A man has been jailed for ramming a police motorcyclist and trying to run him over during a 130mph pursuit.

Martin Galbraith, 18, of Grays, drove at speeds up to 130mph (209km/h) on the A13 outside the Essex town in January.
As he was escorted off the road, he pushed the police bike in front of him into a roundabout and tried to run the officer over, Essex Police said.
The force said the officer was "lucky to be alive". Southend Crown Court jailed Galbraith for six years.
The defendant, of Boscombe Avenue, had admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance and having no driving licence.
He also received a five-year driving ban.
Essex Police said officer Paul Hills was on his bike when he spotted Galbraith speeding in a BMW in the outside lane of the A13.
He followed him as he accelerated to speeds of up to 130mph.
When Galbraith braked hard and moved into the inside lane, Mr Hills pulled in front and indicated to the 18-year-old to follow him.
As he was escorted off the road, Galbraith pushed Mr Hills' bike 35 yards (32m) into the oncoming roundabout. The BMW was then hit by a van.
Police said they believed Galbraith then attempted to run over Mr Hills as he was lying on the ground, but he was blocked by another vehicle.
He then drove off, but crashed soon afterwards and was caught in an industrial estate.
Mr Hills suffered severe back injuries in the crash.
Investigations revealed Galbraith had knowingly bought the BMW, which had been stolen.
Insp Scott Egerton said: "PC Hills is lucky to be alive.
"As Galbraith sped away from the scene witnesses saw him laughing, but that soon stopped when he lost control on the next roundabout and crashed into a wall."


A newlywed celebrating his honeymoon plunged headfirst through a guest house balcony which had rotted, a court has heard.

Matt Bullivant, 36, fell 4.5m (15ft) through the balustrade just 20 minutes after arriving at Chellowdene guest house in Falmouth, Cornwall.
He was hospitalised with a laceration to his head and a shattered right hand.
The hotel's owners admitted failing to properly maintain the balcony and were each ordered to pay more than £7,000.
Truro Magistrate's Court heard the balustrade gave way when Mr Bullivant leant on it.
Kingsley Keat, prosecuting on behalf of Cornwall Council, said: "When the gentleman leant on it he fell straight forward and landed on his head."
Mr Bullivant, from Peterborough, was off work for three and a half months following the fall on 21 September 2015 and still suffers "constant pain" in his right hand.
Following the hearing, he told the BBC he has a large scar on his head, suffers flashbacks and is "petrified" of heights.
He said: "We were meant to stay in Falmouth for a week but ended up in hospital for a week instead."
Troy and Julie McCann, aged 48 and 49, who live at the guest house on Gyllyngvase Hill, were described as "highly respected hoteliers" with no previous health and safety breaches.
The couple were each fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,037 each.


Three generations of women from the same family have been threatened during an armed robbery at a house in west Belfast.

Three masked men, two armed with handguns, forced their way into the property in Glenfearna Gardens in the Lagmore estate at 22:45 BST on Friday.
They threatened the women, aged 81, 49, and 25, and tied up the 49-year-old during the robbery.
The gang left in a small silver vehicle with a substantial sum of cash.
One of the women, Saoirse Joyce, said it was a traumatising experience.
"They barged into my room - two masked men that I could see," she said.
"I just jumped up to the window and pushed the window open and shouted out help, but one of them trailed me down by the hair onto the ground and said to the other one 'hold her there'.
"He pointed a gun to my head and I couldn't move and all I kept saying was 'my granny, my granny',".
Det Const Fiona Mills said: "This was a despicable act perpetrated against three generations of the one family.
"All of these women have been left understandably extremely shaken and upset by the ordeal."
Police appealed for anyone with information to contact them.


Gareth Southgate started his reign as England's interim manager with a comfortable win against minnows Malta at Wembley.

Southgate - in charge for four games following Sam Allardyce's departure after the single World Cup qualifying win in Slovakia - had an untroubled opening as England easily overcame a Malta side only focused on damage limitation.
Daniel Sturridge's clever header from Jordan Henderson's cross opened the scoring after 29 minutes and any notion this would be a contest against the side ranked 176th by Fifa ended when Dele Alli scrambled home a second before half-time.
Only Malta's heroic goalkeeper Andrew Hogg stood between England and further goals, making fine saves from Alli, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and debutant Jesse Lingard as the hosts made it maximum points from two qualifiers.
Relive the action from Wembley
Reaction: Phil McNulty answers your question on Facebook
How England's players rated
Southgate's pre-match mantra was that he wanted his England side to be brave, casting aside the shackles that have restricted them before.
It was a message that was applicable to Southgate's approach in general rather than this specific fixture - it was competence not courage that was required to win with ease on Saturday.
There was a touch of conservatism about Southgate's own selection as he ignored the claims of Manchester United's precocious teenager Marcus Rashford to go with Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge and Rashford's Old Trafford team-mate Lingard in attack.
Sturridge was on target while Lingard was bright enough without dazzling, almost scoring with a first-half header and making a good run to set up Walcott in the second half, so that selection was justified.
England were progressive and positive enough to get the job done - but proof of bravery will come on nights other than this one.
Once again Rooney was the hot topic of conversation in the build-up to this game. Was he worth his place in England's team under the latest regime after the controversy of his "play anywhere" performance in Allardyce's only game, the win in Slovakia?
Southgate had no hesitation in both retaining him as captain and also playing him from the start against Malta.
But the question of Rooney's long-term future cannot be answered against opposition like the lowly Maltese and with unconvincing performances like this.
Rooney played in a deep midfield role, often almost England's deepest player in the opening half, and his display consisted mainly of passes spread wide and the occasional shot - surges forward into the danger area that were once his trademark were conspicuous by their absence.
He did force two fine saves from Hogg but this was almost like a run-out for Rooney and he produced nothing to banish the doubts about his place in England's long-term plans.
His night could also have been a lot worse, as he was lucky to escape a booking for a bad foul in the first half.
Southgate will be delighted with the win. It could have been more convincing in all respects but he will regard it as job done.
England were never going to be in danger against a side of such limited options and talents - so more might emerge on his game plan and approach away to Slovenia on Tuesday.
Scotland are the next visitors to Wembley on 11 November. That is shaping up as the game that could make or break Southgate's hopes of landing the England job on a full-time basis.
England interim manager Gareth Southgate: "I thought first half we played well, we could and should have scored more goals. Their goalkeeper made some good saves and subconsciously I think some of our players looked after themselves physically in the second half.
"We missed a couple of good chances but given where we were 10 days ago I am pleased with the result.
"You have to accept [mistakes] with attacking players. I think Lingard had an outstanding debut, linked the play and looked a real threat. He is an exciting player and the stage was made for him. He's enjoyed Wembley, scored twice here in past for Manchester United, and I thought he had a very good game.
"We could have moved the ball more quickly but the game in Slovenia will be different. We managed today, we would have liked more but we'll go from there.
"I have enjoyed the whole week. I would have liked to give the crowd four or five goals but in their last qualifying group Malta only lost by one goal against Croatia and Italy in both matches. Their goalkeeper played well and they defended in heavy numbers but we could have won it by more."
England travel to face Slovenia on Tuesday (kick-off 19:45 BST), looking to maintain their 100% record in Group F. Left-back Ryan Bertrand, who went off with a hamstring injury against Malta, will be replaced in the squad by Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs.
Match ends, England 2, Malta 0.
Second Half ends, England 2, Malta 0.
Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Substitution, Malta. Rowen Muscat replaces André Schembri.
Attempt missed. Dele Alli (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marcus Rashford with a cross.
Corner,  England. Conceded by Gareth Sciberras.
Corner,  England. Conceded by Andrei Agius.
Corner,  Malta. Conceded by Joe Hart.
Attempt saved. Andrei Agius (Malta) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Paul Fenech.
Foul by Gary Cahill (England).
Michael Mifsud (Malta) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marcus Rashford (England).
Steve Borg (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Malta. Michael Mifsud replaces Alfred Effiong.
Attempt blocked. Wayne Rooney (England) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, England. Jamie Vardy replaces Daniel Sturridge.
Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (England) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Wayne Rooney following a set piece situation.
Dele Alli (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Gareth Sciberras (Malta).
Substitution, England. Marcus Rashford replaces Theo Walcott.
Foul by Dele Alli (England).
André Schembri (Malta) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, England. Jesse Lingard tries a through ball, but Danny Rose is caught offside.
Corner,  England. Conceded by Andrew Hogg.
Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Foul by John Stones (England).
Alfred Effiong (Malta) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Offside, England. Daniel Sturridge tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.
Steve Borg (Malta) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jesse Lingard (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Steve Borg (Malta).
Corner,  England. Conceded by Andrew Hogg.
Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top right corner.
Hand ball by Paul Fenech (Malta).
Corner,  England. Conceded by Andrei Agius.
Danny Rose (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Bjorn Kristensen (Malta).
Theo Walcott (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alex Muscat (Malta).
Second Half begins England 2, Malta 0.


Internet giant Google has changed the tagline on the homepage of its Palestinian edition from "Palestinian Territories" to "Palestine".

