Knee-deep water inundated communities in south-eastern Australia and split one town in two today as swollen rivers carried flood fears downstream and officials urged residents to evacuate.

Budget hotel chain Travelodge announced the creation of 200 new jobs in the UK in the run-up to Christmas today.

Gary Moore made a triumphant return to his old haunt by pocketing the Tom Aldridge Is Never 70 Handicap at Brighton.

Three houses and a golf club were destroyed today as extreme weather conditions in south east Australia fuelled wildfires and fear and crews battled scores of blazes.

Real fur is thought to be widely sold by mistake in UK stores, the RSPCA warned today. Many shoppers accidentally buy fur, assuming it is fake due to low prices and poor labelling, the charity said.

Three contact centres employing almost 1,000 people are set to be sold in a deal worth £4m (€6m), it was announced today.

Thousands of commuters have suffered severe delays after a major landslide blocked lines on a key railway line.