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Body found in hunt for woman

Road closed at scene of body findThe body was found by a couple walking their dogs on Christmas morning
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Police looking for missing Bristol architect Joanna Yeates have sealed off an area near a golf course after a couple found the body of a woman.

Officers have sealed off Longwood Lane in Failand, North Somerset, following the discovery.

Ms Yeates has not been seen since 17 December, when she is thought to have returned to the flat she shared with her 27-year-old boyfriend Greg Reardon.

Her parents, from Hampshire, have said they fear the 25-year-old was abducted.

Mr Reardon reported her missing to police on Sunday when he returned from a weekend visiting family in Sheffield.

Her keys, mobile phone, purse and coat had been left behind.

Police had released footage of Ms Yeates buying a pizza at a Tesco Express near her Clifton home on 17 December, the night she was last seen, which they believed could provide a vital clue.

It is thought she went home, but no trace has been found of the pizza or its wrapping.

The discovery of a body, in a roadside verge, was made at 0900 GMT on Christmas Day by a couple walking their dogs, said police.

Composite image showing image of Ms Yeates and CCTV from WaitroseMs Yeates was captured on CCTV at Waitrose shortly after leaving a pub on 17 December

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: “The area has been cordoned off and Longwood Lane has been closed at both ends by police, pending an examination of the scene by crime scene investigators.

“A pathologist will be attending the scene to examine the body. It is far too early to confirm the cause of death or any circumstances,” he added.

BBC reporter Steve Brodie said a post-mortem examination would take place on Boxing Day.

The BBC’s Richard Greenaway, at the scene, added that six scenes of crime officers were examining the road, which is near Long Ashton Golf Club, on the edge of Bristol.

Altogether about six police cars and 15 officers were at the scene, which was across from the gorge officers had been searching earlier in the week, he added.

Some 30 detectives are working full time on the investigation and are being assisted by another 40 staff, including uniformed officers, forensic experts and search teams.

On Christmas Eve churchgoers in Bristol were praying for the safe return of Ms Yeates, who was remembered during midnight mass at Christ Church in Clifton.

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

Ice warning for Christmas drivers

A snow plough makes its way along the A9Snow and sub-zero temperatures have made driving dangerous
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The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning as freezing conditions continue to make travel dangerous.

Weather experts said many untreated roads in the Highlands and Western Isles would become very icy, especially across the coastal west.

Across north east Aberdeenshire and around Aberdeen frequent snow showers will be heavy at times with further fresh falls of up to 5cm in places.

Travellers were advised to take extra care, especially on untreated roads.

The Met Office said overnight temperatures in the Highlands and Islands could drop to -11C.

For Christmas Day it has forecast sleet and snow showers, with the potential for the heaviest falls over Lochaber.

Overnight temperatures in Aberdeenshire and Moray could fall to -10C, the Met Office said.

It said it would remain very cold on Christmas Day.

Aberdeenshire Council said road crews were again out in force, with the lowest recorded temperature overnight -11C at Tillyfourie, near Inverurie.

Northern Constabulary said all trunk routes into the Highlands and Islands were open and in reasonable condition.

However, police said very low temperatures across the region meant there was “a significant risk of black ice”.

Four people were killed in crashes on Scotland’s roads on Thursday.

Two of them were killed in a two-car collision near the Highland village of Croy.

Weather and travel infoFrequent travel updates on BBC Radio Scotland – 92 to 95 FM and 810 MWDo you know of a problem? Call the travel hotline on 08000 929588 (call only if it is safe to do so)BBC Travel online updates Scotland-wide travel updates National rail enquiries BBC weather updates Met Office weather warnings Traveline Scotland Advice on protecting pipes

On the railways, ScotRail urged train passengers to check services before travelling. It said it was constantly reviewing its temporary timetable and, where possible, it would reinstate normal services. Latest updates will appear on the journey check website.

Scotrail said Aberdeen to Inverness was expected to run as booked.

Inverness to Wick will not call at Thurso.

Scotrail said Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen St services remained reduced to half-hourly service.

However, it announced additional services would run in the evening.

There will be no rail services on Christmas Day and a limited Strathclyde service on Boxing Day.

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

Dozens killed in Pakistan bombing

Pakistan north-west map

At least 40 people have died after a suicide bomb attack on a large crowd receiving aid in north-west Pakistan.

The blast took place in the town of Khar in the Bajaur region, in tribal areas close to the Afghan border – a Taliban and al-Qaeda stronghold.

About 1,000 people displaced by fighting had been receiving food at a distribution centre.

Reports say at least another 50 people have been injured and the death toll could rise.

Saturday’s bombing was the latest in a string of recent attacks in Pakistan’s unruly north-west.

No group has so far said it carried out the attack, used by the World Food Programme and other aid agencies to distribute food to conflict-affected people in the region.

“I myself have counted 40 bodies but the death toll could rise as several wounded people are in critical condition,” Dosti Rehman, an official at the main government hospital in the region, told Reuters news agency.

Dozens of injured people are being taken to hospital by helicopter.

Most of the victims are believed to be civilians who had fled the fighting between Taliban militants and the Pakistani army, the BBC’s Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad reports.

The tribal district of Bajaur, where the attack took place, has seen several military operations to clear it of insurgents – the army had previously declared the operations a success, and the area safe for the displaced to return to, our correspondent adds.

