Man Arrested Over Burn Death

A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a teenager whose body was found in a burn in Coupar Angus, Perthshire. Robbie Thomson, 17, had gone missing in the early hours of Thursday and police later found his body. The arrested man is expected to appear at Perth Sheriff Court on Friday. Books of condolence have been left at Alyth post office and the Strathmore Centre for Youth Development for those wishing to pay tribute to Robbie.

Arrests In Dawn Raids

Raids have been carried out by around 250 police officers in north Surrey. In the second wave of an operation to cut the supply of drugs five people were arrested in the dawn raids at 13 addresses in Shepperton, Ashford and Sunbury. It follows raids on Wednesday in the same areas, and in west London, where 21 people have been arrested. A total of 14 people have been charged with drugs-related offences. Five held on Wednesday are still being quizzed.

Eighteen-Year-Old Dies After Attack

An 18-year-old has died five months after he was attacked in a Southampton park. Luke Woolf was found with a serious head injury in a playground in Northam on 26 October 2008. He underwent surgery and has remained in a critical condition in Southampton General Hospital since. Police confirmed he died on Monday afternoon. Scott Robert Townson, 20, of Radcliffe Road in Southampton, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and is in custody.

Drop In Private Home Starts

The National House Building Council's (NHBC) latest new house-building statistics show they received 14,537 applications to start new homes in the combined private and public sectors in the three-months to the end of February - 59% lower than the same period a year ago. NHBC's Chief Executive, Imtiaz Farookhi, said: "The private sector continues to be worst affected, with applications to build new homes in this sector almost three quarters lower in the three months to the end of February than the same period a year ago. With the number of applications to start new homes in the public sector remaining broadly consistent in recent months, our statistics suggest that house builders are increasingly relying on public sector work in the downturn."

Leon Walker Funeral To Take Place

The funeral of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats rugby league player Leon Walker who died after collapsing during a game is to take place later. The 20-year-old died in hospital after a reserve game against Celtic Crusaders at Maesteg on Sunday 22 March. The funeral service will be held at St Anthony's Church in Beeston, Leeds, followed by a private family burial. A post mortem examination failed to establish the cause of death, but did rule out any injury caused by playing rugby.

HMRC Issues Guidance On New Tax Appeals

Guidance on the new tax appeals and review system has been published today by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). As part of wider reform of the tribunals system, the tax appeals system changed on 1 April 2009. The guidance explains how the new appeals system works for all the different taxes and duties affected, across both direct and indirect tax. All of the previous tax tribunals, including the General Commissioners, the Special Commissioners and the VAT & Duties Tribunals, are now combined within the Tax Chamber of a new First-tier Tribunal. A new Upper Tribunal will hear appeals from First-tier Tribunal decisions. Before an appeal is considered by the new tribunal, customers have a new statutory right to a review of the issue by someone in HMRC who has not previously been involved in their case.

(JM/BMcC)