Murray Beats Federer To Reach Oz Open Final

Andy Murray is through to the Australian Open final after beating Roger Federer in a five-set thriller.

The British number one will face top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia for the title on Sunday.

Murray, who beat Djokovic in the US Open final last September, won his semi in Melbourne 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6-7 (2/7) 6-2 in four hours.

The 25-year-old Briton had never previously defeated Swiss star Federer in a grand slam tournament.

But third seed Murray had looked the more likely to win the match from the outset with a superior service game and aggressive shotmaking.

The Scot was two points away from winning the semi-final in the fourth set.

But 17-times grand slam winner Federer, who was seeded two, proved he was still a force to be reckoned with by forcing a fifth.

However, Murray got off to a storming start in the final set, racing to a 3-0 lead - and was not prepared to let an opportunity slip again.

Cricket star Shane Warne caught one of the match balls

The Briton has extended his victory record over Federer to 11-9, and it was his first victory over the former world number one in four grand slam matches.

It will be Murray's sixth grand slam final and he is the first Briton to reach three Australian Open finals.

Speaking afterwards, the Olympic gold medallist, who beat Federer in the final at London 2012, said: "It's always tough against him. Slams are when he plays his best tennis.

"When I was serving for the match at 6-5 in the fourth, he came up with some unbelievable shots.

"I didn't play the best tiebreak. It's hard when you're serving for a place in the final and a few minutes later you are into a fifth set."

As for the meeting with Djokovic, who thrashed David Ferrer in Thursday night's semi, he added: "I didn't see much of his game although I heard about it.

"I heard he played very well. I will have to play my best tennis to win it."

During the Murray match, Australian cricket legend Shane Warne raised a few smiles when he caught one of the balls.

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Barry George Loses Jill Dando Compensation Case

Barry George, who was wrongly jailed for murdering Jill Dando, has lost his High Court bid for compensation.

Two judges rejected his claim that the Justice Secretary unfairly and unlawfully decided he was "not innocent enough to be compensated".

Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin ruled that the Secretary of State was "entirely justified in the conclusion he reached."

Mr George's solicitor, Nick Baird, said: "We are very disappointed with the judgement and we shall be applying for permission to leapfrog the Court of Appeal to have the matter heard before the Supreme Court."

Mr George, 52, spent eight years in jail for the murder of Jill Dando in 1999.

Jill Dando was shot at her home in Fulham in April 1999

He came to court to seek a reconsideration of his case which could have opened the way for him to claim an award of up to £500,000 for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment.

But the judges ruled that he had "failed the legal test" to receive an award.

Miss Dando was shot dead outside her home in Fulham in April 1999.

After his conviction in July 2001, Mr George, of Fulham, west London, was acquitted of killing the 37-year-old BBC presenter at a retrial in August 2008.

The high-profile compensation action was one of five test cases assembled to decide who is now entitled to payments in "miscarriage of justice" cases following a landmark decision by the Supreme Court in May 2011.

Ian Lawless, who spent eight years behind bars for murder before being freed by the Court of Appeal in 2009, won his legal challenge.

Mr Lawless was jailed for life in 2002 after confessing to the murder of retired sea captain Alf Wilkins on the Yarborough estate in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

His conviction was later ruled unsafe after fresh medical evidence revealed he had a "pathological need for attention".

The judges ruled that in his case the decision to refuse compensation was legally flawed and must be reconsidered in the light of their judgement.

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Newcastle Striker Ranger Held Over Rape Claim

Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape.

The 21-year-old Premier League footballer was held by Northumbria Police following an allegation made by a woman that she was attacked at a hotel in Jesmond, Newcastle between Wednesday and Thursday.

London-born Ranger, who lives in Forest Hall, North Tyneside, was questioned earlier today.

Nile Ranger was arrested after an alleged incident at a hotel

A police spokeswoman said: "On Thursday, January 24 a woman reported to police that she had been raped overnight at a hotel in Jesmond.

"A 21-year-old man has been arrested at an address in Forest Hall on suspicion of rape."

Ranger, a former England under-19 player, angered fans by criticising them for booing after Newcastle lost to Reading at the weekend.

He has had a troubled time at Newcastle, with loans to Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley. A Newcastle United spokeswoman declined to comment.

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River Wye Crash: How Girl Escaped Submerged Car

The wife of a man who died after his car crashed into a river - moments before hers did the same thing - has praised her children for the way they were able to escape the vehicles.

Ruth Cox has paid tribute to a "wonderful and loving" father following husband David Cox's death in Derbyshire.

In a statement, she has revealed that their daughter Tess dived into the icy water to escape the submerged car.

Mr Cox, 42, and his wife were driving 11-year-old Tess and Ioan, nine, in separate cars on the school run on Thursday when they both skidded off a narrow path into the River Wye.

