Britain today: Austerity programme 'may cut BBC licence'

THE BBC licence fee could be cut under the Government's public spending austerity drive, the Culture Secretary said today.

Jeremy Hunt attacked the corporation's "extraordinary and outrageous" waste and said it needed to recognise the country's "constrained financial situation".

Care home murder probe

A 39-year-old woman was being questioned today on suspicion of murder after a pensioner was found dead at a residential care home.

The 88-year-old woman, who has not yet been named, was found dead at Emblehope House sheltered accommodation in Sunderland at around 2.20pm yesterday.

Moat 'would not have condoned tributes'

RAOUL Moat's brother said if the gunman had survived he would not have "condoned" the Facebook tributes calling him a "legend".

Angus Moat described them as the work of people who needed to vent the "negative side of their feelings and their emotions and their lives".

The tax officer said he was "furious" with the younger brother he had not seen for nearly seven years but his death left him "heartbroken".

The father of three shot himself last week.

Tour operator collapses

A BRITISH tour operator collapsed, leaving thousands of tourists abroad, the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed.

Greece and Turkey specialist Goldtrail went into administration at around 4pm yesterday, with an estimated 16,000 people overseas.

The CAA said it was arranging to fly customers home after their holiday under its Air Travel Organiser's Licensing) scheme.

MP bans veil at meetings

A CONSERVATIVE MP who launched a bid to ban Muslim women from wearing the burka said today he will refuse to hold meetings with constituents wearing a face veil.

Kettering MP Philip Hollobone's bill would make it illegal for people to cover their faces in public.

Oxfordshire: Comedian Rowan Atkinson has divided opinion with plans to build a futuristic home in the middle of the countryside.

The modern five-bedroom, glass-fronted home would sit in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near the village of Ipsden.

Milton Keynes: A city centre shopping mall joined Britain's stately homes and castles as a listed building.

The 1970s glass and steel Milton Keynes shopping centre was granted Grade II status, meaning it is "nationally important and of special interest", according to English Heritage.