David Haines' Brother Urges 'Unity' Against IS

The brother of David Haines, the British aid worker beheaded by Islamic militants, has appealed for "every community, every faith" to unite against Islamic State.

Michael Haines issued a moving tribute to the "kind, caring" 44-year-old on the eve of a memorial service in Perth, saying that "together we have the power to defeat the most hateful acts".

David Haines had been helping refugees in Syria in a camp near the Turkish border when he was snatched by IS militants last year. IS released a video showing his murder last month.

In a recorded message, his brother said: "David would want us all to remember that extremism, terrorism and the mistreatment of people is not something that just happens to those thousands of miles away.

"It's something that affects us all in the UK too. My brother's killers want to hurt all of us and stop us believing in the very things which took David into conflict zones - charity and human kindness.

Video: PM's Vow After David Haines Murder

"I am calling on all of us - every community, every faith - in the coming weeks and months, to find a single act of unity. One simple gesture, one act, one moment that draws people together.

"My brother didn't see other nationalities or religions, he just saw other human beings in need of a real help to get by, or sometimes a lot of help to live to see another day.

"This is how my family will remember him, and we hope you all will too - a man full of kindness, open and caring, willing to cross the road to help others."

Video: Perth Mourns Killed Hostage Haines

Michael Haines will address family, friends and colleagues at a service at Perth Congregational Church later this afternoon.

David Haines, who was born in Yorkshire and brought up in Perth, has a teenage daughter, Bethany, from a previous marriage and a four-year-old daughter in Croatia with his widow Dragana Prodanovic Haines.

His brother said David's death had broken the family's heart but they had been "overwhelmed" by messages of support from the British public and people all over the world.

Video: Victim's Brother Rejects Radicals

He said: "I am recording this message in the hope that people across Britain will listen to my family's story and understand that the fight against terrorism and extremism isn't something that happens to other people, it affects us all.

"How we react to this threat is also about all of us. Together we have the power to defeat the most hateful acts.

"Acts of unity from us all will in turn make us stronger, and those who wish to divide us weaker."

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Anger At Claims Paramedics Left Body By Bins

MPs and campaigners have demanded an investigation into claims paramedics dumped a man's body beside rubbish bins so they could finish work on time.

The East of England Ambulance Service has apologised over allegations the body of a man, believed to be James Harrison, was mistreated.

The claims came to light after a whistleblower contacted a newspaper claiming the 32-year-old's body was left on the floor at Ely ambulance station for an hour instead of being taken to a mortuary at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

An ambulance crew had been sent to pick up the body after Mr Harrison collapsed and died near his home in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, on 24 September. 

MP Peter Bone said the alleged incident sounded 'appalling'

Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough, described the alleged incident as "appalling" and called for an investigation "at the highest level".

He told the Daily Mail: "I've never heard anything like it.

"It seems to be neglect of duty and needs to be looked at the highest level. I hope it is just an appalling one-off.

"It would be extremely worrying if it was a systematic practice for staff at the end of their shift."

North East Cambridgeshire MP Stephen Barclay also called for a "full investigation".

Kathryn Murphy of the Patients Association said: "I would hope that the appropriate measures are taken against the individuals who made such an inhumane decision at such a sensitive time."

The ambulance service has apologised but refused to confirm any details regarding the incident.

Chief executive Anthony Marsh said the trust is "working with the family" to find out what happened.

"We are very sorry for what happened and have launched a thorough investigation," he added.

"This involves working with the family and everyone who responded to the patient."

A spokesman for the service said: "The incident happened on September 24.

"We were called at 5.13am and sent an ambulance, paramedic officers and a community first responder to the patient who was unresponsive."

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious and the case was passed to the coroner.

An inquest was opened and adjourned and will resume on 14 January.

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Man Dazzled Helicopter Crew With Laser Pen

A man who dazzled a police helicopter crew with a laser pen during a late night party has been given a suspended prison sentence after he admitted endangering an aircraft.

