UK Airport Shut After Landing Gear 'Failure'

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is closed until mid morning on Saturday after a plane's landing gear apparently malfunctioned.

South Yorkshire Police told Sky News they believed the wheels did not come down properly as it made its approach.

Eyewitness pictures show the small plane tilted to one side with its wing tip in the air and a fire engine on the scene.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it took one person to hospital with injuries that are believed to be minor.

The airport, also known as Robin Hood Airport, said on its website: "At approximately 19.30pm today Friday 15 August, there was an incident involving a LinksAir flight at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

"The aircraft was returning from Belfast City Airport and suffered a problem with the undercarriage during landing.

"The aircraft remains adjacent to the runway and cannot be moved until aircraft investigators arrive on site.

"As a consequence the Airport is currently closed and is not expected to reopen until mid morning August 16th.

"Passengers due to travel from the airport should contact their airline for the latest information regarding their flight."

Thomson Holidays said two of its planes that were due to arrive at the airport were diverted to East Midlands Airport.

One outbound plane going to Ibiza would depart from Manchester Airport, the travel company said.

No decision had been made about its two flights out in the morning.

LinksAir is a small UK airline operating British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft, and runs scheduled flights from Doncaster Sheffield, Belfast City and The Isle of Man.

Other operators using the South Yorkshire airport include First Choice, Thomas Cook, Flybe and Thomson.

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Immigration Detainee Tests Negative For Ebola

A female detainee who became ill at an immigration removal centre in South Lanarkshire has tested negative for the ebola virus.

The woman, understood to be from Sierra Leone, had been tested as a "precautionary measure" while being held at Dungavel Detention Centre in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

NHS Lanarkshire said yesterday it was "highly unlikely" the woman had the disease, but the Home Office suspended the release of any detainees being held at the centre until the results of the test was known.

The test comes amid growing international concern about the ebola outbreak in West Africa.

More than 1,000 people have died and almost 2,000 suspected, probable or confirmed ebola cases have been recorded there.

Health experts say they are struggling to contain the epidemic, which started in Guinea last March and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

The latest negative test comes after a Sierra Leone athlete competing at the Commonwealth Games was tested and found to be clear of Ebola in Glasgow last month.

More follows...

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Medical Chiefs 'Call Time On Failing GP Services'

GP services that continue to offer poor care to patients will be shut down, health regulators have said.

Surgeries are set to receive Ofsted-style ratings - where they will be deemed to be outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) chief inspector of general practice, Professor Steve Field, said from October failing practices will face being put into special measures.

Those given the lowest rating face closure if they fail to make the necessary improvements.

"Most GP practices provide good care," Prof Field said.

"We have confirmed this in our pilot inspections so far. But we can't allow those that provide poor care to continue to let their patients have an inadequate service.

"I want to do all I can to drive up standards in those that are not providing the services people deserve."

The regime could also see more doctors referred to the doctors' regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC).

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, added: "Whenever CQC's new inspection system raises concerns about the competency of individual GPs, the matter will be referred to the GP's local responsible officer and if necessary to the GMC.

"Family doctors are now subject to regular checks, but the inspections in England are bound to expose areas of weakness as well as good practice."

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee said: "It is important not to create a counter-productive blame culture based on isolated examples that would wrongly damage patient trust in wider GP services.

"We need to focus on providing support and enabling improvement in those GP practices that need help."

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Record Numbers Take Up University Places

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

A record number of students have been accepted into university, with nearly 400,000 taking up degree offers so far.

As young people across the UK receive their A-level results, Ucas, the organisation which handles the admissions process, said 396,990 had been awarded places - up 3% on last year.

Those who received low grades were expected to enjoy unprecedented access to university, with up to 30,000 new places created.

A decision by the Government to abolish the cap on student numbers could have a dramatic effect on this year's cohort, with fierce competition among universities seeking to attract school leavers.

Some were offering cash "scholarships", rewarding students for their A-level results, while others were offering reductions on accommodation and free tablet computers.

