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Political leaders have penned handwritten notes honouring Sir Winston Churchill on the 50th anniversary of his funeral.

David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband were among the politicians and specially invited guests who placed wreaths in the Members' Lobby at the House of Commons this morning.

David Cameron wrote: "Britain was so incredibly fortunate that in our hour of greatest need there came forward one of our greatest ever statesmen.

"50 years on the light has not dimmed."

More: Incredible archive reveals final tribute to Sir Winston Churchill during state funeral

Ed Miliband wrote: "With gratitude, respect and admiration for the leadership you showed during Britain's darkest hour. Our country will always remember the hope you gave and the courage you inspired.

The ceremony was also attended by a 17-year-old Stockton Sixth Form College student who won the English-Speaking Union's Winston Churchill Cup for Public Speaking.

As well as she reciting from a 1955 speech of the ex-premier, Nathania Ewruje placed a wreath in his honour with a note that read: "From the nation today, and the youth of tomorrow - in gratitude."

Google has agreed to better inform users about how it handles their personal information after an investigation by Britain's data protection regulator found its privacy policy was too vague.

The Information Commissioner's Office said in a statement that it required the search engine to sign a "formal undertaking" that it would make the changes by June 30 and take further steps in the next two years.

The ICO investigation stems from a privacy policy implemented by Google in March 2012 that consolidated some 70 existing privacy policies into one and pooled data collected on individual users across its services, including YouTube, Gmail and its social network Google+.

Police said it is unclear what caused the explosion at the mosque which killed at least 20 during Friday prayers in the busy central part of the town.

"We are trying to ascertain the nature of the blast," said Shikarpur police chief Saqib Ismail Memon.

Part of the mosque collapsed after the explosion, burying some of the wounded in rubble. Bystanders later pulled them out.

Read more here: At least 20 dead in Pakistan mosque blast

David Cameron has given a speech honouring Sir Winston Churchill on the 50th anniversary of the former Prime Minister's funeral, telling guests that the wartime hero will be remembered most of all as a patriot - with lessons to teach the modern world.

He addressed specially invited guests at a ceremony in the House of Commons, following a wreath laying ceremony in Churchill's honour.

More: Great grandson says Churchill would be 'surprised and thrilled' by commemorations

Two men have appeared in crown court today accused of murdering young mum Nicola Payne, who went missing 23 years ago.

Nigel Barwell and Thomas O'Reilly, both 50 and from Coventry, appeared via videolink at Birmingham Crown Court this morning charged with murdering the 18-year-old between December 13 and 16 1991.

Asked by Judge Burbidge QC if they had anything to say before being remanded, Barwell said: "I just want to say we're both innocent men and we sit here, in custody, as innocent men, Sir."

Barwell, of Copperas Street, and O'Reilly, of Ribble Road, were remanded in custody to next appear at Birmingham Crown Court on April 23 for a plea hearing.

Ms Payne has not been seen since disappearing in Coventry in December 1991 after leaving her boyfriend's house to set off for her parents' home. She left behind a son, who was seven months old at the time.

Her family, including father John Payne, sat at the back of court throughout today's 20-minute hearing.

The Prime Minister and members of the House of Commons have taken part in a special wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill's funeral.

David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband were among the politicians who gathered in the Members' Lobby at the House of Commons this morning to pay their respects to the wartime hero:

More: Winston Churchill: The speeches that inspired a nation