UK news in brief: Red Nose Day sniffs out £74m donations

The current total of 74,360,207 is the most raised on the night in Red Nose Day's 23-year history.

A host of famous faces, including David Cameron and Susan Boyle, helped entertain viewers during the night.

Moon closes in on Earth

CLEAR skies are expected to reveal a "super moon" phenomenon today as the Moon reaches its closest point to the Earth for almost two decades.

Star gazers will be hoping to see a bigger and brighter Moon as it reaches the closest point to the Earth, referred to as a lunar perigee, since 1992.

Foundations laid to turn old offices into homes

NEXT week's Budget is expected to contain measures to cut through planning red tape to make it easier for empty office blocks to be converted into homes.

With commercial vacancies running at 7 to 9 per cent, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles believes that 250,000 new homes could be delivered by converting long-term office space currently on the market.

The government will propose scrapping the requirement for planning approval.

Debts keep migrants out

MIGRANTS from outside the EU who owe the NHS more than 1000 will be kicked out of the UK and banned from returning until the debt is paid, the government said.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "The NHS is a national health service, not an international one. If someone does not pay for treatment we will not let them back into the country."

Michael crosses out X Factor

GEORGE Michael says he has no desire to be an X Factor judge - because he does not want to be "cruel" to contestants.

The singer said he has had no discussions with show boss Simon Cowell, despite reports that he was being lined up as a guest panellist.

Suffolk: A second man was being questioned today in connection with the killing of two men shot dead at a traveller site near Mildenhall earlier this week. The 28-year-old local, who has not been named, was arrested yesterday.

London: Savers in London and the south-east are more likely to make the most of their tax-free savings allowance than consumers in other parts of the country, research has indicated. Nearly three-quarters of the top 30 local authorities in which people have the most saved in a cash Isa are in London and the south-east, according to Halifax.