Horse Abattoir: Film Reveals Welfare Breaches

By Jason Farrell, Sky Correspondent

Sky News has uncovered shocking animal welfare conditions at a UK horse abattoir.

They include animals being beaten, neglected and illegal procedures in the process of slaughtering British horses destined for European food markets.

It comes amid public anger that some of our biggest supermarkets have been selling beef burgers and other products that contained horse meat.

Sky News visited the Red Lion Abattoir near Nantwich in Cheshire after concerns were raised by Animal Welfare Group Hillside Animal Sanctuary.

Investigators at Hillside fitted secret cameras which filmed horses being beaten with an iron rod to encourage them into the pens. 

Some were then crammed into the slaughter pens in pairs and, on one occasion, a group of three, before being stunned together.

The video revealed horses hit with sticks to goad them into slaughter pens

In harrowing images the horses fall on top of each other. Under The Welfare of Animals Act 1995, horses should not be slaughtered in sight of one another because of the distress it causes.

Furthermore we found that sick or injured horses were left untended overnight, rather than put down immediately.

As a result of the investigation, two slaughter men have had their licences revoked. Craig Kirby, head of approvals and veterinary advice at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) told Sky News: "As soon as we got the footage and reviewed it we took immediate action to revoke the slaughter men's licences.

"That means they cannot work to slaughter animals again. We will also look to gather further evidence to see if we can prosecute."

Former Government Chief Veterinary Officer Keith Meldrum, who viewed the footage, said he was shocked by what he described as "appalling" welfare breaches.

"We see three animals stunned at the same time and it is totally illegal and contrary to welfare slaughter regulations," he said.

"It's a significant welfare problem for a number of reasons. It's harder to render them unconscious in a group and they have a higher chance of regaining consciousness before you've completed the procedure."

Another incident filmed included a horse that appeared to come round from the stun while being hung upside down before being bled. Mr Meldrum described it as "totally and completely unacceptable".

FSA statistics released to Sky News show a dramatic increase in the number of UK horses slaughtered every year, from 3,859 in 2007 to 8,426 in 2012.

Some 8,426 horses were slaughtered in the UK in 2012

Depending on the size and breed they are bought for anything between £100 to £300 and can fetch around 700 euros on the European meat markets.

The animals come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are former pets, others come from show jumping or the race track.

A report last year from the British Horseracing Authority found: "The number of thoroughbreds reported dead to the Horse Passport Issuing Authority rose by 580 - an increase of 29% - from 1994 to 2574 horses.

"Of these, 1127 horses either in training, breeding or out of training were reported as killed in abattoirs - and reported to the Government Meat Hygiene Service - from 499 horses in 2010, an increase of 126%."

However, in a statement to Sky News, the BHA added: "This is a wider equine issue and not an issue for the British racing industry, which is one of the country's most highly regulated equine pursuits.

"However, if there are allegations that any horse, whether thoroughbred or not, is being inhumanely treated in an abattoir we would fully support any investigation and subsequent action, if appropriate."

During the investigation, Hillside Animal Sanctuary rescued one racehorse called Underwriter by bidding against the abattoir at auction. They discovered it had a distinguished career.

John Watson, from Hillside, said: "It's not just ill and old horses being killed. There are very many fit and healthy horses, horses with foals, pregnant mares, and thoroughbreds that are being treated badly.

"It blows away the myth of humane slaughter, and there is a misery in that place that is palpable."

Red Lion Abattoir said they had revoked the license of two slaughtermen

Hillside's lead investigator, who did not want to be identified, added: "What we've found has shocked us deeply; animals left with horrendous injuries and horses shot on top of each other.

"In all the years I've been doing this work, without doubt it's the most harrowing experience I've come across. All the horses in there had their heads hung down."

The Red Lion Abattoir told us it views animal welfare and public health with paramount importance.

In a statement it said: "In attendance at the The Red Lion Abattoir are three full time Food Standards Officers comprising of an official veterinarian and full-time meat hygiene inspectors throughout production."

