Alton Towers staff took 'a good 10 minutes' to reach crushed rollercoaster car after horror crash which saw one rider lose a leg and three others seriously injured 

Alton Towers staff did not get to crushed rollercoaster car for '10 minutes'

The victims - three of them teenagers - were crushed after their carriage ploughed into an empty cart on the £18million Smiler ride. One is thought to have lost a leg, a staff source said. It took five hours to cut all the passengers free from the wreckage and two were pictured hanging 25ft upside down. Eyewitnesses said those injured in the crash waited for 'a good ten minutes' before staff arrived on the scene. The 53mph rollercoaster has been dogged with faults since it opened two years ago and had broken down earlier in the day.

Embarrassment for BBC as journalist tweets during royal 'obituary rehearsal' that Queen is being treated in hospital - then blames 'silly prank' after leaving her phone at home

BBC's Ahmen Khawaja tweets The Queen had been hospitalised and blames 'prank'

Ahmen Khawaja, a broadcast journalist with the corporation, has since deleted the tweet, which read: BREAKING:Queen Elizabeth is being treated at King Edward hospital in London. Statement due shortly.' Buckingham Palace has since confirmed that the Queen was in hospital, but that it was for a 'routine check up'.

Here comes the heatwave! Britain basks in glorious weather after days of storms - and forecasters promise it's going to get even HOTTER

National News and Pictures
Date: 03/06/15
PH: Adam Davies
Pictured: Members of the Armed Forces ride horses through Hyde Park
Caption: Londoners and tourists enjoy the warm weather in the capital. Temperatures are set to hit the twenties towards the end of the week and the weekend after strong winds and heavy rain. Battersea, London.

Temperatures are set to reach 20C in southern parts of the country today before climbing to 26C by Friday - and the mercury could even tip towards 28C if a hot plume from the Continent moves in.

'I felt like an idiot': Simon Cowell's fury at being duped by fake Matisse on Britain's Got Talent - but says it's NOT the owner's fault and she will keep the prize money

*** MANDATORY BYLINE TO READ: Syco / Thames / Corbis ***
Simon Cowell, Lauren Silverman, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan of One Direction meet BGT winner Jules and Matisse backstage at the Britain's Got Talent live final on Sunday, May 31st.

Pictured: Simon Cowell and Skippy
Ref: SPL1041404  310515  
Picture by: Dymond / Syco / Thames / Corbis

Simon Cowell, 55, has admitted he 'felt a bit of an idiot' after learning that two dogs - Matisse and Chase - were used by Jules O'Dwyer in her winning performance in the Britain's Got Talent final.

Personal injury firm is slammed for tweeting 'Been injured in a rollercoaster crash?' as Alton Towers victims were still trapped 

Broad Yorkshire Law, based in Sheffield, sent out a tweet soon after four people were seriously injured and others were trapped for hours on the theme park's Smiler ride yesterday

Andy Coulson is CLEARED of perjury as trial judge rules David Cameron's former spin doctor has no case to answer 

Andy Coulson arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh, Scotland. The former Downing Street Director of Communications and News of the World editor appears, charged with perjury against Tommy Sheridan, at Edinburgh's High Court.

Pictured: Andy Coulson
Ref: SPL1038220  030615  
Picture by: DMC / Splash News

Splash News and Pictures
Los Angeles: 310-821-2666
New York: 212-619-2666
London: 870-934-2666
photodesk@splashnews.com

David Cameron's former spin doctor, pictured today, was accused of lying at the trial of former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan but the case against him at the High Court in Edinburgh has collapsed.

'Sleep tight, angel': Heartbroken friends and family pay tribute to missing schoolgirl Amber Peat after she is found dead - but ask why it took three days to find her body

Tributes to Amber Peat after body is found in park near her home

Amber Pear, pictured right at her mother's wedding, stormed out of her home on Saturday following a row about household chores, a day after returning from a half-term family holiday to Cornwall. Today classmates left flowers and other objects at the foot of a tree, left, near the hedgerow on Westfield Lane in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire where forensic officers set up a tent last night and are still guarding a stretch of grass.

Muslim father is jailed for 27 months for attacking headmaster and racially abusing teachers in row over school ban on beards

Mohammad Liaqat stormed into a Catholic school and abused a head teacher over a religious row about beards. The 34-year-old also 'shoulder barged' a headmaster at another Lancashire school.

Nanny hired on Gumtree 'stole £171,000 worth of valuables from investment banker boss including engagement ring and designer clothes before driving off with them in employer's Mercedes'

Emma Currie, 45, allegedly stole a handbag, credits cards and jewellery from Zoe Appleyard-Ley, from Belgravia, just weeks after posting an advert seeking out a live-in position as a nanny.

Gripped by his ankles, a gay man is held above 100ft drop as bloodthirsty crowd wait to watch him dropped to his death by ISIS executioner

ISIS savages throw gay men to their deaths from Iraq building

Disturbing photographs of the atrocity - believed to have been taken place in ISIS' stronghold Mosul - shows one man being dangled over the edge of the building by his ankles (left) before being dropped (right). In the event the terribly injured men are not killed upon impact with the ground, the baying crowd (bottom right) are encouraged to surge forward and stone them to death with a mass of rocks helpfully provided by the ISIS savages who organise the terror group's sickening public executions.

Should you wear heels to work every day? Just THREE YEARS of regular use could cause harmful imbalance in the feet 

Woman wearing high heel shoes. D98JWF 
shoes, pain, massage, feet, feet, shopping, massage, shoes, pain, sofa, feet, shopping, massage, shoes, pain, legs, twenties

Women who wear heels too often may find the downsides soon outweigh the benefits - as research shows they can cause a potentially harmful imbalance in the feet.

