Hacker Gary McKinnon Faces No Further Action

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon will face no further criminal action, the Director of Public Prosecutions has announced.

The decision follows a review of the case after the Government's decision to block his extradition to the US in October on health grounds.

Mr McKinnon, 46, from Wood Green, north London, would have faced up to 60 years in prison if convicted in the US of alleged breaches of US military and Nasa networks.

Prosecutors had to decide whether Mr McKinnon should be tried in Britain over the allegations but said the appropriate place for trial would have been the US. That means no further charges will be levelled.

Mr McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, was permitted to stay in the UK after medical reports showed he was very likely to try to kill himself if extradited.

Both Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks on the case with US President Barack Obama, and his deputy, Nick Clegg, had condemned plans to send him to the US.

However, the decision not to extradite "disappointed" the US authorities.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, said: "Following discussions between the US Department of Justice, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in the autumn of 2002, a decision was taken that the appropriate place for Mr McKinnon to be tried was the United States."

As a result, the US sought Mr McKinnon's extradition for trial in the US.

The decision that any trial should be held in the US was affirmed in 2009 and subsequently challenged in the High Court, and that challenge failed, Mr Starmer said.

"So far as the evidence is concerned, the position in 2012 is the same as it was in 2002."

Mr McKinnon's lawyer Karen Todner said: "I have mixed feelings about this. I am pleased he is not going to be prosecuted because I wouldn't want to think he would ever spend any time in prison given his mental situation.

"But I am disappointed because the extradition warrant is still outstanding because he can't travel anywhere outside of the UK and will have this hanging over him until it's resolved.

"We have discussed approaching President Obama and asking for a pardon."

Mr McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, said the announcement was "just wonderful".

She added that a pardon from the US was possible because Mr Obama "seems like a good person and so does his wife".

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Eva Rausing Died Of Drugs Dependency

Multimillionairess Eva Rausing died as a result of dependent drug abuse, an inquest has ruled.

The 48-year-old's body lay undiscovered for two months before she was found at the £5m west London home she shared with her husband Hans, heir to the Tetra Pak fortune.

Eva Rausing as a teenager

She was found in a fly-filled room hidden under a pile of bedding with a foil pipe in her hand, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.

Police found the mother-of-four's body in an advanced state of decomposition after they had arrested Hans Rausing on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on July 9.

He was given two suspended sentences in August after admitting preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife's body.

A post-mortem found his wife had died on May 7 and had drugs in her system. Toxicology reports showed cocaine, opiates and amphetamines in her blood.

She had been fitted with a pacemaker following heart surgery in August 2006, which revealed she had suffered a "non-survivable" heart rhythm on the morning of May 7.

Deputy coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe said Mrs Rausing died as a result of cocaine intoxication contributed to by a heart condition - tricuspid valve disease.

Delivering her verdict, she said: "Mrs Rausing's death was as a result of the dependent abuse of drugs."

Hans and Eva Rausing on their wedding day

The inquest heard that her pacemaker recorded heartbeats up to 384 beats per minute on the calculated day of her death. The normal rate is 65.

Pathologists found no signs of violence on Mrs Rausing's body.

In a statement read to the inquest, Mr Rausing said he had been left devastated by the death of his "beloved wife".

He explained how he discovered Mrs Rausing after hearing her slide off the bed while he was in the bathroom.

"She landed sideways and her head was resting on a pillow," Mr Rausing said. "I tried to pull her up. I shouted 'Eva, Eva, Eva'."

Mrs Rausing was caught with drugs at the US Embassy in London

Mr Rausing said he could see his wife's eyes dim before covering her lifeless body with duvets and bedding.

"I could not cope with her dying or confront the reality of her death," he added.

An investigating officer told the court how Hans Rausing lied to his housekeepers after his wife died, saying she was in the US.

The couple lived a reclusive life on the second floor of their home. Housemaids were not allowed into certain areas. The hearing was told that staff noticed Hans Rausing had stopped sleeping in his bedroom and had started eating downstairs.

The couple had fought a public battle against addiction to drugs.

In 2008 police launched an investigation after Mrs Rausing was caught with drugs as she tried to enter the US Embassy in London for a function.

Subsequent searches of her car and the couple's Georgian townhouse uncovered huge quantities of class A drugs.

They faced drug charges but were given conditional cautions instead, meaning the hearings did not go ahead.

Hans Rausing's parents and siblings said then they were supporting the pair as they fought to overcome drug addiction.

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Royal Hospital: Nurse 'Victim Of Cruel Hoax'

The nurse at the centre of a royal prank call was the "victim of a cruel hoax", a hospital has insisted.

King Edward VII Hospital stressed Jacintha Saldanha was not subject to any disciplinary procedure and that there had been no criticism of her.

In a statement released as the hospital held a memorial service for the nurse, who took her own life, it said it had offered her support in the aftermath of the hoax call.

The comments come after claims in The Guardian that Ms Saldanha left three notes, one of which criticised staff at the hospital.

