Dagenham Blaze: Fire Strike Row Over Recall

The president of the Chief Fire Officers Association has described the actions of striking firefighters who walked away from a major blaze in east London as "shameful".

Paul Fuller on Saturday urged them to "reflect" on their behaviour and the impact of their actions on their relations with the public.

"Yesterday I said that I didn't agree with strike action in the fire service, but last evening, firefighters all over this country exercised their right to do that with professionalism and dignity, which is the same dedication and courage they use in support of our communities every day," he told Sky News.

"What we saw a few firefighters do at Dagenham last night when they walked away from an incident in progress I think was shameful, and they should be ashamed of that."

He continued: "I think it just goes against my instincts to have firefighters walking away from an incident in progress.

"I understand their right to strike. All over the country firefighters were on strike, and in London as well, and behaved impeccably and professionally.

There are around 1,500 tonnes of metal alight. Picture: fishycol1/Twitter

"What I did not want to see was firefighters on the television walking away from an incident, and I don't think the fire service would want to associate itself with that sort of behaviour."

All on-duty firefighters due to strike in London on Friday night were recalled to their stations by the London Fire Brigade (LBF) under an agreed and voluntary procedure in the event of a major incident.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the London Fire Brigade clashed over the blaze.

The brigade said it expected striking firefighters to remain at the scene because of the seriousness of the incident, but the union said it was not life-threatening.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "There is no reference to risk of life in the agreed protocols to implement a major incident."

Mr Dobson said a major incident could trigger a recall and the agreement was implemented because of the size of the blaze and the resources needed to deal with it.

By not responding to the recall, he said it was the FBU that was in breach of the agreement.

But FBU London Secretary Paul Embery said the recall was not agreed.

Smoke can be seen from miles around. Picture: JSinghLon/Twitter

The London Fire Brigade received 124 emergency 999 calls during the strike, with replacement crews attending 17 incidents in the capital, including the one at Dagenham. 

Black smoke from the site could be seen from miles around, and residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Police officers and ambulance crews also attended the scene. There are no reported injuries, but several local roads were closed and motorists advised to avoid the area if possible.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said he supported the decision to recall all striking FBU staff.

It came as firefighters in the rest of England and Wales went ahead with the strike in their dispute with the Government over pensions, on what was expected to be one of the busiest days of the year for the service ahead of Bonfire Night and Diwali celebrations.

Members of the FBU walked out at 6.30pm, mounting picket lines outside fire stations until the stoppage ended at 11pm.

A further two-hour strike will be held from 6am on Monday, the day before Bonfire Night.

Fire brigades across the country have urged members of the public to put off any firework displays in their own gardens and to switch it to Saturday, or go to an organised event.

The union held a four-hour stoppage last month but called off another strike after it appeared a deal was in sight, but officials said the Government and fire employers had failed to offer any firm guarantees on jobs or pensions as a result of changing the pension age from 55 to 60.

The union fears firefighters will be made redundant if they fail fitness tests, and are unable to find other work in the fire service.

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Bin Laden: US Businessman Seeks $25m Reward

A businessman who claims he tipped-off the FBI about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden's secret compound is seeking a reward of $25m (£15.6m).

Tom Lee claims he knew where bin Laden was hiding (pic: Mlive)

Gem dealer Tom Lee, 63, claims that in 2003 a Pakistani intelligence agent, from a family he had known for decades, told him bin Laden was in Peshawar in Pakistan, not Afghanistan.

The man allegedly described how he had been sent on a mission by Pakistani intelligence services to relocate bin Laden and his family to a small compound in Bilal, Abbottabad.

A letter sent by Mr Lee's lawyers to FBI director James Comey in August claims Mr Lee subsequently shared this information with FBI agents.

But despite "numerous attempts" to claim his reward after bin Laden's death in 2011 he received no response.

"Mr Lee precisely identified the whereabouts of the most notorious terrorist of our era," said the letter.

"A man responsible for the World Trade Center attacks, the most devastating act of terror committed on American soil, and numerous other assaults on Americans."

US Navy Seals during the raid on bin Laden's hideout in 2011

Mr Lee told The Grand Rapids Press in an email on Friday that he did not understand why the government waited to act for eight years.

"It disturbs me, and it should disturb every American, that I told them exactly where bin Laden was in 2003, and they let him live another eight years," he said in the email.

Mr Lee, who became Lord of Stanbury Manor in England in 1997 after purchasing the title, claims to have provided the FBI with intelligence before, and said the lack of action surprised him.

Mr Lee allegedly told the FBI about the compound in 2003

"For 20 years I was used to the government acting immediately on my intelligence," he said.

During their hunt for bin Laden, US authorities offered the reward to anyone who supplied information that led to bin Laden's capture or conviction.