It said the incidents were "not the norm, but of an isolated nature" and they have taken disciplinary action against the individual featured.

The statement continued: "I agree horses should individually enter the stunning area and most certainly not three at a time.

"However, small horses and ponies having spent years together as companions are difficult to separate. Horse lovers would understand that.

"My opinion and that of other veterinarians is it is better to keep those types together to reduce the stress, providing swift dispatch is achieved."

The Red Lion Abattoir also insisted it meat was not part of the recent supermarket burger scandal.

The horses there are destined to be served in European food markets. The scandal this time is the way they are treated, in the last moments of their lives, in a licenced British abattoir. 

Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, viewed the footage and said: "The breaches, from what we've seen, are throughout; from the care of the animals to the slaughter process.

"Horses are intelligent animals. When they see an animal stunned in front of them you can only imagine the distress that animal is going through. There are, without doubt, welfare issues here and it is plain illegal."

The RSPCA said "The footage is shocking and upsetting to watch."  They have requested a full copy of the film with a view to investigating.

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Travel Gridlock Amid Snow And Ice

Air passengers and drivers have faced hours of disruption and frustration as snow continues to blanket large parts of the country.

Hundreds of flights have been grounded at Heathrow airport in west London as heavy snow and poor visibility closed runways.

Some passengers on British Airways flights have told Sky News that they have spent up to seven hours on aircraft which have never left the tarmac.

A spokesman for BA said there are normally between 42 and 44 take-off or landing slots available per hour, but at one point yesterday that went down to just six.

Sky reporter Clare Fallon, at Heathrow, said: "It's a surreal sight, there are hundreds of people on the floor trying to get some sleep because they are essentially stranded here. Some have told me they have been here since 11am yesterday morning.

"People feel very frustrated and stressed, and they don't understand how a relatively small amount of snow has been able to cause so much chaos."

In a statement last night, the company said: "We are doing all we can to help our customers after freezing weather and snow caused significant disruption to our schedule today.

Planes grounded at Heathrow

"We are also offering customers who no longer wish to travel between Friday and Sunday the option to rebook their flight to a later date.

"There will be knock-on disruption to services on Saturday and we are advising all customers to check the very latest status of their flight via ba.com before leaving for the airport and if their flight has been cancelled not to leave home."

Flights in and out of Gatwick escaped major disruption yesterday, but the airport advised passengers flying out this weekend to contact their airlines to check flight status.

The Highways Agency said several motorway lanes and major A roads had closed due to the snow and ice, as well as several accidents.

Drivers have been warned to be extra careful as freezing temperatures would bring icy conditions overnight and into the morning.

The deepest snowfall has been measured at 26cm in Sennybridge, Wales, although snow has been thawing in other areas and some train services have been returning to normal.

Merthyr Tydfil has been among the worst hit areas and the A4232 leading into Cardiff was packed with commuters who left home despite the conditions. The closure of a section of the M4 at Bridgend caused headaches for many.

A stranded passenger at Terminal 5

There have also been severe hold-ups for rail passengers, with many companies cancelling services to help them cope with problems caused by the weather. Train firms are advising passengers to check with operators before travelling.

But while commuters have been facing misery, the winter wonderland scenes have brought joy to thousands of youngsters who got the day off yesterday.

Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire were particularly badly hit, with almost 700 schools deciding to close across the four counties by the early afternoon.

Few parts of the UK will escape the wintry weather as it continues into the weekend.

:: Send in your weather photos and videos

There is up to 10cm of snow likely in northern and eastern England as well as Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland on Saturday. Snow elsewhere will be lighter but it will be bitterly cold.

Sunday could also bring persistent but light snow to southeast England and some flurries for Scotland.

Darron Burness, from the AA, said commuting in the wintry conditions was "likely to test man and machine".

Those who decide to travel have been urged to travel prepared with a fully charged mobile phone, warm waterproof clothes, boots and a blanket, some food and drink, and have a torch, ice scraper, de-icer and a shovel.

