UK News

One thousand keen-eyed volunteers are required to count one of the UK's most elusive birds in more than a thousand woods across the UK. The 2013 national woodcock survey is being organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

The woodcock is a beautifully camouflaged bird, with a long slender bill, that can be identified by its very distinctive flight and call. Because of their secretive nature, there has long been uncertainty about the status of the breeding population of woodcock in this country. Until 1970, breeding...

Michael Callon, a 40 year old health care assistant from St Ives was today (Thursday 31st January) sentenced to three years imprisonment at Truro Crown Court for sexual offences committed against two vulnerable women.

Callon was employed by the Cornwall Foundation Trust and during the period June 2008 to April 2011 in his professional capacity he provided mental health support to two female clients, both resident in the Penzance area.

During his employment he took advantage of their vulnerabilities forming inappropriate sexual relationships for which he was charged and...

Police are trying to locate the whereabouts of Kharim Rhony, a 15-year-old boy missing from foster parents. He was last seen at his address in the Stoke area of Plymouth intending to go swimming at the Life Centre.

He is described as being of Arabic appearance with dark olive skin. He is 5ft2in tall, with a slight build and short, curly hair.

He was last seen wearing a blue hoody, blue jeans, white canvas shoes and gloves. He was also carrying a black backpack.

Anyone who has information about his whereabouts should ring police using the 101 non emergency line and...

Rail union RMT warned today that a looming shortage of skilled staff, driven by a failure to invest in training and apprenticeships and the dash to sub out key work to agencies and contractors, will threaten the timetables for future rail projects including the High Speed proposals unveiled this week.

The RMT warning is backed by research by the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering for the Office of Rail Regulation that was published just a few days ago.

For Signalling and Telecommunications, NSARE forecasts a need for between 1,600 and 2,000 new people in the...