Schumacher: Friend Claims German 'Out Of Danger'

A camera reportedly attached to Michael Schumacher's helmet is being looked at in the hope it will reveal more about the circumstances of his skiing accident.

Authorities are examining the device and are also questioning Schumacher's son, who was with him when he crashed, according to French news agency AFP.

Small helmet-mounted cameras have become popular for filming extreme sports in recent years.

Fans show their support outside the hospital treating the injured driver

It comes after friend Philippe Strieff told reporters outside the hospital on Friday that the German's life was no longer in danger.

He said: "I'm not a doctor, I'm repeating what Gerard Saillant (surgeon and friend of the Schumacher family) told me.

"Gerard Saillant said it is a serious condition but his life is not in danger anymore now, thankfully."

However, no official statement has been made by the hospital or Schumacher's representatives to confirm those claims.

Philippe, a fan from Lyon, waves a flag featuring an image of Schumacher

Meanwhile, Schumacher's family have said they were "utterly overwhelmed" and "moved to tears" by fans' silent vigil to mark the Formula One legend's 45th birthday.

On the driver's official website the family said: "The incredible sympathies shown today by the Ferrari Fans outside the hospital has utterly overwhelmed us and moved us all to tears.

"We are deeply grateful for it and also for all the heartwarming and heartfelt wishes for Michael to get well soon, which have reached us from all over the world."

Corinna Schumacher arrives to visit her husband

The seven-times F1 world champion has been in Grenoble University Hospital since suffering critical head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday.

His father Rolf and brother Ralf arrived separately to visit him on Friday. His wife Corinna and children Gina-Maria, 16, and 14-year-old Mick are also at his bedside.

The Ferrari team, for which he spent many years racing, bussed in scores of fans from Italy and France to the hospital.

It put a message on its website, saying "Forza Michael," or "Go Michael" in Italian.

"He is tackling the most important fight of his life and therefore we want to send him very special wishes," said Schumacher's old team, as similar messages poured in from around the world.

Rolf (left) and Ralf Schumacher arrive at the hospital

German former tennis ace Boris Becker wished his compatriot "Happy Birthday" on Twitter, adding "Fight Schumi" in a German hashtag.

Schumacher slammed his head against a rock on Sunday while skiing near Meribel and has had two operations to remove bleeding and pressure on his brain.

He is being kept in an induced coma and the latest health update given by his manager on Wednesday described his condition as stable but still critical.

Fans show their support outside the hospital treating the injured driver

Accountant Stefano Pini, 47, who arrived at the hospital from Milan to pay tribute, said: "Schumi has given us a lot in the past.

"The least we could do is to come here and support him and his family on his birthday."

French fan Gabriel Klose, who turned up with his 12-year-old son, said: "He is one of my greatest idols. We want him to fight and to return to us."

However, the Ferrari tribute also created controversy.

Some have accused the Italian racing giant - which asked fans to sport its trademark colour red and its insignia - of exceeding the limits of good taste.

The carmaker, which has 130 clubs in Europe, provided about 20 coaches across Italy to bus in fans for the vigil.

But Roberto Luongo, president of the Roma-Colesseo Ferrari club, said he did not want to be associated with an event linked to "a man who is suffering".

"It's very delicate and if I was among those who are close to Michael, such an initiative would not have pleased me," he said.

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Weather: Aberystwyth 'Damage' As Tides Hit UK

Flood warnings remain in place as parts of the UK were hit by high tides, causing widespread flooding and evacuations in coastal areas.

The main beach in Aberystwyth was "destroyed" as 6ft waves broke up paving slabs and slammed into buildings.

Millie Farmer, 19, a second-year undergraduate at Aberystwyth University, said residents were evacuated from seafront properties.

She said: "I've never seen anything like it before. There were six foot waves crashing on to the beach.

Waves engulf the beach and promenade at Aberystwyth. Pic: Naheed Mateen

"It was scary - and quite exciting. It must be awful for people whose businesses and homes have been damaged.

"The promenade has been closed. North Beach has been completely destroyed. The slabs on the promenade have been uprooted."

Images taken on the seafront in the town showed paving slabs and tiles littering the road surface.

The worst affected area is the Severn Estuary

The town's university told its students it was deferring the start of examinations for a week because of the extreme conditions.

Hundreds of homes have already been flooded across the UK after rivers from Cornwall to Scotland burst their banks.

Four severe flood warnings - which indicate a risk to life - are in place in the Midlands and the Southwest as heavy rain and strong winds created exceptionally high tides along the west of the UK.

Harry Martin has not been seen since Thursday

Forecasters warn the bad weather conditions could return on Sunday, with many areas already saturated.

:: Send us your weather photos or video to news@sky.com or text your pictures to 84501. But don't take unnecessary risks.

The areas worst hit by flooding are the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Gloucestershire and Wales.

The south of England is still subject to dozens of flood warnings

It comes after a major search was launched for an 18-year-old who has not been seen since he left his home to take pictures of the weather.

Harry Martin left his home in Membland, near Plymouth, at around midday on Thursday.

Devon and Cornwall Police said Mr Martin was last seen walking towards the coastal path near his home.

Waves crash over Blackpool seafront

Police, Coastguard, the RNLI and helicopters from the police and RNAS Culdrose are conducting extensive searches around the coast.

The Thames Barrier was shut for three hours on Saturday morning to prevent high tides causing widespread flooding.

Evacuation sirens were also sounded in Portland, near Weymouth, Dorset, due to a severe risk of flooding.

River Severn levels are reaching historic highs at Epney, Gloucestershire

Homes in Newport, South Wales, were evacuated and rough seas caused part of a cliff at Rock-A-Nore, outside Hastings in East Sussex, to collapse.

Three of the severe warnings are on the River Severn, including around the Severn Estuary, with the other in the Lower Stour in the Southwest.

Nearly 100 flood warnings are also in place across the UK.

The high tide smashes against flood barriers in Saltcoats, Scotland

The Government has been forced to deny claims that austerity cuts will hit flood defences - despite reports that hundreds of frontline jobs are being cut.

Belfast escaped major flooding on Friday, but similar weather conditions are forecast for Sunday and Monday and sandbag barriers along the Connswater River will remain in place.

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Phil Everly, Half Of Pioneer Rock Duo, Dies

Phil Everly - who with his brother, Don, made up the revered US rock and country duo - has died aged 74.