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Snow: Rail And Road Disruption Expected

Road and rail users are being warned that heavy snow that is set to blanket Britain could cause chaos on transport networks in the coming hours.

Temperatures are expected to remain below zero in most parts, making it bitterly cold, while blizzards and strong winds are set to make conditions treacherous on the roads.

Rail operators South West Trains, Southern, Greater Anglia and Eurostar have already cancelled services or revised timetables to cope with any problems caused by the weather.

Passengers were advised to check with operators before travelling.

Airports and schools are likely to be closed as the snowfall sweeps into the country from the southwest through the day.

A rare "red warning" has been issued for parts of South Wales, meaning all non-essential journeys should be avoided. The Met Office said up to 30cm of snow could fall in the area with strong southeasterly winds causing blizzards.

Amber alerts were in place for parts of the Midlands, London and the South, the east of England, the North West and Northern Ireland.

London and East Anglia could see up to 10cm of snow.

Panic-buying was reported at supermarkets in Derbyshire and Wales

The Highways Agency has issued an amber alert and has placed a 500-strong fleet of salt-spreaders, ploughs and snow-blowers on stand-by.

Greg Carstensen, service director for Hounslow Highways, told Sky News they were well-prepared with roads in some areas already gritted the night before snow was expected.

However, he still urged motorists to "listen to the advice being given out on television and radio and make sensible decisions and only make necessary trips if the snow is really that bad".

The AA said the greatest risk of disruption would be in Wales, the West Midlands, southern England and Northern Ireland.

Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said the morning commute was "likely to test man and machine with potentially challenging driving conditions across many areas".

"If the snow comes in quickly, it will cause problems, particularly drifting snow."

Those who decide to travel have been urged to travel prepared with a fully charged mobile phone, warm waterproof clothes, boots and a blanket, some food and drink, and have a torch, ice scraper, de-icer and a shovel.

There have been reports of panic-buying at shops in Derbyshire and Wales.

At a supermarket in Ripley every loaf of bread and all the bananas had been bought up. One customer reportedly went home with 20 loaves.

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Earthquake Felt In Leicestershire

An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 has been felt in the east Midlands, according to the British Geological Survey.

The tremor was reported across Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Julian Bukits, of the BSG, said the earthquake happened at 5.20am and was "average" for the UK.

Leicestershire Police and the county's fire and rescue services said they had not been called out to any incidents.

More follows...

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Helicopter Crash: Pilot Worked On Major Films

The pilot of a helicopter which crashed in central London was one of the country's most experienced and had flown in films such as Die Another Day and Saving Private Ryan.

Pete Barnes was killed when the AgustaWestland 109 Power he was flying hit a crane on a high rise building in Vauxhall and plummeted to the ground.

Mr Barnes had amassed around 12,000 hours of flying time, including 3,500 hours in Agusta helicopters.

During his 18-year career as a pilot the 50-year-old had flown air ambulances and worked as a pilot on adverts and films such as James Bond's Die Another Day, Saving Private Ryan and Tomb Raider II.

Mr Barnes had a wife and two children

He had been working as a freelance pilot for Rotormotion, a company which counts among its clients the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron, former PM Tony Blair and the Dalai Lama.

In a statement the firm, which describes itself as a "boutique helicopter charter business", paid tribute to Mr Barnes, referring to the crash as a "tragic accident".

"Captain Peter Barnes, aged 50 from the Reading area, has been flying with RotorMotion since it was established over 15 years ago," the company said.

"He was a very highly skilled pilot, one of the most experienced in the UK, with over 12,000 flying hours.

"We are devastated by the loss of a highly valued colleague and very dear friend. Our thoughts and condolences are with Peter's wife and children."

In 2004 Mr Barnes helped rescue a motorist from a flooded ford in County Durham while working for the Great North Air Ambulance.

The Agusta 109 which Mr Barnes was flying at the time of the crash

Jolyon Palmer, a racing car driver who competes in the Formula One feeder GP2 series, said the pilot saved his life in 2007.

