Dramatic footage has emerged showing the killer Germanwings pilot learning to fly as a teenager years before the fatal crash in the French Alps. Andreas Lubitz, 27, who deliberately crashed his passenger jet into a mountain killing all 150 on board, is seen laughing and joking as he takes off and flies a glider in Germany. On the in-flight video, made around a decade ago, he can be heard saying 'right, here we go then' as he is towed aloft. As he scans the horizon, he says: 'Why is it so quiet today? It is unbelievable.' He then jokes with his companion: 'We're going until we have no more fuel, okay?' Scroll down for video . Clip: Andreas Lubitz is seen in the footage laughing and smiling as he takes off and flies a glider in Germany . Up in the air: Dramatic footage emerged of the Germanwings killer co-pilot training around a decade ago . The 30-second video - obtained by ITV News and taken in Lubitz's home town of Montabaur near Frankfurt - was discovered as Germany continued to search for answers over the tragedy. Lubitz went on to begin his training as a commercial airline pilot in 2007. But he was forced to take a six-month medical break for depression and 'burnout' before finally qualifying as a first officer at Lufthansa two years ago. German investigators also found torn-up sicknotes and a 'small mountain of pills' in Lubitz's Dusseldorf flat which showed he had hidden the extent of his illness from his employers. At least one of the medical certificates covered the day of the crash last Tuesday. The 27-year-old was also said to be 'living on the edge' because he feared that his deteriorating blurred vision would cost him his pilot's licence. Calls are now intensifying for doctor-patient confidences to be suspended for people responsible for the lives of others. Yesterday a British air safety expert said Lubitz was able to hide his medical problems because of a 'gaping hole' in the system for monitoring pilot health. Under confidentiality laws rules, which also operate in the UK, patients do not have to tell GPs where they work and doctors are not able to tell employers about any health issues because of patient confidentiality. Taking to the skies: Lubitz is heard saying 'right, here we go then' as he is towed aloft in his home town of Montabaur near Frankfurt . Lubitz - pictured competing at the Airportrun in Hamburg in September 2009 - was treated by several neurologists and psychiatrists and various medications were found at his home, it has been reported . Devastation: Debris from the Germanwings Airbus A320 is seen at the site of the crash, near Seyne-les-Alpes in France . The onus of reporting any health issues rests solely on employees. Tony Newton, a British pilot and Civil Aviation Authority examiner, said: 'It's a gaping hole. It would happen in the UK as well.' German prosecutors are expected to release fresh details today of their investigation  based on a weekend spent sifting through paperwork and computers seized from his home in Dusseldorf. A special police commission of 100 officers codenamed 'Alpine Squad' is now working to try to establish the exact motive why Lubitz, 27, committed suicide and mass murder. Prosecutors have confirmed he suffered massive depression, hid his treatment from his bosses and was having trouble in his relationship with live-in lover Kathrin Goldbach, 26, a schoolteacher who some reports in Germany claim is carrying his child. Police spokesman Andreas Czogalla said; 'This is certainly one of our biggest investigations for decades. All police colleagues are extremely motivated.' It came as chilling transcript from the aircraft's black box voice recorder revealed Lubitz responding 'hopefully' and 'we'll see' when he ran through in-flight landing checks with the captain of his doomed aircraft. His responses came just a few moments before he encouraged Patrick Sondenheimer to go the toilet and took control of the flight. Taking photos: Forensic experts from the French gendarmerie disaster victim identification unit working under a tent near the site of the crash . Respectful: A man stands in front of a headstone in Seyne-les-Alpes, the closest accessible site to where the Germanwings plane crashed . Later Mr Sondenheimer is heard shouting 'open the god damn door!' as he desperately tried to break back into the cockpit. Passengers screamed as Mr Sondenheimer attempted to smash his way in with a crowbar after Lubitz locked him out and put the plane into a descent. But the only sound from the cockpit was Lubitz breathing as the aircraft plummeted at 3,500 feet per minute before smashing into the French Alps. After Mr Sondenheimer left him at the controls, he switched the autopilot from the cruising altitude of 38,000ft to 96ft – a move that was certain to crash the plane over the Alps. The exchange was revealed yesterday as pictures of Lubitz as a child and a teenager emerged, and it was claimed his girlfriend may be pregnant. 10.01am: Plane takes off from Barcelona 26 minutes late. 10.27: Reaches cruising altitude of 38,000ft. Lubitz tells captain Sondenheimer he can go to the toilet. 10 27-10.29: Sondenheimer tells Lubitz: 'You can take over.' Sound of a seat being pushed back and a click of the closing door. 10.29: The plane, flight 4U9525, begins its descent. 10.30-10.34: Loud bang, which sounds like someone trying to enter the cockpit. 10.35: 'Loud, metallic banging against the cockpit door' apparently as Sondenheimer attempts to break in with a crow bar. 10.37: Automatic warning sounds on flight deck, saying 'pull up, pull up' Sondenheimer shouts: 'Open the god damn door.' 10.38: The breathing of Lubitz can be heard in the cockpit but he says nothing. 10.40: Jet hits the mountainside with its right wing. The last sounds are screams from passengers. 10.42: French air navigation service sends out search and rescue teams.

Andreas Lubitz, 27, captured on an in-flight camera taking off  in a glider . Video believed to have been taken in Germany when he was in late teens . Jokes with his companion: 'We're going until we have no more fuel, okay?' Later trained as airline pilot in 2007 before taking six-month medical break .

 board, was shown at 15 years old on his training flight. The clip shows him wearing his pilot uniform with a smile on his face as a voice asks: ‘Any problem with the engine?’ He replies: ‘No, it’s good.’ He was later seen doing a similar safety check at another school …
In a final image, the instructor pulls the engine levers to demonstrate the emergency procedure. A friend who was close to Mr Lubitz has said he ‘never seemed depressed or tormented’.
“I never saw anything about [him] that would make me think he was mentally ill or anything.” ~Christian Ewe, friend (source, Express)
~ “The only thing he said about was his career as a pilot and that he wasn’t sure that he could handle it in the long run” ~ (source, Telegraph)
One of his instructors at the Germanwings training school at Oberpfaffenhofen said: ‘He was a very reliable, very good and very responsible student.’
Lubitz studied at a vocational school in the north of Germany where he specialised in IT and electronic engineering.
The Germanwings 9525 flight was carrying 149 passengers and six crew when the Airbus 320 crashed in a mountain side south-west of Chambery, 100 miles north of Paris. (source, Daily Mail)
There are also conflicting reports on the “final call” to Lubitz. Was he “in distress?” Did he deliberately crash the plane?
He wasn’t supposed to be flying solo. (source, Huffington Post)
Germanwings co-pilot ‘tried desperately to reach Lubitz’
The co-pilot, whose identity has not been revealed, tried desperately to reach his cabin in vain on April 9 before he opened the cockpit door and took control of the plane which crashed killing all 150 passengers and crew.
But he told his own lawyers he didn’t know why Lubitz was trying to crash the aircraft.
According to court papers obtained by the Express, the Germanwings co-pilot told his defence lawyers: “I have no idea why Lubitz did that.
“I only discovered a short while later that my colleague, a friend, had just committed suicide.” (source, Express)
Germanwings co-pilot’s final words to his son: “I have nothing left to live


A devoted husband who complained about his dying wife's care was mistakenly investigated for attempted murder after an NHS call-handler misunderstood his comments. John Histon called the health service after allegedly being told by a paramedic that call-outs to his wife Betty were 'becoming costly'. Mr Histon said he told the 111 operator: 'I suppose it is best to get her to suffocate and she won't be a problem to you.' The 70-year-old was then horrified when police turned up on his door 24 hours later saying ambulance trust staff reported he was threatening to kill his wife. A paramedic is said to have moaned that call-outs to terminally ill Betty Histon were 'becoming costly'. When her husband complained to the NHS he was investigated for attempted murder over comments he made . After searching his home in Bristol and finding Mrs Histon - who had chronic lung conditions - asleep in bed, they dropped the investigation and the NHS has since apologised. Mr Histon, who has since lost his wife to long-standing lung problems, said his and her treatment in her final days was 'shocking'. The retired decorator from  Bristol said: 'When they turned up on the door they asked me "do you know why we are here?", I assumed there had been a break-in in the area. 'They said they had an allegation that I have tried to smother my wife - I thought it was a hoax. I was shocked and nearly hit the floor. 'I never deserted her and cared for her right to the very end so it was very distressing to be accused and I was very angry.' Former auxiliary nurse Mrs Histon had a lung condition and her concerned husband called for paramedics on December 15 when she was struggling to breathe. He claims the paramedics who attended said the call-outs to the grandmother were 'becoming a costly exercise'. Mr Histon said: 'The young female paramedic said "what do you expect, there is no point in admitting her to hospital, there is nothing we can do for her". 'She was quite cocky about it and she said looking at the notes it looks like they had been called out quite frequently and it was becoming "a costly exercise".' Mr Histon called the NHS 111 service - who work with the ambulance service - the next day to lodge a complaint. An ambulance was called to Mrs Histon's suburban street (pictured) in Bristol by her husband. Police arrived the following day after an NHS call handler misunderstood comments he made over the phone . 'I said to the operator I suppose it is best to get her to suffocate and she won't be a problem to you again to try and emphasise how upsetting it was to be told we were some kind of burden to them,' he said. 'I thought nothing of it until the next evening I got a knock on the door from the police. 'They said they had received an allegation I had tried to smother my wife. They said it was from the ambulance.' Mrs Histon died in January from bronchopneumonia and Mr Histon is considering legal action against South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust over his and his wife's treatment. A spokesman for the trust said: 'Mr Histon raised concerns regarding advice he had been given by one of the ambulance crews who attended his wife. 'He also had concerns about a safeguarding referral made following Mr Histon's comments about it being 'best to get her to suffocate'. 'The Trust has given Mr Histon sincere condolences following the loss of his wife, and is sorry that he took offence from the advice given to him by the ambulance service. 'The Trust has also confirmed that the safeguarding referral to the police could have been managed differently, however, due to the number of vulnerable people the trust comes into contact with, staff are always very sensitive to such comments. 'Mr Histon has confirmed that he will be pursuing some form of financial compensation and although he has received a full response from the Trust regarding his complaint, should he feel there are any elements he still requires further clarification on we would urge him to get in touch.' South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, based in Exeter (pictured), has apologised .

