Two years after starting a pupil-led approach to resolving problems in and out of the classroom, a number of schools in Wales say they have seen improvements in behaviour and attendance.

The idea behind "restorative practice", as the approach is known, is to encourage pupils to address any problems they have with each other, instead of going to the teachers.
Maerdy Community School in Rhondda Cynon Taf introduced restorative practice two years ago.
Harry Allan is the Year 5 teacher at Maerdy Community School.
He said: "The children are being asked to solve their problems amongst themselves. That has helped them become more respectful to each other."
"They are seeing that their actions can affect others and not just themselves."
A group of pupils in Maerdy Community School are trained to be peer mediators.
It is their job to deal with the minor problems on the school yard.
They do this by asking the children involved questions including: "What were you thinking?" and "How did it make you feel?"
Georgia, a Year 5 pupil, is one of the trained peer mediators. She said: "Sometimes when pupils talk to the teachers, they get a bit shy."
"They have done something wrong and they don't want to admit it. But they will tell us the truth."
As well as the peer mediator's scheme, the school also run "circle time" sessions every week.
Children can use this time to talk about how they are feeling and what is worrying them.
Beth Bradbury is the complex needs teacher at Maerdy Community School.
She said: "We've got children here with emotional behaviour problems."
"Since we introduced a restorative approach, we have seen an improvement in behaviour but we have also seen a rise in attendance."
Another school that adopts a restorative approach is Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Eirwg, in Cardiff.
But instead of peer mediators, they have "friendly listeners".
Iwan Davies is a teacher at Bro Eirwg. He said: "Children know there is always someone to turn to on the yard.
"With minor incidents, the friendly listeners know how to deal with it. But they also know to pass more serious issues on to the staff."
The approach builds on trials of the scheme which were run in a number of south Wales secondary schools including Cardiff's Fitzalan High and Monmouthshire's Monmouth Comprehensive.
Those included trying to prevent exclusions and reduce the number of young people becoming "Neets" - not in employment, education or training once they leave compulsory schooling.
The Welsh Government now recommends the practice as a way to reduce pupil exclusions.
Councils in areas such as Swansea, Gwent, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff now all encourage their schools to adopt a restorative practice approach.
A secondary school in Cardiff, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern, holds a restorative circle once a month.
The deputy head teacher, Iwan Williams said: "Quite a lot of information is coming out, which we as staff can then help the children with".
"The children are also telling us that their relationships are becoming stronger, because they are listening to people they don't normally have a conversation with."
Jack Young is a year 10 student at Bro Edern. He said: "When we were coming up to our GCSE's, we would talk about what was worrying us.
"From that, the teachers would find ways to help us succeed."


Nuno Espirito Santo has resigned as coach of Valencia, the Spanish club where former Manchester United defender Phil Neville is assistant manager.

The 41-year-old Portuguese leaves after just over one season in charge.
Speaking in a news conference following his team's 1-0 defeat by Sevilla, Nuno said he had told club owner Peter Lim of his decision before Sunday's game.
Valencia finished fourth in La Liga last year but have struggled this term, winning five out of 13 games.
"I have spoken with the owner, the president and we are all agreed that Valencia is a project for the present and the future and I don't want that to stop," Nuno said.
"I want Valencia to return to being one of the biggest clubs in Europe."
Los Che are yet to announce who will be taking temporary charge.
The club qualified for the group stages of this year's Champions League by beating Monaco in a play-off but are close to elimination.
They will only progress to the knockout stage if they beat Lyon at home and Gent fail to beat leaders Zenit St Petersburg in the final round of Group H fixtures on on Wednesday, 9 December.
Singaporean owner Lim has a stake in Salford City, the non-league club co-owned by Neville with his former Manchester United team-mates Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.


Celtic captain Scott Brown insists the team will be back in the Champions League next year after they exited Europe with a game to play.

The Scottish champions' 2-0 home defeat by Barcelona, thanks to Lionel Messi's killer double, means they will finish bottom of Group C.
"Getting to this stage is great for us but we want to try and push on as much as we possibly can," he said.
"We're disappointed we're not in Europe after Christmas, but we'll be back."
The midfielder believes Celtic have made progress under Brendan Rodgers since they began their campaign with a 7-0 hammering by the Spanish champions.
"There's been ups and downs but it's just the start of the gaffer's era and we're always improving," said Brown.
"We're now looking forward to next season and we need to try and be back in it again.
"We didn't have the best start, but we've kicked on after that with good performances though not the best results.
"That's what we need to try to do every year now, be in the Champions League season after season."
Brown believes he and his team-mates should take a lot of personal gratification from their five Champions League matches this season despite collecting only two points.
"There's a bit of frustration but there's a lot of pride as well," he told BBC Scotland.
"We played against a top team that has won Champions Leagues and a lot of the team have won a lot with Spain as well.
"It was hard. We dug deep and were a little bit unlucky. The penalty was quite soft, but they're top quality players.
"The first goal's just exceptional - it's a great ball, it's great movement and it's a great finish."
Brown was also keen to defend Moussa Dembele, the club's top scorer who missed a gilt-edged chance to level the match when 1-0 down before Messi's second from the penalty spot killed off the Scottish champions' hopes.
"Moussa's scored some great goals for us and has won us games himself to be honest," he added.
"Strikers miss chances and strikers score great goals.
"He's a great player and he's been fantastic all season. What a signing he is for half a million quid."
Celtic eyes will now turn to attempting to win the first major silverware of the Scottish football season when they take on Aberdeen in Sunday's League Cup final.
And the Parkhead captain believes a victory for his side would put down a serious marker.
"Yeah, I think so," he said. "Especially for the gaffer, it would be huge for him being a Celtic fan, coming to the club and getting us playing as well as we can.
"We now need to give something back to him."


It is a golden rule of journalism, taught to any news reporter at the beginning of their career - your introduction should grab the reader straight away.

If you cannot hold someone's attention for a sentence, you have no hope of getting them to read the rest of your article.
The same is true for headlines; stark, witty or intriguing ones can draw the reader's eye to a story.
Headline writing has long been considered a skill but, in the digital age, a new word has become synonymous with online journalism - clickbait.
Put simply, it is a headline which tempts the reader to click on the link to the story. But the name is used pejoratively to describe headlines which are sensationalised, turn out to be adverts or are simply misleading.
Publishers increasingly use it for simple economics; the more clicks you get, the more people on your site, the more you can charge for advertising.
A report by the Columbia Journalism Review highlighted the case of online magazine Slant, which pays writers $100 per month, plus $5 for every 500 clicks on their stories.
Slant is far from unique in this respect and this business model is becoming increasingly common, but opponents argue it means journalists will dumb down stories in order to get more clicks in order to earn a living.
Last week, the NUJ expressed concerns after Trinity Mirror, one of the UK's biggest newspaper publishers, announced plans to introduce individual website "click targets" for journalists.
The group's editorial director, Neil Benson, said the aim was to focus on providing content that is "relevant to our audiences".
Damian Radcliffe, honorary research fellow at Cardiff University's School of Journalism said: "It's part of the world in which we now operate - there's a lot to be said for journalists to be able to write better or snappier headlines."
There are fears it could curtail a cornerstone of journalism - holding those in office and power to account - in favour of appealing to the lowest common denominator.
But Mr Radcliffe said this may not be the case.
"I think those stories will still be covered, but they may well cover them in new and different ways; not dumbing-down but being creative in how you tell these stories through infographics, explainers and video.
"I think it's a recognition the audience consumes content in different ways."
Peter Preston, former editor of the Guardian and a columnist for the Observer, said: "You certainly want your journalists to be thinking how they get the maximum level of interest... it seems on one hand it's pretty stupid to not make sure your journalists are doing their best to serve their readers.
"It's a means of getting journalists to concentrate on [ensuring] whatever story they are doing is presented in the best way."
But Ken Smith, chairman of the Welsh executive council of the National Union of Journalists, has concerns.
"Without a doubt, there is a dumbing down in terms of content going on websites which does not bode well," he said.
"Inevitably, if the criterion for including the story on the website is determined by the number of clicks, then we're going down a very dangerous path.
"There's going to be an emphasis on the trivial, rather than stories which require more considered reading.
"If you're setting individual targets about how many clicks they should be getting, they will be more inclined to do this instant gratification journalism rather than look into issues of concern about how the local council is performing because they take time to research."
A by-product of this style of journalism - the frustration of readers clicking on a story which promised more than it delivered - has led to new ways to offer content.
Netherlands-based Blendle allows people to read stories from a host of newspapers and magazines, and offers a pay per story set up with a money back guarantee if readers feel short-changed or dissatisfied.
Sensationalising news is hardly new and, in the days of print journalism, there was no guarantee the stories scrutinising the elected and the powerful were being read any more than the titillating content.
"In days of yore, you had no idea if people were reading stories about parliament in the Sunday Times or from the local council or just skipping to the sport section, so I don't think it's a new question," said Mr Radcliffe.
"We've always had sensationalist content, I think it's easy to look back with rose-tinted spectacles. You can say we're living in the golden era of journalism in the access to the breadth and quality of journalism that we have now."
Mr Preston said the changing needs of online audiences means a healthy balance needs to be struck.
"There is a potential problem where a lot of less tractable material happening in your local parliament or more complex foreign affairs gets put to one side because reporters get concerned about pay and standards begin to fall," he said.
"These websites and newspapers are beginning to realise you need a bit of both to what you're putting out as opposed to just lists and fluff - there is a bit of a swing back."
Headlines are as old as journalism itself, so are those teasing lines on social media just a progression of an age-old skill?
"Headline writing is an art, to write something that draws somebody in. Clickbait seems to be a catch-all for that skill and has very negative connotations, but the reality is more nuanced and the ability to write something enticing on Twitter to pique someone's interest is a real art," said Mr Radcliffe.
"Some people see it [pay per click] as a slightly dirty business model. I don't share that view, it's just a digital reality. If that's how you get your foot in the door and develop a good story sense and how to write a good headline, I don't see anything wrong with that."
But what works for one website will not necessarily work for another, so every organisation has to decide what balance works best.
"There's no doubt there's a swell of stories and the way they attract attention. There's a danger of shouting and tarting things up, almost across the board," said Mr Preston.
"[Clickbait stories] have somewhat diminished the value of news - they sell on stars in and out of bed... and that's one way of getting the clicks.
"People are beginning to say 'we need more stories, we need actual things happening' because that brings back readers and encourages engagement."
One perennial frustration for the online reader is the "look at me" headline, which can have negative consequences.
"If you look at news websites, increasingly stories are being headlined 'You will not believe what you're going to read'. It's all very well to do that occasionally when you've got something to interest the reader, but if you overplay your hand, people will find out what you're offering will not match your headline," said Mr Smith.
"This is a dangerous route to follow and sooner or later they're going to wake up to what you're offering them with these teasing headlines is not matched by the writing."
Where does this leave publicly-funded news outlets like the BBC, which does not have the same commercial pressures as the private sector and has a different editorial policy?
Mr Smith said: "It places a bigger burden on the BBC if you've got private sector giving up on public interest journalism."
He believes the BBC's plan to have a pool of reporters to share work with local newspapers "will take resources away from the BBC and will encourage the newspaper groups that have been making cuts to cut further, because they may well say if they can get the BBC to pay for the serious public interest material, we will get rid of existing employees and rely on what the BBC does".
Mr Radcliffe added: "Is the BBC still about universality or about market failure in covering and reporting on stories that are not being covered elsewhere? It's a big question and one that will continue to be discussed until the next charter renewal."
It is not just the content that journalists need to think about, but the medium.
Social media now works as a separate entity for news outlets - rather than a simple headline, picture and link to a story, organisations have to repackage and change how they offer news depending on the platform.
"What works on Twitter might not work on Facebook - you can potentially tell a story in 140 characters with a supporting image," said Mr Radcliffe.
Also, more thought is needed about which stories are posted on social media as that is not going to be the same audience as a newspaper's website.
"There's no doubt digital can do many sorts of stories absolutely brilliantly," said Mr Preston.
But Mr Smith feels style is being prioritised over substance: "The danger is we've become obsessed with the medium and forgotten about the content; good journalism is good in whatever medium it is available.
"You can come up with the most technically refined way of delivering material, but if that material is of no value there's no point to it."
Clickbait in the many forms it takes - from the intriguing to the misleading - seems to be here to stay, so journalists and news organisations have a decision to make on what they want to offer people and where their priorities lie.
"It's a question of balance and if things are going the way they have been, newspapers will cease to have the character that they have had for centuries and they will simply become a vehicle of the light entertainment industry, which is quite tawdry, said Mr Smith.
But Mr Radcliffe sees causes for optimism: "I think it is just a different way of working, a reflection of the fact audiences consume content in different ways.
"The future is incredibly exciting and massively daunting, there are opportunities to do things in new and interesting and exciting ways."
But Mr Preston has words of caution for newspaper groups hunting for clicks.
"Trinity Mirror has reasonable reasons for doing this [pay per click]. Regional and local papers are fighting to make an impact online, having started down that road a little bit too late.
"But if you open a Trinity Mirror paper in two or three years time after this has started and can't find anything but fluff and sensationalism then that's newspapers - online or offline - beginning to cut their own throats."


