NHS 111: Patient Deaths Under Investigation

The deaths of three people are under investigation in connection with the NHS 111 non-emergency phone line, according to a report.

The general practitioners trade magazine Pulse reported that at least 22 possible "serious untoward incidents" (or SUIs) related to NHS 111 have been reported since the launch of the service.

Those incidents included three where a patient died, the magazine has claimed.

Two of the deaths occurred in the East Midlands, and one in the West Midlands.

The deaths reportedly include the case of a 47-year-old who died from a suspected overdose.

That death occurred after relatives contacted NHS 111 requesting mental health assistance, Pulse reported. 

A further 19 possible SUIs have been recorded by providers or commissioners, the magazine added.

Rolled out across most of the country last month, the NHS 111 service is for people urgently seeking medical help or advice but who are not in a life-threatening situation.

The service was introduced to replace NHS Direct in England and is meant to ease pressure on emergency 999 call centres.

NHS England said it could not verify the data reported in Pulse, however it issued a statement in response to the magazine's report.

"The safety of patients must be our paramount concern and NHS England will keep a careful eye on the situation to ensure NHS 111 provides not only a good service to the public, but one which is also safe," the statement read.

Earlier this week, NHS England announced a review of the 111 service.

A spokesman said: "The performance standards which have been introduced for NHS 111 represent a gold standard which the majority of NHS 111 services in England are now meeting, though in some areas performance is still unacceptable, especially at weekends.

"Some local providers of NHS 111 have not provided the prompt, reliable service the public need and want.

"NHS England's board is determined to ensure that the public have access to a gold standard NHS 111 service wherever they live in England."

But Clare Gerada, chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, raised concerns about the free-to-call advice line.

"It is extremely worrying that there is still so much uncertainty around the delivery and reliability of the advice provided by NHS 111 in some areas.

"We are also concerned that patients are losing confidence in the new service before it is even fully up and running.

"We call on NHS England to provide more reassurance about its effectiveness and ability to deliver the necessary standards of care for all patients using the service, right across England."

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Israeli Warplanes Launch Airstrike In Syria

Israeli officials have confirmed its air force carried out an airstrike allegedly targeting a shipment of advanced missiles in Syria.

The officials said the target was not chemical weapons, but of "game changing" arms bound for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The strike took place overnight on Thursday into Friday, just as Israel was flying many warplanes over Lebanon.

The US earlier said it did not believe Israeli warplanes entered Syrian airspace to conduct the strikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned in recent weeks that his country would be prepared to take military action if chemical weapons or other arms were to reach Hezbollah.

Earlier this month, Israel admitted carrying out a January airstrike on a weapons convoy believed to be carrying anti-aircraft equipment in Syria thought to be en route to Hezbollah.

The confirmation of the strike came hours after Barack Obama refused to rule out options in dealing with the crisis in Syria but said he did not foresee sending in US ground troops.

Mr Obama, on a trip to Costa Rica, rules out US 'boots' on Syrian ground

Speaking during a visit to Costa Rica, the US President said: "As a general rule, I don't rule things out as commander-in-chief because circumstances change and you want to make sure that I always have the full power of the United States at our disposal to meet American national security interests.

"Having said that, I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria, American boots on the ground in Syria, would not only be good for America but also would be good for Syria."

Mr Obama said there was evidence that chemical weapons had been used in Syria, but that "we don't know when, where or how they were used".

But if "strong evidence" is found of such weapons being used by the regime of President Bashar al Assad, then "that is a game changer for us" because "there is a possibility that it lands in the hands of organisations like Hezbollah", Mr Obama said.

Mr Obama said if use of chemical weapons in Syria is confirmed, the US will present that evidence to the international community, because it concerns the entire world.

But he called for caution to avoid unintended consequences, saying: It's important for us to do it right."

Meanwhile, warnings of a new "large-scale massacre" in Syria have emerged following reports Mr Assad's troops bombarded Sunni areas near the city of Bania.

