bbcuk--2020-02-24--New questions over Farah's relationship with Salazar

Fresh questions over Mo Farah 's relationship with his banned former coach Alberto Salazar have been raised in a new BBC Panorama investigation .
Documents show Farah repeatedly denied to US Anti-Doping ( Usada ) investigators he had received injections of the controversial supplement L-carnitine before the 2014 London Marathon .
Farah later changed his account to Usada investigators , saying he had forgotten .
The documents also reveal how a UK Athletics official was dispatched to Switzerland to collect the legal supplement from a contact of Salazar 's .
Emails obtained by Panorama show how UKA officials had initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and within the `` spirit of the sport '' .
The Panorama programme 'Mo Farah and the Salazar Scandal ' will be screened on Monday , 24 February .
It also reveals new allegations about Salazar .
Salazar ran the Nike Oregon Project - home to British four-time Olympic champion Farah from 2011 until 2017 .
In 2015 a Panorama investigation , in collaboration with US website ProPublica , first revealed allegations of doping by Salazar , the coach widely credited with helping turn Farah into Britain 's greatest athlete .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Salazar being given a four-year ban from the sport by a panel of US arbitrators in October 2019 .
Salazar rejects the findings and is appealing against the ban .
In a statement he said : `` The panel made clear that I had acted in 'good faith ' and without 'any bad intention to commit the violations ' .
Two of Salazar 's violations relate to using a banned method to administer an infusion of L-carnitine , a legal supplement .
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid , which , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some research suggests could help speed metabolism and boost athletic performance .
Infusions or injections were permitted within World Anti-Doping Agency ( Wada ) rules provided the volume was below 50ml every six hours .
In 2014 , Farah finished eighth in his first London Marathon .
Three years later , when the Sunday Times reported that he had received an infusion of L-carnitine , the Digital , Culture , Media and Sport select committee inquiry 'Combatting Doping in Sport ' called Farah 's team before it to explain .
Dr Robin Chakraverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said `` an injection '' of L-carnitine had been a joint decision between him and UKA 's head of distance running Barry Fudge , taken after research , considering the risks and possible side-effects .
The committee was assured the volume was 13.5ml , well within the allowable limit , though Dr Charaverty failed to record it .
There is no evidence any rules were broken .
Panorama 's evidence sheds new light on the situation and raises questions about Salazar 's influence .
Emails between UKA officials in the days leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about giving the injection .
On 6 April 2014 , Fudge wrote : `` Whilst this process is completely within the Wada code there is a philosophical argument about whether this is within the 'spirit of the sport… ' . ''
He added : `` Although Alberto and Mo have expectations about doing this , we are not at a point where we… ca n't pull out . ''
He wrote `` … should we really be trialling this process so close to the London Marathon ?
... That 's before we even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Dr Chakraverty seemed concerned about possible `` side-effects . ''
He wrote `` … it would have been better to have trialled it in someone first . ''
`` I understand [ Salazar ] is keen but… we should be asking him to follow this advice . ''
A decision was taken to go ahead .
But there was a problem : the concentrated form of the L-carnitine supplement they wanted could not be sourced in the UK .
That is where Salazar comes in .
Salazar introduced Fudge to a contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to order batch-tested L-carnitine in the form needed .
And so Fudge jumped on a plane to Switzerland , met Salazar 's contact and collected a package of injectable L-carnitine and brought it back to London .
There was not time to trial it on anyone to make sure it had no side-effects .
Just two days before the race , on 11 April , in Farah 's room within The Tower - the official London Marathon hotel - the L-carnitine was injected into the arm of Farah by Dr Chakraverty .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to `` an injection '' .
In fact Four injections were given to Farah , spaced over two hours through a butterfly needle , with Salazar , Fudge and Black looking on .
Panorama understands other elite British athletes racing that day were not offered the same treatment .
Toni Minichiello , who coached Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis Hill and sits on the UKA members ' council , told Panorama : `` That 's pretty damning .
I 'm shocked .
Barry Fudge in that instance has to explain… what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` And you 're an employee of UK Athletics , so UK Athletics , why would you allow one of your staff to do that ? ''
Damian Collins MP , then chair of the DCMS select committee , said there has been no mention of this level of concern , or trips to Switzerland , when Dr Chakraverty and Fudge appeared before his committee .
`` I do n't think we did get the full picture because what , I think , comes out of those emails is that this was n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Asked if Salazar had been directing all of this , Travis Tygart of Usada told Panorama : `` [ UKA ] were absolutely in concert [ with Salazar ] , there 's no doubt about that .
`` I think it 's the lengths that people who want to win and are incentivised to win will go , if they have the money and the resources to do it . ''
When athletes are drug-tested , they are required to list all medications and supplements they have taken within the past seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the injection - 17 April 2014 .
Despite listing a number of other products and medicines , he failed to record L-carnitine on his doping control form .
A year later , as part of their probe into Salazar , investigators with Usada flew to London to interview UKA officials - and Farah .
Farah was questioned by Usada officials for nearly five hours - and Panorama has obtained a transcript of that interview .
Asked specifically and multiple times whether he had an L-carnitine injection before the London Marathon , Farah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` If someone said that you were taking L-carnitine injections , are they not telling the truth ? ''
Farah said : `` Definitely not telling the truth , 100 % .
I 've never taken L-carnitine injections at all . ''
He is then asked : `` Are you sure that Alberto Salazar has n't recommended that you take L-carnitine injections ? ''
Farah responds : `` No , I 've never taken L-carnitine injections . ''
He is asked again : `` You 're absolutely sure that you did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into your arm… and inject L-carnitine a few days before the London marathon ? ''
Farah says : `` No .
No chance . ''
We have learned that minutes after the interview , Farah then met Fudge , who had been interviewed by Usada the day before .
Farah then rushed back in as the investigators were packing up .
He changed his account .
Farah tells Usada : `` So I just wanted to come clear , sorry guys , and I did take it at the time and I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` So you received L-carnitine… before the London marathon ? ''
He adds : `` There was a lot of talk before… and Alberto 's always thinking about 'What 's the best thing ? '
'What 's the best thing ? '
'' The Usada investigator says `` … a few days before the race… with… Alberto present and your doctor and Barry Fudge and you 're telling us all about that now but you did n't remember any of that when I… kept asking you about this ? ''
Farah responds : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but at the time I did n't remember . ''
Mo Farah declined to be interviewed by Panorama .
In a letter , Farah 's lawyers said : `` It is not against [ Wada rules ] rules to take [ L-carnitine ] as a supplement within the right quantities .
`` The fact some people might hold views as to whether this is within the 'spirit ' of the sport is irrelevant .
`` Mr Farah… is one of the most tested athletes in the UK , if not the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in numerous doping forms .
He is a human being and not robot .
`` Interviews are not memory tests .
Mr Farah understood the question one way and as soon as he left the room he asked Mr Fudge and immediately returned… to clarify and it is plain the investigators were comfortable with this explanation . ''
The documents also reveal that Fudge did not initially disclose his trip to Switzerland to obtain the L carnitine .
When asked by Usada investigators how he obtained the L-carnitine , he said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , so we provided it . ''
He was then asked if he got it from Pete Julian , a coach at the Oregon Project .
He answered : `` No , it was a prescription-based product . ''
However , he returned to the interview room the next day , having been asked by Usada to provide relevant emails .
Fudge told them : `` I do n't think I told you guys enough… I do n't think I told you anything that was n't correct , I just feel I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more . ''
Fudge then told Usada that batch-tested L-carnitine had n't been available in the UK , and that he had travelled to Switzerland to collect the product from Salazar 's contact .
'This should be looked at in some seriousness' Collins added : `` This very specific medicine was required , sourced at great difficulty , given against the initial advice of the doctor .
But yet , no-one keeps any records of it and everyone decides to keep quiet about it .
`` I think this is something that should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' In a statement Dr Chakraverty said : `` I have not contravened any [ world anti-doping ] rules , and have always acted in the best interests of those I treat .
`` The evidence I provided to [ MPs ] was an honest account - including an acknowledgement that my usual standard of record keeping slipped due to heavy work commitments and travel .
`` The GMC reviewed this and concluded that the case required no further action . ''
In a statement , UKA said : `` A small number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to our knowledge , all doses and methods of administration have been fully in accordance with Wada protocol .
`` The dosage provided to Mo Farah was well within the 50ml limit permitted .
`` Full and honest accounts of the process were given in all forums .
Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading . ''
Salazar said : `` No Oregon Project athlete used a medication against the spirit of the sport .
Any medication taken was done so on the advice and under the supervision of registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK Athletics carried out a review into Panorama 's allegations .
Despite former UKA chairman Ed Warner telling the BBC this week he strongly advised Farah to split from Salazar , the review found `` no reason to be concerned '' about Salazar continuing to coach Farah .
A fresh UKA review is under way to establish whether any mistakes were made in its handling of the Salazar episode .
Collins added : `` I think it leaves UK Athletics in a very difficult position .
And this seems , to me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of total control over the preparation and training of some of our most celebrated athletes with not very much oversight from people at UK Athletics as to what they were doing and whether they were acting in the best interests of either the sport or that individual athlete and that 's a failing on their part . ''

Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Salazar (centre) alongside Farah (right) and American training partner Galen Rupp at the London 2012 Olympics
Fresh questions over Mo Farah's relationship with his banned former coach Alberto Salazar have been raised in a new BBC Panorama investigation.
Documents show Farah repeatedly denied to US Anti-Doping (Usada) investigators he had received injections of the controversial supplement L-carnitine before the 2014 London Marathon.
Farah later changed his account to Usada investigators, saying he had forgotten.
The documents also reveal how a UK Athletics official was dispatched to Switzerland to collect the legal supplement from a contact of Salazar's.
Emails obtained by Panorama show how UKA officials had initially expressed concern about whether the injection was safe and within the "spirit of the sport".
The Panorama programme Mo Farah and the Salazar Scandal will be screened on Monday, 24 February. It also reveals new allegations about Salazar.
The background
Salazar ran the Nike Oregon Project - home to British four-time Olympic champion Farah from 2011 until 2017.
In 2015 a Panorama investigation, in collaboration with US website ProPublica, first revealed allegations of doping by Salazar, the coach widely credited with helping turn Farah into Britain's greatest athlete. The programme sparked a Usada investigation, resulting in Salazar being given a four-year ban from the sport by a panel of US arbitrators in October 2019.
Salazar rejects the findings and is appealing against the ban.
In a statement he said: "The panel made clear that I had acted in 'good faith' and without 'any bad intention to commit the violations'."
Two of Salazar's violations relate to using a banned method to administer an infusion of L-carnitine, a legal supplement.
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid, which, if injected straight into the bloodstream, some research suggests could help speed metabolism and boost athletic performance.
Infusions or injections were permitted within World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) rules provided the volume was below 50ml every six hours.
In 2014, Farah finished eighth in his first London Marathon. Three years later, when the Sunday Times reported that he had received an infusion of L-carnitine, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee inquiry Combatting Doping in Sport called Farah's team before it to explain.
Dr Robin Chakraverty, then UKA's chief medical officer, said "an injection" of L-carnitine had been a joint decision between him and UKA's head of distance running Barry Fudge, taken after research, considering the risks and possible side-effects.
The committee was assured the volume was 13.5ml, well within the allowable limit, though Dr Charaverty failed to record it. There is no evidence any rules were broken.
Farah finished eighth at the London Marathon in 2014
The new evidence
Panorama's evidence sheds new light on the situation and raises questions about Salazar's influence.
Emails between UKA officials in the days leading up to the marathon reveal their concerns about giving the injection.
On 6 April 2014, Fudge wrote: "Whilst this process is completely within the Wada code there is a philosophical argument about whether this is within the 'spirit of the sport…'."
He added: "Although Alberto and Mo have expectations about doing this, we are not at a point where we… can't pull out."
Former UKA performance director Neil Black admits "a degree of discomfort".
He wrote "… should we really be trialling this process so close to the London Marathon? ... That's before we even think about the spirit of sport."
Dr Chakraverty seemed concerned about possible "side-effects."
He wrote "… it would have been better to have trialled it in someone first."
"I understand [Salazar] is keen but… we should be asking him to follow this advice."
A decision was taken to go ahead. But there was a problem: the concentrated form of the L-carnitine supplement they wanted could not be sourced in the UK. That is where Salazar comes in.
Salazar introduced Fudge to a contact of his in Switzerland who was able to order batch-tested L-carnitine in the form needed.
And so Fudge jumped on a plane to Switzerland, met Salazar's contact and collected a package of injectable L-carnitine and brought it back to London.
There was not time to trial it on anyone to make sure it had no side-effects. Just two days before the race, on 11 April, in Farah's room within The Tower - the official London Marathon hotel - the L-carnitine was injected into the arm of Farah by Dr Chakraverty.
At the DCMS select committee, Dr Chakraverty referred to "an injection". In fact four injections were given to Farah, spaced over two hours through a butterfly needle, with Salazar, Fudge and Black looking on.
Panorama understands other elite British athletes racing that day were not offered the same treatment.
Toni Minichiello, who coached Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis Hill and sits on the UKA members' council, told Panorama: "That's pretty damning. I'm shocked. Barry Fudge in that instance has to explain… what was your logic for doing that?
"And you're an employee of UK Athletics, so UK Athletics, why would you allow one of your staff to do that?"
'Not the full picture'
Damian Collins MP, then chair of the DCMS select committee, said there has been no mention of this level of concern, or trips to Switzerland, when Dr Chakraverty and Fudge appeared before his committee.
"I don't think we did get the full picture because what, I think, comes out of those emails is that this wasn't a routine thing," Collins said.
Asked if Salazar had been directing all of this, Travis Tygart of Usada told Panorama: "[UKA] were absolutely in concert [with Salazar], there's no doubt about that.
"I think it's the lengths that people who want to win and are incentivised to win will go, if they have the money and the resources to do it."
Denials
When athletes are drug-tested, they are required to list all medications and supplements they have taken within the past seven days. Farah was tested six days after the injection - 17 April 2014. Despite listing a number of other products and medicines, he failed to record L-carnitine on his doping control form.
A year later, as part of their probe into Salazar, investigators with Usada flew to London to interview UKA officials - and Farah.
Farah was questioned by Usada officials for nearly five hours - and Panorama has obtained a transcript of that interview.
Asked specifically and multiple times whether he had an L-carnitine injection before the London Marathon, Farah repeatedly denied it.
He was asked: "If someone said that you were taking L-carnitine injections, are they not telling the truth?"
Farah said: "Definitely not telling the truth, 100%. I've never taken L-carnitine injections at all."
He is then asked: "Are you sure that Alberto Salazar hasn't recommended that you take L-carnitine injections?"
Farah responds: "No, I've never taken L-carnitine injections."
He is asked again: "You're absolutely sure that you didn't have a doctor put a butterfly needle… into your arm… and inject L-carnitine a few days before the London marathon?"
Farah says: "No. No chance."
We have learned that minutes after the interview, Farah then met Fudge, who had been interviewed by Usada the day before.
Farah then rushed back in as the investigators were packing up. He changed his account.
Farah tells Usada: "So I just wanted to come clear, sorry guys, and I did take it at the time and I thought I didn't…"
He is asked: "So you received L-carnitine… before the London marathon?"
Farah answers: "Yeah."
He adds: "There was a lot of talk before… and Alberto's always thinking about 'What's the best thing?' 'What's the best thing?'"
The Usada investigator says "… a few days before the race… with… Alberto present and your doctor and Barry Fudge and you're telling us all about that now but you didn't remember any of that when I… kept asking you about this?"
Farah responds: "It all comes back for me, but at the time I didn't remember."
Mo Farah declined to be interviewed by Panorama.
In a letter, Farah's lawyers said: "It is not against [Wada rules] rules to take [L-carnitine] as a supplement within the right quantities.
"The fact some people might hold views as to whether this is within the 'spirit' of the sport is irrelevant.
"Mr Farah… is one of the most tested athletes in the UK, if not the world, and has been required to fill in numerous doping forms. He is a human being and not robot.
"Interviews are not memory tests. Mr Farah understood the question one way and as soon as he left the room he asked Mr Fudge and immediately returned… to clarify and it is plain the investigators were comfortable with this explanation."
The documents also reveal that Fudge did not initially disclose his trip to Switzerland to obtain the L carnitine.
When asked by Usada investigators how he obtained the L-carnitine, he said: "It is a prescription-based product in the UK, so we provided it."
He was then asked if he got it from Pete Julian, a coach at the Oregon Project. He answered: "No, it was a prescription-based product."
However, he returned to the interview room the next day, having been asked by Usada to provide relevant emails. Fudge told them: "I don't think I told you guys enough… I don't think I told you anything that wasn't correct, I just feel I probably should expand on it a bit more."
Fudge then told Usada that batch-tested L-carnitine hadn't been available in the UK, and that he had travelled to Switzerland to collect the product from Salazar's contact.
'This should be looked at in some seriousness'
Collins added: "This very specific medicine was required, sourced at great difficulty, given against the initial advice of the doctor. But yet, no-one keeps any records of it and everyone decides to keep quiet about it.
"I think this is something that should be looked at in some seriousness."
In a statement Dr Chakraverty said: "I have not contravened any [world anti-doping] rules, and have always acted in the best interests of those I treat.
"The evidence I provided to [MPs] was an honest account - including an acknowledgement that my usual standard of record keeping slipped due to heavy work commitments and travel.
"The GMC reviewed this and concluded that the case required no further action."
In a statement, UKA said: "A small number of British athletes have used L-carnitine and, to our knowledge, all doses and methods of administration have been fully in accordance with Wada protocol.
"The dosage provided to Mo Farah was well within the 50ml limit permitted.
"Full and honest accounts of the process were given in all forums. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading."
Salazar said: "No Oregon Project athlete used a medication against the spirit of the sport. Any medication taken was done so on the advice and under the supervision of registered medical professionals."
In 2015, UK Athletics carried out a review into Panorama's allegations. Despite former UKA chairman Ed Warner telling the BBC this week he strongly advised Farah to split from Salazar, the review found "no reason to be concerned" about Salazar continuing to coach Farah.
A fresh UKA review is under way to establish whether any mistakes were made in its handling of the Salazar episode.
Collins added: "I think it leaves UK Athletics in a very difficult position. And this seems, to me, that UK Athletics effectively… gave Alberto Salazar… sort of total control over the preparation and training of some of our most celebrated athletes with not very much oversight from people at UK Athletics as to what they were doing and whether they were acting in the best interests of either the sport or that individual athlete and that's a failing on their part."


