UK News Headlines

Clicking on the headlines will take you to the full story on the Sky News website.

• Less mixing due to COVID may be behind increased Strep A infections, says expert, after six children die

  Less mixing between children due to the pandemic could have caused a drop in immunity to infections such as Strep A, a leading expert has suggested.

• 'Look out for signs': Father of girl, 4, fighting for life with Strep A has warning for parents

  The father of a four-year-old girl who is in critical care with Group A Strep has said he's "praying for a miracle" she comes home alive.

• Parents urged to vaccinate under-fives against flu amid surge in infections

  Parents have been urged to vaccinate their children against the flu following a surge in serious cases among under-fives.

• Peter Kay in tears as he gets standing ovation at start of comeback gig

  Peter Kay was in tears after walking on to a standing ovation on the first night of his comeback tour on Friday night.

• Christmas travel warning as road workers to strike at same time as rail walkouts

  Travellers have been told to brace for more Christmas chaos after road workers announced 12 days of strikes to coincide with rail walkouts.

• Hancock: Ministers were warned about COVID deaths, but Johnson said 'it will probably go away'

  Matt Hancock has said he was warned the COVID pandemic could kill hundreds of thousands of people in the UK two months before the country was put into lockdown and claims ministers "did not really believe it".

• 'Santa is still coming to visit': 40,000 lights and an energy crisis

  Amid soaring bills and an energy crisis, one man from Scotland will still be able to adorn his house with 40,000 Christmas lights.

• At the end of a difficult few days, William and Kate get their moment to shine

  Three days in Boston with a star-studded ceremony at the end. What could possibly go wrong?

• Record number of plastic nurdles on beaches as groups call for tougher laws

  More nurdles have been found on beaches than ever before as environmental groups call for legislation to class them as marine pollutants so they're subject to stricter laws during handling and transportation.

• Strep A is common and generally causes mild infections - so why the spate of deaths now?

  Another death of a young child from Strep A will send a chill down the spine of any parent.