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An exam board based in Cambridge apologised last night for mistakes in marking test papers.

Ram raiders targeted a village convenience store and ripped out the cash machine in the early hours of this morning.

PARENTS have reacted with anger to letters demanding they pay an admin fee if they want their child to catch the school bus.

Aston Villa are talking to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about taking over as their new manager, according to his club Molde.

Fifteen people are charged with drug offences following a series of raids by Hertfordshire Police.

A GRIEVING sibling says she is angry and upset after the wrong picture was placed by her brother’s coffin at his funeral.

Wiltshire Police are warning members of the public to be vigilant after a spate of number plate thefts in the Trowbridge area. Thieves are attaching the stolen number plates to their own vehicles, filling up their cars at petrol stations and then discarding the plates after they have failed to pay for their fuel. Inspector Lisette Harvey, the new Sector Commander for Trowbridge, said: “One of my main priorities in Trowbridge is to reduce vehicle crime through a number of ways including targeted patrols and stop checks. In light of this recent spate of thefts, I would advise residents to check their vehicle every time they use it to ensure that their number plates are intact. If you find that your number plates are missing, contact police immediately. Our enquiries are continuing into these thefts, but I would also like to use this opportunity to appeal for help from the public. In particular, I am keen to speak to anyone who witnesses any suspicious behaviour or has information on those responsible.” Anyone with information about these incidents or who wishes to report the theft of a number plate is asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101. Alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information may be left anonymously if preferred.

Harmonious sounds rose from the rooftop of St Johns College chapel yesterday as part of a century-old tradition.

The King of Bahrain and Swaziland's King Mswati III are among controversial monarchs expected at a Windsor Castle lunch hosted by The Queen later.

BUSINESSES in the Ashbourne area are being urged to protect themselves and their staff from workplace fires. St Johns Ambulance, which is best known for offering first aid training, also offers Fire

Defender Anthony Charles agrees a new one-year contract at Northampton Town

Charges have been dropped against a student who protested against a visit by Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Stroud District Council is to be run by a coalition between the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Bolton allow 15 players to leave the club following relegation, but captain Kevin Davies has signed a new one-year contract.

Newcastle Falcons sign Gloucester's Scotland international scrum-half Rory Lawson on a two-year contract.

JOHN DUNNE

THE FTSE 100 tracked losses across Europe this morning as fast moving events in Greece and Spain drained investor confidence.

Moody's downgraded Spanish banks overnight and Fitch cut its debt rating for Greece as the Eurozone crisis deepened.

Spain has lurched into recession and its borrowing costs jumped at an auction yesterday while its banks have seen their shares dive. Meanwhile Greece is mired in political and economic chaos with the country running out of money fast as fresh elections loom.

Spain's main share index dropped two per cent after opening, although lender Bankia steadied after steep losses yesterday.

London’s blue chip index dropped with a mix of sectors being dented by the uncertainty casting a shadow over markets.

Building services company Wolseley was the biggest faller, down three per cent.

Engineer Rolls-Royce dipped by 2.3 per cent and credit expert Experian 2.2 per cent.

Vedanta, down 2.2 per cent, was the biggest faller among miners. Anglo American was down 0.7 per cent. BHP Billiton was down 0.7 per cent.

Luxury retailer Burberry was down 2.2 per cent.

In banking Lloyds slipped 0.7 per cent, Barclays 0.1 per cent and RBS 1.4 per cent.

There were few significant riseRS on the index with miner Antofagasta the highest climber, up 1.2 per cent. The lift came after it reported solid figures yesterday helped by a rise in copper production and higher gold prices.

National Grid edged up by 0.5 per cent, having announced a profits rise while BT Group nudged up by almost one per cent.

On the FTSE All-share the London Stock Exchange rose four per cent after reporting a profit increase of 30 per cent – fuelled by acquisitions.

Across the Atlantic later today investors will be eyeing the Wall Street debut of Facebook which raised £10bn in a float.

Meanwhile Asian markets were dragged down by the Eurozone blight with Nikkei closing down by 2.9 per cent and the Hang Seng 1.3 per cent.

