UK news: Pregnancy delight for Dahl and Cullum

A statement said: "In response to a number of recent inquiries, Jamie Cullum and Sophie Dahl are delighted to confirm that Sophie is four months pregnant.

Call to alter strike ballots

Changes to strike ballots should be made, a think tank urged today.

Policy Exchange said ballot papers should include information about the length of any industrial action. A majority of employees, or 40 per cent of union members, should vote in favour of a strike before action can go ahead, it suggested.

MPs' fears 'held back' phone-hacking inquiry

A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into phone-hacking allegations was held back because of fears MPs' own private lives could be probed by a newspaper, a former member of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee claimed.

Adam Price, who stood down as a Plaid Cymru MP in May, said the concern - raised by a senior Tory - was a factor in the committee not trying to force News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks to give evidence last year.

Tenants caught in scams

Hundreds of thousands of people were the victims of scams carried out by private landlords, a housing charity warned today. Shelter estimates that as many as 946,000 people could have been the victim of a scam while renting a property in the private sector.

Its research showed that one in 50 Britons claimed they were ripped off by a landlord over the past three years.

Brian is the BBig winner

BRIAN Dowling has been voted winner of Ultimate Big Brother, which featured top housemates from the past ten years.

Nikki Grahame, who first entered the house in 2006, came second, while former Celebrity winner Chantelle Houghton was third.

East Sussex: Two more men were being questioned today by detectives investigating the murder of a man whose badly-burnt body was found on a golf course.

A 44-year-old and a 23-year-old were held at a property in Hove just before 1pm yesterday in connection with the killing of Stefan Welch.

Dorset: Drivers in the area dash about the most, according to a survey of speeding conviction hotspots.

Five Dorset areas featured in the postcode survey of speeding convictions by the car insurance company Admiral.