Two teenagers have been detained after being convicted of starting a fire that caused serious damage to a Boots store.

Declan Steele, 18, and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ignited waste paper outside the store in Kilmarnock in July 2015.
Both denied the charge but were found guilty of wilful fire-raising.
At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Steele was told he would be detained for two years and the 17-year-old was ordered to be held for two-and-a-half years.
The court previously heard that the teenagers were seen on CCTV wandering the streets before targeting the store.
They climbed onto the roof from the rear of the building then dropped down into a loading bay and set fire to waste paper.
The pair then sprinted away and hid in bushes to watch the fire take hold before returning to their homeless hostel in the town.
The blaze was tackled by 22 firefighters, some of whom had to crawl through the building to search for potential victims.
Police checked CCTV and detained three suspects that night.
A third accused, aged 17, was originally charged with the offence but did not appear in the dock.


All photographs courtesy RMet-RPS Weather Photographer of the Year 2016.

The Royal Meteorological Society and The Royal Photographic Society have announced the finalists of the 2016 Weather Photographer of the Year competition. Drawn from more than 800 entries, in two age categories, the judges are now asking the public to pick a winner. Here are the finalists.
Early this year, unusually cold Arctic stratospheric air reached down as far as the UK. This triggered sightings of rare and beautiful polar stratospheric (nacreous) clouds. I had to go down to Alloa for a course and took an old compact digital camera with me, just in case any displays were visible from that part of the country.
Plynlimon (752m; 2,467ft) is a beautiful hill massif in northern Ceredigion, mid-Wales, north of the A44, between Llangurig and Aberystwyth. I walk this hill regularly in all seasons, and winter is my favourite time of year here.
The otherwise benign summit plateau can be transformed into raw Arctic tundra-like conditions, which presents challenges even for well-equipped walkers. Days of blown snow and spindrift from powerful and freezing north-easterly winds had accumulated on every windward vertical surface into bizarrely shaped natural sculptures. This stile and wire fence became a thing of beauty, with the glowing translucent fluting of the ice emphasised by the Sun's backlighting.
Based on the forecast from the night before, my son James and I left home at 04:30 to travel up to north Suffolk to Herringfleet Mill, a location we had not visited before.
When we arrived at the mill, the temperature was -4C, with freezing fog making for very atmospheric conditions. I particularly like the way this photo captures the Sun burning through the mist, with the reed beds covered in white hoar frost and the mill shrouded in mist. The conditions and location give the image a real sense of an East Anglian winter.
The image was taken in Punta Banco, a small village on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and shows a very rare type of lightning called a sprite.
The storm was far out at sea during a new Moon, so there was very little light. And, as a result, the stars were spectacular. I set up the frame to include the pulsing storm and the Milky Way as I liked the contrast. Just after I started the 30-second exposure, this sprite strike illuminated the sky, shooting up into the atmosphere, my jaw dropped, and I assumed that it would have blown out the image, but I was thrilled to witness it.
This is a clash between two storm cells in New Mexico, each with its own rotating updraft. It appeared as though one updraft was anti-cyclonic, resulting in a very turbulent scene.
It was a fantastic sight to watch, and it's the rarity of such scenes that keep drawing me back to the US plains each year.
This low-precipitation super-cell formed late in the day over Broken Bow in south-east Nebraska. The rotation was evident through the striations and twisting updraft referred to as a barber's pole.
The storm was particularly striking at this stage due to the eruption of mammatus cloud from the anvil that was constantly being lit up with lightning. A stunning spectacle, which we photographed for over an hour from the same spot due to the slow-moving nature of the storm.
The photo was taken from the cable car to Mount Cheget, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia.
The Guanabara is a 240m [787ft] long super-tanker and was loaded with crude oil from the Australian north west offshore oil fields at Barrow Island.  I was able to photograph the ship later, when it docked, and I was invited on board to meet the captain and the crew who were "on watch" when the ship was hit.
One crewman had been fishing off the port side and had only just returned inside when the ship was hit.
Shortly after taking the shot, the lightning cell closed on my position on the beach and I grabbed up my equipment and ran for my life.  I had just closed the car door when the lightning hit close by and took out all the lights in the area.
My image was taken along the bank of the River Brue in Glastonbury, Somerset.
The flat, open, exposed landscape of the Somerset levels is punctuated by drainage channels and waterways which gives it a unique character. Cool evenings when followed by clear mornings tend to give rise to a blanket of mist rising off the water and grassland, creating an ethereal feel to the landscape especially at sunrise before the mist burns away.
This picture was taken from the edge of Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire, looking west towards the radio telescope at Jodrell Bank and beyond. The weather was cold, and a north-westerly wind blew this shower of hail to engulf the telescope.
I'd headed up towards Kinder Scout in the Peak District from Hope, via Win Hill, crossing Crookstone Out Moor, where this photo was taken. It was difficult to get an exposure which showed both the snow and exposed the scene correctly, but I feel this blurred snowdrop effect captures it perfectly.
Having followed this storm up the A1 road, we finally found ourselves following it, with the setting Sun illuminating the mammatus clouds on its back edge.
This was taken at the first lay-by we found between Tadcaster and York, away from the A64, with the sweep of the road acting as a perfect guide for the eye towards the centre of the storm. How could you not grab the camera from the boot and photograph this scene?
I work for British Antarctic Survey at the Halley Research Station in Antarctica, and I'm a member of the four-people science team. Some of the most important research conducted at Halley is the meteorological and ozone observations programme, and part of my role is to participate in the met observations.
On this particular day, I was on met duty and we saw the Sun halo for most of the day. This was caused by diamond dust, a phenomenon where ice particles of specific shape are being carried by the light breeze in the air, causing the light to refract into a halo. The amount of diamond dust varied throughout the day, but at one time, just after lunch, it intensified dramatically, creating one of the most beautiful solar halos I've seen!
While on a photographic trip to several national parks in the USA, I visited Mono Lake in Mono County, California. Around sunset, I watched as an impressive storm slowly made its way down from the Sierra Nevada mountains on to the lake.
The image I captured shows the inner harbour wall at Whitehaven, Cumbria, being hit by a monstrous wave, dwarfing the surrounding man-made structures.  I had travelled from County Durham to the west coast of Cumbria as the UK was being hit by a series of Atlantic storms sending tidal surges and strong gale-force westerly winds, which made for ideal conditions for large swells at Whitehaven.
My photograph was taken on a frosty January morning in North Yorkshire, UK. The frost had formed on a car windscreen, looking like large feathers. I was attracted by the colours resulting from the low early morning Sun.
Orographic cloud winds around and over the unmistakable profile of the Matterhorn in Switzerland.
I have been chasing storms since 1989. I first chased in the USA in 2000, and 2013 was my 12th trip and also my most memorable.  This storm in Nebraska was so beautiful, taking on many forms during its life, ending with one of the most spectacular shows I have ever witnessed and had the pleasure to photograph.
It shows a barber's-pole structure corkscrew updraft into this super-cell during its end cycle, still spitting lighting and growling in the dark, a truly wonderful sight and experience I will never forget.
On the hills, we were shrouded until late morning, when a clear way emerged along the ridge towards Foel Fras in the Carneddau, Snowdonia.
This is a classic severe weather set-up in the high plains of Colorado near the town of Wray, which yielded one of the most photogenic tornadoes of the year.
We were just ahead of the storm as the tornado started and tracked with it as it grew from a fine funnel to a sizeable cone tornado. At this moment, the twister was at its most photogenic while its parent super-cell continued to be manageable. We were among a number of people, including those you see in the shot, nervously enjoying the epic display nature put on for us.
My family and I went for a walk at Covehithe, Suffolk, in an attempt to capture such a photo, as we'd seen the forecast was stormy and had thought Covehithe as being a suitable location to shoot in in such conditions.
There were similarly good photos everywhere I looked, but this one really stood out: the rainbow, the hail lines, the storm front, and nice light on the clouds.
I decided to take a photo of Snowdon in the first sunrise winter light. It was a lucky shoot, completely unexpected, as I climbed up to [the] Glyders' summit.
The photo was taken in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on my iPhone, when on a bus travelling through the town centre. It began to rain, and the lights glared through, causing a blur and blend of colours.
You can cast your vote for your favourite image on the Weather Photographer of the Year website.
The Weather Photographer of the Year exhibition will go on tour around the UK later this year


Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has decided not to take up an invitation from Saudi Arabia to attend an Islamic summit at which US President Donald Trump will be guest of honour.