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Love Island: Tributes paid to Caroline Flack as winners are crowned

Love Island paid tribute to Caroline Flack as its first winter series drew to a close on Sunday night .
The former host of the show was found dead in her London flat last weekend .
`` The past week has been extremely difficult , coming to terms with the loss of our friend and colleague , Caroline , '' presenter Laura Whitmore told viewers of the ITV2 programme .
`` Caroline loved Love Island .
She loved love , and that 's why tonight 's final is dedicated to her . ''
She added : `` We 're thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her at this time . ''
The programme then showed a montage of some of Flack 's memorable moments from the series in recent years .
The islanders were told about Flack 's death off-camera on Saturday , an ITV spokesman confirmed .
Finley Tapp and Paige Turley were crowned the winners of the series as the finale drew to a close .
Two episodes of this series were pulled from the schedules last weekend after Flack was found dead .
The show returned the following Monday with a tribute to Flack from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This has been the first series of the show to take place in winter and be filmed in South Africa .
Previous seasons have been filmed on the Spanish island of Mallorca over the summer .
Overall , the winter series has been a ratings hit for ITV2 , albeit not as successful as previous summer series .
This series has been attracting around three million viewers per episode , including via catch-up services , compared with the 4.5 million the last summer series generally attracted .
Laura Whitmore is the show 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Flack was charged with assaulting her boyfriend .
Tapp and Turley were crowned the winners of this series on Sunday night , winning the £50,000 prize , which they chose to share between them .
In a twist that occurs in every series , Turley was given the chance to `` steal '' the full prize money before she decided to split it evenly .
`` It 's been such an amazing experience , '' Turley said earlier in the episode .
`` It 's been filled with challenges , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first attracted him to Turley , Tapp said : `` I loved how outgoing she was .
I was n't wrong in picking her because I thought she 'd make me laugh and smile all day long .
She 's made me very happy . ''
Earlier this series , they became the first pair to become an official couple in the villa .
Turley attracted headlines when the series launched in January because she is the ex-girlfriend of singer Lewis Capaldi .
The Scottish star referred to her while accepting the Brit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for his song Someone You Loved .
`` A lot of people think this song is about my ex-girlfriend , who you can now see every night on Love Island , '' he said .
`` But it 's actually about my grandmother , who sadly passed away a few years ago .
I hope ITV do n't contact her to be a on a reality dating show . ''
During the finale , Whitmore confirmed the show would return to Mallorca for a new series this summer .
Follow us on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

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bbcuk--2020-02-23--Flooding: Call for UK cash to fund flood relief in Wales

Welsh Labour MPs and assembly members have called on the new chancellor to deliver flood relief cash to some of the worst affected parts of Wales .
In a letter to Rishi Sunak , they ask for a one-off grant of £30m to pay for repair and restoration work across Rhondda Cynon Taff .
They also want council tax and business rates suspended for a year in affected properties .
They accepted some matters are devolved - but want action at a UK level .
`` Our belief in the Union leads us to conclude that when any part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the whole of the UK should help out , regardless of the normal funding rules , '' they have written in the letter to the Treasury .
`` We therefore urge you as a matter of urgency to provide specific one-off funding for RCT ( Rhondda Cynon Taff ) . ''
The letter has been signed by the MPs Chris Elmore ( Ogmore ) , Chris Bryant ( Rhondda ) , Beth Winter ( Cynon Valley ) , and Alex Davies-Jones ( Pontypridd ) .
The AMs Mick Antoniw ( Pontypridd ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Huw Irranca-Davies ( Ogmore ) , have added their names to the request .
The leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf ( RCT ) council , Andrew Morgan , has also signed the letter .
• Why Wales is prone to landslides • Can more be done to combat flooding ?
Writing to Mr Sunak , who replaced Sajid Javid at No 11 Downing Street earlier this month , they argued that damage to roads , bridges and council property will cost the local authority up to £30m .
They added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total annual general capital funding allocation of £13.4m .
The damage to private properties across the county is likely to run to nearly £150m pounds . ''
`` We are a resilient community , many hundreds of people have mucked in and helped out .
We are generous too .
Charitable donations have nearly reached £200,000 .
`` But , however generous we are individually , we do not have deep pockets . ''
In addition to calls for additional cash , the Labour politicians have also asked for some rules on benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be manifestly unfair for families to receive £500 from RCT council or from a Crowd Fund Me page , only to have that money clawed back , '' they said .
Finally , they have called on the UK government to fund an urgent review across all south Wales coalfield communities , to address concerns over landslides following weeks of rain .
Coaltips remain the responsibility of the Coal Authority , local councils and Natural Resources Wales .
Speaking to BBC Wales , the Rhondda MP Chris Bryant added : `` Wales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and RCT in particular has been hardest hit .
`` Without extra help , RCT could be wiped out financially as we rebuild bridges , roads and flood defences . ''
A Welsh Government spokesperson said it had been `` working around the clock with partner agencies to keep people safe and informed '' since the storms and resulting floods .
`` We have made available £10m to deal with the immediate impact of the storms , '' they added .
`` This funding is being made available for the initial response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cost of the damage continues .
This will determine what further financial support is needed and , depending on the scale of those costs , we would look to the UK government to provide resources . ''
They said the First Minister Mark Drakeford would be meeting the Welsh Secretary Simon Hart next week to discuss the safety of coal tips and the communities in their shadows .
A UK government official said it had been communicating with emergency services , councils and the Welsh Government over flooding .
They added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to flooding in Wales are devolved , we will continue to engage with and support the Welsh Government on flood relief and coal tip safety . ''

"This funding is being made available for the initial response, while work to assess the overall impact and cost of the damage continues. This will determine what further financial support is needed and, depending on the scale of those costs, we would look to the UK government to provide resources."


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Housing shortage: Scale of UK's housing gap revealed

Hoping to buy a home ?
You 'll have to get across the UK 's huge housing gap .
Researchers have used the averages of recent studies to estimate the possible scale of the current shortage , which will grow as the UK population increases in size .
This gap - the difference between the current housing stock and the number needed for everyone to have a decent home to live in - is more than one million homes , according to the BBC Housing Briefing .
A lot of the pressure from the gap falls on people renting privately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a third of her pay on rent for her shared flat in Brixton , south London .
She dreams of the keys to a home of her own but that is a distant prospect .
Instead , she has had to contend with what she said were `` callous '' landlords and escalating costs .
She has also experienced multiple no-fault evictions , where private landlords evict tenants at short notice without a good reason .
Zoe says : `` I ca n't do things like buy a car , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't move out .
I have to still be in a flatshare .
`` I also keep getting evicted through no fault of my own , and each time that costs me over a thousand pounds .
So every time I save money , which I could put towards a deposit , it 's gone . ''
The government has said it intends to ban no-fault evictions in England .
• Where can I afford to live ?
• Will house prices rise or fall this year ?
In a poll of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Housing Commission , 13 % of adults said their mental health was affected by their housing situation .
Looking just at those in unaffordable housing - costing more than a third of income - produced a greater level of concern .
Twenty-five percent of the sample said their mental health had suffered .
That 's potentially millions of people .
Despite having a good job with a charity , Zoe feels her quality of life has hardly improved since her early 20s .
She adds : `` It makes me feel really anxious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It made it really difficult to look for work because I had so much of my mental time worrying about where I was going to live .
`` You ca n't really present yourself best for an interview if you 're sleeping on a friend 's sofa and you 're really worried you 're going to be homeless . ''
Behind the stress is a shortage of places to live .
The BBC 's Housing Briefing estimates that we have built 1.2 million fewer homes than we should have , and the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculations suggest it will take at least 15 years at current building rates to close the gap , and that not enough of what is being built is affordable . '
I very rarely spend anything on myself' Hannah Clark from Oxfordshire , now aged 32 , has been saving since she was 14 in the hope of being able to put down a deposit on something affordable .
After her father had a stroke , she realised , as a teenager , there would be no help from the bank of mum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even now spend anything on myself , '' she says .
`` There 's a sense of guilt , because I have to save for a roof over my head .
I have to have security for my future . ''
In contrast to Zoe , Hannah has been living rent free with family members , currently her sister , while she puts money aside .
It sounds an easier route , but Hannah says her mental health has been affected .
`` If you 're living under someone else 's roof you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ca n't have a relationship really with anyone .
You ca n't invite them back , '' she explains .
`` It 's quite lonely , there 's lots of pressure . ''
The Affordable Housing Commission found that more than half of 18 to 24-year-olds live with family , and 18 % are still doing so as 25 to 34-year-olds .
At the same time , government statistics show that the number of young adults living with parents is on the rise .
Hannah has managed to build up a nest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deposit on a small studio flat .
She has been working for a publishing company and running a small business on the side selling illustrations .
But she says the challenge of getting her own home has been a constant stress .
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Housing , Communities and Local Government said : `` '' Since 2010 this government has delivered over 464,000 new affordable homes , including 114,000 social homes .
In addition to this , the social housing waiting list has decreased by 40 % since 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes than any year in the last 30 years and have committed to delivering a million more in this parliament .
`` We have also abolished the council borrowing cap so local authorities are able to continue to build more social homes , giving families the chance to find somewhere that is safe and secure . ''
For more facts about the UK 's housing system download the new BBC Briefing on housing .

