Protests have been taking place in more than 150 locations across the United States to call on President Donald Trump to release his tax returns.

Mr Trump broke a long-held tradition by not releasing his paperwork during his presidential campaign.
His critics want to know who he has been dealing with and if there are any conflicts of interest.
At least 21 people were arrested in Berkeley, California, in clashes between Trump opponents and supporters.
There is no law requiring presidents to release their tax returns, but Mr Trump has found himself under public pressure and  some information from a 2005 tax return was leaked to the media last month.
The protests were timed to coincide with the traditional mid-April deadline for Americans to file their tax returns.
"I think it is critical we know about his investments, his donations and any entanglements he has," said one protester, Chuck Wash, at a march in Washington DC.
The idea for the themed march came from law professor Jennifer Taub, who was angered when presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway said President Trump would not be releasing his tax returns because "people don't care".
In January, Ms Taub tweeted of the need for a nationwide protest to show the president that many people do care.
The idea quickly caught on.
"I wanted to express myself and never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be standing here today, seeing this idea that I tweeted out in January come to life," she told the BBC at the Washington DC march.
Ms Taub said the march had broader aims than just wanting to see the president's paperwork.
"This is also about having a tax system that is fair," she said. "Both in terms of making sure everyone pays their fair share and also in taking public resources - our taxes - and spending them on things that make everyone flourish."
She said less should be spent on wars, and more should go to public service television and the Meals on Wheels programme, which Mr Trump has made funding cuts to in the first months of his presidency.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, was also at the march in Washington DC.
She said the Trump administration has a "huge" transparency problem.
"He [Trump] talked about draining the swamp and making everything transparent. He lied again," said Ms Waters.
She also criticised Friday's announcement that President Donald Trump will not release the logs of those who visit the White House.
The White House cited "grave national security risks and privacy concerns" as the reason for its decision, reversing former President Barack Obama's voluntary disclosure policy.
Participants used the hashtag #showusyourtaxes to share their images on social media.
President Trump's supporters have also gone online to express their support for the president.
One Twitter user accused protesters of "flogging a dead horse" and many said they had no interest in seeing the returns.
Separately, more than a dozen people were arrested in Berkeley, California, after supporters of Mr Trump clashed with anti-fascist demonstrators at a free speech rally, police said.
Several people were injured when fighting broke out at a park in the city as opponents and supporters of the US president met on the streets during Saturday's protests, according to CNN.
Footage shared on social media showed crowds of people throwing items at one another and demonstrators being attacked with what appeared to be chemical sprays and makeshift weapons.
The incident occurred after hundreds of anti-Trump protesters staged a counter-rally alongside an event billed as a "Patriots Day free speech rally and picnic", organised by the president's supporters.


A Christmas carol service has been held in an abandoned Wiltshire village.

The Army took over Imber on Salisbury Plain during World War II to use the area for training. Residents had to move out and were never allowed back.
It has been used by the military ever since. They allow access to the village on a handful of occasions each year.
The service at St Giles Church took place at 14:30 GMT. The church bells will also ring on Christmas Day for the first time in more than 70 years.
The Ministry of Defence is allowing access on 25 December so bellringer Jenny Hancox can ring the church bells on her birthday.
In 1943, people living in Imber were told to leave so the Army could prepare for D-Day, and the village now resembles a ghost town.
The original church bells were taken out in 1950 but in 2010, a group of bellringers installed some new bells and select services have taken place ever since.


When Dmitry Medvedev became president of Russia in 2007, he was the country's first leader in decades with no known links either to the former Soviet Communist Party or secret services.

However, Mr Medvedev - a qualified lawyer - is extremely close to his predecessor Vladimir Putin, a former KGB agent.
He campaigned as Mr Putin's protege and tied himself to his policies as soon as he won the 2007 election. "We will be able to preserve the course of President Putin," he said at the time.
With the news that he is to step aside in 2012 and allow Mr Putin to stand again as president, the "course of President Putin" looks set to continue after he leaves the Kremlin.
Indeed, he will not be travelling very far as he is proposing to swap places with Mr Putin, who has served as prime minister while out of presidential office.
Some would argue that even as president, Mr Medvedev left the real decision-making to the man who made him politically.
Considered an economic liberal, Mr Medvedev served President Putin as first deputy prime minister, and was also chairman of Russia's enormous state-run gas monopoly, Gazprom.
But his connection to his predecessor began much earlier.
Mr Medvedev trained as a lawyer in Leningrad - now St Petersburg. The son of a professor, he became an assistant professor in his own right at St Petersburg State University in the 1990s.
While there, he became involved in the city council and joined Mr Putin's external affairs team as an expert consultant working for the mayor.
It was a key period in Russia's transition from communism.
In 2000, Mr Medvedev took charge of Mr Putin's presidential election campaign and in October 2003 he was appointed Kremlin chief-of-staff.
Promoted to the post of first deputy prime minister in charge of national projects in 2005, he oversaw major social initiatives in the areas of agriculture, health, education and efforts to boost Russia's low birth rate.
He also helped restructure the Kremlin's relations with powerful billionaire oligarchs who made fortunes in the Yeltsin years, telling the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2007 that the aim was to create "big Russian corporations".
Endorsing his nomination as presidential candidate, Mr Putin said: "I have known him for more than 17 years, I have worked with him very closely all these years".
Mr Medvedev has been portrayed by some as a liberal but critics ask if his commitment to democracy is more than mere lip service.
During the 2007 election campaign, he refused to take part in televised debates with other candidates, saying they would give his rivals additional publicity.
But he considers himself a democrat, once saying: "We are well aware that no non-democratic state has ever become truly prosperous for one simple reason: freedom is better than non-freedom."
In office, he has also preached technological innovation for Russia, earning him the unkind nickname "nano-president", a jibe which also refers to his short stature.
Progress, Reuters news agency notes, has been slow on two trademarks of Mr Medvedev's modernisation drive: efforts to create a high-tech innovation incubator at Skolkovo, outside Moscow, and to turn the capital into a global financial centre.
"Dmitry Medvedev did not justify expectations," liberal journalist Mikhail Fishman wrote in a scathing commentary in Vedomosti newspaper.
"There is not the slightest hint that a single one of the tasks he set was implemented. Instead of a reformer we got a seat-warmer."
Perhaps the one change many Russians will remember from his presidency is the renaming of the police force from "militsia" with its Soviet connotations, to the more neutral "politsia".
Whatever his political values, Dmitry Medvedev has Western tastes, being a fan of rock groups like Pink Floyd and Deep Purple, which played at the Kremlin in February 2008 to mark the 15th anniversary of the founding of Gazprom.
Born 14 September 1965 in Leningrad, he was descended, by his own account, from farm workers, a blacksmith and a hat-maker.
He grew up in a small flat in Kupchino on the outskirts of the city now known as St Petersburg, where he says he dreamed of buying jeans.
While still a teenager, he fell in love with his future wife, Svetlana, with whom he has a son.


David Cameron has urged business leaders who want Britain to remain in a reformed EU not to "hold back".

The PM has told his cabinet colleagues to wait until he returns from Brussels with a reform deal before campaigning to leave or stay in the EU.
But he told an audience of global business leaders they should "get out there" and start making their case now.
He was speaking during a three-day visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Mr Cameron said he hoped to get agreement on his reform demands at an EU summit next month, paving the way for referendum later this year, but he was in "no hurry" if the deal was not right.
Prospects for a swift agreement were played down by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who said the negotiations had "only just begun" and warned that a deal "at any price" would not be acceptable.
Holding the referendum was always going to be a gamble, but there was a building sense that a February deal was a safe bet.
But when the prime minister arrived in the freezing Alps of Davos, having departed a slightly less freezing Downing Street, he proclaimed he was not in a hurry to conclude the deal, and indeed, if there was nothing satisfactory on the table in February, then he is willing to walk away from the summit empty handed.
After that, you might reasonably wonder tonight, what on earth is going on?
Read more from Laura
Mr Cameron said his proposed welfare reforms were "absolutely crucial" to his hopes of getting a reform deal.
But he said he was open to other, "equally potent", welfare curbs if other EU nations refused to accept a four year ban on in-work benefits for new arrivals to the UK.
He said he would continue to push for reforms to the EU in the future even if Britain voted to remain in it - and stressed that he believed the UK could succeed outside the EU, but he said the question was "how will we be the most successful?"
Success in the renegotiation could deliver the UK "the best of both worlds" by allowing it to be within the single market while retaining control of its borders and remaining outside the single currency and the ever-closer union sought by some other member states.
He said it was "a prize worth fighting for" and one "I'm determined to deliver in this, my second term as prime minister" and he issued a plea to businesses and charities to get behind him.
"I would say don't hold back right now, even though the question isn't settled.
"I think that if business backs my reforms, if you want to see the competitive Europe, if you want to see the flexible Europe, if you want to see a Europe where you can be in the eurozone and win or out of the eurozone and win, I would argue 'Get out there and support those things'."
Mr Cameron explained why Britain was having a referendum - that it was "drifting away" from the EU, which had become increasingly unpopular with the British public.
He said he wanted to "secure the future of Britain in a reformed European Union" and to do this by securing "full and democratic support" for membership from the public.
Meanwhile, in London, Downing Street said a cabinet meeting would be held "soon after" any deal was agreed - following concerns a delay could assist the campaign to remain in the EU.
Some ministers had raised concerns that a delay to holding a cabinet meeting would give Mr Cameron the opportunity to set out his case for the deal without being challenged.
However, Number 10 said a cabinet meeting would be held "in good order" after any agreement, but said it could not guarantee a day or time.
Liz Bilney, chief executive of Leave.EU, said: "The fact that the prime minister is begging for international corporations to stick their noses into our democratic process only shows how little he and the elite care for ordinary British citizens."
Matthew Elliot, who heads Vote Leave, suggested Mr Cameron's speech was aimed at big business but it was "the smaller businesses who are most hurt by EU regulation".
Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe, said Mr Cameron's speech "underlines the importance of our place in Europe to Britain's economy and prosperity, and to businesses large and small".
"I have urged British business to speak up about Britain's place in Europe without fear or favour. Leaving Europe would have a profound impact on our economy for generations to come, so I refuse to accept that British business should be a silent partner in this debate."
CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said: "The majority of CBI members want the UK to be in a reformed EU - changing it for the better, not just for the UK but for all member states... there are several areas where the EU needs to raise its game. Businesses want to see more trade deals, completion of the single market and less red tape."
The Institute of Directors urged businesses not to "bury their heads in the sand" over the EU referendum and had "a duty to their shareholders, employees and customers to be discussing the implications of the vote at the most senior levels".
Referendum timeline: What will happen when?
Guide: All you need to know about the referendum
Q&A: What does Britain want from Europe?
More: BBC News EU referendum special


Since Syria erupted into conflict last year, diplomats, spies and military strategists have struggled to work out what lies behind Moscow's staunch support of its Middle Eastern ally, the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Mention is frequently made of Russia's Mediterranean naval facility at the Syrian port of Tartus which, along with multi-billion-dollar arms sales to Damascus, runs the argument, is why Russia will never abandon the Assad government.
Not so, says a respected Moscow military think tank.
"Tartus is not a real naval base," says Ruslan Aliev, the head of information at the well-connected Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) in Moscow.
He told the BBC: "It is just a point on the map to replenish food and water and carry out some occasional repairs. There are a maximum of 50 Russian sailors and specialist technicians there.
"It is just a symbolic place after the collapse of the Soviet Union (in 1991), showing we still have somewhere to send our ships. From a strategic point of view [Tartus] is insignificant."
This view contrasts sharply with the widely-held belief that Moscow will do all it can to hold on to its only foothold in the Mediterranean.
Just this week, the commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, Vice-Admiral Viktor Chirkov, was quoted by Russian news agency RIA-Novosti as saying: "This base is essential to us; it has been operating and will continue to operate."
A report published on 27 June by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says: "Russia's greatest strategic and geopolitical interest in Syria is the use of a deep-water port at Tartus".
That report goes on to say that Tartus can dock nuclear submarines, it is the receiving point for Russian weapons shipments to Syria and it is linked to a well-developed network of roads and railways.
So what exactly is there at Tartus?
The vast majority of Syria's equipment was supplied by the Soviet Union and then Russia. Many of the tanks are the T55 design, which is more than 50 years old
Russia still services some Syrian aircraft. It is hoping to return a shipment of refurbished Syrian Hind helicopters, of the sort used in Syria's crackdown on rebels, despite Western protests
Syria has bought modern Russian air defence systems in recent years to try to stave off attack from Israel
The Syrian crackdown has largely involved ground forces supported by tanks and armoured vehicles, artillery, mortars, helicopters and drones. But there are doubts about the reliability of many army units. The most difficult operations are being entrusted to elite units with close ties to the regime
Statistics: IISS   Analysis: Jonathan Marcus
A quick glance at satellite imagery on the internet shows a well-ordered harbour with three piers just north of the town, which itself lies on Syria's Mediterranean coast between Lebanon to the south and Turkey to the north.
It is big enough to take in a missile cruiser but unlike the port facilities used by the US Navy's 5th Fleet in the Gulf, it is not big enough for an aircraft carrier.
Under a 1971 deal with Syria, Russia has leased the Tartus facility as part of a multi-billion-dollar debt write-off.
Thousands of Russians live and work in Syria, many working on defence contracts, maintaining and upgrading weaponry already supplied, but there appear to be relatively few at Tartus.
Video footage taken on a recent visit by Russian journalists shows a sleepy, half-deserted port with ageing Russian trucks, an officer's overgrown orchard and a few decrepit supply hangars.
"The Western media have got it all wrong in portraying Tartus and arms sales to Syria as a major reason why Russia is standing by the Assad regime," says Ruslan Aliev.
It is about nostalgia for former Soviet power, he insists.
In a report being circulated to Russian defence chiefs, CAST argues that Russia does not actually have a major strategic stake in Syria, and that its support for President Assad is based more on emotion than logic.
"No-one in Russia really thinks Assad is a good or helpful guy," concludes Mr Aliev.


President Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling him "beleaguered".

He also asked why the US justice department, which Mr Sessions leads, is not investigating Hillary Clinton.
Mr Trump has made clear he is unhappy with Mr Sessions for recusing himself from an FBI inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Last week, the president expressed regret about appointing Mr Sessions to be the US top prosecutor.
In one of a volley of Monday morning tweets, Mr Trump said: "So why aren't the Committees and investigators, and of course our beleaguered A.G., looking into Crooked Hillarys crimes & Russia relations?"
Last Wednesday, Mr Trump told the New York Times that the former Alabama senator "should have never recused himself".
"And if he was going to recuse himself, he should have told me before he took the job and I would have picked somebody else," Mr Trump added.
During recent conversations with West Wing staff, Mr Trump has raised the possibility of replacing Mr Sessions with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Axios reports.
Mr Sessions was one of then-candidate Mr Trump's earliest supporters in Washington. He recused himself from the Russia inquiry after failing to disclose a meeting with the Russian ambassador during his confirmation hearing.
Mr Trump's online remarks come as his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, denied collusion with the Russians in prepared testimony shortly before his appearance with one of the several congressional committees that is scrutinising alleged Russian attempts to influence the US presidential election.
Mr Kushner, who keeps a very low media profile, will attend a private session on Monday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and then appear before the House version on Tuesday.
In the statement to both congressional committees he released on Monday, he says: "I did not collude, nor know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded, with any foreign government."
"With respect to my contacts with Russia or Russian representatives during the campaign, there were hardly any," he says. At the end of the statement he speaks of "perhaps four contacts with Russian representatives" both during the campaign and after.
Mr Trump also on Monday attacked the Democratic ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Adam Schiff, saying: "Sleazy Adam Schiff, the totally biased Congressman looking into 'Russia,' spends all of his time on television pushing the Dem loss excuse!"
The California congressman responded to the president's tweet, writing "the problem is how often you watch TV, and that your comments and actions are beneath the dignity of the office".
The Twitter tirade, which began at around 07:00 Washington time, started with a new take on a Trump campaign motto.
"Drain the Swamp should be changed to Drain the Sewer - it's actually much worse than anyone ever thought, and it begins with the Fake News!" wrote Mr Trump, ahead of an afternoon speech on healthcare.
He added that Republicans "have a last chance to do the right thing" and repeal President Barack Obama's healthcare law.
Monday's tweets come after a weekend in which Mr Trump targeted even Republicans from his own party, saying they "do very little to protect their president".


A crowdfunding campaign to buy a New Zealand beach has had its bid accepted after reaching its funding target.

Nearly 40,000 people donated almost NZ$2.3m (Â£1m, $1.5m) to buy the Awaroa beach in the Abel Tasman National Park, on the north coast of South Island, which went on sale last year.
Campaigners said the government and another major donor also contributed.
The project was launched after a group of friends vowed to secure the beach for public use.
The current owner - businessman Michael Spackman - agreed to sell them the beach following four days of negotiations after the crowdfunding campaign reached its target in just over three weeks, local website Stuff reported.
"We've been through the wringer to get it and that's a shared experience that forms friendships," campaigner Duane Major told supporters.
"Now we hope people have shared experiences of this beautiful piece of pristine serene NZ beach and bush."
New Zealand's Conservation Minister Maggie Barry said the government had made a modest but vital contribution towards the purchase, Stuff reported.
Ms Barry said she hoped the project would set a precedent for future projects.
But another offer to contribute by a businessman and philanthropist, who said he would make up any shortfall in exchange for exclusive access to part of the beach for his family, was rejected.
The campaign also negotiated with local Maori groups, who argued the beach should be handed over to them.
The land - marketed as "a remarkable seven-hectare utopia" - will now be included in a state-managed national park along with other bits of land bought by the government, Ms Barry said.
Mr Major admitted the seven-hectare beach, which also offers access by air via a nearby air strip, was not that easy to get to, but said that in the future "hard to get to places are going to be harder to find".
He said the decision to launch the campaign had been a matter of "gut instinct".
"The land we share is the ground we stand on and it's very closely linked to our identity," he said.


Nicky Ajose scored twice to help Swindon register a second win in three games as they beat Shrewsbury Town.

