An off-duty police officer and paramedic were sprayed in the face with an unknown corrosive substance after stopping to help at the scene of a major car fire.

The pair joined other 'Good Samaritans' in lending a hand after a stolen car was involved in a serious collision with a lorry at around 7pm on Friday night.

The vehicle crashed into the a metal barrier at the side of the M11 near Chigwell and Loughton in Essex, before bursting into flames.

Just minutes before collision, police had been alerted to the blue VW Golf being stolen from outside a nearby shop.

The victim in the car theft, a man in his 20s, reported that one of the men held a knife in his hand. Less than 10 minutes later, the stolen car collided with the lorry on the M11, southbound, between junctions 5 and 4.

The car caught fire and after seeing the incident, passing drivers stopped to help.

Following the collision, the drivers of the stolen car left the vehicle and sprayed an unknown substance in the faces of two people who were among those who had stopped to assist.

One was an off duty paramedic, the other, an off duty police officer.

The suspects then stole another car - a white Vauxhall Astra - at the scene of the collision to make their getaway.

This car was later recovered in Dagenham, East London.

Police said medical treatment was received by the two people who were sprayed with the unknown substance, and it is not believed they will suffer from any long term effects.

Two ambulance crews, a rapid response vehicle and response car from Essex and Herts Air Ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Both men sprayed with the substance were taken to hospital for further care.

Their conditions are not believed to be serious or life-threatening. The driver of the lorry was uninjured.

Kevin Brown, Director of Service Delivery at The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), said: 'This unprovoked attack on two Good Samaritans who were trying to help at the scene of a road traffic collision is deplorable.

'Sadly they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and we wish them a speedy recovery.'

The crash caused disruption to drivers, but the lane reopened later that evening following forensic recovery of the vehicles.

One suspect was described as Asian, and between 25 to 30 years old. He had a dark beard, and was wearing a baseball cap, a navy blue buttoned top, and dark coloured bottoms. He also had a small, black leather bag with him.

The other suspect was described as white, with short dark hair.

The Spanish judge probing five Britons over the death of Scottish holidaymaker Kirsty Maxwell may never be charged, internal court documents suggest. 

She was asked to remand four of the men in prison on Wednesday by Kirsty's family lawyer - but rejected the request saying there was 'no new evidence' of the men's participation in the death of the victim.'

Ana Isabel Garcia-Galbis said she was still awaiting another police report but her comments, contained in a two-page internal court document drafted after the Brits' court appearance in Benidorm earlier this week, shows they may never be charged. An initial police report on Kirsty's April 29 fatal fall from their Benidorm holiday apartment, after a hen do, places a fifth man in connection with the death.

The report says Joseph Graham had taken so much cocaine before Kirsty, 27, walked into their tenth-floor apartment by mistake that his nose was bleeding. 

He was quizzed in court after her death at the spot she plunged from because an untouched cigarette like the ones he smoked was found on the floor.

Police conclude in the 39-page report that she panicked after finding herself in the wrong flat and probably tried to jump into the swimming pool ten floors below after an alcohol binge because she thought it was her 'only escape route. The report adds Mr Graham, who has not been charged with any crime but is still under investigation 'in his state of drunkenness and under the effects of cocaine, probably said something obscene to Kirsty and/or approached her in a way which made her feel seriously intimidated.' 

The £49,000-a-year Amazon worker, from Nottingham, has protested his innocence.

The four men questioned in court on Wednesday, all born in Nottingham and named as Ricky Gammon, 31, Anthony Holehouse, 34, Callum Northridge, 27, and Daniel Bailey, 32, have also angrily denied any involvement in Kirsty's death. 

A mother-of-three forced to spend £70,000 every three weeks on cancer treatment in Germeny to stay alive claims she was told she 'doesn't have enough cancer for UK trial treatment.

Louise Gleadell, 38, from Leicester, was first diagnosed with cervical cancer last February.

But the aggressive disease spread and she was told it was incurable in January.

Desperate for other alternatives, Louise attempted to participate in an immunotherapy trial through the NHS

The treatment would increase her life expectancy but Louise claims she was denied access to the because because she didn't have 'enough' cancer.

Despite being ravaged by an aggressive cancer, Louise claims she still wasn't eligible for treatment and says she there was no further options available.

