UK News

Devon father one step closer to completing world-first swim to raise awareness of son’s brain condition

A father from North Devon is set to complete the final six lakes in his bid to become the first person to swim Switzerland’s ten largest lakes after his young son was diagnosed with a rare brain-attacking condition PANDAS, that caused sudden onset aggression, OCD and tics overnight.

...

Full story

Police appeal for information after six swans found beheaded

Devon and Cornwall Police wildlife crime officers are investigating after six mute swans were found dead in Restronguet Creek, Devoran in Cornwall.

PC Barry Nicholas was initially alerted to two dead mute swans by a member of the public who had seen the bodies on mudflats opposite Greenbank Road. Closer inspection revealed the birds to have been beheaded.

A search around the...

Tags:

Devon and Cornwall Police

Restronguet Creek

Devoran

Cornwall

mute swans

beheaded

Eleanor Catton becomes youngest ever winner of the Man Booker Prize

The 28-year-old New Zealander, Eleanor Catton has been awarded the Man Booker prize for her novel The Luminaries . The announcement was made at a ceremony at the Guildhall in London on Tuesday evening (15 October).

Catton becomes the youngest ever winner of the Man Booker; she is 28 but completed the novel aged 27. She is only the second New Zealander to win the prize, the first being...

Tags:

Man Booker

Eleanor Catton

The Luminaries

Which? launches campaign against high cost credit

A campaign from consumer advice group Which? is calling on the Government to bring in tighter regulations on the way money is lent by banks, credit card companies and pay day lenders.

The consumer group has claimed that overdrafts and other high end credit products are just as expensive as controversial pay day loans.

They found that on some current accounts borrowing £100 for...

Tags:

Department of Work and Pensions

Which?

Pay Day lenders

Jobseekers to start signing new Claimant Commitment

New jobseekers will have to account more clearly for their efforts to find work to get their benefit

Starting today (14 October 2013), new jobseekers will have to account more clearly for their efforts to find work in order to receive their benefit.

New claimants to Jobseeker’s Allowance will now need to sign a 'Claimant Commitment' which sets out more fully what they need to...

Tags:

Law Society warns that Legal Aid changes pose "significant risks"

The Law Society has warned the Justice Select committee that proposed changes to legal aid pose "significant risks" to the stability of our criminal justice system.

The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has written formally to the government in response to Ministry of Justice proposals to make the pricing of legal aid at least partly competitive.

In...

Tags:

Legal Aid

Law Society

Justice Select Committee

Police release new efit images in Madeleine McCann case

Scotland Yard has released two efit images of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The images have been made public ahead of an appeal on the BBC 1 Crimewatch programme to be televised on Monday (14 October) and are based on statements and descriptions from two witnesses.

Detectives working on the investigation into the disappearance of...

Tags:

Local firefighters set to strike again as union sets date for second walkout

Firefighters have set a date for a second round of strikes over a pensions feud with the Government.

The five-hour walkout will take place on Saturday 19 October between 6:30pm and 11:30pm.

The action was approved by a ballot by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), one of the three main firefighters unions in England and Wales.

The dispute is over changes to their pension...

Tags:

firefighters strike

fire brigades union

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

Government says 10,000 people on property ladder under Right to Buy

Over 10,000 people have taken their first step on the property ladder under the reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme, according to new government figures released on Thursday 10 October.

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said this increase in sales shows both the rising demand from tenants to become homeowners and, crucially, will lead to more affordable homes being built.

According...

Tags:

Law Society warns that Government changes to legal aid pose "significant risk"

The Law Society has warned the Justice select committee that proposed changes to legal aid pose "significant risks" to the stability of our criminal justice system.

The Law Society which represents solicitors in England and Wales, has written formally to the Government in response to Ministry of Justice proposals to make the pricing of legal aid at least partly competitive.

In...

Tags:

Badger Cull could be extended in Somerset and Gloucestershire

The company which ran the pilot badger cull in Somerset have applied for an extension of two to three weeks to complete their work.

Natural England, the national executive responsible for protecting and improving England's natural enviroment is currently considering the application.

Gloucestershire is expected to also apply for an extension.

The Department for...

Tags: