Twitter Hunt For Hidden Cash Reaches The UK

A Twitter phenomenon that encourages followers to go on a treasure hunt to find hidden envelopes of cash has hit the UK.

A mystery benefactor is using the Twitter account @hiddencash_UK to tweet clues to finding envelopes filled with a £50 prize.

Photos of locations are posted along with the clue and the first to reach the hiding place wins.

The winners then tweet a picture of themselves posing with the money.

The phenomenon, which started in the US last week, has now gone viral. 

There have been winners in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Pic: @travisjr

Since tweeting for the first time on Tuesday, @hiddencash_UK has attracted almost 18,000 followers.

In an anonymous interview with Sky News, the man behind the account said he was inspired by what he had seen in the US and was in a position to bring the idea to the UK.

He said: "There's no point just having money sitting around doing nothing. It's good to just get it out into the community and see how people use the money they find."

The donor says he likes seeing where the money goes. Pic: @harry_mckeown

He said the system was "much more satisfying" than giving money to charity.

"When it's a big corporation, you don't actually see where your money goes to. If I was to donate £50 to a big charity, as soon as I've donated, it's gone. I don't know what's happened to it.

"With this, it's very interactive. I get to see the person's face when they tweet it in. They're very happy and I get to see first-hand what they do with it, so it's much more satisfying for me."

Followers in the US have won $100 (£60) or more. Pic: @mattypatty513

The benefactor admits he cannot control where the money goes and it may fall into the hands of someone who is better off than him but he says that is all part of the experiment.

So far, winners have tweeted about donating the money to a donkey sanctuary and a women's charity.

One winner tweeted: "Keep up the amazing work."

The US-based @HiddenCash account has attracted more than 379,000 followers.

In media interviews, the account's creator said his giveaways are a "social experiment for good".

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Missing Brit's Family Plead For Help With Hunt

The family of a British man who disappeared while trekking on a paradise island off Malaysia have urged the Government to appeal to local authorities to step up search efforts.

Gareth David Huntley disappeared on Tuesday after attempting to find a waterfall in the jungles of Tioman Island, off the peninsula's east coast.

He told friends at a charity project he had been working with he would return by 2pm that day but he has not been seen since.

A group of volunteers and local people have been into the jungle to search for the 34-year-old but have not found him.

Gareth with his girlfriend Kit

Mark Huntley said "real action" is needed to find his brother.

He said: "We need real boots on the ground in Malaysia. We need real pressure from William Hague at the Foreign Office. So far we haven't heard a word from him or David Cameron.

"Gareth's been missing now for five days and he's alone in the jungle. This was a man working out there as a wildlife volunteer - he deserves our assistance.

"This situation of delayed searches is all too familiar. We call on David Cameron to make just one phone call to the Malaysian authorities and kindly request they step up the search."

Mr Huntley had been volunteering at a Turtle sanctuary

Mr Huntley's mother Janet Southwell, who is on her way to the region, told Sky News the police response has been "incredibly slow" and her son's disappearance is "totally out of character".

"He just would not do it, he knows there are too many people who care and love him," she said.

She has written an open letter to the Prime Minister urging him to "do the right thing" and "make one phone call to the Malaysian leader to insist that they deploy real help to find Gareth before time runs out".

Twenty Malaysian police officers and a search dog are now involved in the search.

One of his friends who is in the area and doing what he can to help is Kyle Neo Kai Fu, who told Sky News he is certain his friend is alive.

"He knows a lot of things about self-sustainability," he said. "I think he's a survivor."

Survival expert Ken Hames told Sky News there are "lots of hazards" in the jungle apart from heavy rain.

"You've got deadfall from trees that have rotted, you've got hornets … quite a lot of things to contend with."

A file picture of a beach on Tioman Island

According to one of the accountant's close friends, Malaysian authorities have so far failed to conduct a thorough search.

Sophie Wilson told Sky News: "Nothing has come from the authorities. As far as we're aware, the police were informed and haven't been doing anything. They've been incredibly lethargic.