The hospital said it could not comment on the contents of the notes found in Ms Saldhana's room in the nurses accommodation because it had not seen them.

The duchess was being treated for severe morning sickness

The statement said: "There have been reports today about the alleged contents of one of the notes found in Jacintha's room. No-one at the hospital has seen these notes, and so we cannot comment on the reports or their accuracy."

It added: "Following the hoax call, hospital management offered her their support and told her that they considered her the victim of a cruel hoax. They stood by her actions, and made it clear there was no criticism of her, and that there would be no disciplinary action of any kind."

The hospital held a memorial service to allow friends and colleagues to pay their respects, a week after Ms Saldanha's death.

Lord Glenarthur, the chairman of the hospital, which has a long history of treating members of the royal family, insisted the hospital had been in contact with the family since Ms Saldanha's death and staff were helping police to determine what had happened.

Labour MP Keith Vaz has been supporting the family of Jacintha Saldanha

Ms Saldhana killed herself just days after answering a prank telephone call from Australian DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig to the hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for severe morning sickness.

The DJs from the station 2DayFM pretended to be Prince Charles and the Queen and were asking for an update on her health. Ms Saldanha put them through to the ward where the duchess was being treated.

The inquest into the 46-year-old nurse's death opened on Thursday. It heard Ms Saldhana was found in her room in the nurses accommodation close to the hospital. She had hanged herself and there were also marks on her wrists.

The mother-of-two left three notes: two were found in her room and the other among her personal possessions.

The DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig have received death threats

As many as 12 staff from the radio station have been moved to safehouses after death threats to the radio hosts and 10 executives have been given bodyguards.

Australian police have launched an investigation into the threats and have seized a letter sent to Mr Christian warning him there were "bullets out there with your name on it".

Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of the radio station, said: "The safety of our employees is an absolute priority. We have sensible measures in place, as we always do, to ensure our people are safe."

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org

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Connors Family Found Guilty Of Forced Labour

Five members of the same traveller family who made their staff perform humiliating tasks have been found guilty of forced labour.

William Connors, 52, his wife Mary, 48, their sons John, 29, and James, 20, and their son-in-law Miles, 24, were all convicted of conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour between April 2010 and March 2011.

Bristol Crown Court heard how the Connors would pick up the men - many of whom were homeless or drug addicts - to work for them as labourers.

Jurors were told the victims lived in squalid caravans on traveller sites as they moved around the country working on the Connors' paving and patio businesses.

Prosecutors said the men were paid as little as £5 a day for their work, which included emptying the buckets used as toilets by their bosses, and were forced to scavenge from dustbins for food.

The inside of a caravan occupied by two people who worked for the Connors

Some workers were beaten with broom handles, belts, a rake and a shovel, and one had a hosepipe forced down his throat, it was claimed.

By contrast, the court heard, their employers lived in large, well-equipped caravans, enjoyed holidays in Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean and drove luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce, a Mercedes A-Class and a Mini convertible.

Prosecutor Christopher Quinlan QC said: "It was a clear and unequivocal demonstration of control and dominance of one set - the family - over another.

"If you compare and contrast the lifestyles of the workers and bosses it is like comparing a Maserati with a clapped-out Zephyr."

Police began investigating the Connors following the discovery of a worker's decomposed body in a garden shed close to one of the family's caravan sites.

A fellow worker contacted officers in 2009 to say he had been recruited by William and Mary while living on the streets of Cheltenham.

He told detectives he had his identity documents taken from him, was rarely paid, received little food and lived with other workers in the same situation.

When the Connors family was placed under covert surveillance the following year, police recorded evidence of the men being assaulted.

Caravan sites in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire were raided in March 2011 and 19 men were rescued.

The Connors said their workers were "free agents" who were able to come and go as they pleased.

William and Mary insisted they were "good Samaritans" who provided vulnerable people with food, work and accommodation.

All five defendants had faced a second charge of conspiracy to hold another person in servitude but the judge ordered the jury to find them not guilty of that offence.

They are due to be sentenced on Monday.

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Basketball Fans Shot On Philadelphia Train

CCTV footage has been released of two US basketball fans being shot after "a little bit of banter" with fellow train passengers following their team's victory.

The pair of Chicago Bulls supporters had been celebrating their team's 96-89 win over local side the Philadelphia 76ers when they got involved in a dispute with two youths thought to be in their late teens.

Police say one of the two victims tried to calm the situation but both teenagers can be seen leaving the train before one turned and shot into the carriage.

The bullet went through the stomach of one of the Bulls fans before hitting the other in the thigh, while the teenagers ran off.

West Philadelphia Police told the Chicago Tribune the shooting followed "a little bit of banter".

Lieutenant John Walker, from Philadelphia Police, told CBS Philly the two injured Bulls fans were aged 30 and 35.

"The 35-year-old says 'listen man, this train's filled with people, there's young kids, there's ladies in here, you need to watch your mouth young boy'," he said.

"Of course, that escalates it a little further and we have a 30-year-old male who's on the train, who's behind the 35-year-old who says 'listen it's not worth it, these young boys, just let's cool out'.