Police investigating allegations of historical child abuse against the late Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath have arrested two people.

Wiltshire Police have given no further details about the two individuals, who have been released on bail.
The police probe, named Operation Conifer, began in 2015 after claims against Sir Edward surfaced.
It also "aims to safeguard children and vulnerable adults who may be at risk of abuse today", the force said.
The former Conservative prime minister died at home in Salisbury in July 2005, aged 89.
The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation has said it is confident he would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Operation Conifer was set up after the Independent Police Complaints Commission began to probe alleged historical corruption.
Information from a retired officer sparked concerns that Wiltshire Police deliberately caused a criminal prosecution against a suspected brothel keeper to fail in 1994.
But earlier this year the IPCC said it had found no evidence the case dropped because she threatened to make allegations against Sir Edward.


Two wards at a Somerset hospital have been reopened to admissions after an outbreak of norovirus at the end of December.

There was an initial outbreak at Weston General Hospital before Christmas and then a fresh outbreak afterwards.
Uphill and Berrow wards are now both open and the Ashcombe maternity unit is fully open for expectant mothers.
A third ward, Kewstoke remains closed and still has restrictions in place, hospital bosses said.
When there was an increase in emergency admissions over the Christmas and new year period,  eight out of 12 beds in the maternity unit were used for admissions but now it has returned to being fully used by the maternity unit.


Bristol Children's Hospital has been told it needs to improve cleanliness standards in its operating department.

Inspectors who visited the hospital last month have published a report calling for action to improve cleanliness and infection controls.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it carried out the unannounced visit in response to concerns raised.
Hospital chiefs said they were "very disappointed" by the findings and were already working on an action plan.
The deputy chief executive said building work going on at the hospital for more than a year had created "challenges".
The report highlighted two areas over which action was needed and the hospital was given until 3 January to report back to the CQC.
They were:
The report said the hospital had procedures in place to maintain a hygienic environment but the standard of cleaning was not consistent across the operating department.
It also said good practice was "not always followed" in relation to infection control.
Regarding the second of the two issues, the CQC said safety risks to patients and staff within the operating department were not being effectively identified and managed in all areas.
An example given in the report was fire doors being kept open by trolleys, drip poles and cardboard boxes blocking doorways.
Deborah Lee, deputy chief executive of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said the building work had created specific challenges relating to the cleanliness of the department.
"We are very disappointed by these findings by the CQC and have already begun work to develop an action plan that ensures high standards relating to good housekeeping are consistently maintained within the operating theatres of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and that specific attention is paid to assessing the impact of any proposed building or other work," she said.
"Builders have been working at the hospital for over a year to build a new extension to house additional specialist paediatric services which will transfer to the Children's Hospital in spring next year when Frenchay Hospital closes.
"Despite the burden this inevitably brings it is essential that we maintain the highest standards and our action plan will ensure that we reach and maintain these."


BT has called on Ofcom to broaden its Digital Communications Review to address what it says are competition concerns in the UK pay-TV market.

John Petter, chief executive of BT's consumer division, has called on the communications regulator to tackle Sky's dominance.
It comes after Sky called in March for BT to be broken up.
Ofcom said as part of its review that it welcomed "evidence and analysis from all parties".
It said that its first digital sector review since 2005 was "broader than our telecoms review 10 years ago" and that an update on this work to date would be published later this month.
In a speech to the Broadcasting Press Guild, Mr Petter cited what he said were "high prices and poor outcomes for consumers" arising from a lack of competition in pay-TV.
"Whereas in the energy market regulators have criticised the Big Six operators, in pay-TV Sky has a 64% share, so there is really only the Big One," he said.
He added: "Switching in pay-TV is 50% lower than the levels seen in broadband, so it is clear we just aren't seeing the right levels of competition for Sky."
However, a Sky spokesman said: "The reality is that, in a competitive market, customers are choosing Sky in greater numbers and staying with us for longer because of the quality and value that we offer."
They added: "This looks like an attempt to deflect attention from the real problems that exist in broadband, where consumers are suffering because of BT's underinvestment and there is concern about competition in the future."
In March, Sky called for called for Openreach - the national broadband network - to be taken away from BT ownership as part of the Ofcom review.


An army colour sergeant who attacked a fellow soldier with a machete to restore his "dented pride", has been found guilty of wounding with intent.

John Norwood of 1st Battalion Scots Guards assaulted L/Sgt James Warnock at barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, in July 2015.
The 24-year-old suffered a severe wound to his shoulder, Portsmouth Crown Court was told.
Sgt Norwood said he took a machete from the stores "to scare" L/Sgt Warnock.
The 38-year-old of Priesthill Road, Pollok, Glasgow was cleared of a second charge of attempted wounding with intent against Craftsman Nicholas Wood.
In an earlier trial at Winchester Crown Court, Norwood was cleared of the attempted murder of L/Sgt Warnock.
The jury in that hearing was unable to reach a verdict on the other two charges leading to the retrial at Portsmouth.
Norwood told the court at Portsmouth that he took the machete from the stores at Mons Barracks and went to find L/Sgt Warnock "to put the fear of God into him" following a row at The George pub.
He said the argument in the pub had started because of comments about "inter-brigade rivalry and insubordination" but he had become angry when L/Sgt Warnock "had taken things too far".
He said: "I didn't want to harm anyone with that machete. I made a reckless decision, a foolish decision, my pride was dented, my ego was dented.
"I knew I would be the butt of many jokes, many slanders, I know how the Army works and I foolishly went to his room to scare him, to salvage some dignity, that he would say, 'No, I shouldn't have done that, colour sergeant', that's the only reason I did it."
Norwood, who was remanded in custody, will be sentenced on 10 October.


Derek McInnes insists his Aberdeen side are "punching totally above their weight" after all but securing second place in the Premiership again.