The FBI has so far refused to comment.

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LA Airport Attack: 'Gunman Sent Suicide Text'

A man suspected of carrying out a deadly attack at Los Angeles International Airport sent a suicidal text message to his sibling, police have said.

The alleged gunman shot his way past a screening checkpoint, killing a security officer and wounding three other people before being injured in a shoot-out and taken into custody, authorities said.

The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Paul Ciancia, who police have said appeared to have a grudge against security services.

His father, who has the same name, called his local police chief around the time of the shooting to report his son had sent the text and he needed to find him, police said.

The elder Paul Ciancia, from Pennsville, New Jersey, telephoned Allen Cummings, telling him one of his children had received the message from the younger Ciancia "in reference to him taking his own life".

At the time, the 23-year-old man was carrying out his shooting using a semi-automatic rifle, authorities said.

The attack caused major disruption to travellers

A motive was not clear, but Ciancia was wearing military fatigues and carrying a bag containing a handwritten note that said he "wanted to kill TSA (Transport Security Administration) and pigs," according to a law enforcement official.

The official said the rant referred to how Ciancia believed his constitutional rights were being violated by TSA searches and that he was upset at former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Ciancia, who managed to enter the secure area of Terminal 3, was reportedly shot in the mouth and leg by two airport police officers.

After getting the call from the suspect's father, Mr Cummings contacted LA police, who sent a patrol car to Ciancia's apartment.

He said: "Basically, there were two roommates there. They said, 'We saw him yesterday and he was fine.'"

A police officer at Los Angeles airport

Mr Cummings said his police department had never had dealings with the younger Ciancia.

Neighbour Josh Pagan, 17, said: "He was never weird toward me. He never gave me any weird vibes."

He added that in the 10 years he has lived across the street from the Ciancia family "they've been nothing but nice to us."

The airport attack disrupted more than 700 flights across the US. One witness at LAX, Brian Keech, said he heard "about a dozen gunshots" from inside the security gate.

Travellers described a chaotic scene as security staff evacuated terminals and rushed them outside to the tarmac.

The man who died was named as 39-year-old Gerardo I. Hernandez - the first TSA officer killed in the line of duty in the 12-year history of the agency, founded in the aftermath of 9/11.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti praised the response of officers and said: "There were more than 100 more rounds that could have literally killed everybody in that terminal today. Were it not for their actions, it could have been a lot more damage."

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New Pakistan Taliban Leader After Drone Strike

The number two commander in the Pakistani Taliban has been promoted to leader after its previous chief was killed in a US drone strike.

Khan Said, also known as Sajna, now heads the militant group following a meeting of the supreme ruling council, according to security officials.

But some commanders were reportedly unhappy with the choice and wanted more talks.

The move comes as the fallout from the strike continues to grow, with Pakistan summoning the American ambassador to register a protest.

Pakistan's interior minister Chaudhry Nisar accused the US of "scuttling" attempts to get the Taliban to take part in peace talks.

He said "every aspect" of co-operation with Washington would be reviewed in the wake of the attack.

"The murder of Hakimullah is the murder of all efforts at peace," said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar. "Americans said they support our efforts at peace. Is this support?"

Hakimullah Mehsud (c) seen with other Taliban militants in a video in 2009

Khan Said is believed to have masterminded an attack on a jail in north-west Pakistan that freed nearly 400 prisoners in 2012 and an assault on a Pakistani air force base in the same year.

Previous leader Hakimullah Mehsud had a $5m (£3.1m) US government bounty on his head and was one of Pakistan's most wanted men.

He has been buried after being killed on Friday along with four associates when a drone targeted his car in a compound in the country's North Waziristan tribal district.

The Pakistani Taliban has vowed revenge for the killing, with spokesman Azam Tariq saying: "Every drop of Hakimullah's blood will turn into a suicide bomber.

"America and their friends shouldn't be happy because we will take revenge for our martyr's blood."

The death comes at a politically sensitive time and follows months of debate over potential peace talks between the Taliban and the new government of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who swept to a landslide victory in May elections.

Pakistan's government has been trying to cut a peace deal with the militants to end years of fighting that has killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and security forces.

And the government reacted angrily to Mehsud's killing, with information minister Pervez Rashid saying: "The US has tried to attack the peace talks with this drone but we will not let them fail."

A Pakistani Taliban fighter said Mehsud's body was "damaged but recognisable". His bodyguard and driver were also killed.

The US offered the $5m bounty after he appeared in a video with a Jordanian suicide bomber who killed seven CIA employees at a base in Afghanistan in 2009.

Mehsud, said to be aged in his mid-30s, was also believed to be behind a failed car bombing in New York's Times Square in 2010, as well as brazen attacks inside Pakistan.

