Police blasted for ignoring claims

POLICE forces across Britain have come under fire for ignoring Jimmy Savile’s abuse victims as it emerged that the disgraced presenter could have been stopped as early as 1964.

In a shock warning, policing inspectors said there is a “distinct possibility” that officers could fail to prevent another Savile-like scandal from happening again.

Just five allegations and two pieces of intelligence were recorded against Savile during his lifetime, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found.

Blizzards strand drivers for hours

HUNDREDS of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill.

Motorists were stuck for hours in the bitter cold in long tailbacks as ice and snow made roads across much of the South East impassable.

There were reports of drivers stuck for more than 10 hours in queues up to 30 miles long as police, snow ploughs and gritting lorries battled to treat the roads.

Falklands: We want to stay British

THE people of the Falkland Islands have voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8% declaring themselves in favour during a two-day referendum in the capital Port Stanley.

A total of 1,517 valid votes were cast, a turnout of 92% of the islanders eligible to vote.

In a clear message of defiance to the Argentine government, 1,513 voted to remain under British rule, with just three – 0.2% – voting against the referendum question “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?”

Cardinals meet to choose next pope

CARDINALS will enter the Sistine Chapel today to elect the next pope, with the Catholic Church facing more upheaval and uncertainty than it has seen in decades.

There is no front-runner, no indication how long voting will last and no sense that a single man has what it takes to fix the church’s many problems.

On the eve of the vote, cardinals offered wildly different assessments of what they were looking for in the next pontiff and how close they were to a decision.

Huhne and Pryce begin jail terms

DISGRACED Cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife are waking up behind bars today after they were each jailed for eight months.

The start of their sentences come exactly a decade since the speeding offence that led to their downfall.

Huhne and Pryce were yesterday handed eight-month sentence at Southwark Crown Court for perverting the course of justice when Pryce took speeding points for Huhne in 2003.