She adds: "It makes me feel really anxious - it made me very depressed. It made it really difficult to look for work because I had so much of my mental time worrying about where I was going to live.


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Diane Abbott to stand down from shadow cabinet under new Labour leadership

Diane Abbott has said she will quit the front bench of Labour when a new leader is elected .
Ms @ @ @ @ @ secretary , told Sky News that whoever becomes leader , `` they have to be @ @ @ @ @ shadow cabinet '' .
Earlier Jeremy Corbyn had said he would consider a senior post @ @ @ @ @ Ms Abbott said she would be backing Rebecca Long-Bailey as her choice for Labour 's @ @ @ @ @ are in the running for leader : Ms Long-Bailey , Lisa Nandy and Sir Keir @ @ @ @ @ Monday , with the new leader announced on 4 April .
Ms Abbott , MP @ @ @ @ @ Newington , said she would be returning to the backbenches `` where there 's an @ @ @ @ @ .
Ms Abbott was the first black female to be elected to Parliament in 1987 @ @ @ @ @ October 2019 by becoming the first black MP at the dispatch box at Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ of Mr Corbyn .

Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said she would be returning to the backbenches "where there's an awful lot to do".


bbcuk--2020-02-23--River Clyde search after missing woman's belongings found

A search of the River Clyde is being carried out after the belongings of a missing 22-year-old woman were found @ @ @ @ @ Jordanhill in Glasgow , was last seen at about 02:00 on Saturday when she left @ @ @ @ @ shows that she was last seen near the Tradeston Bridge and some of her personal @ @ @ @ @ .
Specialist search teams , including the marine unit , have been called in .
@ @ @ @ @ being white , about 5ft 3in tall and of slim build .
She wears glasses @ @ @ @ @ .
When last seen she was wearing a red jacket , a black and white @ @ @ @ @ red shoes .
Insp Gavin Smith said : `` I would ask anyone who has @ @ @ @ @ Centre or the Tradeston area to contact officers . ''

CCTV shows that she was last seen near the Tradeston Bridge and some of her personal belongings have been found nearby.


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Six Nations 2020: England end Ireland's Grand Slam hopes and reignite title hopes

England ended Ireland 's Grand Slam hopes in brutal fashion as they rediscovered some of their World Cup form to reignite their own hopes of landing the Six Nations title .
First-half tries from George Ford and Elliot Daly after Irish defensive errors plus two conversions and a penalty from Owen Farrell gave England a commanding 17-0 lead .
Ireland struck back with a try from Robbie Henshaw but with Johnny Sexton uncharacteristically wayward off the tee , they never seriously threatened a comeback .
Luke Cowan-Dickie drove over for England 's third midway through the second half , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of consolation for Ireland .
With Wales at home in a fortnight before a trip to Italy , Eddie Jones ' men will believe they can finish the championship in style , although they may need Ireland to do them a favour and beat France in Paris next month .
For the men in green and their head coach Andy Farrell it was a chastening afternoon , all the optimism created by the wins over Scotland and Wales leaching away in a display that was ponderous until the game was gone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ - Jones • I need to look at myself - Ireland coach Farrell • England blitz Ireland - the match as it happened England began at a real lick , Manu Tuilagi punching holes through the middle and going close down the left before Andrew Conway hauled him down .
And the reward came when Ben Youngs stuck a grubber kick through , Sexton dithered and juggled in his own in-goal area and Ford seized on the loose ball to touch down .
Sexton then mis-kicked horribly with a straightforward penalty from 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again in the Ireland half .
Jonathan Joseph danced through in midfield after a mis-hit clearing kick from Conor Murray as Maro Itoje and CJ Stander scrapped in the 22 , and England 's forwards hammered away at the Ireland line .
With a penalty coming , the men in white shaped to go wide , only for Ford to pop through another kick - and this time it was Jacob Stockdale who dallied , Daly diving onto the ball as Irish hands went to heads .
The scoreboard reflected the gulf between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball in hand and ferocious in defence , Ireland laboured and error-ridden .
And Sexton 's miserable half was compounded when he was penalised for slowing the ball up , Farrell stroking over his kick to give England their biggest half-time lead over Ireland in 18 years .
Ireland simply had to improve - and belatedly they did .
An England knock-on from the restart gave away possession and the visitors finally chiselled out some territory too .
England managed to stop an Ireland driving maul from a line-out close in but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty in front of the posts , opted for the scrum and eventually found space in the right-hand corner for Henshaw to burrow through two defenders and over the line .
But Sexton shanked the conversion just as he had the first-half penalty and the pressure ebbed away as Jones threw on Cowan-Dickie , Ellis Genge and Charlie Ewels .
England 's scrum , strong throughout , began to dominate and the penalties started to mount .
Farrell kicked to the corner , the forwards set up the maul from the line-out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jonny May driving him on to roll over for England 's third try .
May was nearly clear on his own after seizing a loose ball from a messy Ireland ruck and appeared to be taken out by Henshaw after kicking the ball ahead , only for referee Jaco Peyper to wave play on .
And as the game stumbled towards the line , Porter rumbled over from a metre out for a try that made little difference to Ireland 's afternoon .
What the coaches said England head coach Eddie Jones : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were always looking at this game and the next as the ones we had to be at our best .
`` We were disappointed with the second half , but when you are playing against a side like Ireland you expect them to get some possession .
We had to defend pretty well .
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell : `` I think the scoreline flattered us a little bit .
We did n't start to play how we wanted to until the game was over .
England were excellent , every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they certainly won that battle .
We did n't fire a shot in that first half .
`` England were fighting to stay in the championship and that 's what we need to be in the next two games - I need to look at myself regarding the performance of the first half . ''
What did the pundits think ?
Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson : `` It 's a fantastic win for England , they were dominant throughout the whole game .
The tactics in the first half were spot on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they did n't continue that after half-time and put the game away .
`` They were happy to let Ireland have the ball and defend .
They were really comfortable . ''
Former England hooker Brian Moore : `` Ireland 's half-backs Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray have been world class for a long time but I do n't think I 've ever seen them play as badly , and certainly kick as badly .
That created a platform for England who were sharp and really could have scored more tries .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they won the majority of the collisions and got on top in the set-piece . ''
Former Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip : `` If you keep showing the same picture against a side like England , they 'll punish you .
Make basic mistakes in the back-field , you will get punished .
If you want to win a championship , you ca n't make those mistakes . ''
Replacements : Slade for Tuilagi ( 74 ) , Heinz for Youngs ( 58 ) , Genge for Marler ( 58 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Stuart for Sinckler ( 69 ) , Launchbury for Kruis ( 60 ) , Ewels for Lawes ( 58 ) , Earl for Curry ( 66 ) .
Replacements : Earls for Larmour ( 64 ) , R. Byrne for Conway ( 66 ) , Cooney for Murray ( 55 ) , Kilcoyne for Healy ( 26 ) , Kelleher for Herring ( 60 ) , Porter for Furlong ( 58 ) , Dillane for Toner ( 60 ) , Doris for van der Flier ( 60 ) .