There have been reports of a 'large-scale massacre' in Baida

The opposition National Coalition accused the regime of "war crimes and genocide", citing witness reports of civilians being stabbed to death.

"The Coalition calls on the Arab League and the United Nations to act rapidly to save the civilians of Baida, Banias and other villages across Syria," it said in a statement.

"Several sources in the village say at least 50 people were killed in summary executions and shelling in Baida village,"Rami Abdel Rahman, of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP news agency.

Syria's official Sana news agency said troops killed "terrorists" and seized arms in an operation targeting rebels.

Regular forces were supported by pro-regime "shabiha" militiamen, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources on the ground for its information.

The Banias region is predominantly Alawite, an offshoot of Shia Islam and the sect of Mr Assad, while the insurgents battling to topple his regime are mainly Sunni Muslims.

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Cameron Told To 'Break Impression Of Privilege'

The Conservatives must "break the impression of being privileged and out of touch" if they are to stand a chance of winning the next general election, former leadership contender David Davis has warned.

Speaking after the party suffered heavy losses to the UK Independence Party in the local council elections, the MP for Haltemprice and Howden said David Cameron should stop surrounding himself with fellow Old Etonians and show he undersood the concerns of ordinary people.

With the Tories losing 340 councillors and the control of 10 councils, some Tory right-wingers have called on the Prime Minister to firm up his commitment to holding a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union to counter the appeal of UKIP.

However, Mr Davis said the priority for Mr Cameron - who recently appointed Old Etonian Jo Johnson to head the No 10 policy unit - was to reconnect with voters who thought the Conservatives lived in a different world to them.

"The fact is that if we want to win the next election, we have to break this impression of being privileged and out of touch," he said in an article for The Daily Telegraph.

David Davis (L) lost the contest to become Tory leader to David Cameron (R)

"The British public are neither snobs nor inverted snobs, but they do expect the Government to understand their problems and do something about it.

"That means more straight talking and fewer focus groups; more conventional Tory policies, not because they are Tory, but because they work; less pandering to metropolitan interest groups; and please, please, no more Old Etonian advisors."

Home Secretary Theresa May, who has been touted as a possible future Tory leader, refused to be drawn on the argument, and insisted the party was focused on "bringing people back to voting Conservative".

She told Sky News: "The Government has shown that it understands some of the problems that hard-working people are facing - the efforts we've taken to helping local councils freeze their council tax, hold down fuel duties, two million people have been taken out of paying income tax, and an income tax cut for 24 million people.

"There are other areas we know the task is a sizeable one - controlling welfare and immigration. We are already on the right track in dealing with these issues."

She added: "What we will be doing over the next couple of years is working hard to bring people back to voting Conservative - showing them what we are doing in those areas ... and how the choice in the next election will be Conservatives who will control welfare and immigration and deal with the deficit, and the same old Labour Party who will just ask for more spending, more borrowing, more debt."

UKIP's gains of 131 councillors in the council elections were dubbed a "game changer" by leader Nigel Farage.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the elections marked a 'game-changer'

While Labour made gains - picking up 268 councillors and taking control of two councils - analysts said they fell short of the numbers needed to show that Ed Miliband was on course for Downing Street.

For the Liberal Democrats it was another grim set of results with the loss of 110 councillors while crashing to a humiliating seventh place in the South Shields parliamentary by-election, just ahead of the Monster Raving Loony Party.

Mr Cameron pledged to work really hard to win back voters who abandoned the Conservatives for the UKIP, promising action to turn round the economy, cut immigration and sort out the welfare system.

Having previously derided UKIP as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists", the Prime Minister adopted a softer approach, promising to show "respect" for those who voted for them.

Mr Miliband insisted that Labour had made "good gains" but acknowledged there was "more work to do".

