UK news: Headteacher's killer held over robbery

THE killer of headmaster Philip Lawrence was in custody today for an alleged robbery, just four months after leaving prison for the murder.

Italian-born Learco Chindamo was freed in July, 15 years after the killing, and allowed to remain in Britain. He was jailed indefinitely for the murder in 1995.

Pay rises remain at 2%

AVERAGE pay rises have remained at two per cent in recent months while wage freezes have fallen to around one in ten of all settlements.

A study of 69 agreements in the quarter to October, covering almost two million workers, revealed most employers gave increases of two to three per cent.

Government in move to gauge nation's wellbeing

THE nation's wellbeing is to be measured for the Government from next April so that ministers can help the British people attain "the good life", David Cameron was set to announce today.

The Prime Minister was to insist that prosperity alone cannot deliver happiness and that the coalition must promote quality of life as well as economic growth.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to devise measures of progress.

Bank cashes in on survey

ONLINE bank First Direct has been voted the best of 75 brands for customer service while AOL Broadband has been labelled "best avoided" by consumer watchdog Which?

The customer satisfaction survey of 10,600 people - the first of its kind by Which? - placed John Lewis and Waitrose in second and third, with both gaining full marks for everything apart from the number of staff in their stores.

Katie's gran 'is prostitute'

THE family of X Factor contender Katie Waissel are "shocked" by the actions of the singer's 81-year-old grandmother after it emerged she is working as a prostitute and porn star.

Further revelations are expected after her publicist confirmed she had been "inundated" with media offers.

Derby: An independent review into the care of vulnerable girls preyed on and abused by a gang of men today said agencies "missed opportunities" to help them. Yesterday it was reported for the first time that a gang of men were convicted of a catalogue of offences after a series of three trials.

Northumberland: The world's oldest boy band - the Chelsea Pensioners, with a combined age of 550 years - have picked 62-year-old Brenda Sokell from Northumberland to sing White Christmas with them in their bid for the Christmas Number One.