Britain today: Speed may be behind train crash

A FREIGHT train engine which derailed on the west coast main line at Bletchley may have been going too fast, Network Rail has said.

The line was closed for more than 12 hours, causing major delays. Rail passengers have been warned to expect further delays over the weekend.

The locomotive appeared to have approached a set of points at high speed, a Network Rail spokesman said. He said that this caused the tracks to buckle, damaged sleepers and brought down overhead cables.

Cameron set for official US visit

Prime Minister David Cameron will make an official visit to the US next month, the White House has said.

A spokesman said President Barack Obama would welcome Mr Cameron to “highlight the fundamental importance of the US-UK special relationship”. The two leaders will discuss the forthcoming Nato and G8 summits, as well as developments in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

BT to triple broadband speed

Fibre optic connections with speeds of up to 300 Megabits per second will be available on demand in 2013, BT says.

That would be three times the maximum speed the company currently offers.

BT said it hoped to create a “mass market” for high speed broadband among small and medium sized businesses.

Truck needed to remove paedophile’s hoard

A PAEDOPHILE who hoarded so much obscene material in his home it took a seven-tonne lorry to remove it all has been jailed.

Joseph Faul, 48, of Beaulieu Place, Chiswick, west London, was arrested after what was thought to be one of Britain’s biggest ever seizures of obscene pornographic material, said the UK Border Agency.

A judge at Isleworth Crown Court jailed him for 12 months and placed him on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Bath

A Christian group has been banned from claiming that God can heal illnesses on its website and in leaflets. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had concluded that the adverts by Healing on the Streets (HOTS) – Bath, were misleading. It said a leaflet available to download from the group’s website said: “Need Healing? God can heal today!” The group, based in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, said it was disappointed with the decision and would appeal.

London

A rise of just over 50 per cent in parking penalties on Olympic routes during the Games has been agreed by London Councils. The parking authority said on roads with Olympic traffic, those breaking parking rules will be fined £200, instead of the current maximum of £130. The added penalty for having a vehicle towed away will be £300.