His killing is the latest in a series of setbacks for the militant group.

A drone strike killed Mehsud's number two, Waliur Rehman, in May and one of his most trusted lieutenants was captured in Afghanistan last month.

The group, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is an umbrella group founded in December 2007 following a deadly military raid on the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad.

The TTP officially swears allegiance to Mullah Omar, the leader of the Afghan Taliban, who ruled Kabul from 1996-2001, but the two groups are separate, with independent command structures.

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Savile Sex Abuse Investigation: Two Arrests

Two men have been arrested as part of the investigation sparked by allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile.

The pair, aged 64 and 74, were detained at separate addresses in south London on suspicion of sexual offences as part of Operation Yewtree.

They have been taken into police custody to be questioned about the allegations.

Scotland Yard detectives have run the investigation in three strands - allegations involving Savile, those involving the Savile and others, and those involving others.

The claims against both men are being dealt with under the "others" strand.

They are the 15th and 16th people arrested as part of the national police probe into alleged sexual offences which was originally launched when claims were made against Savile.

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Live: MPs Question Big Six Energy Firms

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3:09pm UK, Tuesday 29 October 2013

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Drone Kills Al Shabaab Bombmaker Ali Abdi

By Tim Marshall, Foreign Affairs Editor

The man said to be the master bombmaker for the al Shabaab terrorist group has been killed by a drone strike in southern Somalia.

A car carrying Ibrahim Ali Abdi, also known as Anta Anta, was hit by three missiles as it travelled along a road near the town of Jilib on Monday.

Somali intelligence sources, quoted by news agencies, said Ali Abdi was the group's explosives expert and specialised in making suicide vests and car bombs.

A witness to the attack, Hassan Nur, told Reuters he saw a drone above the Suzuki vehicle in which at least two men were travelling.

"I saw a big crash and then saw a drone disappearing far into the sky ... many al Shabaab men came to the scene," he said.

Al Shabaab was behind the September massacre on a Kenyan shopping centre

"Many cars were driving ahead of me, but the drone targeted this Suzuki."

An unnamed American official told the LA Times the strike was carried out by the US Army, but this has not been officially confirmed.

The US is known to operate drones from bases in Djibouti and southern Ethiopia.

The air strike follows a pattern of pressure bearing down on al Shabaab, which has been driven from Somalia's main towns by a combination of African Union forces and clandestine American operations. 

Al Shabaab hit back with the recent attack on a Nairobi shopping mall, but appears unable to regain any ground inside Somalia. 

The loss of its chief bombmaker is a blow to the group as it will take time to train other men up to the deadly standard of Ali Abdi.

It comes less than a fortnight since the group claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack near a military base in the city of Beledweyne, around 210 miles north of Somalian capital Mogadishu, which killed at least 13 people.

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Energy Crisis: MPs Turn Spotlight On Big Six

Energy: Who Are The Big Six?

Updated: 10:56am UK, Tuesday 29 October 2013

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

As energy bills continue to dominate in Westminster, MPs will today hear from the "Big Six" companies – who together supply over 99% of British homes. So who are they?

:: British Gas

Much to the annoyance of MPs and the public, five out of six of the companies have failed to put up their chief executives. British Gas will instead put up Ian Peters, managing director of energy.

He will be seen as a key witness because British Gas (which also operates as Scottish Gas) is the UK's largest supplier of energy to households with almost 10 million residential customers.

British Gas has announced that the bills for dual-fuel customers will rise by 9.2% from 23 November. That is an 8.4% increase in gas prices and 10.4% in electricity.

The average annual bill will go up by £123 to £1,444. That is despite an overall profit in 2012 of over £600m.

:: E.ON

Tony Cocker is the only chief executive agreeing to stand in the spotlight today. His company, E.ON, has yet to announce price rises although it is expected to do so soon.

E.ON – which used to be called Powergen – operates in over 30 countries, serving 26 million customers.

Its price increases last year brought the average bill to £1,370. Its sales revenues in 2012 rose by 5% to £132.1bn with profits in excess of £800m

But the previous chief executive said the results were down to one-off effects and warned that parts of the business remained barely profitable.

:: EDF

Martin Lawrence, the managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply, will represent EDF today.

The company – which supplies around 3.7 million households in Britain - has also not announced a price increase as yet although it was one of the later ones to do so last year as well.

In 2012 it put up the average dual-fuel bill by 10.8%

The company's UK retail arm made a loss of £92m in 2012. But the success of its power generation arm – with nuclear power stations, coal plants and a gas power station – meant it was able to announce profits above £900m in the summer.

