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The blaze started at about 21:30 GMT on Saturday at the site off Hinckley Road in Sapcote, Leicestershire.

The owner of the horses, who did not want to be named, said he burned his hands trying to get the animals out, but the fire was too intense.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is due to investigate the cause of the blaze.

Toni Evans, a neighbour, said: “We heard a few bangs and came round to see the barn on fire.

“All I could see were flames, there was nothing we could do.

“They tried to save the horses, but the fire was too much. The owners are devastated.”

About 14 firefighters tackled the blaze and used cutting equipment to try and release the horses.

Colin Spencer has worked as a lollipop man for St George’s Primary School in Heaviley, Stockport, for 14 years.

Stockport Council angered parents last weekwhen it ordered him to stop the high-fives to “concentrate on ensuring highway safety”.

However, the council has now apologised and admitted it was “clearly wrong” to impose the ban.

Parents had described how they were sent a text message on Tuesday via the school asking them to tell their children not to high-five Mr Spencer on the road.

A text the following day said children could high-five Mr Spencer – but only on the pavement.

Mr Spencer had previously said the decision had left some pupils in tears, unable to understand why he could no longer high-five them on the road.

In its latest statement the council said: “Following the recent reports surrounding Stockport Council’s lollipop man, Colin Spencer, we want to apologise for the unnecessary concern caused by the issuing of an instruction that was clearly wrong”.

Sheila Bailey, the council’s executive member for communities and housing, added: “Colin has been an outstanding public servant and a popular member of his community for many years.

“It’s fantastic that he works with a smile on his face and brightens up the day for so many children.”

Ms Bailey added: “We try to make the service as safe as possible as well as maintaining the unique personalities that each member of the team brings to their school. We are sorry, that on this occasion, the council got it wrong.”

Dawn St Clare, whose children go to the school, told the BBC last week she thought the ruling was “ridiculous” and had annoyed parents and upset pupils.

The light, which was installed on Foundry Lane, Burnham-on-Crouch, was never turned on as the cost of connecting it was deemed too high.

The town council has now voted to spend £1,000 on solar panels for the light – and £80 a year in cleaning costs.

Residents described it as a “godsend” on a “pitch-black” path leading to the town’s railway station.

“The original plan went as far as us erecting the post and us paying £750 a year [for electricity],” said mayor Bob Calvar.

“But the plan didn’t connect it to the mains, and that was a mistake. The original quote from Essex County Council to connect it up was £4,000 to £5,000.”

Maldon District Council, on whose land the connection would have been made, said it would have been happy for Essex County Council to hook it up, but believed the cost should have been paid by Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council “who originally requested the street light to be installed”.

“The bureaucracy was idiotic – I cannot understand why they put a lamp up with no power to it,” said Burnham resident Sarah Warren, 52.

“My mother is wheelchair-bound, so when we have to come across the crossing at night or during the winter evenings, there’s absolutely no light at all.

“It is absolutely pitch dark – there are no street lights round here either side of the path, so this is an absolute godsend.”

Mr Calvar said the solar panels were a positive step for all involved.

“We’ve found a new solution that wasn’t available when the light was first installed seven years ago,” he said.

“It has the advantage of being affordable and green, and we don’t have to wait any longer for a solution.”

Cyril Ramaphosa said the matter had to be handled with “care and purpose”.

“We know you want this matter to be finalised,” he told a crowd marking 100 years since the birth of the country’s first black president, Nelson Mandela.

Mr Zuma is facing extensive corruption charges after a turbulent nine years in power.

The African National Congress (ANC) says the party will hold talks on Monday to resolve President Jacob Zuma’s future.

The OP’S NEWS  Africa Correspondent Andrew Harding says the ANC’s governing body is likely to ask Mr Zuma to step down.

A similar meeting of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) was called off last week after direct talks between Mr Zuma and Mr Ramaphosa, who is the deputy president as well as the new leader of the party.

He has faced increasing pressure to quit since December, when Mr Ramaphosa replaced him as leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

In a speech at the event in Cape Town, Mr Ramaphosa said the key aim of transition talks was to unite South Africans.

He also acknowledged the disunity within the ANC but said Mr Mandela’s centenary year “offers us a new beginning”.

Urging South Africans to restore the values Mr Mandela stood for, he called for an end to corruption and said those who had stolen state assets would be brought to justice.

“We must work together as Madiba taught us to push back the frontiers of poverty, unemployment and inequality,” he said, using another name for Mr Mandela.

He also addressed the Cape Town water crisis, which has seen residents limited to using 50 litres a day amid fears the city could run out of water in May.