Six Nations: England v Ireland England: (17) 24 Tries: Ford, Daly, Cowan-Dickie Pens: Farrell Cons: Farrell 3 Ireland: (0) 12 Tries: Henshaw, Porter Cons: Cooney
England ended Ireland's Grand Slam hopes in brutal fashion as they rediscovered some of their World Cup form to reignite their own hopes of landing the Six Nations title.
First-half tries from George Ford and Elliot Daly after Irish defensive errors plus two conversions and a penalty from Owen Farrell gave England a commanding 17-0 lead.
Ireland struck back with a try from Robbie Henshaw but with Johnny Sexton uncharacteristically wayward off the tee, they never seriously threatened a comeback.
Luke Cowan-Dickie drove over for England's third midway through the second half, with replacement Andrew Porter's late try no sort of consolation for Ireland.
With Wales at home in a fortnight before a trip to Italy, Eddie Jones' men will believe they can finish the championship in style, although they may need Ireland to do them a favour and beat France in Paris next month.
For the men in green and their head coach Andy Farrell it was a chastening afternoon, all the optimism created by the wins over Scotland and Wales leaching away in a display that was ponderous until the game was gone.
England capitalise on Ireland errors
England began at a real lick, Manu Tuilagi punching holes through the middle and going close down the left before Andrew Conway hauled him down.
And the reward came when Ben Youngs stuck a grubber kick through, Sexton dithered and juggled in his own in-goal area and Ford seized on the loose ball to touch down.
Sexton then mis-kicked horribly with a straightforward penalty from 30 metres out and England set up camp again in the Ireland half.
CJ Stander lost his shirt in a first-half tussle with Maro Itoje
Jonathan Joseph danced through in midfield after a mis-hit clearing kick from Conor Murray as Maro Itoje and CJ Stander scrapped in the 22, and England's forwards hammered away at the Ireland line.
With a penalty coming, the men in white shaped to go wide, only for Ford to pop through another kick - and this time it was Jacob Stockdale who dallied, Daly diving onto the ball as Irish hands went to heads.
The scoreboard reflected the gulf between the two sides, England dynamic with ball in hand and ferocious in defence, Ireland laboured and error-ridden.
And Sexton's miserable half was compounded when he was penalised for slowing the ball up, Farrell stroking over his kick to give England their biggest half-time lead over Ireland in 18 years.
Were England more up for it than us? - Farrell ponders what went wrong for Ireland
England's jabs hold Ireland at arm's length
Ireland simply had to improve - and belatedly they did. An England knock-on from the restart gave away possession and the visitors finally chiselled out some territory too.
England managed to stop an Ireland driving maul from a line-out close in but the pressure kept coming.
Ireland won a penalty in front of the posts, opted for the scrum and eventually found space in the right-hand corner for Henshaw to burrow through two defenders and over the line.
But Sexton shanked the conversion just as he had the first-half penalty and the pressure ebbed away as Jones threw on Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge and Charlie Ewels.
England's scrum, strong throughout, began to dominate and the penalties started to mount.
Farrell kicked to the corner, the forwards set up the maul from the line-out and Cowan-Dickie peeled off with Sam Underhill and Jonny May driving him on to roll over for England's third try.
May was nearly clear on his own after seizing a loose ball from a messy Ireland ruck and appeared to be taken out by Henshaw after kicking the ball ahead, only for referee Jaco Peyper to wave play on.
And as the game stumbled towards the line, Porter rumbled over from a metre out for a try that made little difference to Ireland's afternoon.
Man of the match: Courtney Lawes
A bravura performance in the back row from a man more normally seen in the second row. He made 14 tackles and eight carries in the hour he was on the pitch, setting the tone for a dominant England performance. And all on his 31st birthday, while sporting a spectacular shiner of a black eye and winning his 84th England cap - the same as former captain Martin Johnson.
What the coaches said
England head coach Eddie Jones: "We had a good preparation, we were always looking at this game and the next as the ones we had to be at our best.
"We were disappointed with the second half, but when you are playing against a side like Ireland you expect them to get some possession. We had to defend pretty well.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell: "I think the scoreline flattered us a little bit. We didn't start to play how we wanted to until the game was over. England were excellent, every side will look at themselves physically and they certainly won that battle. We didn't fire a shot in that first half.
"England were fighting to stay in the championship and that's what we need to be in the next two games - I need to look at myself regarding the performance of the first half."
What did the pundits think?
Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson: "It's a fantastic win for England, they were dominant throughout the whole game. The tactics in the first half were spot on, but it was a bit strange they didn't continue that after half-time and put the game away.
"They were happy to let Ireland have the ball and defend. They were really comfortable."
Former England hooker Brian Moore: "Ireland's half-backs Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray have been world class for a long time but I don't think I've ever seen them play as badly, and certainly kick as badly. That created a platform for England who were sharp and really could have scored more tries.
"England's line speed was good throughout, they won the majority of the collisions and got on top in the set-piece."
Former Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip: "If you keep showing the same picture against a side like England, they'll punish you. Make basic mistakes in the back-field, you will get punished. If you want to win a championship, you can't make those mistakes."
Elliot Daly touches down England's second try as the hosts dominated the first half
Line-ups
England: Daly; May, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), Joseph; Ford, Youngs; Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Kruis, Lawes, Underhill, Curry.
Replacements: Slade for Tuilagi (74), Heinz for Youngs (58), Genge for Marler (58), Cowan-Dickie for George (52), Stuart for Sinckler (69), Launchbury for Kruis (60), Ewels for Lawes (58), Earl for Curry (66).
Ireland: Larmour; Conway, Henshaw, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Herring, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Earls for Larmour (64), R. Byrne for Conway (66), Cooney for Murray (55), Kilcoyne for Healy (26), Kelleher for Herring (60), Porter for Furlong (58), Dillane for Toner (60), Doris for van der Flier (60).
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Touch judges: Romain Poite & Alexandre Ruiz
TMO: Marius Jonker
Remaining fixtures


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Sun's owner reports £68m loss as paper sales fall

The owner of the Sun lost £68m last year as newspaper sales fell and the company continued to deal with the fallout of the phone-hacking scandal .
Daily sales of the Sun fell by 8 % to 1.38 million in the year to July , but it remains the UK 's most popular paper .
Meanwhile , the Sun on Sunday sold an average of 1.16 million copies a week , 111,000 fewer than the year before .
The paper 's owner , News Group Newspapers also revealed a £26.7m legal bill related to phone hacking .
`` Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public officials , there have been a number of civil cases against the company , most of which have been settled , or are in the process of being settled , '' the firm said .
The News of the World was closed in 2011 after it was revealed that it had obtained stories by listening in to the private voicemail messages of celebrities and even the murdered teenager Milly Dowler .
News Group Newspapers said the final bill `` may or may not be significantly higher '' than the £26.7m it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hangover from the scandal .
It was higher than the previous year when the newspaper owner put aside £14.7m to pay for `` claimants ' legal fees and damages '' .
The increase follows a spate of high-profile settlements between celebrities and the former owners of the now-defunct paper .
Last year , singer Sir Elton John , actress Elizabeth Hurley and campaigner Heather Mills settled their phone-hacking cases against the News of the World for undisclosed sums .
Despite falling sales of the print edition , News Group Newspapers said more people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It said 32.8 million adults in the UK visited the site a month , 3.6 million more than the previous year .

"Following the allegations of voicemail interception and inappropriate payments to public officials, there have been a number of civil cases against the company, most of which have been settled, or are in the process of being settled," the firm said.


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Joanna Cherry will leave MP role if she wins Ruth Davidson's seat

Joanna Cherry has confirmed she will step down from Westminster if she is elected to Ruth Davidson 's Holyrood seat .
The Edinburgh South West MP said on Saturday she would seek support from her party to challenge for the Edinburgh Central constituency .
Angus Robertson has already announced plans to bid for the seat .
Ms Cherry confirmed on Sunday she would step down as an MP if she succeeded in being elected to Holyrood .
She said : `` Edinburgh Central is my home branch , I have been a member there since 2008 .
`` I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2015 I have been the MP for Edinburgh South West which covers a significant part of the Central seat , including Gorgie , Dalry Haymarket , Fountainbridge and part of Tollcross/Bruntsfield .
`` I am very grateful to all the people who have approached me and encouraged me to put my hat in the ring when nominations open . ''
• Angus Robertson bids to run for Holyrood in 2021 She added in a social media post : `` This will be a contest about ideas and policies not personalities . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westminster leader , revealed on Tuesday that he would be seeking the SNP 's nomination to stand .
The Tories currently have a 610-vote majority in the constituency .
The seat was won from the SNP by the former Scottish Conservative leader at the last Scottish Parliament election in 2016 but Ms Davidson has indicated she will be stepping down at the next poll in May 2021 .
Since then , she accepted and then turned down a lucrative job with a lobbying firm and has been nominated for a seat in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Westminster seat to the Conservatives ' Douglas Ross at the 2017 general election .
Ms Cherry recently gained recognition for leading the Scottish court case challenging the five-week prorogation of parliament .
It was ultimately successful in the Supreme Court , resulting in the quashing of the suspension , which had been imposed in September .
Announcing his intention to contest the seat , Mr Robertson accused Ms Davidson of putting `` other career interests in London ahead of the people she still represents at Holyrood '' and argued that constituents `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Edinburgh Central deserves a full-time MSP who will put the interests of their constituents first . ''

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bbcuk--2020-02-23--Major search for missing walker on Ben Nevis

A major search is under way to find a man who is believed to have been scaling Ben Nevis .
@ @ @ @ @ , was last heard of on Thursday morning when he posted a short film of @ @ @ @ @ His position was just above Half Way Lochan on the UK 's highest mountain .
@ @ @ @ @ LMRT ) has been searching since Sunday morning .
The area is set to be @ @ @ @ @ 50-80mph winds .
About 27 members of the team are involved in the search , @ @ @ @ @ 12 members of other groups .
LMRT posted on Facebook : `` His intention after @ @ @ @ @ to visit the 'fjords ' in this area so we need to check if he @ @ @ @ @ case the search on the Ben is a wild goose chase . ''
The rescue @ @ @ @ @ weather conditions would `` make any search around summits extremely difficult '' .
Anyone with @ @ @ @ @ .

