A former senior executive with Anglian Water has taken over as the North’s new energy regulator, it was confirmed today.

Rescuers battling to save a whale stranded in the Thames say the next few hours will be critical to its survival.

RESCUERS were last night in a “race against time” to save a whale swimming in the River Thames in central London.

A three masted tall ship avoided serious damage today when it struck one of the buttresses of Tower Bridge on the River Thames in London.