Belfast Bomb Was 'Attempt To Injure Or Kill'

A bomb which exploded in the centre of Belfast where hundreds of people were packed into bars and restaurants had the potential to kill, police have said.

The blast in the city's bustling Cathedral Quarter has been blamed on dissident republicans opposed to the peace process.

Christmas partygoers were evacuated when the device detonated just before 7pm on Friday evening. There were no reports of any injuries.

Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum said the bombing had been a totally reckless attack that could have killed or maimed anyone nearby when the device went off.

"This was an attack on the people of Belfast going about their normal lives on a busy night for socialising in the city. This attack ruined the night out for these people., " he said.

"Those who carried out this attack have nothing to offer except disruption and destruction. Police would appeal for continued community support and vigilance on the run up to Christmas in seeking to disrupt or deter any further attack on the city."

Hundreds of people were evaucated. Pic: Mark Ashbridge

A warning had been given about a device, however it was left at a different location to that named in a call to a newspaper.

It is understood the device was contained in a box that was left on a pavement in front of a busy restaurant.

Stormont's Justice Minister David Ford said the blast was an "attempt to kill or injure innocent people".

"The people carrying out these attacks have set out no reason and explained no cause for their acts of senseless violence. Their only aim seems to be to injure and disrupt. They ignore the strength of public support for normality and peace, especially at this Christmas season."

Security has been ramped up in the city since a man was forced by masked dissidents to drive a car bomb to a shopping centre that faces a police station last month. That 60kg (132lb) device only partially exploded and no-one was injured.

While the threat posed by the violent extremists has remained classed as severe, police have acknowledged a "surge" in activity has taken place in recent weeks.

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Boy, 11, Sexually Assaulted On Country Lane

An 11-year-old boy was sexually assaulted as he walked along a country lane in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, police have said.

Thames Valley Police said the attack by a man believed to be in his 40s happened around 4.40pm on Friday.

The schoolboy was walking along Bacombe Lane, close to a bridleway, when the man approached him.

He was sexually assaulted before being able to run away.

Detective Inspector Ben Gasson said: "I am appealing for anyone who saw a man matching the description or anyone seen acting suspiciously in this area to contact police.

"The victim was not hurt during the incident but has understandably been left shaken.

"Incidents of this nature are extremely rare and are investigated thoroughly however if anyone has any concerns they can call their local neighbourhood team via our non-emergency number 101."

Neighbourhood patrols are taking place in the area and inquires are ongoing.

The offender is described as a white man aged approximately 40, with stubble on his face. He was wearing a grey and black diamond-patterned hooded top, dark blue jeans and black shoes.

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Cocaine-Laced Pear Juice Drink Kills Man

A 33-year-old man has died after drinking a pear drink manufactured in the Caribbean which contained a lethal amount of cocaine.

Joromie Lewis, of Gosport, Hampshire, became ill immediately after drinking the pear fruit drink in Southampton.

He died within hours at Southampton General Hospital on December 5.

A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: "It appears from police inquiries that Mr Lewis ingested a small amount of liquid in the belief he was drinking a genuine pear drink."

A post-mortem was carried out on Saturday, December 7. The results are inconclusive and toxicology tests are being carried out.

The spokeswoman continued: "On Wednesday (December 11) police received laboratory test results which showed that the liquid in the juice bottle contained a lethal amount of cocaine.

Retailers have been warned about the juice drink

"Police now have established that the bottle of Cole Cold Pear D fruit drink was manufactured in the Caribbean and the company did not export this drink to the UK."

The Food Standards Agency has issued an alert to all local authorities to contact retailers to withdraw Pear D if it is found.

Detective Superintendent Richard Pearson, who is leading the police investigation called Operation Crab, said: "We are working closely with partner agencies, including Southampton's Regulatory Services, Public Health England, the Food Standards Agency and other law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency, to minimise any risk to the public and to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragic death of Mr Lewis.

"We are supporting his family and linking closely with public health departments.

"We have taken clear advice from partner agencies and, in light of the analysis of the contents of the bottle, a decision was made to issue the public alert by the Food Standards Agency.

"Inquiries to date have not identified any further incidents or similar bottles.

"The investigation suggests that this was likely to be a rogue bottle from a consignment of drugs stored in plastic juice bottles.

"If anyone finds a bottle of Pear D juice, do not open the bottle.

