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Tulisa: 'I won't be part of the X Factor panel this year'

The singer Tulisa Contostavlos has tweeted that she "won't be part of the X Factor panel this year":

Her tweet continues: "Just wanted to let you all know that I won't be part of the X Factor panel this year.

"I've had a great time on the show, but this year it's time to do something different.

"I'd like to thank everyone on The X Factor for two amazing years. Stay tuned as I have a very exciting announcement soon!"

Open auditions for groups for the new series are taking place in London today.

Read the latest X-Factor news on the show's official site

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Social Services 'involved' with toddler's family

Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed that they had 'limited involvement' with the family of Sarah Dahane in 2012.

The county council was not in contact with the family of Sarah Dahane in the months leading up to this tragic incident, but did previously have limited involvement which ended in June 2012. We cannot comment further except to say that we will be supporting the police with their enquiries in any way that we can.

– Statement from Oxfordshire County Council Social Services team

PM's spokesman: Statistics back A&E performance

David Cameron's official spokesman has defended the performance of A&Es after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt briefed ministers at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt with David Cameron. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Archive

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "The most recent statistics (show that) over the last three weeks, A&E performance has actually exceeded the 95% standards for people admitted or discharged within four hours.

"There are also 1 million more people visiting A&E than three years ago."

Read: Hunt set to launch a series of reforms to GP service

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Pupil: Teacher 'saved our lives' as tornado hit school

Damian Britton (L) with his brother Bobby and mother Brandi Kline
Damian Britton (L) with his brother Bobby and mother Brandi Kline Credit: NBC News

One of the pupils of Plaza Towers School, which was destroyed by the tornado, has recounted how a teacher saved his life.

Damian Britton told NBC's Today show that the tornado "sounded like a train coming by" and how a "teacher took cover of us" as it passed over the school.

"She saved our lives," he added.

Asked to describe what he saw after it had passed over, he said: "It was just a disaster. There was a bunch of stuff just thrown around and the cars were tipped over and it smelled like gas".

Watch his account on the NBC News website.

Read: Photographer's account of arriving at school in wake of tornado

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