A Rangers fan who was arrested for sectarian singing while on his way to attend a game against Celtic has been jailed for four months.

Scott Lamont, from Glasgow, was heard singing the words of the Billy Boys song on Cathcart Road on 1 February.
The 24-year-old admitted the charge at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
He was also given an 18-month football banning order and told his behaviour would not be tolerated.
Sheriff Paul Crozier told Lamont's lawyer, Joanne Gray: "Glasgow has developed a good reputation in recent years.
"We had the Commonwealth Games last summer, we haven't had an Old Firm game in years.
"What happened at the first Old Firm game? People like him let Glasgow down."
The sheriff described the words to the song as "inflammatory" an said it "could have led to horrendous violence".
He told Lamont: "Your conduct on 1 February was the sort of conduct that the authorities had asked football loving fans to refrain from.
"A message has to be sent to those people who would choose to ruin football for the vast majority who want to go to these games, that you cannot behave like this.
"This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated, certainly not by me."
Another man, Alexander Blood, from Saltford in Somerset, was given a community payback order after admitting acting in a racially aggravated manner.
Blood swore at police officers and called them "Jock".
As part of the order he will be supervised for 18 months and must carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
He was also given a three year football banning order.


Hollywood actress Meryl Streep is championing female authors by funding a screenwriters development programme for women over 40 in the US.

The first Writers Lab will accept submissions between 1 May and 1 June, with the eight winning writers announced on 1 August.
They will then be mentored by the likes of Boyhood producer Caroline Kaplan and Legally Blonde writer Kirsten Smith.
The news was announced at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
The prize-winners will be invited to a weekend retreat in upstate New York this September.
The New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT), which will help run the scheme, said Streep had made a "significant" financial contribution.
Collective IRIS, which also champions women in film, will organise the retreat.
Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents and scripts must be written in the English language.
Streep has been a long-time advocate for equality. She was seen cheering on Patricia Arquette during her Oscars acceptance speech earlier this year, in which she demanded wage equality and equal rights for women in the US.
The actress is also playing Emmeline Pankhurst, who founded the Women's Social and Political Union in the UK, in the upcoming film Suffragette. The film is due to be released in October.


Members of the "specials" police force in Northamptonshire, normally made up of volunteers, are to be paid for working more hours than contracted for.

The county has more than 250 specials with ranks from constable to superintendent.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Adam Simmonds had said he wanted a paid reserve force but now accepts the specials can fulfil this role.
The Police Federation is expected to comment on the arrangement later.
In his first annual report to the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Panel, Mr Simmonds said his objective was to put more emphasis on preventing crime.
This meant devoting resources to fighting social problems, such as drug and alcohol abuse - behaviour which leads to a lot of crime, he said.
More "boots on pavements" was his objective, the report said, but this had to be seen in the context of budget constraints and paying "specials" as a reservist force was to achieve this.
Money from the Â£123m annual budget had been set aside to pay specials willing to put in more hours.
The report said budgets were "still a thorny issue" and Mr Simmonds said he saw pooling "back room" functions such as finance, human relations, procurement and IT as a way to cut costs.
In Northamptonshire, he suggested there was not reason why police and fire stations should not be in the same building.
"The real opportunity imposed by tightening finances is to find new and innovative ways to deliver partnering fit for the 21st century," said Mr Simmonds.
"We are already integrating our police and fire services.
"This will help to reduce duplication, deliver cost savings but also enable greater reinforcement of our frontline."


Black players from a US college football team say they will boycott games until their university's president resigns over what they call his inability to deal with racism.

More than 30 players from the University of Missouri team in Columbia backed the move.
This comes as one university student is continuing a hunger strike over alleged racism in the mainly white college.
In response, university president Tim Wolfe promised to tackle the problem.
In a statement, the group of black players said: "The athletes of colour on the University of Missouri football team truly believe 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere'.
"We will no longer participate in any football-related activities until President Tim Wolfe resigns or is removed due to his negligence toward marginalised students' experience."
A photograph was also posted online showing the players and their coaches locking arms in a sign of solidarity.
The athletes said they were joining other protest groups at the 35,000 campus. Activists have long complained about what they describe as racial slurs and white favouritism in many aspects of campus life.
Mr Wolfe later promised to address the issues.
"It is clear to all of us that change is needed, and we appreciate the thoughtfulness and passion which have gone into the sharing of concerns," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Mr Wolfe added that the university had been working on "a systematic diversity and inclusion strategy" to be unveiled next year.
However, he did not say whether he was planning to resign.
Racial tensions boiled over in Missouri in 2014 after a white policeman killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in the town of Ferguson.
The shooting later sparked demonstrations across America against racial bias by the police.


Images courtesy of AP, AFP, EPA, PA and Reuters

A selection of photos from across the African continent this week:


Wales will miss Justin Tipuric on their tour of New Zealand in June, says former Wales captain Colin Charvis.

The 26-year-old flanker has been advised to take a three-month rest after suffering concussion playing for Wales against Italy on 19 March.
Charvis applauded the decision to give Tipuric a break and the trend towards caution in dealing with head injuries.
"Better safe than sorry," he said. "There's plenty of rugby ahead let's just make sure [he] is looked after."
"Ospreys will miss him for the end of the season and Wales will definitely miss him."
Tipuric's region face an uphill struggle to secure top-flight European rugby next season and in June Wales will play three away Test matches against the All Blacks.
Ospreys have played in the top flight European Cup competition every year since their inception in 2003, but are currently ninth in the Pro12 - three places and nine points outside the qualification places.
Tipuric is the second Wales international to be forced to take an extended break from the game following a head injury in the past 18 months.
Wing George North was out of action between between March and September in 2015 after a series of blows to the head.
Charvis, who played 94-times for Wales between 1996 and 2007, said the management of players after head injuries today is much better than when he was playing.
"In my generation and before ignorance was kind of bliss then, wasn't it?" he said.
"If you could walk in a straight line you could go back on the pitch and we don't know the long-term effects of all the concussions we had."


They make you laugh, drive you mad and will be your friend for life.

Brothers and Sisters are among the most important people in the world to us.
We wanted to find out what you think so asked a group of more than 1000 children aged 7-12 to tell us all about their experiences.
Whether you're the oldest, youngest, middle or an only child you had a lot to say about what it's like being in your family.
Here's some of the results from the survey by Childwise.


A motorcyclist is in a critical condition after crashing into a wall in South Lanarkshire.

Police said the 30-year-old man appeared to have lost control of his Suzuki motorcycle and crashed into the wall on the B743 near Dungavel.
The incident happened at about 19:25 on Wednesday.
He was taken by air ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he is being treated for a serious head injury.
PC Dougie Bryson said: "Our inquiries are continuing today into this crash. At the time of the crash, two of the injured man's friends were travelling on the same road on their bikes.
"I would urge anyone who witnessed the crash take place, or who was driving on that road around the time of the crash, to contact officers through 101."


Shadow chancellor John McDonnell kicked off his election campaign on Wednesday by talking about increasing taxes on the rich and on corporations.

The claim: Low and middle earners are bearing the burden of the tax take.
Reality Check verdict: The government is very reliant on richer people for its funding. More than a quarter of income tax is paid by the 1% of taxpayers with the highest incomes.
"The burden in terms of the tax take is falling on middle and low earners," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
In fact, the tax base is very reliant on rich people, with income tax becoming increasingly reliant on them.
The Resolution Foundation, which does a great deal of work on inequality, says that the income tax system is relying too much on the richest 10%, which is a problem because their earnings are volatile.
It also pointed out that the combined effect of tax and benefit changes was hitting the poorest people the hardest, but Mr McDonnell was not talking about benefits.
This chart from the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that about 90% of income tax is paid by the 50% of taxpayers with the highest incomes, while more than a quarter is paid by the richest 1%.
Indirect taxes such as VAT and fuel duty are not progressive though - people with lower incomes do not pay lower rates - so we need to consider all taxes.
The Treasury published analysis at the time of the Budget predicting what proportion of incomes people would be spending on all taxes by 2019-20.
The result is in the darker green bars below the line in this chart, with the poorest households on the left and the richest on the right.
The proportion of income spent on taxes does appear to be increasing as income increases throughout the distribution. The exception is for the poorest 10%, who seem to be spending slightly more than the next 10%, although the IFS says that is probably due to people misreporting their incomes in the survey from which this analysis is taken.
There is more on the impact of taxes on income in this ONS report, which calculates it in a different way, flattening the increase in the proportion of income spent on taxes as households get richer.
Later in the interview, John McDonnell also said: "Middle and low earners are being hit very, very hard by... income tax rises."
The basic rate of income tax has been 20% since 2008 and the higher rate has been 40% for longer than that. There have been additional rates introduced but they do not affect middle and low earners.
In 2010, the income tax personal allowance, which is the amount you are allowed to earn before paying any income tax, was Â£6,475. This year it is Â£11,500. That has clearly risen considerably faster than inflation, so for people paying the basic rate of income tax there has been a tax cut, while a higher proportion of low earners are not paying income tax at all.
The level of income at which people start paying the higher rate of income tax has not been rising as fast as the personal allowance, in fact it has fallen in some years since 2010, but only about 15% of income taxpayers pay higher rate, so they probably do not count as being low or middle earners.
Read more from Reality Check


Andy Murray says he will not be affected by a "tough atmosphere" when he plays France's Richard Gasquet in the French Open quarter-finals.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, although Monday's play was cancelled because of the rain and there is more wet weather predicted.
Second-seed Murray has beaten Gasquet in all of their Grand Slam meetings.
"I'm pumped to be in the quarters of a slam. The atmosphere will be tough but I don't mind that," said Murray, 29.
"I've played a number of times against French players here in difficult atmospheres and I managed OK, so I'm sure I'll be fine."
Murray has beaten 29-year-old Gasquet four times in Grand Slam matches - twice at Roland Garros, coming from two sets down in a first-round match in 2010 and one set behind in their last-16 tie in 2012, and twice at Wimbledon.
Gasquet defeated fifth seed Kei Nishikori on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open for the first time in his career.
"To beat one the best players in the world like that was a great feeling for me," Gasquet, ranked 12th in the world, told BBC Radio 5 live.
"The most important tournament for me is here in Paris, on the Philippe Chatrier Court with the crowd cheering for me, like they did.
"I was very close to beating Andy in 2008 at Wimbledon when I was serving for the match, but he managed to come back.
"He is number two in the world, and will be clearly the favourite. But I have nothing to lose, and I will do my best to win."
Monday's washout at Roland Garros was the first time in 16 years a whole day's play had been cancelled, but tournament director Guy Forget remains confident the tournament will finish on schedule on Sunday.
"We knew it was going to be horrible today, and it was even worse than we thought, that's why we sent the players back early," said Forget.
"We changed the programme, we're not too far behind and there are still reasons for optimism. I think in two days we will be on time."
The Murray v Gasquet match is scheduled to be the third on the Philippe Chatrier Court on Tuesday, but will definitely not take place before 13:00 BST.
Novak Djokovic's fourth-round match against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut is first on, before Serena Williams' clash with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the fourth round of the women's singles.


