UK News: Tighter security after warning of terrorism

THE public is being warned to be vigilant of terrorism after security was reportedly tightened at UK transport hubs.

Extra police were deployed on the rail network and at Heathrow airport amid "intelligence chatter" over possible attacks. The Home Office stressed that the threat level had not been raised.

Nursery rape accused in court

A NURSERY assistant was set to appear in court today accused of raping a child at his workplace.

Paul Wilson, 20, was arrested at his home in Nechells, Birmingham, on Wednesday and charged by police yesterday evening.

An investigation was launched after a computer was seized.

MPs condemn 'botched' process of axing quangos

RUSHED plans to axe scores of quangos will neither save money nor improve accountability, MPs warned today in a scathing condemnation of the "botched" process.

The Government announced in October that it was slashing the number of such bodies from 901 to 648 in what it dubbed a fresh "bonfire" of unelected organisations.

But the Commons public administration select committee savaged the way the review was carried out.

Contaminated egg in UK

FOURTEEN tons of contaminated liquid egg that originated on continental Europe has entered the UK.

An EU executive said the processed foodstuff - destined for use in goods like pastries and mayonnaise - had been exported to Britain but said there was a very low risk to human health.

Health officials are trying to determine if and how the egg has entered the food chain.

Hatemail is 'powerless rant'

SINGER Billy Bragg has described a hatemail campaign against him as "the powerless ranting of a bitter individual".

Anonymous letters attacking Bragg, well-known for his left-wing views, were sent to his neighbours in the Dorset village of Burton Bradstock.

Belfast: A twin-track investigation into Northern Ireland's burst pipes crisis begins today. The probe will examine the responses of Northern Ireland Water and the Stormont minister with overriding responsibility, Conor Murphy.

Yorkshire: An Old Master painting has been saved for the nation after a campaign raised 2.72 million to buy it. Members of the public contributed more than 680,000 towards the fund to buy The Procession to Calvary by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, which has hung in Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire, for more than 200 years.