By Andrew Roberts  Author and historian

The Queen Mother's death last month provoked a wave of public support for the once beleaguered Royal Family. So what does the future hold for our Monarchy?

In the first of a series, author and historian Andrew Roberts argues that the monarch has never been so popular.

King's Lynn in Norfolk might not seem - with its royal connections and proximity to Sandringham - to be a likely hotbed of republicanism.

Many thousands queued to pay their respects to the Queen Mother

But on Thursday, 4 April Channel 4 News did a "vox pop" feature on it which purported to show that its residents could not have cared less about the death of the Queen Mother, and had feelings ranging from uninterest to contempt for the Royal Family.

I was asked on to the programme along with the republican Guardian journalist Jonathan Freedland to explain this phenomenon, but could only bluster out my belief that matters would improve once the lying-in-state began.

Mr Freedland meanwhile said that this was a watershed for the Crown and showed how irrelevant the Royal Family was in our exciting modern meritocratic age. 

	In our three-part series, writers assess the Royal Family's future Wednesday - Historian Andrew Roberts on why the Monarchy has never been so popular  Thursday - Author Hilary Wainwright says republicanism will return  Friday - Economist Michael Jacobs on why modernisation is still important

How spectacularly wrong he and Channel 4 turned out to be. The nine days between the Queen Mother's death and funeral proved that the British people have the same kind of relationship with the monarchy as an old married couple who bitch about one another occasionally, but fundamentally love and are proud of one another, especially when family events such as births, weddings and funerals are taking place.

It is republicanism that seems an irrelevant, outmoded fad, a rather dated minority interest like Esperanto, plane-spotting or the League of Nations Union.

The New British, who proclaimed that Cool Britannia would be unveiled at the Millennium Dome and would bury Old Britain, were routed in April 2002, when they came up against the catafalque, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the crowds stretching back to Hungerford Bridge, and the love of the British for history, romance and tradition.

The Queen Mother, ever the doughty old fighter, even in death saw them off in style, as we might have known she would.

Jubilee celebrations in June will be a test of the Queen's popularity

Her obsequies prove that it is not uncool to be grateful to the Crown for the work it does.

The Golden Jubilee will be immeasurably aided by this revelation, and I predict the Queen's procession through the streets of London on Monday 3 June will be one of the great occasions of British post-war history.

It will confound the republicans once again, because they cannot argue that it would attract the same interest and enthusiasm if conducted by an elected president, probably some former politician who half the nation has voted against for years.

It is precisely the undemocratic, unrepresentative, unmeritocratic nature of the institution of monarchy - the fact that it is so unlike everything else in our modern world and age - that makes it so fascinating and attractive.

Charles steps up

It shows that there is still somewhere a part of the historical continuum that connects us to the ancient. 

Prince William helps appeal to a younger public

In the short term, as Prince Charles takes on more of his mother's duties after the Jubilee the Queen will be able to enjoy some more spare time as a septuagenarian deserves.

Prince William's good looks will meanwhile protect the popularity of the monarchy when Prince Charles finally marries the only woman he has ever truly loved.

If any political party were to embrace republicanism it would probably have already happened in the monarchy's difficult days of 1992-98.

Today it would be suicidal, because the prospects for the Monarchy look better than at any stage since the Silver Jubilee a quarter of a century ago. Even in King's Lynn.

Andrew Roberts is author of The House of Windsor, published by Cassell.

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Has enthusiasm for the monarchy increased?

I think the royal family does a good job promoting the UK, but then I have always felt that way. Many here talk of privilege but few mention the price the royals pay. I, for one, would not want everything I do to be under scrutiny in the public eye. Unlike me, they do not have the freedom to choose any life/career path they desire. For this reason I do not begrudge them a penny of the money they get from the state - I wouldn't want their job! 
Sarah, UK 

The monarchy defines Great Britain, and reminds us that our country and countrymen are unique

