Heroes Return

The bodies of five UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan have been repatriated. Lance Sergeant Dave Greenhalgh, L/Cpl Darren Hicks, Kingsman Sean Dawson, Rifleman Mark Marshall and Sapper Guy Mellors were flown into RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire. The soldiers were killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan's Helmand province between 11 and 15 February. Sapper Mellors' death on Monday brought the total number of UK personnel killed in the conflict to 261 - more than in the Falklands War in 1982 when 255 UK servicemen died. The 20-year-old, from Coventry, died in a blast north-east of Sangin.

South Atlantic 'Fleet Sails'

The UK has made "all the preparations that are necessary" to protect the Falkland Islands, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said. However, the Ministry of Defence has denied reports that a 'naval taskforce' is on its way to the Falklands. Argentina has brought in controls on ships passing through its waters to the islands over UK plans to drill for oil, while Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC the Royal Navy's presence in the region should be increased. See: Falkland's Oil Operation Being 'Monitored'

Forensic Probe Underway

There's a major alert this week after loud bangs were heard coming from the Scottish Police Services Authority's forensic science laboratory premises at Howdenhall Road in the south of Edinburgh, just after midnight. A masked man who was seen running from the scene escaped in a car, driven by another man, at St Katherine's Brae. The fire brigade put out two fires in offices on the ground floor but there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building. The man who was seen running from the scene is about 5ft 6in, of thin build, and was wearing a dark top, possibly hooded, and a dark mask.

Wales Road Tragedy

A 20-year-old man has been killed after the car in which he was a passenger hit a parked vehicle near Tenby in Pembrokeshire. Dyfed-Powys Police said it appeared the driver lost control of the blue Peugeot 106 in the incident on the A4139 at Penally at about 3.15pm on Wednesday. The Peugeot's driver was airlifted to hospital in Cardiff, where he is in a serious but stable condition. Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them and in particular, they want to hear of any sighting of the vehicle travelling in the area before the collision.

(BMcc/GK)