Three Injured In 'Large Fight'

One man has been shot and two others stabbed during an incident outside a north London Tube station. Two men, both in their 20s, were discovered at Manor House station after reports of a "large fight" at around 3.30pm on Monday. One of the men is said to be in a serious condition while the other is stable in hospital. Meanwhile another man in his 20s suffered a minor gunshot wound and remains in a stable condition in hospital. No arrests have been made.

Man Accused Of Cat Torture

A 23-year-old man is to appear in court accused of torturing and killing cats. Anthony John Docherty has pleaded guilty to charges of cruelty. It is alleged he killed three cats – all were decapitated, two more were scalped and one had its tail pulled off. He is accused of stealing the cats in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, in January this year, before screaming at them and taping their paws together. Docherty, of Clarkston, was originally charged with decapitating one cat and causing suffering to two others by binding their paws with tape. He was charged under the Animal Health and Welfare Act of 2006 and denied the charges at a court appearance in February. Fresh charges were then brought by the Crown, replacing the previous complaint with nine charges of animal cruelty against a total of five cats. He will appear at Paisley Sheriff Court for sentencing on Tuesday 2 June.

Teen Saves Children From Fire

A teenage boy has been praised for helping to save six children aged from five to 15 from their burning house. Leighton Griffiths, 15, from Cwmbran, heard the children screaming for help after the fire broke out in the Greenmeadow area early on Saturday. The mother of five of the children rescued from the fire said her young neighbour had saved their lives. South Wales Fire Service praised the "swift actions of the public", firefighters and fire control staff. Fire crews were called to The Twinings at 2.20pm on Saturday, with the fire at an end-of-terrace house.

Two Injured In Shootings

Two men have been seriously injured in two shooting incidents in County Durham. Emergency services were called to Lime Street, in Stanley, following reports a man was suffering from gunshot wounds. He required emergency surgery for a wound to his groin and is awaiting further surgery at University Hospital in North Durham. Two hours later another man attended the same hospital with arm wounds and is also awaiting further surgery. The men, both thought to be in their twenties, are said to be in a stable condition. Durham police said it is unclear if the shootings are related.

Land Registry Announces Early Completion' Practice

The government department responsible for registering land in England and Wales, Land Registry, will apply a new 'Early Completion' practice from 3 August 2009 to ensure that registration applications are completed as quickly as possible. The practice will apply to all situations where an application for a discharge of whole has been received with another application or applications but evidence of the discharge has not been provided. Under the new practice, Land Registry will reject an application for discharge but complete other applications lodged with it where it is possible to do so. The entries relating to the existing charge will be left in the register until proof of satisfaction is received. If the application for discharge is the sole application and evidence of discharge has not been provided, the application will be rejected as before.

(JM/BMcC)