UK news: Pope recalls UK visit 'with great fondness'

In Thought for the Day on Radio 4, he said: "I keep all of you very much in my prayers.

"I pray for your families, for your children, for those who are sick, and for those who are going through any form of hardship at this time."

Shops enjoy 1.2bn boost

Retailers today reported a sales bonanza as shoppers finally ventured out on a last-minute Christmas spending spree.

After snow disrupted many people's shopping plans, Visa Europe expected to process around 26.5 million transactions worth more than 1.2 billion today.

Soap makes late edits to cot death storyline

EastEnders bosses have made last-minute changes to the soap's harrowing New Year's Eve episode about cot death so as not to upset viewers.

Programme chiefs revealed they made "small edits" to certain scenes in the show, which sees Ronnie Branning lose her day-old baby before swapping it with Kat Moon's newborn son, without altering the content of the story. Shots of distraught Ronnie touching the cold hand of her dead son have been edited out.

Queen focuses on sport

The Queen's Christmas message to the nation will highlight the importance of sport as a medium that can help build communities and create harmony.

The monarch's annual broadcast will also focus on how games and exercise can positively distance people from their day-to-day lives.

The Royal Family all take part in a range of activities, from polo to golf.

Tory policy 'very harsh'

Liberal Democrat Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne has been taped saying Conservative immigration policy is "very harsh" and driven by "quite a lot of uncharitable instincts".

He also branded the Tories' European allies "quite nutty".

London: A woman has died after being savaged by a dog.

The victim, who was in her 40s, suffered "multiple injuries" during the attack last night in Wallington and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scotland Yard said the dog - a Belgian mastiff - was shot dead by police at the property.

Bristol: The family of missing architect Jo Yeates was desperately hoping for news today, a week after she disappeared.

David and Theresa Yeates sobbed as they acknowledged that 25-year-old Joanna could be being held against her will and begged for her to be returned safe and well.