England News

High-speed rail plans announced Plans for a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham are announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis. Driver plea over fatal car crash Police investigating a crash in which a car passenger died are trying to trace a driver who stopped at the scene. Man, 83, dies in road collision An 83-year-old man dies at the scene of a road collision on the A30 near Launceston. Man in court over shop murder A 20-year-old man appears in court charged with the murder and robbery of a Huddersfield shopkeeper who died after an attack at his store. Fire destroys Shoreditch offices More than 100 firefighters are tackling a major fire at a restaurant and office block in central London. Awol soldier in jail term appeal A soldier who refused to return to Afghanistan because he opposes the war is appealing against his nine-month sentence. Hargreaves must wait for return Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves will not make his return from injury in a reserve game on Thursday, as originally planned. Service to dedicate memorial wall The prime minister attends a service to rededicate the Basra Memorial Wall following its relocation to Staffordshire. Flat deaths 'murder and suicide' Police believe the deaths of a man and a woman found with gunshot wounds in Hertfordshire may have been murder followed by suicide. Behind bars The BBC is given a tour inside Yarl's Wood Underground to axe up to 800 jobs London Underground is to axe up to 800 jobs under plans to make savings of £16m a year, the company announces. Goonhilly visitor centre closing The Goonhilly Earth station visitor centre on the Lizard in Cornwall is closing for an unspecified period of time, BT announces. Royal junk mail Why postal reforms are good news for direct mailers Six accused of human trafficking Six men are charged as part of an investigation into human trafficking offences in Shropshire. Canal path killer jailed for life A 21-year-old is jailed for life for beating a man to death after asking for a cigarette on a canal towpath in Lancashire. Doherty banned over manager crash Musician Pete Doherty is banned from driving after admitting allowing his manager to use his car without insurance. Pakistan kidnap boy not released The Foreign Office says a five-year-old boy from Oldham kidnapped in Pakistan has not been released. Soldier's family 'proud of son' The father of an East Midlands soldier killed in Afghanistan said his son considered it an honour to die for his country. Fire college 'failed fire safety' The UK Fire Service College failed to comply with fire safety laws when part of its own premises burnt down, the BBC learns. Mosque plan rejected by council Plans to build a mosque with two tall minarets on the site of a listed building in Camberley are thrown out by councillors. Bolt gun killer to serve 30 years A Suffolk slaughterman who killed a woman with a bolt gun has his minimum sentence increased from 20 to 30 years. Jobs to go in cocoa plant closure Cocoa company ADM announces plans to close its Hull factory with the loss of 86 jobs. England to make late Broad call England will make a last-minute call on the fitness of Stuart Broad for the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Killer refuses to name victims A murderer who killed and dismembered a salesman refuses to tell police about other men he chopped up. 'Living nightmare' One woman's battle against anti-social behaviour James Bulger's mother meets Straw Justice Secretary Jack Straw meets the mother of James Bulger to discuss the return to prison of one of her son's killers. Is this the UK's most ignored and lucrative speed camera? A temporary speed camera on the M6 in Cumbria catches out more than 5,500 drivers in just five weeks. BBC Local Find out about your community from bbc.co.uk Protest over frogs' legs chippy Animal rights campaigners are to protest outside a Sunderland fish and chip shop which sells battered frogs' legs.