Mr Bashir, who cited "private reasons", is wanted for alleged war crimes in Darfur and the US was reportedly unhappy about his attendance.
Sudan had said it was looking forward to improving US ties at the event.
Saudi Arabia is the first stop on Mr Trump's first foreign tour.
A statement from Mr Bashir's office said the president had apologised to King Salman of Saudi Arabia for being unable to attend the Riyadh summit. No further explanation was given.
Minister of State Taha al-Hussein will represent him.
In 2009 and 2010, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Mr Bashir for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Darfur, which has claimed at least 300,000 lives.
He denies the charges, and has successfully evaded arrest for several years.
Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the statute that founded the ICC and neither Sudan nor the US have ratified it.
But a US official told NBC News earlier that the Trump administration opposed invitations or travel by individuals facing ICC indictments.
"While the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute... we nevertheless strongly support efforts to hold accountable those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes," the official said.
The Saudi summit brings together more than 50 leaders from Arab and Muslim nations.
Mr Trump will deliver a speech on his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam".
His trip will also take him to Israel, the West Bank and Europe.


Kirsty Linnett scored a hat-trick as Birmingham City capped off their Women's Super League One season with a thumping win at Sunderland.

Linnett scored in the 36th, 49th and 57th minutes - with the second a stunning effort from 35 yards.
Kerys Harrop had opened the scoring and Charlie Wellings slid home to make it 3-0 at the break.
Beth Mead pulled one back from 25 yards out before Freda Ayisi and Coral Haines added to Birmingham's tally.


The family of a wealthy hotelier believed to have been murdered in India say they remain hopeful his killers will be brought to justice.

Ranjit Singh Power disappeared on a business trip to the Punjab region in May and a taxi driver confessed to his murder, local police said.
His family claims others were involved.
Earlier this month a body found in an Indian river was initially thought to be that of Mr Power but DNA and dental analysis ruled out this possibility.
Mr Power's body has still not been traced.
Updates from this story and more from the Black Country
Amrik Singh Power said he believed people with information about what had happened to his brother had yet to contact police.
He said: "What I can't understand is, out of the vast amount of friends and business associates that my brother had, why people aren't standing by me and wanting to come forward."
Mr Power's 82-year-old mother, Gurjit Kaur Power, said she was lost without her son, who she called by the pet name Rana.
She travelled to India with her son Amrik in order to speak to police and "kick-start" the investigation.
"The police were helpful, they said not to worry. But how can I not worry?
"I did it because I want justice for my son - if he gets justice, my heart will be at peace," Mrs Power said.
Ranjit Singh Power, who owned The Ramada Park Hall Hotel in Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, was last seen at an airport in Amritsar, Punjab, on 8 May.
His family reported him missing after he did not contact them for a week.
Sukhdev Singh, a taxi driver, confessed to killing the 54-year-old and divers found a body in a canal in Ropar District.
The body was flown to Wolverhampton after a family friend who identified the body said it was the right height and wore "exactly the same bangle" as the businessman.
The Black Country coroner's office said DNA tests and dental records had proved "beyond doubt" that the body was not that of Mr Power.
West Midlands Police are now liaising with police in India in an attempt to identify the body.
"If we exhaust all avenues, the body will be recorded as 'unknown', an inquest will be opened and social services will deal with it," the coroner's officer said.
West Midlands Police said Mr Power's murder investigation was being led by Indian police but the force was ready to assist if a request was made.


An off-licence in Edinburgh has been robbed for the second time in two days.

The High Spirits store in Slateford Road was targeted at 20:40 on Saturday, and then at about 21:45 on Monday.
Police said they believed the two robberies were linked, and that the same person may have been responsible for both raids.
In the latest incident, the shop assistant was threatened with a knife. A three figure sum of money was stolen on both occasions.
The robber was described as being white, in his mid to late 20s, 5ft 8in, of solid build with a pale complexion and blotchy skin.
During Monday's raid, he was wearing a blue hooded top with dark blue sleeves and white bands on the arms, jeans, grey trainers and a woolly hat with a plastic bag covering the bottom of his face.
Det Con Kevin Walls, of Police Scotland, said: "This is the second time in a matter of days this store has been targeted and we are working with the staff to provide all the relevant support and crime prevention advice.
"If you can help us identify the suspect, or remember seeing anything suspicious around the premises on Monday evening, then please contact police immediately.
"In addition, we would also urge those with any further information relevant to this inquiry to get in touch."


Former International Olympic Committee director-general Francois Carrard has been appointed head of the Fifa reform taskforce.

The Swiss lawyer will lead a 12-person panel in a review of football's scandal-hit world governing body.
Carrard was head of the IOC from 1989 to 2003.
"It is vital for the future of global football to restore the integrity and reputation of its governing body," said the 77-year-old.
"As the independent chairman, I am committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms, working with representatives from within football and wider society."
Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced he would stand down in June - just four days after being re-elected president.
His resignation followed the arrest of seven Fifa officials as part of a United States investigation that led to 14 people being indicted on corruption charges.
Kelly Currie, who is leading the criminal case, warned against "superficial changes" at Fifa.
The acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said she is monitoring how reforms are adopted and hopes they will be "deep".
"Superficial changes at Fifa to its statues will not be sufficient and, likewise, mere changes of personnel in certain positions without a genuine commitment to good- overnance will not be sufficient," she said.
A second criminal case was launched by Swiss prosecutors into the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively.
Blatter welcomed the appointment of Carrard, saying: "We are confident that he can help Fifa to strengthen its governance structures in a credible and meaningful way."
Carrard leads a team of officials picked by Fifa's six continental confederations, with Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino one of two representatives from European football's governing body.
"All of the confederations have picked their representatives based on their knowledge of football and governance matters, and we will now all work together for the greater good of the game," Uefa president Michel Platini said.
Recommendations from the panel are set to be presented at the next meeting of Fifa's executive committee in Zurich on 24 and 25 September.


The partner of a cyclist who died in a crash involving a lorry said he hopes a "ghost bike" memorial to her will help prevent more deaths.