70-year-old says paramedic told him call-outs to his wife were 'costly' The pensioner, from Bristol, phoned NHS to complain about the comments . He told call handler: 'I suppose it's best to get her to suffocate' But his complaints were misunderstood and handed on to police . OAP was then questioned and had his home searched by officers . NHS has now apologised to the elderly man, whose wife has since died .

's house were taking priority over emergencies.
The 78-year-old is alleged to have responded: "If it wasn't for me, it wouldn't be your priority. It's my wife." When his wife, June, who had vascular dementia, fell ill while Mr Histon was out, he is said to have made the call after discovering blood on the kitchen floor.
He allegedly told the call-taker "I hope you get the virus I've got and you die", but said it was taken as a threat against his wife. "He is very shocked and distressed," said Mr Histon's wife's daughter, Sarah Brown, in a statement to North Somerset council.
"It's not like him, especially with people he doesn't know well. We can't believe he would even dream of making a threat." North Somerset council and NHS England are now investigating the incident, and the call-handler involved has been removed from the NHS system while they conduct their probe, the Bristol Post reports.
"An urgent investigation has been launched following a complaint about North Somerset Council's response to an NHS 111 call which was made by John Histon," a council statement read. "We are taking immediate action to conduct a full and thorough investigation into what happened.
"This includes a thorough review of the call made by Mr Histon, consideration of any potential wider concerns regarding the call made by Mr Histon and an assessment of the response to the call. The council will keep Mr Histon fully updated at all times.
"This is a distressing incident and our immediate priority is to support Mr Histon at this time and make sure he gets all the information and assistance he needs.
"We are sorry to hear of Mr Histon's concerns regarding NHS 111 and are taking his comments very seriously."
The call handler has since been removed from the NHS system as a "precaution", North Somerset council added. NHS England told MailOnline that the nature of the investigation meant it was not able to provide a "running commentary" on the issue.
In a statement, it said: "The caller was asked to report the symptoms to a GP or attend the Accident and Emergency department, which is the right place to go in an emergency. Call handlers are instructed to provide the highest priority response to people who call for help."
Meanwhile, in the US, officials from the US Center for Medicare


Chelsea captain John Terry praised the character of his Premier League-title chasing team to bounce back from conceding a two-goal lead to beat Hull and enter the international break on a high. Draws against Paris St Germain - a result which ended the Blues' Champions League participation - and Southampton may have knocked confidence. And when Hull came back from going 2-0 down after nine minutes to draw level at 2-2, Chelsea had to dig deep to win 3-2 through Loic Remy's strike. John Terry praised Chelsea's character after recovering from allowing Hull back into the match against Hull . Terry and Nemanja Matic celebrate with Eden Hazard after the Belgian gave Chelsea an early lead . Terry talks to the Chelsea players after Diego Costa put the Blues 2-0 up at the KC Stadium . It leaves Jose Mourinho's men with a six-point lead and a game in-hand on second-placed Manchester City. 'The importance of the win showed on the players' faces and that of the manager afterwards,' Terry said. 'When you set the standard so high as we have done from the word go, then start dropping points at home and go out of the Champions League, once again it comes back down to character. 'It's immense in the dressing room, there is an awful lot of experience in there. It will serve the younger lads well, too. 'It was an important three points going into the international break. For everyone to dwell over that for two weeks was massive.' Terry and his team-mates applaud the Chelsea fans after beating Hull 3-2 on Sunday . Jose Mourinho looks disgruntled after watching his Premier Leaders throw away a two-goal lead in first half . Mourinho reflected on a commanding advantage which he hopes will help Chelsea win a first Premier League title since 2010. 'It's the best position since the beginning of the season,' Mourinho, who is chasing a third Premier League title, told Chelsea TV. 'The maximum points (advantage) we had was eight points and when we had eight points we were speaking about 20 matches to go. 'In this moment we have six points (advantage) with one match in hand with 24 possible points for our opponents. 'We know our opponents are there, we know football is very unpredictable, we know that what is happening to us for the last two or three months we cannot control. 'But we also know that we are strong, we are together and we are going to fight to get the points we need to be champions.' Hazard jumps for joy after his fine strike put Jose Mourinho's side into the lead in Hull . Diego Costa doubled the visitor's advantage with a fine curing effort past Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor . Mourinho was referring to the incidents, such as in the draw with Southampton, which he believes denied his side more points than they earned. The win at the KC Stadium was Chelsea's third in seven games. The Blues had followed the Capital One Cup win over Tottenham at Wembley with victory over West Ham, but had been frustrated since. Now Terry hopes his Chelsea team-mates can return from the international hiatus reinvigorated and ready to carry the momentum from the Hull win by claiming a first home win since February 11 against Everton. 'The title race is exciting,' the former England defender added. 'There is still an awful long way to go. We have Stoke at home and QPR away next, which is always a tough one for us. Loic Remy's scored the winning goal for Chelsea moments after coming on as a second-half substitute . Ahmed Elmohamady netted Hull City's first goal to give them a route back into the match at the KC Stadium . Abel Hernandez capitalises on Thibaut Courtois' mistake to get Hull City back on level terms . 'Hopefully everyone will come back fit after the break and go again. 'But it's important we get back to winning at the Bridge because it's something we haven't done for a few weeks.' Remy was being readied to play alongside Costa at Hull, but had to instead replace the striker, who picked up a hamstring injury. It was the France striker's fourth goal of a season which has seen him given limited opportunities, mainly off the substitutes' bench. He told chelseafc.com: 'It is true it is frustrating sitting on the bench but the manager knows all the team and he has very good quality in the squad. 'I know there are only 11 players on the pitch and as soon the manager needs me I am here. 'It's one of my best moments at Chelsea. I hope I will have more moments like that before the end of the season.'

Chelsea beat Hull 3-2 at the KC Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League . Jose Mourinho's side raced into a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes . Hull pegged the league leaders back with two goals in two minutes . John Terry praised the character in the dressing room to bounce back . Chelsea are six points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand . Jose Mourinho says Chelsea are in a great position to become champions .

would have been a calamity in recent seasons - and the Tigers were made to pay by the Blues for their profligacy. But after an encouraging display on the opening weekend of the season, Terry reckons his team will learn from the setback ahead of a packed run of fixtures which also includes tricky trips to Manchester United and Arsenal. "We have won two and we drew the other one and I am very pleased with the character we have shown in those games," he said. "We have gone behind in both games, which we didn't used to do. We are more resilient and our mindset is more about getting something out of a game than what we used to be. "The international break gives everyone the chance to reset and look at the second 10-15 games we have got to play. "We have to take the positives out of this game, we started the first half well. We could have gone on to win by two or three so in the grand scheme of things it was a positive - it could have been more." He added: "We are playing top sides away from home and it is a marathon, not a sprint, so we have to take it game by game. We were a bit unfortunate to concede the late one but we have made a good start to the season and we have to take the positives from the game." Chelsea were well worthy of the lead they had worked their way into. They had not kept clean sheets in three of their previous four league games and when Hull scored a freakish, deflected 25th minute opener they were not going to allow anything further to be gifted to them. However, Chelsea did gift the Tigers a way back into the game as the away side scored two sloppy goals in the second period. Chelsea started brightly, and should have been a goal up inside two minutes when a clever backheel from Cesc Fabregas to Willian saw the Brazilian fire against the crossbar. Hazard saw a low strike deflected behind for a corner and then there was a double scare as N'Golo Kante blocked an Ahmed Elmohamady effort with John Terry making a goal-line clearance when Abel Hernandez was set to tap in the rebound. There were chances aplenty but the game's first goal was netted by the hosts in the 25th minute. A ball over the top from Elmohamady set Kamil Grosicki scampering and he squared to Grosick for a shot across Thibaut Courto


