IVF: New Treatment 'Boosts' Live Birth Rate

By Adele Robinson, Sky News Reporter

A new fertility treatment could dramatically improve a woman's chance of getting pregnant via IVF, according to researchers.

Scientists in Nottingham and Brazil claim the technique called "endometrial scratching" has improved the live birth rate by around 20%.

It involves medically administering damage to the inner lining of the womb. While it is not a new procedure, the study looks into the optimal timing for giving the procedure to a patient, shortly before fertility treatment.

Study co-author Dr Nick Raine-Fenning, from Nottingham University Research and Treatment Unit, said: "This is the first well-designed trial conducted into endometrial scratching and the results are promising.

"Other trials have provided anecdotal evidence, but these have been limited and many questioned the validity of the technique. We are now carrying out a follow up study in Nottingham to provide further guidance."

Early indications show that the Nottingham trial looks set to be even more successful that the Brazil study.

The "scratching" is given just once to women, between seven and 14 days prior to undergoing fertility treatment.

Brazilian researchers recruited 158 women, all of whom had previously undergone unsuccessful fertility procedures, and who were taking an oral contraceptive pill before the treatment began.

Some 77 of these women were picked at random and received the "scratching" procedure. Some 39 of the 77 became pregnant, and 33 cases resulted in live births.

Researchers in Brazil said the study showed that the number of live births increased from the current average of 23% to 42%.

Dr Nick Raine-Fenning said they were not sure why the procedure was working but one theory was that it was "awakening" the womb by encouraging regeneration.

"We the think with the biopsy (scratch) as simple as it is might wake the lining of the womb up by causing a little bit of damage so the womb has to regenerate itself and fix itself, hopefully in a better way."

Jo Cummings, 36, from Nottingham, underwent "endometrial scratching" in February before undergoing fertility treatment. She is now 28 weeks pregnant with her first child, a baby boy.

"The scratch itself was painful briefly ... but if it works I'd do it 10 times over again. It's amazing, absolutely wonderful. I still can't quite believe I'm having a baby."

Nottingham University is still looking for participants for its study. The findings are due to be published next year.

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Key Morecambe Bay Witness Reveals New Life

By Jason Farrell, Sky Correspondent

A key witness in the 2004 Morecambe Bay tragedy has told Sky News how he has rebuilt his life on the witness protection programme.

It comes as police launch a new national protection scheme, the UK Protected Persons Service, for people who are in danger from criminals.

Li Hua had to change his identity after giving evidence against his gangmaster boss who was accused of manslaughter over the drowning of 21 Chinese cockle pickers in the rising tides of Morecambe Bay.

In a secret location, Li Hua told Sky News: "I was very nervous and very frightened about giving evidence, but I thought about how the police rescued us. Then I thought that in the background the police had been reassuring us, they had been protecting us all this time."

Li Hua also wanted justice for the men whose lives had been callously wasted by his boss Lin Liang Ren.

"I thought, someone is leading us to pick cockles, that someone should let us know more about the tide times. Obviously he didn't. He's so irresponsible. He couldn't care less even about people of his own nationality. I totally detest him."

Li Hua says it was sheer luck that he managed to swim to a sandbank and was rescued by helicopter.

Li Hua said it was sheer luck that he managed to swim to a sandbank

"I was frightened to death. All I thought was about my family in China and I had spent so much money to get here, what would happen now?

"I was desperate and feeling hopeless. I thought that's it, I'm going to die tonight ... Then I saw the light from the helicopter."

Gangmaster Lin Liang Ren was convicted of 21 counts of manslaughter, facilitating illegal immigration and perverting the course of justice.

Having paid a Snakehead gang the equivalent of £14,000 to come to England, Li Hua feared repercussions and was put on the witness protection programme with his wife and children.

Nine years after the tragedy he now has a new life and runs his own business.

He said: "Life is a bit complicated because since we were under the protection we settled down. There were certain things we could say to friends and some things we just don't speak of. It became automatic.

Gangmaster Lin Liang Ren was sentenced to 14 years in jail

"But most of the time what occupied my mind was to go on living, because the British Government and the police give us this life. So, I think I was more concentrating on work hard, pay tax, make safe and don't make trouble."