"They've said they're performing a search but all evidence on the ground suggests they're just not taking this seriously."

Kyle Neo Kai Fu and Gareth Huntley

Mr Huntley, from east London, had been working as a volunteer at the Juara Turtle Project, a conservation charity on Tioman Island.

One of the other volunteers, Charles Fisher, said police were informed the day after he went missing but did not actively begin searching.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the local embassy was aware Mr Huntley was missing and was offering support.

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Cyclists Who Wear Helmets 'Wasting Their Time'

A leading neurosurgeon has claimed that cyclists who wear helmets are wasting their time.

Henry Marsh, an eminent doctor and keen cyclist, has been accused of putting lives at risk after reportedly saying helmets were "too flimsy" to offer much protection.

His remarks have been branded "irresponsible" by cycling safety campaigners, who said that wearing one could mean the difference between life and death.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, Mr Marsh, a consultant at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, said: "I ride a bike and I never wear a helmet.

"In the countries where bike helmets are compulsory there has been no reduction in bike injuries whatsoever.

"I see lots of people in bike accidents and these flimsy little helmets don't help."

Henry Marsh has been accused of putting lives at risk

He added: "I have been cycling for 40 years and have only been knocked off once.

"I wear a cowboy hat and cowboy boots. I look completely mad."

Campaigners said his comments were "disappointing" and risked endangering cyclists.

Angela Lee, chief executive of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative, said: "He has got a responsibility.

"If somebody stops wearing a helmet because of what he says then he needs to take responsibility for the consequences.

"It would be a travesty if somebody takes their helmet off because of this. It is such a negligent thing to say for a person in that position.

"Helmets have a place in cycling, the evidence is robust that helmets are effective.

She added: "He may take risks with cycling, but he shouldn't be encouraging others to - unless you are going to take responsibility and fund their care if somebody injures themselves."

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said helmets are important, but added they should not be made compulsory in case this puts off would-be cyclists.

But some campaigners said Mr Marsh did have a point.

He cited research which suggests that wearing a helmet may in fact put cyclists at greater risk - because drivers get around three inches closer to riders wearing helmets.

Michael Cavenett, from the London Cycling Campaign, said he did not think Mr Marsh's comments were "particularly controversial" and said doubt had been cast on the effectiveness of helmets for decades.

"As a cycling organisation we support the right of people to choose if they wear a helmet or not," he said.

"People think helmets are much more effective than they are.

"The frustration for campaigners is that if you talk about a cycling injury or fatality people start talking about helmets and that distracts from the real issue which is how streets and junctions are designed.

"We don't want policy makers to say people have to put on helmets because that doesn't work."

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Explosions Carried Out On Suspicious Car

A bomb disposal team has carried out a number of controlled explosions on a suspicious car in a Bristol street.

Police were called to Cassell Road, in the Fishponds area of the city, around 4am.

Officers said the car smelt strongly of fuel and could be linked to "an ongoing dispute".

A 200-metre cordon has been set up and around 460 homes evacuated, with many residents moved to a rest centre set up at a nearby school.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called to the scene and carried out several controlled explosions on the vehicle.

Bomb disposal experts

"This is a normal operational response to incidents of this nature."

Completing their search of the vehicle, police said there was no indication of explosives being found inside the car.

However, there remains a large police presence while officers continue their investigations.

Cassell Road was sealed off by police

It means residents have been unable to return to their homes.

Chief Superintendent Geoff Spicer said: "At this stage we believe this is an isolated incident and could be linked to an ongoing dispute and we are progressing with lines of enquiry."

He added: "We are hoping to get all the affected residents back into their homes as soon as possible and I would like to reiterate my sincere thanks and gratitude to residents for their support and assistance.

"I am heartened by the local community's response and I have seen residents, local businesses and the local school all helping each other out.

"As the investigation is continuing, I would encourage anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the Cassell Road area yesterday (Friday) evening, or the early hours of this morning, to come forward."

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Hat's Too High: France Changes Car For Queen

The Queen's large hats have led to a hasty change of plan by the French government over what car she should travel in during next week's trip to Normandy.