LMRT posted on Facebook: "His intention after going up Ben Nevis was to visit the 'fjords' in this area so we need to check if he has been seen since in case the search on the Ben is a wild goose chase."


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Public toilets: Should you be able to pee for free?

Moeed Majeed was 19 when he was diagnosed with Crohn 's disease and now he has a stoma bag .
@ @ @ @ @ it very hard to find accessible toilets in London .
The project London Loo Codes @ @ @ @ @ collecting the codes from business across the city that charge for toilet use .
Caroline @ @ @ @ @ £18m in the mayor 's budget to be invested in free toilets .

Moeed Majeed was 19 when he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and now he has a stoma bag. Since then he has found it very hard to find accessible toilets in London.
The project London Loo Codes wants to change this by collecting the codes from business across the city that charge for toilet use.
Caroline Russell, Green Party member on the London Assembly, has also bid for £18m in the mayor's budget to be invested in free toilets.
Video by Gem O'Reilly


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Flooding: 'We've got to come up with a solution'

With the recent flooding across the country , one resident who has suffered in the past has spoken of the @ @ @ @ @ Keri in Salford was affected by the Boxing Day floods in 2015 .
Her property @ @ @ @ @ that she describes as a `` miracle '' - but she 's believes that authorities @ @ @ @ @ work together to protect other homes .
This clip was originally broadcast on Tuesday 18th @ @ @ @ @ .

With the recent flooding across the country, one resident who has suffered in the past has spoken of the need to find solutions.
Keri in Salford was affected by the Boxing Day floods in 2015.
Her property is now protected by wetlands that she describes as a "miracle" - but she's believes that authorities around the country need to work together to protect other homes.
This clip was originally broadcast on Tuesday 18th February 2020 on 5 live.


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Rising number of middle-aged people still renting homes

Did you think that when you reached the prime of your life you would own the roof over your head @ @ @ @ @ numbers of people are stuck in costly privately rented homes as they approach middle age @ @ @ @ @ ever buying a house in the future .
As more people retire with the burden @ @ @ @ @ is a bigger risk that more of us will simply run out of money in @ @ @ @ @ find out more about how our housing system works and how it affects you , @ @ @ @ @ Briefing on housing ( 11.2MB ) , and by visiting bbc.co.uk/housing .

Did you think that when you reached the prime of your life you would own the roof over your head? Think again. Growing numbers of people are stuck in costly privately rented homes as they approach middle age, with no hope of ever buying a house in the future.
As more people retire with the burden of paying rent, there is a bigger risk that more of us will simply run out of money in old age.
You can find out more about how our housing system works and how it affects you, by downloading the new BBC Briefing on housing (11.2MB), and by visiting bbc.co.uk/housing.


bbcuk--2020-02-23--The Papers: Fury 'gypsy king of the world' and pandemic fears

The four UK nationals who have tested positive for coronavirus are the focus of the i 's front page .
@ @ @ @ @ fury '' following the diagnoses .
Each of the new cases were passengers on the @ @ @ @ @ in Japan - and were flown back to the UK with dozens of other Britons @

Buzzfeed says it has been told by a senior Whitehall official that the role was created in response to "high-level concerns" about the treatment of special advisers by No 10. The article does not include any response from Mr Cummings or Downing Street.


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Snow to sweep Scotland sparking travel disruption

Commuters have been warned of disruption to travel as snow is expected to blanket Scotland on Monday .
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning which will affect most council areas from 03:00 until 22:00 .
Snow is expected to spread towards the north east and may fall in the south and central belt during rush hour , forecasters said .
Above 100m ( 328ft ) , 2-5cm ( 1-2in ) is expected while up to 20cm ( 8in ) may build up in areas above 300m ( 984ft ) .
Vehicles and passengers may become stranded on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as potential disruption to rail and air travel .
Some rural communities could become cut off and power cuts could occur with other services such as mobile coverage affected .
The snow may turn to rain in the afternoon towards the Scottish Borders , but forecasters say there could be `` significant '' accumulations further north .
It comes after a weekend of high winds and rain with flooding leaving cars , roads and fields submerged in some parts .
One woman had to be rescued from her vehicle by canoe in Old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environment Protection Agency originally had more than 40 flood warnings in place at its peak .
Last weekend road , rail and ferry links were hit and football matches cancelled as Storm Dennis swept across Scotland .
While the overall picture has improved during the week , parts of north-west England experienced more than a month 's worth of rain between Thursday and Friday .


bbcuk--2020-02-23--YMCA suspected arson: Teens evacuated from Newcastle site

About 100 teenagers were evacuated from a YMCA recreation centre in County Down following a suspected arson attack .
The @ @ @ @ @ reported at the Greenhill YMCA site in Newcastle at about 19:00 GMT on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ log cabin , used as a `` shelter or relaxation-type area '' , the PSNI @ @ @ @ @ cabin has been completely destroyed by the fire , which is believed to have been @ @ @ @ @ Sgt McIlveen said .
`` Thankfully there are no reports of injuries and no damage @ @ @ @ @ . ''
John Peacock , the national secretary of YMCA Ireland , said the teenagers @ @ @ @ @ dining hall when they were evacuated to a muster point outside .
He added that @ @ @ @ @ that the fire was malicious , there is as yet no evidence to indicate what @ @ @ @ @ have appealed for information .

He added that while it has been reported that the fire was malicious, there was no evidence to indicate what caused it.


bbcuk--2020-02-23--Llanelli crash: Pedestrian dies after being hit by car

A pedestrian died when he was hit by a car in Carmarthenshire .
Dyfed-Powys Police said the 53-year-old man was @ @ @ @ @ Swift car in Church Street in Llanelli at about 20:15 GMT on Saturday .
Emergency @ @ @ @ @ the man had suffered fatal injuries .
Officers from the police force appealed for any @ @ @ @ @ dashcam footage from around the time of the crash to contact them .

Officers from the police force appealed for any witnesses or anyone who had dashcam footage from around the time of the crash to contact them.


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Home Secretary Priti Patel 'deeply concerned' by 'false MI5 claims'

Media reports that Home Secretary Priti Patel is distrusted by intelligence chiefs and bullied her staff have been dismissed as `` false '' by the government .
Officials have denied that MI5 held back information from Ms Patel , following allegations that officials lacked confidence in her abilities .
She has also been accused of trying to force out Sir Philip Rutnam , the most senior civil servant in her department .
The pair were both said to be `` deeply concerned '' by the `` false allegations '' .
Downing Street has backed Ms Patel , with the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson had `` full confidence '' in the home secretary .
• Priti Patel 'tried to force out top civil servant' A spokesman for Ms Patel and Sir Philip said they were focused on delivering their department 's `` hugely important agenda '' such as an overhaul of the immigration system , putting more police officers on the streets and combating terrorism .
The statement comes after a source told the BBC there had been no animosity or `` blazing rows '' between Ms Patel and Sir Philip - who has been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 - but they were simply `` not the right fit '' .
The BBC 's assistant political editor , Norman Smith , said the intervention from a security service source - saying the claims they withheld information from the home secretary were `` simply untrue '' - was `` highly unusual '' .
The Home Office said `` no formal complaints '' had been made about Ms Patel , who has been home secretary since Boris Johnson became prime minister .
Security Minister James Brokenshire told BBC Breakfast there had been `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Ms Patel , and security briefings had been continuing as normal .
He added : `` I simply do not recognise the commentary and the false accusations and assertions that in so many ways have been swirling around . ''
Former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers also said she was `` sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office '' , calling Ms Patel a `` highly effective home secretary '' .
She told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme she believed there was an element of misogyny to the allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain that she 's tough and demanding on her civil servants '' but she did not think `` anything inappropriate '' had gone on with her staff .
The Sunday Times claimed the home secretary has not been receiving the same security and intelligence briefings as her predecessors because MI5 officials do not trust her .
A government spokesman said Ms Patel and MI5 had `` a strong and close working relationship , and baseless claims to the contrary are both wrong and against the public interest '' .
They added that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she `` receives the same daily intelligence briefings as her predecessors '' .
The Times reported that a `` livid '' Ms Patel has asked for an inquiry to be carried out into how the `` hostile briefings '' about MI5 happened - although Cabinet Office sources said no such request has been made .
The allegations come alongside reports of tensions between the civil service and the government over recruitment and treatment of staff .
The Cabinet Office is recruiting a new civil servant to oversee HR policy for government ministers ' @ @ @

The Times reported that a "livid" Ms Patel has asked for an inquiry to be carried out into how the "hostile briefings" about MI5 happened - although Cabinet Office sources said no such request has been made. The allegations come alongside reports of tensions between the civil service and the government over recruitment and treatment of staff.


