Hundreds of people began sifting through the charred remains of their burned-out homes today after the worst bush fires in the history of Australia’s capital, Canberra, left four dead.

A state of emergency has been declared in the Australian capital Canberra as out-of-control bush fires closed to within five miles of the city's suburbs.

A property company owned by Britain’s richest landowner has pulled out of a bid to buy the troubled Millennium Dome, it emerged today.