The number of people living under siege in Syria has doubled this year to almost one million, the UN says.

Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Stephen O'Brien said the figure had jumped from 486,700 to 974,080 in six months.
People were being "isolated, starved, bombed and denied medical attention and humanitarian assistance in order to force them to submit or flee," he said.
Mr O'Brien noted that the "deliberate tactic of cruelty" was mostly employed by President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
"Those maintaining the sieges know by now that this Council is apparently unable or unwilling to enforce its will or agree now on steps to stop them," he told the UN Security Council.
Newly besieged locations include the rebel-held Damascus suburbs of Jobar, Hajar al-Aswad and Khan al-Shih, as well as several areas in the eastern Ghouta agricultural belt outside the capital.
Mr O'Brien also told the Security Council that he was "more or less at my wit's end" over the situation in the divided city of Aleppo, where an estimated 275,000 people living under siege in rebel-held eastern districts face "annihilation".
A unilateral pause in aerial bombardment by the government and its ally Russia that began on 18 October had offered a "glimmer of hope", he said.
But the shelling of civilian areas in the government-controlled west by rebel and jihadist groups and the resumption of air strikes last Tuesday, he added, had returned "the city and its inhabitants to death and destruction once again".
"Over the past days, reports indicate that hundreds of civilians have been killed, injured or otherwise affected by the relentless attacks on eastern Aleppo."
Mr O'Brien said that, as of Sunday, there were barely any functional hospitals in rebel-held areas, as all the medical facilities were being "bombed into oblivion".
The more than 350 mortars and rockets launched indiscriminately into western Aleppo so far this month are meanwhile reported to have killed more than 60 people and injured 350 others.
A school was hit on the government side on Sunday, killing eight children.
"Let me be clear: we are not just seeing a resumption of violence in Aleppo, this is not business as usual," Mr O'Brien told the Security Council.
He warned that humanitarian conditions in eastern Aleppo had also "gone from terrible to terrifying" and were "now barely survivable".
The last of the food rations delivered by the UN before access was cut off in July were distributed on 13 November. Only a handful of rations from local NGOs remain, food in markets is scarce, and prices have sky-rocketed.
On Sunday, the Syrian government said it had rejected a proposal by the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, for eastern Aleppo to be granted autonomy if jihadist fighters linked to al-Qaeda withdrew and the fighting stopped.
The United States has meanwhile warned that Syrian commanders and other officials deemed responsible for military attacks on civilians would be held accountable.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, spoke of a dozen commanders and officers accused of directing attacks on civilian targets who Washington wants brought to justice.
"The United States will not let those who have commanded units involved in these actions hide anonymously behind the facade of the Assad regime," she told the UN Security Council in New York.


Sir John Sawers, chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, is to step down in November after five years in the post.

His successor will be chosen by the Cabinet Office and will need to be approved by the Foreign Office and the prime minister.
Sir John was Britain's ambassador to the United Nations before being named as the head of MI6 in 2009.
He also spent three years as Tony Blair's foreign policy adviser.


Ahead of the Scottish independence referendum on 18 September, campaigners have been getting their messages out on billboards and posters

Go to the BBC's Scotland Decides page for analysis, background and explainers on the independence debate.
But can you trust them?
We asked the experts to give their verdicts on the arguments put forward by the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign and Better Together, which is arguing the case for the Union.
Prof Peter McGregor, head of economics at Strathclyde University, says:
Does the Financial Times analysis, referenced in the poster, show independence would result in Scotland being "richer than the rest of the UK and in the top 20 wealthiest countries globally"?
The answer to this question is no.
The analysis said: "Assuming a geographical allocation of North Sea oil and gas production, the Scottish economy would rank among the top 50 in the world by size of GDP and would be relatively wealthy, richer than the rest of the UK, and in the top 20 countries globally in terms of GDP per head."
GDP is a measure of the total goods and services produced in an economy in a year, so GDP per head of population is an indicator of how much output is produced on average per person and is widely used as an indicator (albeit an imperfect one) of how affluent a country is.
There's fairly widespread agreement that an independent Scotland would indeed be likely to gain "a geographical allocation of North Sea oil and gas production".
However, the statement in the poster would only be strictly accurate if the only effect of "an independent Scotland" was that it received a geographic share of North Sea oil and gas, and GDP and population were otherwise unaffected. This is a very unlikely outcome.
We can't infer the impact of independence from a simple comparison of two numbers - GDP per head with and without a geographic share of oil and gas - both of which are measured before independence. In practice, independence is likely to have an impact on both GDP and population, and therefore on GDP per head.
There is no simple way to determine the likely economic effects of independence.
Verdict: There's nothing wrong with the arithmetic in the FT's analysis, but it does not imply that independence will cause Scotland to become richer than the rest of the UK or that Scotland would be among the top 20 wealthiest countries.
Catherine Schenk, professor of international economic history at Glasgow University, says:
There are four statements in this poster that can be tested.
1. Is it possible to keep the pound without remaining within the UK? Yes, it is possible.
The governor of the Bank of England has not ruled it out. The chancellor and leaders of other UK parties have warned that they would not support an independent Scotland using the pound, but they could change their minds once the implications for England are more clear.
England could only stop Scots using the pound by imposing exchange controls on cross-border transactions - which would be costly and damaging to English producers and financial institutions.
2. Does keeping the pound mean more jobs? It depends on how the pound fluctuates relative to a hypothetical Scottish currency.
If the Scottish currency becomes more valuable than the English pound because of strong oil revenues, for example, this might increase the cost of Scottish exports and reduce demand for labour in these industries.
But most jobs in Scotland are in sectors that are not traded internationally (e.g. public and private services) so the effect on these jobs won't be as important.
And, at the same time, imports will seem cheaper, lowering the cost of living and the cost of production in some sectors.
3. Does keeping the pound mean cheaper mortgages? Not necessarily.
The most important determinants of the cost of a mortgage are the loan to value ratio and the term of the mortgage.
Scottish mortgages tend to have a lower loan to value ratio because property is cheaper here.
Some argue all interest rates would rise because a new Scottish government's borrowing costs would be higher than the UK and this would feed through to retail mortgage rates offered by Scottish financial institutions.
But the mortgage market is increasingly international and banks and other mortgage providers can raise funds to lend from many sources.
4. Does keeping the pound mean lower credit card bills? Probably not.
How much we use our credit cards and therefore the size of the bill each month isn't closely related to the pound.
Credit card interest rates are not closely related to underlying base rates and credit card providers in Scotland come from many countries with access to a wide range of competitive money markets.
Verdict: Not proven.
Morag Gillespie, senior research fellow at the Scottish Poverty Information Unit, says:
Earlier this year, the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland published Poverty in Scotland 2014, using figures from the Institute of Fiscal Studies to estimate that between 50,000 and 100,000 more Scottish children would be living in poverty by 2020 as a result of UK government tax and benefit reforms implemented since 2010.
A key concern related to poverty is the stigma that those experiencing poverty face.
The imagery of a child in ragged clothes and dirty shoes reinforces stigmatised attitudes towards people experiencing poverty which are often misplaced.
Children in poor families are often clean and well turned out despite low family incomes.
Verdict: The poster is worthy of partial trust. The claim of 100,000 more children in poverty is reasonable, but the imagery reinforces a stigmatised view of poverty, so weakening confidence in the potential for a different approach by an independent Scottish government towards those experiencing poverty.
Prof Paul Spicker, Grampian chair of public policy at Robert Gordon University, says:
There are three different kinds of pensions to be considered.
The state pension is based on insurance, and it is paid to everyone who has contributed. The scheme is being reformed; the basic rate will be higher, but some people on higher wages may receive less than they would have with the state second pension.
The Scottish government has pledged to respect all existing commitments, and even to pay a slightly better rate; but the numbers of pensioners are growing, and it will be difficult to do this without increasing taxes.
The second set of issues relate to private and workplace pensions. If Scotland became independent, pension schemes that stayed as cross-border schemes would have to become fully funded, and others would have to split into English and Scottish schemes.
This would be a nuisance rather than a major threat to pensions in Scotland. Most public workplace schemes (e.g. for teachers, police, local government and the NHS) are already split into Scottish and English schemes and would not be affected.
Third, a range of other benefits are provided to pensioners, including pension credit, housing benefit, and council tax reduction.
Some of these benefits have already been cut by the UK government, and upratings have been lower than inflation.
Several announcements have been made cutting pensioners' entitlements: they include cuts relating to capital assets, mortgage interest recovery, pensioners who work and mixed-age couples.
It would not be true to say, then, that pensioners are not being affected by welfare reform now. It is very uncertain whether the UK will continue to pay for bus passes, TV licences for over-75s or winter fuel; but Scotland may have other priorities, too.
Verdict: It is not clear the proposals for independence do put our pensions at risk.
Prof Martin Chalkley, centre for health economics at York University, says:
This poster suggests that, if Scotland votes "No", the UK government's policy of cutting public expenditure will result in cuts to NHS Scotland.
It actually goes further by implying the UK government's policy will impact directly on the number of nurses. This isn't quite right.
There is not a single National Health Service for the UK - NHS Scotland is Scotland's "own" NHS, and, as a consequence of devolution, how much is spent on health care is the choice of the Scottish government.
There is of course a limit. The overall budget the Scottish government has available is set by the UK government, and maybe the poster is hinting at that.
The idea that UK government policy dictates how many nurses there are in Scotland is more far-fetched.
Such decisions are made at the level of NHS Scotland itself, influenced by the budget it gets from the Scottish government.
The Scottish government already has discretion regarding how much to spend on health care. Independence would give it more discretion, through the ability to increase taxes and borrow more.
Verdict: Can the public trust this poster? Yes and no. Probably more no than yes.
Dr David McCausland, head of economics at Aberdeen University, says:
In this poster, the Better Together campaign appeals to fears about the uncertainty of independence - that we put at risk something we value.
And there's nothing more valuable to the welfare of families than stable and secure employment.
One source of uncertainty is economic security - would a small economy like an independent Scotland have the financial muscle to bailout a financial system that is many times larger than the economy?
Such uncertainties may mean companies reduce or postpone investment in Scotland. This puts jobs at risk.
And given declining revenues, higher taxes may be required to maintain public spending. This high-tax environment may not be attractive to business, again putting at risk job creation.
The "Yes" campaign offers some alternatives. They argue we will have greater fiscal control. Scotland deciding who gets taxed, and where the money is spent.
Giving incentives to create jobs in promising areas, say, with a strong export focus (though governments tend not to have good track records in "picking winners").
Or creating jobs in particular industries, like renewable energy (though these jobs are heavily subsidised which may not be sustainable). But these are at best a small consolation compared to greater fears and uncertainties.
Verdict: This poster is probably right, given the uncertainty over the currency, fears over economic security, and declining revenues.


