Thatcher's Ironclad Funeral Plans Revealed

Baroness Thatcher left instructions that the current prime minister should give a reading at her funeral, it has been reported.

Britain's first and only female PM will be given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday, which will be attended by the Queen.

It is the same status as that accorded to the Queen Mother and Diana, Princess of Wales, although some Tories want a full state ceremony.

Her friends and family indicated that Lady Thatcher said she did not want such treatment; she did not want to lie in state and thought a fly-past would be a waste of money.

But there were far more details left by Lady Thatcher on how she thought her memorial service should be carried out, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mark Thatcher greets his sister Carol as she arrives at their mother's home

They were said to include the choice of hymns - among them the patriotic I Vow to Thee, My Country - and readings from the Bible.

She specified that the prime minister at the time of her death should read a lesson from the Gospels.

Her choice of reading was John 14.1, which says: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.

"I go to prepare a place for you."

Another lesson will be read by Lady Thatcher's 19-year-old granddaughter Amanda, the Telegraph said.

The service will also include readings from the Book of Common Prayer, including the burial prayer that begins: "Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower."

The service will be held at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday

There will be the traditional reading for meeting the body arriving at a church, which begins: "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord. He that believeth in me, yea, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

Among the other hymns selected by Lady Thatcher are John Bunyan's To Be A Pilgrim and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

It has also been announced that MPs and peers will be able to pay their respects to Lady Thatcher in Parliament's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft on the eve of her funeral.

The chapel will be open on Tuesday evening so members and staff from both Houses can visit the former prime minister's coffin.

Around 100 people, mainly family members and MPs, will also be invited to a short service led by the Dean of Westminster welcoming Lady Thatcher's body.

A painting of Lady Thatcher in the Downing Street study

Downing Street said she requested her body rested overnight in the historic chapel, and the Queen had given her consent.

Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Lady Thatcher's daughter Carol arrived at her mother's home ahead of the funeral.

Miss Thatcher flew in from overseas and was driven to the Belgravia townhouse in central London, where she was greeted outside by her brother Sir Mark.

Earlier Sir Mark said his family has been overwhelmed by the messages of support, as well-wishers continued to leave floral tributes throughout the day outside the Chester Square property.

He said his mother would have been very proud to know the Queen would attend her funeral.

She will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, and other heads of state and foreign dignitaries from around the world are attending.

The Queen will attend Lady Thatcher's funeral

The Queen also went to Sir Winston Churchill's state ceremony in 1965.

The funeral plans were revealed as Downing Street released two collections of photographs on the Flickr website documenting Lady Thatcher's time in office and her lasting influence inside Number 10.

The photos show renovations she ordered during her time in power, while her third general election victory is featured with her giving a three-fingered salute outside Number 10.

Lady Thatcher died at The Ritz in central London on Monday morning after suffering a stroke. She had battled ill health for a number of years.

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Four Missing In House Fire In East London

Four people are missing and two men have been taken to hospital after a house fire in east London, emergency services have said.

Fire crews tackled the blaze on Romford Road in Forest Gate in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The roof was destroyed in the fire and a large part of the ground and first floors of the property were damaged.

The building is believed to have been disused.

Firefighters rescued a man from the roof of the building and another man escaped before the fire brigade arrived.

Both men were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

Fire station manager Daniel Alie, who was at the scene, said: "The fire caused severe damage to the house and the roof was destroyed.

"Crews rescued a man from the rear of the house using a ladder. Both men have been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

"Our fire investigation unit is now working to find out what caused the blaze."

Eight fire engines from Leytonstone, East Ham, Plaistow, Stratford, and Bow fire stations attended the call, which was received at 3.09am.

There were around 60 firefighters and officers at the scene, and equipment included an aerial ladder platform and fire rescue unit.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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'Free' Web And App Games Investigated

So-called "free" web and app-based games for children are under investigation following concerns that users can run up substantial costs.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said it was investigating whether children were being unfairly pressured or encouraged to pay for content in free games, such as upgraded membership or virtual currency in forms including coins, gems or fruit.

The investigation will look into whether these games include "direct exhortations" to children to do something that will require making a purchase, or to persuade their parents or other adults to make a purchase for them.

It will also consider whether the full cost of some of these games is made clear when they are downloaded or accessed.

The OFT has written to companies who offer such games asking them for information on how they market to children.

It is also asking parents and consumer groups for information about potentially misleading or commercially aggressive practices.

