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Vodafone sales fall for first time in seven years

The mobile phone giant reported its first drop in annual revenues for seven years. Credit: PA

Newbury-based mobile phone giant Vodafone has reported its first drop in annual revenues for seven years.

Sales of £44.4 billion for the year to March 31 were 4.2% lower than a year ago, despite the firm benefiting from stronger trading in emerging markets and increased smartphone usage.

Vodafone's service revenues in southern Europe slumped 11.6% in the year, driven by economic weakness and competition in Spain and Italy, while the figure in the UK was 4% lower.

It described trading in its home market as robust and said the decline was in part due to the impact of regulatory cuts in the charges it sets other operators for terminating calls on its network.

The company gave no update on the future of its 45% stake in US operator Verizon Wireless, amid recent speculation that the firm's majority owner Verizon is preparing a deal to buy the holding.

Vodafone's share of profits from the US business rose 30% to £6.4 billion and it is due to receive a Verizon dividend of £2.1 billion next month.

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Mum wanted for toddler's death

REPORT: Mother wanted for Toddler death 'could have fled to Kenya'

Detectives have confirmed they are treating the death of a baby girl as murder and they have named her mother as the suspect.

But Thames Valley officers have also revealed they believe she has fled to Kenya. The body of Sarah Dahane, who was just 20 months, was discovered in a house in Bicester five days ago.

There were ongoing proceedings between her mother and father over her custody. This from Kate Bunkall who speaks to Det Ch Insp Ian Hunter

Patient launches dementia service

REPORT: Patient launches dementia 'mentor' service

Tom Coppins was finally diagnosed as having vascular dementia a yearafter he and his wife knew something was seriously wrong. Having convinced doctors he needed a brain scan, he then set about trying to plan his future.

But reliable information and support was hard to find so Tom decided to do something about it. He's launched a pioneering mentoring service for people newly diagnosed with dementia. He told John Ryall his story. John also speaks to Cllr Graham gibbons of Kent County Council (Cons).

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The bassist behind Bowie

REPORT: The 'wild side' man behind Bowie, Bolan and Lou Reed

He's played with many of the biggest names in rock music: David Bowie, Mark Bolan and Lou Reed but guitarist Herbie Flowers may not be a familiar name to all of us.

You see Herbie, from Ditchling in Sussex, is a leading session musician. But now he's appearing in his own right during the Brighton Festival. Malcolm Shaw went to Herbie's studio to find out more.

Boy digs WWI trench in garden

REPORT: 12 year old's homemade trench

A bit of mucking about in the garden has turned in to a 'hands on' history lesson for one young boy. Oliver Batchelor was digging up his mum's carrots when his dad suggested he build a trench.

But, the 12 year old - who was learning about the first world war at school - went a little bit 'over the top'. Charlotte Wilkins speaks to Oliver Batchelor, his mother Saskia Marshall and his father Wayne Batchelor.

Vaccine to stop Schmallenberg

REPORT: Schmallenberg vaccine released

It's a vaccine to combat a disease that causes severe birth defects and miscarriages in livestock - and it is going on sale in Britain for the first time.

It's welcome news for the region's farmers who've become increasingly concerned about the spread of the Schmallenberg virus in cattle and sheep. Latest figures showed more than 1,500 cases of it across the country.

Penny Silvester speaks to farmer David Barber, John Fishwick from Royal Veterinary College and Alick Simmons Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer.

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