Category: news

Shola Ameobi scores the only goal of the game as Newcastle end their run of successive defeats with victory against a poor Wigan side.

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Russia’s airlines must ground all their Tu-154Bs, after a plane fire in Siberia left three dead, the country’s transport watchdog says.

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A man who died after being knocked down by a vehicle in Edinburgh city centre on Hogmanay is named by police.

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A review of staffing levels at Ford open prison will be held following riots over the new year holiday, says Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt.

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A man is treated for severe smoke inhalation following a kitchen fire near Swansea.

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A late Collin Samuel strike ends Caley Thistle’s incredible unbeaten away run and earns St Johnstone a valuable three points.

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Vicar Dan Clark told the congregation it had been “a difficult few weeks” since Miss Yeates’ death

Prayers have been said in church for murdered landscape architect Jo Yeates, whose snow-covered body was found on Christmas day.

The service was held at Christ Church, near to Miss Yeates’ flat in Canynge Road in the Clifton area of Bristol.

The 25-year-old was found strangled, a few miles from her home.

Her landlord, Chris Jefferies, 65, who was arrested on suspicion of murder last week, has been released on police bail.

Associate vicar Dan Clark, who led the service, asked the congregation to remember the Yeates family, the police investigating the case and the journalists covering it.

He told members: “Many of you will know this has been quite a difficult few weeks for the local community following the sad news about Joanna Yeates.

“I would like us to pause and bring our own quiet prayers for Joanna’s family.”

As the congregation bowed its heads, he added: “As well as praying quietly for Joanna’s family, friends and colleagues, let’s also pray quietly for the police working hard to solve this case and the press working hard to publicise this case and jog people’s memories.”

Miss Yeates, who grew up in Ampfield in Hampshire, was last seen alive on 17 December after a night out with work colleagues at the Bristol Ram pub, on Park Street in Bristol, which she left at about 2000 GMT.

Police have issued CCTV images of her then visiting a Waitrose store on The Triangle, a Bargain Booze shop, and a Tesco Express.

She bought a pizza at the Tesco store but while the receipt was found at her flat, there has been no trace of the food or its wrapper.

Her boyfriend Greg Reardon reported her missing two days later when he returned home from visiting family in Sheffield.

Det Ch Insp Phil Jones, from Avon and Somerset Police, said he wanted to reassure the public that the investigation was “very much ongoing”.

“We have a team of over 70 police officers and staff working tirelessly to bring the person responsible for Joanna’s death to justice.

“The incident room has been inundated with thousands of calls from members of the public who have provided us with information.”

Detectives are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have used Longwood Lane in Failand, Bristol, between 17 December, when Miss Yeates went missing, and Christmas Day, when her body was found.

In a direct appeal to members of the public, Mr Jones said: “Did you see anyone or any vehicle acting suspiciously in the area?

“We also know that there were large Christmas functions taking place at Long Ashton golf club, Bristol and Clifton golf club and Redwood Lodge. I would again urge taxi drivers and those who drove to functions to call us.”

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799 Northern Ireland properties remain without water

NI Water has said that the number of Northern Ireland properties without water has been reduced to 799.

Most of those are in Cookstown, Dungannon, Newry and Warrenpoint.

A spokesperson for the company said that 500 staff are on the ground dealing with affected properties.

“The focus is on continuing to work to repair bursts on the main water supply system which is impacting on reservoir levels and dealing with air locks in the system,” she said.

However, thousands more homes are due to have their water supplies restricted overnight.

The government-owned company said it would be “at least three or four more days” before everyone was reconnected.

Some people have now been without a running water supply for two weeks.

On Sunday evening, supplies to more than 55,000 households will be cut off in order to help replenish reservoirs.

Burst pipes are expected to cause disruption at some schools scheduled to re-open on Monday following the Christmas break.

Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said he would not be charging Northern Ireland for the 500,000 litres of bottled water sent over during the crisis.

NI Water has reiterated its appeal to customers to check their premises for any damage to pipes and have them repaired as soon as possible.

It has also asked the public not to use garden hoses or wash cars.

A full list of areas where the water supply will be turned off is available on the NI Water website, along with a list of locations where temporary water supplies have been set up.

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One of Wales’ largest hospitals closes to visitors because of an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

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UN peacekeepers have been instructed to visit sites where alleged human rights violations have taken place in Ivory Coast, following disputed elections.

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Dalton Mills, which was built in 1869, is a Grade II listed building

A former textile mill in Keighley has been partially destroyed after a large fire broke out overnight.

