury had simply been confirming what the situation was after reports had appeared elsewhere in the media and there was no breach of the Ministerial Code.

Scotland's Clydesdale Bank also confirmed it would be re-registering in England if voters opted for independence, and Standard Life, which employs 5,000 in Scotland, said it would move some operations south of the border.

A poll released on Thursday, by Survation, found 53% were expected to vote No, and 47% yes. This was unchanged from August 28.

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Thousands Donated After Dogs Die In 'Arson'

Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been donated by members of the public after at least 40 dogs were killed in a suspected arson at one of the country's largest kennels.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson following the blaze at Manchester Dogs' Home.

Greater Manchester Police said the fire was under control.

Residents reported hearing "dogs yelping".

Twitter user @Hoyles10 said: "Big fire at Manchester Dogs Home, apparently the building has collapsed, too late for the animals by all accounts ... Heartbreaking."

A woman saves a dog from the fire. Pic: @manchesterfire

Fellow user @MostonRedDevil wrote: "Manchester dogs home is on fire with all the dogs yelping."

There were reports of people risking their lives by running into the burning building to save animals.

At least 43 dogs were confirmed by police to have died, with "numerous" other animals having to be treated for injuries, the Greater Manchester force said.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service station commander Paul Duggan confirmed part of the roof of the single-storey kennels collapsed.

Outrage and shock at the blaze resulted in several fundraising campaigns being launched which have raised more than £400,000 in total.

Part of the roof of the building collapsed

On its Twitter page, Manchester Dogs Home said: "Words are not enough. Thank you everyone, you have touched our hearts and surrounded us with love and we are truly grateful.

"We are overwhelmed with the offers of help, support and money. Grateful and humbled."

Anna Stansfield, manager of the home's sister facility, Cheshire Dogs' Home, described the fire as "soul destroying".

She said: "I cannot describe what we have seen tonight. It's soul destroying."

She said all the 150 dogs rescued by the fire service would be transferred to its site in Grappenhall, Warrington.

TV presenter and singer Jodie Prenger, one of the home's patrons, tweeted: "All my thoughts are with you guys. It's broke my heart to hear such sad news."

The dogs home was established in 1893. Pic: @StacyHilton

The blaze provoked an angry response on social media, but police warned people not to "take matters into their own hands".

Superintendent Marcus Noden said: "We would ask if anyone was in the area and remembers seeing anything suspicious around the dogs home that they call police and tell us what they know.

"As a dog owner myself I understand that many people will feel angry and upset about what has happened, but I would ask that they let the police carry out their investigations and not take matters into their own hands."

Firefighters said 150 dogs were rescued. Pic: Manchester Fire

The home has cared for more than one million dogs since it was established in 1893. It is said to care for more than 7,000 stray and unwanted dogs each year.

A spokeswoman for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home said staff were "incredibly saddened" to hear of the fire.

Police are asking for people with donations of bedding, food or bowls to take them to Central Park Police Station later, between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

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Teen Killed While Filling Up At Petrol Station

A teenage girl has died after she was hit by a car while filling up at a petrol station.

Eilish Herron was on the forecourt of the Asda garage in Linwood, Renfrewshire, when the crash happened on Wednesday afternoon.

Police Scotland said the 17-year-old was struck by a Ford Focus that collided with her Renault Clio while she filled it with fuel.

Ms Herron, of Paisley, died of her injuries at the scene. The male driver of the Ford Focus was uninjured.

Police say they are investigating the matter and that a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

Any witnesses are urged to get in touch with officers on 101.

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David Cameron Love-Bombs Voters: Analysis

By Faisal Islam, Political Editor

Precision love-bombing was the Prime Minister's aim, the target the Scottish people. An emotional Prime Minister issuing a plea to voters not to break up the Union and his heart.

In front of an audience of workers at Scottish Widows, he talked of what the UK had done together: defeat Hitler, the enlightenment, and build the NHS.

A soft audience yes, but the PM had a frank assessment of his own party's image and problem in what is still at least for now a part of the UK.

"Sometimes people can feel like it's a General Election ... you make your decision and five years later you can make another decision ... if you're fed up with the effing Tories you can give them a kicking ... this is a decision about the next century," he told the polite audience.