OFT senior director for goods and consumer, Cavendish Elithorn, said: "We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs.

"The OFT is not seeking to ban in-game purchases, but the games industry must ensure it is complying with the relevant regulations so that children are protected.

"We are speaking to the industry and will take enforcement action if necessary."

Martin Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said it was "disappointing" that apps aimed at children have been allowed to charge "ridiculous amounts" for extra features.

He pointed to one game, My Little Pony, which he said charged users £69 for some in-app purchases.

Mr Lewis said: "When games such as My Little Pony, which are obviously targeted at young children, bait kids with £69 purchases of a 'mountain of gems', something is going wrong in the system.

"What's really disappointing is it's been allowed to get this far. Apple especially makes a play of only allowing approved apps in its store.

"So why does it allow games that can be targeted at young children to charge such ridiculous amounts for in-app purchases?

"As always, an OFT investigation, even if it does advise action, will take time. So the most important message meanwhile is to protect yourself."

MoneySavingExpert.com said case studies reported on its forum included a seven-year-old who racked up a £69.99 bill on the College Girl app, a parent who was unaware their five-year-old had spent £65 on in-app purchases and a child who spent £80 on the Tiny Pets app.

Last month, Apple agreed pay out around £66m ($100m) to settle a US lawsuit which claims children were improperly charged while playing iPad and iPhone games.

It was alleged that poor safeguards meant kids were easily able to buy extra features for the free games without their parents' knowledge or permission.

The tech giant agreed to give a £3.30 ($5) credit to an estimated 23 million people who were affected. However, if parents can show they were charged more than £20 ($30) then cash refunds will be offered.

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Leeds Hospital Victim's Mother Wants Answers

By Frazer Maude, North Of England Correspondent

The mother of a young girl who died following heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary has said she wants to know how and why her daughter died.

Siobhan Casey, from Rossington near Doncaster, has written to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust with a list of 27 issues that she wants them to address following the death of her four-year-old daughter Mylee.

Mylee had surgery to remove a build up of muscle on her heart that was restricting blood flow on March 15. Several hours after the four-hour operation, Mylee began to show stroke-like symptoms of stiffness down one side of her body.

Her mother said she wasn't informed straight away, and there was a gap of 13 hours between the symptoms being noticed and Mylee being given a CT scan.

The scan showed two areas of brain damage, prompting doctors to perform emergency surgery to remove blood clots. The next day an MRI scan showed more extensive brain damage, and on March 21, Mylee died.

"I want answers to why it happened," said Ms Casey. "Answers to why she wasn't treated more effectively and quicker than she was."

Four-year-old Mylee Casey died on March 21

She also claims that staff on the unit were discourteous, unsympathetic and not fully trained in treating head injuries.

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust told Sky News it cannot discuss the clinical details of individual cases, but did issue a statement, saying: "We extend our deepest sympathy to Mylee's family and have been speaking to her mother about the family's concerns and have arranged a meeting with her next week to discuss these further. In such circumstances families understandably want to ask many questions and we will do everything possible to help."

Two weeks ago operations in the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary were suspended by NHS England when figures suggested the unit had an uncommonly high death rate.

That data was later found to be flawed, and surgery partially resumed earlier this week.

NHS England have apologised for any inconvenience the decision to suspend surgery may have caused, but not for making the decision.

Earlier this week, the deputy director of medical services for NHS England, Mike Bewick, said the unit had been investigated in detail during the 11-day period that surgery was suspended for.

Mylee's mother, Siobhan Casey, says she is still waiting for answers

He said that investigation had shown that "it was obvious that the unit is completely safe".

The unit is still under scrutiny by NHS England, which will now look into the hospital's handling of data, and into the way they deal with patient complaints. There will also be a review of patient case notes for the past three years.

Campaigners recently succeeded in their bid to have the High Court quash part of a review into children's cardiac surgeries in England that had initially earmarked the Leeds unit for closure. That would mean hundreds of patients would have to be treated in Newcastle, Birmingham or Liverpool.

The judge in the case ruled that the consultation process which led to the NHS deciding which units to close was legally flawed and unfair.

Some of the campaigners maintain that the suspension of surgery just 24 hours after the ruling was a political move deliberately aimed at undermining the credibility of the unit.

They are now calling for a full investigation into the NHS's decision.

Child surgery lawyer Laurence Vick told Sky News: "The families do need to know that their concerns are being addressed and so far their worries are that they haven't been and all the attention has been on the successful outcomes rather than the unsuccessful ones.

"They feel like they are the forgotten families in all of this."

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M&S Sees Clothing Sales Fall As Food Goes Up

Retailer Marks and Spencer has reported a drop of 3.8% in like-for-like clothing sales for the first three months of the year, as food sales rose 4%.

It was the seventh consecutive quarterly fall in underlying general merchandise sales, though the outcome was a touch ahead of expectations.

Marks & Spencer, which has been the subject of takeover speculation, said sales of its non-food products, spanning clothing, footwear and homewares, at stores open over a year dropped in the 13 weeks to March 30.

As a result of the boost by food, total group sales in the period rose by 3.1%.

More follows...

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Welfare Cuts 'Will Widen North-South Divide'

People living in northern England will be hardest hit by the Government's welfare reforms, which will take nearly £19bn out of the economy every year.

Researchers say adults in Blackpool will lose an average of £910 a year each - more than anywhere else in Britain - because of changes to Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and Child Benefit, as well as Tax Credit and Council Tax Benefit.

Former industrial areas including Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Glasgow will also be disproportionately affected.

However, wealthier areas, such as Cambridge, parts of Surrey and the Cotswolds, are expected to see the smallest financial losses.

Cambridge will be among the places least affected, researchers say

Westminster, with its high cost of living, will be the worst-affected London borough, with the average adult losing £820 in annual benefits.

Professor Steve Fothergill, of Sheffield Hallam's Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, which led the study, said: "A key effect of the welfare reforms will be to widen the gaps in prosperity between the best and worst local economies across Britain.

"Our figures also show the coalition Government is presiding over national welfare reforms that will impact principally on individuals and communities outside its own political heartlands."

Professor Fothergill found that, on the whole, the more deprived the local authority, the greater the financial impact.

Former industrial towns such as Middlesbrough are likely to feel the pinch

Collectively, the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humberside stand to lose £5.2bn a year in benefit income.

However, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Around nine out of 10 working households will be better off by, on average, almost £300 a year as a result of changes to the tax and welfare system this month.

"Raising the personal allowance to £10,000, we will have lifted 2.7 million people out of income tax since 2010.

"Our welfare reforms, including reassessing people on incapacity benefit, will help people back into work, which will benefit the economy more than simply abandoning them to claim benefits year after year.

"These changes are essential to keep the benefits bill sustainable, so that we can continue to support people when they need it most across the UK."

Changes to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Disability Living Allowance have already been made.

A benefit cap of £500 per week for a family and £350 for a single person will be introduced on April 15, while Universal Credit, which replaces a number of means-tested benefits, will be rolled out from October.

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Fracking Earthquake Fears Dismissed By Study

Fracking: The Pros And Cons

Updated: 2:51pm UK, Thursday 13 December 2012

Opinion about fracking is bitterly divided amid fears of its environmental impact. Here are the key arguments.

What is fracking?

Hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - involves drilling into the ground. Drills go down and then sideways into areas of gas-bearing shale. Small charges are used to blow holes in the walls of the well before water and chemicals are pumped in at high-pressure to shatter the rock. This releases natural gas, formed from deposits of mud, silt and other matter that is stuck in pores within the rock layers, which is then pumped up to the surface.

The Pros

Energy security: Using Britain's own natural gas could provide a major proportion of Britain's energy needs and reduce the country's reliance on imports. Well operator Cuadrilla Resources estimates the Bowland Basin prospect site in Lancashire contains as much as 200 trillion cubic feet of gas. If even a fraction of that is extracted, Cuadrilla says it could make a significant contribution to Britain's energy supplies.

Availability: Britain has high resources of shale gas in areas including the Pennines. It could be an alternative to other fossil fuels and be worth billions of pounds.

Lower prices: There have been claims that the use of shale gas could result in lower energy costs, although the Government's own advisers have now cast doubt on the prospect.

Economic boost: Cuadrilla, the only company currently with a fracking licence, says it could create tens of thousands of jobs and generate significant tax revenue.

The Cons

Safety fears: Cuadrilla's testing in Lancashire caused small tremors in Blackpool in 2011 although there was no structural damage. Strict measures will now aim to minimise any risks.