Washington (CNN)The Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, alleging he used his Senate office to push the business interests of a Democratic donor and friend in exchange for gifts. People briefed on the case say Attorney General Eric Holder has signed off on prosecutors' request to proceed with charges, CNN first reported. An announcement could come within weeks.  Prosecutors are under pressure in part because of the statute of limitation on some of the allegations. Menendez told reporters Friday night he has "always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law." He added: "And I am not going anywhere." Menendez said that because of an ongoing investigation he couldn't answer questions at the news conference, held in Newark. The case could pose a high-profile test of the Justice Department's ability to prosecute sitting lawmakers, having already spawned a legal battle over whether key evidence the government has gathered is protected by the Constitution's Speech and Debate clause. The FBI and prosecutors from the Justice Department's public integrity section, have pursued a variety of allegations against Menendez, who has called the probe part of "smear campaign" against him. The government's case centers on Menendez's relationship with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist who the senator has called a friend and political supporter. Melgen and his family have been generous donors to the senator and various committees the senator is associated with. RELATED: FBI agents search office of Florida doctor known as Senator's donor . Investigators have focused in part on plane trips Menendez took in 2010 to the Dominican Republic as a guest of Melgen. In 2013, after word of the federal investigation became public, Menendez paid back  Melgen $58,000 for the 2010 plane trips calling his failure to properly disclose the flights an "oversight." Menendez said he has been friends with Melgen for more than 20 years and the two families have spent holidays and other special occasions together. One of the highest ranking Hispanic members of Congress, Menendez is a former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has become one of the Obama administration's most vocal Democratic opponents on two key foreign policy matters -- President Obama's decision to ease the trade embargo against Cuba and also his effort to engage direct negotiations with Iran over that country's nuclear program. Menendez advocated on Melgen's behalf with federal Medicare administrators who accused Melgen of overbilling the government's healthcare program, according to court documents and people briefed on the probe. Melgen was among the top recipients of Medicare reimbursements in recent years, during a time when he was also a major Democratic donor.  Melgen's attorneys have denied any wrongdoing. Prosecutors also are focusing on whether Menendez broke the law in advocating for Melgen's business interest in a Dominican Republic government contract for a port screening equipment. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, at the time, considered donating port screening equipment to the Dominican Republic, which would have hurt the contract of Melgen-controlled company. Menendez, now serving his second full term as senator, led the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2009-2011. During a Senate subcommittee hearing in 2012, Menendez didn't mention ICSSI, Melgen's company, by name, but he did press Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Rooney about an unnamed company who had a contract to X-ray cargo that went through all Dominican ports -- a contract that, he said, Dominican authorities "don't want to live by." "If those countries can get away with that, they will," the senator said. "And that puts American companies at a tremendous disadvantage." Menendez's office said at the time the senator's interest was based on his efforts to combat narcotrafficking in the region. Other lines of inquiry against Menendez had included  allegations he solicited prostitutes in the Dominican Republic, and that he violated the law helping win permanent U.S. residency for two Ecuadorian banking magnates, the Isaias brothers. The prostitution allegations collapsed after the purported prostitutes recanted their story, and the FBI didn't find evidence of wrongdoing in the Isaias matter, according to people briefed on the probe. The FBI probe has already spawned a legal battle between the government, Menendez and his former aides. Last week, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals briefly posted, apparently by accident, documents detailing legal efforts to block certain evidence and testimony the government wants to use. The documents were quickly put back under seal, but not before a reporter with the New Jersey Law Journal secured a copy and later published a story. According to the documents, Menendez's lawyers have sought to claim emails and testimony from aides is protected by the constitutional protections given to members of Congress in carrying out their duties. The speech and debate clause prohibits questioning of members of Congress about "legislative acts or the motivation for legislative acts." The fight centers in part on the Justice Department's attempt to compel testimony from Menendez's aides, some of whom have refused to answer questions to a grand jury. According to the documents, the government wants to question aides about a series of 2012 calls and meetings on Melgen's fight with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency. Among these is a meeting among Mendedez, Sen. Harry Reid and then Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The government is also pushing to use emails between Menendez's office and a CBP official about the Dominican ports issue. A federal district court ruled in favor of the government to compel testimony from Menendez's aides, but the appeals court reversed the ruling and ordered a hearing. "The parties primarily dispute the legislative character of Senator Menendez's two conversations with [then acting CMS administrator Marilyn] Tavenner and his meeting with Secretary Sebelius," the appeals court said. "These communications are not manifestly legislative acts because they are informal communications with executive branch officials, one of whom was at the time a presidential nominee whose nomination was pending before the United States senate."

An announcement from the Justice Department could come in weeks . Case will be a test of ability to prosecute sitting lawmakers .

Menendez, a close ally of President Barack Obama, is suspected of using his influence to secure a favorable visa for a woman with whom he had a close relationship, and the charges could lead to the senator's resignation or to a special election in which he would be forced to quit.
It is rare for the Justice Department to bring charges against a sitting member of Congress.
A Democratic aide described the charges as "troubling" and said Menendez was "extremely angry" at the allegations and "will fight them."
The source added that Menendez has spoken to President Barack Obama in recent days about the matter, and the White House has told the senator it will do "whatever it takes" to help him.
The charges are likely to intensify congressional scrutiny over sexual misconduct claims and allegations that Menendez, 64, engaged in improper conduct when he traveled with friend Salomon Melgen on Melgen's jet, a violation of Senate rules.
Menendez is also under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee over the matter and has not appeared in public since last month, when he was forced to sit for questioning by the Senate Committee on Ethics.
A source familiar with the situation who is close to Menendez says the senator "has done nothing wrong."
In March, Melgen donated $200,000 to Melgen's Democratic colleague, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California. The senator's office declined to provide CNN's information on how Menendez repaid the money and a call to a Senate aide confirmed that the repayment took place.
During an October fundraiser, Menendez was caught on tape talking about the assistance he said he provided for Melgen.
"As you know, I do what's good for my donors, and so does everybody," the senator said, according to a recording obtained by CNN. "When they call and say they want you to help, you help them."
Menendez's role in helping Melgen secure a visa for his companion, Salma Khuri, is at the heart of the Justice Department's investigation.
Khuri arrived in the US on September 10, 2013, to visit Melgen and Menendez when she applied for and obtained a visa to enter the country on the grounds of humanitarian need.
Two days later, Menendez arranged for his Senate chief of staff to contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with regard


Motorsport fans watched in horror on Saturday as two classic racing cars which have been lovingly maintained for decades crashed into each other while driving around Goodwood circuit. The unique Mercedes SLS 300 'Porter Special', worth an estimated £4million, which was being driven by F1 and Le Mans legend Jochen Mass crashed into the back of a Lister-Jaguar Knobbly - thought to be worth around £1million. The one-of-a-kind 1955 Mercedes - originally made out of aluminium - had been transported to the Sussex racetrack from German collector Dr Klaus Lahr especially for the Salvadori Cup race. Scroll down for video . This is the moment a £4million Mercedes from the 1950s crashed into the back of a £1million Lister-Jaguar at Goodwood racetrack on Saturday . Spectators watched in shock as the Mercedes - driven by racing legend Jochen Mass - ploughed into the Jaguar as it exited a chicane . The rear of the Jaguar - which was slowing to enter the pit lane - was wrenched upwards, while the front of the classic Mercedes disintergrated . Driver Mass crashed into the back of the 1959 Jaguar driven by Tony Wood during the qualifying round for the race and the famous racing car had to be winched onto a tow-truck. The Lister, owned by Barry Wood, was entering the pits when Mass powered out of a chicane to find the slowing Lister in front of him. He slammed on the brakes but his wheels locked up, causing the Mercedes to smash into the rear of the Lister. It brought the qualifying period to an abrupt halt with stewards running onto the track to help both drivers and deal with fuel which had leaked onto the Tarmac. Both drivers emerged from their cars unscathed but were taken to the medical room as a precaution. The cars did not fare so well however, with both suffering serious damage. The Mercedes came off the worst, with the front-end badly dented, meaning it could not be moved on its own. The back of the Jaguar was bent out of shape by the force of the impact. It is now known whether the vehicles were insured, but it is feared repairs could cost more than £100,000. At the time, Wood was the second fastest in the Lister while Mass was 22nd. The Mercedes is unique, having been created by a US mechanic in the 1950s, and it is feared it will be difficult to restore to its former glory . The Jaguar fared equally badly in the accident and was left with the rear badly twisted into the air and damage to both sets of wheels . Stewards rushed to deal with fuel which spilled onto the track and the race was stopped. Luckily, the drivers of both cars were unharmed . A statement from Goodwood Motorsport said: 'There was a collision during qualifying for the Salvadori Cup on the afternoon of Saturday, March 21, 2015, involving car 23, a Lister-Jaguar 'Knobbly' driven by Tony Wood and car 8, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLS "Porter Special" driven by Jochen Mass. 'Following the contact between the two cars, both of which stopped close to the pit lane entrance, the session was immediately red-flagged and did not resume. 'In line with our safety protocols, both drivers were taken to the circuit medical centre for precautionary checks and were released shortly afterwards to enjoy the remainder of the weekend. 'Unfortunately, neither car was able to be repaired in time to take part in Sunday's race and neither driver was able to take any further part in the on-track action.' The SLS started out life as a Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing but was modified in the US in 1956 after a being involved in another serious crash. It was once well known in US racing circles as the 'Mercedes-Corvette'. Th accident happened at the 73rd Goodwood Members Meeting, in which  cars from all generations are taken around the track for fans . Stewards were unable to move the classic Mercedes and it had to be lifted on to a tow truck before being removed from the famous circuit . Side-view pictures show the damage to the front of the car, which will be returned to its owner in Germany in a much worse state than it left .