He tweeted: "Helicopter pilot Pete Barnes helped save my life in 2007 after I had a serious quad bike accident. Extremely sad news today."

Mr Barnes also flew the Newcastle Traffic and Travel helicopter as the Voice of Metro FM and worked as a helicopter instructor.

Broadcaster Alan Robson of the Tyneside-based radio station said the pilot was a pioneer of "eye in the sky" traffic reports in this country.

Mr Robson, an award-winning radio host, also worked with Mr Barnes on TV shows, and said that while he would pull off daring manoeuvres, he was safety-conscious.

Mr Barnes had also worked on air ambulances

"He was a stylish, lovely guy. He could have auditioned for James Bond," Mr Robson recalled.

"He was handsome, the girls melted. He walked it and he talked it.

"He was a genuinely lovely guy. I am absolutely gutted."

Mr Barnes originally worked as a ski instructor and guide in Europe after completing a business studies degree, before going into advertising.

But he later moved to the US to train as a helicopter pilot, earning a US Commercial and Instructors Licence flying helicopters around Florida and the East Coast before moving back to the UK.

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Helicopter Crash: Crane Operators Late For Work

The mother of a workman who should have been in a crane that was hit by a helicopter in central London has spoken of her relief that he overslept.

Richard Moule and Nicki Biagioni were late for work and hurrying to climb the crane in Vauxhall when the helicopter clipped the structure and plunged 700ft to the ground.

Maureen Biaginoi wrote on her Facebook page: "Thank God my son is ok a bit shaken but alive.

"He defo has a guardian angel thank you thank you ssssooooo much."

Pilot Peter Barnes was killed in the crash and Scotland Yard named a second man who died as Matthew Wood, 39, from Sutton, south London.

He is believed to have been walking to work when he was killed.

Pilot Peter Barnes and Matthew Wood were killed in the crash

Twelve other people were injured and police said it was a "miracle" more were not hurt when the helicopter fell to the busy rush-hour street.

The crash happened at 8am on Wednesday near Vauxhall Station when an AgustaWestland 109 Power hit a high-rise crane at The Tower in St George Wharf - one of Europe's largest skyscrapers.

Mr Moule, 31, a father of two from Harlow, Essex, was supposed to be at work at 7am with his colleague Mr Biagioni, 30, but they were both late.

Mr Moule told the Daily Mail: "It was the first time I've been late since starting this job three years ago. I just woke up late.

"Call it divine intervention if you like."

He was in the basement of the building when the helicopter struck the crane and was evacuated.

He added: "The first thing I did was call my wife Stephanie and tell her 'you'll be hearing about this but I'm OK'."

Mr Biagioni, from Ongar, Essex, told The Sun he was late because his four-year-old son slept in.

His wife Leanna told the newspaper: "Nicki was at the site minutes before it happened. He gets a lift to a certain level and then climbs a ladder the rest of the way.

"If he'd been climbing he would have died from the fall for certain. It's too horrible to think about."

Mr Barnes, 50, from Berkshire, was alone in the aircraft in thick cloud when it hit the crane. It came down on land near to the building, strewing burning wreckage across the road.

The helicopter was undertaking a commercial flight from Redhill, Surrey, to Elstree, Hertfordshire, but Mr Barnes asked to be diverted to Battersea heliport because of bad weather.

Witnesses described hearing a loud bang and a flash of light as the twin-engine aircraft crashed near Wandsworth Road.

Video footage and photos flooded on to social media sites revealing chaotic scenes, burning wreckage and vehicles charred by flames.

Mother-of-five Sharon Moore, who lives on the nearby Wyvil Estate, said she saw the aircraft slice through the crane "as if it was a piece of paper".

She said: "The helicopter did not seem to know which way to turn and then it just dropped, it sliced, screeching into the metal."

Residents from nearby houses in Lambeth and Wandsworth were not allowed to return home on Wednesday night after debris was scattered over a large area, including on rooftops.