One of the stars of reality TV series Storage Hunters stalked a market trader for three years and bombarded him with explicit messages, a court heard.

Boudicca Scherazade, 47, allegedly became obsessed with Laurence Roche after spotting him on his furniture stall in Wimbledon, London.
She sent photos of underwear and messages saying she was in love with him, and followed him around markets, it was claimed.
Ms Scherazade denies stalking.
St Albans magistrates were told how Ms Scherazade, from Middlesex, obtained Mr Roche's contact details from business cards left on his stall.
Her stalking campaign started after she gave him a bunch of flowers in 2013 and it continued until May 2016, it was said.
Prosecutor Clinton Hadgill read samples of the messages allegedly sent.
One included a photo of a pair of knickers on a rug with the caption "I've taken them off just for you".
In other messages, she is said to have told him: "I need your love so bad, can't live without you..."
It was claimed Ms Scherazade followed Mr Roche, who had a partner and child, to various markets and car boot sales, "continually" walked past his stalls, took photos of him and "caused him embarrassment" by shouting at him.
In the TV series Storage Hunters, Ms Scherazade, of Garrick Villa, Hampton, travelled the country with other dealers hoping to find a bargain. She appeared in the show in 2015.
She pleaded not guilty to a charge of stalking without fear, alarm or distress.
The case continues.


Kevin Lokko consigned Boreham Wood to a painful home defeat with a stoppage-time winner for Maidstone at Meadow Park.

The two sides had sparred for the whole match until the defender advanced to bring Stones manager Jay Saunders a gleeful moment in his 300th match in charge.
In a fascinating tussle, Ben Greenhalgh nearly scored an outrageous second-minute opener for the visitors when he bent in a cross that hit the upright.
And Tom Murphy fired a shot over as the away side threatened.
But Kenny Davis could have made it a very different day for the Wood when he nodded an effort against the crossbar.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Boreham Wood 0, Maidstone United 1.
Second Half ends, Boreham Wood 0, Maidstone United 1.
Goal!  Boreham Wood 0, Maidstone United 1. Kevin Lokko (Maidstone United).
Dumebi Dumaka (Maidstone United) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Boreham Wood. Morgan Ferrier replaces Angelo Balanta.
Substitution, Maidstone United. Dan Sweeney replaces Jack Evans.
Substitution, Maidstone United. Dumebi Dumaka replaces Ben Greenhalgh.
Substitution, Maidstone United. Bobby-Joe Taylor replaces Anthony Acheampong.
Ben Greenhalgh (Maidstone United) is shown the yellow card.
Second Half begins Boreham Wood 0, Maidstone United 0.
First Half ends, Boreham Wood 0, Maidstone United 0.
Substitution, Boreham Wood. Conor Clifford replaces Jordan Chiedozie.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


Plans for a complete ban on catching wild salmon using coastal nets have been announced by the Scottish government.

The proposal followed a consultation which attracted more than 600 responses.
It would also see the introduction of a licensing scheme for the killing of wild salmon caught in rivers.
The moves have been welcomed by the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards.
Scotland's biggest salmon netting company, Usan Salmon, said it was confident it would be allowed to start catching again once accurate salmon stock measurements have been taken.
A Scottish government notice states: "In terms of paragraph 11 of schedule 1 to the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 (the Act) notice is hereby given that the Scottish ministers propose to make conservation regulations under section 38 of the Act to introduce a licensing system for the killing of wild salmon in Scotland and a prohibition on the taking of salmon outwith inland waters."
It said: "The general effect of this proposal will be: (a) to prohibit the taking of Atlantic salmon outwith inland waters. (b) to prohibit the killing of salmon in Scotland without a licence."
Objections to the regulations must be submitted by 19 August.
The Scottish government said no decision had yet been taken but it would consider all the responses.
A spokeswoman said: "Our consultation on wild fisheries reform is ongoing and we are in the process of engaging with stakeholders."


Months of talks to resolve some of the most divisive issues that have hampered the Northern Ireland peace process have broken up without agreement.

Northern Ireland's five main parties met through the night in a final effort to settle differences over parades, flags and the legacy of the Troubles.
Former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass, who chaired the talks, said a final agreement was "not there" but there had been "significant progress".
He called it a "basis" for change.
The BBC's Andy Martin in Belfast said that although a positive spin had been emphasised by all those involved in the talks, the current proposals would need significant modification to be collectively adopted by all five main parties. "This process is not dead, but it is far from finished," he said.
The proposed deal won broad support from Sinn Féin, the largest nationalist party, but others including the unionist DUP, said unresolved issues over parades and flags meant more work was needed before consensus could be reached.
Dr Haass said: "All the parties support significant parts of the agreement. At the same time, all have some concerns."
By Mark DevenportPolitical editor, Northern Ireland
Although he is flying home without a deal, Richard Haass believes his efforts haven't all been in vain.
The former US diplomat reckons he has made significant progress, especially on potential new institutions to deal with Northern Ireland's troubled past.
Dr Haass hopes the Stormont parties can move these matters forward in the months ahead.
That said, the Stormont politicians don't have a great track record in resolving tough issues without outside assistance.
So there's good reason for scepticism about their ability to deliver progress now Dr Haass and his talks co-chair Professor Meghan O'Sullivan have declared their involvement in these negotiations over.
"We very much hope that the parties reflect on this, discuss it with their leadership and then come back with a strong endorsement. Over the next week we will know a lot more."
He said progress had been made in all three of the negotiating areas, especially the past, while flags and symbols had proven to be the "toughest area of negotiations".
Dr Haass, who was brought to Northern Ireland with co-chair Prof Meghan O'Sullivan in July by the first and deputy first ministers, said all five parties had "given it their best" and were "prepared to continue" with the process.
"It would have been nice to have come out here tonight and say we have got all five parties completely signed on to the text," he said.
"We are not there but I believe there is a real prospect that we will get several of the parties to sign on the text in full.
"Several of the other parties will endorse significant parts of it, and together this will provide a basis for a serious ongoing political process."
The overnight negotiations, which began at 10:00 GMT on Sunday and carried on until 05:00 GMT, were on a seventh set of draft proposals put forward during the talks.
The three key issues have been:
After the talks, Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams said his negotiating team believed there was a "basis for a deal in the proposals put forward".
He said the team would recommend it to the party's executive, though he said the proposed deal was "not perfect".
"I'm sure there will be a lot of disappointment out there as people come to terms with the fact that there doesn't appear at this point to be an agreement," he said.
The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson said that while the "broad architecture" of the agreement was acceptable, "some of the language and detail is not what we would have chosen and in some cases we strongly disapprove of the language".
"We entered into this process to get the right deal for the people of Northern Ireland, but not any deal," he added.
"We do not have an agreement this evening but we are committed to continuing this work beyond now in dialogue with others to try and resolve the outstanding issues that need to be addressed," he said.
"We owe that to the people of Northern Ireland, especially to the innocent victims of terrorism who have suffered so much over the decades."
Alliance Party deputy leader Naomi Long said the talks had moved negotiations forward but there were still major challenges over the issues of parades and flags.
"We have seen a huge sea change in the level of political agreement which has exceeded public expectation, particularly in delivering for the victims and the reconciliation process," Mrs Long added.
SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said despite some concerns he anticipated his party would accept the agreement.
He said: "We would anticipate a general endorsement from the SDLP in due course, that's not to say we're entirely happy... but we do welcome it as far as it goes."
Mike Nesbitt, leader of the UUP, said he had an opinion on the document but was unwilling to disclose it until his party had examined the proposals.
Haass talks: political reaction
"We will have an honest debate and hopefully form a final opinion at the end of that debate," he said.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers expressed disappointment but said the failure to reach agreement did not spell an end to negotiations.
"I welcome the suggestion by Dr Haass that the parties should now lose no time in getting together to see how they can most constructively take things forward," she said.
"For our part, the UK government will look at how we can best facilitate this."
And Labour's Ivan Lewis, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, said: "The failure to reach a final agreement is deeply disappointing. However, significant common ground has been identified which should be the basis for future progress."


At least 12 people have died in a helicopter crash west of the Libyan capital Tripoli, security sources say.

A militia spokesman told the BBC the helicopter was "shot down" in the Al-Maya coastal region, which has seen clashes between rival militias.
The helicopter had been carrying cash for a local bank on the way out and was returning with passengers to Tripoli.
Local media say the dead may include high-ranking militia members. Bank workers were also reportedly on board.
The civilian bank staff were from the town of Surman, the militia spokesman said.
Libya has been hit by instability since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with numerous militias each governing their own patches of territory.