Chris Vowles was with friends in the back garden of a house in Kitts Green, Birmingham, when he targeted the helicopter on 31 July.

The crew were left disorientated as they were hit by the beam several times as they prepared for a surveillance mission.

Using thermal imaging cameras, they picked out Vowles as he laughed and toasted the prank with friends. The group could be seen gesturing toward the helicopter and raising their beer bottles.

Police on the ground were sent to their location and the 23-year-old shop worker, from Sandwell, was arrested on suspicion of acting recklessly in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft.

Thermal imaging cameras picked out Vowles at a party with friends

Footage from the helicopter showed Vowles attempt to the throw the laser pen over a fence.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to seven months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, and pay a £100 victim surcharge and £300 court costs.

Martin Knowles, West Midlands region National Police Air Service (NPAS) manager, said it was a deliberate act.

He said: "The demeanour of the people in the garden illustrates the attitude of many people - laughing and joking and believing their actions were somehow harmless fun.

"But aiming a laser pen at any aircraft, be it a police helicopter, air ambulance or commercial plane, can have disastrous consequences - it's certainly no laughing matter."

NPAS pilot Andy Shanks said he had been targeted "countless" times by laser pens during his 33-year flying career.

He said: "It's disorientating, makes it impossible to focus on the instrument panel and is extremely dangerous as even a momentary loss of control can be crucial.

"In a worst case scenario crew members struck in the eye can suffer eye damage - that happened recently to an observation officer in Ripley who suffered retina damage after being hit with the laser whilst looking through binoculars."

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Rapist Footballer To Be Released From Prison

Footballer Ched Evans is expected to be released from prison later after serving half of a five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel.

Evans, who denied the offence, was jailed in April 2012 following the incident in Rhyl, North Wales.

The 25-year-old Welsh international admitted having sex the woman who told the jury she had no memory of the incident.

His release puts fresh pressure on his former club, Sheffield United, to say whether he will be allowed to play for them again.

Earlier this week, manager Nigel Clough said: "We have had one or two discussions, we are awaiting a decision and the owners will make that in good time."

Almost 150,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Bramall Lane club not to welcome him back, but many fans have called for him to be rehabilitated.

The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald also admitted having sex with the victim but was found not guilty of the same charge.

Earlier this week TV presenter Judy Finnigan apologised after she said on the ITV show Loose Women that his crime was "not violent" and did not cause "bodily harm".

Evans's case is due to be looked at by the Criminal Case Review Commission in the coming weeks.

The striker scored 48 goals in 113 games for Sheffield United before his imprisonment, including 35 in 42 games during the 2011/12 campaign which was cut short for him due to his trial and conviction.

He has been capped 13 times for Wales.

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Girl Kept As Slave Wins £100,000 Compensation

A deaf and mute girl who was trafficked into the UK, repeatedly raped and forced to carry out domestic tasks, has won more than £100,000 compensation in a landmark legal case.

In a ruling thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, the award of £101,300 will be used to compensate the victim for years of unpaid domestic servitude at the hands of Ilyas and Tallat Ashar.

Ilyas Ashar, 85, of Eccles, was found guilty of 13 counts of rape following a re-trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

He had been found guilty of two counts of trafficking people for exploitation and three offences under the Social Security Act at an earlier trial.

He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in October 2013, which was increased to 15 years by the Court of Appeal earlier this year.

Tallat Ashar, 69, was found guilty of two counts of trafficking people for exploitation and seven offences under the Social Security Act. She was jailed for five years, which was increased to six after an appeal in February this year.

The couple were ordered to pay back nearly £400,000

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is thought to have been as young as 10 when she was taken in by the Ashar family after being trafficked into the UK in 2000 from Pakistan.

Greater Manchester Police officers, investigating allegations of money laundering alongside Salford Trading Standards, went to the Ashar house in June 2009 and asked to speak to the victim, whose details had been used on bank accounts linked to the couple.