The eight-seater helicopter is owned by Cornwall-based Castle Air but was leased to another firm RotorMotion, which is based at Redhill Aerodrome.

Tributes have been paid to Mr Barnes.

Kevin Hodgson, who worked alongside him on life-saving missions with the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA), said: "Pete was as good a guy as you can imagine and one of the best pilots I've ever had the pleasure of flying with."

Mr Barnes, who also flew aircraft for films Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan, had around 9,000 hours of flying time, including 3,500 hours on the type of craft involved in the incident.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said helicopter regulations for flying over London included "requirements for lighting on tall structures".

The authority said: "In addition, where appropriate, very tall structures are also notified to pilots for flight planning purposes, as was the case with the

crane that was involved in this morning's accident."

The Scotland Yard and the London Fire Brigade are working with other agencies including the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the CAA.

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Car Insurance Premiums Soar For Young Women

Car insurance prices for young women in the UK rose by an average 16.4% in the final quarter of 2012 after EU rules banned setting prices based on gender.

On average, women aged between 17 and 20 who insured themselves as the only driver paid £2,081 for their premiums.

But married females of the same age only saw a quarterly rise of 4.8%, with an average premium of £2,089 for two insured drivers on a car.

At the same time, quoted prices for men aged between 17 and 20 saw an average fall of 10.7% over the same period.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com, said: "With the EU gender directive taking effect from December 21, 2012, it's clear to see that the insurance industry has both reacted and prepared for the well documented and anticipated change in legislation during the last quarter.

"As expected, our index shows that women have seen the greatest changes in their insurance premium as insurers prepared for the change in legislation with what is effectively a gender tax on their car insurance premiums.

"We encourage everyone to shop around in order to get the best deals and if you are married, consider car sharing with your partner to benefit from cheaper car insurance premiums."

The figures, from the latest Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index, also found the average comprehensive car insurance price now stands at £737 - down from £844 in the same quarter in 2011.

The EU Gender Directive came into force on December 21 last year, banning companies from setting prices according to gender.

The ruling, by the European Court of Justice, followed a 10-year legal battle against the proposals by insurers.

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Horsemeat In Burgers: Tesco Removes Product

Tesco, along with a number of other supermarkets, has removed certain brands of frozen beefburgers from its shelves in the UK and Ireland after they were found to contain horsemeat.

A study examining the authenticity of a number of beefburger, beef meal and salami products available from retail outlets in Ireland found horsemeat accounted for approximately 29% of the content in one sample of Tesco Everyday Value Beef Burgers.

Tests on beef products sold in Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores uncovered low levels of horse DNA.

Authorities have said there is no threat to public health, but the issue is one of consumer confidence and shoppers being able to trust that what they are eating is what was stated on the label.

Tim Smith, group technical director at Tesco, said: "We immediately withdrew from sale all products from the supplier in question.

"We are working with the authorities in Ireland and the UK, and with the supplier concerned, to urgently understand how this has happened and how to ensure it does not happen again.

"We will not take any products from this site until the conclusion and satisfactory resolution of an investigation.

"We understand that many of our customers will be concerned by this news, and we apologise sincerely for any distress."

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) tested for the presence of horse and pig DNA.

Tesco was among the supermarkets found to have sold the affected burgers

A total of 27 beefburger products were analysed, with 10 (37%) testing positive for horse DNA and 23 (85%) testing positive for pig DNA.

Some 31 beef meal products including cottage pie, beef curry pie and lasagne were also analysed. Twenty-one were found to have pig DNA, while all were negative for horse DNA.

All 19 salami products analysed tested negative for horse DNA, but traces were detected in batches of raw ingredients including some imported from The Netherlands and Spain.

The beefburger products which tested positive for horse DNA were produced by two processing plants in Ireland, Liffey Meats and Silvercrest Foods, and one in the UK, Dalepak Hambleton.

They were on sale in Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Aldi and Iceland. In nine of the 10 beefburger samples from these retailers, horse DNA was found at low levels.