The change, introduced on 1 May, means google.ps now displays "Palestine" in Arabic and English under Google's logo.
Using the word Palestine is controversial for some. Israeli policy is that the borders of a Palestinian state are yet to be agreed.
In November, the UN gave Palestine the status of "non-member observer state".
The decision by the General Assembly was strongly opposed by Israel and the United States. Previously, Palestine only had "observer entity" status.
It followed an unsuccessful Palestinian bid to join the international body as a full member state in 2011 because of a lack of support in the UN Security Council.
Palestinians in general seek recognition for the state they are trying to establish and the adoption of the name Palestine.
Israel considers any formal use of the word Palestine as pre-judging the outcome of currently stalled peace talks. In much of Israel's official terminology the West Bank is referred to as Judea and Samaria.
In a statement given to the BBC on Friday, Google spokesman Nathan Tyler said: "We're changing the name 'Palestinian Territories' to 'Palestine' across our products. We consult a number of sources and authorities when naming countries.
"In this case, we are following the lead of the UN, Icann [the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers], ISO [International Organisation for Standardisation] and other international organisations."
The Palestinian Authority (PA) welcomed Google's decision.
"This is a step in the right direction, a timely step and one that encourages others to join in and give the right definition and name for Palestine instead of Palestinian territories," Dr Sabri Saidam, advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told the BBC.
"Most of the traffic that happens now happens in the virtual world and this means putting Palestine on the virtual map as well as on the geographic maps," he added.
Dr Saidam said that since the UN vote on 29 November, the PA had written to international companies, including Google, asking them to replace their usage of "Palestinian Territories" with "Palestine".


The global demand for rubber tyres is threatening protected forests in Southeast Asia, according to a study.

Tropical forests are being cleared for rubber plantations, putting endangered birds, bats and primates at risk, say UK researchers.
By 2024, up to 8.5 million hectares of new rubber plantations will be needed to meet demand, they report in Conservation Letters.
This could have a "catastrophic" impact on wildlife, they warn.
Species such as the endangered white-shouldered ibis, yellow-cheeked crested gibbon and clouded leopard could lose precious habitat, said the team led by Eleanor Warren-Thomas, from the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia.
"The tyre industry consumes 70% of all natural rubber grown, and rising demand for vehicle and aeroplane tyres is behind the recent expansion of plantations. But the impact of this is a loss of tropical biodiversity," she said.
"We predict that between 4.3 and 8.5 million hectares of new plantations will be required to meet projected demand by 2024. This will threaten significant areas of Asian forest, including many protected areas."
Eight-point-five million hectares is about the size of the land area of Austria.
Rubber is the most rapidly expanding tree crop within mainland Southeast Asia.
Concern has been growing among conservationists that switching land use to rubber cultivation can harm soil, water and biodiversity.
The first review of the effects on biodiversity and endangered species found the problem was comparable to oil palm and was linked to the growing tyre market.
The study focussed on four biodiversity hotspots in which rubber plantations are expanding:
It found that numbers of bird, bat and beetle species can decline by up to 75% in forests that have been converted to rubber.
The researchers, from UEA and the University of Sheffield, are calling on tyre manufacturers to support initiatives such as certification schemes.
Commenting on the study, Dr Matthew Struebig of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK,  said certification standards for the rubber industry were key to protecting forests.
"There's a lot we can do as scientists and the public to make rubber production more wildlife-friendly," he said.
"It can range from agro-forestry - mixing rubber with other trees - to retaining patches of natural vegetation along rivers or in small conservation set-asides, as is done in organic farming in Europe.
"The onus is on the rubber industry to develop a certification standard that is credible, for the public to support that, and for scientists to help develop ways to manage the rubber crop in an environmentally friendly way."
The research is published in the journal Conservation Letters.
Follow Helen on Twitter.


Living in the sizeable shadow of the "most complete batsman" England has ever produced can't be easy, but 23-year-old Billy Root seems to making a good fist of it.

Billy's older brother Joe, 25, has become England's main man in the international set-up in all formats for the past couple of years, playing a vital role in both the Ashes glory of 2015 and the run to the World Twenty20 Cup final earlier this month.
But Billy, who plays for Nottinghamshire, appears to be showing signs he has some of his brother's quality too, hitting his maiden first-class century for Leeds Bradford MCCU in their drawn match against Sussex.
Root junior scored 133 from 214 balls in the three-day game, with one six and 11 fours.
There's still some way to go catch up with his big brother.
Media playback is not supported on this device
Root has amassed 3,406 runs in 72 Test innings for England, at an average of 54.93. He has a best of 200 not out and has hit nine centuries and 39 half centuries.
In one-day internationals, he has scored eight centuries and 12 half centuries in 64 innings at a strike rate of 84.46 per 100 balls - his total of 2,572 runs have come at an average of 44.34.
He is yet to score a century in T20 cricket, but has scored 594 from 18 innings, at an average of 39.60, with a highest score of 90 not out. Crucially, he scores at a strike rate of 138.78.


Police in Montenegro have fired tear gas to disperse several thousand demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.

Protesters in the capital, Podgorica, chanted "Milo, thief!" and demanded fair elections organised by a transitional government.
Some threw flares and fireworks at police guarding parliament.
Fifteen policemen were injured and 24 protesters sought treatment after being teargassed, the interior minister said.
An leader of the Democratic Front opposition group, Andrija Mandic, was been questioned by police after the rally, along with another protest leader, Slaven Radunovic.
Mr Djukanovic has been in power for much of the past two decades, after holding prominent positions in the republic from the early 1990s when it was part of the former Yugoslavia.
In 2012, he won elections and became prime minister for the third time since Montenegro became independent after splitting from neighbouring Serbia in 2006.
"More than 25 years in power would be too much even if he was Mahatma Gandhi and not this thief," Raso, a 30-year old protester, told the AFP news agency.
Montenegro's government hopes to be invited to join the Nato in December, but many Montenegrins with historic ties to Russia are opposed to this.
Elections are scheduled for early 2016.


Emma Rice is to follow her high-profile departure as the artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe by launching a new theatre company at London's Old Vic.

Named after Angela Carter's last novel, Wise Children will launch with a stage version of that novel that will itself launch the Old Vic's 2018/2019 season.
Rice said the historic venue would be "the perfect first home for my company and for our first production."
The director joined the Globe in 2016 but gave up her post later that year.
Earlier this year Rice wrote an open letter to whomever succeeds her, in which she claimed the board had sought to impose "a new set of rules that I did not sign up to and could not stand by".
It followed a dispute with the theatre's board over her methods, which included reworking Shakespearean texts and using sound and lighting technology.
Rice will leave the Globe following its 2017/18 winter season, after which she will begin work on the two productions her company will stage at the Old Vic.
The Old Vic lies just a short distance up the Thames from the reconstruction of William Shakespeare's 17th Century playhouse.
"I named my new company after Angela Carter's seminal novel, which is set in south London and is a love letter to theatre," said Rice in a statement.
"It makes total narrative and thrilling sense to start the Wise Children journey at The Old Vic."
Matthew Warchus, the Old Vic's artistic director, said he was "thrilled" to make Rice's company its new "company in residence" in the year the theatre marks its bicentenary.
"Emma and all she stands for is symbolic of the optimism and irrepressible spirit that has kept The Old Vic at the forefront of artistic adventure for the last two centuries," he said.
Published in 1991, Wise Children tells of two twin chorus girls, Dora and Nora Chance, whose fortunes become entwined with those of another theatrical family.
Carter, whose other novels include The Magic Toyshop and Nights at the Circus, died the following year of cancer at the age of 51.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Neglect and gross failure by hospital staff to quickly attempt resuscitation contributed to the death of an Antiques Roadshow expert, an inquest has ruled.

Alice Gibson-Watt, 34, died in 2012 from a brain injury caused by a cardiac arrest, an inquest jury concluded.
A week earlier, she was restrained by police and ambulance staff in a case of post-partum psychosis, a month after giving birth to her first child.
The coroner ruled the use of restraint was not a factor in the death.
Her widower, Anthony Gibson-Watt, thanked the coroner for investigating the circumstances leading to the death of his wife.
"It will never bring Alice back, but it has given us a better understanding of how she came to die and in time may help us to move forward," he said.
The inquest heard that she was admitted to A&E at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital following the psychotic episode and then taken to the Lakeside Mental Health Unit in West Middlesex Hospital.
At around 03:00 GMT on 16 November Mrs Gibson-Watt, a jewellery specialist for Sotheby's, had a cardiac arrest.
A nurse checked and found no pulse, the inquest heard.
Her heart was recorded as restarted at 03:48, after emergency paramedics had used a defibrillator.
She was moved to a life support machine at King's College Hospital in London, but died on 20 November after a brain scan pronounced her "life extinct".
Doctors giving evidence at the inquest said that if there had been a proper response to the cardiac arrest, the brain injury that ultimately caused her death could have been avoided.
Mr Gibson-Watt had called 999 after his wife started screaming, wailing and crawling around on all fours on 13 November.
He told the inquest at West London Coroner's Court that she was suffering delusions that their daughter had died.
He also told the court that he and Alice met when she was 18 and he was 21. They had married nine years later.
"Our romance was long and wonderful," he said afterwards. "We were a lucky couple: best friends, soul mates with entwined interests."
He added that one day he will tell his four-year-old daughter about her wonderful mother.
"Alice insisted on a drug-free birth to give her daughter the very best start possible.  She was enthralled by motherhood," he said.
Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental illness that affects around one in 1,000 women after they have a baby.
The main symptoms are hallucinations - hearing and seeing things that aren't there - and delusions - thoughts that are not likely to be true.
Experiencing psychosis tends to happen within the first two weeks after giving birth, but it can develop later too.
It can severely alter someone's thinking, emotions and behaviour.
Experts don't know why it occurs in some women, but fluctuations in hormones and changing sleep patterns are thought to play a role.
Women are more likely to develop the illness if another member of their family has had it too.


Three new acts are being tipped for success in 2016 after being shortlisted for the Brits Critics' Choice Award.