Mary Curnock-Cook, chief executive of Ucas, told Sky News: "Compared with their brothers and sisters two or three years ago, students will feel it's a little easier (to get into university)."

Coventry University, which is offering a £1,000 cashback, said the giveaways did make a difference but did not unduly influence students.

Deputy vice chancellor Ian Marshall said: "It makes a slight difference but most students come to university on the basis of the subject they are interested in, and the reputation of the institution."

One student, who received an offer to study at London Goldsmith's University, said he was deferring his place to take an apprenticeship.

Rhasan Brunner, 19, from Brooke House Sixth Form College in Hackney, northeast London, said students should think twice about doing degrees, which now cost up to £9,000 a year for tuition fees alone.

"I would say university isn't the best option for all students," he said.

"Since the Government raised tuition fees, students have to take out loans. That debt is going to stay over their head for quite a long time.

"Plus nowadays jobs are really rare and scarce and quite competitive, so it doesn't really guarantee you a job after university."

The decision to expand the number of student places comes amid increasing concern about quality assurance in higher education and job prospects for graduates, with recent figures showing almost half of graduates were in non-graduate level jobs.

However, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "This shouldn't be about ever higher numbers - it should be about ever higher standards.

"An A-level is still a significant achievement ... and what we want to see is an A-level stand that future employers and universities have confidence in."

Access to university has been expanding since the 1960s, when a report by economist Lionel Robbins advocated opening up higher education to all those who qualified by virtue of ability and attainment.

Two years ago, the Government abolished the cap on students with the highest grades, essentially paving the way for the expansion of the elite Russell Group of universities.

But the new expansion for students with lower grades - which could also include an additional 60,000 extra students next year - has prompted concerns about quality.

Jude Heaton, from Teach First, a charity set up to end inequality in education, said: "The risk there is we create a two-tier system, where pupils from richer backgrounds go to the most selective institutions ... (while) people from poorer backgrounds have an almost second tier university education."

Such concerns are likely to be further fuelled by a report by social mobility charity Sutton Trust earlier this week, which warned that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are still 10 times less likely to apply to the UK's 13 most selective universities.

There are also reports that today's results will confirm a deepening of the gender divide, as girls continue to shun STEM - science, technology, engineering and maths.

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Teachers To Publish Alternative League Tables

Headteachers will publish their own league tables to give parents more information about schools and to address concerns the Government's data serves "political aims rather than pupils' needs".

The rankings, which school leaders say will provide more information than Government league tables, will initially focus on secondary schools.

They will cover GCSE results, extra-curricular activities, the curriculum and other details like class sizes and subjects.

The proposals have been drawn up by two unions: the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

The independent school and academy group United Learning, and PiXL, which works with schools to raise standards, were also involved in the plan.

Teachers have expressed concerns about the current league tables, including a Government decision last year that only a pupil's first attempt at an exam would be counted towards a school's overall results.

Under the plans, secondary schools in England are being asked to submit their GCSE results for this summer.

The results, which are due to be released next week, will then be published on a new website later in the autumn, before the Department for Education publishes its data in January.

NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said the Government's data often failed to address pupils' needs.

"Schools must be accountable, but the Government's performance tables have become a sledgehammer to crack the system - too often serving political aims rather than pupils' needs and driving the wrong decisions," he said.

"This initiative will, over time, give parents stable, accurate and neutral information about schools.

"It is good to see the school leaders seizing the initiative and building a connection to parents that bypasses all the politics."

Jon Coles, chief executive of United Learning, said that over time a school's performance has become less about giving parents information, and instead become a way for successive governments to influence decisions headteachers make about running schools.

"This is too crude an approach to defining a great school or encouraging improvement and at different times, it has been detrimental in different ways," he said.

"For example, promoting too much focus on the C/D borderline, especially in English and maths, or promoting choices of qualification which do not serve individual children well.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "We agree that information about school performance should be freely available to parents.

"That's why we have taken steps to make our league tables clearer and, in addition to our data, all schools must publish extensive information on their website - including pupil progress."