He passed away in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank following complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, his wife, Patti, told the LA Times.

His wife told the newspaper that the disease was contracted through a lifetime of smoking and that the family was "absolutely heartbroken".

The Everly Brothers, with their high, close-harmony singing, had 19 top 40 hits during their heyday between 1957 and 1962.

Their songs include Bye Bye Love, All I Have To Do Is Dream, Cathy's Clown, and Wake Up Little Susie.

They profoundly influenced 1960s-era groups and singer-songwriters ranging from Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who early in their careers called themselves the Foreverly Brothers, to Simon and Garfunkel, the Byrds, the Hollies and the Beach Boys.

"Perhaps even more powerfully than Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers melded country with the emerging sound of Fifties rock & roll," Rolling Stone magazine said in placing the brothers at No.33 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists.

Tributes have poured in for the youngest of the duo.

Rock and country singer-songwriter Charlie Daniels tweeted: "Rest in peace Phil Everly. You guys brought us a lot of pleasure back in the day."

Linda Ronstadt, who recorded one of the biggest hits of her career in 1975 with her interpretation of the Everlys' When Will I Be Loved, said: "They had that sibling sound. The information of your DNA is carried in your voice, and you can get a sound (with family) that you never get with someone who's not blood-related to you.

"And they were both such good singers -- they were one of the foundations, one of the cornerstones of the new rock 'n' roll sound."

Phil in London in 1974

Don was born in 1937 in Brownie, Kentucky, to Ike and Margaret Everly, who were folk and country music singers.

Phil was born to the couple on January 19, 1939, in Chicago where the Everlys moved to from Brownie when Ike grew tired of working in coal mines.

The brothers began singing country music in 1945 on their family's radio show in Shenandoah, Iowa.

Their career breakthrough came when they moved to Nashville in the mid-1950s and signed a recording contract with New York-based Cadence Records.

In all, their career spanned five decades, although they performed separately from 1973 to 1983 after a dramatic onstage break-up during a concert in California.

Phil threw his guitar down and walked off, prompting Don to tell the crowd: "The Everly Brothers died 10 years ago."

During their breakup, they pursued solo singing careers with little fanfare. Phil also appeared in the Clint Eastwood movie Every Which Way But Loose.

After their decade-long estrangement, the brothers reunited in 1983 - "sealing it with a hug," Phil said at the time.

They were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, the same year they had a hit pop-country record, Born Yesterday.

Speaking in an interview in 1986, Don said the duo were successful because "we never followed trends".

He added: "We did what we liked and followed our instincts. Rock 'n' roll did survive, and we were right about that. Country did survive, and we were right about that. You can mix the two but people said we couldn't."

Phil is survived by Don, wife Patti, mother Margaret, sons Jason and Chris, and two granddaughters.

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Libya Warned UK Ahead Of WPC Fletcher Murder

Warnings the Libyan People's Bureau in London had a stockpile of weapons and "assassins" were downplayed ahead of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, it has emerged.

Even on the eve of the policewoman's murder in April 1984, Libya warned twice that there would be repercussions if Britain allowed an anti-Gaddafi protest to go ahead outside the St James's Square bureau.

The warnings were disregarded - with the British ambassador in Tripoli so convinced nothing would happen he even put a bet on it.

The threats from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime and the intelligence reports on the threat from the People's Bureau are disclosed in 1984 documents released by the National Archives, in Kew, southwest London.

WPC Fletcher was shot on April 17, 1984, when a gunman inside the bureau opened fire with a submachine gun on the protesters and police. She died shortly afterwards in hospital.

Police officers surround shot WPC Yvonne Fletcher

Although there had already been a number of blasts in London and Manchester aimed at opponents of the Libyan regime, nothing in the documents suggests the warnings were passed to the officers outside the bureau.

The murder led the UK to sever diplomatic relations with Libya.

No one has ever been convicted of her killing, although Col Gaddafi did admit responsibility for her death in 1999 and agreed to pay her family compensation.

According to the newly released documents, Oliver Miles, the British ambassador in Tripoli, was summoned to the Libyan foreign ministry the night before WPC Fletcher was shot.

According to Mr Miles' telegram to the Foreign Office (FCO), he was told: "The Libyan government would not be responsible for the consequences if the demonstration took place and they might include violence."

However, he said he responded by saying that "threats of violence did not impress the British Government".

Mr Miles reported how the Libyan desk officer who showed him out "seemed as little impressed by this performance as I was".

A memorial plaque for Yvonne Fletcher at St James's Square

He signed off nonchalantly, writing: "I made a bet with him that no such demonstration will take place. Grateful to know the outcome."

According to a briefing note prepared for Home Secretary Leon Brittan, Libyan officials turned up outside the Foreign Office itself with a message for the duty officer similar to that given to Mr Miles in Tripoli.

The note said: "They said that if the demonstration went ahead they would not be answerable for the consequences."

It was dismissed by the duty officer according to the note, which said: "This last is a standard Libyan line: we did not regard it as particularly significant at the time, though the act of calling at the FCO in the middle of the night was unusual."

The duty officer did contact Scotland Yard and the Home Office to let them know what had happened.

The records also showed that Mr Brittan was angry with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's quick acceptance nothing could be done to arrest those inside the People's Bureau because of diplomatic rules.

He told Mrs Thatcher that she had "already accepted that we would allow a murderer to go free".

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France In 1984 Bomb Plot To Test UK Security

Libya Warned UK Ahead Of WPC Fletcher Murder

Updated: 8:33am UK, Friday 03 January 2014

Warnings the Libyan People's Bureau in London had a stockpile of weapons and "assassins" were downplayed ahead of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, it has emerged.

Even on the eve of the policewoman's murder in April 1984, Libya warned twice that there would be repercussions if Britain allowed an anti-Gaddafi protest to go ahead outside the St James's Square bureau.

The warnings were disregarded - with the British ambassador in Tripoli so convinced nothing would happen he even put a bet on it.

The threats from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime and the intelligence reports on the threat from the People's Bureau are disclosed in 1984 documents released by the National Archives, in Kew, southwest London.

WPC Fletcher was shot on April 17, 1984, when a gunman inside the bureau opened fire with a submachine gun on the protesters and police. She died shortly afterwards in hospital.

Although there had already been a number of blasts in London and Manchester aimed at opponents of the Libyan regime, nothing in the documents suggests the warnings were passed to the officers outside the bureau.