The police are launching the UK Protected Persons Service next week, which will be run by a national team of specialists, as opposed to local forces.

Police say lessons have been learned from the murder of Joan and John Stirland in August 2004, which was in retaliation for a shooting by Mrs Stirland's son.

The couple were not put on the protection scheme and information wasn't properly shared between forces when they moved home.

Detective Chief Constable Andy Cooke, heading up the new national-coordinated programme, told Sky News: "This is the first time this is going to be done through one approach. Previously, unfortunately, there's been a bit of a postcode lottery as to how you were treated and the training of those people looking after you.

"In some parts of the country there was a highly specialised approach to protecting witnesses and in other parts it wasn't so great. This gives us the ability and manpower to provide the protection to people who need it at the most difficult time of their lives."

Witness protection is a tough life and some refuse to do it.

It is estimated a quarter of prosecutions collapse due to reluctant witnesses, but for Li Hua, who thought he would die in the waters of Morecambe Bay, the family he thought of in that moment is now with him in his new life.

Victims' Minister Helen Grant said: "People who put their lives at risk to bring dangerous criminals to justice are the unsung heroes of society, they deserve our thanks and protection.

"That's why the UK Protected Persons Service is so important; it will give brave individuals the expert support they deserve no matter where they are in the country."

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McCanns 'Greatly Encouraged' By New Leads

Kate and Gerry McCann have said they are "greatly encouraged" by the expanding UK police investigation into the case of their missing daughter Madeleine.

The couple released a statement indicating they believe new information made available to the police and a "detailed" Crimewatch reconstruction of events around the time the three-year-old went missing may finally turn up vital information.

"We are greatly encouraged by new information coming to light with pieces of the jigsaw now fitting together," they said.

"We are really hopeful that the forthcoming appeal on Crimewatch (Monday, October 14) will bring further new evidence which will take us a step closer to finding Madeleine and to bringing those responsible for her abduction to justice."

Earlier this week, police said they were combing phone records of thousands of tourists and residents who were at the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz at the time of Madeleine's disappearance in May 2007.

Metropolitan Police detectives, who have interviewed 442 people as part of their review-turned-investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, hope to track down as many people present in the resort on or around May 3, 2007 as possible.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, the senior investigating officer, said: "We now believe we have the most complete picture to date of the events surrounding her disappearance.

Madeleine on the day before she went missing in May 2007

"We are now making targeted and new appeals for help from the public. I truly believe there are people out there who hold the key to Madeleine's disappearance, and that so far they may be completely unaware of that fact."

The Met revealed that since launching its own investigation, 41 people of interest have been identified, including 15 UK nationals, up from 38 people of interest, including 12 UK nationals, established in July.

Detectives have issued 31 international letters of request to mostly European countries in relation to some of the persons of interest as well as accessing phone records.

The Portuguese investigation is officially closed, but authorities there are backing the Met's inquiry and officers from both countries will work together in pursuing new leads.

The Metropolitan Police now has a team of six Portuguese detectives based in Faro, who are carrying out enquiries on its behalf.

The McCanns are currently suing former police chief Goncalo Amaral for libel over claims in his book The Truth Of The Lie.

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Wales School To Help World's Poorest Children

Primary school pupils and staff at one of the most technologically advanced schools in Wales are reaching out to some of the world's poorest children.

At the high-tech Casllwchwr School near Swansea they use touch screen technology to watch images of a wholly different classroom experience.

From leather swivel chairs and an air conditioned classroom they saw a Sky News report about the struggle of poor children in Delhi to gain an education.

The report highlighted the efforts of shopkeeper turned teacher Rajesh Kumar who has set up a makeshift school under a bridge in the national capital.

He helps around 80 children, who sit on foam placed on the rubble as Delhi's transit system clatters above their heads. A wall is painted to form a blackboard.

In Wales Simon Pridham, the executive head teacher of Casllwchwr Primary sent out a tweet asking for help with fundraising and has had a huge response across Wales, including major sporting organisations.

He said: "Basics like pens pencils, exercise books, clothes school bags are lacking.

