High Street bank the Halifax, in a whirl of advertising, has just increased its introductory cash incentive for anyone switching to its current account to Â£125.

It is not the only bank to be dangling a financial carrot in front of potential customers. First Direct recently raised its cash offer. A handful of banks at the top of the satisfaction league tables do something similar.
Incentives are nothing new in banking. Before the financial crisis, one lender was even giving a car free with a mortgage.
Cash - even a three-figure sum - feels positively penny-pinching in comparison to a new Rover, but it seems to be working.
"Rewarding switchers seems to be the biggest trend in the market right now," says Rachel Springall, of financial information service Moneyfacts.
Perks are being offered because banks are desperate for data. A current account reveals so much about a consumer's financial life that it allows banks to pinpoint the other products it can sell to that customer, and when.
Many children of the 80s will fondly recall their first experience of bank incentives.
By sticking just Â£10 into a new account with Midland Bank, youngsters were given a pack of goodies including a sports bag, a dictionary and and maths set. It might not have been too cool at school, but it was a bunch of free stuff.
Others may have chosen the ceramic piggy banks from NatWest. Woody, Sir Nathaniel and the others are now collectors' items.
Nowadays, the student market is the hotbed for banking incentives.
Travelcards, Amazon vouchers and pizza discounts are being used as bait for teenagers opening an account before they head to university or college.
Clearly, banks love to attract students. Individuals are still incredibly loyal to their bank, so signing up somebody as they take on their first major financial responsibilities could mean many years of custom.
Student days are often dominated by debt. So, for the students themselves, an account with as big an interest-free overdraft as possible will often prove more valuable than an annual railcard, according to Andrew Hagger, of Moneycomms.
You can read more about student accounts and their added extras here.
In addition to rising one-off cash payments, regular non-student bank customers have been offered a host of free incentives in the last couple of years.
Savers have been attracted with the offer of an iPad. Credit card customers have been promised free wine. Some homeowners taking out a mortgage have had a year of council tax paid for them.
"Over the years the banks have tried a variety of ways to differentiate themselves," says Kevin Mountford, of price comparison website Moneysupermarket.
"Sometimes the inclusion of certain perks has come at a price; packaged current accounts with varying benefits such as travel insurance or free overseas withdrawals, as an example, tend to come with an annual or monthly fee.
"Banks are trying to appeal to what people might want, but customers should look beyond any gimmicks or short-term incentives to make sure that the product is right for them and offers good value long term."
That is a view shared by Mr Hagger, of Moneycomms, despite the rising amounts of cash being offered.
"The danger is being blinded by three figures," he says.
He says those going overdrawn may find these accounts are expensive when it comes to the borrowing fees incurred. Frequent travellers may discover that the cash lump sum fails to compensate for the cost of using a card while overseas.
So many perks are being offered by banks in recent times owing, in part, to a new current account switching service.
The service has made it quicker and easier to go to a new bank, with a guarantee that the move is completed within seven working days and that all regular payments, such as direct debits, continue under the new account automatically.
Still, only 6% of consumers have switched current accounts in the last year, and 9% in the last one to three years, according to market researchers TNS.
That was a much smaller proportion than the 29% of car insurance customers switching providers in the last year, and 31% doing so in the last one to three years.
That is the subject of a review by the competition authorities into retail banking, given that there are 65 million active personal current accounts in the UK. The provisional findings are expected to be published in October.
TNS research does show that incentives are at the forefront of bank customers' minds when they do switch, however infrequently.
One in four leave a bank because, they say, the customer service has been rubbish.
The most popular reasons for deciding on which bank to move to are rewards and the convenience of branches, according to the research.
So, the one-off cash may well be the reason for Halifax, and perhaps online bank First Direct, gaining customers.
Santander, the biggest gainer in 2014, appears to have won from its consistent 3% interest offer.
Many savings accounts have been unable to keep up with the interest being offered on current accounts, or the perks on offer.
Anna Bowes, of Savings Champion, says the current account market is more lucrative for banks.
Details of current account transactions alert banks to major life events and allow them to try to sell other products, such as insurance.
Current account holders still visit branches more regularly than those with savings accounts, she argues, offering another chance for banks to promote other, profitable, products while customers are inside.
Even so, she says there can still be a place for gimmicks.
If a free cuddly toy offered with a children's account means a youngster takes an interest in saving and money management, then that can only be a good thing for the future.


India's tourism minister Mahesh Sharma has unveiled a 375kg (826lb) laddoo to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday.

The traditional sweets, made from flour, ghee and sugar, are often consumed at celebrations and festivals.
The significance of the weight of the sweet is as yet unknown.
The sweet was unveiled as part of a function by a sanitation company which is celebrating Mr Modi's birthday as "Swachhta Diwas" (Cleanliness Day).
This is however not the strangest birthday gift received by the Indian prime minister.
In 2013, before he became prime minister, Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat sang a sultry "happy birthday" to Mr Modi, Marilyn Monroe style.


London Underground station staff will be balloted for strikes in a row over the sacking of a Tube worker.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union based at London Bridge are due to strike on Sunday in protest at the dismissal of a colleague.
All RMT station workers will now vote on whether to launch action following union warnings it would spread the dispute across the network.
Tube bosses said the worker was sacked after a "thorough investigation".
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said the worker and two colleagues, who were also disciplined, had been "subject to a vicious assault by a violent fare-evading passenger" at London Bridge.
"Instead of being supported and commended by the company, they have been wrongly punished," he said.
But Brian Woodhead, operations director for London Underground, said the events described by the union are "simply untrue".
"CCTV footage from a number of different angles clearly shows a staff member displaying unacceptable conduct when dealing with a member of the public," he said.
Sunday's 24-hour strike at London Bridge will begin at 22:00 BST.


Southampton striker Graziano Pelle has joined Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng for £12m.

Pelle, 30, joined the Premier League side from Feyenoord in 2014 and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances.
He made his Italy debut while playing for Southampton and was part of their Euro 2016 squad, scoring twice.
Pelle is the third player to leave the Saints this summer, after midfielder Victor Wanyama joined Tottenham and Liverpool signed forward Sadio Mane.
Former AZ Alkmaar and Parma forward Pelle joins ex-Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse at Shandong, who are managed by former Fulham boss Felix Magath.
Saints, meanwhile, have signed Bayern Munich midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for a reported £12.8m.


Norwich-based Mustard TV ran up a loss of £657,000 last year, new figures have revealed.

The local television channel is run by Archant, which publishes a number of local newspapers and magazines including the Eastern Daily Press.
It was one of 19 initial local TV stations, awarded licences by the government.
The station started broadcasting in March 2014 to 162,000 homes across Norwich and parts of Norfolk.
The BBC has agreed to buy content from local television firms for £15m over three years. This is due to end in March 2017.
Jeff Henry, chief executive of Archant, said: "The cost of running the licence for a local television channel such as Mustard TV is a significant investment and we are working towards the establishment of both sustainable cost base and commercial revenues.
"The results demonstrate the underlying economic difficulty of providing a quality service in a limited broadcast area. Addressing the local TV model is the next important step in enabling media businesses like Archant to thrive and grow."
In March, the television channel apologised after a presenter used a swearword to describe a colleague on air.


Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson has defended wing Tom James after he was dropped by Wales.

Wales coach Warren Gatland said James was short on "sharpness" as he named fellow Blues wing Alex Cuthbert in his place for the 19-10 win over France.
Neither player has been released for Blues' game in Glasgow on Sunday, as Wales prepare to face England.
"He [James] is in great nick, he's extremely fit, a very powerful and dynamic runner," said Wilson.
"In our camp, he's been great and stepping up to international rugby is for other people to assess, not for me.
"Around the World Cup he had a small injury to his foot which has needed a little management.
"He's completed the same training as the other boys - the Cuthberts of the world and so on. Maybe he can't put in quite the same miles, so to speak, on our surface.
"We've been really happy with his fitness at Cardiff Blues."
James, 28, started both Wales' opening Six Nations matches against Ireland and Scotland but failed to score in either.
For Friday's victory against France he was replaced by Cuthbert, who had initially lost his place to James after a poor run of form which included a failure to score a try in five matches at the 2015 World Cup.
It appears both could be in contention to face England having not been released for the Blues this weekend.
"It's a good battle. It's one I don't have to make the decision on, which is nice," said Wilson.
"It's just pleasing, first and foremost from our point of view, that we've got two players in the same position who are both in the Wales squad and both challenging.
"They're both guys who've been in form for us this season and a real tough choice, I'd imagine, to pick between them."
With the Blues in Pro12 action against Glasgow on Sunday and Wales at Twickenham six days later, Wilson feels Gatland's decision not to release James - who played in last Sunday's win against Ulster - was precautionary.
"It's probably about making sure we look after their players to reduce the risk of injury going into what is an enormous game for Wales," he added.
"I fully understand that and we're very appreciative to have the two boys [hooker Kristian Dacey and back-rower Josh Turnbull] back to play."


New trains with faster acceleration will cut journey times on the East Coast Main Line by up to 22 minutes, operator Virgin has claimed

The Azuma Trains, which will be launched in 2018, will mean most journeys between Edinburgh and London will be reduced to about four hours.
The operator claimed the trains would accelerate from 0-125mph about 40 seconds faster than the current fleet.
Sir Richard Branson unveiled the first of the trains at London King's Cross.
The founder of the Virgin Group said they would make four-hour London-Edinburgh journeys "the norm", although some services would still take longer.
The 65 trains will be built by Japanese firm Hitachi at its manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
Azuma is the Japanese translation for "east".
Virgin claimed Azumas could reach 125mph in about four and a half minutes, compared with about five minutes 10 seconds for its current electric-powered trains and almost seven minutes for its current diesel-powered trains.
The UK government's transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: "The state-of-the-art Intercity Express trains will transform rail travel for passengers between London, the north east and Scotland.
"These new trains, combined with Virgin's exciting plans for the franchise, will provide more services, more seats, and faster journeys, helping to place passengers at the heart of the railway."
Sir Richard said: "This is a hugely important moment for passengers on the east coast.
"A line which has witnessed the historic Flying Scotsman and Mallard will now see passenger services transformed with the UK's most advanced long-distance trains.
"Our customers on the west coast have already seen what Virgin can bring to train travel and how the Pendolinos have made a huge difference to speed and comfort.
"Our new fleet of Azumas will bring a similar transformation to the east coast, and propel one of the UK's most prestigious lines into the 21st Century."


