Fire at home of pro golfer

Rick took to Twitter to share his experience with his social media followers and to thank fire service staff for their actions. Rick tweeted: “Just had a huge fire at the house, caused by the dish washer.

Husband of Briton held in Iran fears outcome of appeal

The husband of a British-Iranian woman imprisoned in Iran has said he is terrified about the possible outcome of his wife’s appeal. Charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, has been sentenced to five years for allegedly plotting to topple the government in Tehran, but details of the charges against her have been kept secret.

D-Day: here’s when councils are meeting to decide the future of local government in Dorset

Cllr John Beesley, Bournemouth council leader, Cllr Janet Walton, Poole council leader, Cllr Ian Monks, former leader of East Dorset District Council and Cllr Ray Nottage, leader of Christchurch council, launch the ‘super council’ talks Each of the nine existing authorities will discuss the ‘super council’ proposals – either no change, or one of three variations of a two unitary model – intended to mitigate against a predicted future crisis in local government finances. Already the majority of Dorset’s MPs have backed combining Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, although Christchurch MP Christopher Chope and several of the town’s councillors have indicated a preference for ‘no change’.

‘An hour’s training to drive an ambulance’: Concerns raised over blue light training

Workers at a private ambulance firm covering south west Hertfordshire have only had an hour’s training to drive vehicles at high speed, it has been reported. Staff at the Private Ambulance Service in Basildon, Essex, which provides emergency cover for the East of England Ambulance Service , also criticised some of the equipment in the ambulances, saying it was in a poor state.

‘Disorder’ at protest after man shot dead on M62

It is understood protesters have gathered on Leeds Road in Bradford in response to the death of father-of-two Mohammed Yassar Yaqub, who was shot by police in a “pre-planned operation” at Ainley Top near Huddersfield. We are unable to send your welcome email at this time.

Tributes paid to ‘superb soldier’ killed in Iraq incident

Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington, 22, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, died following a “tragic incident” at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, on Monday. The circumstances of the death of the father-of-one, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, are being investigated, the Ministry of Defence said.

Things to expect in Lincoln in 2017

For many, 2016 offered a glimpse into a New Year of possibilities and unexplored territories. From the promise of eventual divorce from the European Union, to the beginnings of major local infrastructure projects, there’s already lots to add to look out for in the months ahead.

Woman in court after stealing cat food

A woman who stole cleaning products and cat food from B and M in Colne, had mental health issues, a court heard. Martin, of Roundell Road, Barnoldswick, admitted theft. She was given a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay 85 costs and a 20 victim surcharge.

Classic film director dies at the age of 85

Jeremy Summers, who was born in St Albans in 1931 to Dora, an actor, and Walter Summers, a film director and screenplay writer, died on December 14 at the age of 85. Summers began working as a runner at Elstree Studios, in Borehamwood, when he was 16 and became an assistant director on films such as The Dam Busters and Moby Dick . His son Julian Summers said: “Walter had come back from the second world war a physical and nervous wreck and had already acquired a reputation in the film industry for being difficult.

‘Main office conversation today: Who slept the least last night and …

‘Main office conversation today: Who slept the least last night and who put on the most weight in two weeks’: Twitter explodes with #backtowork memes as workers return from their 17 DAY Christmas break It’s been a long Christmas holiday for many Britons who only needed to take eight days of annual leave to enjoy a 17-day break. But the realisation that they were returning to the office today was almost too much to bear for some who shared their back to work blues on social media.

Manchester schoolgirl was raped after being dragged off a street by a man in a balaclava

Schoolgirl, 12, was raped after being dragged off a street and into an alleyway by a man in a balaclava A 12-year-old girl has been raped after she was dragged off a street into an alleyway by a man in a balaclava. The victim was attacked as she walked in Levenshulme, Manchester but police said the girl only spoke out last week and told them the incident took place on Tuesday November 22 last year.

Israeli police question Netanyahu over corruption allegation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was grilled by police investigators for over three hours at his office Monday night, opening what could be a politically damaging criminal investigation into suspicions that he improperly accepted gifts. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, but the arrival of the national fraud squad indicated questions raised about him are considered serious enough to merit an investigation.

Did a coal fire sink the Titanic?

