Real World News

Councils' social care cash to be 'brought forward' 14 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Image copyright Science Photo Library Councils are expected to be told they can raise extra funds for social care over the next two years - but they will then get no more in the third year. Campaigners have been calling for investment to tackle what they say is a funding crisis in services for the elderly and disabled. Now councils in England are expected to be allowed to bring forward investment using …

London's unused water cannon to be sold by Sadiq Khan 14 December 2016 From the section London Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police forces in other countries use water cannon The controversial water cannon which former mayor of London Boris Johnson ordered following the 2011 riots are to be sold. Boris Johnson bought the three crowd-control weapons for £90,000 in 2014. The following year then Home Secretary Theresa May re…

Met Police probe 'very significant' public figures 14 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright PA At least 20 high profile people are being investigated by the Metropolitan Police, Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has revealed. "Some of them are very significant public figures," he told the BBC. He argued that all suspects should retain their anonymity before being charged, and victims - particularly in sexual offences - should not automatically be believed by police. Sir Bernard s…

Footballer Nile Ranger charged with fraud and money laundering 14 December 2016 From the section Essex Image copyright Southend United FC Image caption Nile Ranger, who currently plays for Southend United, will appear in court in London later A footballer has been charged over an alleged scam involving a vulnerable person's bank details being taken so their savings could be accessed. Southend United striker Nile Ranger, 25, has be…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Autism-friendly Christmas grotto opens in York 14 December 2016 Last updated at 10:42 GMT An autism-friendly grotto has been set up in York to provide a relaxed environment to visit Father Christmas. The grotto includes a multi-sensory room and is booked in 30-minute slots, meaning no stressful queuing is involved. Kerrie Stephenson, whose son has the condition, said the layout allows children to "do what they want". View the full article

Rogue One's Felicity Jones says female action heroes are now 'the norm' 14 December 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts Media captionFelicity Jones says being part of the Star Wars saga is "very cool"Rogue One actress Felicity Jones has said the number of lead roles for women in action films is a "a wonderful moment for cinema". Jones, who plays Jyn Erso in the new Star Wars spin-off, said "it means a huge amount" to be the first woman to have top billing in a Star Wars movie. She said: "It's absolutely time that we had female leads and as many females leading films a…

Media playback is unsupported on your device 'Dog saliva almost killed me' 14 December 2016 Last updated at 10:25 GMT A former soldier has said he is going to keep his dogs despite almost dying from an infection caused by dog saliva. David has pet whippets, but he told 5 live's Sarah Brett he also comes into contact with other dogs through racing meetings. The former paratrooper was in a coma for six weeks and suffered leg injuries and multiple organ failures after catching the rare infection. View the full article

Coach Bennell remanded on sex charges 14 December 2016 From the section UK Former football coach Barry Bennell, accused of child sex offences, is remanded in custody This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. View …

UK unemployment falls again 14 December 2016 From the section Business UK unemployment fell by 16,000 to 1.62 million in the three months to October, according to the Office for National Statistics. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.8% in the same period. Average weekly earnings excluding bonuses rose by 2.6% in the year to October - slightly higher than the previous month. The UK has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the European Union. View the full article

Labour says it will end rough sleeping 14 December 2016 From the section UK Politics comments Image copyright PA Labour has pledged to end the "national shame" of rough sleeping by doubling the number of homes available for use by homeless people across England. A future Labour government would ring-fence 4,000 new flats and homes for rough sleepers in cities such as Bristol, Liverpool and Birmingham. The properties would be let at "genuinely affordable" rents, building on an existing scheme…

Atlantic wave biggest ever recorded 14 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The wave was captured not by man, but by a buoy The highest-ever wave of 19 metres (62.3ft) has been recorded in the North Atlantic. An automated buoy recorded the wave in the ocean between Iceland and the United Kingdom, the World Meteorological Organization said. It was created in the aftermath of a very strong …

Police drop Strictly's Gorka Marquez Blackpool attack probe 14 December 2016 From the section Lancashire Image copyright PA Image caption Gorka Marquez did not make a formal complaint to police about the incident A police probe into an alleged assault by a gang on a Strictly Come Dancing star has been dropped. Gorka Marquez reportedly needed dental surgery after two of his lower jaw front teeth were badly chipped when he was attac…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Rogue One: Felicity Jones on being Star Wars' first female lead 14 December 2016 Last updated at 09:15 GMT Felicity Jones, who plays Jyn Erso in the new Star Wars film Rogue One, has been speaking to the BBC's Colin Paterson about the role. View the full article

Nicola Payne: New witness 'confirms' where she was taken 14 December 2016 From the section Coventry & Warwickshire Image copyright Other Image caption Nicola Payne's family have released previously unseen photographs of her ahead of the 25th anniversary of her disappearance Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Payne in 1991 say they now know she was taken to a country park the day she went missing. The mother-of-on…

Google: Euro 2016, Pokemon and Bowie lead UK search queries 14 December 2016 From the section Technology Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Pokemon Go topped several of Google's lists of the year Google has revealed that "Euro 2016" was its UK search engine's top trending term of the year. The football championship was followed by the game Pokemon Go, the late singer David Bowie and US President-elect Donald Trump in its r…