She was found sleeping on a cot bed in the cellar and officers removed her from the scene.

In interviews, she revealed she had been raped on a regular basis by Ilyas Ashar and had been made to carry out cooking, cleaning and other chores at a number of houses.

Thousands of pounds in benefits were also claimed in the victim's name.

Judge Peter Lain ordered the Ashars to pay back £27,762 to the Department of Work and Pensions and £14,205 in benefit fraud, as well as £300,000 in court costs.

Salford divisional commander Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle said: "This result is a landmark case for both GMP and for victims of trafficking everywhere.

"The crimes of the Ashars are well-documented and quite rightly people continue to share a sense of disbelief at the prolonged cruelty they inflicted on their young victim.

"The money will in no way make up for went she went through over a number of years, but it will help her move on with her life and continue her inspiring recovery from these awful events."

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Barnardo's Accused Of Blaming Victim For Abuse

By Gerard Tubb, Northern Correspondent

The children's charity Barnardo's has been accused of blaming a victim of child sexual exploitation for her own sexual abuse by a gang of men who had groomed her.

A letter written by a Barnado's project worker in 1993 says that abuse of a 16-year-old girl in accommodation owned by the charity could have been avoided if she had not placed herself in danger.

The letter states that the girl was sexually assaulted but: "The situation could have been avoided if [she] had not been party to the antics of a group of young men."

It goes on: "Having consumed a quantity of alcohol and three valium tablets [she] was not able to maintain control or respond to the situation in a constructive and cohesive way."

Last month chief executive of Barnardo's Javed Khan condemned institutions that had blamed children for their own abuse and called for them to be investigated by the Government's independent inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation.

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1. Gallery: Barnardo's Letter Accused Of Blaming Victim

The victim, now 37, says the sexual assault that triggered the letter happened in her Leeds flat after British Pakistani men befriended her and let her run up debts before giving her drink and drugs.

"I woke up and I didn't have any clothes on and there were half naked men around," she said.

"I knew I'd been assaulted I didn't know to what extent, I didn't know if I'd been raped or what, really."

She says she spent years feeling ashamed after being told at the time that the attack, which occurred shortly after she had left a children's home, was her fault.

"Looking back, how I feel now is absolute disgust with predominantly Barnardo's for knowing this happened, for blaming me for it happening and doing nothing about it," she said.

She remained in the flat for a further six months and says her abuse by the men escalated over that time and included rape.

Greg Mulholland, the woman's MP, is demanding an investigation by Barnardo's and Leeds City Council for what he calls "shocking and utterly disgraceful" behaviour.

"To actually blame her for the most appalling abuse and grooming and indeed blackmail that she suffered is really appalling," he said.

"This woman who was then a 16-year-old girl, shortly out of care, very vulnerable, was seriously, seriously let down by the two organisations who were there to protect her."

In a statement Barnado's told us it was shocked at the contents of the letter.

The statement said: "This woman has been very brave in bringing this issue to light. It must have been a very difficult and distressing step to have taken after so many years.

"Barnardo's takes this very seriously and we will fully investigate."

Nigel Richardson, director of children's services at Leeds City Council, said: "We are very sorry to hear about what this young woman was subjected to."

He said the council was very keen to investigate the case, and added: "We are confident that an incident like this would be managed very differently today."

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'Blair May Have Been Terror Suspect Target'

Former prime minister Tony Blair could have been the target of a terror attack, the jury in a secret trial has heard.

Erol Incedal, who is accused of preparing acts of terrorism and possessing a document called how to make a bomb on a memory card, was arrested in September last year, the court heard.

His black Mercedes was searched and the jury was told a number of significant items were found including a piece of paper with the address of a home owned by Mr Blair and his wife, Cherie, written on it.

The paper was found inside a Versace sunglasses case, the jury heard, and during the search of the car it was bugged by officers.