:: SSE

This latest storm of controversy around energy bills began with an announcement by SSE of an 8.2% increase in dual-fuel prices. This pushed up the average to £1,380

That is despite profits of over £400m in 2012. The company blamed wholesale prices but also green levies attached to bills through Government policy. The row led David Cameron to pledge to roll back the levies.

The company is putting forward Will Morris, managing director of retail.

:: npower

With 3.5 million UK customers npower is a huge player in the UK and one of the largest gas and electricity companies across Europe.

The company has announced its price rises to come in at the start of December. The electricity price will increase by 9.3% with gas going up by 11.1% – making the average bill 10.4% higher – up to £1,459.

In March the company faced controversy when it announced a 34% increase in profits to £413m – although the figure relating to domestic supply is lower.

The company is putting up Guy Johnson, its external affairs director.

:: Scottish Power

Neil Clitheroe, CEO retail and generation, will appear in front of MPs. The company is the most recent to announce price rises this winter of 8.6% - an 8.5% rise in in gas and 9% in electricity.

That means the average household bill will go up by £113 to £1,424.

It revealed that it had more than doubled pre-tax profits to £712m in July – and an £890m divided to its Spanish parent, Iberdrola, also caused anger.

:: Watch MPs question representatives from the Big Six on Sky News from 2.30pm.

:: Watch a live debate on energy between shadow energy minister Caroline Flint and energy minister Michael Fallon at 5.30pm on Sky News.

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Energy Bills: Costs-Charges Gap 'Doubles'

The energy regulator has highlighted a doubling in the gap between what customers are paying for electricity and gas and suppliers' costs over the past 12 months.

Ofgem figures indicated average net margins more than doubled between October 2012 and October 2013 from £45 to £95 per household on a rolling month-on-month basis, while wholesale prices rose by just 1.7%.

The wholesale cost - what energy firms pay to generate electricity and produce gas - has been cited by the firms as a core reason for the recent spike in household bills by an average 9% ahead of this winter.

The so-called big six companies collectively made profits of £3.7bn in 2012.

But energy industry sources insisted each company's costs were complicated by when energy was bought - often two years in advance to ensure supply.

Firms employ varying hedging strategies - essentially financial bets on wholesale prices - in a bid to limit their exposure to the trend of sharply rising prices.

Bosses of the big six are due to appear before the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee on Tuesday to explain hikes in bills that many politicians have claimed will force people to chose between "heating and eating".

The average energy bill breakdown. Pic: Ofgem

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that it was up to the companies to justify their charges to consumers.

"It is for the energy companies to explain the decisions they have taken around bills to their customers," the spokesman said.

In a statement, Ofgem said it "has been at the forefront of making the energy market more transparent for consumers over the past few years".

It added: "Our own weekly monitoring published on our website estimates that, over the last year, the cost of wholesale gas and electricity to serve a typical dual fuel customer would have risen by around £10 to £610.

"However, this figure could be higher depending on the hedging strategy of an individual company for buying gas and power in forward markets. 

However, it also pointed out that wholesale costs were now rising for this current winter - by 8% for gas and 13% for electricity.

Nevertheless, its analysis of the wholesale costs versus profit margins sparked an immediate backlash from the industry while Platts, a provider of energy industry information, suggested near-term energy costs were at a record high during the summer.

Energy bills and the battle for the consumer has sparked a febrile game of political brinkmanship since Ed Miliband announced Labour would freeze prices for two years at the party's annual conference.

David Cameron responded by announcing last week that he would roll back green taxes, which account for £112 of the average fuel bill each year.

Labour's Ed Miliband has pledged to freeze energy bills for 20 months

The Liberal Democrat response has been furious, given environmental issues played high on the  Liberal Democrats' election manifesto, and they have refused to give ground on green levies. However, Nick Clegg has yet to suggest an alternative.

Simon Hughes, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has suggested a rebate of £50 on energy bills for low-income households be included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander suggested the Liberal Democrats would be willing to shift some of the burden of the levies - which cost households an average £112 a year - from energy bills to general taxation.

Labour's shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint called for a rethink of the biggest levy, the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), which she described as expensive, bureaucratic and failing to reach those who really need it.

The ECO scheme operated by the big six power companies adds £47 annually to the average bill to pay for energy-efficiency measures like insulation and new boilers for households in fuel poverty.

A report by the IPPR think tank suggested that 1.3 million of those in greatest need have not received help because £434m - 80% of the total £540m budget - was being targeted at homes that are not fuel-poor.

Labour has pledged to "reset the market" if it wins the next election and freeze bills for 20 months - a policy Mr Cameron has described as a "con."

He has pointed to growth in smaller competitors in the market - insisting there is value in switching now the big six have some rivalry.

Speaking at an event at the Mini plant in Oxford, Mr Cameron said: "I'm frustrated about the big six. I want to see the big 60, I want to see many more energy companies.