Ajose calmly slotted home an early penalty after Zak Whitbread fouled Nathan Thompson in the air.
The striker sliced Ellis Iandolo's lay-off into the bottom corner after the break for his 25th goal of the season.
Larnell Cole came close for Shrewsbury but his shot was blocked, before Jordan Young slid past teenage keeper Callum Burton to score his first Swindon goal.
Former England Under-18 keeper Burton, who spent time out on loan last season at Nuneaton and Southport, was making his Football League debut for Shrewsbury at the age of 19, while fellow Academy graduate Ethan Jones came off the bench.
Swindon, who were beaten play-off finalists in 2014-15, finished 16th in League One, a drop of 12 places from last season.
Shrewsbury - in their first season back in the third tier after being promoted last term - ended four points above the relegation zone in 20th after their sixth defeat in eight games.
Shrewsbury Town manager Micky Mellon told BBC Radio Shropshire:
"It is great to get the young boys on their way. It's good news for the club. They deserved their chance. Both of them can be pleased with their contribution.
"A rash attempt to clear the ball meant that, all of a sudden, just before half time we were a goal down.
"It's just the story of the whole season. We know that throughout the game as a team we haven't defended well enough. We gave away crazy goals."
Match ends, Swindon Town 3, Shrewsbury Town 0.
Second Half ends, Swindon Town 3, Shrewsbury Town 0.
Abu Ogogo (Shrewsbury Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jake Evans (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Abu Ogogo (Shrewsbury Town).
Corner,  Swindon Town. Conceded by Abu Ogogo.
James Wallace (Shrewsbury Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by James Wallace (Shrewsbury Town).
Attempt missed. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Shrewsbury Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Corner,  Shrewsbury Town. Conceded by Jordan Turnbull.
Goal!  Swindon Town 3, Shrewsbury Town 0. Jordan Young (Swindon Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Brophy.
Attempt missed. Jonathan Obika (Swindon Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Shrewsbury Town).
Foul by Jonathan Obika (Swindon Town).
James Wesolowski (Shrewsbury Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Jake Evans (Swindon Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt missed. James Brophy (Swindon Town) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt saved. James Wallace (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution, Swindon Town. Jake Evans replaces Jamie Sendles-White.
Substitution, Swindon Town. Jordan Young replaces Ellis Iandolo.
Corner,  Swindon Town. Conceded by Mat Sadler.
Yaser Kasim (Swindon Town) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Ellis Iandolo (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Abu Ogogo (Shrewsbury Town).
Jamie Sendles-White (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by James Wallace (Shrewsbury Town).
James Brophy (Swindon Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by James Wallace (Shrewsbury Town).
Foul by Nathan Thompson (Swindon Town).
Ethan Jones (Shrewsbury Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jonathan Obika (Swindon Town).
Mat Sadler (Shrewsbury Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner,  Swindon Town. Conceded by Callum Burton.
Attempt saved. Michael Doughty (Swindon Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt saved. Larnell Cole (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Ellis Iandolo (Swindon Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Ethan Jones (Shrewsbury Town).
Attempt missed. James Wallace (Shrewsbury Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.


A top US university will give extra support in its admissions process to descendants of slaves sold by the university in the 19th Century.

In 1838, Georgetown University sold 272 slaves owned by the Washington-based institution.
The university set up a project to see how it could make restitution for this involvement in the slave trade.
There are also calls to rename college buildings after former slaves and to fund a research institute on slavery.
Georgetown, as other US universities, has been examining how it should respond to its own historical involvement in slavery.
In particular, there have been questions about the sale of a large group of men, women and children, in 1838, with the funds used to clear the university's debt.
This was a well-documented sale and genealogists have been able to track down a number of the descendants of the slaves, who were sold to work in plantations in Louisiana.
The university set up a "working group on slavery, memory, and reconciliation", which has now made recommendations on how to acknowledge and make recompense for these events.
It proposes an official apology, creating a public memorial and naming one of its buildings, Isaac Hall, in recognition of an Isaac whose name is the first mentioned in the sale of slaves.
But the working group also calls for the descendants of the slaves to be given an advantage in the admissions process for this highly-competitive university.
The working group's report also calls for a new institute at the university to study the legacy of slavery.
Earlier this year, Harvard University put up a plaque in commemoration of slaves who had lived and worked at the university.
The university also announced that it would abolish the use of "master" in academic titles, because of connotations of slavery.
Harvard Law School announced that it would change its official seal after student protests that this included the coat of arms of a brutal 18th Century slave dealer.


A university is giving a free tablet computer to all its first-year students starting courses this term.

The University of East London is giving 4,000 students computers pre-loaded with digital textbooks.
Equipping all its new intake with the technology will cost the university about Â£2m.
John Joughin, the university's vice-chancellor, said it would help to provide a "level playing field for all of our students".
Students will be able to keep the tablet devices when they leave.
The computer, a Samsung Note 8, comes loaded with information about starting university and online library resources. There will be "core e-textbooks" included, with the aim of reducing the initial cost of buying books.
"We are delighted to be putting support directly in the hands of our students and providing them with a state-of-the-art learning platform for the duration of their studies," said Prof Joughin.
The computer handout for first-years is a collaboration with the JS Group, which will manage the project.
The group's chairman Peter Gray said: "Students starting university are now 'digital natives'. Having their course books in e-book format is the best fit for how they study."
The tablets will be given to all students, including from other countries, and among the first recipients were a psychology student from Norway and an anthropology student from Italy.
Universities are now in competition for students and their tuition fees and are increasingly aware of needing to attract applications.
Starting university has also become associated with students getting computer equipment.
The PC World and Currys group reported sales of laptops rising by 50% after A-level results had been published.
Retailer John Lewis has said laptop sales soar in the run-up to the new university year, with Christmas the only higher peak in demand.
Annual tracking surveys have shown high levels of technology ownership among students in the UK, with 90% owning both a laptop and a smartphone. A further 40% have a tablet computer.
There are also questions about brands. A survey of this year's intake at Harvard University in the US showed that 71% of new students owned a Mac computer.


A BBC journalist who was held for a month by the authorities in Tajikistan has been put on trial in Khujand city.

Urunboy Usmonov, 59, was arrested in June and accused of associating with banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.
He has repeatedly denied the charges, saying his only contact with the group was to interview some members as part of his work reporting on the region.
The BBC has insisted throughout that it regards the allegations as completely unfounded.
The corporation has said that it believes meetings and interviews with people representing all shades of opinion are part of the work of any BBC journalist.
Mr Usmonov's lawyer told the BBC the trial had been opened and adjourned until Thursday, when the court will begin to hear witnesses.
There are four other defendants accused of extremism who are being tried together with Mr Usmonov, who remains on bail.
The other four appeared in a cage in the courtroom, his lawyer said, but Mr Usmonov did not.
He said the other defendants partially admitted guilt, while Mr Usmonov reaffirmed his complete innocence.
Three journalists were allowed at the hearing, which is taking place in a detention centre rather than a regular courtroom.
Mr Usmonov has worked for the BBC Central Asian Service for 10 years.
He has said that he met Hizb ut-Tahrir members as part of his work reporting on the group, which is active across Central Asia.
Mr Usmonov's detention provoked an international outcry.
Rights groups and foreign diplomats condemned his arrest as an attempt to clamp down on independent media and coverage of sensitive political and religious issues.


Ryan Stevenson's brace gave Ayr United victory over Forfar Athletic and strengthen their grip on third place.

Stevenson put the home side in front before the break with a firm header from Michael Wardrobe's cross.
But second-bottom Forfar pulled themselves level against the run of play when Andy Ryan finished off a swift counter attack.
However, Stevenson's overhead kick earned the Honest Men just a second win in six Scottish League One games.


Scientists have tracked down Antarctic blue whales for the first time by following the animal's song.

27 March 2013 Last updated at 16:04 GMT
The huge mammals are rarely spotted in the Southern Ocean, but scientists from Australia picked up their deep sounds with special acoustic equipment.
They recorded 626 hours of songs and studied over 26,000 different calls.
With the information they were able to locate them and attach satellite tags to two whales to learn about their movements in the summer feeding season.
It's thought to be the first time whale sounds have been used to find their current location.
Pictures courtesy of Australian Antarctic Division


The speed limit on a major route into a city has been reduced following a campaign launched after a man's death.

Princess Road and Princess Parkway in Manchester will be lowered from 40mph to 30mph for an 18-month trial after a proposal was approved by councillors.
There have been two deaths and 84 crashes over the past three years.
A friend of Ian O'Mara, who died when he was hit by a coach on a pelican crossing in 2015, helped set up a petition to change the speed limit.
A coach driver who hit the dog walker in Princess Road was given a suspended sentence after admitting causing death by careless driving.
The change to the speed limit was passed by Manchester City Council on Wednesday, although a date for when it comes into force is yet to be confirmed.
Princess Parkway merges into Princess Road and stretches 3.7 miles (6km).
Campaigner Sam MacWilliam, from Chorlton, said: "The road is very important for people coming into the city, but they need to understand that they are coming off the motorway and into an area where people live.
"There are schools and churches here."


More than four million people in Scotland have registered to vote ahead of the UK general election, almost 106,000 more than in 2010.

Just over 4.2 million people registered to vote in last year's independence referendum, the largest electorate ever recorded in Scotland.
But this figure included 16 and 17-year-olds who are not eligible to vote on 7 May.
The deadline for registering to vote in the general election is 20 April.
With the exception of 2009, Scottish electorates have increased each year since 2003.
Figures from the National Records of Scotland show that by 2 March a total of 4.04 million people in Scotland had registered to vote in the 2015 general election.
What are the top issues for each political party at the 2015 general election?
Policy guide: Where the parties stand


A 14-year-old boy has been cleared of raping a vulnerable woman in her flat.

He and a 13-year-old boy were also acquitted of sexually assaulting the woman in Liverpool in September 2014, when she was 43.
A jury at the trial in July failed to agree a verdict and prosecutors said on Thursday that the woman did not want to give evidence again.
Judge Brian Cummings QC accepted their decision and recorded not guilty verdicts at Liverpool Crown Court.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it was not in the public interest to summons her and therefore offered no evidence.
At the July trial, the woman said: "I was saying 'don't do this, you're going to regret this for the rest of your lives.' I was trying to talk them out of doing it."
A relative of one of the boys clapped in the public gallery as they left court on Thursday.


A woman who named a woman raped by Wales and Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans has been told to pay more than £1,600 in fines, costs and compensation.