Louise Wright, from Mapperley, died after she was hit by a lorry in Nottingham city centre earlier this month.
A bike which has been painted white, known as a ghost bike, has been left at the scene along with floral tributes.
Her partner James Faulkner said he hoped it would promote cycle safety.
Ms Wright, who worked for fashion firm Paul Smith, died on 3 July after the crash involving an HGV in Lower Parliament Street.
The ghost bike, thought to be the first in the East Midlands, appeared recently along with tributes to the popular 29-year-old.
Mr Faulkner said he and Ms Wright's family had taken comfort from many well-wishers' kind words.
"We still don't know the circumstances of the accident yet, but I hope that the ghost bike will help raise awareness of cyclists on the roads," he said.
"If it can help prevent any future accidents, then it will have served a purpose and could help save a life."
Tributes were also paid to Ms Wright on Facebook, including by the Nottingham Roller Girls roller derby team who described her as beautiful, vibrant and funny.
Mike Hallam, duty manager at business Machine Mart next to the crash scene, said some people had reservations about the memorial.
"I dare say most people were touched but there were a few mixed reactions, whether it was tasteless or not," he said.
"Personally I think it was a very good idea."
Leaving a white bike at the scene of a fatal crash started in the United States but has been a growing phenomena across the UK over the last few years.


Erik Sviatchenko insists manager Ronny Deila's decision to leave Celtic this summer has not affected the team as they aim to seal the Premiership title.

The Danish defender admits "it was a bit of a strange feeling" when the players heard the news initially.
But having effectively retained the title by beating Hearts, given their goal difference, a point against Aberdeen on Sunday would confirm it.
"It hasn't been a problem at all," Sviatchenko said about Deila's exit.
"What the manager tells us is what we're doing on the pitch. We have good working relations and we're all professionals.
"We're all the same about getting towards the end with good results. We are all together now.
"It strikes your mind [who will replace Deila], but we all have good faith in the board to find a good replacement. Our job is to perform and play football. We're just waiting for when the announcement will be and we're professional about it.
"We have to remember as well, it is a massive achievement to win the title. We are very happy about that and of course we want to play well in the last games and do everything to get those nice displays."
Celtic's players are likely to only enjoy four weeks' break between the end of this campaign on 15 May and the start of pre-season training, due to the second qualifying round of the Champions League starting on 12/13 July.
Sviatchenko will return to Denmark with his family for part of the break, but he is relishing the prospect of Champions League football.
The 24-year-old would like to meet his international team-mate Kasper Schmeichel in the tournament by reaching the group stages and drawing Leicester City.
"Leicester has done great in the Premier League and done something that people wouldn't imagine they could do," Sviatchenko said.
"Kasper Schmeichel will be staying there now and playing the Champions League. I congratulated him, I texted him, and he's a happy guy.
"I want to play in the Champions League, that's why I came here. We have one goal, to get through and we will do everything we can to flourish."
Sviatchenko also welcomed the news that Celtic will open a safe standing area at Celtic Park next season, becoming the first major club in Britain to re-introduce terracing with rail seats.
"It's something that has been talked about for a long time and now it is coming here to Celtic Park," Sviatchenko said. "We are one of the first to do this and it's very good the fans feel more safe."


Russia's FSB security service says it will punish a group of new agents who allowed themselves to be photographed lavishly celebrating their graduation.

The graduates were seen driving a convoy of black Mercedes jeeps noisily through Moscow last month, blocking traffic and hanging out of the windows.
Some veteran Russian spies have said such behaviour amounted to treason.
The FSB says those involved will have the conditions of their service changed, without elaborating further.
In a statement (in Russian), it also says some of the FSB Academy's senior officers have already been demoted and some will be sacked.
"The immodest, demonstrative behaviour linked to the short-term rentals from a luxury car company sparked justified indignation among citizens and strong condemnation from the community of military security bodies."
Footage of the celebration was posted online shortly after the incident, attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers.
The FSB is the main successor of the Soviet KGB.
The agency's powers and budget have risen significantly under President Vladimir Putin - himself a former KGB officer.


Every time fundamental research hits the headlines you can be sure that someone - maybe lots of people - will question whether it's worth it.

And so it is with the restart of this mother of all physics experiments, ready after its two-year upgrade to explore uncharted corners of the sub-atomic realm.
This vast machine ranks as one of the world's biggest experiments, with incredibly sophisticated machinery filling a 27km circular tunnel, and the bill so far has come to a little under £4 billion.
Back in 2008, when the vast device was first brought to life, one senior British scientist grumbled to me that "the particle physicists seem to get all the money they want".
His view was that humanity faces a long list of severe and immediate threats which are more deserving of the kind of massive scientific investment devoted to the research at Cern.
Top of his list was clean energy. If we could start with a blank sheet of paper, he said, would we really choose to devote all those billions to particle physics?
I heard a similar complaint on the day that the Rosetta spacecraft achieved its historic rendezvous with a comet far beyond Mars.
As the mission controllers erupted around me, one of my tweets attracted a sternly-worded demand to know how anyone would benefit from this venture to a distant and icy rock.
"What good," I was asked, "might any knowledge that it might obtain do for mankind?"
One answer might be pragmatic: if a comet ever headed our way, it would be good to know what they are made of and how they might be deflected.
Another could be that it would surely satisfy our curiosity to know if comets were the source of our water or even of life itself.
But a response that feels more compelling is that previous generations have only been able to gaze at comets in awe or fear while ours might be the first to understand them.
The same kind of argument applies to the Large Hadron Collider.
When it discovered the famous Higgs boson, and confirmed its position in the Standard Model of physics, that was an extraordinary achievement in its own right.
It proved the existence of an invisible process that performs the fundamentally important role of giving all other particles their mass or substance.
Big stuff, but did it change anything practical in our everyday lives? Of course not.
But it is a huge step on a journey towards understanding how the universe works, and there is much more to come.
The next collisions of protons may reveal something about the majority of matter that exists but has yet to be seen - the stuff known as dark matter.
They may uncover evidence for the weird notion that there are extra dimensions, or hordes of previously unseen particles that form pairs with the ones we know about.
Any of this would open our eyes to a new way of perceiving the fabric of everything we see and touch - how it is made and what holds it together.
Astounding though these discoveries may be, they would not by themselves alter anything tangible about how we get up the next day, to face our lives and our work.
But that is how science functions. A new insight can open a door and it's then up to other researchers to choose whether to venture through it, sometimes decades later, to develop practical applications.
For example, the fact that we live in an age of electronics did not come down to a single discovery overnight.
Its roots can be traced to the brilliant theorisers and experimenters who did fundamental work back in the 19th century - Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell and J.J. Thomson to name but a few.
So who knows if the Higgs boson or dark matter particles or extra dimensions may eventually lead to some similarly huge leap in the next 50-100 years?
The Cern case is that we will never know unless the basic job of exploration is done now.
Back in the 1960s, when Nasa was under pressure to justify the cost of the Apollo moon landings, it resorted to highlighting spin-offs.
The lunar missions, it argued, had given technology a unique boost and produced such wonders as miniaturised electronics and the non-stick frying-pan.
And that kind of spin-off is another key part of Cern's case.
It can claim credit for inventing a system for sharing data around the globe: the World Wide Web.
Born of fundamental research which at the time might have felt irrelevant, it enables you to read this article now.


Staff at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital are "frightened" about its future, the union Unite has claimed.