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Flood levels in Shrewsbury could be 'highest ever'

Parts of a town centre are under water amid warnings that flooding in the area could reach its `` highest ever '' level .
Barriers have been put up in Shrewsbury and a severe flood warning is in place , meaning there is a danger to life .
Shropshire Council closed many routes into and around the town , and said flooding could seal off the centre .
The Environment Agency ( EA ) said 40-50mm of rain had fallen over the Welsh mountains , and it was expected to cause problems further down the River Severn .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in England after heavy rainfall .
Defences went up in Frankwell and Coleham Head in Shrewsbury overnight .
Chris Bainger , from the EA , said they were predicting a water level of 4.8m to 5.2m .
`` If we reach that [ higher ] level ... then we 're above the highest that we 've ever had , '' he said .
Shropshire Council said businesses were open in Shrewsbury , but people could only reach the centre on foot .
Clive Wright , from the council , said staff have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooding .
He said : `` The river levels are set to rise during the day so we do expect that at some point today we may get more flooding and if the barriers breach at Coleham again , as they did last week , then that will close off the town and the English Bridge . ''
In the last week of October 2000 , the River Severn rose to its highest level for over 50 years , flooding Shrewsbury , Ironbridge and Bridgnorth .
Erica Jones , who runs Coleham Sandwich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were `` staying open as long as we can '' on Monday , after being `` very lucky '' last week .
She said : `` It got to about six inches from our door . ''
Carol Calcutt , who lives close to the river , said : `` I 'm very worried .
Looking out of my window now the water really is coming up in kind of small waves .
It is moving very quickly again . ''
Telford & Wrekin Council workers have spent the night distributing sand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are at risk in Jackfield were the first to receive help .
Scattered showers are expected across the Midlands later .
Shrewsbury Colleges Group said its English Bridge and Welsh Bridge campuses were closed on Monday , but its London Road campus would be open as usual .
Shrewsbury High School said its senior school would be closed on Monday , although the prep school would be open without a school minibus service .
Coleham Primary School said it was planning to be open as normal .
But Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week homes and businesses were affected by floods in the wake of downpours brought by Storm Dennis .
The Rivers Wye and Severn reached their highest-ever levels .
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bbcuk--2020-02-24--Samira Ahmed reaches settlement with BBC

Samira Ahmed has reached a settlement with the BBC after winning her employment tribunal over equal pay .
The corporation announced on Monday it would continue to work with the `` highly valued '' presenter , but did not reveal the settlement figure .
Last month , it was judged the BBC had failed to prove the pay gap between Ahmed and fellow presenter Jeremy Vine was not because of sex discrimination .
Ahmed said at the time she was `` glad it 's been resolved '' .
• How to know if you 're getting equal pay '' Samira @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reached a settlement following the recent tribunal , '' the BBC said in a statement .
`` Samira is a highly valued BBC presenter and now these matters have been concluded we all want to focus on the future .
`` We look forward to continuing to work together to make great programmes for audiences .
Neither the BBC , Samira or the NUJ will be commenting further on this case . ''
Ahmed had claimed she was underpaid by £700,000 for hosting audience feedback show Newswatch , compared with Jeremy Vine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"We look forward to continuing to work together to make great programmes for audiences. Neither the BBC, Samira or the NUJ will be commenting further on this case."


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Children banned from heading footballs during training

Football associations in England , Scotland and Northern Ireland have issued new guidelines for children heading the ball .
The restrictions apply for all age groups for under-18s , with under-12s banned from heading the ball .
The rules , which will be introduced immediately , will only apply in training .
It follows research that showed former footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from brain disease .
There will be a graduated approach for youngsters aged between 12 and 16 .
FA chief executive , Mark Bullingham , said : `` This updated heading guidance is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help coaches and teachers to reduce and remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football .
`` Our research has shown that heading is rare in youth football matches , so this guidance is a responsible development to our grassroots coaching without impacting the enjoyment that children of all ages take from playing the game . ''
The University of Glasgow study , published in October last year , found that former professional footballers were more likely to die of degenerative brain disease - and five times more likely to die from Parkinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the study that linked incidences of the disease with heading the ball , but the FA said the new guidance had been issued to `` mitigate against any potential risks '' .
• Heading guidance in training for all age groups between under-six and under-18 • No heading in training in the foundation phase ( primary school children ) • Graduated approach to heading training for children in the development phase between under-12 to under-16 • Required ball sizes for training and matches for each age group • No changes to heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited number of headers in youth games Scottish FA chief executive , Ian Maxwell , said Scottish football had a `` duty of care '' to young people and those responsible for their wellbeing .
`` The updated guidelines are designed to help coaches remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football in the earliest years , with a phased introduction at an age group considered most appropriate by our medical experts , '' he said .
Irish FA Chief Executive , Patrick Nelson , said : `` Our football committee has reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an association we believe this is the right direction of travel and are confident it will be good for the game , and those who play it . ''
Dr John Maclean , who works for the SFA and also took part in the University of Glasgow Field Study , said Scotland was helping to lead the way globally .
`` I am proud that the Scottish FA has taken a positive , proactive and proportionate approach to the findings of the field study , '' he said .
`` Scottish football has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head injury and trauma in sport , from becoming the first country in the world to produce cross-sport concussion guidelines , to having one of the best medical education programmes in sport . ''
A similar ban , that also includes restrictions during matches , has been in place in the United States since 2015 .
The rule change there came after a number of coaches and parents took legal action against the US Soccer Federation .

Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson said: "Our football committee has reviewed and approved the new guidelines. As an association we believe this is the right direction of travel and are confident it will be good for the game, and those who play it."


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Whitehall HR boss sought amid Number 10 'tensions'

The Cabinet Office is recruiting a new civil servant to oversee HR policy for government ministers ' special advisers .
The `` high profile and stretching '' £60,000-a-year role has been advertised after reports of tensions between the government and the civil service over recruitment and treatment of staff .
Duties include revising HR policies for special advisers , known as Spads .
It comes after PM Boris Johnson 's senior adviser Dominic Cummings talked of a need to `` upgrade '' Spads ' skills .
In a blog post in January Mr Cummings called for `` weirdos and misfits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the civil service lacked people with `` deep expertise in specific fields '' .
According to a report by Buzzfeed , the new Cabinet Office role has been created in response to concerns within the civil service about No 10 's treatment of staff .
• Is Cummings right about civil service churn ?
The Cabinet Office has not commented on Buzzfeed 's article .
A Downing Street source said arrangements for Spads `` have been undergoing change for some time '' , adding : `` This is not new . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the role of Spads has been under scrutiny since Mr Johnson became prime minister .
Former Chancellor Sajid Javid `` voiced his anger '' to Mr Johnson when one of his Spads , Sonia Khan , was escorted from Downing Street by police after being sacked in August last year .
No reason was given for her dismissal , but the BBC 's Iain Watson said it was suggested the issue was about whether she could be trusted to be transparent with No 10 .
Mr Javid resigned as chancellor in February after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire his entire team of aides as part of a government reshuffle .

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid "voiced his anger" to Mr Johnson when one of his Spads, Sonia Khan, was escorted from Downing Street by police after being sacked in August last year. No reason was given for her dismissal, but the BBC's Iain Watson said it was suggested the issue was about whether she could be trusted to be transparent with No 10.


