A third of UK police forces use hoods to prevent arrested people spitting or biting, the BBC has learned.

The mesh fabric spit hoods are used by 17 of the UK's 49 police forces, a Freedom of Information request found.
Since 2011 they have been used at least 2,486 times - in 635 cases on people with suspected mental health issues.
Campaign group Liberty said the hoods were cruel and degrading, but the Police Federation said they "should be available as standard".
Four further forces are considering introducing the hoods.
The hoods were used on 91 people aged under 18 in the last five years, with North Wales Police reporting the use of a spit hood on a 12-year-old girl.
Mesh fabric hoods placed over the heads of suspects to prevent spitting or biting.
They can only be used once and are usually used in custody suites or when moving people in custody from one location to another.
Critics say spit hoods are distressing and humiliating, can cause panic in the detained person, and make it harder to notice if a prisoner is having difficulty breathing.
The forces who responded to the BBC said they only used the hoods when "proportionate, appropriate and justifiable" to protect their officers.
Sara Ogilvie, policy officer at Liberty, said the "disturbing figures" showed "cruel, degrading and primitive spit hoods are being widely used".
"There is no place in a civilised society for police forcibly covering children's faces.
"And their use on those suffering from mental-health problems will have added fear and confusion to an already distressing situation."
The Metropolitan Police Service is consulting on whether to introduce the hoods. A pilot planned for October was cancelled after London Mayor Sadiq Khan voiced concerns.
Lancashire Constabulary, Humberside Police and Durham Constabulary are all also considering introducing them.
There are few policing issues which divide opinion as much as the use of spit-hoods.
And what these figures demonstrate is that even within the police service itself there's no clear view as to whether they should be allowed.
One factor that appears to have weighed against their deployment is the risk of aggravating relations with black people, who are disproportionately represented at all stages of the criminal justice process.
In most areas with a significant black and minority ethnic population, such as London and the West Midlands, spit-hoods aren't used.
The figure of 2,468 uses of spit-hoods over five years is likely to be an under-estimate, because some forces haven't disclosed the numbers.
But it's a tiny proportion compared to the millions of arrests made by police over the same period.
Kent Police said it decided against their use after considering "the impact on the person having a spit hood placed on them and the potential issues after their use".
Che Donald, lead on spit guards for the Police Federation, said the hoods "can be a useful and effective piece of kit".
He said: "There can be serious health implications of being spat at, including uncertainty of infection from bodily fluids and the need to go on to anti-virals causing nausea and impacting on personal life.
"It is important that officers are given the right tools to ensure the public's and their own safety when managing incidents.
"Spitting is a form of assault and officers have a right to go to work and expect to stay safe."


A US synchronised swimming team comprising ninth grade girls aged between 14 and 15 hired a male stripper to perform at their annual banquet, officials in the state of Iowa say.

The father of one of the team members told local media the girls had employed the stripper as a joke, and he had not totally disrobed.
Friday's event at the Des Moines Social Club was not attended by school staff.
Officials in Des Moines are deciding how the girls will be punished.
A Social Club employee eventually asked the stripper to depart, The Des Moines Register reports, after his presence was deemed inappropriate for teenage girls.
The paper quoted a parent of one of the girls as saying that while students and parents were embarrassed by the situation, the girls had never been in danger.
The stripper did not touch any of the girls, the parent said.


Only three of eight pagers for retained fire fighters went off when they were needed to tackle a blaze in Suffolk.

An 18th Century building containing two businesses was destroyed in Sudbury on Sunday, with one woman rescued from an upstairs flat.
Suffolk Fire Service was investigating why all on-call fire fighters at Sudbury station were not alerted.
The Sudbury engine arrived two minutes later than the Long Melford crew, which was three miles further away.
The fire service said the control room was called at 18:17 BST and the first engine, also crewed by on-call retained fire fighters, arrived from Long Melford at 18:32 BST.
The engine from Sudbury, which was based about 300 yards from the fire on Market Hill, arrived at 18:34 BST.
The 15-minute response time missed the target of 11 minutes.
Mark Hardingham, Suffolk's chief fire officer, said paging equipment was usually "pretty reliable and effective".
"There are a number of factors that affect the way the equipment operates, so we need to look at each one of those before we can make any firm conclusions," he said.
"Initial tests reveal the hardware and the way the system operates was OK, but we're now working with Ofcom and Arqiva to check the radio signal in the Sudbury area."
Suffolk County Council is considering making Â£1m cuts to the fire service's Â£22m annual budget by 2016/17. Fire stations outside of Ipswich, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds are only staffed by retained crews following previous cuts.
Andy Vingoe, Suffolk chairman of the Fire Brigades Union, said: "The whole thing just goes to show the under-investment we have in the fire service at the moment.
"This fire shows they got there just in time that night - next time we don't know if we're going to be so lucky."
Earlier today a hamster was recovered alive from a burnt out flat to the rear of the Market Hill building.


A British Legion treasurer who stole more than £26,000 from the charity to pay off debts and fund holidays to Turkey has been jailed.

Joseph Allen, 70, raided Poppy Appeal collection tins to steal £10,000 destined for former servicemen, Amersham Crown Court heard.
He stole the rest of the cash by writing cheques made out to himself.
Allen, of Paterson Road, Aylesbury, admitted four charges of theft and was handed a 16-month sentence.
The former treasurer for the Buckinghamshire Royal British Legion branch had served in the forces for 15 years and was a volunteer with the charity for 20 years.
He wrote 23 cheques worth £16,000 out to himself over a three year period, forging countersignatures so as not to raise suspicion, the court heard.
Allen was told he had abused his position to commit a gross breach of trust.
Laura Blackband, prosecuting, said: "He was of course allowed to write cheques from that account to cover legitimate expenses but these were unexplained," she said.
"They were not supported by any expense claims and he could not explain why they had been written."
Allen also took cash straight from collection tins from 2011 to 2013.
Ms Blackband said: "This was money he had failed to pay into the (British Legion) bank account. He appropriated the cash from the tins."
Tim Nutley, defending, said Allen had initially been motivated by his £13,000 debt to a mortgage company and money owed on credit cards.
"He also spent part of the money [he stole] on two holidays which he went on with his wife to Turkey," he said.
"


City of Edinburgh Council has signed a £35m contract to help regenerate the west of the city.

The contract with Keepmoat is to build 316 new energy efficient homes, which the council said would provide a "jobs boost" for the area.
It is part of a project to construct 16,000 affordable and low cost homes over the next 10 years.
Work is expected to begin on the site in spring 2017, with council homes available to rent by spring of 2019.
Councillor Joan Griffiths, the housing leader for Edinburgh Council, said: "North Sighthill is one of the largest new house-building projects in Edinburgh, after the regeneration of Pennywell in the north which is well under way.
"This development is a key part the council's commitment, working with housing associations, to deliver 16,000 affordable and low cost homes and nearly £2bn investment over the next 10 years.
"This project is now part of a larger programme already delivering new affordable homes in Leith, Newhaven, Craigmillar, Pennywell, Gracemount and Chesser in one of the most ambitious council-led housebuilding programmes in the UK."
The plans have recently been criticised by Edinburgh MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton, who said the project had not taken into the account the impact on local infrastructure.
Mr Cole-Hamilton asked First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to intervene to protect public services and green belt land in the city.


Manny Pacquiao blamed a shoulder injury for his defeat by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, claiming it stopped him from using his right hand.

American Mayweather, 38, outclassed his Philippine rival at the MGM Grand and was awarded a wide unanimous decision.
Pacquiao, 36, said he thought he did enough to win the fight, despite most observers agreeing with the verdict.
"Three weeks before the fight I got a tear in my right shoulder," he said. "It got better but it wasn't 100%."
Mayweather started the brighter of the two and rocked Pacquiao with a number of right hand counter punches in the early exchanges.
The Filipino came back at the American in the fourth round, stunning Mayweather with a left hand and again in the sixth round but was never able to back it up and Mayweather ran out a comfortable winner on the judges scorecards.
Pacquiao said he wanted to have an injection in the shoulder before the fight but the Nevada Athletic Commission refused.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, claimed he informed the Commission of the injury five days ago and defended the decision not to cancel the fight, the most lucrative in boxing history.
"Athletes always fight hurt and we felt the work that was done on the shoulder during training would enable him to use his right hand," said Arum.
Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar said he first knew about the injury two hours before the fight, when Pacquiao's camp requested a doctor sit in his corner, a request that was denied.
Mayweather, meanwhile, said he was carrying injuries to both arms and hands.
"If he had come out victorious, I would have shown respect and said he was the better man," he said, after adding Pacquiao's WBO welterweight belt to the WBC and WBA titles he already owned.
Mayweather, a five-weight world champion, also criticised those who doubted him, telling them he had made them "eat their words".
"For years everyone said that I was scared and that I'd lose," said Mayweather, who is undefeated in 48 professional fights stretching back 19 years.
"I made the non-believers into believers. I was the better man, the smarter fighter - more calculated, more patient. He was applying pressure but not landing many punches and I was just keeping my jab in his face."
Mayweather, who said he was presented with a cheque for $100m (£66m) in his dressing room after the fight, also revealed he planned to relinquish his titles and that his final bout in September would be a non-championship fight.
As well as the welterweight belts, Mayweather is also the WBC light-middleweight champion.
Asked if his last fight might be against Britain's Amir Khan, Mayweather replied: "I'm not thinking about that. All I want to do right now is go home and rest."
Mayweather's father and trainer, Floyd Sr, criticised those who booed him before and after the fight.
"My son should be treated better," said Mayweather Sr. "I'm not saying it bothers him but if I was in his shoes, it would bother me.
"He's paying the price for being honest and for being too good. When these guys are throwing punches and he's making them miss, people call that boring.
"They don't know boxing, that's the problem."


