Other News In Brief

Black Day For Black Watch

British troops have again been killed in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that two soldiers from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, were killed in an explosion north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand. They were on a foot patrol on Monday morning when they were hit by the blast. Next of kin have been informed and their deaths bring the number of UK forces personnel killed since operations began in 2001 to 210.

Surrey Road Smash Tragedy

Three people have died after a car crossed the central reservation on a dual carriageway in Surrey. The woman driver of a Ford Focus, travelling towards Guildford on the A322 Lightwater bypass, died after her car crossed over the carriageway and following a head-on collision, the male driver of a Peugeot 307 travelling in the opposite direction also died in the collision on Monday. A woman passenger in the Peugeot died later in hospital.

Forres Flood Defences Opens

A flood prevention scheme worth £20.9 million was opened today in Forres in Scotland. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead formally marked the completion of the Forres (Burn of Mosset) Flood Prevention Scheme to help protect homes and businesses. Mr Lochhead said: "The town has more than 900 homes and businesses considered at risk from flooding and extreme wet weather always brings anxiety to the local community, given past painful experiences."

Fresh Measures Cut Carbon Emissions

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has outlined the Government's latest measures to help householders save money and energy as he welcomed 10:10 – a new campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. Around 90,000 homes in some of the poorest areas in the UK should see an average saving of 20% per year in their emissions through a new community based energy saving scheme which starts today. This amounts to financial savings of around £300 per year off fuel bills.

Shock As Primary Schools Close

One primary school is closing every month in rural England – as young families are increasingly priced out of villages and migrate to urban areas where there is cheaper housing, three campaign groups revealed today. The National Housing Federation, National Association for Small Schools (NASS) and Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) warned a lack of affordable housing in the countryside for local families on modest wages was fuelling rural primary school closures, which have increased significantly over the last five years. They also warned that the problem, which is accelerating, is now so great that 200 small primary schools in rural England could close over the next five years, as local authorities look to make efficiency savings and streamline the delivery of services.

(BMcc/GK)