The tests found horse DNA in the following products: Tesco Everyday Value Beef Burgers 29.1%, Tesco Beef Quarter Pounders 0.1%, Oakhurst Beef Burgers in Aldi 0.3%, Moordale Quarter Pounders in Lidl 0.1%, Flamehouse Chargrilled Quarter Pounders in Dunnes Stores 0.1%, and two varieties of Iceland Quarter Pounders 0.1%.

Even lower levels were recorded in Moordale Beef Burgers in Lidl and St Bernard Beef Burgers in Dunnes Stores.

The FSAI said it was working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as well as the processing plants and retailers involved.

It said the retailers had pledged to remove all implicated batches from their shelves immediately. In addition, Silvercrest Foods was withdrawing all products from sale and replacing them with new ones.

Aldi said it was conducting its own investigation. "We have sought information from one supplier, Silvercrest, which is dealing directly with the FSAI on the issue that has been raised," it said.

Lidl said it had taken the decision to remove all implicated products from sale pending a full investigation.

"A refund will be provided to customers who wish to return affected products," a spokesman said.

Professor Alan Reilly, the chief executive of the FSAI, said although consumers need not worry, the findings did raise a number of concerns.

He said: "The products we have identified as containing horse DNA and/or pig DNA do not pose any food safety risk and consumers should not be worried. Consumers who have purchased any of the implicated products can return them to their retailer.

"Whilst there is a plausible explanation for the presence of pig DNA in these products due to the fact that meat from different animals is processed in the same meat plants, there is no clear explanation at this time for the presence of horse DNA in products emanating from meat plants that do not use horse meat in their production process.

"In Ireland, it is not in our culture to eat horse meat, and therefore we do not expect to find it in a burger. Likewise, for some religious groups or people who abstain from eating pig meat, the presence of traces of pig DNA is unacceptable."

:: The FSAI operates an advice line on 1890 33 66 77 from 9am-5pm.

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Bus Driver Hurt As Violence Flares In Belfast

A bus driver has been injured after rioting loyalists hurled stones at his vehicle in the latest flaring of violence in east Belfast.

Police were attacked with stones and bottles and petrol bombs thrown at houses and a church in the neighbouring Catholic Short Strand district.

The driver was hurt by flying glass when a brick shattered a window in his bus in the Lower Newtownards Road area.

Petrol bombs were also thrown from Short Strand towards loyalist homes in Lower Newtownards Road.

One officer was injured and water cannon deployed to disperse protesters in what has been minor disorder compared to recent weeks.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers meets concerned businessmen

Trouble flared just hours after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Matt Baggott and politicians appealed for calm.

Now in its seventh week, public disorder has continually flared up in protest at a decision to restrict the flying of the Union flag above City Hall.

First Minister Peter Robinson branded rioters the enemies of democracy and said they were being exploited by elements seeking to wreck the peace process.

He said: "You do not respect a Union flag if you are using it as a weapon to charge against someone.

"You are not showing respect for the Union flag if you need to wear a mask when carrying it.

"For many the issue of the flying of the Union flag at Belfast City Council is now a cynical cover for the real political agenda which is to destroy the political process."

So far 101 police officers have been injured in the violence, and 85 people have been charged with public order offences.

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Britain Braced For More Snow Disruption

Driving Tips For Winter Weather

Updated: 11:51pm UK, Monday 14 January 2013

With many roads in the UK covered by snow and ice, motorists have being warned to take extra care.

Skidding on ice is the main concern for those driving in freezing conditions.

So what is the best advice when it comes to being safe on the roads?

The Institute of Advanced Motorists has issued some top tips for motorists:

Before setting off:

:: Plan your route according to the driving conditions.

:: Make sure your wipers are in good condition.

:: Clean your windows inside and out.

:: Top up the washer fluid with winter strength screen wash which has a freeze-resistant additive.

:: Check last year's scraper and de-icer are up to the job.

:: Check your tyres, especially the tread depth. For optimum safety opt for at least 3mm instead of the legal minimum of 1.6mm.