“If there ever was a time when we should be working together, this water crisis is the time,” he said.

A number of other regions in the country were suffering similar water shortages, he said.

It follows the incident at the Peking Inn takeaway on Main Street, Sauchie, on Friday evening.

The man, who is from the local area, is expected to appear at Alloa Sheriff Court on Monday.

His red BMW 3 series car was on the M90 southbound at junction 1A, just south of the bridge, at about 20:10 on Saturday when the accident took place.

No other vehicle was involved.

Sgt Scott Sneddon of Police Scotland said: “Our investigations into the collision are ongoing and we are reviewing CCTV as well as speaking to a number of witnesses.

“There would have been a number of vehicles on the road at the time and we would urge anyone who hasn’t spoken to us but saw the vehicle prior to the collision, or the incident itself to come forward.”

Officers were called to a flat in Port Hamilton at about 16:45 on Thursday afternoon and found the body of the 47-year-old man.

He was later named as Alan Glancy.

Following a post-mortem examination, police said they were now treating Mr Glancy’s death as murder. They have appealed for anyone with details about his prior movements to come forward.

Det Ch Insp David Pinkney said: “We are investigating the last known whereabouts of Alan and are keen to speak to anyone who might be able to assist us with this.

“We are aware that Alan attended a medical appointment on the 9 January and we are looking for anyone who has seen Alan or spoken to him between the 9 January and 1 February to come forward.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with Alan’s family and they are currently being supported by specially trained officers.”

Mr Pinkney said officers would be carrying out additional patrols to offer reassurance to the public.

Anas Sarwar was responding to Scottish party leader Richard Leonard’s plans to create an anti-discrimination and harassment policy for Labour.

The plan comes after two Scottish Labour politicians were challenged about their use of language.

However, opposition politicians have described Labour’s response as “weak”.

Labour MP Hugh Gaffney apologised for making offensive remarks at a Burns Supper last week.

The Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill MP had been attending a student event at Edinburgh University when he made a joke about Robert Burns not being “bent”, and used a racist term when referring to a Chinese meal.

Following the comments, Mr Gaffney was reprimanded and told to undergo equality and diversity training.

That incident followed claims by Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar that he was told by a Labour councillor that Scottish voters were not ready for a “brown, Muslim Paki”.

South Lanarkshire councillor Davie McLachlan has denied making the comments.

Scotland’s Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said he had written to Scottish Labour Party leader Richard Leonard after he was approached by Labour Party members concerned at Labour’s handling of the Hugh Gaffney remarks.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme, the SNP politician said he had been contacted by “many” of Mr Gaffney’s colleagues who voiced concerns about the way the issue had been handled.

Mr Yousaf said Mr Leonard’s failure to suspend the MP showed the party to be weak on the issue of diversity and he called for Mr Gaffney to consider his position.

“At the very least he should be suspended. That gives him time and opportunity to reflect on his actions, but more than that, I think he should seriously consider his position.

“If an MP used any other racial slur, then I don’t think we would say that that person should be fit to hold office.”

He added: “It is not just frustrating for those that are in politics, but for many many people who have approached me outside politics to say they are utterly dismayed at the lack of action from Richard Leonard on this.”

Mr Yousaf said there had been inconsistencies in the way Mr Leonard had dealt with the two politicians at the centre of the recent controversies.

He added: “Hugh Gaffney admits making a racial slur – absolutely comparable to the remarks that were made to Anas Sarwar and yet all he gets is barely a tickle on the wrists.

“That kind of weak action from Richard Leonard is actually a slap in the face for every single ethnic minority in the country.”

Among the proposals drawn up by Anas Sarwar was a call to reserve a place for ethnic minority candidates on the party’s ruling Scottish Executive Committee.

Mr Sarwar also called for a return to protected places on candidates shortlists and more diversity on selection committees.

Scottish Labour said it had new plans to promote diversity and stamp out intolerance that would see the party’s equalities and diversity sub-committee develop a comprehensive anti-discrimination and harassment policy.

Among the issues to be considered by the sub-committee will be the eight-point plan submitted by Anas Sarwar to challenge everyday racism.

They will also consider implementing the recommendations agreed by the Scottish executive committee on tackling sexual harassment.

Scottish Labour said an interim report would be developed by the sub-committee and brought to the Scottish Labour conference in March

Mr Sarwar welcomed the plan, but added: “This is an important first step forward for the Labour party in challenging everyday racism.

“The issue of racism and islamophobia goes beyond any one single political party and sadly is too prevalent in our society.

“The Labour party must take the lead on these issues, and establish a precedent for other political parties and Scottish society.

“Ultimately we will be judged by our actions, not our words.”

