UK news in brief

Newcastle: A major police operation to prevent clashes between the English Defence League and Unite Against Fascism was mounted today.

The rival groups were set to stage marches through the city centre, ending up 100 yards apart, and were to be watched over by hundreds of police.

Cumbria: An internationally acclaimed organist was found dead just days after facing child sex charges

David Sanger, 63, appeared in court earlier this week accused of eight counts of gross indecency against boys under 16 between 1978 and 1982.