"You can have disagreements, but the answer isn't pulling out a gun and firing and trying to resolve it. It doesn't make you a bigger man, it doesn't make you a better person, it makes you an idiot."

Detectives say around 35 people were on the train and that no other injuries were reported. The victims were said to be in a stable condition.

Police have appealed for information about the two youths.

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Egyptian Sword Fight Injures Protesters

At least 19 people have reportedly been hurt in Egypt, after supporters of the country's draft constitution attacked protesters with swords.

The clashes in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria come on the eve of a referendum on the charter, which opponents claim does not guarantee basic rights to Egyptians and places emphasis on Islam and Sharia law.

Witnesses said dozens of protesters fought with clubs and swords and threw stones at one another.

Cars were set alight and a large crowd of anti-Mursi protesters armed with knives surrounded a mosque in the city, trapping a preacher who had criticised those planning to oppose the constitution when voting begins on Saturday.

A hospital official told the AP news agency that 19 Egyptians were injured in the clashes.

In the Egyptian capital Cairo, where tanks and armed troops have been deployed, protests outside mosques were peaceful.

Demonstrators gathered outside the presidential palace but there were no reports of any violence.

At least eight people have died and hundreds have been injured in the three weeks since Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi assumed sweeping new powers - which have now been abolished - to push through the constitution.

The referendum, which will be held on two days, asks Egyptians to accept or reject a basic law that must be in place before national elections can be held early next year.

The government said Saturday would be made a holiday to enable people to vote.

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Witches Coven: Child Sex Abuse Pair Jailed

Two men have been jailed for a total of 32 years after sexually abusing several children as part of a witches' coven in Cornwall during the 1970s.

Peter Petrauske, 72, and Jack Kemp, 69, were said to have donned ceremonial robes and pagan paraphernalia before abusing young girls.

Police believe one of their victims may have been as young as three.

During the three-week trial at Truro Crown Court, sex abuse victims said they were given money and sweets to buy their silence.

Petrauske, who described himself as the high priest of a white witches' coven in St Ives, Cornwall, was convicted of one count of rape, one count of aiding and abetting an attempt to rape, and one count of indecent assault, all by unanimous verdict.

Kemp was unanimously found guilty of indecent assault and indecency with a child, as well as seven other sexual offences by a majority verdict.

Jailing Kemp for 14 years and Petrauske for 18, Judge Graham Cottle told them: "The offences range from the extremely serious to the truly horrifying.

"(The trial) has featured ritualistic, sickening abuse of young, young children.

"The scars left are so obvious that it would seem extremely unlikely that either of them have any real prospect of recovery."

The child abuse was only investigated further by police last year when Kemp was arrested in connection with another incident, causing rumours to spread around his home town of Falmouth and prompting the alleged victims of the historic offences to contact detectives.

Petrauske was backed up by female members of the coven who said that, while children were occasionally present, nudity never played a part in the ceremonies.

One female friend also described him as "a gentleman".

Kemp denied any involvement in paganism, saying it "wasn't his cup of tea", and said he was the victim of a bizarre conspiracy.

He said the girls were wrong to name him in the case.

Witnesses also named murdered pagan Peter Solheim and notorious Cornish paedophile Stan Pirie as among their abusers.

Solheim was a 56-year-old parish councillor whose body was found five miles off the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, by fishermen on June 18 2004. He had been drugged and mutilated with a machete or an axe.

Kemp was cleared of five charges, while Petrauske was also found not guilty of one count.

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Norovirus Cruise: Second Ship Is Hit By Bug

A second cruise ship has been struck by a winter vomiting bug after passengers of a luxury liner described their festive trip of a lifetime as "a living nightmare".

P&O has issued a statement saying there are 10 current cases of the highly-contagious norovirus on the Azura, which has been on an 11-night tour of Iberia.

More than 3,000 people are on board and the ship is due to dock at Southampton tomorrow.

It comes after around 300 passengers on the Oriana, dubbed the "plague ship", were laid low by the norovirus.

The Oriana docked in Southampton at the end of a 10-night cruise

Yet the company's owners, Carnival, insisted only six people were affected and that the cases were simply "an incidence of a mild gastrointestinal illness" among the 1,800 people on the Baltic cruise.

The Oriana docked in Southampton this morning, and as passengers disembarked they told Sky News' Tom Parmenter how many of those on the holiday suffered vomiting and diarrhoea.

Paul Gilman, who had booked on to the cruise, said: "It has been outrageous from start to finish.

"People were falling like flies, yet the crew were trying to insist everything was fine.

"Everyone is saying, 'this is a plague ship'. It's a living nightmare."

Carol Marlow, managing director of P&O Cruises, told Sky News the Oriana had undergone a "full sanitisation process" before it set sail from Southampton on December 4.

She said the first cases of norovirus, which has an incubation period of between one and two days, were reported to the ship's medical centre within a couple of hours of the vessel leaving port, indicating the virus was brought on board by one of the passengers.

