Six-year-old becomes accidental fire heroA six-year-old boy unwittingly saved his family from disaster following a fire at their home yesterday. The boy woke up by chance in the middle of the night and roused his parents just as a tumble dryer which had been left on in the utility room burst into flames. When his parents woke they smelled smoke, woke their three other children and led them to safety from their two-storey home in Worthing, West Sussex. The father then returned to the house just after midnight to call the fire brigade. Firefighters said the house was fitted with a smoke alarm but it had no batteries. Press AssociationUK cinemas see 8% rise in box office takingsLast year was a good rather than an amazing year for British film production - but a great year in terms of box office, figures showed yesterday. The amount of money spent making films, including Sweeney Todd and the latest Harry Potter film, totalled %26pound;723m, down on 2006’s %26pound;855m, which was the second highest on record. The weakening dollar, the US writers’ strike and the bedding in of new tax credit arrangements were all blamed for the fall. In terms of cinema-going, however, the picture is looking bright. The UK Film Council figures showed an 8% increase in cinema takings to %26pound;904m. Mark BrownOrange lodge may join St Patrick’s Day paradeTalks are under way to allow an Orange lodge to take part in Northern Ireland’s biggest St Patrick’s Day celebrations for the first time. Orange and political leaders are hoping that a lodge named after St Patrick will march in this year’s parade in Downpatrick, the Co Down town where the patron saint is reputedly buried. St Patrick’s Orange lodge has met to discuss the invitation but has yet to give it the go-ahead. A spokesman for the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the Orange Order’s ruling body, said that if St Patrick’s lodge decided to take part in the march then that was their right. Henry McDonaldWoman, 92, rescued as daughter dies in houseA woman has died and her elderly mother is in hospital after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Police were called to a house in Rhymney, south Wales, after concerns were raised about the women. Officers entered the building at noon on Wednesday and found the body of 74-year-old Valerie Robinson Gallop. Her 92-year-old mother, Elizabeth Allcock, was also in the house and was taken to Prince Charles hospital in Merthyr Tydfil for treatment. South Wales police say they are not treating the death as suspicious. An inquest will be opened by the Newport coroner on Monday. Press AssociationGirl drowned on school trip to French theme parkA coroner decided that yesterday that an 11-year-old girl who died on a school trip to a theme park in France had drowned. Bunmi Shagaya, of Brixton, south London, was found in a lake near Dieppe three days after she went missing in July 2001. John Sampson, coroner for the inner south district of Greater London, said the French authorities had investigated the circumstances and determined on December 8 2006 that proceedings would not be taken against any person. The court heard that Bunmi went missing after a child who injured his foot had to be taken to hospital by two supervisors. Press AssociationMemorial service for Hillary at Windsor CastleSir Edmund Hillary will be honoured at a memorial service at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace said yesterday. As Sir Edmund was a Knight of the Garter, the ceremony will include the “laying up” of his banner in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in April. The family will also be invited to attend an audience with the Queen. A wreath from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be laid at the lying-in-state before Hillary’s funeral in New Zealand on Tuesday. Sir Edmund’s ascent of Everest was announced on the eve of the coronation in June 1953. He was knighted the same year. Press Association
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