BRITAIN was holding its breath last night for the results of bird flu tests on a number of dead birds amid fears of an outbreak.

A leading supermarket chain was criticised as irresponsible by the Scottish environment minister today over its response to the bird flu alert.

Protesters demanding the return of fishing policy to national governments took the campaign to Brussels today at the start of talks on more restrictions for the beleaguered UK fleet.

Talks on national fishing quotas will be held today at the European Commission after a threat to close off fishing grounds in the Irish Sea.

European plans to slash fishing levels by up to 80% to conserve dwindling marine stocks are “tainted by political interference”, it was claimed tonight.