Ms Marlow, who sent a letter of apology to all customers, said: "We don't want one person to be ill on any of our holidays, and we'll learn from this and try to make sure it doesn't happen again."

More than 750,000 people could be affected by the latest outbreak of norovirus in the UK, according to estimates by the Health Protection Agency.

Birmingham City Hospital has told visitors to stay away after it was forced to close three wards due to the infection.

In a statement, the hospital urged people not to go to accident and emergency departments if they have diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms, unless they need emergency medical treatment. Instead, they should telephone their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Other hospitals have also taken to Twitter to caution visitors and potential patients.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust tweeted: "Please don't visit hospital until at least two days after last symptoms of #vomiting #diarrhoea #norovirus Stay home, rest & take fluids."

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School Shooting In Connecticut 'Kills 27'

A shooting at a US elementary school has reportedly killed at least 27 victims - including 14 children.

The death toll at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut was reported by CBS.

Meanwhile, local newspaper the Hartford Courant said sources had said that many of the shootings took place in a kindergarten classroom. The gunman has also reportedly been killed.

Staff at Danbury Hospital say they do not expect to receive more patients.

The school is in the south west of Connecticut

Local media initially reported there were two shooters, while police reportedly said a gunman was in the main office of the school and that a person in one room had "numerous gunshot wounds".

A dispatcher at the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps said a teacher was shot in the foot and taken to Danbury Hospital.

But State Police are reportedly saying that the school is no longer an "active shooting scene".

Crying pupils were seen being escorted from the school, which has children aged between five and 10 years old.

More follows...

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Ex-Royal Butler: 'Max Clifford Sold Me Out'

By David Bowden, Sky News Senior Correspondent

Just days after being questioned by police in connection with alleged sex offences, which he says are completely untrue, Sky News has learned that Max Clifford is being sued by one of his former clients for alleged breach of confidentiality - accusations the publicist denies.

Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell claims he hired Mr Clifford in a bid to limit bad press coverage about him a decade ago, but now the former royal servant alleges that rather than stopping stories Mr Clifford passed them on to The News of the World.

His lawyer Mark Lewis says Paul Burrell claims that Mr Clifford asked him to write down personal details which he feared might be uncovered by the media so that he could deal with them if they appeared, but instead of keeping the details confidential it is alleged Mr Clifford faxed the handwritten documents to the News of the World.

He said: "The police say they raided the News of the World's offices and there is a fax header there showing that things were sent from Max Clifford Associates to the News of the World concerning Paul Burrell. Paul's own notes, Paul's own handwriting that he'd given to Max suddenly finds itself at the News of the World."

But Mr Clifford has issued a robust response.

"The claims made by Mr Burrell have no merit. His allegations are opportunistic and are denied," he said.

"It is an affront to common sense to suggest that Mr Burrell, who has sold stories to the newspapers, made countless appearances on TV and has even written a book about his dealings with the royal family, now feels able to claim that any information he provided was confidential.

"We will defend these claims in court and will be asking the judge at the earliest opportunity to strike out these claims as having no prospect of success and an abuse of process."

Mr Clifford has made a very successful, very lucrative and high profile career managing the publicity of some of the world's biggest stars and he has often spoken to the media on a range of PR issues.

If he was to have sold out one of his clients in the way Mr Burrell alleges then that lucrative career would be badly damaged.

Whatever the truth of these allegations, the coming together of the former butler to the one time most famous woman in the world and the publicist to the stars is bound to create a lot of interest.

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Weather: Ice And Fog Hit Dozens Of Flights

Freezing fog has descended on parts of the UK, forcing airports to cancel flights - and more delays are expected.

Heathrow Airport says 70 flights due to take off on Wednesday have been scrapped.

A spokesman said further cancellations were likely as adverse conditions affecting large areas parts of the country worsen.

Flights to Warsaw, Nice, Stockholm, Aberdeen and several German cities are among those cancelled.

British Airways planes wait to depart from Terminal 5 at Heathrow, London.

"There have been some delays as well as cancellations. There is bound to be a bit of a knock-on effect during the day. Also, some European airports are also affected by the cold weather."

There are also 20 cancellations at London City Airport. Passengers are urged to contact airlines to check details.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "The freezing fog patches across central and eastern England, and eastern Wales, will continue to lift from the west this afternoon.

"However, it may linger for most of the day across parts of eastern England which could pose a problem during this evening's rush hour, as well as further flight disruptions.

Passengers sleep as flights are delayed at Heathrow.

"Into tonight we'll see the return of fog again, however it should be less extensive than Tuesday night as the breezes pick up in strength."

Monday night was one of the coldest of the year, with temperatures falling as low as minus 10C (14F), with Scotland worst affected.

After another bitterly cold night on Tuesday, much of the country woke up to sub-zero temperatures this morning.

The fog hit areas including central England, Wales and East Anglia.

There was congestion on a number of major road routes, while a section of the A1(M) between junctions 39 and 40 in Yorkshire was closed.

