1. Soul Eater (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) by Michelle Paver, Orion 68.

2. As they sing in English and Arabic to a captivated audience in uniform, Corporal Naomi Paver, one of the few women based at the Palace, reminds me in whispers of the horrors faced by Basra‘s children every day. ‘They‘re so sweet.

3. Captaiin Cutler is standing, with Cpl Reeve, far left, Sgt Docherty, second left, Cpl Naomi Paver, khaki top, and Cpl Dodds, far right Claims from an American ‘intelligence‘ source, that the British have been defeated in the city only add to the tension.

4. "Surely the council has more important things to worry about than its staff using friendly terms like "pet." Common words Liam Flaharty, 18, a council paver from Newcastle, said: "They are just common words that everyone around here uses all the time." "It‘s stupid because what are you supposed to say, we‘ll have to start calling people Miss and Sir.

5. Tory Euro MP for the North East Martin Callanan said: ‘There are traditional north east terms of affection, I can‘t believe anyone would be offended by them. ‘Surely the council has more imprtant things to worry about than its staff using friendly terms like pet.‘ Liam Flaharty, 18, a council paver, said: ‘They are just common words that everyone around here uses all the time. ‘It‘s stupid because what are you supposed to say, we‘ll have to start calling people Miss and Sir. ‘If you have lived in the north–east your whole life it would be difficult to stop using these words everyday. ‘I don‘t know how anyone could be offended by the words, I certainly have never offended anyone with them.‘ Gary Burns, 46, a council gardener, said: ‘I‘ve been working for the council for 30 years and I‘ve never heard anything like it. ‘This political correctness is getting ridiculous.