Families with children who have Tourette's syndrome need more support to cope with a condition that is both physically and socially debilitating, a west Belfast mother has said.

The neurological disorder is characterised by repetitive involuntary movements and in some cases the person repeatedly swears.
Suzanne Lavery's son Daniel, 12, was diagnosed when he was 10.
Two years later, she has set up a support group in her church.
Ms Lavery said people are coming from as far as Drogheda in the Republic of Ireland to meet families who are experiencing similar problems.
"We can't believe the reaction, clearly people need professional help," she said.
"They are travelling from Drogheda, east Belfast and Lisburn.
"At this stage we rely on each other as parents but clearly people need more professional support."
Like most people who are diagnosed, Daniel began showing symptoms as a toddler, first with sudden, repetitive blinking.
"Then his head and shoulder began twitching - most recently he's started clearing his throat," his mother said.
While on some days his symptoms are mild, they can sometimes be chronic, Ms Lavery said.
"Daniel, on a bad day, is blinking, sniffing, making noises in his throat," she said.
"His body is making involuntary movements called tics, his arm twitches.
"When he comes home from school he has a severe tic explosion because he then feels relaxed.
"He's been suppressing them all day and then it all just comes out."
Daniel has just returned from playing football in the Foyle Cup.
He said the tics can make his neck hurt, but other times, particularly when playing football, he is not aware of the tics.
Daniel's love of football prompted his mother to contact former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
He also has Tourette's and Daniel says knowing that has been a big help to him.
"He sent me a letter saying not to be worried, it is a thing in your life that won't go away but treat it as something that doesn't matter," Daniel said.
Although the cause of Tourette's syndrome is unknown, research points to abnormalities in particular parts of the brain.
Deirdre Peake, a consultant Paediatric Neurologist at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, said experts think it is caused by a number of different genes.
"Tourette's is a neurological not a psychological condition and it is not a mannerism - children aren't just putting it on," she said.
"We haven't been able to identify the genes so we don't know how it works exactly.
"However, we do think it works on the transmitters on the brain which causes overactivity.
"Therefore you aren't able to put the brakes on the system and kids just can't stop making these involuntary movements."
Since May, the support group Tourette Alliance has had about 40 people meeting once a month.
Suzanne said the organisers quickly realised they had identified a wider issue when people began getting in touch.
"It was really difficult to get support and help for Tourette's as there are limited Tourette's specialists within Northern Ireland," she said.
"Any help we have received has been from other parents.
"Without that support we have found it difficult to understand our children and to understand what Tourette's is about in order to help them."
The tic clinic at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is the only such clinic in Northern Ireland.
According to Ms Peake, there has not been an increase in cases - people, including GPs, are just more aware of how to diagnose the condition.
"There are two types of treatments" she said.
"It's a combination of psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy and habit reversal therapy.
"The majority of children don't require medication, just the more severe cases who perhaps are too young to use behavioural therapies."
A conference on Tourette's syndrome will take place in Lisburn, County Antrim, on 5 and 6 August.


Two libraries in Brighton are being kept open for longer hours without any staff under a pilot scheme in the city.

The trial allows people who have signed up for a special card to use Portslade and Woodingdean libraries.
A phone line to a security company will be available in case of emergency and library staff can be contacted via a dedicated helpline.
Brighton and Hove City Council said staffing will not be reduced.
The libraries are normally closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Alan Robins, deputy chairman of the council's culture committee, said if the pilot was successful it could be rolled out across the city.
"It's monitored by CCTV. If you go in using your card people are watching you.
"You couldn't just walk out with a load of computer equipment."


The Police Ombudsman has concluded a police officer was justified in punching a man who had subjected a "defenceless" woman to a beating with what appeared to be a metal bar.

The incident in Portrush, County Antrim, happened in the early hours of Sunday, 26 June 2011.
It was captured on CCTV, during which the man hit the woman a number of times with the bar.
Another woman appeared to join in the assault.
The Police Ombudsman's Office said the footage shows a police car containing two officers stopping in the middle of the road close to the assault.
It said an officer got out of the car and approached the man. He dropped the bar and was then punched three times to the head by the officer before being arrested.
Police referred the incident to the Police Ombudsman's Office for independent investigation after another officer became concerned at the level of force used by their colleague.
During their investigation, Police Ombudsman investigators viewed the CCTV footage and obtained all relevant police documentation.
The Police Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, noted that the CCTV footage was inconclusive as to whether the man did strike out first, as claimed by the officer.
However, he said the footage did clearly show that the man was "involved in previous fighting" and had committed a serious assault on a woman.
He indicated that as the man did not provide a statement, there was no evidence to refute the officer's account.
"Man A was subjecting a defenceless female to a serious assault," Dr Maguire said. She was in considerable danger and there is no doubt immediate action was required to prevent her sustaining further injuries or worse."
He concluded that the force used by the officer was "proportionate in the circumstances" and made no disciplinary recommendations.
A file was also submitted to the Public Prosecution Service, which directed that the officer should not be prosecuted in relation to the incident.


Low-emission buses are being introduced for journeys along one of Scotland's most polluted streets.

Bus operator Lothian Buses is to use a fleet of 30 new vehicles on the route through St John's Road in Edinburgh, an air quality management zone.
The Euro 6 Volvo double-deckers will operate on Service 26, which runs between the west of the capital and East Lothian.
All buses on the route will be low emission by the end of 2018.
A report published last year showed that 65 microgrammes of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre were detected in St John's Road in 2015, making it the most polluted in Edinburgh.
The new vehicles are part of a Â£7m investment.
Lothian Buses said the fleet would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25%, nitrous oxides by up to 98% and particulates by about 75% compared with the existing fleet.
The buses will also have USB charging points on board.
Richard Hall, managing director of Lothian Buses, said: "St John's Road has always been a main artery within the city that we had earmarked for improvement and investment.
"The introduction of 30 new low-emission buses to this route, combined with our ongoing fleet replacement strategy BUS2020, ensures that we as a business are doing our part to improve air quality across the city.
"Buses are the lifeblood of the city and economy, transporting thousands of customers every day."
The announcement was welcomed by City of Edinburgh Council and Friends of the Earth.
Charity campaigner Emilia Hanna said: "We welcome Lothian's launch of a cleaner 26 route along the St John's Road corridor, which is Edinburgh's most polluted street.
"Air pollution is still a public health crisis in Scotland, responsible for over 2,500 early deaths each year. Buses are a key part of the solution to air pollution and are essential for the majority of Edinburgh residents who do not travel by car.
"One full double-decker bus can hold the equivalent number of passengers as 75 cars can, so buses are a clear winner when it comes to tackling congestion and toxic air pollution, especially when they offer a clean and comfortable experience."


Scientists have created mosquitoes that produce 95% male offspring, with the aim of helping control malaria.