Darren, UK

For once I wish we could be more like the USA. Americans see no shame in feeling proud of their roots and heritage, while we Brits seem to feel the need to thrash ourselves with nettles in penance for being part of something great. The monarchy defines Great Britain, and reminds us that our country and countrymen are unique, so lets stop watering down everything we have before we become Bland Britain.
Darren, UK

The enthusiasm for the monarchy hasn't changed. Monarchists are the silent majority. 
Gem, UK 

The enthusiasm will be short lived. As soon as one of the 'royals' does something stupid and in clear conflict with their so called duties opinion will turn against them. They attract popularity the same way a pop star or movie does. If it's in the news looking glamourous and interesting people will say they like it. If it causes controversy and upsets people they will hate it. For the rest of the time most simply won't care. 
Graham, UK 

I will always support a constitutional monarchy... Constitutional monarchy provides us with an apolitical, powerless figurehead that can be looked up to by anyone, no matter the race, religion or economic background. I believe that the Queen has fulfilled this mandate to the best of her ability during her 50 year reign. I would far rather a constitutional monarch than a smarmy, corrupt politician that has to canvass and lie to voters in order to get elected. We already elect the people who matter.
BC, Scotland, U.K

The historical relevance and tradition of monarchy cannot be imitated or pretended. It is unique in all the world. My heritage would be greatly diminished by its loss. Being a proud American must also mean taking pride in British achievement. The United States would do well to remember its roots and relish the continuing majesty of the Mother country and her graceful presence on a world stage cluttered with loathsome political monsters of modern creation.
James Keefner, USA

It's about time we seriously consider becoming a Republic.

Adrian Murphy, England

It's about time we seriously consider becoming a Republic. Furthermore, I think the UK should now drop out of the Commonwealth and concentrate efforts on the EU. The monarchy and commonwealth simply keep imperialistic values alive. We simply do not need to be worrying about countries such as Zimbabwe. The UN is there to step in if things go completely pear-shaped. This is not to say that we should drop our strong relationship with countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and NZ. I think Europe as a whole should as a whole, try and extend non-european relationships.
Adrian Murphy, England

I have never subsided in my feelings for the Queen and all the Royals. Long live the Queen. 
Liane Mill, U.S.A. 

I am an avowed monarchist for the simple reason that the presence of a monarch ensures that at least one position in our national life is beyond the reach of politicians, their cronies, and the people who fund them. That it is also beyond the reach of everyone else is a small price to pay.

What republicans invariably fail to put forward is the alternative to a monarch - because that alternative would be a president who either would be a politician or a political crony. That is inevitable. And it is inconceivable that any such president could ever even command majority support, leave alone match the 70-odd percent support the Queen routinely receives.
John Birch, England

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The scientist who grew a human ear on the back of a mouse has suggested it may one day be possible to "grow" a liver.

US researchers say the prospect of artificial livers has been brought closer because they have worked out how to grow deep networks of blood vessels - which has not been done before.

The potential new source of livers for transplants was welcomed by campaigners as a way of closing the gap between the number of organs needed and those available.

In the UK, there are only around 100 people waiting for a liver transplant, but the British Liver Trust said many people died before they reached the list.

However experts have warned the laboratory-based research is a long way from working livers.

Copying

In 1997 Dr Jay Vacanti grew a human ear from cartilage cells the back of a mouse, causing outrage among animal rights and pro-life groups. 

If we can't sort this problem out, we could be stuck with lab-based solutions we can't use

Larry Hench, Imperial College, London

Now Dr Vacanti, a transplant surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Jeffrey Borenstein, micro-engineering expert at the nearby Draper Lab are looking at growing more complex tissues.

Scientists had believed it was not possible to grow anything more complex than simple tissues, such as thin sections of knee cartilage and skin because of problems growing the blood vessel networks.

To do this, they use a "frame" made of a biodegradable plastic.

This is immersed in a solution of the patient's cells, then in a nutrient solution. 

As the cells multiply and link together, the frame dissolves, leaving a piece of cartilage which survives because oxygen and nutrients from surrounding fluids feed into the cells.

But in thicker tissues, the nutrients are unable to get past the first few cell layers and need an internal blood supply to survive.