Mr Leonard added: “Diversity enriches our political priorities and policy making.

“This is why I have made a commitment to invest in developing future candidates and activists who are women, BAME, LGBTI, people experiencing a disability, and other under-represented groups not just when there is an election, but all year round.

“Having led on positive action by introducing all women shortlists for the next round of parliamentary selections, my leadership will ensure that fair representation is finally achieved.”

Chief Executive Sara Venning says the utility is finding it increasingly difficult to sustain cuts without an impact on customers.

Set up in 2007, the government-owned company provides water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

The firm has already reduced operating costs by £65m in the last 10 years.

Speaking to the BBC’s Inside Business, Ms Venning said the cuts that are being proposed “cannot be delivered by further efficiencies” and has called for funding to come directly from the government rather than from the Department of Infrastructure’s budget.

“If more cuts are implemented there will be a very real tangible impact on business and on the environment.

“In the first instance we will always protect drinking water but you could be looking at supply interruptions,” she said.

Very rarely, it’ll be something to take to the Antiques Roadshow. Or to the police.

Most of the time, the find is meaningless – a box of clothes outgrown by an unknown person; forgotten fragments of other lives.

But, Brian McCart’s discovery was different.

Contractors were insulating the roof space of his home in Dundonald, on the outskirts of Belfast, when they found it.

A dusty old box, stuffed in an obscure corner of the loft, filled to the brim with sets of Subbuteo teams from the 1980s.

“All we keep up there is Christmas decorations. A suitcase. It was basically hidden in a corner,” he said.

The sets bore the unmistakeable hallmarks of a childhood obsession – some were in pristine condition, others well-worn with hours of play.

Aston Villa, Watford, Southampton – they were all there. So, too, was an England team apparently dating from the Italia ’90 era, with one player missing (perhaps Stuart Pearce or Chris Waddle went out the window after those penalty misses).

A Leeds team in a plastic bag, no box, had fared less well.

But, best of all, there was one generic team in blue in a standard “Subbuteo Team” box.

Extra words had been stencilled on the front. They read: “This Subbuteo Team is Linfield nearly.”

For Brian, it was like crashing back in time to his own childhood.

“It was crazy,” he said. “I had Subbuteo when I was younger too, and used to play it with my brother. We had red and blue teams and used to play them as Glenavon and Portadown.

“We did the exact same thing as this kid did, only maybe a decade later.”

Brian even reckoned he had the same England Italia ’90 team as the one found in his loft – although his collection was long gone.

“My mum chucked it out but I wish I still had it – we’ve been picking up old toys and board games for our daughter.”

The discovery has left Brian wondering about the young Linfield fan who owned this lost Subbuteo stash? And would they remember hiding it away and never returning to it?

It’s easy to forget now just how massive Subbuteo was.

At the height of its popularity, more than 300,000 team sets were sold every year – international tournaments, including World Cups for the best Subbuteo players, were set up and continue to this day.

More than 700 different team strips were produced, with hundreds dedicated to specific teams across the Football League and beyond.

But according to Pete Whitehead, who runs the Subbuteo World website, no specific team kits were ever produced for clubs in Northern Ireland.

“You would have had a situation where a generic kit could be applied to a lot of teams. So for instance, kit number 15 was a green kit and was applied to Ireland, but also Cork Hibernian.

“But they wouldn’t have made one kit for an Irish club.”

From a description of Brian’s find, Pete reckons the kits date from the 1970s and 1980s, with the different box of the “Linfield” kit placing its manufacture between 1978 and 1981.

For Pete, a kit from this era in mint condition would sell for at least £15 or £20, with prices rising steeply depending on all sorts of things that Subbuteo collectors crave.

Brian acknowledged the collection could potentially earn him a small amount – and, weirdly, it would not be the first time he’s made a profit from something lost and found in his house.

“We did up the garage a couple of years ago and we found an old Amstrad computer as well as a porn magazine – so, I guess from Subbuteo into these other hobbies would be a natural progression.

“I sold the Amstrad for £10 as it didn’t power up. Really, this entire house is like a time capsule.”

But, the finding of this lost Subbuteo treasure-trove has more significance to Brian, for a personal reason that suggests he won’t be parting with it for money.

“We had a daughter 10 months ago – Juneau – and myself and my wife have been collecting lots of old board games, children’s books, charity shop stuff so we can pass it down to her or show her the things that we loved as children,” he said.

This Subbuteo collection may not be worth that much in terms of pounds and pence but it represents something more poignant – forgotten loves, rediscovered and passed on.

As Brian said: “Not to be cheesy, but sharing this with my child is a big deal.”