Woman 'Mauled To Death By Daughter's Dogs'

A post-mortem examination will be carried out today on the body of a woman who is believed to have been mauled to death by dogs she had gone to feed.

Neighbours reported hearing screams and dogs barking as the woman went to feed the pets in the back garden of the home in Morden, South London, on Tuesday.

The police were called at around 6.25pm but the 71-year-old was dead when they arrived.

It is understood that the woman suffered multiple injuries in the dog attack.

Five dogs including, two Bordeaux bulldogs and a mongrel, were taken away.

Police say none of the animals were banned breeds and no arrests have been made.

Neighbour Kevin Hamilton told Sky News he heard noises outside at about 5.15pm on Tuesday.

Police cordoned off two houses in Morden, South London

"I heard screaming and dogs barking. The screaming was not specific screaming – there were no words in it. It was very much like hysterical screaming – no 'help' or anything like that.

"I thought no more of it, and believed it to just be the kids playing."

A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said none of the animals were banned breeds and no arrests had been made.

She said of the victim: "She had sustained a number of injuries. An investigation is under way to establish a cause of death."

The post-mortem examination will be carried out at St George's Hospital in Tooting.

Two adjoining semi-detached houses were cordoned off by police.

Four dog breeds are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

These are the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero.

There have been calls for more breeds to be put on the banned list and for the law to be toughened up after a number of high profile dog mauling cases.

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Savile 'Molested' Teen During Top Of The Pops

By Katie Stallard, Media & Technology Correspondent

A Top of the Pops audience member has told Sky News she was molested on camera by Jimmy Savile and then laughed at by a member of the crew when she tried to complain.

Sylvia Edwards, who was 18 at the time, says she was told to get lost by a man on the studio floor who said: "That's just Jimmy Savile."

Footage from the programme in 1976 shows the teenager clearly shrieking and jumping up from her seat as she struggles to get away from Savile, who says to a camera: "A fella could get used to all this."

Mrs Edwards told Sky News: "All of a sudden I felt this hand go underneath and I jumped up, I went to go back down again, but I couldn't go anywhere, his hand was still there."

"I was trying to push it away, but he wouldn't move it - I just screeched - I started feeling embarrassed because where could you go?"

"I was just getting really flustered and he didn't move, and I just remember trying to get out, but there were too many girls around me."

As soon as it was over she said she tried to tell the nearest member of staff what had happened.

She said: "I just found this man that had some sort of headset on, I don't know what he was doing, next to a camera, and I said: 'He's really filthy, he's putting his hand up my skirt and that', and he said: 'Oh no, don't be so stupid', he said, 'that's just Jimmy Savile, go on get out of the way, out of the way, you're blocking a camera shot or something.'

"I had to move because this camera was coming around and I thought fine, ok, what do you say - once they've told you to get lost, I didn't think that maybe I could go to the police, I just felt embarrassed."

She said she was picked out of the crowd to sit next to Savile and quickly found herself hemmed in by other girls.

"All I could think of was to get his hand away, and my hand was pushing it, but he just seemed to go rigid and keep his hand there, and actually if you watch the tape you can see him moving where I'm trying to push it away and he was having none of it, his hand was going to stay there, and that was it."

"I was trapped, I felt as if I was just stuck and everyone was closing in around me, because obviously they all wanted to get in the camera shot and I could feel them all around me, we had to just wait until they said we could move."

Mrs Edwards' case raises more questions for the BBC. She is convinced that some within the corporation must have known what was going on.

"I know that they knew about it because I told them years and years ago and they just brushed it under the carpet. That is what annoyed me and prompted me to come forward to say they did know. I don't know how anybody could say they didn't know it was going on."

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "The BBC cannot comment on individual cases. It has asked that anyone with allegations of this nature should report them to the BBC's Investigation Unit or the police directly."

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EU Budget: Cameron Faces Commons Showdown

Prime Minister David Cameron faces an embarrassing Commons defeat later today when MPs debate the EU budget.

