UK news: Architect strangled before body dumped

Detectives believe Miss Yeates may have known her killer, but they said boyfriend Greg Reardon was not a suspect in the investigation.

Labour MPs veto change

Campaigners against a change in the Westminster voting system today claimed the support of nearly half of Labour MPs in their bid to secure a "no" vote in next May's referendum. The cross-party No To AV group said 114 out of 253 Labour MPs were opposed to replacing the first-past-the-post system.

Probe after house siege gunman is shot dead

An investigation was under way today after police shot a man dead in a seven-hour armed siege at his home in West Yorkshire.

Alistair Bell, 42, was killed by police marksmen in Kirkheaton, near Huddersfield, after shooting one Pc and firing at other officers. The incident began when police arrived at his home on Monday night to arrest him on suspicion of making threats.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is probing the incident.

Rail passenger backlash

Passengers faced with soaring fares could mount an angry backlash against costly proposals to snowproof the railway network, a watchdog has warned.

Travellers facing inflation-busting price rises could rebel if expensive modifications are passed on in increased fares, Passenger Focus claimed. It said commuters might opt for a few days of winter disruption instead of paying more.

Heseltine banks on friends

Banks are essential to Britain's economy recovery and should be treated by politicians as "essential friends" rather than enemies, Tory peer Michael Heseltine said today.

He claimed the success of banks was of "enormous significance" to the nation and its economic health.

Northern Ireland: Water officials were due to meet today as thousands of people across the province struggle to cope without water supplies.

Some have been cut off for eight days. Local councils are handing out bottled water and offering free showers.

West Sussex: Police investigating the murder of a man found stabbed to death on Boxing Day have been granted a second extension to question a suspect. The victim, a 45-year-old Romanian, was discovered at a plant nursery between Chichester and Bracklesham at about 12.20am on Boxing Day. He had suffered several stab wounds.