Adverts 'Should Feature More Disabled Children'

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands correspondent

The owner of the UK's largest child talent and model agency says advertising companies should use disabled youngsters more often in campaigns.

Debi Clark has two disabled children on the books of her talent agency Bizzykids. But despite sending their details to advertisers, production companies and photographers, she has only had three requests for disabled children in 20 years.

She says: "It's great that they've broken the boundaries by using them at all, but what they do is they use them, and they hit the headlines, and it's sensationalising it, it's absolutely wonderful, great; but they're not used again."

Her comments come after clothing firm Boden used eight-year-old Holly Greenhow, who has athetoid cerebral palsy, in an online advertising campaign.

Last Christmas, Marks & Spencer used Seb White, who has Down's Syndrome, in one of their campaigns, and Francesca Griffiths, who has the same condition, was cast by Boots in their catalogue.

Holly's mother Fiona, 42, said: "It may be a token thing ... I'd like to think it wasn't ... If it does something to help promote children with learning difficulties in modelling, and make it more inclusive, then fantastic. I'd like her to do more of it as an ambassador."

Rosemary Frazer, community campaigns manager at disability charity Scope, said: "It's extremely rare indeed either in advertising campaigns or really anywhere in the media. You would struggle to find any disabled people - and that's a real shame.

"I think it's only through having that sort of high-profile role in the media that you begin to sort of challenge people's perceptions about disability, and actually then they can come to see that disabled people, like myself, we're very much like everybody else".

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Waitrose Airbrushes Writer A Girl Called Jack

By Gary Anderson, Sky News Producer

Waitrose has apologised after a writer's tattoos were apparently airbrushed out of a photoshoot for its food magazine.

Jack Monroe said she was "stunned" to see her body art erased without her permission from a photo used in the current issue of Waitrose Kitchen.

The 25-year-old single mother, whose blog about budget recipes for her son earned her a huge following online, said she was commissioned to contribute recipes to the magazine.

Waitrose is traditionally seen as a favourite with middle-class shoppers

She posted a photo of the offending image on Twitter and wrote: "Thanks to Waitrose Kitchen, I now know what I would look like without my tattoos."

Ms Monroe, who has almost 30,000 Twitter followers, added: "I'm missing a massive deck of cards on my shoulder and a big rose underneath it. Wow. Actually stunned."

She told Sky News: "I'm disappointed in the editorial decision to remove my tattoos.

Ms Monroe's tattoos did feature in Waitrose Kitchen's November issue

"Body art may not be to everyone's taste but there's no denying that they are very much a part of who I am - I choose to decorate myself in a similar way that some women would choose statement jewellery or designer handbags, neither of which appeal to me!

"More surprisingly is that in last month's edition of the magazine my tattoos were on full display - so to airbrush them for the following edition seems odd and inconsistent.

"I always take long sleeved tops to photo shoots to give editors the 'option' of featuring my tattoos or not - but airbrushing them out is an entirely different matter."

Waitrose Kitchen's sales rose after Pippa Middleton signed up as a writer

A Waitrose spokeswoman blamed an error in January's magazine and said a previous issue, which featured the tattoos, showed that the supermarket does not have a problem with body art.

She said: "Jack's tattoos were clearly visible in the three pictures in the November issue of Kitchen.

"Unfortunately an error was made in the January edition. We're very sorry for any upset caused."

Waitrose Kitchen - published by John Brown Media and edited by food writer and broadcaster William Sitwell - costs £1.20 and boasts 1.4 million readers.

It saw sales surge by almost 20% after hiring the Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton as a columnist shortly after parting company with 72-year-old Delia Smith.

Jack Monroe started her blog after finding herself with a budget of £10 per week to feed herself and her son Johnny.

The blog's success has earned her a book deal and appearances on shows including BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and BBC One's The One Show.

Earlier this month, she announced she would be fronting a TV ad campaign for Waitrose's rival Sainsbury's.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dog Owner Is Second To Die Trying To Rescue Pet

Two men have been killed in the space of two days trying to rescue their dogs from fast-flowing river waters as storms caused hazardous conditions across Britain.