:: Check all lights.

:: Pack an emergency kit – high-viz jacket, food and water, boots, de-icer, scraper, torch, shovel and charged mobile phone with your breakdown emergency number.

:: If you are on regular medication, take enough with you in case you get delayed.

On the road:

:: Use the 'ice' setting if your car has one.

:: Slow down and accelerate smoothly and gradually.

:: Drive in the highest gear possible, starting off in second.

:: Make sure you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

:: Increase your following distance by ten times even if you have ABS.

:: Beware - light steering and reduced road noise could mean you are driving on ice.

:: Frost, ice and snow remain for longer under trees, on bridges, and in areas exposed to wind.

:: Make sure your wipers are in the off position when you stop – they can freeze to the window.

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NSPCC Fears Delays In Reporting Child Abuse

A children's charity has urged youngsters to report abuse sooner in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

A poll conducted by the NSPCC found that fewer than one in five would report abuse concerns as soon as they arose.

The charity's own data shows that almost half of people who contact its helpline have waited over a month to get in touch, with some waiting much longer.

A six-week television campaign begins on Monday, explaining how the public can report abuse.

Peter Watt, director of the NSPCC's helpline, said: "Child sexual abuse is not a problem that died with Jimmy Savile.

"It is a problem that continues today, with children across the UK suffering at the hands of a minority of adults.

"Whilst the uplift in reports of abuse and new figures indicating that people are more willing to speak out is very welcome, it's also clear that people are still waiting for that elusive certainty before taking action.

"People clearly have the desire to act but are unsure how or when to do it.

"The truth is you will probably never be certain because of the hidden nature of abuse, especially sexual abuse.

"And the poll also shows that 59% of people are not confident that they could spot the signs if a child they knew was being sexually abused."

Jimmy Savile's record of abuse is thought to be unprecedented - with 28 alleged victims being boys and girls aged under 10.

However many of the TV star's accusers only came forward after his death.

Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos said: "Jimmy Savile was allowed to abuse in part because people were not certain what they were seeing was abuse, and in part because the children themselves were not listened to or believed.

"It's vital that people listen to what children are saying, and that they report concerns immediately even if they are not certain."

Anyone who has concerns about a child or wants advice can contact the NSPCC for free 24 hours a day, by calling 0808 800 5000, or emailing help@nspcc.org.uk

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Snow Falls Across Swathes Of Britain Overnight

Snow has fallen over parts of Britain overnight - with a much heavier band of snow on its it way.

Snow was reported across the Midlands, South East England, West Yorkshire and parts of Scotland, but did not accumulate.

A second, heavier band of sleet and snow is expected to move eastwards across the country this morning, bringing up to 10cm of snow on higher ground.

Rain and sleet will continue to spread east in the afternoon, turning to snow across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. However snow will turn to wintry showers by Monday night.

The Met Office has upgraded its "cold weather action" warning to level three - one underneath a national emergency - for all of England.

It still has three amber snow warnings in place in the East Midlands, North East England and Yorkshire to highlight the hazardous conditions and likelihood of disruption to travel services caused by the ice, snow and freezing temperatures.

Amber warnings issued for East Midlands, NE England and Yorkshire

There are also seven yellow warnings covering many parts of England and Scotland, making people aware of possible disruption.

Sky weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Central and eastern parts of England will have snow showers this morning, perhaps quite sleety in parts of the Midlands.

"This afternoon there will be further rain, sleet and snow for central and eastern England, southern areas most likely to have rain or sleet.

"Rain and sleet as well for Wales and western England first thing. Once this clears south-eastwards, it'll be drier and brighter for the afternoon but with some showers, some of which will be heavy and wintry."

Leeds Bradford Airport reported severe weather was causing disruption to its flight schedule - but it later removed the warning from its website.

Yellow warnings in many areas for people to be aware of possible disruption

Staff at Heathrow Airport monitored the weather closely but no flights were cancelled due to the weather.

The Highways Agency reported no major problems overnight, but are still braced for potential adverse weather conditions to come.

