'Failures' in tax fraud crackdown

Billions of pounds of taxpayers' money is being lost because of the failure of HM Revenue and Customs to clamp down effectively on fraud and error, MPs have warned.

102 free school proposals approved

Education Secretary Michael Gove has approved more than 100 free school applications, which will make up around 50,000 school places.

Police force to sell unused £11m HQ

A police force that spent more than £11 million on a headquarters it has never used has announced it will sell the site after it has been empty for five years.

55 beaches meet tough new standards

More than 50 English beaches have met tough new EU standards to receive Blue Flag awards for 2013.

Harry Potter edition fetches £150k

A first edition of the first Harry Potter book, personally annotated by JK Rowling, has sold for £150,000 at auction.

'World class' rocker Bolder dies

Uriah Heep and Spiders From Mars bassist Trevor Bolder has died following a battle with cancer, his band said. He was 62.

Dame Judi proud of Bomber Boys role

Dame Judi Dench has described herself as being "very proud" to be the first patron of a new campaign to preserve the Bomber Command Memorial for generations to come.

Seven UK child soldiers in Mid East

Britain sent seven children to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq during a four-year period, it has emerged.

Woman tries to drive into Commons

A woman has been detained by police after trying to drive through the main gates of the House of Commons.

Gay marriage plan backed by MPs

The Government's plans to legalise gay marriage have cleared the House of Commons despite more Tory MPs voting against the proposals than voting in favour of them.

Patients 'harmed' by 111 service

The implementation of the new NHS non-emergency advice line has caused harm to patients, the director of patient safety at NHS England has admitted.

Three jailed for fake £1 coins plot

Three forgers have been jailed for what police believe is the largest ever plot to make fake pound coins in the UK, some of which may still be in circulation.

Jail term for 'sugar daddy' conman

A heartless conman who fleeced more than £170,000 out of a string of women he met on a website for "sugar daddies" has been jailed for seven years.

Crews tackle industrial unit blaze

Dozens of firefighters are tackling a blaze at a cooking oil recycling centre involving 500 tonnes of kerosene.

Australians win show garden prize

An Australian team has won the best show garden prize for the first time in the Chelsea Flower Show's 100-year-history - with one of its members celebrating by stripping off and going for an impromptu swim.

Nicholson set to retire with £1.9m

Embattled NHS boss Sir David Nicholson plans to retire next year, with a pension pot worth almost £1.9 million.

Last-ditch appeal over measles jabs

Health chiefs are appealing to children still unprotected against measles to sign up to an in-school vaccination drive before it ends.

BAE fined for 'preventable tragedy'

Defence giant BAE Systems has been ordered to pay almost £350,000 in fines and costs after a worker died when he was crushed by a 145-tonne metal press at one of its sites, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed.