Britain 'should not withdraw troops from Afghanistan before 2014'

Britain should not draw down troop numbers from the Afghan frontline before David Cameron's 2014 deadline for withdrawal, the head of Afghanistan army in the province has said.

The British are increasingly taking a step back from combat operations with two infantry battalions now fully committed to training and mentoring the Afghans 

Britain currently has 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, including special forces, but David Cameron has given assurances that it will remain at that level only until the end of next year. After that military experts expect the numbers to fall in stages in advance of the withdrawal deadline. But the province's top soldier has said a staged withdrawl would harm the battle to secure the province from the Taliban.

"If the British leave, in my personal opinion, this will have a negative effect on security," Brig Gen Sheren Shah said British soldiers were needed "to fight together with us in the front line until 2014".

The Kabul government on Wednesday announced that parts of Helmand would be among 17 provinces that move to Afghan control next year.

President Hamid Karzai will officially name the new areas that are to "transition" from Nato to Afghans leading security at a summit in Istanbul next Wednesday. Up to seven provinces and districts in 10 other provinces will transition giving Afghan forces control of up to 50 per cent of the population.

The second phase of handover, that comes after a few areas went to local control in July, is part of the plan for Nato to gradually withdraw its troops after a decade of fighting.

Downing Street has been circumspect about keeping any troops in Afghanistan from 2015 but the Afghan general said some would still be needed. But Brig Shah said a large number of support troops will also be needed to support the Afghan army for "many years" after the timetabled withdrawal at the end of 2014.
"To be honest I cannot forecast clearly after 2014 how much longer we will need British forces in Afghanistan but our country has been demolished and we have tolerated 30 years war in which we lost everything," he said.
"So we need the international community, especially British influence, for longer. I cannot say for how many years but a number of years."
Helmand has gone from being the trouble spot of Afghanistan almost to its "trophy province" with Brig Gen Shah's 3rd Brigade of 215 Corps seen as the "model" for the rest of the army.
The 44-year-old general has led Afghans as a commander in the Soviet-trained army who defected to the Mujahideen and then helped the Northern Alliance throw out the Taliban.
His brigade now conducts battalion size operations on its own with British advisors in the background.
In another sign of progress it has received the first Afghan "high threat operator" trained up to Western bomb disposal standards.
But the general warned that more advanced training in engineering, logistics and heavy weapons was needed before his brigade could become fully independent. They would also require Nato air power for a long time to come.
The officer also reflected Kabul's worries of greater interference from Afghanistan's neighbours such as Pakistan and Iran following Nato's withdrawal.
"As soldiers we are born to fight, we have no fear of the Taliban after 2014. The only fear we have is of foreign neighbouring countries interfering in Afghanistan." Despite the Afghans taking the lead in security in more Helmand districts beyond the provincial capital Lashkar Gah which they have controlled since July there still remain a number of teething issues.
The British are increasingly taking a step back from combat operations with two infantry battalions now fully committed to training and mentoring the Afghans.
"The Afghan Army is the future, they are our ticket out of here," one commander said.

Briton Dan Wheldon dies in IndyCar race in Las Vegas

 

Wheldon won the Indy 500 earlier this year 

 

British driver Dan Wheldon has died following a massive accident at the Las Vegas Indy 300.

Buckinghamshire-born Wheldon, 33, was one of 15 drivers involved in a crash at the second corner on lap 13 of the series' season-ending race.
Wheldon, who began IndyCar racing in 2002, was series champion in 2005 and won the Indy 500 in 2005 and 2011.
Lewis Hamilton, 2008 Formula One world champion, said: "This is a tragic loss at such a young age."
He said: "He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy, who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500, he was an inspirational guy, and someone that every racing driver looked up to with respect and admiration.
"My heart goes out to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time," added Hamilton.

WHELDON PROFILE

• Born: 22 June 1978
• IndyCar wins: 16
• IndyCar champion: 2005
• Indy 500: 2005 & 2011
• 1999: Wins US F2000 championship and is named 'Rookie of the Year'
• 2001: Wins CART Dayton Indy Lights 'Rookie of the Year' award
• 2002: Makes IndyCar debut with Panther Racing
• 2003: Named IndyCar 'Rookie of the Year' for Andretti Green Racing
• 2004: Finishes season second.
• 2005: Wins the marquee Indianapolis 500 race, becoming the first Englishman to do so since Graham Hill in 1966.
• 2005: Claims IndyCar drivers' championship in second full season.
• 2006: Finishes runner-up in championship after a tie-breaker
• 2009: Finishes second at Indianapolis 500 after starting from 18th
• 2010: Comes second again at Indianapolis 500.