The Dons' 2-1 win at Hearts leaves them nine points ahead of Rangers with three games left, but with a superior goal difference of +34 to Rangers' +11.
It means they are poised to finish runners-up for a third straight year.
"We are punching totally above our weight to get to 70 points again, with three games to go," McInnes said.
"I think we are the first team outside the Old Firm to do that three years in a row. Everyone said with Rangers coming back in we would get pushed aside. So it's great to answer a lot of those questions that people had.
"We are not second mathematically yet but we have taken a huge step towards it today, and we have also got to two cup finals and we want to go and win it [the Scottish Cup final against Celtic].
"My players gave me everything today, I couldn't have asked anymore. But we are still searching for that perfect performance we will probably need to win the Scottish Cup."
Victory at Tynecastle means Aberdeen have now won 22 of the 23 games - with one draw - in which they have taken the lead this season.
They led through Adam Rooney's opportunistic strike, and responded to Hearts' leveller from Esmael Goncalves to score the winner within three minutes through substitute Anthony O'Connor's header.
"It was important we showed strength and resilience after Hearts scored, and composure and confidence to get the next goal, and we killed any momentum right away that Hearts could have got," McInnes said.
"We are disappointed not to get the clean sheet and disappointed not to score more goals, but I've said to the players we have got to search for those perfect performances.
"There was total commitment, and a real honesty about what they give to the club."
The only downside for McInnes was another injury, this time to midfielder Peter Pawlett, who was substituted at half-time after "stretching his Achilles".
"We are hoping he is OK," said the Dons boss, who revealed before Sunday's match that captain Ryan Jack is a doubt for the Scottish Cup final on 27 May after suffering a slight tear to his groin in training.
"It is a real blow for us at this stage of the season," McInnes told BBC Scotland. "We are hoping he will be back in two-to-three weeks but he will be touch-and-go for the cup final.
"It is hard for Ryan but hopefully he will recover in time. There is a slight tear there but at this stage it is impossible to tell."


Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Russia's economy shrank by 2% in the first three months of this year, the first contraction since 2009.

He attributed the shrinkage to the pressure of sanctions and the weak oil price. But, addressing MPs, he said the economic situation was not as bad as in 2009 and was stabilising.
He said Russia faced "a new reality".
He said the heaviest pressure had come from "the main political decision last year - the return of Crimea to Russia".
Western sanctions were imposed after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014, and they have been escalated during the fighting in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow is backing separatist forces.
He compared the significance to Russia of the return of Crimea to "the reunification of Germany or the return to China of Hong Kong and Macao".
Mr Medvedev said sanctions resulting from this were causing significant economic problems.
He estimated that losses as a result of sanctions had dented income from some foreign exports by â‚¬25bn (Â£18bn; $26.7bn), 1.5% of gross domestic product, a figure he said could "increase several times" this year.
Last year, the rouble collapsed in value, causing import prices to shoot up and exports income to shrink. The situation was heightened by a deep fall in the price of oil, on which the Russian economy is highly dependent.
The country's central bank has predicted the economy could shrink by up to 4% this year if oil stays at about $50 a barrel.
But Mr Medvedev said Russia could cope, even if economic conditions deteriorated further: "If external pressure intensifies, and oil prices remain at an extremely low level for a long time, we will have to develop in a new economic reality.
"I am convinced that we will be able to live even in such a reality. The experience of the recent period has shown that we have learnt how to do this."


The African Union (AU) has accused government and rebel forces in South Sudan of extreme violence since the conflict erupted at the end of 2013.

A commission of inquiry found evidence of killings, torture, mutilations and rape, mostly against civilians, as well as episodes of forced cannibalism.
However, it specified that genocide had not been committed during the conflict.
Tensions remain, with a peace deal agreed between the government and rebels in August repeatedly broken.
Tens of thousands of people have died and another two million people have been forced from their homes since the civil war began nearly two years ago.
The gruesome accounts of abuses will grab the headlines, but the AU report also contains two conclusions which will make particularly difficult reading for President Salva Kiir.
The first: the AU Commission did not believe his account of an attempted coup against him which sparked the conflict: "From all the information available to the Commission, the evidence does not point to a coup."
The second: the subsequent killings of Nuer soldiers and civilians in Juba were "committed pursuant to or in furtherance of a state policy" as part of "an organized military operation".
The report also discusses the what has long been claimed by President Kiir's opponents: that the massacres in Juba were carried out, in part, by a militia drawn largely from the president's ethnic group, created before the crisis.
It should not be forgotten that Riek Machar's forces are accused by the AU of terrible and terrifying abuses too.
But the fact that the AU body rejects President Kiir's coup claim, and holds his forces responsible for organised killings in the very first days of the war, will shape how the rest of the world and future generations allocate blame for the conflict.
In its report, the AU said the commission, formed last year under the chairmanship of Nigeria's ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, had identified perpetrators of violence from both sides.
It documented details of brutal killings, abductions of woman and sexual violence among other abuses, mostly committed against civilians who were not taking part in the fighting.
"The commission believes that war crimes were committed in Juba, Bor, Bentiu and Malakal," the report said in reference to the key conflict towns.
Some witnesses in the capital, Juba, told commission members that they had seen people forced to drink the blood and eat the flesh of people who had just been killed.
They spoke of seeing the perpetrators "draining human blood from people who had just been killed and forcing others from one ethnic community to drink the blood or eat burnt human flesh".
The report also said that mass graves had been discovered by AU investigators.
The commission is urging an internationally backed, African-led court to bring to justice those responsible for the violence.
Despite the seeming ethnic nature of the conflict, the commission said it found no reasonable evidence to prove that genocide had been committed.
Those who committed the atrocities detailed in the report should be brought to justice, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told BBC News.
However, he said there was "inconclusive evidence" that his government was involved, and it was an allegation he "cannot accept".
"I'm not categorically denying that there are limited violations that individuals might have inflicted," he said, adding those responsible would be "brought to book". However, he denied there were any government-sanctioned human rights violations.
"It is not sanctioned by the government, it is the individual that might have taken the law into their own hands," he said.
He said South Sudan will form its own commission of inquiry to investigate.
South Sudan's elusive peace:
Living on grass and leaves
Five obstacles to peace in South Sudan
The city that vanished
South Sudan's men of dishonour
The United Nations has already accused the government and rebel fighters of atrocities and crimes against humanity, and says the situation has only worsened since a peace deal was signed in August.
The conflict was triggered by a political power struggle in December 2013 between President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his rival and former Vice-President Riek Machar, a Nuer.
But it quickly took on a bloody, multi-ethnic dimension right across the country.
The AU report seemed to dismiss claims that there had been a coup attempt by Mr Machar, instead finding that the unrest began after government-organised killings of ethnic  Nuer civilians and soldiers.


Older people are not being protected by the legal system against abuse, neglect and other crimes, their commissioner for Wales has said.

Sarah Rochira said it should be easier to prosecute people such as health and social care providers.
Only 1% of crimes against older people led to convictions compared to 19% for all crime, the commissioner said.
The Ministry of Justice said those who abuse vulnerable elderly people "deserve tough punishments".
Ms Rochira said some "truly horrifying cases" had not resulted in criminal charges despite extensive investigation.
"Just how bad does care, abuse or neglect have to be before it is considered criminal?" she asked.
Ms Rochira made her comments to mark Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Monday.
"As it stands, the law simply does not offer sufficient protection for older people who are the victims of substandard care, abuse or neglect, nor does it provide a suitable deterrent to those who deliver substandard care or to those who abuse or neglect older people," she said.
"This is something that needs to change urgently."
She added: "The shockingly low prosecution and conviction rates for crimes against older people tell us that either the evidential test currently used by the CPS is not fit for purpose, that there is a lack of willingness to prosecute for crimes against older people, or that the law itself is not sufficient.
"A person's age cannot be allowed to be a defining factor in whether or not they have the support and protection of the justice system and the clear inequality that currently exists within this system must be addressed as a matter of priority."
The Ministry of Justice said victims deserved to be treated with "dignity and respect" by all agencies within the criminal justice system.
"Those who abuse vulnerable or elderly people deserve tough punishments. Sentencing guidelines used by the courts say that the vulnerability of the victim should be taken into account," a spokesman added.
"We await the letter from the Older People's Commissioner for Wales and her findings from the exploratory work in the summer."


Weakened Wasps climbed back to within a point of Premiership leaders Saracens thanks to a determined win at relegation-threatened Worcester.