The technique developed by the researchers involves copying the blood vessel network of a real liver and using 3D computer modelling and machining to mimic its construction. 

To copy the structure, they injected a liquid plastic into the blood vessels of a liver, wait for it to solidify and dissolve the liver tissue, leaving a solid cast of the organ's blood vessels. 

They can then take "measure up" and feed data into a computer to create a 3D model of a liver's blood supply.

3D

This model is then "sliced up" on the computer into horizontal layers, which can be used to make a silicon mould. 

Biodegradable plastic is then poured into the mould to make enough slices that can be sandwiched together using pressure and heat, to create a scaffold for a whole liver. 

The scaffold then has to be injected with at least seven types of cells that make up the solid part of the liver.

A solution of endothelial cells, which normally line blood vessels, then has to be pumped into the empty channels in the frame where they stick to the walls. 

These can then be grown in a nutrient to form a network of blood vessels within the scaffold which again dissolves over a few months.

If each step of this process works, it would result in a functioning liver.

But blood vessel networks grown this way have so far been tested in rats, with no leakage or obstruction of the blood flow. 

Linda Griffith, a tissue engineer at MIT, said one of the main problems of the idea would be getting all the right cell types to grow in the right places.

She told New Scientist magazine, which sets out the research: "In just a gram of liver, you have around 100 million cells and it'd be very hard to position each and every one.

Larry Hench, a tissue engineer at Imperial College, London added: "Currently, there's no way of keeping these implants sterile, and no one is really looking at that."

"If we can't sort this problem out, we could be stuck with lab-based solutions we can't use."

Nigel Hughes, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, told BBC News Online: "We know that the demand for livers is going to outstrip supply.

"We hope to see all of this biotech science come to fruition." 

Twins are at risk of developing the condition autism, according to researchers. 

Previous studies have suggested that genes play a key role in determining who is at risk of developing the potentially socially debilitating illness. 

But two studies carried out in the UK and the US suggest that environmental factors such as experiences in the womb, may also be involved. 

You can't jump to the conclusion that everything is genetics

David Greenberg, Columbia University

However, the National Autistic Society has warned that more research is needed. 

In the first study, David Greenberg, a geneticist at Columbia University in New York, examined a database of families in which at least two siblings had autism.

He began to have doubts about the genetic basis of autism when he identified a significant number of both identical and fraternal twins in the database. 

Of the 166 sibling pairs they identified, 17 were identical twins and 12 were fraternal twins. 

The figure for identical twins was 12 times higher than the general population. 

But the figure for fraternal twins was also high, at four times the rate for the general population. 

Unlike identical twins, fraternal twins do not share the exact same genetic blueprint.

A second study, by Christopher Gillberg of St George's Hospital Medical School in London, also identified a high proportion of twins with autism. 

He studied 79 sibling pairs and identified nine pairs of identical twins - 14 times the level in the general population. 

Environmental factors

The findings, published in New Scientist, raise the prospect that the experiences of twins in the womb are important factors. 

The authors suggested that the battle between twins for resources, such as food, could be a factor. 

They added that high rates among identical twins could be due to a fiercer competition for these resources. 

Identical twins can be more closely associated in the womb, lacking one or two membranes that separate fraternal twins. 

Dr Greenberg speculated that not having enough of these resources could increase the risk of developing autism. 

But he added: "The lesson here is that even in the age of the Human Genome Project, you can't jump to the conclusion that everything is genetics." 

More research

A spokesman for the National Autistic Society said: "This study adds to other work suggesting environmental exposures in the womb might play a significant role in the development of the disorder. 

"However, as the recent Medical Research Council Review of autism reported, no specific prenatal exposures have been established as contributory as yet." 

He added: "Since the condition is not wholly genetic, environmental factors also need to be explained. 

"Only 10% of the cases of autism can be ascribed to a particular medical condition. This leaves an awful lot of explanation still to be done."

 

By Corinne Podger  BBC science staff

A mouse-like fossil found in north-eastern China has been identified as the earliest known member of the family of mammals whose descendents include humans.