SARAH VINE: Why I so admire Felicity Kendal's new face 

No matter what it says on your pot of skin cream, no one can halt the ageing process. The best any of us can hope for is to disguise it for as long as possible, writes SARAH VINE.

Stop marketing junk food at children, says NHS chief also wants fewer fried chicken shops near schools

Andrew Marr Show 31.01.15

Stepping up his war on obesity, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said he wanted to make unhealthy eating as socially unacceptable as smoking or driving without a seatbelt.

Courts 'should assume women can't consent to sex when drunk': Rape report's controversial proposal

Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini arrives at the High Court in Glasgow for the trial of Marek Harcar who is accused of murdering businesswoman Moira Jones in a park. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 12, 2009. The body of Moira Jones, 40, was discovered by a ranger in Queens Park, Glasgow, in May last year. Marek Harcar, 33, from Slovakia, is standing trial at the High Court in Glasgow. See PA story COURTS Businesswoman. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Dame Elish Angiolini has called for a change to rape laws that goes beyond 'no means no' and takes into account occasions in which women may be incapable of giving consent, such as when heavily intoxicated.

Pictured: US Game of Thrones special effects editor, 29, who was mauled to death by lion in South African safari park - as tour guide relives moment he suffered heart attack trying to fend off big cat 

Game of Thrones editor Katherine Chappell mauled to death at Lion Park pictured

EXCLUSIVE: Katherine Chappell, a film editor who worked on an Emmy winning episode of Game of Thrones and Marvel's Captain America, left, was on a guided tour through the popular Lion Park, near Johannesburg, on Monday when she was killed by one of the big cats. Tour guide Pierre Potgieter, who desperately tried to save her life, has revealed to MailOnline how he suffered a heart attack as he tried to stop the bleeding, as Ms Chappell's sister paid tribute to 'brilliant, kind, adventurous and high-spirited woman' (pictured with Stephen Fry, top right).

US Air Force bosses reveal hypersonic planes that could fly from New York to London in an HOUR could take off in 2023

The X-51A Waverider. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne SJY61 scramjet engine, it is designed to ride on its own shockwave and accelerate to about Mach Six. 

epa03361978 Undated handout graphic released by the US Air Force showing EPA/US AIR FORCE / HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Air Force Chief Scientist Mica Endsley told Military.com that the Air Force and DARPA, the Pentagon's research arm, plan to have a new hypersonic air vehicle by 2023.

From an island you can walk to from the shore to a stunning cove only accessible by 347 steps: The most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean revealed

Mediterranean's most beautiful beaches from islands to coves

For those looking for a remote, unspoiled beach getaway, the Mediterranean has several hidden gems to choose from - especially among the Ionian Islands (left), Spiaggia Rosa (top right) and Portugal's Praia da Marinha (bottom right). Here, MailOnline Travel has selected the top picks for a relaxing holiday - without the overwhelming crowds.

Scottish Parliament goes posh by deep frying their Mars Bars in filo pastry

Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 2.jpg

The battered Mars bar has become a Scottish culinary stereotype as famous as haggis, shortbread and IrnBru, but chefs at the Scottish Parliament have tried to reinvent the chip shop staple.

Your entire life is an ILLUSION: New test backs up theory that the world doesn't exist until we look at it

Physicists at the Australian National University conducted what is known as the John Wheeler's delayed-choice thought experiment to show the universe doesn't exist if we stop looking at it.

Interpol issues arrest warrants for two former FIFA officials - including ex vice-president Jack Warner - as Blatter resignation casts doubt on Russia and Qatar World Cups

Interpol places FIFA’s Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz on its most wanted list

The 'Red Notices' announced today were issued for former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner (top left) and former executive committee member Nicolas Leoz (top centre). Others listed were Argentinians Alejandro Burzaco (top right) and brothers Hugo and Mariano Jinkis (bottom left and centre), who together are accused of paying more than $100 million in bribes for media and commercial rights to soccer tournaments, as well as Jose Margulies (bottom right), a Brazilian broadcast executive. The announcement comes a day after Sepp Blatter (far right) announced he will step down as FIFA president amid the widening corruption scandal. Russia and Qatar's rights to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively have also been thrown into doubt amid the corruption allegations that have rocked the sport's world governing body.

Now Sepp Blatter's gone... let's eject all his cronies, scrub the crooked house clean and revisit the travesty of Qatar 2022, says MARTIN SAMUEL 

Sepp Blatter said to step down would be to recognise he had done wrong. So take Tuesday's events as you will. A confession, a moment of clarity, an admission of guilt.

Number of teenagers admitted to hospital with eating disorders DOUBLES in just four years, NHS figures reveal 

Experts have blamed the 'unprecedented' rise, in part, on hashtags including #fitspiration and #thighgap on social media sites, saying they normalise an unrealistic 'perfect body' image.

Eh-oh! The Teletubbies are back, with touch-screen tums

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po - famous for their Eh-oh! catchphrase - still have antennae on their heads, but the TVs have been replaced by '21st-century touch-screen tummies'.

Sepp Blatter is transformed into Caitlyn Jenner as pranksters flood Twitter with mocking memes poking fun at disgraced FIFA boss

Sepp Blatter turned into Caitlyn Jenner as pranksters mock FIFA president on Twitter

Within minutes of Sepp Blatter announcing the news that he will be stepping aside as FIFA president, the internet was rife with vines and memes satirising the departing Swiss.