Steve Turner, secretary of the Chorley branch of Unite, said: "Staff morale is at a low ebb. They are very concerned."
The union held a meeting earlier over worries that the proposed Health and Social Care Bill, or further spending cuts, could force it to close.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs it, said it had no plans to close the hospital.
Chorley Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital, Fulwood, which is also managed by the Trust, are currently subject to a total of Â£21m in efficiency cuts over two years which will end in April 2012.
Mr Turner claimed staff "feel very vulnerable" because of the government's plans to reform the NHS and make up to Â£20bn of efficiency savings.
"The hospital is down to the bare bones already and Â£20bn of spending cuts nationally is bound to have an impact and this would put Chorley Hospital under threat," he said.
"It is understaffed now and without doubt staff are frightened about job losses in the future."
Karen Partington, chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, said the efficiency targets are "being achieved by implementing more effective ways of working".
"Delivering such significant savings in this and future years will inevitably result in some change as we aim to protect frontline services and jobs.
"However, I would like to reassure local patients and staff that there are no plans to close Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and we remain committed to providing the highest standards of care."
The public meeting at St Joseph's Club in Chorley saw the official launch of the campaign group "Defend Our Hospital against privatisation and cuts", which has the backing of Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle.
The Labour MP, who spoke at the meeting, said he was "committed" to protecting Chorley Hospital.
"I was born at Chorley Hospital and having lived here all my life I have always valued the first class service provided by a team of professional and dedicated staff."


The US state of South Dakota has enacted a law allowing school districts to arm teachers and other school staff.

The law's backers say it will prevent mass school shootings like a December massacre in Connecticut that killed 26.
Amid a push by the White House to strengthen gun laws, the bill reflects a growing divide in the US over whether more or fewer guns keep people safe.
The measure does not force school districts to arm teachers and will not require teachers to carry guns.
But it allows each school district to choose if staff could be armed. It takes effect in July.
Under the Republican-sponsored bill, school staff given permission to carry firearms on campus will be known as "school sentinels". The state has given a law enforcement commission the task of establishing a training programme for the sentinels.
Several representatives of school boards, teachers and other staff spoke against the bill in legislative hearings, arguing guns would make schools more dangerous.
But sponsor Representative Scott Craig said this week had heard from a number of school officials who back it.
Mr Craig said rural districts do not have the money to hire full-time police officers.


UK manufacturing sector growth slowed in November, a closely-watched survey has indicated.

The Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 53.4 from 54.2 in October. A figure above 50 indicates expansion.
The weakening of the pound following the Brexit vote pushed up costs for manufacturers.
However, firms reported more demand from the US, Europe, and the Middle East for business.
A weak of the pound pushes up the cost of imports, but makes UK goods cheaper for overseas buyers.
The UK vote to leave the EU led to a sharp fall in the value of the pound against the dollar and the euro.
While the sector is "in good health", the weak pound has increased production costs, which has had a knock-on effect on the prices factories charge for goods, Markit said.
"The concern is that higher costs may in time offset any positive effect of the weaker exchange rate, especially given that export order book growth has already waned markedly from September's five-and-a-half year high," said senior Markit economist Rob Dobson.
Industry body EEF said that manufacturing, while still robust, had lost some momentum.
The rise in costs would "inevitably" pass on to consumers, "adding to the inflationary pressures already building up in the UK economy," said EEF senior economist George Nikolaidis.
In November, the Bank of England sharply raised its inflation forecast for next year. It expects inflation to hit 2.7% in 2017, compared with its current rate of 0.9%.


Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have formed a formidable partnership at New England since joining the Patriots back in 2000.

The rich vein of success enjoyed by the pair means they have accrued more wins than any other coach-quarterback combination in the history of the National Football League.
They have already won three Super Bowls together but could have a tough job adding a fourth, with defending champions the Seattle Seahawks lining up against them in Sunday's showpiece in Phoenix.
Here, BBC Sport profiles both men.
Belichick, 62, began his coaching career with the New York Giants and was on their staff for 12 years from 1979, during which time he was part of two Super Bowl-winning seasons.
After stints as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and assistant coach at the Patriots, he became head coach of the New York Jets. But just a a day after his appointment, he quit to take up his current role.
Brady, 37, may be the archetypal square-jawed golden boy of the NFL, but was only a sixth-round pick in the 2000 draft, arguably making this the best late selection of all time.
Other quarterbacks have thrown more touchdowns or for more yards, while others can throw the ball further or scramble faster.
But Brady represents the complete all-round package, as well as being a leader and a proven winner. That is why he will earn £4.6m ($7m) this year.
No-one is quite sure how much Belichick earns. A huge fan of rock band Grateful Dead and an avid reader of the Harry Potter books, the Nashville-born coach is a known humanitarian, who does a lot of prison visits and works with gangs.
He is also good mates with Jon Bon Jovi. The rock band even dedicated their song 'Bounce' to the Pat coach.
Brady is sporting royalty. He has hosted US variety show Saturday Night Live and voiced himself in The Simpsons.
He has a daughter with actress Bridget Moynahan and is now married to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen after they were set up on a blind date.
His brother-in-law is Kevin Youkilis, who played baseball for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Belichick refers a lot to the book Art of War, an ancient Chinese military text attributed to Sun Tzu, a high-ranking military general, strategist and tactician. It includes such advice as:
Brady grew up in awe of the legendary San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana.
The Californian, who also played basketball and baseball as a kid, could join his hero as a three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, should he have a pivotal role in a New England victory on Sunday.
The annual award is presented following votes from fans and a panel of American football writers and broadcasters.
Belichick, who always wears a hoodie on the sidelines, is the wiliest of coaches, utilising a deep knowledge and experience of the game to outwit opponents, but he has not been far from controversy.
Earlier this month the NFL said it was investigating the Patriots amid claims 11 balls were deflated in the win that sent them to the Super Bowl.
The Patriots beat Indianapolis 45-7 in driving rain and flat balls are said to be easier to catch in wet conditions.
But forget 'Deflate-gate' for a minute, Belichick was fined £331,000 ($500,000) in 2007 after the Patriots were caught videotaping the defensive signals of the New York Jets during a game. That incident became known as 'Spygate'.
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Brady's big break came in the first few weeks of the 2001 season, when Drew Bledsoe, New England's star quarterback, was injured.
The number one overall draft pick in 1993, Bledsoe sheared a blood vessel in his chest after being hit by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Brady took over and Bledsoe never won his job back.
Brady became a household name following one of the most controversial games in NFL play-off history. Ten points down to Oakland in the fourth quarter, Brady got hit by Charles Woodson and the Raiders recovered the ball to essentially win the game in 2001.
The referee controversially overturned the decision and New England won. The contest is known universally as the "Tuck Rule Game".
A victory on Sunday would give Belichick a fourth Super Bowl triumph, matching the achievement of the late Chuck Noll, who reached that milestone with his fearsome Pittsburgh Steelers side back in 1980.
Research by Haydn Parry and Simon Clancy


Hamilton Academical beat Stenhousemuir 3-0 to progress as winners of the Scottish League Cup's Group G.

Ali Crawford gave the home side a 15th-minute lead before David Templeton scored his first for the club.
Steven Boyd added a third in the 74th minute to round off a comfortable win for Martin Canning's side.
Despite a penalty shoot-out win for Queen of the South over Albion Rovers after a 2-2 draw, both sides missed out on a place in the second round.
Accies boss Canning had made eight changes from the midweek 4-4 draw with Albion Rovers.
That led to a slow start, but midfielder Crawford set the Premiership side on their way with a stunning 25-yard free-kick.
The goal settled Canning's men and visiting goalkeeper Chris Smith made further saves; one from another Crawford free-kick, twice from efforts by striker Rakish Bingham, while also denying Danny Redmond from close range.
Summer signing Templeton drilled in number two from Louis Longridge's lay-off before being replaced by Boyd, who blasted a decent chance over the bar before making amends when he beat Smith with a header.
Queen of the South twice came from behind at home to Albion Rovers in a game both sides needed to win to have a chance of taking one of the four best runners up spots.
Alan Trouten continued his fine start to the season for the visitors, scoring twice to make it seven goals in four games.
However, Stephen Dobbie and Darren Brownlie scored to take the game to penalties, with the home side earning the bonus point with a 4-2 win.