On the railways, overhead wire problems caused 50-minute delays in the rush-hour between Bedford and Luton, while a broken-down train at Watford Junction in Hertfordshire also caused hold-ups.

An electrical supply problem led to delays to train services between Seaford and Lewes in East Sussex, while a signalling problem caused hold-ups to services in and out of another Sussex coastal station - Brighton.

In Scotland, a broken-down train at Bathgate led to delays between Edinburgh and Airdrie.

On the Tube, there were severe delays on the Metropolitan line between Rickmansworth and Amersham and minor delays on the rest of the line due to a lack of trains.

There were also severe delays between High Barnet and Finchley Central on the Northern line due to a signal failure at Woodside Park.

Another signal failure - at Arnos Grove in north London - led to delays on the Tube's Piccadilly line between Arnos Grove and Cockfosters.

Police closed a three-mile stretch of the A24 southbound in the Horsham area of West Sussex after "treacherous" black ice caused 12 vehicles to skid and crash since 9.45am this morning.

Nobody was seriously hurt but a few drivers suffered minor injuries and damage to their cars, Sussex Police said. The northbound lane of the A24 is open but traffic is heavy.

The coldest spot in the UK on Tuesday night was Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands, where the temperature was minus 10.2C (13F).

• Is your area affected by adverse weather? Get in touch here.

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Royal Prank Call Nurse 'Was Found Hanged'

Timeline: Kate Prank Call Tragedy

Updated: 4:38am UK, Tuesday 11 December 2012

Here are some of the key developments surrounding the death of hospital nurse Jacintha Saldanha following a hoax phone call by two Australian radio hosts.

Monday, December 3
The Duchess of Cambridge is admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in London with severe morning sickness.

Tuesday, December 4
2Day FM presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian make their hoax call to the hospital in the early hours of the morning, posing as the Queen and Prince Charles. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha puts them through to a colleague who divulges details of how doctors have been treating the Duchess.

Wednesday, December 5
A King Edward VII's Hospital spokesman confirms the Australian radio station made the prank call, saying it "deplores" the act and is conducting a review of its phone system.

Thursday, December 6
The Duchess of Cambridge leaves hospital.

Friday, December 7
:: Ms Saldanha is pronounced dead at staff accommodation close to the hospital. She is thought to have taken her own life, although a post-mortem examination is yet to be held.

:: King Edward VII's Hospital releases a statement saying: "It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Ms Saldanha. She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues."

:: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge send their condolences to Ms Saldanha's family.

Saturday, December 8
:: Ms Saldanha's family in southwest India speak of their heartache. Her mother-in-law, Carmine Barboza, says: "Jacintha was a very caring woman. She used to call us every Sunday without fail. We just cannot believe what has happened."

:: Ms Greig and Mr Christian go on indefinite leave from the radio station after they are bombarded with abusive and threatening messages on social media websites.

::  Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the King Edward VII's Hospital, writes a latter to 2Day FM calling for the "truly appalling" broadcast to "never be repeated".

:: Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of Southern Cross Austereo which owns 2Day FM, describes the events over the past few days as "tragic", but adds: "The outcome was unforeseeable and very regrettable."

Sunday, December 9
:: It emerges Mel Greig and Michael Christian may be questioned by London's Metropolitan Police.

:: Ms Greig and Mr Christian express a desire to speak about the tragedy, but are still in hiding.

:: The Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates radio broadcasting, says it is considering whether it should launch an investigation into whether the presenters breached the commercial radio code of practice.

Monday, December 10

:: Mr Christian and Ms Greig break their silence, expressing their regret and sorrow over the tragedy in a series of emotional Australian TV interviews. They insist they never expected their phone call to go so far and thought hospital staff would hang up on them. Both extend sympathy to Ms Saldanha's family.

:: Ms Saldanha's family pay tribute to a "loving mother and wife". Speaking on their behalf, MP Keith Vaz says: "They are really grateful for the support of the British public and the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness."

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Mutant Rats: Catchers Call For Stronger Poison

Rat catchers are asking for permission to use stronger poisons to deal with a plague of super rats that have developed resistance to common vermin control methods.

The mutant brown rats, which carry life-threatening diseases, have been emerging from their traditional havens in sewers and ditches and taking refuge in people's homes.

The problem has been made worse by recent wet weather, which has driven hordes of rats from flooded drains.

Some of the worst-hit areas are in the affluent home counties including Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxford and Henley-on-Thames, home to the Royal Regatta.

The Health and Safety Executive has been running a consultation after poison manufacturers applied to use stronger poisons, including brodifacoum which is currently restricted to indoor use, to control the UK's estimated 80 million rat population.

Graham Chapple says the mutant rats are "breeding prolifically"

Graham Chapple from Newbury-based Rapid Pest Control told Sky News: "They're super rats in that they've genetically mutated and developed resistance to the poisons we currently use.

"The recent wet weather and flooding we've had has seen them pushed out of the sewers and we've had a lot more calls about people seeing rats in the loft or spotting them during the day, which used to be relatively rare.

"They're just looking for somewhere safe to do what rats do, which is breed prolifically.