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Two People Found Dead With Gunshot Wounds

Two people have been found dead with gunshot wounds at a property in Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Police confirmed they were alerted to reports of the shootings at 9.30am on Monday.

The victims have yet to be formally identified by family members. West Mercia Police said they are treating the deaths as unexplained. 

A spokesman said: "We are dealing with an incident in the Ledbury area where two people have been found dead at an address with gunshot wounds.

"They have not been named as formal identification has not yet taken place by the family.

"We are treating the deaths as unexplained, and it is too early to speculate what took place, and police inquiries are continuing along with post-mortems."

The spokesman would not comment on the genders of the pair, or where the bodies were discovered.

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Scottish Voters 'Anxious About UK Break Away'

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

A survey of Scottish attitudes has detailed the country's hopes and fears over independence.

The Survey of Scottish Social Attitudes found a small rise in support for breaking away from the UK, but exposed reservations over the economy and of diminished international influence.

Researchers also found the gap in support between men and women had doubled in size.

Last year, 26% of women backed independence compared to 27% in 2014. The comparative rise among men was from 32% to 39%.

Researchers believe that women are more wary of the uncertainties of independence and so are less inclined to support it.

The annual survey's other key findings include:

:: Independence

In 2013, excluding undecided voters, 36% of Scots backed independence. This year, that's risen to 39%.

In contrast, those against independence numbered 64% in 2013. This year that has fallen to 61%.

:: Economy

In 2013, 34% thought Scotland's economy would be worse under independence. In 2014, the figure has increased to 44%

:: International influence

In 2013, 25% of Scots believed independence would make Scotland's voice weaker. In 2014, the figure has risen to 38%

:: Britishness

When forced to choose one single identity, the number of Scots describing themselves as British has increased from 15% in 2011 to 23% now.

:: Currency

On one of the key issues at the heart of the referendum debate, people were asked what currency an independent Scotland would be using a few years after breaking away.

Some 46% of respondents thought it would be using the pound. This is in spite of pro-Union parties warning that an independent Scotland would be denied the pound.

Some 18% said it would use the euro, while 17% said it would use a new currency.

John Curtice, the co-director of the Scottish Social Attitudes survey at ScotCen Social Research commented: "Although support for a Yes vote has increased during the last 12 months, more voters have in fact become nervous about the consequences of leaving the UK.

"Support for independence has only increased because those who are convinced it would be beneficial for Scotland are more willing to put their cross in the Yes box.

"However, at present there are still insufficient voters who are of that view to deliver a majority for independence."

Rachel Ormston, research director at ScotCen said: "In the final weeks of the campaign, capturing women's votes remains a key challenge, particularly for the Yes campaign.

"Put off by uncertainty and less likely to be persuaded by patriotic arguments around 'pride', women still need to be convinced that independence will deliver on the economy and other areas."

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Boy, 4, Killed In West Yorkshire House Fire

A four-year-old boy has died after he and a 10-year-old child were rescued from a blaze at a house in West Yorkshire.

Emergency services were called to the property after smoke was seen rising from a rear bedroom at the home in Keighley, near Bradford, around 2pm on Monday.

Both children were rescued from the property and taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

The 10-year-old boy is now recovering from his injuries, which are not life-threatening. The four-year-old died in hospital.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire, which was confined to the bedroom.

Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson said: "Initial inquiries are under way with colleagues in the fire service to determine the cause of this fire and are at a very early stage.

"Clearly this has been a tragic incident in which a young child has lost his life and a full investigation will be carried out."

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Wine Should Carry Health Warning, Say MPs

Wine, beer and spirits should carry health warnings to combat alcohol abuse, politicians have said.

Warnings already feature on tobacco and food products - but consumer information on alcohol extends only to volume strength.

The All Parliamentary Party Group on Alcohol Misuse wants labels on products such as wine to explain the harmful effects of drinking.

The recommendation is one of 10 aimed at reducing the harm of alcohol in the UK.

The document states: "Health warnings are a familiar and prominent feature on all tobacco products.

Tobacco products have carried health warnings since 1971

"Likewise, detailed nutritional labelling is ubiquitous on food products and soft drinks.

