![Corfu link to Legionnaires' probed]()
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has launched an investigation into a cluster of cases of Legionnaires' disease in people who have been to Corfu.
The organisation said it is aware of nine cases of the disease in people, whose ages range from 39 to 79, who have travelled to different areas of the Greek island since August.
The HPA is working with colleagues in the UK, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and Greek public health authorities to try to find the possible source or sources.
They said although cases all have a history of recent travel to Corfu, a UK source of infection cannot be ruled out.
As a precaution, it will investigate possible UK sources, as well as working with Greek authorities to look at possible sources in Corfu.
The HPA is advising people going on holiday to the island to be aware of signs and symptoms of Legionnaires'. The disease, caused by the legionella bacterium, can lead to severe pneumonia.
It can survive in water, and may be spread through exposure to water droplets from cooling systems, shower heads, and taps, but cannot be spread from person to person. Symptoms can start between two and 14 days after exposure to a source, often with an initial flu-like illness leading to pneumonia.
Legionnaires' disease is uncommon in the UK, but can lead to complications and can be fatal, the HPA said. Early antibiotic treatment is important.
Professor Nick Phin, head of the HPA's Legionnaires' department, said: "We are concerned that UK residents travelling to Corfu should be aware of this potential risk, however we are not suggesting that people change their holiday plans.
"Legionnaires' disease is very rare and cannot be spread from person to person so the risk is low. We are continuing our investigations so that we can provide the best advice for travellers and minimise the risk of further cases.
A householder arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of an intruder at his home has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Raymond Jacob, 37, suffered fatal stab wounds in a struggle at the Stockport house of courier boss Vincent Cooke.
Mr Cooke, 39, was later released on bail pending further inquiries into the incident on the early evening of September 17 but has been told by the Crown Prosecution Service that he will face no further action.
Detectives investigating the stabbing said they had to determine whether it was "a criminal act" or if it fitted Mr Cooke's claim of self-defence.
Mr Cooke was initially at home alone at the detached property in Midland Road, Bramhall, at around 7.50pm but his wife, Karen, and their 12-year-old son returned during the melee. They escaped unharmed.
Police and paramedics gave first aid to Mr Jacob but he died shortly afterwards.
The family of known offender Mr Jacob later said they had been "distressed" at the events and supported the police inquiry to find out what happened.
A 33-year-old man from Heald Green, Stockport, is in custody charged with aggravated burglary in connection with the incident and is next due to appear in court in December.
Britain's beleaguered banks and building societies have been dealt another blow after a debt agency said the decreased likelihood of Government backing made them less credit-worthy.
Lloyds Banking Group, Santander UK, Royal Bank of Scotland, Co-operative Bank, Nationwide and seven smaller building societies saw their credit ratings slashed by Moody's Investor Service.
The move - which triggered a fall in banking shares on the London Stock Exchange - means the cost of borrowing for the affected financial institutions is likely to increase.
RBS, which saw its shares drop more than 3%, also came under pressure after a report in the Financial Times suggested it could require a further bailout from the Government.
The bank said it was "disappointed" that Moody's had not acknowledged its progress in strengthening its finances since 2008.
Moody's stressed its review did not reflect a deterioration in the financial strength of the banking system or the Government.
A man will appear in court accused of posting messages on Facebook allegedly inciting criminal damage and burglary at the height of this summer's nationwide riots.
Nathan Sinden, 27, is alleged to have written two messages encouraging public disorder in Hastings, East Sussex, before he was arrested on August 10.
Hastings Magistrates' Court heard the messages included: "Let's start a riot in Hastings. Who is on it?" and: "Looting it is then today. Who is up for shopping?"
When one of Sinden's Facebook "friends" replied to one of his messages, Sinden is alleged to have written: "No joking," magistrates were told.
JPs also heard that a supermarket, shops and a cinema in Hastings town centre shut earlier than planned and extra police officers were deployed on the day.