Alexandra Hewitt, 24, from Broughton, Chester admitted identifying the 19-year-old woman on Facebook or Twitter.
She changed her initial not guilty plea before Prestatyn magistrates on Monday.
Last November nine others pleaded guilty to identifying the woman and each told to pay her £624 compensation.
Striker Evans, from Rhyl, was jailed for five years last April for the offence carried out at a Premier Inn in Denbighshire in May 2011.
The charge against Hewitt was brought under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 which grants victims of rape and alleged rape anonymity for life
Hewitt was fined £405 and, like the other nine defendants, ordered to pay £624 compensation to the woman, who has since changed her name and left the Rhyl area.
She was also ordered to pay costs of £600 and a victim surcharge of £15.
Prosecuting, Anna Pope said that on the day Evans was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court various posts appeared on Twitter and Facebook.
Hewitt herself commented on Facebook: "I think she should be allowed to be named. Unbelievable."
When interviewed, she said she and Evans were "old friends" but she did not know the victim.
"She accepted that her comments were inappropriate but did not know that what she had done was illegal," said Miss Pope.
"She was sorry for any stress caused."
Adam Antoszkics, defending, said Hewitt had initially denied the charge because of a question over whether comments sent only to friends on Facebook constituted public comments.
Having obtained clarification it was now clear that an offence had been committed, he said.
District Judge Andrew Shaw, who previously sentenced the other two women and seven men who named the rape victim, said the only penalty open to him was a fine.
"You identified a victim of rape without considering the consequences and without a full understanding of exactly what you were doing," he told Hewitt.
In November, Evans lost his appeal against his rape conviction.


Forest management company Scottish Woodlands has posted a strong rise in annual profits.

Turnover in the year to 30 September rose by nearly Â£1m to Â£70.3m, while pre-tax profits were up just under 20%, at Â£1.75m.
The company attributed the results in part to the strengthening of the euro after Brexit, which had made domestic processors more competitive.
Scottish Woodlands is 80% owned by its employees.
It is headquartered in Riccarton, Edinburgh, and runs offices across Scotland, as well as in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scottish Woodlands, which employs more than 140 people, is currently celebrating its 50th year in business.
To mark the anniversary, it has planted a "celebration woodland" of 50 new trees on the grounds of long-standing client Crieff Hydro.
The firm has also published a book which recalls the company's history.
Managing director Ralland Browne said: "It is striking how our own history has mirrored that of forestry in Scotland.
"We became a commercial company in 1967, the year of the last Forestry Act - and as we turn 50, a new Forestry Bill is coming before the Scottish Parliament.
"There have been ups and downs along the way, but the company and the wider forestry and wood-processing industry are both in good health in 2017 - and we are optimistic for the future, with a strong focus on driving up tree planting rates."


Nicaragua must scrap a deal to build a massive inter-oceanic canal as it tramples on the environment and human rights, a leading rights body says.

Up to 120,000 peasants had no way of relocating and there was insufficient compensation, the International Federation for Human Rights said.
The $50bn (Â£32bn) scheme, started in December 2014, is being built by a Chinese firm.
Nicaragua's government says the canal will bring vital investment.
Wang Jing: The man behind the Nicaragua canal project
Dimitris Christopoulos, president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), said: "Respecting nature and the rights of rural communities is not a luxury. It's a duty.
"These projects will have a dramatic impact on the environment and on human rights. It is unimaginable to sell off territory as such. The government must back out."
Nicaragua's government has granted the HKND consortium, led by investor Wang Jing, the concession to build the canal and operate it for 116 years.
In a new report, the FIDH says under the deal "constitutional and legal guarantees provided for by the Nicaraguan law are not respected".
"The expropriations process doesn't provide for any administrative or judicial recourse, but does provide for a blatantly insufficient compensation," it says.
The report expresses particular concerns for Cocibolca Lake, which it says is the "main fresh water reserve for all of Central America".
It cites "hydrocarbon pollution, salinity and turbidity problems," adding: "No element related to sustainable development has been included in the project."
It said all of the 131 people it interviewed in affected areas had complained of state intimidation.
Nicaraguan authorities have not commented on the report.
When the scheme was unveiled in July 2014, the government said it had chosen the route so it would avoid areas of great biodiversity, indigenous territories and environmentally protected lands.
The government estimated then that the scheme would lift more than 400,000 people out of general poverty by 2018 with the help of revenues created by the project. It was given a five-year completion date.
Officials say the canal is essential to allow for increased global trade and ever larger tankers, many of which are too large for the Panama Canal, even after its current expansion.


Unions have joined forces to try and protect workers in the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Offshore Co-ordinating Group (OCG) comprises Unite, the RMT, GMB, Balpa and Nautilus.
Speaking at the launch, STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said it was in response to the "scale of the challenges" being faced.
He said the OCG would co-ordinate campaigns and policies as there was a "future worth fighting for".
Mr Smith said: "It is essential that government, employers, regulators and agencies listen to the united voice of the offshore workforce."


It was a time of grief, shock, and resolve.

Constable Stephen Carroll was murdered in March 2009 during a surge in dissident republican activity.
Just two days before the officer was shot dead, two soldiers on duty at Massereene barracks in Antrim were killed by the Real IRA.
But it was the Continuity IRA which claimed responsibility for the death of the police officer.
The then Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said the PSNI would not be stopped by dissident republicans.
"It is self evident that the more universal the support for the small disenfranchised and rather ridiculous group that is that dangerous, to realise their whole attempt is futile," he said.
"We will not step back."
It brought the first and deputy first ministers together to share a widow's grief - uniting to condemn the murder.
Speaking shortly after the death, Peter Robinson said it was "a battle of wills between the political class and the evil gunmen".
"The political class will win," he said.
"We are absolutely determined these people will not direct us, will not frame our agenda and will not cause us to retreat from the steps which we believe to be right to take this country forward."
His words were echoed by Martin McGuinness.
"These people are traitors to the island of Ireland, they have betrayed the political desires, hopes and aspirations of all the people who live on this island and they don't deserve to be supported by anyone," he said.
So who was Constable Stephen Carroll?
He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, he liked a laugh, loved sport, lived for his family.
Born in the Republic, raised in England, and settled in Banbridge, he was also a Catholic and a police officer, starting to think about retirement.
His wife Kate described the conversation she had that morning with her husband.
"He said to me that day he was going to work, he said, 'Kate, you know, we've come through a lot, we've come through this and that and wouldn't it be ironic, just with my last year-and-a-half, that something would happen', and it did," she said.


Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has praised Plaid Cymru's call for a levy on sugary drinks in Wales, a so-called "pop tax".

Research for Plaid has suggested a 20% tax on the drinks could cut the number of obese people in Wales by 8,300.
Oliver, who is to charge 10p more for sugary drinks in his UK restaurants, said it was "good to hear" of a party taking the issue "seriously".
Labour said Plaid's plan to fund 1,000 extra doctors with such a levy was "demonstrable nonsense".
On Friday, Oliver said he had "seen first hand the devastating effects that a poor diet and too much sugar is having on children' futures".
"I firmly believe we need to take urgent action on this public health crisis," he said.
He added that money raised by his own "child health levy" would be used to fund "food education for children".
Welcoming his backing, Plaid Cymru health spokesperson Elin Jones said: "Plaid Cymru has long-announced our positive plans to introduce a sugary drinks levy in Wales, and it's good to see that Jamie Oliver is introducing similar voluntary measures in his restaurants as he continues to campaign for action."
However, the Welsh Labour government claimed the idea would not work.
Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: "They say this scheme, which we can't actually introduce under the current devolution framework, would pay for 1,000 doctors.
"This is just demonstrable nonsense - it would require everyone in Wales to spend all day drinking pop to pay for that number, even if they could be recruited from around the world."
The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has insisted such a tax would "neither have the health nor economic impact" suggested, claiming that "obesity stems from a range of factors, not one product".


Judy Murray spoke of her pride at being the mother of two Wimbledon champions after son Andy's men's singles victory.

Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic to become the first Briton to win the title for 77 years, with brother Jamie mixed doubles champion in 2007.
Judy, coach of the British Fed Cup team, told BBC Scotland: "This is everything that he's been working for.
"We've got a Wimbledon singles champion and a Wimbledon mixed doubles champion from a little club in Dunblane."
Andy, 26, beat world number one Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 on Centre Court to claim his second Grand Slam title.
Judy added: "I've a picture in the house of him and Jamie, aged two and three, with their little racquets and Wimbledon T-shirts.
"They're absolutely immersed in their sport, they're tennis geeks, and now they've both got Wimbledon titles."
She also tried to sum up what her son's emotions would be after his stunning straight-sets victory.
"I think he'll be a mixture of disbelief, relief and just total joy that he's achieved the goal that he always set out to do," the 53-year-old said.
"It just goes to show there's nothing wrong with dreaming, there's nothing wrong with believing; and anything's possible."
Memories of last year's final defeat by Roger Federer meant there was no complacency in the Murray camp, even when he raced into a two-set lead.
"I sat there last year watching Andy when he was a break up and in a good position and not winning in the end," Judy said.
"So, even when he was two sets up and a break up, you can never take anything for granted.
"And, of course, from 2-0 up in the third set, Djokovic won four games in a row and suddenly it was starting to look like a whole different scenario."
But Andy's victory caused his mother an unusual problem.
"I've just been selecting my dress for the champions' ball and I've never worn a long dress in my life before," she said. "But I will be tonight, with great pride."
Judy also thinks her son's win could have more lasting effects on the sport's uptake in his homeland.
"I think it's great for sport in Scotland, I think it's potentially great for tennis in Scotland," she said.
"I really hope it can start to change the face of tennis in Scotland and get a lot more people playing and get a whole lot more investment in new facilities."


New Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said resolving the Southern trains dispute is "top of his priority list".