A 46-year-old man was swept away by the current after he leapt into the River Lemon after his pet in Newton Abbot at 11.15am on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said he was later spotted some distance downstream by police officers, who managed to retrieve him from the river.

An air ambulance took him to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, but he was later pronounced dead.

The dog escaped from the water unharmed.

Much of the country has been battered by wind and rain

The man had entered the water by the Asda store at Bakers Park, where his family are believed to have been shopping at at the time.

It followed an incident in the River Rothay in Ambleside, Cumbria, on Monday, which saw a 48-year-old man lose his life.

Simon Martindale was seen with his dog in the river at approximately 2.25pm before being swept away by the fast-moving water.

His body was found at 3.30pm following a multi-agency search.

Again, the dog managed to get out of the water.

The storms have so far claimed five lives and the Environment Agency has issued scores of flood warnings across all of England and Wales.

They have also left thousands without power and caused travel misery for people trying to use airports, roads and rail services.

Police have warned people against entering fast-flowing water "for any reason".

A woman died in a river in Gwynedd, North Wales, another woman was killed in a car crash in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and a man died in a multiple-collision crash near Bodmin in Cornwall on Sunday night.

A body has also been found in a stream in Horton, Telford, Shropshire.

Flooding in Guildford in Surrey

Police said it was not known how long the body had been in the water or whether the death was related to the recent weather conditions.

:: See the latest weather forecast here

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alan Turing: WWII Code-Breaker Granted Pardon

Second World War code-breaker Alan Turing has been given a posthumous royal pardon for a 61-year-old conviction for homosexual activity.

Dr Turing, who played a pivotal role in breaking the Enigma code, arguably shortening the war by at least two years, was chemically castrated following his conviction in 1952.

His conviction for "gross indecency" led to the removal of his security clearance and meant he was no longer able to work for Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) where he had continued to work following his service at Bletchley Park during the war.

Dr Turing, who died aged 41 in 1954 and is often described as the father of modern computing, has been granted a pardon - effective from today - under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy by the Queen following a request from Justice Secretary Chris Grayling.

He said: "Dr Alan Turing was an exceptional man with a brilliant mind. His brilliance was put into practice at Bletchley Park during the Second World War where he was pivotal to breaking the Enigma code, helping to end the war and save thousands of lives.

"His later life was overshadowed by his conviction for homosexual activity, a sentence we would now consider unjust and discriminatory and which has now been repealed.

"Dr Turing deserves to be remembered and recognised for his fantastic contribution to the war effort and his legacy to science. A pardon from the Queen is a fitting tribute to an exceptional man."

Dr Turing died of cyanide poisoning and an inquest recorded a verdict of suicide, although his mother and others maintained his death was accidental.

Bletchley Park was Britain's main decryption base during World War Two

There has been a long campaign to clear the mathematician's name, including an e-petition backed by 37,404 signatures and private member's bill, along with support from leading scientists such as Stephen Hawking.

The Justice Secretary has the power to ask the Queen to grant a pardon under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy for civilians convicted in England and Wales.

A pardon is only normally granted when the person is innocent of the offence and where a request has been made by someone with a vested interest such as a family member. But on this occasion a pardon has been issued without either requirement being met.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Alan Turing was a remarkable man who played a key role in saving this country in World War Two by cracking the German Enigma code.

"His action saved countless lives. He also left a remarkable national legacy through his substantial scientific achievements, often being referred to as the father of modern computing."

Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South, who was involved in the campaign to secure a royal pardon, said it was a "just reward  for a man who was stripped of his honour, his work and the loyalty he showed his nation".

The World War II Enigma decoding machine at Bletchley Park

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice chancellor of the University of Manchester, where Dr Turing had worked, also welcomed the news and said: "His legacy will live on as one of the most significant scientists of his or any other generation."

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said the granting of the royal pardon was "long overdue" and called for the same treatment to be given to others convicted in similar circumstances.

