In a 1993 interview with The Independent, the best-selling crime writer Reginald Hill said: "It is easy to mystify. The good mystery writer's real skill lies in clarification." At the time he was in his 23rd year as a published author but was less generally known than he deserved to be for his series of cunningly constructed mysteries featuring Dalziel and Pascoe. That changed when, in 1996, 11 years of successful TV productions began. The 20-odd Dalziel and Pascoe novels were less than half of Hill's output but he long recognised them as his "bankers". The two characters he created – a modern pairing of Falstaff and Hal – are probably the most interesting characters in modern crime fiction.

As the eldest son of a legendary British and Commonwealth boxing champion, it was perhaps inevitable that Jack London would follow his father into the fight game. While he was undoubtedly a gifted exponent of the noble art, he is as well known for his contribution to the explosive events in Porthcawl more than 50 years ago that not only made world headlines but remain entrenched in sporting folklore.

Playing a first-ever third-round tie – against Sheffield United, 90 places higher up the ladder – is a joy for the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup. By Robin Scott-Elliot

Playing a first-ever third-round tie – against Sheffield United, 90 places higher up the ladder – is a joy for the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup

A teenage boy was yesterday charged over online attacks by the international hacking gang Anonymous.

A British student was charged today over online attacks by international hacking gang Anonymous.

A large swathe of northern England was put on flood alert today as a heavy band of rain threatened to cause disruption.

Walk Of The Month: Seaham, County Durham - The Durham mines once dumped their bleak waste on to this shoreline but Nature's beauty is fighting back. Mark Rowe reports

The Government is to press ahead with the biggest nuclear programme for a generation, announcing yesterday eight sites where new reactors are planned. Environmentalists denounced the move, but a review of the proposals after the Fukushima disaster in Japan concluded there was no risk of a similar accident occurring in Britain.

A man was killed in a house fire in the early hours of this morning, police said.

The emergency services launched a major incident operation after a man was blown up in his car today.

Nineteen crew members were evacuated from a mobile rig in the North Sea today after becoming swamped by the rising tide, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Martyn Hillier didn't want to be a landlord. When he was told that he could turn his off-licence in the Kentish village of Herne into a pub, the 51-year-old was taken aback. "I thought: 'Pub? No, not for me,'" he says. "I never, ever wanted to run a pub."

Power firm British Energy today announced plans to extend the life of two of the UK's nuclear power stations for a further five years.