Sussex Police charged Sinden, of Blackman Avenue, St Leonards-on-Sea, with "intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission of an either way offence, namely burglary and criminal damage".
He will appear at a plea and case management hearing at Lewes Crown Court.
The UK could be facing "the most serious financial crisis" ever seen, the governor of the Bank of England has warned after unveiling a surprise move to pump £75 billion into the ailing economy.
Sir Mervyn King's stark comments last night that the economic crisis could be worse than the Depression of the 1930s came after the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to boost its quantitative easing (QE) programme - effectively printing more cash - from £200 billion to £275 billion and hold interest rates at 0.5%.
The move, dubbed QE2, is the first change to QE since November 2009 and is the clearest signal yet that the Bank thinks Britain is on the brink of a double-dip recession.
Explaining the committee's reasoning Sir Mervyn said: "This is the most serious financial crisis we've seen at least since the 1930s, if not ever.
"We're having to deal with very unusual circumstances and to act calmly and do the right thing. The right thing at present is to create some more money to inject into the economy."
In a letter to Sir Mervyn authorising the move, Chancellor George Osborne said QE was an "appropriate tool with which to address the deterioration in economic conditions".
He also said the Treasury was "exploring further policy options" which are likely to be unveiled in his autumn statement next month.
But shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: "With our economy stagnated since last autumn David Cameron and George Osborne are now betting on a bailout from the Bank of England.
"The Government's reckless policy of cutting spending and raising taxes too far and too fast is demonstrably not working. But rather than change course the Government has spent the last week urging the Bank of England to step in and essentially print more money.
"The Bank of England has been left with no choice but to step in and try to offset the contractionary effects of George Osborne's Budget plans."
Ed Miliband is to reshuffle his Labour top team bringing new MPs from the intake of 2010 into the shadow cabinet for the first time.
Party sources said there would be a "few" MPs elected for the first time last year among the appointments as the Labour leader seeks to refresh his frontbench line-up.
Mr Miliband will for the first time have a completely free hand following a rule change which means the shadow cabinet is no longer elected by Labour MPs.
Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott has urged him to take the opportunity to get rid of under-performing frontbenchers, saying there were some who were "undoubtedly not carrying their weight".
The way was cleared for a major overhaul with the announcement last night that shadow business secretary John Denham and shadow health secretary John Healey were standing down. It was unclear whether there were others facing the sack.
Among the newcomers strongly tipped for promotion is Rachel Reeves who has impressed with her performance since being appointed shadow pensions minister.
There is speculation that the former Bank of England economist could be given the key role of shadow chief secretary to the treasury.
However, suggestions of a possible return for former cabinet "big beasts" Alan Johnson and Lord Falconer were being played down at Westminster.
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander are among the party heavyweights expected to retain their current portfolios.
Of those who are going, Mr Denham will serve as unpaid parliamentary private secretary to Mr Miliband in a signal of his continuing loyalty to the leadership.
Almost 3,000 people suspected of offences in London during the August riots have been arrested, according to new figures.
One of the Metropolitan Police officers leading the inquiry - which has now been in place for two months - described the investigation as "a marathon".
Detective chief superintendent Christopher Greany said Operation Withern consisted of "a strong robust team" looking for anyone involved in the riots and looting which spread across the capital, before affecting other areas of England.
"We are reviewing many, many pieces of CCTV which is one of the main investigative leads and there are many thousands of hours of footage to be viewed.
"As we view that, more suspects become apparent," he said.
Latest figures from Scotland Yard revealed that at least 2,952 suspects were arrested, with at least 1,774 charged.
Some 317 have been sentenced, and 96 of those received custodial terms.
A series of dawn raids took place in Hackney, north-east London, leading to arrests for violent disorder and burglary.
Mr Greany added: "This is not a short-term operation, it is a marathon not a sprint. Every day we get more leads and every day we make more arrests."
He also warned offenders who had not yet been caught that they would be arrested.