"If sealed, the bottle is perfectly safe. Take the bottle to the nearest police station, and we will examine the contents if appropriate."

Mr Lewis's widow, Jayrusha Lewis, said her husband was a "selfless and devoted family man".

She said: "Joromie Lewis was a Royal Navy veteran, originally from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

"He was a devoted family-oriented man with a selfless attitude to help others, and always knew the right words and advice to give."

Anyone who finds they have a bottle of Pear-D should take it to their local police station and are advised to contact the Food Standards Agency on 020 7276 8448.

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Food Poverty: 1.5m UK Pensioners Struggling

By Ashish Joshi, Sky News Correspondent

More than 1.5 million British pensioners are now living in food poverty - and the situation is set to worsen this winter, according to shocking new research.

The Centre for Economics and Business says a quarter of over-65s have had to make cut-backs on food over the past three years, and over one million are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition because they are struggling to afford basic nutritious food.

The reason is because while the cost of living has continued to rise, incomes have not kept pace.

Increasing food prices in particular have hit the elderly the most. The study shows over-65s will spend an average of £699 on food between October and December this year - that's an increase of £138 compared to the same quarter five years ago.

And by 2018 there will be an additional increase of £297 on top of that bill. It all adds up to the over-65s being harder hit than any other demographic.

Raina Barnes (R) says 'supermarkets are taking us for a ride'

Raina Barnes, 82, from Perivale in Middlesex, has been attending the Age Concern lunch club in Greenford for the past few months. Hot meals and warm company are provided by the charity.

Mrs Barnes, who was widowed last year, remembers when a £30 shop would easily last a few weeks. These days, she says, you get "hardly anything" for that amount.

"I think the supermarkets are taking us for a ride. One minute they're putting their prices down. The next they're going higher. You've only got a certain amount of money to spend," she says.

"All the basics like bread, milk and eggs are the things you need all the time. I mean eggs have just gone up terrible. You just have to see how it goes."

Members describe the lunch clubs as a lifeline

Sharing the dinner table with Mrs Barnes is 88-year-old Harry Thomas, a World War Two veteran. Mr Thomas says he shops around to compare the best prices in local supermarkets.

"It's a very hard thing these days for people, the price of things. You go to one shop and the price might have been dropped and you go to another and the price goes up a little bit. You never know what to buy. All I do is look at the price and say 'too high' and I don't bother.

Danny Woolcott, 87, has been a regular at the lunch club for more than six years. The retired mechanic, from Southall, visits three times a week. He blames the Government for "letting pensioners down".

"I would like to see any government looking after the elderly people of this country. The people who brought this country along are being neglected badly and I think it's disgusting the way things have been left, honestly and truthfully."

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Govt Losing A 'Staggering' £55bn A Year In Taxes

The UK is losing a "staggering" £55bn a year due to fraud, error and unpaid taxes, MPs have warned.

The scale of the losses have been described as "worryingly high" and the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed concern about the impact on the deficit in the public finances.

The whole of government accounts drawn up by the Treasury show that in 2011-12 about £13.2bn had to be written off due to fraud and error.

However the figures do not include local government or public corporations and the National Fraud Authority estimates the true cost of fraud to the public sector was £20.6bn.

At the same time HM Revenue and Customs has calculated the "tax gap" - the difference between the taxes it is supposed to receive and those it actually manages to collect - was £35bn.

PAC chairman Margaret Hodge said: "It is staggering that, in one year, the public sector was defrauded of over £20bn and the tax gap rose to £35bn."

The committee called on the Treasury to develop, publish and implement an action plan setting out a co-ordinated strategy for tackling fraud and error throughout the public sector.

It also voiced concern about the way the figures in the whole of government accounts (WGA) were complied and presented.

The WGA - which was published for first time last year and now covers the combined financial activities of 3,000 bodies - is intended to provide the most comprehensive accounting picture of the public sector in the UK.

However the committee said its credibility was undermined by the "poor quality" of some of the data and the Treasury needed to do more to explain the discrepancies between some of the figures in the WGA and those produced by the Office for National Statistics.

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Emma Bennett: Dog Attack Family's 'Devastation'

The family of a mother-of-four mauled to death by two American pit bulls have spoken of their devastation.