From flabby to fit in just TWELVE WEEKS: Overweight office worker reveals how he achieved incredible transformation... and became a personal trainer to the stars

Lloyd Stevens went from flabby to fit and now personal trainer to the stars

Lloyd Stevens, 35, from London, piled on the pounds in his desk job, weighing 15 stone (left). After catching a glimpse of himself looking soft around the edges in holiday pictures, he decided to overhaul his body with a strict 12-week training programme. In just three months Lloyd, who has trained Bollywood celebrity Ranveer Singh, dropped two stone and achieved a rippling six pack (right), a transformation that allowed him to ditch his job and retain as a personal trainer to the stars. He said: ''I know it's a cliché, but my whole transformation has been like a hurricane. It's had lots of ups and down but right now I'm most certainly on a high.'

Mother horrified after her four-year-old daughter nearly ate a human TOENAIL sticking out of a marshmallow she bought at Tesco 

Sam Deacon from Wimbledon, South West London allowed her four-year-old daughter Charley to eat the packet of marshmallows when they realised the toenail sticking out of one of the sweets.

'I told my single friends to have sex with my husband so I didn't have to... now I'm the mistress, and I'm okay with my boyfriend going home to his wife' 

Danielle hasn't always been the other woman, in fact, she has been the wife who waited at home with her children while her husband was out with another woman

42-year-old divorcee Danielle is a mother of four, an educator and somebody's secret mistress. While many are quick to judge, Danielle has also been on the other side of infidelity.

Britain to ramp up financial aid to Iraq after country's beleaguered PM pleaded for more help to fight Isis

Philip Hammond said the contribution to a new UN fund - expected to be around £2million - would go alongside a 'significant contribution to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts'.

Iran jails woman for 12 years because she drew critical cartoons of politicians who restricted female birth control 

Atena Farghadani was on trial at Tehran's so-called Revolutionary Court for 'insulting members of parliament through paintings' in relation to an illustration depicting politicians as animals.

EXCLUSIVE: Caged with an orangutan and put on display in New York: How 23-year-old pygmy Ota Benga was taken from the Congo, billed as 'the missing link' and humiliated before thousands

Ota Benga was caged with orangutan and on display at New York Zoological Gardens

In a shocking chapter in the history of New York City, a small black man weighing 103 lbs. and standing 4 ft 11 inches was used as a human zoo exhibit in a cage with an orangutan and billed as a primitive Congolese pygmy. The biggest draw of the century brought thousands of gawkers from around the world to view the star attraction initially on display at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 with a tribe of Ainu people from an island north of Japan. Two years later, the little man was housed in a cage with an orangutan at the New York Zoological Gardens, the crown jewel of New York City, now known as the Bronx Zoo.

'I asked Vodafone to cap bills yet my daughter was able to rack up £1,400 watching Vampire Diaries': Complaints about mobile giant flood in

We have been swamped by letters, calls and emails from readers who have been let down by terrible treatment at the hands of the telecoms giant's customer services.

Illegal immigrant with no licence who ran over and killed grandad could be freed from prison in just FIVE months 

This is a better pic of Michael Dixon He is with his wife Patricia, 69.. Michael was killed by Zija Lushi, 27, also known as Luigi Dannile, who was in the country, and driving, illegally.

https://www.facebook.com/michael.dixon.9887
He is with his wife Patricia, 69.

Zija Lushi, 27, had been driving to buy cigarettes in Horsham, West Sussex - despite not having a licence - when he smashed into cyclist Michael Dixon (pictured with his wife Patricia).

Glamping is so last year! The latest travel trend is 'champing' and it's all about spending the night in a historic church

The Churches Conservation Trust has come up with a way to utilise country churches that are no longer used for worship - by renting them out for camping (or 'champing') breaks.

The best way of getting over someone IS getting under someone else! Tracey Cox on why jumping into bed helps heal a broken heart... especially when it's an ex

Contrary to popular belief, jumping into bed after a break up can help says relationship expert Tracey Cox. It helps to re-boost self-esteem and make us feel better about ourselves.

Revealed: Bruce Jenner wanted eldest daughter aborted and refused to go to birth... but now - as Caitlyn - her dad is making amends

Bruce Jenner wanted eldest daughter aborted but Caitlyn is making amends

Bruce Jenner wanted to abort his eldest daughter and was not present for her birth. The revelation came as the Olympian introduced his female identity, Caitlyn, on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. The star's daughter Casey, 34, (pictured inset now and circled as a child) told the publication that she did not find out her father didn't want her until she was 13. She is Jenner's daughter by his first wife Chrystie Crownover. They had two children, Casey and older brother Burton.

The curious case of the Olympic hero who's now a Vanity Fair cover girl: A victory for transgender rights - or the most tacky (and cynically lucrative) reality TV plotline ever?

Jenner's transformation has been hailed by a loud chorus of celebrity voices who see this transition to womanhood as a seminal moment in the transgender community's road to social acceptance.

The cheek of it! Writers up in arms after racy cover of original Jilly Cooper 'bonkbuster' Riders is toned down for 30th anniversary

In a controversial change to the classic cover, publishers have altered the picture to show the hand sat rather conservatively on the rider's hip, sparking debate among the British author's fellow writers.

Forget batteries, your phone could soon be powered by WI-FI: Technology uses radio waves to connect and charge devices

The technology was trialled by researchers at Washington University. The team installed its PoWiFi router in six homes and asked homeowners to use it for normal internet access for 24 hours.

If God were a woman: As Church feminists say God is a 'She', some of our wittiest and wisest writers imagine the world with a higher female power at the helm 

image001.jpg

Feminist priests within the Church of England called for the Almighty to be referred to as 'She' in everyday worship. Here, a range of commentators imagine the world with a female higher power.