A young offenders institution once praised for running a "model" unit for vulnerable inmates has "deteriorated in some areas", inspectors have said.

The report on HMYOI Wetherby followed an unannounced visit from HM Inspectorate of Prisons in February.
The chief inspector said the specialist Keppel unit was failing to deliver the education that had been "its hallmark".
Michael Spurr, of the National Offender Management Service, said changes had introduced a "more flexible regime".
Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said training and education had deteriorated and the lack of proper recording made it impossible to be sure there were not serious failing in other areas.
About 300 documents were missing at the inspection, making it impossible to determine the level and extent of the use of force.
Levels of violence on both boys and staff had risen and were high.
The previous inspection in January 2015 made 21 recommendations about safety, but it was found only one had been fully achieved.
The recent inspection had found most communal areas and cells were clean and well maintained and health services were good, with inspectors finding "much that is positive" about Wetherby YOI and the Keppel unit.
The unit, a separate, national facility within the YOI, provided for some of the most challenging and vulnerable young people in the country, said the inspectorate.
Previous inspections described it as a "model of how a specialist unit should be run", the report said.
Mr Spurr said "A new safeguarding team has been put in place and a new governance structure set up to make sure all recording processes are monitored."
He said the inspectors had found "very good examples of positive work" by staff.
The YOI held 272 boys aged between 15 and 18 when inspected and was not overcrowded.
Colin Allars of the Youth Justice Board, the body which ensures that services within YOIs are up to scratch, said he was disappointed by aspects of the report.
He added: "We understand the operational challenges facing YOIs, and the difficulty Wetherby and the Keppel Unit have in order to deliver a timetable which fully meets requirements.
"National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is improving the services at these establishments and we will continue to work with them on this."


American Jordan Spieth says withdrawing from the Olympics was the "hardest decision I've had to make in my life".

The world number three cited "health concerns" for his decision but did not refer specifically to the Zika virus, as have Jason Day and Rory McIlroy.
Spieth, 22, added: "Do I think it looks bad on golf? Maybe."
But Northern Ireland's McIlroy was less apologetic, saying he may watch "track and field, swimming, diving, the stuff that matters" but perhaps not the golf.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Spieth's decision to pull out, announced on Monday, means none of the world's top four will be in Rio this summer, following the withdrawals of Day, McIlroy  - who was set to represent Ireland - and world number two Dustin Johnson.
But the two-time major winner said: "I'm making the decision that's best for me but I don't feel like I have to carry the torch for the sport.
"I do hope to play in four or five Olympics in the future, but it's unique circumstances this year.
"It was harder than deciding what university to go to or whether to turn pro.
"Why was it so hard? I'm a huge believer in Olympic golf and playing for your country."
Media playback is not supported on this device
McIlroy, 27, who has four majors, was the first of the top four to withdraw from the Games, saying that golf's majors were more important to players than winning a gold medal.
And speaking ahead of Thursday's Open at Royal Troon, he added: "I have no regrets about it at all.
"I'll probably watch the Olympics, but I'm not sure golf will be one of the events I'll watch.
"I don't feel like I've let the game down at all. I didn't get into golf to try to grow the game, I tried to get into golf to win championships."
Zika has been found to cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults.
Carried by mosquitoes, the virus has also been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.
Masters champion Danny Willett, who will be ranked fourth in Rio, said there is "more chance of getting Malaria in South Africa than Zika in Rio".
"Would people pull out if the Olympic Games were in Johannesburg? I don't know," said the Englishman.
Golf is back in the Olympics after a 112-year absence, but the withdrawal of the top male players has overshadowed its return.
"I sympathise with them," added Justin Rose, who will now be ranked fifth when he represents Team GB in Rio.
"But from my point of view I see it as a once in a lifetime opportunity and it's about being part of something bigger than your sport.
"The Olympics is about the best of the best going head to head no matter what the sport, so golf has been hit quite hard in that respect."
Meanwhile two-time Ryder Cup winner Francesco Molinari has withdrawn from Italy's Olympic team, citing "family reasons".


A bug in Microsoft Word was exploited by hackers for months before it was eventually fixed, according to security researchers.

The flaw allowed attackers to take control of a computer via malicious document files.
The zero-day, or previously undetected, vulnerability was patched earlier this month.
However, it has since emerged that Microsoft was told about it in October, nearly six months ago.
A report from the Reuters news agency notes that security researcher Ryan Hanson at Optiv first discovered the problem in July 2016.
Microsoft could have notified customers to make a change to settings in Word that would have prevented the vulnerability from being exploited - but that would also have alerted hackers to its existence.
The decision to wait for a patch seems to have allowed a window of opportunity for hackers to discover the flaw on their own.
In March, cyber-security company FireEye noticed financial hacking software that was being distributed with the Microsoft bug.
And another company, McAfee, found attacks that were exploiting it, too.
McAfee faced some criticism, however, for publishing a blog post about the vulnerability - with details hackers may have found useful - two days before it was fixed.
Yet another company, Proofpoint, found that the vulnerability was being targeted by scammers trying to distribute Dridex malware - which infects a victim's computer before snooping on banking logins.
There were even reports of hacking after the patch was made available.
Cyber-security outlet Morphisec said that employees at Ben-Gurion University in Israel had had their email accounts compromised by attackers who had then sent infected documents to medical professionals and contacts at technology companies.
"Prior to public disclosure, our engineers were aware of a small number of attempts to use this vulnerability through targeted spam designed to convince users to open a malicious attachment," a Microsoft spokesman said.
Customers who applied the 11 April security update were already protected, he added.
"In an ideal world, it would have been fixed sooner," said cyber-security expert Graham Cluley.
However, he pointed out that patching software run on millions of computers around the world was not an easy process.
"There's always this huge challenge because companies want to patch their software, but they want to do it properly - they want to make sure they've been comprehensive with the fix," he told the BBC.


Colchester boosted their play-off chances with a deserved win over Barnet.

The hosts suffered a double injury blow early in the game when Frankie Kent and Lloyd Doyley were both forced off.
But they took an 18th-minute lead through Kurtis Guthrie, who netted with a low 25-yard drive after being found by Denny Johnstone.
Barnet goalkeeper Josh Vickers denied Craig Slater and Alex Wynter also went close, while at the other end Sam Walker produced a fine save to deny Curtis Weston from close range.
Colchester doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Brennan Dickenson squeezed home his shot.
John Akinde headed home Mauro Vilhete's cross with four minutes remaining but it was too little, too late for the visitors.
Match report supplied by the Press Association
Match ends, Colchester United 2, Barnet 1.
Second Half ends, Colchester United 2, Barnet 1.
Corner,  Barnet. Conceded by Kane Vincent-Young.
Corner,  Barnet. Conceded by Matthew Briggs.
Corner,  Barnet. Conceded by Brennan Dickenson.
Corner,  Barnet. Conceded by Tom Lapslie.
Substitution, Colchester United. Tarique Fosu-Henry replaces Denny Johnstone.
Goal!  Colchester United 2, Barnet 1. John Akinde (Barnet) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Mauro Vilhete.
Corner,  Barnet. Conceded by Brennan Dickenson.
Attempt missed. Craig Slater (Colchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Kurtis Guthrie (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bira Dembélé (Barnet).
Attempt missed. Mauro Vilhete (Barnet) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt blocked. Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Craig Slater (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Craig Slater (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Barnet. Ruben Bover replaces Nana Kyei.
Attempt missed. John Akinde (Barnet) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
Alex Wynter (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by John Akinde (Barnet).
Attempt saved. Owen Garvan (Colchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution, Barnet. Justin Amaluzor replaces Curtis Weston.
Foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet).
Tom Lapslie (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Mauro Vilhete (Barnet) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Kane Vincent-Young (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Mauro Vilhete (Barnet) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Mauro Vilhete (Barnet).
Denny Johnstone (Colchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Denny Johnstone (Colchester United).
Tom Champion (Barnet) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay in match Bira Dembélé (Barnet) because of an injury.
Foul by Kurtis Guthrie (Colchester United).
Bira Dembélé (Barnet) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Denny Johnstone (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner,  Colchester United. Conceded by Elliot Johnson.
Second Half begins Colchester United 2, Barnet 0.
Substitution, Barnet. Jamal Campbell-Ryce replaces Luke Coulson.
First Half ends, Colchester United 2, Barnet 0.
Attempt missed. Brennan Dickenson (Colchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.