Flooding cages of normal mosquitoes with the new strain caused a shortage of females and a population crash.
The system works by shredding the X chromosome during sperm production, leaving very few X-carrying sperm to produce female embryos.
In the wild it could slash numbers of malaria-spreading mosquitoes, reports the journal Nature Communications.
Although probably several years away from field trials, other researchers say this marks an important step forward in the effort to produce a genetic control strategy.
Malaria is transmitted exclusively by mosquitoes. Despite reductions brought about by measures such as nets or spraying homes with insecticides, it continues to kill hundreds of thousands of people annually, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The idea of using a "sex-distorting" genetic defect to control pest populations was proposed over 60 years ago, but this is the first time it has been practically demonstrated.
The researchers, led by Prof Andrea Crisanti and Dr Nikolai Windbichler of Imperial College London, transferred a gene from a slime mould into the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. This gene produces an enzyme called an "endonuclease" which chops up DNA when it recognises a particular sequence.
Prof Crisanti said his team exploited a "fortuitous coincidence": the target sequence of that endonuclease is found specifically - and abundantly - on the mosquito's X chromosome. "In Anopheles gambiae, all 350 copies are together, side-by-side on the X chromosome," he told BBC News.
When sperm are produced normally, in mosquitoes or in humans, 50% contain an X chromosome and 50% a Y chromosome. When they fuse with an egg these produce female and male embryos, respectively.
In the new mosquitoes, the X-attacking endonuclease is turned on specifically during sperm formation. As a result,  the males produce almost no X-containing sperm - or female offspring. More than 95% of their progeny are male.
Importantly this change is heritable, so that male mosquitoes pass it on to about half their male progeny. This means if the artificial strain is released into a population - in the lab or in the wild - the trait can spread until most males are only producing male offspring, perhaps eradicating the population altogether.
"It can be a self-sustaining effect," said Dr Windbichler.
Indeed, in five test cages that started with 50 males and 50 females, when the team introduced 150 of their new sex-distorter males, the number of females plummeted within four generations. After another couple of generations, in four out of five cages, the population died out entirely.
Both these effects are beneficial, Prof Crisanti explained, because only female mosquitoes bite humans and spread malaria. So a drop in female numbers might slow its spread, while a population crash could "break the cycle" of malaria transmission.
Dr Luke Alphey founded the company Oxitec to develop genetic control strategies for harmful insects and has pioneered the use of GM mosquitoes to help control dengue fever. He told the BBC the new research was exciting, but suggested that if used in the wild, this particular sex-distorter strain might not spread indefinitely and would need to be "topped up".
For a really successful, spreading system to eradicate malaria mosquitoes, "You'd have to get such a system expressed on the Y chromosome," Dr Alphey said.
The new study's authors agree this would be much more powerful. "You'd need to release fewer individuals, because all males will inherit the gene from their fathers and pass it on to all their sons - so the effect would not be diluted," said Dr Windbichler.
"Theoretically, if you have it on the Y," Prof Crisanti added, "one single individual could knock out an entire population."
In fact, Dr Windbichler and Prof Crisanti showed in another recent paper that this type of gene insertion on the mosquito Y chromosome is perfectly achievable.
"They haven't yet put it all together," Dr Alphey commented, "but all the pieces are in place."
Dr Alphey also commented that the power of that proposed technique would pose additional questions for researchers and regulators. "In principle, what you get is extinction," he said.
"Humans have undoubtedly driven a very large number of species to extinction - but we've only deliberately done it with two: smallpox and rinderpest. Would we want to do that with Anopheles gambiae?"
Dr Alphey's answer to his own question appears to be "maybe".
"If this species were to suffer a population crash, it's hard to see how significant negative side-effects might arise," he explained. "The mosquitoes are not keystone species in their ecosystems. And this technique only affects one species, Anopheles gambiae, among more than 3,000 known species of mosquitoes."
"If we rely instead on pesticide control we would likely kill non-malarial mosquitoes and many other insects besides. The genetic approach is much more precise."
Crisanti and Windbichler think that extinction is unlikely, even with the proposed Y chromosome-driven system, but agree that caution is warranted. "There are a lot of tests to run through," Dr Windbichler said.
"We are still a couple of years from this being applied in the field. It's very promising but there's still a long way to go."
Dr Michael Bonsall, a reader in zoology at the University of Oxford, said the new research was "super cool" and demonstrated "just how important these sorts of GM technologies are at reducing insect vector population sizes."
"This has important implications for limiting the spread of malaria," Dr Bonsall said, though he also noted that it was "a long way from being deployed."
To begin testing the safety and efficacy of the sex-distorter strains on a bigger scale, Prof Crisanti's team has built a large facility in Italy. "We have big, contained cages in which we can reproduce a tropical environment - and we can test several hypotheses on a very large scale."
Meanwhile, he and his colleagues are pleased to have developed such a promising genetic weapon against malaria using the elusive sex-distortion mechanism, proposed many years ago.
"One of the first people to suggest it was the famous British biologist Bill Hamilton, while he was actually here at Imperial as a lecturer for a while," commented Dr Windbichler. "So it was theorised 60 years ago, but never put in practice."
The Life Scientific, broadcast at 9am on Tuesday 10th June, featured malaria researcher Professor Janet Hemingway.


A group of Mormons have planned a "mass resignation" after leaders changed church policies regarding gay people.

The rules, which were not meant to be made public, say children living with a gay parent cannot be baptised until they are 18 and only when they renounce homosexuality.
The new rules also say members can be expelled from the church if they enter into a gay marriage.
Both liberal and conservatives Mormon groups have criticised the the changes.
"The surprising impact has been the amount of people who are confused and troubled and disturbed and, frankly, repulsed," Mormon scholar Patrick Mason told Reuters.
"And these aren't just progressives and LGBT advocates. ... They are saying: 'This doesn't feel right. This doesn't square with me.'"
It is a departure for the church, which recently has softened its approach on gay issues and backed a Utah state law that provided legal protections for gay people.
The new policies appear in an internal church handbook, but the changes were leaked to the public this month.
They appear to be in response to a US Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal nationwide in June.
Church officials have not commented on the changes, but Mr Mason said the backlash has been so great that church officials may be forced to revise the rules.
More than 1,000 people plan to attend the "mass resignation" rally on Saturday at a park across the from the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City.
However, it is unclear how many of those people have already left the Mormon church.
Church member Sarah Epperson plans to resign at the rally on Saturday.
"Any church that wants to claim itself as a Christian organization that uses Jesus Christ the savoir to somehow exclude any group of people is not anything that I want to be a part of," Ms Epperson told the New York Times.


Britain expects to be part of EU decision-making until Brexit, Theresa May has told fellow EU leaders.

The prime minister said the UK should still be part of summits and negotiations when matters affecting all 28 member states were being discussed.
Sources have denied the issue was the subject of a row at a dinner at the EU summit - Mrs May's first as PM.
Both the French president and German chancellor warned if Mrs May pursued a "hard Brexit", talks would be hard too.
Arriving at the summit in Brussels on Thursday, Mrs May pledged to continue to "work closely" with the EU after Brexit.
She stressed it was important to have a "united European stance" against "Russian aggression" that included "sickening" violence in Syria.
She told fellow leaders they "must be ready to take steps to change Russia's approach and the way it thinks about this if we are ever to bring an end to the violence in Syria", according to No 10 sources.
Before sitting down for a dinner with fellow EU leaders that included pan-fried scallops, crown of lamb with roast fig and iced vanilla parfait, sources said Mrs May raised the issue of continuing UK participation in negotiations at an earlier meeting.
Sources said she was keen that the UK was still fully included in discussions that affected all members - particularly on security issues - but denied she was concerned about being "frozen out".
Troubled by the need to find a common approach to Russian ambitions in Syria, and distracted by a faltering trade deal with Canada, the EU's leaders didn't have Brexit at the top of this summit agenda.
So long did proceedings over-run that it was reportedly 01:00 local time before Mrs May took the floor to offer a Brexit briefing.
And brief it proved to be - EU sources said she spoke for around five minutes and there were no speeches in response from the other leaders.
She used the summit though to make an important point - that just as Brexit means Brexit, so the UK remains IN the EU until the moment when it's officially out.
The British view is that that means the 27 countries that will remain shouldn't jump the gun in starting to make decisions that exclude the UK. That message has now been delivered.
But German MEP Manfred Weber told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's not really normal that such a member who wants to leave a club like the EU also wants to decide the future of this club. That's really creating a lot of anger; the behaviour of the British government."
The prime minister has promised to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - beginning two years of formal exit negotiations with the EU - by the end of March.
This means Brexit, backed in a UK-wide referendum in June, will take place by the summer of 2019.
The Brussels summit is not focused on Brexit but on issues like migration, trade and relations with Russia.
On arrival, Mrs May said: "The UK is leaving the EU, but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we will be a strong and dependable partner after we have left."
"It's in the interests of both the UK and the EU that we continue to work closely together, including at this summit."
European Council President Donald Tusk has insisted no formal talks between the UK and the EU can start until Article 50 is invoked.
But he offered Mrs May some words of encouragement, saying: "Some media described her first meeting in the European Council as entering the lion's den. It's not true. It's more like a nest of doves.
"You can be sure she will be absolutely safe with us."
But French President Francois Hollande said:  "I say very firmly, (if) Mrs May wants a hard Brexit, the negotiations will be hard."
And German Chancellor Angela Merkel echoed that view, saying: "In practice, that will be a tough road."
Joseph Muscat, prime minister of Malta - which will take over the next presidency of the EU - told the BBC he hoped to hear Mrs May's "list of priorities" for Brexit, but did not expect any "negotiations" during the summit: "We wouldn't expect to hear a specific plan with all the intricacies."
Meanwhile the President of the European Council Donald Tusk said at the dinner that he would prefer it if the UK reversed the referendum decision but added: "It's not our choice...We have to respect the decision of the referendum. If it is reversible or not, this is in the British hands. I would be the happiest one if it reversible but we now we have to start our formal works."
Lord Hill, the UK's former EU Commissioner, told BBC Radio 4's Today that there remained, among other EU members, a "surprisingly widely held view that Britain might still decide to stay in" - something he had sought to dispel.
He also warned those arguing that other EU states would not want to harm business with the UK by imposing punitive trade measures that the EU was seen as an "emotional", "political" and "quite a romantic" project.
"If we think, in the UK, that ultimately economic rationalism will win out in terms of the negotiation that is to misread how the Europeans will approach this negotiation," he said.


Newport County midfielders Ben Tozer and Jack Campton have been told they are free to leave the club.

Manager Graham Westley confirmed he does not want to retain either player and is hopeful of making two signings before Saturday's game at Barnet.
County are bottom of League Two - six points from safety in spite of their 1-1 draw with Colchester.
"Ben Tozer's been told he can leave the club and Compton's been told he can go as well," said Westley.
"There's a few lads who are aware that they are not going to be playing a part in what we do going forward, and the best thing is that they find somewhere else to play their football."
Westley has already made nine signings during the January transfer window.
"Talks are ongoing and there's a couple who may come through before the weekend, but they won't affect selection this week," added Westley.
The former Peterborough Preston North End boss suggested there will be more players brought in later this month - "good quality, experienced lads towards the end of the window," he said.