"We can do that, that is quite straightforward to get.

"I think it is also important to help the guy who is the shopkeeper who is doing his best.

"We want to take some professionals, some teachers out there a small group of perhaps four or five."

A number of fundraising schemes are under way and the children are right behind the efforts to improve conditions for the Delhi children.

Pupil Jade Bailey said: "We have iPads and iPods and all different stuff that they don't have.

"So I would really like to help them by donating pencils, pens, coats and different clothes and shoes for them."

Nathan Jameson said: "It is unbelievable how we have loads of things to help us learn. They hardly have anything."

Eleri Thomas added: "I am also quite bothered. As soon as I saw that I thought I really want to help them."

They hope to raise thousands of pounds and send their valuable items directly to the children under the bridge.

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Lake District: Man Falls 650ft To His Death

A man has been killed after falling 656ft (200m) down a mountain in the Lake District.

The 24-year-old was walking with a companion on Helvellyn - the third highest peak in the country.

He fell from Striding Edge into Nethermost Cove, according to Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT).

His hiking partner found him unconscious, and as there was no mobile phone signal, he continued his descent into Grisedale.

A local farmer there gave him a lift to Patterdale so he could raise the alarm.

An RAF Sea King helicopter, the Great North Air Ambulance, search and rescue dogs and mountain rescue teams from Patterdale and Penrith joined forces to search for the hiker.

The operation on Friday lasted for more than four hours and the man was found to have suffered fatal injuries.

Patterdale MRT leader Mike Blakey said: "This is a tragic incident involving the loss of a young life.

"Our thoughts are with the young man's walking companion, friends and family at this difficult time."

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Glastonbury Tickets Sell Out In Record Time

Glastonbury ticket sales have sold out in a record time of one hour and 27 minutes.

Organisers Emily and Michael Eavis said they were "blown away" by the response.

In a statement, they said: "We're sorry that many of you missed out on a ticket.

"We genuinely try to make the ticket system as fair as it can be, but when demand outstrips supply, it is an unfortunate inevitability that some people will be left disappointed."

Sales got off to a shaky start on Sunday morning with technical issues affecting the first half an hour of sales.

The remaining 120,000 tickets for next year's event went on sale at 9am, with more than a million people pre-registered to buy the biggest festival ticket of the summer.

Weight of demand appeared to have slowed things down temporarily and official ticket agent See Tickets tweeted its apologies for a "difficult half hour".

The system stabilised at around 9.30am, with Emily Eavis thanking fans for their patience.

The Rolling Stones debuted at the festival in 2013

The £210 tickets were selling at a rate of 3,000 a minute, according to See Tickets, and by 10am 80,000 had already been sold.

Some fans were able to get their hands on a limited number of tickets before Sunday's main sale when 15,000 coach and ticket packages went on sale on October 3. They were snapped up within half an hour.

People who missed out will get another chance when a resale of returned tickets takes place in the spring.

Many fans took to Twitter after the big ticket dash to celebrate their luck - or express their frustration at missing out.

Harry Gartside tweeted: "An hour and 40 minutes of internet queues only to be told they've sold out, absolutely gutted #Glastonbury."

Michael Eavis says next year's headliners will be Glasto first-timers

"After all that excitement, I'm going back to bed to rest my refresh finger. #glastonbury," posted Alice Marshall.

Glastonbury's founder, Michael Eavis, said last month that he already had the headline acts lined up for 2014.

Speaking to the NME, he said they were "more in less in place" and would be three bands that had never played at the festival before.

The Rolling Stones were the big draw at this year's event, playing the Somerset festival to mostly positive reviews.

The 2014 event takes place between Wednesday June 25 and Sunday June 29.

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Tory MP Adam Afriyie Wants Early EU Referendum

The Conservative MP challenging the Prime Minister by trying to force an early EU referendum has said a vote before the next General Election is "in the interest of the British people".

Adam Afriyie wants a Commons vote on the whether Britain should leave the European Union next year - a move that has plunged the Tories into fresh turmoil over Europe.