Wheldon was airlifted to the nearby University Medical Center where he was joined by his family - including his wife Susie and two young sons Sebastian and Oliver - but his death was announced to his fellow drivers in a meeting at the track.
Formula One driver Jenson Button wrote on Twitter: "Just woken up to the most horrific news. Dan Wheldon RIP."
He tweeted: "I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90s, a true fighter. We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy."
It was the first IndyCar fatality since 2006 when Paul Dana was killed during the warm-up for the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The accident at the Las Vegas track happened when a number of cars came into contact on turn two, sending several of them airborne, smashing into the outside wall and catch fence.
With cars burning and debris littering the track, the race was red-flagged.
Wheldon had started the race at the back of the field and had made up 10 places in the first 12 laps before the crash.
It was the first-ever death at the circuit in its 40-year history.
IndyCar chief executive Randy Bernard said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Bernard added: "The IndyCar drivers and owners have decided to end the race in honour of Dan Wheldon and the drivers will take part in a five-lap salute."
When drivers returned to the track, Wheldon's 77 was the only number on the scoreboard.
The song Danny Boy was played followed by Amazing Grace as the teams' crew and mechanics stood around the track.
The Briton, who was driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports on Sunday, had failed to secure a regular ride this season after being replaced by JR Hildebrand at the Panther Racing team.
Despite that, Wheldon put together a deal for the Indianapolis 500 with Bryan Herta Autosport, a race he won after Hildebrand crashed going into the final turn.

He took up IndyCar chief Bernard's offer to pay $5m (£3.1m) if any non-regular series driver entered and won the season finale at Las Vegas.
There were 34 cars entered in the Las Vegas race - one more entry than was the case at the far bigger Indianapolis 500 circuit.
Earlier in the week, drivers had voiced concerns about speeds of close to 225mph being reached at the track during practice.
"I'll tell you, I've never seen anything like it," said driver Ryan Briscoe.
"The debris we all had to drive through the lap later, it looked like a war scene from Terminator or something. I mean, there were just pieces of metal and car on fire in the middle of the track... just debris everywhere."
The ending of the race resulted in Scotland's Dario Franchitti winning a third straight series crown, as a result of rival Will Power also been caught up in the accident.
Franchitti's only thoughts though were for his compatriot, and the 38-year-old was seen in his car in tears before setting off on the five-lap salute.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox 'made serious mistakes'

Liam Fox gives details of Mr Werritty's visits and meetings in the past 16 months

Serious mistakes were made by Defence Secretary Liam Fox in his working relationship with friend Adam Werritty, Downing Street has said.

Mr Fox apologised to MPs for the controversy, insisting that at no time was national security put at risk.
In a statement, he said he met the businessman 22 times - more than previously stated - at the Ministry of Defence and 18 times on foreign trips.
He told the Commons these meetings and trips with Mr Werritty would now end.
Mr Werritty, 34, was Mr Fox's best man in 2005 and a former flatmate and also used to carry cards describing himself as an adviser to "the Rt Hon Liam Fox MP".
He also brokered meetings for Mr Fox and accompanied him on foreign trips, apparently holding meetings without civil servants present.
In total, Mr Werritty spent time with the defence secretary on more a third of his overseas visits - 18 out of 48 - since he came to office in May 2010.
Mr Fox, who denies wrongdoing, set up a Ministry of Defence inquiry into his conduct on Friday. He said on Monday Mr Werritty would give evidence to the inquiry soon.
Prime Minister David Cameron has discussed the findings of an interim report on the inquiry with Mr Fox, a Downing Street spokesman said following the defence secretary's statement.

David Cameron: Liam Fox does "excellent job"

The spokesman said: "It is clear, as Liam Fox himself said yesterday, that serious mistakes were made in allowing the distinction between professional responsibilities and personal loyalties to be blurred - and this has clearly raised concerns about impropriety and potential conflicts of interest."
He said that while the initial conclusion was that no classified or other defence-related official information was discussed with, or given to, Mr Werritty, it was clear "much tighter procedures" were needed in the department to make sure the Ministerial Code was adhered to.
The prime minister is not expected to make a final decision on Mr Fox's future until he sees the full report due on 21 October.
'Sorry' In his statement to the Commons, Mr Fox revealed Mr Werritty, who he met in 1998, had initially worked as a paid intern in his office and later carried out research work, earning a total of £5,800.
Beyond that, he said there had never been a payment from the government.
He also detailed the meetings involving Mr Werritty that had taken place in Dubai and Sri Lanka.