A number of newly-elected MPs have been promoted to the shadow cabinet in a reshuffle by Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Chuka Umunna and Rachel Reeves are among rising stars handed senior positions - as shadow business secretary and shadow chief Treasury secretary.
It is the first time a Labour leader has had a completely free hand following a rule change which means the shadow cabinet is no longer elected by a ballot of the party's MPs.
Ex-minister Stephen Twigg has been brought in to take on Michael Gove at education, allowing Andy Burnham to resume the health brief he held in the last government.
Caroline Flint is moved to shadow energy secretary - one of 11 women out of the 27 in the new-look top team.
One of those is deputy leader Harriet Harman, who has swapped the international development brief for culture, media and sport. Another two female shadow ministers will attend cabinet without being members.
Mr Miliband said: "My decision to appoint half a dozen members of the 2010 intake shows the talent that Labour has and the way in which this new generation can join us in taking Labour's agenda forward.
"Together we will show how the Government are failing to help families who face a cost of living crisis, how they are failing to take action on energy bills and rail fares and failing to get the economy moving again.
"They will show how we aspire to be a government not for more of the same but to deliver a new bargain for the British people."
He added: "I am determined that my shadow cabinet not only holds this Government to account but speaks to the public and the country. Families across Britain are worried about how they will make ends meet, anxious about what the future holds for their children and tired of the way irresponsibility is tolerated across our society."
The Government has a "credible fiscal plan" to enable Britain to ride out the economic storm, Chancellor George Osborne has said.
His comments came as the governor of the Bank of England warned the UK could be facing "the most serious financial crisis" ever seen, after unveiling a surprise move to pump £75 billion into the ailing economy.
Sir Mervyn King's stark comments that the economic crisis could be worse than the Depression of the 1930s came after the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee voted to boost its quantitative easing (QE) programme - effectively printing more cash - from £200 billion to £275 billion and hold interest rates at 0.5%.
The move, dubbed QE2, is the first change to QE since November 2009 and is the clearest signal yet that the Bank thinks Britain is on the brink of a double-dip recession.
Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme about his previous comments in 2009 that "printing money is the last resort of desperate governments when all other policies have failed", Mr Osborne said: "We inherited as a Government a pretty desperate fiscal position and we had to take action.
"I think the crucial difference this time is that you've got a credible Government plan to deal with our debt."
Mr Osborne said he endorsed Sir Mervyn's comments. He said: "I certainly think it's as serious as anything since the 1930s."
Commenting on reports that credit ratings agency Moody's had cut the credit ratings of 12 British banks, Mr Osborne said he was aware the decision was going to be made.
He said: "As I understand it, one of the reasons they are doing this, is because they think the British Government is actually moving in the direction of trying to get away from guaranteeing all the largest banks in Britain."
He added: "I'm confident that British banks are well capitalised, they are liquid, they are not experiencing the kinds of problems that some of the banks in the Eurozone are experiencing at the moment."
A council fighting to clear the UK's largest illegal travellers' site is investigating claims of mismanagement.
Basildon Council is currently locked in a High Court battle with residents of Dale Farm and their supporters with bailiffs employed by the Essex council due to begin clearing 54 unauthorised plots last month following a decade-long row over planning permission.
The council has now confirmed it had received a complaint from Stuart Hardwicke Carruthers, who is advising the residents' legal team.
Mr Hardwick Carruthers alleges mismanagement of the site dating back 30 years and claims that senior officials misled the council over whether a full clearance could legally go ahead.
One of the current High Court claims is based on supporters' argument that the council planned to "over-enforce" enforcement notices which did not provide for a full clearance.
He also claims the council dumped hardcore and clay on the green belt site before it was bought by residents - which may mean that previous planning applications were based on incomplete information.
A spokesman for the council said it was aware of the claims and said they would be dealt with under normal complaint-handling procedures. A response is expected within 10 days.
The complaint comes as council leader Tony Ball hinted he may resign if the travellers are not evicted by Christmas.