The murder led the UK to sever diplomatic relations with Libya.

No one has ever been convicted of her killing, although Col Gaddafi did admit responsibility for her death in 1999 and agreed to pay her family compensation.

According to the newly released documents, Oliver Miles, the British ambassador in Tripoli, was summoned to the Libyan foreign ministry the night before WPC Fletcher was shot.

According to Mr Miles' telegram to the Foreign Office (FCO), he was told: "The Libyan government would not be responsible for the consequences if the demonstration took place and they might include violence."

However, he said he responded by saying that "threats of violence did not impress the British Government".

Mr Miles reported how the Libyan desk officer who showed him out "seemed as little impressed by this performance as I was".

He signed off nonchalantly, writing: "I made a bet with him that no such demonstration will take place. Grateful to know the outcome."

According to a briefing note prepared for Home Secretary Leon Brittan, Libyan officials turned up outside the Foreign Office itself with a message for the duty officer similar to that given to Mr Miles in Tripoli.

The note said: "They said that if the demonstration went ahead they would not be answerable for the consequences."

It was dismissed by the duty officer according to the note, which said: "This last is a standard Libyan line: we did not regard it as particularly significant at the time, though the act of calling at the FCO in the middle of the night was unusual."

The duty officer did contact Scotland Yard and the Home Office to let them know what had happened.

The records also showed that Mr Brittan was angry with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's quick acceptance nothing could be done to arrest those inside the People's Bureau because of diplomatic rules.

He told Mrs Thatcher that she had "already accepted that we would allow a murderer to go free".

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Stormy Weather: 21 Severe Flood Warnings

Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts have been issued for today covering almost the whole of the UK - with parts of southwest England already hit by flooding.

Twenty-one severe flood warnings, which indicate a risk to life, are in place as heavy rain and winds gusting up to 60mph were due to hit western areas.

The latest violent storm to sweep in from the Atlantic, combined with exceptionally high tides, is prompting fears of major flooding and travel chaos.

:: Send us your weather photos or video to news@sky.com or text your pictures to 84501

Fourteen of the severe warnings are around the Cornwall, Devon and Dorset coastline.

In Cornwall, there has been some flooding in Penzance, Newquay, Looe and Polperro and there have been a few road closures. And Salcombe, Devon has also been hit.

Three severe warnings are in Gloucestershire - around the River Severn and its estuary, near Cheltenham. Four others are in Wales - including Barmouth, on the north-west coast.

Flooding in Salcombe, Devon. Pic: RNLI

In south Devon, areas include Plymouth, and stretches from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, and Start Point to Dawlish Warren. In the north of the county, areas around Barnstaple are under threat.

On Cornwall's Atlantic Coast, areas around Newquay, Wadebridge and Bude also have severe flood warnings. And there is another at Preston Beach In Weymouth, Dorset.

More than 400 weather warnings and alerts are also in place, affecting every region of England and Wales.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency is warning of a risk of flooding in Belfast, and says Larne, Newry, Newtownards and Clough are also at risk.

Flood warnings and severe flood warnings are in place across the UK

Democratic Unionist Party politician Gavin Robinson tweeted people had been stealing sandbags in the city ahead of the storm.

He wrote: "At a time when people are stretching themselves to help others, reports of sandbags being stolen and sold are disturbing and depressing."

Police are advising residents in the Sydenham and Victoria Park areas of Belfast to pack a bag and prepare for evacuation, if necessary.

The South West is at heightened risk

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also issued 17 flood warnings.

The flood risk extends along the UK coastline from northwest England, through Wales, the South West and southern England.

Ifracombe, north Devon, seems to have been spared heavy flooding because of the southwesterly wind direction, but the harbour wall was breached.

Councillor Paul Yabsley told Sky's Colin Brazier: "It's the first time I've seen it this bad. But we've got away with it, we're very lucky.

The Environment Agency has three severe warnings along the River Severn

"The dangerous (wind) direction is northeasterly and with south-westerly winds we're safe.

"The wind is pushing the water up the Bristol Channel but it hasn't got the swells driving it into the harbour. Tonight, we'll see some swells. That might be a different story"

Areas at particular risk include the Isles of Scilly, the north and south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, the tidal reaches of the River Severn, and the coastline of Wales and Cumbria.

The Thames Barrier in London has been closed to protect people and property along the river.

Communities in parts of the South East are braced for further deluges, with a risk of more flooding in Little Venice, Yalding, Kent.

In Sussex, police said coastal winds of up to 65mph, combined with high tides and low pressure, are likely to create storm surges.

There are flood warnings all across the UK

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired an emergency meeting on Thursday in response to the flooding threat.

"We had a range of ministers from right across government attending, who will be working very closely with local councils, power companies, utilities and transport companies, making sure that all those organisations are absolutely prepared for the bad weather that is coming," he said.

"I would appeal to everyone to keep in very close touch with the warnings that are being put out on a regular basis by the Environment Agency, to pay heed to them, as these floods and the coast will be dangerous."

A search for a 27-year-old man who was swept out to sea while celebrating the new year on the beach with friends near Porthleven, in Cornwall, was called off on Thursday after a body was found.

That came after a woman, thought to be on holiday with her family, died in the surf in north Devon.

The coastguard is also searching for a man who is believed to have fallen into the River Stour, near Iford Bridge in Christchurch, Dorset.

And emergency services across the country are searching for several people who have not been seen since New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, in Liphook, Hampshire, 300 homes lost power after lines were brought down in the stormy weather.

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Weather: Savage Wind And Rain Pummels UK

Emergency services are searching for people missing in vicious weather lashing Britain, as the Government called an urgent meeting over the conditions.

Floods and strong winds have hit households across the country, with roads closed, train services disrupted and hundreds of homes without electricity.

A 27-year-old man is feared dead after being swept out to sea in Cornwall while celebrating the new year on the beach with friends. That came after a woman died in the surf in north Devon.

The coastguard is also searching for a man who is believed to into the River Stour in Christchurch, Dorset.

And police across the country are searching for several people who have not been seen since New Year's Eve.

More than 300 weather warnings and alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency, affecting every region of England and Wales.

Dozens of flood warnings have been put in place, mostly in the South East and South West, with strong winds of up to 50 to 60mph, heavy downpours and more flooding forecast over the coming days.

Craig Woolhouse, the Environment Agency's head of flood incident management, said: "Strong winds and large waves along the west and south coasts of England are forecast between Friday and Sunday, coinciding with high tides.