A curfew and ban on carrying multiple mobile phones, placed on a man police claim was part of a violent gang, were "amply justified", judges have ruled.

An anti-gang injunction was made against Joshua James Murray in 2014 over his alleged links with the Deepdale Gangsters in Preston.
Challenging the order at London's Civil Appeal Court, Mr Murray's counsel claimed he was not in the group.
Dismissing the claim, judges said gang members were "all in it together".
The injunction, made under the Policing and Crime Act 2009, was one of seven served against alleged members of the gang.
One of the others was 18-year-old Jonjo Highton, who was murdered in what police described as a "mass attack" in Preston in August 2014.
Lancashire Police said Mr Murray had been involved in three violent attacks between June 2013 and May 2014.
The order imposed a night-time curfew, barred him from parts of Preston, and banned him from both travelling in a car with more than two others and carrying multiple mobile phones.
Any breach would leave him liable to arrest, the court was told.
His challenge, which claimed the order was too widely drawn, represented one of the first times the Court of Appeal has considered such injunctions.
Dismissing Mr Murray's claims that he had never heard of the Deepdale Gangsters, Lord Justice McCombe said: "It seems to me that the violence attributed to the gangs in this case could scarcely have been more serious."
He said gang members were "all in it together" and it appeared to be "a matter of serendipity" which of them took part in each attack.
As a result, he and Lord Justice Elias ruled the order against Mr Murray was "amply justified".


Australia captain Michael Clarke will retire from international cricket at the end of the current Ashes series.

The 34-year-old saw his team surrender the Ashes after losing to England by an innings and 78 runs at Trent Bridge.
He averages only 16 from eight innings and Australia are 3-1 behind with one match left at The Oval on 20 August.
"I certainly don't want to jump ship and leave the boys now. I'll play the last Test, give it one last crack, but the time is right now," Clarke said.
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Clarke made his Test debut in October 2004 and he has played 114 matches, scoring 8,628 runs at an average of 49.30.
This summer's Ashes defeat is the fourth he has endured playing in England.
He took over the Australia captaincy from Ricky Ponting in March 2011 and has presided over 46 matches, winning 23 and losing 16.
In January last year Australia whitewashed England 5-0 when Clarke scored two centuries and averaged 40.33 in the series, but since March 2014 the captain's last 18 innings have produced 388 runs.
Clarke, who stepped down from one-day internationals in March, revealed he had decided to retire from Test cricket on Friday evening.
"I felt my performances weren't as good as I wanted them to be," he said.
"The decision is never easy. I started playing this great game at six years of age. I'm 34. I wish I could play for another 30 years."
Australia's series defeat in their fourth successive Ashes loss away from home, was their worst sequence of results in England since 1896.
Though they recovered from losing the opening Test in Cardiff with a big victory at Lord's, Clarke's men suffered heavy defeats at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.
"Alastair Cook and the England team deserve a lot of credit - they've shown us how to execute good swing and seam bowling," said Clarke. "It's not for want of trying but the boys have been beaten by a better side..
"England when they've had momentum have grabbed it with both hands and ran with it. Once you find the edge you need to hang on to those chances and England have done that really well."
England captain Alastair Cook: "To Michael, from the England team, you were a fantastic player, fantastic leader. You should be remembered as a great captain."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "I can completely understand Michael Clarke's emotions. It just hits you that you're not going to play this game that you've played since you were a kid. They arrived here as clear favourites and you question yourself as a captain - he's clearly had so many things in his mind. It wouldn't surprise me at the Oval if he got a few."
Former Australia pace bowler Glenn McGrath: "I was there when Michael Clarke made his debut in Bangalore. He has been a big player for a long, long time and his average of about 50 is exceptional at Test level. I think he's made the right decision - he's going out on his own terms. He's a very strong character and I think he'll get plenty of support at the Oval."
Ex-England spinner Graeme Swann: "Congratulations to Michael Clarke on a brilliant career. He's the best player of spin I bowled at and a good bloke to boot."


Hundreds of Kenyan girls are preparing to spend Christmas in schools, rather than with their families, fearing that their parents will force them to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM).

Schools that should have closed more than a month ago for the holidays are staying open for the girls, while others are staying in churches in north-western Pokot County.
Alice Jebet, 14, says there are financial, as well as cultural reasons, why so many parents support the practice:
"My parents force us to undergo FGM because they want dowry. When girls are circumcised, their parents have already arranged for them to be married off.
"When they finish the initiation, their parents introduce them to their husband, whose family gives them cows as dowry," she tells the BBC.
Despite the introduction of stiff penalties for offenders after FGM was made illegal in 2011, the practice continues in many parts of Kenya.
Girls are most at risk during the December holidays, traditionally a time for initiation rites for both boys and girls.
Headteachers have been told to accommodate the girls and to ensure they attend classes throughout the year, to prevent them being married off at a very young age or forced to undergo FGM in secret.
One in five women in Kenya between the ages of 15 and 49 is circumcised, according to government figures.
There is also a worrying trend towards younger and younger girls being forced to undergo the procedure.
Of women in their early 20s who were circumcised, around a quarter of them said they underwent the procedure when they were between five and nine years old, according to a recent report from the country's bureau of statistics.
•Clitoridectomy - partial or total removal of the clitoris
•Excision - removal of the clitoris and inner labia (lips), with or without the outer labia
•Infibulation - cutting, removing and sewing up the genitalia
•Any other type of intentional damage to the female genitalia (burning, scraping et cetera)
Anatomy of female genital mutilation
At Saint Catherine Chepnyal Girls School, students have been taking part in a campaign against the practice, singing songs urging their parents to stop FGM and let them live their own lives freely.
Mary Jepkemoi, who is set to join secondary school next year, says most of her contemporaries who have undergone circumcision are now married.
"You pity them. They have children and they themselves are children. When you ask them why, they answer you: 'What do I do? There is no-one to pay school fees for me.' They need help too.
"Were it not that I love these seminars, I would also be at home. I will never undergo FGM," she adds.
The girls who have run away from home are being supported by many members of the local community, who have embraced the anti-FGM campaign.
A sensitisation event was also held recently at the nearby Sook Boys Secondary School.
Girls, boys and even some parents came together and marched in solidarity with those who had run away.
They were wearing shirts of various colours denoting the villages they come from, each one bearing the message: "Stop, run away from FGM".
Caroline, one of the girls who took part in the event, says most of her friends have been forced by their parents to drop out of school, and some will be married off.
"I have learned how to protect myself once I go back to the village. I know where to report when I am threatened. I will also sensitise others," she says.
But activist Selina Kipkerker says that since the ban on FGM and the intensification of campaigns against it, the practice has not stopped, but been driven underground.
"The many girls who have run away from home because they have been forced to undergo circumcision, but we urge them when they are forced they should report to the local chief," she says.
"There are some churches here which encourage their followers to circumcise their girls but things are changing, so nowadays they do it secretly."
There are many who believe that circumcision is required by religion and also expected from those within their own communities.
Local county commissioner Brian Njeru admits it will take years for the practice to be eradicated and girls will continue to be vulnerable.
"This is a deeply entrenched issue that will take time to completely get rid of.
"These days there are no elaborate ceremonies to celebrate girls who have undergone FGM.
"It is very secretive and it makes it very difficult to apprehend those who are behind this."
Mr Njeru has turned all the girls' schools in his division into rescue centres.
He says the number of girls enrolling in both primary and secondary schools has increased sharply since the ban on FGM came into force five years ago.
"Most of the girls now aren't going to undergo FGM. Instead they come for training," says Gladys Andiema, the headmistress of Saint Catherine Chepnyal Girls School.
Loise Chesista, one of the beneficiaries of training sessions offered at Chepnyal, says she has gained lots of skills from the school.
"We have many friends who would have wanted to be in schools but their parents cannot afford [it]. I believe, with help, most of them can study and excel," she says.
The names of some of the girls interviewed for this article have been changed to protect their identities.