Passengers have suffered months of delays, cancellations and a reduced timetable due to staff shortages and strike action by conductors.
Asked if he would remove the rail franchise, he said he would look "very carefully at what the position is".
Mr Grayling warned: "This has got to improve quickly".
Southern and the RMT union are in dispute about plans for drivers, rather than guards, to open and close carriage doors.
Mr Grayling told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend he had been in the job 36 hours and had already had meetings about Southern.
He said he would hold further meetings on Monday.
"This is right at the top of my agenda. This needs to be sorted," he added.
Southern is one of four railways operated jointly under a government management contract by Govia Thameslink (GTR).
Rail minister Claire Perry resigned last week after telling MPs she could not remove the franchise as the company was not in breach of contractual agreements.
Last Monday, Southern axed 341 of its 2,242 weekday trains to try to provide a more reliable, temporary timetable.
Fifteen services have since been reinstated, including five serving Mr Grayling's Surrey constituency of Epsom and Ewell.
GTR insisted the trains were chosen before his appointment.
David Hodge, the leader of Surrey County Council and a Southern commuter, said he understood the anger of passengers and businesses and urged all sides to "put their heads together" for a solution.


George Osborne is to write a book which will explore the background to the "crisis in democracy and capitalism".

The former chancellor left government in July and said last month that it was too early to write his memoirs as he did not know "where his story ends".
Instead, he will pen a book entitled the Age of Unreason, examining the rise of "populist nationalism" embodied by Donald Trump's US presidential bid.
Ed Balls, Nick Clegg and Ken Clarke have all recently released memoirs.
Despite losing his job as chancellor after Theresa May became prime minister, Mr Osborne has said he will remain in politics to fight for the values he believes in and will contest the next election.
Announcing the project, which will take a year, Mr Osborne called for the forces of free markets and open society to take back control of the political debate.
Mr Osborne said: "My book is about the future. I want to apply the lessons I've learnt in victory and defeat to the urgent challenge of this Age of Unreason.
"Capitalism and democracy is in crisis. The West is in retreat. The forces of populist nationalism and prejudice are on the rise, amplified by new technology. The likes of Donald Trump say to people, what the hell have you got to lose. The answer is, a lot. Peace, prosperity and security.
"It's time to say so. It's time for the defenders of open societies and free markets to fight back."


Scot Callum Hawkins has qualified for this summer's Rio Olympics after finishing eighth in the London Marathon in a new personal best time of 2:10:52.

The 23-year-old, from the Kilbarchan Athletics Club in Renfrewshire, was the first British athlete to finish, well inside the 2:14:00 qualifying mark.
Tsegai Tewelde, a Glasgow-based Eritrean who claimed asylum in Britain, will also be in Rio after coming 12th.
Hawkins' brother, Derek, could also go to Brazil after posting 2:12:57.
The 26-year-old - who finished 14th - will have to rely on a discretionary place when the British selectors announce their team on Tuesday.
Callum Hawkins told BBC Sport: "I was feeling brilliant at halfway and put in a big effort.
"The last couple of miles I was really hurting and just tried to hold on. I think I got a slight negative split. I didn't even run with a watch, I was just running.
"My brother had his own plan. We train together, live in the same house. I'm chuffed for him - to be in the top three, take a minute off his PB and maybe get selection as well."
Tewelde, who claimed asylum in Britain after competing for Eritrea at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh and now runs for Shettleston Harriers, described qualifying for the Olympics as "unbelievable".
The men's race in London was won in the second fastest time ever, 2:03:04, by Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge - just seven seconds outside the world record.
In the women's race, the English duo of Ally Dixon and Sonia Samuels earned places in the British team for Rio. Dixon finished 13th in 2:31:53, one place ahead of Samuels (2:32:00).
Scotland's Freya Ross finished 18th in 2:37:52 and Susan Partridge came home in 2:40:55, both missing out on automatic Olympic qualification.
"What a brilliant performance from Callum.  He ran a strong, clever race; he didn't get carried away early on.
"I remember when Callum was a youngster watching him in cross-country races and it is great to see him come to such prominence.
"He was hurting, he was sore, but he kept it going and judged it perfectly.
"Derek Hawkins has also run a brilliant race. He hasn't timed it quite right but he is inside the qualifying mark, although it is not a guaranteed spot.  But it may well be good enough for the selectors to look favourably on him."
Media playback is not supported on this device


Former Crystal Palace striker Ibra Sekajja has agreed a contract until January 2015 with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, with an option to extend the deal to the end of the season.

Sekajja, 21, has been training with the Highland side for two weeks and has impressed manager John Hughes.
He spent time at MK Dons in 2012, but was restricted to just one appearance.
"We've had our eye on Ibra for some time. He has really impressed with his hunger for the game," said Hughes.
Ugandan-born Sekajja scored once in three appearances for Palace and also had short loan spells at Kettering, Bromley and Barnet.


A new £25m conference centre in Blackpool could be key to bringing party conferences back to the resort, said the council leader.

Outline plans have been submitted to develop the Winter Gardens site including a state-of-the-art conference hall for 2,000 delegates.
The centre would be linked to the Empress Ballroom and Opera House to form a joint capacity of up to 7,000.
The town last hosted a major party political conference in 2007.
Council leader Simon Blackburn said the council had been working to "secure business and tourism and conferencing facilities" for the resort.
"Huge amounts of work are being undertaken, by me and others, to try and turn this dream into reality.
"If we are successful, this will herald a dramatic new chapter on Blackpool's long and proud conference history."
If plans are approved, the authority will submit bids for cash to build the venue on Leopold Grove, he said.
First built in 1878, Blackpool Winter Gardens was developed to become one of the most important entertainment centres in the country.
After World War Two, conferencing became a core part of the offer, with all the major political parties holding their annual conferences at the venue.
The council's executive will consider the proposals on 18 July.


World number one Andy Murray was knocked out of the Madrid Open as he lost in straight sets to Croat Borna Coric in the last 16.

Coric, 59th in the world rankings having secured his first ATP Tour title in Morocco last month, won 6-3 6-3.
The 20-year-old broke his British opponent three times in the opening set, and a further break in the second was enough to secure victory.
Coric will face 23-year-old Austrian Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals.
Murray, 29, looked frustrated as his testing clay-court season continued in the build-up to the French Open, which begins on 28 May.
The Scot lost in the last 16 of the Monte Carlo Masters on his return from an elbow injury last month, and was then beaten by Thiem in the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open.
"There were a lot of things that weren't particularly good," he told BBC Sport.
"I made a lot of unforced errors and I also didn't find any way to make it a more competitive match, so that's the most disappointing thing.
"Things can change fast but you need to find exactly what it is that is going wrong and how you're going to fix that and commit to it. And if I do that, I'm sure I can turn it round."
Coric lost in the second round of qualifying to Mikhail Kukushkin and only gained a place at the tournament as a 'lucky loser' because of an injury to Richard Gasquet.
This was his second victory over Murray, having also beaten him at the Dubai Championships in 2015.
In a scrappy opening set, Coric broke to lead 3-2 but a couple of forehand errors allowed Murray to break straight back.
Murray, twice a winner in Madrid, then lost his serve once more, Coric comfortably held and Murray was unable to hold his serve to stay in the set.
His frustration boiled over in the eighth game of the second set as Coric won a long rally to break, before serving out the match.
Murray will next play in Rome, where he is the defending champion.
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
This result will come as a shock to Murray's system.
He had seemingly been growing in confidence, and rediscovering his rhythm little by little as he made his way from Monte Carlo to Barcelona, but now has just one week in Rome to find the form and belief which would make him a genuine contender for the French Open.
His first serve, which has been hindered by an elbow injury, was not to blame against Coric, who played aggressively and fluently and took full advantage of Murray's error-strewn performance.
World number two Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals with a 6-4 7-5 defeat of Feliciano Lopez.
Defending champion Djokovic, who recently split with his coaching staff, had few problems against the 35-year-old Spaniard.
Rafael Nadal is also through to the last eight after extending his perfect record on clay this season to 12 matches without defeat with a 6-3 6-1 destruction of Nick Kyrgios.
Belgium's David Goffin secured his spot with victory over Milos Raonic 6-4 6-2, while Kei Nishikori saw off David Ferrer 6-4 6-3.
In the women's draw, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard's fine run came to an end with a 6-4 6-0 defeat by Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Bouchard had beaten Maria Sharapova and Angelique Kebver in previous rounds, but was outplayed by eighth seed  Kuznetsova.
French 14th seed Kristina Mladenovic beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-4 to set up a semi-final against Kuznetsova, while Romania's third seed Simona Halep thrashed Coco Vandeweghe 6-1 6-1 and will face unseeded Latvian Anastasija Sevastova.


A sinkhole measuring six metres (20ft) across has opened up in a road in a Greater Manchester town.

The chasm appeared in Heywood Road, Prestwich, overnight and is expected to cause "significant" delays for motorists.
A spokesman for United Utilities said it was caused by a "collapsed sewer."
The road has been partially closed in both directions to pedestrians as well as vehicles, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
GMP's Whitefield Twitter account posted advice urging people to "give the road a miss for the next week or so".
A fire service spokesman said local residents had heard "noises and grumbling" for about 45 minutes before the sinkhole appeared.
United Utilities said engineers had assessed the site and put temporary measures in place to keep the sewer functioning.
A spokesman said it was not clear how long it would take to repair the damage.


More than 370 eateries in Lancashire were given poor food hygiene ratings in their most recent inspections, new figures have revealed.