1494 - Christopher Columbus sights Jamaica.
1509 - Jamaica occupied by the Spaniards under a licence from Columbus's son; much of the indigenous Arawak community dies off from exposure to European diseases; African slaves brought in to work on the sugar plantations.
1655 - Jamaica is captured by the British.
1670 - Jamaica formally ceded to the British in accordance with the Treaty of Madrid.
1692 - Port Royal, once the busiest trading centre of the British West Indies and infamous for general debauchery, is devastated by an earthquake.
The capital Kingston has endured earthquakes and fires
1838 - Slavery abolished.
1865 - The British ruthlessly put down the Morant Bay rebellion, staged by freed slaves in response to acute hardship, and force the local legislature to surrender its powers; Jamaica becomes a crown colony.
1870 - Banana plantations set up as the sugar cane industry declines in the face of competition from European beet sugar.
1884 - New constitution marks the initial revival of local autonomy.
1938 - Serious riots caused by unemployment and resentment against British racial policies; People's National Party (PNP) founded by Norman Manley.
1944 - Universal adult suffrage introduced; new constitution providing for a popularly-elected House of Representatives promulgated.
1958 - Jamaica becomes a member of the British-sponsored Federation of the West Indies.
1961 - Jamaica withdraws from the Federation of the West Indies.
Michael Manley was prominent in Jamaican politics for 40 years
Independence
1962 - Jamaica becomes independent within the British Commonwealth with Alexander Bustamante of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) as prime minister.
1972 - Michael Manley becomes prime minister following an impressive victory by the PNP in the general elections and pursues a policy of economic self-reliance.
1976 - The PNP wins another term following elections marked by violence and proceeds to nationalise businesses and build closer ties with Cuba.
1980 - Edward Seaga becomes prime minister after his JLP wins general elections. He proceeds to privatise state enterprises and to distance Jamaica from Cuba. US grants Seaga government substantial aid.
1988 - Jamaica badly hit by Hurricane Gilbert.
1989 - PNP ousts JLP in elections, returning Michael Manley as prime minister. Manley, however, chooses to continue Seaga's policy course.
Patterson takes over
1992 - Manley retires on health grounds and is succeeded by Percival J Patterson.
Gang rivalry, drugs trade contribute to high murder rate
Spanish Town new 'murder capital'
1993 - PNP returned to office with an increased majority.
1998 - PNP wins a third term; increase in violent crime reported as the economy deteriorates.
1999 April - Violent protests take place against a 30% increase in fuel prices.
1999 July - Government orders the army to patrol the streets of Kingston following a massive increase in crime.
2001 July - Troops and armoured vehicles move in to restore order in the capital, Kingston, after three days of unrest leave at least 27 people dead.
2002 March - Britain's Privy Council - final court of appeal for Jamaica and other former colonies - decides to halt executions in some Caribbean countries, where capital punishment is supported as a deterrent to violent crime. Prime Minister PJ Patterson criticises the move.
Patterson's third term
2002 October - Prime Minister PJ Patterson's People's National Party wins general elections, ushering in fourth successive term in office for party and third term for incumbent premier.
2003 January - UK introduces visa requirement for Jamaicans entering UK; London says move is intended to tackle illegal immigration.
PJ Patterson led Jamaica for 14 years
2002: Profile - Jamaica's PJ as PM
2004 March - Ousted former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide takes up temporary asylum, prompting an angry response from the new Haitian government.
2004 September - Hurricane Ivan - described as the biggest in living memory - pounds the island, destroying thousands of homes.
2005 September - Prime Minister PJ Patterson says he will step down by April 2006.
Opposition leads a day of protest over price increases for utilities and public transport.
2006 February - Local government minister Portia Simpson Miller is elected as head of the ruling People's National Party. She succeeds PJ Patterson to become Jamaica's first female PM in March.
2006 October - Government survives a confidence vote in parliament over the ruling party's acceptance of a campaign donation from a Netherlands-based oil company.
Labour takes over
2007 September - Jamaica Labour Party wins general elections, Bruce Golding becomes PM.
2008 November - Parliament votes to keep the death penalty, as Jamaica struggles to contain one of the world's highest murder rates.
2010 May-June - Dozens killed in operation to arrest alleged drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke. He is extradited to the US, sentenced and jailed.
2011 October - Andrew Holness takes over as premier, after Golding quits, citing the ''Dudus'' Coke affair.
2011 December - Portia Simpson-Miller from the People's National Party wins a snap general election.
2012 January - On taking up office, Mrs Simpson-Miller says that 50 years after Jamaica gained its independence from Britain, it is time for the country to break with the British monarchy and become a republic.
2012 November - Jamaica abolishes flogging and whipping from its penal code.
2014 April - Anti-doping officials in Jamaica given Asafa Powell, once the world's top sprinter, an 18-month ban for failing a drugs test.
2014 June - The government announces plans to radically reform the country's drug laws.
2015 February - Parliament decriminalises the possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use. The law also permits the use of marijuana for religious, medical and scientific purposes.


Public servants in Uganda are facing a strict dress code after the government issued a circular warning them to "dress decently".

Female staff have been told not to show any cleavage, wear brightly coloured nails, braids or hair extensions, sleeveless or transparent blouses.
Men must wear long-sleeved shirts, jackets and ties, while trousers should not be tight-fitting.
Staff failing to comply will be disciplined.
The guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Public Service apply to all non-uniformed civil servants. But there is a feeling that female staff are the main focus on the new rules.
While women will be allowed to wear pant-suits, they have been warned not to wear any tight-fitting clothing. Dresses and skirts must at least be knee-length.
Uganda is a conservative society and women have previously complained of being harassed if they wear mini-skirts in public.
How to 'dress decently' in Uganda:
The Ministry of Public Service's director of Human Resources, Adah Muwanga, said they had to act after receiving complaints:
"We were approached with complaints that, specifically lady officers, were dressing in an unacceptable manner, with mini-skirts and showing body parts which otherwise generally should be covered in Ugandan society," she told the BBC.
She said the ministry has overall responsibility to guide on the administration and management of the public service and "this is how we want the public to view us".
The circular further states that accessories should be modest, while long fingernails of more than 3cms (1.5in) with bright or multi-coloured nail polish are also not permitted.
Flat, open shoes are ruled out, except in cases where one can prove that it is for medical reasons.
Men have been told they should keep their hair short and neat, and not wear brightly coloured clothes.
The circular is derived from Public Service Standing Orders on dress code, put in place in 2010.
However, the BBC's Patience Atuhaire in Kampala says the dress code does not seem to have been paid much attention to up to now.
Mrs Muwanga said that staff who failed to comply with the new enforcements would be cautioned at first, and repeat offenders would face disciplinary action.
However she added "there is always room for review".


Prosecutors have defended pursuing a woman who killed herself days before appearing in court accused of making a false rape allegation.

Eleanor De Freitas, who died in April aged 23, had bipolar disorder and left notes saying she was scared of court.
Director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders, who reviewed the prosecution, said it had been in the public interest and correctly handled.
Ms De Freitas' father had blamed the CPS for his daughter's death.
Head of the Crown Prosecution Service Ms Saunders said she had met with David De Freitas in "one of the most complex" cases she had seen.
"Having considered the detail and the issues raised by the family, I am satisfied that the decision making in this case was correct and that it was made in accordance with our policies and guidance," Ms Saunders said.
An inquest into Ms De Freitas' death was opened and adjourned in November.
She told the Metropolitan Police she had been raped in early 2013.
But, after police said there was insufficient evidence to pursue her allegation, the man she had accused took out a private prosecution against her for allegedly perverting the course of justice.
Ms De Freitas' solicitors asked the Crown Prosecution Service to halt the private action but instead prosecutors decided to take it over and continue it.
Three days before Ms De Freitas was due to stand trial in April, she took her own life.
She had suffered a mental breakdown during her first year at Durham University and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder for which she received medical treatment.
The inquest into her death was halted while Ms Saunders carried out a review of the case, demanding a "full explanation" from the prosecutors who brought the case.
In her statement, Ms Saunders defended their decision, saying that there had been "strong" evidence against Ms De Freitas.
"This was evidence including text messages and CCTV footage that directly contradicted the account Ms De Freitas gave to the police," she added.
"It was on this basis that we concluded that there was a realistic prospect of proving that the rape allegation made by Ms De Freitas was false, and there was also a strong public interest in prosecuting due to the seriousness of the alleged offence which was maintained by the defendant for some time and which led to the arrest of an individual."
She pointed out that CPS guidance stated that it should take over private prosecutions for serious offences, and said it would have been inappropriate not to have taken the case on.


Plans to mark the Queen's 90th birthday next year will celebrate her "love" of horses and "deep involvement" with the Armed Forces, organisers have said.

Four events will be held inside the grounds of Windsor Castle between May 12 and 15, with members of the Royal Family due to attend each night.
The Queen will herself attend the last event, a theatrical show that will be broadcast live on TV.
The birthday events will feature more than 1,200 participants and 550 horses.
Performers will include singers - including Katherine Jenkins - musicians and dancers as well as actors, actresses and artists.
The event is also expected to celebrate her "dedication to the Commonwealth", with international performers due to come from New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Oman, South Africa and Chile.
Event producer Simon Brooks-Ward, who was responsible for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant in Windsor, said there would be "a very happy and celebratory feel" to the event.
"We have been delighted with the level of response from funders and participants. It should be a very special and memorable occasion," he added.
Any proceeds from the event will be donated to a number of the Queen's charities, which will be selected by an advisory committee.


Mae'r Unol Daleithiau wedi gwrthod mynediad i athro Mwslimaidd o Gastell-nedd Port Talbot oedd yn ceisio ymweld â'r wlad ar drip ysgol.

Roedd Juhel Miah wedi hedfan i Reykjavik yng Ngwlad yr Iâ gydag Ysgol Gyfun Llangatwg, ble roedden nhw yn dal awyren ymlaen i Efrog Newydd.
Ond cyn i'r awyren adael ar 16 Chwefror cafodd ei gymryd oddi arno gan swyddogion diogelwch.
Mae BBC Cymru wedi gofyn am sylw gan Lysgenhadaeth yr Unol Daleithiau yn Llundain am sylw.
Mae Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot wedi ysgrifennu at y llysgenhadaeth yn mynegi eu "siomedigaeth" am driniaeth Mr Miah.
Dywedodd y cyngor bod gan yr athro fisa cymwys i deithio i'r Unol Daleithiau.
Bu'n rhaid i'r trip barhau heb Mr Miah, sy'n athro mathemateg yn yr ysgol, ac maen nhw bellach wedi dychwelyd adref.
Ychwanegodd y cyngor nad oedd chwaith wedi cael mynediad i lysgenhadaeth yr Unol Daleithiau yn Reykjavik.
"Does dim rheswm boddhaol wedi cael ei roi am wrthod mynediad i'r Unol Daleithiau - yn y maes awyr yng Ngwlad yr Iâ nac yn y llysgenhadaeth," meddai llefarydd ar ran y cyngor.
"Yn ddealladwy, mae'n teimlo wedi'i fychanu ac yn drist am yr hyn sy'n ymddangos yn wahaniaethu heb gyfiawnhad."
Ar 27 Ionawr fe wnaeth Arlywydd yr Unol Daleithiau, Donald Trump arwyddo gorchymyn gweithredol i atal ffoaduriaid a phobl o saith gwlad rhag cael mynediad i'r wlad.
Wythnos yn ddiweddarach fe wnaeth barnwr wahardd y gorchymyn - penderfyniad gafodd ei gymeradwyo mewn gwrandawiad llys apêl yn San Francisco.