The small, furry creature lived at the same time that dinosaurs ruled the surface of the Earth, 125 million years ago.

The fossil was found in Liaoning Province. 

It belongs to the family of mammals known as "eutherians" or "placentals", which means its young would have developed in a placenta in the female's uterus.

The Chinese fossil represents the earliest known ancestor of all placentals, including our own group of mammals, the primates.

Tree climber

The animal was about the size of a mouse and covered in heavy fur.

It lived between 140 million and 110 million years ago, making it nearly twice as old as many famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex or Triceratops.

It has been named Eomaia scansoria, meaning first - or earliest - climber.

Its skeleton, although flattened into a section of rock, is nevertheless remarkably complete.

Most ancient mammals are only known by a few teeth or bones, but the entire body of E. scansoria, including its heavy fur, is still clearly visible.

Analysis of the fossil skeleton indicates the animal was an agile creature with a powerful ability to climb.

And the researchers, who report the their findings in the journal Nature, suggest this may explain how it managed to survive during the age of the dinosaurs: by climbing and hiding in trees. 

 

By Corinne Podger  BBC Science Correspondent

The African continent is observing its second Africa Malaria Day - a chance to assess progress in controlling and treating the disease. 

This year, the event is taking the theme of community - recognising the vital role of health workers, schools and families, on the front-line of the battle against this deadly tropical disease. 

Malaria in Africa

900,000 Africans die every year  Malaria spreading to new areas  Cheapest drug - chloroquine - becoming less effective  Refugees at particular risk

Malaria infects more than 300 million people a year, and causes more than a million deaths. 

Ninety per cent of those deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of them involving children. 

Despite years of research, a vaccine to prevent the disease still eludes researchers. And the death toll is expected to rise as the parasite which causes malaria becomes increasingly resistant to older drugs, like chloroquine. 

New approaches

In recent years, several large-scale initiatives have been set up to tackle malaria. 

One is the Medicines for Malaria Venture, or MMV. A partnership between drug companies and health agencies, MMV hopes to produce a new anti-malarial drug every five years, to replace older, less effective ones. 

New anti-malaria drugs are needed

Another venture is Roll-Back Malaria - a partnership between the World Health Organisation, the UN, and governments and drug firms in industrial and developing countries. It is aiming to halve the global burden of the disease by 2010. 

David Alnwick, who heads the project, says progress in finding new drugs and controlling infection rates has been slow, and funding remains inadequate. 

In some countries, he says malaria epidemics have actually become worse in the four years since RollBack Malaria was set up. 

Until the new drugs - or indeed, a vaccine - are developed, he says attention is being concentrated on protective measures, such as mosquito nets treated with insecticide, and developing better emergency responses to outbreaks. 

Most people assume that life in the rat race is bad for your health.

But new research suggests it is men who give up their careers to become house husbands who are more at risk of a fatal heart attack.

Society expects the main carer to be a woman, and society is structured around that

Jack O'Sullivan

The study found that the pressures of staying at home to look after the children can be so stressful that they have a damaging effect on health.

Researcher Dr Elaine Eaker, of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises in Wisconsin, said the key to the problem was that some men became stressed about the fact that they were performing a role not traditionally associated with them by society.

Men who do stay at home to look after the family tend not to have the same levels of support from peers, friends and family as women who do the same.

The findings are based on a 10-year study of 2,682 people aged between 18 and 77 who lived in the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts.

Men who described themselves as house husbands had an 82% higher death rate over the period of the study than men who worked outside the home. Heart disease accounted for most of the extra risk.

The finding held good even when other factors such as age, blood pressure, and cholesterol level were taken into account.

Lonely life

Jack O'Sullivan, of the Fathers Direct group, was quoted as saying: "Home dads can be quite isolated.

"Society expects the main carer to be a woman, and society is structured around that.

"Daycare is called 'mother and toddler groups' and some men feel awkward about belonging to those groups."

Professor Cary Cooper, an occupational psychologist at the University of Manchester, said many men were guilty of under-estimating the task of caring for a family.