Late tries from Justin Carney and Niall Evalds earned Salford Red Devils victory at struggling Huddersfield, who remain bottom of Super League.

A brace of tries from Ukuma Ta'ai, plus further scores from Jake Connor and Jermaine McGillvary, established a 24-18 lead with 12 minutes to play.
But Carney and Evalds both crossed in a three-minute spell late on to secure a fourth win of 2016 for Salford.
However, Salford players clashed with some of their own fans after the game.
The Giants have won only one of their eight games this season.
Former Giants prop Craig Kopczak had given Salford an early lead and Gareth O'Brien added another for the Red Devils, only for the visitors to trail 12-10 at half-time after tries by Ta'ai and Connor.
Josh Griffin's score restored Salford's advantage, but McGillvary's effort and a second for Ta'ai looked to have earned a second Super League win of the season for Paul Anderson's men, before the visitors snatched victory in the closing stages.
Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson: "We were way better than we were Friday but our defence is costing us. We have to stop missing one-on-one tackles and cut the individual errors out.
"The offence is not quite firing but we still scored 24 points which is enough to win games.
"I feel under pressure because I put it on myself and I'm not comfortable losing games - it's not something I'm used to. If we can cut out the mistakes and put in the same effort and take some of the opportunities we are creating we will get there."
Salford coach Ian Watson: "We pride ourselves on our defence and the mentality of the guys to stick in there today when it got tough and come through the other side.
"The Easter period is tough, backing up with two games in four days.
"We have a good group of players who have belief in what they do and the conditioning they have done during pre-season."
Huddersfield: Brierley; McGillvary, Cudjoe, Connor, Murphy; Brough, K. Wood; Crabtree, Hinchcliffe, Huby, Patrick, Lawrence, Ta'ai.
Replacements: Rapira, Johnson, Leeming, Roberts.
Salford: O'Brien; Carney, Sau, J. Griffin, Caton-Brown; Wood, Dobson; Kopczak, Tomkins, G. Griffin, Murdoch, Jones, Flanagan.
Replacements: Evalds, J. Walne, Forster, Sarsfield.
Referee: Joe Cobb.


More needs to done to promote Welsh language children's books, the children's poet laureate of Wales has said.

Anni Llyn said plenty of Welsh language books are published but they are not given as much attention as those by famous authors who write in English.
The children's author has been laureate for two years.
She called for more funding to go into promoting and marketing original Welsh language books.
She told Cymru Fyw: "I'm aware that it is hard to persuade people when you have something easy to promote.
"Books that have been translated into Welsh and adaptations of popular authors like Roald Dahl and David Walliams - they have their own PR machine.
"The work has already been done promoting those books.
"I would like to see more funding going into promoting and marketing children's book, in children's environment, in the schools."
Ms Llyn said a "lot of good work is being done" but increased promotion was something that needed addressing in the next few years "before the situation becomes worse".
While there are many original Welsh language books, many have been translated into Welsh from English and the readers are often well-acquainted with the characters, she said.
This means children do not learn about new characters and seeing how the story develops, Ms Llyn said.
"They know what the story is. They've seen the film and they know the English version. I see that as a great shame in terms of inspiring children," she added.
The Welsh Books Council agreed more needed to be done and authors, publishers and other organisations had to work in partnership and "share the responsibility of promoting and marketing".
It also pointed to schemes in place to promote reading, such as the Tir na n-Og awards, the Reading for Wales and Bookslam competitions, Book Day and the LlyfrDaFabBooks campaign.
The Children's Poet Laureate of Wales' role is to introduce children to literature and encourage them to enjoy and create poetry.
During her tenure, Ms Llyn has been travelling around Wales, organising workshops in schools.


Hull striker Dieumerci Mbokani will be sidelined for the next six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury.

The DR Congo striker, 31, who is on a season-long loan from Dynamo Kiev, was replaced during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Burnley.
Hull have also confirmed that the knee injury suffered by defender Harry Maguire during the Burnley game is not as serious as first feared.
The 23-year-old may be fit for Saturday's trip to face Leicester City.


A former senior college manager who was cleared of fraud is calling for a Holyrood inquiry into what happened to be re-opened.

Leigh Berridge and her colleague were accused of falsely acquiring Â£3m in EU money.
Ms Berridge, 46, was a director at the former Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy and lost her job.
The college's successor, Fife College, said it was inappropriate for it to comment.
Ms Berridge, from Cupar in Fife, was told last month that no charges against her would be pursued after two years of criminal investigations.
The mother-of-two is calling for Holyrood's Public Audit Committee to re-open a report on the college after parliament reconvenes.
Ms Berridge was accused of inducing the Scottish government to hand over the cash to Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy, Fife between 2008 and 2012.
She was arrested at her home in the village of Pitlessie, Fife in December 2013.
The college was said to have obtained Â£3.3m of cash from the Scottish government that it was not entitled to, with an attempt to get another Â£127,000.
The Auditor General laid a report into Adam Smith College before the Scottish Parliament in October 2013.
At the time the Scottish Parliament's Public Audit Committee agreed to defer its consideration of the report until criminal investigations had been concluded.
Ms Berridge, who is considering legal action, believes a parliamentary investigation would clear her name and that of a colleague who also faced criminal investigations.
She said: "I lost my job, a job that I loved and was very good at. This whole investigation started because of alleged institutional bullying and harassment."
Ms Berridge was charged along with Anna Milligan, one of the college's business development managers. Ms Milligan's charges were dropped in February this year.
"For Anna and I to have been accused of being part of a criminal conspiracy and be arrested in my own home has been hugely traumatic and detrimental to myself and my family.
"People still have questions about what went on. I still feel I need to clear both my name and that of my colleague. That is why I want the Audit Committee to look again at the Section 22 report. All details of precisely what happened and who is accountable must now come into the public domain."
At the time the charges against Ms Berridge were dropped, the Crown Office said: "The Crown raised criminal proceedings against Anna Milligan and Leigh Berridge, charging them with operating a fraudulent scheme by which Adam Smith College, Kirkcaldy, falsely claimed EU funding from the Scottish government.
"No individual gained financially from the scheme, and the investigation was complex, involving detailed scrutiny of the college's finances and systems of management and administration.
"As further evidence came to light, it became clear that there was no longer sufficient evidence to continue criminal proceedings."
Four people were initially investigated - a 50-year-old man and three women aged 44, 49, and 58. The allegations related to the period between 2008 and 2012.
Adam Smith College is now part of Fife College after a merger with Carnegie College in 2013.
A spokeswoman for Fife College said it would be inappropriate for it to make any comment on the matter.


Glasgow Warriors can expect to feel the brunt of Leicester Tigers' wounded pride when they visit Welford Road, according to Tigers coach Aaron Mauger.

A Warriors win would all but guarantee them a first Champions Cup last-eight place while Tigers' loss to Racing 92 last week put them out of contention.
"We were all embarrassed and frustrated by the performance in Paris," said Mauger ahead of Saturday's match.
"Everyone has to look in the mirror and ask if they are giving it everything."
Leicester sit fifth in the Premiership but have lost three of their five matches in Europe this term, including a 42-13 reverse at Glasgow's Scotstoun Stadium.
"If we can put Glasgow under a bit of pressure, hopefully it will be good enough to swing a result," Mauger said.
"We'll be excited about getting back down to Welford Road. We've shown in fits and bursts that we can be a quality side."
Mauger highlighted his team's failure to "front up" in Paris and their sluggishness off the line as key failures in a match in which he felt Tigers "were not at the races".
But the New Zealander told BBC Radio Leicester that there was a determination to make up for it against Gregor Townsend's side, with fly-half Owen Williams and lock Dom Barrow likely to be available for the hosts and his "front row stocks coming back to life".
"The guys care," he added. "It's not through a lack of effort. We can make it easier on ourselves. Once we start executing the details, hopefully our game will click. We owe it to ourselves and to our loyal supporters."
The New Zealander also revealed that, with Matt Toomua and Manu Tuilagi injured, he is looking at France international centre Maxime Mermoz to strengthen his team.