"Yet consumer information on alcohol products usually extends no further than the volume strength and unit content.

"In order to inform consumers about balanced risk, every alcohol label should include an evidence-based health warning as well as describing the product's nutritional calorific and alcohol content."

The group also wants a mandatory minimum price per unit for alcohol, tougher regulations on advertising and a reduction of the drink-drive limit.

The group also wants a minimum price per unit of alcohol

A phased ban on the sponsorship of sport by alcohol firms should also be introduced, while GPs and other health workers should ask people about their drinking habits.

Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse, said: "The facts and figures of the scale of alcohol misuse in the UK speak for themselves: 1.2 million people a year are admitted to hospital due to alcohol; liver disease in those under 30 has more than doubled over the past 20 years; and the cost of alcohol to the economy totals £21bn.

"Getting political parties to seriously commit to these 10 measures will be a massive step in tackling the huge public health issue that alcohol is."

After smoking, alcohol is the second biggest preventable killer, the group said.

A Government spokeswoman said: "We are taking action to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and to give people better information about the impact drinking can have on your health.

"Through our Responsibility Deal, the drinks industry has committed to putting unit and health messages on 80% of all bottles and cans.

"And we have banned alcohol sales below the level of duty plus VAT to tackle the worst cases of very cheap and harmful alcohol."

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Weather Warnings As Bertha Moves Up North

Weather warnings have been issued by forecasters as the remnants of Hurricane Bertha continue to move across the country.

After Wales and southern England were left drenched on Sunday, northern parts braced themselves for the unpleasant conditions today.

By early this morning the town of Lossiemouth, in Moray, Scotland, had recorded almost a average month's rainfall in just 12 hours, while Aberdeenshire saw gusts of 50mph.

A First World War flypast over the white cliffs of Dover involving three bi-planes escorted by modern-day Tornado GR4s to commemorate those who flew and fought in the Great War has been cancelled due to unstable winds across the Channel.

A crane attempts to remove a fallen tree in Hull on Sunday

And the Environment Agency has issued six flood warnings, indicating flooding is expected, and 47 flood alerts across England and Wales, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has 12 flood alerts in place.

While parts of England and Wales are under Met Office warnings for rain and wind, forecaster Emma Corrigan said it is likely to clear up as the storm continues its course.

"It is expected to be a much drier day for southern parts but we'll still see some scattered showers in the west although these will spread eastwards as the day moves on," she said.

"It is expected to feel quite cool with temperatures in the mid to high teens.

It could reach around 21C in the south east but with blustery winds it will feel a little cooler than that."

Many areas were flooded on Sunday, including parts of Grimsby

In Scotland, motorists have been warned to expect disruption and Transport Scotland alongside its partners, including the local authorities, Sepa and Police Scotland, said they are monitoring the situation closely to ensure they are well prepared for the conditions.

Traffic Scotland operator manager Stein Connelly said drivers in parts of the North East and Highlands & Islands are likely to face difficult road conditions due to heavy rain.

"We would advise people in these areas to prepare for some travel disruption and to allow extra time for their journeys," he said.

"They should also check the relevant websites for up to date travel information."

The Met Office said people should be prepared for some disruption to transport with localised flooding likely.

It said outdoor activities will also be hazardous due to heavy rain combined with strong winds.

Police Scotland said: "There is a possibility of flooding in low-lying land, roads and to rivers which could cause delays to early morning traffic.

"Police are asking that the public allow extra time for travel and if driving, to be aware of possible flooding."

Ms Corrigan said a return to the sunshine and heat of earlier this summer does not look likely any time soon.

"Towards the end of the week we will see calmer, more settled conditions but temperatures will on average stay on the cooler side," she said.

"There is no real indication of a return to the hot conditions we've seen."

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Senior UKIP Politician In 'Copy Hitler' Row

A senior UKIP politician has defended reports he urged young party members to "copy Hitler".

The Mail On Sunday acquired a recording of West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge telling prospective candidates to "pick up little moments" of Hitler's speaking style.