He said: "Most men think being a house husband will involve popping on a bit of washing, taking the kids to school and then putting their feet up with a cup of coffee.

"They are crazy. Housewives do much more multi-tasking than almost any man ever has to do in the workplace."

It is estimated that men have taken over the main homemaker's role in one in seven homes as increasing numbers of women become the main breadwinner.

The study also found that women in high powered jobs were more likely to develop heart disease than those in more junior positions. For men, that finding was reversed.

The research was presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association.

The 12 British plane-spotters arrested at a Greek airfield should have noted signs warning against taking photographs, the mechanic who first found them has said.

But a defence witness said they were clearly harmless hobbyists.

Lieutenant Ioannis Balas apprehended the Britons, facing espionage charges, at the Kalamata air base in southern Greece.

Note-taking in conjunction with other activities may be detrimental (to Greek security)

Lieutenant Ionnis Balas

Mr Balas, witness for the prosecution, said the group should have taken note of signs prohibiting photography.

They should have known this also applied to note-taking and wandering around the base, he said.

"Since photography is mentioned all the rest should be self-evident," he said.

"Note-taking in conjunction with other activities may be detrimental (to Greek security)." 

'Like a game'

But the editor of the Greek Radio Telecommunications magazine, Nick Kassimis, said the group were quite clearly not spies.

Asked about scanners which pick up military frequencies - one of which was found in the group's vehicle - he said spotters often used them, and they were harmless.

There are at least 100 Greek planespotters

Defence witness Nick Kassimis

He said: "They're unable to scan coded messages so anything secret the pilot says scanners wouldn't be able to decipher it.

"This isn't the sort of equipment people involved in real espionage would use."

He then had to explain to an incredulous court that plane-spotting as a hobby was not unheard-of in Greece.

"It's like a game where spotters compete to see who can get most numbers," he said.

"There are at least 100 Greek plane-spotters," he said, adding there were plans to allow a special spotting area at Sparta's new airport.

'Acting suspiciously'

The 12 Britons are on trial with two Dutch plane-spotters. If found guilty of the charges they face five years in jail or a hefty fine.

Earlier Squadron Leader Nektarios Samaras, of the Greek Air Force, said he could not understand the group's claim they were writing down aircraft numbers as part of their hobby.

He said they had made it difficult for security officers to watch them, defied a ban on photography and used a scanner to listen in on pilots and staff.

The spotters deny taking photographs, or using a scanner, and say they were taking down aircraft numbers simply for their own enjoyment.

Mr Samaras decided to have them watched after they were spotted acting "suspiciously" at another base.

Mr Samaras said their actions could have led to them jeopardising the security of the country.

Mr Samaras said he had not been aware plane-spotting was a hobby and had no idea it was allowed in other countries.

Restricted areas

He said the group had managed to collect details of planes not visible in public areas during an open day and mud on their shoes suggested they had been in closed areas.

Mr Samaras suggested the group were planning to supply information to update manuals which contained details of aircraft used by European air forces.

We cannot understand the reason for recording this information

Squadron Leader Nektarios Samaras

He said: "We checked through the notes to see what details were written down and we cannot understand the reason for recording this information.

"Based on all the previous information, I concluded the purpose of their presence was to collect classified information."

Prison sentence

The 14 defendants had originally faced charges of planning to pass information on to an enemy of Greece - a crime punishable by 25 years in prison.

They were held in prison for almost six weeks, before being released on bail and allowed to return to Britain.

Another witness for the defence will claim the information the spotters collected was already freely available, particularly on the internet.

The accused are: 

• Paul Coppin, 45, and his wife Lesley, 51, of Mildenhall, Suffolk
• Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge, west London
• Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London 
• Andrew Jenkins, 32, from York 
• Michael Bussell, 47, of Swanland, near Hull
• Michael Keane, 57, of Dartford, Kent
• Steven Rush, 38, from Caterham, Surrey
• Christopher Wilson, 46, from Gatwick, West Sussex; 
• Graham Arnold, 38, from Ottershaw, Surrey
• Gary Fagan, 30, from Kegworth, Leicestershire
• Wayne Groves, 38, from Tamworth, Staffordshire

The world is set for a strong economic recovery next year, according to a leading international organisation.