Refusing to die without a fight, Louise took it upon herself to find other alternatives, and has been spending up to £70,000 every three weeks to receive treatment at the Hallwang Clinic in Germany.

After relying on savings and fundraising from her family and friends, Louise is able to enjoy the time she has left thanks to treatment abroad. Louise, a former holiday business owner, said: 'I initially tried to join an immunotherapy trial in the UK, but I was told that I couldn't because I didn't have enough cancer. 'So we've had to use all of our savings so that I can get treatment in Germany.

'The first time that I went to Germany, I had to be there for eight days, and that alone cost £70,000.

'My second time, just three weeks later, cost £66,000 and now every three weeks I have two days' worth and that's £32,000. 'And I have to keep having these treatments every three weeks or my tumours will continue growing and I will die.'

Louise was diagnosed with cervical cancer in February 2016 after doctors mistook the disease for post-natal symptoms.

Due to several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Louise's cervical tumour shrunk – but it had started to grow in her neck and after and she suffered a haemorrhage, she was told it was now terminal. Louise added: 'I lost all of my hair from the repetitive rounds of chemo, but that was just a small price to pay for my life.

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Police have warned parents that thousands of children are being used as 'money mules' by criminal gangs to launder stolen money in their bank accounts.

Officers in London are telling parents to monitor their children's accounts amid concerns they could be falling victim to such crimes either through force or when offered payment.

This kind of fraud usually sees the young person allowing their bank account to be used to move criminal money, making it harder for the authorities to track. Criminals will offer children cash, sometimes as little as £50, to transfer 'dirty money', according to The times. 

Figures from fraud prevention service Cifas show the number of 'misuse of facility' frauds involving a person under 21 has risen year-on-year.

Cifas said there were 4,222 such cases in the first half of 2017, compared with 2,143 in the first part of last year.

It also reported that 65 per cent of the 17,040 incidents of that type in the UK in the first six months of this year were committed by people aged under 30. It was earlier reported that high street banks are losing the battle against fraud as criminals switch tactics to directly target customers. Efforts by lenders to bolster their IT defences against hackers have simply encouraged fraudsters to bombard individual customers with scams, according to Financial Fraud Action UK.

Despite investing millions in tackling fraud, losses from fraud rose last year as banks became less effective at preventing scams.

Losses from fraud on cards and credit cards jumped by 9 per cent to £618million last year – while total fraud including online scams – increased 2 per cent to £768.8million. 

Police in Birmingham have arrested two men after a 14-year-old girl was raped twice at a railway station.

The suspects, aged 35 and 27, are both from the Birmingham area and are being held on suspicion of rape. 

It comes after police released images of two men who were being sought in connection with separate incidents, in which the young girl was raped twice in the same night.

Detectives said the teenager was first assaulted in a secluded part of Birmingham Wilton railway station, near the Aston Villa football ground, some time between 8pm on Tuesday and 2am the following morning.

The 14-year-old victim had walked to the station with her friend, but was led away after being approached by two men.

She alleges she was led to a secluded area of the station and reportedly raped by one of the men. Shortly after that attack, the girl walked out of the station at about 2am and flagged down a passing vehicle to ask for help. However, after getting in the car she says she was then raped a second time.

Detectives continue to appeal for information regarding the second rape in the vehicle on Wednesday morning. 

DCI Tony Fitzpatrick from British Transport Police said: 'Overnight there have been significant developments after we released CCTV images of two men we would like to speak with.

'I'd like to thank the public and the media for the overwhelming support in sharing this appeal.'

DCI Fitzpatrick added: 'Both these arrests relate to the first incident at Witton station on Tuesday evening this week.

'Our investigation into the second incident in the vehicle continues at a pace. The young victim was raped for a second time in a vehicle close to Witton station at approximately 2am.

'I am still looking to hear from anyone who lives locally to Witton and saw a young girl walking by herself during the early hours of Wednesday morning. 'If you saw any vehicle or any person acting suspiciously then please get in touch as soon as possible.'

The man sought over the offence in the vehicle is described as thick set man, approximately 5ft 6in with large biceps. 

Anyone with information can send a text to 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 65 of 26/07/2017.