Did an intense fire on board R.M.S. Titanic lead to one of the worst disaster’s in maritime history? A new documentary by author and journalist Senan Molony suggests the emergence of pictures hidden in a forgotten album for a century prove that the supposedly unsinkable passenger ship was weakened by a smoldering coal fire even before it left on its catastrophic maiden voyage. Titanic, which at the time of its sinking in 1912 was the biggest ship afloat, hit an iceberg in the north Atlantic on the night of April 14 and went down with the loss of about 1,500 lives.

Israeli police question PM over corruption allegations

Israeli police are questioning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over corruption allegations, local media reported after police cars arrived at his residence Monday. The police team did not speak to journalists, but Israeli media said they are looking into suspicions that Netanyahu inappropriately accepted expensive gifts from two businessmen.

2016: A year in pictures – November and December

ROYAL Wootton Bassett woke one early November morning to discover High Street ‘yarn-bombed’ to raise awareness of that year’s Poppy Appeal run by the Royal British Legion. Linda Frost, town councillor and member of Royal Wootton Bassett Community Together, had set out with fellow community group members much earlier to adorn shop windows and other features.

Award for officer who tackled bottle-wielding man

THE officer who would not let her violent and dangerous attacker get away has been praised at the last Chief Constable’s Awards of the year. PC Michelle Harris was on patrol responding to a request to carry out a search in Basingstoke for a man who was suspected of burglary.

Special birthday for Joyce to see in New Year

ONE Swindon family had a double celebration as the last day of 2016 heralded the 100th birthday of Joyce Walters. Swindon-born Joyce, known more widely as Joyce Vizor, was surrounded by almost 100 friends and family members in a special birthday party at Wrag Barn Golf Club.

Work on flood defences continues a year on from storm Eva hitting town

Storm Eva hit Warrington on Boxing Day 2015, leaving parts of town including Latchford Locks, Longford, Sankey Valley Park, Woolston Park, Lymm, Croft and Burtonwood flooded. A 100m section of Cromwell Avenue between Europa Boulevard and Sankey Brook was hit with 150mm of flood water, with Environment Agency flood defences protecting 119 properties.

Amateur footballer convinced he’s found the king of all Prince…

The amateur footballer snapped a photo of a stranger’s knees after noticing the royal resemblance, adding that the uncanny likeness left him ‘crying with laughter’ The amateur footballer is convinced he’s found Prince George’s likeness in a photo of a woman’s knees. Chris Murphy scrambled to take a snap of the royal resemblance as he passed through Hindley, Greater Manchester, on his way to a match.

New York trains roll on new subway line envisioned in 1920s

In this Dec. 9, 2016 file photo provided by the Office of New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, the escalator leading down to the platform to the Second Avenue subway station at 72nd Street in New York is shown. New Yorkers can take their first ride under Manhattan’s far Upper East Side at noon on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017.

Britain’s May calls for unity in 2017 after divisive Brexit vote

FILE PHOTO: Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Britain, October 2, 2016. British Prime Minister Theresa May pledged in a New Year message on Sunday to seek a Brexit deal that would work for all Britons, not just those who voted to leave the European Union in a referendum she said had laid bare the nation’s divisions.

Stores raise big total for good cause

Staff from across the 25 Frank’s the Flooring Store locations in the North East – including stores in Ashington, Cramlington and Blyth – have been getting in the Christmas spirit as part of the company’s final charity fund-raising push of the year. It has already hit the 25,000 mark, following donations from staff, customers and suppliers, and expects this to rise to in excess of 28,000, with money still being counted and collected.

British disabled ‘fit for work’ deaths covered up

Former Chancellor Norman Lamont walks into traffic to escape hearing about thousands of unnecessary deaths . THE Department for Work and Pensions “hid” the deaths of seven disability benefit claimants from an independent expert hired to review its “fitness for work” assessments , a freedom of information request has found.

Review of the Year: Didcot – From tragedy to a 80m transformation

Neil Wadley, 47, of Pound Lane, Upton, was the leader of a criminal gang and was jailed with nine accomplices at Oxford Crown Court for a total of 91 years and 11 months for their parts in a drug-dealing conspiracy. Wadley was given a 17-year jail term while his right-hand man Gary Hunt, 39, of Church Street, Didcot, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Goldsmiths thieves still at large year after city centre raid

TODAY marks one year since 11 masked men smashed their way into an Oxford jewellers in one of the biggest ever heists in the city. And despite a major police investigation and CCTV showing the burglars sledge-hammering their way into the shopping centre from Cornmarket Street, no arrests have been made and detectives still have no idea where the men are 12 months on.