Brendan Macken's converted try after just 54 seconds set Wasps on their way.
The bulk of a competitive first half was a kicking contest between Rob Miller and Warriors' Jamie Shillcock, who each landed four penalties.
Stand-in fly-half Miller then also converted scrum-half Dan Robson's 45th minute try to give Wasps control.
Relive Wasps' win at Worcester
Worcester remain six points clear of bottom club Bristol, who they now meet in their next Premiership fixture on Boxing Day at Ashton Gate.
Danny Cipriani's late withdrawal with a calf problem left the injury-hit visitors having to take the field deprived of 13 players, as well as their three England international absentees.
They made an electric start to the Midlands derby with Macken's interception try from the halfway line inside the first minute.
But, by half-time, that score was all that separated the two teams as teenager Shillcock matched Miller's kicking from the tee.
Robson's superb solo effort, when he spotted a gap and jinked his way under the posts, took Wasps two converted scores clear.
Warriors, playing for the first time since head coach Carl Hogg was handed sole charge earlier this week, spent a lot of time in the visitors' half after the break.
The closest they came to at least claiming a losing bonus was when loose forward Alafoti Faosiliva crossed the Wasps line, but referee Craig Maxwell-Keys and his team of officials spotted centre Wynand Olivier's forward pass.
Worcester head coach Carl Hogg told BBC Hereford & Worcedster:
"We showed a huge amount of energy and endeavour and for long periods we looked a good rugby side.
"We had plenty of possession, but we looked a little bit frantic at times because of a lack of set-piece security in the line-outs, where we were always under pressure.
"We lacked a bit of accuracy and precision - that clinical accuracy let us down.
"We put Wasps under pressure for long periods, but we didn't convert. With our line-out malfunctioning, it made it very difficult to get a stranglehold on the game."
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young:
"There were a lot of new faces and boys who had been waiting for opportunities. I am really proud of the effort.
"You don't win anything with 15 or 23 players. It is a whole squad effort. We have a massive injury list at the moment and that is where a squad comes to the fore.
"Rob Miller was outstanding. Danny went down in the last minute of the team run (on Saturday), and Rob had a very good game organising us.
"It was a fantastic win for us. For me, this has to be up there with one of the best wins we've had this year."
Worcester Warriors: Pennell; Heem, Olivier, Willison, Vuna; Shillcock, Arr; Rapava Ruskin, Bregvadze, Schonert, O'Callaghan, Barry, Potgieter (capt), Lewis, Faosiliva.
Replacements: Dowsett (for Arr, 46), Kitchener (for O'Callaghan, 58), Adams (for Pennell, 60), Leleimalefaga (for Rapava Ruskin, 60), Singleton (for Bregvadze, 68), Johnston (for Schonert, 68), Dowson (for Faosiliva, 73).
Not used: Braid.
Wasps: O'Conor; Halai, Macken, Leiua, Bassett; Miller, Robson; Mullan (capt), Taylor, Moore, Gaskell, Myall, Johnson, Young, Rieder.
Replacements: Swainston (for Moore, 48), Thompson (for Taylor, 54), Rowlands (for Myall, 67), Simpson (for Robson, 67), Harris (for Mullan, 73), Armitage (for Halai, 76), Willis (for Young, 76).
Not used: : Eastgate.
Attendance: 8,027.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys.


A 96-year-old former prisoner of war from north west London has received an emergency grant so he can stay in his home.

Robbie Clark suffered "severe anxiety and distress" when he was held by the Nazis.
The great grandfather from Brent was facing a move to a care home after spending his savings on home care.
Mr Clark said being in a residential care home would "remind" him of "being a prisoner of war".
The Help for Heroes grant means he can stay in his home of 46 years while care options for the future are explored.
Mr Clark, who is one of the few British soldiers to survive Hitler's 1,000-mile death march across eastern Europe, is blind, deaf in one ear and dependent on a wheelchair.
Linda Walton, from Help for Heroes, said the grant was short-term and future care options would have to be explored.
She said: "Robbie suffered severe anxiety and distress as a prisoner of war during World War II, and it is wrong that he should be subject to these feelings once again."
Phil Porter, from Brent Council's adult social care department, who has been working on Mr Clark's case, said the council recognised Mr Clark's contribution to the country.
"However, the problem arises as the care package that Mr Clark is choosing is not affordable to council taxpayers given the constraints of local government funding and the need to be consistent for the 2,900 people we support," he said.
"We have offered support and advice to help him to buy the additional care and support he wants at a competitive price, we are supporting an application for health funding to meet his health needs, and we have offered a deferred payment which means he doesn't need to sell his house to pay for his care."


Three released Iranian-American prisoners, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, have left Iran after being freed on Saturday.

Rezaian, 39, was jailed on charges, including espionage, last November.
The United States said it was offering clemency to seven Iranians being held in the US for sanctions violation.
On Saturday evening, after talks in Vienna, international sanctions on Iran were lifted as part of the nuclear deal agreed last year.
The lifting of the sanctions was announced by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.
Three of the US citizens - Rezaian, Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati - were released from prison on Saturday and were flown to Switzerland then to Germany on Sunday. They were expected to receive medical treatment at a US base there.
A fourth, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, did not fly with them, US officials said.
The four prisoners are all dual US-Iran citizens.
Jason Rezaian: aged 39, Tehran correspondent for the Washington Post. Detained in Iran for more than a year before his sentencing last November.
Saeed Abedini: aged 35, a Christian pastor who had been imprisoned since July 2012 for organising churches in people's houses.
Amir Hekmati: aged 32, former Marine who spent more than four years in prison on spying charges following his arrest in August 2011 during a visit to see his grandmother.
Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari: Little is known about the fourth US citizen.
Of the seven Iranian citizens being released, six are also citizens of the US. The Iranian state news agency listed them as: Nader Modanlo, Bahram Mechanic, Khosrow Afghani, Arash Ghahreman, Tooraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh and Ali Saboun.
They are all accused or convicted of violating US sanctions on Iran.
A US official said a diplomatic channel was established "with the focus of getting our detained US citizens home".
"Iran has also committed to continue co-operating with the United States to determine the whereabouts of Robert Levinson," the official said.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Mr Levinson is a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in 2007 while working for the CIA on an unapproved intelligence mission.
A further 14 Iranians sought by the US would be removed from an Interpol wanted list, the US and Iran said.
A fifth American, writer and student Matthew Trevithick, was also released from jail in Iran on Saturday, but his release was not part of the prisoner exchange.
His family said in a statement published on the Iran Primer website that he had been held at Evin prison in Tehran for 40 days. He had been studying languages in Iran, they said.
For months after his arrest in 2014, there was uncertainty over what accusations Jason Rezaian was facing.  He was held in the notorious Evin prison before finally being found guilty on charges that his lawyer said included espionage.
His newspaper vigorously denied this. President Barack Obama said he would not rest until he was freed. Now, his release has been announced in what Iran calls a prisoner swap - an indication he might have been used as a bargaining chip.
His release removes a shadow that had lain over relations between Tehran and Washington even as they were thawing with the nuclear deal.
Jason Rezaian - Now a free man
The media freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders welcomed Rezaian's release, saying he "was just doing his job as a reporter and was unlucky enough to have dual US and Iranian nationality at a time when the two countries were conducting tense negotiations about Iran's nuclear programme".
"We are thrilled to see Jason finally free, but he should have never been imprisoned in the first place. Jason was innocent. It is outrageous that he has been used as a bargaining chip," said Christophe Deloire, the organisation's secretary general.


Four-time Olympic gold medallist Laura Kenny has been named the 2016 Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year.

The Great Britain hockey side who won gold at Rio 2016 have been named Team of the Year.
Cyclist Kenny won team pursuit and omnium gold during the summer.
The 24-year-old beat fellow cyclist Sarah Storey, who has won 14 Paralympic gold medals and Jade Jones, who successfully defended her Olympic taekwondo title, to the prize.
Nicola Adams (boxing), Charlotte Dujardin (equestrianism) Johanna Konta (tennis) were the other nominees.
The other awards handed out were:
Olympian of the Year: Helen Glover & Heather Stanning (rowing)
Paralympian of the Year: Kadeena Cox (athletics & track cycling)
Young Sportswoman of the Year: Siobhan-Marie O'Connor (swimming)
Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration: Hannah Francis (a teenage eventing rider, who died in August after losing her battle with a rare bone cancer)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Professor Celia Brackenridge (researcher and activist)
Community Award: Kirsty Cameron (founder of Ladies Leisurely Cycles Facebook group)


Championship side Cornish Pirates are aiming to be playing in a new Stadium for Cornwall, in Truro, by August 2017.

Chairman Ian Connell is hopeful that work will start on the arena in April 2016 after it was granted planning permission last month.
The club currently play at the Mennaye Field, in Penzance, but the ground is unsuitable for Premiership rugby.
"Our target is that we're going to be playing in pre-season in August 2017 in the new stadium," he told BBC Sport.
While the stadium has permission to be built, there are still issues to be resolved over the adjoining retail development which will help fund the building of the new ground.
"I'm as confident as I can be," Connell said in regards to the retail development.
"Lots of things can happen as you go down the journey of a major infrastructure development.
"But all the indications are from the developer, and the builder Henry Boot, that as long as we progress with the timescale that we've already laid out and get their reserved matters dealt with in quick time then that timescale of 2017 should work."
Connell is also looking to increase the number of shareholders in the club.
Currently 70 parties own 240,000 shares in Cornish Pirates, with a further 160,000 shares remaining unsold.
"With the prospect of moving to Truro, we think that is now the opportune time to start to market those shares and that marketing will commence once the season commences in September," he added.
"Existing shareholders can increase their investment up to a limit, but we would also want to attract new people.
"If we can put 50% on the shareholding that would be a huge success.
"Whether we can do that, I'm not too sure at the moment, but that would be an aspirational target that we would look at."


Wayne Madsen and Harvey Hosein shared a 143-run stand to rescue Derbyshire after a second-innings collapse on day three against Leicestershire.

Captain Mark Cosgrove was left stranded on 95 not out as Leicestershire were dismissed for 245 - a deficit of 60.
Derbyshire fell to 57-5 after Clint McKay (2-61) struck in the first over.
But Madsen's unbeaten 134 and a second fifty of the match from Hosein (58) helped the hosts to 286-8 in their second innings, leading by 346.


There have been almost 1,300 racist incidents in Scottish schools in the past two years, according to figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats.