There have been months of preparations for Her Majesty's official visit to France, as part of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6.

She had been due to travel in President Francois Hollande's low-roofed official Citroen DS5.

But the Elysee Palace then realised the Queen would not be able to sit upright in the back of the car or the larger C6 model without squashing her headwear.

The presidential fleet does include people carriers that have more space but these were seen as being unfit for the British monarch.

The Renault Vel Satis car that ex-president Sarkozy used

As a result, the Elysee Palace has now chosen a Renault Vel Satis which had been mothballed.

It is 62.2 inches high - 2.6 inches taller than the 'compact executive' DS5.

The Vel Satis was a commercial failure for Renault and production was halted in 2009 after just seven years.

The model provided for the Queen is an armoured 3.5-litre V6.

Mr Hollande had picked the mid-size DS5 model as a symbol of his "normal" presidency to counter the flashy image of predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.

The president first travelled in the car for his 2012 inauguration where he was soaked on an embarrassing open-topped drive up the Champs Elysee.

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Cameron: Meriam Death Sentence Is 'Barbaric'

David Cameron says the death sentence handed down to Meriam Ibrahim is "barbaric" and has called on Sudanese authorities to intervene.

The Prime Minister joined international condemnation of the 27-year-old mother's plight, saying he is "absolutely appalled" by the case.

And UKIP leader Nigel Farage has now called on the Government to cut aid cash to Sudan, which last year stood at £42m.

Mr Cameron said: "The way she is being treated is barbaric and has no place in today's world.

Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have also condemned Ms Ibrahim's sentence

"I urge the government of Sudan to overturn the sentence and immediately provide appropriate support and medical care for her and her children.

"The UK will continue to press the government of Sudan to act."

Meanwhile, Mr Farage has urged the ending of UK financial support for Sudan,

He said: "I suspect this particular case is going to shock people, horrify people so much that there will be a renewed debate about where we are spending billions of our pounds every year."

Tory MP for Totnes Dr Sarah Wollaston has also said on Twitter that aid should be conditional on "action to reverse the rising tide of barbarity against women".

Husband Daniel Wani with his newborn baby in prison

Ms Ibrahim was found guilty by a Sudanese court of apostasy in renouncing Islam and of adultery for marrying a Christian, Daniel Wani.

She was sentenced to 100 lashes and death by hanging earlier this month.

Her death sentence has been suspended for two years so she can nurse her daughter Maya, who was born in prison on Wednesday.

Ms Ibrahim was forced to give birth to the child while shackled to a prison floor after guards at Omdurman Women's Prison refused to release her.

Both the UK and US governments have summoned Sudan's charge d'affaires to discuss the case.

Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds told Sky News Britain is doing everything it can to pressure the Sudanese government to lift Ms Ibrahim's sentence.

He said: "We are putting intense pressure on the Sudanese government to do everything that they can to ensure her release.

"Hopefully the international outrage will push the Sudanese authorities into a situation where they feel they have to release Meriam."

He said her sentencing was unconstitutional under Sudanese law and in violation of the country's commitment to treaties that relate to human rights and freedom of religion.

The US State Department has described Ms Ibrahim's incarceration as "horrific" and continues to press Sudanese officials to intervene.

US embassy officials have been attending Ms Ibrahim's public hearings and are monitoring the appeals process in Khartoum.

Mr Cameron's comments follow condemnation from former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and British politicians including Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg.

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Ash Cloud From Volcanic Eruption Hits Flights

A volcano has erupted in Indonesia, sending a huge ash cloud into the sky.

The plume, between 6-10 miles high, the cruising altitude for commercial aircraft, is causing major disruption to flights in the region, grounding planes in parts of Indonesia and northern Australia.

Darwin International Airport was closed to all inbound and outbound flights on Saturday and Bali's airspace was also affected.

Mount Sangeang Api blew on Friday and there have been at least two more eruptions since then.

There are now three separate ash plumes and the volcano, off the northeast coast of the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, is continuing to discharge debris.