A total of 374 food outlets received either the lowest possible score of zero, or the next lowest rating of one.
The statistics were revealed following a Freedom of Information request submitted to the region's 14 local authorities by BBC Radio Lancashire.
Blackpool Council had the largest number of low-scoring premises.
A score of zero means "urgent improvement" must take place and in the most serious cases can result in kitchens being ordered to close until the shortfalls are addressed.
Among the concerns raised by inspectors across the region, a corner shop in West Lancashire was found to be using a toilet as a store room.
Other premises were found to have maggots, beetles or flies in their kitchens.
Some chefs were found to be working despite not taking a food hygiene course in 20 years.
Fifty-five of Blackpool's 1,626 premises scored zero, or the second-lowest rating of one.
However, Hyndburn Borough Council had the highest percentage of low ratings, with 44 out of the area's 656 outlets given the lowest scores.
Pendle Borough Council had the fewest poor results, with five premises from 776 handed the poorest ratings.
Carolyn Bland, a food hygiene inspector at Blackpool Council, said: "Low hygiene ratings are usually very dirty premises, [in] poor condition, poor repair.
"And also there's an element of what we call 'confidence in management', where if there's not been any improvement - or you keep going back and it's always bad - that will result in a poor hygiene rating."
A spokesman for Blackpool Council defended its record and said its public protection unit takes incidents of food hygiene safety "extremely seriously".
He added that the large number of low ratings can be largely attributed to the high number of premises inspected.


Patients could be at risk because there's been a five-fold increase in delays faced by ambulance crews outside hospitals, according to the Welsh Ambulance Service.

It has told AMs that almost 40,000 hours were "lost" in 2014 because of so-called "handover delays".
Its report indicates that is up from around 8,000 hours lost in 2008.
The ambulance service's chairman also said its "long-standing and complex problems" were now being tackled.
He was giving evidence to the assembly's health committee, as it began a short inquiry into the performance of the ambulance services in Wales in the light of recent concerns about its performance.
Any wait longer than 15 minutes to transfer patients into hospital is logged as a handover delay, often caused when emergency unit beds are full.
The ambulance service says the delays not only present "risks to patients waiting in vehicles" but are "arguably a greater risk" to patients "in the community".
That is because when crews are tied up outside A&E they are not able to respond to other urgent calls, which can mean no ambulances are available.
Research by the BBC also suggests the ambulance service in Wales, during a four-month period last autumn, faced consistently longer delays than anywhere in England or Northern Ireland.
Between August and November last year the Welsh Ambulance Service reported the longest "average handover time" for 13 weeks of a 16-week period.
In 10 weeks out of the 16, the Welsh Ambulance Service also had  the longest single delay of any recorded by the 11 ambulance services that provided information.
The maximum recorded wait for an ambulance patient in Wales exceeded five hours in three of the weeks.
Those delays occurred at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan and Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
The report to the assembly's health committee suggests handover delays are contributing to problems the ambulance service is encountering in its response time performance.
The most recent statistics published last week showed that only 48.5% of urgent Category A calls received a response within eight minutes in January. The target is 65%.
But other factors, the evidence suggests, are at play:
Addressing the committee, ambulance service chairman Mick Giannasi listed actions being taken to overcome "long-standing and complex problems", including a "significant" improvement to industrial relations with staff.
"We absolutely acknowledge that the performance of the emergency ambulance service in Wales is not acceptable, particularly not in terms of its achievement against the eight-minute response times target," he said.
"We accept progress is slow, but we passionately believe now that I think our plans will deliver," he added.
Meanwhile, the author of a review into the ambulance service said improvements were taking longer than she wanted.
Prof Siobahn McClelland called for major changes when she published her findings, commissioned by the Welsh government, in 2013.
She said some of her recommendations were being introduced in an NHS that was a  "very complex organisation that is sometimes very slow to change".
Before the committee meeting, a Welsh government official commented: "We expect all patient handovers to be completed in order of clinical priority and in a timely manner.
"Health boards should take responsibility for reducing lengthy patient handover delays. We continue to monitor the situation closely."


Meet Stig, the Springer Spaniel who's thought to be the world's first water vole search dog.

16 October 2015 Last updated at 07:14 BST
Stig's specially trained to hunt out where water voles have been going to the toilet.
It might not sound like a nice job, but it helps wildlife experts keep an eye on where the water voles are living and how the population is doing.
Stig can reach areas along the river bank that would be very difficult for humans to get to.
Ricky went to Thorley Wash Nature Reserve in Hertfordshire to see Stig in action...


The Belfast Giants moved to within four points of Elite League leaders Cardiff Devils by beating Edinburgh Capitals 9-6 at the SSE Arena on Friday night.

The victory extended the Giants' winning run to nine games, the hosts having defeated the same opposition 3-0 at the same venue on Thursday.
Belfast led led 2-0 after the first period but extended their lead to a remarkable 8-1 in the second period.
Edinburgh restored some pride by scoring five goals in the third period.
Paralympic champion Bethany Firth was guest of honour at the SSE Arena, performing the ceremonial puck drop before the action got underway.
The Giants got off to a good start, taking the lead in the 13th minute as James Desmarais scored from close range.
The home side doubled their advantage with little over a minute to go in the first period as Chris Higgins finished neatly past Jordan Marr in the Capitals goal for his 15th goal of the season.
The Giants were 4-0 up within three minutes of play restarting, as Blair Riley and Alex Foster added to their side's total.
Taylor MacDougall then pulled one back for the beleaguered visitors but within seconds it was 5-1 as Desmarais grabbed his second score of the night.
Belfast notched up half a dozen with a brave finish from Steve Saviano, diverting home a rebound at full stretch before sliding into the wall behind the goal, an effort from which he thankfully emerged unscathed.
Edinburgh were being carved open by now, Alex Foster getting his second goal of the night and Blair Riley adding an eighth before the second intermission.
The Capitals showed some fight in the third period, in particular the Russian players in their line-up, pulling it back to 8-4 through a couple of goals from Yevgeni Fyodorov, either side of Pavel Vorobaev's score.
Belfast then got a ninth through Matt Towe to kill off any notion of a comeback, before Jared Staal got the visitors' fifth of the night and Michael D'Orazio scored with just over a minute to go.


Former Rangers manager Ally McCoist thinks that Neil Lennon could return to Celtic should Ronny Deila exit the Scottish champions as team boss.

Lennon left Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday with his side sitting bottom of the English Championship.
It came amid continued speculation about Deila's future at Celtic Park.
"If Celtic do change their manager, I think Neil Lennon would certainly be a possibility," said McCoist. "He did an exceptional job at Celtic."
Lennon was Celtic manager from 2010-14, winning the Scottish title three times, and duelling with McCoist during the latter's first season in charge at Ibrox.
Celtic won the title after Rangers squandered a 15-point lead amid a financial crisis that led to them playing in Scotland's bottom tier the following season.
Lennon has experienced a similar scenario at Bolton, the 44-year-old's departure by "mutual consent" coming five days after the Sports Shield consortium completed a takeover of the club that has been close to administration.
"I for one could sympathise and understand what Neil Lennon's been going through more than most in terms of his managerial job in the last year or so," McCoist told BBC Radio 5 live.
"Our own club went into administration then liquidation. You get players turning up and they don't know if they're going to get paid.
"There are restrictions on you all over the place. It is an extremely difficult job."
Despite his side continuing to lead the Scottish Premiership, Deila has come under pressure, especially after his side's poor results in Europe this season, their defeat by Ross County in the semi-final of the League Cup and Aberdeen narrowing the gap to one point at the top of the table.
Former Celtic players David Moyes, the former Everton and Manchester United boss recently sacked by Real Sociedad, and Malky Mackay, the former Watford, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic manager, have both been linked with the job with the reigning champions.
However, former Northern Ireland and Celtic midfielder Lennon has now been made favourite by some bookmakers to succeed Deila.
"Now that he has moved on, is there a possibility he could go back to Celtic? I would have to say yes," said McCoist.
"The current manager at Celtic is a man I have a great deal of sympathy for because, no matter what he does, it is probably not going to be enough.
"Scottish football for the last three or four years has been in an absolutely bizarre situation when nobody really knows what's good and what's bad and what's indifferent."
McCoist thinks the Norwegian is the victim of a lack of real competition at the top of the Scottish game.
"Both cups are held by teams in the Highlands," he said of County's victory in Sunday's League Cup final, which followed last season's lifting of the Scottish Cup by neighbours Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
"It is a fairytale story, but it does tell you more about the lack of strength among the big guns than anything else.
"For us as a country to have three of our biggest clubs out the top division last season, I don't think we are a strong enough footballing nation to have that.
"And the sooner Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen are back in the top flight together the better."


New rules mean children in Singapore will be expected to help clean their school as part of their day.

16 March 2016 Last updated at 06:40 GMT
It's hoped pupils will learn to care for their own space and shared areas, and learn good habits for the future.
We asked some kids here in the UK what they thought of the idea...


Ford will be in the UK for "quite some time" despite concerns about the impact of the Brexit vote, the company's chief executive has said.