Mr Etheridge can be heard saying the Nazi leader was "a hateful figure who achieved a great deal".

The Mail carried its story under the headline: "UKIP urges its youth wing: copy Hitler."

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Etheridge called the article a "silly, unpleasant attack".

"Hitler was an evil, monstrous tyrant but that doesn't mean he wasn't good at public speaking," said the 44-year-old.

The Mail On Sunday front page

"I wish he hadn't been, but we must be able to discuss historical figures without being slurred as agreeing with them.

"I speak about Tony Blair, Dr Martin Luther King and President Ronald Reagan - all kinds of people who were great public speakers.

"I regret that the Mail should stoop so low - it's embarrassing for all of us."

The recording - which Sky News has verified - was made last week at a conference for UKIP's youth wing, Young Independents.

Mr Etheridge, who is also a Dudley councillor, is heard saying: "If you look back to the most magnetic and forceful public speaker possibly in history.

"When Hitler gave speeches, and many of the more famous ones were at rallies, at the start he walks, back and forth, looked at people - there was a silence, he waited minutes just looking out at people, fixing them with his gaze.

"And they were looking back and he would do it for a while. And then they were so desperate for him to start that when he started speaking they were hanging on his every word.

Bill Etheridge urged candidates to "pick up moments" from Hitler speeches

"Again, I'm not saying direct copy - pick up little moments."

Labour MP Mike Gapes told the Mail On Sunday: "I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, but this just goes to show that (Nigel) Farage has completely failed to clean up his party.

"One of his MEPs training young candidates to speak like Hitler? Simply unbelievable."

But UKIP said The Mail On Sunday's interpretation of the speech was "truly disgusting".

A spokesman added: "Bill Etheridge gave a seminar on public speaking and highlighted great speakers of the past, like Churchill, Blair, Martin Luther King and Hitler as people whose style, not content could be studied.

"It is no surprise that two national newspapers have covered this conference - The Guardian and The Mail on Sunday. One gave it a fair hearing, the other as a Tory paper is terrified by the rise of UKIP and apparently will stoop to nothing to attack the party. We are disappointed, but unsurprised.

"During a period of respectful and pensive commemoration of those who gave their lives in war, the Tory Mail on Sunday's tasteless and desperate front page attack is truly disgusting."

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Weather Warnings As Bertha Hits Britain

The remnants of Hurricane Bertha are expected to bring flash floods and high winds to Britain on Sunday morning.

The Red Cross has put hundreds of volunteers on standby in response to concerns that homes in some areas will need to be evacuated.

The deluge landed at Cornwall in the early hours and is expected to sweep across the rest of Britain through the morning.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "Heavy rain, associated with the remnants of hurricane Bertha, has already spread up across southwest England, Wales, eastern parts of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

"Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, received 21mm of rain in 2 hours between 4am and 6am.

The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for much of the UK

"Wind gusts to around 40mph have been recorded along the south coast as the low pressure area has moved in.

"As the low tracks northeast into the Midlands and northeast England the winds are likely to become stronger across much of England and Wales with 50mph gusts expected, perhaps up to 60mph in exposure, with large waves also expected along the south coast."

Alister McHardy, from the Met Office, said: "Anywhere in England and Wales could get two inches - even the far south east of England could get a good dollop of rain.

"Britons should brace themselves and be aware that the rainfall could bring some flooding in places.

The A14 in Cambridgeshire was flooded on Friday

"It is a quick dose of autumn in the summer."

Today's forecast means part of the RideLondon-Surrey 100 bike ride has been cancelled.

Organisers have reduced the event to 86 miles to miss out a section including Leith Hill and Box Hill, where heavy rain is predicted.

Hurricane Bertha has already torn through the Caribbean, with 90mph winds leaving thousands of homes without power.

Its aftermath is not as potent - but the Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings telling people to "be aware" of rainfall for England, Wales and Scotland.

It follows flash flooding across eastern England on Friday.

More than 1,400 homes were without power after the heavy downpours.

Further bad weather is expected at the start of next week.

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