"These elections show many people have lost trust in David Cameron's ability to change Britain. But our task is to win the trust of the people we haven't yet persuaded that Labour can make the difference," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Lib Dems' poor showing reflected their journey from "a party of protest to a party of government".

"I have always said it is understandable why it is that people might be attracted to the simple answers that the UK Independence Party is offering to deal with this country's complex problems," he said.

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Derby: Man Found Dead In Chimney Named

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

Police have identified the body of a man found earlier this week inside the chimney of a law firm in Derby.

Kevin Gough, of no fixed abode, was found at Moody & Woolley Solicitors in St Mary's Gate around noon on May 1 after staff were alerted by the smell.

The area was cordoned off while the 42-year-old's body was removed.

Julie Marson, senior partner at Moody & Woolley, told Sky News: "About a week ago there was a smell, but on Monday flies started to appear and we had the chimney investigated."

Ms Marson said staff at the firm, which employs around 30 people, were shocked by the discovery and believed it was possible Mr Gough had been inside the chimney for several weeks.

She added: "We know that someone had made a concerted effort to get into the building, partially dismantling the chimney to use the brickwork to try to force through the roof.

"Actually our builder went up and saw there was a big gaping hole. He tried to make an entry into the loft and the smell hit him.

"We all thought there was probably a dead cat or a pigeon or something in there, but unfortunately it wasn't.

"Most of us are mothers here, we understand somebody is going to have some dreadful news and we all feel it is just such a tragedy because there is nothing in the building worth stealing."

She explained that all the fireplaces in the building have been filled in.

Police are treating the death as unexplained and are preparing a file for the coroner.

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire Police said: "We're leaving it to the coroner to decide what he was doing in the chimney."

An inquest will open at Derby Coroner's Court later on Friday.

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April Jones: Jury Sees Last CCTV Video

The jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering April Jones has been shown the last CCTV images of the five-year-old before she went missing.

Video said to show her alleged killer Mark Bridger's movements in the hours before and after her disappearance on October 1 last year was also played in court.

A CCTV camera picked up April, in a white top, and a friend, in a blue top, in the foyer of a leisure centre in Machynlleth, mid-Wales. April had gone there for a swim.

Another sequence shows April and her sister leaving a cafe at the complex and then going towards the changing rooms.

April and her sister are later seen leaving the changing rooms.

They are then pictured departing the centre with April's mother and the youngster's friend at 5.40pm, a few hours before she vanished.

Mark Bridger denies abducting and murdering April Jones

Other CCTV footage apparently showed Bridger's vehicle moving through Machynlleth at 7.20pm, minutes before April disappeared from a nearby estate.

Footage allegedly also showed Bridger the morning after April went missing, walking from the Dyfi bridge direction to Machynlleth.

He is apparently shown getting on to bus, then walking his dog near his home around mid-morning.

CCTV was also said to show Bridger buying alcohol in a supermarket the night before she went missing.

He was then allegedly viewed on CCTV the following morning on October 1, arriving in his Land Rover at the council offices in Machynlleth and then going into the building.

More cameras then allegedly show Bridger's vehicle travelling through Machynlleth.

Bridger, 47, denies abducting and murdering April. The trial at Mold Crown Court in North Wales continues.

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Local Council Elections: UKIP Make Big Gains

The UK Independence Party has made stunning electoral gains and declared itself the "official opposition" - largely at the expense of the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats.

Nigel Farage's UKIP became the second largest party in Lincolnshire as the Conservatives lost control of that county council as well as Gloucestershire - and also reduced the Tories' grip on power in Essex and Hampshire.

UKIP also finished second with 24% of the vote behind Labour in the South Shields parliamentary by-election, triggered by the resignation of David Miliband, with the two coalition parties suffering a drubbing.

The new MP, Emma Lewell-Buck said her victory was a verdict on the Government's austerity measures.