"Impacts could include flooding affecting some coastal properties and communities.

"Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline.

"Environment Agency teams are out on the ground making sure flood defences are in good working order, monitoring sea levels and preparing to issue flood alerts and warnings."

Some 300 homes in the south and east of England had no power last night

A Cornwall police spokesman said: "There are people who enjoy swimming in all weathers as well as those who may under-estimate the danger a rough sea can pose.

"During the current bad weather, we would appeal to everyone to use common sense and not put themselves in unnecessary danger."

Meanwhile, in Liphook, Hampshire, 300 homes lost power after lines were brought down in the stormy weather.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is chairing a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergencies committee, in response to flooding that has wreaked havoc.

"We will remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas," he said.

"With a number of flood alerts for the South East, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to EA flood warnings and follow the advice issued."

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Jailed Terrorists Refuse To Change Beliefs

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

Almost three-quarters of those jailed for Islamist terror offences in the UK have rejected efforts to steer them away from extremism, Sky News has been told.

Sources said 110 of the country's 150 terrorist offenders, who are currently in prison or on parole, are resisting rehabilitation.

Analysts have told Sky News the security services will be faced with an increasing challenge trying to monitor those who retain extreme views once released.

The Government's counter-terrorism strategy, Contest, is aimed at encouraging extremists to re-examine their beliefs and choose a path of non-violence.

But experts say tackling the terrorist mindset is extremely challenging.

Many terrorism-related inmates are housed at Belmarsh prison

Dr Usama Hasan is a senior researcher in Islamic studies at the counter-extremist think tank, the Quilliam Foundation.

He said: "It shows the extent of the challenge that, 12 years after the 9/11 attacks in the US, you've still got the majority of these people not wanting to deal with any examination or discussion of their hardline ideas."

Whitehall sources have told Sky News that every single senior jihadist jailed in the UK in recent years has refused to engage with the anti-extremism programme.

They include the likes of Abdullah Ahmed Ali, who led a terror cell which planned to blow up airliners with liquid bombs.

It has been claimed the plot could have been more deadly than the 9/11 attacks. Ali and his fellow plotters were arrested and jailed in 2009.

Dr Hasan said it was not surprising that every senior terrorist figure had rejected overtures by prison authorities.

The Government is trying to get inmates to re-examine their beliefs

"If you look at their background and ideology, it is hardline jihadists' ideology which is the same as that of al Qaeda. 

"It is very fanatical, it's narrow minded, it's entrenched. It is absolutely certain that it is the correct world view and anybody who opposes it is its enemy and is the enemy of God.

"It's very difficult to change that view amongst such individuals."

Of the 150 people convicted of terrorist related offences in recent years, 40 have agreed to participate in the Government's anti-extremism programme.

The 40 are drawn from the ranks of those who were jailed for lesser offences - so-called foot soldiers.

Raffaello Pantucci, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said reaching such offenders remained extremely challenging for the authorities.

He said: "I think individuals who have pursued a path of radical extremist ideas are very difficult to persuade away from those ideas.

"I think trying to persuade them when they're within the context of a prison is understandably even harder.

"The news that around three-quarters of these individuals are not responding to Government attempts to reach out to them with deradicalisation programmes is certainly negative, but is not entirely surprising."

Around 30 terrorist offenders are already back out on Britain's streets on probation - some continue to hold extremist beliefs.

Mr Pantucci said that monitoring growing numbers of these offenders will prove increasingly challenging for the authorities. 

"It poses a difficulty for the security services because you are seeing a lot of people coming back out of prison who don't necessarily seem to have rejected the beliefs that they had before," he said.

"These are individuals that the security services have to watch out for and they need to be aware of these people and watching someone requires a substantial amount of resources."

He added, though, that it wasn't necessarily the case that all those coming out of prison still retaining some radical beliefs, would pose a threat to national security.

"We've certainly seen, historically, that people have rejected these ideas for a variety of reasons, sometimes because they've reached a decision they simply want to move on to another stage in their lives," he said.

Dr Hasan said the authorities still had plenty of time to reach the senior convicted jihadists as they are serving much longer prison sentences.

But he said a more robust approach might eventually be needed to try to influence their thinking.

Experts acknowledge there is only so much the authorities can do to persuade inmates to address their offending behaviour.

Even if they continue to hold on to their extremist beliefs, once they've served their sentence - like everyone else - they will be eligible for release.

Official sources have said they are encouraged that 40 terrorist offenders have agreed to participate in efforts to put them on a path away from violent extremism.

Although officials are hopeful other inmates will follow suit, there is a real risk significant numbers of convicted terrorists will re-join society in the future with the same beliefs that got them jailed in the first place.

In response to the revelations, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told Sky News: "Challenging the extremist ideologies of individual prisoners can be a long and complex process.

"There is no one size fits all solution.

"Such interventions are a process - not an event.

"That is why we have a range of robust interventions to address these dangerous beliefs and to manage offenders effectively while they are in prison."

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Debenhams CFO Quits After Profits Warning

The chief financial officer at Debenhams has quit the retailer, just 48 hours after it issued a post-Christmas profits warning.

Simon Herrick had already been under pressure, according to media reports, after he asked suppliers for a discount on goods just eight days before Christmas in what was seen as a 'Santa tax'.

The department store chain denied at the time of his letter to suppliers that it was an attempt to boost fragile festive trading.

In the letter he wrote: "As we will mutually benefit from the growth of Debenhams we are now seeking a contribution from our suppliers to support our commitment to on-going investment."

He said this would include: "A single-sum contribution on all outstanding payments on your account at close December 17.

"An additional discount of 2.5% applied to all open orders on our system at close on December 17.

"This is a contribution and not a permanent amendment to your trading terms with Debenhams," the letter said.

The company, which lowered its profit outlook on Tuesday after the hoped-for surge in last-minute Christmas shopping failed to materialise, said a search to find a replacement for Mr Herrick was under way.

Neil Kennedy, director of finance, has assumed the role of acting chief financial officer on an interim basis, Debenhams said.

The chain blamed its poor Christmas performance on the continuing decline of the high street, the impact of the recession on household incomes and bad weather.

The retailer said it was planning to slash prices in January and February.

Michael Sharp, chief executive of Debenhams, said on Tuesday: "As has been widely commented on in the media, the market was highly promotional in the run-up to Christmas and we responded to these conditions to ensure our offer was competitive.

