Man Dies After Fire Engine Collision

A man has died after the car he was driving collided with a fire engine answering an emergency call. A firefighter was also injured in the crash which happened near Hailsham, east Sussex, on the A271 just before 8pm on Sunday. The motorist was pronounced dead at the scene while the firefighter was taken to hospital in Eastbourne. Formal identification has not yet taken. He was driving a red Ford Fiesta.

Two Men Arrested Over Attempted Murder

Two arrests have been made in relation to the attempted murder of a man in Glenthroes, Scotland. The men were held following an incident involving a number of men which left one seriously injured on the footpath at Barnton Place. The men are due to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court later.

Workers Evacuated From Heather Alpha Platform

A total of 56 non-emergency staff were evacuated from the Heather Alpha platform in the North Sea on Friday after an oil spillage. Around 34 core staff remained on board the platform, which is based about 60 miles off the north coast of Scotland, to deal with the spillage. A spokesman for Petrofac said: "Petrofac, as duty holder of the installation... can confirm that it is currently investigating reports of an incident involving this installation. As a precaution, the appropriate emergency procedures have been taken." The coastguard said Lundin Petroleum was using their own equipment to evacuate the staff, which suggests the incident is not enough to require a search and rescue operation.

New Nuclear Funding Watchdog Appointed

Government plans to protect the taxpayer from the costs of cleaning up new nuclear power stations took a step forward today with the appointment of a watchdog to oversee the decommissioning and waste disposal funding arrangements. Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O'Brien announced the appointment of Lady Balfour of Burleigh as the Chairman of the new Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board (NLFAB). As part of any application to build a new nuclear power station, operators will have to submit plans for decommissioning and waste management which will include arrangements for financing those plans. The NLFAB will provide independent scrutiny and advice on the financing arrangements of those plans which will have to be approved by the Secretary of State.

Bereaved Families To Get New Rights

New Cremation Regulations designed to help prevent another 'Harold Shipman-type' murder have been published today. The Regulations, which follow a full public consultation, allow bereaved families to inspect the medical forms of a deceased family member before a cremation takes place. Under the new Regulation, families will be able to draw the medical referee's attention to any concerns about unexpected symptoms or discrepancies in the case. The existing Cremation Regulations date back to 1930 and are widely regarded as old-fashioned and confusing. The Regulations are expected to come into force in January 2009. They are an interim measure and will precede longer-term Department of Health plans to create the role of a Medical Examiner, who will deal with all deaths.

(JM)