The SNP has set up a new committee of its MPs to examine the impact of the UK voting to leave the EU.

The Westminster SNP Coordination Group will be chaired by Angus Robertson, who is the party's leader in the House of Commons.
It also includes Alex Salmond as well as Stephen Gethins, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Hannah Bardell.
The party has also reshuffled its front bench team to shadow new departments created by the prime minister.
The changes include Mr Gethins becoming the party's Brexit spokesman in parliament after David Davis was appointed to head a new department for leaving the EU in Whitehall.
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh will be the party's International Trade spokeswoman, shadowing Dr Liam Fox who is also heading a new department created after the Leave vote.
It follows SNP MSP Michael Russell, the former Scottish education minister, being confirmed as Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe.


Former England manager Steve McClaren has joined Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv as a coaching consultant.

McClaren, 56, has not managed since March, when he was sacked by Derby for the second time.
He will work under manager Jordi Cruyff, who played at Manchester United when McClaren was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant from 1999 to 2001.
"I have huge respect for such a well-known club, both in Israel and in Europe," said McClaren.
"I intend to help Jordi and the players achieve success for the fans this season."
Former Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle boss McClaren was on a shortlist of candidates to replace Ian Cathro as head coach of Scottish side Hearts before being declared out of the running.
McClaren became England manager in 2006, but his 18-month spell in charge ended when he was sacked following the national team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
He guided Dutch club FC Twente to their maiden Eredivisie championship in 2010 and spent less than a season in charge of German side Wolfsburg before a short stint with Forest and a second spell at Twente.
"Steve McClaren has a wealth of knowledge and is vastly experienced at the highest levels of European football," said Maccabi Tel Aviv owner Mitch Goldhar.
"We are delighted to add a person of his calibre to our staff on a coaching consultant role."
Maccabi Tel Aviv finished second in the Israeli Premier League last season and lost the opening game of this campaign 3-0 at home to Beitar Jerusalem on Sunday.


Alviro Petersen made a century as Lancashire took control against Surrey on the second day at Old Trafford.

Resuming on 16-0 in reply to Surrey's 191, Tom Smith (59), making his first Championship appearance since the start of last season, shared a first-wicket stand of 99 with Haseeb Hameed (44).
The hosts then lost Smith, Luke Procter and Hameed for only 16 runs.
But Petersen's 105 from 108 balls and Steven Croft's 42 helped them to 342-9 at the close, a lead of 151.
Simon Kerrigan and Kyle Jarvis guided Lancashire through to stumps, leaving them eight runs shy of a fourth batting point after 108 overs.
Tom Curran and fit-again Stuart Meaker, also making his first appearance of the season after a groin injury, took three wickets each to prevent Lancashire, who were 99-0 and then 263-3, building an even more substantial advantage.
The morning session belonged to openers Hameed and Smith, who missed the majority of last season to have surgery on a serious back injury.
Having lost the top three in quick succession, Petersen then struck 17 fours and one six in his 139-minute knock to leave the hosts in command.
Lancashire's Alviro Petersen:
"It is a good day all round. It was set up by the openers, Tommy and Has. It's always nice to get a good opening partnership and then you can build from there, which I think we've done.
"The more we go past them, it's almost like every run counts as double. Ideally we would have liked to have been six or seven wickets down and still be batting for another session. But we know we're in a good position.
"I'm really happy with the hundred I've scored. I do feel in decent form, but it's important to build on it. Every game is different, every day is different. Every situation is different."
Surrey's Stuart Meaker:
"It's pretty tough going. We have probably had the lesser of the conditions to bowl in, but we've stuck at it pretty well.
"We did well to keep them in check. I was pretty pleased with the Petersen wicket. I didn't quite get it right with that spell with the new ball. It was a good opportunity for me.
"I'm over the moon to be back. It's been a long time coming. I've worked very hard on getting back fit, and it's a great feeling."


The requirement for schools to have an act of collective worship should be abolished, says a report co-authored by former Education Secretary Charles Clarke.

The study argues that the requirement has failed to keep up with changes in attitudes to religion since it was introduced in the 1940s.
Mr Clarke says it is more honest to admit that it cannot be enforced.
But he calls for the compulsory teaching of religious literacy.
A report from Mr Clarke and Linda Woodhead, professor of sociology of religion at Lancaster University, says there needs to be a "new settlement" in the relationship between religion and schools.
It argues that the obligation for a compulsory act of worship is often not really fulfilled, but there is a "nod and wink culture" about not admitting this.
The report, published as part of the Westminster Faith Debates about religion and values, says that schools should be allowed to make their own decisions about how to hold such a morning assembly and what should be included.
Mr Clarke says that even though many heads have not wanted to carry out such an act of worship there has been a political reluctance to grasp the nettle.
"The reason there has been no change in 70 years is that politicians have been very wary of dipping their toes in this debate," he said.
But the report argues that there should be a stronger and more relevant form of religious education in schools, which should be compulsory for all schools and include non-religious beliefs, such as humanism.
These lessons in religious literacy would teach pupils about different faiths and involve visits to different places of worship.
The concerns about radicalisation and fundamentalism meant that this was a very necessary lesson, said Mr Clarke.
It was important to teach about mainstream, moderate interpretations of religion, rather than "letting extremists dominate the argument".
"It is very important to grow up knowing what faith is and what faith is not," he said.
"Religious questions keep coming up in the news, there needs to be an understanding of it."
The report also looks at the place of faith schools and concludes that the right for parents to send their children to such schools should be protected.
Mr Clarke described this as a "fundamental right" and unlikely to be something that any government would challenge.
The authors argue that faith schools should continue be able to take religion into account in the admissions process.
Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, welcomed the call for a review of the place of "religions and non-religious worldviews" in school.
Since the current arrangements were made in the 1940s, he said, society had "changed beyond recognition and yet the education system is fossilised".
John Hall, the Anglican dean of Westminster, said: "The place of religion in education is contested but there is no doubt that young people need a far better understanding than they currently have of the powerful motive force that is religious - and non-religious - faith, for good and ill.
"And they need to develop spirituality and morality."
A Department for Education spokeswoman said that religious education is "vitally important to help children develop the British values of tolerance, respect and understanding for others".
"It prepares young people for life in modern Britain and that is why it remains compulsory at all key stages. All locally agreed RE syllabuses must be broad, balanced and reflect the teaching and practices of principal religions."
She said that faith schools were "an important part of our diverse education system, allowing parents to choose to have their child educated in line with the tenets of a faith".


Police have recovered a firearm following a shooting in Leith which left a man with injuries to his leg.

The weapon was found close to Cables Wynd, where the attack took place at about 23:00 on Friday.
The injured man, who is in his 20s, remains in hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition.
Following the firearm find, officers have renewed their appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area on Friday evening to come forward.
Det Insp Alan O'Brien said: "A firearm has now been recovered and we believe this was the same one used in the attack.
"From the inquiries carried out thus far, we are confident that we are dealing with a single suspect and that this was an isolated incident.
"It remains my view that there is not an ongoing threat to the community, however there will be an increase in police patrols in the area for the foreseeable future in order to provide a reassuring presence.
"Today, I appeal to anyone who was in the area of Cables Wynd on Friday night and who noticed any suspicious behaviour to contact police immediately on 101."
Information can also be passed anonymously through Crimestoppers.


Thieves left one of Scotland's most famous palaces vulnerable to lightning strikes during a wave of thefts across some of the country's historic monuments.

Metal thieves stripped Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian, of copper taping used to conduct lightning strikes from its roof to the ground.
The former royal residence was among 17 historic sites to be targeted.
There were 30 thefts at stately homes, castles and churches in three years.
Thieves have taken heavy stone carvings, Roman artefacts and the fixtures and fittings from historic monuments across the country.
Dryburgh Abbey, in the Scottish Borders, was broken into in 2015 and lost two medieval stone carvings, while nearby Melrose Abbey was robbed of a Roman statuette of a stag and Roman pottery items.
Last year, thieves managed to make off with two heavy "Forest of Dean stone" carvings from Dunkeld Cathedral, while staff at Duff House in Aberdeenshire discovered that an antique toilet pull chain had been taken.
Scotland's historical sites were also the target of scrap metal thieves, who stripped lead from Deer Abbey in Aberdeenshire and Crossraguel Abbey in Ayrshire.
Metal hand rails were stolen from Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyll, and Kilchurn Castle on the banks of Loch Awe, while one thief made off with the main door padlock from Castle Campbell, Clackmannanshire.
In 2015, one thief set their sights slightly lower, making off with 12 packs of toilet roll from Castle Campbell.
Documents released by Historic Environment Scotland revealed thieves stripped the lightning protection tape from Linlithgow Palace in 2014.
It is understood the lightning tape, supplied to 37 HES-operated buildings across Scotland by a specialist contractor, was replaced before serious damage happened.
The documents, detailing items listed as missing or stolen between 2014 and 2016, also revealed that HES staff mislaid the keys to St Andrews Castle, Fife, and a set of internal keys for Dunblane Cathedral.
In 2012, HES set up a task force with police and amateur enthusiasts to crack down on the growing problem of crime at historic sites.
Heritage chiefs consulted with both police officers and insurance companies to reduce the levels of crime being committed at historic sites, while creating an "early warning" network to target criminals who are breaking into properties and ransacking historic sites.


Derbyshire fast bowler Tom Taylor has signed a one-year contract extension with the Division Two side.

Since making his first-class debut in 2014, the 21-year-old has claimed 43 wickets in 15 matches.
Taylor produced career-best figures of 6-61 in Derbyshire's Championship loss to Lancashire last April.
"Tom is an exciting talent who has already shown the ability to win games for Derbyshire," elite performance director Graeme Welch said.
"He now has a big summer ahead and we hope he can continue to contribute to winning games for the club."