A rebellion is brewing on the Tory backbenches: eurosceptics want the budget cut, while the PM plans to go no further than to demand a real-terms freeze, an inflation-only rise of a little over 2% a year.

The budget will cover the period 2014 - 2020.

In Brussels, some are calling for a budget increase of nearly 7% - at a time when the EU is demanding draconian austerity measures from Greece and other countries worst hit by the eurozone crisis.

That's like a red rag to a bull to the Tory right who are organising a Commons ambush.

Tory MPs Mark Pritchard and Mark Reckless will need 40 others to rebel with them to bring about a Government defeat if, as expected, Labour votes against the Government with the pro-European Lib Dems supporting Mr Cameron.

Past performance suggests they will fall short, but they could come close with MPs like Bill Cash and John Redwood garnering support for their cause and urging Mr Cameron not to "cave in" to pressure from Europe.

One eurosceptic Tory MP is even using the argument that a Commons rebellion will strengthen Mr Cameron's hand when he goes into the budget negotiations in Brussels next month.

The Prime Minister is beset on all sides - not only the right of his own party, but from Ukip which is attracting disillusioned Tory eurosceptics, and of course from Labour: shadow chancellor Ed Balls and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander used an article in The Times on Monday to demand a cut in the EU budget.

Tony Blair, who still seems to harbour some ambition to become Europe's first elected president, warned there is now a serious risk that the EU could break up, and warned his party, and others, "not to play short-term politics with this issue" - but the temptation to do so will, needless to say, prove irresistible.

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Afghanistan: Two British Gurkha Soldiers Killed

Two British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform.

The soldiers, from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, were shot dead at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand Province.

Major Laurence Roche, the spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The loss of these soldiers is a huge blow to The Royal Gurkha Rifles and everyone serving in Task Force Helmand. 

"Our thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow Gurkhas at this time."

The soldiers' families have been informed.

The Ministry of Defence said there have been nine UK deaths attributed to so-called "green on blue" or "insider attacks" this year.

The repatriation ceremony for Corporal Channing Day

The latest two deaths come as the bodies of two service personnel killed last week were repatriated to the UK.

Corporal Channing Day, who served with the 3 Medical Regiment, died alongside Corporal David O'Connor, of 40 Commando, after being injured on patrol with C Company in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province on Wednesday.

Their Union flag-draped coffins were flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

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Royal Mail Delivers 1,000 New Parcel Jobs

Royal Mail is to create 1,000 new jobs as it looks to cash in on the boom in online retailing.

Royal Mail is planning a £75m investment programme in its UK express parcels business as packages become increasingly important to the company against a backdrop of a plunging letter numbers as email takes more of the strain.

In the last reported financial year, its parcels businesses accounted for almost half of the group's revenues, excluding the Post Office, and online retailing is expected to continue increasing as stores place a greater emphasis in their online offerings.

High rents, other cost pressures and low consumer confidence have combined to hurt the high street since the financial crisis, prompting many retailers to invest heavily in online.

As a result, Royal Mail is to open a new parcel processing centre in Chorley in Lancashire next year, two new depots will be opened in Cornwall and Hampshire with a further nine existing depots expanded or moved to larger sites over the next four years.

Royal Mail Group's chief executive Moya Greene said: "Our investment is part of Royal Mail Group's strategy to grow its parcels businesses in the UK and overseas.

"Our strategy is to convert the rise in parcel volumes into profitable growth. That means becoming a much more customer-focused company being run on commercial lines and investing in new, vital technology."

The move was welcomed by the Government.

Mark Hoban, minister for employment, said: "It is great news that 1,000 new jobs will be created across the country as a result of this investment.

"We've now got a record number of people in employment and these jobs will provide welcome opportunities for people who are looking for work."

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Breast Cancer: Thousands Are Over-Diagnosed

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Almost 4,000 women a year are having treatment for breast cancer they don't need, according to new research.

An independent panel of doctors called in to assess the UK's breast screening programmes found some women are diagnosed with tumours that would never cause them any problems in their natural life span.

But the doctors say screening also prevents more than 1,300 deaths a year, underlining the benefits of regular mammograms.

