Britain today: Heavy security planned for Obama's UK visit

SOME of the heaviest security measures ever seen will be put into operation when US President Barack Obama pays a three-day state visit to the UK this week.

The American leader and his wife Michelle arrive in London on Tuesday and are to stay in Buckingham Palace as guests of the Queen.

Customers throw the book

STATIONERY and books giant WH Smith and troubled DIY chain Focus have been named in a survey as the worst stores in Britain.

The shops came joint bottom of a poll conducted by consumer watchdog Which? that quizzed more than 11,000 customers. Electrical group Richer Sounds came top.

Living standards set to get tougher, warns Cable

POLITICIANS have failed to prepare the public for the scale of the impending squeeze on living standards, Business Secretary Vince Cable has admitted.

Mr Cable said that people still did not realise just how hard Britain's economy had been hit in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse.

He said that the public needed to understand just how "painful" the coming period would be as the Government grappled with the UK's record budget deficit.

Death plunge from ship

A MAN was missing presumed dead today after falling overboard from a cruise ship into the English Channel.

Emergency workers called off a search-and-rescue mission this morning after unsuccessfully hunting for the man throughout the night.

The man was travelling on the Celebrity Eclipse cruiser and fell into the Channel at around 10.15pm last night, eight miles north of Cherbourg.

Barrowman steps lively

JOHN Barrowman is to step in as a guest judge on BBC1's So You Think You Can Dance, replacing busy head honcho Nigel Lythgoe tonight.

He will stand in for Atlantic-hopping Lythgoe, who is tied up with his work on American Idol which is nearing its conclusion.

Brighton: A 66-year-old woman was being held by police today on suspicion of murdering a missing father, whose blood was found at the garage where he worked. Gary Hampson, 42, disappeared four months ago after dropping off his daughter at her Brighton home on January 6.

Wrexham: A pony which was spotted trying to board a train has now been seen waiting in the reception of a hospital. The grey pony shot to fame this week when CCTV pictures were released showing it trying to board a train in North Wales. Now it has been turned away from Wrexham Maelor Hospital.