A GCHQ spokesperson said: "We are delighted about the pardon and point to the personal tribute that Director GCHQ made to Alan Turing in a speech at the University of Leeds in Oct 2012.

"Sir Iain Lobban said at the time: 'If I had to single out one piece of Turing's legacy to GCHQ today, it would be the way that his contribution was part of the irrevocable change that turned the Code and Cypher School from being the mainly cryptanalytic bureau it was between the wars to becoming the highly technological intelligence organisation that GCHQ is today'."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Northern Ireland Talks End Without Deal

Talks being held throughout the night in Northern Ireland aimed at finding a solution to peace process issues have ended without agreement.

The marathon session in Belfast between Stormont's five executive parties and chaired by US former diplomat Richard Haass broke up at 4am.

It had been hoped that a resolution over flags, parades and other matters connected with the troubles of the past could be found before Christmas.

Mr Haass and co-chairwoman Meghan O'Sullivan, a US foreign affairs expert, had hoped to return to the US with an agreement.

Instead, they will fly back home for Christmas empty handed and will instead ask all those involved a number of questions, the answers to which will, they hope, lead to another draft set of proposals - the fifth - that may bring a deal closer.

The pair have said they will consider returning next weekend if an eleventh hour deal can be struck.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness appointed Richard Haass to the job

Emerging from the meeting at the Stormont Hotel, Mr Haass insisted the process was not dead.

"I am not in the business of doing post mortems here because the patient is still alive," he said.

Mr Haass said there continued to be "significant differences and divisions" among the parties on all three issues being discussed.

While some progress had been made on parades and dealing with the past, there was no immediate prospect of a deal on flags, he said.

"The work done on flags is quite disappointing by any measure," he explained. "But the other two areas have been, I believe, quite impressive and I believe it would be a real shame not to be able to turn that work into a reality."

He added: "We would like to think there is reason to return....Let me be clear about this - we don't have an agreement, (but) in no way have we given up the possibility of still reaching an agreement before the end of the year."

Mr Haass has already said that neither he nor Ms O'Sullivan will be able to continue to be involved in the process beyond the end of the year because of other commitments.

As the talks were going on, a gun attack was carried out at a police station in Lisnaskea in County Fermanagh, according to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. No injuries were reported.

Justice Minister David Ford's office tweeted: "Those who tried to kill police officers in Lisnaskea are to be condemned. They have nothing positive to offer."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Adoption: New Online Maps To Ease Process

Would-be adopters are being urged by a minister to use online maps to help match them to some of the 6,000 children in need of a home.

The interactive maps include local information such as the ratio of children in need of waiting adopters and the approval rate.

Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson said there had been "promising progress" to improve adoption rates, but significantly more needed to be done.

The online system has information about each council area

"This Christmas I want anyone considering adoption to look carefully at the information in our interactive maps and consider whether they can offer a child a stable and loving home," said Mr Timpson, who has two adopted brothers.

"There remains significant work to do next year.

"Our new adoption leadership board will play an important role ensuring local authorities and adoption agencies stay on track and recruit more adopters.

"A further £50m for councils in 2014 will help them put the building blocks in place to implement our reforms."

Department for Education figures show a 34% increase in willing adopters and successful adoptions up by 15% following the implementation of reforms.

Adoption UK chief executive Hugh Thornbery said: "We've seen a rise in adoptions this year, but we still need more adopters to provide loving homes for some of society's most vulnerable children.

"We know that key to attracting more adopters is the assurance of accessible, timely and appropriate support."

Successful adoptions are up by 15% following reforms

David Simmonds, chair of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said an increased focus on improving adoption services was a "positive move, but this isn't new money".

He said it represented a net reduction in funding for local authorities and could impact on services for vulnerable children.

"Councils have been working hard to recruit more adoptive mums and dads and are doing everything in their power to ensure that vulnerable children get the best start in life," he said.

"The fact remains that we still need thousands more potential adopters to come forward to offer loving homes.

"Councils also rightly acknowledge that there is variation in performance across the country and the LGA is working with the Government to help support improvement.

