PICTURED: Balaclava-clad sledgehammer gang beats teenager in brutal home attack

Hammer gang beats girl, 16

COURAGEOUS teenager Shannon James shows the horrific injuries she received when raiders stormed her home and battered her with a crowbar and a sledgehammer.

The A-level student needed plastic surgery and 22 stitches when she underwent a two-hour operation on her appalling head wounds.
Shannon, her mum and stepdad Graham Childs, 47, had gone to bed before the balaclava-clad burglars dressed in black burst in to their home claiming to be cops.
The brave 16-year-old charged at one of the thugs after they attacked her mum Rebecca, 42 — but they hit her twice on the head.
When Shannon came to, she tried to call 999 on her blood-splattered mobile while Rebecca — who was also struck in the head and hand — fled to alert neighbours.
Shannon said: “All I remember is screaming, ‘I’m going to die.”
The thugs left empty-handed, but the family has offered a £12,000 reward to help catch them.
Shannon has nerve damage and needs sleeping pills after the attack at her home in Horsham, West Sussex, last August. She said: “I still get nightmares.”
Sussex Police are still hunting the thugs, and believe they may have used a green VW Polo. Rebecca said: “These people need to be caught — they are dangerous.”

Beastly spider crawls into nurse's onesie and leaves HUGE bite on her bottom

A NURSE has become the latest victim of a flesh eating false widow spider after it crawled into her onesie and bit her on the bottom.

Catherine Moretti, 44, was chomped on at home while watching telly with her son, and left with a gaping hole on her behind.

She was unable to sit down for days as the wound went black and she started suffering necrosis, which can lead to gangrene.

Catherine, from Southport, Merseyside, said: “I felt something bite me and it became really itchy, but at first I thought it was just psychological.

“By the next morning it had swollen, become really red and felt hot and very uncomfortable.”

She flew to Switzerland later in the week, where the bite became badly infected and she was given strong antibiotics.
The wound finally went down after the treatment and she is now on the road to recovery.
Catherine added: “I don’t want to scare people but I want them to be mindful that poisonous spiders do exist in this country.”
The false widow spider has been cited as Britain’s most venomous arachnid.
It has a brown bulbous abdomen with cream coloured markings that are often said to look like a skull.

Winter's last blast: EIGHT INCHES of snow to hit Britain tomorrow on last day of winter which has been wettest in 250 years

Much of Britain is enjoying a short but sweet taste of spring today before widespread snow strikes on the last day of winter tomorrow.
Up to eight inches of snow is expected to fall in flurries that could stretch across large parts of England and Wales. The Met Office has warned snowfall starting tonight could cause severe disruption on the roads and railways.
They have issued a yellow warning which means that 'severe weather is possible over the next few days' and there is a 'strong possibility' of snow.
It is yet another extreme twist in the weather after several days of warm spring sunshine, and came as experts revealed the past winter has been the wettest for 250 years.

Tomorrow - February 28 - officially marks the final day of the winter season for Met Office records. Yet it could be the day when many parts of the country see their first snow of winter.
The Met Office website states: 'A yellow warning means that there is a strong possibility of snow and that people need to be aware of potentially dangerous conditions.
'You should plan ahead thinking about possible travel delays or the disruption of your day to day activities.
'Yellow means keep an eye on the latest forecast and be aware that the weather may change or worsen, leading to disruption of your plans in the next few days.'

Although parts of England look set to be hit by snow - Scotland will escape the bleak wintry weather. Parts of the country that are at risk of snowfall include the Midlands, the South East, the South West and Wales.
Dan Williams, of the Met Office, said: 'Areas in the South East and West as well as the south west Midlands may see some slushy snow. Towards Bristol and Wales is also similar.
'We were expecting more but we've revised our predictions. The yellow warning is in place from 2am till 3pm on Friday.
'It's likely to be slushy snow, we doubt it'll settle. We're not expecting it to be too widespread but people should look at the warning on our website.
'We might also see some slushy showers but I have to say it isn't unusual for this time of year. Temperatures are cooler than they have been earlier this month but this isn't out of the ordinary.'
'We're looking at average daytime temperatures.'
The Met Office also forecast heavy rain as well as slushy snow on Friday, cloudy conditions on Saturday and sunny intervals on Sunday.
The almost constant torrent of rain that battered England and Wales in a series of violent Atlantic storms since Christmas has left flooding chaos in its wake, particularly on the Somerset Levels, in the Midlands and along the Thames Estuary.
And the weather misery is set to continue after forecasters issued a severe weather warning for snow for tomorrow.
The yellow warning, which means 'be prepared', was issued by the Met Office for the last day of winter.
Forecasters said areas on high ground across the Midlands and north of England as well as some parts of Wales, will be most affected.
A spokesman said: 'Rain will turn to snow for a time, mainly over the high ground during Friday morning. Over low ground it is unlikely that any snow will accumulate but many areas may see falling snow and slushy deposits for a time.
'The public are advised to be aware of the potential for some disruption to travel especially during Friday morning rush hour'.
The Met Office said that it has been the wettest winter since records began almost 250 years ago.
Around 6,500 properties have been flooded this winter causing many families' lives to be turned upside down and devastation to farmland.