One of two tourists who have died while kayaking on a lake in New Zealand's South Island was British, the Foreign Office (FCO) has confirmed.

The pair were killed after being hit by strong winds that tipped them into the cold water.
Nine others were rescued in the incident at Lake Tekapo, a popular tourist destination in Canterbury.
The identities of the victims have not been released but local media reported they were both men in their 20s.
Police said they were part of a group of young people who got into difficulties on the lake after a sudden change in weather.
Inspector Dave Gaskin, mid-south Canterbury area commander, told the New Zealand Herald that emergency services were alerted at 16:30 local time after winds had started gusting up to 40km/h (25 mph).
A local man who hired out the kayaks alerted police when he saw a change in the weather, he said.
"The boats were swamped and they were tipped into the water," he said. "The air temperature when it happened was about 3C [37F] and the water wasn't much warmer than that and they were in the water for about an hour," he said.
Mr Gaskin added that those who had survived were "lucky to be alive".
Those rescued were suffering from hypothermia and some were taken to hospital, New Zealand Police said in a statement.
All members of the group are understood to have been wearing life jackets.
Officers said an investigation would follow into why the accident happened.
The FCO said it was supporting the British national's family and was in contact with New Zealand authorities.


A painkiller that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke may be overprescribed, researchers say.

The team that looked at prescribing practices for 15 countries, including England, found diclofenac was a common choice over other painkillers despite its higher risk of side effects.
The work is published in PLoS Medicine.
Experts say the absolute risk of complications with diclofenac is small and patients prescribed this drug by their doctors should stay on it.
A similar drug called rofecoxib (Vioxx), in the same non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug family (NSAIDs) as diclofenac, was voluntarily taken off the market by its manufacturer in 2004 amid concerns over associated heart risks.
There is an ongoing Europe-wide review of diclofenac's safety.
While prescribing of diclofenac could be entirely appropriate, there is concern that it might be the wrong choice for some patients.
Justin Mason, a professor of vascular rheumatology at Imperial College London, said:  "I do think there is over prescription of diclofenac.
"There are some particular cases when it is a good option - but there are other painkillers that may be considered safer.
"We need to understand these types of drugs on an individual basis rather than tarnish them all with the same brush.
"There is an argument that diclofenac should be withdrawn from being available over the counter in shops."
Diclofenac is often used to treat painful conditions like arthritis.
They are normally prescribed at the lowest possible dose for the shortest time to cut the chance of side effects.
Although heart and circulatory complications are relatively rare - estimates suggest three patients in every 1,000 treated on diclofenac for a year will develop such complications as a result of their medication - doctors are careful about prescribing the drug.
Diclofenac is not usually recommended for people who have existing heart disease.
If an NSAID is still needed, naproxen is thought to be a safer choice.
The study in PLoS Medicine found that diclofenac was often prioritised above other NSAIDs.
It was included in the essential medicines lists of 74 countries, while naproxen was listed in 27.
Maureen Talbot, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Anyone taking these painkillers should be made aware of both their risks, especially of cardiovascular disease and internal bleeding, and benefits in treating debilitating pain such as that caused by arthritis.
"If you are taking these powerful drugs and are worried, discuss your concerns with your GP or pharmacist who will be able to help you decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks."
The UK's drug regulator the MHRA says it keeps the safety profile of diclofenac under review and considers all new data as it becomes available.
A spokesman said: "Our advice remains that these medicines should be used for the shortest time necessary and at the lowest dose possible to control symptoms.
"There is an ongoing Europe-wide review of diclofenac that was was initiated at the request of the MHRA. We will continue to review all available data and take any appropriate action required to further minimise any risk to patients. If people have any concerns about any NSAID they are taking then they should speak to their doctor."


Matti Makkonen, who helped to launch the worldwide sensation of texting, has died at the age of 63 after an illness.

Makkonen became known as the father of SMS after developing the idea of sending messages via mobile networks.
Despite the nickname, he was often quick to point out that he did not invent the technology single-handedly.
In 2012, he told BBC News - in an SMS interview - that he believed texting in some form would be around "forever".
Speaking on the 20th anniversary of the first text message, Makkonen said that he considered the development of SMS a joint effort and that it was Nokia who helped to popularise the service.
"The real launch of the service, as I see it, was when Nokia introduced the first phone that enabled easy writing of messages (Nokia 2010 in 1994)," he said.
Txt spk
He added that he did not use "txt spk" himself, though he pointed out that texting could be thought of as having had an impact on the development of language.
Jarmo Matilainen, managing director of Finnish telecoms group Finnet Association, had been working with Makkonen, himself a former managing director of Finnet Ltd, in recent years.
He described Makkonen as a "grand old man of the mobile industry".
"It's very sad. He was just going to retire and he should have had many years ahead," said Matilainen, who added that Makkonen's fascination with communications technology had been irrepressible.
"We liked to talk about SMS and that kind of thing, 3G and so on. He liked to talk about this all time," he said.
Although the use of SMS in the UK has begun to fall, it remains popular worldwide with trillions of texts sent every year.


DJ Rita Ray looks at some of the best recent music releases from Morocco - and why some North African musicians are seeking inspiration further south.

14 May 2016 Last updated at 18:29 BST
Ahmed Soultan, a pioneer of Morocco's urban music scene,
Listen to a sample of his track Afrobian which features Femi Kuti, Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis.


Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath became the most successful left-arm spinner in Test cricket history as the hosts beat Bangladesh by 259 runs in Galle.

Herath, 38, surpassed the record of 362 wickets set by New Zealand's Daniel Vettori as Bangladesh were all out for 197 on the final day of the first Test.
He has 366 wickets in 79 Tests, after finishing with match figures of 9-131, including six in the final innings.
He is second to only Pakistan's Wasim Akram (414) of all left-arm bowlers.
In taking 6-59 in the final innings, Herath also claimed the 29th five-wicket haul of his career, drawing level with Australia's Glenn McGrath.
Only Herath's compatriot Muttiah Muralitharan (67), Australia's Shane Warne (37), New Zealand's Richard Hadlee (36) and India's Anil Kumble (35), have taken more five-wicket hauls in Tests.


A woman has died following a collision involving three vehicles in the Highlands.

The incident occurred on the A9 north of Berriedale in Caithness at about 14:00.
Several other people received minor injuries in the crash.
The road was closed and diversions were put in place via the A897 Helmsdale to Melvich road. Police Scotland said inquiries into the incident were ongoing.


Depression and heart-disease drugs are to be tested in a trial to find treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) from existing medicines.

There are currently no treatments in the secondary progressive stage of the debilitating disease.
Doctors hope the necessary drugs are already out there, but have never been tested on MS.
More than 400 people will take part in the trial at University College London and the University of Edinburgh.
Walking, balance, speech, and vision become impaired in the later stages of the disease.
There are treatments in the early phases of MS to prevent the frequency or severity of relapses. But there is nothing once the disease progresses.
The MS-Smart trial will test the safety and effectiveness of three drugs used in other conditions:
They were identified after a review of previously published research into drugs that appear to protect the nerves from damage.
Researchers believe these treatments could slow down the progress of MS and the trial will be the first time they have been tested on such a large number of patients.
Dr Jeremy Chataway, a consultant neurologist and lead researcher on the trial based at UCL, said there was "huge unmet need".
He told the BBC: "It may be the case that we have already invented the drugs we need to treat MS.
"In the same way that aspirin was developed as a painkiller and is now used to treat stroke patients, we may well have invented the drugs that we need, we just don't know that they work in different situations than what they were invented for.
"One of the advantages is they are very cheap, and we know a great deal about them as they have been tested on millions of people around the world in their original indication.
"So it's much more of a running start when we use drugs that we aim to repurpose."
Prof Siddharthan Chandran, a clinical neurologist at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This is a landmark study that seeks to not only test three potential treatments, but also showcase a new approach to clinical trials for progressive neurological conditions."
MS-Smart is a phase two trial, making sure the drugs are safe and demonstrate sufficient effectiveness before they are tested in a larger number of people.
If successful, it could lead to new ways of using the existing drugs to modify the way the disease develops.
It is the first time Sanjay Chadha, 47, has had any real hope for his condition.
He has lived with progressively worsening MS for 25 years, and is now a wheelchair-user with round-the-clock care.
He said: "In recent years, as my MS has progressed into secondary progressive MS, those treatments aren't available to help stop the accumulation of disability, which just seems to weaken the whole body.
"It's very dispiriting and - I hate to use the word - depressing that there's very little that can stop the symptoms and give me some kind of control and some kind of certainty for the future.
"To have even some kind of hope that there is some kind of possibility of something that might help - it's that word 'hope'.
"It's so meaningful for somebody in my situation. Living is hard enough, but to live with no hope is even harder."


Barcelona's Lionel Messi has donated a signed shirt to raise funds for two former non-league footballers who were victims of a hit-and-run driver.