"However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach and decisions must be made on what is in the best interests of each individual child."

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Christmas Benefit Payments: Thousands Miss Out

Tens of thousands of people have not received benefit payments in time for Christmas.

The money for jobseekers, low earners and pensioners had been due to arrive in their accounts on Tuesday, but will now not arrive until Friday.

Up to 32,000 people are believed to be affected. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) blamed an administration error.

Those affected include new claimants, those owed arrears and people awarded Social Fund budgeting loans for essentials such as clothes, rent and furniture.

The DWP said that if individuals had contacted them by 5pm last night the payment would have been rushed through within three hours.

A spokesman said: "The vast majority of regular benefit payments have been made on time this Christmas.

"However due to an administrative issue, a number of one-off or more irregular payments will now be paid on December 27 rather than December 24.

"We have procedures in place to ensure that anyone who has been affected by this and who contacted us would have had their benefits paid, usually within three hours.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

A total of 32,200 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Social Fund and certain categories of pension could have been hit by the delay, the spokesman said.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stafford: Motorist Arrested After Road Death

A 22-year-old motorist has been arrested after the body of an elderly man was found in the road in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The discovery was made at the junction of Shakespeare Road and Wordsworth Avenue on Stafford's Highfields estate at around 12.50am.

Specially-trained police officers were sent out to support the family of the elderly man, who has not been named.

The 22-year-old is being held on suspicion of being unfit to drive through either drink or drugs in connection with the death.

He is now being questioned as investigations are carried out at the scene.

The victim was found dead on Stafford's Highfields estate

Police want anyone who spotted a white van in the area, or saw or heard anything suspicious, to contact them.

A spokesman said: "The family of the elderly local man who died as a result of this tragic incident ... are being supported and kept informed about the progress of the investigation.

"We would ask that no names of the man who died are posted on to social media until the formal identification has been released so that the family affected can ensure all relatives and loved ones are informed first.

"We want to thank everyone affected by the road closures for their understanding and support at this difficult time."

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Severe Weather: Families Forced From Homes

Almost 50,000 people are without power on Christmas Day and dozens have been evacuated from their flooded homes following severe weather.

Many of those affected by the storms that battered the UK in the run-up to Christmas will not have power restored to their homes until Boxing Day, the Energy Networks Association has warned.

Around 90 people were asked to leave their homes on the River Stour near Bournemouth following warnings from the Environment Agency, Dorset police said.

Travel chaos at Gatwick Airport - pic: @walshymk

Officers had been monitoring the levels of the River Stour closely and people living in the threatened areas were warned of the possibility of flooding and evacuation.

Police described the rescue effort as a "multi-agency operation" and advised people who have concerns about flooding to contact the Environment Agency.

Emergency services evacuated people from the Iford Bridge Home Park in Bournemouth and the Beaulieu Garden Park Home in Christchurch, Dorset, after water levels rose dangerously.

The coastguard rescued 76 people from a caravan park flooded by the River Medway at Yalding in Kent on Tuesday night.

Rescuers helped residents at the Little Venice Caravan and Marina Park leave by boat and four-wheel-drive vehicle.

The water was chest deep at one point, and a helicopter was brought in as a precaution while the last 21 people were led to safety.

The Environment Agency's map shows flood warnings across England and Wales

The Environment Agency said 150 properties had been flooded in England, mainly in Surrey and Kent, with numbers expected to rise.

Firefighters in both counties broke a five-hour nationwide strike on Tuesday to help deal with the effects of the storms.

In Surrey, residents were evacuated from their homes in Dorking, Leatherhead and Guildford, while more evacuations occurred in Tonbridge, Kent.

Some 40 properties were evacuated in Godalming because of concerns over the height of the River Wey, Surrey Police said.

Passengers' luggage at Gatwick Airport

In the Mole Valley, evacuations took place in Leatherhead and Dorking after the River Mole burst its banks in several areas.

Police said the Flanchford Bridge over the River Mole near Reigate had collapsed, but no one was injured.