Emma Bennett died on Tuesday evening after she was bitten by the dogs at a house in Dawlish Avenue in the Osmondthorpe district of Leeds.

It was reported that the attack, on Monday afternoon, happened while the 27-year-old was suffering an epileptic fit.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Ms Bennett's family said in a statement issued through West Yorkshire Police: "We are all very deeply upset at Emma's death, not just because she has been taken from us so suddenly but because of the horrific circumstances and the fact she was on her own at the time she was injured.

"Emma was a mother-of-four and although she had had some issues in her life she loved her children. She was a lively person who had a great sense of fun but she was also strong-headed and had her own opinions.

"She was the eldest of four children and had two brothers and a sister. They were at her bedside in hospital along with her mother and grandparents when she passed away.

"We are all devastated at Emma's death but the whole family has pulled together and are really supporting each other. We are grateful to everyone who has sent messages of sympathy and support."

Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon, leading the investigation, said: "Early indications are that the two dogs seized from the address are American pit bull terriers although tests are still ongoing to establish their exact make up.

"Dogs of this type are subject to restrictions under the Dangerous Dogs Act and our enquiries are focused on this aspect.

"We are continuing to appeal for anyone with information about the incident or the dogs involved in it to contact the investigation team."

Ms Bennett's neighbour, Chris Roebuck, said he was surprised the dogs were vicious enough to carry out the attack.

"I've seen one of them, which I have stroked and it seemed soft, really soft," he said. "It wanted to lick you at all times - that's the big dog - but I never saw the other dog."

Mr Roebuck said the dogs "seemed calm" and only ever barked occasionally.

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Dog Attack: Leeds Mother Dies From Injuries

A mother-of-four has died after she was attacked by dogs.

Emma Bennett died on Tuesday evening after suffering serious bite injuries in an incident at a house in Dawlish Avenue, Osmondthorpe, Leeds.

It was reported that the attack on Monday afternoon happened while the 27-year-old was suffering an epileptic fit.

She reportedly lived in the house with her boyfriend and an American pitbull and Staffordshire bull terrier.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Two dogs were seized following the incident and police inquiries remain ongoing this evening.

"Officers would like to speak to anybody who has information about the incident and the dogs involved in it.

"Anyone who has information should contact Protective Services at West Yorkshire Police on 101."

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post after the attack, one neighbour said: "It is usually quiet here.

"It is just not the kind of thing that happens around here."

Earlier, police said the injured woman had been taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

Officers responded to reports that a woman was "in distress" at the address in Dawlish Avenue.

The force added: "One dog which got loose from the property was contained by officers in Back Dawlish Road and recovered. Another was safely removed from the address a short time later."

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Dementia: Call For Global Push For Cure

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

The Prime Minister is to call for international collaboration to urgently find a cure for dementia.

David Cameron will tell health ministers from the world's leading industrialised nations that the disease is the key medical challenge of this generation.

Only a global response can stop cases trebling worldwide by 2050, he will say.

The UK is using its presidency of the G8 to hold an unprecedented dementia summit in London.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, eight times more money is spent researching cancer than dementia.

Hannah Clack, the society's spokeswoman, said the G8 summit must bring change.

"Dementia has spent a long time in the closet," she said. "It's where cancer was in the 1980s.

"This is becoming a big global problem and we need to take it to where cancer is today...and bring hope for both those conditions."

More action is needed to prevent dementia, campaigners say

The Government will spend £66m on dementia research next year.

But Mr Cameron will signal an ambition to double research spending by the government, charities and drug companies by 2025.

Scientists still do not understand what causes dementia, making a cure elusive.

At St George's University of London scientists are examining slices of donated brain tissue, working on the hunch that poor blood flow causes cells to die, triggering symptoms.

Atticus Hainsworth, the neuroscientist leading the research, told Sky News there is a mountain to climb.

"We are in the foothills, barely out of the treeline," he said. "We are just discovering some of the molecules involved. But we need to know much more.

"If we know about the molecules and cells that take a brain to dementia then we can provide therapies that will improve the outcome and change the disease course."

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Match-Fixing: Sports Chiefs Called To Summit

Senior officials from five leading sports have been called to a summit meeting with the Government on match-fixing.

The talks have been called after it was confirmed six people had been arrested during an investigation into spot-fixing in football, including Blackburn striker DJ Campbell.

