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Woolwich soldier murder

Woolwich book of condolence open all bank holiday

A Book of Condolence has been opened today in Woolwich Town Hall to enable people who live, work and study in the area to express their condolences.

Opening hours at Woolwich Town Hall have been extended over the Bank Holiday weekend to enable members of the public to pay their respects.

The Mayor of the Royal Borough Councillor Angela Cornforth and the Leader of the Royal Borough Councillor Chris Roberts said:

"Now that the death of Drummer Lee Rigby has been confirmed we wish to express our condolences to Drummer Rigby's family and friends.

Woolwich is a place born out of the Army and it runs through the DNA of the town and many of its people. This is a place which has witnessed attacks on our armed service personnel before, not least the terrorist attack by the IRA almost 40 years ago.

Then, as now, the people and communities of Woolwich have shown their pride in our Armed Services and respect for the role they play and the risks they undertake. Every single soldier and their family can be assured of our enduring support in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.”

The Book of Condolence is open for the public to sign in Woolwich Town Hall, Wellington Street, SE18 6PW.

The Town Hall will be open 9am – 5pm daily, including Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

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Soldier's family speak of 'hero'

Soldier's last text to mum: 'thank you, you're my best friend'

Lee's mother Lyn, step-father Ian, and wife Rebecca Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Lee's stepfather Ian, at times swallowing hard and breathing in to contain his emotions, continued:

"Lee was a man who loved people. He had many friends growing up in Middleton and on army duties all over the world.

He believed life was for living and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Courtney and Amy his younger sisters wrote this for Lee: 'Rest in Peace Lee, we loved you so much, you didn't deserve this, you fought for your country and did it well. You will always be our hero we are just upset you left us so early. Love you Lee, goodnight.'

The last text he sent to his mum read, 'Goodnight mum, I hope you had a fantastic day today because you are the most fantastic and one in a million mum that anyone could ever wish for.

Thank you for supporting me all these years, you're not just my mum you're my best friend. So goodnight, love you loads."

Soldier's family speak of 'hero'

Lee Rigby's family: "We are so, so proud of him"

Lee Rigby's family at a press conference this morning Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The grief-stricken family of Lee Rigby, the soldier murdered in Woolwich on Wednesday, came together this morning to read a statement about their 'hero'.

His sister Sara McClure, mother and stepfather Lyn and Ian Rigby, Rebecca Rigby, mother of their two year old son, Jack, mother in law Susan Metcalfe and brother in law Ray Dutton sat side by side at the Regimental HQ of his unit, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers at Bury in Greater Manchester today.

Lee's stepfather Ian read out a statement on behalf of and prepared by the whole family at the Regimental HQ of Lee's unit, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers at Bury in Greater Manchester:

"What can we say about Lee, our hero, we are so so proud of Lee.

When Lee was born the family adored him, he was a precious gift given to us. Lee had a fiery temper when he was younger, I used to sit on him to calm him down till he got too big at 15, then he used to sit on me.

Lee's dream growing up was always to join the army which he succeeded in doing, he was dedicated and loved his job.

Lee adored and cared a lot for his family, he was very much a family man, looking out for his wife, young son Jack, younger sisters, whom in turn they looked up to him, he always had a banter with them but would never ever let any harm come to them.

He was over the moon being a dad and uncle, he adored them all."

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Heathrow emergency landing

Aircraft was powered by just one engine

The plane being towed away Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Pictures taken from inside the plane in today's incident showed an inspection cover loose on the left-hand engine.

Aviation expert David Learmount said:

"This cover is to a plane what a bonnet is to a car. It should not have been open. Something caused it to be dislodged.

Pictures of the plane flying with smoke coming from it indicate that the aircraft was being powered entirely by the left-hand engine. Most likely there was external damage to both engines.

Damage of this kind is consistent with a bird strike although at this stage we just don't what happened."

Heathrow emergency landing National

Passenger films dramatic footage of emergency landing

A passenger onboard the British Airways flight that was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport captured this dramatic footage of the touch down.

A large section of the casing around the left-side jet engine appears to be missing, although problems with the right-side engine reportedly caused the plane to land.

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