Ugly scenes of violence, rioting and looting have spread across England since erupting three days ago.

Police chiefs and political leaders were struggling to restore calm to England’s streets today after riots spread across the country.

More than half a million spectators are expected to descend on central London today as the Tour de France, the world’s biggest annual sporting event, hits town.

The “intolerable misery” of lengthy waiting lists in Northern Irish hospitals has to be brought to an end, health minister Shaun Woodward said today.

The UK’s second biggest port operator said today it remained on track for a £780m (€1.1bn) takeover by the owner of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.

The battle for control of the UK’s second-biggest ports firm intensified today after Peel Holdings spent £103.8m (€149.4m) for a higher stake.

Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, Britain's number 2 port operator behind Associated British Ports has reported a small increase in underlying full year profit, in line with market expectations, and said although the economic climate remains uncertain it is well positioned to benefit from any upturn.

Construction group Morgan Sindall is to help build a stretch of the Channel Tunnel rail link after winning a key contract today.