"However, this extremely difficult environment has inevitably had an impact on both our sales and profitability."

The announcement, which had been due on January 17, saw the retailer reveal an £85m profit for the 17 weeks to December 28 – some way off the £114.7m in the same period last year, a 26% drop.

The company's statement showed that online sales had increased by 27% during that time and accounted for 15.6% of total sales, compared to 12.4% for the same period last year.

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New Year: 'Multi-Sensory' Fireworks For London

Revellers in London have been treated to the world's first "multi-sensory" fireworks display as people around the world welcomed in the New Year.

More than 250,000 people lined the Thames for the display, which saw peach snow and orange-scented bubbles descend on a section of the crowd.

Fireworks explode over Edinburgh Castle

In Scotland, about 80,000 were in Edinburgh city centre for the famous Hogmanay street party.

There was music from the Pet Shop Boys as well as traditional Scottish sounds at an outdoor dance event.

But those venturing outside to welcome in 2014 were contending with some horrible weather - with the Met Office issuing more than 100 flood alerts.

Thousands enjoyed the celebrations in London

Spectators in London said the show was the best ever.

Harriet Dudley, from Brighton, said: "This was the best ever show and I'm so glad I came to watch - I feel so emotional. It was, like, four-dimensional."

Referring to London's show, Mayor Boris Johnson said: "There is no better way to celebrate the highs of 2013 and the start of an exciting new year than by seeing one of the world's most dazzling firework displays, now augmented in more ways than one.

Dubai's fireworks display is billed as the largest ever

"Watched by millions around the world, and hundreds of thousands of people from the banks of the Thames, it highlights our capital's fantastic community spirit and its premier position on the global stage."

Up to 100,000 people in key viewing areas by the Thames were given packs featuring scratch 'n' sniff programmes and LED wristbands.

They also had seven kinds of fruit-flavoured sweets that linked to the tastes and smells of the multi-sensory display.

Peach snow and orange-flavoured bubbles descended in London

The UK celebrations were among displays from around the world including the largest ever fireworks display in Dubai.

The six-minute extravaganza included 500,000 fireworks from 400 firing locations, all synchronised by 100 computers from stations across the city.

Spectators said the show was better than last year's

Later, there will be a celebration parade in London which features music from around the globe.

It leaves from the Ritz Hotel at noon before winding through Piccadilly, Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square and ending in Parliament Square.

Fireworks in Moscow

About half a million people are expected to attend.

Those attending the event may have to contend with a miserable start to the year, weather-wise, with rain and strong winds predicted.

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Romania Denies UK Faces Migrant 'Invasion'

By David Bowden, Senior News Correspondent

Romanian job seekers will not invade Britain despite curbs on them coming to the UK ending, an adviser to the Romanian Prime Minister has told Sky News.

Senator Damian Draghici, who is from a Roma family, accused those warning there would be a tide of Romanians and Bulgarians taking advantage of relaxed work restrictions of covering up failed policies at home.

He told Sky News: "I believe it's more of a political game or a way to blow things out of proportion, I don't think Romanians are going to invade England."

The outspoken politician added: "They are the voices of political extremists trying to cover up for unsatisfied public policies."

The UK imposed the seven-year restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria after they joined the EU in 2007, only allowing citizens a visa if they were self-employed, had a job offer, or were given a specialist role.

But from January 1, Romanians and Bulgarians are entitled to come to the UK for work and will be able to claim benefits like other EU citizens.

It has prompted fears of an influx of immigrants and David Cameron moved to counter concerns with a series of measures including banning migrants from claiming benefits for three months and making foreigners pay for NHS treatment.

Mr Draghici also had a message for Mr Cameron, wishing him a Happy New Year and issuing an invite to him. He told Sky News: "Why don't you come over?"

Damian Draghici says Britain is 'playing a political game'

The Conservative leader of Westminster Council, Philippa Roe, has claimed the arrival of Bulgarians and Romanians would add to the burden on council taxpayers.

She said central London had a problem with Roma "causing a massive amount of disruption and low-level crime".

But in Bucharest's Berceni market, as stallholders prepared for the last shoppers of 2013, there was no real interest from anyone Sky News spoke to in spending 2014 working in the UK.

One man working on a fruit stall said: "My country is more beautiful, so not for the moment, but it's a nice idea."

A woman market trader said: " I make my money here, I have my relatives and my friends here, I feel at home here, I would never go."

A middle-aged man said: "Myself, I'd never consider it, I'm happy here. If somebody wants to work then then they'll find it anywhere, you don't need to go to Britain."

Mihai Fertig is the chief operating officer of the Romanian arm of the biggest coaching group in Europe.

He already runs three services a week to the UK, but he's not expecting a rush for seats to London.

He said: "No not really, we aren't enthusiastic. I think the main part of the people who want to work abroad are already there.

"We expect, because of the opening of the market, that the bookings will increase maybe 10%."

Mihai Fertig says he is not expecting a rush for seats

Most people in Romania do not understand what all the fuss is about in the UK, and most doubt the predictions that tens of thousands will flock to Britain seeking work.

They are more concerned with the so called "brain drain" of young qualified Romanians, especially doctors and nurses, that have already left to work in other countries since their homeland joined the EU seven years ago.

Analysts in Romania estimate there are between three and four million Romanians already working abroad, a small proportion of around 250,000 in the UK.

A University College London report in November found that immigrants had contributed £25bn to the UK economy between 2000 and 2011 - significantly more than they had claimed in handouts.

They were also, it said, 45% less likely to receive benefits than British people.

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Kim Jong-Un: Uncle's Killing Removed 'Filth'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has hailed the elimination of "factional filth" after the execution of his uncle last month.

In his New Year message, broadcast on state television, Mr Kim said: "Our party took resolute action to remove ... scum elements within the party last year."

He accused General Jang Song-Thaek, who was once considered the second most powerful individual in the North, of trying to build his own power base within the ruling party.

Jang (L) was seen as North Korea's second-most powerful man

"Our party's timely, accurate decision to purge the anti-party, anti-revolutionary elements helped greatly cement solidarity within our party," Mr Kim said.

General Jang's death was announced by state news agency KCNA on December 13.

Branding him a "traitor" it said General Jang had been executed after a special military trial for committing such a "hideous crime as attempting to overthrow the state by all sorts of intrigues and despicable methods with a wild ambition to grab the supreme power of our party and state".