The OECD, which represents the world's 30 richest countries, says that "confidence has returned more rapidly than expected" to the world's economies, especially in the United States, despite the 11 September terrorist attacks.

Growth in major economies

US 2002: 2.5% 2003: 3.5%  Eurozone 2002: 1.3% 2003: 2.9%  Japan 2002: -0.7% 2003: 0.3%  UK 2002: 1.9% 2003: 2.8%  source: OECD

And it expects "growth momentum" to return, with overall economic growth among rich countries rising from 1.8% this year to 3% in 2003.

But the recovery will be strongest in the United States, where growth could reach 3.5% next year, weaker in Europe and especially weak in Japan, whose economy is still declining.

And it warns that rising oil prices, or a sharp rise in interest rates while consumers still have large debts, could still derail the recovery.

Risks remain

The OECD warns that there are still risks for policymakers, even in the United States, where the sharp cuts in interest rates and increases in government spending helped make the recession short-lived.

The "timing and speed" of the withdrawal of these stimulants to growth remain crucial. Interest rates should only be raised gradually, while the Federal budget should return to surplus to ensure "a more balanced distribution of risks."

And it projects that the US will have an even bigger trade deficit in 2003, which could put pressure on the dollar and lead to foreigners withdrawing investment in the US, especially if the stock market continues to fall.

And it warned that the growing trade gap could exacerbate protectionist pressures, as evidenced by the current trade war over steel imports.

UK warned

The UK - which had the best growth rate among all major industrial countries in 2001 - is expected to benefit from the recovery, aided by "resilient household confidence and an expansion of public spending."

But the OECD says the UK will grow by only 1.9% this year, and 2.8% next year, below the Chancellor's forecast of 2-2.5% this year and 3-3.5% next year.

It also expects unemployment to rise slightly, and the Bank of England to begin raising interest rates soon - by the spring of 2002.

According to the OECD, the main risk for the UK economy is that higher interest rates could undermine consumer confidence and house prices, although that could help "unwind" the imbalance between the consumer and manufacturing sector, especially the pound sterling weakened on foreign exchange markets.

Eurozone weak

The OECD warned that there were "as yet few signs of a bottoming-out" of the downturn in Europe, and warned the European Central Bank not to raise interest rates "until the recovery has become more firmly established."

It also said that more progress was needed in structural reforms, such as more competition in financial and product markets, and changes to the labour markets to reduce the tax burden on the low-skilled.

It projects unemployment to remain above 8%, while inflationary pressures will remain moderate despite the recovery.

Japan in recession

The big exception to the recovery is Japan, where the economy is expected to shrink for the second year in a row during 2002, declining by 0.7%, before recovering to a very weak 0.3% growth rate in 2003.

The OECD says that although exports are recovering with the weaker yen, growth remains "very anaemic" due to the reluctance of households to spend money. As consumers fear rising unemployment and inadequate state pension provision, 

Deflation, or falling prices, seems to "have become entrenched", further reducing demand, while the ills of the banking sector mean that extra money pumped into the system by the Bank of Japan have not led to increased lending and spending.

Developing countries gain

The OECD says that developing countries will also benefit from the world recovery, but that the recovery in the "dynamic Asian economies" like Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan could be slower than expected, due to weaknesses in the banking system and increased competition from China.

But China's growth rate is slowing, and becoming more dependent on domestic demand, rather than exports.

In South America, Brazil has avoided any financial contagion from the Argentine crisis, and looks set for a strong recovery in 2003.

US President George W Bush has expressed support for a planned civil action by bereaved families against those they believe carried out the Omagh bombing.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the 1998 bombing by the dissident republican Real IRA, said Mr Bush's backing was a very welcome boost to the relatives' campaign.

The families have been campaigning to raise more than a million pounds to lodge the action.

Only one man in the Irish Republic has been convicted of charges connected with the bombing.