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Labour leadership: Members voting in three-way contest

Labour members have begun casting their votes in the party 's contest to replace outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn .
Sir Keir Starmer , Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey qualified for the ballot after obtaining enough support from unions and affiliated groups .
The party is also choosing a new deputy leader , following Tom Watson 's resignation in December .
Voting will close on 2 April , with the results announced at a special conference two days later .
Among those taking part will be 114,000 new members who have joined since December 's election , where Labour won its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Members of affiliated trades unions and groups can also vote , as well as around 14,700 `` registered supporters '' who have paid £25 to take part on a one-off basis .
• Who will be Labour 's next leader ?
To qualify for the ballot , candidates needed support from three unions or affiliates representing 5 % of the membership , or 33 constituency Labour parties ( CLPs ) .
Sir Keir , the party 's Brexit spokesman , is seen as the front-runner in the contest and has secured the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as CLPs .
He said the party needs to stop `` taking lumps out of each other , '' adding that the `` trashing '' of former Labour governments `` has to stop '' .
He told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme : `` We have to pull together and unite - and I feel that 's where the membership is . ''
He also attacked the government 's latest immigration plans , adding that he would get rid of minimum salary thresholds as they were not `` the right measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaking at a members ' hustings in Durham on Sunday , all three leadership candidates pledged to offer their rivals shadow cabinet posts if they are successful , and said they would happily serve in the winner 's top team .
Sir Keir did not commit to offering roles to his rivals at a previous event last week .
Writing for the Independent on Sunday , Wigan MP Ms Nandy said the party had previously treated voters concerned about immigration as `` irrational or racist '' .
She added that the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the country , rather than offering policies `` devised by a small group of people behind desks in central London '' .
Also making her pitch to members before voting opened , Mrs Long-Bailey said the party should turn the next election into a `` climate election '' .
In an Independent article of her own , the shadow business secretary said green policies could improve infrastructure and boost `` well-paid , unionised jobs '' .
Meanwhile shadow home secretary Diane Abbott joined shadow chancellor John McDonnell in saying she will stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new leader is in place .
Mr Corbyn has said he would consider serving in the shadow cabinet if offered a job by his successor .
He said last week he would `` see what it is '' if offered a post , adding that he `` did n't know '' whether this would happen .
Members and supporters can vote via email if they have registered an email address with the party , or if not using a postal ballot delivered to their home .
Voting works using a preferential system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of preference .
If one fails to get more than half the first preference votes , the second preference votes of the lowest-ranked candidate are redistributed until the contest produces a winner .
The system is the same for the deputy leadership race , where shadow education secretary Angela Rayner is regarded as the frontrunner .
Shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler , Scotland 's only remaining Labour MP Ian Murray , Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan and shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon have also secured their place on the deputy leadership members ' ballot @

He also attacked the government's latest immigration plans, adding that he would get rid of minimum salary thresholds as they were not "the right measure for people coming to this country".


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Ilkeston NatWest Hole: TripAdvisor halts spoof reviews

TripAdvisor has suspended reviews for a hole in a wall outside a bank after online jokers turned it into an unlikely tourist attraction .
Spoof glowing write-ups of the circular architecture , at NatWest in Ilkeston , led to it being ranked as the fourth best attraction in the Derbyshire town .
Media coverage over the weekend prompted dozens more joke comments .
The travel website said it had stopped publishing new reviews as they `` do not describe a first-hand experience '' .
Tongue-in-cheek comments for the `` NatWest hole '' first started appearing in December 2018 .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were able to propel it above well-known locations in and around Ilkeston , including Bennerley Viaduct .
• Latest news and stories from the East Midlands Among 40 new comments added this weekend , one said : `` Made my sixth visit to this attraction last week , always worth the nine-hour drive , every time has felt like the first . ''
Another said : `` Quite how the workers of the 90s managed to construct such a work of this magnitude is beyond imagination .
`` Just think , all they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grinders , cement , wheelbarrows and a team of , at the most , 100 workers .
Simply amazing ! ''
However , TripAdvisor has added a message to the page warning reviews have been temporarily suspended due to a `` recent event '' .
A spokeswoman said : `` The recent media attention caused an influx of review submissions that did not meet our guidelines - our guidelines state that a review must describe a first-hand experience - so we took the decision to temporarily suspend hosting new reviews on its TripAdvisor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the site to inform travellers of this . ''
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Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews @ bbc.co.uk .

A spokeswoman said: "The recent media attention caused an influx of review submissions that did not meet our guidelines - our guidelines state that a review must describe a first-hand experience - so we took the decision to temporarily suspend hosting new reviews on its TripAdvisor listing page, and posted a notice on the site to inform travellers of this."


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Love Island winner Finn Tapp expected back by Oxford City

Love Island winner Finn Tapp is expected to see out his contract with his football club , it has emerged .
Oxford City said the defender went AWOL in January to travel to South Africa to take part in the reality dating show .
He won its sixth series with fellow contestant Paige Turley on Sunday .
Mick Livesey , Oxford City 's commercial director , said the club would insert clauses into new players ' contracts over future appearance on TV shows .
Mr Livesey said : `` He was [ in breach of his contract ] but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of view : A 20-year-old lad , he 's offered all this reality TV stuff .
`` He has a contract , so he has to finish the contract he has with the football club .
`` He 's done very , very well for us . ''
Mr Tapp signed for Oxford City last summer after he was released by MK Dons .
`` As a football club , we wish Finn all the best and I can understand everything that 's going on but we have a duty of care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty of care for the football club , '' Mr Livesey said .
Mr Livesey told BBC Radio Oxford : `` I can assure you that all new players we sign from now on , we will be putting clauses in their contracts .
I think we 're going to have to . ''
He said : `` We 're an ambitious football club , we 're going from strength to strength and we 're looking to build .
This has n't been ideal .
It is probably disruptive to the club and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12th in National League South , the sixth tier of English football .
Mr Tapp has been approached by the BBC for comment .


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Tesco to sell plasters in racially diverse skin tones

The UK 's biggest retailer , Tesco , is stocking plasters in a variety of skin tones as it tries to give a better reflection of racial diversity .
It said the plasters , which come in light , medium and dark shades , would `` better represent the nation '' .
The retailer said they were developed in response to an emotional tweet from a US man , who used a plaster matching his skin tone for the first time .
Tesco said it was the first UK supermarket to make such a move .
People welcomed the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had taken so long .
Campaigner Sajda Mughal tweeted : `` This is like that feeling as a WOC [ woman of colour ] growing up not being able to find the right tone of foundation apart from pink !
!
!
... And finally somebody introduces it !
!
! ''
Nicola Robinson , Tesco 's health , beauty and wellness director , said : `` As one of the largest retailers in the UK , we understand that we have a responsibility to ensure our products reflect the diversity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe the launch of our new skin tone plaster range is an important step and a move that we hope will be replicated by other retailers and supermarkets across the country . ''
The supermarket giant developed the plasters after a tweet from Dominique Apollon , of US racial equality advocacy group Race Forward , went viral .
Mr Apollon said he was overwhelmed after using a plaster matching his skin tone for the first time , and `` holding back tears '' .
It prompted more than 100,000 retweets and comments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comes to buying plasters of diverse shades on the High Street .
Boots does not stock plasters in multiple shades , although it does offer transparent ones .
Specialist brands are available online but they are relatively expensive .
Tesco , which is the UK 's biggest seller of own-brand plasters , said its new plasters would be available at all of its 741 UK stores .
Superdrug told the BBC it will also be launching plasters for dark tone , medium tone and light tone skin in six weeks ' time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not only is it the right thing to do but there is demand , '' she said .
`` Companies in the cosmetic industry realised the importance of producing products different skin tones years ago , though you 'll also find plenty of blogs and posts explaining they have n't done enough .
`` Some fashion retailers have considered their ranges , especially extending their 'nude ' ranges beyond pale , be that shoes , tights or underwear .
`` Supermarkets are very competitive when it comes to the sustainability agenda and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this coming through . ''


bbcuk--2020-02-24--Snow starts to fall on Scotland's road network

Snow has started to fall on high level roads in Scotland , with warnings in place of more to come at lower levels .
Commuters had been warned of possible disruption to travel as snow is expected across much of the country .
Most of the central belt remained wet during the morning travel peak but wintry showers remain a possibility throughout the day .
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning which will affect most council areas from 03:00 until 22:00 .
Transport Scotland network resilience manager Iain McDonald told the BBC 's Good Morning Scotland programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on the cameras with rain forecast initially to come in .
`` It 's hitting the cold front and there are signs of it turning to sleet and then we 're expecting it to turn to snow as the morning progresses .
`` We 're got up to 160 of our gritters out this morning across the network and a large team of these being on the M8 and M80 and that area . ''
The warnings for Scotland came as many parts of the UK continues to face the threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever ' peak could be recorded Snow was affecting a number of routes in Dumfries and Galloway , the Borders and Midlothian early on Monday morning .
Above 100m ( 328ft ) , 2-5cm ( 1-2in ) is expected while up to 20cm ( 8in ) may build up in areas above 300m ( 984ft ) .
Vehicles and passengers may become stranded on roads with delays possible , as well as potential disruption to rail and air travel .
Some rural communities could become cut off and power cuts could occur with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A further warning has been issued covering the period from 20:00 on Monday until 10:00 on Tuesday .
The Met Office said wintry showers could be seen , with icy patches leading to possible hazardous travel conditions .
It comes after a weekend of high winds and rain with flooding leaving cars , roads and fields submerged in some parts .
One woman had to be rescued from her vehicle by canoe in Old Kilpatrick , West Dunbartonshire .
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency originally had more than 40 flood warnings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road , rail and ferry links were hit and football matches cancelled as Storm Dennis swept across Scotland .
While the overall picture has improved during the week , parts of north-west England experienced more than a month 's worth of rain between Thursday and Friday .