South Korean media said they believed he was killed by machine gun, a relatively common form of execution in the North.

Kim Jong-Un was pictured at a newly-built ski resort this week

General Jang, who was seen as vital in helping Mr Kim secure power after the death of his father, had earlier been removed from regime posts because of allegations of corruption, drug use, gambling, womanising, and generally leading a "dissolute and depraved life".

He was shown being dragged from his seat at a meeting and arrested on state TV shortly before his execution was announced.

Mr Kim also used his New Year message to warn that another war on the peninsula would prompt a "massive nuclear disaster" and the US would not be safe.

"We are faced with a dangerous situation in which a small, accidental military clash can lead to an all-out war," he said.

Jang was shown on state television being arrested

South Korea worries instability in the North Korean regime could lead to attacks on the South. The two countries are still technically at war after the Korean War ended in a 1953 armistice.

Last week, Pyongyang sent Seoul a fax warning of a "merciless" strike after effigies of the North Korean leader and his father were set on fire by crowds in the South.

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New Year Honours: Women Overtake Men

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

More women than men have been named in the New Year Honours List for the first time ever.

Actress Penelope Keith is made a dame along with Professor Julia Slingo, chief scientist at the Met Office, and Professor Susan Bailey, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Singer Katherine Jenkins, actress Lynda Bellingham and Arsenal Ladies footballer Rachel Yankey all receive OBEs, while businesswoman Karren Brady gets a CBE.

In all, 611 women are honoured, accounting for 51% of the list, the highest total since the Order of the British Empire was founded in 1917.

Keith said she was "elated, exhausted and thrilled."

Michael Crawford picks up a CBE

The 73-year-old, known for her crisp diction and roles in sitcoms such as To The Manor Born and The Good Life, receives her honour for services to the arts and to charity.

She said: "It's the big one. I had already got an OBE and then a CBE, so I don't know what is better than the icing on the cake - but this is."

Former England footballer David Beckham and Wimbledon winner Andy Murray had both been tipped for knighthoods but both missed out.

Marcus Setchell, the doctor who oversaw the safe delivery of Prince George, is recognised for his work caring for the Duchess of Cambridge.

Actor Michael Crawford, who played Frank Spencer in 1970s sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, said his CBE for services to children's charities was "the most wonderful surprise".

The parents of murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen were given MBEs for their work setting up a foundation in their son's memory.

Mother Margaret Mizen told Sky News that she heard about the award in November but had to keep it secret.

"I just couldn't believe it I was in total shock," she said.

"We were determined not to be beaten by what happened.

"We go into schools and prisons and we share Jimmy's story but we don't go in telling them what to do, to put their knives down or put their guns down ... but we tell them how special they are."

Julie Bailey, who led the campaign to highlight the scandal at Stafford hospital, dedicated her CBE to her late mother Bella.

She told Sky News: "We haven't let powerful people silence us and brush it under the carpet we have just kept our heads down and kept going with dignity and respect."

MBEs have also been awarded to DJ Pete Tong, Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and 90-year-old Bettina Dawson, who has been serving fish and chips to the people of Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway since 1928.

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Northern Ireland: No Agreement At Haass Talks

Northern Ireland's main political parties have failed to reach an agreement after marathon overnight talks led by US diplomat Richard Haass.

Dr Haass said all parties supported aspects of a proposed agreement on how to deal with flags, disputed parades and the legacy of the Troubles, but a number of concerns remained.

The next step, he said, would be to form a working group made up of representatives from the five parties which would aim to build on the "significant progress" that had already been achieved.

There was a chance that all the parties would back all or key parts of his proposals in the future, he added.

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams says an agreement has not been reached

Dr Haass said: "The choice is not between the text and some ideal.

"Rather it is the choice between going forward with an agreement of this sort which necessarily represents some compromise, and the status quo." 

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams indicated his party was ready to strike a full deal, and urged all those involved "to reflect upon the process" - but he said the talks could not continue forever.

The DUP and Ulster Unionists both indicated they had major difficulties with elements of the text.

Ulster Unionist negotiator Jeffrey Donaldson MP said his team "profoundly disapprove" of some of the report's language.  

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) said it would also be conducting a consultation, but party leader Alasdair McDonnell said he would be recommending a general endorsement of the proposals.

Alliance party deputy leader Naomi Long said she was willing to endorse proposals on the past, but not on flags and parades.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "It is disappointing that it has not been possible to reach a comprehensive agreement on flags, parading and the past within the timetable set out by Dr Haass and his team.

"Yet this should not be seen as the end of the road in seeking to find a way forward on these difficult and divisive issues.

"The Haass process has seen much valuable work done involving the political parties along with groups and individuals from across the community. Significant progress has been made. It is important to build on this and continue to seek agreement in areas that continue to be a focus for tension and division within society."

Dr Haass and his vice-chair Professor Meghan O'Sullivan - America's former deputy national security advisor on Iraq and Afghanistan - returned to Belfast on Saturday.

The talks were suspended in the early hours of Christmas Eve, but Dr Haass said the proposals on the table were "extraordinarily close" to gaining support.

He had set a deadline of noon on Monday for a deal to be reached.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness invited Dr Haass after weeks of unrest over flags and marches.

There were serious disturbances last December and January when Belfast City Council voted to limit the number of days the Union flag is flown on City Hall.

Rioting flared during the summer marching season too when the Parades Commission prohibited an Orange Order return march at Ardoyne in north Belfast.

Agreement on when flags should be flown has proven most elusive and the parties may decide to defer that issue to another process after the next election.

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Michael Schumacher's Family In Hospital Vigil

Michael Schumacher's family are keeping a bedside vigil at the hospital where he is fighting for his life, as footage emerged of him being airlifted from the scene of the accident.

The Formula One world champion is in an induced coma and medics have warned it is touch-and-go after he fell while skiing in the French Alps.

Schumacher, 44, has undergone brain surgery at a hospital in the southeastern city of Grenoble.

He had been skiing with his 14-year-old son on Sunday morning in the resort of Meribel when he hit the right side of his head on a rock.

The German racing legend was wearing a helmet when he fell

The helmet he was wearing saved his life, but it was not enough to prevent serious head injuries.

At a news conference on Monday morning, doctors said he had suffered many lesions to his brain and that the situation was "extremely serious".

Surgeons operated to remove a blood clot in his brain and have been trying to reduce "dangerous swelling", meaning his condition could go either way.