New immigration BOMBSHELL as number of Romanians and Bulgarians in Britain TREBLE

BRITAIN was today hit with a new immigration bombshell as official figures showed the number of Romanians and Bulgarians arriving in the UK trebled in 2013. 

The Office for National Statistics said this morning that 24,000 citizens from the two countries arrived in the year to September 2013, nearly three times the 9,000 who arrived in the previous 12 months.
The ONS said this was “statistically significant” and that around 70 per cent came to work, while 30 per cent came to study.
Their figures also showed the Government was slipping behind its target for reducing overall net migration–the difference between migrants leaving and arriving in the UK.

David Cameron wants the net number reduced to the tens of thousands but the figure soared to 212,000 in the period from 154,000 the previous year.
Figures are not yet available for the numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians who have arrived in the UK since January 1 when labour market restrictions were lifted to comply with EU rules.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: "The immigration targets were nothing more than spin to appease in the short term the public who are concerned about uncontrolled immigration.

"But how can you have any targets when you can't control who comes to live, settle and work in this country? It's as sensible as hefting butterflies."
Despite the sharp rise, Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said a dip in the number of migrants arriving from outside the EU showed the Government was getting to grips with the issue.

He said: "Our reforms have cut non-EU migration to its lowest level since 1998 and there are now 82,000 fewer people arriving annually from outside the EU than when this government came to power.

"And overall figures are also well down from when we first came to government in 2010 — with nearly 70,000 fewer migrants coming to the UK. Numbers are down across the board in areas where we can control immigration, but arrivals from the EU have doubled in the last year."

Mr Brokenshire admitted the limitations of the Government's ability to restrict immigration from the EU.

He said: "We cannot impose formal immigration controls on EU migrants, so we are focusing on cutting out the abuse of free movement between EU member states and seeking to address the factors that drive European immigration to Britain."

A Home Office spokesman said reducing net migration to the tens of thousands "remains the government’s objective".

Is this what all students think of Nick Clegg? Pupil gives Clegg middle finger salute

LIB Dem leader Nick Clegg clearly has a long way to go to win back the student vote, if this pupil's apparent verdict on the Deputy Prime Minister is anything to go by.

Mr Clegg was addressing more than 500 students at Southfields Academy in south west London this morning when the student seemed to give him a surreptitious middle-finger salute.

The Lib Dem leader famously abandoned his general election pledge to vote against any increase in university tuition fees when he entered into a coalition with the Tories in 2010, a move which was seen as  a betrayal by many students.

Today, he outlined new proposals to help young people into the workplace as he warned that for many teenagers, careers advice is still a "tick box exercise squeezed into a lunchtime break".

The measures include a Ucas-style system for vocational qualifications, tougher requirements on schools to offer decent careers guidance to pupils and access to Jobcentres from age 16.

Mr Clegg said: "For a lot of the young people I meet, careers guidance currently feels like a tick box exercise squeezed into lunchtime break with a busy teacher, who no doubt already has a lot on their plate.

"So, we are issuing new guidance for schools, in the next few weeks, that will set out just what good careers advice should look like. And not take-it-or-leave-it guidance. To make sure it's being followed, Ofsted will be looking more closely at the quality of careers advice and support available when they inspect schools."

One of the "most important" changes will be a new responsibility on schools to develop links with local employers, he added.

Mr Clegg announced plans to create a Ucas-style system for those young people who do not want to study for a degree.