In Dorset, fire crews had to rescue 25 people trapped in their cars by flood water.

At a Wetherspoon's pub in Tonbridge, 100 people booked in for Christmas dinner had to make alternative arrangements after it was flooded.

By 1pm on Christmas Day, the Environment Agency had reduced the number of severe flood warnings - meaning lives are in danger - from three to two.

Tonbridge in Kent has been hit by severe flooding - pic: Toby MacKenzie

But 102 flood warnings - meaning "immediate action" is required - and 200 "be prepared" flood alerts were still in place.

Many travellers are still trying to get home for Christmas after treacherous conditions on the roads and major delays on the rail network and at airports hampered their travel plans .

Five people have died in the last three days because of the stormy weather.

There was chaos at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on Christmas Eve after a power cut at the North Terminal led to cancellations and delays, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The airport said normal service was resuming today.

Police officers stepped in to calm passengers as they demanded information about their flights.

A police officer calms crowds at Gatwick - pic: Joe Pattinson

Hundreds of pieces of luggage were strewn across the airport as no bags were able to be checked in.

Airline easyJet said it would be operating a limited number of Christmas Day flights from the airport to replace 83 cancelled on Tuesday because of the power cut.

These include flights to Faro, Basle, Malaga, Alicante and Amman, while passengers from a cancelled flight from Gibraltar to Gatwick will be travelling on one from Malaga.

EasyJet said it would be unable to schedule any further flights today because of limited capacity at airports and crew availability.

Fire crews rescued motorists - pic: Dorset Fire and Rescue Service

A spokesman said: "Due to the high amount of cancellations that were unavoidable on the 24th, we are currently working on a plan to repatriate all passengers back to their destinations as soon as possible.

"But please be advised this may take a couple of days whilst the programme resumes to normal operation from Thursday."

Although Wednesday has seen calmer weather, more storms are expected on Friday.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Queen's Message: Monarch Reflects On 2013

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Queen has reflected on key events of the past 12 months in her traditional Christmas broadcast, including the birth of her great-grandson Prince George and the 60th anniversary of her coronation.

In her message, recorded earlier this month at Buckingham Palace, the 87-year-old monarch said: "We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection.

"With so many distractions, it is easy to forget to pause and take stock."

The head of the Commonwealth also used the theme of "reflection" to look ahead to the Commonwealth Games being staged in Glasgow next year.

The newest addition to the Royal Family was something the Queen was keen to focus on, saying the arrival of a baby "gives everyone the chance to contemplate the future with renewed happiness and hope".

During the broadcast, behind-the-scenes footage was shown for the first time of the photoshoot at Clarence House in October, shortly after the Christening of Prince George at the Chapel Royal.

The Monarch will reflect on the birth of her great-grandson, Prince George

One photograph taken was that of the Queen with the next three generations of monarchs including Princes Charles, William and George.

As the Queen spoke to the British people, and those of the Commonwealth, the historic photograph took pride of place next to her at the Palace alongside a framed image of her father George VI and mother, the Queen Mother.

The Christmas address is written by the Queen and is one of the rare occasions when she does not turn to the Government for advice but is able to voice her own views.

It was this year recorded in Buckingham Palace's Blue Drawing Room which featured a large Christmas tree decorated with coloured baubles.

During her message, the Queen was seated wearing a single crepe-wool primrose dress designed by Angela Kelly, which she wore to William and Kate's wedding in April 2011.

On her left shoulder was a diamond, ruby and sapphire brooch, a present from her parents to celebrate the birth of Charles in 1948, which she wore at George's Christening.

Earlier on Christmas Day the monarch was joined by her family at church in Sandringham - with the exception of Prince George.

The Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew led the walking party from the main house to St Mary Magdalene's church on the Norfolk estate.

But The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided the 45-minute service would be unsuitable for their five-month-old.

Prince Harry joined the 11am stroll sporting a beard grown during his trek to the South Pole.

The Queen, who is normally accompanied by the Countess of Wessex, was this year instead joined by a heavily pregnant Zara Philips.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More