A former member of the dance group Diversity has been killed in a car crash. 

Robert Anker died in the collision in Canada yesterday, where he moved last year to marry his fiancée. 

The 27-year old performer from Essex was a founding member of the world-famous dance troupe Diversity, which won Britain's Got Talent in 2009.  

He also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, ITV shows The X Factor and Take Me Out and in music videos alongside singers Jessie J, Paloma Faith and Peter Andre. Robert had also starred in the West End show Thriller and recently flown out to Cape Town to be involved in the latest Bring It On film.

Social media has been flooded with tributes to the star. Choreographer Dean Lee tweeted: 'Rob Anker. I have no words to speak after hearing of your passing. This is truly heart breaking. Thanks for the memories. Shine bright.'

His cousin Rochelle Hanson has since set up a Just Giving page in his memory. 

On it, she paid tribute to the 'amazing and talented dancer'. 

She wrote: 'The family are devastated. He only just got married in September 2016 to a lovely Canadian girl and they were starting their new life out there. 'He's been in Diversity, the West End show Thriller and various TV Shows and music videos as well as be part of the new Bring It On film. He was an amazing and talented dancer.'

'We are raising funds for his family to be able to cover all costs for their trip to go and arrange his funeral in Canada. We would love to ensure that his family don't worry or stress about money at this time.'

British street dance troupe Diversity formed in 2007 in London. 

They shot to fame after winning the third series of Britain's Got Talent in 2009, beating singer Susan Boyle in the live final. 

Eleven-month-old Charlie Gard, whose short life captured the hearts of the world, has died a week before his first birthday. 

Charlie suffered from a rare genetic condition which saw him in hospital for the majority of his short life.

His parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, fought a lengthy and emotional legal battle to take their severely ill baby son to the US for treatment, but were denied by judges.

Charlie's mother, Connie, said tonight: 'Our beautiful little boy has gone, we are so proud of you Charlie.'

Yesterday courts denied his parents the chance to bring their son home to die and he was taken to a hospice. Charlie's plight has seen hundreds of supporters - called Charlie's Army - lending their voices and money to see the child given treatment, with £1.35 million raised on an online fund-raising site.

Pope Francis and US president Donald Trump weighed into the debate, with the Vatican saying the pontiff prayed for 'their wish to accompany and treat their child until the end is not neglected'. The protracted legal battle saw the couple take their case to the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court - all of which ruled life support treatment should end and Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights refused to intervene in the case - and the couple said they had been denied their final wish to be able to take their son home to die and felt 'let down' following the lengthy legal battle.

The couple, of Bedfont, west London, ended their legal battle on July 24, in what they called the 'most painful of decisions' and their son was moved to a hospice on July 27 . 

Charlie, who was born on August 4 last year, has a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.

Described as 'perfectly healthy' when he was born, Charlie was admitted to hospital at eight weeks and his condition has progressively deteriorated. The couple said they wanted to take their son across the Atlantic for nucleoside bypass therapy, but specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where Charlie was being cared for, said the treatment was experimental and would not help.

They paid tribute to their 'absolute warrior' less than a fortnight before his first birthday on the steps of the High Court, with father Chris saying: 'Mummy and Daddy love you so much Charlie, we always have and we always will and we are so sorry that we couldn't save you.

'We had the chance but we weren't allowed to give you that chance. Sweet dreams baby. Sleep tight our beautiful little boy.'

Charlie's parents added they believed their son might have been saved if experimental therapy had been tried sooner.

Ms Yates said time had been 'wasted', adding 'had Charlie been given the treatment sooner he would have had had the potential to be a normal, healthy little boy.'

Doctors at Great Ormond Street did not agree, with lawyers representing the hospital saying the 'clinical picture' six months ago had shown irreversible damage to Charlie's brain.

They said the 'unstoppable effects' of Charlie's rare illness had become plainer as weeks passed. The syndrome is an inherited disease which starts to show symptoms in infancy.

Most patients are born after a normal pregnancy and appear healthy at birth.

Symptoms usually begin to appear in the first few months of life.

It causes progressive muscle weakness, decreased muscle tone and kidney problems.

It also causes patients to lose motor skills such as standing, walking, eating and talking.

Eventually the muscles that control breathing become weak and respiratory failure is the most common cause of death.