"

At 16, when a lot of you are having to choose whether you go to college, do an apprenticeship or train for a particular trade or occupation, we think it's only right that you get the same guidance and support as those going to university."

Teenagers will be able to apply for their preferred course through the site, and local councils will be responsible for making sure it carries up to date information.

"Ultimately, I want to see this process become a rite of passage for every 16-year-old: helping you to make an active choice about your future and set out a clear plan for the road ahead," Mr Clegg said.

He also announced that in future, young people will be able to gain help at Jobcentres from age 16, with around 3,000 16 and 17-year-olds taking part in pilot projects.

Winter's final ferocious comeback: Britain is braced for EIGHT inches of snow this weekend

WINTER is about to make a final ferocious comeback with Britain braced for eight inches of snow by the weekend.

Much of the country faces wintry showers over hills and on low ground as temperatures plunge to -5C (23F) tonight (Thursday)

The Met Office last night issued its “first proper” snow warning of winter across the south with Wales, central and northern England all at risk.

It warned commuters to prepare for  travel disruption on Friday morning when the heaviest snowfall is expected..

Spokeswoman Laura Young said: “The worst of it is going to hit on Friday morning during drive time so it could have some impact.

“At the moment it is still uncertain of what will happen but because of the expected timing there could be some impact, hence the warning.

“There could be flurries of snow on low ground and depending on the path of this system, snow could fall in more southerly parts of the country.

“This is the first proper severe weather warning for snow we have issued for the south.”

BBC forecaster Carol Kirkwood said a “potent low pressure” system hurtling towards Britain will trigger the turnaround to the bitterly cold.

She said: “As we move from Thursday into Friday there is a bit of uncertainty in the forecast.

“It looks like there is going to be some wet and windy weather possibly with some snow across some southern areas.”

Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said parts of the country could see up to eight inches of snow fall over the next 48 hours.

He said: “A wetter period is coming up for southern Britain later this week and at the start of the weekend.

“Colder too with overnight frost and ice this weekend. There is also a snow risk over higher ground, even over the south.

“There is also a snow risk over the south with some model solutions giving 10 to 20cm [8ins] across South Wales to the Midlands on Saturday. 

“This may be at the extreme end of the range, but don’t be surprised to see some sleet and snow by Saturday.”

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said Britain faces another “flirtation with winter” with a bitterly cold weekend ahead.

He said temperatures will sink below freezing in the south from Friday while the north with shiver in lows of -5C.

He said: “Thursday is looking grim with blustery winds and showers but after that there is another vigorous flirtation with winter on the way with things turning much colder.

“We could see a covering of snow quite widely across central and northern parts and Wales by Friday with temperatures sinking comfortably below freezing.

“There is also a risk of ice with wet ground freezing over, and maybe the chance of snow over high ground in the south west Devon and Cornwall.”

'It's not a big deal': One punch killer's mum DEFENDS her son's actions

THE mother of Lewis Gill, the man who killed an autistic man with a single punch, has unbelievably declared that his crime was "not a big deal".

Mum-of-three Sherron O'Hagan dismissed the seriousness of the incident, saying her son punching 40-year-old Andrew Young out of the blue was an "accident".
The 41-year-old told The Mirror: "It was just an accident.
"It's not a big deal.
"All of this will be forgotten about by tomorrow."
Mr Young was seen arguing with a cyclist in Bournemouth when Gill approached him and, out of nowhere, punched him in the face, killing him in one blow.
Gill was sentenced to four years in jail but the Attorney General is now reviewing that sentence after it was attacked for being too lenient.

Mr Young's mother Pamela dismissed the sentence as an "absolute joke".
She said in a statement: "When we first heard Gill was given four years we thought it was too short. It's ridiculous.
"Looking at his criminal record he is obviously a trouble maker – we hoped he would get seven or eight years."
The 71-year-old added: "I saw the CCTV footage in court and you can see that Andrew didn't cause Lewis Gill any harm.
"I was with him when he died.
"I wish that awful man who took my son away had pleaded not guilty so he would have got a longer sentence."
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling described the killing as a "repugnant crime".

Manhunt As Killer Goes On Run From Prison - Police are hunting murderer Paul Maxwell who absconded during a day release visit from prison where he is serving a life sentence.

A convicted murderer is on the run after slipping away from prison guards during a visit to Rochdale town centre.