The party submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to local councils and received responses from three-quarters of them.
The findings, for 2011 and 2012, showed 730 racist incidents reported in primary schools and 544 in secondaries.
The Scottish government said racism in schools would not be tolerated.
There were a total of 1,274 racist incidents reported at schools in 2011 and 2012.
Of these, 667 were recorded in 2011, with the number falling to 607 in 2012.
The figures showed Edinburgh City Council recorded 279 racist incidents in primary schools over the two years, with a further 114 incidents in secondary schools in the capital.
Scotland's largest council, Glasgow City Council, was among the local authorities which did not provide the information requested.
Scottish Lib Dem education spokesman Liam McArthur said the statistics showed Scotland still had "a long way to go" in tackling racism.
He called on ministers to look again at how youngsters were taught about racism and prejudice.
He added: "We all want to see a fairer society where everyone has the chance to get on in life regardless of their racial or ethnic background.
"Over the past five years we have made real progress in tackling racism but the fact that progress seems to have stalled is a concern.
"I do not doubt the commitment of ministers and teachers to battling racism, but these new figures show that we have a long way to go."
He said the figures should act as a "reality check " and addressing these issues should start with education.
"There is a real case for looking again at how we talk to children and young people about racism and teach them that prejudice - in whatever form - is simply not acceptable," Mr McArthur said.
A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "Racist behaviour or bullying is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in any Scottish schools.
"We expect councils and schools to tackle racist behaviour where it does occur.
"Under Curriculum for Excellence pupils will learn about different cultures and beliefs and materials to support teachers in this area are available from Education Scotland."


A national project that aims to steer youths into football and away from trouble has had a successful first year in the West Midlands, say organisers.

Teenagers have been playing evening games of football at 38 venues, under the Premier League Kicks programme.
In its first year, 5,123 young people were involved, nearly double the number expected, the Premier League said.
West Midlands Police said the project, which involves five top football clubs, had been funded for two more years.
Five football clubs, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City, have received funding from the Premier League, Sport England and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner since September, 2013.
Its first year has been marked at Birmingham International Futsal Arena.
Dasin Shamdeen, 16 and from Coventry, said he had been involved since the start after being handed a leaflet while playing football in a park.
"I invited a lot of friends and brought everyone down," he said.
"I've really enjoyed it. It has created a lot of opportunities for people."
Dasin, who now helps Kicks staff organise games and tournaments, said 50 to 100 teenagers played football at Coventry's AT7 centre twice a week.
Garry Forsyth, Assistant Chief Constable with West Midlands Police, said the force had given Â£225,000 from its Proceeds of Crime funds to support Kicks.
"We are in a society where there are not many activities that are freely available to engage young people due to austerity measures," he said.
Premier League Kicks begun in 2006 as a partnership between the Premier League and Metropolitan Police to use the "power of football" to build safer and stronger communities.
More than 11,00 youngsters involved have become project volunteers, while 500 have become employees of the clubs, the Premier League said.


Michael Woodford, the sacked British former chief executive of Olympus, has settled his claim of unfair dismissal with the Japanese camera firm.

Mr Woodford was fired last October after he questioned dubious payments made by the firm.
After initially denying the accusations, Olympus eventually admitted that it had hidden $1.7bn (Â£1.1bn) of losses over 20 years.
Mr Woodford was said to be asking for $60m from a tribunal in London.
But after a night of negotiations, Mr Woodford's lawyer told the employment tribunal judge that they had reached a settlement - likely to be worth millions - and that final agreement would depend on ratification by the Olympus board at a meeting on 8 June.
"I am not at liberty, under the terms of the agreement, to go into any detail," Mr Woodford said.
"But I genuinely hope that in the interests of Olympus, they can move forward and also that I can."
He was the first foreign boss appointed at Olympus and was fired two weeks into the job after persistently warning about corruption at the upper levels of the company.
Mr Woodford had written six letters to directors of the firm because of his concerns over business methods at Olympus
Since the accounting scandal came to light, the company's shares have plunged, its board resigned and the US, UK and Japanese prosecutors are investigating the company.
Mr Woodford said he would celebrate the settlement by going sailing.


Breastfeeding can halve the risk of post-natal depression, according to a large study of 14,000 new mothers.

However, there is a large increase in the risk of depression in women planning to breastfeed who are then unable to do so.
The study, published in the journal Maternal and Child Health, called for more support for women unable to breastfeed.
A parenting charity said mental health was a "huge issue" for many mothers.
The health benefits of breastfeeding to the baby are clear-cut and the World Health Organization recommends feeding a child nothing but breast milk for the first six months.
However, researchers at the University of Cambridge said the impact on the mother was not as clearly understood.
One in 10 women will develop depression after the birth of their child.
The researchers analysed data from 13,998 births in the south-west of England.
It showed that, out of women who were planning to breastfeed, there was a 50% reduction in the risk of post-natal depression if they started breastfeeding.
But the risk of depression more than doubled among women who wanted to, but were not able to, breastfeed.
Dr Maria Iacovou, one of the researchers, told the BBC: "Breastfeeding does appear to have a protective effect, but there's the other side of the coin as well.
"Those who wanted to and didn't end up breastfeeding had the highest risk of all the groups."
The benefit increased for each week of breastfeeding up to one month.
However, any longer term impact on post-natal depression could not be determined due to the small number of women in the study who were still breast feeding several months after the birth.
Dr Iacovou said the health profession needed to pay attention.
She added: "It is right to tell mothers it's right to breastfeed, there's so many benefits, but the thing we need to rethink is giving more support to those who did want to breastfeed and to recognise those who are unable to, are at substantially elevated risk and to make sure health visitors keep an eye on these women."
Possible explanations for the beneficial effect include the release of feel-good hormones when milk is produced.
Dr Iacovou added that social or psychological factors such as feelings of "failing as a mother" were also contributing.
She says the improving the health of the mother will also help the baby.
Rosemary Dodds, a senior policy adviser at parenting charity NCT, said: "Mothers often experience pressures after the birth such as pain, shortage of sleep and anxiety.
"Breastfeeding can help to relax mothers and reduce stress, so it might play a part in preventing mental health issues developing.
"We welcome further research into this subject as perinatal mental health is a huge issue for many mothers. At least one in ten suffer with postnatal depression."


An effigy of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, complete with green Shrek-style ears, will go up in flames at an annual bonfire event in Kent.

The 49ft creation, full of fireworks, will be the centrepiece at Edenbridge Bonfire Society's parade and display.
The effigy is clutching a five-year contract under one arm, with a holdall of cash in his other hand.
Rooney signed a new deal with his club last month having previously said he intended to leave.
Up to 15,000 people are expected to see the effigy, dressed in full football kit, go up with a bang on Saturday.
Charles Laver, of the bonfire society, said Rooney had been chosen as this year's guy after he made front-page news over allegations about his private life and his loyalty to Manchester United.
He said: "I hate football myself so I'm quite happy to burn a footballer."
Past celebrity guys have included Cherie Blair, Gordon Brown and Russell Brand, while last year an effigy of glamour model Katie Price was burnt at the stake.


Rachel Morris capped her successful return from shoulder surgery as three more Great Britain boats qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Morris secured a spot with victory in her semi-final at the World Championships in Aiguebelette, France.
The former Para-cycling champion was joined in reaching Rio by fellow single sculler Tom Aggar, third in his semi.
GB's mixed four of Grace Clough, Dan Brown, Pamela Relph, James Fox and cox Oliver James, also qualified.
Their semi-final victory ensured all three boats have reached next year's Games, along with the mixed double scull team of Laurence Whiteley and Lauren Rowles who won their repechage on Tuesday.
Of her win, Morris - a 2008 Paralympic hand-cycling gold medallist - said: "I am really pleased with that. Eighteen weeks ago I had shoulder surgery so the aim here has always been to qualify the boat for the Games. "


Martin Murray concedes his WBO super-middleweight world title fight against Arthur Abraham in Hannover on Saturday could make or break his career.

St Helens boxer Murray is making his fourth world title challenge after failing to beat Felix Sturm, Sergio Martinez and Gennady Golovkin.
"I know I can win this and if I do, there are big fights out there for me," said the 33-year-old.
"If I don't win, though, it could spell the end of my career."
Murray has been unlucky in each of his three previous attempts, which were all in the middleweight division.
A draw with Germany's Sturm in 2011 was debatable, as was a unanimous decision loss to Argentina's Martinez in 2013.
No-one expected Murray to test the big-punching Golovkin but the Englishman showed plenty of heart before being stopped in the 11th round.
And the former British and Commonwealth champion, who stepped up to 168lb in June, believes he has the experience he needs to upset Abraham, a two-weight world champion.
"I'm expecting a tough fight but the timing is right,'' said Murray.
"Against Sturm, I jumped from domestic to world level, so even though there was an argument to say I won, it came too soon.
"Against Martinez, I knew I could win but going into the fight there were some doubts. This time, I know I have it within me to win."
The 35-year-old Abraham is a three-time world champion with 16 successful defences to his name.
The Armenian-born German lost to England's Carl Froch in 2011 but recently defended his title twice against Liverpool's Paul Smith.
Abraham has only been stopped once, although Murray feels he can finally get a decision in his favour.
"I don't think I have to KO him to win - I wouldn't be in Germany if I thought that," said Murray. "I believe I can beat him convincingly enough without worrying about needing a KO.
"This is the fourth world title fight I've had and the one I am most confident of winning. I would be more gutted not to win this one than the others."


Tom Bradby will present ITV's News at Ten, replacing current co-hosts Mark Austin and Julie Etchingham.

Bradby, ITV's political editor and a screenwriter, came to prominence when he interviewed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their engagement.
He said the opportunity to lead the bulletin "into a new era is a unique and incredibly exciting challenge".
Austin will move to the 18:30 news, while Etchingham will "remain a key figure" on the later bulletin.
'More sleep'
Etchingham - fresh off the recent election coverage - will host the bulletin when Bradbury is unavailable, with international affairs editor Rageh Omaar also stepping in occasionally.
Austin, who will co-host the 18:30 bulletin with Mary Nightingale, said he was looking forward to "a bit more sleep".
"After eight really enjoyable years on News at Ten, I leave the show in great shape, as current RTS Daily News Programme of Year, and in good hands," said Austin.
ITV news editor Geoff Hill said he was "thrilled" with the new line-up. "It builds on our success and signals the start of an exciting chapter for ITV News.
"We're blessed with an incredibly talented group of presenters who will add tremendous value to our award-winning journalism."
Bradby, who has worked for ITV News for the past 25 years, also works as a screenwriter. He wrote the 2012 Clive Owen film Shadow Dancer and worked on the recent ITV mini-series The Great Fire.