Executives from the governing bodies of football, tennis, cricket, rugby union and rugby league will meet Maria Miller, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in London.

Representatives from the Premier League, the Football League, the Gambling Commission and the British Horse-Racing Authority will also be present.

A Government source said the meeting aimed to share best practices between the sports, and ministers would receive feedback on any changes the sports believe would help tackle match-fixing.

Former Portsmouth player Sam Sodje was filmed in undercover footage

"We want to make sure no stone is left unturned in the fight against match-fixing in sport," the source said.

Some officials believe changing the law to make match-fixing itself a criminal offence, rather than police having to use fraud or other related charges, would provide a greater deterrent.

Ministers are understood to be open to any suggestions and will be pushing for sports to share any intelligence they have on fixing with the Gambling Commission.

Campbell, 32, was one of six people detained in an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) after it acted on information passed to it by the Sun on Sunday newspaper.

Five people, including Campbell, have been bailed until April, and a sixth is still being questioned, the NCA said.

Detectives are likely to review a yellow card Campbell received for a tackle committed in the first half of Blackburn's league game against Ipswich last Tuesday.

According to the Sun on Sunday, an undercover investigator met former Portsmouth player Sam Sodje, who allegedly said he could arrange for footballers in the Championship to get themselves a yellow card in return for tens of thousands of pounds.

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Obesity Epidemic Is 'Mass Child Neglect'

By David Crabtree, Sky News Correspondent

The lack of a national policy to ensure children become more active is a form of mass child neglect, according to a new study.

It claims that despite a wealth of evidence showing the benefits of regular exercise, leadership and strategy on the issue are "totally absent."

The report is from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, an influential research organisation which has drawn its findings from a number of experts from the worlds of sport and medicine, including Sam Allardyce, Richard Weiler, Gregory Whyte and Emmanuel Stamatakis.

They say regular exercise in childhood can help boost academic performance, curb anti-social behaviour and determine patters of physical health and wealth in adulthood.

But only a third of boys and a quarter of girls in England meet the minimum recommended daily physical activity levels.

They warn that one in three youngsters leaving primary education is obese, most of whom will become obese adults.

The authors say: "Despite the well accepted benefits of physical activity and the recognised importance of schools in delivering the crucial physical literacy and activity opportunities, the erosion of physical education in schools combined with ever reducing play facilities has the opposite effect.

"Worse, the amount of school curriculum time children spend in physical education and activity is neither monitored nor known by any educational or regulatory authorities, they point out. And there is no statutory minimum requirement for schools to devote a specific amount of time to physical education.

"Despite the 2012 Olympic promises to protect school playing fields, these continue to be sold off, say the authors, and although £150m has been pledged for each of the next two years to improve the physical education of primary school children, this translates into just £9,500 per school.

"The government has allocated £28.4m for competitive school games, but this approach doesn't suit all children, and there is some evidence to suggest that it benefits those who least need it - the wealthiest and most privileged."

They highlight the fact that Team GB came third in the medals table at the 2012 Olympics, but the UK also took gold and silver in the European obesity league tables last year.

"The minimal funding, lack of interest and absence of a child physical activity strategy strongly support the notion that the state is failing to act to prevent harm against children and failing to meet children's basic physical needs likely to result in the serious impairment of their health and development.

"This is quite literally indistinguishable from the government's own definition of child neglect," they conclude.

They call for current and future governments and educational bodies to act to create a comprehensive child-centred national physical activity policy to give children from all backgrounds and sporting abilities every opportunity to be active on a daily basis.

In response to the BJSM report a government spokesman said: "This government is taking decisive action  the harness the Olympic spirit and make sure every child has the opportunity to be fit and healthy.

"We have extended our ring-fenced funding for primary schools to spend on sport to 2015/16 - with a total of £540m now going directly to head teachers to improve PE and sport in their schools."

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Lung Cancer Detection Rate 'Boosted' By TV Ad

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Reporter

A Government TV campaign urging people with a three-week-old cough to visit the doctor has reportedly boosted lung cancer detection rates.

The Be Clear On Cancer advert ran between May and June last year to raise awareness of a range of cancers.

Cancer Research UK, which supported the campaign, says as a result around 700 more people were diagnosed with the disease compared to the same period the year before.