"He's in a critical situation," Chief Anaesthetist Jean-Francois Payen told journalists.

The chalet reportedly owned by Schumacher in Meribel

The doctor said Schumacher's family were at his bedside and friends had flown in to the hospital to lend their support.

Fans of the German motor racing legend have also been gathering outside. One told reporters: "I came straight away. I had to come."

Doctors are expected to give a further news conference at the hospital at midday.

The seven-time world champion first retired from Formula One in 2006.

He has been hurt seriously once before, in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 when he suffered neck and spine injuries.

Schumacher recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback to Formula One in 2010.

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Michael Schumacher 'In Critical Condition'

Former motor racing world champion Michael Schumacher is in a coma following a skiing accident in France.

The 44-year-old German suffered a "serious brain trauma with coma on his arrival, which required an immediate neurosurgical operation," according to the hospital treating Schumacher in the French city of Grenoble.

French media is reporting that he underwent a second operation overnight.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he reportedly hit his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps.

He was airlifted off the mountain following the accident in the resort of Meribel, in the popular Three Valleys area.

The sports star was skiing with his 14-year-old son and some friends when the accident occurred.

The German Formula One legend skiing in Italy in 2006

Schumacher's agent, Sabine Kehm, said: ''Michael fell on his head during a private ski trip in the French Alps.

"He was hospitalised and is receiving medical care. We ask for your understanding that we cannot give a running commentary on his state of health.

"He was wearing a helmet and was not alone.''

Journalist Carole Bouchard, from the French newspaper L'Equipe, told Sky News that the racing driver's condition had deteriorated during the hours following his hospitalisation.

The French Mountain Gendarmerie had earlier said Schumacher's life was not in danger.

The accident occurred in the resort of Meribel in France

Speaking to Sky News, Chris Chandler, a consultant neurosurgeon at King's College Hospital, said the immediate neurosurgical treatment given to Schumacher shows his injuries are severe.

"He could have suffered a diffuse injury to his brain which can then result in brain swelling," he said.

"He could have sustained some sort of brain haemorrhage and if there was a blood clot within his brain or on the surface of his brain underneath his skull, that might need to be removed.

"Sometimes there is nothing actually to remove but you put in an intra-cranial pressure monitor, which basically is an operation that requires drilling a hole in the skull and putting a fine probe inside."

Schumacher made a comeback to Formula One for Mercedes in 2010

Former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt and Professor Gerard Saillant, a brain and spine injury expert, are at the Grenoble University Hospital Centre where Schumacher is being treated.

Professor Saillant co-ordinated Schumacher's medical care after the driver broke his leg in the 1999 British Grand Prix.

Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, first retired from Formula One in 2006.

He has been hurt seriously once before, in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 when he suffered neck and spine injuries.

Schumacher recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback to Formula One in 2010.

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Volgograd: At Least 14 Dead In Bus Bombing

At least 14 people have been killed in an explosion on an electric bus in the Russian city of Volgograd, according to reports.

Investigators have described the blast, during the morning rush-hour on a trolleybus, as "an act of terror".

Russian investigators have said the bus explosion was caused by a male suicide bomber.

A statement from the Federal Investigative Committee said: "It is now possible to preliminarily say that the explosive device was set off by a suicide bomber - a man whose body fragments have been collected and sent for genetic testing."

The death toll could rise further

It comes just a day after a female suicide bomber was blamed for killing 17 people and leaving dozens more injured at the city's main railway station.

Police identified that bomber as a Dagestan national called Oksana Aslanova - who had been married to two Islamists killed by Russian forces.

She apparently detonated a bomb in front of a metal detector inside the main entrance of the station. Russian television is suggesting there may have been two attackers.

That attack was the deadliest in Russia since January 2011, when a male suicide bomber from the North Caucasus killed 37 people in the arrivals hall of a busy Moscow airport.

The explosions have put the city on edge and highlighted the terrorist threat that Russia is facing as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February.

Volgograd is about 400 miles (650km) northeast of Sochi, where the Games are to be held.

Security has been stepped up after the station blast

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either of the attacks.

In July, Doku Umarov, leader of an ongoing insurgency in the nearby North Caucasus region, urged militants to use "maximum force" to disrupt the Winter Olympics, a project close to Russian President Vladimir Putin's heart.

Russian authorities have pledged to make the event the "safest ever".

Sky's Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall said: "It's 39 or 40 days until the Winter Olympics open, this is the opportunity for the Islamic separatists in the Caucasus region to really put themselves on the world map.

"The more this sort of thing happens, if it is indeed them, the more that cause is going to get on the front pages around the world, spoil Putin's Olympics and, more seriously, the more lives it will take."

Known in Soviet times as Stalingrad, and previously as Tsaritsyn, Volgograd is a major industrial centre with a population of more than a million people.

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Schumacher: Drivers Wish Him A Speedy Recovery

Michael Schumacher 'In Critical Condition'

Updated: 8:40am UK, Monday 30 December 2013

Former motor racing world champion Michael Schumacher is in a coma following a skiing accident in France.

The 44-year-old German suffered a "serious brain trauma with coma on his arrival, which required an immediate neurosurgical operation," according to the hospital treating Schumacher in the French city of Grenoble.

French media is reporting that he underwent a second operation overnight.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he reportedly hit his head on a rock while skiing in the French Alps.

He was airlifted off the mountain following the accident in the resort of Meribel, in the popular Three Valleys area.

The sports star was skiing with his 14-year-old son and some friends when the accident occurred.

Schumacher's agent, Sabine Kehm, said: ''Michael fell on his head during a private ski trip in the French Alps.

"He was hospitalised and is receiving medical care. We ask for your understanding that we cannot give a running commentary on his state of health.

"He was wearing a helmet and was not alone.''

Journalist Carole Bouchard, from the French newspaper L'Equipe, told Sky News that the racing driver's condition had deteriorated during the hours following his hospitalisation.

The French Mountain Gendarmerie had earlier said Schumacher's life was not in danger.

Speaking to Sky News, Chris Chandler, a consultant neurosurgeon at King's College Hospital, said the immediate neurosurgical treatment given to Schumacher shows his injuries are severe.

"He could have suffered a diffuse injury to his brain which can then result in brain swelling," he said.

"He could have sustained some sort of brain haemorrhage and if there was a blood clot within his brain or on the surface of his brain underneath his skull, that might need to be removed.

