Evening Standard (London): Plea to save gambling Bill

Plea to save gambling Bill

. CHARITIES and church groups issued at last-minute appeal today for ministers not to ditch the Gambling Bill. The Government is reportedly threatening to withdraw the controversial legislation if it cannot be guaranteed a fair run when it goes to the Lords today.

Ministers have still failed to find consensus on plans to allow an expansion of super-casinos in Britain. But the Salvation Army said the Bill, while flawed, was essential to protect problem gamblers.

Locked up. . . for eating too much

. A 31-STONE man has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act because he cannot stop eating. Chris Leppard, 23, who has a rare, hereditary illness, Prader-Willi syndrome, compelling him to eat, was forcibly detained for a month. The condition means Mr Leppard, from Hastings, suffers mood swings which led to his being expelled from several schools. He now faces up to 28 days' mental assessment at the Eastbourne Clinic, which has a specialist eating disorder unit.

Green still has eyes for MS

. RETAIL entrepreneur Philip Green said today he will relaunch his aborted plan to bid for Marks Spencer only if another takeover bidder emerges. Amid increasing speculation in the City that Green and other bidders are circling troubled MS, Green's statement to the Stock Exchange said: "Philip Green wishes to make clear that he is not considering a possible offer for MS." The statement added that he did reserve the right to make an offer.

City: Page 16

Boyfriend faces murder charge

.THE boyfriend of 22-year-old Joanne Nelson, missing since Valentine's Day, was due in court today accused of her murder.

Paul Dyson, 30, was appearing before magistrates in Hull charged with the murder of Miss Nelson, a Jobcentre worker who disappeared on 14 February from the home that they shared.

Dyson, a wood machinist, was arrested on Friday. Police were today continuing their search for Miss Nelson's body.

Special delivery from Eubank

.FORMER boxing champion Chris Eubank was arrested after driving off in a delivery lorry that was blocking his car.

The 38-year-old, who was taking his children to school in Brighton, jumped into the cab of the lorry when the driver refused to move it while unloading.

Eubank drove the lorry 100 yards down the road and parked it before returning to his car. He was later arrested. A police spokesman said he had been released without charge.