It was another bad result for the Conservatives who finished third, and a disastrous one for the Liberal Democrats who lost their deposit and finished seventh with just 352 votes behind UKIP, the Tories, an independent, the Socialist Party and the BNP.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage says it has every chance of winning a Commons seat

"Send in the clowns," said a delighted Mr Farage, after his candidates were earlier this week dismissed as a bunch of clowns, fruitcakes and closet racists by Tory Cabinet minister Ken Clarke.

"We've been abused by everybody, attacked by the entire establishment who did their best to stop ordinary decent people going out and voting UKIP, and they have done in big, big numbers," he said.

"By the end of today we are going to have a fair tally - and it sends a shock wave, I think, through the establishment."

Asked whether UKIP were no more than the beneficiaries of protest votes against the coalition Government, Mr Farage replied: "If you speak to the Westminster elite, they will tell you 'it is just a protest, nothing to worry about really'.

"When I meet UKIP voters they say, 'Nigel, we're voting for you because we believe in what you stand for'.

"These votes are not easily going to go back to the Labour and Conservative parties."

A UKIP spokesman said the party was "delighted" and on course to win "well over" 100 seats, with counting still to take place in the vast majority of English authorities and the Isle of Anglesey in Wales.

Labour's newest MP Emma Lewell-Buck wins the South Shields by-election

He said the council successes were a "stepping stone" to the party's eventual aim of winning parliamentary elections.

"If this is any sign at all, it will make a few MPs feel a bit less comfortable in their parliamentary seats," the spokesman said.

The party had succeeded in securing "bridgeheads" in counties across England, he said. "It's now looking likely that we will get well past 100 county council seats."

Senior politicians from the three main parties attempted to explain the UKIP surge, which could have major implications, particularly for David Cameron as he attempts to calm the fears of grassroots Tories nervous at the loss of votes to Mr Farage's party.

Conservative Chairman Grant Shapps acknowledged that his party had been hit by the rise of UKIP.

He told Sky News: "We hear the message, we get it, we understand what people are saying. They want to see change faster in this country and that is what we intend to deliver over the next couple of years.

"We need to show that we are relentlessly on the side of hard-working people in this country, who want to get on in life, do the right thing, and Conservatives back them.

"We have actually been making progress - we've cut the deficit by a third and cut net immigration by a third.

Richard Elvin, the UKIP candidate who came second in South Shields

"My main concern is to listen to the voters and make sure we are reflecting their concerns - putting jobs and prosperity and fixing the economy first and foremost - that's where all our time and energy is going to be focused."

Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes insisted his party was holding ground in places where it has strong support - and that it was the Labour Party that was in trouble.

He told Sky News: "We have had losses, but not catastrophic losses ... I'm not complacent about UKIP, but we are a party of government, and government parties generally have a harder time in a by-election and in elections in the middle of a parliament.

"I would far rather we were in there trying to temper a more right-wing Tory party, which I'm afraid is becoming even more right-wing because of UKIP ... and Labour, who should be benefiting look today as if they are not benefiting at all and UKIP are taking the votes that you would expect Labour to pick up."

Shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn insisted it was a "bad night for David Cameron" - not Labour.

"These were always going to be a tough set of elections for us because they are being fought in Tory heartlands, but we're looking to make progress," he said.

More than 2,300 seats are being contested in polls for 34 English councils

The Conservatives retained control in Dorset, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and - narrowly - Somerset, where they lost five seats and the Liberal Democrats lost four.

But as well as in Lincolnshire, they were ousted from overall control in Gloucestershire, where there were four gains for Labour and three for UKIP.

The Tories were sent a warning in their traditional Essex heartland, losing nine county council seats to a bullish UKIP.

And they were held to "Ransome" in Lincolnshire as mother-of-four Sue Ransome and her daughters Felicity and Elizabeth celebrated three UKIP gains in Boston.

Retired headteacher Philip Fawkes - a distant relation of gunpowder plotter Guy Fawkes - was elected a UKIP councillor for the South Waterside ward in Hampshire County Council, with a majority of 315 and a 37.2% share of the vote.

