UK news: Scientists hunt source of 'super-toxic' E.coli

SCIENTISTS are working to identify the source of "an entirely new super-toxic" strain of E.coli, which has now infected more than 1600 people worldwide, including seven in the UK.

Researchers suspect that raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce may be the source of the extremely "rare" form.

Bank bomb was a hoax

THE high street bank bomb alert that sparked a three-hour stand-off with armed police was a hoax, tests have revealed.

A device strapped to the 23-year-old suspect's leg when he walked into a Co-operative bank was "not viable". The man brought Watford town centre to a standstill yesterday.

Buying plan puts civil servants in it together

THE government is to centralise the way it buys common goods and services in a bid to cut costs.

It follows an efficiency review carried out last October by retail tycoon Sir Philip Green, which concluded the government was not making the most of its scale, buying power and credit rating.

Sir Philip, the owner of Topshop and Bhs, recommended that civil servants should apply the same principles as if they were spending their own money.

Betfred backed for Tote

THE government has chosen British-based bookmaker Betfred to buy the Tote following a six-month auction process, according to reports.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is expected to declare Betfred the provisional winner of the horseracing business, the BBC said. The deal is yet to be completed, but technicalities are expected to be sorted out by the end of the day.

Evans weeps over divorce

DJ Chris Evans fought back the tears as he spoke about the break-up and divorce with Billie Piper.

Evans held a sell-out crowd enthralled at the Hay Festival, in mid-Wales, last night as he gave an intimate glimpse of his often tempestuous life.

Manchester: Two teenage boys were being questioned today in connection with a "sickening" attack in a park in which 18 birds were beheaded. A 15-year-old was held by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on suspicion of theft and burglary and a 13-year-old on suspicion of burglary.

Cornwall: One of the world's biggest - and smelliest - flowering plants, which rarely blooms and only lasts for 48 hours when it does, has burst into life in Cornwall. The Eden Project's Titan Arum, also know as the Corpse Flower, because of its smell of rotting flesh, is 2.91m tall.