Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert believes the majority of top-flight managers would rather do without the distraction of the FA Cup.

Detectives believe the abductor thought to have kidnapped Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells could be linked to the kidnapping and indecent assault of a six-year-old girl last year.

The father of a man arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of links to Al Qaida terrorists today threatened to go on hunger strike unless his son was released.