The agency has said it is "well prepared" for winter conditions.

A spokeswoman said: "We have a fleet of 500 state-of-the-art winter vehicles on standby, supported by tried-and-tested winter resilience plans.

"We have reviewed salt stock levels and taken action where needed to enhance our resilience and we have again established a reserve salt stock to help ensure that there is enough salt to deal with severe winter.

"Our roads will be treated whenever there is a risk of ice or snow. However, even when roads have been treated, drivers should still take care, especially on stretches where the local road layout or landscape means there could be a greater risk of ice forming."

Temperatures are expected to drop further to around -8C on Wednesday night with the possibility of more light snow flurries.

:: Send us your photos or videos of the snow where you are.

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Belfast Protests: 29 Police Officers Injured

Twenty-nine police officers have been injured during disorder in east Belfast.

Police used water cannon during sectarian clashes overnight between loyalists and republicans in the Castlereagh Street area.

Trouble flared after a city centre demonstration against the council's decision to limit the number of days the Union flag is flown from City Hall.

Four of the 29 injured officers were taken to hospital and two remain in treatment.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable Matt Baggott said: "This was a difficult operation dealing with a large number of people determined to cause disorder and violence. My colleagues brought the situation under control with exceptional courage and professionalism.

"I know the vast majority of people will be grateful for their efforts. Police will continue to engage with all those committed to finding a solution to these issues."

Police officers helped an injured colleague during the protest

Water cannon were deployed and a non-lethal baton round fired by riot police as they separated opposing factions.

A hail of bricks and fireworks rained down at the Albertbridge Road near the nationalist Short Strand.

Earlier on Saturday, nearly 1,000 people gathered at City Hall to protest.

Senior politicians from Belfast, Dublin and London are to meet next week to discuss the protests after more than 40 days of road blocks and sporadic violence by loyalists have failed to produce a solution.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy Martin McGuinness will join Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and Ireland's Tanaiste (deputy leader) Eamonn Gilmore.

Mr Gilmore said: "This violence is being orchestrated and those behind it are known criminals, intent on creating chaos.

"This has nothing to do with real issues around flags and identity in a shared society, which are the subject of intensive political discussions at present."

Cars were set alight during the rioting

The demonstrations against Belfast City Council's decision to hoist the Union flag only on designated days like royal birthdays have brought many parts of Northern Ireland to a standstill.

More than 70 officers have been injured and over 100 arrests made during weeks of sporadic trouble, the PSNI said.

Businesses in Belfast's city centre have struggled to cope, with many reporting lost trade, and the Confederation of British Industry warned some investors may think again.

A doctor was prevented from attending a terminally ill cancer patient because of loyalist road blocks in south Belfast, it was revealed.

A loyalist protester throws a wooden post at police

The GP was travelling to a home call with the sick man when he was stopped twice by crowds of demonstrators who blocked the road.

Police asked them to move but they refused, nationalist SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt said.

He said: "These are depraved acts which immediately dismiss any claim on a protest being peaceful."

The doctor had to wait until the blockade was lifted.

A unionist forum chaired by DUP leader Mr Robinson and UUP leader Mike Nesbitt met last week to discuss ways of empowering loyalist working class communities.

A second peace rally is to be held outside City Hall later today.

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Jamaica: British Girl, 8, Shot Dead In Shop

An eight-year-old British girl has died after a gunman opened fire on a shop in Jamaica, according to reports.

Local media on the Caribbean island said three other people were injured in the shooting which happened in the northwestern town of Duncans, in Trelawny.

It is understood the girl is from Balham, south London, and was visiting relatives in the country with her mother.

The Sun names the victim as Imani Green and reports that she was shot twice, first in the head and then the shoulder.

She was taken to hospital but died later.

The newspaper claims the attack may be linked to an argument the owner of the shop was involved in.

The British Foreign Office said: "We can confirm the death of a British national on January 11 in Jamaica. We are providing consular assistance and liaising with local authorities."

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