Intelligence is not usually affected.

Children with severe forms of the condition usually survive for less than a year.

It is not yet fully understood what causes the condition but both parents of the child have to carry the gene mutation.

It is recessive meaning a child has a 25 per cent chance of suffering from the disease if both their parents carry the mutation.

Waterloo Road actress Holly Matthews has spoken of her heart-wrenching grief as she sits with her husband Ross Blair in a hospice during his final days.

Ross, son of ex - Aston villa player Andy Blair, was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour in 2014. 

The father-of-two is being cared for at the Myton Hospice in Coventry, where Holly has stayed with him day and night for a month.

Holly, who has also starred in Doctors and Casualty, has written a candid Facebook post as she sits as Ross's bedside in his final hours.

'What a reality to be waiting for one of the people you love most in the whole world to die and even hoping that it will come soon,' wrote Holly.

'That is a weird space to be in, but a space that I and his family are living in.

'Grieving before they have gone, waiting for the last breath, half knowing it's best if it is, half relieved when it's not.

'None of this feels real at all and I keep having moments of happend what the  'how did we even get here?!' Ross, who is just 32, was diagnosed with a rare grade-4 primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET), and underwent brain surgery and chemotherapy.

At the time doctors gave him the devastating diagnosis that he had a 50/50 chance of surviving more than five years.

But Ross, a property developer, responded well to the treatment and the tumour remained stable for two years.

Things looked hopeful, and the couple - who have been together for nine years - were able to continue lives as normal, making happy memories with their daughters Brooke, now six, and Texas, four. But in 2016 a scan revealed that the tumour had grown, and on August 4 Ross underwent a second operation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where 75 per cent of the tumour was removed.

It was followed by radiotherapy and a year of chemotherapy tablets.

Again, Ross responded well, and the couple were able to go about their lives as normal, enjoying making memories with their family.

In May the family travelled to the Caribbean for a holiday, where Ross was feeling good. 

But just two days after they returned Ross suffered a seizure, and since then Holly said his health has rapidly deteriorated.

He was taken to hospital, then after a brief spell at home, he has been transferred to the Coventry hospice where Holly remains at his bedside. 'Nearly a month on, living in Myton Hospice and my amazing husband is still holding on,' said Holly.

'Of course he's now in a deep sleep, not eating, drinking, or conscious of his surroundings, but his strong body is fighting for him and sadly at this stage it is kind of working against him. 

A double manhunt has been launched after a 15-year-old girl was raped by two different men in the same day.

The teen was first assaulted in a secluded part of Witton railway station, in Birmingham, between 7pm on Tuesday and 2am the following morning.

She had walked to the station with her friend, but was led away by a man who approached her. Shortly after that attack, the girl walked out of the station and flagged down a passing vehicle to ask for help.

However, after getting in the car she was then raped a second time by another man.

A major investigation, involving detectives from both British Transport Police (BTP) and West Midlands Police, is now under way to try to identify both attackers and appeal for witnesses.

The first attacker is described as Asian with light skin, brown eyes, was of a skinny build and about 6ft tall.

He was wearing a track suit top and bottoms, black trainers and was in his early 20s. The second attacker is also described as Asian, in his early 20s, 5ft 6/7ins tall, of large build with a tight-cropped beard and was wearing a blue jumper and black jeans.

BTP Detective chief inspector Tony Fitzpatrick said: 'This was a horrifying ordeal for this young girl and we have specially trained officers supporting her.

'It is now vitally important we investigate exactly what happened on Tuesday morning as well as identifying offenders for both of these awful incidents.

'My detectives are currently examining all available CCTV in an effort to identify the offenders and whilst these enquiries are made, we are keen to speak with any potential witnesses.

'Whilst this incident happened during the early morning and there may not have been many people around, I would be keen to speak with anyone who may have been in the area at the time.

'If you were passing by the station and saw two girls walking with an older man, then please get in touch immediately.

'Likewise, if you saw any suspicious vehicles close to Witton station close to 2am then please get in touch as soon as possible.

'Your information could prove vital in our inquiries to identify the perpetrators.' 

Mr Fitzpatrick added: 'We are now doing all we can to trace the people responsible and bring them to justice.'