The fire at Dalton Mills happened at about 1850 GMT on Saturday.

About 100 firefighters worked through the night to put out the fire at the Grade II listed building, which was built in 1869 and lies empty.

The mill, which at one time was the largest employer in Keighley, has featured in some television programmes and is a landmark in the town.

West Yorkshire fire service manager Steve Rhodes said the centre part of the building had collapsed.

He added that investigations into the circumstances of the fire were under way, but it was too early to say it this stage to comment on its cause.

Collapse concerns

Mr Rhodes praised the crews who were first on the scene for their work in tackling the fire.

“The initial firefighting jets were extremely effective,” he said.

“If these had not been put in certain places then it would have been a huge fire.”

A reduced number of firefighters remain at the scene, but are not entering the building, as there are concerns further parts of it may collapse.

The partially restored mill is in the town centre and had a starring role as Marlborough Mills in the BBC adaptation of North and South.

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A man in his 50s has died following a fire at a flat in North Lanarkshire.

Two Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service crews were called out to the blaze at Muiryhill Street, Coatbridge, at 0100 GMT.

The man was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and given treatment before being taken to Monklands Hospital where he died.

It is the second fire death in the Strathclyde area during the last 24 hours and the third since last Monday.

A 53-year-old woman died in a fire in a flat in Renfrewshire on New Year’s Day.

And on 27 December an elderly man died in a fire at a ground floor flat in Bangorshill Street, Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire.

Lewis Ramsay, from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said: “In addition to these tragic incidents, there have been 68 fires involving casualties in Strathclyde since the start of December. Most of these fires have been in flats or houses.

“We would remind people to be extremely careful over what remains of the festive holiday and beyond. The use of candles and tea lights in the house and greater consumption of alcohol help to increase the risk of fire in the home.

“Strathclyde Fire and Rescue is keen to promote our free home safety visits. We provide advice and guidance about how to reduce the risk of fire in the home and what to do if one takes place – we even provide free smoke detectors.”

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About 40 of the 496 prisoners were involved in the riot

A “high-level” investigation has been launched into a riot at an open prison in West Sussex.

A number of buildings were burned to the ground at Ford prison, near Arundel, during the violence which broke out at midnight on 1 January.

The Prison Officers’ Association said the incident started after staff tried to breathalyse some prisoners.

Prisons minister Crispin Blunt said the formal inquiry would be led by the regional custody manager for Wales.

Prison officials said the disturbance was “successfully resolved” by specially trained staff by 2200 GMT.

Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service, said: “Although damage has been sustained to the prison, there has only been a minimal loss of accommodation.

“These types of incidents in open prisons are rare and it is to the credit of all the staff involved that no staff or prisoners sustained significant injuries during the incident.”

He said staffing levels at the time were “appropriate and usual” and a “high-level investigation” had been launched.

Mark Freeman from the Prison Officers’ Association said there had only been two prison officers and four support staff on duty at the time to manage a population of 496 inmates.

“In our view they do not have enough staff. The general policy is that prisons in an open state have less staff but we feel they should have more because they have more access to illegal activities,” he said.

He said those responsible for the trouble had worn balaclavas to conceal their identities.

Alcohol had been a concern at the jail for some time, he said, with dozens of empty bottles found in recent days.

Mr Freeman said: “In the early hours, staff tried to breathalyse a number of prisoners because they suspected they had been drinking.

“When the prisoners refused to be breathalysed they became violent along with other prisoners and went on what we call a mutiny.”

Mark Freeman, Prison Officers’ Association: “Wardens were chasing prisoners, trying to get breath tests”

Six prisoners had been identified as the ringleaders, he added, and three were being transferred, while the other three were “hiding” among the other prisoners.

About 40 inmates were involved in the riot, and the fires destroyed six accommodation blocks, a mail room, a gym, a snooker room, and a pool room.

Mr Blunt said 150 prisoners had been moved to closed conditions, either because they were involved in the disturbances or because of damage to their accommodation.

HMP Ford accepts category D offenders who have under two years left to serve on their sentences.

The Prison Service website says the institution does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or “restraining” offences.

The facility is split into two sites divided by a main road. One of the sides is mainly residential, while the other generally consists of work spaces.

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have shot down two “Western spy drones” in the Gulf, a senior Iranian commander is quoted as saying.

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Anticipation and speculation surround BBC Radio 4’s The Archers as fans await a mysterious storyline that will mark the show’s 60th anniversary.

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