It would have been difficult for mental health services to predict or prevent the killing of a 22-year-old woman in Caerphilly county, a review has said.

Matthew Williams, 34, killed Cerys Yemm at a hotel used to accommodate ex-offenders in Argoed in November 2014.
He died after being tasered by police on the night of the killing.
Williams had a criminal history and had been placed at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel after being released from prison two weeks earlier.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) found he had been a drug user for years. It said he was likely to have had a severe reaction to "psychoactive substances" he took.
The report said he had been offered support to address his addiction after being released from prison, but had not been willing to take up that help.
It added although Williams had shown signs of a "low mood" in the days before the attack, there had been no sign of psychosis or schizophrenia.
HIW said his change in behaviour was likely to be as a result of his taking of "illicit or psychoactive substances".
In a statement Ms Yemm's family, from Blackwood, said: "We as a family welcome that the independent investigation and report carried out by the HIW has finally come to a conclusion.
"The only victim in this case was Cerys. A fact we feel has been lost."
A statement from Williams's family said: "At this stage the family will not be commenting on the detail of the report other than to confirm that they do not agree with the content of the report in its entirety.
"The family have concerns over the lack of information provided to HIW and have identified a number of inaccuracies within the report."
The report makes recommendations to improve healthcare and support including better sharing of information, but stressed none of those issues contributed to the death of Cerys Yemm.


United States long jumper Marquise Goodwin has accepted a one-year ban from the US Anti-Doping Agency but is free to play for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL this season.

Former Olympian Goodwin, 26, says he quit athletics "more than a year ago" to focus on American football and therefore stopped giving Usada his whereabouts for testing.
However, a Usada spokesperson told BBC Sport Goodwin submitted his whereabouts for the first quarter of 2017.
Usada therefore attempted to test him on 17 January, resulting in a missed test - his second whereabouts failure - while the body conducted an out of competition test on Goodwin in his capacity as a track and field athlete on 12 May.
Goodwin's first whereabouts failure occurred when he failed to submit his fourth quarter 2016 filings by the deadline.
His third failure came when he did not supply his second quarter 2017 filings in time.
Under the whereabouts system, athletes must specify where they will be for one hour a day, seven days a week, for three months in advance, as well as where they will be training each day.
A missed test or filing failure constitutes a whereabouts failure and any combination of three breaches in a 12-month period is considered an anti-doping violation.
For Goodwin, who finished 10th in the long jump at London 2012 and has played in the NFL as a wide receiver since 2013, this has resulted in a one-year ban from 1 April 2017, the date of his third whereabouts failure.
In a statement, Goodwin said: "I discontinued all practices associated with competing in track and field, including submitting my whereabouts information.
"It appears that because I did not inform Usada of my plans, my name was inadvertently included in their 2017 testing pool."
Usada says Goodwin, who missed out on selection for Rio 2016 at US trials in July last year, has still not informed it in writing as required that he would like to retire from athletics, despite "multiple opportunities over months" to do so.
As an elite track and field athlete he was therefore entered into the world athletics' governing body (IAAF)/Usada registered testing pool.
"He sometimes filed his whereabouts, he was tested and he never informed us - despite being told in writing and through on-line education that he needed to inform us - that he wished to retire or otherwise not participate in the sport," said a Usada spokesperson.
Usada says Goodwin submitted a whereabouts form in the second quarter of 2017 and it conducted an out of competition test in May.
"We always ensure athletes are aware that we are the organisation conducting the tests," said a Usada spokesperson. "We are not involved with the NFL drug testing program."
Usada added they confirmed Goodwin's first whereabouts failure with him and, as with all such cases, notified him in writing that he was still in the registered testing pool.
"What is disappointing is that he was informed he needed to either provide his whereabouts and be available for testing or retire from the sport if he was no longer competing," said Usada.
"He had multiple opportunities over months to do this and was well educated on these procedures but he chose not to do either, and as a result was not able to be tested.
"This is clearly not ideal for us from a testing standpoint."
Goodwin will not be subject to a ban under NFL rules, the 49ers say.
The NFL is not a signatory of Usada or the World Anti-Doping Code and has its own performance-enhancing substances policy.
Goodwin was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2013, playing 49 games in four seasons before signing a two-year deal with the 49ers in March 2017.
In a statement, the 49ers said: "Marquise informed the organisation some time ago that he has no intentions of competing in track and field and has been entirely focused on his football career for more than a year."
"We have been in touch with the League office regarding this matter, and understand that Marquise will not be subject to discipline under the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances as a result of Usada's decision."
Goodwin, who won the Diamond League event in Birmingham in June 2016, added he has never failed a test and has always been "compliant with each and every protocol and policy" during his competitive athletics career.


Two former children's home workers who ran "a regime of terror" have been jailed.

Kenneth Owen and Alan Todd, both 70, worked at Wisteria Lodge, which was run by Coventry City Council, in the 1980s.
A jury at Warwick Crown Court heard how Todd had sexually assaulted two of his victims, and also taunted a vegetarian child with a dead rabbit.
Owen verbally and physically abused children with Todd, including locking them in "time out" rooms for hours.
Todd, from Stretton-under-Fosse in Warwickshire, was jailed for eight years and two months after being convicted of six indecent assault and five cruelty charges.
Owen, from Dickon Hill Road in Boston in Lincolnshire, was given a prison sentence of four years and four months after being found guilty of five cruelty charges.
Judge Alan Parker said the pair carried out "grotesque" abuse of children at the home.
"It's barely comprehensible to right-thinking people but what happened here goes far beyond the depths of wickedness and depravity," he said.
A Coventry City Council spokesman apologised to the victims.
"These crimes happened a number of years ago and the safeguards we have in place now make it a priority for the voice of the child or young person to be heard," they said.
Det Con Emma Tyler, who led West Midlands Police's investigation, praised the "commendable courage" of those who spoke against their attackers, and urged others to help police and prosecutors convict offenders.
A spokesman for the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) said it hoped the convictions would encourage more victims of other crimes to come forward.
"It is deeply concerning that this went on for so long, but we hope the sentences imposed today send out a clear message that these appalling acts will not be tolerated," they said.


US Vice-President-elect Mike Pence has confirmed that Mitt Romney is being considered for the post of secretary of state, among others.

The statement, in a Fox News interview, comes after President-elect Donald Trump met Mr Romney, a Republican who criticised him during the campaign.
There has been speculation that the post of top diplomat was discussed.
Neither man gave details of their meeting on Saturday. Mr Romney said talks had been "far-reaching".
Mr Romney, who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Barack Obama in 2012, met Mr Trump at the president-elect's golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
"It was a warm and a substantive exchange and I know he is under active consideration to be secretary of state (...) along with some other distinguished Americans," Mr Pence told the Fox News Sunday programme.
In March, during the Republican primary race, Mr Romney said Mr Trump had neither "the temperament nor the judgement to be president", accusing him of bullying, misogyny and dishonesty.
"Prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished" if Mr Trump became the nominee, he said.
Mr Trump responded by mocking Mr Romney, calling him a "failed candidate" and a "choke artist".
However, US media have suggested that the role of secretary of state could be up for grabs. In the past, Mr Romney has taken a far more critical line on Russia than that suggested by Mr Trump.
Mr Trump has settled several posts so far, a number of them controversial.
They include:
Mr Pence was asked about the way he was treated when attending a performance of the Broadway musical Hamilton on Friday.
The audience booed the vice-president elect and a cast member read out a letter saying "diverse America" was "alarmed and anxious" at the future administration.
Mr Pence told Fox News Sunday that he was relaxed about it and had said to his daughter during the incident: "That's what freedom sounds like.''
But Mr Trump renewed his criticism of the cast on Sunday.
"The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior,'' he tweeted.
On Saturday Mr Trump tweeted: "Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!"
Hamilton won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, along with 11 Tony awards for live theatre. Tickets to the show are the most coveted on Broadway, sometimes changing hands for thousands of dollars.


A convicted child sex offender who has been hunted since going missing on Wednesday has handed himself in to police.

David Chadwick, 58, was released from prison recently having been sentenced to three years.
Dorset Police were searching for Chadwick who they said had breached his licence conditions.
On Saturday evening detectives said Chadwick had surrendered to police in Suffolk and would be returned to jail.
An appeal for sightings had been issued after Chadwick was spotted on a train. He had also hitchhiked as he made his way east across southern England.
Det Insp Joe Williams from the Dorset force said: "Earlier this evening David Chadwick presented himself to police officers working in Lowestoft, Suffolk. He will be immediately recalled to prison.
"I would like to thank members of the public, as well as the media, for their assistance in this investigation."


Premier League clubs have spent a record £1.17bn on players in this summer's transfer window, according to business analysts Deloitte.

The 20 clubs had spent the sum by the end of Wednesday, beating the previous record of £1.165bn set last summer.
This summer has seen Manchester United pay Everton an initial £75m for striker Romelu Lukaku, while Chelsea paid Real Madrid £70m for Alvaro Morata.
At the same stage last year, clubs had spent £865m.
"The level of transfer expenditure in this summer's window has been extraordinary," said Deloitte consultant Chris Stenson.
"But when analysed in the context of record broadcast, commercial and matchday revenues, Premier League clubs are spending within their means.
"We expect further significant expenditure in the next seven days as clubs seek value in the market.
"Last summer, Premier League clubs spent around £300m in the final week of the window, more than they did throughout the entire January 2017 window."