Sarah Williams, spokeswoman for the charity, told Sky News: "There are indications this will be helping survival rates and people will have a much better chance of surviving their disease.

"We do know with lung cancer that when it's picked up earlier the chances of survival are much better, simply because it's easier to treat."

The advert may be re-run as a result of its success

Joe Suckling, from Derbyshire, said he wished the advert had been around when he was sick.

In 2007, he noticed a niggling cough, over the next five months it got gradually worse until he was finally diagnosed with lung cancer and warned he may have to have his right lung removed.

He told Sky News: "I knew I was dying. If the radiotherapy hadn't have helped me then yes I would have died, and if I'd delayed much longer the treatment wouldn't have been viable."

He believes his persistence in getting treatment saved his life and hopes the campaign makes others seek help.

The UK currently has one of the lowest lung cancer survival rates in Europe, with around 35,000 deaths from the disease every year.

Sean Duffy, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: "Until recently a lung cancer patient in Sweden was nearly 70% more likely to survive their disease for at least five years than if they lived in England.

"So I am therefore delighted that this new set of figures shows that the Be Clear On Cancer campaign has helped speed up our progress in lung cancer survival with hundreds of patients receiving potential life-saving surgery as a result of this campaign."

Public Health England is now considering re-running the campaign next year.

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Universal Credit Delays: IDS Faces Grilling

Iain Duncan Smith will face fresh questions from MPs today over the scale of delays to the Government's flagship welfare reform.

The Work and Pensions Secretary, who is to appear before a Commons committee this afternoon, has admitted the 2017 target for the full introduction of Universal Credit is set to be missed - with around 700,000 claimants facing a longer wait.

Labour said official figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility showed that only a tiny fraction of the numbers due to be using the new system by the time of the next general election would be transferred on time.

It added that only a "handful" of the promised 1.7 million would be switched by 2014/15 and only 400,000 by the following year - less than 10% of the original target.

The flagship reform, which forces people to budget by paying their benefits in one monthly lump sum, has been dogged by difficulties amid accusations of weak management and a timetable that keeps on slipping.

Sky's political correspondent Anushka Asthana said: "Fears are rising about the human consequences of this massive reform."

The implementation of the scheme has been branded 'inadequate'

It comes as figures given exclusively to Sky News show how UK landlords are now less likely to take tenants on universal credit due to concerns of non-payment.

The data from the National Landlords' Association shows the number of landlords letting to people on housing benefits has halved to just one in five.

And 52% of landlords say they would not even consider letting to someone on benefits because of those who do, seven out of 10 have experienced rent arrears in past 12 months averaging £3,000 each.

Ministers claim the initial roll-out of Universal Credit - which combines six means-tested benefits into one monthly payment designed to ensure people are better off working than on benefits - has been a success.

They point to figures suggesting it is encouraging more people to look for jobs in what Mr Duncan Smith described as a "cultural shift".

Mr Duncan Smith will be grilled by the work and pensions select committee

But critics say the limited implementation of the scheme - which has been plagued by IT and other problems - only involve the least challenging cases.

And it was branded "inadequate" and open to fraud in a scathing report by a cross-party committee.

The Commons public accounts committee found that at least £140m had already been wasted on the project, which was blighted by "alarmingly weak" management.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said "David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith are presiding over a complete mess and it is taxpayers who are picking up the bill with at least one hundred million pounds of their money written off."

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MPs' Pay: Watchdog To Give £7,600 Pay Rise

MPs are to get an inflation-busting 11% pay rise after a watchdog refused to scale back the increase at a time voters are feeling the squeeze.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) will unveil its final proposals next week - including boosting MPs' salaries by £7,600 to £74,000 from 2015.

It is expected to try to quell criticism by announcing a tougher-than-expected squeeze on MPs' pensions in a bid to cancel out the £4.6m cost to the taxpayer.

All three main party leaders have condemned the increase at a time of national austerity, with Labour's Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg pledging to shun the extra cash.

David Cameron has stopped short of matching that pledge - and is under pressure from some Tory MPs to back the increase.

Mathew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group, said: "Taxpayers will be furious that the pay rise comes at a time when MPs urge public pay restraint."

Following a consultation on the proposals - first set out in July - Ipsa is set to press ahead however.

David Cameron is under pressure to back the pay rise

And MPs have no way to prevent the rise coming into force after the next general election - unless they change the law set up in the wake of the expenses scandal to stop them setting their own pay.