An anaesthetist ignored two senior medics who told him how to help a woman struggling to breathe after surgery, a court has heard.

Two specialists told Dr Nadeem Azeez to alter his treatment of Frances Cappuccini, 30, who died after having a Caesarean on 9 October 2012.
Dr Errol Cornish denies manslaughter. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust denies corporate manslaughter.
Dr Azeez is not on trial, having left the country.
Inner London Crown Court has heard Mrs Cappuccini lost more than two litres of blood (about four pints) when her son Giacomo was born at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Kent.
She was operated on but never woke up and died the same day.
Anaesthetist Dr Sommerville said consultant Dr Cornish and Dr Nadeem Azeez were both with Mrs Cappuccini when he arrived at the operating theatre.
Dr Sommerville said Dr Azeez was "bagging" Mrs Cappuccini using a face mask and hand pump to help her breathe while Dr Cornish was sitting by her side.
He said he advised Dr Azeez to use a laryngeal mask instead, which involved placing a device in the throat, and went to change his clothes, which took two or three minutes.
The procedure had not been done when he got back.
He said he took over bagging and the laryngeal mask was inserted and that shortly after handing over to Dr Raymond Chung, a more senior anaesthetist, Mrs Cappuccini was fully intubated with a tube down her throat.
He added that his diagnosis at the time was that Mrs Cappuccini was still "partially paralysed" from general anaesthetic.
However, he said he could not remember if Dr Cornish, of Holmbury Park, Bromley was still present when he returned from changing.
Dr Chung, a senior consultant anaesthetist, said he told Dr Azeez on the phone to intubate Mrs Cappuccini but when he arrived in the theatre 10 minutes later at about 13:30 BST found he had not done it.
He said was forced to take over - as the hospital's "man in blue" on alert to deal with serious cases - when Dr Azeez seemed to fail in an attempt at intubation.
He told the court Mrs Cappuccini's oxygen measurement failed to improve and Dr Azeez may have passed the tube into her oesophagus.
"I took the decision to remove it and put it back in myself," he said.
The prosecution has claimed if one or both doctors are found to be grossly negligent the trust can be said to have employed someone it knew or should have known was not suitably qualified or trained for their role.
It is the first time an NHS trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter since the charge was introduced in 2008.
The trial continues.


It would appear that the only certainty on the future of the Pro12 is that the competition faces an uncertain future.

For so long a poor relation in terms of finances, attendances and prestige compared to the English Premiership or France's Top 14, it would appear change is again coming to the competition.
The how, the why and even the where is very much up for discussion, but it seems likely that the Pro12 will not continue in its current guise beyond 2017-18.
So what next for the premier domestic rugby competition for teams from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy?
Will a league once designed for the Celtic nations soon be a competition throughout Europe? Will it be a worldwide league?
Do not count it out.
Originally designed as a Celtic competition, the event formerly known as the Celtic League is already very different to the one that was launched in 2001.
The establishment of the competition led to five professional regions being created in Wales for the 2003 season, with Newport Gwent Dragons, Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets and Neath-Swansea Ospreys joined by the now defunct Celtic Warriors, competing with Irish regions Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.
Scottish sides Edinburgh Reivers, Glasgow and Scottish Borders, completed the line-up.
Unfortunately, the launch of the Welsh regions coincided with both the 2003 World Cup and then the 2004 Six Nations, meaning many top players missed much of the season.
That, arguably, is an issue the Pro12 has never fully been able to address, but it did not help matters that season, though it was not half as big a blow as when the Celtic Warriors went into liquidation 12 months later after just a single season in operation.
At the end of the 2007-8 season, 11 became 10 when Scottish Borders were disbanded and Glasgow moved into their Firhill home.
The division badly needed reinvigoration and that arrived with yet more change, with the tournament revamped and expanded in 2010 to include Italian sides Treviso and Aironi.
Aironi lasted two seasons before they left the set-up, replaced by Zebre who have completed the 12-team tournament since 2012.
However, the 2017-18 season seems likely to be the last Pro12 season under the current guise.
Plans to expand and revamp the Pro12 seem to present themselves almost on a daily basis now, with sides from around the world being linked with the competition, while rumours persist about the prospect of the Italian sides being removed.
Dual-code legend Jonathan Davies has been among the critics who believe the Pro12 could benefit by kicking out the Italian sides.
There have been suggestions of a side from Georgia being added to the set-up, while the German Rugby Federation is also understood to have held talks with Pro12 chiefs.
BBC Scotland reported earlier this month that South African side the Cheetahs have been invited to join the competition, while Pro12 Chief Executive Officer Martin Anayi has already confirmed discussions that could see north American involvement.
Houston and Vancouver have previously been earmarked as possible host cities.
The southern hemisphere Super Rugby tournament is to be reduced from 18 to 15 teams from next year, with South Africa losing two sides and Australia one, which is why South African teams are also being linked with a switch to the Pro12.
SA Rugby is yet to announce which two teams will be ditched.
Previously, London Welsh and London Scottish were also suggested as potential Pro12 additions.
Any additional sides joining the division could also lead to a revamped system, whereby the Pro12 switches to a conference system.
That could enable more matches being played outside Test windows, meaning more star players being available.
Anayi says that while following an English or French model is unrealistic, the competition will continue to seek more lucrative markets.
He says club rugby globally is on an upward curve, and feels the Pro12 is well placed to capitalise on this growth.
"We aren't going to be able to rely on one big domestic TV deal, because we purely don't have the same chimney stacks as in England and France," Anayi told BBC Sport in 2016.
"So we have to look at new primary markets, make sure we deliver full attendances and do the things we can do to make a change.
"We don't see investment as the be-all and end-all of rugby generally. The market forces do not allow for the kind of spend they are spending (in England and France)."
However, the immediate focus will be on increasing the spotlight on a league that produced more players - 107 - at the last World Cup than any other rugby competition.
It is what Anayi calls the competition's greatest strength being turned into its greatest weakness.
"We have more international players than any other competition, but we play games in international windows," he said. "It's self-defeating."
In terms of next season, a tweak to the scheduling might have to suffice, but it is increasingly clear that the Pro12 is unlikely to continue in its current format in the longer term.


Fire crews were called to Edinburgh Airport after three cars caught fire in the multi-storey car park.