By acknowledging he has made mistakes, Liam Fox clearly hopes to draw a line under this row.
But his apology may make little difference to whether or not he survives in his post.
What will determine his fate is not the extent of his apology, or indeed whether he has breached the ministerial code - it will be determined by whether the prime minister believes Mr Fox can carry on as defence secretary.
If Mr Cameron takes the view that Mr Fox is now too damaged, or unlikely to be able to focus fully on his job, or there are further allegations to emerge, he may decide he has to go.
Central to that decision is the interim report on Mr Fox and the nature of the media coverage.
In short, Mr Fox's fate still hangs in the balance.

He told MPs: "I accept that it was a mistake to allow distinctions to be blurred between my professional responsibilities and my personal loyalties to a friend and, Mr Speaker, I am sorry for this.

"I have apologised to the prime minister, to the public and at the first opportunity available, to the House."
He added: "Mr Werritty was never present at regular departmental meetings, during private meetings we did not discuss either commercial or defence matters.
"He had no access to classified documents, nor was he briefed on classified matters."
But he added: "I accept, with the benefit of hindsight I should have taken greater care to ensure a more transparent separation of government, party political and private business and that meetings were properly recorded to protect myself and government from any suggestion of wrongdoing.
"Again, I accept my personal responsibility for this."
Mr Fox said Mr Werritty would make no more private visits to the MoD, would not attend international conferences where he was present and they would not meet socially abroad when Mr Fox was on official business.
Other details to emerge during Mr Fox's Commons appearance include:

• A meeting last June in Dubai with Harry Boulter, chief executive of the Porton Capital investment fund, came about after Mr Werritty dined at a nearby table and suggested a meeting with Mr Fox who was on his way home from visiting forces in Afghanistan
• An "unofficial" visit took place with Sri Lanka's president in December 2010 at London's Dorchester Hotel
• Among the 18 meetings abroad with Mr Werritty were skiing holidays, weekends away with his wife, conference speaking where Mr Werritty was a delegate and defence-only business

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said it was clear the defence secretary had "drawn a coach and horses" through the ministerial code rules.
He said "we may never know whether it was arrogance, naivety or hubris which led Mr Fox to this", but the British people expected the highest standards of conduct.
Speaking earlier, the prime minister said Mr Fox had been "a very effective defence secretary", but it was right that an investigation was being carried out.
"I'm sure that we can answer these questions and come through all of this," he said.
"One can't rush these things... there are important elements of natural justice you have to show as prime minister. You've got to give people the time to answer questions, to unearth the information necessary to do that.
"One can't run these things to some sort of pre-ordained media timetable."

Sir Paul McCartney to get married for the third time

 

Sir Paul and Ms Shevell have been together for four years and got engaged in May

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is expected to marry for a third time later by tying the knot with Nancy Shevell at a London register office.

New Yorker Ms Shevell, 51, is an heiress to a trucking fortune.
The wedding is expected to take place at Old Marylebone Town Hall, which is where Sir Paul married first wife Linda Eastman - also an American - in 1969.
She died in 1998 and Sir Paul, 69, split from second wife Heather Mills during an acrimonious divorce in 2008.
Mirror showbiz journalist Clemmie Moodie said she expected Sunday's wedding to be a low-key affair.
"Given his last marriage to Heather Mills obviously was a fairly lavish, spectacular do and look how that ended... I think this time round it's going to be a far quieter, more civilised affair," she said.
"It's just close family, a few friends - we believe about 30 people - so far more intimate."

 

Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in 1969

Earlier this month Ms Shevell moved in with Sir Paul at his home in St John's Wood, London, where it is believed a reception will take place.
Ms Shevell, who was married for 20 years to American lawyer and political candidate Bruce Blakeman, became engaged to Sir Paul in May.
The couple began dating four years ago in the upmarket Hamptons area of Long Island.
Life-long Beatles fan Chiara Amato said she had sat outside the register office every day since September 29 in anticipation of the couple's wedding.
She said: "This marriage is going to last. She seems to be really nice and deeply in love with him. I have been listening to The Beatles since I was six-years-old. I have been to see Sir Paul in concert 27 times."
Sir Paul's eldest daughter, Mary, also married at the register office last year.
Ms Shevell is a board member of New York's transportation authority and vice-president of her family haulage firm.
But the wedding is expected to mean an end to her work in the family business and her leaving her position on the board of the transportation body.
Ms Shevell told the New York Post she would "love" the couple to live in the US but she would "probably" move to England after the wedding.

