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Gatwick brings in own staff to tackle baggage problems

Thomas Cook 'working to prevent baggage delays'

Airline Thomas Cook has said it is working to ensure its customers do not experience baggage delays at Gatwick Airport.

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook told ITV News that the company was disappointed that recent baggage issues - which led to delays of up to four hours last weekend - had affected "too many passengers".

Gatwick is drafting in its own staff to help with baggage handling following issues with baggage handling firm Swissport.

ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi reports:

Chris_normal
Chris Choi
@Chrisitv

"We are working to ensure our customers do not experience baggage delays at Gatwick" Thomas Cook

Chris_normal
Chris Choi
@Chrisitv

“At Gatwick, we want to provide a great experience and we are disappointed that recent baggage issues have affected too many passengers."

Watch: Walsh 'to look at other options' if Gatwick issues remain

Rolf Harris applies to appeal against convictions

Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his convictions for a string of indecent assaults.
Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his convictions for a string of indecent assaults. Credit: Laura Dale/PA Wire

Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris has applied for permission to appeal against his convictions for a string of indecent assaults, officials say.

The Judicial Office confirmed that lawyers for the 84-year-old had applied at the Court of Appeal this week.

The veteran presenter was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison after he was convicted of 12 indecent assaults.

PM hopes to make Britain 'world leader in genetics'

What is the 100,000 Genomes Project?

The 100,000 Genomes Project announced today aims to map 100,000 complete DNA code sequences - the scale of which has never been attempted before.

  • About 75,000 patients with cancer and rare diseases, plus their close relatives, will have their whole genetic codes, aka genomes, sequenced
  • Cancer patients will have the DNA of both healthy and tumour cells mapped, creating 100,000 DNA code sequences in total
  • Scientists hope the project will be pivotal to the development of future personalised treatments based on genetics, revolutionising medicine

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Experts begin MH17 recovery as fighting continues nearby

Ukrainian forces killed in fighting near MH17 site

Smoke rises above a damaged multi-storey block of flats following what locals say was shelling by Ukrainian forces in Shakhtarsk on 28 July.
Smoke rises above a damaged multi-storey block of flats following what locals say was shelling by Ukrainian forces in Shakhtarsk on 28 July. Credit: Reuters

Pro-Russian separatists killed at least 10 Ukrainian paratroopers in an overnight ambush in the region of east Ukraine where a Malaysian airliner was brought down, government forces have said.

The rebels said they had "captured good trophies" and pushed back government forces around the town of Shakhtarsk, where Kiev said a paratrooper unit moving from one base to another had come under mortar and tank fire.

Shakhtarsk is close to the rolling fields where Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 came down on, and fighting has raged around it for several days as the Ukrainian army tries to quell the separatist rebellion.

Gatwick brings in own staff to tackle baggage problems

Swissport deny zero-hours contracts caused problems

Baggage handling company Swissport has denied claims zero-hours contracts were to blame for the disruption at Gatwick Airport last weekend.

Staff shortages at the company forced hundreds of passengers to go home without their luggage and left others waiting for up to five hours to reclaim their bags at the airport on July 27.

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The scene at Gatwick Airport last weekend. Credit: @sophiewood64

The firm told ITV News' Chris Choi the "suggestion that issues may have been caused by zero hour contracts is untrue".

Despite warnings that passengers could face yet more problems this weekend, Swissport said all services this morning were meeting targets.

"Baggage services to client airlines to 7am this morning was good and within its targets. There were no appreciable delays," the company said.

Read: Walsh 'to look at options' if Swissport Gatwick issues remain

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