Former Newmarket Town player Shaun Whiter lost both his legs when he was hit helping his friend Joey Abbs to change a tyre near the Suffolk town. Abbs suffered a serious leg injury.
Cambridge United will host a Football Family Day on 9 October to raise funds.
Messi's shirt and one from team-mate Arda Turan will be auctioned off.
Wayne Rooney and John Terry have also donated signed shirts, as well as the first teams of Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham, and the England senior squad.
Newmarket Town, Soham Town Rangers, Cambridge City and Fulbourn Institute - teams for whom the pair played - will take part in a mini-tournament at the League Two club's stadium as one of a number of activities on the day.
"I can't thank Lionel Messi and Arda Turan enough for donating their shirts and getting them to Cambridge," Whiter told BBC Look East.
"We're going to auction them off and see what we can get."
Jan Adamec, 40, from Haverhill, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing injury by dangerous driving and was jailed earlier this month for three years and four months.
And Whiter, who has previously said he would like to compete at the 2020 Paralympics, spoke of the bond between him and Abbs following the incident.
"He's a great friend. I've asked him to be one of the ushers at my wedding next year. He made that call that night to the paramedics to save my life," he added.
"He saved my life and I can't repay him any more than with my friendship and support him through this time as well."


Bosses at Gatwick Airport have unveiled five "guarantees" they hope will convince the Airports Commission to approve a second runway.

The airport is in competition with Heathrow to win approval for an additional runway.
One of the guarantees is compensation for people living close to the airport.
Gatwick's chairman Sir Roy McNulty said: "These guarantees would mean Gatwick takes on the main risks of building the new runway."
The Airports Commission is currently considering three options for expanding airport provision in south-east England and is due to publish its findings in the summer.
These options are a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow or a second runway at Gatwick.
Gatwick has "guaranteed" the project would be privately funded with no need for public subsidy, that airport charges would be capped and it would bear the main risks of the expansion plan.
It has also promised to compensate residents by Â£1,000 towards council tax bills if they are affected by significant level of aircraft noise, and said it would ensure that air quality targets always were always met.


Boo Weekley remembers being sick twice before his drive.

Lee Westwood's hands shook so much on his debut that he couldn't set up his tee. Sergio Garcia at Brookline was convinced he was going to miss the ball.
Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington said he couldn't even see his.
Welcome to the first tee on the first morning of the Ryder Cup, where strong men go weak and weak men drink strong.
An hour before sunrise, most of Perthshire still as dark as a cave, a weird, ghostly glow lights up one small circle of the Centenary course as a thousand mobile phones send texts and tweets: 'I'm here, I'm in, did you get your hip-flask through?'
Like impatient children on Christmas morning, the dawn risers are forced to wait. Slowly the rest of the scene emerges from the gloom.
A blue horseshoe of stands, autumn trees behind, a line of hospitality booze-barns moored along the fairway like cruise ships.
When you hear the tales of what this small stage can do to big names, you conjure up a bear-pit of fear and loathing, a torrent of chants and songs and abuse.
US captain Tom Watson had given his rookie pairing of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed a chill warning of what would await them. "I told them, 'I'm going to throw you in the ocean without a life preserver. You're on your own.'"
"I was a nervous wreck," admits Peter Baker, the Englishman who made his debut in the USA's last victory on European soil, 21 years ago.
"I live only 30 minutes away from the Belfry, so I knew the course inside out. But when I stood on the first tee and looked up I remember seeing a tree I'd never seen before. I thought, 'Who planted that tree overnight?'"
Europe captain Paul McGinley had even wanted this year's players to feel like gladiators emerging into the coliseum, sending them out through a low tunnel that leads from Gleneagles' driving range to the first tee.
The reality is somewhat more prosaic. While there is giddy excitement at the first sight of anyone in official garb, the mood is cheerful rather than fearful, polite rather than poisonous.
Starter Ivor Robson is given a standing ovation, to which he responds by waving his furled umbrella to all corners like a centurion at Lord's. As ring-walks go, it is hardly Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
If this is a bear-pit, it's one with a strict self-enforced dress-code where the bears shake hands and stay respectfully silent as their rival's claws go back.
Neither is it actually all that noisy. There are barbed songs ("10-6, and you still don't win,") and a little light joshing (each of Webb Simpson's practice swings are followed by massed shouts of "FORE!" - he promptly duffs his opening drive just past the ladies' tee), plus the celebrity presence on the US bench of their biggest sporting icon of the last 30 years, Michael Jordan.
But it is not the early morning beer garden that was Celtic Manor in Wales, when the songs were unrelenting, and it is not K Club in the Republic of Ireland, when recently bereaved Darren Clarke was roared onto the tee with the aural equivalent of a collective arm round the shoulder.
Jordan is such a regular at this event that his intimidatory airness has long since dissipated. He owns more free Ryder Cup jackets than he does NBA championship rings.
Bubba Watson exhorts the crowd to holler through his backswing, just as he did at Medinah two years ago. The carefully rehearsed chamber singers in the stand respond with a burst of 'Kaymer Chameleon' when the man who sunk the winning putt later that weekend steps up.
Yet even when the gloves are off the players put them back on. Justin Rose emerges with a pair of mitts so robust they look like he has been interrupted removing a leg of lamb from the oven. Phil Mickelson sports the sort of thick black gauntlets that Toad of Toad Hall would pull on for a spin in his charabanc.
The temporary stands here only hold 3,000. That is nothing compared to the 80,000 who roared Jessica Ennis to her blocks for her 100m hurdles heat at the London Olympics, or the 100,000 fans who pour abuse on opposition batsmen when they emerge on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to perform similarly complex technical skills.
It cannot compare with the intimidation experienced by an England fly-half lining up three points in a Six Nations decider at the Millennium Stadium, or the wall of noise that greets the Detroit Lions when they walk out at Green Bay.
But this is the closest golf gets. For two years these men play in deferential silence and chaste applause. Like nuns in a nightclub they are then released into an alien environment where the normal rules go up in smoke.
Even if you can ride out the merry bedlam, you then have to deal with the deathly hush that follows.
"The silence levels on the first tee in Medinah shocked me," recalls Graeme McDowell, who has admitted he felt more nervous on the tee at Celtic Manor in 2010 than he did at the birth of his first child.
"I remember putting the tee in the ground, the whole place going deathly silent and standing over the tee shot thinking to myself, 'This is just the most bizarre feeling I've ever had in my life'.
And you have to remember how it used to be. When Watson made his Ryder Cup debut in 1977 there weren't even any grandstands. There was no need. The small number of spectators who bothered turning up could easily be contained by a simple gallery rope.
"The electricity you get from the crowd is something which is the biggest adrenaline rush you could ever possibly have," says Ian Poulter, who was serenaded on Friday morning by "Walking in a Poulter Wonderland".
"You don't need to control it. You've been waiting for it for a long time, so you just need to grab hold of it and let it go."


California lawmakers have ordered farmers to reduce their water consumption - the largest cuts in the US state's history.

State officials announced on Friday they would be telling nearly 100 water rights holders to stop pumping from three separate waterways.
This is the first time in decades that officials have forced thousands of farmers to draw back water use.
These farmers' rights to water were decided more than 100 years ago.
Water rights holders in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and delta watersheds will have to stop getting water from those streams.
California has ordered water use cuts for other farmers in other cities across the state.
The move has been expected for weeks, the Los Angeles Times reports. It effects will be varied, with a lot of water harvesting work continuing on as usual.


Tranmere remain four points behind National League leaders Lincoln as Andy Cook's early double earned them a 2-1 win over Boreham Wood.

The game was just 33 seconds old when Cook controlled Liam Ridehalgh's cross and finished on the turn - and a similar finish from a 13th-minute Ben Tollitt corner doubled the lead and brought him his 17th of the season.
Cook went close to a hat-trick with a header into the ground which bounced over the crossbar, while James Norwood had a shot tipped wide on the stroke of half-time.
Tranmere were good value for their lead at the break, though goalkeeper Scott Davies had to keep out Ricky Shakes, Frank Keita and even his own team-mate Steve McNulty.
Davies tipped Matt Paine's header onto a post early in the second period, before Bruno Andrade flicked in a late consolation for the visitors from a free-kick.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 2, Boreham Wood 1.
Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 2, Boreham Wood 1.
Goal!  Tranmere Rovers 2, Boreham Wood 1. Bruno Andrade (Boreham Wood).
Jai Reason (Boreham Wood) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution, Boreham Wood. Bruno Andrade replaces Mark Ricketts.
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Cole Stockton replaces Andy Cook.
Substitution, Boreham Wood. Kenny Davis replaces Tom Hitchcock.
Substitution, Boreham Wood. Angelo Balanta replaces Danny Uchechi.
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Andy Mangan replaces Ben Tollitt.
Second Half begins Tranmere Rovers 2, Boreham Wood 0.
First Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 2, Boreham Wood 0.
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Jake Kirby replaces Jack Dunn.
Goal!  Tranmere Rovers 2, Boreham Wood 0. Andy Cook (Tranmere Rovers).
Goal!  Tranmere Rovers 1, Boreham Wood 0. Andy Cook (Tranmere Rovers).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


Belfast-based French national Violaine Malié said she is "scared" to go back to Paris after terror attacks in the French capital on Friday.

Miss Malié said that it is a sentiment shared among some of the French expatriate community in Belfast.
"With everything that has happened, I think people are very worried about going back to Paris," Miss Malié said.
"I was myself in Paris a week ago, at the same time, the same place. I could have been in the middle of this."
Miss Malié found out about the terror attacks on Saturday morning.
"I was very worried for my friends in Paris and I had no news for the whole weekend," Miss Malié said.
"As an expatriate it's more difficult because we don't really know what's happening on site."
"We're all very shocked and very sad about what happened," Miss Malié said. "We don't really know what to do, or how to react to something like this."
"It's been a huge attack and it's been very devastating."
Members of Belfast's French community held a small vigil outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday.
Paris-born Nathalie Trinh has been living in Belfast for three years.
She said she was moved after seeing French people and locals gathered in the rain for the vigil.
"It was really nice to see a lot of people that are not French," she said. "It's touching."
Mrs Trinh said that she will not be changing her flight plans back to Paris in December.
"I don't feel nervous because it's still my home," she said.
"This is where I come from. I just think that if you get scared this is what they want.
"I don't want to give them this feeling. This is my home so no matter, if this were to happen again I would still go home."