The prosecution told the jury it was not clear 26-year-old Incedal had set out a specific target but that he may have been intending to launch either a Mumbai-style attack or to hit a high-profile individual.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC told the court: "Count 1 does not suggest that Erol Incedal had settled on a specific target or a particular methodology but in the context of the case as a whole and the evidence that I am going to come to, you may think that this address does have some significance."

The address of a home owned by the Blairs was found in Incedal's car

He added: "You will hear that he was actively engaged with another or others who were abroad. The prosecution case is that such engagement was for an act, or acts of terrorism, either against a limited number of individuals of significance, or a more wide-ranging, an indiscriminate attack such as the one in Mumbai."

In 2008 Pakistani terrorists launched co-ordinated bombing and shooting attacks at venues across Mumbai lasting four days and killing 164 people.

The case is the first major terror trial to be heard almost entirely in secret, with only a few journalists admitted but unable to report on the proceedings on the grounds of national security.

Parts of the trial will be heard in public after newspapers and campaign groups fought a court ruling it should be held completely in secret, however, the majority of it will still be held behind closed doors.

Speaking ahead of the trial, the judge told the jury they must set their emotions aside and decide on their verdicts in a "cool and dispassionate" way.

Incedal denies the charges against him.

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NHS Alcohol-Related Admissions Near '10 Million'

By NHS Alcohol-Related Admissions Near '10 Million'

Almost 10 million people a year are receiving NHS treatment because of alcohol, according to new figures.

The report compiled by Alcohol Concern shows the number and cost of treatments for illness and injury caused directly by drinking, like binge-fuelled trips to A&E or liver disease.

It also shows the cost of conditions in which alcohol is a significant factor.

A new online map highlights the total number of alcohol-related NHS admissions hit almost 10 million in England during 2012-13.

While A&E admissions accounted for six in every 10 alcohol-related hospital visits, inpatient admissions were responsible for almost two thirds of the total cost burden.

In England as a whole the figures suggest that drinking is attributable for almost half of all head and neck cancer inpatient admissions at a cost to the NHS of £65.3m.

A&E admissions accounted for six in every 10 alcohol-related visits

Just over 13% of all malignant breast neoplasm admissions were attributable to alcohol, costing the NHS £27.1m.

In total 9.6 million people in England are now drinking in excess of Government guidelines, with 2.4 million of those classed as high risk.

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1. Gallery: Men & Women: Alcohol Guidance

   Women's bodies, in general, process alcohol at a slower rate than men's, says Drink Aware

2. Alcohol can affect women's fertility, create a greater risk of breast cancer and increase some side-effects of the menopause

3. The NHS estimates that around 4% of UK women show signs of alcoholism

4. Alcohol daily guidelines for women are 2-3 units of alcohol, equivalent to a 175 ml glass of wine

5. Alcohol daily guidelines for men are no more than of 3-4 units of alcohol, equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer

Commenting on the data, Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Jackie Ballard said: "The NHS is now facing an intolerable strain from alcohol-related illnesses.

"We need to ensure adequate alcohol care pathways are prioritised and appropriate services are put in place to ease this burden."

Dr Carsten Grimm, Clinical Lead for the Alcohol Service in Kirklees, Yorkshire, said: "It is vital that people understand the full consequences of drinking at unsafe levels can have on their health.

Video: Pill Could Cut Desire For Alcohol

"With almost 10 million alcohol-related hospital admissions, we can see just how serious an impact unsafe levels of alcohol consumption is having on our health system."

A Department of Health statement said the Government is well aware of the costs caused by drinking.

"We know that alcohol-fuelled harm costs society about £21bn a year and are determined to reduce this burden to taxpayers. The rise in admissions is very concerning and we are taking action to tackle cheap and harmful alcohol.

Video: 'We've Seen Liver Disease Double'

"We have given local authorities £8.2m over three years to tackle health issues in their communities like harmful drinking.