Multi-instrumentalist Jack Garratt, pop singer Frances and soul diva Izzy Bizu will compete for the honour.
The winner will be announced on Friday 27 November and will receive a prize at the Brit Awards next February.
Previous Critics' Choice winners include Emeli Sande, James Bay, Florence + The Machine and Adele, who won the inaugural award in 2008.
Last year's honouree was be-hatted troubador James Bay, whose album Chaos and the Calm is the year's biggest-selling debut.
"It's such a huge honour to be nominated," said Frances, 21, whose latest single is a collaboration with dance act Disclosure.
"I've followed the Brits my whole life, but never thought I'd be lucky enough to be nominated."
The Berkshire singer, whose full name is Sophie Frances Cooke, caught attention with the delicate piano ballad Grow, which has featured on an advert for Amazon.
Jack Garratt, 23, has been compared to Ed Sheeran, filtered through the bass-heavy electronica of Daft Punk or Jamie xx.
He combines electric guitar, drum machines, keyboards, and a moving falsetto to fashion smooth, club-ready electro-pop, on tracks such as Weathered, which was recently covered by Ellie Goulding.
His other fans include Zane Lowe and Rick Rubin, and Garratt was recently named as the winner of the BBC Introducing Prize for emerging artists.
Speaking of the Critics' Choice honour, the singer said: "It's such a significant award that highlights the importance of new music, so it's a genuine honour to have been nominated alongside some other incredible new acts from the UK."
Izzy Bizu got her start after winning an open mic night in Camden two years ago. That secured her a manager and a celebrity fan, in the shape of superstar producer Naughty Boy, who happened to be in the audience.
She has since released her debut EP and supported Sam Smith on tour, winning converts with sunny, soulful tracks like Give Me Love.
"I grew up watching the Brits on the TV at home so it's pretty exciting to be a part of it!" she said.
All three artists have been championed by the BBC's Introducing strand, which allows aspiring artists to upload their music to the BBC and, potentially, make it onto the air.
The Critics' Choice Award is chosen by a team of experts - including music journalists and music programmers at major TV and radio stations.
The Award is open to artists signed to a label who are set to release their debut albums in 2016 and over 100 artists from a range of genres were considered for this year's shortlist.
The 2016 Brit Awards take place on 24 February at London's O2 Arena, hosted by Ant and Dec.


Treasurer Joe Hockey is expected to lead a new cross-party push for Australia to become a republic.

Mr Hockey will co-convene a parliamentary group lobbying for a plebiscite to be held by 2020 on having an Australian head of state.
The move is expected to put the treasurer at odds with avowed monarchist Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Australia is a parliamentary democracy that retains Britain's monarch as head of state.
Mr Hockey's involvement in the group was announced by his close friend, journalist and Australian Republican Movement chair Peter FitzSimons.
"The key thing I wish to say today, is we are putting the band back together," Mr FitzSimons said, referring to the work he has done in the past with Mr Hockey on the republican movement.
"It's the hope in the next five years, Australia can begin the formal process towards becoming the Republic of Australia," Mr FitzSimons said, speaking at a National Press Club address in Canberra.
Mr Hockey has yet to comment on the new group, which he will convene with Labor senator Katy Gallagher, but a spokesperson from his office said he had long advocated his views on this issue "and those views haven't changed".
In contrast, in January, on Australia's national day, Mr Abbott reinforced his long-held commitment to the monarchy by controversially announcing a knighthood for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
In 1999, Australia held a referendum on having an Australian head of state but it failed because the public wanted to vote directly for a president.
The referendum asked only if people wanted a republic with a president appointed by parliament.
The debate was briefly revived by the Queen's representative in Australia Quentin Bryce in 2013, when she became the first serving governor-general to publicly back the country becoming a republic.
But last year Australia's support for a republic appeared to drop to its lowest level in more than three decades, around the time of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's visit to the country.
A Fairfax Media poll at that time found 51% of Australians polled believed a switch to a republic was unnecessary, with 42% backing a republic, down from a high of 58% in 1999.


A Germanwings plane carrying 150 people has crashed in the French Alps on its way from Barcelona to Duesseldorf.

The Airbus A320 - flight 4U 9525 - went down between Digne and Barcelonnette. There are no survivors, officials say.
The "black box" flight recorder has been found, France's interior minister says. The cause of the crash is not known and the plane sent no distress signal during an eight-minute descent.
Among the passengers were 16 German pupils returning from an exchange trip.
Germanwings, a low-cost airline owned by Germany's main carrier Lufthansa, has an excellent safety record. French, Spanish and German leaders have expressed shock.
A recovery team reached the site, in a remote mountain ravine, earlier on Tuesday. Their work was called off in the evening and will resume at first light on Wednesday, the French interior ministry said.
Bruce Robin, a prosecutor from Marseille, told the Reuters news agency that he had seen the wreckage of the aircraft from a helicopter.
"The body of the plane is in a state of destruction, there is not one intact piece of wing or fuselage," he said.
What we know
Crash updates
German school's fears mount
In pictures: Germanwings crash
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was also flown over the crash site and described it as "a picture of horror", the Associated Press news agency says.
Officials believe 67 of those aboard the plane were German citizens. Forty-five of the passengers had Spanish names, Spain's deputy prime minister said.
The passengers included a German school class on its way back from an exchange trip as well as two opera singers, Maria Radner and Oleg Bryjak.
Ms Radner was travelling with her husband and baby.
The flight was also carrying citizens of Australia, Turkey, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium. UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it was "sadly likely" that some British nationals were on board.
Sandrine Boisse, a tourism official from the ski resort of Pra Loup, told the BBC that she believed she had heard a strange noise in the mountains at around 11:00 (10:00 GMT).
"At first we thought it was on the ski slopes, an avalanche, but it wasn't the same noise," she said.
We know the aircraft went from a normal cruising height of 38,000 feet to crashing in the mountains in just eight minutes. One pilot told me that is twice the normal descent rate, but he also said that the aircraft is capable of coming down even more quickly and still being okay.
In an emergency, the pilots' first priority is to fly the plane, but as soon as they have some control they are trained to make an emergency call. That didn't appear to happen in this case, which suggests the pilots were coping with something so catastrophic they never had time to radio in a mayday, or turn to find the nearest runway.
It's still too early to know anything for certain, but that might point to both engines failing, a fuel problem or something critical breaking off the aircraft.
The plane began descending one minute after it reached its cruising height and continued to lose altitude for eight minutes, Germanwings managing director Thomas Winkelmann told reporters.
He said the aircraft lost contact with French air traffic controllers at 10:53 (09:53 GMT) at an altitude of about 6,000 feet.
The plane did not send out a distress signal, officials said. Earlier reports of a distress call, quoting the French interior ministry, referred to a message from controllers on the ground.
The White House has said there is no evidence so far of a terror attack. A Lufthansa official said they were assuming for the time being that the crash had been caused by an accident.
The Airbus A320 is a single-aisle passenger jet popular for short- and medium-haul flights.


Football fans up and down the country can start to plan their schedules, book time off work and look forward to the big matches following the announcement of the Premier League fixtures for the 2016-17 season.

