News in brief

West Coast rail to be nationalised

Transport: Con-Dem ministers are reported to be preparing to nationalise the West Coast railway train-operating franchise in the wake of Virgin Trains' attempts to delay the handover of the network to rival operator First Group.

According to the Sunday Times, Virgin's campaign for a judicial review of the government's decision has delayed the signing of the contract and could put back the handover indefinitely.

It is currently due to take place on December 9.

Paralympians speak out on benefit cuts

Equality: Britain's Paralympians may have put on a brave face for the Games but some slammed the Con-Dem cabinet's attacks on disability benefits at today's closing ceremony

Team GB footballer Keryn Seal was among several who told the Sunday Mirror that he relied on a £70-a-week allowance to get to training and get his children to school.

"I can't understand why the government would dream of taking this money away from us," he said.

Top cop laments loss of goodwill

Policing: Police chiefs have threatened a work-to-rule protest in the gruelling battle over pay and pensions.

Chief superintendent Derek Barnett, who represents the rank across England and Wales, said that chiefs worked long hours without overtime as a matter of goodwill.

The government's reforms represented a loss of that goodwill, he said.