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Police car that killed girl was travelling at 90mph

A girl was flung into the air and killed by a police patrol car travelling at more than 90mph without warning lights or siren in a 30mph zone, a court heard yesterday. PC John Dougal was accused of a "grossly disproportionate" response to a suspicious car alert shortly before the death, the jury at Newcastle upon Tyne crown court was told. His car braked and swerved moments before hitting Hayley Adamson, 16, who was killed instantly as she crossed a road with friends. Dougal, 41, a traffic officer with Northumbria police, denies causing death by dangerous driving. The trial continues.
Martin Wainwright

The Wire on BBC2 draws 600,000 viewers

The Wire, the critically lauded US drama that up to now has been relatively little watched in the UK, attracted 600,000 viewers on its first British terrestrial airing on BBC2 last night. The Wire's debut on a British terrestrial channel comes nearly seven years after its first broadcast on US cable network HBO. It attracted a respectable 8% share of the total TV audience last night, according to unofficial figures. UK cable and satellite channel FX has broadcast the five series of The Wire, starting in early 2005 and finishing last year. The first episode of series five attracted 38,000 viewers on FX in July 2008. Jason Deans

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