Nottingham Forest have made an approach to Burton Albion to speak with former player Nigel Clough in relation to their managerial vacancy.

Clough, 50, played more than 300 games for the Reds over two spells, the first of which came under his father Brian.
He is in his second spell in charge of Burton, returning in December 2015 and guiding the Brewers to promotion to the Championship last season.
Forest sacked previous boss Philippe Montanier on 14 January.
Burton are three places below Forest, who are 19th and five points above the relegation zone, in the Championship.
Forest said they would not comment when contacted by BBC Radio Nottingham, as did Burton when asked for a response by BBC Radio Derby.
Clough referenced the speculation that has linked him with a move to Forest since Montanier's departure at the City Ground in his most recent press conference.
"It's an easy link and a logical one from lots of points of view," Clough told BBC Radio Derby on Wednesday.
"All these sort of allegiances you have and everything, yeah they're strong, but in football people go to rivals all the time.
"It's very difficult when you spent 18 years - I'm just over 50 years old - so a third of my life involved with a certain club [Nottingham Forest]."
Despite his links to Forest, Clough has never managed the club since ending his playing career.
His popularity among supporters dimmed only during spells as manager of traditional rivals Derby County and Sheffield United.
However, he was warmly received when he returned with Burton for the opening game of the EFL season in August, which Forest won 4-3.
Clough may well have been the son of manager Brian during much of his time at Forest, but his contribution definitively ensured there would be no awkwardness within the dressing room or derision from supporters.
Only Grenville Morris has scored more than his 131 goals and was part of a late 1980s generation that made Wembley an almost annual spring stop-off.
He scored twice in the 1989 League Cup final win against Luton, the club's first trophy in just under a decade, while his vision and skill made him the perfect foil to strikers including Lee Chapman, Nigel Jemson and Teddy Sheringham and won him England honours.
When his father left the club at the end of a miserable 1992-93 season which ended in relegation from the top division, Nigel departed to join Liverpool after nine years of service - only to return on loan in an unsuccessful short-term bid to keep Forest in the top flight in 1996-97.


Police in Australia have charged a 35-year-old man with murder after the death of a French tourist in the Northern Territory.

Philippe Jegouzo, 33, was allegedly stabbed in the neck in an unprovoked attack, after he and his wife had stopped at a rest area at Conners Well on the Stuart Highway about 100km (60 miles) north of Alice Springs.
The incident happened last Wednesday.
The accused will appear at Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.
Mr Jegouzo's wife tried to beat off the attacker by hitting him with a picnic table, according to local press reports.
After the attack, she flagged down a passing car in which a nurse and her husband were travelling.
The nurse tried in vain to save Mr Jegouzo's life, while her husband drove to the Aileron roadhouse, 40km (25 miles) further north, to raise the alarm.
On Thursday, police detained a Melbourne man who had spent a night on the run in the bush.
The suspect remains in hospital, suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration.
The Stuart Highway runs from Darwin to Port Augusta through the central Australian deserts for nearly 3,000km (1,875 miles) and is a popular route for outback travellers.
Detective Superintendent Travis Wurst of the Northern Territory police described the attack as "bizarre" and "random" and said tourists should not be worried about driving through the area.
"There are no safety concerns for any tourist or any traveller or any resident of Alice Springs or Central Australia whatsoever," said DS Wurst.


The maharaja of Mysore in southern India, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, has married princess Trishika Kumari at the royal palace.

Ms Kumari is the daughter of the maharaja of Dungarpur in the northern state of Rajasthan.
"They knew each other for years, they were childhood friends," Yaduveer's father Swaroopanand Urs told BBC Hindi.
About 1,000 guests witnessed the elaborate ceremony and a further 2,500 were invited to an evening reception.
They include Karnataka state Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah.
The centuries-old wedding traditions involving the royal family took place at Mysore's City Palace.
Yaduveer, 24, was crowned the new maharaja of Mysore, the titular head of the 600-year-old Wadiyar dynasty, in May last year after the death of his grand uncle Maharaja Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar.
Srikantadatta Wadiyar, who died in December 2013, was childless and did not name an heir, but his widow Pramodadevi Wadiyar adopted Yaduveer Gopalraj Urs, a relative, to ensure continuity.
Yaduveer's grandaunt, Kamashidevi, said: "It was a typical south Indian Mysorean wedding. There was a small pooja [religious ritual] for the bride before the wedding ceremony began. Normally, in our families, the girl adapts to the traditions of the boy's family."
The couple are the custodian of more than 1,500 acres of land spread across the south Indian cities of Mysore, Bangalore, Hassan, Channapatna and other places in the state of Karnataka.
The CEO of Mysore Palace, M Lakhsminarayana, declined to comment on the cost of the wedding, but added that "there was no extravagance".
Another reception will be held on Saturday in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state.
India's royalty lost their official powers when the nation gained independence in 1947 but the modern-day maharajas are still wealthy and influential.
All pictures by Anurag Basavaraj


One million tonnes of rock have been blasted from the top of a mountain in Chile, in South America.

20 June 2014 Last updated at 08:11 BST
Why? To make a flat spot to build the world's biggest ever telescope, which will have a mirror that's half the size of a football pitch!
It's called - wait for it - the European Extremely Large Telescope, and Nel has been finding out why it's an Extremely Large deal.


Japan has said that it would consider being part of a global plan to help bailout Greece.

Finance Minister Jun Azumi said eurozone countries needed to come up with a rational plan to ease global concerns.
Mr Azumi's comments come a day after the Nikkei 225 index fell to a two-and-a-half year low amid fears that the debt crisis may slow global growth.
However, on Tuesday, the Nikkei rose, giving further proof of volatility.
"If there is a scheme that is based on a firm process, involves a reasonable amount of money and could provide the world and markets with a sense of security regarding a Greek bailout, I would not rule out the possibility of Japan sharing some of the burden," Mr Azumi was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.
The finance ministry confirmed those comments to the BBC.
Analysts said Japan's willingness to consider sharing some of Greece's bailout burden stemmed from the fact that it wanted to ensure stability in the region.
Europe is a key market for Japanese exports and there are concerns that if a solution to the  debt crisis is not found soon, it may hurt growth and dent demand for Japanese goods.
"If the financial turmoil spread from Europe to the rest of the world, Japan will not be immune,"  Masaaki Kanno of JP Morgan told the BBC.
Growing uncertainty in Europe may also see investors flock to traditional safe havens such as the yen.
That may result in the Japanese currency strengthening even further against the US dollar and the euro.
A strong currency not only makes Japanese goods more expensive, but also hurts the profits of companies when they repatriate their foreign earnings back home.
At the same time, the crisis has resulted in sharp falls at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Mr Kanno added that if the falls continued, it could be detrimental for the Japan's economy.
"Japanese banks and insurance companies are big investors in stock markets and if the Nikkei continues to plunge, it will send the domestic financial system in turmoil."
Eurozone governments are in talks to discuss how best to stop the crisis spreading from Greece to the rest of the continent.


Reading Women fought back to earn a draw with Sunderland that leaves both sides still waiting for a first win in Women's Super League One this season.

Sunderland led when Beth Mead tapped home the rebound after her penalty - given after she was fouled by Molly Bartrip - was saved by Mary Earps.
Helen Ward levelled with a second-half penalty after Stephanie Bannon was sent off for handling Shelly Cox's volley.
Both sides move three points clear of ninth-placed Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Notts County Ladies survive late Liverpool fightback
Leaders Manchester City Women thrash Doncaster Rovers Belles
Reading forward Emma Follis: "We are disappointed again, we've come away wanting more and it's just not good enough.
"We need to take chances, especially if they've gone down to 10. We're just missing that last little thing which is so annoying but we've got to take the positives.
"We've got another point on the board. We're still looking for that win but it's just really disappointing. I feel like we've showed we can compete in WSL 1."
Sunderland striker Beth Mead: "It's nice to come away with a point away from home.
"We've gone down to 10 and our team has showed a lot of character and courage to stay in the game, stay involved and try and make chances still.
"I think we managed the game well after the red card. We frustrated them. We were hoping to get something on the break but unfortunately it didn't happen
"My penalty probably was not the best I've ever taken. I just had to stay composed to get it back over the line and it helped the team to get a point, so that was good."


It's a mystery that has gripped historians and Shakespeare experts for generations - and one archaeologists believe they could have finally found an answer to.