Paul Maxwell, 49, absconded while on day release from prison, where he is serving a life sentence for killing an 85-year-old.
Inspector Niall Pawson, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "While we do not believe Paul Maxwell presents a significant threat to the public, he is unlawfully at large and he needs to be returned to prison.
"I would ask anyone with information about where he currently is, has been or could be heading to contact us in confidence."
Maxwell, who has links to Rochdale and Tameside, was jailed in 1996 for killing Joe Smales during a robbery in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
He is described as white, about 5ft 7in tall, of medium build with short brown hair and blue eyes. He wears glasses and was last seen wearing blue jeans, a grey fleece top and white training shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or 0161 856 4473 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Katie Hopkins launches a scathing attack on Tracey Connelly the mother of Baby P

KATIE HOPKINS: 'How dare Baby P's revolting mum claim we owe her a new life'

Free after four years, she wants taxpayers to fund a future she doesn't deserve, writes Katie Hopkins
Having a baby does not make you a mum.

Just as having a pet does not make you an animal lover – more than 37,000 animals were dumped by their owners in England and Wales last year.

Tracey Connelly is one such owner. Except she didn't have the heart to dump the baby she treated like an animal. She let baby Peter be tortured to death by her boyfriend and his paedophile brother instead.

Now she wants to try again; new house, new body, new man and a replacement baby P.

She is campaigning for a new two-bed council house. She says she was the victim in the whole Baby P saga and is owed a new start in life. 

That new start will also include a new man. Despite gorging on chocolate all day – 24 stone Tracey expects diet pills and a gastric band. I would take that band and fit it neatly around her throat. A source says she eats cakes, sweets and eight Double Deckers a day. With any luck she might get hit by one as well.

Pictures of her fat hand showing off her new nails are enough to make me ring HMRC just to have someone to shout at. She allowed her son's nails to be ripped out with pliers by the men using baby P for sport. Her talons are her pride and joy. I would happily tear them from her fingers sideways.

Sometimes I wonder about this country we live in; where a woman allows her baby to be killed, but sees herself as the victim. Where she is given freedom after four years inside, and we fund her future and new start when her son has none. Where we offer surgery to help her lose the weight she is stuffing her face to put on.

We are paying for the grim cycle that led to the death of Baby P to start all over again.

I do have hope. I hope I bump into you one day Tracey Connelly, in a crowded place where everyone can hear. Because there are some things I need to tell you:

You are ugly Tracey, inside and out. You listened to your son scream with pain in a bargain with your devil of a boyfriend where you sold your soul.

You are fat and revolting Tracey. I hope you keep on eating until you make yourself a new prisoner in your own home and die a lonely death in pain. Like your son.

You are never going to find a man. You may find a monster but you belong together.

You may have had a baby. You may have another. But your baby will be taken away from you and you will never ever be a mum.

Woman killed kitten by COOKING it in a microwave for five minutes because it attacked her pet goldfish

A woman killed her kitten by cooking it in a microwave for five minutes, a court has heard.
Unemployed Laura Cunliffe, 23, from Hoyland near Barnsley, is said to have put four-month-old Mowgli in the microwave after it attacked her pet goldfish.
Cunliffe then set the controls to cook for five minutes - Barnsley Magistrates were told.

Remarkably, the black and white female was alive when Cunliffe finally removed it from the machine - but she died shortly afterwards.
Cunliffe pleaded guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was granted unconditional bail. She will be sentenced on March 13.
Brian Orsborn, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court that Cunliffe had had the kitten since it was a few weeks old.
He said: 'The kitten was in a distressed state when Miss Cunliffe took it out of the oven. She took the animals to a relative’s home.
'The kitten could not get its breath and died about ninety minutes later. Miss Cunliffe made arrangements for the body of the kitten to be taken away to be buried.
'The RSPCA became involved and was able to trace the man who carried out the burial.'

 These two horrific RSPCA photos show the dead animal and its burnt paws. The kitten died around 90 minutes after it was put in the microwave by Cunliffe, a court heard
Mr Orsborn said that Cunliffe disclosed what she had done three days later when she was at Barnsley Hospital.
She said the kitten had attacked her goldfish.
After the hearing Lynsey Harris, RSPCA deputy chief inspector said: 'In the 13 years I have been in the job I have never dealt with a case like this before.
'It is particularly horrendous because of the period of suffering for the kitten which would have been awful.'
She said that the exposure to the radiation in the microwave would have cooked the animal’s internal organs.
She said: 'It is an horrific case in the fact that the death of the cat would have been prolonged and it is unimaginable what it would have gone through taking some time to die.'
Alan Greaves, defending said Cunliffe’s problems included psychosis and depression.
He said Cunliffe had been sectioned under mental health legislation several times.