Ash cloud over northern Australia. Pic: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre

The major one affecting Australian aviation is near Darwin and sweeping southeast over the west side of the Northern Territory as far south as Alice Springs.

A second, hovering north of Darwin and also up to 10 miles in the air, may cause problems for flights between Australia and Malaysia and Singapore, according to meteorologist Tim Birch.

A third, lower-level plume is drifting west from the volcano and is within 60 miles of Bali.

"The volcano is still erupting as it has done for most of the day - not as violently as it initially erupted but there is a steady plume," Mr Birch said.

There were no reports of any deaths or injuries.

The flight disruption could last for days

Qantas and Virgin Australia confirmed all their flights to and from Darwin have been cancelled, including some overseas routes.

Some flights between Perth and Bali have also been cancelled.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said it may be days before flights in northern Australia return to normal.

Mount Sangeang Api last erupted 15 years ago.

Indonesia lies on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire" with nearly 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country.

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Retailers' Credit Union To Defy Payday Lenders

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Some of Britain's biggest high street names, including New Look and Next, are forming a credit union that will offer staff an alternative to the sky-high interest rates charged by payday lenders.

Sky News has learnt that RetailCure, which has also received backing from entrepreneurs such as Rymans owner Theo Paphitis, is drawing up plans to launch later this year.

The new venture has received start-up funding of £1m and will eventually be accessible to the 4.8 million people who work directly in retail or in related sectors of the economy, half of whom earn less than £8 an hour.

It will be chaired by John Lovering, a veteran retailer who has led buyouts of companies including Debenhams, Homebase and Somerfield.

Mr Lovering is also chairman of the Retail Trust, an industry charity which has been working on plans for the new credit union for some time.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: "The industry feels that we have to find a way of providing a source of cheap, reliable credit for our people.

"The three million in retail and the nearly five million in the wider industry do have a need for low-cost, value-for-money, short-term borrowing facilities, and that's what we as an industry are trying to provide."

Booker and Matalan have also agreed to support RetailCure, while John Lewis Partnership and Wm Morrison have been approached and are expected to provide financial assistance.

The launch of RetailCure comes amid a still-intense political debate about the business model employed by payday lenders, which charge interest rates that work out at more than 5,000% on an annual basis.

The high street chains' credit union will charge interest on a sliding scale from roughly 7% to nearly 28% depending upon the borrower's credit history.

Mr Lovering expects the average loan request to be lower than £5,000, and believes that RetailCure could ultimately become Britain's biggest credit union.

"We think we can build a loan-book of £50m and attract 50,000 members relatively quickly," he said.

Assuming it receives regulatory approval, savers who deposit funds with RetailCure will be protected by the same Government guarantee as that which covers high street banks.

Labour MP Stella Creasy, who has campaigned against payday loans, told Sky News: "Anything that helps people access affordable credit as opposed to some of the legal loan sharks you see on your high streets - the payday lenders and the logbook loan companies - is a welcome move."

Earlier this week, the Church of England unveiled a pilot scheme through which a new credit union network will be piloted in three of its dioceses.

That project is being led by Sir Hector Sants, the former boss of the City watchdog, which since April has had oversight of consumer credit providers such as payday lenders.

Last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Justin Welby, said he had told the then boss of Wonga that he wanted to "compete (the company) out of existence".

The remarks sparked acute embarrassment for the Archbishop, however, when it emerged that the Church of England's pension fund was among the investors in one of Wonga's financial backers.

In its annual report this week, the Church Commissioners said they had yet to dispose of the holding because doing so would crystallise a significant loss for its pension fund.

Some industry stakeholders were sceptical about the prospects for RetailCure.

Russell Hamblin-Boone, chief executive of the Consumer Finance Association, which represents short-term lenders, said greater choice was welcome but warned that it faced significant uncertainties.

"What this body will have to do is make sure it complies with very stringent regulations that are applied to financial services.

"I would ask questions around what is going to be the collection policy, what happens if somebody leaves the retailers business still owing a debt, how are you going to collect that?"