Euromillions prize of £101m claimed by UK ticketholder

 

Friday's winning numbers were 18, 26, 34, 38 and 42 and the Lucky Star numbers 5 and 8

A UK ticketholder has come forward to claim £101m (117m euros) on Euromillions - the third largest lottery jackpot in UK history.

It is not known if a single person, couple or syndicate won the prize.
It is the second major Euromillions win in the UK this year - in July, Colin and Chris Weir from Ayrshire won a record European lottery prize of £161m.
Friday's winning numbers were 18, 26, 34, 38 and 42 and the Lucky Star numbers were 5 and 8.
The claim of holding the winning ticket remains subject to ticket validation.
UK ticketholders have banked the Euromillions jackpot more than 15 times in the last two years.
Last year two anonymous UK winners scooped £113m and £84m.
A National Lottery spokeswoman said of the latest win: "This is amazing news, we are absolutely delighted.
"This is the third biggest winner this country has ever seen... we've got the champagne on ice and look forward to welcoming the ticketholder into the National Lottery millionaires' club."
Nine countries participate in Euromillions - the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria.
Ticket sales in all those countries contribute to the Euromillions jackpot.

London 2012: "100 days of peace" campaign is launched

 

Jimmy Mizen was murdered in a bakery in 2008, and his brother is asking for 100 days of peace

The Olympics must be remembered "for peace as well as sport", the brother of a teenager killed in London has said.

George Mizen, 12, is joining thousands of British children from nearly 500 Catholic schools in London, Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire to call for "100 days of peace" around next year's Games.
The schoolboy lost his brother Jimmy, 16, when he was stabbed at a bakery in Lee, south-east London, in May 2008.
A mass will be held at Westminster Cathedral later to launch the campaign.
It will be attended by George and his parents, Barry and Margaret, plus about 1,400 pupils, some of whom come from the areas of London worst affected in the riots in August.
The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, will tell them that he applauds the many young people with an "immense desire for peace".
He will also encourage them to spread the message of peace throughout summer 2012.

London 2012 - Begin your journey here

 

He will say he is "immensely proud of the character and leadership of so many young people in our schools as they work for peace and safety on our streets".

"We see and celebrate their generous contribution in varied ways to the alleviation of poverty, their reaching out to those others have cast to the edges," he is expected to add.
The service will end with each child being given a special booklet on peace.
George Mizen said he thought it was important "for people to try and become friends with each other, and I hope the 100 days of peace will do that".
"I also hope that the 2012 Olympics will be remembered for peace as well as sport," he added.

Former US marine Steven Greenoe 'smuggled guns' into UK

 

Steven Greenoe bought guns in the US and smuggled them into Britain, the court heard

A gun used in a fatal shooting in the UK was smuggled into the country on a commercial flight by a former US Marine, a court has heard.

Shropshire-born Steven Greenoe, 37, bought weapons from American gun shops and hid the parts in his luggage, Liverpool Crown Court was told.
Steven Cardwell, 31, from Liverpool and Neil Copplestone, 32, from Ormskirk, are accused of selling the guns.
They both deny charges relating to importing firearms.
Greenoe is awaiting sentence in the US after being arrested at an American airport in July 2010.
The court heard he had bought 81 guns in North Carolina and that some of them were smuggled and used in "serious criminal offences" in the UK.
'Profitable trade' Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, said forensic experts had proved guns bought by Greenoe were used in a fatal shooting, which cannot be reported on for legal reasons, an attempted murder in Manchester and an attempted robbery in Liverpool.
The trial also heard undercover police officers in Liverpool bought three pistols which have been linked to Greenoe's US purchases.
Mr Flewitt said the undercover officers paid about £3,600 per gun.
He said: "By way of comparison, Steven Greenoe paid approximately £300 for each gun.
"It follows, therefore, that smuggling guns out of the US to sell to criminals in the UK is an extremely profitable trade."
Mr Flewitt said guns linked to Greenoe were discovered as part of Operation Newhaven on 25 February 2010, when covert police officers in Liverpool paid £10,800 for three Glock handguns.
'Composite' firearm An attempted murder carried out in Cotefield Road, Manchester, when a man was shot in the leg, was also linked to the guns, the court heard.
The gun used in the shooting was never found but cartridges found at the scene match guns bought by Greenoe in America, the jury was told.
Mr Flewitt said a gun used in the attempted robbery of a Liverpool taxi driver on 2 March 2011 was forensically matched to two guns purchased by Greenoe in America and was in fact a "composite" firearm.
Cardwell, of Old Church Close, Aintree, and Copplestone, of Ruff Lane, Ormskirk, both deny conspiracy to import, sell and possess prohibited firearms with intent to endanger life.
The trial is expected to last up to six weeks.