A MAN got so plastered after a friend’s funeral in Kent — he woke up the next day in Amsterdam.

Amsterhammered - Man gets drunk and wakes up in Holland 

James O’Kane, 22, does not remember how or why he booked himself a taxi to Gatwick Airport at 4am then bought a £232 ticket to the Dutch city.
The first the supermarket worker knew of his trip was waking on a British Airways plane at Schipol airport.
He said: “I have no idea what I was thinking. I had never even been abroad on my own before.
“It was a sad day and I remember drinking a lot, but the next thing I knew a stewardess woke me up.”
James, who had taken his passport to the funeral for ID in the pub afterwards, discovered he had booked three days in Holland, but only had £50 cash on him.

His mum Jann was furious when he called her. She paid for accommodation but not a flight home as he “had made his bed and had to lie in it”.
James spent the three days wandering the streets in his mourner’s suit and flip-flops, bought as his dress shoes hurt.
He could not even enjoy sightseeing as his specs were at home in Orpington. But he did take some joke selfies during his jaunt last month.
He said: “It’s funny now, but I wasn’t laughing then. I’m not planning any more adventures.”

Teenager's face MELTS after she suffered one-in-a-million allergic reaction to heartburn pills

Leanne Howes, 17, was in hospital for several weeks after her skin fell away

A teenager's face MELTED when she suffered an extreme reaction to a heartburn pill.
Leanne Howes, 17, has survived despite doctors saying there was a low likelihood that she would pull through.
She took over-the-counter Zantac tablets but within days she had a one-in-a-million allergic reaction and her skin started to fall off her entire body.
The trainee hairdresser from Hoveton, Norwich, was in hospital for several weeks after what started out as an itchy rash in September 2013 quickly developed into blisters the size of tennis balls.
She said: "I thought I was going to die. I couldn't move and my face was so swollen that my eyes had fused shut.

 "Everywhere was itching and my skin was weeping a thick yellow pus."
She bought the tablets from a local chemist after feeling unwell at work, but felt tired and nauseous when she got up the next day.
She went with boyfriend Jake Round, 25, to her mother's house where things got significantly worse.
That night blisters formed in her mouth and throat, causing difficulties with breathing.
She was rushed to Norfolk University Hospital when her mother Amanda Corley, 38, found her lying on the bathroom floor where she had crawled because of the blisters on her feet.
When doctors applied cream, her skin fell off in their hands and in just a few days she lost most of the skin on her face.
She was suffering from Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a condition that affects two people per million with 40 per cent of those affected dying.
Miss Howes had to be fed through a tube and was allowed home in October 2013 where she is now recovering.

 A spokesman for GSK Pharmaceuticals which produces Zantac said: 'We deeply sympathise with anyone suffering from SJS.
'We are committed to the highest standards of patient safety, and as such take reports of side effects very seriously. We have a robust and ongoing safety monitoring system for all of our medicines.
'If a patient has concerns or experiences side effects relating to any medicines, they should talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible.'

Police blast 'ghouls' who FILMED hairdresser being stabbed to death and paramedics' efforts to save her

Cops quiz Hollie Gazzard's ex boyfriend over murder at salon

Disgusted police yesterday blasted ghoulish onlookers who filmed a hairdresser being stabbed to death and paramedics' efforts to save her.
A senior officer pleaded with those responsible to hand in their footage after victim Hollie Gazzard, 20, lost her fight for life in hospital.
Her ex-boyfriend was being quizzed last night on suspicion of her murder at the salon where she worked.
Security guard Asher Maslin, 22, was arrested in the early hours of yesterday and remains in police custody.
Hollie’s killing, believed to have been captured on CCTV, took place in front of screaming colleagues and customers. They tried frantically to keep her alive as the emergency teams raced to the scene in Gloucester city centre.