Guy Martin will not compete in this year's Senior TT in the Isle of Man, Honda Racing has announced.

Martin crashed out of Sunday's Superbike race at more than 100 mph at Doran's Bend on lap one on the Fireblade SP2.
Martin said: "We need more time to set up the bike and doing six laps will not achieve what we set out to do."
The truck mechanic and TV personality will still compete in the TT Zero race for the Mugen team.
Honda Racing team manager Jonny Twelvetrees said the team will now continue its preparation for the Southern 100 and Ulster Grand Prix.
He said: "We're disappointed not to be taking part in today's Senior TT, a decision that is ultimately due to a lack of track time for Guy on the Fireblade.
"Guy informed me that he wouldn't race in the Senior, which is a tough decision to make but one I can understand given the lack of practice we've had."
Martin added: "I came back to the TT this year to race and try to win with Honda Racing.
"I've always reckoned this is not the place to be out riding just to make up the numbers, so as a team we agreed it wasn't right competing in the Senior TT."
Martin has yet to fulfil his long-time ambition of winning a race on the 37.73-mile Isle of Man Mountain Course but has achieved 16 podium finishes since making his TT debut in 2004.


Sales growth at B&M, the discount retailer chaired by former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy, has slowed considerably in the UK.

The chain, which floated on the stock market in June 2014, reported like-for-like growth of 1.1% for the 13 weeks to 27 June.
That was markedly lower than the 6% recorded in the same period last year.
B&M blamed disappointing weather in May, which held back sales of outdoor seasonal products, for the decline.
Chief executive Simon Arora said: "As consumer spending improves, it is apparent that shoppers remain keen to spend with value retailers and we continue to win market share."
Discount retailers such as Poundland, 99p Stores and B&M have opened hundreds of stores in recent years and won customers from supermarket chains as shoppers seek lower prices.
B&M opened 25 net new stores in the quarter, with some of the new openings being among its most successful.
The company now has 450 outlets in the UK and plans to open a total of 80 this year as it heads towards a target of 850.
It also has 51 stores in Germany mostly under the "Jawoll" brand.
"We remain confident that future store expansion opportunities will allow us to increase market share in both the UK and Germany," B&M said.
Total revenue for the quarter rose 24.4% to Â£456.6m compared with the same period last year.
Shares rose 2.8%, or 9.7p, to 349.7p in morning trading in London, valuing the group at Â£3.5bn.
The shares have risen more than 22% since the float last year.
The flotation resulted in a Â£1bn windfall for the three Arora brothers, who have led the expansion of the company.


Stephen Dobbie struck late to secure Queen of the South an entertaining draw with Dunfermline Athletic.

Darren Brownlie gave the hosts a 39th-minute lead, heading home from Mark Millar's corner.
Dunfermline drew level thanks to Jason Talbot's fantastic volley from the edge of the area and Kallum Higginbotham home from Joe Cardle's cross.
But, with 12 minutes left, Dobbie was allowed a tap-in after Sean Murdoch had failed to gather Derek Lyle's low pass.
His 16th goal of the season ensured that Queens remain sixth, one place and three points ahead of Dunfermline.
However, the Pars and Ayr United have been joined on the 17-point mark by Dumbarton after the Sons' win over Falkirk.
Match ends, Queen of the South 2, Dunfermline Athletic 2.
Second Half ends, Queen of the South 2, Dunfermline Athletic 2.
Foul by Ross Fergusson (Queen of the South).
Jason Talbot (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Callum Fordyce (Dunfermline Athletic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner following a corner.
Corner,  Dunfermline Athletic. Conceded by Jordan Marshall.
Substitution, Queen of the South. Ross Fergusson replaces Derek Lyle.
Andy Dowie (Queen of the South) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Andy Dowie (Queen of the South).
Nicky Clark (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner,  Queen of the South. Conceded by Sean Murdoch.
Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nathaniel Wedderburn (Dunfermline Athletic).
Corner,  Queen of the South. Conceded by Rhys McCabe.
Foul by Owen Moxon (Queen of the South).
Joe Cardle (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!  Queen of the South 2, Dunfermline Athletic 2. Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Derek Lyle.
Attempt missed. Daniel Carmichael (Queen of the South) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution, Queen of the South. Owen Moxon replaces Grant Anderson.
Goal!  Queen of the South 1, Dunfermline Athletic 2. Kallum Higginbotham (Dunfermline Athletic) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joe Cardle.
Attempt missed. Michael Moffat (Dunfermline Athletic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution, Dunfermline Athletic. Joe Cardle replaces Paul McMullan.
Jordan Marshall (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Nicky Clark (Dunfermline Athletic).
Attempt missed. Callum Fordyce (Dunfermline Athletic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Foul by Chris Higgins (Queen of the South).
Nicky Clark (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Grant Anderson (Queen of the South) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Attempt missed. Michael Moffat (Dunfermline Athletic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt saved. Nicky Clark (Dunfermline Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!  Queen of the South 1, Dunfermline Athletic 1. Jason Talbot (Dunfermline Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
Corner,  Dunfermline Athletic. Conceded by Andy Dowie.
Attempt saved. Michael Moffat (Dunfermline Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Grant Anderson (Queen of the South) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Grant Anderson (Queen of the South).
Jason Talbot (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Grant Anderson (Queen of the South).
Jason Talbot (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half begins Queen of the South 1, Dunfermline Athletic 0.
First Half ends, Queen of the South 1, Dunfermline Athletic 0.


Most of the under threat bus services in Powys will be protected despite a £500,000 cut in spending.

Powys council currently spends £2.3m annually, subsidising 27 of the 29 routes in the area.
It held a public consultation over plans to provide just seven or eight services connecting major towns and cities like Abergavenny, Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Swansea.
But the authority has a new plan which will see 22 of the services saved.


Residents in Dorset have been asked to report sightings of an endangered turtle, which experts say may become stranded on beaches.

Loggerhead turtles, which are rarely seen in UK waters, have been spotted near Swanage.
Marine conservationists have urged any sightings be reported instead of the turtles being returned to the sea.
It is feared the animals "would struggle to survive" in cooler sea temperatures off the UK coast.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) had been alerted to two loggerhead turtles about 50 metres from the shore by Durlston Head.
MCS head of biodiversity and fisheries, Dr Peter Richardson, said loggerhead turtles were "rarely spotted in UK seas".
He said: "Usually, young loggerheads thrive in warmer waters, but will stop feeding when sea temperatures drop below about 15C.
"As the seas cool down these turtles will suffer from acute hypothermia.
"If they are lucky, they may strand alive on a beach, and if found in time they can be rescued and rehabilitated back to health with specialist treatment".
He added the loggerheads would most likely "perish" in the South West inshore waters, which are cooling down to below the 15C threshold.
He added: "We urge anyone who finds a turtle on UK shores to report it immediately, and try and make sure the tides don't wash them back to sea".


Chinese insurance firm Anbang has unexpectedly abandoned its takeover offer for Starwood Hotels, ending a three-week bidding war with Marriott.

Anbang had raised its all-cash offer for Starwood to $14bn (Â£9.75bn) it sought to challenge the merger between the hotel groups.
However, the bid is being scrapped because of "market considerations" a statement released on Thursday said.
According to reports, there were questions over its financing sources.
Anbang has been making an aggressive push into the US property market over the last few years but little is known about the company.
The exit of Anbang from the bidding process means that Marriott is one step closer to becoming the world's largest hospitality group.
However, the whole saga has highlighted the growing role of Chinese companies in global mergers and acquisitions.
There have been $92bn worth of foreign takeovers by Chinese companies this year, according to data provider Dealogic.
Starwood - which owns several hotel brands, including the Sheraton, Westin and St Regis - saw its shares fall 4.5% in after hours trade in New York.
Marriott shares lost 5%, showing some investors may be concerned the firm now has to pay an additional $1bn to purchase Starwood because of the bidding war.


England internationals Mako and Billy Vunipola have extended their contracts with Premiership champions Saracens.

Prop Mako, 25, and 23-year-old brother Billy, who plays at number eight, will remain at Allianz Park until the summer of 2019.
"This is fantastic news for everyone associated with the club," Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall said.
"To have two players of the calibre of Mako and Billy commit their futures to Saracens is extremely exciting."
Loose-head Mako joined Saracens from Bristol in 2011, with Billy making the switch to north London from Wasps two years later.
Both have become England regulars since joining the club, with Mako winning 29 international caps, while Billy has made 23 appearances for the national side.
The pair featured in England's Six Nations victories against Scotland and Italy earlier this month.
"What has been great for us is to witness the progression of both of them from promising youngsters to two of the world's best in their respective positions," McCall added.
"Their contribution off the field is equally as important."


Quilts being sent to a widow made from her husband's shirts are feared stolen after going missing from a courier.

The covers were picked up by a courier from quilter Joe Bennison in Winnersh on Tuesday 3 November but failed to arrive at the widow's house in Kent.
Ms Bennison said MyHermes had told her the quilts had been among a number of parcels stolen from a van in Reading.
"I fear that they will be dumped somewhere and nobody will think to hand them in," she said.
"The quilts were for his family to remember him by. They can not be replaced and are of no real use to anyone else.
"They are made from his favourite shirts and are therefore irreplaceable."
MyHermes said it was looking in to the matter.
Joe Bennison, 46, was temporarily holding the quilts to add decorative stitching for the widow's friend, Janet Bevan, before sending them back to her.
Mrs Bevan had been making the items to help her friend and her sons deal with the sudden loss of her husband.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the theft of two quilts from a delivery van in Reading was reported to them on 12 November.
Officers said they were believed to have been taken from an unknown location between 3 and 10 November.


