Other News In Brief

Ben Needham Search To Be Called Off

Specialist police officers searching for the missing Sheffield youngster Ben Needham are expected to call off their search on the Greek island of Kos.

The team of officers has been checking a site close to the farmhouse where the family was staying when Ben went missing in 1991, aged 21 months.

It is understood the search will be called off on Saturday.

Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, has always maintained her son was alive and had probably been abducted.

McCririck Accused C4 Of Ageism Over Sacking

Longtime Channel 4 racing pundit John McCririck has accused bosses of "ageism", after he was dropped from the station's line-up of presenters.

The 72-year-old said he was "devastated at being sacked" after the broadcaster announced its new racing team, led by Clare Balding, who will be joined by Nick Luck as a key presenter from January 2013, with McCririck being replaced by his current sidekick Tanya Stevenson.

Snakes Recovered From Scottish Plane

Scottish SPCA staff were called after a 18in long reptile was found under seats on a flight that had arrived from Cancun, Mexico, on Tuesday.

They used a box to contain the snake, which is believed to a juvenile Middle American smooth-scaled racer.

The snake was taken to the charity's animal rescue centre in Cardonald, Glasgow, where staff have named it Furtivo - Spanish for sneak.

(H)