BUt Acting Chief Insp Neil Smith told how passers-by used mobile phone cameras to video the incident and helpers’ valiant efforts on the busy salon’s doorstep.
He said: "I am told there were members of the public who were videoing on their phones during the incident, especially when the officers were trying to save this lady's life."
He added: “This was hugely disrespectful and distasteful and I urge these people to give up their film to us. I am sure nobody related to the woman who died wants to see it on social media.”
His force refused to confirm claims on Facebook that Hollie was stabbed with her own scissors. But Mr Smith said she suffered a “vicious assault”.
He added: “Victim and suspect knew each other and had been in a previous relationship. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this.”
The attack happened at the Fringe Benefits and La Bella Beauty Salon at 5.50pm on Tuesday.Hollie started work there last September after returning to the city from London, where she lived with Maslin.
Her “heartbroken” friend Kayleigh Bishop, 18, said the pair’s “on-off” relationship ended four weeks ago. “I don’t know what happened to make them finally break up,” she said. “They were never right for each other but she wasn’t going out with anyone else.”
Hollie’s parents Amanda, 47, and Nick, 49, from Gloucester, yesterday paid tribute to their “beautiful, happy and loving” daughter.

“She was at the beginning of her life and to have it taken away in this manner is very hard,” they said.
The couple thanked everyone who tried desperately to save Hollie’s life.
A woman at Maslin’s family home in nearby Cheltenham yesterday said she “didn’t want to say anything”.

Woman critical in hospital after car swallowed by sinkhole, the vehicle was parked at the rear of her property when the ground opened up.

A WOMAN is fighting for her life after her car was swallowed up by a sinkhole.

The victim, who is believed to be in her 50s, sustained serious injuries in the incident.
Emergency services were arrived at the house on Caemawr Road in Morriston yesterday morning.
The woman was rushed to hospital and is said to be in a critical condition.
Police have launched an investigating into the incident and are still waiting to interview her, the South Wales Evening Post reported.
A South Wales Police spokesman said: “Emergency services were called to Caemawr Road in Morriston on Wednesday morning following reports that a woman had suffered injuries after being involved in an incident involving a car at the rear of a house.
“The woman, who is in her 50s, has been taken to Morriston Hospital with serious injuries.
“An investigation to establish what happened is underway.”

A RECKLESS dad and his young son shelter behind a rock from 30ft waves moments after they walked to the outcrop.

Dad and son risk death climbing on rocks to dodge 30ft waves 

The man had taken the lad, aged about 11, out to the rocks – about 50ft away from the main coast path. As the powerful waves broke over the front of the huge stack of stones, the father grabbed hold of the boy and stood up against one side of the giant rock, known as Pulpit Rock.
In one picture, it even appears as though a wave crashing up against the stone could wash the pair away.

The pair were left soaking wet in Portland, Dorset, as a stunned passer-by stopped and photographed the scene.
A spokesman from Portland Coastguard said: “Had the pair been struck directly by a wave they would have been washed away.
“They placed themselves at a significant risk by doing that.”
The dangerous stunt comes as police and coastguards repeat warnings for people to stay away from the sea front during the storms.
And lifeguard James Millidge said: “Ducking waves at any time is not only foolhardy but extremely dangerous – including for those RNLI volunteers who may have to come to the rescue if the sea washes people away.
“The sea is far more powerful than people think and the chances of survival are slim for people who are dragged into the swell.
“There’s the risk of drowning, of dying from cold water shock or from being battered back on to the rocks by the crashing waves.
“We understand why people want to experience extreme weather but we would urge folk to do it from a safe distance.”

Katie Hopkins is left red-faced on Big Benefits Row Live after being told that "adults are talking"

Channel 5 debate degenerated into name-calling  - but not because of a clash between Hopkins and White Dee

Panto pundit Katie Hopkins was left red-faced and flailing as a bad-tempered Channel 5 debate programme fell into disarray.
With White Dee from Channel 4 documentary series Benefits Street also due to appear on The Big Benefits Row Live's panel, pre-show hype focused on the potential for a clash between the two vilified media personalities.
But it was former Apprentice contestant Katie that attracted the most ire from fellow panellists and the studio audience, as host Matthew Wright attempted to stress on more than one occasion that there was no need for personal insults.
Katie first lost her cool after needling comments made by former face of Max Factor Annabel Giles that were hardly even picked up by microphones in the studio.
"I'll point where I like," Katie flapped after Annabel objected to some expansive gestures.
Annabel later scolded Katie, 38, that "adults are talking", drawing the response: "All I hear is somebody that wanted to be a model, but didn't make it."
Looking a little flushed, reality TV character Katie told the former I'm a Celebrity contestant to "get a grip" during a later segment."You'd be really dangerous if you knew what you were talking about," shot back 54-year-old Annabel.