"The mutations seem to be spreading reasonably quickly and I know they are having problems in Birmingham, Scotland, Hampshire and other areas.

"It is not so much that brodifacoum is a stronger poison, just that the rats haven't developed resistance to it, so it will be much more effective."

Rats carry diseases that can be passed on to humans, including Weil's disease, which can lead to kidney failure.

Olympic champion Andy Holmes, Sir Steve Redgrave's partner in the 1988 Seoul Games, died from Weil's disease in 2010 after falling ill following a rowing event in Lincolnshire.

Last month a couple in Camden, north London, found their baby girl covered in blood after being bitten by a rat.

Brian Watson, with the "giant rat" he found and killed

In April, grandad Brian Watson told how he battered a "giant rat" to death in Consett, County Durham.

University of Reading researcher Alan Buckle has backed the use of new poisons after finding evidence of rats in Oxfordshire and Berkshire developing resistance to conventional rodenticides.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "Studies show a large part of southern England has rats who have mutated to resist standard poisons.

"Pest controllers are having problems and more potent poisons need to be used carefully and responsibly."

Environmental experts have raised concerns about the danger of brodifacoum - which bleeds the rodents to death - and other strong poisons killing other wildlife, such as barn owls who would eat dead rats, if used outdoors.

The Health and Safety Executive said it had been running a consultation on the issue for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A spokesman said: "We recognise there may be problems with resistance to some rodenticides in certain areas within the UK and therefore there is a demand for certain products to be used outdoors, which currently are restricted from such use.

"We are considering the current position for dutyholders to be able to use these products.

"To help inform the decision making process HSE has recently conducted a stakeholder engagement initiative and HSE is in the process of reviewing the responses received as a result."

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'Shocking' State Collusion On Finucane Murder

The notorious murder of Pat Finucane in Northern Ireland may never have happened had it not been for "shocking" state collusion, according to a new report.

A review by a leading QC found there was "significant doubt" that Mr Finucane would have been shot dead without the involvement of state agents.

State employees "actively furthered and facilitated" the murder, which was carried out by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989 as Mr Finucane ate dinner with his family.

Sir Desmond de Silva's report concluded that they and state agents played "key roles" in the killing, which is one of the most controversial in Northern Ireland's bloody history.

MPs heard that this involved targeting Mr Finucane, supplying and then helping dispose of a murder weapon and later seeking to obstruct the police investigation.

"It cannot be argued that these were rogue agents," Prime Minister David Cameron said in a sombre statement to the Commons.

Geraldine Finucane and daughter Katherine

The report even said that an officer with the Royal Ulster Constabulary - the official police force at the time - probably proposed Mr Finucane as a possible target.

However, it did dismiss the idea of a wider conspiracy - stressing that no ministers had been aware of the plot or later cover-up.

Despite the stark findings, Mr Finucane's family claimed the review was a "suppression of the truth" that sought to exonerate the British government, Army and intelligence services.

The solicitor's wife Geraldine said: "The dirt has been swept under the carpet without any serious attempt to lift the lid on what really happened to Pat and so many others.

"This report is a sham, this report is a whitewash, this report is a confidence trick dressed up as independent scrutiny and given invisible clothes of reliability but most of all, most hurtful and insulting of all, this report is not the truth."

Other shocking conclusions in de Silva review include:

:: The Army and Special Branch had advance notice of a series of planned assassinations by loyalists but nothing was done.

:: Brian Nelson and William Stobie were agents in the pay of the state involved in the Finucane murder and a third man became an agent after the shooting.

:: There was a "relentless" effort to cover up after the killing as senior Army officers "deliberately lied" to investigators and tried to mislead the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Finucane represented high profile republicans including IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and was at the peak of his career when he died.

He was shot 14 times in front of his wife and children in the attack on February 12 1989.

His family have led a long campaign for a full public inquiry but their pleas were rejected last year in favour of a new review conducted in private.

David Cameron deliving his statement on the report in the Commons

Sir Desmond wrote: "My review of the evidence relating to Patrick Finucane's case has left me in no doubt that agents of the State were involved in carrying out serious violations of human rights up to and including murder.

"However, despite the different strands of involvement by elements of the State, I am satisfied that they were not linked to an over-arching State conspiracy to murder Patrick Finucane."

The report was handed to the family earlier on Wednesday before the Prime Minister updated MPs in an address reminiscent of his statement after the Bloody Sunday inquiry.

Describing the killing as "an appalling crime", Mr Cameron said reading the findings was "agony".

"The collusion demonstrated beyond any doubt by Sir Desmond - which included the involvement of state agents in murder - is totally unacceptable," he told MPs.

"We do not defend our security forces - or the many who have served in them with great distinction - by trying to claim otherwise.

"Collusion should never ever happen. So on behalf of the Government and the whole country, let me say again to the Finucane family: I am deeply sorry."

Mrs Finucane said she accepted Mr Cameron's apology but suggested he had little choice but to offer one.