However, Mark Fields told the BBC he could not guarantee manufacturing would stay once Britain leaves the EU.
He repeated Ford's position that a free trade agreement needs to be reached with the European Union.
Ford employs 13,000 people in the UK, with engine production lines in Dagenham and Bridgend.
The US company has been reducing its manufacturing capacity in Europe in recent years and stopping making vehicles in the UK in 2013 after more than 100 years.
Mr Fields said: "We need to make sure that all of our facilities around the world are globally competitive.
"We are very proud to be in the UK and we are going to be in the UK for quite some time but it's going to be really important, particularly because Article 50 is now triggered, that from our standpoint there needs to be free trade between the UK and the continent."
Asked if Ford would keep manufacturing in the UK he said: "I can't guarantee anything, nobody can guarantee anything over many many years."
Industry trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said in January that uncertainty around Brexit and the UK's future trading arrangements had hit investment in the car sector.
Although Toyota has announced new investment, the Japanese car giant said "continued tariff-and-barrier free market access between the UK and Europe... will be vital for future success".
Nissan announced it would build the new Qashqai and the X-Trail SUV at its Sunderland plant following government "support and assurances" after the Brexit vote.
Mr Fields said: "I think our intent is making sure that our UK business remains very strong and that's why we're engaging with the governments to be able to say here's what we think we need to make sure that that remains a possibility and we stay across the continent and in the UK and we have a healthy business in Europe."
He was speaking in China, where Ford has unveiled plans to substantially increase its electric vehicle manufacturing.
But Mr Fields insisted there was a future for diesel powered vehicles, despite moves to introduce new emissions based charges in cities like London.
He also called on China to change the way it treats foreign firms like his and give them fairer access to the world's biggest automotive market.


An award-winning author has described how he was rejected more than 200 times by publishers and agents before his first book was published.

Brian Conaghan's third novel, The Bombs That Brought Us Together, has been announced as the winner of the Costa Children's Book Award.
The former apprentice painter and decorator from Coatbridge is now in the running for the Costa Book of the Year.
But it took him 10 years of trying before his work was published.
Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland, 45-year-old Conaghan, who now lives in Dublin, said it was "fantastic" to scoop the children's book prize.
He added: "It's quite staggering to be even on the shortlist but to win it is amazing.
"It's beyond anything that you probably ever think about when you publish your books - me, certainly, because my goal was just to get something published."
He worked as an apprentice painter and decorator before he decided to take his Highers and go to university, where he started writing.
Asked what kept him going through the next decade, when he was rejected more than 200 times, he joked: "Stupidity, maybe?"
The novelist said: "When I started writing the first couple of novels, which remain unpublished, you learn that you're making a lot of mistakes.
"And I felt that I was probably getting better with each novel that I was writing."
He added: "I think I'm quite a tenacious person, quite a stubborn person so rejection is also part of what you do in life."
The Bombs That Brought Us Together centres around the friendship of two 14-year-old boys who come from different sides of a war.
His competition for the main Costa Book of the Year award includes Irish writer Sebastian Barry who won the novel prize for a second time.
Barry the prize with Days Without End, a historical novel set in 1850s America, after winning the same award in 2008 with The Secret Scripture.
Other winners announced in Tuesday's ceremony included Keggie Carew, who received the Costa biography award for Dadland, an exploration of her late father's past.
Alice Oswald won the poetry award for her collection Falling Awake and non-fiction writer Francis Spufford won the first novel award for his debut work of fiction Golden Hill.


An international monitoring body has said its IT systems were hit by cyber attackers in a "major security incident" that compromised its network.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) refused to speculate on reports that Russian hackers were behind the attack.
It has observers in several of Europe's hot spots, including eastern Ukraine, where it monitors ceasefire violations.
"We became aware of an incident at the start of November," said a spokeswoman.
"I don't know how long it went on for but it was serious. The integrity of the ICT system was compromised and put in danger," the spokeswoman told the BBC from the group's headquarters in Vienna.
French newspaper Le Monde quoted an unnamed Western intelligence agency as saying the cyber attack was likely to be down to Russian hacking group APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, Pawn Storm or Sofacy.
APT28 has already been linked to an attack on French global network TV5 and the leaks of leading athletes' medical data, while senior US officials have also blamed Russian hackers for an attack on the Democratic Party's emails.
However there has been no independent confirmation of who carried out the latest attack.
The OSCE said while it knew how the attacker had got into its ICT system, "as for speculating on who it was, we don't, we cannot (say)".
Russia, the US and Ukraine are all members of the OSCE and the body has provided a means of dialogue during times of tension.
Some 1,000 OSCE staff are currently working in Ukraine, and the special monitoring mission has often been caught up in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
In its most recent report, filed late on Tuesday, the monitors said they had had to evacuate a forward patrol base at Svitlodarsk because of heavy artillery fire, including one shell that came within 70m of the base.
A renewed ceasefire came into force on 24 December but there are still frequent violations.


A 70-year-old Australian man has set the record for the world's oldest person to swim the English Channel.

Cyril Baldock, from Bondi Beach in Sydney, completed his second round of the journey between the UK and France.
Mr Baldock managed to complete the leg, which spans at least 40km (25 miles), in 12 hours and 45 minutes.
A 73-year-old Australian woman is due to challenge his record by completing the swim later this week.
His first Channel swim was in 1985, when he was the 5th Australian to do so.
When his coach, Des Renford, died of a heart attack, it sparked an idea within Mr Baldock, he told ABC.
He took it upon himself to fulfil his coach's dream of becoming the oldest person to swim the Channel.
"I told Des that when I got to that age I'd have a go at it. But little did I know over that 30-year period the oldest went up 10 years, so I had to wait a while," he told AP.
His current coach, Vladimir Mravec, has put Mr Baldock through an intense training scheme, swimming at least 40km a week.
"It's helped my fitness, I've got five grandkids and I'm able to do things with them that a lot of 70-year-olds couldn't do," Mr Baldock told ABC.
Although the English Channel is 34km straight, currents often mean that swimmers end up covering more than 40km.


The Office for National Statistics has to adapt to the modern digital age if wants to be seen as a world class statistical agency, a review has said.

The review of UK economic statistics was carried out by Sir Charlie Bean, the former deputy governor of the Bank of England.
He said the ONS's move to Wales a few years ago had affected the agency.
But he added that the ONS needed to modernise the way it collects, and presents, the data it compiles.
Sir Charlie was asked to look into the work of the Office for National Statistics after worries were raised about the quality of its work.
Concerns were expressed because of the number of mistakes that were later corrected and the revision of previously released statistics, for instance on how quickly the economy is growing.
In his review, Sir Charlie said there were several reasons for the ONS data being not as accurate as it could be.
One factor was the government's decision to move the ONS from central London to Newport in Wales in the late 2000s. About 90% of the senior staff refused to make the move and stayed in London.
The loss of experience and skills obviously hit the work of the ONS, he said, although probably only temporarily. The new team were rapidly gaining experience and that would help improve things.
Sir Charlie also pointed out that the agency has a plethora of different computer systems and models that could do with improvement and simplification.
But he said the biggest issue is that, unlike world leading statistical agencies in countries such as Canada and the Netherlands, the ONS has failed to keep up with the times.
Current statistics were designed 50 years ago and the way they are compiled, collated and presented has not changed enough.
So while manufacturing industry is easy to measure - you just count how many cars a factory is making - assessing the value of bank lending is more difficult, and this matters because services now account for 70% of the economy.
Not only that but increasing amounts of the economy are also moving online, and are therefore not being counted by the old methods, or at least not as accurately as before. How does the ONS find out about a room in a private property rented out for one night using AirBnB?.
In his review, Sir Charlie also questioned the sample sizes the ONS used.
For instance, the ONS samples the views of 63,000 companies in its annual Business Survey. That sounds impressive until you realise that HMRC's VAT database has the records of 1.8 million companies.
The inflation figures, which decide how much pensions rise by, are collected by people collecting prices in shops in 140 locations across the country. Yet the daily automatic collection of prices from just three online supermarkets would bring in 6,500 price quotes a day.
Sir Charlie pointed out the amount of digital information available is doubling every 18 months and yet the ONS is still using people with clip boards to collect information.
In part he said this was not their fault. Much of the information the government collected was not  available to the ONS for legal reasons.
Sir Charlie said the ONS should have access to "all publicly held data ......except where there is a strong reason not to, for example reasons of national security."
This review says the Office for National Statistics should create a new research centre to find better ways to measure digital activity and set up a second centre to look at ways that it could use a vast range of public data.
The ONS said it welcomed the findings and the recommendations were in line with the changes it was already making.
The deputy national statistician for economic statistics, Jonathan Athow, said the office was ready to "fully embrace the current revolution in data technology".
And he said the idea of sharing government data would be a big help:  "They would enable us to meet the challenges of measuring the changing, modern economy and aid our transformation into a world leading statistics institute."


Ryan Conbeer has signed a development contract with the Scarlets.

The Wales under-20 wing scored a spectacular try for his country in their Six Nations victory over Italy.
The 18-year old will graduate from the Scarlets academy this summer, having already featured in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Bath and for Llanelli RFC.
"Having grown up in west Wales playing for the Scarlets is something that I've always aspired to," he said. "Hopefully I'll have more opportunities."


Watford's players were "bullied to a man all over the pitch" in the 2-0 loss at Burnley, says captain Troy Deeney.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The Hornets let in goals from a corner and a cross as they suffered a third Premier League defeat in six games.
The last seven goals the team have conceded in the top flight have come from crosses.
"People need to take responsibility," said Deeney. "Look at [goalscorer] Michael Keane - he wanted it more than the other boys involved."
Jeff Hendrick and Keane both scored from Steven Defour deliveries as the Clarets moved level with Watford on seven points.
The defeat for the Hornets came after wins over West Ham and Manchester United.
"It is not the first time we have let in a goal from a corner so questions need to be asked and people need to be held accountable," added Deeney, 28.
"It was not good enough. We just didn't turn up. We got bullied to a man all over the pitch and played right into their hands."


Lesotho's new Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has been sworn in, two days after his estranged wife was shot dead.