Sitting in the audience, Terry Christian also delivered a knock on OTT Katie, dropping into a wider point that he was not offended by the 'opinions held by Katie for money'.
Another guest, Reverend Steve Chalke, expressed frustration that the sideshow was pulling focus from the issues supposed to be under discussion, blasting the rows as "cheap television".
He fumed: "I think the problem already is that we're here and we say we want the grown up, mature debate about a benefits system and about dependency culture and making sure that benefits doesn't lead to dependency.
"We need a serious debate about those things, but we don't have it by name calling. And we don't have it by making cheap television programmes."
The show also featured clashes between former Tory cabinet minister Edwina Currie and both anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe and a contributor to Channel 5 documentary On Benefits and Proud.

A STRETCH of the M4 has been closed off following a "serious" pile-up involving several vehicles.

Traffic chaos as stretch of M4 is closed after 'serious' pile-up
Officers arrived at the scene between junction 25 and 26 eastbound following a smash involving a lorry, bus and a number of cars at around 9.30am.
A force spokeswoman said: "At the moment we have two reported casualties the driver of the bus and a passenger who was on the bus.

 "The motorway has been closed in both directions between junction 24 and 28 so that the Air Ambulance can land and diversions are in place."
Gwent Police said it is at the scene, which is near Newport, together with the fire service and ambulance service.

Early indications are that the coach is carrying students from abroad - 57 passengers in total.
Chief Inspector Paul Evans said: "We appreciate the closure is causing problems for motorists, however the decision to do so is never taken lightly and we fully recognise the impact this has on motorists as well as the communities affected by diversions.
"We need to ensure we investigate every such collision thoroughly gathering all evidence possible and also ensuring the safety of everyone involved as well as other motorists who will be using this road once it's reopened.
"We are grateful for the understanding and patience shown by drivers and their passengers today.
"Motorists are advised of possible delays and are advised to avoid the area if possible."

'Patron saint of druggies and drop outs' Katie Hopkins slams Benefits Street's White Dee

Rent-a-gob Katie even called Benefits Street’s White Dee “The patron saint of druggies and dropouts”.

The pair clashed during an explosive battle on Channel 5’s The Big Benefits Row: Live.
White Dee, real name Deirdre Kelly, 42, said: “I haven't been on benefits for my whole life, it's just that I'm not in a place where I can work.”
The mother-of-two, from Birmingham’s now infamous James Turner Street, explained that she was being assessed for bipolar disorder, adding that she has just become a symbol of those on benefits.
She said: “What you don't see is other people doing the same as me. I'm the only person being shown on the documentary doing this.”

But Apprentice star Katie, 38, asked her: “Don't you feel you bad becoming the patron saint of druggies and drop outs?”
Katie has already branded White Dee a “blood-sucking parasite”.
She had also earlier criticized those in the benefit system, adding: “We keep talking about children in trouble but we keep seeing people having children after children without being able to pay for it.
“Housing benefits was never set up to pay people to live where they can't afford to live. Hard working Britons have had enough.”
Later, an exasperated Annabel Giles, who was also featured in the debate, said to Katie: “You could be really dangerous if you knew what you were talking about.”
But irritated Katie angrily responded: “You choose to have a child, get a grip!”

The show tonight was hosted by Matthew Wright, 48, star of the jungle in I'm A Celebrity in December.
Edwina Currie, former London Mayor Ken Livingston and Hayley “Fairy Jobmother” Taylor also spoke during the heated exchange.
During the show there was a running counter showing how much money had been spent on benefits since the start of the show – it reached £17million.
The programme was broadcast after research revealed that most Britons think the £208billion-a-year welfare state is broken.
A YouGov poll for Channel 5 revealed 66 per cent feel the benefits system is unfit for purpose.
While the same amount also supported tougher means testing and rules for claiming benefits.

THE famous pop star being probed by Jimmy Savile cops faces an allegation of abuse on a boy of ten.