"Sometimes there is nothing actually to remove but you put in an intra-cranial pressure monitor, which basically is an operation that requires drilling a hole in the skull and putting a fine probe inside."

Former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt and Professor Gerard Saillant, a brain and spine injury expert, are at the Grenoble University Hospital Centre where Schumacher is being treated.

Professor Saillant co-ordinated Schumacher's medical care after the driver broke his leg in the 1999 British Grand Prix.

Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, first retired from Formula One in 2006.

He has been hurt seriously once before, in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 when he suffered neck and spine injuries.

Schumacher recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback to Formula One in 2010.

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Anti-Smoking Campaign: New Ad Targets Addicts

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Smokers are being targeted by a new TV advertising campaign which aims to scare them into giving up.

Graphic images of polluted blood flowing through the body of a smoker and damaging cells in his brain are used to reinforce the message that smoking increases the risk of dementia and strokes.

The campaign, funded by Public Health England, was launched by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies.

"We know about the serious effect smoking has on the heart and lungs but smokers need to be aware of how much potential damage is being done to the brain and other vital organs through toxins in cigarettes entering the blood," she said.

"Smoking is the major cause of premature death, with one in two smokers dying prematurely from smoking related diseases, and it is extremely worrying that people still underestimate the health harms associated with it."

Government figures show more than one in five adults in the UK admits to smoking, at an estimated cost to the economy of £5bn per year in health costs, sick leave and lost productivity.

More than one in five adults in the UK admit to smoking

The TV advert, to be shown in England from tomorrow, along with a billboard advertising showing clotted blood dripping from a cigarette, has been welcomed by Joe Korner from The Stroke Association.

"It is well known that smoking harms our health but the link between smoking and stroke is less well known," he said.

"Stroke is a major cause of death and adult disability in the UK and you are twice as likely to have a stroke if you smoke. The more you smoke, the more your risk increases."

Smokers outside the Sant' Angelo restaurant in Wetherby in West Yorkshire who watched a preview of the advert said it encouraged them to consider giving up, or smoking less.

Jo Maltby, 40, has smoked for 20 years and says she tried to give up many times before.

"That probably would give me a bit more of an inclination to (give up) because I have children," she said.

"Obviously the more damage I do to myself the less chance they've got of me being around."

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Israel Fires Shells In Response To Rockets

Israel has fired 20 artillery shells into Lebanon in response to two rockets that were launched in the opposite direction.

The Lebanese rockets landed in a field near the town of Kiryat Shmona, the Israeli military said in a statement, causing no injuries or damage.

Israel responded with artillery fire, with witnesses in southern Lebanon reporting more than 20 shells hitting two towns.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

An Israeli military spokesman said: "The Israeli artillery responded to rocket attacks from Lebanon against Israel that left no victims, targeting the area where these projectiles were fired from."

The border between the two countries has been relatively quiet since a war between Israel and Lebanon's Hizbollah militant group in 2006.

A Lebanese soldier examines the remains of an Israeli artillery shell

However, tensions rose this month when an Israeli soldier was shot dead by Lebanese troops while driving near the border on December 16.

Last week, Hizbollah blamed Israel for the assassination of one of its commanders in Beirut, an accusation Israel has denied.

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Ferry Rescue: Passenger Detained After Fire

A passenger suspected of starting a fire on board a ferry in the North Sea sparking an emergency evacuation has been detained by ship staff.

Crew members and passengers had to be winched off a North Sea ferry heading to Amsterdam after they breathed in smoke when the fire broke out 30 miles from land.

Ferry operator DFDS Seaways said six people in total had been taken to hospital by helicopter.

Inspector Andrew Dixon said: "It is unknown if the fire was started deliberately or accidentally.

"As a result of this incident the person suspected of causing the fire, or the person from the cabin where the fire occurred, be it deliberate or accidental, has been detained by ship staff."

The fire broke out in a passenger cabin around 10.45pm and was extinguished by 11pm.

RAF helicopters from Leconfield near Hull and Boulmer, Northumberland were scrambled to the vessel along with RNLI lifeboats from Bridlington and Filey.

Passengers are being kept on board while police investigate

The 30,000-tonne ship arrived back at Newcastle ferry port, in North Shields, at around 4am and passengers have been kept on board while police investigate and carry out interviews.

It is understood people will shortly be allowed to leave the ship.

Olivia Elliott, who was in a nightclub on the ferry when the alarm went off, told Sky News she "panicked" not knowing how serious the situation was.

"(It was) scary out there in the middle of the ocean. You've never been in that situation before - you don't know what to do."

She added: "The captain came on the tannoy and said we needed to evacuate to the outer deck because there had been a fire.

"We were outside for about 40 minutes before we were allowed to go back in."

This photo of the RAF helicopter was taken by a passenger

Despite the emergency, she said most people remained calm.

Another passenger, Steven Basford, said: "They sounded the fire alarms, high-pitched alarms, and them made an announcement we would have to evacuate to an outside deck.

"Then, when we started to evacuate to go further up the boat, you could see smoke in the corridors and in the common area and it hit home more then."

Lynn Smith-Davis, told Sky News the ship's crew had handled the emergency well but that some passengers had started fighting.

She said: "There was no panic where we were, but then later on when we were inside sitting in the bar and cafe area some people started fighting - fights broke out, which really didn't help the situation."

Police arrived at the Newcastle Ferry Port in the early hours

Ms Smith-Davis said she thought it was probably not related to the emergency situation.

Are you on board the King Seaways ferry? Email your pictures and video to news@sky.com, text 84501 (costs 25p, network charges vary), or tweet @SkyNews

A spokeswoman for DFDS Seaways said 946 passengers and 127 crew members were on board the King Seaways ferry, which was sailing from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

"Fifteen passengers and eight crew members are reported to have suffered from smoke-related injuries," she said.

"They have been checked by a doctor on-board, and two passengers and four crew members have been taken ashore by helicopter for further medical assistance at a local hospital in the UK.

"We will ensure that passengers and crew affected by the incident will be offered psychological assistance as well as other assistance that might be needed."

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "All helicopters and life boats involved have been stood down, however Humber Coastguard is in constant contact with the ferry and an RAF helicopter is on stand-by should it need further assistance."

According to the DFDS Seaways website, the 26-year-old vessel has room for over 1,500 passengers and 600 cars. It was renovated in 2006.

It offers entertainment including restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a casino.

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