I T has been nearly a decade since we last spoke. Back then Melanie C was into her second solo album since the Spice Girls ceased activities and she was angry. It was anger directed at the red-top tabloids mostly for highlighting her apparent weight gain. It led to a period of depression and an eating disorder.

She was railing against the treatment she was getting and even threatening to high-kick anyone who dared to call her Sporty Spice (she'd always hated that).

So, has she settled down?

"Yeah, definitely," says the 38-year-old. "I think it's really hard when you're young. Especially when you've not been in the business for a long time and it's all new to you; reading people's opinions of you or reading lies printed about you.

"If you're lucky enough to be successful and have a lot of interest in you from the tabloid media, it's something you have to learn to deal with.

"I'm really cool about it now because I understand it a bit more. I understand that nobody cares really," she laughs.

"And they'll move on to someone else before long."

Becoming a mum three years ago to Scarlet helped put the negative attention into perspective.

"I've changed in so many ways and I didn't realise I would becoming a mum," says Melanie, who lives in Hampstead with her long-term partner Tom Starr.

"She's definitely made me a better person."

We're talking because it has been announced this week that Melanie will be joining the cast for the first UK arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar. It's to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its opening in the West End and includes a date at the Capital FM Arena on October 19.

She'll be playing Mary Magdalene and Chris Moyles will be King Herod.

Hang on, Chris Moyles...!?

"I know, it's a very interesting cast choice, isn't it?"

I'll say. I mean, you've proved yourself because you can sing and wotnot..

"Thanks."

But Chris Moyles?

"Chris Moyles has got a good voice," she insists.

"You have to trust Andrew Lloyd Webber and his casting director. They're very successful people. But yeah, I think it is quite a surprise to see Chris Moyles in this role.

"But are you aware of the role of King Herod?"

No.

"Ah you see, people are judging when they don't know what the role entails. King Herod is a really fun part. It's one song, which is a big comedy number and he'll be perfect."

Then she adds: "The thing is, he can sing. I've known Chris for a very long time, obviously being on and off Radio 1 over the years, and he has got a good voice. I think he's going to shock people. I've heard him sing. I think most of his listeners have heard him sing, just messing about but you can hear he's got a voice."

Tim Minchin, the musical comedian who has played the Capital FM Arena, and co-wrote the award-winning West End musical Matilda, plays Judas Iscariot.

"What an amazing talent," says Melanie. "He's wanted to play Judas forever and a day."

The lead will be chosen by the public through the ITV show Superstar, which is due to start next month.

Melanie has been on the judging panel, led by Lloyd Webber, alongside Jason Donovan for the heats that have been going on around the UK since March.

"I followed musical theatre all through my childhood and I'm a big fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's work so it sounded like a really fun thing to do Superstar," she says.

"Working with Jason has been a scream and I've got to know Andrew a little bit. He asked me if I'd like to play Mary and I jumped at the chance."

The live shows begin in July on ITV1 featuring the ten finalists.

"There are so many shows on TV showcasing British talent but this is something specific. A lot of the people in the show have had musical theatre experience. Some of the guys have played leads in the West End. That's what sets it apart from X Factor and other shows of that type."

Although she is best known as Spice Girl, theatre was Melanie C's first ambition.

"I started dance classes when I was eight. I started taking it really seriously in my teens and I went away to performing arts college when I was 16, so I've done a bit of training – albeit quite a while ago."

She's also familiar with musical theatre, having played Mrs Johnson in a West End production of Blood Brothers for six months during 2009. It earned her an Olivier nomination which she classes as a post-Spice Girls career highlight alongside topping the UK album chart.

"Acting is something quite new to me," she says.

Does she prefer playing a character than being herself?

"No, I prefer being myself actually. When I was doing Blood Brothers I really missed being a solo artist and being myself on stage. I'm lucky that I can do both."

After Blood Brothers she released her fifth solo album, The Sea. Her post-Spice Girls output has now topped 12 million sales.

Her next album will be a little different.

"It's an album of musical theatre songs."

You're the new Michael Ball.

"Kind of," she laughs.

"There's other stuff on there as well; there's a Dusty Springfield cover and a Joni Mitchell cover. So it's an album of great songs I've always wanted to do.

She adds: "It's fun to keep mixing things up."