"We are working with industry to promote drinking within recommended guidelines and responsible drinking through local schemes, and are already making headway by removing a billion units from the market over four years." 

Video: New Report On Drinking And Health

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MPs Vote To Recognise Palestinian State

MPs have voted overwhelmingly to recognise a Palestinian state.

The vote - which ended 274 to 12 in favour - is not binding on the government but has been described as symbolically important.

The UK does not currently recognise Palestine - though is committed to doing so eventually as part of a two-state solution.

Labour MP Grahame Morris tabled a motion for immediate recognition, prompting the first full debate on the issue since 2012.

MPs eventually voted in favour of an amendment tabled by grandees from the three major parties to recognise a Palestinian state as a "contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution".

Video: MPs Urged To Recognise Palestine

However, David Cameron's spokesman indicted before the vote that the UK's policy would not change - meaning there would be no immediate recognition.

Even so, Mr Morris told the Commons a vote in favour would be a "small but symbolically important" step.

He argued that Britain's failure to recognise Palestine would contribute to Israel's "crusade" to a one-state solution.

"I contend, and many informed commentators would agree with me, that any hope of a two-state solution - the only viable solution - will have disappeared altogether (if Palestine isn't recognised)," he told MPs.

"Instead, Israel will continue its crusade towards the morally repugnant and politically untenable one-state solution and in truth that could only be maintained through even greater brutality and effectively through apartheid rule - a fate so bleak any true friend of Israel would oppose it."

Video: Middle East: Israel And Gaza

The motion attracted support from across the political divide.

The Labour shadow cabinet is thought to have backed it - though ministers from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats abstained.

Tory Matthew Offord explained why he was voting against: "The proposal for this House to recognise Palestinian statehood is not only premature but it is also misguided.

"An affirmative vote tonight will be nothing more than a propaganda victory for those who wish to bypass the mediation peace process in favour of international institutions by the United Nations where the Palestinian Authority enjoys a majority."

The 12 MPs who voted against were made up of six Tories (Mr Offord, Bob Blackman, Jonathan Djanogly, Mike Freer, Nigel Mills and Robert Syms), five Democratic Unionists (Nigel Dodds, William McCrea, Ian Paisley, Jim Shannon and David Simpson) and a Liberal Democrat (Sir Alan Beith).

Video: West Bank's Family Football Team

Among EU countries, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia have already recognised Palestine as a state - while Sweden recently provoked an angry response from Israel by saying it would follow suit.

In 2012, 138 countries voted to give the Palestinians "non-observer" member status at the UN General Assembly, which is seen as de facto recognition of a sovereign state.

Britain was among 40 countries to abstain on the 2012 vote, which was opposed by Israel, the US, Canada, Czech Republic, Panama, Palau, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

A summer conflict in Gaza claimed the lives of more than 2,100 Palestinians - mostly civilians. Israel suffered 70 fatalities - all but six soldiers.

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House Of Commons To Debate Scotland's Future

By Niall Paterson, News Correspondent

The House of Commons will today debate what should happen in the aftermath of Scotland voting No to independence.

MPs are expected to explore which further powers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

But they will also tackle the "West Lothian question" - the issue of whether Scottish MPs should be allowed to vote on matters which do not affect Scotland.

The day after the independence referendum, David Cameron promised "English votes for English Laws", and a broader constitutional settlement for the UK as a whole, linked to any changes for Scotland.

It proved a controversial announcement, with some Scots questioning whether Mr Cameron had reneged on the vow he, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg made, that if Scotland voted No, additional powers would follow as soon as practicable.

Video: Scotland Set For Devolution Battle

On Monday, the Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael published a document setting out the three parties' proposals for additional Scottish devolution.

"The referendum result made clear the majority of people in Scotland want to see a strong devolved parliament as part of the UK," he told the House.

"We pledged further devolution and we will deliver on that promise."

