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At -10C Britain's colder than the Antarctic.. and it's going to get even COLDER tonight

Trafalgar Square

The cold snap plunging Britain into Arctic conditions is set to tighten its grip on the country as temperatures plunged to -11C last night. The mercury dipped to -11C in Aboyne in north east Scotland in the early hours of this morning with Shap in Cumbria registering a low of -11C. Even the Trafalgar Square fountain (pictured left) was frozen.

One in ten shops to close by February as experts warn many high streets will become ghost towns

ghost towns

One in ten shops will stand empty by February as the crisis on the high street pushes store vacancy rates to record levels, according to research out today.

First picture of driver killed on level crossing who was due to marry in months

Moira Koune

This is the first picture of the woman who died when the car she was in was hit by a train after getting stuck on a level crossing..

Model dubbed the new Twiggy dies of cancer at just 23

chorley

Government spends £200,000 on Cabinet away-day... to discuss Britain's financial crisis

Costly: Gordon Brown at a session with the public during a Cabinet away day to Leeds last November. The Government spent around £200,000 on the trip

The Government spent around £200,000 on taking every single member of the Cabinet out of London for one day, it emerged today.
The trip in November cost almost £140,000 in policing costs alone.

Pensioner 'harassed Judge John Deed actor Martin Shaw after becoming unhinged'

sarah price and martin shaw

A pensioner went on trial today accused of harassing an actor who starred as television's Judge John Deed. Sandra Price, 66, sent a series of 'offensive' and 'intrusive' letters to Martin Shaw, 63, at his Norfolk home.

'I have to wash my hands after meeting Arabs': Lewis Hamilton's 'bully' F1 boss branded a racist at tribunal

Ron Dennis has been accused of racism

Lewis Hamilton's boss has been branded a racist and a bully during an employment tribunal.

Jail for millionaire boss of carjacking gang that targeted dozens of lone women drivers

Nokhiaz Khan

The millionaire boss of a gang of carjackers who stole, sold and then re-stole vehicles was jailed for four and a half years today.

Baby P social services boss appeals against her sacking... and seeks £173,000 payout

Sharon Shoesmith

The shamed head of Haringey Council's children's services is attempting to win a six-figure payout for being sacked over her handling of the Baby P case.

Team of 140 Blunkett bobbies solves just FIVE crimes a year

Police community support officers

A team of 140 Police Community Support Officers solved just five crimes and handed out one penalty notice in a year, it has been revealed.

Tesco faces probe over claims that it 'lured' shoppers with cut-price alcohol offers on drink 'it didn't have'

Alcohol on the shelves at Tesco: Labour MP Rosie Cooper has reported the store to Advertising Standards after advertised offers on alcohol were not available in-store

Tesco supermarket was at the centre of a 'cut-price' alcohol row last night amid allegations they 'lured' shoppers with bargain drink offers.

Woman who didn't even know she was pregnant dies of blood loss after going into labour at home

Elizabeth Tevenan: Friends said she had carried on life as normal

A woman who did not realise she was pregnant died after haemorrhaging when she went into labour at home. Friends of Elizabeth Tevenan said she had no idea she was pregnant.

Vicar takes down crucifixion sculpture 'because it's a scary depiction of suffering'

christ

Two married priests who ran away together are banned from the Church

Rev James Tipp and Rev Elaine Northern

Father who promised to buy son a toy shop if he won the Lotto, scoops £1million jackpot

Trina and Mark Myatt

A man who promised to buy his son a toy shop if he won the Lottery had to backtrack when he scooped more than £1 million.

Hospital patients can now use mobiles on wards instead of expensive bedside phones

mobile

Hospital patients will be able to use mobile phones on wards to phone their loved ones, after official NHS guidelines were relaxed today.

Blair hints at a way out for Hamas as Israel bombs UN school in Gaza

Who really gets hurt: A Palestinian boy, who fled his house with his family during Israel's offensive, cries in terror at a United Nations school in Gaza today. An Israeli airstrike hit another UN school today

Tony Blair has hinted at a way out of the 'full blown' humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza today.

Le grand cycle lane: Plans for 218-mile route from London to Paris

Boris, cycle map

One of Europe's largest cycle paths is set to be created between St Paul's Cathedral and Notre Dame in Paris.

Hacked off: Britney Spears and Barack Obama among celebrity victims of Twitter account scam

Barack Obama

What do President Elect Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Stephen Fry all have in common? Their accounts on the social networking site Twitter have been hacked into by scammers.

'Mercy' judge gives paedophile shorter jail term... so that he can be at the birth of his second child

Addicted: Neil Porter had around 2,000 pornographic images of children on his computer but was only jailed for six months (file photo)

A paedophile who downloaded hundreds of child sex images has been given a shorter jail term so that he can be at the birth of his second child.

Fury at TV advert for cold remedy Benylin which urges you 'to throw a sickie'... while website tells you how

A TV advert is encouraging cold sufferers to call in sick

Bosses are furious over a TV commercial for a cold remedy which encourages sufferers 'to throw a sickie'.

WORLD NEWS

gaza        

British tourist plunges to his death after slipping from paragliding harness

paraglider

Hunt for mother of two who vanished on New Year's Day

Gillian Merrick

Police hold grave concerns over the whereabouts of a missing mother who disappeared on New Year's Day.

Labour's crackdown on sickness claimants 'is a sham'

Chris Grayling

Labour's latest crackdown on Britain's sicknote culture has been denounced as a sham.

Thump thy neighbour: Vicar's hedge argument gets heated

Rev Bennett

As a vicar, he must have heard of turning the other cheek. But The Reverend Stuart Bennett was apparently unable to keep his temper in check in a neighbourly argument over a hedge.

'I'm not dying - I've just got a hormone imbalance': Apple guru Steve Jobs finally admits what's wrong with him

steve jobs

Apple founder Steve Jobs today denied rumours he was seriously ill and insisted he would be staying on as the company's chief executive.

Do adjust your sets: 10 years on, the Carole and clown test card is back

test

One of the most recognisable faces on television is making a comeback. The BBC's most famous test card featuring Carole Hersee and a stuffed clown has been rescanned in high definition.

Row as council scraps pray and display plan for Christians on Sundays ... for fear of offending other religions

Tewkesbury Abbey

Council chiefs have come under fire after scrapping plans for free parking for Christians on Sundays - because it discriminates against other religions.

Thieves make clean getaway with £6,000 hot tub full of water from spa showroom

Shock theft: Thieves stole a hot tub full of water that had been on display in a spa showroom. Police think it was snatched to order

A hot tub on display at a spa showroom was carried off by thieves still full of water. Police believe the robbers stole the £6,000 model to order.

Benedict Brogan
Robin Page
Peter Hitchens
Mary Ellen Synon