Media playback is not supported on this device
BBC Sport has taken a look at when some of the big matches, managerial reunions and hostile welcomes are scheduled to take place throughout the season.
All dates and times of matches are subject to change.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has helped his side win the Premier League title twice and the fixtures he looks out for are, unsurprisingly, the Manchester derbies.
"They are the ones I enjoy most," said Kompany who is working for BBC Sport as a pundit during Euro 2016. "In all the fixtures you have good and bad moments but playing against Tottenham is always a good occasion.
"Next season I'm also looking forward to playing West Han away in a different stadium. It will be a new experience and it adds a new dimension to the Premier League."
Jose Mourinho won the Premier League title with Chelsea on three occasions and it may well be an emotional occasion on 22 October, when he takes his new Manchester United side to Stamford Bridge.
New Everton boss Ronald Koeman will expect a lively reception when he faces his former side Southampton on 26 November with the return game at Goodison Park on 2 January.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe takes on a Burnley side he managed for a year with the two teams meeting in Burnley on 10 December and then again in Bournemouth on the penultimate weekend of the season.
BBC Sport's Simon Stone: "Champions Leicester City can have no complaints about how their entry into European football has been treated.
"Top four managers tend to look with suspicion at the fixtures that follow each of their Champions League games, when travel fatigue can be a factor.
"Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri will be happy to see his side have been given six home games immediately after those matches, Arsenal have four and Tottenham two.
"Manchester City have three but they must get through an August qualifier before new manager Pep Guardiola can be certain of a familiar campaign in Europe's premier club competition."
BBC Sport's Simon Stone: "Premier League managers are not the only ones who keep a close eye on fixtures release day. International managers also get affected, especially when matches involving their players get moved for TV.
"So Roy Hodgson, if he remains in charge of England beyond Euro 2016, might not be too happy to find some of the games that immediately precede World Cup qualifiers.
"Tottenham and Liverpool, who between them are responsible for 10 of Hodgson's 23-man squad in France, play in the last round of matches before the September internationals, Tottenham v Man City is before October's.
"Arsenal have a North London derby against Tottenham before England play Scotland on 11 November.
"And Manchester City play Liverpool and Tottenham take on Southampton before March's games."
Bournemouth v Manchester United, Arsenal v Liverpool, Burnley v Swansea City, Chelsea v West Ham United, Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion, Everton v Tottenham Hotspur, Hull City v Leicester City, Manchester City v Sunderland, Middlesbrough v Stoke City, Southampton v Watford.
Tottenham finished third last season, their highest ever position in the Premier League, and travel to Goodison Park on the first weekend of the campaign. It will be Ronald Koeman's first game in charge of Everton and former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas thinks that will make it tougher for the London side.
"Tottenham have set the benchmark of what they can achieve and they should be going for the title this year," Jenas told BBC Sport. "Every match at Everton is tough, but with a new manager even more so."
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown says his side will get off to a great start to the season if they can defeat Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool on the opening weekend.
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League, while Klopp guided Liverpool to the Europa League final, and Keown believes the Anfield side will be Premier League title challengers this season.
"Jurgen Klopp will have brought in new players by then and if Arsenal can win that game then they are off and running as I see Liverpool as one of the favourites," Keown told BBC Sport.
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion, Burnley v Middlesbrough, Chelsea v Bournemouth, Hull City v Manchester City, Leicester City v Everton, Liverpool v Stoke City, Manchester United v Sunderland, Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur, Swansea City v West Ham United, Watford v Crystal Palace.
Here are the fixtures for the final weekend of the season on 21 May. Will a team already be crowned champions by then? Or could it go down to the wire?
Arsenal v Everton, Burnley v West Ham United, Chelsea v Sunderland, Hull City v Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City v Bournemouth, Liverpool v Middlesbrough, Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Southampton v Stoke City, Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion, Watford v Manchester City.
Diana Brighouse: New fixture list :) Glad we've got an away game the day of my daughter's wedding! #saintsfc
John Wells: The Boro's last six fixtures include Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea & Liverpool. Hope we're safely in Europe before then.
Martin Walsh: A tough start for Arsenal and with a north London derby on the 5th of November, there will be fireworks!
Rob Mullarkey: Looking forward to the first 'Eddie Howe' derby. Burnley v Bournemouth on Dec 10 with the reverse on May 13.
Grundy: Excitedly looked through the new fixtures, and then the realisation that Aston Villa definitely aren't there hit me again :(
Nkosilathi Makhaza: Manchester derby nice and early. It will be tougher for Pep than Jose considering Jose's Premier League experience.
Steven Todd: Tough start for Liverpool - Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea all away in first five games.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League meetings with West Ham United at home (won seven drew three).
Chelsea have won more points than any other Premier League side on the opening weekend of action (51 points).
Liverpool have only won one of their last 16 Premier League away trips to Arsenal (won one, drew seven, lost eight).
Four of Manchester United's five opening day defeats in the Premier League have come away from home.
Wayne Rooney has scored more goals on the opening weekend than any player currently playing in the Premier League.
Sunderland have never won away at Manchester City in the Premier League (won none, drew two, lost 10).
The reigning Premier League champions have never lost the opening game of their title defence in Premier League history (won 19, drew four).
Watford managed just one shot on target in 180 minutes of Premier League action against Southampton in 2015-16.
Click on the links for each team
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.


Reading's home Championship game with Fulham was abandoned at half-time because of fog.

Following a goalless first half in increasingly fogbound conditions at the Madejski Stadium, referee James Linington called off the game.
The match official had twice consulted with Reading and Fulham officials.
It was the second of Friday's four Championship fixtures to fall foul of the freezing fog, following Brighton's postponement against Cardiff City.
Much of the fog cleared during the interval and the second half looked set to take place. However, an announcement said that conditions outside the Madejski Stadium had deteriorated and the game had been abandoned.
Fulham had made the better start to the action that was possible, left-back Scott Malone venturing forward to send a low drive skidding wide.
With the fog getting worse in the 35th minute, especially at one end, the referee spoke to Reading manager Jaap Stam and Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic.
Mr Linington ruled the conditions were fit to continue but, four minutes later, he again spoke with Jokanovic.
The game resumed, Fulham keeper David Button saving well from Callum Harriott in first-half stoppage time, before it was abandoned.
Reading assistant manager Andries Ulderink told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"In the first half a couple of times, the fog was very, very bad and you couldn't see the opposite sideline. So the linesman found it very difficult to make a decision on a couple of occasions, to call for an offside.
"He didn't want to take the risk to make a bad call or one that he couldn't see, so that's what made the referee's decision to call it off.
"When you look at how things were in the first half, it's the right decision. But, when we came out again after half-time, the weather had cleared up a bit.
"But, it's hard for the referee to know what will happen with the weather and I understand he has to make that call before both sides take the pitch again, so it's the right decision."
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic told BBC Radio London:
"The linesmen have explained they cannot guarantee doing their job and were not sure of what was happening on the other side of the pitch and they decided to cancel the game.
"It was not a decision that was in my hands. I am not involved in the making of this decision. But I can understand this decision.
"I am so sorry for our supporters. We are going to play another day and that's it."


Hundreds of protesters, including film director Ken Loach, gathered in Bath to demonstrate against plans to move the city's central library.

Bath and North East Somerset Council is considering the move in an attempt to save £800,000 a year.
However, campaigners say the new base would be smaller and not meet demand.
Mr Loach said the library was a "big feature in the centre of Bath" and putting it somewhere "less accessible" was a "bad sign".
"The library is very well-used... [and] really expresses something of the community of the city which is hard to find now," the Bath-based film director said.
The campaigners gathered on Tuesday evening as the authority set its 2017-18 budget with one of the proposals to move the library to nearby Manvers Street.
Conservative councillor Keith Gerrish, who is responsible for finance and efficiency, told the budget and council tax meeting a public consultation would now be going ahead "in respect of the proposal".
However, he said: "The implications indentified refer to future years and are not part of the budget we are proposing tonight for 2017-18".
Mr Gerrish added that any move was still subject to public consultation and would form part of a future business case.
The proposed new location would be owned by the council rather than leased, as it is currently, and this would "contribute to an annual saving of £800,000".
The meeting also heard the authority needed to make £49m of savings over the next four years with £14.5m in savings required for 2017-18.  Some £13.2m of this would be through "increased efficiency and new and innovative ways to generate income".
Councillors also heard £1.3m would be achieved through changing the way some local services are delivered.
The budget for 2017-18 was voted through by 36 to 24 votes.  The authority's part of council tax will rise by 3.5% - an increase of £52 per year on a Band D property.


The 1983 Mental Health Act would be scrapped and replaced with new laws governing treatment, under Conservative plans for England and Wales.

The Equalities Act would also be reformed to tackle discrimination against people with mental health problems, the party has pledged.
The party is also promising 10,000 more staff working in NHS mental health treatment by 2020.
Labour said the Tories appeared to be offering no extra funding.
The Conservatives say the plans are motivated by the concern that "vulnerable people are being subject to detention, including in police cells, unnecessarily" as numbers of people detained or "sectioned" under the Mental Health Act have risen.
The charity Mind has previously called for a review of the Act, which allows people with mental health problems to be detained for treatment against their will.
Labour rules out tax rises for 95% of earners
Lib Dems pledge winter fuel cuts to protect pensions
People detained under section two of the Act cannot refuse hospital treatment - although some forms of treatment can be given only with a patient's consent - and can be held for up to 28 days.
Paul Farmer, Mind's chief executive said: "One in four of us will experience a mental health problem each year, so every parliamentary candidate from every party needs to accept and embrace mental health as a key issue for their constituency."
The charity said a rising number of detentions under the Act could be sign of growing pressure on mental health services.
Labour accused the Tory government of failing mental health patients.
Shadow mental health minister Barbara Keeley said: "The Tories have not delivered on their promise to give mental health the same priority as physical health.
"They appear to be offering no extra funding and have consistently raided mental health budgets over the last seven years.
"Warm words from the Tories will not help to tackle the injustice of unequal treatment in mental health."
Mental health still a workplace taboo
Newsbeat: Student mental health costs "should be free"
Watch: "A message to my mental illness..."
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "On my first day in Downing Street last July, I described shortfalls in mental health services as one of the burning injustices in our country.
"Today I am pledging to rip up the 1983 Act and introduce in its place a new law which finally confronts the discrimination and unnecessary detention that takes place too often."
The plans would also see all primary and secondary schools in England and Wales provided with mental health first aid training for staff.
Large organisations would be required to have mental health first aid-trained staff on hand, in addition to the current requirement for physical health first aid training.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman, and former health minister, Norman Lamb said: "I proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act in a Green Paper in March 2015.
"It was designed to give new rights to people. The Conservatives have sat on it for two years, so forgive me if I have little faith in their desire to reform."
He added: "The Conservatives have set themselves against any tax rise so the promise to employ 10,000 additional staff is based on thin air."
The Conservative Party said "funding for mental health services is currently at record levels - and up by Â£1.4 billion in real terms by 2020."


Casinos could be banned from opening in Swansea under plans to curb gambling.

The city's council has already capped the number of sex entertainment venues to "nil" and limited the number of bars in the city centre.
Swansea's main casino, Aspers, shut in 2012 saying the Â£13m venue was not commercially viable - leaving just one other in the city.
In 2005, Swansea was one of eight UK cities to be granted a small casino licence under legislation passed.
Cabinet members at Swansea council will discuss a proposed amendment to its licensing policy on Tuesday that could mean no new licences for casinos would be allowed in the city.
If they back the idea, it will then go out to public consultation before a final decision is made.
Cabinet member June Burtonshaw said: "The proposal to introduce a 'no casino' resolution is part of the council's anti-poverty policy and, if approved, would last for three years.
"It won't affect any existing casinos but it would mean no more would be allowed in Swansea."
She added: "Research has shown that vulnerable families, the unemployed and those living in poverty are most likely to experience the adverse effects of gambling.
"Gambling can lead to debt, divorce, crime and increase the stress of life on a low income, something which is particularly important in the current economic climate.
"Introducing a 'no casino' resolution would clearly support the council's anti-poverty policies and the work we are doing with our partners in tackling social inequality and debt in Swansea."
Last year, sex entertainment venues were banned in Swansea after councillors capped the number at "nil".
They voted to change the current policy from each application being dealt with on its own merits to one where they will "normally be refused". There are currently none in the city after the last licence ran out.
It covers lap dancing, pole dancing, table dancing, strip shows, peep shows and live sex shows.
The council also decided to restrict the number of premises allowed to sell alcohol after a report said Swansea city centre had reached "saturation point".
And last week, a bar became the first to have its bid for extended opening hours rejected since the new saturation policy was introduced.