Video: Gordon Brown On Devolution

But as yet, the three parties have three separate sets of proposals, and have not reached agreement beyond a timetable for implementation.

And their progress thus far, such as it has been, was given short shrift by Scotland's first minister.

The SNP want complete control over taxation and fiscal policy; little wonder, given they came so close to achieving independence.

Video: Sturgeon Bids For Leadership

A commission chaired by Lord Smith of Kelvin will now work with all political parties concerned, in the hope that a blueprint for additional powers for Scotland can be agreed by the end of November.

It will then be down to Westminster to ensure that they deliver on another promise - having legislation drafted and ready to be passed by the time of the general election.

Video: Salmond: Scot Voters Were 'Tricked'

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Ex-Convict Donates Kidney To 'Make New Start'

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

A woman has received a kidney transplant from a former convict after a desperate appeal in a local newspaper.

Sally-Ann Grainger, 34, featured in an article asking for a donor to come forward in January.

She went into renal failure after taking medication following a double lung transplant in 2009.

Ms Grainger had to have dialysis treatment three times a week and described herself as "barely existing".

Even though she was a complete stranger, 33-year-old Wesley Joyce, who spent time in jail for assault, donated his kidney in order to "make a new start".

He was one of 10 people to come forward, but the only one who was a tissue and blood match.

"This was the perfect opportunity for me to give something back, as long as I matched," Mr Joyce told Sky News.

"It wasn't good enough that I said I'd do it, I needed to actually do this.

Wesley Joyce responded to a local newspaper plea by Sally-Ann Grainger

"I said to Sally's daughter that I thank her mum for giving me the opportunity to do this."

Ms Grainger said her donor had become a close friend after giving her a future and the opportunity to see her two daughters grow up.

"I put an appeal out because I wanted to be able to spend as much time as possible with my girls while I'm healthy, and live longer than six years, hopefully," she said.

"I felt sick, overjoyed, overwhelmed - I can't pick out one word that describes my gratitude and thanks for what he's done for me. It's just amazing."

The kidney transplant took place on Friday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The operation appears to have been a success and both patients are now trying to encourage more people to sign up to the organ donor register.

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Hundreds At Memorial For 'Hero' Alan Henning

Hundreds of people have taken part in a memorial to taxi driver Alan Henning who was murdered by Islamic State militants.

Mr Henning, 47, who was seized after taking aid to Syria, was remembered as "a local, national and world hero".

His widow Barbara, children Adam and Lucy and other family members joined scores of well-wishers at the British Muslim Heritage Centra in Whalley Range, Manchester.

The first of several faith and political leaders to speak, Dr Usman Choudhry said: "In short we are here to remember a hero. A local hero, a national hero and we will also say a world hero.

Barbara Henning receives a hug before the start of the memorial

"A hero who left the comfort of his own home for no other reason than to help the destitute and needy refugees of Syria.

"A hero who put the needs of others before his own and that hero is Alan Henning."

Video: Alan Henning Memorial Service

He added the memorial was aimed at supporting "those willing to stand up for the rights of humanity and the poor and the repressed, and are prepared to work and not just talk about what they believe in".

The tribute, entitled His Life And Legacy Remembered, included speeches from friends of Mr Henning.

One of those who travelled on the convoy with him, Majid Freeman, said: "Alan was a beautiful genuine human being, inside and out.

"He went to Syria to help at a time when the whole international community had abandoned them.

Video: Friend Describes Henning Kidnapping

"The international community leaders were paying mere lip service while Alan and many other aid workers were actually feeding these people, sheltering them, giving them aid, taking nappies for the babies, ambulances and generators for the hospitals, sweets and toys for the children and so much more."

Mr Freeman recalled how on when the convoy stopped off en route in Venice, Mr Henning had chosen to sleep in his ambulance rather than in a hotel to save the money for people in Syria.

His friend and fellow convoy volunteer, Dr Shameela Islam-Fulfiqar, said: "Alan Henning did what most of us just think about. He sacrificed his time, his energy, his home comforts to help people who were suffering and he paid the ultimate price for this."