A unique Mercedes SLS 300 had been transported from Germany to be shown off at the Sussex track on Saturday . But disaster struck as it ploughed into the back of a 1959 Lister-Jaguar as it slowed to enter the circuit's pit lane . Fans were left stunned as the cars smashed into each other before coming to a halt, badly damaged, on the track . Neither driver was badly injured, although it is feared the repair bill for the two cars will be well in excess of £100,000 .

million, and a more modern 2011 Bentley Continental, worth around £130,000, were damaged after colliding at around 150 mph. The incident has shocked the small racing community, who are in awe of the vehicles and the tragedy in its wake.
The cars were travelling together as part of the 'Classic Team Lotus' display of vehicles, which is the world's only display of working historic F1 cars. The display has been an integral part of the festival since it was introduced 10 years ago by the Earl of March and was due to continue on Sunday. The 'Classic Team Lotus' event has included other historic racing cars, such as Lotus and Cooper, and has proved a popular attraction to the public.
At around 6.22pm on Saturday (21 August) the incident happened on the course between St Mary's Bridge and West Chichester Bridge when the Bentley and the SLS started to drift in different directions.
According to the incident report by the Goodwood circuit, both cars crashed into a fence but were not thrown into the Grandstand.
The report continued: "Both [cars] suffered massive damage, including a collapsed chassis section on the SLS. Thankfully, there was no impact in the grandstand and no injuries to spectators. The driver of the SLS was able to make his own way back to the pits area, although he was in a state of shock. The driver of the Bentley required medical treatment to his right arm only."
Goodwood organisers confirmed that the incident was caused by a brake failure, which prevented the driver from stopping the SLS. Goodwood's director of motorsport, John Brooksbank, said that the incident was particularly distressing for staff.
"This has been a major blow to Goodwood, where we hold the event for two hours. It's the first time we've had an incident that has resulted in so much damage and the sight of the SLS was a tragic spectacle for us," he told the BBC.
"We've tried to look at things as constructively as we can. We've now made a point of putting up a much bigger fence and it's going to be much more secure in future. We were very very sad, because this is Goodwood's equivalent of the Monaco Grand Prix."
Brooksbank added that the event will be closed to the public on Sunday, when the circuit will be used by the F1 series, but that the exhibition


A baby who only has half a heart has defied the odds after suffering a stroke and battling through four open heart surgeries. Jack Stevens was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) which means the left side of his heart did not form properly. Jack, from Hartlepool, County Durham, has spent half of his life in hospital after having four open heart surgeries and five other operations. He has also suffered a stroke and  had to be resuscitated three times. Jack Stevens, now 15 months, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) which means the left side of his heart did not form properly. He underwent four open heart surgeries at just one week old . Jack survived a total of nine operations (he is pictured, left, after the last procedure), but then suffered a stroke and had to be resuscitated three times. He is now at home with his parents (right) Jack recovered well from the operations and has recently had his feeding tube removed for the first time. He is pictured here before his third open heart surgery procedure. But made a miraculous recovery and recently had his feeding tube removed for the first time. Now, at 15 months old, he is at home with his parents, . His father Chris Stevens, 30, said: 'He's been through so much in such a short space of time but he's doing brilliantly. 'We knew about his condition before he was born and he spent the first five months of his life in hospital. 'He had to have open heart surgery when he was just one-week-old and he's had three more since. 'Jack was only 4lbs 4oz when he was born and the condition has slowed his development. 'It was really difficult watching him lying in his hospital bed for so long surrounded by machines and tubes. 'But we knew it was best for him and he's battled through everything - he's a real fighter.' Jack, who is now at home with his parents Chris Stevens, 30 and Ashton Hodge, 27. The family are pictured before Jack's fourth open heart surgery . Jack only weighed 4lbs 4oz when he was born, and the heart condition has slowed his development . Jack had to be given up to 12 different medications up to four times a day, but now only needs three different medications via a syringe. He is pictured here (left and right) at one years old . At just one-week-old, Jack underwent three stages of the Norwood procedure - a surgery performed on the heart to improve blood flow. He was eventually allowed home for the first time in April last year but returned back to Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, three months later after suffering a stroke. He then endured a string of gruelling operations and is finally at home with father Chris, and mother, Ashton Hodge, 27, a charity worker. He is now on the brink of taking his first steps and speaking for the first time. Mr Stevens, an engineer, said: 'It's a lifelong condition so he will need a transplant at some point in his life but surgeons don't know when yet. 'He'll never be able to do any real physical activity. 'Jack had to be given up to 12 different medications up to four times a day but he only needs three different medications via a syringe at the moment. 'He's also had his feeding tube removed for the very first time last month which is fantastic. Mr Stevens, an engineer, said: 'It's a lifelong condition so he will need a transplant at some point in his life but surgeons don't know when yet' Mr Stevens said: 'He's almost walking now and he mumbles all the time so hopefully he'll say his first word soon. We're both so proud of him - he's a very inspirational boy' 'He's almost walking now and he mumbles all the time so hopefully he'll say his first word soon. 'We're both so proud of him - he's a very inspirational boy.' Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a condition where the left lower pumping chamber of the heart does not develop properly so is much smaller than usual. The mitral valve between the left ventricle and the upper left filling chamber is often closed or very small. In addition, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body is also smaller than usual. This means that the heart is unable to pump blood around the body effectively. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a form of congenital heart disease - a term used to describe a problem with the heart's structure and function due to abnormal development before birth. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a condition in which the left lower pumping chamber of the heart (left ventricle) does not develop properly. In children with the condition, the valve between the left ventricle and the upper left filling chamber (left atrium) if often closed or small. The main blood vessel that carried blood from the heart to the rest of the body is also smaller than usual. This means the heart is unable to pump blood effectively around the body. Most babies with the condition appear healthy immediately after birth but quickly become breathless if not treated. Most are diagnosed before birth. It is not possible to cure the condition but most children can have a reasonable quality of life if they have successful surgery to manage it. Only about 60 per cent of patients survive all three of the required operations. For those who do, life expectancy is in the teens. Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital and the British Heart Foundation .

Jack Stevens was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLSH) Left side of his heart did not form properly and he underwent 9 surgeries . He then suffered a stroke and had to be resuscitated three times . Now is finally at home with his parents but will later need a heart transplant .

 fully develop in the womb. He had two failed heart surgeries and two more failed attempts after that with his condition considered ‘inoperable’. Finally his mother made a decision to move the four-year-old to Colorado for another surgery attempt in a last ditch effort to save him.
Jack was able to undergo his latest surgery at the Rocky Mountain Pediatric Heart Center in Denver on November 8th. His mother, Shannon Steves, who made the decision to put him in the hands of the medical team, wrote on her GoFundMe page, “This past week has been the longest, scariest, and most difficult week of our lives. I just got off the phone with Dr. Oster. Jack’s body was still fighting to reject the valve during surgery and he is back on ECMO. There were some rough minutes, but he recovered so quickly after each ‘code’.”
The 4-year-old is still in the hospital fighting the infection and the risk of being on a heart machine for over six months is high. The next step for Jack is to have his own heart-lung bypass. After that, his mother says that they can only wait and see how his body reacts to the surgery. Shannon explains that doctors only give a two percent chance of survival.
“Jack has been on the heart-lung bypass machine for about a day now,” Shannon shared, “All of his numbers are looking good (with the exception of oxygen saturation which is low), his O2 is at 55 percent. The machine is able to help the heart breathe, and oxygenate the blood. He has a very good chance for a full recovery. It is just going to take a long time, and he has a long road ahead of him.”
“It would mean so much to the two of us if we could get some help and get him through this,” Shannon asked, “We’re going to keep fighting and make sure that Jack is OK. He just wants to be a kid. A typical, happy kid.”
Jack loves playing with his toys and listening to music. He and his mother share a favorite, ‘I’ll be there for you and you’ll be there for me.’ She says that when he was having trouble in school this helped to make him feel better.
It is clear that Jack has a lot of spunk as his mother says, “Jack’s spirit and his drive to keep living, even though his heart


