UK News: Millions to hit the shops

RETAILERS up and down the country were bracing themselves for "super Saturday" today, as shoppers hit the high streets for the last weekend before Christmas.

With savings to be made before a January hike in VAT, and many online deliveries falling victim to the snow, millions were to hit the shops.

Brown accuses coalition of 'economic vandalism'

GORDON Brown accused the coalition Government of making "immoral" cuts to education that would leave Britain with a worse youth unemployment problem than during the 1980s recession.

The former Labour prime minister said removing help for less well-off pupils to stay in education after 16 was an act of "economic vandalism".

He said the country should be boosting apprenticeships to train young people to help the UK exploit fast-growing Asian consumer markets.

strong>Major flu crisis warning

SENIOR GPs have said they are "deeply concerned" that a major flu crisis is brewing.

Fewer patients in at-risk groups - including pregnant women and those with diabetes and heart disease - are coming forward for the seasonal flu jab.

The British Medical Association said lower immunisation rates mean a normal outbreak could prove much more serious this time.

Beckham to get BBC award

FORMER England captain David Beckham will be given a lifetime achievement award at tomorrow night's BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. The accolade recognises his "remarkable" record and his "tireless work as an ambassador for British sport".

Four-year-old found stabbed to death

A MURDER investigation was under way today after a four-year-old girl was found stabbed to death on a housing estate.

Police found the body of the child at an address in Clapton, east London, yesterday after reports of a knife incident.

A woman, believed to be girl's mother, was arrested.

Birmingham: Two members of the English Defence League have been banned from joining demonstrations outside their home city. Richard Price, 41, and Collum Keyes, 23, have been confined to protesting in Birmingham for the next decade by an anti-social behaviour order.

Sussex: A man in his early thirties died after an ambulance being driven by a police officer left a country road in poor weather conditions and careered into a bush. The man's Mini was in a crash with a highways vehicle carrying road equipment near Eastbourne yesterday.