The audience also watched a video tribute in which several Syrian children who Mr Henning helped said how much they missed the aid volunteer, who they called "Uncle Gadget".

Video: PM Pledges 'All Assets' Against IS

Last Sunday, Mrs Henning and her family took part in a service of "reflection and solidarity" at Eccles Parish Church in Salford.

Mr Henning was beheaded by IS who posted a video showing his death on the internet last week.

He had previously been kidnapped by militants last December in Syria.

At the time, Mr Henning, from Eccles, was part of a convoy who were delivering food and supplies to refugees.

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Police Foil Bid To Steal Eric Morecambe Statue

A man has been arrested after police foiled an attempt to steal a statue of comedian Eric Morecambe.

Officers were called to Marine Road Central in Morecambe at around midday following reports the effigy had been damaged.

Lancashire Constabulary say they believe someone attempted to cut through one of the statue's legs.

Eric Morecambe (right) and Ernie Wise

The monument has now been removed by the council and the area has been fenced off.

Sgt John Bond said: "We are in the early stages of our investigation and I would urge anyone who may have seen what happened or has any information to get in touch with police."

A 32-year-old man from Morecambe has been arrested on suspicion of attempted theft and remains in custody.

The bronze figure was unveiled on the promenade by the Queen in July 1999 and was joined by Morecambe's widow, Joan, and his children, Gary, Gail and Steven.

It took sculptor Graham Ibbeson six years to complete and featured some of the comedian's famous sayings.

Born John Eric Bartholomew, he was born in Morecambe in 1926 and used his home town for his stage surname.

He died on 28 May, 1984 after collapsing on stage with a heart attack.

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British Troops Back In Iraq To Help Beat IS

The Ministry of Defence has said a "small specialist team" of UK soldiers are in Iraq and working near the front line of the fight between the Islamic State (IS) and Kurdish fighters.

Based near the Kurdish capital of Irbil in the north, they are training peshmerga forces in the use of heavy machine guns the UK supplied to them in September.

The Sunday Times reported that the soldiers were from the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, which is based in Cyprus.

An MoD spokeswoman said: "The Government has previously made clear its intention to provide training to the peshmerga as part of the continued effort to assist in the fight against Isil (IS).

UK troops are training Kurdish peshmerga forces in the use of UK arms

"The Defence Secretary has approved the deployment of a small specialist team of non-combat Army trainers which is now in the Irbil area providing instruction on operating, employing and maintaining the heavy machine guns that were gifted by the UK last month."

British troops invaded Iraq in March 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

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1. Gallery: The Moment RAF Jet Attacks IS Truck

   The RAF carried out its first airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq on 1 October, 2014 (All pictures: MoD)

2. Tornados destroyed a heavy weapon position, which was attacking Kurdish forces, and an armed pick-up truck (pictured). The red circle shows the path of the missile fired at the vehicle

3. The strikes were the first since MPs voted to support aerial raids in Iraq last Friday

4. The targets were in the northwest of Iraq

5. The moment the truck, which had a mounted machine gun, was destroyed by a Brimstone missile

6. A plume of smoke rose above the area

7. The strike was successful, according to an initial assessment, said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

8. The Tornados safely returned to their base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after the sortie

9. Six of the GR4 fighter jets are based on the island in the Mediterranean

10. The aircraft began their combat missions on Saturday

The last British combat troops from the war left in April 2009, with a small number staying on to train Iraqi forces until 2011.

RAF Tornado fighter jets have been involved in US-led bombing raids on IS fighters for the past two weeks.

But there is strong resistance among British politicians to any ground troop involvement in fighting against the Islamist group, which controls vast areas of Iraq and Syria.

Video: RAF Jets Attack Targets In Iraq

Video: Hammond on Joining I.S. Fight

Video: Airstrikes Target IS In Border Town

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