After a hi-tech investigation concluded the legendary playwright's skull was probably taken by trophy hunters more than 200 years ago, which direction should the search for his missing bones now take?
As a Channel 4 documentary reveals his Stratford resting place has been disturbed at the head end, and proves a mystery skull thought to be his is actually that of a woman's, new theories about what happened to Shakespeare's head are beginning to emerge.
Here, experts and enthusiasts give their opinions on where the hunt for the elusive part of his skeleton should go - or, as we approach the 400th anniversary of his death, whether it is finally time to let him rest in peace.
Kevin Colls is the Staffordshire University archaeologist who led the investigation into Shakespeare's grave at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford.
He firmly believes the findings of a disturbance of, and repair to, the tomb are too similar to the trophy-hunting allegations printed in 1879 to dismiss them - and plans to keep looking for the skull.
"Our research will continue - we're going to try and do as much as we can to locate it," he said. "Because we had two possible locations - Holy Trinity and St Leonard's in Beoley - and we've ruled out those, we now need to look through documents again to help us find where it could be.
"It's not quite back to square one. We need to look at the myths and legends surrounding other churches in Stratford and the West Midlands to see if any of those could hold the key.
"It is of course possible that the skull was removed before the burial, and what our research has done is open a whole can of worms.
"But the fact is that our findings correlate so well with the documented theft in 1879 - particularly the reference to the grave being shallow. If it was going to be made up, the story would be entirely different.
"The evidence of disturbance to the grave and repair to the chancel floor leads us to this conclusion."
Chris Laoutaris, of the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute, is a Renaissance burial customs expert - and wonders whether a loved one is responsible for the disappearance of the playwright's skull, which he thinks could lie in a relative's tomb.
"Of course, it's possible that his head was looted in 1794, as the Argosy Magazine had claimed somewhat controversially in 1879," he said.
"But then another question occurred to me: what if Shakespeare's skull was disinterred not long after his burial and reburied with another family member or loved one?
"In an age in which high mortality rates meant that death was a far more vivid and ever-present reality than today, reacquainting oneself with the relics of the dearly departed in this manner may have seemed less strange, and was not in fact unheard of.
"The most well known example is that of Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII and England's greatest humanist scholar, whose head was believed to have been lovingly preserved after his execution in 1534 by his devoted daughter Margaret More Roper.
"In 1978 archaeologists opened the Roper family burial vault in the Church of St Dunstan in Canterbury and discovered a mysterious niche behind which were remnants of a skull, almost certainly belonging to More.
"Could the mystery of Shakespeare's own skull, if indeed it is missing from his grave, owe something to a loved one's desire to be reunited with him in death? Perhaps we will never know.
"The other significant area that the archaeological investigations may shed some light on is the religious underpinnings of Shakespeare's burial. There is much controversy surrounding the possibility that Shakespeare may have been a crypto-Catholic.
"The recent archaeological investigation indicates that he was not buried in a coffin but was instead wrapped in a simple burial shroud. The plainness of the interment, without elaborate ritual trappings, suggests that this was a burial in keeping with Protestant custom.
"There is something touching about the simplicity of his burial which still speaks to us across the centuries, reminding us of the humanity of the man behind the legend."
The Rev Richard Clark is team rector of Holy Trinity Redditch, overseeing the Worcestershire parish of Beoley where it had long been thought a mystery skull kept deep inside a vault at St Leonard's belonged to Shakespeare.
Detailed archaeological investigations have now disproved that theory, finally determining the skull belongs to a unknown woman in her 70s.
Clergymen had previously applied to the Consistory Court to use DNA testing to discover the identity of the skull - but had the application thrown out, the Daily Telegraph reported in November 2015.
"It would have been really, really nice, to have a link with Shakespeare and it is unfortunate that we don't - but we still have an intriguing mystery about who the Beoley skull belongs to," said Mr Clark.
"The bone sits alone in a room inside the vault and will remain there until somebody wants to try and obtain permission for further testing to determine who it belongs to.
"We've discovered that the story of the removal of his skull and reburial at St Leonard's is rubbish - so what I'm interested in now is who does our skull belong to?
"We'd love to find out, but we haven't got the money.
"I'm a Shakespeare enthusiast myself, and obviously there's always going to interest in historic mysteries and getting to the truth.
"But I wouldn't want to violate his wishes."
John Hogg, who has run Stratford Town Walk with his wife Helen since 2002, said the discovery was "fascinating" for them both and for the 15 guides with whom they work.
But while he's delighted the archaeological probe has put the global spotlight on to Stratford, he believes the search for the truth should end here.
"We don't know for certain that the skull is missing - it's important to remember that," said 71-year-old Mr Hogg.
"It is my personal feeling that he should be left alone now.
"He's laid there for 400 years. It's time to allow the mystery to remain just that."


Health experts who worked to contain a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in a Devon school say pupils could have been screened more quickly.

About 200 pupils and staff at Teign School in Kingsteignton contracted latent TB, the form of the disease is not infectious.
Ten more people went on to develop the more serious, active form of TB.
Public Health England (PHE) said screening would take place sooner if there was another outbreak.
August 2014 Former Teign School pupil from overseas is diagnosed with TB
February 2015 Former classmates tested
March 2015 Second case confirmed
April 2015 Screening starts of years 10 and 12
May 2015 Public Health England confirm 94 latent TB cases and two active cases found
June 2015 Screening starts of entire school, leading to a total of 200 latent TB cases and 10 active cases found
It is believed the infection was brought in by a pupil from overseas, who was ill for several months. He was not diagnosed with TB until he left the school in the summer of 2014.
Dr Sarah Harrison, deputy director of health protection for PHE, told the BBC the disease spread far wider than they expected.
"We think that for one reason or another, this first case was particularly infectious," she said.
PHE had followed national guidelines that restrict screening firstly to family and former classmates.
This meant the remainder of the school's staff and pupils were not tested until later, when 200 of them were found to have latent TB.
Dr Harrison said: "We have got a small number of people with active TB and yes, if they had been tested they may well not have developed active TB.
"It's easy to see that different stages could have been done a bit quicker, and I think certainly for an infectious teenager we would be expecting things to happen a bit more quickly than they did."
Watch BBC Inside Out on BBC One in the South West at 19:30 BST for more on this story.


Three people have been charged with assisting an offender following the death of PC Dave Phillips.

The 34-year-old father-of-two was killed after being hit by a vehicle which mounted a central reservation in Merseyside on 5 October.
Georgia Clarke, 19, of Wallasey, Dawn Cooper, 34, of Wallasey and Michael Smith, 19, of Gateacre are due at Wirral Magistrates' Court later.
An 18-year-old man has been charged with PC Phillips's murder.
Clayton Williams, of Wheatland Lane, Wallasey, is accused of murder, attempting to wound another police officer, aggravated theft of a motor vehicle and burglary.
Phillip Stuart, 30, of Oxton, was charged with aggravated taking of a vehicle and burglary.
Both have been remanded in custody until 22 October.


The US has expelled two Russian diplomats in response to an attack on an American diplomat in Moscow, the state department says.

Spokesman John Kirby said the two officials - who have not been named - were told to leave on 17 June.
Mr Kirby said that earlier that month, a Russian policeman attacked the US diplomat near the US embassy in Moscow.
"The action was unprovoked," he said. Russia said the diplomat worked for the CIA and had refused to show ID papers.
Last month, US officials said harassment against US diplomats  by Russian security and intelligence services was on the rise.
Russia has denied the allegation.
"On 17 June, we expelled two Russian officials from the United States to respond to this attack," Mr Kirby said on Friday.
He said this was in response to the attack on the US diplomat on 6 June.
The assault happened after the accredited American official had identified himself to the policeman, Mr Kirby said.
"The action was unprovoked and it endangered the safety of our employee. The Russian claim that the policeman was protecting the embassy from an unidentified individual is simply untrue."
Russia said earlier this week that the US official was a CIA agent who had refused to provide his identification papers and hit the policeman in the face.
"Instead of the CIA employee, who was in disguise, as we understand, it could have been anyone - a terrorist, an extremist, a suicide bomber," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
Russian media have also released a video of what they say was the scuffle between the US diplomat and the Russian policeman.
Last month, the US said it had raised the issue of the alleged harassment of US diplomats in Russia directly with President Vladimir Putin.
Washington said the problems began two years ago after the US - as well as the EU - imposed sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula and its ongoing involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Specific incidents have not officially been revealed.
But the Washington Post said last month they included breaking into the homes of embassy staff, rearranging furniture and even killing a family pet.
No official response has been made by Russia but a statement to the Post did not deny the charge and said there had been US provocation against Russian diplomats.
The former US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, told the newspaper that while his family was living in Moscow, they were routinely followed by security services that wanted him to know they were being watched.


Bradford City have signed Birmingham City striker Wes Thomas on a three-month loan deal.

The 29-year-old spent time on loan with Swindon earlier this season, scoring twice in six appearances.
The former Cheltenham, Bournemouth and Rotherham man could make his debut for the Bantams in Saturday's League One game against Fleetwood.
The Valley Parade side are currently 11th in the third tier, five points outside the play-off places.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


Rotherham captain Lee Frecklington (ankle) is likely to start after making his return from injury as a sub in the defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell remains out with a hand injury.
Brighton centre-back Shane Duffy (metatarsal) is out for six weeks, with Uwe Hunemeier in line to replace him.
Left-backs Gaetan Bong (knee) and Sebastien Pocognoli (groin) are still sidelined, while centre-back Connor Goldson (heart) is out for the season.
On-loan striker Chuba Akpom will be assessed.
Despite having to deal with a host of defensive injuries, Albion boss Chris Hughton saw Liam Rosenior return to first-team action during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest following six months out with ankle trouble.
The reverse at the City Ground meant Brighton suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time since September, and the Seagulls are six points ahead of third-placed Huddersfield in the table, having played a game more than the Terriers.
The Millers have won just one of their last 12 games in the Championship.


A launch ceremony has been held to officially mark the start of works on a £28m school campus in Dumfries.

Staff and pupils from Lochside and St Ninian's primary schools, Langlands special secondary school and Maxwelltown High School attended.
The new site will have capacity for nearly 1,000 pupils, aged from three to 18, from all of those schools.
It is hoped the facility, part of a wider overhaul of education in the town, will be completed by June 2018.
Jeff Leaver, who chairs the council's education committee, said: "We want our young people to get the most from their education, which means creating environments that stimulate and encourage learning for years to come.
"I'm delighted that work has now started on our new school."
Council leader Ronnie Nicholson described it as a "significant step forward" for the scheme and a "very exciting time" for students.
Gary Holmes, regional director of Graham Construction, said the Dumfries project was one of the largest it had undertaken but it was "relishing" the challenge.
Michael Mcbrearty, chief executive of public-private partnership hub South West, added that the launch event was a "fantastic way" to engage with the community and pupils.


From Dele Alli to Anthony Martial, some of the Premier League's best young talent is heading for Euro 2016 and hoping for a chance to shine in France.