Charles Kennedy was found dead by his secret lover: Body of former Lib Dem leader was discovered by best friend's widow

Charles Kennedy's body found by Carole Macdonald, his new lover

The former Lib Dem leader, right on May 7, was discovered by Carole MacDonald, left, the former wife of his university friend Murdo MacDonald, together inset in 1980, who passed away aged 49 in 2007. The former Liberal Democrat leader was 'devastated' and 'heartbroken' after losing his seat on May 7 and the death of his father during the campaign. Friends were very worried about his health after his election defeat 25 days ago and Mrs MacDonald found him dead in his cottage in Fort William on Monday. His new girlfriend is said to have had a 'very positive influence on his life' and 'made him very happy', although he was still 'drinking heavily'. Mr Kennedy had successfully kept her out of the public eye but she had supported him at the election count six weeks ago.

Brilliant, loveable - but destroyed by melancholy: QUENTIN LETTS on how drink dragged down the best leader the Lib Dems ever had

Some days, Charles Kennedy could disappear into a drinky mist of Highland melancholy - yet the next he would reappear as though nothing untoward had happened, writes QUENTIN LETTS.

A man of affection, courage and wisdom: MING CAMPBELL remembers the generous and warm-hearted Charles Kennedy

Like all of us, Charles Kennedy had his frailties, but these should not be allowed to obscure the remarkable contribution that he made to public life, writes MING CAMPBELL.

The A-listers and mega rich of America's most expensive street: Miami island's 86 residents include four of America's 500 richest people, model Adriana Lima and Elle MacPherson

Indian Creek Village, Miami, is America's most exclusive village

Indian Creek Village in Miami's Biscayne Bay may be on a tiny island, but the neighborhood of just 86 residents is home to some of the biggest A-listers and some of America's richest business moguls like Adriana Lima, Elle MacPherson and Jay Z and Beyonce, who owned a home on the island up until 2010. So, it's no surprise that the street of a mere 35 homes wrapped around an ultra-exclusive country club boasts a median house price of $21.48 million. Also no surprise is the jet-set coterie of tycoons, super models and world elite who call 'billionaire bunker' their home sweet home.

From peanut butter and ice cream, to steak and fries: The indulgent foods you didn't know could actually be GOOD for you

Chocolate, ice cream, fries: Often dismissed as 'junk food'. But you can satisfy your cravings for a big bowl of ice cream without the side order of guilt with a few tweaks.

Dominoes, card games and movie nights with their 'sisters': Playboy Bunnies reveal what it's really like living with 'true gentleman' Hugh Hefner

Crystal McCahill and Jessa Hinton (pictured) are Playboy Bunnies who have revealed what it is like living with Hugh Hefner, saying he enjoys playing dominoes and backgammon.

Premier League star Adam Johnson appears in court to deny child sex and grooming charges

PETERLEE, ENGLAND - JUNE 03:  Sunderland and England footballer Adam Johnson (C) arrives at Durham Crown court on June 3, 2015 in Durham, England.  Jonhson is charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 years and one offence of grooming on June 3, 2015 in Durham, England.  (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) ADAM JOHNSON

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson appeared in court on Wednesday to face child sex charges. The England international is accused of three offences of sexual activity with a child under 16.

Speeding motorist stopped by police after being caught driving at 149MPH on M6 motorway

This is the shocking moment a speeding driver was clocked at a staggering 149mph - over DOUBLE the speed limit.  See NTI story NTISPEED.  Officers were on a routine patrol on the southbound M6 Toll between junctions T7 and T5 when they spotted the speeding Ford on Sunday evening (31/5).  Shockingly, their on-board speed detection cameras recorded the driver travelling at 149mph.  Police then pulled the driver over between Cannock and Shenstone in Staffordshire and reported them for speeding.  The Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) tweeted a picture which showed the shocking 149mph speed on their on-board surveillance camera.

Officers were carrying out routine patrols on the M6 toll between junctions T7 and T5 in Staffordshire when they spotted the Ford travelling at 149mph - more than double the speed limit.

Your own slice of paradise (for the cost of a London flat): 3,000-acre estate on Isle of Lewis complete with three-bedroom house and private beach goes on sale for £375,000

Isle of Lewis estate with 3 bedroom house and private beach on sale for £375k

It is the kind of money that might just buy you a two-bedroomed flat in a London suburb. But for £375,000 you could own a three-bedroomed house with 2,754 acres of some of the most unspoilt scenery in Scotland. The Aird Bheag Estate on Lewis (pictured left) can only be reached by boat, helicopter or a lengthy hike but it features some of the most gorgeous glens, lochs and beaches in the country (right).

Apple crumble comforts, roast dinners evoke happiness and ice-cream triggers childhood memories: How 70% of Britons boost their mood with food

A study exploring the powerful link between meals and emotion found that we are more likely to connect treats to happy moments and choose to eat them when we are feeling down.

Why pet treats are as fattening as a Big Mac or doughnut: Owners warned calories in products rival popular fast food items 

Many treats rival the calorie content of popular fast-food items for humans, whose recommended daily calorie intake is far higher, a study out today reveals.

Pale is not interesting! Women feel more attractive, confident and SLIM with a tan... but it must be the colour of Kate Moss's glow rather than a TOWIE-style bronze

British women have revealed that having tanned skin is more important than the right hair colour, manicure or pedicure when it comes to prepping for summer, according to a new survey.

Riot police with battle shields in five-hour stand-off with boy aged FIFTEEN after he locked himself in his bedroom

Riot police with battle shields in five hour stand-off with 15-year-old boy after he

Police as well as paramedics were scrambled to Immingham, Lincolnshire, after the teenager barricaded himself in his bedroom at 11am yesterday. Police negotiators were sent into the house to talk to the boy, who is believed to have been armed and threatening to harm himself. The siege came to an end five hours later when the boy was led away to a waiting van by riot police with battering shields.