RetailCure hopes to launch formally in November.

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Body Found In Search For Missing Dorset Nurse

Police investigating the disappearance of a nurse who went missing from the hospital where she works have found a body in the boot of a car.

Detectives "strongly believe" the body is that of 44-year-old Rui Li, who was last seen leaving Poole Hospital in Dorset at around 6pm on May 23.

Two men, a father and son aged 60 and 26, are being questioned on suspicion of murdering Ms Li, from Boscombe in Bournemouth.

The body was found "concealed within a silver Fiat Punto" along Verwood Crescent in north Bournemouth, a spokesman for Dorset Police said.

The street in Bournemouth where the body was found

Detective Inspector Marcus Hester told Sky News they believe the car was left there sometime on Wednesday morning and Ms Li's body has been moved a number of times since she died, which was either on the Friday she went missing or the next day.

He added: "This is the start of a long investigation and we need a lot of detail. We know that Rui Li worked as a nurse at Poole General Hospital and she left that work at 6pm last Friday.

"What we don't have is a lot of information about her private life, her friends and her family or anybody that generally knew her through work.

"Therefore I'm appealing for them to come forward so we can build a full picture as to her life."

Rui Li's car was seen on CCTV leaving Poole Hospital on May 23

Specialist officers are forensically examining the vehicle and the surrounding area, which is some four miles from Ms Li's home in Burnham Drive.

Experts have already examined Ms Li's house.

Her distinctive Porsche Boxter, with the personalised number plate L1 RUI, was found outside a property in Wolverton Road.

Several vehicles have been seized.

A Ford Connect van which police wish to trace as part of their inquiries

In a statement released by police earlier this week, her 18-year-old daughter Lu Yao appealed for information about her mother's whereabouts and urged her to get in touch, even if she "just wanted to get away".

"My mum is a very conscientious and caring nurse and never lets anyone down, Miss Yao said.

"She is a very loving mum, supporting me with my studies from when I came to the UK from China.

"She prides herself on her timekeeping and my mum has never gone missing before.

Ms Li worked as a nurse at Poole Hospital

"This is completely out of character and I'm very worried. I really miss her and I just want her home."

Ms Li moved to the UK from China a decade ago and started working at the hospital in 2009.

Her next of kin has been informed.

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US Soldier Held By Taliban For Five Years Freed

A US soldier held for nearly five years by the Taliban in Afghanistan has been released in a prisoner swap.

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, from Idaho, was freed in exchange for America turning over five Taliban detainees held in Guantanamo, to Qatari custody.

US officials say he is in good condition and is undergoing a medical examination in Germany.

Barack Obama called Sgt Bergdahl's parents to inform them of his release

His release follows months of indirect contact with the militants, with Qatar acting as intermediary.

In a statement, US President Barack Obama said: "On behalf of the American people, I was honoured to call his parents to express our joy that they can expect his safe return, mindful of their courage and sacrifice throughout this ordeal.

"Today we also remember the many troops held captive and whom remain missing or unaccounted for in America's past wars.

"Sergeant Bergdahl's recovery is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield.

"And as we find relief in Bowe's recovery, our thoughts and prayers are with those other Americans  whose release we continue to pursue."

Mr Obama expressed his gratitude to the Amir of Qatar for helping secure the soldier's release, and also the support of the Afghanistan government.

Sgt Bergdahl was taken prisoner in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan on June 30, 2009.

His father, Bob, has previously published a video to raise awareness about his son's ordeal and to try to secure his release.

Mike Baker, a former CIA operations officer, told Sky News: "It's been a long time coming.

"It's been a very frustrating exercise over the years, in part because for quite along time it was not clear who we were supposed to be negotiating with.

"People are extremely happy here he's back."

On the US policy not to negotiate with terrorists and concerns the exchange could lead to further hostage-taking, Mr Baker said this was a consideration, but added: "We had to get our guy back.

"We have a very strict policy as does the UK, we don't leave people behind. This was just a festering wound for all of these years. It had to be dealt with."

More follows...

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