Residents living in Dublin’s north inner city have voiced support for the operation of a landing pad for helicopters at the Mater Hospital, despite concern by council planners about the impact of the facility on people living in the area.

Police are continuing to seal off and surround an area around a west London bank this evening, after an armed man is believed to have taken hostages at the Barclays branch.

An armed man is believed to have taken hostages in an incident at a bank, police said today.

A reconstruction of missing schoolgirl Amanda Dowler’s last known movements was filmed today five days after she disappeared.