Contamination: Environmentalists believe the process risks polluting water suppliers with chemicals. In the US, there have been reports of dangerous methane leaks, toxins from extraction plants escaping, sick animals and tap water turning grey. Cuadrilla denies the British water supply could be spoiled and insists fracturing fluid cannot escape from the rock.

Visual impact: There are concerns about drilling and hydraulic rigs, and general industrial development, in areas of natural beauty - although this also applies to many renewable projects.

Shift of focus: Proponents say shale gas could be a transitional fuel that helps to bridge the energy gap but campaigners insist attention should be on developing renewable energy. Environmental groups also claim fracking will affect efforts to slash carbon emissions.

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Unicef: Austerity Risks Children's Prospects

British children's prospects trail behind many of their European neighbours and current Government policies are making it worse, a UN organisation has warned.

Unicef's report on child well-being placed the UK 16th out of 29 developed countries, but it ranked much lower on key indicators including involvement in further education (29th), teenage pregnancy (27th) and youth unemployment (24th).

The children's rights organisation warned that a generation of British teenagers is being "sidelined" by the Government's austerity agenda and called for more state investment in young people.

Anita Tiessen, deputy executive director of Unicef UK, said: "There is no doubt that the situation for children and young people has deteriorated in the last three years, with the Government making policy choices that risk setting children back in their most crucial stages of development.

"With the UK ranking at the bottom, or near the bottom, of the league table on teenage pregnancy and young people not in education, employment or training, we know that many are facing a bleaker future.

"While children and young people will be the first to bear the brunt if we fail to safeguard their well-being, over time society as a whole will pay the price."

The UK has actually crept up the child well-being tables since Unicef's last report in 2007, which branded Britain the worst place in the developed world to be a child.

But the organisation warned that the improvement seen under the previous Labour administration risks being reversed by the Coalition cuts programme.

It cited research by the Family and Parenting Institute and Institute for Fiscal Studies predicting that 400,000 more children will be in poverty by 2015/16 due to austerity measures.

The new report draws on statistics from 2010 and shows a general improvement in children's experiences over the first decade of this century, compared with the previous scorecard, which looked at data from 2001/2.

But the brighter picture for younger children is not matched among teenagers, who remain more likely than their peers in other developed countries to drop out of education and get involved in underage drinking and teenage pregnancy.

The table was topped by the Netherlands, then Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Romania was ranked last.

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Margaret Thatcher: Funeral Preparations Begin

Thatcher In Her Own Words

Updated: 3:57pm UK, Monday 08 April 2013

Margaret Thatcher was renowned for her no-nonsense turn of phrase. Here are some of her memorable quotes.

:: "I wasn't lucky. I deserved it" - on receiving a school prize, aged nine

:: "There is no alternative" - about economic policing giving rise to her nickname "Tina"

:: "I am not hard, I'm frightfully soft. But I will not be hounded" - an interview in 1972

:: "It will be years - and not in my time - before a woman will lead the party or become Prime Minister" - speech in 1974

:: "Let our children grow tall, and some taller than others if they have it in them to do so" - speech in the US in 1975

:: "I've got a woman's ability to stick to a job and get on with it when everyone else walks off and leaves it" - in 1975

:: "I stand before you tonight in my green chiffon evening gown, my face softly made up, my fair hair gently waved. The Iron Lady of the Western World? Me? A cold war warrior? Well, yes - if that is how they wish to interpret my defence of values and freedoms fundamental to our way of life" - after the Kremlin dubbed her the Iron Lady in 1976

:: "Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country" - election campaign in 1979

:: "Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope" - on becoming PM in 1979

:: "If a woman like Eva Peron with no ideals can get that far, think how far I can go with all the ideals that I have" - an interview in 1980

:: "To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say, you turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning" - Tory Party conference in 1980

:: "A crime is a crime is a crime" - news conference in Saudi Arabia, rejecting any view that there could be political reasons for IRA terrorism in 1981

:: "We knew what we had to do and we went about it and did it. Great Britain is great again" - after the Falklands conflict in 1982

:: "In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman" - speech in 1982

:: "The battle for women's rights has been largely won" - an interview in 1982

:: "I owe nothing to women's lib" - an interview in 1982

:: "Victorian values were the values when our country became great" - a TV interview in 1982

:: "I am painted as the greatest little dictator, which is ridiculous - you always take some consultations" - an interview in 1983

:: "This is a man I can do business with" - after her first meeting with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev

:: "This is a day I was not meant to see" - after the Brighton bomb that nearly killed her in 1984