The fire service was alerted at 12:50 and the airport terminal remained open while crews tackled the blaze on the car park's first-floor.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent four engines to the scene to assist crews based at the airport.
An airport spokesman said the incident was not causing any disruption to flights.
A fire service spokeswoman said: "On arrival, crews found three cars on fire producing large volumes of smoke.
"Four firefighters in breathing apparatus were able to bring the fire under control with a high-pressure jet hose.
"Fire services remain at the airport and are making sure the fire is completely extinguished before they leave. Officers from the SFRS fire investigation unit are also at the scene."
An airport spokesman said: "I can confirm that the fire in our multi-storey car park has been dealt with.
"We are currently investigating the cause. We thank passengers for their patience and co-operation as we handled the situation."


Sipping from a cup of tea in the Hampden dressing room, surrounded by jubilant players and coaches, Roy MacGregor might have dwelled upon how far Ross County have come.

County's chairman might have felt that sense of reflection, too, as he watched long-standing members of staff, some of whose parents worked for the club before them, celebrate on the pitch at the national stadium after the team's 2-1 win over Hibernian.
Their Scottish League Cup triumph was a story of so many individuals, yet it all seemed to gather around MacGregor himself.
Jim McIntyre, the victorious manager, described his chairman as "Mr Ross County" and spoke afterwards of his delight at being able to deliver a first major trophy for him.
The two shared a long embrace as the cup was being paraded around by the players. If there was a symbolic moment, though, it was when MacGregor lifted up his grandson and the two were cheered and applauded loudly by the County supporters.
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MacGregor was bashful then, but he has long insisted that County operate as a community club and with a strong sense of family values.
He has driven County's progress, shaping and enabling it with his personality and his wealth. For perspective, it is worth recalling that in 1985, County were bottom of the Highland League.
This moment, of glory, of joy, of sheer exuberance, belonged to all at County, but most fittingly to MacGregor.
"We've been on a journey together," he said. "This isn't the end of the journey."
He seemed appreciative of the values that McIntyre applies. The manager insisted that the celebrations in the dressing room would be curtailed, since there is training on Monday and a vital match against St Johnstone on Wednesday. A top-six finish is County's ambition, and so the parties would have to wait.
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MacGregor, a deeply religious man, built a global engineering business but strongly believed that his focus should be on his local community.
He joked that Dingwall, with its population of around 6,000, would have been emptied as more than 9,000 Ross County fans descended on Hampden.
If the game itself was a struggle at times for County - Hibs dominated possession for long spells in the first-half - the victory was littered with uplifting moments.
Jackson Irvine was a tireless figure in midfield, with his long legs eating up the ground as he ranged across the pitch, but also sliding in to steal the ball from opponents. He also had the nous to create the opening goal for Michael Gardyne.
Irvine's boots bore the name of his grandfather, who first introduced him to football and coached him for four years in Irvine's native Australia, and the player paid for his parents and sister to fly over from Melbourne for the final.
The winning goal was symbolic, too. Brian Graham made a significant impact as a substitute, allowing County to become more competitive with his presence and movement up front.
In the 90th minute, it was Graham who won the ball in the centre of the pitch to allow Gardyne to scurry down the left.
Earlier in the half, it looked as though an injury would force Gardyne off, but he soldiered on, driven by the desire to deliver the best of himself in the final. His cross was cleared by Liam Fontaine, but only to Alex Schalk, who had been prone through cramp moments before.
After tapping the ball over the line, Schalk sprinted towards the County fans to celebrate. County's players had suffered at moments during the game, but they prevailed nonetheless.
The winning goal was cruel on Fontaine. The Hibs defender had equalised in the first-half and was so desperate to atone for the second County goal that he pushed upfield and his overhead kick in time added on was pushed over the bar by Gary Woods.
Fontaine looked distraught at the end, and several Hibs players looked to be in tears. They had brought so much to the game - in particular Liam Henderson with his energy and running, John McGinn's scheming and Darren McGregor with resolute defending - but they fell short.
Alan Stubbs said his side had been the better team. That was true for much of the first-half, but it still has to be made to count.
Hibs lacked composure in the final third, with Jason Cummings and Anthony Stokes often seeming estranged up front rather than an effective partnership.
The major call had been made by McIntyre, though, since he sent his side out with a back three for the first time this season. It could have failed badly, and it might be said that County toiled as they tried to impose themselves on the game since the players were unused to the shape. Yet still they won.
MacGregor's financial and personal investment, and McIntyre's management, combined to deliver a historic moment for County. In a sense, too, it is a triumph for football in the Highlands, where on Saturday, Ross County face Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Premiership.
Right now, it is those two clubs that hold the trophies for the two major cup competitions in Scotland. That thought would make MacGregor smile even more.


The first children with debilitating "mystery" diseases have finally been given a diagnosis as part of a huge scheme to analyse people's DNA.

Four-year-old Georgia Walburn-Green's damaged eyes and kidneys and her inability to talk had baffled doctors.
She is one of the first to have her precise genetic abnormality identified through the 100,000 Genomes Project.
Her parents said the day Georgia was finally diagnosed was one of the biggest of their lives.
If a child is born with Down's syndrome or a heart defect, then families know what to expect.
Yet Georgia's mum and dad - Amanda and Matt - had only 20 minutes of "worry-free cuddling" when Georgia was born before their "world went from totally happy to totally devastated".
Doctors initially thought Georgia had water on the brain because of the size of her head.
She was given a tentative all-clear, but doctors knew something was wrong - they just could not identify what.
It was the start of more than four years of uncertainty for the family.
Amanda said: "That was very hard, I assumed if she was poorly, you go to hospital and it might be awful, but you'd know what's wrong and you deal with it.
"We didn't know if she would walk or talk or have a normal life expectancy.
"It's been a rollercoaster of what's going to turn up next, you're just on this unknown journey slowly finding problems."
Georgia's parents say she is a happy, social, animal-loving four-year-old with a knack for "wrapping people round her little finger".
But she has not grown as quickly as other children, has lumps inside her eyes which affect her sight and kidneys that do not work properly.
"And we don't know if she'll ever speak, she understands us and desperately tries but can't make the sounds she wants to," her mum added.
Doctors suspected Georgia's symptoms were down to errors in her DNA, which may have been inherited from her parents.
And that meant Amanda and Matt were not prepared to risk having another child.
The 100,000 Genomes Project is focused on understanding the genetics of cancer and rare diseases such as the one affecting Georgia.
Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital performed a giant game of spot the difference between the entire three billion base pairs which make up each of Georgia, Amanda and Matt's DNA to find what went wrong.
Just before Christmas, doctors told them the genetic abnormality - in a gene called KDM5b - had been identified.
"That was one of the biggest days of my life, we've been searching for this for four years," Amanda said.
While the knowledge will not change the way Georgia is treated today, it offers hope that there will be a therapy in the future.
And in good news for the Walburn-Green family, Georgia's mutation arose spontaneously rather than coming from her parents - meaning they will try to add to their family.
However, some children such as Jessica are already benefitting from the 100,000 Genomes Project.
Again, despite repeated tests, her condition which included epileptic seizures remained undiagnosed.
But analysing her and her parents' DNA discovered an error causing GLUT1 Deficiency Syndrome.
She is unable to transport sugar into her brain's cells, which is leaving it starved of energy. But a high fat - or ketogenic - diet should give the brain an alternative energy source meaning less epilepsy medication is needed.
Prof Lyn Chitty, who is leading the project at Great Ormond Street, said: "It's really exciting to see the results coming through and the difference this can make for families.
"It increases confidence in the project and shows that the application of genomics can live up to the promise of changing the way we diagnose and treat patients in the future."
The first adults were diagnosed through the 100,000 Genomes Project in Newcastle last February.
Follow James on Twitter.