Mr Farage said it showed "the blood of rebellion still runs in his veins".

Sushil Kantibhai Patel, the father of Tory MP Priti Patel - took second place behind the Conservatives as the UKIP candidate in the Bushey South ward in the Hertfordshire County poll.

There was some good news for Nick Clegg as the Lib Dems won the by-election in the Fulwood ward in the heart of his Sheffield Hallam constituency in South Yorkshire, ahead of Labour, the Tories and UKIP.

Labour's Norma Redfearn ousted incumbent Tory Linda Arkley in the battle to be mayor of North Tyneside.

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Bill Roache: Actor To Respond To Rape Charges

Coronation street star Bill Roache is expected to give a statement later after being accused of raping a teenager in 1967.

The 81-year-old, who has played Ken Barlow in the ITV soap since its launch in 1960, was arrested at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on Wednesday.

Some 12 hours later, he was charged with two counts of rape of a 15-year-old girl.

Lancashire Police said it followed a consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "We have carefully considered all the evidence gathered by Lancashire Police in relation to William Roache following allegations of rape.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Roache to be charged with two offences of rape relating to a girl, aged 15, in 1967."

Police officers stand guard outside Roache's secluded Cheshire home

ITV said in a statement that Roache - the world's longest-serving soap actor - will not be appearing in Coronation Street until legal proceedings have finished.

After his Coronation Street co-star Michael Le Vell was charged with 19 child sex offences, Roache called for anonymity for those accused of such crimes because of the stigma they face even if innocent.

Speaking to Sky News in March, he said: "If there is to be anonymity for the accusers at this stage, then there should most certainly be anonymity for those accused, until such time as there is strong evidence to show that there was some truth to the allegations at least."

Le Vell, who will not appear as mechanic Kevin Webster while he awaits his trial, has stated publicly that he is innocent and will fight the allegations.

Roache will appear at Preston Magistrates' Court on May 14.

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Rolf Harris Sex Claims: Police Go To Australia

Scotland Yard detectives investigating sex abuse allegations against TV entertainer Rolf Harris have visited a woman in Australia as part of their enquiries.

Two officers from Operation Yewtree flew to Sydney in New South Wales to speak to an alleged witness.

According to Australia's Channel Seven, she first contacted police in November last year about an incident she claimed to have witnessed in the early 1990s.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers from Operation Yewtree had travelled to Australia, but would not comment further.

Harris was arrested by police in March and questioned on suspicion of committing sexual offences. He was bailed until May. He has not been charged.

He had previously been interviewed under caution in November 2012.

The 83-year-old is originally from Perth, Australia, but has lived in the UK for 50 years.

Police working on Operation Yewtree have said they are looking at three categories of offences - those allegedly committed by Savile alone, those allegedly committed by Savile and others, and alleged offences by others.

Harris was arrested in relation to the category of alleged offences by others.

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Stuart Hall Admits Sex Assaults On Children

Veteran BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall has admitted indecently assaulting 13 girls as young as nine years old.

The Crown Prosecution Service said he was an "opportunistic predator" and almost all the victims provided "strikingly similar accounts".

The CPS also said the victims did not know each other and Hall's pattern of behaviour was "unlawful".

Hall, 83, admitted 14 charges of indecent assault and the offences took place between 1967 and 1985.

The former It's A Knockout presenter, who was also a regular football match summariser on Radio 5 Live, had previously denied any wrongdoing, telling reporters the claims were "pernicious, callous, cruel and above all spurious".

He said he had endured "a living nightmare" and but for his "very loving family" may have considered taking his own life.

He entered the guilty pleas last month at Preston Crown Court. However, they can only be revealed now after reporting restrictions were lifted.

Hall was surrounded by a media scrum outside court

In court, Hall calmly and repeatedly answered "guilty" when the charges were put to him at the hearing on April 16.

