The News Matrix: Saturday 27 July 2013

Kent town surprised to host 'massacre'

Residents of a Kent town who hoped it would get the Midsomer Murders treatment from Channel 4 have been left disappointed. Faversham was chosen as the location for Southcliffe, a harrowing drama inspired by the Dunblane massacre of an ex-soldier who goes on a killing spree. MORE

Westwood ho! Shake-up at Radio 1

The hip-hop pioneer Tim Westwood is to leave the BBC as part of a schedule shake-up. The 55-year-old DJ joined Radio 1 in 1994 to present its first rap show. His 9pm Saturday night slot will be replaced by a line-up including MistaJam, Charlie Sloth and DJ Target.

Blakelock accused has trial date set

A provisional date of 4 March 2014 has been set for the trial of the man charged with the murder of PC Keith Blakelock during the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985. Nicholas Jacobs, 44, appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from Belmarsh prison. He is accused of stabbing PC Blakelock.

Premiums down in anti-fraud windfall

The cost of car insurance has fallen by record levels, partly due to improved fraud detection. The average quote for a year's comprehensive insurance comes in at £594.86 – a 9.8 per cent fall on last July. The AA said it was "welcome news for hard-pressed motorists". MORE

Children think using computers is healthy

As schools break up for summer, a survey has found that 52 per cent of eight to 11-year-olds consider video gaming and surfing the net healthy hobbies. A third of those questioned said that these were their favourite pastimes, while just one in seven said they preferred playing sport. pag

Instant proposal as Bill becomes law

A gay couple got engaged moments after the Government approved legislation that will make their same-sex marriage possible. Ed Fordham and Russell Eagling were outside the House of Lords when the announcement was made – and Mr Fordham immediately proposed. MORE

Strauss-Kahn to face pimping charge

The former International Monetary Fund chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, will have to defend himself in court on charges of aggravated pimping. Judges investigating the case in the northern city of Lille rejected calls for the case to be dropped for lack of evidence. MORE

Reporter will take on sole Green MP

A former BBC reporter who acted as spokesman for the family of Madeleine McCann will challenge Britain's only Green MP at the next election. Clarence Mitchell has been selected as the prospective Tory candidate for Brighton Pavilion, held by the Greens' leader Caroline Lucas.

23 killed, 100 injured in double bomb blast

Two bombs exploded in a busy market area packed with shoppers yesterday evening, killing 23 people. Hospitals were overwhelmed attending to more than 100 wounded after bombers struck in the town of Parachinar, in the north of the country.

Navy saves racing pigeon lost at sea

A racing pigeon which got lost at sea has been saved by the crew of a Royal Navy frigate. The exhausted bird landed on the deck of HMS Somerset 300 miles out in the Atlantic. One of the seamen joked: "She will certainly have a few sea stories to tell her fellow pigeons."

Bubonic plague infects squirrel

A squirrel found in a national forest in California was infected with bubonic plague, health officials in Los Angeles have confirmed. As a precaution, parts of the Angeles National Forest, near Wrightwood, are closed. No humans in the area have been infected with the disease.

Swansea is UK's sleepiest place

Swansea has been named the sleepiest place in the UK. Residents of the Welsh city racked up an average of 9.2 hours' sleep a night. Londoners are the nation's most sleep-deprived people, getting just 6.3 hours of nightly shut-eye.