The government should be campaigning to leave the EU because of the "total failure" of its renegotiations, Boris Johnson says.

The ex-London mayor and Leave campaigner said the EU was "virtually identical" after the PM's reform talks.
In a speech in London, he criticised what he called the "wholly bogus" arguments in favour of remaining in.
David Cameron said the UK had "the best of both worlds" in its relationship with a "reformed" EU.
He also said the Leave campaign offered "no answers to the most basic questions" and warned security in Europe could be at risk if the UK voted for an exit.
There are just over six weeks to go until the 23 June referendum which will decide whether Britain remains in, or leaves, the EU.
Mr Johnson, one of the favourites to replace Mr Cameron as Conservative leader, was scathing about the reforms the PM secured before calling the vote.
Quoting from the PM's 2013 speech in which Mr Cameron outlined his referendum plans, Mr Johnson said "nothing remotely resembling" the promised changes had been achieved.
Eurosceptics had been "excited" by what had been offered, Mr Johnson said, but "quietly despaired as no reform was forthcoming".
"If you look at what we were promised, and what we got, the government should logically be campaigning on our side today," he said.
Mr Cameron told the BBC he had "always believed that we are better off in a reformed European Union".
The reforms, he said, gave the UK "the best of both worlds" because it was in the single market but out of the euro, and people were able to travel freely but able to "keep our borders".
But Mr Johnson said the government was powerless to control EU migration because "this most basic power of a state - to decide who has the right to live and work in your country - has been taken away and now resides in Brussels".
The Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP said the UK would not be "leaving Europe" if it quits the EU, as he set out the "liberal cosmopolitan" case for an exit - including starting to sing Ode to Joy in German.
He also reiterated the Leave campaign's desire to maintain access to the EU single market area if it leaves - saying this could be achieved without being subject to the "vast, growing and politically-driven empire of EU law".
In his speech, Mr Cameron said the UK would be forced to accept freedom of movement and pay into the EU budget in exchange for single market access, adding that leaving it would be a "reckless and irresponsible course".
"The Leave campaign can't answer them because they don't know the answers," he said.
"They have no plan."


A seagull may have bitten off more than he could chew when he stole some false teeth from a seaside bench in Devon.

The feathered felon, more commonly known for stealing chips, snapped up the abandoned gnashers in Torquay.
A picture of the garrulous-gull was shared widely on social media.
A post on the Spotted Newton Abbot Facebook page said: "Unfortunately anyone missing them will need to contact the seagull as he flew away with them!"
More Devon and Cornwall news


The body of a pilot who went missing after his light aircraft crashed into the sea off the south coast has been found, police have said.

Simon Wells, 44, from Kent, was the sole occupant of the Cherokee plane when it came down about half a mile off Winchelsea, East Sussex, on 6 August.
Sussex Police said the aircraft, which was largely intact, had been found on the sea floor.
Mr Wells's body was found inside, the force said.
Police said the aircraft was found a week ago but a complex operation was needed, with the assistance of specialist Ministry of Defence marine staff, to recover it safely.
The force said the plane was brought out of the water on Sunday and the body of Mr Wells, who lived in Dunes Road, Greatstone, near Lydd, was taken ashore at Rye.
A post-mortem examination was carried out on Wednesday, but the cause of death has not been established.
Further tests will be carried out, but the death is not being treated as suspicious, police said.
A spokesman for the force said the pilot's family had been kept informed of all developments.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been leading the investigation.
A spokesman said: "A team of AAIB investigators was deployed to the accident site to start an investigation.
"The wreckage has been recovered to our HQ at Farnborough for more detailed examination and we will publish a report on our findings when our investigation is complete.
"If any safety issues are identified, we may issue safety recommendations intended to prevent similar accidents in the future."


The case against two hospital nurses accused of wilfully neglecting vulnerable patients has collapsed.

Clare Cahill, 42, of Coytrahen, Bridgend, and Jade Pugh, 30, of North Cornelly, denied charges relating to alleged falsification of patient notes.
Both worked at Bridgend's Princess of Wales Hospital.
At Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, not guilty verdicts were given on 10 counts after a computer log of patient records was deemed unreliable.
Both women worked on the stroke ward and denied failing to carry out routine blood glucose checks on patients and fabricating their medical records.
On the day jurors were set to hear the case open, the prosecution offered no evidence and the judge ordered them to give the verdicts.
Ms Cahill was cleared of six counts of causing wilful neglect between April and December 2012 and Ms Pugh was found not guilty of four counts of the same charge between June and October 2012.
Judge Tom Crowther criticised the hospital's failure to have a dependable computer system in place.
He added: "Enormous expense has been incurred with trial preparation - hundreds of hours of time has been spent by experts... which has had a knock on effect of other cases waiting to be tried.
"It matters because two women have been facing a trial which should have been ready earlier. It matters because the families of the patients involved will have had their upset prolonged."
Three other nurses, who worked on the same hospital ward, have entered guilty pleas to similar charges.
After the case, a spokeswoman for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board said: "Our thoughts are with the families of patients involved in these cases, as this must be a difficult time for them."
She said when issues surrounding blood glucometry tests arose, the health board informed and cooperated with police.
"We have not been able to complete our internal disciplinary proceedings until the criminal proceedings concluded. We are now in a position to move urgently with this," she added.
"We remain determined to do more, to continually improve, and continue to have a commitment to dealing with issues as they arise in an open and transparent way.
"The blood glucometry test and recording system we use is designed to facilitate good patient care. It is widely used by many other hospitals and internationally recognised. It is continually being improved and updated.
"We are not in a position to comment on how information generated for clinical purposes has been used to support a criminal prosecution, as this is not our area of expertise."


Olympic bronze medallist James Foad will miss this summer's Rio Games, and could retire from rowing after metal screws in his back came loose.

Media playback is not supported on this device
Foad, from Southampton, had the screws fixed in his spine after London 2012.
The 28-year-old, who won European Championship men's pair gold with Matt Langridge in May, will have surgery on Monday to replace them.
"As much as I want to try and push through it and hope everything will be ok, it won't," he wrote on his blog.
"I'm sad to say my 'Road to Rio' has come to an end. I'll never make it in time."
Foad had surgery to fit flexible metal rods into his spine after he won bronze in the men's eight at London 2012.
After suffering three flare ups over the past six months, he had an exploratory operation and it was discovered that four of the screws are loose, with one compressing nerves in his spine. Consequently, the metal needs to be removed and replaced.
"The thought of this year being a write-off and not being able to at least try and complete my goal of competing at the Olympics again is heartbreaking," Foad added.
"As for the future, I'm not really sure what the plan is now. I had planned to retire after Rio, but the whole situation has thrown a spanner in the works.
"At the minute, it doesn't feel satisfying walking away from it like this, but I'll have to see how things go after surgery."


Parents who bought their children laptops, tablets and smart phones for Christmas are being urged to talk to them about online safety.

Childline was contacted by 85 children in Wales about online sexual abuse during 2015-16 - contributing to a 24% rise in UK calls compared to 2014-15.
Online sexual abuse includes grooming, sexting and performing sex acts on webcams.
The NSPCC said it can cause children to feel "guilty and ashamed".
Some children contacted Childline because they felt "trapped by their situation", while others were being blackmailed or were considering meeting up in person.
A 14-year-old girl told Childline that she had met a man through social media.
"He told me I was beautiful and I felt that I could talk to him about everything," she said.
"He asked me for some topless photos which I didn't think was a big deal, so I sent him a few. But now he's turned really nasty and is threatening to post them online if I don't send him more.
"I'm really worried and embarrassed and I don't know what to do."
The NSPCC recommends parents talk regularly and openly with their children about online safety and learn how to spot signs of inappropriate behaviour and how to report it.
Head of NSPCC Wales, Des Mannion, said the internet can be a "fantastic place for children to socialise, explore their interests and learn" but parents should be aware that there are risks.
"In the last year we've seen a staggering rise in online sexual abuse, with many children turning to Childline when the situation has escalated," he said.
"Often groomers will use devious tactics to lure in young people and manipulate them into situations that leave them feeling frightened and ashamed."


Ched Evans produced another inspired performance as Chesterfield beat Walsall 2-0 at the Proact Stadium.

The striker took his goal tally to four in three league games with a second-half double that sealed back-to-back home wins and took Chesterfield to the top of the table.
Walsall started well when Simeon Jackson's flick put Andreas Makris in but his shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar in the 11th minute.
But Chesterfield responded with a low drive from Jay O'Shea that Neil Etheridge did well to turn behind for a corner in the 19th minute and Gboly Ariyibi fired into the side netting in the 34th minute.
Etheridge made another excellent save in the 61st minute when he parried a low shot from Evans and the striker saw a 20-yard strike saved five minutes later.
But the goalkeeper could do nothing in the 75th minute when Evans ran forward and smashed in a right foot shot from 20 yards that flashed inside the left post and he was beaten again four minutes later by a deflected strike from the edge of the box.
Report supplied by Press Association.
Match ends, Chesterfield 2, Walsall 0.
Second Half ends, Chesterfield 2, Walsall 0.
Substitution, Chesterfield. Rai Simons replaces Ched Evans.
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by Joe Edwards.
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by Joe Edwards.
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by Jason McCarthy.
Attempt blocked. Dan Gardner (Chesterfield) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Walsall. Maz Kouhyar replaces Kieron Morris.
Goal!  Chesterfield 2, Walsall 0. Ched Evans (Chesterfield) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jay O'Shea.
Substitution, Walsall. Amadou Bakayoko replaces George Dobson.
Goal!  Chesterfield 1, Walsall 0. Ched Evans (Chesterfield) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Substitution, Walsall. Florent Cuvelier replaces Franck Moussa.
Attempt saved. Ched Evans (Chesterfield) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by Joe Edwards.
Attempt missed. Jay O'Shea (Chesterfield) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Kieron Morris (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Attempt missed. Jason McCarthy (Walsall) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Foul by Ian Evatt (Chesterfield).
Simeon Jackson (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Ched Evans (Chesterfield) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Kieron Morris (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by Jason McCarthy.
Attempt missed. Ian Evatt (Chesterfield) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by Jason McCarthy.
Foul by Sam Hird (Chesterfield).
Simeon Jackson (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Paul McGinn (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Franck Moussa (Walsall).
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by James O'Connor.
Second Half begins Chesterfield 0, Walsall 0.
First Half ends, Chesterfield 0, Walsall 0.
Gboly Ariyibi (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Joe Edwards (Walsall).
Foul by Paul McGinn (Chesterfield).
Andreas Makris (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner,  Walsall. Conceded by Paul McGinn.
Attempt missed. Gary Liddle (Chesterfield) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
Corner,  Chesterfield. Conceded by Matt Preston.
Gboly Ariyibi (Chesterfield) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Franck Moussa (Walsall).