Speaking first to Sky News after his speech, Mr Cameron told me his head and heart strategy would not stretch to the heavy lifting of the last week of campaigning.

No debate with Alex Salmond, he told me: "It wouldn't be the right approach, because this is a debate about two different visions for Scotland.

"Alex Salmond wants a debate between the First Minister of Scotland and as he put it 'a Tory from England'. It's not the debate that's relevant for two competing visions for Scotland."

John Prescott meets voters in Scotland

The Labour Party heavyweights were in Glasgow, but it was no easier for them.

"Now I'm here to talk particularly to Labour voters," said the former Deputy Prime Minister before being heckled and then telling the heckler to shut up.

Around a third of Labour voters are turning to independence. Inside the Labour leader wooing those vital party faithful tempted by a vision of a kind of People's Republic of Caledonia, a Scotland never again ruled by Tory Westminster.

His answer was Gordon Brown's accelerated plan for new powers for Holyrood over taxation, welfare and transport.

And the Deputy Prime Minister chose safer ground in the borders region, but did not escape yes voters.

"It's not only, of course, a momentous decision for Scotland but it is for the UK as a whole, and I'm convinced that as a united kingdom where we rip up the bonds that bind us together will be weaker and less secure," he said.

Back in Edinburgh, at the back door, a crowd had gathered for a word with the PM. After all, Alex Salmond had been posing for selfies.

But the PM slipped by - it was a missed opportunity for Mr Cameron.

He could - and perhaps should - have stopped the car, got out and chatted to a young Yes T-shirt wearer. As it was it seemed as if he was only comfortable talking to financiers.

Doesn't it show something that the PM can't go into the streets and campaign in Scotland?

"I've done everything I can, been in people's homes, been into people's businesses - but it's not just me making the case," he told me.

There was a spot of fear-bombing over currency, financial firms quitting Scotland and pensions. Head and heart.

Mr Salmond has performed a type of sumo move on the No campaign - neutralised the threat of the confusion over currency vagueness.

A majority of Scots polled by YouGov believe Mr Salmond's assertion that the Westminster parties are bluffing in the refusal of a currency union.

Mr Salmond has then attacked the Labour vote using an amorphous threat to the NHS as his "wedge" issue.

So yes, the love-bombing came with more fear-bombing. Big businesses joined in.

The hope for No, that voters, when they enter ballot boxes in a week's time, reach a "cliff edge", and realise the risks.

A poll at the end of the day provided some respite for No. Among decided voters, No was back ahead by six points at 53%. Who knows what the Westminster armada will do to such numbers.

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Lloyds And RBS Want New Law To Help HQ Move

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Directors of Britain's two big state-backed banks will press the Government to introduce legislation that would expedite a relocation of their legal headquarters if Scotland votes for independence.

Sky News has learnt that Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) want ministers to introduce a new Act of Parliament that would avoid the need for a lengthy legal process handled by the courts.

Directors of both lenders are concerned that the process for moving their banking licences and legal base - using a mechanism called a Part 7 Transfer under the Financial Services and Markets Act - would be too time consuming.

Amid uncertainty about the currency that an independent Scotland would use, Lloyds and RBS are concerned that credit ratings agencies would downgrade them if they remained domiciled in Scotland.

While they have not yet held talks with the Treasury about the details of new legislation, sources close to Lloyds and RBS confirmed on Thursday that they were keen for it to happen.

The two banks have drawn up plans to move their legal bases to London, although Lloyds' operations have already been based in England for more than a century.

RBS's relocation would be likely to involve the transfer of some jobs, although it declined to say how many in a statement issued on Thursday morning.

"There are a number of material uncertainties arising from the Scottish referendum vote which could have a bearing on the Bank's credit ratings, and the fiscal, monetary, legal and regulatory landscape to which it is subject.

"For this reason, RBS has undertaken contingency planning for the possible business implications of a 'Yes' vote," it said.

"As part of such contingency planning, RBS believes that it would be necessary to re-domicile the Bank's holding company and its primary rated operating entity (The Royal Bank of Scotland plc) to England."

RBS insisted that shifting its legal base to England would have "no impact on everyday banking services used by our customers throughout the British Isles".