Troubled Cardiff Airport has been sold to the Welsh government for £52m.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said it would not be operated by the government and would be managed "at arm's length" and "on a commercial basis".
Mr Jones has been critical of the airport after a slump in passenger numbers from a peak of two million in 2007 to just over one million in 2012.
Rival airport Bristol raised concerns that Cardiff would unfairly benefit from state support.
Speaking after the government announced the deal, Mr Jones said it was vital for the number of passengers to be increased.
Reaction has been mixed to the Welsh government's purchase of Cardiff Airport but almost everyone agrees a thriving airport would be good for the economy.
Business organisation CBI Wales said "strong and effective commercial stewardship" was required.
"To compete on the world stage, Wales needs world class infrastructure and a key part of that is a modern and effective international airport," said director Emma Watkins.
"Welsh business needs a dynamic and thriving airport that can drive investment and deliver growth."
The Federation of Small Businesses in Wales said infrastructure around the airport, such as roads and rail, needed to be improved.
"Increasing the number of flights and destinations would no doubt enable businesses to search for new markets and boost their trade internationally," added Janet Jones, FSB Wales policy unit chair.
South Wales Chamber of Commerce "warmly welcomed" the sale.
"We need to see an effective plan developed that will enable a smooth transition of ownership and ensure that the commercial operator appointed has significant international experience to bring new initiatives to the airport model," said director Graham Morgan.
Figures showed just over one million passengers used Cardiff in 2012, down about 200,000 in a year.
Meanwhile, nearby competitor Bristol Airport, which has sought assurances that Cardiff will not get state handouts, had seen almost six million passengers last year.
Cardiff was hit by the withdrawal of flights by budget airline bmibaby in 2011, but has said it expects 5% - 8% growth during 2013.
Last May, Mr Jones called on the then owners TBI to invest in its future or put it up for sale.
"Cardiff Airport is a vital gateway to Wales for business, tourists and general travellers alike," he said on Wednesday.
"It is essential that its future is secured and that we develop high-quality sustainable services.
"The airport will not be operated by the Welsh government. It will be managed at arm's length from government on a commercial basis and, over time, I expect to see a return to the public purse on the investment.
"A chief executive of the airport will be announced in due course. In the meantime, I am delighted that Lord Rowe-Beddoe has agreed to serve as chairman of the airport board."
In the longer term, the board will look at the possibility of bringing in a commercial operator and Mr Jones also opened up the prospect of the airport looking to attract long haul and transatlantic flights.
Mr Jones said the Welsh government had been contacted by a number of interested parties.
After hearing of the sale, Bristol Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair was sceptical that government involvement would be "arm's length".
"However, the purchase price of £52m paid by the Welsh government - which is well above market value when compared to recent transactions involving UK airports - gives us concern that ongoing government involvement and support is highly likely," he said.
By Nick ServiniBBC Wales business correspondent
The debate will now begin on whether £52m is a good price for the Welsh taxpayer.
The Welsh government says it follows intensive negotiations and was based on independent valuations.
When Abertis bought Cardiff Airport in 2005, it was said then to have a valuation of £150m.
So today's price is well below that, but back then the airport was in a healthier state. Since then passengers numbers have dropped and latest figures show it made a loss of more than £300,000 in 2011.
Whatever your views on the price, it has always been striking how passionate people feel about Cardiff Airport.
Bringing it back into public ownership, in what is one of the most high profile acquisitions ever undertaken by the Welsh government, will inevitably heighten those passions.
"Airports across the world are commercial businesses operating in highly competitive markets and the global trend is towards privatisation of these assets, not nationalisation.
"Bristol Airport has never been concerned about competition from Cardiff or other airports, provided that competition is on a level playing field without any form of state subsidy or government support."
The airport's existing staff will remain but only 40 are employed directly.
An average of around 1,000 staff work on the site as sub-contractors but that figure can vary considerably.
In the months leading up to today, Mr Jones said the airport gave a bad impression of Wales as it fell behind its rivals.
The owners said at the time that they had no plans to sell but would listen to offers.
Only this month there was bad news when Swiss carrier Helvetic announced it was pulling out, two years after the Welsh government spent £500,000 marketing Wales in Switzerland.
Helvetic started flying to Zurich from Cardiff in 2011, but had already dropped winter services after low demand and will not fly this summer.
However, Spanish airline Vueling said it was increasing services to Malaga and Alicante from Cardiff after a "positive response from Welsh travellers".
Asked if the purchase was a gamble, Business Minister Edwina Hart said it was "the right thing to do."
But opposition politicians were sceptical of the Welsh government's involvement in trying to turn around the airport's fortunes.
"I have yet to be convinced that a 1970s-style nationalisation is the answer to the airport's problems," said the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies.
"When you consider the recent decision by Helvetic to withdraw, in spite of the Welsh government having invested around half-a-million pounds, it is far from clear that the first minister is the best man for the job of rescuing this airport."
Eluned Parrott, Welsh Liberal Democrat economy and transport spokesperson, called on the Welsh government to "urgently announce its plans to transform the airport".
Plaid Cymru also said it wanted to see the detail of the government's plans.
"There is no reason why a publicly-owned national airport for Wales could not be far more successful than the airport in its present state," said party leader Leanne Wood.


The government is to consult on new powers to allow the Bank of England to rein in the buy-to-let mortgage market.

In April this year, the Bank was given extra tools to control the residential mortgage market.
Those powers could now be extended to limit borrowing by landlords who buy property to rent out.
Earlier this week, the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, expressed concern about buy-to-let.
He said he was worried that if house prices began to fall, investors might sell in large numbers, which could destabilise the economy.
Now the Treasury has suggested that the Bank could order banks and building societies to limit the sums they lend to landlords.
This could either be done by taking into account the size of the loan in relation to the property's value, or by taking into account whether the landlord's rent covers his or her mortgage payments.
The Bank's Financial Policy Committee (FPC) has already implemented similar measures for ordinary household mortgages.
They mean that lenders are only allowed to give 15% of their loans to high-risk residential borrowers - in other words, those who have borrowed more than 4.5 times their income.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, said: "Ensuring that Britain's financial services sector is resilient enough to withstand future shocks is a key part of the government's economic plan."
"Today's consultation is the next step in ensuring that the FPC has the tools it needs to protect our economy."
However, figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) suggest that the buy-to-let market is due to slow down over the next two years anyway.
That is a result of tax changes already announced by the government.
The CML said the total number of new buy-to-let mortgages is likely to drop by 22% by 2017.
It expects 116,000 new buy-to-let mortgages to be issued this year, the highest number since 2007.
But it expects that number to fall to 105,000 next year, and 90,000 in 2017.
"Buy-to-let faces a challenging period," said Mohammad Jamei, a CML economist.
From April 2016, landlords face an increased level of stamp duty on properties they buy.
And from 2017, the amount of tax relief on their profits is to be lowered. Landlords will also have to pay Capital Gains Tax sooner than they do at the moment.
The latest CML figures also showed that total lending to home-buyers fell by 9% between October and November.
In all, Â£19.9bn was advanced to borrowers, down from Â£21.9bn in the previous month.


Coventry United is to share the Butts Park Arena with Coventry Rugby Club after both sides agreed a deal.

The football club's men's and the women's sides will play home matches at the ground from the 2017/18 season.
The rugby club had been in talks with Coventry City about a similar ground-sharing plan.
The Coventry Bears rugby league side will continue to use the stadium, meaning three teams will be playing home matches at the ground.
Jon Sharp, chairman of the rugby club, said the deal with was "a good thing for the city and all the clubs concerned".
"Frankly the stadium is under-utilised. We have 15 [home] league matches a year, and that's a pretty sad use of such a marvellous facility," he said.
Mr Sharp said the club would look to find grants to improve the pitch and build women's changing rooms.
The non-league football team have played their home games at the Alan Higgs Centre since they were founded in 2013.
Chairman Jason Kay said the club was "absolutely delighted" with the move.


Johnny Depp is set to have a role in the second Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film, due out in 2018.

It has been reported that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor will also have a brief cameo in the first film, a spin-off from the Harry Potter Franchise.
It is not yet known what role Depp will play in the fantasy series, which will revolve around a fictional author mentioned in the Harry Potter stories.
The first Fantastic Beasts film opens in the UK and US on 18 November.
Depp is known for playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which will continue next year with a fifth instalment.
The 53-year-old was seen earlier this year reprising his role as The Mad Hatter in Alice Through the Looking Glass, a sequel to 2010's Alice in Wonderland.
Last month Harry Potter creator JK Rowling revealed she had planned scripts for a total of five Fantastic Beasts films.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Holliday Grainger has joined the cast of a TV series based on Rowling's Robert Galbraith crime novels.
The British actress will play Robin, the assistant to private detective Cormoran Strike, in the BBC One adaptation, which is set to begin shooting this month.
Rowling, who has written three novels under her Robert Galbraith pseudonym, said she "couldn't be more delighted" about Grainger's casting.
Grainger, who appeared earlier this year in Coast Guard drama The Finest Hours, said her character's "strength and intelligence" would be "a joy to explore".
War and Peace actor Tom Burke will play Strike in the seven hour-long dramas to be drawn from Rowling's Career of Evil, The Silkworm and The Cuckoo's Calling books.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Rough seas are hampering the final preparations for loading the oil drilling rig Transocean Winner on to a ship off Lewis.

The rig, which ran aground at Dalmore in August, is being moved on to the heavy transport ship the Hawk.
The 17,000-tonne structure has been disconnected from eight temporary anchors in preparation for its journey to Turkey for scrapping.
Good weather is crucial to this element of the salvage operation going ahead.
BBC Scotland's reporter in Lewis, Angus Macdonald, said on Friday evening that the size of the swell was making efforts to get the rig on to the deck of the Hawk difficult.
He said a decision would be made on Saturday as to whether the rig would go "in this weather window, or stay until the next break in the weather".
Hugh Shaw, who is overseeing the salvage work, said: "If we do find ourselves in the same position tomorrow then we are going to have to make a decision.
"It may be to put the rig back on to the anchors because we are anticipating bad weather coming back through at the beginning of next week and we would have to have the rig secure again by that time."
Over the past month the Transocean Winner has been removed from Dalmore beach and towed to Broad Bay, Lewis.


A green-fingered protester has been warned by council officials to stop filling potholes with flowers.

Jason Dorley-Brown said he wanted to "put a smile on faces" by using flower power to highlight the "serious problem" of the holes across Bath.
But officers say he has shown a fragrant disregard for the rules, saying his attempts to help "do not meet the required standards".
Mr Dorley-Brown said he was "very careful" about which roads he chose.
However, Bath and North East Somerset Council said "the actions of this resident do not meet the required standards" and warned the perennial protester he could be liable if anyone was injured or their vehicles damaged.
Mr Dorley-Brown said he and his fellow "guerrilla gardeners" filled up potholes in the area about every 10 days.
"We're very careful to make sure when we fill in a pothole," he said.
"It's not on a blind corner, it's not on a corner where there's overtaking, it's not on a narrow road.
"We sort of want them to be distracting to a certain extent but people can drive over them. We're not fixing potholes here - what we're doing is filling potholes to raise awareness."
Mr Dorley-Brown, who said he was a keen cyclist himself, said the council had not yet been in direct contact with him.
The floral fan added his campaign was not "an anti-council thing" adding, "let's get the roads back to a better state".
A council spokesman said they took "the issue of potholes very seriously" and said 4,441 had been repaired in 2016 - an increase on the 3,617 repaired in 2015.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has been awarded Â£272,000 from the government's Â£70m Pothole Action Fund for 2017-18.