An underweight seal pup has been found washed up on a Jersey beach in what has been described as an "absolute rarity".

The baby mammal was found at Archirondel by a member of the public on Wednesday and tended to by animal rescue teams.
The harbour seal, which is three or four months old, was found to have extreme mouth ulcerations by vets.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue said it would have had difficulty feeding from the mother prior to weaning.
Donna de Gruchy, from the organisation, said harbour seals in Jersey waters were "not unheard of" but there were "minimal numbers".
"You hardly ever see them... they are an absolute rarity. It is a first for me."
Vets are hydrating the seal in Jersey before deciding whether it is well enough to travel to an RSPCA rehabilitation centre.
Ms de Gruchy said RSPCA centres were "overrun" with seal pups which were not surviving and many had the same condition.


Many patients face "shocking" delays for dementia diagnosis and treatment, according to a report by MPs and peers.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia says GPs are often seen as barriers to a diagnosis.
Its
          report
 says some people have to wait more than a year for an appointment at a memory clinic.
The Department of Health in England says the number of memory services is increasing.
The inquiry was set up to examine big discrepancies in dementia diagnosis rates. Across the UK it is estimated that only 43% of people with the disease have a formal diagnosis.
Scotland has the highest rate with 64.5%.  In Northern Ireland it is 61.5% and in England it is 41%. The diagnosis rate is lowest in Wales, with 37.4%.
The report says there is strong evidence to show the benefit of early diagnosis for people with dementia, their families, and also to the taxpayer.
This is reflected in official government policy across the UK, and was reinforced recently by Prime Minister David Cameron setting out his national dementia challenge for England.
But the inquiry highlights what it calls "barriers" to diagnosis and treatment, after looking at evidence submitted by more than 1,000 carers, GPs and hospital specialists.
These include poor public understanding of dementia. More than a third of carers who responded said the person with the condition had waited more than a year to go to their GP.
The report says many came to regard GPs as barriers to diagnosis rather than gatekeepers.
It also identifies big variations in access to memory services. Some people reported having to wait more than a year for an appointment at a memory clinic, while for others it was just a few weeks.
And it says people often received no information or support following diagnosis.
In March this year the prime minister called for a dramatic increase in dementia diagnosis, as part of his strategy to deal with the disease as a "national crisis".
This included plans to increase public awareness, and to encourage GP referrals to memory clinics, for assessment, diagnosis and support.
The recommendations in the report include more training for GPs and other health workers, improved accreditation and more investment in memory services.
Jo Webber, from the NHS Confederation, said dementia was one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS.
"It is quite clear that every part of the health service is going to have to adapt to the needs of this growing group of patients - from the GP surgery to the hospital ward. We have to be honest and say we are not there yet."
The care services minister in England, Paul Burstow, agreed on the importance of early diagnosis.
"Some areas are doing fantastic work, but there is still too much regional variation.
"That is why we are driving forward measures to improve the quality of memory services, including work to increase the number of accredited... services and work to help local commissioners map the need in their area."


Oxford United have completed a deal to keep on-loan Stoke City striker George Waring at the League Two club until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old arrived on a one-month emergency loan and has made seven league appearances for the U's.
The extended deal makes Waring eligible for all competitions, including Oxford's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final against Barnsley on 3 April.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here," he told the club's website.


Cambridge United have signed former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper David Forde on an initial one-year contact.

The 37-year-old, capped 24 times by his country, moves to the U's following the departure of Will Norris to Wolves.
Forde was recently released by Millwall having played for them 339 times. He spent last term on loan at Portsmouth, helping them win the League Two title.
"Once Will departed, we decided that we would aim to bring in an experienced keeper," said head coach Shaun Derry.
"There was one stand-out candidate. David arrives with a glowing CV that very recently has a League Two winner's medal attached to it.
"He showed last season that not only is he a prime goalkeeper but a terrific leader too."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


You can be excused for thinking Wimbledon is nearing its nail-biting end with the finals in sight, but in reality, it's only just getting started.
The world's best wheelchair tennis players are about to take to the court and the British players have titles to defend.
Here's  the lowdown on the latest championship at SW19.
Wheelchair tennis is for men and women who are disabled below the waist and use wheelchairs to compete in the singles and doubles championship.
The size of the courts, balls and rackets are the same, but the ball can bounce twice before you hit it and the wheelchairs are bespoke.
British number one, Lucy Shuker says: "The wheels are cambered out at about 22 degrees, they have wheels at the front and back so it means, in theory, you shouldn't tip out backwards. I've got straps around my waist and knee guards which lock me in place."
Geraint Richards, performance director of GB Wheelchair Tennis says the players "literally zoom around the court".
He says: "Gustavo Fernandez, the reigning Australian Open champion, will actually fall out of his chair and still win that point. The audience will be amazed."
It might seem odd, but the wheelchairs do take to the perfectly manicured courts.
"It's hard work," Shuker says. "The bounces aren't necessarily true and where you think you're going to take a ball at shoulder height it's probably going to bounce a lot lower.
"There's a definite drag on grass and you have to continually keep pushing otherwise the chair will stop."
But she reveals drop-shots work well as your opponent probably wont get there in time.
You bet we are. British players are currently Paralympic, grand slam-winning, world-rank topping, Wimbledon champions in both the singles and doubles.
Here are three names to look out for:
Reid, 25, is the defending Wimbledon singles and doubles champion. He won Paralympic gold in the singles at Rio and silver in the doubles with fellow Brit Alfie Hewitt.
In 2007, aged 15, Reid became Britain's youngest men's Singles National Champion and in 2016 he won his first grand slam singles title at the Australian Open, followed by Wimbledon.
Reid is from a tennis family. Aged six he contracted Transverse Myelitis a neurological condition in which the spinal cord is inflamed and damages nerve fibres.
Hewett, 19, started playing in 2005 and was ranked world number one junior between 2013 and 2015.
He made his Paralympic debut at Rio and took silver in the men's doubles with Gordon Reid. He also claimed silver in the singles after Reid defeated him in an all-British final.
Shuker turned to wheelchair tennis after a motorbike accident in 2001 paralysed her from the chest down.
She hadn't even been discharged from hospital before she tried the game. Having previously played badminton she went on to represent Great Britain at the Beijing, London and Rio Paralympics and was the first Brit to contest all four major Grand Slams.
She says "when I first started everyone said I was too disabled" but she focused on developing a chair which could support her body.
Shuker, alongside Jordanne Whiley, won Great Britain's first women's wheelchair tennis medal at London 2012 in the doubles. The pair defended their bronze in Rio.
"My Nana said to me that I'd lost my sparkle after my accident, but that I'd found it again with tennis and it definitely made my body better so dealing everyday with disability is a lot easier."
Ahead of this year's championship she's feeling strong.
"I feel fit. I've been training hard and trying a style of play that will hopefully give me an advantage."
Talk to any of the Brits and it's a resounding "yes".
"As a British player, Wimbledon's the one you grew up watching and everyone all over the world knows about it," Shuker says.
"It's the hardest one because it's on grass, but it's an honour to play there. You've got the home support and it has that constant buzz like the Paralympics."
It's not the only big event in the calendar. Grand Slams include the Australian Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the US Open as well as the Paralympics and The Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis Tour with 150 tournaments and prize money totalling $2m.
Actually no, it's been around for 40 years, although 2016 was the inaugural wheelchair singles at Wimbledon
It was 1976 when former acrobat skier, Brad Parks, was injured and left paraplegic. During rehab, he met wheelchair athlete Jeff Minnenbraker and the two started talking about the possibility of such a sport.
It was demonstrated at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics and became a full medal sport at the Barcelona Games in 1992. At London 2012 players from 31 countries competed.
Wimbledon staged its first wheelchair men's doubles tennis tournament in 2005 and 2016 saw the first singles championship take place.
Sure! There are currently 333 venues across the country with training facilities, but its advisable to give your local club, LTA or Tennis Foundation representative a call first.
Richards says: "Most clubs are now accessible and a lot will have some chairs so that first experience can be good.
"You can play in your day-chair, it's not prohibitive. As you get better at the sport, the chairs get a lot more expensive, but that's where we come in."


Sam Warburton believes Cardiff Blues have to win at Glasgow Warriors on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a top six finish in the Pro12.

The Welsh capital region are five points behind sixth-placed Ulster following their 15-10 defeat by Scarlets on New Year's Day.
Fifth-placed Warriors are nine points ahead of the Blues in fifth.
"We have to get a win up there. If we don't then that top six is slowly slipping away," Warburton said.
"There will be a big emphasis on going up there, putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to produce a big performance.
"Otherwise it is going to be extremely difficult and we will be playing catch-up again."
The top four teams in the Pro12 at the end of the season play-off for the championship.
A top-six finish would also probably secure a place in the European Champions Cup in 2017-18 - Scarlets were the only Welsh region to qualify for this season's tournament.
Head coach Danny Wilson said the Blues missed an opportunity to win at Parc y Scarlets with home coach Wayne Pivac admitting his team were "hanging on a bit" at the end of the game.
The losing bonus point was little consolation for Warburton, who captained the Blues in the absence of injured prop Gethin Jenkins.
The fight for a top four spot will be a motivation for Blues against Glasgow, who completed a European Champions Cup double over Racing 92 in December.
"It is extra motivation because we know if we lose any more than two or three more games we are going to find it extremely difficult to get into that top six," Warburton added.
"There is pressure on all our games now, we have been decent at home, but away is where we have to improve.
"We had a good win away at Munster at the start of the season, but if we want to want to be top six then you have to go to a quality team like Glasgow and pick up wins.
"We have made good signings, from a playing and coaching perspective, and we really need to kick on to that next level and get in that top six.
"It is a huge motivation for the players."


