Teens Deny Shakilus Townsend Murder

Six teenagers have appeared in court today in relation to the death of a 16-year-old boy who was beaten with a baseball bat and repeatedly stabbed in south London. Shakilus Townsend was attacked in Thornton Heath, in July and died in hospital the next day. All six, including one girl, deny the charges. Tyrell Ellis and Danny McLean, both 18 and from Thornton Heath, pleaded not guilty to murder when they appeared at the Old Bailey. Two boys aged 17, another aged 16, and the 16-year-old girl, none of whom can be named because of their ages, also pleaded not guilty to the charge. Another 17-year-old youth, who also appeared in court charged with the murder, has not yet entered a plea. A trial, due to last eight weeks is expected to begin at the same court in April.

Crews Tackle Thatched Roof Blaze

More than 100 firefighters have tackled a blaze at a 300-year-old thatched house in Hampshire. The fire started in the chimney stack of the semi-detached property in High Street, East Meon on Sunday. The owners of the property, who were able to get out of the building unharmed along with their two cats, raised the alarm. A total of 105 firefighters in 27 appliances and support vehicles from across the county were involved in the incident overnight. Brian Neat, of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The combined initial efforts enabled us to preserve the structure of such an important building as well as successfully being able to contain the fire."

Best Practices Sought To Tackle Child Poverty

The Government's new Take Up Taskforce is asking local authorities and their partners to show how they are tackling child poverty by supporting parents to take up tax credits and benefits. The Taskforce is currently looking for examples of good practice from across the UK, which demonstrate how local services have supported families at risk of poverty to take up the financial support they are entitled to. Local authorities and their partners are invited to share their best practices with the Taskforce by 20 February 2009.

New Years Call For Safer Driving

Motorists are being urged to make safer driving one of their New Year's Resolutions for 2009. The Driving Standards Agency's Director for Safer Driving, Trevor Wedge, is asking all drivers to help reduce the numbers dying on British roads. "There have been some significant achievements during the last few years in bringing road deaths down. Yet in 2007 almost 3,000 people still died on UK roads" says Trevor, who is also DSA's Chief Driving Examiner. "Let's all make sure that driving in a safe and considerate way is one New Year's Resolution that nobody breaks." There was a constant fall from 2003-2007 in those killed in road accidents. However despite this trend, 2,946 people still died due to such accidents in 2007.

Re-appointment Of Chair To Technology Strategy Board

Science and Innovation Minister, Lord Drayson, today announced the re-appointment of Dr Graham Spittle as Chair of the Technology Strategy Board. Lord Drayson said: "I am pleased to announce that Graham Spittle will serve a new term as Chair. He made an important contribution to the development of the Technology Strategy Board since it was established as an advisory panel in 2004 and was instrumental in its transformation into an executive body in July 2007." Dr Spittle is appointed for a three-year period from 1 December 2008.

(JM/KMcA)