Sinn Fein have held on to the Mid Ulster seat at Westminster left vacant by Martin McGuinness when he stepped down as MP at the end of last year.

Francie Molloy won the seat after polling 17,462 votes (46.93%).
However, Sinn Fein's majority fell by more than 10,000 votes from their 2010 general election victory.
Joint unionist candidate Nigel Lutton was second on 12,781 votes. The SDLP's Patsy McGlone polled 6,478, with the Alliance Party's Eric Bullick on 487.
The overall voter turnout in the by-election was 55%, down from 63% in the last general election.
By Gareth GordonPolitical correspondent, BBC Northern Ireland
All the parties will take some heart from Mid Ulster, the by-election with one winner but no real losers.
Sinn Fein will take the win, albeit with a vote down by just over 5% for the new MP Francie Molloy.
His predecessor Martin McGuinness blamed complacency in his party's voters because the media wrote off the challengers.
The unionist parties believe the controversial plan to stand aside and back an agreed candidate, in Nigel Lutton, worked - increasing the combined unionist vote to just over 34%.
Although he came third, the SDLP's Patsy McGlone succeeded in increasing his party's actual vote in a reduced overall poll.
And in the Alliance's first election since the flag row began, Eric Bullick increased its vote from 397 to 487.
Before the poll was called, Mr Molloy had been deputy speaker at the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Sinn Fein MPs have a long-standing abstentionist policy from Westminster, with its other four current MPs opting not to sit in the House of Commons, but continuing to represent their constituents by lobbying the government.
After being elected, Mr Molloy said: "I would like to thank my colleague and comrade Martin McGuinness for the work that he has done over the last 15 years in moving Mid Ulster forward.
"Martin will be a hard act to follow, I understand that. But we will try our best to do that, we will continue to build the process within it and work with everyone," he said.
"I want to represent all the people of Mid Ulster, not just those who actually voted for me, not just the Sinn Fein support within the area, but all the people of Mid Ulster."
The election pitted the agreed unionist candidate, Mr Lutton - whose father was killed by the IRA - against Mr Molloy.
The Sinn Fein candidate had previously been accused of being a suspect in the murder, by the DUP MP David Simpson, who used parliamentary privilege to make the allegation.
Mr Molloy vehemently denied the claims, challenging Mr Simpson to repeat them without the legal protection afforded by Parliament.
After the result was announced, Mr Lutton did not shake hands with the new MP, but BBC political correspondent, Gareth Gordon, said the pair had "exchanged brief pleasantries" in the counting hall.
Mr Lutton, who works as an undertaker, was announced as the only unionist candidate after the DUP, UUP and TUV agreed to stand aside in an attempt to consolidate the unionist vote.
On the night he polled 599 fewer votes than the combined total of the three unionist candidates in the 2010 general election.
However he achieved 34% of the vote, an increase of 2% on the previous unionist share of the vote in the constituency.
The DUP and UUP both hailed his performance as a success.
Mr Lutton said he was "relieved and humbled by the result".
"As a nobody coming in, I wasn't expecting to increase the unionist vote," he said.
He told journalists that someone in the counting hall had made him laugh by describing him as the "undertaker who resurrected unionism".
Mr Lutton's candidacy caused controversy within the UUP, resulting in the lost of two of its high profile MLAs.
Basil McCrea and John McCallister both resigned from the UUP last month, objected to their party's electoral pact with the DUP.
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said Mr Lutton was an "agreed" unionist candidate but said the move should not be described as "unionist unity".
"I always looked at this as an experiment.  We'll go away and look at the result in much more detail and then we'll think about the implications going forward," he said.
"We're a long way from the next scheduled election which is Europe and I can think of ways in which we could clearly cooperate.
"We have Jim Nicholson already standing. I would be more than happy to recommend every Ulster Unionist voter to give a second preference to the DUP and we'd hope the same thing would come back the other way. I think that's a very sensible next step in cooperation, Mr Nesbitt added.
The DUP's Arlene Foster hailed the increase in unionism's share of the vote in Mid Ulster.
"As unionism in the west is growing again, thanks to this man [Nigel Lutton], and the cooperation that has happened in this election, I think we should send out a very confident message to unionism that we can go forward from this and I'm hoping that's exactly what we will do," Mrs Foster said.
Despite a reduced overall turnout, the SDLP's Patsy McGlone increased the SDLP's vote by about 650.
The Alliance candidate, teacher Eric Bullick, said he had increased his party's share of the vote by 23% since the last general election, polling 487 votes - up from 398 votes three years ago.
The by-election was the first time Alliance has faced the electorate since Belfast City Council took a controversial decision to restrict the flying of the union flag at the city hall last December.
Mr McGuinness claimed media coverage of the by-election had played a part in the drop in Sinn Fein's majority.
"I would have preferred if the media had said 'this is going to be a close contest', but the media didn't say that," the deputy first minister said.
"The media said 'Francie Molloy is home in a boat, Nigel Lutton has no prospect whatsoever of winning the election'. And I think a certain amount of complacency sets in, but for us it was a tremendous result."
Mr McGuinness added that his successor would make a "fine MP".


They called him 'Don Patricio' - he was the Irishman who rose through the footballing ranks from Belfast Celtic to captain Manchester United and going on to win the name of "Barcelona Saviour".

He was a legend in Spain, but died in poverty in London and lies in an unmarked grave.
The story of the rise and fall of footballer Patrick O'Connell struck a chord with football fans.
They include Belfast fans keen to nurture the city's link.
They could not let him rest unknown.
Fergus Dowd is among those who want to set up a memorial at the footballer's grave in St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kilburn, and to commemorate him in Belfast too.
He and his friends do not want Mr O'Connell to be forgotten.
And neither, it turns out, do many of those who share his love of the beautiful game.
Johan Cruyff, Oliver Kahn, Martin O'Neill, Franz Beckenbauer and Luis Figo want Mr O'Connell's memory marked too.
But who was Paddy O'Connell?
He was a man from Dublin who won his first professional contract with Belfast Celtic.
He moved to Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City and on to Manchester United, three months before World War I broke out.
There were stories about his talent - he played for Ireland and captained the team to victory even as he was playing with a broken arm.
And later, he disappeared to Spain.
It was there that he is much remembered and much loved - as he managed Racing Santander, Real Oviedo and Real Betis Balompie.
Under Don Patricio - as the Spanish called him with great affection - Betis moved up the ranks from the second division in 1932 to three years later, going into the last match of the season one point ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the table.
It was the stuff of dreams. Betis romped home 5 - 0. David took on Goliath and the result was history.
And on went Don Patricio, joining Barcelona just before the Spanish Civil War broke out.
The club was so associated with the republican cause that it almost folded under the pressure from General Franco's forces.
But in 1937, Mr O'Connell led the team into exile on a tour of Mexico and New York.
The money raised on the odyssey was used to revive the team's fortunes.
He became known as the saviour of Barcelona.
Mr O'Connell left shortly afterwards. Years later, in 1954, his old glory team, Betis heard he had hit hard times and arranged a benefit match.
The last years were hard. In London, he died of pneumonia in 1959. His grave remains unmarked.
Fergus Dowd learned about Dublin man Mr O'Connell at his father's knee.
"I remember the story of the hero and the tragedy of his life," he said.
"Remember, without him there would be no Barcelona - no Messi, no Cruyff, no Maradona. It was O'Connell who saved Barcelona from extinction."
And now a group of fans and football stars and clubs want to mark his place in soccer history in a more fitting way.
They want a memorial at his grave and a monument at the Park Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland - scene of his first professional matches.
For Fergus Dowd, it has been amazing.
"It has been unbelievable - we've had responses from all over Europe. The top people in football have been involved," he said.
"We now have 30 signed shirts from everyone from Cruyff to Beckenbauer. Gerry Armstrong gave us his 1982 Northern Ireland jersey and we have a jersey signed by the greatest Ireland 11 - including Roy Keane."
Now, with the help of soccer players and fans, Mr O'Connell's unmarked grave at St Mary's Cemetery, Kensal Road, London will be a tribute to the man they called "Barcelona's saviour".


Middlesbrough's move for Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes has collapsed.

The two Championship clubs agreed a fee, thought to be about £9m, and the 25-year-old held negotiations with promotion-chasing Boro.
However, Boro said they were unable to agree personal terms with the player.
The Scotland international has scored 83 goals in 169 appearances for Blackburn, with 11 of those strikes coming this season.
Rhodes joined Blackburn from Huddersfield for £8m in 2012.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


A man who escaped injury in an arson attack on his home in Holywood, County Down, has said he and his family are lucky to be alive.