Conservative conference: Avoid petty obsessions - MP

 

The party's leaders have been urged to focus on the problems facing the public

Conservatives must focus on issues that are important to the public, not "petty obsessions" at their party conference, one influential MP has warned.

Nick Boles said they must apply a "relevance test" before raising any issue at the event, starting on Sunday.
Economic turmoil and the UK's links with Europe are expected to dominate the conference in Manchester.
Any arguments over Europe must be practical in nature and not become ideological fights, Mr Boles stressed.
The Conservative leadership is expected to face demands from the right of the party to take a tougher line on issues such as Europe, immigration and social policy.
A group of Conservative MPs has called on the coalition government to re-design its relationship with Europe, in light of the eurozone debt crisis and demands for further fiscal integration, and to start reclaiming powers.
Issue test Other MPs want to go further and hold a referendum on Britain's future membership of the EU.

What we should not do is dwell too long on impossible questions”

Nick Boles Conservative MP

 

Mr Boles, MP for Stamford and Grantham, and former head of the Policy Exchange think tank, said he hoped the Conservatives would avoid "noises off" during their autumn conference.

"I hope that the Conservatives will be focused on what matters to the British public - which is growth, jobs and the rising cost of fuel, not our little petty obsessions," he told the BBC.
"The most important thing is that we have to apply a test before we say anything - any of us, backbench MPs, ministers, whatever.
"The test is: 'Is this an issue for the people around Britain - people that voted for us and those that didn't - that they find crucially important in this very difficult time?'
"If it is not, let's shut up about it, if it is let's talk about it and show how we are going to deal with the issue."
'Risk of caricature' Mr Boles said his party must remain in the centre ground and must not allow themselves to be "caricatured as old Thatcherites or old right-wingers" as they took difficult economic decisions.
On Europe, he said MPs were right to express people's concerns about excessive interference in specific areas but should avoid talk of "theoretical possibilities" when it came to the future of the EU.
"What we should not do is dwell too long on impossible questions of whether or not there will be a day when we can get out of the EU or completely renegotiate our membership.
"Let's deal with the practical stuff."
Mr Boles said a recent meeting of Tory MPs about Europe had been positive, as they had decided not to "obsess about the stuff that perhaps, in the past, some of the Eurosceptics have been going on about".
Mr Cameron, who describes himself as a "practical Eurosceptic" has said his focus is on working within the existing treaty arrangements to get more of the EU and assert the UK's national interest.
But he has said he could push for a renegotiation of existing EU rules on employment and financial regulation at an appropriate time in the future.
James Landale said the prime minister faced a tricky task over the four-day conference to allay the concerns of those on the right who believed too much ground has been conceded to their Lib Dem coalition partners.
He expected a flurry of announcements to show the government was not solely focused on cutting the deficit and had a full agenda in other areas.
In recent days, Conservative ministers have announced a review of the 70mph speed limit on motorways and said £250m will be made available to help councils in England retain or restore weekly bin collections.

South Yorkshire chief constable criticises police cuts

 

South Yorkshire Police has to cut £40m from its budget over four years

The chief constable of South Yorkshire Police has said the government has created a north-south divide through its spending cuts.

Med Hughes said the cuts had had a "disproportionate affect" on forces in the north of England compared to those in the south.
He said areas with higher council tax incomes could withstand the cuts better.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he did not accept Mr Hughes' comments.
South Yorkshire Police has said it needs to cut £40m from its budget over four years.
'Millions more' Mr Hughes, who retires this week after seven years as chief constable, said: "I wish the government had looked more sophisticatedly at the model of spending cuts it was imposing and perhaps imposed them on those forces that were inefficient or better able to withstand the cuts."
The chief constable, who joined the force in 2004, said 80% of South Yorkshire's housing was in the Band A category, which meant less money was raised through council tax.
He said: "Many people in Band A don't pay taxes because they're on various different benefits. So there's a reduced opportunity to raise money locally."
Mr Hughes said forces across northern England would suffer in comparison to the south because they relied on central government grants.
He said forces such as Surrey and Sussex raised "millions more because of the style and standard of housing".
Earlier this year he warned crime would rise because of budget cuts.
The Prime Minister said police forces across England were being asked to make cuts of about 7% or 8% over four years.
He said: "That's the nationwide figure. There are variations, of course there are, but I don't think that's an impossible task to ask of police forces.
"On the issue of the north/south divide I don't accept this. One of the things we are doing is making sure, through the regional growth fund, through enterprise zones, that we help regions like Yorkshire as much as we can."