Cancer Research UK, which took part in the review, strongly recommended women turn up for screening.

The charity's chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: "Screening remains one of the best ways to spot the very early signs of breast cancer, at a stage when treatment is most likely to be successful."

The review was ordered after European researchers had warned that screening may do more harm than good.

The independent panel trawled through 11 studies involving thousands of women, in the hope of settling the controversy.

According to results published in The Lancet medical journal, for every cancer death prevented, three women will be over-diagnosed.

They may have surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy as a result.

National cancer director Professor Sir Mike Richards said leaflets explaining breast screening will be rewritten within four months to reflect the new information.

"We have always said that there are some cancers that can be found that would not have caused problems in a woman's lifetime,"  he said.

"What we can now do is put a number on that, to give an estimate.

"Women can make their individual choices based on good information."

But Dr Deborah Cunningham, clinical director of breast services at Charing Cross Hospital in London, warned that some women could be deterred from screening.

She told Sky News: "They already have difficult choices to make. This complicates it further. Screening won't work if they don't turn up."

Beverley Angell was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine screening appointment earlier this summer. She has no doubt that the programme is worthwhile.

"I could not feel the lump and I did not know it was there. It has saved my life."

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New Road Tax Plan For Motorways And A-Roads

Drivers who use motorways could be charged a higher rate of road tax than those who stick to slower routes.

According to reports, motorists face a two-tier road tax under proposals being considered by the Government.

It has been suggested that drivers could be offered a lower rate of the tax if they agree not to use the country's trunk road network of motorways and major A-roads.

Those paying a higher rate of vehicle excise duty would be free to use any roads.

Proponents say a network of automatic number-plate recognition cameras could be used to catch any drivers who were using the motorways without paying the higher rate.

A Department For Transport (DFT)  said: "The department and Treasury are currently carrying out a feasibility study to review new ownership and financing models for the strategic road network.

"This is looking at how best we can secure investment in the network to increase capacity and boost economic growth."

Activists have long sought to explore revenue generation options for road users.

Concepts have included expanding toll booths across the motorway network and a system based on mileage.

The DFT spokesman added: "The Government has made clear it will not implement tolls on existing road capacity and has no plans to replace existing motoring taxes with pay-as-you-go road charging."

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Police Poised For More Savile Case Arrests

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky News Reporter

Police investigating Jimmy Savile are preparing to make fresh arrests as today marks the anniversary of his death .

Yesterday, former pop star Gary Glitter became the first high profile arrest under Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree.

He maybe one of many; police have drawn up a detailed arrest strategy as thirty officers work through some 300 allegations of abuse.

Today marks one year since Savile's death. At the time he was saluted for his charity work and long TV career.

Gary Glitter was arrested yesterday

Now the depictions of Savile couldn't be more different, described as a predatory paedophile and one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders.

For many of Savile's victims, including his own great-niece, too many turned a blind eye for too long.

Caroline Robinson told Sky News: "The rewards they got from Jimmy Savile's name and everything else kept them in a lifestyle that they became accustomed to.

"I am sure the BBC, if they could have stopped this in the 60s when they first found out about the allegations, I would not be a victim now.

"I would not be sat here. They have wrecked my world apart. They are to blame.

"I think a vast amount of people knew at the BBC, at the NHS and the council.

"I think everybody knew who surrounded themselves with Jimmy Savile, including the family - they turned a blind eye."

Today former Court of Appeal judge Dame Janet Smith begins the first of two independent inquiries.

It will focus on whether the culture and practices at the BBC allowed Savile to carry out his abuse.

A further review will examine current sexual harassment policies at the corporation.

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Victory For Man Who Took Cold Caller To Court

A businessman plagued by nuisance phone calls offering compensation for Payment Protection Insurance has secured £220 in an out-of-court settlement.

Richard Herman, 53, was so fed up with the unwanted calls arriving from India, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He warned the company that, in future, he would invoice them £10 for every minute of his time they used.