The body that oversees UK elections said Scotland's independence referendum was well run and offered a template for future votes like the EU referendum.

The Electoral Commission's observations came as it published a report about last year's poll.
It said the pro-Union Better Together campaign spent £1,422,602 and the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign spent £1,420,800.
People in Scotland voted 55% to 45% against independence.
The commission found that the regulatory framework at the referendum "worked well overall" and that the move to give clear guidance at an early stage ensured a "high level of compliance with the rules".
John McCormick, head of the Electoral Commissioner for Scotland, said: "This report serves to highlight that the Scottish independence referendum remains a good example of a well-run referendum.
"The lessons learnt in Scotland should provide an excellent template for how future referendums should be legislated for, administered and regulated."
The new majority Conservative government plans to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU before the end of 2017.
The independent Electoral Commission regulates party and election finance and is responsible for the conduct and regulations of referendums.
During the Scottish independence referendum, the commission imposed just one sanction of £500 on the Communication Workers Union which had exceeded the registration threshold of £10,000 before registering as an official campaigner.


There is no need to scrap FA Cup replays because every Premier League team has enough players to cope with extra matches, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The future of replays and midweek rounds are among measures being considered to trim the fixture list.
"This is the most traditional competition in England. Let's respect it and keep it as it is," he said.
"I am convinced all of the clubs can compete with the number of games."
Arsenal, who have won the FA Cup for the past two seasons, face Championship side Hull in the fifth round on Saturday, three days before their Champions League first-leg tie with Barcelona.
A draw with Hull would leave the Gunners with a fixture headache.
But despite that potential problem Wenger does not want the competition changed before his 100th match in the cup on Saturday.
"I am now vaccinated against the FA rules after such a long time, I have become very conservatively English," Wenger said.
"Next season we have even more money coming in, so every single club will have 25 top level players. There is no real need for me to change the rules.
"I believe the first game on television I ever saw in France was an FA Cup game. We had no television and we had to go to school where we had a black and white screen and we could watch the FA Cup final.
"At that time I could never imagine I would play 100 FA Cup games. It is a privilege, because 100 is quite a big number and we have done well in the FA Cup most of the time. I want to defend my record."
Saturday will be the third time in as many seasons that Arsenal have faced Hull in the FA Cup, including the 2014 final where Wenger's side came from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
And Wenger hinted that he may have left the club at the end of that season had they not won their first trophy in nine years.
"Honestly, I don't know," said Wenger when asked about his job if Arsenal had failed to win.
"It was up in the air and we had to give everything to win that final," he added.
"It would have been a problem if we had not won. It would have been a  massive disappointment for everyone, but we won.
"Usually I respect my contracts and I fight for everything. I think as well to say to you that if 17 years at a club depend on one cup final, it is better you don't go to the final."


The Football Association scrapped a flagship project meant to ensure children were being protected from sexual abuse, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has learned.

In 2003, the FA pulled all funding from a major review of its child protection policies, three years early.
An evaluation of the project later suggested some FA staff had also been bullied into not talking.
The FA said it could not comment due to a new review into sex abuse.
It has instructed independent leading counsel Kate Gallafent QC to oversee an internal review, following allegations of sexual abuse in football.
It is understood the decision to pull funding for the project in 2003 will form part of this.
The five-year research study was commissioned by the FA in 2001 to map the state of child protection across all clubs, and to monitor the impact of a new strategy it had rolled out across England to protect under-18s.
It was thought to be the first sports body in the world to commission such detailed research into child protection.
In the first two years of the project, a team of academics behind the study interviewed 189 children and spoke to senior coaches, referees and administrators across all levels of the game.
The authors were effectively representatives of the FA - carrying FA badges and business cards.
Scandal one of FA's biggest crises - Greg Clarke
How do you talk to your children about sexual abuse?
But an evaluation of the project published in 2007 appears to show the project met some resistance from inside the Football Association itself.
It said the authors found some staff at the organisation had been bullied into not talking, and that information had not been provided on time or in enough detail.
Of the 13 members of FA staff contacted by the academics to give interviews and evidence for the project, only four responded.
Across the project as a whole, the authors were described as being "seen as the police" and subject to some verbal attacks.
The researchers were said to have found a "wall of silence" from some people they had tried to speak to.
It is understood that in April 2002 the scale of the project was significantly scaled back, with some internet survey work reduced and the number of interviews cut in half.
Then in 2003, after the sudden resignation of Adam Crozier as FA chief executive, all funding was pulled and the project was closed down three years before it was due to complete its work.
The authors were told the decision had been because of budget cuts at the FA.
The report's lead author, Celia Brackenridge from Brunel University, said she had to threaten the organisation with legal action in the small claims court to pay its bills.
She wrote in her notes at the time: "The whole business has drained me and left me feeling even more cynical about their stated intentions to develop welfare initiatives.
"England have been warned that they will be kicked out of the European Cup if there is one more pitch invasion or racist incident at a game and that should at least keep the new equity strategy to the forefront but, as for child protection, who knows?"
She later wrote: "It left me asking myself whether some of the senior officers in the game might not be simply using child protection as a kind of ethical fig leaf, to cover their embarrassment at the many problems facing the game - doping, crowd control, bungs and fixes - among others.
"The more the FA could trumpet their work for children, the better they could deflect attention from the uglier side of the game."
But Ms Brackenridge said some senior FA staff, directly responsible for child protection, were "exemplary" in their dealings with the research team.
At the time funding was removed, and the project ended, she said their work did show that the new measures introduced by the FA appeared to be working effectively.
MP Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said claims the FA scrapped the project were "extremely concerning".
"It helps to feed the impression that many people will have, that people within football were aware that there was a problem with child protection - people at clubs, people at the FA.
"People will now look at this story and say 'is this further evidence that there were some people at the Football Association who didn't want to pursue this as properly as they should have done, which may have meant that stories of abuse went unreported and [were not] investigated?'."
In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, FA chairman Greg Clarke described how he had talked to all 43 English county Football Associations about their safeguarding procedures which were "front of mind" in the FA.
"We have a lot of people working on it," he said. "We have 8,500 safeguarding officers, 55,000 criminal record checks done on people every year and we have 35000 people trained every year in child safe guarding.
"I don't think we can ever say things are clean," he added.
"Because our job is to be paranoid about the safety of children in our game, every year we need to assume bad things are happening, and make sure our process, and our training, and our investment is as good as it can be and we do that every year overseen by the NSPCC and you will never see complacency at the FA."
Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police has become the latest force to confirm it is investigating allegations of historical child sexual abuse in football.
Police in Dorset, Staffordshire, Greater Manchester, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Cheshire, the North East, London and Scotland also have investigations.
North Wales Police said it had received "a number of reports" of historical sexual abuse within football.
The BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel.


Ancient bones from a North Yorkshire cave, including the remains of rhinos, bears and hyenas, are to go on display in a "virtual museum" more than a century after they were excavated.

Some of the bones, found in Victoria Cave in the dales, date back more than one hundred thousand years.
At that time, such beasts were common in northern England.
A team of archaeologists from the organisation DigVentures has set out digitise the site's unique collection.
The cave was discovered in 1837 when a man noticed his dog disappear through an opening in the hill, and reappear through another.
When they excavated, the Victorian explorers found objects that revealed the area's ancient history - from skulls of extinct rhinos and elephants, to more recent Romano-British artefacts.
Now, with the help of the local farmer and archaeology enthusiast, Tom Lord, who's been looking after that collection for forty years, the archaeologists have made 3D scans of every item, and of the cave itself.
They'll use these to place each object, digitally, in the same spot where it was unearthed.
The team says this will give visitors "a museum in their pocket", in the form of their smartphone.
And they hope the same approach will bring other ancient British sites back to virtual life.
Tom Lord told BBC News: "I live within sight almost of Victoria Cave, and it's just a place of fascination and wonder.
"It's just starting to reveal its secrets.
"As a child, I saw this collection in cabinets. And now, with new digital technology, we can put this out on the web and everyone can see it."


People across Lancashire have paid tribute to "cheeky" Kenny Baker, the Star Wars R2-D2 actor who lived in Preston and has died aged 81.

