A rally of more than 2% for market heavyweight Vodafone helped London’s FTSE 100 Index hold on to recent gains today.

The beleaguered London market took another hammering today as a late sell-off left the FTSE 100 Index down another 3% at a fresh six-year low.

British motor insurer Admiral today said £4.5m (€5m) of shares will be distributed to staff after the company increased profits 11% to £202.5m (€226.6m) in 2008.

Shirley Bassey is to be a patron of a children’s hospital’s fundraising charity, it was announced today.