He admitted touching and kissing 13 young victims over nearly two decades, many were daughters of friends.

The Recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC, told him he would be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

Hall was granted bail until his sentencing date on June 17 and the judge told him all sentencing options remain open including immediate custody.

Hall told reporters he had a "terrible cold"

Hall's barrister, Crispin Aylett QC, said: "The defendant is, of course, sorry for what he has done. Through me he wishes to apologise to his victims.

"He is not a man easily moved to self pity but he is only too aware his disgrace is complete."

Hall was told he must live and sleep at his Wilmslow home in Cheshire and have no unsupervised contact with girls under 18.

Hall did not comment on the case as he left court accompanied by his legal team, saying only to waiting reporters that he had a "terrible cold".

He was surrounded by a media scrum as he was led into a waiting car.

Outside court, Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for the North West, said: "We prosecuted Stuart Hall because the evidence of the victims clearly established a pattern of behaviour that was unlawful and for which no innocent explanation could be offered.

Sentencing is due to take place on April 16

"His victims did not know each other and almost two decades separated the first and last assaults but almost all of the victims, including one who was only nine at the time of the assault, provided strikingly similar accounts.

"Whether in public or private, Hall would first approach under friendly pretences and then bide his time until the victim was isolated. He can only be described as an opportunistic predator."

Hall was facing 18 charges. A court order was lifted so that the pleas could be reported.

It was to avoid prejudicing a possible future trial on a count of rape and three separate counts of indecent assault which Hall had denied last month.

Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said the Crown was satisfied the rape count could lie on file after it was given consideration at "the most senior level" of the CPS. The three other counts were merged with a charge Hall had admitted.

The BBC said it would not be featuring Hall again in its programmes. In a statement, the corporation said: "In light of today's events, Stuart Hall will no longer be contracted by the BBC."

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Coronation Street's Bill Roache Arrested

Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has been arrested over an historical allegation of a sexual assault.

The actor, who has played Ken Barlow in the TV soap for decades, was held at his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, this morning.

Mr Roache, 81, faces an allegation of raping an under-age girl in Haslingden, Lancashire between April and July 1967.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "An 81-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire has this morning, Wednesday May 1 2013, been arrested by Lancashire Constabulary on suspicion of rape.

"The man will be interviewed at a police station in Lancashire during the course of the day.

"We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse, or anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge they will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity."

An officer walks down the driveway of Mr Roache's home following his arrest

An ITV spokeswoman said the broadcaster was not in a position to comment, but it is understood Mr Roache will not appear in the long-running soap while investigations continue.

Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "According to neighbours, plain clothes police arrived at his home in Wilmslow at around 8am. His home is being searched and police are questioning him about historical allegations."

In March the actor issued an apology after he appeared to suggest sex abuse victims were being punished for past sins.

He was interviewed for a New Zealand news programme and said the public should not be judgmental but be "totally forgiving" of people who had committed child sex crimes.

Bill Roache, with Anne Reid, who played his first wife in the TV soap

He told the programme: "If you accept that you are pure love, and if you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you."

Asked to clarify whether that meant victims brought the abuse on themselves, he said: "No, not quite, but and yet I am, because everything that happens to us has been a result of what we have been in previous lives or whatever."

Mr Roache also called for anonymity for those accused of child sex offences because of the stigma they faced even if innocent.

He later issued a statement saying he was "sorry for any offence that has been caused as a result of my comments".

His comments were condemned by abuse charities.

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April Jones: Girl 'Invited For Sleepover'

The man accused of murdering schoolgirl April Jones invited another girl to his house for a sleepover on the day the five-year-old disappeared, a court has heard.

Prosecutors say Mark Bridger approached the girl - who was playing with a friend close to his daughter's primary school - shortly after attending a parents' evening on October 1 last year.

They also claim he was spotted on a hillside clutching a black bin bag the following day, as search teams scoured the area for missing April.