The rebel millionaire MP, who earlier this year was accused of plotting to oust David Cameron, said he would table an amendment to the Bill before Parliament which proposes a referendum in 2017.

Mr Afriyie claims voters do not trust the Prime Minister to deliver on his pledge to hold a referendum then and that delaying until then will build support for the UK Independence Party.

Adam Afriyie announced his plans in an article for the Mail on Sunday

He told Sky's Murnaghan programme said an early referendum would strengthen Mr Cameron's hand as European leaders would believe they have to come forward with offers or changes to persuade the British people to stay part of the EU.

The MP insisted he was loyal to the Prime Minister and had "no ambition whatsoever to lead the Conservative Party" - reports suggesting otherwise he dismissed as "media tittle tattle".

And he refused to be drawn on whether he disagreed with the PM's strategy on Europe. "I am just keen to have the referendum sooner rather than later because I think it will bring certainty to our future," he said.

"There is widespread support that there needs to be a referendum this side of the election," he added, asserting that 80% of the UK population and businesses wanted a vote before 2015.

His move is reported to have created panic in Number 10 on Friday, with allies of Mr Cameron insisting it would not be allowed to pass "in any circumstances". A spokesman added: "The PM will not let it stand."

Mr Afriyie's amendment will call for an "in-out" EU referendum on October 23, 2014, the anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein in the Second World War. It is likely to be debated when the 2017 referendum Bill returns to the Commons on November 8.

James Wharton says the move would delay or even 'kill' the Bill

Writing in the Mail On Sunday, Mr Afriyie said: "The fact is, the British people are not convinced there will be a referendum at all if we wait until after the next General Election.

"So many things can change. They don't understand why we can't have one right away - and that makes them suspicious.

"Many people think delaying the vote is just a tactic to allow all the political leaders to kick the can even further down the road."

Downing Street hit back by releasing a statement by James Wharton, the loyalist Tory MP whose private member's Bill proposing a 2017 referendum is supported by the Conservative Party leadership.

He said that every additional amendment would make it harder for the Bill to pass, and warned: "The ultimate impact might be to kill my Bill."

Mr Wharton told Sky News: "The Prime Minister has made a very clear pledge that if the Conservatives are successful, if he is prime minister, there will be a referendum by 2017.

"I think it is the right policy to try to get a better deal from Europe and then whatever that deal looks like to put it to the British people, but the Bill that I am bringing forward will enshrine that process in law.

David Cameron faces a fresh backbench challenge to his EU policy

"That's my key aim, my priority is getting that Bill through its parliamentary stages now. That's a difficult process. It's a private member's Bill and they are fragile things, and so I hope that colleagues will refrain from doing anything that will make its journey more difficult."

He added: "This amendment, whilst it may be superficially attractive to some people, I don't think is actually helpful, and I hope that it won't get pushed through to a vote, because were it to pass, or even were it just to be debated, because of the time it would take it will significantly impede the progress of my Bill, and it is the Bill that will deliver the referendum that we really do need."

Mr Wharton's European Union (Referendum) Bill was passed without opposition in the Commons in July after Labour and the Liberal Democrats stayed away from the vote.

But many Tory MPs are expected to be attracted by Mr Afriyie's amendment. In May, 115 Conservative MPs backed a rebel amendment to the Queen's Speech criticising the failure to include a referendum bill in the Government's legislative programme.

In his Mail On Sunday article, Mr Afriyie said: "Only by setting an early date can we kick-start EU renegotiation talks and give the British people what they so clearly want - a say on our country's future with Europe.

And openly challenging Mr Cameron, he added: "In reality, the British people are unsure whether the Conservative leadership would be able to stick to its promise of holding a referendum after the election, especially if in coalition once again."

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Royal Mail: Labour Call To 'Pull Plug' On Sale

The Government should "pull the plug" on the privatisation of Royal Mail before the company's shares are sold in two days' time, Labour has said.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said scrapping the move would prevent a "massive bonanza" for City speculators.

He said to proceed with the sell-off would not only have "huge consequences for consumers and businesses" - but the taxpayer would also be left "short-changed".

The Government plans to sell between 40.1% and 52.2% of the firm, giving the company a value of £2.6bn-£3.3bn.

