UK News in brief

Take That fans left with little patienceTICKET agencies have struggled to cope with the "sheer volume" of Take That fans trying to buy tickets for their tour.Fans complained about websites crashing and phone lines being constantly engaged after the tickets for the newly-reassembled five-piece band's tour went on sale.

Time is on carers' side

A SCHEME allowing people who help the elderly or disabled to earn time credits for their own care later in life is being considered by ministers, it emerged today.

The government is examining whether a form of the care credit system, which successfully operates in Japan, could also work in the UK.

Calorie-counting off the WeightWatchers' menu

WeightWatchers is discarding its famous fat and calorie-based points plan in favour of a new system that allows alcohol and the odd fast food binge.

The dieting company said it was adopting the new ProPoints system because "science had moved on" and the previous style of calorie-counting had been proven to be inaccurate and "outdated".

WeightWatchers is set to announce the changes on Monday ahead of the annual new year slimming rush.

Sci-fi game takes prize

A SCI-FI adventure which sees players lead a suicide mission against an evil alien horde was voted computer game of the year today. Mass Effect 2 took the top prize at the Golden Joystick Awards.

The game also won the best role-playing game award.

Other winners included Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which won shooter of the year, and Guitar Hero 5 which won music game of the year.

Stewart makes a stand

Veteran rocker Rod Stewart says he slept with so many women he lost count but insists he was not "a guy for one-night stands".

The singer also tells ITV1's Piers Morgan's Life Stories tonight the break-up of his marriage to Rachel Hunter left him heartbroken.

London: Art lovers are being asked to donate dust to be made into bricks for a new exhibition. Serena Korda will make 500 bricks as part of a show at the Wellcome Collection called Dirt: the filthy reality of everyday life.

The bricks will be buried after the exhibition ends next August.

Windsor: About 20 children and adults were rescued from a ride at Legoland after a power cut. Fire crews were called to the tourist attraction yesterday.

The power cut is believed to have been caused by a cable being cut through by a contractor.