The 3ft 8in (1.12m) actor made his name as the droid in the first Star Wars film in 1977.
His nephew and carer Drew Myerscough, 48, said he died at home on Saturday after suffering respiratory problems for about nine years.
Fans remembered his "wicked sense of humour and charm".
Baker regularly appeared at conventions and fan days across Lancashire and was "always happy to come out for the fans", according to Neil Livesey, organiser of Preston Comic Con, a comic book, film and pop culture convention.
He said the actor had a "lust for life", adding: "Lets just say he liked a glass of white wine and had a wicked sense of humour."
Nicky Danino, a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, said: "Everyone knew who he was. We'll miss seeing his big smile around Preston.
"I remember once I was getting my hair cut and he drove up in his Rolls and walked in. He was so friendly, said hello to everyone and was greeted like a long lost friend. A real gent."
"Kenny was in his 80s but still happy to sign for fans. He had a cheeky sense of humour and if fans said they wanted an autograph in blue he said he would write it in black.
"He said 'I'll write what I want to write', but he was always happy to stop and meet people, whether in a restaurant or a supermarket.
"There was one fan who didn't manage to get an autograph at the convention so I called him up and he said bring him round to the house. So that's what we did, we met him at his house."
Lancashire filmmaker Amy Azra Dean wrote on Twitter: "Preston & the world has lost a film legend today. The city does not feel the same anymore, it all feels rather sad RIP"
Disability Equality NW, a Preston-based charity,  tweeted: "Sad to hear of the passing of a real #Preston celebrity & nice guy. #RIP #KennyBaker #StarWars #R2D2"
Kashmir Watan Foodstore wrote on Facebook: "While he wasn't born in Preston, we were lucky that he chose to make the area his home for many, many years. He always had time for anyone and was such a humble man. Our thoughts are with his family at this time."
Rosina Gordon, from the store, added: "He was always so grounded and so humble and because the countryside around here is so beautiful, I think that's why he made it his home.
"Each time I got to meet him, it was only for a few minutes, but he always made you feel so valued and happy. He had a great smile and I don't think I saw him frowning ever. He was just a genuinely, really nice man."
Mr Myerscough said he had looked after his uncle in his home in Preston for the last five or six years:.
He said: "He wanted to stay at home where he was comfortable, and mercifully that's what happened."


Wales will have the "toughest" and the "best" teacher training system in the UK, the education minister has pledged.

Huw Lewis has set out new guidelines for universities who want to train new teachers in future as part of sweeping reform to the system.
In a speech in Cardiff, he announced a new two-year postgraduate course and greater subject specialism for primary school teachers.
Mr Lewis has already unveiled plans to extend education degrees to four years.
He eventually wants all teachers to be educated to masters level.
At the moment some universities work together in three teacher training centres in Wales.
But Mr Lewis said he had an open mind and universities outside Wales could end up training students.
New guidelines to "transform" the system follow an independent review in 2015 which found quality had "deteriorated".
Mr Lewis said it was his last major speaking event as minister "but the agenda does not stop" and was "vital".
"We will have a new teaching training system which is of such high quality and unquestioned rigour that it gives individuals a reason, in and of itself, for the very best people to get into teaching in the first place," he added.
Mr Lewis said teachers also wanted more professional support and challenge.
He said: "I have been clear that we must do more to accelerate improvement in initial teacher education provision across Wales.
"This is particularly important as we continue with our programme of radical education reform, focused on driving up standards across the board."
The 2015 review of teacher training coincided with a wide-ranging report into education in Wales.
Work to alter the curriculum is now under way after the government accepted the recommendations made by the Donaldson review, which will see computer programming and IT become as central to classroom teaching as literacy and numeracy.
The review recommended having six areas of learning and replacing the key stage system with a more seamless progression through school.
It is expected to be rolled out from 2021.
Geraint Davies of the NAS/UWT union gave a cautious welcome to the proposals and said he "fully appreciated the education system of the future will need student teachers of the highest possible calibre".
But he said future Welsh governments must ensure that the profession was an "attractive proposition for those students".
Conservative Shadow Education Minister Angela Burns said the proposals did not go far enough.
She wants a centre for education that will focus solely on initial teacher training and educational research.


Islamic State militants have killed at least 30 people, including children and women, in a government-held village in central Syria, a monitoring group says.

Some of the victims in Mabouja were burned to death or beheaded, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
The state news agency, Sana, said at least eight people were killed, as soldiers repelled a terrorist attack.
Mabouja's population include members of the minority Alawite and Ismaili Muslim sects, which IS considers heretical.
In recent weeks, the jihadist group has mounted numerous attacks in government-held areas in the central provinces of Homs and Hama, where Mabouja is located.
The Syrian Observatory, a UK-based group that uses a network of contacts to monitor the four-year-old conflict in the country, said on Tuesday that IS militants had killed Alawite, Ismaili and Sunni residents of Mabouja by "burning, beheading, and firing on them".
A Syrian military source told the Reuters news agency that the jihadists had massacred civilians there, but did not have a number for the dead.
"Daesh tried to attack the village, and this attack was repelled, and a large number of Daesh terrorists were killed. And now the Syrian army is imposing its control over the village," the source said, using a pejorative term for IS based on the acronym of a previous name in Arabic.
"Daesh is making a lot of attempts [to advance] east of Hama. It is trying a lot in that area, particularly after its loss in Shaar [gas] field," he added.
Sana meanwhile reported that soldiers, militiamen and locals had "confronted an assault" launched by terrorist groups against Mabouja".
At least eight people were killed and 18 were injured, it said, adding that the assailants also suffered "heavy losses".
Websites affiliated with IS claimed the village had been "liberated" and that dozens of people had been killed or captured.
Mabouja, about 60km (40 miles) east of Hama, lies near a vital road that serves as the government's only link between Homs province, to the south, and the northern province of Aleppo.
IS militants have attempted several times to gain control over the road, and killed 83 soldiers in an attack in the region in late March.


Comics Stephen Fry and John Cleese are among those paying tribute to Reginald Perrin writer David Nobbs who has died aged 80.

Nobbs, 80 also wrote for The Two Ronnies, Ken Dodd and Frankie Howerd.
Cleese described the writer as a "lovely kind, gentle man with a delicious sense of humour".
Stephen Fry added: "Oh no! David Nobbs has died. I liked him very very much. Such a brilliant comic writer and such a kind, wise man."
Cleese said on Twitter: "Very sad today to hear of the death of David Nobbs. First worked with him on the Frost Report in 1966.
"He wrote many top-class shows and books. His masterwork: the Reggie Perrin shows."
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, first broadcast in the 1970s, told the story of a man, played by Leonard Rossiter, desperate to escape his dull marriage, disappointing children and daily grind of his job.
Impressionist Rory Bremner tweeted: "Much more to the lovely David Nobbs than Reggie P. But what a brilliant creation that was! #mourning Reggie."
Doctor Who writer and Sherlock star Mark Gatiss paid tribute in a famous quote from the series: "'1,2,3,4 make 'em sweat outside the door, 5,6,7,8 always pays to make 'em wait - COME!' RIP David Nobbs."
The British Humanist Association's chief executive Andrew Copson said: "David Nobbs was a very special talent and we were all honoured to have worked with him over his years as a patron of the BHA."
Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office, also paid tribute to Nobbs, by borrowing a catchphrase from the character CJ, played by John Barron, who was Perrin's tyrannical boss.
He tweeted: "I didn't get where I am today by not knowing what a genius David Nobbs was. RIP."
And Little Britain star Matt Lucas wrote: "Reggie Perrin and A Bit Of A Do were masterpieces. David Nobbs leaves the world a richer place."
Author Irvine Welsh, who wrote the novel Trainspotting, said: "Very sad to hear of the death of inspirational David Nobbs, who I had quite a few laughs with.
"A comic genius and an excellent human being."
Nobbs also wrote more than 20 novels and his final work, The Second Life of Sally Mottram, was published last year.


Joe Root hit 60 not out as England tightened their grip on the first Test against South Africa in Durban.

The tourists are 172-3 in their second innings - a lead of 261 - and will aim to declare on Tuesday, then set about bowling the hosts out.
Earlier, Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad took four wickets apiece as South Africa's batting line-up fell apart.
Hashim Amla's men also dropped three catches on a disastrous third day for the number one ranked Test side.
The Proteas' senior fast bowler Dale Steyn was forced off with injury, star batsman AB de Villiers failed to quash rumours of his Test retirement, and the middle order surrendered meekly.
Opener Dean Elgar resisted with a superb unbeaten 118, but England remain in an excellent position to push for only a second win in 16 away Tests.
"We probably have to be proactive, while still having a lot of patience with the bat," said Moeen.
"We've got a good foundation and tomorrow is about not doing what both teams have done and lose wickets in the first session in clusters.
"We're pretty calm. We're not getting overexcited."
Broad and Moeen impressed as England brushed aside the South Africa lower order in the morning session to earn a first-innings lead of 89.
With South Africa resuming on 137-4, Broad removed Temba Bavuma with the second delivery of the day, inducing him to a drag on a wide delivery that kept low.
Then it was over to Moeen who, at the end of a year in which he has often struggled in his primary role as spinner, produced perhaps his best performance with the ball since his superb series against India in 2014.
He had JP Duminy caught at slip for two, removed Kyle Abbott for nought via a sharp bat-pad catch from James Taylor, and then enticed Steyn to sky one to Chris Woakes at mid-off.
After Moeen finished with figures of 4-69 - his best in an overseas Test - Steven Finn claimed the final two wickets, having Dane Piedt caught behind and getting Morne Morkel to edge to slip.
With James Anderson looking set to return from injury for the second Test in Cape Town, Finn's late burst could prove decisive in his likely battle with Chris Woakes for the third seamer's spot.
Elgar remained unbeaten following a fine innings full of discipline and application, becoming only the sixth South African to carry his bat.
Root batted with characteristic tempo and fluency to guide England to a strong position after they lost Alastair Cook and Alex Hales in an eventful afternoon session.
Skipper Cook missed a straight delivery from Piedt and was adjudged lbw for 7, while Hales battled for his 26 runs before he was caught at long-on attempting to hit the spinner over the top.
Hales is the eighth opening partner Cook has had since the retirement of Andrew Strauss, but after making only 10 in the first innings, the Nottinghamshire batsman is yet to provide evidence that England's long search for an opener is over.
That brought Root to the crease to join Nick Compton, who on his comeback appearance made his second substantial score of the match.
The South Africa-born batsman made 49 before he was caught behind off the bowling of the tireless Morne Morkel, but Root remained unbeaten, with Taylor 24 not out alongside him at the close.
South Africa have won 10 of their past 14 series, but they looked a pale imitation of that successful side and, on this evidence, face a struggle to retain the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy.
Their batting line-up appears bedevilled by poor form, with five of their seven batsmen - Stiaan van Zyl, Amla, Faf du Plessis, Bavuma and Duminy - averaging 27 or fewer this year and without a single Test century between them in that time.
They dropped three simple catches in the field, with Elgar spilling a regulation slip chance offered by Compton on 11 and even the usually impeccable De Villiers reprieved Root on six and then dropped Compton on 45.
The sight of the clearly injured Steyn leaving the field in pain, only to return, bowl three deliveries and then trudge off again, also suggested a team in some disarray.
And then there is the ongoing uncertainty over the future of De Villiers, who before play gave an equivocal response to rumours that he could quit Test cricket, saying: "It's important to look at the schedule moving forward, that's the talk in the camp and for me maybe not to play all kinds of cricket."


