Five animal rights activists who intimidated companies linked to Huntingdon Life Sciences in Britain an attempt to close down the animal-testing lab were sentenced to between six years and 15 months in prison today.

An English market trader who lost five members of his family in a massive house fire just minutes after he left for work was being comforted by friends and relatives tonight.

Five people were killed in a massive house blaze in Britain today, a UK Fire Service spokesman said.