Tess managed to escape her father's Toyota Aygo and get safely to the riverbank, but Mr Cox died after being trapped in the car for around 40 minutes.

In her statement, Mr Cox's widow said: "I am very proud of our daughter Tess. She held her breath and dived under the water to look for a way out of the car.

"Tess then swam to the far bank. I am also very proud of our son Ioan. Whilst the car was filling with water he kept calm and attempted to unsuccessfully smash the rear side window."

The car driven by Mr Cox's wife is pulled from the river

She added: "We were both able to get out of the car and on to the river bank. I am very proud of how they ran back down the lane to the cottages to raise the alarm."

Mrs Cox, who thanked friends, neighbours and the emergency services for their help and support, said her husband had loved living at Blackwell Mill and working for the BBC.

In her statement, she said: "David was a wonderful loving father, husband, brother and son. We were a very happy family and I will do my utmost to make us a happy family again."

The head of the BBC has also paid tribute to Mr Cox, where he worked in the Salford-based Future Media team.

Acting BBC director-general Tim Davie praised Mr Cox's role in the corporation's coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

"We are very sad to learn of David's tragic death. He was a popular member of the Future Media team in Salford and had been key to the success of the red button service during the Olympics in the summer.

"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues here at the BBC at this difficult time."

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Ex-British Soldiers Jailed Over Gun Smuggling

Four former soldiers and a fifth man have been jailed for a total of 50 years for smuggling guns, ammunition and drugs into the country.

The servicemen, who were based in Germany, conspired with civilian contact Ramone Marshalleck, 25, in London to import the goods in January last year.

Lance Laurent, 26, who was a trooper with the Queen's Royal Hussars, Duran Wright, 28, a Lance Corporal with the Royal Logistic Corps, Trave Dyce, 22, a former trooper in the Queen's Royal Hussars and Lemar Loveless, 26, who was arrested six days after he quit the Queen's Royal Hussars, were all sentenced today along with Marshalleck at Woolwich Crown Court.

Prosecutor Alison Saunders said: "This was a carefully planned conspiracy to bring weapons, ammunition and drugs into the UK organised by four soldiers based in Germany and their civilian contact in London.

"These deadly weapons could have gone on to be used in violent crimes. The 74 live bullets brought in as part of the importation were very difficult to obtain in the UK and were likely to have been sold to the criminal underworld.

"The high-purity cocaine that was imported had a street value of over £70,000 and would almost certainly have made big profits for criminal gangs while damaging lives."

Loveless and Dyce were stopped after they got off a Eurotunnel train from Calais on January 25 last year.

Five handguns were found in their vehicle, which was driven by Dyce, while under the driver's seat were three boxed BBM self- loading pistols, each with a silencer, and 20 rounds of ammunition, and under the front passenger seat were two Walther PPK 9mm self-loading pistols, one with 20 rounds of ammunition, police said.

Officers also found 1.1lb (500g) of cocaine in the boot.

The BMW car, bearing British Forces Germany-issued numberplates, was registered with the Army to Wright.

Marshalleck was arrested and charged the following month after he was identified as the individual who was due to receive the firearms from Loveless on arrival in the UK, and was then expected to be responsible for the onward supply of the weapons to criminal networks in the capital.

Laurent and Wright were both charged in June after returning to the UK. The court heard that while Wright had provided the vehicle used by Dyce, Laurent was instrumental in planning the movement of firearms and drugs to the UK.

The five men were found guilty on Monday following a six-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

Shortly before it started, Dyce had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine while Loveless and Laurent pleaded guilty at the beginning of the trial to the firearm offences.

Loveless, of Brydon Walk, Islington, north London, was sentenced to 14 years while Dyce, of Sydney Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, was sentenced to seven and a half.

Laurent, of Gloucester Street, Pimlico, central London, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Wright, of Jerningham Road, New Cross, south east London, was sentenced to 10 years.

Marshalleck, of Huron Road, Tooting Bec, south London, was jailed for six and a half years.

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Dummy Taped To Baby's Face: Worker Suspended

A scandal-hit NHS trust has suspended a member of staff after a four-month-old baby had a dummy taped to his face at a hospital.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, already at the centre of a public inquiry into serious failings of care, apologised and said the boy had not been harmed and police had begun an investigation.

A spokesman for the Staffordshire force confirmed that officers were investigating a complaint about the treatment of a youngster by a worker at the hospital earlier this month.

Colin Ovington, director of nursing and midwifery at the trust, said: "A member of staff has been suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation and the trust's investigation under our disciplinary policy.

"We cannot emphasise strongly enough that this incident is exceptional and apologise again to the family.