But which new faces from across Europe could be joining them in England next season?
While total unknowns are hard to find, there are bound to be some surprise stars who emerge this summer.
BBC Sport's TV and radio Euro 2016 commentators pick out the 12 young non-Premier League players who are worth watching out for.
Steve Wilson: Coric is still at Dinamo Zagreb, though he has been linked with Liverpool as an alternative to Mario Gotze. Coric says he has been contacted by Manchester City and Bayern Munich too.
He operates behind the strikers and is the youngest ever Europa League goalscorer and the current Croatian Young Player of the Year.
Alistair Bruce-Ball: Turkey's game against Croatia on 12 June is my first commentary game at Euro 2016 so they were the first two squads I did my homework on.
While 21-year-old Ozan Tufan is often picked out as Turkey's young star to watch, Mor is worth keeping an eye on as well.
Mor is a little winger with bags of skill and Manchester City, among others, were known to have shown an interest in him before he joined Borussia Dortmund from FC Nordsjaelland for an undisclosed fee days before the tournament started.
Steve Wilson: Mor was born in Denmark but made the choice to represent Turkey in the spring - both his parents are Turkish. He was immediately given a place in their Under-21 side and then, just as quickly, a spot in their squad for Euro 2016.
His former coach at FC Nordsjaelland, Kasper Hjulmand, says: "What he is capable of is extraordinary. He has got so much speed in his feet, and he is so unpredictable. Just when you expect him to pass, he makes another dribble instead and changes direction. And when he does that, you do not catch him - that is plain impossible."
Radio 5 live football correspondent John Murray: A left-back for the Danish champions FC Copenhagen, Augustinsson was linked with Liverpool last summer. He played every minute and scored a penalty in the final shootout as Sweden became European Under-21 champions last year.
Guy Mowbray: Scored six goals in qualifying, and 24 in total for Ajax this season. Milik might not get the headlines of Poland team-mate Robert Lewandowski - but Lewandowski might not get so many himself without him.
Milik is the perfect foil for the Bayern Munich striker, whether playing alongside or behind him as a 'number 10'.
Conor McNamara: Milik wears the number nine shirt at Ajax but for Poland he is unselfish and sets up more goals than he scores. A very important part of their team.
Guy Mowbray: Coming soon to a Premier League ground near you? Possibly. Arsenal have been heavily linked already.
Benfica must kick themselves for releasing him as a teenager, since when he's matured at Maritimo before moving on up to Porto this season. A physically imposing defensive midfielder who could form a big back-four barrier if played alongside William Carvalho.
Steve Wilson: A teenager with a combination of pace and power which has endeared him to fans of FC Basel and seen him selected for the Swiss national team. Born in Cameroon, he scored 13 goals to help Basel to this season's Swiss title, and had club captain Marco Streller saying "my heart cheers when I see him playing".
John Murray: Embolo seems set for great things - quite possibly a future in the Premier League - and has already enjoyed two highly promising goalscoring seasons for Basel.
Alistair Bruce-Ball: Belgium aren't short of imposing, powerful strikers with Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke and Divock Origi all in the squad but Batshuayi is strong, and able to hold the ball up to link with Belgium's stellar midfielders like Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne.
His 17 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games this season in a struggling Marseille team tell you he's a pretty good finisher as well.
Steve Wilson: Compared by adoring Marseille fans to their old favourite Didier Drogba and already seen as one of the 'must-have' youngsters of the summer.
Marseille have confirmed that they are ready to sell - at a price. Their president Vincent Labrune said: "There is not a single top-15 world club that is not interested in Batshuayi. He is one of the most wanted players on the market."
John Murray: Plays as an attacking midfielder for KC Cracovia, once the favourite team of Pope John Paul II. If - as I suspect they might - Poland have a good tournament, he might get a chance to show what he can do.
Steve Wilson: Sanches burst on to the scene at Benfica and was then snapped up by Bayern Munich in May for a fee that could rise to £60m, with Manchester United among the clubs who were tracking him but missed out.
His introduction to the Benfica side turned their season around as he drove them forward with energy and style from midfield - and weighed in with some spectacular goals.
Guy Mowbray: If you watch any football at all outside the UK then you will know of Coman already. He has had an outstanding season on loan at Bayern Munich and, having started his career at Paris St-Germain, has now played for three of the world's biggest teams.
Like his fellow French young gun, Anthony Martial, he is devastatingly quick - and comparisons with Thierry Henry are inevitable for both players. Henry was 20 when he won the World Cup in his home country. This time France have a two-for-one deal.
Steve Wilson: He has just enjoyed his breakthrough season at Benfica, who signed him as a 17-year-old from Vasteras. But Benfica are a selling club (see Renato Sanches) and Lindelof is already being linked with both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Lindelhof, who models himself on German star Matts Hummels, was named in the team of tournament for the 2015 Under-21 European Championships, where he scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Portugal in the final.
Steve Wilson: An attacking midfielder who plays for CSKA Moscow and turns 20 just before Euro 2016 kicks off. Golovin scored in each of his first two senior internationals for Russia, and was a winner with his country at the the 2013 Under-17 European Championship.
He has been likened to Alan Dzagoev, whose broken metatarsal will keep him out of the finals. Golovin is hoping for the chance to replace him.


Puerto Rico has narrowly avoided a default by making a last minute payment on its outstanding debt.

The Government Development Bank made a $355m (Â£235m) payment that was due to creditors on Tuesday.
Despite the move the territory is struggling to find money for government services and future debt payments.
Speaking to members of the US senate Puerto Rico's Governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, said the island's government, "had not cash left".
Puerto Rico has $72bn (Â£48bn) in outstanding debts.
If the government had missed Tuesday's payment it could have sparked law suits from creditors.
The prospect for future payments is still unclear.
The Governor said the territory is facing a situation where it must decide between defaulting- failing to make the payments on its debt- or cutting public services.
In his comments to a senate judiciary hearing Governor Garcia Padilla said, "Starting today the commonwealth of Puerto Rico will have to claw back revenues pledged to certain bonds issued in order to maintain public services."
Though Puerto Rico is a territory of the US it is not entitled to restructure its debt in the same way that state and city governments are.
Representatives from Puerto Rico - including the Governor - have been making the case that the island should be allowed to undertake the same process Detroit used when it faced bankruptcy.


Championship club London Irish have signed Fijian back row forward Senitiki Nayalo on a two-year deal.

Nayalo, 25, joined the Exiles on trial during pre-season, having previously played sevens for Harlequins while serving with the Army.
He scored a try for Irish in a pre-season victory against Quins at The Stoop in August.
"I'm really pleased to have signed for the club and I've enjoyed my time here so far," he said.


A football fan is backing a campaign for more defibrillators after being "brought back to life" on an Edinburgh pitch.

Paul Burns, 55, from Clermiston, was at a training event at Hibs' ground in Easter Road when he was hit by a ball, which triggered a heart attack.
Hibs physiotherapist, Kitty Forrest, shocked Mr Burns with a defibrillator to bring him back to life.
He has now beaten his target of raising Â£5,000 to buy more defibrillators.
Mr Burns said: "On the 3 April 2016, I decided not to go a run up the Pentland Hills, instead I would go to play football at the Hibernian training ground - a decision that saved my life.
"Many thought that I was having an epileptic fit, but they weren't to know that I was having a massive heart attack which resulted in a cardiac arrest.
"Thank goodness Kitty and the defibrillator machine were at hand otherwise I would most certainly have died.
"My life was saved by the use of a defibrillator."
A  spokesman for Hibernian Football Club said: "We are delighted to support what Paul is doing and would urge people to back what is a very good cause.
"The club is delighted he is very much alive and well, thanks to the superb team effort of several of our staff, led by two of our physiotherapists, on that day.
"The application of the defibrillator undoubtedly saved Paul's life - and having more of these machines in public places will undoubtedly help save others in future."


Eight people have been killed when a storm lashed the South African city of Cape Town following months of drought.

Among the dead is a family of four killed in a fire started by lightning, officials say. Thousands of people have been left homeless.
The storm comes two weeks after the region declared a drought disaster.
The BBC's Mo Allie in Cape Town reports that before the storm, there had been several interfaith meetings to pray for rain.
Our correspondent adds that the storm was anticipated and warnings have been made by the local authorities for the last week.
It is the worst winter storm for 30 years, according to the South African Weather Service, while local media have dubbed it "the mother of all storms".
Schools and universities have shut, roofs were blown off and shelters have been opened for those left destitute.
Many people have been injured by flying debris.
Residents of the city's many shanty towns have been worst hit as their fragile homes have been unable to resist the strong winds and heavy rain.
Onele Ndesi from Western Cape Disaster Management predicts that "the worst is yet to come".
President Jacob Zuma has cancelled a trip to Cape Town to open the World News Media Congress because it is not possible to fly there.
BBC weather forecaster Philip Avery warns that Wednesday could bring in excess of 50mm of rain to some western areas of South Africa, accompanied by winds of 60-90km/h.
Coastal areas face the additional hazard of high tides, reinforced by storm waves, some of which may reach 10m.
Thursday should see conditions easing but a passing cold front will introduce much cooler weather in all areas.
He also warns that the strong winds could lead to wildfires because the countryside is so dry.
In May, the Western Cape province declared a drought disaster after two reservoirs had completely dried up. It was said to have been the region's worst drought in more than a century.
Several other southern African nations were also affected by the two-year drought, which was caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon.
However, many parts of the region are now experiencing bumper maize harvests.


Antrim will face Carlow in the Hurling League Division 2A final next week despite suffering a first defeat of their campaign to Westmeath on Sunday.