UK property market cools as house prices recorded their lowest rise for two years in May

Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) 1.jpg

Average prices in May were just 4.6 per cent higher than last year, but it meant that UK property values rose to  a record £195,166 on average, Nationwide building society reported.

Parents' fury after hospital cremated stillborn baby and scattered his ashes without telling them 

Joanne Burns and partner Chris Fredericks from Rhyl, North Wales, only discovered their stillborn son Oliver had been cremated by the Glen Clwyd Hospital after contacting their GP.

Eating dinner in front of the TV or while using a smartphone makes us FAT - because we're more likely to snack later on

Our memory for recent eating plays an important role in appetite, say University of Birmingham researchers. So if we're distracted during a meal, we might not remember it as well later on.

How Britons are sticking to frugal habits they picked up in the bad times - even though incomes are finally on the rise 

Many Britons are still 'in survival mode' even as the country emerges from recession, and are spending less on big-ticket items like holidays, the British Lifestyle report by Mintel shows.

Bing
   

DON'T MISS

Now Greek island of Lesbos suffers migrant influx: Second popular British tourist spot begins to overflow with illegal immigrants with 300 arriving each day 

Greek island of Lesbos begins to overflow with illegal immigrants

Seen desperately clambering for her wheelchair, this woman (pictured top left) is one of 300 migrants now arriving every day at the Greek island of Lesbos (bottom left), overflowing another popular British tourist spot. Other pictures show illegal immigrants leaping from boats towards dry land, a young boy using a cardboard box as a makeshift shelter (inset) and a one-month-old baby (right) snuggled up on the floor. It comes after dozens of migrants were also seen arriving on another Greek island, Kos, after making the perilous 5km journey from the Turkish coast under the cover of darkness. Those pictured are among 30,000 to have arrived in Greece since the turn of the year and the country is now calling on help from Europe to deal with the crisis.

How to join the buy-to-let boom: Britain's property hotspots revealed 

If you've ever thought about your finances, you will have wondered whether you should become one of the thousands of buy-to-let landlords who make money from property.

How to make your buy-to-let property irresistible to house hunters  

You will have already crunched the numbers and calculated your budget. Next on your list is finding the right location and choosing the best property.

Statins slash risk of death by cancer: They slow tumour growth by up to 50% reveal major studies

Doctor Holding Pills --- Image by Patrick Norman/Corbis

Experts say the evidence is overwhelming that, as well preventing heart attacks and strokes, statins can be effective at fighting cancer, following studies by Yale and Rutgers University in the U.S.

Obama signs USA Freedom Act to officially rein in NSA surveillance powers

President Barack Obama has signed legislation reviving and reshaping surveillance laws that expired temporarily Sunday night. The USA Freedom Act passed the Senate 67-32.

Girl, 16, held by police after teenage boy is stabbed to death on high street in front of horrified witnesses

A 16-year-old girl has been arrested by police after witnesses described seeing a teenager stabbed to death in south London yesterday while walking with his friends.

Father stabbed his wife and teenage daughters to death after researching how to cut a person's throat online - then lived with their bodies for a weekend before hanging himself

The bodies of Jitendra Lad, 49, his wife, Dukshaben Lad, 44, and their daughters, Trisha, 19, and Nisha, 16, were found at their four-bed detached home in Clayton, Bradford, last October.

So THAT'S why your cat is such a picky eater: Receptors on their tongues respond in a unique way to bitter tastes

By comparing bitter taste receptors on the tongues of cats with humans, researchers from Missouri-based AFB International found felines respond in a unique way to certain bitter compounds.

No armour in Parliament, never handle salmon 'suspiciously' and being drunk in a pub is ILLEGAL: The bizarre Medieval laws that still stand in Britain today

From beating a carpet in the street to turning someone away if they need the loo, millions of Brits could be committing acts of disobedience on a daily basis thanks to the obscure Medieval laws.

Solved! Photographer FINDS mystery bride and groom he snapped from the back of a taxi... after his social media hunt captures the attention of the world

Saber Miresmailli took a photo of London-based bride Laura Demack, 32, who works in marketing, and James Egan, 34, an art director, as they shared a kiss in front of Tower Bridge in the capital.

The secret to being happy... keep a diary: Taking note of what lifts our mood means we can learn how to cheer ourselves up

While Bridget Jones and Adrian Mole used journals to record their woes and embarrassments, we can train ourselves to be happy by writing down the little things that cheer us up each day, it is claimed.

DIY enthusiast is banned from EVERY B&Q; in the country for life after complaining about exposed wiring in one of their stores 

DIY enthusiast Raymond Meerabeau is banned from EVERY B&Q in the country for life

Raymond Meerabeau, 64, (pictured) noticed the cover had come off a fuse box near the lifts (circled right), at the New Malden branch, in south-west London. He took photos to show the manager - but was instead told off for taking pictures inside the store. Mr Meerabeau wrote a letter to B&Q;'s head office complaining of his treatment at the hands of the manager - only to receive a reply banning him from every B&Q; in the country. Mr Meerabeau said he would adhere to the ban but was unsure it was enforceable in practice. He said: 'Are they going to put my photo up in every B&Q; store in the country?'

Generation Y 'left to pick up £6trillion tab': Report warns children born between 1980 and 2000 will face 'apocalyptic' levels of debt due to Government over-spending 

Analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) accused baby-boomers of making unfunded promises on pensions and benefits and then leaving their children to pick up the bill.