The Spice Girls reunion tour in 2008 has put to bed talk of the girls getting back together. Well, not really. How about a 20th anniversary reunion in 2016?

"Let's see if I can still pull out a backflip by then," she jokes.

"Who knows? We've got the musical opening later this year or the beginning of next, so that's where we're putting all of our energies at the moment."

They're currently casting for the musical, which will open in the West End.

"Then hopefully Broadway and internationally – that's the dream," beams Melanie.

Emma Bunton is the one she sees most, this week tweeting a photo of them together on a night out with Louis Spence.

"We see quite a lot of each other. Emma doesn't live too far from me and our kids are a similar age and they enjoy playing.

"But I'm seeing Geri this weekend and I'll hopefully see Victoria soon, although she's in and out of the country a lot.

"Melanie (B) we don't get to see that often because she's on the other side of the world; she's in Australia now."

Sporty Spice... sorry, Melanie C... still enjoys keeping fit.

"I love going to the gym," she admits. "That's kind of like my downtime, my me time."

Tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar at the Capital FM Arena on Friday October 19 went on sale today, priced from £45 to £65. They are available from the venue, call 08444 124624 or go to www.jesuschristsuperstar.com.

Preston's Neil Mellor admits he is yet to come to terms with his retirement from football because of a serious knee injury.

What would you do with Shire Hall, Chelmsford iconic city centre building at the top of the High Street? Georgian Shire Hall, which had been used as a Magistrates Court, effectively closed its doors when the £4m New Street court earlier this year. Owners Essex County Council say they fully recognise that Shire Hall is an important historical site in Chelmsford. A ECC spokesman said: "We are considering the potential options for it, but no decision has been made yet. "We will ensure that any solution is good value for money, allows access for the local community, and keeps it in public ownership. "We will release more information when it is available." The elegant building was completed in 1791 to the design of county surveyor John Johnson and has remained almost the same for more than 200 years, with the exception of the main staircase, replaced in the 1930s. It has has been the scene of many events of local history, from witchcraft trials to magnificent social events. Ninety Anglia Ruskin students recently came up with a wide variety of future uses for Shire Hall - a social 'Community Centre', a commercial 'Wedding Venue' and a hybrid 'Civic Hub'. A community scheme could feature a café with tourist information centre, with one of the criminal courts kept in aspic for lectures and talks, an Internet café, gallery or presentation space and rooms for public meetings. The Hall has been the centre of justice for much of the last century when it housed the Assize Court before they changed to Crown Courts alongside magistrates courts. Crown Courts moved to New Street in 1980 and in April magistrates decamped to brand new premises also in New Street. Inquests have not been held in the character picture room for more than five years. Anglia's Senior built environment lecturer Dr Alan Coday at Anglia said:" "Conscious that the number of buildings at risk is currently higher than usual, 76 BSc and 10 MSc students prepared options appraisals for this landmark building. "The best way to reduce the number of buildings at risk is to ensure that all heritage buildings have a long term sustainable future and prevent them getting on the at-risk list in the first place". "As the Magistrates Courts are due to move out of Shire Hall and relocate to their new premises in 2012, it was an ideal opportunity to collaborate with Essex County Council. "This final year student project allowed students the opportunity to engage with real issues and develop their own designs upon the future of this important town centre building. Top marks were awarded to his 'Group L' who suggested a commercially viable community based charity to run the centre as a not for profit social hub – which they think Chelmsford needs town. Dr Coday added"It was great to work on a real building but it was a tough challenge – achieving compliance with the Equal Opportunities Act and reducing energy use to the targets of the latest Building Regulations really tested surveying, design and conservation skills". The team concluded it was important to continue wedding receptions and more formal public meetings but essential to open up access to this "impressive and versatile building" to a wider cross section of the community. Other ideas included a specialist cinema, aquarium, or conventional commercial offices. Dr Coday added "It's important that students consider all possibilities so they understand the ramifications of design loads for 18th century floors or the consequences of an end use that might compromise the character of the listed building. Students only understand these issues if they explore, rationalise then optimise their own designs". Please take a second to vote in our poll to the right

A total of £1m will be spent on Birmingham Wholesale Market as it will remain on its current site for at least three years, it is revealed.