Among recent other attacks, at least 11 Pakistani soldiers and 24 militants were killed on Friday after some 150 Taliban fighters attacked five Frontier Corps checkpoints in the neighbouring Mohmand tribal region.

Earlier this month, a suicide bomb attack in Mohmand left at least 40 people dead.

A double suicide bombing in Mohmand in July killed more than 100.

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

Royals get together for Christmas

The QueenThe Queen’s Christmas message was recorded at Hampton Court for the first time
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Members of the Royal Family are due to celebrate Christmas at the Queen’s country retreat Sandringham in Norfolk.

For the Royal Family there will be the traditional appearance after morning service at the church on the estate.

But Prince William will not be there because he has to carry out his military duties, and neither will his fiancee Kate Middleton.

Newly engaged Zara Phillips is expected to be with her England rugby player fiance Mike Tindall in Gloucestershire.

Prince William will be absent because he is on call with his search and rescue squadron at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

Ms Middleton is thought to be spending Christmas Day privately with her family in Berkshire.

The Queen’s Christmas message will be broadcast at 1500 GMT.

Buckingham Palace says the monarch has made sport the central focus of her message this year.

She emphasises how it can be used to build communities and create harmony, and highlights the important role that volunteers play.

The message will also focus on how sport can be used to encourage the development of vital social skills.

Christmas Day messages are normally recorded at Buckingham Palace, but this year the Queen suggested Hampton Court Palace, the first time it has been used.

The broadcast, produced by ITN, will be available on the Royal Channel of the YouTube website.

It will also be shown in Commonwealth countries and on the British Forces Broadcasting Service.

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

Archbishop makes plea to the rich

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan WilliamsDr Rowan Williams anticipates a ‘profoundly joyful event’ in the royal wedding
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The Archbishop of Canterbury is to refer to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in his Christmas Day sermon and say the Christian bond of marriage is a symbol of hope.

Dr Rowan Williams will describe the event as a “cause for celebration”.

He will also speak of the importance of mutual dependence, fellowship and loyalty in current economic times.

He will stress the need to share the burdens of adversity as some people face testing times in the downturn.

Dr Williams will say: “Faced with the hardship that quite clearly lies ahead for so many in the wake of financial crisis and public spending cuts, how far are we able to sustain a living sense of loyalty to each other, a real willingness to bear the load together?

“How eager are we to find some spot where we feel safe from the pressures that are crippling and terrifying others?

The service at Canterbury Cathedral takes place at 1100 GMT.

On the royal wedding he will say: “Next year, we shall be joining in the celebration of what we hope will be a profoundly joyful event in the royal wedding.

“It is certainly cause for celebration that any couple, let alone this particular couple, should want to embark on the adventure of Christian marriage, because any and every Christian marriage is a sign of hope, since it is a sign and sacrament of God’s own committed love.”

And referring to Prime Minister David Cameron’s “Big Society” idea, Dr Williams will urge people to work positively together to rebuild trust.

“If we are ready, if we are all ready, to meet the challenge represented by the language of the ‘Big Society’, we may yet restore some mutual trust,” he will say.

“It’s no use being cynical about this. Whatever we call the enterprise, the challenge is the same – creating confidence by sharing the burden of constructive work together.”

Dr Williams will go on to ask urge people to remember Christians around the world, including in Zimbabwe and Iraq, who “suffer repression and persecution” for their faith.

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

December ‘coldest for a century’

Dyed blue sheep in the hills of Co AntrimNorthern Ireland and Scotland face a very icy Boxing Day, forecasters warn
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December is on course to be the coldest since records began in 1890, the BBC weather centre has said.

Christmas Day is likely to be extremely cold around the country, with overnight temperatures dropping to minus 17C at Worcester and minus 18C at Altnaharra in northern Scotland.

A severe weather warning for western Scotland is in place due to ice, BBC forecaster Liam Dutton advised.

The Highways Agency has urged drivers to take care in difficult conditions.

Some of the coldest overnight temperatures included minus 17C in Pershore, Worcs, minus 15C in Castlederg, County Tyrone and minus 11C in Leeming, North Yorkshire.

On Christmas Day, parts of Scotland and possibly north-east England were the only places likely to see snowfall, Liam Dutton added.

With December likely to be the coldest for over a century, the rest of the country will be dry and bright with patchy freezing fog, he said.

“On Boxing Day, as people start to move about, rain, sleet and snow is forecast for Scotland and Northern Ireland, bringing with it a significant ice risk,” he added.

Travellers hoping to get away from for the festive season have struggled with reduced train services, frozen roads and delays and cancellations cancellations to flights.

The AA said Christmas Eve call-outs were 40% above normal due to Christmas shopping and the festive getaway.

It estimated that it covered about 13,000 breakdowns by the end of 24 December compared with just over 9,000 on a normal Friday.

On Christmas Eve, police and coastguards were called to help drivers stuck in cars after blizzard conditions affected the Whitby area of North Yorkshire.

Several train companies operated amended timetables, with some services scrapped on the main London to Scotland routes up the east and west coasts.

The RMT transport union said it was “scandalous” that operators could introduce “special” timetables while escaping financial penalties.

British Airways said all its long-haul flights from Heathrow airport as well as the vast majority of short-haul services flew as scheduled.

Away from Heathrow, some short-haul flights were cancelled from some other UK airports due to the continuing bad weather in Europe.

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