Cannabis with a street value of £267,000 was found in an industrial unit after the smell of rotting chicken caused neighbours to contact police, a court was told.

Basildon Crown Court heard the drug was smuggled into the UK with frozen meat.
A "rotting flesh" smell coming from the unit in Laindon, Essex, prompted calls to police in November 2013.
Michael Kinkaid, 72, and Anthony Wright, 76, were found guilty of a drugs offence after a six-day trial.
Former police officer Kinkaid, of Broad Oaks, Wickford, and retired meat dealer Wright, of Basildon Drive, Laindon, have been warned to expect substantial custodial sentences when they return to court next month.
Det Con Bob Evans from Essex Police said the pair had failed to wipe traces of uncooked chicken from the 89 blocks of cannabis resin before they stored them.
"As the smell became worse other business in the area became concerned and reported an odour of what was described as rotting flesh coming from the unit," he said.
"Attending officers confirmed that the smell coming from the unit was 'dreadful' and entry was forced to the unit due to a concern for life.
"The resin was contained within heat sealed packages and appeared to be covered in a blood-like detritus."
The men will be sentenced for possessing cannabis with intent to supply on 24 November.


Bath wing Aled Brew has signed a contract extension with the Premiership club until the end of next season.

The 30-year-old, who has nine senior international caps for Wales, joined Bath in September on a short-term deal.
The former Newport Gwent Dragons and Biarritz player began his career at Ospreys, and also had a short spell with Cardiff Blues.
"I've really enjoyed getting a good run of games under my belt," Brew told Bath's club website.
Director of rugby Todd Blackadder added: "Aled has brought so much to the team, on and off the field, since his arrival and will continue to form an integral part of the squad."


A family bakery which started baking bread 90 years ago in Powys has been put up for sale.

Talerddig Bakery, based near Llanbrynmair, is well known in the area, providing its bakes to shops, hotels and cafes.
It also has three shops and employs 20 people, including bakers, shop assistants and delivery drivers.
Talerddig is being sold as a business with its equipment and delivery vehicles.
Kathryn Evans, of estate agents Morris, Marshall and Poole, said: "Anyone driving along the main A470 will see the bakery at the side of the road in Talerddig or have seen its bread, cakes and other products in shops, cafes or homes throughout the area."
The business was set up by Tom and Margaret Lewis at the current site in 1925. It was then taken over and expanded with a new bake house commissioned and opened in 1979.
It was then passed down to the Thomas', bakers from Machynlleth, who sold it in 2013 to current owner Steve Jones.
The business has three shops at Llanidloes, Machynlleth and Borth.


Valencia boss Gary Neville says confidence is high in the squad after they beat Rapid Vienna 4-0 for a fourth successive win.

Los Che, who saw off Rapid 10-0 on aggregate, have won their last two La Liga games - having failed to win any of Neville's first nine league matches.
"That was the big thing, to keep the momentum going," he said.
"We have a very big week - Bilbao, Malaga and Atletico Madrid. But the confidence going into it is good."
Valencia, 11th in the table, are at home to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday (15:00 GMT) as they try to make it five consecutive wins, before visiting Malaga on Wednesday and hosting title-chasing Atletico Madrid on Sunday, 6 March.
They were goalless at half-time in Vienna, before goals from Rodrigo, Sofiane Feghouli, Pablo Piatti and Ruben Vezo sealed the win.
They have been drawn against Athletic Bilbao in the last 16.
Neville said: "The professional attitude and mentality were the things I was most happy with. The performance was very good.
"I told the players we had two jobs - one was to complete the tie and also I wanted the momentum to keep going and I wanted a good performance. Thankfully we got both.
"All the players are fresh. We left six or seven players behind with [assistant] Pako Ayestaran and our fitness coach to prepare them. I'm happy with the players who played tonight - they played well."


South Korean officials have said North Korea could be ready to conduct another nuclear test at any time.

The North conducted its fifth underground nuclear test on Friday, thought to be its most powerful yet.
A defence ministry spokesman said there was still an unused tunnel at the Punggye-ri test site which could be used for a sixth explosion at any time.
Friday's widely condemned test has ratcheted up tension and led to fierce rhetoric from South Korea.
On Sunday, one South Korean military source told the Yonhap news agency that Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, could be annihilated if it showed any signs of mounting a nuclear attack.
While doubts remain over North Korea's claim that it can now mount nuclear warheads on ballistic rockets - meaning it can carry out a nuclear attack - experts say the recent progress is worrying.
On Monday, Yonhap cited an unnamed government source as saying reports indicated the North had finished preparations for a further test, in previously unused tunnel at the Punggye-ri site deep underneath mountains in the north-east.
"Intelligence authorities in Seoul and Washington are keeping close tabs," the unnamed government official was quoted as saying.
Moon Sang-gyun, a defence ministry spokesperson, later gave a similar statement to reporters. He would not give further details citing security reasons.
The BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul says it is unlikely to happen immediately, as Pyongyang's scientists will want to study the results of the recent test, but a sixth test could be weeks or months away.
The UN Security Council has already agreed to start drawing up new sanctions against North Korea, something the North called "laughable".
Pyongyang has carried out two nuclear tests this year, as well as several tests of powerful missiles. Both are banned by existing sanctions.
On Monday, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho had arrived in Beijing.
China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner, but has grown increasingly intolerant of its military actions and Kim Jong-un's aggressive rhetoric.
China's support for toughened sanctions is crucial if they are to have any impact.


South Africa beat England in a one-day international for the first time since 2004 to level the series at 1-1.

The hosts' five-wicket win in Centurion sets up a decider on Sunday.
Heather Knight top-scored with 61 and captain Charlotte Edwards made 45, but Sarah Taylor was out for a duck in her 100th ODI as England scored 262-9.
In reply, Laura Wolfvaardt (55) and Trisha Chetty (66) put on 113 and Lizelle Lee (69) and Marizanne Kapp (44) 112 as the hosts sealed victory.
England now need to win the final game to emerge with a victory from Mark Robinson's first series as head coach.
Knight and Edwards rebuilt England's innings with a stand of 78 after South Africa took three early wickets, including Taylor for a second-ball duck.
Edwards was dismissed by leg-spinner Sune Luus, who took a tough caught-and-bowled chance.
Knight smashed the first six of the innings after reaching her half-century but was soon out for 61.
England were still struggling to reach a par score but Danielle Wyatt, who hit a six in a 27-ball 40, and Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole added 94 from the last 10 overs.
Star bowler Brunt, who went into the match on 99 ODI wickets, was able to bowl just five overs because of a back spasm and the Proteas took advantage as 16-year-old Wolfvaardt and wicketkeeper Chetty both made half-centuries.
Knight eventually made the breakthrough, having Wolfvaardt caught by substitute fielder Kate Cross, and when Hazell removed Chetty and Mignon du Preez with successive balls England fancied their chances.
But Kapp and Lee tucked into some average bowling in Brunt's absence, and although both fell late on, Dane van Niekerk got the hosts over the line with seven balls to spare.
Ex-England batter Ebony Rainford-Brent on BBC Test Match Special:
"South African cricket is really on the up. They've had success in Twenty20 but to do it in 50-over cricket as well is different. This is a massive result for them because England have the better resources.
"England were outplayed in all facets. South Africa started and finished the game with a bang and looked the better team.
"England couldn't take wickets. They bowled tidily but there was no potency which is a concern for the side.
"They want to impress because they have a new coach but for the bowling to get taken to the cleaners, I think this will really hurt England."
All three matches count towards the ICC Women's Championship which determines qualification for the 2017 World Cup.
You can listen to live commentary of the final match on Sunday on Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website.


Police searching for missing children's author Helen Bailey have arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

The 51-year-old writer, who created the Electra Brown series for teenagers, was last seen walking her dog near her home in Royston, Hertfordshire on 11 April.
A man, 55, from Royston, is being questioned on suspicion of murder, disposing of a body and the theft of Ms Bailey's money.
Police are currently searching her home and a property in Broadstairs, Kent.
More on this and other news from Hertfordshire
It is believed the Northumberland-born author had left the house she shared with partner Ian Stewart and his children, and had taken her miniature dachshund for a walk.
Ms Bailey left a note for her partner, saying she wanted some time on her own and was going to stay at their holiday home in Broadstairs.
Four days later Mr Stewart reported her missing, having travelled to Kent and established she had not been there.
Hertfordshire Police carried out extensive searches of the local area and checked hundreds of hours of CCTV footage in their efforts to find Ms Bailey.
Speaking a month after she went missing, Ch Insp Julie Wheatley described it as a "highly unusual case" because Ms Bailey "seems to have simply disappeared".
There was no evidence she had tried to contact friends or family, used her mobile phone or taken any money out of bank accounts.
Further searches are now taking place at both homes owned by Ms Bailey and Mr Stewart.
As well as the teenage book series, Helen Bailey wrote a blog called Planet Grief after her husband of 22 years drowned on holiday in Barbados in 2011.


A man has been arrested after a police officer was hit by an off-road bike in Caerphilly county.

The driver, 41, was riding down High Street, Abertridwr, at around 20:00 BST on Wednesday when the incident happened.
He was later arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and dangerous driving.
Gwent Police said the officer had minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment.