"We want other hospitals to learn from this incident so that we can be sure that it does not happen to any other baby."

A report from the public inquiry into failings at the trust will be published on February 6.

Inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC will recommend wide-ranging reforms of the NHS, it is understood.

The £11m review of what went wrong at Stafford Hospital between January 2005 and March 2009 will suggest hospitals that cover up mistakes by doctors and poor treatment of patients should face fines and possible closure, it has been reported.

A separate, highly-critical, report by the Healthcare Commission in 2009 revealed a catalogue of failings at the trust and said "appalling standards" had put patients at risk.

Between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period from 2005 to 2008, the commission said. 

In February 2010, an independent inquiry into events at the trust found it had "routinely neglected patients".

Mr Ovington said: "We have a zero tolerance approach to poor patient care and we take immediate, appropriate action as soon as we know about any potential serious incidents which happen in our hospitals.

"We are proud that our staff now feel confident to report any incidents which happen.  We will continue to encourage staff to do this, and will continue to report incidents, even before they have been fully investigated, despite any negative attention this may create."

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Peter Stringfellow Threatens Nick Clegg Contest

Stripclub owner Peter Stringfellow has suggested he could stand against Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in the General Election due to be held in 2015.

The 72-year-old has twice been singled out by the Liberal Democrat leader as someone who does not deserve state-funded pensioner benefits.

Sheffield-born Mr Stringfellow said that at his age he had "done everything a guy would probably like to do ... and I might take a serious view of moving into politics".

Asked by LBC radio's James Whale about the chances he might stand in Mr Clegg's Sheffield Hallam constituency, he said: "I think 'why not?'. It has opened my mind to the possibility and the idea of going back to my home city and taking him on would be my first choice.

"Everybody knows my clubs are full of beautiful girls taking their clothes off. I don't want to be Hugh Hefner ... so a bit later on in life I like the idea of going into politics and I think I could contribute the reality."

The millionaire nightclub owner has been angered by the Deputy PM using him to highlight his fight to take the winter fuel payment from wealthy pensioners, a move opposed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

"You cannot ask people to take big cuts in their ... benefits, and say it's ok for Peter Stringfellow and Alan Sugar to be given a whole bunch of free benefits when they don't need it, paid for by other taxpayers," he has said.

Mr Stringfellow is a Tory supporter but acknowledged he would probably have to stand as an independent because of his business interests.

And he added that he would live in the South Yorkshire city, saying: "My God, do you know how cheap those bloody big houses are up there."

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Weather: Flood Warnings As Snow Thaws

There are fears of flooding in the UK as rain moves in and rising temperatures spark a rapid thaw of the snow and ice which built up in the past fortnight.

The Environment Agency has warned there is a risk of surface water and river flooding this weekend across England and Wales.

The agency has issued around six warnings for the South West, and about 90 less serious flood alerts, mainly in the south and the North West.

Warnings mean flooding is expected and immediate action is required, while alerts signify floods are possible.

A spokesman said: "Emergency teams from the Environment Agency will be out in force throughout the weekend to shore up defences, monitor river levels and clear blockages from watercourses."

The Met Office has also issued a severe weather warning about possible localised flooding in many parts of the country on Sunday, and the public should be aware of potential disruption to travel.

Forecasters are predicting up to 50mm of rain on Saturday over high ground.

And temperatures will steadily rise above freezing before reaching more than 10C in the south on Sunday.

Sky News Weather Presenter Isobel Lang said: "During today much of eastern England and eastern Scotland will be fine but rather chilly, with some good sunny spells. This evening and tonight it will turn wet and windy with snow thawing rapidly. It will be mild.

"Across Western Scotland, western England, the Midlands and Wales there will be a few showers but many places should be dry and sunny.

"Through the afternoon, cloud will increase from the west bringing outbreaks of rain by to most places by evening. Winds will strengthen too bringing in mild air overnight and leading to the rapid thaw of snow.

"Around 30 to 50mm (two inches) of rain is possible over high ground exposed to the strong southerly wind. Some local flooding is possible."

She added: "Sunday will see rain and strong, gusty winds clearing eastern Britain followed by sunshine but scattered blustery showers."

Forecasters are predicting a very wet spell through the latter part of Monday and through Tuesday.

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Weather: Snow Storm Brings M6 To Standstill

Hundreds of drivers spent up to eight hours trapped in their vehicles on the M6 in Lancashire after heavy snow brought the motorway to a standstill.

The motorway became blocked in both directions between junctions 25 and 27, near Wigan, on Friday night after vehicles became stuck in more than a foot of snow and some drivers abandoned their cars.

Many drivers were affected along the stretch between Wigan and Standish after struggling to make it up inclines in the treacherous conditions, while a number of accidents including jack-knifed lorries also blocked lanes.