"He is a human being. He probably does think it is an atrocious act. But unfortunately he is quite removed from Northern Ireland or what went on in the late 80s so maybe it isn't very hard for him to apologise.

"I will give him the benefit of the doubt and accept the apology but it doesn't go far enough because I don't really know what he is apologising for."

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M6 Chemical Tanker Fire: 10 People Treated

Firefighters were among a group of people treated at the scene of a chemical tanker fire that closed the M6, north of Coventry.

Emergency services said 10 people, including the lorry driver and eight firefighters, were taken to hospital as a precaution after the tanker caught fire at about 9.40am.

One person remained in hospital, authorities said.

A section of the motorway was closed in both directions and motorists experienced long delays, the Highways Agency said.

Some drivers caught up in the traffic queue behind the accident were evacuated from their cars after firefighters put in a 1km exclusion zone.

Some motorists were evacuated (Image: Andrew Hawley)

The ambulance services said more than 100 people were taken to a nearby service station to undergo checks, while local residents were advised to shut their windows.

Warwickshire Police said the drama happened after a tyre blew out and caught fire.

Andrew Hawley, who was at the scene, said on Twitter that the situation was "a nightmare" and he expected to be stuck for hours.

Drivers were advised to stay away from the area as delays were expected to continue late into the day.

Motorists experienced long delays

The motorway was closed northbound between J3 and J3A and southbound between J4 and J3.

The J2 and J3 northbound access and the slip road from Corley Services between J3 and J4 were also closed.

The Highways Agency advised northbound traffic to come off at J2 and use the A46 southbound, A45 and then A452 in order to rejoin the motorway at J4.

Motorists wanting to travel along the M6 from the junction of the A14 and M1 J19 at Catthorpe are advised to use the M1 and A50 instead, while those heading north from London were advised to use the M40.

"Due to the motorway being closed there is a massive tailback of traffic and we are currently advising people to stay away from the area," a police spokeswoman said.

"Fire service are in attendance at the moment at the vehicle and it looks like it could be quite a long job."

Three ambulances were sent to the scene, as well as a rapid response vehicle, paramedics and specialist hazardous area response teams.

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Doomsday Cultists Flock To Serbian Mountain

Hundreds of people who are convinced the world will end on December 21 are flocking to a supposedly mystical mountain in Serbia.

Hotels at the base of Mount Rtanj are being inundated with booking requests from believers of the Mayan prophecy.

Doomsday cultists believe the area has mysterious powers that will save those who live there from the apocalypse.

Followers of the end-of-the-world scenario think the 5,100ft-high (1,554m) mountain, part of the Carpathian range, conceals a pyramidal building inside, left behind by alien visitors thousands of years ago.

They believe that it emits special energy that could be channelled to protect them from the end of life as we know it.

"In one day we had 500 people trying to book rooms. People want to bring their whole families," The Daily Telegraph reported hotel manager Obrad Blecic as saying.

Predictions of an apocalypse are linked to the fact that the 5,125-year-old calendar of the ancient Mayans, who dominated large stretches of southern Mexico and Central America centuries ago, comes to an end on December.

Internet speculation had initially identified the village of Bugarach in France as the only place that would survive the apocalypse.

However, the mayor announced that over 100 police officers will seal off the village From December 19 to 23 to keep out Doomsday groups.

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Syria Conflict: Explosion At Interior Ministry

A car bomb and two other explosives have struck the interior ministry in Damascus, causing some deaths, according Syrian state TV.

The blasts reportedly occurred at the main entrance to the building situated in the southwest district of Kafar Souseh - a battleground for rebels and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

"Three terrorist explosions caused damage to the interior ministry's main facade, and there are reports of casualties," the broadcaster said.

"One of the terrorist explosions that targeted the interior ministry's main entrance was a car bomb," it added.

No details of the number of dead and wounded, the size of the bombs or the damage caused were disclosed.

The pro-government TV station Al-Ikhbariya aired footage of concrete rubble, blood on the floor and two-metre-wide hole in the road.

Damascus on Wednesday night - moments after the explosion

A resident who heard the blast said she head sirens and shouting after a "huge explosion".

The adjacent building housing the Egyptian embassy was also hit, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported.

Sky's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall, who is in Damascus, said: "We think we heard it. It was an explosion much, much louder than most of the ones we hear. You could actually feel the shockwave

"There was a huge plume of white smoke near the government buildings.

"We hear the artillery firing every few minutes - it is a certain sort of boom. This was a much, much deeper sound and a much louder sound.

"I think that was the bomb that went off. The most likely thing would be a car bomb.

"A series of ambulances came racing up the street behind us ... and a whole convoy of government cars."

The blasts follow four car bombings in the city on Wednesday. There were two in the eastern district of Jaramana, one of which killed a civilian,  and two others later near a court building.

It comes as the US joined several other western and Arab nations in formally recognising Syria's opposition coalition as the legitimate representative of the nation's people.

The scene of a car bombing in Jaramana just over two-weeks-ago

France, which with the UK has already formally recognised the Syrian National Coalition as the government-in-waiting, said more than 100 nations had now followed suit.

