Trade unions braced for the Tories

Few union leaders want to talk to David Cameron's team, but some may decide they have not got anything to lose by doing so

‘Winter of discontent’ strikes loom

Strikes could throw schools and public services into chaos this winter as trade unions prepare to take on the Government

Nationwide prepares for three-way merger

Britain's biggest building society says that it was in advanced talks with the Derbyshire and the Cheshire building societies

Hunt begins for missing data on prison staff

Company delivering the national identity card scheme is frantically searching for a computer drive containing 5,000 files

‘My mother’s 89 and has lost everything’

More than 1,000 homes in Morpeth were flooded when a river burst its banks on Saturday morning, almost cutting off the town

Eight killed in weekend of floods across Britain

Environment Agency warns that floods are likely to worsen over the coming days as rainwater drains into river systems

It could get worse in a sodden September

The remains of Tropical Storm Hanna will dump its cargo of hot air over the Atlantic and stir more stormy weather our way

High-flyer aims for 150,000ft sky dive record

Commonwealth Games cyclist has quit his job in the world of finance to break the record set in 1960 for the highest sky dive

Once more unto the breach for humpback

A humpback whale is caught on camera leaping from the sea, one of the most spectacular sights in the natural world

Queen enjoys her annual Highland fling

Royal Family were greeted by a crowd of about 16,000 as they watched the Highland Games at the annual Braemar Gathering

Sculptures flourish in Chatsworth’s gardens

Giant sculpture of a seven-month-old baby provides a surreal contrast to the grandeur of House and Derbyshire countryside

More charged over killing of boy, 14

Three teenagers charged with the murder of Shaquille Smith, stabbed to death outside his home in Hackney nine days ago

Brown gets personal as he takes on doubters

PM will kickstart his fightback by declaring that his experience of personal adversity means he can tackle economic woes

Missing woman may be alive after all, claim family

Kerry Winter’s mobile telephone was answered yesterday for the first time since she went missing three weeks ago