Airport parking in the UK is officially the most expensive in the world. Five of the airports servicing London - London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted - and also Edinburgh and Manchester airports feature in the top ten most expensive airports for parking across the globe, with London City Airport topping the leaderboard at £315 per week. In many cases that may be more than the total price of the holiday booked. London City Airport's proximity in the heart of London means the site urges travellers to use public transport if possible - it's worth considering when parking can be as much as £315 per week . How the airports around the world ranked where it came to car parking . Even when booked in advance, a week's parking at London City is twice the price of New York's JFK Airport - and nearly three times the cost of parking at Tokyo International Airport, research by Justpark.com has discovered. Parking rip-offs are not only suffered by holidaymakers leaving their cars at the airport while travelling abroad. Those collecting friends and family from airports are also charged extortionate amounts for short-term parking, paying £15 for 1-2 hours at London City and £12 at Heathrow. Following London City int he rankings is London Heathrow, where it costs an average of £167 a week to park. The UK dominance is broken as Sydney enters in third spot - parking there for seven days costs around £138. Parking at Heathrow Airport was found to be the second most expensive in the world at £167 per week . Anthony Eskinazi, founder of JustPark, said: 'We've long known that airport parking is overpriced across the country, but all the same these new revelations are remarkable. 'Finding that seven of the world's ten most expensive airports are here in the UK shows the extent of the problem we are facing.' You could... Enjoy a seven-night all-inclusive stay at the four-star Mogan Princess & Beach Club in Taurito, Gran Canaria departing on June 17. Price - £271 per person, flights and hotel. Spend seven nights, all-inclusive at the four-star Elounda Residence in Greece, flying from Gatwick on May 5. Price - £224 per person, flights and hotel. Stay at the five-star Grand Yazici Mares Hotel in Icmeler, Turkey, all-inclusive, flying out of Stansted on April 15. Price - £197 per person, flights and hotel. Spend seven nights, all-inclusive at the four star Beach Albatross, in Agadir, Morocco, flying from Gatwick on April 21. Price - £314 per person, flights and hotel. He added: 'When people are paying more for their airport parking than their flights, something needs to change. We want to redress this balance and make airport parking more affordable.' The high cost of airport parking in the UK has led holiday-makers to seek alternative, more affordable options. Over 600,000 drivers use the app and website JustPark to find and book parking spaces on local residential driveways, rather than paying airport prices. More than 200 Heathrow homeowners are renting out their driveways for as little as £21.50 per week through JustPark, giving holidaymakers an 85 per cent saving on official airport parking and putting money back into local people's pockets. A spokesperson for London City Airport (LCY) told MailOnline Travel:  'LCY is unique in its close proximity to central London and limited space for parking. 'We encourage passengers to travel via public transport, using the airport's own DLR station, and 70 per cent do so. 'For those who do choose to drive, we offer free drop-off and parking savings of up to 40 per cent by booking online in advance.' A spokesperson for London City Airport has urged passengers to use public transport to the site . And Sean Hagger, commercial director at Holiday Extras, told MailOnline Travel how it is important for holidaymakers to book their car parking as early as possible. 'The figures given are rather misleading, he said. Here are car parking facilities available outside of the airport, that may be more attractive in price... Heathrow: https://www.justpark.com/uk/parking/heathrow/heathrow-airport/ . London City: https://www.justpark.com/uk/parking/london/london-city-airport/ . Gatwick: https://www.justpark.com/uk/parking/redhill/gatwick-airport/ . Stansted: https://www.justpark.com/uk/parking/stansted/stansted-airport/ . 'If you turn up on the day to park your car for a week or two at an airport designed for business travellers, as London City is, then you will be charged for the privilege. 'The reality is that very few holiday travellers do this; I'm pleased to say that Brits tend to have more foresight. 'It pays to book ahead – even just a couple of days. Looking on our website I can see that booking a week's Meet & Greet parking at London City, starting this Sunday, would cost £105 per week. 'Likewise, parking at London Heathrow for a week from March 6 at Terminal 2's official long-stay car park would cost £75.80. This price drops as low as £52.95 if you use other long-term parking options. 'If you're just a tiny bit organised, you can save hundreds of pounds.'

Costs an average of £315 per week to park your car at London City Airport . Representatives from the airport advise customers to use public transport . Price to park at London City is more than double that of JFK in the US . Heathrow in second spot in price list at £167 per week, Sydney is third .

.
The study - commissioned by comparison website, MoneySuperMarket.com - ranks the costs of parking for three months, a year, a month and a day, and found Heathrow Airport is the most expensive in the world at an average cost of £850.
"If you're flying to a ski resort, there may be cheaper places to park but it's definitely worth checking," said MoneySuperMarket.com travel editor Julia Lo Bue-Said.
"It's important to remember that some car parks offer off-airport parking close to the airport terminals, so may cost you less than parking directly with the airport."
"The first thing you need to do is find out where your airport car park charges, as they can vary widely between the terminals, as can the charges for parking there," said MoneySuperMarket.com.
"Some airports can offer off-site alternatives at a fraction of the cost. A recent survey found that there are 33 cheaper alternatives for London Gatwick and some of these are free for the first 20 minutes, which may be more than enough time for a dash to catch your flight."
The survey also analysed the best airport parking solutions for people travelling on their own and for those with children or young adults. Heathrow was again the most expensive with the average daily parking cost at £38, while Luton and Manchester airports offer cheaper rates with the average cost £19 and £12 respectively.
The five cheapest destinations were Stansted (£1), Edinburgh (£1.60), Belfast City (£2.20), Glasgow International (£2.20) and Gatwick North (£2.80).
The findings also looked at the parking costs for five airports worldwide (see table below). In 10th place, Amsterdam Schiphol is the most expensive, coming in at £4.50 per day.
"Our research shows that drivers can avoid big parking charges at airports by avoiding off-site parking and taking their chances on public transport," said MoneySuperMarket.com.
- Top five most expensive airports for 3 months
- Heathrow Airport - £2,065.00
- Gatwick Airport - £1,915.00
- Stansted Airport - £1,720.00
- Edinburgh Airport - £1,680.00
- Birmingham Airport - £1,500.00
- Top five most expensive airports for


Derrick Blake, pictured with wife Anita, was shocked when he received a cold call from somebody who knew details of his past financial investments . Pensioners and savers whose financial information was sold by B2C have had their lives made a misery by cold calls and con artists. These are some of their stories: . The grandfather preyed on by fraudsters . Derrick Blake was shocked when he received a cold call from somebody who knew details of his past financial investments. The caller used the information to try to scam the grandfather, 75, into handing over his bank details. Mr Blake, who is a carer for his wife Anita, now believes the scammer got his details from B2C. The caller claimed to be from a utility company Mr Blake previously had shares in, but sold seven years ago. They told him he still had 180 shares with them and offered to buy them from him. Luckily, he consulted his son, who immediately realised it was a scam. He said: ‘What is shocking is how they knew all this information about me. How did they know I had those shares? ‘One caller also knew I had arthritis – where did that come from? They know more about my life than I do, it seems.’ Mr Blake, a retired Thames waterman, often receives surveys asking him very specific personal information, such as how much his house is worth, his earnings and investments. He and his wife, who has recently suffered three strokes, have also been offered will-writing and funeral services, which Mr Blake described as ‘insensitive’. He said he ‘couldn’t get over’ the fact that his private financial details were on a database. Ex-florist who was warned to plan for a funeral . Grandfather-of-five Graham Nealer receives around three cold calls a day – usually asking him to answer personal questions ranging from where he does his shopping to how big his pension pot is. Mr Nealer and his wife, Anita, are woken up early in the morning and are bothered late in the evening with such calls. Mr Nealer was shocked to be told his personal information was on a database held by B2C – which includes details on his investments – and were being sold on to nuisance callers. Scroll down for video . Pensioners and savers whose financial information was sold by B2C (company director Nick Sayer pictured) have had their lives made a misery by cold calls and con artists . The same details sold by B2C appear to have ended up in the hands of prize-draw scammers Wye Valley Promotions Ltd, which was fined £120,000 last year for ‘misleading’ customers into believing they had won large cash prizes. Wye Valley called Mr Nealer on his home phone and sent him letters claiming he had won such a prize. Thankfully, he did not respond. ‘I can’t think where they would get these details,’ he said. ‘The only places that know financial information about me are my banks.’ Mr Nealer, who ran a florist with his daughter before he retired, says the nuisance calls increased after he recently turned 65. ‘People want to get their hands on my pension,’ he said. Mr Nealer said the worst nuisance call was last week, at 8pm in the evening, when his wife answered a call from someone trying to persuade her to start planning her and her husband’s own funeral for when they die. ‘It’s totally inappropriate,’ he says. Day the conmen from China struck . Scammers have targeted Michael West on four separate occasions and he gets nuisance calls five times a day. ‘I get a lot of surveys asking me for private information,’ he said. Like several other pensioners on B2C’s database Mr West, 68, has had conmen try to hack into his PC. On these occasions he has been telephoned by people from China or India claiming to be calling on behalf of Microsoft. ‘They start by saying that my computer needs updating or has errors and then ask me to turn it on and log in,’ he said. Thankfully, Mr West – a chartered engineer – consulted a computer expert he knew, who told him immediately it was a scam. On Microsoft’s website it says that such cons are unfortunately common. Thousands of people are thought to have been scammed over the phone, including the elderly (file picture) Couple targeted by computer scammers . Malcolm Williams and his wife, Carol, receive at least two nuisance calls a day – and almost fell victim to the same con artists as Mr West. They suspect they were targeted because they were on the same set of data being sold by B2C. Both couples were told, by a company falsely claiming to be Microsoft, that their computers needed fixing so they could access it remotely and steal their personal details. The couple get cold calls both on their mobiles and landline. The nuisance calls have got worse in the past three weeks. Mr Williams, 66, a retired cabin crew member for British Airways, said he was outraged that his details are being sold. ‘What right has anyone got to be selling these kinds of details? We are always so careful about giving information away and never answer calls when they ask for our details.’ The disabled man plagued by calls . Retired lorry driver John Edghill receives ‘constant’ calls from businesses claiming to be from the Government or trying to get him to answer personal survey questions. The 65-year-old, who lost both his legs in a road accident in 2004, said: ‘I am so careful not to give anything away about myself. I never tick boxes on forms where it says your information can be shared.’ Mr Edghill is also getting a growing number of calls about his finances and pension. He said cold calls made life a misery for disabled people who had to struggle to get to the phone, only to find it was a call about marketing or a scam. Widower who fears answering his phone . Kenneth Longford receives around four nuisance calls a day – which he believes is as a result of once filling in a form with a clothing catalogue. Ever since he did so, he has received a growing number of calls ranging from PPI to prize-draws. Mr Longford, 72, who lost his wife Vicky in 2010 to motor neurone disease, said he was ‘disgusted’ to discover his details had ended up on B2C’s database. The father-of-two and grandfather-of-five, who lives alone in a bungalow, added: ‘I barely ever answer the phone nowadays. ‘It’s worrying for people who are more vulnerable than me, and who knows who has my information now.’