Two charged over Frankland prison murder

 

Frankland holds more than 800 of the most serious offenders in the prison system

 

Two inmates have been charged with the murder of a child rapist at HM Prison Frankland, County Durham.

Mitchell Harrison, 23, was found with multiple injuries in his cell at the high security prison on Saturday morning.
A 32-year-old man and a 23-year-old man will appear before magistrates on Monday, police said.
Harrison, from Wolverhampton, was jailed in 2009 after raping a 13-year-old-girl in Cumbria in 2009.
A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: "The man who died can now be named as Mitchell Dean Harrison, whose last address was in Cumbria.
"Two men, aged 32 and 23, have been charged with murder and will appear before Peterlee magistrates on Monday."
Harrison was given an indeterminate sentence at Carlisle Crown Court in January last year after being convicted of raping the teenager.
He was sentenced to at least four-and-a-half years in jail and was put on the sex offenders register for life.
Frankland holds more than 800 of the most serious offenders in the prison system.

Record UK temperature for October set at 29.9C

 

Sunseekers packing out the beach in Brighton on Saturday afternoon

The record has been broken for the highest temperature recorded in October - now at 29.9C (85.8F).

It was set at 14:42 BST in Gravesend, Kent, beating the previous record of 29.4C (84.9F) recorded on 1 October 1985, in March, Cambridgeshire.
In Wales, a new October record was set at 28.2C (82.7F) in Hawarden, Flintshire, at 14:12 BST, the Met Office confirmed.
Temperatures in England topped those in Athens, Los Angeles and Barcelona.
But it was a different story in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland with outbreaks of rain and temperatures tipping just 17C (62.6F).
In Edinburgh on Wednesday the high was 24.7C (76.4F) - the warmest day in Scotland for the time of year for more than 50 years.
Met Office forecaster Andrew Sibley said: "We have had southerly wind for several days which has brought very warm air up from the south."
'Welcome fillip' The record was broken in Gravesend at 13:27 BST when temperatures soared to 29.5C (85.1F)
Lauren Cherry, manageress of The Rum Puncheon Public House, Gravesend, said it had been a busy day so far.

 

Some of those enjoying the unseasonable weather in London

"We've been rushed off our feet because we have a patio overlooking the Thames.
"Everyone's been quite shocked about the weather but pleased. I'm surprised we broke the record."
But fellow publican Paul Drake, landlord of the Jolly Drayman, said it had been a quiet afternoon - blaming the economy.
"Everyone's at home cooking on their barbecues and drinking their beer from Tesco," he added.
Meanwhile thousands of people headed to beaches across the south of England.
In Brighton alone, Visit Brighton predicted that 300,000 sunseekers would flock to the seafront over the weekend.
Officials reported a 30% increase in people clicking on to the city's official tourist website and calls to its visitor information centre rose by more than half.

 

Charlotte Wilford, Hannah Young and Laura Allen enjoy the warm weather in a fountain in the centre of Sheffield

Tourism councillor Geoffrey Bowden called the visitor boost a "welcome fillip" at the end of the summer season, which helped to support the 13,500 jobs dependent on tourism there.
Weather 'unsettled' Weather forecaster Holly Green said it would be another hot day on Sunday and temperature records could be challenged again.
"It's going to be another hot day in store, mainly across the south-eastern parts of the UK," she said.
"We are losing heat by Tuesday so temperatures will become much closer to what you would expect at this time of the year. Things are becoming cloudier and breezier.
"The unsettled picture for northern parts of the UK will stay that way for next week."
RNLI lifeguards will patrol 12 beaches across Devon and Cornwall on weekends in October and the October school half term.
Fistral beach, Newquay, will be patrolled during the whole of the month, as good surf conditions attract hundreds of surfers to the water.
Meanwhile, experts at the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS) said confused plants started to flower again due to the unseasonably warm weather.
Strawberries and rhododendrons were among the plants seen blooming at its flagship garden in Surrey when they were not expected to flower again until next spring.