They said: "We ask, what was Mark Bridger doing at that location? What was in that bin bag?"

Bridger's movements were outlined on the second day of his trial at Mold Crown Court.

CCTV footage of the 47-year-old visiting council offices and a bank in Machnylleth - the small Welsh town from where April disappeared - on October 1 were played to the court.

Jurors were told Bridger spent part of the afternoon looking at dozens of images of a local teenager on Facebook.

They were also shown a text message he sent to his employer the same day, which read: "Do you mind if I take today off to get my head around things? Sorry to let you down."

Bridger denies abducting and murdering April, and unlawfully disposing of and concealing her body with intent to pervert the course of justice.

The trial continues.

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Thomas Cook Jet Makes Emergency Landing

A plane carrying hundreds of British tourists was forced to make an emergency landing in Bermuda after reports of a fire on board.

The captain of Thomas Cook Airlines Flight 149 carrying 338 passengers declared the emergency with the A330 aircraft thousands of feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

He reported a possible fire in the cabin, prompting the decision to divert the flight to Manchester from Cancun, in Mexico, to the British territory.

A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook told Sky News: "The emergency was declared as a precaution after smoke was noticed in the cabin.

"The plane landed safely and all the passengers are fine and being looked after. Tests will now be carried out on the plane and we hope to have everyone back in Manchester later today.

Thomas Cook said the plane landed as a precaution (pic: Bernews.com)

"As always, our passengers' safety is the priority in these situations, but we apologise to everyone on board for the inconvenience this has caused them."

Lt Jay Donawa, a spokesman for the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, said the passengers and crew were safely evacuated following the unscheduled arrival.

"No injuries were reported and there was no fire on board when the aircraft landed," he said.

He added that the emergency had been declared at around 8.20pm and that the plane had landed around 40 minutes later, with emergency workers waiting.

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Hotel Swimming Pool Deaths: Tests On Bodies

Post-mortem examinations are taking place into the deaths of a man and woman found in a swimming pool at a country mansion.

They come as it was revealed that a murder mystery game was due to start at the hotel the following night, but was cancelled.

The bodies of a man in his early 30s and a woman in her early 20s, both from the London area, were discovered in the water at Down Hall Country House Hotel in Hatfield Heath, Essex, on Saturday evening.

Staff dived in to try to save them, but their efforts were in vain.

Donna Nash, 37, from Colchester in Essex, who has been to the hotel before, told Sky News: "I've been there three times now and I use the pool every time.

"The pool is quite deep but it's only small - it's a different shape underwater to normal ones. It's awful news."

Essex Police are treating their deaths as unexplained and are focusing on the relationship between the victims as part of their investigation.

The hotel is said to be used by a number of celebrities

Chief Inspector Nick Lee said the police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

He said: "Despite valiant attempts from the hotel staff and from the ambulance service, unfortunately it wasn't possible to revive those individuals and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Next of kin have been informed about this tragic incident and I can tell you at the moment Essex Police are not looking for any other people in connection with this investigation."

Some newspapers have reported that one of the theories being investigated is that the pair were poisoned, but this has not been confirmed by police.

Asked if the people had been going to any of the functions taking place at the hotel, Mr Lee said: "It's a very busy hotel, there were a number of functions going on."

Events believed to have been going on include weddings, birthday parties and christenings.

Lucy Sparks, 21, from Cheshunt, was reportedly at a wedding reception when the police arrived.

"We saw two police officers rush through reception with a member of staff. There were about five or six police cars outside and we saw the air ambulance land," she told the Daily Mail.

Police arrive to investigate the deaths of the hotel guests

"The hotel just pulled a curtain to separate us and the party still went on as normal."

Hotel manager Chris Falcus said staff at Down Hall were "devastated" by what had happened, adding: "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those concerned.

"As soon as the alarm was raised, two of our team dived into the pool and did everything they could to try to save them.