Speaking to the Basildon Echo, he said someone would have to be accountable if the battle to clear the illegal site of up to 80 families dragged on for several weeks, adding: "This is not about personality, and there are 28 other councillors who would do this instead of me, but as leader I am accountable."
At the most recent court hearing, Mr Justice Ouseley, sitting in London, said he hoped to give his decision this week, but it was announced earlier that the ruling is now expected next Wednesday at 2pm.
Villagers have spoken of their shock after detectives investigating the shooting of a suspected burglar found a "well-organised and large-scale" cannabis farm during forensic searches.
West Mercia Police said a 60-year-old man, named by neighbours as Malcolm White, was still being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder and of cultivating controlled drugs after the shooting incident late on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, officers investigating the alleged break-in at White's home in Whitbourne, Herefordshire, have arrested a second man on suspicion of burglary.
The shooting victim was found with leg wounds in the nearby village of Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire, at about 8pm on Wednesday.
A police spokesman said the injured man remains in a serious but stable condition at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. A 50-year-old woman is also being held of suspicion of cultivating controlled drugs.
White, a retired clockmaker, is thought to have moved to Whitbourne from the Birmingham area around four years ago and was described by neighbours as a quiet and ordinary man who kept himself to himself.
The Rev David Howell, the rector of St John the Baptist Church in Whitbourne, said White was a divorcee who lived with his new partner at a substantial cottage and smallholding.
The clergyman said: "He has been here about four or five years. He seemed a quiet sort of chap who had just come to live the good life."
White had carried out maintenance work on the village church's clock on several occasions and had not asked for any payment. Asked for his views on the discovery of a cannabis farm at the smallholding, the Rev Howell replied: "I think most people will be shocked.
"The first thing I knew (of the shooting incident) was when I came home and there was a police car blocking the lane."
AgustaWestland is to cut up to 375 jobs under a restructuring of its UK operations, the helicopter firm has announced.
The Finmeccanica-owned company said revenues from the Ministry of Defence were declining, while export orders had slipped in the near term.
The job losses will mainly be in management and corporate functions, said the firm, which employs almost 3,600 workers in the UK mainly at its factory in Yeovil, Somerset. Its business headquarters is in Farnborough, Hampshire.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said AgustaWestland's Yeovil operation offered "a brilliant workforce and world-class helicopter production".
Mr Murphy told BBC News Channel: "The worrying thing for BAE and possibly now for Westland is that the British Government isn't willing to support enough British industry. We can't always buy British, but we should be supporting British companies who are world-leaders.
"They have been bidding for work in recent months and been unsuccessful and I think it is partly because the Government would rather get on to a plane to the United States and sign a contract in Washington than support home-grown business here in the UK."
AgustaWestland has recently launched the AW169 civilian helicopter which it said will increase the amount of civil design and manufacturing in Yeovil.
Managing director Ray Edwards said: "These steps together - the increased civil aircraft work-flow, the launch of the AW169 and the streamlining of the workforce - will place our UK operation on a strong footing and enable us to keep the skills needed for the UK to retain a viable helicopter capability.
"Our military business remains central to our success. This said, extending our capabilities in civil production and competing for export programmes, both areas where the Government has shown considerable support, are the keys to AgustaWestland's future."
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The news of job losses at AgustaWestland will be upsetting for the individuals involved and the wider community in Yeovil. In July I announced £32 million of Government investment in AgustaWestland Yeovil to help introduce the civil AW169 aircraft and we hope that this will allow them to expand in the future."
A 21-year-old man has been jailed for life for the murder of an economics graduate who was battered to death in woodland near her workplace.
David Simmonds, of Derby Road, Heanor, Derbyshire, was told by a judge at Nottingham Crown Court that he will serve a minimum term of 27 years and 213 days before being considered for release.
Simmonds admitted the murder of 25-year-old Jia Ashton, whose body was discovered in Sleetmoor Woods, near Somercotes in Derbyshire, on March 13, three days after she was last seen leaving her job at chocolate-maker Thorntons.