The apparent breakthrough came after British Foreign Secretary William Hague told the Friends of Syria meeting in Morocco that he was "deeply disappointed by the failure of the international community" to throw its weight behind it.

"We do not know how long the conflict in Syria will last," he said.

"Helping the National Coalition to win the confidence of the Syrian people, planning for a peaceful future for the country and protecting the victims of the conflict on whom that future will rest, is surely the right way to seek to end the conflict and stop the appalling loss of life," he added.

The conflict, which has claimed the lives of of least 40,000 people since March 2011, has been centred in and around the capital in recent months - and it is not the first time government and national security buildings have been targeted.

On July 18, the president's brother-in-law Assef Shawket, defence chief Daoud Rajha, and general Hassan Turkmani, a former defence minister and senior military official, were all killed in a bomb attack at a meeting of senior security and government figures in Damascus.

And more recently, more than 50 people were killed after two car bombs went off in Jaramana on November 28.

An al Qaida linked group, al Nusra Front, has claimed many deadly blasts inside Syria.

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Submariner Jailed Over State Secrets Breach

By Niall Paterson, Sky News Correspondent

A Royal Navy submariner who attempted to pass top secret information to Russian spies - who later were revealed to be British agents - has been jailed for eight years.

Edward Devenney, 30, was told he had betrayed his country and his colleagues.

Petty Officer Devenney, a mariner with over 11 years service, met two men he believed were named "Vladimir" and "Dimitri" in a London hotel and provided them with sensitive material regarding the movement of British nuclear submarines and operations they had conducted.

But the men were British agents and Devenney was soon arrested and charged with a breach of the Official Secrets Act and misconduct in a public office.

The court heard that Devenney, from Northern Ireland, had suffered bouts of depression and was drinking heavily following a trial for rape, for which he was acquitted.

Police handout of Devenney

His performance at work suffered, so much so that he withdrew himself from a training course and was told in January of this year that if he did not improve by April he would be discharged.

Mr Justice Saunders, sentencing him at the Old Bailey, said Devenney knew what he was doing when he met the two men in January.

He added: "He did supply details of movements and operations carried out and to be carried out by nuclear submarines.

"I am satisfied that in the wrong hands it was capable of affecting the operational effectiveness of nuclear submarines.

"This is a very serious case. The defendant was prepared to betray his country and his colleagues."

Devenney pleaded guilty to breaching the Official Secrets Act by gathering classified information and misconduct by meeting the supposed spies.

Outside court, solicitor Richard Cannon read a statement on behalf of Devenney which said: "I am deeply sorry for the hurt and shame that I have brought on my family and loved ones.

"Prior to these events I gave the Royal Navy 11 and a half years of service and I deeply regret my actions and the effect they have had on the Submarine Service and colleagues."

Mari Reid, unit head for the CPS counter-terrorism division, said: "This was a classic story of betrayal.

"Edward Devenney was employed by the Royal Navy to protect this country from potential threats to our security. Instead, he pursued a course of conduct likely to put his country at risk.

"We rely on the men and women of our armed forces to keep us safe. It is hard to imagine a greater breach of that role than Devenney's actions."

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Savile Abuse 'Unprecedented', Police Say

The investigation into sexual offences allegedly committed by the late DJ Jimmy Savile has revealed an "unprecedented" level of abuse by a single individual, according to to child protection officials.

The Metropolitan Police report compiled 10 weeks into into the Operation Yewtree inveswtigation has seen 589 people come forward with information, of which 450 made accusations against Savile.

A total of 199 crimes have been recorded in 17 force areas in which the television presenter is a suspect and 31 allegations of rape have been made against him in seven force areas.

The report is based on information provided by the hundreds of alleged victims who have come forward since October 4, when five women recounted abuse allegedly at the hands of Savile in a TV documentary.

Analysis of the report has revealed that 82% of those who came forward to report abuse are female and 80% of the total victims were children or young people.

Commander Peter Spindler, Head of Specialist Crime Investigations at the Met, said: "Once again I want to pay tribute to those who have spoken out and bravely shared their experiences of sexual assault.

"As a result of their collective efforts we have a great opportunity to learn from the past, develop our understanding of sexual exploitation and improve our safeguarding procedures.

"Our response should send a clear warning to anyone today now in a position of power and influence who abuse their status to sexually exploit children and young people - victims will be listened to and robust action taken."

The team of 30 officers is looking at three strands within the inquiry: claims against Savile, claims against Savile and others and claims against others. The report deals with the first strand of the inquiry.

Peter Watt, director of the NSPCC helpline, said: "Operation Yewtree has exposed shocking child abuse allegations of such an unprecedented scale that it has left a deep scar on the consciousness of the country.

"Sadly Savile's victims had to wait decades for help. We have a historic opportunity to learn from the past and make a difference to how we protect children today."

So far officers have detained seven suspects and assisted in the arrest of three others elsewhere in the country as part of Operation Yewtree.

More arrests will be forthcoming, the Metropolitan Police said.

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