George W Bush: "We wish you well in pursuing justice"

Twenty-nine men, women and children died and hundreds were injured when the Real IRA detonated a car bomb in the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998 - a Saturday when the centre was full of shoppers. 

Mr Gallagher received a letter from President Bush's Northern Ireland advisor Richard Haass, expressing their support for the civil action.

"We are heartened that people in Northern Ireland are turning away from violence and instead relying on normal political and legal means to resolve issues and disputes," Mr Haass said in the letter.
 
 

"In that vein, we commend your decision to pursue legal civic actions against those responsible for the Omagh atrocity. 

"The president and I thank you for keeping us informed of your endeavours and wish you well in pursuing justice for the victims of the Omagh tragedy and their families." 

'Important boost'

Mr Gallagher said the US administration's policy of zero terrorism should be seen as an example. 

He told BBC Radio Ulster: "The importance of this is that America will support victims when they stand up to be counted. 

"We saw this early on in this administration, when one of the first things they did was to put the Real IRA and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Irish Prisoners' Welfare Association on their foreign terrorists list. 

"I think we have seen right through this administration, that when people masquerade as victims supporters or politicians, that they will be challenged, and I think that is important."

The families' campaign has recently been backed by celebrities and politicians including rockstar Bob Geldof, former boxer Barry McGuigan and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson. 

The UK's ailing pay-TV network ITV Digital is on the verge of being broken up, after the firm's court-appointed administrators ran out of money to keep the company going.

It is likely that customers will continue to receive free-to-air services - at least in the short-term

Deloitte & Touche ITV Digital administrators

If the pay-TV service is not sold as a going concern within the next few days, its assets - including its set-top boxes and subscriber base - are likely to be sold off separately.

The move spells financial trouble for dozens of Football League clubs, who rely on a broadcasting rights deal with ITV Digital for £178.5m of income.

Free-to-air digital terrestrial channels such as BBC Choice, BBC News 24, BBC4, ITV2 and ITN News should continue to be available to ITV subscribers, even when the pay-TV service ceases.

Football rights

Football League officials were reluctant to comment on ITV Digital's collapse. 

The rights for televising League games will now revert to the clubs, who will be free to find a new buyer for the contract.

It is highly unlikely they will receive offers anywhere near as lucrative as those made by ITV Digital.

One club - Lincoln - said on Thursday afternoon that in the light of the developments it had "parted company" with its current manager to save money.

The industry regulator, the Independent Television Commission (ITC), has warned that it will revoke ITV Digital's licence once the firm stops broadcasting its pay-TV services. The licence will then be offered for tender.

ITV Digital subscribers will soon lose paid-for services such as Sky Sports and ITV movie channels.

The BBC has said it will ensure that all viewers of terrestrial digital television will still be able to receive its services, and is now talking to the administrators to acquire some of the equipment used by ITV Digital for transmission.

The BBC will not enter the pay-TV business itself.

High-speed search for broadcaster

The ITC said it would liaise with the government and broadcasters "to ensure the continued availability to viewers of the digital terrestrial free-to-air public services".

 And paid-for services could return soon. The commission has promised to start an "accelerated re-tender" for ITV Digital's broadcasting license soon, which could take as little as six weeks.

ITV Digital's backers, Carlton and Granada, are believed to have refused to continue funding the operation because of concerns over the length of time it would take to transfer its broadcasting licence to a buyer.

However, the ITC told BBC News Online they had offered to oversee the transfer of the licence in just two weeks - considerably shorter than the 11-month process by which it was awarded in the first instance.

Scared away

 The administrators sounded a note of caution over free-to-air services, saying they could only be guaranteed "in the short-term whilst the sale process is concluded". 

In a statement, Deloitte & Touche said they had "not been able to secure additional funding" to allow a controlled sale of the business as a going concern. 

They also warned that they had only "a few days" to sell the business and assets.

Prospective buyers had apparently been scared away by worries over the cost of funding the company during the sales process.

 As talks dragged on, fewer and fewer analysts thought it possible to sell the business as a going concern.