"We are co-operating fully with the police investigation."

The hotel describes itself as one of England's most established country house hotels.

Located near Bishop's Stortford on the Hertfordshire and Essex border, it is 45 minutes from central London and also convenient for Stansted Airport.

Dating back to 1322, the Italianate mansion offers a historic setting, with luxury interiors and ornate ceilings.

There are 110 acres of surrounding woodland, parkland and landscaped gardens.

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Prague Explosion Leaves Dozens Injured

A powerful explosion in the centre of Prague has injured up to 40 people and left several others buried under rubble, police have said.

The blast in a building on Divadelni Street, close to the National Theatre, was heard as far away as Prague Castle, over a mile away across the Vltava river.

It blew out the windows on many of the surrounding buildings which were evacuated.

A police spokesman said the explosion was probably caused by natural gas and that there had been around 15 people in the building, which included an office of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and an art gallery.

Pensioner Venceslava Sehnotkova, who lives in a nearby house, told Reuters: "I was sitting quietly in my flat, making coffee. Then there was an incredible explosion. I thought the building would collapse. I looked out the window, and there was only dust everywhere." 

"We have treated up to 20 people, and we are trying to find out if there are people buried in the rubble," Prague emergency service spokeswoman Jirina Ernestova told AFP.

The explosion was near the National Theatre in the city

She said there were fears three people may be buried in the rubble of the damaged building which police said was a former block of flats now used as office space.

Ms Ernestova said ambulances were staying at the scene "in case someone was pulled out of the rubble".    

Zdenek Schwarz, head of the rescue service in Prague, said up to 40 people have been injured but mainly suffered bruises and cuts from glass.

"I was in the bathroom, no windows, the door was closed, honestly, if I had been in my bed I would have been covered in glass," said Z B Haislip, a student from the US.

A fire department spokeswoman said there had been no reports of any deaths.

Prime Minister Petr Necas said in a statement he was "deeply hit by the tragedy of the gas explosion."

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North Wales Child Abuse: 140 New Claims

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correpondent

Detectives have confirmed they are investigating 76 new cases of suspected historical abuse at children's care homes in north Wales.

Police officers leading Operation Pallial say the allegations centre on 18 different care homes between 1963 and 1992.

A total of 84 individuals have been named as abusers by complainants and 16 of those have been named by more than one victim.

Detective Superintendent Ian Mulcahey said: "Almost everyone that Operation Pallial is aware of has now been video interviewed by specially trained officers. 

"Many have provided graphic accounts of abuse, in some cases of very serious criminality."

Offences range from verbal and physical assaults and abuse through to indecent assaults, rape and buggery.

One of the victims who has taken new allegations to the police has previously told Sky News how he was abused in various North Wales care homes.

"Michael" also revealed how as a 12 year old he was repeatedly put on a mini-bus with other children, driven down to London and forced to take part in lurid sex parties.

Last November he told Sky News how the men who abused him were all "posh people" who plied the boys were drink and drugs before abusing them.

He said: "It was how compliant you were, how nice you were towards them and looking back it was all about what they could get away with."

The Waterhouse Inquiry in 2000 found evidence of widespread sexual abuse and various care home staff members were convicted for various offences.

Compensation was then paid to 140 victims but there have long held suspicions that the true extent of abuse in the homes in north Wales has never truly been uncovered.

Operation Pallial was set up to ensure allegations were indeed properly investigated.

Phase One of the work "has resulted in the collection of significant evidence of systemic and serious sexual and physical abuse of children whilst in care".

Operation Pallial has also shown "no evidence of systemic of institutional misconduct by North Wales Police officers or staff".

Last week detectives made their first arrest as part of the investigation into historical allegations of abuse.

A man was arrested in Ipswich, Suffolk and questioned on suspicion of a number of serious sexual offences before being bailed to until the end of July.

Officers expect phase two of the operation to involve further arrests.

More follows...

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