A plan has been produced for managing the largest national park in the UK for the next five years.

Proposals for the Cairngorms include increasing woodland, restoring peatland and investing in walking routes on Deeside and Speyside.
The proposal will be considered by the Cairngorms National Park Authority's (CNPA) board before going to the Scottish government for approval.
The park covers parts of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire.
The 4,528 sq km park is twice the size of the Lake District National Park and bigger than the whole of Luxembourg.
A target to have 200 new affordable homes built by 2022 and delivering superfast broadband to "hard to reach" parts of the park also form part of the five-year plan.
Grant Moir, the CNPA's chief executive, said: "There has been an incredible amount of work gone into developing the next National Park Partnership Plan (NPPP) - not only from our staff but from all the partners who have contributed and of course the public who took the time to respond to last year's consultation."
He added: "I think that the NPPP addresses a lot of the concerns and comments that were fed back to us and I think we are setting the park on the right course with a good balance between conservation, visitor experience and rural development.
"It is of course for the board to decide on the 7 April if it is the right direction, with the final say resting with ministers."
The National Trust for Scotland and environment organisation Scottish Environment Link have welcomed the plan.


A 38% increase in mental health patients referred to an NHS Trust has hit waiting times, a report has found.

The increase in the Norfolk and Waveney area in the December 2014 to February 2015 period - compared with April to June 2014 - resulted in higher staff caseload levels, the report said.
There has also been an increase in the number of cases not allocated a social worker at the trust.
Between November and January the number of these cases rose from 662 to 960.
The report by the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT), which provides mental health care, highlights the fact that while mainstream hospitals in the two counties have seen budgets rise by 15% since 2010, mental health service funding has fallen by 3%.
In the report, its author Marcus Hayward, locality operations manager of the NSFT, says: "The increase in referrals is putting pressure on community services and resulting in higher caseload levels, waiting times and unallocated caseloads.
"The high referral rate has also reduced capacity to provide ongoing monitoring and crises prevention."
Debbie White, NSFT director of operations for Norfolk and Waveney, said: "The increase in referrals to our services is in line with demand on mental health services nationally, as is the ongoing challenge of recruiting qualified nursing staff due to a national shortage of registered nurses.
"As a result of the number of referrals to our trust there has been an increase in the number of patients on our waiting lists, also known as unallocated cases.
"It is regrettable that patients have to wait but we have implemented a number of measures to ensure they have regular contact with our trust."
Terry O'Shea, of the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk, said: "It shows how badly funding is needed and shows how much demand has increased."
In February the NSFT became the first mental health trust to be put in special measures.
The decision came after the Care Quality Commission reported the trust was "not a safe... service".


Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Hughes was delighted his side got back to winning ways against Ross County and boosted their top-six hopes.

Caley Thistle's 3-0 win over the Scottish League Cup winners gave them their third Highland derby win of the season.
Liam Polworth, Ross Draper and Miles Storey were on target for the visitors.
"I think we deserved it," Hughes told BBC Scotland. "We got stronger as the game went on."
Victory took Inverness eight points clear of Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot and within four points of County, who drop to sixth.
"We want to look up the way," Hughes said.
"I felt we scored some good goals, probably the third one by Miles Storey being the best of them. To score the third one so early in the second half, that really settled us.
"We knew what Ross County have been through - to win a cup, the emotions and where it takes you mentally and physically.
"It was all about us in terms of trying to get back to winning ways after our disappointment on Wednesday [losing to Hibs in a Scottish Cup replay] and hopefully in trying to get the points to get us up the league and in that top six.
"A wee bit of luck went our way. It settled us down and I'm absolutely delighted for the supporters that we won the match.
"I've seen us play better. But, on a tricky pitch, I felt we controlled the game and all credit it to them."
Ross County manager Jim McIntyre bemoaned the hosts' profligacy in front of goal.
"The story of the game was about taking your chances," he said.
"We've had four fantastic chances before Inverness have had any of their own. When you come into a derby, you've got to take them and it turned out to be crucial. You've got to give them credit because they punished our mistakes and we didn't punish them.
"Going in at 2-0 down you know the next goal is crucial and it's a horrible mistake from the referee not to see Miles Storey's double-handball to control the ball. He's brought both his arms in. The referee's got to get that one right, I was disappointed with that, and it's taken the wind right out our sails."
County won their first major trophy with victory over Hibernian at Hampden last week and followed that up with a midweek league draw with St Johnstone.
And with Saints and Motherwell both winning on Saturday, the Dingwall side have dropped two places.
"After the third goal, they bossed it," added McIntyre. "We were very deflated and we need to show a wee bit more than that - it was a derby.
"Having said that, the boys have been brilliant. It was a real sore one, but win our last two games [before the split] and we know we'll be in the top six."
After the match Ross County held an open-top bus parade with the League Cup.
"It's going to sting for a few days, but we knew we would have to delay our celebrations for a week," added McIntyre.
"It's important we get on that bus and we celebrate with the fans. It's the biggest moment in the club's history and it's important we celebrate it."


A man accused of killing two girlfriends five years apart has been described as "no more than a drunken slob who could act in a loutish way".

Defending Robert Trigg, Sally Howes QC told Lewes Crown Court witnesses who said he was violent and controlling had embellished their stories over time.
Mr Trigg, 52, of Worthing, West Sussex, denies murdering Susan Nicholson and the manslaughter of Caroline Devlin.
Duncan Atkinson QC, prosecuting, said their deaths were "no coincidence".
In closing speeches, he told the jury that Mr Trigg's presence, actions and inaction after the deaths of both women bound them together.
Ms Howes said the sudden and unexpected deaths of the two women were tragic for their grieving families but there was nothing to bind the two together.
Live: More news from Sussex
Mr Trigg, of Park Crescent, is accused of murdering Ms Nicholson, 52, at her home in Rowlands Road, Worthing, on 17 April 2011, and the manslaughter of Ms Devlin, 35, at her home in Cranworth Road, Worthing, on 26 March 2006 as they slept after a night of drinking.
The court has heard that in both cases a neighbour phoned for emergency services after Mr Trigg failed to do so on realising the women were dead.
He allegedly went to buy milk and made coffee before telling Ms Devlin's children to check on her.
In Ms Nicholson's case, he allegedly bought cigarettes before phoning his brother and then phoning a neighbour who lived upstairs.
Initially Ms Devlin's death was not considered to be suspicious, possibly as a result of an aneurysm.
A coroner's inquest ruled that Ms Nicholson died as a result of asphyxiation after Mr Trigg accidentally rolled on top of her as they slept.
The court heard that a forensic pathologist hired by Ms Nicholson's parents to review her case concluded that it was impossible for her to have died in that way without putting up resistance, of which there was no evidence.
Dr Nathaniel Carey also reviewed the pathologist's report for Ms Devlin and concluded that she could have died from a blow to the junction of the head and neck.
The trial continues.


MTV has announced its nominations for this year's Video Music Awards (VMAs), with Kendrick Lamar scoring eight nods for the video to his track Humble.

It's up for the coveted video of the year prize, won in previous years by the likes of Beyonce for Formation, Taylor Swift for Bad Blood and Miley Cyrus for Wrecking Ball.
Here's a look at the five contenders.
Following on from MTV's Movie and TV Awards, the VMAs has scrapped its best female and best male video categories in favour of a new gender neutral award for artist of the year.
It's also introduced another new category - best fight against the system - to celebrate video that inspire viewers to stand up and fight injustice.
The nominees in that category are:
Among the British nominees include Ed Sheeran, who's up for three awards including artist of the year, best pop for Shape of You and best cinematography for Castle on the Hill.
Harry Styles's Sign of the Times is also up for two awards, while Coldplay, Calvin Harris and former One Directioner Zayn Malik are also nominated.
Fans can vote for their favourites across eight categories including video of the year, artist of the year and best collaboration on the MTV website.
You can see a full list of nominations here.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles on 27 August.
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The US economy added 215,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate held at a seven-year-low of 5.3%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said job gains came in retail trade, health care, professional and technical services, and financial activities.
The jobs figures are a seen as a significant gauge of the health of the economy.
Analysts said the figures meant a US interest rate rise in September remained a possibility.
Last month, the Federal Reserve upgraded its assessment of the labour market, saying it was continuing to "improve, with solid job gains and declining unemployment".
Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: "With the Fed's decision on the timing of the first rate rise 'data dependent', today's report does nothing to discourage the belief that a September hike is very much on the table, albeit by no means a done deal."
He said that the new hiring figures "just missed" expectations of a 225,000 rise.
"Private sector payrolls grew by a solid 210,000, just shy of an expected 215,000 rise, led by service sector hiring alongside gains in the manufacturing and construction sectors," he added.
The Bureau of Labour Statistics said that "over the year, the unemployment rate and number of unemployed people were down by 0.9 percentage point and 1.4 million".
Payroll figures from May and June were revised upwards to show 14,000 more jobs created than previously reported. Also, the average working week lengthened to 34.6 hours, the highest since February.
Average hourly earnings increased by five cents, or 0.2%, after being flat in June.
The statistics office also said that the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was little changed at 2.2 million.
These account for 26.9% of the unemployed.
The civilian labour force participation rate was unchanged at 62.6% in July.