It believes privatisation will give Royal Mail access to private capital needed to modernise its business.

Speaking on Sky's Murnaghan programme, Mr Umunna pointed to a report this week by Stockbroker Panmure Gordon which said Royal Mail had been undervalued by more than £1bn.

In addition, its property assets have been priced at £787m. Mr Umunna said some people believed that Royal Mail's Mount Pleasant sorting office in Clerkenwell, London, alone could bring in £1bn after privatisation.

"If you look at the property assets and then you look at the value, this does not add up," he said.

"What I am saying to the Government today - it is not too late to pull the plug on this privatisation. Pull the plug on it.

"Tuesday is the deadline by which people can submit applications to get shares, so until you've dished out the shares, until you have allocated them, it is free for the Government to say, 'actually, we've taken a step back, we've decided that we have priced this wrongly, and we've decided not to go ahead with it'.

Royal Mail shares are due to go on sale on Tuesday

"Now I am saying, don't go ahead with it in principle, but at least if they are going to proceed ensure you get good value for the taxpayer.

"Increasingly we are seeing more and more information coming out which would suggest that the taxpayer is being short-changed"

Mr Umunna argued the Government was pressing ahead with the privatisation despite grave concerns amongst its own backbenchers.

He said 70% of the public were also against the move, including the Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

"Increasingly what this is looking like is a massive bonanza for City speculators and a huge short-changing of the taxpayer at the same time," he said.

He said the previous Labour government's plans included maintaining a majority stake in public ownership.

"That is very important," he said. "The Royal Mail has a very important relationship with the Post Office under which the Post Office provides Royal Mail Services. That is due to expire in 2022 and there is no guarantee that it will be continued with a privatised Royal Mail.

"Now if you have a public stake, you've got some say in that, and in what happens in the future, but being privatised, you don't."

He added: "I don't think they should be selling it at all."

Mr Umunna refused to support or condemn potential industrial action by postal workers linked to the controversial sale of the business.

Asked if it was right for postal workers to take industrial action over the sale and other issues, Mr Umunna said: "I have always said I think striking should be a very last resort and should be avoided at all costs.

"But I am not going to condemn our posties either ... These people are not seeking to demonstrate lightly. This is not something people want to do. So I am certainly not going to condemn them but you're not going to get me supporting huge disruption of services which my constituents and many others around the country get."

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Lord Sugar Investigated Over 'Hate Tweet'

Lord Sugar has been investigated by police after he was accused of posting a racist tweet.

The Apprentice star posted a picture of a crying Chinese child dressed in a watermelon costume and joked: "The kid in the middle is upset because he was told off for leaving the production line of the iPhone 5."

Nichola Szeto, from Liverpool, was offended by the reference to the Asian factories where the phones are made and put in a complaint to police.

She was then contacted by Merseyside Police and went to a Liverpool station to make a statement.

The force's specialist hate crime investigation team decided that the tweet should be classed as a "hate incident", although no crime had taken place.

A police spokesman said: "Merseyside Police can confirm officers received a complaint in relation to the tweet sent on the evening of Sunday September 30.

"The communication has been examined by the force's specialist hate crime investigation team and at this time it has been recorded as a hate incident and no criminal offences have taken place.

"Officers from the specialist team will be contacting the person who made the initial complaint to discuss this."

In a blog post, Ms Szeto - of mixed Chinese and English heritage -  said she had complained online and had "no idea it would be taken so seriously".

Lord Sugar, who has 3.2 million followers on the social network, has yet to tweet a response to the police investigation.

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Woman Charged Over Baby Girl's Death

A woman has been charged after a four-month-old girl died in a London hospital.

The 18-year-old woman faces charges of causing or allowing the death of a child and wilful neglect of three children, including the dead baby.

The girl died on October 4 after being taken to hospital by ambulance from an address in Bow, east London.

The London Ambulance Service contacted the police due to the condition of the girl in hospital at 5.30pm. She was dead by 5.45pm.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the child's death, led by detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

A special post mortem examination will also be held.

The woman, who has not been named, is in custody and will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on October 7.

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