Prime Minister David Cameroon tweeted: "Huge sympathy for those affected by heavy #uksnow. Govt working closely with transport operators to minimise impact on everyone."

Mountain rescue teams were brought in to help police and the Highways Agency clear roads and assist those who were stranded.

One man had to be taken to hospital after becoming ill in his car while it was stuck.

And some of the stranded drivers passed the time with snowball fights and building snowmen.

The M6 gridlock. Pic Kevin Collister

The M6, as well as the M56 and M58 which were also blocked, are now all moving again but remain heavily congested with long tailbacks, Lancashire Police said.

Motorists contacted Sky News overnight to share their tales of woe.

Kevin Collister, stuck on the motorway just past the M58 junction heading northbound, said: "There is absolutely no movement whatsoever on my side of the carriageway, all the snow is squashed down into ice and there are wagons trying to move and sliding sideways.

"It's an absolute nightmare, we've been here for three hours so far. A few people are saying we might be here for the night but we're just hoping we can get through."

Conservative MP David Morris, stuck on the southbound carriageway, said: "We've ground to a halt on both sides. Nothing is really moving.

"But the emergency services have been fantastic and are doing the best for us, and everyone is in good spirits.

Some M6 motorists made the most of the snow. Pic Ashley Pinches

"I've just seen a snowball fight and the man next door to me has built a snowman on top of his car roof ... it's very surreal."

Barry Pinches, on his way to Blackpool, told Sky News: "At one stage we didn't think we would make it but it looks like things are moving slowly now. We saw some snow ploughs on the southbound carriageway but there doesn't seem to be too many of them - they have their work cut out."

Pete Martin, from the Highways Agency, confirmed to Sky News that the carriageways had been gritted before the snow came down.

"We had an extremely intense fall of snow across Lancashire between 8.30pm and midnight and basically there wasn't enough traffic to keep the lanes moving," he said.

The M6 was blocked both ways in Lancashire

"A number of HGVs lost traction between junctions 25 and 27 and once they blocked the carriageway the snow stacked up and the result was a number of stranded vehicles."

The agency worked throughout the night to clear the routes with snow ploughs. It is urging those who had abandoned their cars to return to them as soon as possible.

A spokesman said: "With the rain falling and ice melting onto very cold road surfaces, we are now warning drivers of the danger of ice."

Hazardous driving conditions led to collisions and delays on many routes across the north of England, including the M18, M60, M65, M56 and M58.

Meanwhile, all flights were suspended at Leeds Bradford International Airport during the morning as a fresh blanket of snow covered most of the Yorkshire region.

North Yorkshire Fire Service said a couple had to be rescued from a snow drift on the North York Moors last night.

North Yorkshire Police said some main roads were blocked by snow and abandoned vehicles including the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton and the B6265 at Rylstone.

Weather experts have warned of the risk of flooding this weekend, as heavy rain moves in and rising temperatures spark a rapid thaw of the built-up snow and ice.

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Robbery Death: 'Customers Held Suspect Down'

A local resident has described the moment he saw a suspected robber being restrained by customers shortly after an attempted raid at a bookmakers.

The alleged robber was believed to be wearing a gas mask and holding a gun when he entered a Ladbrokes branch on Crownhill Road in Plymouth shortly before 7pm.

The customers managed to disarm the man, in his 50s, and held him on the floor while others raised the alarm, police said.

Officers then arrested the suspect, who was already unconscious, but he was later declared dead.

Witness David Walker, 55, from West Park, Plymouth, said he walked in just five minutes after the botched robbery happened.

He said: "I went in about 6.55pm, to put a bet on the football. When I went in there, they were on the floor, they were scuffling on the floor, I just thought it was just a fight or something.

"There were the two men, customers I think, on top of him, and the bloke on the floor. There was a bloke behind the counter and an old guy with glasses standing around.

"The bloke behind the counter told me they weren't taking any bets and I had to leave."

The raid happened at a Ladbrokes branch

He added: "I didn't see their faces, as they were holding the guy down at the back of the shop. I couldn't see any mask and there wasn't any physical movement, they were just holding him."

Ivor Green, 67, also from West Park, said he was not surprised at all that the customers had leapt to the defence of the staff.

"They would do that in a shop like this, it is our betting shop," he said.

"The staff become your friends, it's a little family, and it's no different to a member of your family being threatened. The guys in there would be protective of them."

The case has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

A police spokesman said: "It quickly became clear the man was unresponsive and an ambulance was immediately requested by police who carried out CPR until they arrived.

"A few minutes later three paramedics arrived at the scene and continued to carry out further CPR. Around 20 minutes later the man was declared dead at the scene by the paramedics."

The suspect has been identified but next of kin have not yet been informed, officers added.

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