The director of a company employed to oversee the development of a football stadium had failed in a previous business venture, the BBC has learned.

Howard Grossman's firm was appointed by Northampton Town to manage the building of a new stand using £10m of taxpayers' money.
A BBC investigation has found one of his previous companies went into administration owing £1.2m.
His lawyer said some of the information was incorrect but did not elaborate.
"Our clients are bound by confidentiality provisions under a settlement agreement and as such cannot provide comment," the Debello Law firm said in a statement.
The stadium redevelopment remains unfinished and Mr Grossman's company, 1st Land Ltd, has been placed in administration. Northampton Borough Council is still trying to recover the money.
It said it carried out checks before it signed off the loan for the work on the East Stand at Sixfields.
The BBC investigation found another of Mr Grossman's companies, County Isle of Wight Ltd, went into administration two years ago with debts of £1.2m.
Administrator Alan Bradstock submitted a report on the conduct of the directors to the government, but no action was taken.
He said in his liquidator's progress report in July last year: "Loans had been drawn by both directors. It appears a total of £145,365 is outstanding. They believe the sums are not due.
"In accordance with the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 I have submitted a report on the conduct of the directors to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills."
The BBC has looked at the accounts of another company of which Mr Grossman's son Marcus was a director, along with David Cardoza, who is chairman of Northampton Town Football Club.
That company, County Cemetery Service Ltd, went into administration in October 2014. It had two unsecured creditors - 1st Land Ltd and County Homes Herts Ltd - to the tune of £282,156.
Its administrator reports that the assets were sold to Centurion Infinity Ltd.  Companies House records show that one the directors of Centurion Infinity Ltd is Marcus Grossman.
In another development, the BBC has been told that thousands of pounds in architect fees for the design of Mr Cardoza's family home near Northampton were paid for by 1st Land Ltd before it went into administration.
Architect Stuart Loxton said he was then asked to reissue the invoice for over £18,000 with a new title, "Northampton Town Football Club - Design Concept Plans".
When asked about the house plans, Mr Cardoza said: "I have no knowledge of any of these invoices. Any suggestion that I do is false."
Northampton Town currently faces a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs over £166,000, which is due to be heard next Monday.


Edvald Boasson Hagen became the first rider to win the Tour of Britain twice since its return to the professional cycling calendar in 2004.

The 28-year-old MTN-Qhubeka rider maintained his 13-second lead over Team Sky's Wouter Poels on Sunday's 14-lap final stage around central London.
Team Sky's Elia Viviani was awarded the stage win after Andre Greipel, who crossed the line first, was penalised.
Owain Doull, riding for Team Wiggins, was the highest placed Briton in third.
The Welshman finished 10th on the stage but picked up bonus seconds in the intermediate sprint to leapfrog Rasmus Guldhammer to end the race 42 seconds behind Boasson Hagen and also win the points classification.
Germany's Griepel beat Viviani by milimetres in Saturday's penultimate stage and was again first over the finish line on Sunday.
However, the Lotto-Soudal rider was adjudged to have impeded Viviani in the sprint for the line and was relegated to the back of the bunch by race officials.
"I didn't see Viviani coming," said Greipel.
"Everybody was on the limit on the final corner. I didn't do anything for purpose that's for sure. That's sprinting."
After winning his third stage of the race, Italian Viviani, who crossed the finish line with his hand in the air in complaint, said: "He came across a little bit and that edged me towards the barriers.
"I'm disappointed because it is better to win without this but we won in London and that is the main thing."
Stage eight result:
1. Elia Viviani (Ita/Team Sky) 1hr 50mins 16secs,
2.  Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Esp/Movistar) same time
3. Matteo Trentin (Ita/Etixx-Quickstep)
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/MTN-Qhubeka)
5. Jens Debusschere (Bel/Lotto-Soudal)
6. Sondre Holst Enger (Nor/IAM)
7. Mark Renshaw (Aus/Etixx-Quickstep)
8. Graham Briggs (GB/JLT Condor)
9. Ruben Zepuntke (Ger/Cannondale-Garmin)
10. Owain Doull (GB/Team Wiggins)
General classification:
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/MTN-Qhubeka) 34hrs 52mins 52secs,
2. Wouter Poels (Ned/Team Sky) +13 secs,
3. Owain Doull (GB/Team Wiggins) +42secs
4. Rasmus Guldhammer (Den/Cult Energy Pro Cycling) +43secs
5. Zdenek Stybar (Cze/Etixx-Quick-Step) +51secs
6. Ruben Fernandez (Spa/Movistar) same time
7. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Team LottoNL-Jumbo)
8. Dylan van Baarle (Ned/Cannondale-Garmin) +53secs
9. Chris Anker Sorensen (Den/Tinkoff-Saxo) +59secs
10. Xandro Meurisse (Bel/An Post - Chainreaction) +1:02
Selected others:
18. Peter Kennaugh (GB/Team Sky) +2:51
24. Ian Stannard (GB/Team Sky) +38:36
87. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Team WIGGINS) +1.31:03


A couple who became stuck on a cliffside ledge high in the Peak District were rescued by the emergency services after sending them a selfie.

The couple - believed to be in their 20s - had scrambled up a steep bank and got stuck near the top of Winnats Pass, Derbyshire.
They were saved on Sunday shortly after sending rescue staff a selfie they had taken earlier on that day.
Edale Mountain Rescue believe it was their first-ever "selfie rescue".
Winnats Pass is described as "a steep-sided valley, three-quarters of a mile long with lots of caves".
Duty leader and medical officer Steve Rowe said six members of the team went onto the hill with safety equipment to rescue the uninjured pair.
"They had described the location very well, and then one said: 'I've got an idea, I'll send you a picture as well', saying they were in a shadow cave in the background of the picture," he said.
"They had also sent a Whatsapp message with the location so that allowed us to get straight to where we needed to be."
Mr Rowe said a system exists to allow staff to text a missing person and they could then click on a link which gives their location.
But he said this was the first "selfie rescue" he had come across in 15 years.
"It was an unusual job because of the couple's ingenuity at thinking their way out of the situation," he said.
"They've used modern technology. Quite a lot of people get into trouble because they rely on technology, but this couple were able to use their mobile phone and photos for their benefit so it was a good result."


More than 150 photographs and film clips capturing nearly half a century of life in the North East of England have gone on show.

The images, belonging to the Amber Films collective, capture cultural, political and economic changes in the region.
Titled For Ever Amber, the work is rooted in social documentary.
The exhibition opened at Newcastle's Laing Art gallery at the weekend and runs until 19 September.
Amber Films member Graeme Rigby said: "When Amber set out to do this it may be they didn't realise the extent of the changes that were coming, but that is what has been captured."


The US president has vowed to respond to North Korean threats "with fire and fury like the world has never seen".

North Korea, meanwhile, has threatened to fire off missiles towards the US island territory of Guam - home to 163,000 people.
And all this comes amid reports that Pyongyang may have finally succeeded in miniaturising a nuclear weapon that could fit on an inter-continental missile - a prospect long-dreaded by the US and its Asian allies.
Is this a precursor to military conflict?
Experts say you should not panic - just yet. This is why:
This is one of the most important things to keep in mind. A war on the Korean peninsula serves no-one's interests.
The North Korean regime's main goal is survival - and a war with the US would seriously jeopardise it. As BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus notes, any North Korean attack against the US or its allies in the current context could quickly spiral into a wider war - and we have to assume the Kim Jong-un regime is not suicidal.
In fact, this is why North Korea has been trying so hard to become a nuclear-armed power. Having this capability, it reasons, would protect the regime by raising the costs of toppling it. Kim Jong-un does not want to go the way of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi or Iraq's Saddam Hussein.
Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University in Seoul told the UK's Guardian newspaper there was "very little probability of conflict", but North Koreans were equally "not interested in diplomacy" at this point.
"They want to get the ability to wipe out Chicago from the map first, and then they will be interested in diplomatic solutions," Mr Lankov said.
What about a pre-emptive US strike?
The US knows that a strike on North Korea would force the regime to retaliate against US allies South Korea and Japan.
This would result in a massive loss of life, including the deaths of thousands of Americans - troops and civilians.
Additionally, Washington does not want to risk any nuclear-tipped missiles being fired off towards the US mainland.
Finally, China - Pyongyang's only ally - has helped to prop up the regime precisely because its collapse is deemed to be a strategically worse outcome. US and South Korean troops just across the Chinese border is a prospect that Beijing does not want to have to face - and that's what war would bring.
President Trump might have threatened North Korea with language uncommon for a US president, but this does not mean the US is actively moving on to a war footing.
As one anonymous US military official told Reuters news agency: "Just because the rhetoric goes up, doesn't mean our posture changes."
New York Times columnist Max Fisher agrees: "These are the sorts of signals, not a leader's offhand comments, that matter most in international relations."
What's more, after two North Korean inter-continental ballistic missile tests in July, the US reverted to a tried and true tactic - squeezing Pyongyang through UN Security Council sanctions.
And its diplomats are still speaking hopefully of returning to the negotiating table - pointing to support from China and Russia.
These send conflicting signals to Pyongyang, but also moderate the tough rhetoric coming from President Trump.
Still, some analysts say a misinterpreted move in the current tense environment could lead to an accidental war.
"There could be a power outage in North Korea that they mistake as a part of a pre-emptive attack. The United States might make a mistake on the [Demilitarised Zone]," Daryl Kimball, of US think tank Arms Control Association, told the BBC. "So there are various ways in which each side can miscalculate and the situation escalates out of control".
As former US Assistant Secretary of State PJ Crowley points out, the US and North Korea came close to armed conflict in 1994, when Pyongyang refused to allow international inspectors into its nuclear facilities. Diplomacy won out.
Over the years, North Korea has regularly made incendiary threats against the US, Japan and South Korea, several times threatening to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire".
And Mr Trump's rhetoric - in content, if not style - is also not exactly unprecedented from a US president.
"In many different forms, albeit not as colourful, the US has always said that if North Korea ever attacks, the regime will cease to exist," Mr Crowley writes.
PJ Crowley: Where to now after 'fire and fury'?
The difference this time, he added, was that the US president appeared to suggest he would take pre-emptive action (though Secretary of State Rex Tillerson later played this down.)
This kind of unpredictable, bellicose rhetoric coming from the White House is unusual and does have people worried, analysts say.
Still, South Korea - the US ally with the most to lose from a confrontation with the North - does not appear to be too concerned.
A senior official from the presidential Blue House told reporters on 9 August that the situation had not reached a crisis level, and that it was highly likely it could be resolved peacefully.
This is cause for optimism.
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning


A football anthem sung by England's 1966 World Cup winning side has been released after spending 34 years hidden in an Isle of Man attic.