Music legend ‘abuse of boy age 10’ - I.D. will shock world 

The household name is being investigated over the historic sex claims after his alleged victim came forward and gave a statement to officers last year.
Cops from Operation Yewtree — the major police investigation set up in the wake of the Savile scandal — have also spoken to a witness to the alleged attack who has apparently backed up the claims.
A source close to the inquiry said: “This is huge, and detectives are examining more than one witness statement.
“The alleged victim was very young at the time, which makes it a more serious allegation.
“This inquiry is not going to go away, and police will make arrests when they feel they have enough to do so.”
The Sun on Sunday knows the identity of the star — who has had a number of hit records — but we are not revealing his name for legal reasons.
Our source revealed: “This will shock people. Detectives are taking it very seriously.”

Operation Yewtree was launched after Savile, who died aged 84 in 2011, was exposed in 2012 as a predatory paedophile who abused hundreds of victims.
It has three strands — one looking at Savile, another focusing on “Savile and others” and a third concentrating on those not linked to the vile former BBC DJ and TV presenter.
Among the stars arrested as part of the inquiry are 83-year-old entertainer Rolf Harris, who has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of children. He denies the allegations.
PR guru Max Clifford, 70, has pleaded not guilty to 11 indecent assaults.
Others arrested include pop paedophile Gary Glitter, 69, radio presenter Paul Gambaccini, 64, and TV comic Jimmy Tarbuck, 73. All deny the allegations.
Comedian Freddie Starr, 71, has been arrested three times over claims which he denies.
Celebrity Big Brother winner Jim Davidson, 60, was arrested last January before all charges were dropped.

Lee Rigby killer tried to gouge doctor's eye out with a pen WOOLWICH killer Michael Adebowale tried to gouge out a doctor’s eye with his own pen.

The 22-year-old, who butchered Fusilier Lee Rigby, flipped during a hospital visit.

He lunged at a consultant at the Royal London Hospital after being asked to sign a patient consent form.

The doctor handed him his own silver pen despite being warned Adebowale, below, could use it as a weapon.

The killer had been taken to be treated for an infection to his leg.

The male doctor’s eyesight was only saved by the prompt action of prison officers.

Two guards, who were handcuffed to the killer by short chains, yanked Adebowale’s arm away with just inches to spare.

Armed police, who were outside the room, rushed in and one pulled a Taser gun and threatened to shoot.

The prison officers, fearing they would be hit by the 50,000-volt weapon, persuaded them to hold fire.

Adebowale was finally restrained by his prison guards and a dozen police officers.

A source revealed: “The doctor came within a whisker of losing an eye. He had been told not to give Adebowale a pen because it was feared he would use it as a weapon.

“However, he ignored the advice and insisted he needed patient consent before any medical intervention.

“Adebowale only had about four inches of movement due to being restrained by the chains. But as soon as he got the pen he launched himself at the doctor like a madman.
“Fortunately, a prison officer yanked his hand back and then all hell let loose.
“Officers armed with machine guns and Tasers stormed the room and everybody feared the worst.”
The incident happened at the hospital in Whitechapel, east London, after Adebowale developed an infection and high temperature due to his injuries.

He had been shot by armed police after Drummer Rigby was hacked to death on May 22 last year in Woolwich.
Accomplice Michael Adebolajo, now 29, was also shot and injured.
Adebowale is being assessed by psychiatrists prior to his sentencing.
The two killers are expected to be sentenced in the next few weeks after an appeal court decision.
Five judges are due to consider a number of cases involving whole-life jail terms. After the decision, the Woolwich killers will be sentenced.
The judge will take into consideration the psychiatric reports, including a number of psychotic episodes suffered by Adebowale.
They will also look at Adebowale’s pen attack.
Psychiatrists are said to recommend he be moved to Broadmoor Hospital. Last week Adebolajo lodged an appeal against his conviction.

A naked jogger left shoppers stunned when he was spotted running through a Morrisons car park in broad daylight.

Naked jogger stuns shoppers in Morrisons car park
 The man, wearing nothing but trainers and socks, ran past the town centre superstore in Denbigh, north Wales, on Thursday afternoon. 

He was stopped when horrified shoppers called the police, according to the Daily Post North Wales
Some witnesses took to Facebook to express their disgust.
One said: ‘I saw him run over town and all around Morrisons. If my kids had seen it, I would be fuming.’
Another said: ‘He was running around the car park then straight past us and down Vale Street. The kids were mortified.’
A North Wales Police spokesman said he was not arrested but was taken into medical care.