Real World News

Millionaire tells escort murder trial he loved victim 9 December 2016 From the section South East Wales Media captionPeter Morgan paid escort Georgina Symonds up to £10,000 a monthA millionaire businessman has told a murder trial he loved his victim and she had been like a "best friend". Peter Morgan, from Monmouthshire, admits killing escort Georgina Symonds, 25, in January but has denied murder on grounds of diminished responsibility. The 54-year-old told Newport Crown Court on Friday he started seeing escorts during a "mid-life crisis". And he said he knew his relationship wi…

New high-speed Intercity train unveiled 9 December 2016 From the section Tees Image copyright Hitachi Image caption The train is the first of 110 high-speed Intercity expresses to be fitted out at Newton Aycliffe A new high-speed Intercity train developed at a County Durham factory has rolled off the production line. Hitachi Rail Europe's Newton Aycliffe plant opened in 2015 after the company won a £5.7bn contract to supply expres…

Media playback is unsupported on your device A school bus driver is jailed for dangerous driving 9 December 2016 Last updated at 15:42 GMT A school bus driver whose vehicle became stuck in floodwater near York with 23 pupils on board has been jailed for a year. Graham Jones, 53, was convicted of dangerous driving at York Crown Court. The bus had become stuck in floodwater between Newton-on-Ouse and Tollerton, near York, on 5 January. View the full article

Stacey Solomon in Milton Keynes panto clipboard backlash 9 December 2016 From the section Beds, Herts & Bucks Image copyright Max Tollworthy/SilverHub Image caption Oh yes she did: The singer and TV personality had to read her lines from a clipboard Angry theatre-goers have slammed former X Factor finalist Stacey Solomon for reading lines from a clipboard on the opening day of a pantomime. The singer appeared onstage clutching…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Training confessions of a Paralympian 9 December 2016 Last updated at 14:38 GMT Five-time Paralympic medallist Hannah Cockroft confesses her winter training is "so boring!" following the vibrant Paralympic Games in Rio earlier this year. The 24-year-old wheelchair racer also reveals the struggles of securing sponsorship deals compared to some Olympic athletes and her plans and fears of working with the UK's up and coming talent. Presented by Beth Rose. To contact us, email ouch@bbc.co.uk, tweet @bbcouch or look us up on Facebook. Please subscribe for free on iTunes, or…

The report's author Richard McLaren (centre) said doping took place on "an unprecedented scale"More than 1,000 Russians - including Olympic medallists - benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015, a report claims. At least 30 sports including football covered up samples, the report says. "It was a cover-up that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy," says the report's author, Richard McLaren. Lawyer McLaren said London 2012 was "corrupted on an unprecedented scale". The report also implicates medallists at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Soch…

Easingwold School bus flood rescue: Driver jailed 9 December 2016 From the section York & North Yorkshire Image copyright PA Image caption Graham Jones had denied dangerous driving A school bus driver whose vehicle became stranded in floodwater with 23 pupils on board has been jailed for a year. Graham Jones, 53, had driven past two road closed signs ahead of the incident between Newton-on-Ouse and Tollerton, near York, on 5 J…

Archie Darby dog attack: Mum praised for bravery 9 December 2016 From the section Essex Image copyright Family photo Image caption Archie Darby (left) died after a dog snatched him from his mother's arms A mother who tried to fight off a dog that mauled her four-month-old son to death and seriously injured his brother has been praised for her bravery. Archie Darby was snatched from Jade Rogers' arms as she tried to stop the Staffo…

Troubles killings: Police deny soldier 'witch hunt' By Vincent Kearney BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent 9 December 2016 From the section Northern Ireland Image copyright PACEMAKER The PSNI has rebutted claims retired British soldiers are victims of a "witch-hunt" by police investigating Troubles killings. A number of reports in recent days have claimed a new investigation has been launched into 302 killings by soldiers. The PSNI has told the BBC there is no new i…

MK Dons v AFC Wimbledon: A potted historyTwo teams that need no introduction to each other are AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons. The story of how the clubs intertwine is well documented but takes its roots from 2002, when second-tier side Wimbledon were without a permanent home and deep in financial uncertainty. A consortium led by Pete Winkelman decided to take the club from south London to Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire - after having the controversial move approved by an independent commission. Since then a lot of water has passed under the bridge and neither side can agree on everything that actually happened. But what is true is that the club set up by Wimbledon support…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Michelle Thomson MP: 'Why I talked about my childhood rape' 9 December 2016 Last updated at 11:53 GMT A Scottish MP who revealed in the House of Commons that she was raped at the age of 14, has explained why she decided to speak out. In her first UK-wide interview, Michelle Thomson told the BBC's Joanna Gosling she wanted to help others. View the full article

Media playback is unsupported on your device Dog thrown from car in Essex paralysed but wags tail 9 December 2016 Last updated at 09:31 GMT A dog which has been paralysed after being thrown from a moving car has received "lots of TLC", the RSPCA says. The tan-coloured pug, now called Crumble, was discovered at the side of the road in Writtle, Essex on Wednesday. The RSPCA says the dog has no feeling in her back legs and officers are unsure whether or not she will survive, but there has been some hope after she wagged her tail. For this and more stories, visit BBC Local Live: Essex RSPCA inspector Lucy Brennan said: "…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Conservatives win Sleaford by-election 9 December 2016 Last updated at 09:01 GMT Conservative candidate Caroline Johnson has won the Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election. The Tory party held onto the seat which became vacant after MP Stephen Phillips quit, citing "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government. Dr Johnson, a consultant paediatrician, won 17,570 votes to beat UKIP's Victoria Ayling, who had 4,426. Labour slipped from second place in the 2015 general election to fourth. View the full article

Media playback is unsupported on your device Rifkind: 'Boris certainly isn't dull' 9 December 2016 Last updated at 08:03 GMT Former Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, told the Today programme Boris Johnson's appointment was a "gamble" and that he might be "more comfortable in another senior cabinet role". He was speaking as Boris Johnson begins a tour of the Gulf states, starting in Bahrain and moving on to Saudi Arabia this weekend. View the full article