Handymen needed for end of the world: Have you got what it takes to fix pipes at -20°F? Plumbers, chefs and electricians sought for Antarctic bases

The British Antarctic Survey is seeking 24 tradesmen and women, including mechanics like the one pictured, to help run its five research bases in and around the Antarctic.

Banned, the 'anorexia chic' advert for YSL: Watchdog rules image showing very thin model was 'irresponsible' 

BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
Embargoed to 0001 Wednesday June 3
Undated handout photo issued by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of an Yves Saint Laurent ad which has been banned for featuring a model with a visible rib cage and knees and thighs of a similar width. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday June 3, 2015. The ad, which appeared in Elle UK magazine, featured a black and white photo of a woman described by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) as appearing "unhealthily underweight" wearing a short black dress and high heels lying on the floor with her eyes closed. See PA story CONSUMER YSL. Photo credit should read: ASA/PA Wire
NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

The image, which appeared in Elle magazine, triggered a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority, which has ruled it was 'irresponsible'.

Women carry make-up, designer accessories and gadgets in their handbags worth £3,144... but 95 per cent DON'T insure their valuables

British women are unaware that their 'everyday bag' is worth thousands, as despite being filled with expensive designer goods they think the contents of their tote is worth just £50, according to a new survey.

Woman who forged her ex-husband's signature to sell off his half of joint grave plot following their divorce is ordered to pay him £4,000 by judge

Redhill Magistrates' Court heard how Mr Keahey only found out about his plot being sold off when his former brother-in-law phoned him up and told him that 'someone else' was buried in his grave.

The £800 we spend on our gardens to lure kids outdoors: Money used to turn back yards into 'mini-playgrounds' complete with trampoline and paddling pool 

In a last-ditch attempt to lure their youngsters outside, parents are spending hundreds of pounds to turn their garden into a 'mini-playground', a survey has found.

I'd consider assisted suicide if I become a burden to my loved ones, says Professor Stephen Hawking

The award-winning Cambridge physicist, who is paralysed as a result of motor neurone disease, is an ardent supporter of a person's right to die and admitted he would take the step himself.

Photoshoot of naked model straddling a marble dragon head at China's Forbidden City sparks outrage

The risque photographs taken at the Forbidden City were posted by the photographer on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter. They have been widely criticised for being 'disrespectful'.

Three-day-old baby girl is found being eaten by ants after being abandoned in remote Russian woodland

Baby girl abandoned in the woods in Chelyabinsk. Russia is found covered in ants

Police are investigating after a badly-bitten three-day-old baby was discovered by a passer-by in woodland on the outskirts of Chelyabinsk in central Russia. The baby was unlikely to have survived much longer if she had not been found by the man, who had decided to take a shortcut on his way to work. She is being treated at a hospital in Chelyabinsk and police are trying to track down her parents.

HALF of British holidaymakers will steal from items from hotels (but the least trustworthy guests are Argentinian)

According to a new worldwide study, conducted by Hotels.com, travellers from Argentina are most likely to pilfer items from hotel rooms, while Colombian travellers are the most trustworthy.

Make batteries last EIGHT times longer: $2.50 gadget claims to squeeze untapped power out of cells - but is it too good to be true?

The Batteriser (pictured) from California-based Batteroo is a metal sleeve that slips over standard batteries to extend their lifespan inside electronic devices. It is expected to cost around $2.50 (£1.63).

Why we call Dad to mow the lawn: Millions of Britons aged 25-40 relying on parents to do basic household jobs because they lack skills to do them 

Researchers at Birmingham-based Hozelock have discovered a generational shift in our ability to carry out practical tasks such as mowing the lawn, hanging pictures and washing the car.

Hopes dashed in hunt for missing MH370 after officials refuse to extend search zone because 'there are no new credible leads'

GO Phoenix Weather 2.png

Salvage experts said the hunt for the Boeing 777, led by the GO Phoenix ship (pictured), would not be extended in the Indian Ocean despite earlier promises that it would be doubled in size.

Are YOU brushing your teeth with someone else's poop? Study finds faeces is common on toothbrushes in shared bathrooms

The study, by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, found that there is a 60 per cent chance your toothbrush is covered in poo, regardless of how well you clean it.

Move over the Big Apple, it's all about the Big Smoke now: London is named world's most popular travel destination (but New York falls out of the top five)

London is officially the world's most popular travel destination. According to new stats the capital will welcome a total of 18.82 million international overnight visitors this year, more than any other city.

Watch chimps 'COOK': Study finds primates have the mental skills to carry food to a mock oven and wait for it to be ready

Researchers from Yale University found that chimps prefer cooked vegetables to raw ones, were willing to wait for food to be cooked and understood what could and couldn't be cooked.

Young driver killed himself and two friends in 97mph crash after he 'inhaled hippy crack while at the wheel'

Ammar Ingar (left), his front-seat passenger, Mohammedabdullah Patel, (right) and Abubaker Hussein Mohamed died at the scene of the crash in Leicester on January 10 this year.

'I am the closest thing to a Jew that has ever sat in this office': Obama's extraordinary claim revealed as president bids to reduce tensions with Israeli leader over Iran

Former White House official David Axelrod revealed the claim during an interview with an Israel journalist. Tensions between the president and Israel are high over the Iran nuclear deal.

From credit cards to car hire: How to beat the holiday rip-offs before jetting off this summer 

Get free satnav on your phone. Don't fall for the car rental cons. And remember, it's never too early to order your holiday cash.

Could our brains stay forever young? Memories can survive cryogenic preservation, study shows

Researchers for Alcor Life Extension Foundation (pictured) in Scottsdale in Arizona say their work provides hope for those hoping their bodies can be revived by medical science in the future.

