A group of school pupils were so inebriated following a drinking session to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas holidays that an ambulance had to be called. The 10 youngsters, aged between 12 and 14, took ill during the last day of lessons before the festive break.

Kenny Richey’s mother has made an emotional appeal for privacy as she prepares to welcome her son home from Death Row. Eileen Richey says she’s overwhelmed by the prospect of embracing her son for the first time in 23 years and is desperate for him to be home safe and well.

An appeal is to be made to the Scottish Parliament for a pardon for the last person in Britain to be jailed for witchcraft.