"Since we came to office, there have been eight new companies come in and start in terms of selling electricity and gas. That's helping competition."

One of those companies, Co-op Energy, said today that it had tripled customer numbers in a year.

The fledgling gas and electricity supplier, which recently called on larger rivals to put customers before profits, saw its total six monthly sales increase seven-fold.

It raised its tariffs by 4.5%, half the rate of its bigger competitors.

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Phone-Hacking Trial: Coulson And Brooks Arrive

The Prime Minister's former director of communications, Andy Coulson, and ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks have arrived for the first day of the phone-hacking trial.

The two former editors of the News of the World face charges linked to phone hacking and alleged corrupt payments to public officials.

Rebekah Brooks arrives at the Old Bailey with her husband Charlie

The Old Bailey trial, which is expected to call 100 witnesses and will involve 22 barristers, could take up to six months.

It is the first trial to result from the phone-hacking scandal, which saw the closure of the News of the World two years ago.

Former Sun and News of the World editor, Brooks, 45, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, is accused of conspiring to intercept communications by illegally access voicemails between October 3, 2000 and August 9, 2006.

She is also charged with two counts of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office linked to alleged inappropriate payments to public officials - one between January 1, 2004 and January 31, 2012, and the other between February 9, 2006 and October 16, 2008.

She faces another two allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

One of those is with her former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, 49, with whom she is alleged to have conspired to remove seven boxes of material from the News International archive.

Brooks' personal assistant Cheryl Carter

The second relates to allegations that Brooks, her race horse-trainer husband Charlie Brooks and former head of security at News International Mark Hanna tried to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police officers who were investigating allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers.

Coulson, 45, from Preston in Kent, is charged with conspiracy to intercept communications in the course of their transmission by illegally accessing voicemails.

The Prime Minister's former spin doctor, Andy Coulson, outside court

He is also facing two allegations that he conspired with the tabloid's former royal editor Clive Goodman, 56, and persons unknown to commit misconduct in public office

News of the World head of news Ian Edmondson, 44, from Raynes Park, southwest London, and the tabloid's ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, 73, from Woodford Green, Essex, are also accused of conspiracy to illegally access voicemails between October 3 2000 and August 9 2006.

Goodman, from Addlestone in Surrey, also faces two charges of committing misconduct in public office.

The jury was selected at the court with the judge telling them: "It's critical to the jury system ... that a jury takes the case free from any preconceptions. From now on you do not discuss the case with anyone."

The prosecution is expected to begin later this week.

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Storm Causes Major Headache For Commuters

Rail passengers left stranded by hurricane-strength winds have criticised train companies, claiming they were not kept fully informed.

Hundreds of services were cancelled as a severe storm battered the South and the South East, felling more than 200 trees.

The strong winds also caused damage to overhead power lines, with parts of the rail network so badly affected that several operators, including East Coast, Virgin and East Midlands, urged customers heading to or from London not to travel at all on Monday.

Passengers at London Waterloo were going nowhere fast

Network Rail, the company responsible for Britain's rail infrastructure, defended its response to the storm and the decision to cancel early morning services, saying: "Safety remains our top priority."

However, Graham Collins, who was among those trying to get from Guildford, Surrey, to the capital, told Sky News: "The problem is that you're drip fed information. It's just frustrating."

A mother who was attempting to travel to north Wales with her son for a half term walking holiday said: "It would have been better if there was more accurate information on the internet. The people at the station are doing the best they can but I overheard one of them saying the information on their websites is inaccurate anyway."

A tree on the tracks between Farnham and Alton. Pic: Network Rail/Twitter

Dominic Tuohy, a South African who was stuck at Ipswich train station, added: "It's ridiculous. In my country we manage to get around (any severe weather) but here there's a bit of wind ... and everything gets closed down."

Many train companies announced cancellations or suspensions to services as early as Sunday, as the storm, dubbed St Jude, raced across the Atlantic.

However, asked whether they had overreacted to the risk posed by the storm, Prime Minister David Cameron said:  "Everyone has to act on the basis of the evidence that they are given.

A London bus was hit by a falling tree in Haringey. Pic: Ben Hewis/Twitter

"Afterwards we'll be able to look back and see whether people made the right decisions but right now what matters is listening to the evidence, working together and getting things back to normal."

The strong winds and heavy rain also caused disruption on the roads, with a number of major routes affected.

Both Severn estuary crossings were closed, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the Sheppey Crossing in Kent.

A lorry overturned on the M11 in Essex, while the A2 was shut in west Kent because of the number of fallen trees.

The clean up begins in London. Pic: madebymartha/madebymartha/Twitter

Countless local roads were also closed, as emergency services and council crews battled to remove fallen trees and other debris.