Simmonds originally pleaded not guilty to Chinese-born Mrs Ashton's murder but in a dramatic turnaround changed his plea to guilty last week.
Simmonds, at 6ft 2in and 19 stone, was nearly three times the weight of Mrs Ashton, who stood at a petite 4ft 11in, weighed six-and-a-half stone and wore size two shoes.
He subjected her to a brutal, sustained and violent attack which ended her life when her heart was effectively crushed by his weight on top of her chest and ruptured.
The pathologist who examined her body said her injuries were of the type usually only sustained in car accidents or a fall from a great height.
Detectives leading the investigation said the attack on Mrs Ashton, who was on her way home to the house she shared in Springfield Crescent with her music teacher husband, Matthew, was a chance attack and Simmonds did his best to conceal the murder.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has launched an investigation into a cluster of cases of Legionnaires' disease in people who have been to Corfu.
The organisation said it is aware of nine cases of the disease in people, whose ages range from 39 to 79, who have travelled to different areas of the Greek island since August.
The HPA is working with colleagues in the UK, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and Greek public health authorities to try to find the possible source or sources.
They said although cases all have a history of recent travel to Corfu, a UK source of infection cannot be ruled out.
As a precaution, it will investigate possible UK sources, as well as working with Greek authorities to look at possible sources in Corfu.
The HPA is advising people going on holiday to the island to be aware of signs and symptoms of Legionnaires'. The disease, caused by the legionella bacterium, can lead to severe pneumonia.
It can survive in water, and may be spread through exposure to water droplets from cooling systems, shower heads, and taps, but cannot be spread from person to person. Symptoms can start between two and 14 days after exposure to a source, often with an initial flu-like illness leading to pneumonia.
Legionnaires' disease is uncommon in the UK, but can lead to complications and can be fatal, the HPA said. Early antibiotic treatment is important.
Professor Nick Phin, head of the HPA's Legionnaires' department, said: "We are concerned that UK residents travelling to Corfu should be aware of this potential risk, however we are not suggesting that people change their holiday plans.
"Legionnaires' disease is very rare and cannot be spread from person to person so the risk is low. We are continuing our investigations so that we can provide the best advice for travellers and minimise the risk of further cases.
Tributes have been paid to a British soldier killed in Afghanistan who "lived by the skin of his teeth" and "died trying to make the world a better place".
Lance Corporal Jonathan McKinlay, of B Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles, was killed in Afghanistan on September 14 by a burst of small-arms fire while on patrol with his team.
Family and friends gathered for the emotional service held at St George Church, Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, on the 10th anniversary of the conflict in Afghanistan.
The union flag-draped coffin adorned with flowers was carried into the small church by six of L/Cpl McKinlay's comrades to the sound of High on a Hill.
His wife Lisa and his mother Valerie slowly followed the coffin inside supported by close family.
During the service tears mingled with mirth as people laughed at stories from L/Cpl McKinlay's life.
The mourners were told "there was never a dull moment" when L/Cpl McKinlay, known as Jon or JJ, was around.
Speaking to more than 200 mourners packed into the church Padre Grant Ashton told them L/Cpl McKinlay had "died trying to make the world a better place".
He read out a a few words from L/Cpl McKinlay's mother, Valerie, who said: "Jonathan always lived life by the skin of his teeth. He sky-dived, loved it; he rode a motorbike, loved it; and he was an infantry soldier, loved it. Not a safe trio, I'm sure you'll agree.
"He died doing the job he loved with his kind of people around him. As his mum, I will miss him dearly until the end of my days. Life is going to be a lot duller without him."
A village recently proclaimed as the best place in England and Wales to raise your children may not be quite so perfect after all.
Devon and Cornwall Police and the RSPCA have launched an investigation into how a cat was shot in the head with an airgun in Winkleigh, Devon, an area which last month topped the Family Friendly Hotspots report of the best places to live with your family.