Girl, 2, who was born with no nose undergoes pioneering cosmetic surgery to have a new one built

Girl, 2, born with NO NOSE is the first undergo pioneering cosmetic surgery to have a new

Tessa Evans, two, from Maghera, Ireland, suffers from an exceptionally rare medical condition called complete congenital arhinia, meaning she was born without a nose (left, centre). Arhinia is so rare that there are only 47 cases reported in medical history, and it leaves Tessa with no sense of smell and no sinuses. She has just undergone a pioneering operation to have a mould inserted into her face, to stretch her skin and slowly build the missing facial feature (right). She will have more surgeries to have the implant replaced as she gets older, so the nose 'grows' with her face.Then, when she is a teenager, she will receive the final prosthesis, which will be tattooed with light and dark shades so it looks like a real body part. Her mother, Grainne, 31, says her family have been delighted with the result. She said: 'We have been totally thrilled with the result, she's equally as beautiful as before, there's just a little extra Tessa now.'

Farewell Hyperion! Saturn's bizarre 'sponge moon' is captured for the final time by Nasa's Cassini spacecraft

Nasa scientists in California have revealed the final views of Hyperion. (shown) They are the last images the Cassini craft will take of the moon, and the last humanity will see for decades.

Terrifying footage shows blazing fire rip through 16-storey twin towers in Chinese city in SECONDS

Footage has emerged showing a fire tear through two adjacent tower blocks, setting both completely alight. The incident is believed to have happened in Shanxi in central China.

Screen women in their 30s for breast cancer gene: Call for simple blood test to identify fault that increase chance of developing disease by 90%

Radiologist assessing a mammogram --- Image by   Pete Saloutos/CORBIS

The NHS should offer female patients a blood test to see whether they have mutations in their BRCA1 or 2 genes that increase their likelihood of getting breast and ovarian cancer by 90 per cent.

Bernie Ecclestone reveals he has not visited seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher in hospital because he 'doesn't want to see him like that'

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he has not once visited Michael Schumacher in hospital. When asked why not, he said: 'I don't want to see Michael like that.'

Why you never get over being dumped by your first love: Writer COLIN DUNNE recalls the pain, anguish and humiliation of a young lover scorned

Couple behind heart shaped balloon.

BCJT9C

Everyone remembers the first time, don't they? No, not that first time, the first time you were dumped. The pain, the anguish, the humiliation - when it happened to me, I asked if life was worth living.

Japanese hot spring closes to tourists after complaints of visitors carrying out 'lewd acts'

image001.png

The Fudo no Yu hot springs in in Nasushiobara City will no longer be open to the general public, with the notice shared on the Shiobara Hot Spring Tourism Association website.

Hilarious moment stag party dressed as TRAFFIC CONES cause road chaos in Cornwall

Well, it makes a change from stealing them! Hilarious moment stag party dressed as TRAFFIC

The men, dressed as orange and white cones brought traffic to a halt in the Cornish seaside resort with one of the stag party appearing to jump on the bonnet a of the car as if he was being run over. But the behaviour of the group didn't go down too well with locals who had to sit in congested traffic and say that they were also removed from a pub due to their wild behaviour.

Burnham no longer seems on the brink of blubbing: QUENTIN LETTS yesterday in parliament

There is still a long way to go in the Labour leadership contest but Mr Burnham, MP for Leigh, will have cause to be content so far. He now doesn't sound quite so perpetually on the brink of blubbing tears.

Man 'stole his own barrister's £300 smartphone during appearance at magistrates' court' 

Bobby Heath, 25, is alleged to have taken Charlotte Johnson's £300 Samsung mobile phone from a window sill while she defended him in a case at Bexley Magistrates' Court.

Is this what Leonardo da Vinci looked like? 500-year-old engraving claims to show one of world's only depictions of the artist 

Carved by Italian artist Marcantonio Raimondi in 1505, the engraving is thought to show Leonardo da Vinci playing a lira da braccio - a European bowed string instrument of the Renaissance.

Proof airlines will do ANYTHING to avoid paying out for your flight delay as Jet2 makes legal threat to complainants  

Legal documents seen by Money Mail reveal how budget airline Jet2.com is accusing passengers of a breach of contract if they don't lodge claims about delays within two years.

Travellers boost WH Smith as sales at airports and rail stations stores rise 4%

A general view of the WH Smith plc.
WHSmith plc is a British retailer, best known for its chain of high street, railway station, airport, hospital and motorway service station shops selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers and entertainment products. 
WH Smith's strategy of increased profits matched with falling sales has continued, with shareholders the big winners as the dividend was increased 15%. Another £50 million share buyback was also announced, sending shares to a record high.

WH Smith, which sells books, newspapers and sandwiches to passengers, said like-for-like sales at its travel stores rose 4 per cent in the 13 weeks to the end of May.

How could he? US police arrest owner of puppy that was found with her snout so tightly duct-taped shut that her tongue may now have to be removed

William Leonard Dodson arrested over Charleston dog with duct-taped muzzle

William Leonard Dodson, 41 (inset), was picked up by police in North Charleston on Monday night and charged with ill treatment of animals, five days after the dog, Caitlyn, was found in a critical condition. The 15-month-old pooch appeared on a person's doorstep last Wednesday morning with electrical tape wrapped around her muzzle, with officials saying it was likely there for between 36 and 48 hours (left). A large part of her tongue may need to be removed surgically if the tissue dies from the lack of blood flow. Over the weekend Caitlyn received laser treatment to save the tissue in her mouth and has been showing signs of progress (right).