When the calls continued he began recording them before finally invoicing the company £195 for their use of his "time, telephone and electricity".

Upon receipt of the invoice the marketing firm acting on behalf of UK-based PPI Claimline Ltd, denied making the calls. When Mr Herman revealed he had recorded evidence, they still refused to pay.

But when Mr Herman filed a claim in the small claims court for the unpaid invoice - plus £25 in costs - the company offered to settle the debt out of court and transferred £220 into his bank account.

Mr Herman filed in the small claims court when his invoice was not paid

Mr Herman said: "I kept being called, as we all do, and I thought the only way for them to stop would be for me to speak to them and say, 'For goodness sake, take me off your list!'

"Then it occurred to me to tell them that if they call again I'll charge for my time. When they continued calling I sent them an invoice for 19.5 minutes."

To encourage others to do the same Mr Herman has set up a website with examples of covering letters and invoices to send to nuisance callers.

Even though the validity of Mr Herman's original invoice was not tested in court, he believes anyone who warns cold-calling companies they will be charged if they call, have a right to invoice them.

"I did business studies at 17 and studied 'offer-and-acceptance' so I knew a verbal contract is just as valid as a written one but harder to prove.

"The recorded calls proved I did tell them I would charge for my time if they called again".

Mr Herman, who works in the telephone industry selling call-recording equipment, said his action was a last resort after asking the Information Commissioner and the Telephone Preference Service for help.

In a statment, PPI Claimline said: "We would like to stress that all our supplier relationships are subject to strict contractual provisions requiring full compliance with all relevant regulations, including those which relate to data protection and the telephone preference service.

"We would like to draw a clear line between the two calls to Mr Herman made on behalf of PPI Claimline and any other calls he received, which were nothing to do with PPI Claimline or its suppliers."

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Beer Tax Debate Heads To Parliament

By Emma Birchley, Sky News Reporter

Campaigners calling for an end to a policy which pushes beer prices up faster than the rate of inflation have won the right to a debate in Parliament.

The beer duty escalator was introduced by the last government in 2008. It means the cost of a pint rises by an additional 2% every year.

Stephen Pugh is the financial director of the brewer Adnams in Southwold. He believes the policy is misguided.

"The duty will be 50p or so on the pint and the VAT will be a similar amount, so you are talking about adding £1 of tax for the government on that.

"I think that's an expensive and damaging level of costs to the consumer."

Many pubs have been unable to survive in the recent economic climate. Six thousand have closed in the past four years.

It is causing so much concern that more than 100,000 people have signed an online petition urging the government to scrap the escalator. The petition has been organised by the beer campaign group CAMRA.

Beer duty has increased by 42% since 2008

The issue will now be debated in Parliament on Thursday.

David Sanchez runs the Lord Nelson pub in the Suffolk seaside town.

To get a realistic profit after paying all the tax he says he should sell his bitter for £4 a pint. But he believes that price is too high and so it sells for £3.40.

"You can't really price the beer where it needs to be to maintain the current profitability so we have to keep the beer prices down to encourage customers to keep coming in.

"They still whinge at the price… It's all part of the banter these days."

Beer duty has increased by 42% since the escalator was introduced in 2008 while sales have fallen by 15% in that period.

And the rate of decline is rising. Between July and September there was a 5.6% fall in the volume of beer sold in pubs and shops compared to the same quarter last year, although it is thought the bad weather this summer may have had an impact on sales.

A spokesman for the Treasury said a range of tax measures had been introduced to help the alcohol industry, and pubs in particular.

"However at a time when we are working hard to get down the deficit, alcohol duty revenues do make an important contribution to the public finances.

"Crucially, the Government has not made any changes beyond what was announced at the budget in 2008."

But in the past three months 117 million fewer pints have been sold.

And, according to the industry, that means that tax revenue from beer is actually being hit because people cannot afford to buy it.

The British Beer and Pub Association wants duty to be frozen in the next budget.

Research carried out for the organisation suggests it would save 5000 jobs in the industry.

But the fear is, if prices keep being driven higher, more pubs will be forced to call time for good.

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