At Heathrow airport, about 130 flights were cancelled, although Gatwick said it was operating a "near normal service".

Rough seas whipped up by the strong winds also caused cancellations to ferry services, including English Channel, Irish Sea and Penzance-Isles of Scilly crossings.

Brittany Ferries also cancelled services between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

The Port of Dover was closed for a time but has since reopened, although a spokesman confirmed around 50 cars parked by customers on a Fred Olsen cruise were damaged when waves crashed over the harbour wall.

Among the transport operators which continue to experience disruption are:

Trains

:: Greater Anglia has suspended services on most routes, with customers advised not to travel for the rest of the day.

:: Stansted Express services are suspended until further notice.

:: East Coast has no service south of Peterborough, with no trains running in or out of London King's Cross. There is "no firm indication" about when services will be resumed and passengers are advised not to travel.

:: East Midlands Trains has advised customers travelling to or from London not to attempt their journeys. It has suspended services between Bedford and London St Pancras for the rest of the day because of fallen trees.

:: C2C says all services are suspended between Shoeburyness and London Fenchurch Street.

:: First Hull Trains and Grand Central services are suspended between Peterborough and London King's Cross because of overhead wire problems at New Southgate.

:: London Midland has an "extremely limited service" between Northampton, Milton Keynes, Watford and London Euston and urged passengers not to travel into London where possible.

:: South West Trains is operating a "significantly reduced timetable" for the remainder of the day and asked passengers not to travel. There is no service between Weymouth and Bournemouth, Eastleigh and Fareham via Botley and Hedge End, Lymington and Brockenhurst, Ascot and Aldershot via Camberley, Aldershot and Guildford via Wanborough, Shepperton and Fulwell, and Virginia Water and Weybridge via Chertsey.

:: Southeastern has resumed service on most of its lines. However, tracks between Deal and Dover, Bat and Ball and Sevenoaks, Eynsford and Shoreham and Otford and Maidstone East remain closed.

:: Southern Railway has reopened most of its routes, although the Tonbridge to Redhill and Redhill to Reigate lines are still blocked by fallen trees.

:: First Capital Connect has advised passengers not to travel, warning that some lines, including London to Luton, may remain closed all day.

:: Arriva Trains Wales services between Barry and Bridgend are cancelled or delayed because of flooding. Trains between Rhoose Cardiff International Airport and Bridgend are delayed, again because of flooding.

:: London Overground services have been part suspended, although trains are running between Gospel Oak and Barking, Highbury and Islington and New Cross/New Cross Gate, Euston and Watford Junction, and New Cross Gate and West Croydon/Crystal Palace.

:: London Underground has delays due to part suspensions on the District and Piccadilly lines.

Planes

:: Heathrow airport is experiencing some disruption following earlier cancellations, with passengers advised to contact their airline before travelling.

Ferries

:: Brittany Ferries has announced cancellations between Plymouth and Roscoff, Poole and Cherbourg and Portsmouth and Bilbao.

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Storm: Four People Killed By Falling Trees

Four people have been killed by falling trees in the worst storm to hit Britain in a decade.

Bethany Freeman, 17, died after a 30ft tree fell onto a static caravan in which she was sleeping in Kent.

Paramedics and firefighters attended the scene in Hever, Edenbridge, but were unable to save the teenager, known as "Gia" to her friends.

The caravan in which Bethany Freeman was sleeping when it was hit by a tree

Neighbours also tried to rescue the Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School pupil. One described someone coming to her door, asking for a chainsaw.

Her family, who were sleeping in a neighbouring caravan, were said to be deeply traumatised by the accident.

They had been living in the mobile homes for a year while outbuildings on the grounds were transformed into a new house.

Her driving instructor Neil Chapman turned up at the address unaware of the tragedy and said: "I can't believe it. What a shock. She was a super kid. She was a great girl, good fun ... her family must be so devastated. I can't believe it."

Bethany's school described her as "a dedicated and truly outstanding sportswoman" who was "universally respected" and "had everything to look forward to".

A man in his 50s, from Harrow, north-west London, was killed after a tree fell on his red Peugeot 307 as was driving along Lower High Street in Watford.

A police officer at the scene, who did not want to be named, said: "This is a major artery into Watford and we were lucky it was school half-term. If it wasn't we'd have had a lot more traffic coming through here."

The body of the storm's third and fourth victims - a man in his 40s and a woman - were found at addresses in Hounslow, west London, which were devastated after a tree struck a gas main which led to an explosion.

A map showing the trail of destruction and disruption of the storm

Three people were taken to hospital following the blast in Bath Road, which destroyed three houses and damaged two others.

A man and a woman who suffered facial injuries were later discharged. Another woman was said to be still receiving treatment for burns.