Tom Foden and his wife led their four-year-old daughter to safety when a shed in the back garden of the house in Clarehill Lane was deliberately set alight on Saturday morning.
The fire spread to an oil tank and badly damaged the outside of the property.
A 33-year-old man has been arrested.
The shed contained furniture, children's toys, clothes and photographs, all of which were destroyed.
Mr Foden spoke to BBC's The Sunday News about what had happened.
"My wife woke up she heard a noise and wasn't sure what it was, she thought it was the delivery of oil we were due to get yesterday morning, but it was actually crackling on the baby monitor she could hear," he said.
"She looked out the window and the whole street was lit up orange.
"As we were running out the door, I looked out a side window and saw the whole shed was alight and it was probably about 30 seconds to a minute from catching on to the oil tank.
"The side window in the house blew out only a couple of minutes after we got out.
"Our daughter's window which looked out over the shed was a couple of minutes from blowing out as well."
Mr Foden said his daughter was too scared to return to the house at present.
He said any belongings that the family could not keep in their house were stored in the shed which was not insured.
Mr Foden said he believed it was a "random" attack.


Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen defended financial rules introduced to the US after the 2008-2009 financial crisis, backing policies that President Donald Trump has deemed "a disaster".

The Trump administration has said the rules have stifled economic growth and lending.
It is working with Republicans in Congress and financial firms to roll back some regulations.
Ms Yellen said the bank was open to changes but they should remain modest.
Ms Yellen spoke in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where top economists and central bankers have gathered for an annual conference.
What happens at Jackson Hole?
Republicans take aim at Dodd-Frank financial rules
"The evidence shows that reforms since the crisis have made the financial system substantially safer,"  Ms Yellen said in her remarks.
The regulations included new consumer protection measures and requirements that firms have more cash on hand in the event of a crisis. Authorities also received powers to wind down major financial institutions.
Ms Yellen, whose term is due to expire early next year, rejected arguments that the rules are to blame for the relatively slow recovery from the crisis, while conceding that some areas could be improved.
The Federal Reserve is looking at changes to ease regulations for smaller banks, she said.
There may also be benefits to modifying the so-called Volcker Rule, which limits the ability of large banks to trade with their own money, she added.
But Ms Yellen cautioned against any sweeping rollback: "The balance of research suggests that the core reforms we have put in place have substantially boosted resilience without unduly limiting credit availability or economic growth."
Ms Yellen's speech did not address speculation about her tenure. In July, she told Congress that staying on had not come up in conversations with the president.
Appointed by former President Barack Obama, Ms Yellen is viewed as a less conservative economist than some others at the bank, with a focus on economic growth rather than inflation.
Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst for Bankrate.com, said the remarks are likely to have little impact on the debate in Washington, where the banking rules known as Dodd-Frank are viewed as anathema by many Republicans.
"Despite her urging that any future adjustments to post-crisis financial reforms be only modest, her defence of financial reforms in the wake of the financial crisis that hit its zenith a decade ago will not largely... change minds in the Congress," he said.


Nottingham Panthers coach Corey Neilson says this weekend's Continental Cup in Spain will be great for team bonding.

The Panthers begin their European campaign in the second round in Spain, with matches against hosts Jaca, followed by Istanbul and Liepaja.
Neilson told BBC Radio Nottingham: "This team is all about business on the ice, which is great to see.
"But it will be good to spend an extended period of time together on the road together in the coming days."
Panthers begin the four-team tournament on Friday against their Spanish hosts, before facing Turkish side Istanbul on Saturday and Latvian club Liepaja on Sunday.
The winners will go through to November's semi-final in Denmark, one step away from January's Super Final.
"It is certainly a goal to win it," continued Neilson. "Getting through the stages won't be easy but, I know it's cliché, you take every game as it comes.
"Scouting these teams has been difficult but if we go there, do our thing and play our game, we should be fine.
"Give these teams credit. They do things a little differently from standard Elite League hockey, but it can be effective."


Action to increase cyber security is to be stepped up in Scotland following the ransomware attack on NHS computers.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said more than 120 public bodies were being contacted to ensure their defences were adequate.
He said NHS systems in Scotland were expected to be recovered by Monday and that patients with appointments should attend as planned.
Eleven area health boards were affected by the cyber-attack on Friday.
NHS National Services and the Scottish Ambulance Service were also hit by the attack, which disrupted systems in nearly 100 countries.
Mr Matheson said that he would be bringing together the national heads of IT services from public bodies across Scotland to look at what lessons should be learned from the attack.
The impact of the breach was especially felt in NHS Lanarkshire, where doctors at acute hospital sites had to rely on pen and paper to process some patients.
Across Scotland the breach disrupted GP surgeries, dental practices and other primary care centres.
Organisations across the globe, including investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA), are working to hunt down those responsible for the Wanna Decryptor ransomware, also known as WannaCry.
Mr Matheson said the Scottish government was liaising closely with the National Cyber Security Centre and NHS Scotland to identify the cause of the attack.
Ministers are to convene an extraordinary meeting of the National Cyber Resilience leaders' board on Tuesday to review the response to the breach.
A "lessons learned" exercise will also take place to help mitigate the risks from further attacks.
The justice secretary said: "Friday's attack has highlighted the need for everyone to have appropriate and robust measures in place to protect against cyber-attacks which could strike any IT system at any time.
"NHS Scotland systems are being recovered, we expect them to have returned to normal by Monday, and it is important to emphasise that there is no evidence that patient data has been compromised.
"Patients who have appointments booked for Monday and beyond should attend as planned.
"However, we must remain particularly vigilant against further incidents and the Scottish government is taking action to enhance security, including contacting over 120 public bodies to ensure they have appropriate defences in place."
Which Scottish NHS organisations were affected by the ransomware attack?
Mr Matheson said one of the most common methods of infecting computer systems was through links and attachments in emails.
He added: "Therefore I would urge everyone to think twice before clicking on attachments or links from sources that they don't know."
Mr Matheson also thanked everyone at the NHS and other bodies who had worked "round the clock" to deal with the breach.


Burglars broke into the home of South African Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu while he was away for the memorial service of Nelson Mandela, officials say.

It was not yet clear what had been stolen from the house in Cape Town on Wednesday night, his aide Roger Friedman told the AFP news agency.
Archbishop Tutu had been in Johannesburg for the service.
There was also a break-in at the Tutu home in August.
South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world.
"I can confirm that there was a burglary last [Wednesday] night," Mr Friedman is quoted as saying.
"The house was not pillaged," he added.
Police said the burglary took place between 19:00 and 21:00 local time, the Associated Press news agency reports.
It is the second time that his home has been burgled. In August, a gang broke in when he and his wife were asleep and took a number of items.
Archbishop Tutu, 82, gave the closing prayer at the memorial, attended by tens of thousands of South Africans and world leaders.
"God, I ask you to bless our country," he said.
"You gave us a wonderful gift in this icon of reconciliation," he added, referring to Mr Mandela.
Archbishop Tutu won the Nobel Peace prize in 1984 for his role in campaigning for Mr Mandela's release from prison and an end to white minority rule in South Africa.
Mr Mandela was freed in 1990 and was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1993 along with South Africa's last white ruler, FW de Klerk.
Mr Mandela's body is lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he was sworn in as South Africa's first democratic president in 1994.
His funeral is due to take place on Sunday in his rural home of Qunu in the Eastern Cape province following his death on Thursday at the age of 95.


A town is set to open its first cinema for 22 years as part of a £60m regeneration project.

Hinckley has been without one since the MGM Canon, in Trinity Lane, closed in May 1993.
Cineworld, which is in The Crescent development near Lancaster Road, is hosting invited guests for its gala nights before opening to the public.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council said the town had been calling for a movie theatre for years.
Council leader Mike Hall explained the town could expect to see "gradual openings" of new businesses from now until March.
"The one thing that people have consistently said, whenever we've looked at development of the town centre, is they want a cinema.
"Thanks to Cineworld and the council, that's finally here," he said.
The Crescent, which also includes a bus station, shops and restaurants, is expected to create about 500 jobs.
Plans for the scheme were approved in 2011, but work did not begin until last year.
Tim Arnold, owner of newly-opened micro pub Elbow Room, said: "We spent two years looking for premises and when this opportunity came up, we felt we couldn't miss it.
"It's a fantastic location."
However, experts believe more work must be done to regenerate the town.
Philip Garton, principal lecturer in retailing at De Montfort University, said: "A lot of Hinckley was originally reliant on industry which is no longer there and it needs to find a new place for itself.
"Not just this one, but other developments that will help Hinckley going forwards."


India has been given the all clear to resume exports of mangoes to the European Union.

Media playback is unsupported on your device
21 January 2015 Last updated at 03:57 GMT
Shipments were suspended six months ago after some consignments were found to be infested with fruit flies.
But Indian mango exporters have been fighting the ban, arguing that additional pest-control procedures have been put in place.
Sameer Hashmi reports from the Ratnagiri region of Maharashtra, in western India.
Watch more reports on Asia Business Report's website.


The female giant panda at Edinburgh Zoo has been artificially inseminated.

The zoo is also going to try to mate the pandas naturally before the end of the short breeding season.
Edinburgh zoo acquired the pandas on loan from China in 2011 and previous attempts to mate the pair have failed.
Tian Tian, which means Sweetie, and male Yang Guang (Sunshine) were the first giant pandas to live in the UK for 17 years.
The last pandas in the UK, Ming Ming and Bao Bao, left a zoo in London in 1994 after failing to mate.
Iain Valentine, director of giant pandas for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said artificial insemination took place on Tian Tian in the early hours of Thursday.
"The procedure was carried out by the expert team of three veterinarians at RZSS, alongside Chinese colleague Doctor Wang Chengdong from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP)," he said.
"Only semen from male panda Yang Guang was used during the procedure.
"Natural mating will also be attempted today before the short breeding window comes to a close this afternoon (Thursday) as both pandas remain extremely interested in one another, but as Tian Tian's transition to peak was so rapid it was a priority to move straight to artificial insemination first."
Libby Anderson, policy director of animal protection charity OneKind, criticised the move.
She said: "Unlike a human mother who makes the choice to undergo artificial insemination, Tian Tian has no say in whether she has these procedures.
"OneKind has always believed that it is misguided to attempt to breed more captive pandas in Edinburgh Zoo when they will never return to the wild or improve protection for the wild population in their native habitat.
"We are extremely disappointed to hear that the zoo is going down the route of artificial insemination again following previous unsuccessful attempts to breed from Tian Tian.
"We think that now is the time to leave these animals in peace and OneKind has expressed this view to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland."
An Edinburgh Zoo spokeswoman said: "It is misleading to say that any cubs born in Scotland will never return to the wild and actually a small number of captive born pandas have successfully already been released back into the wild."
She added: "As we only have one giant panda the next best step is artificial insemination."
The panda enclosure will remain closed at Edinburgh Zoo until Sunday.