The Saffrons lost 0-20 to 1-15 at Cushendall but took their place in the decider ahead of Kildare by virtue of having beaten the Lilywhites.
Both counties had seven points after Kildare defeated London 1-21 to 2-14.
Carlow topped the Division by seeing off Armagh 4-24 to 0-11, the Ulster county being relegated to Division 2B.
The Orchard county are relegated on scoring difference.
The winner of the Division 2A final will face a promotion/relegation play-off against the bottom side in Division 1B.
Deaglan Murphy was prolific for Antrim in the first half as the home side went in level at 1-8 to 0-11 at the interval.
Ciaran Clarke scored the goal after 28 minutes, with Conor Johnson also getting his name on the scoresheet with a point.
The hosts nudged ahead at 1-10 to 0-11 but four unanswered points put Westmeath in front.
Further points from Murphy and Clarke brought the teams level at 1-12 to 0-15 but the visitors pulled clear to secure a two-point victory.
Antrim had defeated Kildare, London and Armagh, in addition to clinching an away draw in Carlow.
Allianz Hurling League results
Sunday 26 March
Division One A
Clare 1-22 Waterford  2-21
Cork 0-26 Tipperary  3-16
Dublin 1-16 Kilkenny  2-20
Division One B
Kerry 2-16 Offaly  1-21
Limerick 1-18 Galway 0-24
Wexford 2-24 Laois  2-20
Division Two A
Kildare 1-21 London 2-14
Antrim 1-15 Westmeath 0-20
Carlow 4-24 Armagh 0-11
Division Two B
Roscommon 2-14 Mayo 1-21
Down 2-22 Derry  2-15
Meath 3-23 Wicklow  1-16
Division Three A
Louth 1-17 Donegal 3-24
Monaghan 1-14 Tyrone 3-15
Division Three B
Fermanagh 1-14 Leitrim 4-11
Sligo 3-17 Longford  1-14


A pilot accused of misusing a police helicopter to film people having sex was just a "taxi driver" for the officers on board, a court has heard.

Matthew Loosemore, 45, piloted the South Yorkshire Police aircraft when a couple were filmed having sex in their garden, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
He is one of four men on trial. All deny misconduct in a public office.
The former soldier told the jury he had no idea his colleague Adrian Pogmore had recorded the couple having sex.
More stories from across Yorkshire
Pogmore, 51, admitted the charge. He said he knew the married couple through the "swinging scene" and had had sex with the woman.
The jury heard Pogmore made four recordings from the aircraft between 2007 and 2012, including two of people sunbathing naked, one of a couple of naturists and another of his friends having sex on their patio.
Mr Loosemore acknowledged he heard an "exclamation" in the cockpit and caught sight of "some nudity" on the camera screen.
He reacted by swiftly flying the helicopter away and continued looking for nuisance motorbikes, he said in court.
The father-of-three said his role "was as a civilian taxi driver" for police air observers.
The pilot, who had only been flying with the force for 18 months at the time of the flight in July 2008, told the jury he did not know Pogmore was "into swinging or voyeurism" then and was unaware police colleagues referred to Pogmore as the "team deviant".
Asked what he could see in the garden, Mr Loosemore replied: "You can't make out any detail from 600ft."
He showed the jury a self-made map of the helicopter's movements at the time the couple were being filmed with the zoomed-in camera.
The defendant, of Briar Close, Auckley, Doncaster, said the closest the aircraft got to their garden was 1,017ft away, a distance he had calculated from data recorded by the camera.
Mr Loosemore joined the army at age 17 and later became a military helicopter pilot. He left in 2002, the court heard.
He denies one count of misconduct in a public office.
Pogmore, of Guilthwaite Crescent, Whiston, Rotherham, has admitted four counts of the same charge.
Matthew Lucas, 43, of Coppice Rise, Chapeltown, Sheffield, denies three counts.
Malcolm Reeves, 64, of Farfield Avenue, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, denies two counts.
Lee Walls, 47, of Southlands Way, Aston, Sheffield, denies one count.
The trial continues.


A mixed martial arts fighter has been killed by intruders in the US state of Florida, police say.

Aaron Rajman was fatally shot during Monday night's apparent home invasion in the coastal city of Boca Raton.
Palm Beach County sheriff's office says a fight broke out after a group of suspects entered the 25-year-old featherweight's home.
Mr Rajman died from gunshot wounds. The assailants, whose motive is currently unknown, fled in a vehicle.
Dave Zalewski, a Miami fight promoter, told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper: "I'm just literally at a loss for words. Everyone I talked to is sickened.
"He was the most humble guy around, he never talked bad about people."
Neighbour Luciana Silva told local news station WPEC-TV that shortly before his death the victim spoke to her children to wish them a happy Independence Day.
Mr Rajman, an Orthodox Jew, was known for entering the arena wearing tzitzit and a yarmulke.
Ranked 26th in his class in Florida, he made his professional MMA debut three years ago and had a 2-2 record, according to MixedMartialArts.com.
As an amateur, Mr Rajman won eight fights and lost one.
"He was very strong in his faith, and he was a very good person," Rabbi Zalman Bukiet told local news station, WPTV.
"This was a special young man who had a heart of gold.
"It's a tragedy and extremely painful for them and painful for everybody that knew him."
A post on the MMA South Florida Facebook page read: "The world lost another warrior today. RIP Aaron Rajman. You will be missed."


The final mural in a series of six showcasing Leicester City's title win has been finished.

The work, which celebrates the Thai heritage of the club's owners, has been painted onto the side of the Grade-II* Newarke Houses Museum.
There had been opposition to the work from Historic England but it was approved by the city council.
The Foxes shocked the football world in May when they won the Premier League at odds of 5,000/1.
The six murals, showcasing different elements of the title win, were commissioned by Leicester City Council.
Artist Leigh Drummond said: "I've painted on this scale for a few years, but I think this may have been the largest one I've done in Leicester though.
"It has been really nice [to be a part of], there has been lots of positive comments."
Historic England had been concerned it would "harm the appreciation and understanding" of the building.
Other murals round the city celebrate some of the Foxes' memorable 2015-16 matches, the atmosphere at King Power Stadium and manager Claudio Ranieri.
They can be seen on East Bond Street, Oxford Street, St Nicholas Circle, Burnmoor Street and Tudor Road.


Kathy Bates is to star in the new series of American Horror Story: Hotel.

The show's creator, Ryan Murphy, tweeted the announcement saying: "Kathy Bates is running the Hotel. â€ª#AHSSeason5."
It's unclear exactly what her job will be, but it sounds like she'll be in charge of the hotel.
The 66-year-old actress played lead roles in previous seasons American Horror Story: Coven and American Horror Show: Freak Show.
Chloe Sevigny, Lady Gaga, Wes Bentley, Matt Bomer and Cheyenne Jackson all have parts in the fifth series.
Kathy Bates played a bearded lady, Ethel Darling in Freak Show and won an Emmy for her role in Coven playing Madame Delphine Lalaurie.
The actress is arguably best known for her role as a psychopathic nurse in Misery in 1990 for which she won the best actress Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
She later received two more Oscar nominations for 1998's Primary Colors and 2002's About Schmidt.
Filming for AHS: Hotel is expected to begin in the next few months with the premiere in October.
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Police were called in after trouble flared at a book signing in Sunderland by the English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson.

Violence broke out at Saturday's event, which was staged in an off-licence shortly before a Sunderland-Celtic match being held the same day.
Police attended Fletcher's News and Booze, where an 18-year-old man suffered a head injury and needed hospital treatment.
Twenty-one arrests were made in total.
Officers said the majority were unrelated to Mr Robinson's book signing and included people being drunk and disorderly, committing a breach of the peace and using illegal pyrotechnics.
Emergency services had been called to the off-licence in Hendon at about 13:40 BST.
The force said Mr Robinson was wearing a Glasgow Rangers shirt - the arch rivals of Celtic.
Footage posted on social media showed a flare and other objects being thrown towards the shop before fighting broke out on the street.
The pre-season match was organised to mark 20 years since the opening of Sunderland's Stadium of Light and 50 years since Celtic won the European Cup.
Assistant Chief Constable Helen McMillan said: "Unfortunately, we did have some incidents of disorder in and around Sunderland between Sunderland and Celtic fans and, while police dealt with them quickly, it is a shame these type of incidents happen at all."
Sunderland were beaten by Celtic 5-0.


A castaway from El Salvador - who says he spent more than a year adrift in the Pacific - has finally arrived home.

Jose Salvador Alvarenga, 37, was met by family members and officials after flying from the US.
He was found washed up two weeks ago in the Marshall Islands. He says he left Mexico for a trip in a boat in December 2012 with a friend who died on board.
He apparently survived the 8,000km (5,000-mile) ordeal by catching fish, birds and turtles with his bare hands.
For fluids, he claimed to have drunk urine, rainwater and the blood of birds.
Mr Alvarenga was rescued on 30 January by people living on the island of Ebon Atoll.
He was found dehydrated and suffering from back pain and swollen joints.
Mr Alvarenga landed at El Salvador's international airport, near the capital San Salvador, at about 20:00 local time on Tuesday (02:00 GMT Wednesday) after flying from Los Angeles.
"We are happy he is coming back after so much time," his cousin Marisol Alvarenga was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
"He could have died. But thanks to God my cousin is a warrior, because I don't know what would have happened to another person," she added.
By Lorena ArroyoBBC Mundo, Garita Palmera
Residents of Garita Palmera prepared for Jose Salvador Alvarenga's homecoming by reciting prayers, playing electric guitars and preparing pupusas, a typical regional dish.
His parents have already been reunited with their son at a hospital in San Salvador where he could stay up to 48 hours before travelling on to his home village.
Other relatives and neighbours were glued to the TV in his humble family home to watch as his arrival was broadcast live from the airport.
A handwritten "Welcome home" sign and a throng of waiting journalists make it easy to spot the Alvarenga family home on its dusty street.
Mr Alvarenga's story  is big news in El Salvador. Local journalists say they welcome it as a rare piece of positive news to come out of their country, which more often hits the headlines for gang warfare and its high murder rate.
At the airport's VIP lounge, Mr Alvarenga was met by El Salvador's foreign minister and other government officials.
Dozens of journalists also gathered at the airport.
On his way from the Marshall Islands Mr Alvarenga had long stopovers in Hawaii and Los Angeles, where doctors had checked his health and ability to continue the trip.
Mr Alvarenga will now undergo further checks before a decision is taken whether he should stay overnight in a local hospital or can return to his coast fishing village of Garita Palmeira.
The family of his younger friend say they want to speak to Mr Alvarenga to find out more about how their son died, and what happened to his body.
Known as Ezequiel, he is believed to have starved after being unable to eat raw birds and fish.
Three Mexican fishermen were rescued off the Marshall Islands in August 2006 after what they said was about nine months drifting across the Pacific Ocean.
They survived on rain water, seabirds and fish.
Castaways from Kiribati, to the south, frequently find land in the Marshall Islands after ordeals of weeks or months at sea in small boats.