Data firm B2C sold on financial information of pensioners and savers . Private information fell into the hands of con artists and cold call firms . Grandfather Derrick Blake is among thousands of elderly people affected . Scores of pensioners are targeted by several cold calls each and every day .

 by aggressive sales calls from firms who don't reveal they're selling pensions in the first place.
These sales companies take huge commissions from these firms, leaving pensioners who have been taken advantage of with a heavy bill to pay. Derrick Blake from St Helens, Merseyside, who is in his early 70s, told the Liverpool Echo how a cold-calling company had told him that he'd been "overcharged" for a past pension transfer.
He said: "The callers are not registered with the telephone preference service. "They don't give you the name of their employer, and they'll give you a company number when they first call but when you start to ask questions they will give you a different number, which has nothing to do with B2C.
"They can give details of your pension but they can't tell you the company which has transferred the pension to. "It makes it hard for us to talk to our adviser. "I was told that the ‘buy out’ of my pension was overcharged by £30,000. They were selling me what I thought was my own pension and then telling me I'd been overcharged.
"These calls are a nuisance and can ruin lives. If you have any financial investment with B2C, it pays to check your credit score. When these calls first started, I thought it was the same company I used to work for ringing me up.
"I got quite a few calls until I reported it. "This phone scam isn't new and its shocking to think that they are still out there scamming people. "I thought the call would last a couple of minutes but I was talking to one of them for an hour - some of them just kept on coming."
Another pensioner, who wished to remain anonymous, said that her financial information was sold on and she was charged by the financial services company involved with interest rate swap agreements.
She said: "It was very worrying. This company has been bought out by this other company which was being investigated as we speak." The pensioner was 66-years-old when her account was accessed. The pension providers sold the financial products on to her without her permission.
She said: "I didn't know they'd sold my details and that's why I have so many of these cold calls." She was called on numerous occasions and it was "


On the way home from Old Trafford on Monday night, the debate, as it turned out, was the wrong debate. Should Danny Welbeck have been sold to Arsenal last summer? Should he have celebrated his winning goal back in Manchester? Both questions were irrelevant. Welbeck is an honest and talented footballer but he wouldn’t make a difference to Louis van Gaal’s United. He is good without being really good. Danny Welbeck shoots to score the winning goal against Manchester United on Monday night at Old Trafford . A stranded David de Gea (right) looks on as the goalkeeper was beaten by former United player Welbeck . Welbeck celebrated his goal against his former club as Arsenal won the FA Cup tie 2-1 . Welbeck is swamped by his Arsenal team-mates on a night to forget for United supporters . United manager Louis van Gaal (left) and assistant Ryan Giggs watch on during their latest defeat . Welbeck, whose international record is better than his club record, scored a well-taken and well-anticipated goal on Monday and celebrated appropriately. His overall performance, though, was modest. Had he been playing in red rather than in blue and yellow, the result would not have been different. On Tuesday Welbeck said: ‘Manchester United is a club that means so much to me. I’m a fan and it’s hard to knock them out. I’ll always respect the fans. I had a lovely reception and I’m thankful for that.’ But United’s problems under Van Gaal go much deeper than any associated with his decision last August to sell a player he figured — with reason — would have been his fourth-choice centre forward. Van Gaal cut a frustrated figure during the match as he and his team lost their last chance of a trophy . United's (left to right) Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney look frustrated on the pitch . Tactical genius? Not quite. Louis van Gaal received 3/10 for his tactics on Monday night, but what about the players? CLICK HERE FOR FULL RATINGS . The most telling moments of this FA Cup tie came in the second half. It was a close game at that point. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will have been disappointed his team had conceded an equaliser so carelessly so soon after taking the lead but at half-time he appeared to tell his team to continue in the same vein. Van Gaal, however, sniffed danger, or thought he did. He made two substitutions, neither of them positive, and that seemed indicative of a coach unsure of his players and unconvinced by his original plan. He did a similar thing at Swansea recently and United lost that one, too. Later, with United chasing in the wake of Welbeck’s goal and Angel di Maria’s sending-off, Van Gaal pushed Marouane Fellaini — and, soon after, Chris Smalling — to the top of the United formation and asked them to feed off a diet of long balls pumped from their own half. Angel di Maria is sent off by referee Michael Oliver after the midfielder grabbed the official's shirt . Di Maria applauds the United supporters after being sent off for manhandling the referee during the tie . Radamel Falcao sits on the bench next to Juan Mata as the on-loan striker went unused against Arsenal . Van Gaal issues instructions alongside Giggs but their tactics and substitutions were questionable . With their exit from the FA Cup against Arsenal, Manchester United's attention now rests solely on the Premier League. Yet United haven't beaten a side currently in the top half since their home win against Liverpool in mid December last year. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY . This is a valid tactic and one that worked at West Ham last month. Fellaini, in particular, can be strangely effective in that role. Nevertheless, while this was going on, United’s Spanish playmaker Juan Mata and their Colombian centre forward Radamel Falcao sat in the dug-out. They were still there when an aimless hoof from Phil Jones rolled out of play for a goal-kick and referee Michael Oliver signalled the end of the game. This, perhaps, is most damning. Van Gaal’s tactical preferences can be discussed all night long. United, whether they knew it or not, hired a pragmatist last summer and it is that side of the manager that the supporters are seeing now. More pertinent is the fact that one of European football’s leading coaches decided — at the sharp end of a home cup tie that he knew his team must win — to put his trust in some Hackney Marshes football rather than ask two players in whom his club has invested millions of pounds to go on and change the game through method and design. It is a strange state of affairs and one that tells us Van Gaal has limited faith in his players. It also points to problems that will greatly affect United’s transfer strategy this summer. Calum Chambers of Arsenal competes for the ball with Adnan Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini . Van Gaal knows he has to look for a new right back, central defender, holding midfielder and forward . Van Gaal's tactics have been questionable this season since he came to United as manager . They’re out of the FA Cup and Manchester United face the hardest run-in of the top-four hopefuls... ARSENAL 3RD: West Ham (h) - March 14, Newcastle (a) - March 21, Liverpool (h) - April 4, Burnley (a) - April 11, Sunderland (h) - April 18, Chelsea (h) - April 26, Hull (a) - May 2, Swansea (h) - May 9, Man Utd (a) - May 16, West Brom (h) - May 24 . MANCHESTER UNITED 4TH: Tottenham (h) - March 15, Liverpool (a) - March 22, Aston Villa (h) - April 4, Man City (h) - April 12, Chelsea (a) - April 18, Everton (a) - April 26, West Brom (h) - May 2, C Palace (a) - May 9, Arsenal (h) - May 16, Hull (a) - May 24 . LIVERPOOL 5TH: Swansea (a) - March 16, Man Utd (h) - March 22, Arsenal (a) - April 4, Newcastle (h) - April 13, Hull (a) - April 18, West Brom (a) - April 25, QPR (h) - May 2, Chelsea (a) - May 9, C Palace (h) - May 16, Stoke (a) - May 24 . TOTTENHAM 6TH: Man Utd (a) - March 15, Leicester (h) - March 21, Burnley (a) - April 5, Aston Villa (h) - April 11, Newcastle (a) - April 19, Southampton (a) - April 25, Man City (h) - May 2, Stoke (a) - May 9, Hull (h) - May 16, Everton (a) - May 24 . SOUTHAMPTON 7TH: Chelsea (a) - March 15, Burnley (h) - March 21, Everton (a) - April 4, Hull (h) - April 11, Stoke (a) - April 18, Tottenham (h) - April 25, Sunderland (a) - May 2, Leicester (a) - May 9, Aston Villa (h) - May 16, Man City (a) - May 24 . Van Gaal knows he needs a right back, central defender, holding midfielder and a centre forward. That is probably about £150million right there. The Dutch coach also knows, however, that he needs to ease out some very big names to make that happen. Van Gaal has to make decisions about Mata, Falcao, Robin van Persie and Rafael da Silva and that is before he addresses the issue of whether less glamorous types such as Jones, Smalling and Jonny Evans are evergoing to mature into footballers good enough to help United back to the top of the Premier League. Van Gaal has spoken many times about his squad lacking balance. What he has been understandably less candid about is the fact that it is just not good enough. There are problems with players such as Di Maria that need time and tactical tuning to address. There is, at least, no doubt about his quality. The cross he delivered for Wayne Rooney to equalise on Monday was evidence of that. Di Maria is not the issue. It is the supporting cast — such as Adnan Januzaj and Ashley Young — that Van Gaal remains unsure about. At Arsenal, Wenger has his critics. His team remain skittish and unpredictable. Nobody can accuse the Arsenal manager of not knowing his own mind, however. There is a methodical consistency about Wenger that, for better or for worse, is clear from the way he chooses and sets up his teams. The same cannot be said about Van Gaal. At the United training ground on Wednesday, the increasingly irritable manager will be looking for something new, trying to find yet another way of turning water into wine before Sunday’s home game with Tottenham. What is unclear though, is whether this constant changing of personnel and tactics tells us more about the limitations of the manager or the players. Arsenal applaud their travelling fans at the Theatre of Dreams after claiming victory over United . Arsenal will feel the better of both sides as United continue to stumble in Van Gaal's debut season in England .