Underlining the sensitivity of its latest intervention, RBS said that the referendum was "a matter for the Scottish people" and pointed out that it had been based north of the border since 1727.

"RBS intends to retain a significant level of its operations and employment in Scotland to support its customers there and the activities of the whole Bank," it said.

Lloyds said it was clarifying its own contingency plans following enquiries from customers and employees.

"While the scale of potential change is currently unclear, we have contingency plans in place which include the establishment of new legal entities in England.

"This is a legal procedure and there would be no immediate changes or issues which could affect our business or our customers."

Both banks had already highlighted the potential risks of a 'Yes' vote in results announcements and company documents earlier this year.

The Treasury said that such contingency planning was "understandable" but continued to insist that it was not undertaking such work itself.

"The Government is not making contingency plans for a yes vote.

"However, as the Governor of the Bank of England has made clear, the UK authorities are responsible for financial stability in every part of the UK and will do everything necessary to work closely in all circumstances with all financial institutions who are based or wish to be based in the UK."

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Call For New Law To Oust Under-Fire Police Boss

Senior MPs are calling for the Government to look at introducing emergency legislation so police and crime commissioners such as under-fire Shaun Wright can be sacked.

Appearing before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, Mr Wright said he intended to stay in his job, claiming that resigning would have been the easy option.

South Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner has resisted demands to quit in the wake of a damning inquiry into child abuse in Rotherham spanning 16 years, including five where he was in charge of the town's children's services.

Those calling for him to step down include Prime Minister David Cameron, Home Secretary Theresa May and Labour leader Ed Miliband as well as his deputy, Tracey Cheetham, who stepped down herself in protest at his failure to go.

Keith Vaz MP, chairman of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee

Now, committee chairman Keith Vaz is writing to Ms May "because it is unsatisfactory in our view that someone should be able to say to the public who elected them 'I'm just carrying on'".

Mr Vaz called for Mr Wright's "immediate resignation", and the chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Nick Alston, told Sky News "his position was untenable".

The Jay Report outlined how at least 1,400 children had been subjected to trafficking, rape and other sexual exploitation between 1997 and 2013.

It also said their plight had been ignored by range of agencies, including police, councillors and council officials.

Twenty-five more victims have come forward since the report was published last month.

Former South Yorkshire chief constable Meredydd John Hughes

Mr Wright told MPs the problem of child sexual exploitation was not flagged up to him as a significant issue during his time as a councillor with responsibility for Rotherham's children services from 2005 to 2010.

But Mr Vaz responded by saying: "We don't accept you didn't know."

Mr Wright told the MPs: "I basically think that resigning would have been, perhaps, the easy option given the last fortnight with the various criticisms that have been made and the effect that that's had on both myself and my family."

He said it was his responsibility to the people of South Yorkshire to continue in his post and said no one had raised any questions about his conduct since his 2012 election - a suggestion rejected by Mr Vaz.

David Crompton admits things should have been done differently

Earlier, a former South Yorkshire police boss admitted he had "no idea" about the scale of child abuse in Rotherham while he was in charge.

Meredydd John Hughes, who was chief constable between 2004 and 2011, told MPs he was "embarrassed" at the failure to act to stop it.

Appearing before the same committee, he faced some tough questioning from MPs who said child exploitation "on an industrial scale" had taken place on his watch.

There were heated exchanges with Mr Hughes, who told the committee: "I can say with honesty that at the time I was both deputy and chief constable, I had no idea of the scale and scope of this type of organised crime."

He said he had not seen three of four reports being examined by their inquiry until recently.

He said: "Some of those reports ... I frankly felt sick last night when I read them. I am not immune to the ideas that this is a hideous crime and I am deeply embarrassed."

But he was rebuked by Mr Vaz, who told him his denials were "impossible to believe" in the face of "evidence of the most compelling nature" to the contrary.

After a 32-year career with the police, Mr Hughes said he had "singularly failed the victims of these victims".

His successor, Chief Constable David Crompton, was also questioned and told MPs: "I accept things should have been done differently in the past."

But he also told the committee: "Things are better now than they used to be."

Mr Vaz had taken the unusual step of requiring the witnesses to swear an oath before the hearing started.

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