A murder investigation has been launched after a man died following a fight between a group of men in Oxford.

The brawl broke out at about 23:00 BST on Thursday in the Jourdain Road area of Blackbird Leys.
Police officers found a man in his late 20s with serious injuries at the scene. He was taken to hospital but later died.
Thames Valley Police said his next of kin have been informed and it was "pursuing many lines of inquiry".
Senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Ailsa Kent, of the major crime unit, added: "We are appealing for the public's help and would advise anyone who may have information that could relate to this serious incident to come forward.
"As a result of the incident you will see an increased police presence in the area whilst our investigation is ongoing and also to provide reassurance to members of the public."
Resident Estelle Bishop, who placed flowers at the scene, said she was "shocked and overwhelmed".
"I couldn't believe it because it's only over the road from where I live," she added.
"It's not a thing that happens on Blackbird Leys. Not like this anyway, where they've died."


Chris Brunt and Will Grigg are back in Northern Ireland's squad for their crucial World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on 11 November.

Media playback is not supported on this device
Brunt, 31, missed the Euro 2016 tournament because of a serious knee injury sustained while playing for West Bromwich Albion in February.
The wide midfielder returned to first-team action in West Brom's 1-1 draw with Tottenham on 15 October.
Wigan's Grigg asked to be left out of recent squads for personal reasons.
He recently became a father and was not involved for the first three qualifiers.
Watford defender Craig Cathcart, who has yet to play in the World Cup qualifiers because of a groin injury, is still missing.
Northern Ireland, who host Croatia in a friendly four days after the Azerbaijan match, have four points from their opening three qualifiers.
Michael O'Neill's men are third in Group C, three points behind Azerbaijan who have made a good start to the campaign.
Attempting to qualify for a major tournament for the first time, Azerbaijan have beaten Norway and San Marino and most recently drew 0-0 away to the Czech Republic.
Northern Ireland also drew in Prague and beat San Marino, but fell to a 2-0 defeat in Germany last time out.
Brunt's last international appearance was in NI's final Euro qualifier away to Finland on 1 October, 2015.
The match against Azerbaijan could prove pivotal in Northern Ireland's attempt to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
"With seven points from nine, they have had a good start and not conceded a goal," O'Neill added of Azerbaijan.
"They are not a team that is going to come and attack us, they will be well-organised and we expect it will be very difficult. When we look at the group, these are the games that we feel will be key leading into where we finish."
Northern Ireland then face Croatia in a friendly at Windsor Park on 15 November and O'Neill has already hinted at rotating his side, so Tom Flanagan and Matthew Lund could be considered for their first caps.
Northern Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: M McGovern (Norwich City), A Mannus (St Johnstone), T Carson (Hartlepool United)
Defenders: A Hughes (Kerala Blasters), G McAuley (West Brom), J Evans (West Brom), C Brunt (West Brom), R McGivern (Shrewsbury Town), C McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town), L Hodson (Rangers), T Flanagan (Burton Albion)
Midfielder: S Davis (Southampton), N McGinn (Aberdeen), O Norwood (Brighton), C Evans (Blackburn Rovers), J Ward (Burton Albion), S Ferguson (Millwall), S Dallas (Leeds United), P McNair (Sunderland), P Paton (St Johnstone), M Lund (Rochdale).
Strikers: K Lafferty (Norwich City), J Magennis (Charlton Athletic), C Washington (QPR), W Grigg (Wigan Athletic)


People across the country are proving age is no barrier to getting active, even if it means taking up a completely new challenge later in life.

Sue Faulkner got in touch with Get Inspired to tell us all about how she recently took on her first triathlon - at the age of 63. This is her story.
"Last year I went to visit my son and his family to watch him do a sprint triathlon.  I was chatting with my daughter-in-law (who already runs marathons) and she joked that she'd be game for trying out a triathlon... but only if I did too.
To her surprise, I took up the challenge!
We realised that we could do it on the same day as my eight-year-old granddaughter, who would also be doing her first triathlon, so we would have three generations doing it on the same day.
My first question was: 'OK, I'm going to do this, but how do I start?'
Firstly, I bought some trainers - I didn't own a pair previously. My first run was with my granddaughter alongside the canal, which was nice and flat. I could only manage 20 paces at a time before walking a short way, then running another 20 paces. It was a start.
I was more confident when it came to the swimming, as I swim regularly at a small pool in my village, although I only learned to swim front crawl 11 years ago when I was living in Japan.
I had accidentally joined a swimming class, thinking it was an exercise group, but luckily it was all done by demonstration as no one spoke English. I am sure I missed the finer points but it was just enough.
Now for the bike. I hadn't ridden one for 10 years and was a bit nervous. The bike I used initially was an old one of my son's which was a bit worse for wear as he'd had it when he was 15. I was rather wobbly and didn't feel at all safe.  However, after several tentative weeks, my lovely husband bought me a new hybrid bike for Christmas. I was so excited and at last I felt in control of the bike instead of it being in control of me.
My first run was with my granddaughter by the canal, which was nice and flat. I only managed 20 paces before walking a short way, then running another 20 paces. It was a start
The running gradually improved and after about eight weeks I could run 2.5km, which was the distance of the race.
All was going well until eight weeks before the race. Frustratingly I caught a cold, which gave me a cough, so I couldn't run. I then had a stomach upset which left me feeling weak, followed by an ear infection which meant I couldn't swim. My balance was also affected so there would be no cycling.
For four weeks I couldn't train and at times I felt as if I would never regain my normal strength, let alone enough energy to race. But there was no way I could quit, as by now there was a lot riding on this challenge.
I am the chairman of our local swimming club and had decided to get sponsorship to raise funds for a replacement pool. Our pool is going to be demolished to make way for a housing development and hotel, so a large amount of money is required and I was hoping my funds would be a start.
The pool is rented out by the hour and is fully booked - 12 hours a day, seven days a week. In that sense, it's financially sustainable. It is kept warmer than most pools, so is suitable for the young, the not-so-young and those with disabilities. Ultimately we feel it is a vital part of our community, especially keeping our older residents active - the oldest swimmer is 93 - and we desperately need a replacement.
This all meant there was a lot resting on my shoulders as I didn't want to let anyone down, so I did manage to resume training.
The day of the triathlon dawned; it was bright and sunny after an early morning shower. We arrived at Kimberley (in Nottingham) and got ready for the swim.
My supporters tell me I did 12 lengths instead of 10: I got lost between the pool and transition, found a dead end and had to retrace my steps (my glasses were with my bike and I couldn't make out the gateway to the field). The bike section was fun but the run was really hard. It has always been my least favourite element but I ran all the way, never walking and finally crossed the finishing line.
There was lots of support from six of my grandchildren cheering: "Go Nanna go!"
I expected to come last, so imagine my surprise when I saw the results. I was 26th out of 41 and first in my age group (60-64). I was on 'cloud nine' for days. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter completed their course too.
I am so pleased to have become fitter that I am determined not to lose it, and am contemplating doing double the distance next year... you never know!
I have also raised over £1200 in sponsorship towards our new pool. It's a small step, but one in the right direction."
Are you inspired to try Triathlon? Or maybe you are a keen enthusiast already? Get in touch and tell us your experience of the activity by tweeting us on @bbcgetinspired or email us on getinspired@bbc.co.uk.
See our full list of activity guides for more inspiration.


Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Ben Garratt has signed a two-year contract.

The 22-year-old's deal was due to expire this summer, but he will now stay with the League Two club until the summer of 2019.
Garratt made his Alex debut on the final day of the 2012-13 season and has now played 155 games for the club.
He missed the final 12 weeks of last season with a fractured shin bone, but has been ever present in the league this term.
Garratt has played all of Crewe's 38 matches in the fourth tier this season, and made a total of 45 appearances.


Work is set to begin on restoring a historical Anglesey building to its former glory.

Holyhead's Market Hall was built in 1855 but has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years.
Anglesey council took over its ownership through a Compulsory Purchase Order last year and secured a Â£2.4m Heritage Lottery grant to restore the Grade II Listed building.
Restoration gets underway in the next few weeks, starting with the roof.
The whole  project will be done in two stages, with the end of 2018 earmarked for completion.
On Friday local businesses were given a guided tour inside the building and shown the plans, which include a new library and market hall.
Anglesey council assistant chief executive, Annwen Morgan said: "Such remarkable historic buildings are irreplaceable.
"If no one intervenes then these rare buildings not only disappear forever from our townscapes, but so do the stories that they tell us about the lives of our recent ancestors."


Thousands of people have attended a girl's birthday party in Mexico, after her parent's video invitation to "everyone" went viral on social media.