Yum Brands is selling a stake in its Chinese division to Primavera Capital and Ant Financial as the company prepares to separate the Chinese unit from the main business.

Primavera Capital, will pay $410m (Â£308m) and Ant Financial, an affiliate of Alibaba, will invest $50m.
The new investors will have the option to buy an additional 4% stake.
Yum, the owner of Pizza Hut and KFC, is the largest fast food brand in China but has recently faced some trouble.
The company was involved in a scandal over its meat supplier and its connection to bird flu outbreaks.
Yum Brands has also recently been losing ground to competitors like McDonalds.
Still, the company sees potential in the market and has plans to triple the number of its restaurants in China.
A Yum spokesman said the company had not yet decided how the money from the sale would be used, but it is possible it may go towards the firm's expansion plan.
The decision to spin off Yum's Chinese business has been pushed by activist investor Keith Meister, who is a member of Yum's board of directors.
Yum said the separation is on track to take place on 31 October.
Ant Financial runs Alibaba's Alipay mobile payment businesses and has been making a push into the Chinese restaurant industry.
The company plans to make Alipay available in Yum restaurants, which will help increase its customers and the company says thus will help to cut waiting times at cash registers.
"Through this collaboration, we aim to help Yum China provide world-class mobile payment services for tens of millions of customers across its brands," said Eric Jing, president of Ant Financial.
Primavera Capital is a powerful China-focused private equity firm founded by an ex-Goldman Sachs banker.


Britain's Cal Crutchlow finished third in Argentina as Spain's Maverick Vinales won his second consecutive MotoGP race this season.

Vinales, 22, eased to victory after reigning champion Marc Marquez crashed out on lap four while leading the race.
Victory extends the Yamaha rider's championship lead, having also won the season opener in Qatar in March.
Crutchlow, who qualified in third, moved up to second but was passed by Valentino Rossi on lap 19 of 25.
Honda rider Crutchlow, 31, was unable to close down nine-time world champion Rossi in the final stages and had to settle for third on the podium.
Italian Rossi, 38, claimed his second straight podium of the season in his 350th grand prix start.
Jorge Lorenzo's struggles at new team Ducati continued as the 29-year-old three-time MotoGP champion crashed out on the first corner, following a disappointing 11th-placed finish in Qatar.
Vinales now has a maximum 50 points from two rounds, 14 points ahead of Yamaha team-mate Rossi.
Argentina MotoGP results:
1. Maverick Vinales (Spain) Yamaha 41:45.060
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha  41:47.975
3. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda 41:48.814
4. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Ducati 41:51.583
5. Johann Zarco (France) Yamaha 42:00.564
6. Jonas Folger (Germany) Yamaha 42:03.301
7. Danilo Petrucci (Italy) Ducati 42:05.106
8. Scott Redding (Britain) Ducati 42:10.540
9. Jack Miller (Australia) Honda 42:10.725
10. Karel Abraham (Czech Republic) Ducati  42:11.463
World Championship standings:
1. Maverick Vinales (Spain) Yamaha 50 points
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 36
3. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati 20
4. Scott Redding (Britain) Ducati 17
5. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda 16
6. Jonas Folger (Germany) Yamaha 16
7. Jack Miller (Australia) Honda 15
8. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 13
9. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Ducati 13
10. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 11


US Republican ex-President George HW Bush will vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in November, US news website Politico reports.

Mr Bush allegedly made the pledge to Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, niece to US ex-President John F Kennedy.
The former president's office has not confirmed the report, with a spokesman saying he was checking.
Mr Bush, who held office from 1989 until 1993, has not endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump.
If George HW Bush is indeed backing Hillary Clinton for president, that puts four of the five living presidents in the former secretary of state's camp.
George W Bush is the lone holdout - at least for now.
The Bush clan clearly isn't crazy about Donald Trump, given the way the New Yorker savaged Jeb in the Republican primaries.
It's worth noting, however, that the only family member with a political future - Texas Land Commissioner George P Bush - has endorsed his party's nominee.
The elder Bush does have a bit of a history with the Clintons. Although he and Bill Clinton were adversaries in the 1992 presidential contest, the two formed a friendship after the Democrat left office, co-operating on various charitable efforts.
It's unclear how much even an explicit Bush endorsement would help Mrs Clinton, given that most of the establishment Republicans who might break from the party have already done so.
This news might make it slightly easier for them to justify pulling the lever for the Democrat in November, however, rather than just sitting the vote out.
Neither has his son, Jeb Bush, who unsuccessfully competed for the Republican nomination, or other rivals in the race, Ted Cruz and John Kasich.
Ms Kennedy Townsend, a former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, posted a photo on Facebook of a meeting with George HW Bush, alongside the caption: "The President told me he's voting for Hillary!"
Mr Bush's spokesman, however, was cautious.
"Those reporting how @GeorgeHWBush will vote this year, it's not clear anyone was there to verify KKT [Kathleen Kennedy Townsend]. Still checking, keep your powder dry," Jim McGrath wrote.


Conservative MP Stephen Phillips has quit over "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government.

The MP, who has held the Lincolnshire seat of Sleaford and North Hykeham since 2010, backed leaving the EU but has accused ministers of ignoring Parliament since the Brexit vote.
He said he was "unable properly to represent the people who elected me".
It comes as Theresa May said she was confident she would win a legal battle over her approach to Brexit talks.
On Thursday, three High Court judges ruled the government cannot officially notify the EU of its intention to leave, thus beginning formal talks, without Parliament's support.
In a series of phone calls, the prime minister told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Germany's Angela Merkel that the government believed it would win its Supreme Court appeal against the ruling and she was committed to triggering Article 50 by March 2017.
Although Mr Phillips represents a safe Conservative seat, his surprise departure increases the pressure on Mrs May's government - which has a working majority of 17.
It is not yet clear whether Mr Phillips, who won the seat last year with a majority of more than 24,000, will stand as an independent in a future by-election although this is thought to be unlikely.
by Ross Hawkins, BBC political correspondent
The government's values were no longer his values. On child refugees, on the use of aid money, on the handling of Brexit, he dissented from a party he thought was heading inexorably to the right.
That is the view from sources close to Stephen Phillips. One said he twice rejected a meeting with the prime minister.
Will other Tories follow? Some on the party's left tell me they'd rather stay and fight. Others reflect ruefully that unlike him they have no well-paid alternative career as a barrister.
A by-election in a safe seat won't much trouble party bosses. But while Downing Street doesn't want one, the departure of - yet another - Tory MP means the voices calling for a swift general election will grow a little louder.
The politician, who is a barrister and part-time Crown Court judge, is the second Conservative MP to stand down in as many weeks - Zac Goldsmith last week forced a by-election over his opposition to expanding Heathrow airport.
Sources say Mr Phillips informed party whips earlier this week that he would resign as an MP because he felt his values were not the values of the government.
He has been critical of the government's approach to Brexit since June's Leave vote, accusing Theresa May of trying to "ignore the views" of Parliament and avoiding scrutiny of the government's negotiating position.
In a recent newspaper article, he suggested the government was "lurching to the right" and that its attempt to start negotiations with the EU without the explicit approval of Parliament was "divisive and plain wrong".
In a statement, he did not spell out the specific reasons for his resignation but said: "It has become clear to me over the last few months that my growing and very significant policy differences with the current government mean that I am unable properly to represent the people who elected me".
However, in a letter to his constituency chairman, Mr Phillips attacked the government for "shirking" responsibility for unaccompanied child refugees and changes in the way international aid is spent.
Mr Phillips said: "Some will label me a quitter or, no doubt, worse. Those are labels with which I can live. The label Conservative no longer is."
In last year's election, Mr Phillips won a majority of 24,115, with 56% of the vote. Labour finished second, closely followed by UKIP.
Labour said the impending by-election would be "more about Tory failure and in-fighting than what is in the best interests of the country".
"It's clear that even Theresa May's own MPs realise that she has failed to lay out a convincing plan to deliver for Britain," said national campaign co-ordinator Jon Trickett.
UKIP leadership contender Suzanne Evans has said she would like to be considered to be the party's candidate in the by-election.
Asked about the resignation during a visit to Berlin, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson suggested it was part of the prevailing "sturm und drang" (storm and stress) over Brexit - a reference to the movement of 18th Century German writers who gave free expression to emotions and ideas which sought to break with tradition.
He told reporters he did not believe that the legal battle over Parliament's role would "interfere" with the UK's Brexit timetable - insisting that the High Court ruling was "one stage" in the legal process and the British people had made their views clear.
Mrs May has also been seeking to reassure EU leaders about the UK's commitment to Brexit following Thursday's legal setback.
No 10 said she had explained the government was "disappointed" by the ruling but felt it "had strong legal arguments ahead of the case moving to the Supreme Court".
The European Commission said the timetable for beginning talks was in the UK's hands.
"The president explicitly said the legal order and the constitutional order of the UK will be respected and we won't speculate on a possible delay," a spokeswoman said.
The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June.
The EU's other 27 member states have said negotiations about the terms of the UK's exit - due to last two years - cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked.


New boss Marco Silva guided Hull City to victory in his first Premier League match as the Tigers moved off the foot of the table with an impressive performance against Bournemouth.