:: "I think, historically, the term 'Thatcherism' will be seen as a compliment" - speech in 1985

:: "Why, Marks and Spencer of course. Doesn't everyone?" - when asked where she bought her underwear in 1986

:: "There is no such thing as Society. There are individual men and women, and there are families" -  an interview in 1987

:: "We are a grandmother" - on the birth of her grandson, Michael, in 1989

:: "I fight on. I fight to win" - after she was forced into a second ballot in the leadership battle in November 1990

:: "It's a funny old world" - After her decision to quit in November 1990, pointing out that she had never lost an election in her life yet had been forced to stand down

:: "The Mummy returns" - During the general election campaign in 2001 after passing a poster publicising the film of that name

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Margaret Thatcher: Critics Party In Brixton

Police were called to Brixton in South London after people celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher gathered in the streets.

Some revellers climbed onto the Ritzy cinema building and rearranged letters on its film listings board to spell out the words: "Margaret Thatchers (sic) dead LOL".

Britain's first and only female prime minister died on Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 87.

Other critics gathered in Windrush Square celebrated with cheers of "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, dead, dead, dead".

A banner celebrating Margaret Thatcher's death hangs from the Ritzy cinema

The area was the scene of fierce riots in 1981, two years into Lady Thatcher's first term in office.

Pictures of anti-Thatcher graffiti scrawled on walls in Brixton also appeared on Twitter, with one reading: "You snatched my milk! & our hope"

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said extra officers were brought in to control the crowds, who "caused low level disorder" and threw "a small number of missiles" at officers.

There were no reports of any arrests and the group dispersed in the early hours of the morning, acccording to police.

Some revellers sprayed champagne as they celebrated in Brixton

A spokesman for Ritzy said there was some damage to its building, adding that staff helped clear up the streets after the demonstration.

Meanwhile in Glasgow, up to 300 people gathered in George Square, 24 years after poll tax protests were held there.

Some anti-capitalist campaigners wore party hats and launched streamers into the air, while a bottle of champagne was sprayed.

Earlier, David Hopper, general secretary of Durham Miners' Association, said he was celebrating on his 70th birthday after learning of Baroness Thatcher's death.

"She was a heartless woman who tore the heart out of the mining communities of the North," he said.

George Galloway, the Respect MP for Bradford West, wrote on Twitter: "Thatcher described Nelson Mandela as a 'terrorist'. I was there. I saw her lips move. May she burn in the hellfires."

Parliament is being recalled on Wednesday for a special session to allow politicians to pay tribute to Lady Thatcher.

A full ceremonial funeral will take place at St Paul's Cathedral next week.

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Four Teenagers Arrested Over Man's Death

Four teenagers arrested in connection with the death of a 40-year-old man who was attacked in a town centre will be kept in custody overnight, police have said.

The death of Glen Kitchens in Worksop is being treated as murder, Nottinghamshire Police said today.

Mr Kitchens, from the Sunnyside area of the town, was taken to hospital after reports of an assault at around 7.30pm in Bridge Street, near its junction with Central Avenue and Ryton Street, police said.

He was taken to Bassetlaw District Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The officers said they have arrested three 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old who continue to be questioned.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: "Mr Kitchens' relatives are being supported by specially-trained detectives at this difficult time."

He added: "As part of the murder inquiry, detectives are scouring CCTV from the town centre and speaking to witnesses in a bid to establish what happened."

Earlier, speaking outside Worksop Police Station, Superintendent Paul Anderson said: "We would ask for members of the public who were in Worksop, specifically Bridge Street, at that time if they have seen a group of youths - a mixture of males and females - or are in receipt of any information, if they would contact Nottinghamshire Police."

The senior officer said: "It's a very serious inquiry where a man had died.

"We are treating it at this time as a murder inquiry."

Mr Anderson added: "I can reassure the community of Worksop and the wider community that we are taking this very seriously.

"Additional patrols and additional officers have placed in the town centre tonight.

"We do not believe there is any risk to the residents of this town."

He said a postmortem examination will take place in the next couple of days.

Mr Anderson said he still needed members of the public to come forward despite the arrests that have been made.

An area of the main shopping centre of Worksop was cordoned off today but the force said "officers are hoping to enable those shops affected by today's disruption to open as normal tomorrow".

Flowers have also been left near the cordon to mark the man's death.