Family members had to move away an army of waiting reporters so Rubi Ibarra Garcia could attend a Mass in La Joya community, central Mexico.
She was celebrating her 15th birthday - a traditional coming-of-age party in Mexico known as "quinceanera".
About 1.2 million people had earlier vowed to attend the party.
However, the father later said the idea had been to invite neighbours and friends only - while stressing he would not turn anyone away.
On Monday, dozens of tents and tables filled with food were prepared for those who made the journey.
They were met by Rubi, who looked serene despite the crowds, wearing a fuchsia dress and a tiara.
In the video posted online earlier this month the girl's father said that "everyone is welcome" to the party featuring three local bands, a meal and a horse race.
The footage shows Crescencio Ibarra standing next to his daughter Rubi and his wife Anaelda Garcia.
"Hello, how are you? We invite you this 26 December to the 15th birthday party of our daughter, Rubi Ibarra Garcia," Mr Ibarra says, while his daughter smiles.
He then goes on to announce that the winner of the horse race to be held as part of the event stands to win 10,000 pesos ($490; Â£390).
He ends by saying that "hereby everyone is cordially invited".
It is not clear why this particular video went viral and was shared more than 800,000 times and prompted countless memes and imitations.
Mr Ibarra said in a later TV interview he had no idea what had caught the public's imagination.
"We wanted to invite the people from the area, that's all," he said, before denying he had since uninvited all but personal acquaintances.


Councils in England and Wales are turning off CCTV cameras in an attempt to cut costs, a surveillance watchdog has warned.

Tony Porter, the surveillance camera commissioner, said switching off cameras would mean the police would find it harder to detect crime.
He told the BBC the situation was a "concern" and blamed the government's austerity cuts "sweeping the country".
He is due to present his findings to the government in the autumn.
Mr Porter, who is the commissioner for England and Wales, said budget cuts had led councils to decide to spend less on public space CCTV, meaning there was less money for staff training, poorer understanding of legal issues and a reduced service.
He told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that councils did not have an "absolute right" to monitor a community so it had to be done "in a way that generates trust".
"If there are going to be training and compliance issues, that trust will be damaged," he said.
In a separate interview with the Independent, Mr Porter said: "There are an increasing number of examples where councils and employees are citing a lack of money as being the rationale to reduce the service or completely change its composition - and that does concern me.
"Because CCTV isn't a statutory function, it is something a lot of councils are looking at.
"Most people recognise the utility of CCTV for supporting law enforcement. To degrade the capacity may have an impact on police. It may well be that they will find it increasingly difficult to acquire the images that will help them investigate crimes.
"I do think public authorities should be held to greater account."
The UK has one of the largest number of CCTV cameras in the world. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) estimates there are between 4 and 5.9 million cameras, with around one in 70 publicly owned.
He said councils could face greater scrutiny of their use of CCTV, including potential inspections and enforcement.
Mr Porter, who has been in his post for just over a year, has written to council chief executives to remind them of the law and code of practice.
In a speech to the CCTV User Group conference this week, he warned of misuse of cameras in some local authority areas.
He said: "I've seen councils in large towns like Blackpool and Derby stop monitoring their systems 24-7. My understanding is that this is not as the result of a review or public consultation but simply to save money.
"And as austerity measures continue to bite on public space CCTV will we see a deterioration of standards and training?"
A government spokesman said the "majority" of local authorities have continued to balance their budgets, and increased or maintained public satisfaction with services.
He also pointed out that falling crime figures in the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales meant that people and communities were the safest they had been since the survey began in 1981.
CCTV provision should be decided by elected local councillors, reflecting local circumstances and residents' views, especially concerns about crime, he added.


The chief whip did swear during a confrontation in Downing Street - but not at police, sources say.

Andrew Mitchell had earlier apologised to police for failing to show officers "respect" after being prevented from cycling through the main gate last week - but he denies using the word "pleb".
The BBC has been told he swore in frustration at the situation.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said Mr Mitchell should not lose his job over the use of "inappropriate words".
Cabinet minister Ken Clarke has also defended Mr Mitchell, who he said was a reasonable and courteous man.
The row broke out on Wednesday after Mr Mitchell was told by officers to get off his bicycle as he left Downing Street and go through the smaller pedestrian gate.
Soon afterwards, the MP for Sutton Coldfield said he did not accept "that I used any of the words that have been reported" - but did not go into specific details.
Meanwhile, a friend of Mr Mitchell, quoted by the Sunday Telegraph, says the minister was frustrated by the row, and admits he "lost it a bit" but was "not accusing anyone of lying".
The friend added: "He realises there may be differing versions of what was said but he is adamant he did not use the words he is reported to have used."
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, Mr Pickles said he believed his cabinet colleague used "ungentlemanly" and "ungallant" language.
Who says 'pleb' nowadays?
But he added: "I don't believe somebody should lose public office merely because they used inappropriate words and displayed a bad temper."
The communities secretary refused to say whether Mr Mitchell should resign if he used the word "pleb", but said "he has never used it in my presence, but I'm proud to be a pleb".
On Saturday, Mr Clarke, a minister without portfolio in the cabinet, said: "I have known Andrew for a long time and he is a perfectly reasonable, courteous man with the same high regard for the police services as anyone else.
"He obviously had a flare of bad temper on this occasion and has rightly apologised. I do think this should be allowed to set the matter at rest."
Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, has called for the government to release in full what Mr Mitchell said to the police officers and for an investigation into the incident.
In a letter to Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, Ms Cooper wrote that Mr Mitchell's behaviour was "completely unacceptable" and that "a half-hearted private apology is clearly insufficient".
"Everyone is already deeply concerned that a senior cabinet minister is reported as dismissing police officers doing an important security job as 'plebs'," she wrote.
"It is really important that the prime minister does not compound this by dismissing the testimony of police officers and the evidence from their notebooks without proper investigation."
The Liberal Democrat president, Tim Farron, described Mr Mitchell's alleged outburst as "utterly, indeed beyond, unacceptable".
His party leader, Nick Clegg, told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme it was right for Mr Mitchell to apologise, but argued it was time to "draw a line under it" unless more information emerged about the incident.
"I think civility and being courteous to the police is important at all times, but it is especially important given the tragic events around the killing of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes.
"What Andrew Mitchell did was wrong, very wrong.  He knows that and has apologised to the police and explained himself," Mr Clegg said.
The row broke out after reports of the encounter emerged in the Sun on Thursday.


Beavers should be resident in Scotland, according to the National Trust for Scotland.

The heritage body said it supported the general licensed reintroduction of the animals.
Scottish Natural Heritage is due to release a report on the Knapdale beaver trial in Argyll ahead of a government decision on the project's future.
More than 150 beavers, which originated from escapes or illegal releases, also live in waterways in Tayside.
The Trust has published a policy statement setting out its position on the issue.
The charity said that the reintroduction of the Eurasian Beaver to Scotland would see a key element of native fauna restored to its natural ecosystem and support the conservation of existing beaver populations in Scotland.
Nature adviser Lindsay Mackinlay said: "Beavers are a native species to Scotland and having carefully weighed up the pros and cons, the Trust believes that they should be resident here.
"We would like to see the existing beavers in Argyll and Tayside managed to permit their natural expansion from these core areas and hope that other licensed reintroductions in appropriate areas will augment the existing populations."
Scotland is one of the few countries in Europe which does not have a wild beaver population and many nations, including the Netherlands, have reintroduced them in recent years.
Mr Mackinlay added: "The beaver is a crucial element in our countryside which plays an important role in the conservation of other wildlife.  Conservationists call it a keystone species because its presence has such a major impact on the natural environment and its wildlife. Scotland is currently much the poorer without it.
"Let's not pretend that beavers are always good neighbours. Sometimes, they are not. Their dam building activities and burrows can cause problems.
"That's why we're asking for a national mitigation plan that addresses the legitimate concerns of landowners, salmon fishery managers and other interest groups."
Moray-based conservation charity Trees for Life recently indicated their support for the return of the beaver.
Beavers, once a native species, are thought to have been hunted to extinction in Scotland in the 16th Century.
In recent years, the Cairngorms National Park Authority has looked at the pros and cons of reintroducing beavers.


The Queen has handed out Maundy coins in a traditional royal service at Blackburn Cathedral.

Eighty-eight men and 88 women aged over 70 were presented with the coins in recognition of their work in the church and the community.
Hundreds of people lined the streets for the Queen's first visit to the cathedral.
Retired England footballer Jimmy Armfield, a lay canon at the cathedral, said the service was "very moving".
The Blackpool FC legend said the choir and organist had "done Blackburn proud".
"I'm sure the Queen would have been impressed," he said.
Each of the 176 recipients of the Maundy coin, one man and one woman for each year of the Queen's life, received a red purse of normal money and a white purse of silver Maundy coins.
One of the recipients, Raymond Sutcliffe, said the pomp of the ceremony was "overwhelming" and he could not hold back the tears.
He said: "I couldn't imagine I would go to something like this in my lifetime."
Another recipient Brian Milner, presented with the special minted coins for his work at St Nicholas Church in Fleetwood, said it was a "wonderful experience".
Her Majesty, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, went from the cathedral to a civic lunch at Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers FC.
The Maundy money recipients went to a lunch at Blackburn's King George's Hall.
The Church of England Maundy tradition has its origins in the commandment to "love one another", issued by Jesus to his disciples after he had washed their feet on the day before Good Friday.
Members of the royal family have taken part in Maundy ceremonies since the 13th Century but coins were first used in the reign of Charles II.
Unlike normal coinage, which has been updated as the Queen has aged, the specially-minted coins carry the original portrait used on coins issued in 1953, the year of her coronation.