There were doubts whether the inauguration would take place so soon after her killing.
Prime Minister Thabane's ABC party defeated his bitter rival Pakalitha Mosisili's party in a snap election earlier this month.
It was the third election in three years after a bitter power-struggle.
Mr Thabane's party won 48 of the 80 directly contested seats in the 120-strong parliament but he had to form a coalition government with three other parties in order to reach a 63-seat majority  to form a government.
"I sincerely hope that political reforms will bring stability in Lesotho and ensure that Lesotho governments last for a normal five-year term," Prime Minister Thabane said in his inaugural speech, AFP reports.
Mr Thabane also commented for the first time about the recent death of his wife Lipolelo, who was shot dead on Wednesday night while travelling home with a friend.
"I am mourning her death, and the senseless killing of people like this...  is one of many challenges that I am faced with as a new prime minister," AFP says
The police say the motive for her killing is unknown and an investigation is continuing.
The couple had been living separately since 2012 and filed for divorce which hasn't been granted yet.
Mr Thabane attended the swearing in with another wife, Ma Isaiah Ramoholi.


Two men have been accused of abducting members of one of Scotland's richest families at knifepoint.

Brian Martin, 57, and Christopher McMultan, 40, are alleged to have entered Sarah Gloag's home in Perthshire on 19 January.
They are accused of holding a knife to her throat, and tying up Mrs Gloag and her husband as well as two children.
The men were remanded in custody after appearing in private at Perth Sheriff Court.
Sarah Gloag is the step-daughter of Ann Gloag, the founder of the Stagecoach transport company.
The charges against Mr Martin and Mr McMultan also allege that they stole jewellery worth Â£200,000 and Â£4,000 in cash from the house.
Both also face a number of other charges.
They made no plea or declaration.


Outside Crimea's parliament, the leaving party for Ukraine - and the welcome celebration for Russia - had begun.

Crowds of people waved flags and sang Russian pop songs, delighted that, as far as their newly-installed regional government was concerned, they now live in the Russian Federation.
The law was rushed through the autonomous province's parliament, with 79 of 81 MPs backing the proposal to leave Ukraine.
There is, of course, the small matter of the region's referendum on that same question, now brought forward to 16 March.
Crimea's First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliev told me he was certain of victory.
"Ukrainians will become Russian citizens here", he said. "We will win this vote with 70 or 75%. The referendum is legitimate."
But Kiev begs to differ. The new Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, has called the move "illegitimate and with no legal basis", as Ukraine's constitution states that any change to its borders must be approved by the whole country.
A war of words has begun between Kiev and Crimea, with the autonomous government insisting that it was the revolution in Kiev that was unlawful and that only the Crimean parliament represents the will of the people.
But how justified is the confidence of the Crimean authorities that people here want to change country?
At demonstrations like the one outside the parliament, there is a clear nationalist fervour. "We want to go to Russia", says one student "not the European Union. Russians are our sisters and brothers - and this is a great idea."
It is a widely-held view among the ethnic Russian majority here, who have staged daily pro-Russia protests against what they call the "fascists and nationalists" who have taken power in Kiev. Many Ukrainian Russians feel threatened by the revolution, fearful that Ukraine's new westward trajectory threatens their language and identity.
But in over a week of reporting from Crimea, I've spoken to countless Russians who feel differently - favouring greater autonomy within Ukraine, rather than wanting to switch country.
Among them are Lena and her family - ethnic Russians who welcome me to their apartment in Simferopol, their one-year-old son plays at our feet. They are determined he should grow up a Ukrainian citizen.
"I feel sad and disappointed by this move", Lena says. "Crimea is my homeland. I would not be happy to live in Russia - it's a foreign country for me."
Her husband Dima would also vote no in the referendum. But, he tells me, the problem is that Crimea is still searching for its identity. "I'm Russian but not a citizen of the Russian federation. We are different people," he says. "I want to feel Crimean, but even when I type it on my computer, my spellchecker underlines it like it's not the right word."
Crimean Russians are split, perhaps by generation. Lena's mother, Irina, remembers 1954, when Crimea was given to Ukraine by the former Soviet leader Khrushchev in a move that many here still resent. "I would vote yes in a referendum", she says. "Crimea has always been a Russian land and I don't have any emotional bonds with Ukraine."
Aside from the Russians, there is a sizeable community of ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, who together make up around 40% of the population. They would both certainly reject changing nationality.
The Tatars were deported by Stalin to Central Asia in 1944, as punishment for alleged collaboration with the Nazis by some. Many died, and even after some eventually returned, they remained fiercely anti-Russian.
And that is the problem here. Within this small, rugged peninsula, the divisions are so deep that nothing can satisfy everyone.
For those who have only ever known an independent, united Ukraine, I found widespread opposition to a territorial break-up.
At Crimea's technical college in Simferopol, the English class has 19 students, all born after 1991, when Ukrainians voted to break away from a crumbling Soviet Union - albeit with only a slim majority in Crimea. Every single student said they wanted the province to remain as part of Ukraine and simply longed for peace.
"I was born in Ukraine, I feel Ukrainian, and I will die in Ukraine," says one. "What's happening here isn't normal. I don't want Russian troops in my country."
But it is hard to get an accurate picture of overall support for separation - or annexation - by Moscow. Crimeans have little faith in opinion polls, and with Kiev and western governments announcing the referendum won't be legal or recognised, it's not even certain to go ahead.
Crimea has thrown down the gauntlet to the Ukrainian government. The territorial integrity of the country is under threat - and Europe's borders could yet be redrawn in this disputed corner.


Usain Bolt won the rematch and 200m gold as he ran a wonderful bend to once again leave rival Justin Gatlin chasing silver and fresh air.

Media playback is not supported on this device
On a sweaty, sticky night in the Bird's Nest, Bolt was out of the blocks quicker and opened up an unassailable lead over the first 100m before coming away down the straight and jabbing his thumbs at his chest as he crossed the line.
His 19.55 seconds was the fastest in the world this year, his speed and peerless championship class too good for American Gatlin, whose 19.74 was well outside his season's best.
Jamaican Bolt, who will also compete in the 4x100m relay, said: "It means a lot to me.
Media playback is not supported on this device
"I'm happy to be a 10-time World Championships gold medallist, especially when people have been saying I would lose.
"I had the utmost confidence. As long as my coach is confident, I'm super confident.
"The British people give me a lot of love and I will continue running fast."
South Africa's Anaso Jobodwana set a national record of 19.87, with Panama's Alonso Edwards three thousands of a second behind in fourth.
Britain's talented 20-year-old Zharnel Hughes, who trains with Bolt in Jamaica, ran a personal best of 20.02 for fifth in his first major final.
But this was all about the man metres in front, his 10th world gold just another astonishing number in a career without parallel.
For much of this season Bolt, 29, has been a struggling shadow of the man who has dominated both sprinting and his sport for the past seven years.
Coming into these championships he had raced only one 200m all summer, and that a lacklustre 20.13 in May.
Gatlin, twice banned for doping, had run more than two tenths of a second faster than any other man in the field this year, and almost half a second quicker than Bolt.
Bolt had neither the times this summer nor the races, a pelvic injury restricting his season until just a month before these championships.
But in the stadium where he smashed Michael Johnson's long-standing world record in winning Olympic 200m gold seven years ago, he was out of the blocks quicker than Gatlin.
Media playback is not supported on this device
With the American two lanes inside him, he was able to relax down the straight and celebrate as Gatlin trailed behind him once again.
Gatlin went into Sunday's 100m final, part one of their showdown, as the dominant man in world sprinting.
But, having cracked under the immense pressure of that first battle, he was once again unable to peak when he needed it most, and at 33 years old he may never have a better chance of beating his sport's superstar.
Hughes, born in the British Dependent Territory of Anguilla, formally gained British citizenship in June this year and won the national trials in some style.
And in his first major global championship he has improved throughout the rounds to confirm his potential for big finals ahead.
He will have no better exemplar than Bolt, unstoppable here once again.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Great Britain's Zharnel Hughes, who finished fifth: "He is a legend. I even doubted him a bit but he knows what to do, so credit to him and congratulations to him."
Multiple world champion Michael Johnson: "He is the best in the world and he does not have any rivals. We have to give him a lot of credit for running in the 100m and 200m - this is the most he has been challenged."
Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes: "There are some people in this world who are super human. Bolt wins 200m."
Former British sprinter Darren Campbell: "What Usain Bolt does for the sport is incredible. He's taken the sport to another level. Everywhere you go people know Usain Bolt."
BBC Radio 5 live commentator Mike Costello: "Everybody runs in a sprint race at school and can relate to what he does when he runs fast, but he gives the crowd something to remember afterwards by turning it into a party, and that's why he will be missed so much when he goes."
BBC TV commentator and former athlete Steve Cram: "Resurrecting a performance like that from a season he has had shows Usain Bolt is the greatest."


Two Canadian dogs have survived a harrowing run-in with a porcupine, but the encounter has left their owner with hefty medical bills.

Mahalo, a pit bull, was playing with his brother and another dog on his owner's farm in Craven, Saskatchewan, when the dogs ran afoul of a porcupine.
Mahalo had to be rushed to a veterinarian after the porcupine's quills pierced his heart and lungs.
Clad in a cone, she is recovering at home, but the healing process is long.
Mahalo's owner Dennis Mazur, a 39-year-old social worker, has had to take time off work to tend to the dog.
"The veterinarian said if [Mahalo] hadn't been a pit bull with all that muscle she wouldn't have survived," said Mike Gerrand, Mr Mazur's friend who organised a fundraising campaign.
Mahalo's brother, Nestah, was also hurt in the attack. Nestah was hit by dozens of quills to the face, but avoided more serious internal injuries.
The extended recovery for the dogs has cost Mr Mazur thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost work time.
Some of the quills have taken weeks to remove, said Mr Gerrand, who has raised more than C$3,000 so far towards the C$10,000 bill.