Manchester United lost 2-1 against Arsenal to crash out of the FA Cup . Former United player Danny Welbeck scored the winning goal at Old Trafford . Louis van Gaal's tactics and decisions have looked unsure this season . Juan Mata and Radamel Falcao were unused substitutes on Monday night . CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news .

 are based on an assumption that there is a right answer, that we know exactly what has happened and can work out what might have happened or what “should” have happened.
Those sorts of questions are very rarely useful in a debate because they presume facts that are rarely to hand. For example, if we’re all debating whether he should be there or not, then the question only has meaning if we can work out the answers. But Welbeck has never been there. He wasn’t a regular Arsenal player last season and never will be.
The other one – did he celebrate – only makes sense if you have a sense of what it was that you thought the celebrations meant. As far as I can tell, Welbeck celebrated after scoring the winning goal. That is the only thing that he was celebrating. It is the only thing that the only thing he has any power over. It may be that he should not have celebrated after the second goal was scored (which was still, I think, to come). But the celebration he made was about him – it was about what he had done, not about something else.
The point about those two answers is that they only make sense if you know what you think you know before you start answering the questions. If you think you know exactly what Danny Welbeck should be doing to get regular football, or if you think you know what he might have done if he wasn’t at Arsenal, then you are starting from a position which, perhaps, isn’t a healthy place to be from. It’s a debate based on a false premise. The premise being that his time at Arsenal was going to get better and better, that he would play more often and that he would be happier there than at United. We can’t answer that question because we haven’t experienced it yet. We can only speculate – and then we may find out that it wasn’t true, that we got it wrong. Which is what I think we did.
We could answer the question about what he should have done after the winning goal. He might have waited until the final whistle to celebrate or he might have celebrated after the second.
He might not have celebrated at all, but then I wonder how many of us might have gone home and not seen the goal. It may have taken a few days to happen – and it might never have happened at all.
So Welbeck didn’t have to celebrate at all if he didn’t


A £4million house in one of the country's wealthiest areas is to be demolished - to make way for three properties worth three times as much. Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset, has long been one of the most exclusive addresses in Britain with the super rich fighting over coveted space on its water's edge. With wealthy footballers and businessmen vying for a spot on the small peninsula, house hunters have been known to snap up dated, old-fashioned properties to knock down and rebuild. The 1980s house is no different, with developers keen to make the most of its 3.5 acre plot. The property in Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset, is to be demolished and replaced with three other modern houses worth a combined £12million . The property, which lies in one of the country's most exclusive postcodes, no longer has 'architectural merit' after lying derelict for so long . The house's empty indoor swimming pool is filled with debris and leaves. Each of the new houses will have its own pool and four bedrooms . Local groups expressed no desire to maintain the original property which, if left untouched any longer, would have become entirely ruined . Debris and scattered roof tiles now fill the house's empty swimming pool. The house was bought for £4million by property developers . The property previously boasted manicured lawns and an impressive fountain in the centre of its driveway. It is pictured before workers began tearing it down . Work has already begun in tearing down the house which has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, four reception rooms and an indoor swimming pool. Having been left derelict for years it is now filled with rubble and debris and no longer has 'architectural merit', said the estate agents involved in its sale. Adrian Dunford, of Tailor Made Estate Agents, said: 'The large detached property that is there now has got no architectural merit. It isn’t a particularly pretty property at all and the way its sits on the plot isn’t ideal. 'There has been no appetite among local conservation groups such as the Sandbanks Association for it to be given listed status.' The 3.5 acre plot borders a nature reserve and will be divided up to make way for the three contemporary homes worth  £4.8m, £4m and £3.25m. Gardeners will uproot 50 trees as part of the plan, but plant 40 saplings in their place. All of the new flat-roofed properties will have four bedrooms and two will be split over three levels and have indoor swimming pools. Its current layout has been a waste of space, said developers who are eager to capitalise on its vast gardens. 'It is almost a four acre site and there is no reason to have just one house on it,' added Mr Dunford. 'Couples in this area don’t require a house of 30,000 square foot where they will be in separate parts of it most of the time and only see each other at dinner. 'One of the main attractions of this area is the outdoor lifestyle it offers and couples prefer to do that together. An artist's impression of one of the houses that will be built on the 3.5 acre plot of land. Each property will be split over three levels and have its own swimming pool . The second house, illustrated in a computer generated image above. Developers said the three houses would make more of the outdoor space on the site than the previous house . The third property on the site which will be priced at £4.8m, £4m and £3.25m once completed by developers working on the site now . The house was awkwardly positioned on the land, said developers, with its previous lay out not making the most of its space . Among developers's plans is to work on the property's vast grounds to make the most of its green space. Fifty trees will be felled as part of the project with gardeners planting 40 saplings in their place . The property has sweeping views of the harbour on one side and a golf course on the other. It is among around 70 on the peninsula where some Britain's most coveted homes lie . 'We expect these properties to attract couples whose children have grown up and left home.' Nick Blakemore, a director of developers Excellare, said: 'The house that is there is not how it was in its heyday and has become quite run down. 'It is not the style of house that people are looking for now. 'It was spread out across the width of the site, you could probably accommodate 10 houses on it if you wanted but three makes much better use of the space. 'The site borders a nature reserve on one side and a golf course and looks down on the harbour. 'The approach we have taken is to very much work within the environment and not just create a concrete jungle.' Over the last two decades Sandbanks has become a millionaire’s playground with dozens of luxury harbour-front homes worth as much as £12m springing up. The peninsula is home to former Premier League football manager Harry Redknapp, West Bromich Albion boss Tony Pulis, SKY TV soccer pundit Graeme Souness and Maxim Demin, the Russian millionaire owner of Championship club AFC Bournemouth. Last year two luxury homes squeezed onto a plot meant for one went up for sale on Sandbanks for £13million - three times the value of the former property. In 2013 a property sold for the equivalent of £1,275 per square foot, a record for the area.

The 1980s property boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, four reception rooms and a swimming pool . But, set in 3.5 acres of land, developers are to knock it down and create three modern houses in its place . Each of the properties is to have its own indoor swimming pool and will be sold for at least £3.25million . Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset is one of the most expensive spots in the country for property .

 suburbs of the south coast.
The house which sits on a one acre plot in the sought-after location, with sea views and private beach, is to be demolished at a cost of £4m to make way for a £14m house built "to an uncompromising specification".
The plans are being put forward by a property and planning development group who own the land.
The new building is set to include a 16m indoor swimming pool, staff accommodation and underground car parking for 12 cars. The house will be built behind a 10m high stone-clad wall.
The £7.4m "grand design" will sit on a site just 2m high. The £6.5m house being demolished also sits just 2m high and includes a swimming pool and two garages.
It was only built last year, so is the second-longest-established house on the site. The third property, worth £4m, is to be built in the same style.
The developer is said to have bought the land more than a decade ago.
The new house will be built for a private client who has instructed the team of architects to create a "grand design" mansion to replace a house built on the land about 10 years ago. The new house would be built on the sea front, just 5ft from the beach.
The three-bedroom, four-bathroom property is to be built by SDC Builders of Poole. The company's director, Simon Dicks, said: "The development site is subject to various restrictions imposed for the protection of the site, and therefore a replacement application was required.
"There are existing buildings on the site and also neighbouring land in a Conservation Area, which will all need to be demolished, including a property which was once a cottage but has been converted into two dwellings.
"We have obtained planning consent from Poole Borough Council for three dwellings, which is a condition of the prior approval, so all the work required is within the boundaries of the approved site.
"The new planning approval is to allow a new design with three dwellings instead of two and a number of further changes to comply with planning consent conditions, such as the provision of a private road."
Mr Dicks said the new building would be an "interesting" example of contemporary architecture and include an "exciting" interior.
He said: "This is a private project and