Summer flights to Greece are the most likely to depart on time... but prepare for delays if you're flying to Portugal

Flight compensation website, flightright.co.uk, looked at six popular summer holiday flight routes and found that flights to Portugal are most likely to experience delays or cancellations.

Pinterest adds 'Buy' buttons: Site will soon let users purchase what they pin

In a blog post, Pinterest said 'Buy' buttons (pictured) will start appearing in 'just a few weeks' for US users running iOS, and there will be 2 million items available at launch.

Swim with the fishes: Angler hooks mammoth 7ft halibut... then jumps into the water for a photo as it's too big for his boat! 

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)øPic: EricAxner/BNPS
Angler Erik Axner celebrates hauling in this enormous 7ft halibut fish - by jumping in the water to pose for pictures with it.
Erik was on a fishing trip with friends Jonathan Jansson and Martin Bamberg when he hooked the mammoth halibut, the world's biggest species of flatfish.
The 24-year-old Swede fought the gigantic fish for over an hour before finally getting the better of it - and when he weighed it it tipped the scales at a whopping 16 stones.
Because the halibut was so huge it couldn't be pulled out of the water for photos - so Erik secured the halibut to the side of the boat using rope  and jumped in in his drysuit instead.

Erik Axner (pictured) was on a fishing trip with friends in waters off Norway's Lofoten Islands when he caught the enormous halibut - the world's biggest species of flatfish.

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl 'fighting for life' after undergoing bowel operation

News magazine Der Spiegel said the man who reunited his nation as leader of the CDU conservative party has been in an intensive care ward in Heidelberg for the past three weeks.

'They call me Arnie arms now': Woman who was branded a 'mess' by a bullying ex drops a THIRD of her body weight after taking up kickboxing just to prove him wrong

Woman who was branded a 'mess' by a bullying ex drops a THIRD of her body weight after

Kirsty Lund, 29, from Cheshire, suffered years of torment about her size from an bullying ex-boyfriend who teased her about her 15st frame (left). In an attempt to lose weight, she joined a kickboxing club, lost 5st (right) and gained so much confidence she's become a Thai Boxing instructor and has even won a national title.

Today's hottestfashion finds

  • Beyoncé

    Make it match in Beyonce's top and skirt by Torn by Ronny Kobo

    Read more ›
  • Chrissy

    Steal Chrissy's style with a pair fur ankle boots

    Read more ›
  • Miley

    Throw some shade in Miley's statement sunglasses

    Read more ›
  • Elizabeth

    Carry a classic tote like Elizabeth

    Read more ›

 
   

MORE DON'T MISS

It even has Wi-Fi! Incredible £110,000 treehouse has its own skatepark and a wood-fired tub

Washington treehouse has skatepark and wood-fired tub

Foster Huntington built the Cinder Cone Treehouse in Skamania County, Washington, on the Columbia River Gorge with the help of a small group of friends and his carpenter mother from summer to winter 2014. The treehouse is made up of two 200 sq ft structures - a guesthouse/studio and Huntington's living space. Huntington decided he needed a home base after living in a van the last three years to surf, camp and photograph the West Coast.

WORLD NEWS

       

The way ads used to be: Classic campaigns by brands including Clarks, Vogue and Fiat show how household names were sold in the 1960s, 70s and 80s

The way ads used to be: Classic campaigns by brands including Clarks, Vogue and Fiat show

The amusing and thought-provoking images used in a range of iconic adverts of yesteryear are being showcased to mark the roll call of print and television adverts created by Collett Dickenson Pearce during the industry's heyday - an era recently depicted in U.S television drama Mad Men. From brands such as Clarks (top left and bottom right) and Vogue (inset), to Fiat (top right) and Cinzano, the exhibition, entitled Outside: Collett Dickenson Pearce, includes the 1979 advert for The Strada car which uses the tagline 'Handbuilt by robots' (bottom left). Ironically, when Hugh Hudson arrived on set to film the TV commercial for the campaign, he had to navigate past picketers outside who were protesting against the so-called robots taking their jobs. Another advert show fierce Labour Party rivals Tony Benn and Denis Healey taking pictures of one other under the headline 'They obviously felt like shooting each other', a campaign used to promote an Olympus camera.

Does Botox really work? Scientists use 3D imaging technique to reveal wrinkle-reduction injections can transform faces

Using the new technique, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania were able to create a colour-coded heat map showing the results of Botox.

The house that really is ship-shape! Canadian man builds self-sufficient home from old shipping containers - and reveals how his most expensive bill is his phone

Joseph Dupuis, 29, built his dream home 35 miles west of Ottawa, Canada, after buying three shipping containers for $3,400 Canadian each and outfitting them with solar panels for electricity.

Don't look up! Terrifying moment rat snake slithered from cupboard and attempted to eat whole egg from couple's counter-top

Home owner Laura Neff, from Charlotte, North Carolina, captured the bizarre moment a Rat Snake entered her house and attempted to swallow a whole egg from the counter.

It's freezing Down Under! A foot of snow hits parts of Australia as country is hit by its lowest temperatures for 40 years

A foot of snow hits parts of Australia as the country is hit by its lowest temperatures

Temperatures plunged as low as minus nine degrees Celsius as the alpine resorts of Perisher and Thredbo in New South Wales disappeared underneath a blanket of snow on Monday evening. In comparison, the UK today has been bathed in sunshine as highs of more than 21 degrees Celsius were recorded this morning in Lincolnshire. Falls Creek in Victoria received 20cm of snow overnight and Mount Buller recorded 8cm, while Melbourne got off to its coldest morning in almost 40 years. The freezing weather is forcing many Australians to get creative with ways to beat the cold, from leaving the oven on to heat the house, to warming their beds with hairdryers.

   

TOP SPORT STORIES