A games teacher has admitted having sex with a pupil she taught at an all girls private school.

Emily Fox, from Bath, pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown Court to four counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl while in a position of trust.
The offences took place in 2012-13, when Fox, 26, was a teacher at the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.
Fox was released on bail and is due to return for sentencing on 5 September.
Fox, of Alfred Street, is not allowed to attend the school or have contact with anyone aged under 16.
She will also be added to the sex offenders register.
The Royal Masonic School for Girls was founded in 1788 in east London to teach the daughters of Freemasons.
It moved to its current site in 1934 and has a mixture of day and boarding pupils.


Clubfoot is one of the world's most common birth defects, affecting around one in 1,000 babies.

A child born with the condition needs the right treatment - gently realigning the foot - to ensure they grow up being able to walk properly.
It is treatable, for those babies born in developed countries. But up to 80% of those with clubfoot in developing countries go untreated.
Now a charity has developed a low-cost canvas brace for children to wear as part of their treatment - which is being tested for use in India, where around a quarter of the 200,000 children with clubfoot live.
Pradeep Das, now four years old, was born with clubfoot and currently has to wear a brace for around 16 hours a night.
His father, Ranjeet, suffers from the same condition but was never treated.
"We realised Pradeep's feet pointed the wrong way when he was 10-months-old," said Ranjeet.
"What could I do? I was worried because I am already living with this."
"So I took him to Wadia hospital and the doctor there said he'll be corrected."
Ranjeet works in construction and like many in Mumbai, his family moves around the unfinished buildings he works on. The buildings are often crowded, dusty, badly ventilated and have few basic amenities.
"It's a long time to wear the brace but what can I do?" said Pradeep's mother, Sunita.
"It hurts him and he cries but I can't do anything. If it makes him better then he has to tolerate it and so do I.
"If this allows him to live life like a normal person then we'll do it."
Clubfoot affects around 200,000 babies every year.
It results from the abnormal development of muscles, tendons and bones in the foot during pregnancy which  makes the foot twist downwards and inwards, making it difficult to walk.
The main way of treating the condition across the world is the Ponseti method.
Pioneered by Spanish physician Dr Ignacio Ponseti, it involves correcting the feet by gently stretching the tendons and ligaments in the foot so they assume the right position with a series of braces and plaster casts.
Treatment ideally starts in the first few weeks of life.
Once a child has received the initial treatment, they must wear a foot brace for between 16 and 23 hours a day for four to five years, to prevent the feet from turning back in.
Just like the braces used for teeth, the foot eventually assumes a new, straightened position.
And unlike surgery, which can in some cases lead to pain and problems in later life, the Ponseti method has been shown to correct the foot in such a way that patients lead completely normal lives.
India has the highest incidence of clubfoot worldwide, with between 40,000 and 50,000 children born with the condition each year, so the brace is being tested there.
It is there that the Miraclefeet charity is about to trial a low-cost easier-to-wear brace for children to wear as part of their treatment.
Designed by a group made up of Clarks Shoes,  Stanford Design School and Suncast, a US plastics company it costs less than $20 (Â£12.80), around the same as the brace most commonly used at the moment, the Steenbeck, costs.
The Miraclefeet brace is made of canvas, rather than leather, so is lighter to wear in hot climates. It is also padded and clips on in two separate places and it is hoped parents will see it as more "user friendly".
As well as the trials in India, over the next few months the Miraclefeet will deliver braces to clinics in the Philippines, Liberia, Nicaragua, Mexico, South Africa, Ecuador and Brazil.
"Our goal is to make sure that no person is living with clubfoot," said Leslie Lloyd, Program Associate of the charity Miraclefeet.
"We want all children to get treatment as soon as they're born and we want to see neglected clubfoot completely eradicated from the world."
The lack of high quality, low cost braces has been a major hurdle to expanding clubfoot programs around the world, according to campaigners.
"Correcting something is one part of the job," said orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Rujuta Mehta at the Wadia Children's hospital in Mumbai, who is treating Pradeep.
"But maintaining and making sure there is no recurrence or relapse as the child grows is equally important."
India currently uses the Steenbeek brace, comprising two leather shoes connected by a steel rod. Produced locally, it costs around $10 (Â£6.30) but it has significant limitations.
The leather shoes cause irritation and skin rashes in hot climates.
Additionally, the brace can easily be bent out of shape and it is difficult to wear.
"The conventional brace is all one piece, so it's very difficult to get a crying, howling, non-cooperative child to wear both the feet at the same time," said Dr Mehta.
Ranjeet struggled through life with his disability. But he hopes that with the help of Dr Mehta - and the Miraclefeet brace - his son Pradeep can have a better chance of succeeding in life.
"I have suffered a lot in my life," said Ranjeet.  "Now that my son's condition is improving, I'm very happy."


Michel Platini still wants to succeed Sepp Blatter as Fifa president, despite serving a 90-day ban while corruption claims are investigated.

Uefa boss Platini is suspended as Fifa studies reports he received a £1.35m payment from Blatter in 2011.
The 60-year-old told French newspaper Le Monde he had done nothing wrong and "certainly still wants to" stand in the Fifa presidential election in February.
"It's shameful to be dragged through the mud like this," said Platini.
"I have been suspended for three months, but what annoys me the most is being tarred with the same brush as the others.
"My lawyers are following the Fifa proceedings and will take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if needs be."
In June, Blatter announced he would leave his position at the head of world football, though he is also serving a 90-day ban, but also denies any wrongdoing.
Platini, who has been president of European football's Uefa since 2007, was tipped to replace the 79-year-old Swiss and still believes he will have enough support to do so.
"I don't think I have lost many votes with these scandals," he added. "People who know me know that I can look myself in the mirror.
"I don't like to lose. Especially not on the basis of a scandal that isn't one."
Fifa's ethics committee is looking into the circumstances of a payment of 2m Swiss francs Platini received in 2011 for work said to have been carried out more than nine years previously.
Platini claims Blatter asked to see him before the 1998 World Cup in France and wanted the Frenchman to become Fifa president, with Blatter taking over as general secretary.
"I wasn't interested," said Platini. "I was focused on the World Cup and didn't see myself as president."
He says the pair met again two months later, with Blatter asking Platini to become his football adviser and enquiring how much money he wanted.
Platini added: "I said 'a million'. 'A million what?' 'Whatever you want: roubles, pounds, dollars.' He said, 'OK, 1m Swiss francs a year.' Incredible though it may sound, that's what happened."
Platini worked for Blatter from 1998 to 2002 "reforming the international match calendar" and on "the Goal Programme - a Fifa assistance and support scheme for the poorest associations".
"It's never been about money for me," said Platini. "I was an unpaid chairman of the World Cup organising committee.
"Before that, I turned down the opportunity to go to Real Madrid even though they had handed me a cheque and told me to add as many zeros as I liked.
"When I said to Blatter 'a million of whatever you want', I was leaving it up to him to decide how much he wanted to give me."
However, a formal contract for the full pay was never signed.
"I haven't had a lawyer or agent to negotiate for me for a long time," added Platini.
"It was a gentleman's agreement. He was going to be president of Fifa. I trusted him. I've since learned that under Swiss law, an oral contract is as valid as a written one."
Since being banned, the Football Association, which had previously backed Platini in the election, suspended its support for the former Nancy, St Etienne and Juventus midfielder.
However, Platini has defended the payment and said it was not his fault that it came so long after the work had finished.
He says that he "worked for several months" without any payment and was told by Blatter that he could not earn three times the salary of the general secretary, who was paid 300,000 Swiss francs.
Platini claims a contract for 300,000 Swiss francs was agreed, on the basis Fifa "would pay the balance later" but "later never came" so he called in the debt.
"The finance department at Fifa asked Blatter if he owed me money and he said yes so I sent an invoice at their request," said Platini.
"But I got it wrong, to my own disadvantage. I forgot that I had been paid 300,000 Swiss francs a year - I thought that it had been 500,000 Swiss francs and that he therefore owed me another 500,000 for each of the four years.
"So I sent an invoice for 2m Swiss francs. I was paid 10 days later without any fuss from Fifa. If there had been any doubt whatsoever, they would have refused to pay me."


The BBC has released a new image from the upcoming Sherlock special.