Digital television still on-air

 Terrestrial digital television will continue to be broadcast, though, as free channels are transmitted unencrypted.

So no card or subscriber management service will be needed as long as viewers keep their set-top box.

ITV Digital customers should be able to get information about service availability on their television screens.

However, there is still some uncertainty about what happens to ITV Digital's set-top boxes - needed to receive the digital signal. 

Only about 200,000 of ITV Digital's 1.2m subscribers bought their boxes outright, with the remainder being given the boxes with their subscription, meaning they effectively still belong to the company.

Recovering the boxes would be a very labour-intensive and costly process, though, and whoever buys ITV Digital's assets may decide that it would not be worth the effort.

The Hubble Space Telescope has sighted the oldest stars in our galaxy, giving a new measure for the age of the Universe as a whole.

It puts this at between 13 and 14 billion years old - consistent with recent estimates by cosmologists based on other evidence.

International astronomers used the Hubble to hunt for very small burnt-out stars, known as white dwarfs, among a cluster of ancient stars some 7,000 light-years away.

The Hubble was recently repaired

The stars are still giving off heat, which can be measured by the orbiting space telescope.

The cooling cinders give an indication of when the white dwarf stars were born - just under 13 billion years ago.

The first stars are thought to have formed about a billion years after the Big Bang, suggesting the Universe is 13-14 billion years old.

This is consistent with calculations by cosmologists based on measurements of how fast the Universe is expanding.

'Real triumph'

The results were announced at a press conference of the US space agency (Nasa) in Washington DC.

Scientists said the age they came up with - just under 14 billion years give or take 500 million years or so - was calculated using a different method from earlier estimates.

It offers independent verification that astronomers were on the right track, they told reporters.

"It's almost as if we were saying, 'you always thought you knew how old you were, but you never had proof'," said Bruce Margon of the Space Telescope Science Institute. 

"One day, you open a drawer and there's your birth certificate, and you get the same answer. That's a real triumph."

A 12-member international team carried out the research. The study has been submitted for publication to The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

As many as one in 10 bodies in hospital mortuaries may be wrongly named, a study suggests.

Research carried out at Walsall NHS Trust in the West Midlands found staff there failed to ensure deceased patients were correctly identified. 

This meant doctors ran the risk of carrying out post mortems on the wrong people while families could have been shown the wrong body. 

There is very poor data on the mortuary service in the NHS in general. All we have is anecdotal evidence

Dr Ye Lin Hock, Walsall NHS Trust

The doctors who carried out the research said there was anecdotal evidence to suggest this was being repeated in hospitals across the NHS. 

The study, published in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal, follows a string of recent stories in which hospitals stored bodies on mortuary floors, in lorries and in chapels because mortuaries were full. 

Consultant histopathologist Dr Ye Lin Hock and colleagues examined documents for all 7,761 deceased patients in the hospital between 1996 and 2000. 

The bodies had been received from funeral directors and ambulance crews as well as hospital wards. 

ID checks

The doctors checked wrist bands, labels and identification papers against the patient's registration details for any discrepencies. 

They found that in 1997 documents relating to one in 10 patients were inaccurate. 

This included patients who had been wrongly named or whose property had not been correctly identified. 

In some cases, patients with pacemakers had also failed to be identified - risking of the pacemaker exploding if the body was cremated. 

By 2000, performance had improved with just 3% of patients affected. 

However, the doctors said this was probably because staff had been alerted to errors during the study. 

Dr Hock said the study had not identified instances where wrong identification had caused serious problems. 

Speaking to BBC News Online, he added that there was anecdotal evidence to suggest it could also be happening in other hospitals. 

Poor data

 "It is hard to know if it is happening in other hospitals but there is anecdotal evidence. 

"There is very poor data on the mortuary service in the NHS in general. All we have is anecdotal evidence," Dr Hock said. 

He called on hospitals to audit their mortuaries services to ensure mistakes were kept to a minimum. 

"To err is human and errors occur everywhere but it is important to put procedures in place to reduce mistakes," he said. 

Dr Hock said improving the system would help to restore the confidence of patients in pathology services.