Abel Hernandez was the hero for the hosts, scoring twice on his first start since injuring his groin against Southampton on 6 November.
That match against the Saints was the final league victory under Silva's predecessor Mike Phelan, who was dismissed on 3 January with the team bottom of the league.
Hull have now won twice in three games under former Olympiakos and Sporting Lisbon boss Silva, having beaten Swansea in the FA Cup third round a week ago.
Tyrone Mings' own goal added gloss to the scoreline for Hull, who took a long time to grow into the match after falling behind to Junior Stanislas' third-minute penalty, awarded for Harry Maguire's challenge on Ryan Fraser and the 10th the Tigers have conceded in 21 games this season.
Bournemouth have now shipped three goals in eight of their last 10 games in all competitions, and drop to 11th place after their 10th defeat of the campaign.
It has been a bleak winter for Hull so far and the loss of £10m striker Hernandez to injury certainly contributed to their plight.
The Tigers went nine games without a win during his absence, dropping them to the bottom of the table by Christmas and culminating in the departure of Phelan early in the new year.
His return has coincided with the appointment of Silva, and it has quickly become apparent that the influence of both could prove vital in turning Hull's season around.
The 26-year-old's goal against Swansea in the cup was a timely reminder of the ability that brought him 20 goals in Hull's promotion campaign last season, and his first against Bournemouth bore all the predatory instincts that the hosts have been missing these past few weeks.
Huge credit must go to Andrew Robertson for the quality of his cross from the left wing, which presented Hernandez with a headed chance from around a yard out that he simply could not miss.
The second was more of a self-made effort, the Uruguay international picking the ball up on the right, advancing into the area and selling a couple of cute stepovers to Mings before curling a precise finish into the left-hand corner.
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It was a huge result for Hull but also a significant one for the visitors, who have now conceded 24 goals in their last 10 league and cup games.
Their mid-table position - and nine-point gap to the drop zone - means Bournemouth have some wiggle room as they bid to shore up at the back.
But they cannot continue to leak goals at the present rate and not expect to find themselves flirting with danger at the end of the season.
Hull's third goal here was certainly unfortunate - Mings diverting in Tom Huddlestone's hopeful shot from the edge of the area - but nevertheless continues a sequence of results that is clearly worrying boss Eddie Howe, who conceded that there was a "pattern emerging".
Hull head coach Marco Silva: "I'm happy because what I saw was a team with big spirit and big character. That's important for me.
"After 10-15 minutes it was difficult, but we started to control the game and put the other team back. The first 25-30 minutes of the second half it was all our team.
"I start to see [progress]. We have time next week to work more and the players now believe more in our ideas.
"I saw my players smile in the dressing room and that's important for me."
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe: "We got the perfect start and from that point we were looking to consolidate and then it slipped away. The second half was tough to watch.
"The frustrating thing is we didn't go for the game to try and put it to bed.
"We're disappointed with all three goals. We're in the middle of the season and we have everything to play for, Our season could still go two ways."
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Hull are back in Premier League action on Sunday, 22 January with a tough trip to Stamford Bridge to face leaders Chelsea (16:30 GMT), while Bournemouth host Watford on Saturday, 21 January (15:00 GMT).
Match ends, Hull City 3, Bournemouth 1.
Second Half ends, Hull City 3, Bournemouth 1.
Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Evandro (Hull City).
Offside, Hull City. Oumar Niasse tries a through ball, but Adama Diomande is caught offside.
Offside, Bournemouth. Steve Cook tries a through ball, but Callum Wilson is caught offside.
Marc Pugh (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Harry Maguire (Hull City).
Joshua King (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andrew Robertson (Hull City).
Offside, Hull City. Jake Livermore tries a through ball, but Oumar Niasse is caught offside.
Substitution, Hull City. Jake Livermore replaces Ryan Mason.
Harry Arter (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Evandro (Hull City).
Substitution, Hull City. Oumar Niasse replaces Abel Hernández.
Attempt saved. Abel Hernández (Hull City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tom Huddlestone.
Attempt missed. Harry Maguire (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Adama Diomande.
Foul by Adam Smith (Bournemouth).
Sam Clucas (Hull City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, Hull City. Evandro replaces Robert Snodgrass.
Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Curtis Davies (Hull City).
Foul by Tyrone Mings (Bournemouth).
Robert Snodgrass (Hull City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Andrew Surman (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Robert Snodgrass (Hull City).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Tyrone Mings (Bournemouth) because of an injury.
Corner,  Bournemouth. Conceded by Eldin Jakupovic.
Attempt saved. Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Marc Pugh.
Attempt saved. Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrew Surman.
Substitution, Bournemouth. Marc Pugh replaces Junior Stanislas.
Charlie Daniels (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adama Diomande (Hull City).
Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andrew Robertson (Hull City).
Offside, Bournemouth. Steve Cook tries a through ball, but Junior Stanislas is caught offside.
Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Harry Maguire (Hull City).
Own Goal by Tyrone Mings, Bournemouth.  Hull City 3, Bournemouth 1.


A researcher from the United States has praised language "warriors" in the Isle of Man for bringing Manx Gaelic back from the brink of extinction.

Lecturer David Harrison travels to remote corners of the globe to help revive endangered native languages.
Dr Harrison has previously worked in Siberia, India, Mongolia, Bolivia, the South Pacific and North America.
He said: "From a global perspective, what the Manx language warriors have achieved over the years is exemplary."
The academic added: "Manx revitalisation is a success story - it's one of the bright spots in an otherwise gloomy landscape of language extinction around the world.
"Its revival is a role model, I can feel the energy, the passion and the inspiration."
Dr Harrison said the Manx language had come to his attention because of its "robust online presence".
In 2013 a children's language app was created by the Manx Heritage Foundation (MHF) and later that year the first children's television series was translated into Manx.
Thousands of people have also downloaded a free language learning app.
"I'm working with a global media provider company and together we are making a short documentary to showcase the voices of the Manx language advocates - we want to tell their story and we think it will be very powerful.
"We have talked to three generations of speakers, they have all converged on a common love of the language and a desire to see it survive."


Organisers are "hopeful" the United States Grand Prix will continue to be held in Austin, Texas despite a reduction in the race budget.

The state had contributed $25m (£16.5m) a year to costs since 2012, but that sum was cut by 20% this year - raising concerns about the race's future.
"The grand prix has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in positive economic impact," said organisers.
"We're hopeful Formula 1 will continue to race here."
The organisers at Circuit of the Americas, where the event is held, added: "The grand prix is a cornerstone event that brings global exposure to Austin and makes the circuit a year-round destination for sports and entertainment."
The venue was promised $25m per year for 10 years from the state's portion of its major events fund - public money spent largely to pay Formula 1's commercial management for the right to hold the race.
However, that deal was worked out with Texas governor Rick Perry, who is no longer in charge.
F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone told the Austin American-Statesman that if funding was changed it would "make it difficult to continue the race in Austin".


A World War Two bomb has exploded at a construction site near a west German town, killing a man and injuring eight others, police say.

The explosion occurred after a digger accidentally struck the device during excavation work in Euskirchen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The machine's operator died on the spot. Two of those hurt were critically wounded, the dpa news agency reports.
Police said the blast impact could be felt a kilometre (0.6miles) away.
The incident took place around 13.30 local time (12.30 GMT)  in an industrial park on the edge of town.
The bomb blew up when it was disturbed by the digger, as the machine lifted up earth and debris.
The blast damaged nearby office buildings and cars. Police say the explosion also smashed the windows of some local shops and homes.
The BBC's Damien McGuinness says unexploded bombs are still regularly being discovered in Germany, particularly in the industrial north-west of the country.
In the 1940s, allied bombers tried to cripple the Nazi war effort by bombing factories there.
But our correspondent says it is rare that anyone is killed or injured by a device going off unexpectedly.


Wales' hopes of reaching the top tier of women's hockey were ended as they lost to Russia in the EuroHockey Championships semi-final in Cardiff.

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Bogdana Sadovaia opened the scoring for Russia and after Leah Wilkinson levelled, Sadovaia hit the winner.
Earlier in the day Wales' men won promotion to the top tier of European hockey by beating France 4-3 in their semi-final in Glasgow.
The win sent Wales' men into their final on Saturday, against Scotland.
It also meant promotion to the the eight-nation European A Division for the first time in 2019 while their female counterparts will stay in the B Division.
Wales women had beaten Austria and Poland, but lost to Belarus on the way to the semi-finals.
They face Italy in Saturday's play-off for third place while Belarus lie in wait for Russia in the final.
Neither Wales side has been in the EuroHockey A Division since it was reduced to eight teams more than a decade ago.
The nation's women were playing in the third tier just four years ago.
Wales captain Abi Welsford told BBC Wales Sport: "We put everything we could into the performance and just ended up on the wrong side of the result. They had a few more penalty corners than us and they took their chances well. We'll take heart in the way we performed and will be aiming for a third place finish now."
Head coach Kevin Johnson added: "We can be very proud of the way we tried to play the game. Every time we go out and play we want to be a better team and we're doing that. We're on a quest to push up the world rankings and continue to gain ranking points. This tournament has already been a success for that."


Police are investigating more than 40 complaints of historical physical and sexual abuse at a former children's home in Wigan.

Hundreds of boys were sent to Wood End Assessment Centre, Atherton, between the 1970s and the 1990s.
Poet Lemn Sissay, who said he was "imprisoned" there in 1984, has been campaigning for a police investigation.
Both Wigan and Lancashire councils said they would cooperate with any police investigation.
Lancashire County Council opened Wood End in 1969 as a remand home for boys aged between 10 and 17.
However, many sent there were simply from dysfunctional families or in the care of social services.
At the age of two months, Sissay was placed into the care of Wigan Social Services.
During his time at Wood End, he said he was "strip searched, physically abused and manhandled".
"I've been trying to come to terms with what happened to me inside those walls, that institution, that place of secrets," he said.
"I have visited Wood End sporadically. It never fails to make me feel sorry for the child I was, who was so victimised and traumatised."
Ron Tattersall was 12 when he was sent to Wood End in 1971. His mother couldn't cope with him and his brother so they were put into the care of social services.
When he arrived late one night, he was asked if he wanted food. "When I answered yes, I was smacked across the head," he said.
Mr Tattersall said he tried to escape by smashing a window due to the "beatings" he received inside the home.
After being recaptured at a nearby farm, he said he was told to take his clothes off and was caned until "blood ran down his legs".
In 1974, Wigan Council took over the running of Wood End when it took boys on remand as well as those deemed at risk of potential criminal behaviour.
Those in residence at the centre said the casual violence continued.
John O'Malley, who was sent there, has spoken of being punched in the face and head-butted.
The centre was closed in 1990 and three police investigations have taken place, but no-one has been arrested or convicted.
"I was in a place where the corridors were so thin, we had to walk in single file with the largest boys at the back and the smallest at the front so the staff could survey us.
"[After visits], we were taken to the sports hall and made to stand in our regulation white Y-fronts - we all wore the same clothes - to prove to them that we didn't have anything on us.
"Privacy was totally taken away - even when we went to sleep at night, we couldn't come out of our rooms to go to the toilet.
"We had to press a buzzer and the nightwatchman would take us to the toilet, come in with us so we didn't run away, then bring us back to the bedroom and lock it again.
"He could see through the [bedroom] window but we couldn't see out of it, it was that sort of place."
Greater Manchester Police has launched Operation Milan to investigate complaints of historical abuse at the centre.
Det Ch Insp Sarah Jones from GMP said: "These are serious allegations made against staff by pupils at the centre and we have a team of experienced detectives working through the complaints.
"Due to the age of the allegations, there are inevitably significant evidential challenges and that is reflected in some of the progress made.
"I want to stress that we remain absolutely committed to supporting people who come forward to make a complaint and where possible we will, with CPS colleagues, bring to justice those who have been responsible for abuse so many years ago."
Two people have already been interviewed under caution, with three others due to be questioned.
A Wigan Council spokesperson said the authority will be "entirely open and transparent in the matter" and it was working closely with the police.
Lancashire County Council said it will cooperate with any police investigations.
The stories of victims who say there were abused at Wood End will be broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester in the week beginning 9 February.