Police are continuing to question a man arrested on suspicion of murdering missing chef Claudia Lawrence (pictured) Police are continuing to question a man arrested on suspicion of murdering missing chef Claudia Lawrence as they finished searching a house linked to his arrest. North Yorkshire Police arrested the married 59-year-old yesterday in connection with Miss Lawrence's disappearance in 2009. He remains in custody this morning and later today police will have to make a decision on whether to charge or release him, or will need to apply for extra time to question the suspect. Officers have been combing a semi-detached home in a quiet York cul-de-sac as part of their investigations, and a spokesman said the search of the property concluded last night. A spokesman said yesterday that Miss Lawrence, who was 35 when she went missing, had not been found. Her parents, Peter and Joan, were told about the arrest shortly before it was made public and are being supported by trained officers. Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, of North Yorkshire Police, has urged people not to identify the arrested man, who is from the York area, for fear of compromising the inquiry at what they describe as a 'critical phase'. He said: 'To ensure the investigation and legal process are not compromised or potentially damaged in any way during this critical phase in seeking the truth about Claudia's disappearance, North Yorkshire Police strongly advises the media and members of the public against identifying the man who has been arrested. 'This includes naming or publishing images of the man on traditional media platforms or social networking sites. 'I urge everyone to show restraint and patience while we carry out these very important inquiries.' Scroll down for video . The father-of-two drank in the same pub as the missing university chef and lives within half a mile of her home in York. Miss Lawrence was reported missing by her father after concerns were raised when she failed to turn up for her 6am shift at work in March 2009. North Yorkshire Police began reviewing the case in 2013 and have since carried out a number of searches, including a detailed re-examination of Miss Lawrence's home, in the Heworth area of the city, and a fingertip search of an alleyway that leads to the rear of the house. Officers have been combing a semi-detached home in a quiet York cul-de-sac as part of their investigations, and a spokesman said the search of the property concluded last night . An officer searches the front garden of the York house yesterday as part of the police investigation . Police search the front of the house in York. The man arrested in connection with Miss Lawrence's disappearance remains in custody this morning . A 60-year-old man was arrested last year in connection with her disappearance and suspected murder but was later released without charge, while a 47-year-old man remains on bail on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Mr Malyn said he was 'actively pursuing new leads' and that his team had made 'significant progress' since the force began reviewing the case in 2013. The detective said some people locally knew Miss Lawrence but have kept their relationship secret and some deliberately lied about a number of issues concerning their association with the chef. The arrest came days after police released previously unseen CCTV of a mystery man caught on camera walking towards the back of her terraced house on the evening she was last known to be alive. The footage, released to mark the anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance, was taken at around 7.15pm on March 18 showing a man walking towards the rear of the missing chef;s house. The camera picks him up returning about one minute later and he appears to be carrying a bag over his shoulder. As he walks back to the main road he is seen to stop briefly as another man walks in front of him. Police appealed for information to identify both men and the arrest came five days later. Miss Lawrence's father, Peter, said yesterday: 'Any progress is good. It is encouraging to know that, following all the media activity over the last three weeks, from Claudia's 41st birthday to the sixth anniversary of her being missing, North Yorkshire Police continue to be active in seeking answers as to what has happened to Claudia. 'It is to be hoped that the matter can be resolved as soon as possible and I encourage people to continue to come forward with information to the police.' Miss Lawrence was reported missing by her father after concerns were raised when she failed to turn up for her 6am shift at work in March 2009 . Previously unseen CCTV footage released to mark the anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance is shown on a digital advertising vehicle close to her home last week . Jen King, one of Miss Lawrence's closest friends, said: 'Everyone wants closure, but they have already arrested two people and got nowhere.' Neighbours in the quiet cul-de-sac in a middle-class neighbourhood were surprised by the police activity. One said: 'I know him, I've lived here for 20 years and he's just a normal bloke. He's lived here longer than me.' The neighbour said he had recently lost his job working as a manager for a large firm. Miss Lawrence returned home from work on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, and spoke to her parents separately on the phone that evening. She has not been seen since. Her father reported her missing on the Friday. Despite a huge investigation police have failed to find a single clue to explain what has happened to her. The suspect being questioned was one of many men who were spoken to at the time of the original police inquiry because he drank in the same pub as Miss Lawrence. The landlady of a different local pub, who also knows the suspect, said yesterday: 'He said the police spoke to him at the time, but he always made light of it. He said the police went to his house. He is a really funny, really nice guy who reads loads of books. He was very witty.' Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Man, 59, arrested yesterday in connection with chef's 2009 disappearance . Officers have been searching semi-detached home in York cul-de-sac . Miss Lawrence vanished in March 2009, and has still not been found . Her father, Peter says police progress on the case is 'encouraging'

 arrested the man, thought to be in his 50s, at 3am on Tuesday as he returned home from a night out with his wife. Police said he lived at the house in Scarborough where they have been searching as part of the investigation into the disappearance of the 35-year-old chef. Detectives found evidence on Sunday but have said they will need the house to be empty when they return to search it again with forensic officers. The man was taken to police headquarters in York for questioning but has now been released on police bail until May 14. Det Supt David Stockdale, leading the investigation, said: 'We are continuing with our investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence. 'The search of the Scarborough address is now complete. 'As a result of the searches, further evidence was located within the address but we are not in a position to comment on this evidence at this time.'
'We would again like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support, and their assistance with the inquiry over the past 14 months. 'We remain determined to bring this investigation to its conclusion and arrest those who are responsible.' The discovery of the couple's two-year-old son Daniel's blue-green bath toy and his toys from his nursery has led some to question why this was not discovered at an earlier date. He was last seen at his home in York, where he shared with his mother, at 7.40am on March 18, 2007. A full body cast of a woman named Kelly had been found in December. The body - which resembled the missing chef - was found in a shallow grave in the Heworth area of the city and identified last month. Police are also awaiting the results of DNA tests on the remains, as well as dental records. The news comes as friends and family plan to lay wreaths at the site where a blue bath was found last week. They will be joined by a specially-commissioned poem written by a poet inspired by the hunt for Claudia.
The remains of the woman known as 'Kelly' lie in a shallow grave in a garden in Heworth, where she was murdered
The area was marked as a crime scene in December 2007, but it wasn't until August 2008 when an excavator was used to open up the grave and a blue bath toy was found in the ground. It was found wrapped in the clothes that had


From the dreaming spires of Oxford to Canterbury's stunning cathedral, England boasts some of the greatest architectural gems and historic attractions in the world. And with spring on its way, it's a great time to take a city break. Oxford University's Radcliffe Camera is one of the many incredible sights to visit in England this spring . OXFORD . Home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford has been wowing students for hundreds of years with its honey-hued domes and sky-piercing spires. Its colleges have nurtured some of the nation's greatest minds - from astronomer Edwin Hubble to playwright Oscar Wilde - but you don't have to be student to take a tour. Alternatively, follow in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and sink a pint at the 17th Century The Eagle and Child. It's where their university group, the 'Inklings', used to meet to discuss literature over a tipple or two. CAMBRIDGE . With its grand buildings, historical shops and bustling market, Cambridge is just as striking as Oxford. The River Cam runs along the backs of the university - the ultimate place for punting. Visit one or two of the colleges - many are architectural marvels with centuries of history and culture to discover. The River Cam runs along the backs of the university at Cambridge - the ultimate place for punting . Trinity College is perhaps the most famous, counting Isaac Newton and Lord Byron among its alumni. Stop for lunch at The Eagle, where molecular biologist Francis Crick announced that he and James Watson had discovered the structure of DNA. LINCOLN . It's 800 years since England's most important document, Magna Carta, was sealed, and if you head to the newly restored Lincoln Castle, you can see one of only four surviving original copies of the charter in a state-of-the-art underground vault. Reopening on April 1, the refurbished castle will also have a new 360-degree walkway along its walls, letting visitors see the historical building from a new angle, and giving unprecedented access to its 18th Century prisons, as featured in television's Downton Abbey. CANTERBURY . Along with a visit to the famous cathedral, a tour of the River Stour is a must when you visit Canterbury . Canterbury was the final destination of Geoffrey Chaucer's not-so-holy pilgrims as they made their way from London to Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury Cathedral. The tales were written in the 14th Century, but it's still easy to imagine a fat monk or a drunken miller travelling on horseback through winding cobbled streets to what is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. Along with a visit to the famous cathedral, a tour of the River Stour is a must. From the comfort of the boat, you'll glide past gems that include a 13th Century Franciscan island, the beautiful Westgate Gardens and the King's Bridge, which dates back to 1134. BATH . Ever wondered what the Romans got up to in their lavish leisure centres? During peak summer months, you can ask your private guide to elaborate on an evening tour of one of the best-preserved Roman structures in the world. Visitors to bath can listen to famed travel writer Bill Bryson's fascinating audio commentary . And all year round, you can listen to famed travel writer Bill Bryson's fascinating audio commentary, which offers an insight into Roman life, beliefs and spirituality, as you peer into ancient changing rooms, wander through a temple dedicated to a goddess with healing powers, and admire the torch-lit Great Bath.

Spring is a great time to take a city break in the UK . England boasts some of the greatest  historic attractions in the world . Oxford is home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world . England's most important document, Magna Carta, was sealed at Lincoln . For more holiday ideas go to VisitEngland.com .

 has a special appeal in this beautiful country town, and you’ll need to plan your time to explore the winding alleyways, charming shops and tempting cafes. Make a day of it with a self-guided walking tour, or for even more inspiration, read our expert guide to visiting Oxford.
When it comes to shopping, there’s no beating London. With boutiques on every corner selling the world’s most luxurious brands, a shopping trip is a must-do for many visitors. Head to Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason on the posh end of the spectrum, or pop into high street favourites like Zara, Topshop, Cos and River Island. If you’re in Oxford, look out for local and independent shops – or if you like a bargain, there’s the nearby Bicester Shopping Village.
Bicester Village is a shopping destination that’s set in beautiful surroundings – just 45 minutes from Oxford. Find big name brands like Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana, plus a collection of designer outlets from brands including Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, Mulberry and Tory Burch. You might not want to come back to the airport empty handed!
It’s no surprise that London’s restaurants are a must-visit attraction. From fine dining to a quintessential British pub, the choice is endless. The Ivy is a classic choice – or if you’re looking for more of a fine dining experience try Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill, or you can’t go wrong with Indian street food at Dishoom. If you’re planning a romantic getaway with your partner, take a horse-drawn cab ride along the South Bank for a meal at Hakkasan or make a reservation at the Savoy Grill.
For something a little more laidback, the capital offers plenty of pub favourites – the perfect place to people watch. You can’t leave London without a trip to one of the city’s most famous pubs, The Crown & Anchor in Southwark.
It’s almost impossible to visit the capital without catching a show. London stages many of the world’s most iconic theatrical productions – and many of them are on offer at very affordable prices. Top theatre companies will offer discounts for under 30s and students, and many have a ‘pay what you can’ day every week. For advice on booking tickets, read our guide on where to get half price tickets in London.