Beamer's owner, Carley Parker, originally thought he had been hit by a car but when she took him to a veterinary surgery they made a shock discovery.
She told the BBC: "Originally we thought he had been run over. Five days later we took him to the vets and they found the bullet in his head.
"We are devastated. It's outrageous and he's lucky to be alive. I'm frightened to let my cat back out." It is thought the cat was shot at close range.
Winkleigh came top of the list of the best places to raise children, organised by savings firm Family Investments.
An analysis of factors such as crime rates, earnings, house prices and access to good schools revealed Winkleigh to be the ideal location for young families to set up home.
The historic farming village, situated between Dartmoor and Exmoor, tops a list of 2,400 postcodes owing to its rural setting, strong school results and relatively affordable properties.
Analysts examined more than 60 sets of data to build up a detailed picture of each postcode in England and Wales using police figures, Land Registry information, Ofsted reports and ONS population data.
The RSPCA condemned the attack. A spokeswoman said: "Beamer is really very lucky to be alive as he was probably shot at quite close range. We would urge anyone with information about this cowardly act to contact either the police or the RSPCA cruelty and information line on 03001 234 999. Calls are in confidence."
A teenager has been arrested over the death of his father and the stabbing of his mother.
Police were called by the ambulance service to an address in Blackburn at 7.50am on Friday following reports a man and woman had been stabbed.
The man was found dead at the scene in Heys Close and the woman was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.
A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "At this stage it is thought that the man is 46 years old and the woman is believed to be 41 years old.
"An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and is currently in police custody."
Sources said the man arrested was the son of the couple and that the incident was domestic-related.
The couple were named locally as Neil and Deborah Ryan.
Their son, Jordan, is understood to be in custody after being arrested earlier at the nearby home of his grandparents.
Police said Mrs Ryan's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Detective Superintendent Ian Critchley said: "This is clearly a tragic case for the family and our main concerns are with them."
The top civil servant investigating "wild allegations" that national security was put at risk when a friend of the Defence Secretary was allowed repeated access to government buildings will focus on what information was potentially exposed during his visits.
Liam Fox asked the Ministry of Defence's permanent secretary, Ursula Brennan, to look into claims security could have been compromised after Adam Werritty, his former flatmate, made 14 visits to the department over 16 months despite not being employed by the Government.
Details of what the inquiry will look into were released by the department and initial findings, which will be made public, will be reported to the Secretary of State and the head of the civil service, Sir Gus O'Donnell, on October 21.
The investigation will "examine the access to departmental premises and information afforded to Mr Werritty, and establish that there has been no breach of security", an MoD statement said.
It will also turn the spotlight on the role of officials to check whether the "department acted in accordance with guidance on propriety". The review will come up with recommendations on "any action necessary in the light of these inquiries, including any action necessary to clarify the current guidance".
Ms Brennan raised concerns about whether Dr Fox and Mr Werritty's friendship had strayed into official government business in August, according to the Guardian. An MoD spokesman said Secretaries of State and permanent secretaries "discussed many matters on a routine basis" but would not "get into specifics about those discussions".
Dr Fox has come under pressure in recent days over his relationship with Mr Werritty, who was best man at his wedding. It emerged that the friend joined the Defence Secretary on an official visit to Sri Lanka, despite previous claims that he had not travelled with him on official visits overseas.
The Defence Secretary said he did attend a "private event" with his friend on the island nation after a picture of the pair was published in the Guardian. He told BBC News: "It was organised by Adam Werritty and Mrs (Suganthie Wijayasuriya) Kadirgamar, who's the widow of the assassinated Tamil former foreign secretary of Sri Lanka.
"I have had a long relationship in Sri Lanka, trying to get co-ordination of peace efforts there. That's a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Because there have been some allegations of security leaks and so on, I've asked the permanent secretary to look into that for me."
He added: "I've asked the permanent secretary to look into any of these wild allegations, and I'm very happy to stand by that investigation."