The trial of two women accused of being responsible for a dog that attacked 12 children has been halted.

Staffordshire bull terrier Marley bit the children when it escaped from a house in Blyth in May last year.
Claire Neal, 38, denied owning a dangerously out of control dog and Leanne Patterson, 35, denied being in charge of it.
Their trial began at Newcastle Crown Court on 2 August but has been halted for legal reasons.
The jury has been discharged and a decision on whether a retrial will be held will be made on 18 August.


Hull Kingston Rovers coach Tim Sheens says any move for Leeds captain Danny McGuire would be dependent on his side being promoted back to Super League.

McGuire, 34, is leaving Headingley at the end of the season and Sheens confirmed the Robins had spoken to him.
However, he told BBC Radio Humberside: "We've had some discussions but I think it's a long, long way away from being decided which way he's going to go.
"He's got a number of offers. I think he'd prefer to play Super League."
England and Great Britain half-back McGuire is the leading try-scorer in Super League history with 233, and is fourth on the Rhinos' all-time list.
When he announced his departure, he said: "I've got a good idea of what I want to do and where I will be, but nothing has been finalised."


Prosecutors have dropped all charges against 10 Eastern European men alleged to have been involved in a disturbance following a Uefa Europa League game at Pittodrie in Aberdeen.

Sixteen men were charged in connection with a "minor disturbance" on Chapel Street in the early hours of 28 July.
Three of the men lived locally and the rest were from Eastern Europe.
The Crown Office has now dropped all charges against the Eastern European men.
Only a handful of supporters attended the game from Slovenia to watch Maribor draw 1-1 with the home side.
A Crown Office spokesman said: "The procurator fiscal in Aberdeen received a report concerning 10 individuals in connection with alleged offences on 29 July, 2016.
"After full and thorough consideration of the facts and circumstances, the procurator fiscal decided there should be no further action."


Steve Cotterill was not sounded out about making a return as Nottingham Forest boss in a meeting with chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi, insists Reds ambassador John McGovern.

Cotterill, sacked within 48 hours of Al Hasawi's takeover in July 2012, was photographed speaking to the club owner before Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Reading.
Paul Williams is in charge of Forest until the end of the season.
"Nothing was gauged or organised. It was a chance meeting," said McGovern.
Cotterill, 51, has been out of work since leaving Bristol City in January, having been sacked 256 days after he led the club to promotion as League One Champions - the Robins' first league title since 1955.
Talking to BBC Radio Nottingham, Forest's two-time winning European Cup captain McGovern continued: "The first person I bumped into when I got to the directors' room was Steve Cotterill. Obviously I'd known him since his days at Forest, although he was only there for a short period of time, and it was casual conversation.
"When Fawaz arrived, he wanted to say hello. Steve happened to be at the game, it would be impolite not to say hello and have a conversation."
Forest have taken just one point from 12 since Williams took over from Dougie Freedman in March.
Tuesday's defeat was the Reds' eighth in 10 games and leaves them 17th in the table, nine points above the relegation places.


WH Smith has been accused of exploiting customers at a hospital store after a BBC investigation found it was charging significantly lower prices on the high street.

The retailer was found to be charging £1.89 for a 750ml bottle of water at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield was available for £1 in Leeds city centre.
Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff said the approach was "fundamentally wrong".
WH Smith said longer opening hours and higher costs were behind the pricing.
But Labour MP Ms Sherriff, who worked in the NHS before becoming an MP and sits on the Health Select Committee, said patients and visitors were "effectively being exploited".
She said shops had "unfortunately got a captive audience" at hospitals and added that the matter could be raised at the select committee.
BBC Radio Leeds compared the prices of water and stationery items at WH Smith shops in Pontefract and Wakefield hospitals with the retailer's branch near Trinity shopping centre in Leeds.
It found the 750ml bottle of water cost £1.49 in Pontefract hospital.
Other items that were more expensive included a pad of A4 paper that was priced about 60% higher in both hospitals - £3.99 compared to £2.49 in Leeds city centre.
The radio station also compared the cost of three different sandwiches at Marks & Spencer in St James' Hospital, Leeds with the company's Briggate branch in the city.
The sandwiches were all about 15% more expensive. A ham and cheese sandwich that cost £2.50 on Briggate was £2.90 in the hospital branch.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the independent charity the Patients Association, said the higher prices were "just morally wrong".
"I am shocked because they are targeting the wrong people; poorly paid staff and patients. It is wrong to take advantage of a captive audience."
The association would support the matter being raised before the Health Select Committee, she added.
WH Smith said: "Locations such as hospitals are more complex environments to operate in, with certain operational costs being significantly higher than on the high street, for example longer opening hours, more complicated delivery arrangements and often higher occupational costs."
Marks & Spencer said prices in hospital "could be a little higher due to the increased running costs necessary to cover longer opening hours and convenient location".


A 37-year-old man who jumped on a moving car and punched its windscreen has pleaded guilty to racially aggravated criminal damage, damaging motor vehicles and resisting arrest.

Michael McCabe, of Kirk Lodge, London Road, Leicester, will be sentenced on 30 August.
Mobile phone footage shared on social media showed him damaging cars on Burleys Way in Leicester.
The attacks took place during afternoon rush hour last Thursday.


You've bought a packet of crisps or a box of cereal or a shirt, and the retailer says that if you find a mouse in it, or it dissolves in the wash, then you can return it and that your "statutory rights will not be affected".

You only ever hear about statutory rights not being affected - you never see a sign saying that something does affect your statutory rights.
You generally see the expression in shops or on manufactured goods referring to the returns policy, which is governed by the Sale of Goods Act.
"It's all about getting what you bargained for," says Ron Turner, a lawyer at Buss Murton.
"The main things are that they should last as long as you would expect, and that they are fit for purpose."
So can anything affect those statutory rights?
"Generally not," Ron Turner says.
Then why bother telling everybody that their statutory rights are not being affected?
"It is a very odd expression, it's a fairly stupid thing to say," says Clive Zietman, a lawyer at Stewarts Law.
"It's the loose language that companies use without thinking about the law."
"What they're trying to say is they might do something above what the law demands."
Ron Turner gives the example that if you buy a packet of sausages that taste funny, you return the pack to the manufacturer and they give you your money back and pay for your postage and even give you some vouchers to buy more products, it does not affect your right to sue them if you later get food poisoning from the sausages you ate.
Similarly, just because a manufacturer encourages you to return faulty goods to them for a full refund, it does not detract from your right to return them to the retailer, which would normally be your first port of call.
This is the view taken by United Biscuits, which includes assurances about statutory rights being unaffected on products such as its Jacob's Cream Crackers.
"The reason this happens is that people may be concerned that by returning product they might lose the right to pursue other remedies, the public not necessarily being familiar with consumer legislation," the company's legal team told BBC News.
"Therefore, this is put on pack to make consumers feel more comfortable in coming direct to us on a 'without prejudice' basis."
Julia Durham from Citizens Advice says that under the
          Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading
 regulations, if retailers or manufacturers are offering guarantees, they must say that what they are offering is in addition to people's legal rights.
"A lot of retailers offer store policies, trying to be helpful, but they sometimes forget that statutory rights exist as well," she says.
She gives the example of a second-hand car dealer, which offers a free three-month warranty but says it will not help at all after that time.
Under statutory rights, if the car lasts less long than could be reasonably expected, then you can try to get redress from the retailer whatever its policy is.
"Sometimes guarantees seek to take away from statutory rights," she warns.
It is important to remember that the terms and conditions that may apply to a shop offering, for example, to refund a product if you change your mind, which it is not forced to do by law, will not apply to customers returning faulty goods, which are covered by statutory rights.
So is there nothing you could do that would be so extreme that it would affect your statutory rights? Perhaps you could deliberately use forged banknotes to buy that packet of sausages and then try to sue the manufacturer when you got food poisoning.
"If you were guilty of a criminal offence, you might lose your statutory rights," Mr Zietman says.
"The contract would be voided by illegality, so your statutory rights would disappear."
Mr Turner agrees that "some judges in some courts may feel that barred you from making a claim".
Ms Durham points out that in order to have statutory rights, you have to prove that the transaction took place, perhaps with a receipt or credit card statement.
What that means is that if you pay with cash and lose your receipt, that may affect your statutory rights.
So it turns out that there may be some things you can do that will affect your statutory rights.
It's funny that you are never warned about them!