'Drink-drive cases on hold as leading forensics lab axed'

Police have been told to put samples from drink drivers on ice after the biggest forensic science provider was axed.A leaked memo revealed staff at the Forensic Science Service have stopped processing blood and urine samples in motoring cases. It comes after the Government announced the loss-making FSS would be wound down by March next year, a move that experts have warned will make it harder to catch criminals and bring them to justice - Daily Mail​

A six-year-old girl is thought to be one of the youngest children in the country to be taken to hospital after drinking dangerous levels of alcohol. She was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital some time last year, Freedom of Information figures have revealed. She was one of 198 children under 17 treated in hospitals in East Sussex in the last five years for drink or drugs. It is not known how she got hold of the alcohol or what she drank - Metro​

The world's largest spirits group, Diageo has revealed its results for the half year ending in December. Sales powered ahead in Asia and North America while some European markets were sluggish. However, net profits rose by 15%, slightly ahead of analysts expectations - BBC​

Homeowners and business organisations breathed a sigh of relief today as the Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at their record low. The Bank's monetary policy committee left its base rate at 0.5% for a 23rd consecutive month. With the Bank battling to curb inflation, City economists had estimated a 20% chance of a rate increase today, but they believe a move is more likely later in the year - The Guardian​