Fire crews rescued a dog from one of the homes and some 12 people were evacuated from neighbouring premises as a precaution.

A 14-year-old boy, named locally as Dylan Alkins, is also feared dead after being swept out to sea on Sunday in Newhaven, East Sussex.

People climb over a fallen tree in Shepherd's Hill, north London

Up to 600,000 homes suffered power cuts as hurricane-speed winds of up to 100mph swept across the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England.

Power has been restored at 320,000 homes, however 270,000 are still without.

The Dungeness nuclear power station in Kent automatically shut down both reactors after power to the site was cut off.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, according to the Met Office, while the Environment Agency said some 16 flood warnings and 134 flood alerts were in place.

A tree crashes through several homes in Hounslow Pic: London Fire Brigade

Winds topped 80mph along southern coastal areas and became turbulent inland reaching 81mph in Portland, Dorset, 75mph in Yeovilton in Somerset and 79mph at Andrewsfield in Essex.

Some 50mm of rainfall in 12 hours was recorded in Otterbourne in Hampshire and about 44mm in Cardiff.

Fierce winds overturned a double-decker into a field in Coram Street, Hadleigh in Suffolk, injuring the driver and several passengers.

The driver, a man in his 40s, was initially trapped and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

A police spokesman said: "He was suffering from neck pain, had taken a bash to his head and was in and out of consciousness.

A bus carrying passengers is blown over onto its side in Hadleigh, Suffolk

Whitehall was closed in both directions in Westminster, London, after a crane collapsed onto the Cabinet Office which was evacuated.

A helter-skelter at Clacton Pier in Essex was blown over by the storm, but did not fall into the sea.

Rush-hour commuters suffered chaos on the roads and train network, with falling trees and debris blocking roads and covering railway tracks.

Network Rail said: "Trains will not be allowed to run until the worst of the storm has passed and engineers have been able to check railway lines ... branches or any other debris which may have blown onto or damaged the infrastructure."

Scaffolding has been blown down in Francis Road, Leyton Pic: Mark Davies

Several London Underground and train services were suspended, the port of Dover in Kent temporarily shut after gusts of 65 knots were recorded in the area, and more than 130 flights at Heathrow Airport were cancelled because of the weather.

Dover Port said its Western Docks had borne the brunt of the storm with around 50 Fred Olsen cruise customer cars, parked at the terminal, damaged by the severe seas in the high winds, which at times were gusting above 70mph.

The Environment Agency said there were 11 flood warnings in place across the South West, the Midlands and the East of England. There were also 124 flood alerts telling people to be prepared for flooding.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts.

A tree crashes onto a London bus Pic: @Casawa2011

Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks with Government departments and agencies at the weekend to ensure they were prepared for the impact of the storm, said the loss of life as a result of St Jude's storm was "hugely regrettable".

He said the Government was working to make sure that the emergency services were able to do as much as possible to provide assistance.

Mr Cameron said: "Any injury or loss of life is hugely regrettable. We have to make sure the emergency services can act as fast as they can to help people."

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Storm: Southern Trains Cancels Morning Services

Southern Railway has said it is "highly unlikely" it will run services early on Monday morning because of the approaching storm.

An amber weather warning has been issued across large parts of England and Wales as a hurricane-strength storm builds over the Atlantic and moves towards Britain.

The train operator, which runs services in Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and London, said it had been advised that "trees and other debris may fall on and obstruct railway lines".

Storm clouds gathering over Brighton earlier Pic: Phil Beaven ‏@beevr001

A statement said: "As a result of this, we will not be running any services tomorrow until the storm has passed our region, and Network Rail has been able to assess any damage from the storm and confirm that lines are clear of debris."

"It is therefore highly unlikely that we will run any services before at least 0900 tomorrow morning.

"And even when we are cleared to run, the first services will be very disjointed given the difficulties in getting trains and their crew to the right locations."

Some have the compared the storm's potential to the Great Storm of 1987, when 18 people died and thousands of homes were without power for several days.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

Rough seas at Porthleven, Cornwall

This time he has warned people to "batten down the hatches" and to delay their journey by two or three hours on Monday morning.

He told Sky News' Murnaghan show: "There is certainly a severe storm on the way - and we certainly do need to worry about it.

"If you draw a line from about Aberystwyth to the Humber - everywhere south of there looks like getting affected by strong winds, to the north of that the problem is going to be heavy rain and localised flooding.

"These strong winds aren't going to last all that long, but they are going to be unfortunately getting up around about rush hour time, so the message we're trying to convey at the moment is to delay your journey just by two or three hours in the morning, and then you should be safe."

His comments were echoed by senior fire chiefs who have urged people to stay indoors if possible, and to take extra care if venturing out.