Research by Ipsa found two-thirds of MPs believe they are underpaid, and the watchdog's chairman Sir Ian Kennedy says politicians' pay must "catch up" after years of being suppressed.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We believe that the cost of politics should be going down, not up."

Commons deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle - a Labour MP - cautioned against interfering in the system.

"I agree that MPs should not vote on their own pay," he told the Mail on Sunday. "It should be left to an independent body. It's not in the gift of the party leaders."

Ed Miliband says he will refuse the extra cash

Ipsa's original report conceded there is no "compelling evidence" that MPs' current salary level is deterring candidates, making people leave Parliament, affecting the diversity of the House, or lowering the standard of ministers.

Among measures already on the table to offset the cost of the wage rise is an end to "resettlement grants" of up to £65,000 for departing MPs.

Under the plans, that would be reduced to two weeks' pay for every year of service if they are under 41, and three weeks if they are older by 2020.

A £15 dinner allowance would be scrapped, claims for tea and biscuits would not be allowed, and taxpayer-funded taxis home only allowed after 11pm.

There would also be a crackdown on claims for running second homes, with costs such as TV licences and contents insurance no longer being met.

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Glasgow Helicopter Crash Pilot's Funeral Held

By David Blevins, Sky News Correspondent

The funeral has taken place of the pilot killed when his helicopter crashed onto a Glasgow bar last weekend.

Captain David Traill was one of nine people who died when the aircraft crashed on to the roof of the city's Clutha bar on Friday last week.

He was a decorated war veteran, having served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, but had flown for a private company since his retirement from the RAF.

Friends, family and colleagues attended a service at Glasgow University, led by chaplain Reverend Stuart MacQuarrie.

Before the memorial, a guard of honour was formed, with police officers on one side and air ambulance pilots and paramedics on the other.

The funeral cortege was led by police outriders and was joined by a friend of Capt Traill who rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle to the service.

The service had been put together by Capt. Traill's fiancee, Lucy, a graduate from the university, and his father, Iain, who sobbed as he read a poem, You Can Shed Tears, to mourners.

The minister read out a tribute from Lucy whom Capt Traill met just over four years ago.

She said: "Dave was the best thing that ever happened to me …He was the most amazing, caring, loving, strong, capable, funny, creative, delicious and sexy boy in the whole world and I cannot even begin to imagine life without him."

The helicopter crashed on the Clutha bar a week ago

She added that some of his passions included cycling, Scotland's west coast, fine dining, kayaking, Take That, and "best of all" karaoke.

"It all seemed too perfect but there was no catch. He just adored me and told me every single day," she said.

Mr Traill Snr read the same poem by David Harkins at his younger son Angus' funeral three years ago.

A close friend from Mr Traill's time in the RAF read a tribute to "the greatest friend a man could hope for".

Andy Rooney said: "David, Dave, Davey, Swampy - he was different things to different people and he touched many lives.

"But there was a consistency to him that few could match and many could envy. The calm he offered, the warmth with which he was received."

He went on: "He was the greatest friend a man could hope for. A steady, loyal brother in arms.

"He wasn't perfect, that would be tedious. He was a helicopter pilot who didn't like heights.

"You could get him in a helicopter, but you couldn't get him up a set of ladders. He was a pilot who got air sick, to be fair this was mostly on fixed-wing planes."

The 51-year-old had played an active role in the lives of his three young nephews since they lost their father - his younger brother Angus - to throat cancer three years ago.

Capt Traill did not make a mayday call before the aircraft crashed onto the Clutha bar, killing him and two police passengers: Kristy Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43.

Six other people, attending a live music event inside the pub, also died: Robert Jenkins, 61, Mark O'Prey, 44, Colin Gibson, 33, John McGarrigle, 57, Gary Arthur, 48, and Samuel McGhee, 56.

Around 100 people were inside the building when the Eurocopter dropped out of the sky "like a stone" last Friday night and 10 of the 32 injured remain in hospital.

There was no black box data recorder on the helicopter but air accident investigators are examining the wreckage in Farnborough, Hampshire, and are expected to publish their initial findings next week.

Bond Air Services described their popular colleague as "the epitome of the consummate professional" and "a legend" whose passing would be mourned with "a sense of intense loss and sorrow".

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