The picture features stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman dressed in period costume for the episode, which is set in Victorian times.
Creator Steven Moffat revealed earlier this year the special would be a historical adventure that stood alone from the main series.
Series four of Sherlock is due to return to screens in 2017.
The BBC has not confirmed when the special episode will be broadcast, but it is rumoured to be around Christmas time this year.
Speaking ahead of a Sherlock panel at Comic-Con later, Moffat said the 90-minute episode would be "a different version of the show we're used to".
"It's like we checked the books and discovered we'd set it in the wrong time period by mistake and it's like we're correcting it," he said.
"We're really proud of it, we think it's a real cracker. But that'll be it until series four."
The writer also bemoaned Twitter after quitting the social media platform in 2012.
"I think Twitter is a useful tool for promoting a show, but I think it is the worst possible form of audience research," he said.
"That is not a typical audience member talking. It might be interesting, it might be witty, it might be clever, it might be insightful, but it's not what they're all saying."
He said one of the biggest pitfalls was "mistaking Twitter's reaction for the audience's reaction".
"People on Twitter are having fun, they're making gags... it's like overhearing a pub conversation, when you're at a pub do you tell the truth, or do you try and get attention?"
Moffat added he and co-creator Mark Gatiss had yet to begin writing Sherlock's fourth series.
The third series bowed out last year with the detective appearing to shoot villain Charles Augustus Magnussen, and teased viewers criminal mastermind Moriarty may have cheated death and be set for a return.


Bristol's mayor has said controversial residents' parking zones (RPZ) have been "largely right" but said changes will be made.

There has been lots of positive feedback about the scheme, George Ferguson said, but added: "It would have been impossible to have got everything right at first go".
He wants a staged rollout of RPZs to reduce commuter parking in Bristol.
But some business owners said the scheme had damaged trade.
Tony Golledge, of The Mall Newsagents, Clifton, said he had lost Â£10,000 since March.
He said the new parking zones meant there was "no room for people to pull up and run in" and he had made "that painful decision to give up our business".
RPZs were introduced in Clifton in the face of much opposition in March. They also operate in Kingsdown, Cotham and central areas of the city.
A straw poll of 30 independent Clifton stores by BBC Bristol this week found half thought RPZs made no difference, seven welcomed the scheme, while eight said it had hurt business.
Mr Ferguson said while he was sorry for Mr Golledge's problems, he was "almost certain it is not to do with parking" - and said he had "lovely letters" in praise of the scheme.
He added: "We are monitoring it. We will change it. There are some things that are probably not right about it. It would have been impossible to have got everything exactly right first go but I thank all the people who have been involved in designing this scheme ... because I think largely, they have got it right."
He added that there were "hard conversations" ahead with South Gloucestershire Council about a park and ride scheme for north Bristol.


MPs will debate whether US President Trump should be given a UK state visit, as a petition against the idea nears 1.7 million signatures.

The debate, on 20 February, will also discuss a second petition calling for the visit to go ahead, signed by more than 100,000 people.
Mr Trump has put in place a temporary US travel ban on people from seven mainly Muslim countries.
This led to protests across the UK on Monday.
A state visit is the highest honour offered to foreign leaders by Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's head of state.
These are grand occasions, which aim to strengthen relationships between countries.
The Queen usually welcomes one or two heads of state a year. She has hosted 109 state visits since becoming monarch in 1952.
There has been no date yet announced for President Trump's state visit.


Arnold Schwarzenegger has made his debut as the new star of The Celebrity Apprentice, a role he inherited from US President-elect Donald Trump.

The veteran action star made his mark on the US TV show by replacing Trump's "You're fired" catchphrase with a more idiosyncratic "You're terminated".
Boy George, Jon Lovitz and Motley Crue singer Vince Neil are among the stars competing to raise money for charities.
Mr Trump retains an executive producer credit on the NBC series.
According to the New York Times, the real estate mogul turned TV star and politician was a "ghostly presence" that was "sorely missed".
Schwarzenegger, wrote its critic Mike Hale, exuded "robotic professionalism" but was hampered by "cautiousness and rigidity".
The Telegraph, though, felt he was "more than qualified" to act as the "fake head of a fake business sitting in a fake boardroom".
"He may not have Trump's business experience, but as a potential boss, he's a hell of a lot more intimidating," wrote TV Line's Andy Swift.
Entertainment Weekly, meanwhile, said it was "nice" to see Schwarzenegger "following Trump's lead in the nepotism department" by appointing his nephew as one of his advisors.
During Mr Trump's time on The Apprentice and its celebrity spin-off, his children Donald Jr and Ivanka frequently appeared as guest hosts and advisors.
"You're terminated" refers to Schwarzenegger's role as a killer cyborg in 1984's The Terminator and its numerous sequels.
The 69-year-old former bodybuilder halted his Hollywood career in 2003 to serve two terms as governor of California.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Turkey says it has "successfully" ended its seven-month Euphrates Shield military campaign in northern Syria.

But Prime Minister Binali Yildirim did not rule out new military operations and did not say whether Turkish troops would now leave Syria.
Turkey launched the offensive last August to push Islamic State militants away from its border and also to stop the advance of local Kurdish fighters.
Mr Yildirim spoke as the US secretary of state arrived in Turkey.
The Turkish government in Ankara has been angered by the willingness of the US to back Kurdish fighters in Syria.
"Operation Euphrates Shield has been successful and is finished. Any operation following this one will have a different name," Mr Yildirim said after Wednesday's meeting of the country's security council.
On 24 August, Turkish troops, tanks and planes crossed the border in what Ankara said was the operation to push back IS militants from a 100km (60 miles) stretch of the border.
The army and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have captured several towns, including Jarablus, finally moving south to the strategic town of al-Bab.
The Turkish operation was also aimed at preventing the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) from gaining more ground in northern Syria.
Ankara fears this would fuel an insurgency being waged by the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in south-eastern Turkey.
The YPG is regarded by Turkey as a terrorist organisation and an extension of the PKK.
It was Turkey's biggest intervention in Syria since the war began: a ground operation to drive IS and Kurdish fighters back from its border.
After retaking Jarablus, Dabiq and al-Bab from the jihadists, Turkish officials warned the offensive would push the Kurdish militia out of Manbij, before moving south to Raqqa. But neither of those has happened.
It is possible Turkey has got cold feet after sustaining heavy losses in al-Bab. It may also be trying to please the US secretary of state, who was in Ankara on Thursday and was likely to reiterate that Washington would not drop its alliance with the Syrian Kurds.
There may also be a link with Turkey's 16 April referendum on expanding the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hoping to secure nationalist votes by presenting the operation as a success - and possibly trying to win back some Kurdish votes too.
Operation Euphrates Shield has ended prematurely. But the Turkish prime minister has not ruled out a new offensive under a different name - and maybe with different aims.
Mr Tillerson's meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior Turkish officials come after months of difficult bilateral relations.
And disagreements are growing, principally over who should be involved in retaking the Syrian stronghold of Raqqa from IS.
Turkey wants the US to drop its alliance with Kurdish fighters, but Washington says they are the most effective force, our correspondent says.
The Turkish government is also expected to push Mr Tillerson on its extradition request for Fethullah Gulen, the cleric living in Pennsylvania whom Ankara blames for last year's attempted coup.
The US insists it remains a judicial, rather than political decision.


Group A leaders Ireland made it three wins out of three in the World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament by easily seeing off Nepal at Stormont on Monday.

Nepal were bowled out for 53 and the Irish reached their modest target for the loss of two wickets.
Stuart Thompson and Kevin O'Brien each took three wickets and John Mooney two.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Also in Group A, Namibia beat the United States by seven wickets while Hong Kong's match against Papua New Guinea at Bready was abandoned.
Nepal made 18 from the first two overs, but began to lose regular wickets once Anil Mandal was the first man to go, having picked out O'Brien off Alex Cusack's bowling.
Only Sagar Pun and captain Paras Khadka, with 20 and 10 respectively, reached double figures for Nepal, who lost their final five wickets for only three runs as O'Brien and Thompson swept through the tail.
The former, who was on a hat-trick at one point, took 3-8 from his four overs while Thompson's trio of victims cost just 10 runs.
After a rain-delayed resumption for their own innings, Ireland lost Niall O'Brien chopping on for three in the second over before Stirling and Porterfield briskly moved towards their target of 54.
Like Niall O'Brien, Stirling was bowled by Sompal Kami with the scores level, but new batsman Kevin O'Brien struck the winning run to seal a comprehensive victory.
Top team in each group qualify automatically for World Twenty20 2016 - and semi-finals
Second, third and fourth-place teams qualify for quarter-finals, with a further four World T20 places available


The Queen's representative for the West Midlands has resigned after an email written by him making derogatory comments about Pakistanis was leaked.

The email, written after an appearance at the Pakistan consulate in Birmingham on 14 August, was leaked to The Guardian newspaper.
Indian-born Paul Sabapathy CBE said Pakistanis needed to be taught "basic common courtesy and civility".
He has apologised "unreservedly and wholeheartedly" for the comments.
The Guardian reported Mr Sabapathy's email said: "Pakistanis are lovely people individually but there is a lot of work to do to teach them basic common courtesy and civility.
"They talk to themselves and do not engage with the wider community. They are living in the UK not Pakistan.
"Whilst being rightly proud of their Pakistani culture and heritage they need to explain better and engage more with their non-Pakistani brothers and sisters if they want their children to succeed as British Pakistani citizens."
Mr Sabapathy, who is originally from Chennai, was in the city to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day.
He announced his resignation on Friday and said: "I wish to apologise unreservedly and wholeheartedly for the offence I have caused to the Pakistani community and others, by the contents of my private email.
"I have today written to all those who received my original email to express my sincere sorrow and regret. I have asked for their forgiveness in the hope that my comments do not damage relationships between the many communities of the West Midlands."
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "The Royal Household would like to acknowledge the tremendous work done by Mr Sabapathy since his appointment in 2007 to support the work of the Royal Family and to bring together and work with the communities in the West Midlands."
The position of Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands was formed in 1974. Duties include arranging royal visits and presenting awards on behalf of the crown.