The storm will intensify very quickly when it reaches the UK

Meteorologists have warned the fierce winds of up to 80mph and torrential rain could leave a trail of destruction, damaging buildings and bringing down trees and power lines.

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he had chaired a call with Government departments and agencies to hear about their plans to "ensure people are protected from tonight's storm".

He was updated on preparations and contingency planning for transport, schools. hospitals, councils and power supplies.

Mr Cameron was told that the storm could have "a widespread impact", but that transport providers, local Government, emergency services and power companies had plans in place to respond.

The much-anticipated storm - which the Met Office has said will affect Britain on Sunday night and Monday morning - has been named St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, whose feast day is tomorrow.

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

Insurance companies have advised households to take steps to protect themselves and their property.

People should also establish evacuation plans, place valuable items upstairs to limit flood damage and ensure gutters are clear so water can drain away.

The Environment Agency says 20-40mm of rain could fall within six to nine hours.

It has teams working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts, and are closely monitoring water levels so they are ready to issue flood warnings if necessary.

A spokesman said: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle."

Severe weather alerts are in place, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

A yellow warning, meaning "be aware", has been issued for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

It has been compared to the Great Storm of 1987

Ferry services between Plymouth and Roscoff, as well as Penzance and the Isles of Scilly, have been cancelled.

Brittany Ferries, which runs the Plymouth-Roscoff route, said on its website: "We are in the process of contacting all passengers booked on these sailings. We apologise for the inconvenience the cancellation of these services will cause."

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday.

"So Monday morning's rush hour looks like being chaotic with travel and power interruptions anticipated.

"The public are advised to take the greatest care - and to carry a fully charged mobile if travel is necessary.

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm is expected to intensify near to the mainland before it hits the south-west coast with full force and sweeps north-east across the country, with a strong jetstream and warm air close to the UK contributing to its development and strength.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads."

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

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David Beckham Involved In LA Car Collision

David Beckham has been involved in a car collision in Los Angeles but is unhurt, Sky News has confirmed.

His black Range Rover and a white Acura were damaged on Friday near the football star's home.

Photos of the scene showed the white 4x4 with a damaged front mudguard.

The complete front bumper of Beckham's SUV appeared to have been torn away in the impact.

Beckham's 14-year-old son Brooklyn was also in the car at the time.

After the collision Beckham, 38, waited for police to arrive.

"There was an incident on Friday between David and a woman driving a car," a source close to Beckham told Sky News.

It is understood that no action is to be taken against either driver.

"No one was hurt and there was no need for drivers to exchange details," the source told Sky.

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Brooklyn Stabbings: Five Dead Including A Baby

Police have named a woman and four young children who were stabbed to death in New York City.

Officers arrived at an apartment on 57th Street, near Ninth Avenue, in Brooklyn, at 11pm on Saturday and found all five victims unconscious and unresponsive.

They were named as Qiao Zhen Li, 37, Linda Zhuo, nine, Amy Zhuo, seven, Kevin Zhuo, five, and one-year-old William Zhuo.

William and the two girls were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency crews.

The woman and five-year-old boy were taken to separate Brooklyn hospitals where they were later pronounced dead.

A police officer seals off the street near the attack

Police did not give the relationships of the victims but said they all lived in the home.

Sources said a 25-year-old suspect, believed to be a relative, was arrested at the scene.

Police handcuffed the man inside the apartment. He was wearing jeans and had blood on his bare feet.

The children's distraught father reportedly arrived home from work to find the area sealed off by police.

One report said a machete and scissors were taken from the building as evidence.

Fire Department spokesman Jim Long said emergency workers received a 911 call from a person stabbed at the residence in the Sunset Park neighbourhood.

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Boots Sells Sperm Count DIY Fertility Kit

A DIY male fertility test has gone on sale in Britain, allowing men to carry out sperm count checks at home for the first time.

The SpermCheck fertility kit went on sale in Boots stores across the UK this weekend.

The kit takes 10 minutes to test if a man has a normal or below normal sperm count.

The US-designed kit - which looks similar to a home pregnancy test - is able to determine with 98% accuracy whether a man has a low sperm count or not.

However, the test is unable to determine the health of the sperm.

Around one in six couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving a child.

Up to a fifth of young men suffer from a low sperm count, defined as having fewer than 20 million sperm per millilitre of semen.

A low sperm count or poor sperm quality is the cause of infertility in about 20% of couples in the UK, and is a contributory factor in a further 25% of couples.

SpermCheck chief executive Ray Lopez told the Mail on Sunday: "With this test we can truly help couples suffering from infertility.

"A lot of the time, the woman is the one who is burdened with finding out what is wrong, but the reality of the situation is that in 40% to 60% of cases, male factor infertility is to blame."

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