Category: news

Parents with children at the nursery are being contacted by police

A male nursery worker has been arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse in Birmingham.

Officers arrested the 20-year-old man at his home in Nechells in the early hours of Wednesday.

A number of items, including a computer, were seized and are currently being examined by specialist investigators, police said.

The man is an assistant at Little Stars Nursery, in Nechells, and parents are being contacted by police.

The nursery has been closed, a police spokesman added.

A telephone line for parents has been opened with specialist staff on hand to offer advice and support. The number is: 0121 675 4806.

Assistant Chief Constable Anil Patani said: “The investigation is in its very early stages; however we believe that we have identified one victim who we believe attends the nursery.

“The family of this child have been told and police are supporting them at this very difficult time.”

A joint investigation is being carried out by the force and Birmingham City Council’s children’s services.

Police said a meeting would be held for parents with children registered at the nursery where senior officers and council officials would provide an update on the investigation.

Ms Patani added: “West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council do not underestimate the significance this news has on parents and the local community.”

The nursery was issued with an improvement notice by Ofsted in August after an unannounced inspection revealed it did not have an effective safeguarding children’s’ procedure.

It was given a good rating after a subsequent inspection in November.

In a statement the city council said: “We are working closely with West Midlands Police and will continue to keep parents informed as to the situation.

“We’ve set up a helpline with specialist staff to offer help and advice.”

The nursery is not run by the local authority.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Many in south and mid Wales could wake to a blanket of snow like this in Cwmbran last month

Snow and sub-zero temperatures are expected to make a return to Wales overnight.

Forecasters predict a band of rain, sleet and snow will push up from south Wales after midnight on Thursday.

The Met Office is warning of between 8 and 12cm (3-5in) in some areas, but snow showers will be heaviest in Powys and southern counties.

Temperatures in many areas will fall close to freezing or below and many will wake up to snow or frost.

BBC Wales weather presenter Behnaz Akhgar said: “Thursday night is one to watch out for as heavy snow will be spreading up from the south.

“Sleet and snow will spread in from the south during the early hours of Friday morning.

“Temperatures in many areas will fall close to freezing or below with a widespread frost.”

Rain, sleet and snow will continue to move northwards through the morning, but by the afternoon will mostly be falling as rain.

The weekend forecast is better: patchy cloud with occasional showers and dry spells with blustery winds that will ease later on Sunday.

Temperatures will remain cold until at least Monday.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Scotland has no problems with its stockpile of seasonal flu vaccines despite issues in parts of the UK, the Scottish government has said.

The UK Department of Health has admitted to “local supply” problems and has asked suppliers to source more.

The Scottish government said more than a million doses of seasonal flu vaccine had already been distributed to GP surgeries and pharmacies.

An additional stockpile is also available should it be required.

The UK Department of Health issued a statement following reports of patients being unable to get jabs from their GP.

A spokeswoman insisted there was “no national shortage” but admitted some areas were experiencing “local supply issues”.

There have been a number of seasonal flu deaths in Scotland but the NHS said the figures were in line with what would be expected at this time of year.

The flu jab uptake rate for people under the age of 65 who are eligible for the vaccine has reached 48.4%.

Amongst those aged 65 and over the rate stands at 71.5%.

The BMA’s Scottish GP committee has urged pregnant women, people over 65 and those who are at risk under 65 to contact their surgery to receive the vaccine.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

The amount of junk e-mail being sent across the globe has seen a sudden, sharp – and not entirely understood – fall.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

England end day four on the verge of a third innings win over Australia to wrap up a crushing 3-1 series win in the Ashes.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Floodwaters have peaked in Rockhampton but more rain is already filling the Fitzroy river

More heavy rain is forecast for eastern Australia, threatening flash floods for communities where hundreds of homes are already under water.

Forecasters predict central and southern Queensland will be worst hit by the latest deluge which will last into the weekend.

In the city of Rockhampton about 500 homes were evacuated as the Fitzroy river peaked at 9.2m (30ft).

The town of St George is braced for the Balonne river to peak by Sunday.

About 1,200 homes across Queensland have been inundated since heavy rains set in last month, with another 10,700 suffering some damage, officials say.

Meteorologist Bryan Rolstone, quoted by Australian broadcaster ABC, said the latest rain would fall in the Wide Bay-Burnett region, affecting Rockhampton and the city of Bundaberg, which has also already suffered severe flooding.

The BBC’s Nick Bryant reports from a helicopter above Rockhampton

State disaster co-ordinator Ian Stewart described the forecast as “worrying”.

“We’re watching the rain patterns very, very carefully,” he said.

In St George, residents have filled about 10,000 sandbags and more were being prepared in an attempt to protect homes.

The latest storm has delayed the return of the 150 residents of the community of Condamine in south-west Queensland, who were airlifted to safety a week ago when the local river flooded.

The town has no electricity or running water, and the schools and churches are also flooded.

Even in parts of Queensland which are beginning to dry out, an influx of snakes is making it dangerous for people to return to their flooded homes.

Saltwater crocodiles are posing another hazard.

“There is a lot of snakes – and I mean a lot,” Rockhampton resident Shane Muirhead told ABC.

“Like every hundred yards you will see a snake. They are just everywhere.”

Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter has said it could take a year for the city to recover.

With natural disasters declared across an area of a million square kilometres, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the flooding was unprecedented in her state and had now directly affected 40 communities.

She said floods that have closed dozens of mines, railways and ports would send coal and steel prices soaring.

Queensland produces about half the world’s coking coal used to make steel.

“Seventy-five percent of our mines are currently not operating because of this flood, so that’s a massive impact on the international markets and the international manufacture of steel,” she told the Seven network TV station.

Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

Read the terms and conditions

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

UK retailers Mothercare and Clinton Cards issue profit warnings after the winter weather hit their businesses.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

The M1 motorway in Belfast is closed in both directions between Stockman’s Lane and Broadway due to a security alert.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Papers focus on sock clue to Jo murder

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Starbucks unveils a new logo which it says indicates its intention to move beyond its core product.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

James Blake, the trained pianist now making an electronic impact

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

A seaside resort’s cinema which entertained generations of holidaymakers on rainy days is closed for good.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Cricket’s anti-corruption tribunal involving Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir opens in Doha.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Five pedestrians are killed on Scotland’s roads in four separate incidents over the space of 24 hours.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Staff and budget pressures on Wales’ ambulance service need to be addressed if it is to cope with a challenging winter, it is claimed.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.