Each day we feature a photograph sent in from across England - the gallery will grow during the week.

If you have a picture you would like to share, please see below the images for details on how to submit yours.
If you have a picture you'd like to share, email us at england@bbc.co.uk, post it on Facebook or tweet it to @BBCEngland. You can also find us on Instagram - use #englandsbigpicture to share an image there.
When emailing pictures, please make sure you include the following information:
Please note that whilst we welcome all your pictures, we are more likely to use those which have been taken in the past week.
If you submit a picture, you do so in accordance with the BBC's Terms and Conditions.
In contributing to England's Big Picture you agree to grant us a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and otherwise use the material in any way that we want, and in any media worldwide.
It's important to note, however, that you still own the copyright to everything you contribute to England's Big Picture, and that if your image is accepted, we will publish your name alongside.
The BBC cannot guarantee that all pictures will be used and we reserve the right to edit your comments.
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws collecting any kind of media.


A Wiltshire grandfather spent three days trying to find his way home from Gatwick Airport after becoming disorientated in snowy conditions.

Moroccan-born Mohammed Bellazrak's family reported him missing after he failed to return to Trowbridge after dropping his wife off for a flight.
Police in Oxfordshire eventually flagged down the 72-year-old after his car triggered a camera in Oxford.
They found he had spent from 23 - 25 December driving, trying to get back.
Analysis from number-plate recognition systems showed he had driven around various towns in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire and on the M4.
Mr Bellazrak had no mobile phone with him, and he told newspaper reporters that his sat-nav was not working.
Thames Valley Police took him to Oxford police station after he was stopped in Abingdon Road in the city at 2pm on Christmas Day, and after a rest, relatives took him home. He was unharmed by the ordeal.
A police spokesman told the BBC it was "nice the story had a happy ending".


A magistrate has been sacked over comments he made on television against single sex adoption.

Richard Page, 69, who served for 15 years as a magistrate in Kent, was removed after he gave an interview to BBC News Correspondent Carolyn Wyatt.
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said his comments amounted to serious misconduct which brought the magistracy into disrepute.
Mr Page said he would challenge the "illiberal and intolerant" decision.
The JP, who served in Sevenoaks and Maidstone, sat on the Kent Central family panel.
He was reprimanded in 2014 after he was found to have been influenced in an adoption case by his religious beliefs as a Christian but spoke about his views in the BBC interview on 12 March 2015.
He told Ms Wyatt: "My responsibility as a magistrate, as I saw it, was to do what I considered best for the child.
"My feeling was therefore that it would be better if it was a man and woman who were the adopted parents."
A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said he was removed because the comments "would have caused a reasonable person to conclude he was biased and prejudiced against single sex adopters".
Mr Page, whose case has been taken up by the Christian Legal Centre. said: "I have made judgments on thousands of cases and in each case, have come to my decision based on the evidence, and the evidence alone.
"It has only been a relatively short time that same-sex couples have been able to adopt and foster and there has not been time for a proper analysis to be carried out into the effects such placements have on the children's educational, emotional and developmental wellbeing.
"To punish me and to seek to silence me for expressing a dissenting view is deeply shocking."
The Christian Legal Centre's chief executive, Andrea Minichiello Williams, said: "To remove someone like Richard from the bench is modern day madness.
"He has a lifetime of public service and expertise in mental health.
"He is motivated by his Christian faith and a deep compassion for people."


The FBI has charged an American man officers believe to be behind an online extortion campaign to make young girls share explicit pictures of themselves.

Facebook messages in the name of "Brian Kil" were sent to the girls, using the Tor anonymising network, from 2012.
They threatened to kill them and their families or blow up their schools if they did not share explicit images.
The FBI says it tricked "Brian Kil" into viewing a video bearing virus-like code that logged his real net address.
Buster Hernandez has been charged with several counts of sexual exploitation of a child, threatening to use explosives and threatening to injure.
Mr Hernandez has yet to enter a plea.
If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in jail.
The Facebook messages claimed "Brian Kil" had already accessed explicit pictures the girls had previously shared, which he would publish unless they sent him more.
In at least three cases, the messages claimed the sender would also visit the girl's school and use pipe bombs and guns to kill her and her friends.
Two schools were closed for 24 hours while police investigated these threats.
The Tor anonymising network hides a person's identity by bouncing requests for data through many different computers.
And messages excerpted in the court documents show "Brian Kil" taunting investigators for their inability to track him down.
But after local police in Indiana called on the FBI for help investigating the case of two victims who lived in the state, agents added extra code to one video file uploaded along with other images to a private Dropbox account.
And when this video was viewed, the code grabbed the IP address of Mr Hernandez's computer, the FBI alleges.
"Mr Hernandez's reign of terror is over," said US Attorney Josh Minkler in a statement.
"Those who think they can outwit law enforcement and are above being caught should think again."


Dover have made their third close-season signing by bringing striker Kane Richards to The Crabble on a one-year deal following his release by fellow National League side Chester.

Richards, 22, scored 12 goals in 69 games for City over the past three seasons, playing up front or out wide.
His signing follows that of midfielder Mitch Brundle from Gateshead on Sunday.
Another striker Jamie Allen was the first to sign earlier this month, moving from relegated Southport.
Richards began his career with home-town club Derby County, but was released in January 2013 and joined Ilkeston before signing for Chester in December 2014.
As well as their three new signings, Dover have also agreed a new deal with goalkeeper Mitch Walker.
Dover finished sixth in the National League, missing out on the play-offs by four points, while Chester slumped from seventh at Christmas to end in 19th, just avoiding relegation.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


The introduction of the National Living Wage has increased the financial pressure for care homes, particularly for smaller homes, a report says.

Accountancy firm Moore Stephens says 12% of care homes have at least a 30% chance of going insolvent within the next three years.
It says care homes have been under extra financial strain in recent years.
Rising costs and reduced funding from local authorities have come as demand for places at care homes has grown.
Moore Stephens also points out that a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October  showed 2,444 residential care homes closed between October 2010 and December 2015, with 1,433 being smaller care homes.
The National Living Wage, which was introduced in April this year, currently stands at Â£7.20 an hour for workers aged 25 and over.
"It's become increasingly difficult for care homes, particularly smaller providers, to keep up a consistently high level of care whilst breaking even or worse, remaining solvent," says Mike Finch, restructuring partner at Moore Stephens.
"The introduction of the living wage has increased the financial pressure on care homes to even higher levels, and this is only likely to continue as the living wage keeps increasing to reach the target of Â£9 by 2020."
"This is creating an unsustainable situation in a lot of care homes, where more staff is needed to cater for the increase in demand but the money simply isn't there to cover rising staff costs.
"Cuts to local authority fees have meant that care homes have had to cope with an increasing proportion of the financial burden."
Moore Stephens says that although steps are being taken to improve funding to adult social care through the government's Better Care Fund, with the option for local authorities to raise council tax by 2%, many care home providers "are concerned that this will not go far enough".


Luton Town boss Nathan Jones has said he was "very surprised" Carlisle United defender Michael Raynes' red card from Saturday's game was overturned.

Raynes was sent off for an apparent elbow on Hatters forward Danny Hylton.
"Carlisle are a very good side with very good players, an excellent manager who I had a drink with after. I have no problem whatsoever," said Jones.
"I have not changed my mind and I have watched it eight times. For me that's a red card."
He continued to BBC Three Counties Radio: "It makes no difference to me whether it was upheld or rescinded because we don't play Carlisle in the next three games.
"But I'm very surprised that was overturned, to say the least, without getting into any trouble. They must have a different angle to watch I watched or a different perspective on football."
However, the Cumbrians manager Keith Curle has said he understands why the red card from the 1-1 League Two draw was rescinded.
"We all watched the game, we saw the incident live as it happened and the video evidence that backed up Michael stood his ground and his eyes were firmly fixed on the ball," Curle told BBC Radio Cumbria.
"There was a coming together of players but if anything it was probably more their player throwing himself into Michael and then to the ground, rather than being struck."


Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers secured League Cup semi-final places with 2-0 wins over Warrenpoint Town and Dungannon Swifts respectively.

Media playback is not supported on this device
Warrenpoint had Liam Bagnall sent-off for a reckless challenge on Jim Ervin on 37 minutes, with Willie Faulkner giving the Sky Blues the lead on 69.
Cathair Friel tapped in for his 15th goal of the season six minutes later.
Stephen McCullough put Carrick ahead with a 24th-minute header, while Daniel Kelly made it 2-0 in the 82nd.
Championship leaders Warrenpoint had former Ballymena striker Matthew Tipton in charge for the first time and were holding their own against their Premiership opponents at Milltown until Bagnall's dismissal by referee Keith Kennedy.
Friel had the best of the first-half chances for United, with Stephen Murray and Conor McMenamin going close for the hosts.
Media playback is not supported on this device
After the interval, McMenamin fired wide from close range and Leroy Millar was also off target, but Faulkner opened the scoring when he picked up the ball following an error by Aaron Traynor and his deflected shot went through the legs of Johnny Parr.
Friel tucked home the second and Faulkner could have grabbed another but his effort was cleared off the line.
At Taylor's Avenue, Ryan Harpur blazed over from six yards out for the Swifts, before McCullough headed in from close range from Chris Morrow's cross for his second of the season.
Dungannon carved out a series of chances throughout the game but found Carrick goalkeeper Brian Neeson in inspired form.
Andy Mitchell, Kris Lowe, Paul McElroy and Andrew Burns squandered opportunities but defender Kelly finished with aplomb for Carrick to ensure his side's passage.
Glenavon and Coleraine will be the other semi-finalists after their dramatic wins over holders Cliftonville and league leaders Crusaders.