We Were There was written by Leicester singer Bob Wragg for the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain.
Mr Wragg, 82, said its original release was deemed "inappropriate" following the outbreak of the Falklands War.
The recording features many of the winning side including Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
The song came about through Mr Wragg's friendship with keeper Gordon Banks, England's victorious goalkeeper in 1966, and he asked him about recording a song to wish the 1982 side well.
Many of the World Cup winning players feature in the video, with the exception of brothers Bobby and Jackie Charlton, who were away at the time, and Nobby Stiles, who was ill.
The recording, which has sat in the attic at Mr Wragg's Isle of Man home for more than three decades, includes captain Bobby Moore playing tambourine.
Mr Wragg, who performed with the 1950s variety act the Dallas Boys, said: "The atmosphere was amazing but I had to teach a few of them to sing - I even taught Alan Ball to sing a harmony. We had a right knees up.
"I heard the lads were in Leicester to shoot a promo so I had one night to write a song and one day to record it and make a video. The record label loved it but then the Falklands war broke out and it was shelved."
The singer is a founder member of what has been described as Britain's first boy band and now lives in Laxey with his wife.
He decided to search his attic for the song and video after reading that three of the squad were living with Alzheimer's disease.
It has been released coincide with the European Championships in France and all funds from the song will go to the charity Alzheimer's Research UK.
Mr Wragg added: "This is a nostalgic delight and will support a very worthy charity - I was so emotional watching it back knowing that some of the lads have passed away now."


Snowboarder Katie Ormerod has become the first Briton to win a World Cup big air.

Media playback is not supported on this device
The 19-year-old pipped Austria's Anna Gasser to claim her maiden victory in extreme -29C temperatures in Moscow.
Big air will make its Winter Olympics debut in PyeongChang in South Korea in February 2018.
Ormerod scored 153.75 as the judges counted the two best runs out of three with Gasser, the World Cup leader, notching up 153.50.
The Yorkshire teenager said: "It was by far the coldest and some of the toughest conditions I've ever had to compete in but an amazing place. I'm stoked to be on the podium with some awesome riders, Anna Gasser and Klaudia Medlova."
It was Ormerod's third World Cup podium this season.


Crewe Alexandra director Dario Gradi has been suspended pending a Football Association investigation that will include looking into claims he "smoothed over" a complaint of sexual assault against a Chelsea scout in the 1970s.

A former youth player at Chelsea - where Gradi was assistant manager - says he was assaulted by Eddie Heath, the club's chief scout, when he was 15.
Gradi, 75, denies any wrongdoing and says he will help the FA's review.
Heath, who has since died, has been accused by several people of abuse in the 1970s and 1980s.
The BBC understands that the FA, as part of its widened review into child sex abuse allegations, expects to question Gradi after the Independent reported that, in 1974, he went to see the parents of a youth player at Chelsea about a sexual assault.
The former youth player - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - told the newspaper: "He [Gradi] came to visit my parents and me to smooth it over.
"I remember him saying something like: '[With] Eddie, [football] is his life and he gets a bit close to the boys. I'm sorry if he's overstepped the mark in his fondness this time.'"
Chelsea are not known to have taken any action and Gradi has made no specific comments on this claim or his links with Heath.
In a statement on Friday, he said: "Aside from denying any wrongdoing, it would be inappropriate and unfair on all parties to comment piecemeal through the media at this time in connection with historical allegations.
"Suffice to say, I will do everything within my power to assist all investigatory authorities into what is becoming a wide-ranging and important enquiry into historical sexual abuse."
League Two club Crewe Alexandra have not yet responded to a request for comment.
The FA has given no indication about who will be spoken to as part of its review.
Gradi has previously said he "knew nothing" about the alleged abuse of young footballers by anyone connected with Crewe until 1994 and that he then co-operated with the authorities.
Despite failing to win any major honours in his management career, Gradi developed a reputation as a fine coach of young players, primarily at Crewe Alexandra.
Born in Milan, Italy he came to the UK as a child after the Second World War and went on to play football at non-league level, before becoming Chelsea assistant coach in 1971, aged 29.
He remained at the London club until 1976, before returning to Sutton United, who he used to play for.
Following spells as manager of Wimbledon and Crystal Palace, he began an association with Crewe in 1983 that now spans 33 years.
He was manager from 1983 to 2007, leading the team to the second tier of English football for the first time in 1997, and was awarded an MBE for services to football a year later.
Crewe's 11th-placed finish in their first year in the second tier remains the highest finish in the club's history.
During Gradi's tenure, the club won the PFA Bobby Moore Fair Play Trophy 12 times in 15 years.
Having had a spell as director of football, Gradi had a second stint as manager from 2009 to 2011 before returning to the overseeing role he still occupies.
In 2013, aged 72, Gradi became the oldest person appointed to Greg Dyke's FA commission charged with improving English football from the grassroots upwards.
Described by the National Football Museum as "one of English football's best developers of young players", Gradi's tenure at Crewe has seen internationals David Platt, Geoff Thomas, Danny Murphy, Seth Johnson, Robbie Savage and Dean Ashton emerge.
The National Football Museum inducted Gradi into its Hall of Fame in 2004, and he was given the Football League's outstanding contribution to football award in 2011.
The FA is supporting a hotline set up by the NSPCC. It is available 24 hours a day on 0800 0232642.


How can a man who helped make bombs in a foreign war end up on trial in a British court?

Anis Sardar, a 38-year-old black cab driver from Wembley, London, has been convicted of his role in making an improvised explosive device that blew up a US Army patrol, near Baghdad, in 2007.
The blast killed Sgt Randy Johnson of the US 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
This unique prosecution relied on painstaking forensic science and circumstantial evidence.
Those investigations placed the Londoner inside the team of bombmakers in western Baghdad and ultimately led to his conviction eight years after Sgt Johnson's death.
But given Sgt Johnson was killed amid the chaos of Iraq, how could Sardar be found guilty of murder under English law?
As far as British detectives and the Crown Prosecution Service were concerned, this was an act of terrorism, rather than an act of war.
In legal terms, he was a British citizen who had committed a crime overseas.
Generally speaking, the criminal law of the land is just that - it applies only to offences in the UK.
But murder is one of a small number of the most serious crimes that are extra-territorial.
Any British citizen can be convicted of any murder abroad thanks to the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. The nationality of the victim is irrelevant.
Parliament's rationale was that it wanted a law that would prevent British citizens from getting away with offences by orchestrating crimes abroad, particularly in circumstances where the local authorities would be incapable of bringing the culprit to justice.
So the question was not whether the law said he could be prosecuted, but whether he had a defence to the allegation.
The trial judge Mr Justice Globe told the jury that if they were sure Sardar had helped construct the device that killed Sgt Johnson, they also had to be sure his decision amounted to an action that he could not excuse away.
By his own admission, Sardar had helped build homemade bombs in west Baghdad in 2007, but he told the court he did not know whether he had handled the specific device that killed the American soldier.
The devices, he told the jury, had been constructed by members of a local Sunni community who were repelling sectarian attacks by Shia militias - one of the features of the chaos that followed the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Sardar argued he had wanted to help that local protection force stop the killing sprees, but he had not envisaged the devices would kill American soldiers.
In other words, Sardar argued that he was innocent of murder because he genuinely believed he had been acting to defend others - and the degree of violence was necessary and proportionate to the circumstances. This is the essence of the law of self-defence.
But the prosecution said that defence was irrelevant because the bombmakers' genuine target was the US Army and the defendant had known that.
The design, explosive power and location of each device could only mean they were aimed at destroying heavily armoured American patrols, prosecutors said.
But what about the circumstances of the death - could Sardar argue that Sgt Johnson was a casualty of a legitimate act of war?
The Geneva Conventions set out the rules and, as any soldier knows, military personnel can't be prosecuted for killing each other on the battlefield - assuming of course they do not commit a war crime.
That legal protection extends to people who come from abroad to the aid of an oppressed people.
For instance, British Muslims who fought in Bosnia 20 years ago to prevent the genocide of their co-religionists have never faced prosecution.
Sardar's counsel, Henry Blaxland QC, asked the jury to consider the chaos that Sardar had found himself in after he went to Iraq from Syria, where he had been living.
"How are we, here in Woolwich Crown Court in east London, expected to pass judgement on the reasonableness of someone's conduct in armed conflict in a different country?" he said.
"History shows that when law and order breaks down, previously stable countries can descend into a vortex of violence."
It's that violence that the jury decided Sardar unlawfully contributed to by building a bomb that took the life of Sgt Randy Johnson.