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Grand National: Ryan Mania Set To Leave Hospital

Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania hopes to leave hospital after a precautionary MRI scan following his heavy fall at Hexham.

The 23-year-old rider was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after his mount Stagecoach Jasper came down early on the final circuit of the St John Lee Handicap Hurdle.

He received what appeared to be a kick between his shoulder blades in the fall, which came less than 24 hours after he rode to victory on Auroras Encore at Aintree.

Mania, who was treated at the track for 25 minutes before being attached to a spinal board and flown to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary, tweeted from his hospital bed on Sunday.

He wrote: "Thanks so much for all the messages. I'm grand. Staying in hospital to get another scan tomorrow then should be home. #highsandlows."

Mania was attended to on the track and then taken to hospital

The MRI scan will provide doctors with a detailed image of the inside of Mania's body, allowing them to see any injuries to his bones, joints or internal organs.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance confirmed the jockey received "severe/serious" back and neck injuries but said he was in a stable condition by the time he arrived at hospital.

James Armstrong, clerk of the course at Hexham, said he had been conscious and talking after the fall.

Mania's Grand National victory marked a dramatic turnaround in his career, which was temporarily halted when he spent six months out of racing and working in the hunt service after his former boss Howard Johnson lost his training licence.

He became the first Scottish-born winning rider of the world-famous steeplechase since 1896, when David Campbell won on The Soarer.

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Boy, 3, Is Third To Die In Devon House Fire

A three-year-old boy has died of his injuries following a house fire which also killed two teenagers, police have said.

The child was being treated at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol following Friday's blaze in the Honiton area of Devon but was pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon.

Devon and Cornwall Police earlier confirmed the deaths of a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man.

A spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that police can now report that the three-year-old boy, who was taken to the specialist burns unit at Frenchay hospital, has today been pronounced deceased.

"Our thoughts are with the family at this time and the investigation to establish the cause of the fire is ongoing."

Officers were alerted to the fire in Lee Close shortly before 8am and a total of five people were taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital with the three-year-old later transferred to hospital in Bristol.

A six-year-old boy and a man in his 30s were also treated for smoke inhalation.

Seven members of one family and another person were in the property when the blaze broke out.

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Magic Mushroom Depression Trials Stalled

A trial that could lead to the use of magic mushroom treatments for depression has been stalled because of "absurd" regulations restricting the use of illegal drugs in research, it has been claimed.

Study leader Professor David Nutt, who was controversially sacked from his role as the Government's chief drug adviser in 2009, says "archaic" rules obstructing scientific progress should be abolished.

His team at Imperial College London has uncovered evidence that the hallucinogen psilocybin may combat severe depression which resists conventional treatment.

The problem is that psilocybin is the psychoactive ingredient in so-called "magic mushrooms" and is banned as a Class A drug.

Although the Medical Research Council has awarded a £550,000 grant for the trial, Professor Nutt said it has not yet been able to proceed.

Speaking ahead of the British Neuroscience Association's Festival of Neuroscience in London, he said: "We're not allowed to go and pick the mushrooms anymore and finding a company to provide this illegal drug in a way that can be prepared for trial use as yet has proved impossible.

Professor Nutt was the Government's chief drug adviser

"We are between a rock and a hard place, and that's very unfortunate because if this is an effective treatment, as it may well be for some people, then they are obviously being denied that possibility."

Under the law, academic researchers are not allowed to manufacture their own Class A drugs and must obtain them from external sources.

Companies that could supply the drugs have to go through "regulatory hoops" to obtain the necessary Home Office licence, Professor Nutt said.

This can take up to a year and triple the cost, he maintained.

Other major hurdles were the EU guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practice, which sets daunting standards for potential suppliers, and rules on storage.

Only four hospitals in the UK currently have a licence to hold psilocybin, making it difficult to roll the drug out as a prospective treatment.

Professor Nutt added: "We are the first people ever to have done a psilocybin study in the UK, but we are still hunting for a company that can manufacture the drug to GMP standards for the clinical trial, even though we've been trying for a year to find one.

"We live in a world of insanity in terms of regulating drugs at present. The whole field is so bogged down by these intransigent regulations, so that even if you have a good idea, you may never get it into the clinic."

Researchers discovered that when healthy volunteers are injected with the drug it shuts down a region of the brain known to be over-active in depression.

Professor Nutt was asked to step down from his role as chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2009 after claiming that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than LSD, ecstasy and cannabis.

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