A look back at some of the top entertainment stories over the past seven days.

Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Black Sabbath founder Tony Iommi has swapped his heavy metal roots for an ecclesiastical project by writing and producing a piece of choral music.

The five-minute acoustic arrangement for Birmingham Cathedral was a huge departure for the musician once accused of being a Satanist.
The 68-year-old said the song, How Good It Is, was to give something back to the city he hails from.
He said the track was "just a little bit different to Sabbath".
The project was born out of his friendship with the Dean of Birmingham, the Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, which developed when he was battling cancer in 2012.
The lyrics for the piece were inspired by Psalm 133 which talks about people living together in unity which "is what Birmingham is all about", Dean Ogle said.
"Tony and I were introduced by a mutual friend and we discussed a possible music collaboration sometime in the future," she said.
"Then, when Tony was unwell, we got to know one another better when I began to pray for him and kept in touch with Tony and his wife about his health.
"This is a most wonderful gift Tony offered to the cathedral."
Iommi, whose band's front-man is well-known hell-raiser Ozzy Osbourne, said the group, whose reputation is for being pioneers in heavy metal, have previously done instrumental work with orchestras which was something he enjoyed.
"This is a completely new piece of music and I'm really pleased with it."
As for their famed links with the occult, Iommi admitted in a BBC interview in 2013 that the group had "dabbled" in their younger days, but felt it was really an image invented by their record label when a picture of an upside down cross was used on their first album.
"People used to think we were Satanists but we weren't," he said.
"The songs were the opposite and all about the dangers of Black Magic and Satanism.
"The closest we came was Black Magic chocolates."
The new song was played to the public in the cathedral on Thursday which garnered a "beautiful" reaction, Dean Ogle said.
"We're so pleased with what people have been saying.
"We're particularly touched by Tony's fans who have got in touch to say how much they like it - some are quite surprised but 'beautiful' is a word that keeps coming up.
"Who knows if there will be more collaborations?"


Scotland's Martin Laird relinquished his overnight lead after a second-round points haul of seven at the Barracuda Championship in Nevada.

The 33-year-old tempered five birdies with three bogeys, leaving him on 22 points - two behind leader Greg Chalmers of Australia at the PGA Tour's only modified Stableford event.
England's Greg Owen - the other Brit to make the cut - is tied for 53rd.
The winner of the competition will earn £2.3m and an Open Championship spot.
Laird said it would be "great" to secure a place in the field at Royal Troon later this month.
He said: "It's always nice for me to go back to Scotland. The Open is my favourite tournament in the year."
The Barracuda Championship - formerly known as the Reno-Tahoe Open - is the only one on the PGA Tour to use a modified Stableford format, with eagles worth five points and birdies worth two.


The family of one of the missing workers trapped at the collapsed Didcot A Power Station say they will fight the decision to use explosives on the site.

Steve Hall, the son-in-law of Ken Cresswell, said: "We want the men back in one piece, not many pieces."
It comes as RWE Npower announced plans to bring the rest of the building down by controlled explosive demolition.
The firm said it would use a technique which would see the structure fall away from the existing pile of debris.
Updates on this story and more from Oxfordshire
But Mr Hall said: "We are totally against it and we will fight and do whatever we have to to stop that blast."
Speaking on BBC Radio Oxford, Mr Hall said the family were in doubt over the building falling "the way they want it to".
He said: "It could fall on the pile that's there which means the men will be buried under more material and metal.
"I don't know how they've come to the conclusion that the only way is to blast it."
In a statement RWE Npower said: "We understand that any potential work involving further explosive demolition on site causes distress for the families.
"Having explored other manual options, our experts have made it clear that the quickest and safest way to bring the building down is by controlled explosive demolition."
The plant was set for demolition when it collapsed on 23 February.
The bodies of Christopher Huxtable, 34, from Swansea, Ken Cresswell, 57, and John Shaw, 61, both from Rotherham, have not been found following the collapse.
The body of Michael Collings, 53, from Brotton, Teesside, was recovered from the site.
The cause of the collapsed boiler house is being investigated jointly by police and The Health and Safety Executive.


A senior Welsh Tory MP has accused Labour and Lib Dem peers of blocking government changes to tax credits due to their anger at losing the election.

Monmouth MP David Davies was speaking after Chancellor George Osborne vowed to press ahead with the changes.
Mr Davies warned that "undemocratic, unelected people" were undermining the political status quo.
He told BBC Wales he had concerns about tax credit changes but claimed the UK government was "always listening".
Speaking to Huw Edwards on The Wales Report, Mr Davies said: "The reality is that Labour and Liberal Democrat members in particular are angry that they lost the election.
"They don't see why they lost it so badly and they're going to use their in-built majority in the House of Lords to chuck out anything that they can."
The UK government hopes the changes to tax credits will save Â£4bn, but critics claim low-income workers could lose up to Â£1,300 a year.
Mr Davies, who chairs the Commons' Welsh Affairs committee, defended the chancellor's handling of the issue.
He told the programme:  "I had concerns, but all of us who are elected members of parliament will be in touch with our constituents all the time, including George Osborne.
"We have to face our electors every five years and ask them to vote for us once again, and that's why we're always listening, we're always willing to make changes."
The Monmouth MP said he would not advocate abolition of the House of Lords amid claims that peers are not allowed to reject financial measures, saying he was a "huge supporter of the status quo".
However he added: "To have undemocratic, unelected people who's job is to oversee things, perhaps ask government to think again, make minor amendments - suddenly chucking out legislation, makes me question the whole thing."
The Wales Report is on BBC One Wales on Wednesday, 28 October at 22:35 GMT.


A care worker responsible for a 28-year-old man with learning difficulties was "on the phone" and texting during the half-hour before his death, an inquest has heard.

Majid Akhtar was on a day trip to Kings Mill Reservoir near Mansfield in September 2012 when he died.
Carer Nikki Deaney spent 19 minutes on the phone in a 34-minute period while supervising him.
He disappeared from her sight while on a walk and was later found dead.
Mrs Deaney, a day centre care assistant at Spring Wood Day Centre in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, also sent eight text messages in the same time period.
Mr Akhtar, who had a mental age of four, had taken part in water sports with other people at the reservoir earlier in the day.
A jury of eight men and three women at Nottingham Coroner's Court heard Mr Akhtar's care plan said he was "very vulnerable, with no concept of danger, and needed one-to-one care at all times".
He had severe learning difficulties and was epileptic.
Mrs Deaney told police in a statement she had lost sight of Majid for about three seconds.
But the solicitor for the Akhtar family, Georgina Cursham, said it was "likely you were walking for several minutes while on the telephone call before realising Majid wasn't with you.
"I suggest you weren't paying any attention to Majid at all."
His body was found by two people who were walking their dog at the reservoir.
Paramedics were called to the scene and attempts were made to revive him but he was pronounced dead at King's Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The inquest continues.


British number two Heather Watson progressed to the second round of the Hong Kong Open with a straight-set win over qualifier Marina Erakovic.

Watson beat the New Zealander, who is 44 places below her in the rankings, 7-5 7-6 (11-9) at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium.
The Briton, 24, will next play former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, who earlier beat Saisai Zheng of China.
British number one Johanna Konta will later play compatriot Naomi Broady.
Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide.


Popular true crime podcast Serial is set to become a cable TV series.

The Lego Movie creators Chris Miller and Phil Lord and Fox 21 TV Studios have optioned the rights to the podcast, reports Deadline.
They are developing a series which will chronicle the making of the podcast as it follows a new case.
The first series, a spin-off of NPR's This American Life, followed the murder of Hae Min Lee and the ex-boyfriend jailed for her death.
It became a cultural phenomenon, topping the iTunes chart for several weeks and picking up a Peabody Award.
Co-created and co-produced by Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder, and hosted by Koenig, they will both act as executive producers on the forthcoming TV show.
"Chris (Miller) and Phil (Lord) take an unexpected approach to telling stories and that is so appealing to us at Serial," Snyder said.
"They experiment. They don't mimic formulas. Developing a show with them is exciting because we feel like we speak the same language, only they're smarter than us."
"From the very first week of Serial's release last fall, everyone at Fox 21 TVS was obsessed with the podcast," explained Fox 21 TV Studios president Bert Salke.
"One year later, thanks to the incredible passion of Chris and Phil, who flew to New York and shared their vision with Sarah, Julie (Snyder), Alissa (Shipp) and Ira (Glass) for what the series could be, we're moving forward on this exciting project...we are confident we'll attract a spectacular writer and look forward to pitching it to outlets very soon."
The Serial podcast has been commissioned for two more seasons.
Series two will concentrate on the story of captured US Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl, and will air in the autumn.
Lord and Miller have also signed on to direct the Han Solo Star Wars movie, which is set for release in May 2018.