Britain's Victoria Williamson says she is lucky not to be paralysed after her serious crash at Rotterdam's Zesdaagse.

The 22-year-old fractured her neck and back, dislocated her pelvis and slipped a disc in her neck after colliding with Elis Ligtlee during the omnium final.
Norfolk's Williamson spent four weeks in hospital after January's accident.
"They were pretty sure paralysis was going to be the outcome while I was in Rotterdam, but luckily I pulled through," she told BBC Look East.
"Being an athlete, I think they said because my neck and back were so strong I was able to withstand the force.
"Although I did break a few bones, my spinal cord stayed intact and I'm here to live another day."
Racing at the event was cancelled after the 2013 World Championships bronze medallist's crash, with fans asked to leave the velodrome.
"I have no memories, which is probably pretty good," she said. "It's not going to put me off in the future," she said.
"I remember holding onto the fence getting ready to roll up to the final and then next thing I know I was in hospital and someone was telling me I'd had an accident. I just responded with 'did I win?'. That was all I was worried about."
Williamson hopes to be back "easy riding" on a bike by the end of the summer and says she has the right support around her to make a full recovery.
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"I'm going to get back on a bike eventually," she added. "I've got no timescale yet, but I don't know what level I'll be able to get to. I'll give it a good go.
"I've got the full support team behind me, I've got physios, doctors. We've got the world's best. At the end of the day, we're a great programme, so I've got every chance of getting back to where I was."


Petrol bombs have been thrown at police officers during disturbances in Lurgan, County Armagh, and Londonderry.

Two officers were hurt in what police described as "minor public disorder" in Kilwilkie, Lurgan, on Monday afternoon. They were not seriously injured.
In Derry, police officers escaped injury when seven petrol bombs were thrown at them in Iniscarn Crescent at about 14:30 BST on Monday.
The attack was close to the scene of a dissident republican commemoration.
The officers were on duty near Derry City Cemetery, where men in paramilitary-style uniforms took part in a ceremony to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
The Lurgan disturbances led to disruption on the main Belfast to Dublin railway line, which passes through the town.
It is believed that a police vehicle was surrounded for a short time on Monday afternoon by a crowd of people near the Kilwilkie estate.
There were also reports that some of the crowd attempted to place burning bins on a nearby railway crossing at Lake Street.
Northern Ireland Railways organised buses to transport train passengers to stations between Lisburn and Portadown. Cross-border rail services were also disrupted, with passengers bussed between Belfast and Newry. The railway line has now re-opened.
Police said the trouble was "a minor disturbance". Two teenagers have been charged.
Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson told BBC Northern Ireland's Good Morning Ulster that nothing would be gained by the violence.
"It became clear yesterday that grown men were standing back in areas of Lurgan and directing young children to engage in violence against the police," she said.
Catherine Seeley, a Sinn FÃ©in councillor, condemned the trouble. She said that she felt "angry and disappointed".
"It was reckless vandalism. I condemn it totally. Once again, it brought Lurgan into the headlines for all the wrong reasons," she said.
"It is important to note that these actions were carried out by small minority who do not command the support of the majority in Lurgan."
The Police Federation said that the officer injured in Crumlin needed five staples inserted in a head injury.
It said that its chairman, Mark Lyndsay, had spoken to the officer, who said she was "shaken" but "undeterred".
Mr Lyndsay said that Northern Ireland had moved a long way from this kind of street violence and that older people who encouraged young people to riot needed to think again.
"They need to take a long hard look at themselves and at what they are directing children to do," he said.
"Northern Ireland has moved on significantly in the last 40 years. Street protest and violence were commonplace way back. Politics is the way to do things now.
"Young people need to realise there is nothing to be gained by attacking police officers who are there to help them. Relationships between the public and police are crucial."
The Lurgan arrests on Monday afternoon followed overnight trouble at the same locations.
Petrol bombs were thrown at officers and a van was hijacked and set on fire at the Lake Street railway junction shortly before 04:30 BST,
There were no reports of any injuries.


Leyton Orient fans have been given a reduced ticket allocation for their final game of the season at Blackpool.

The English Football League (EFL) backed Blackpool's request to suspend ticket sales to allow "a full review" of safety and security arrangements.
O's fans have now been allocated 1,000 tickets, down from an original total of 1,700, for Sunday's match.
All travelling supporters must be a season-ticket holder or member of the Leyton Orient Fans' Trust (LOFT).
On Saturday, Orient fan protests against club president Francesco Becchetti, delayed their defeat by Colchester by two hours, while Blackpool's final game of the Championship season in May 2015 had to be abandoned after a pitch invasion.
Fans of Blackpool and Orient also joined together to march against their respective owners when the clubs met earlier in the season, after collaboration between LOFT and Blackpool Supporters Trust.
A LOFT statement said the Trust was pleased that common sense had now prevailed over the suspension of ticket sales, but continued: "It is unfortunate that this could not have been resolved between Blackpool FC and the EFL without causing O's fans 24 hours of worry and anger."
The statement continued: "We feel that no restrictions beyond those which would ordinarily be in place for such a fixture are necessary, nor should it be necessary to restrict the number of tickets available to O's supporters."
All tickets sold before Monday's suspension are still valid.
An EFL spokesperson said it was "delighted we have been able to find an amicable solution to this particular issue".


Celtic and Scotland Under-21 forward Ryan Christie has joined Aberdeen on loan until the end of the season.

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The 21-year-old former Inverness Caledonian Thistle player has made seven appearances for the champions this season, scoring once.
Christie will train with his new team-mates for the first time on Wednesday.
"I am delighted to get a player of Ryan's quality," Dons boss Derek McInnes told the club website.
"We want to make a couple of additions in the January window - quality additions - and there is no doubt Ryan has the quality to come in and make an impact with us.
"Ryan can help us with the challenges that lie ahead during the second half of the season. I would also like to thank [Celtic manager] Brendan Rodgers and Celtic for assisting in getting the deal done."
After progressing through the youth ranks at Caley Thistle, Christie signed for Celtic in September 2015, following in the footsteps of father Charlie, who also had a spell at Celtic Park.
Last season's runners-up Aberdeen are currently third in the Premiership - two points behind Rangers - but have a game in hand.
The Dons reached the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday by beating Stranraer 4-0.


South Korea's Sung Kang holds a three-shot lead over America's Rickie Fowler going into the final round of the Houston Open.

Sung, the world number 202, carded a one-under-par 71 to end the third round at 17 under.
Fowler started the day seven shots behind Sung, but his five-under-par 67 brought him back into contention.
Englishmen Justin Rose and Andy Sullivan both finished on five under, 12 shots off the lead.
Fowler and Sullivan carded the joint-second lowest scores of the day with their five-under rounds, this was despite the American dropping three shots in the final two holes.
Sung has missed the cut in five of his nine PGA Tour events in 2017, but a win in Houston would see him claim his first PGA Tour victory and also secure him a place in next week's Masters at Augusta.


A prominent Libyan political activist and two senior security officials have been shot dead in the restive eastern city of Benghazi.

Activist Abdelsalam al-Mismari was killed as he left a mosque after Friday prayers, officials said.
A retired air force colonel and a senior police officer were also killed in separate attacks.
Libya's government is struggling to control armed groups nearly two years after Muammar Gaddafi was toppled.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in the capital Tripoli says that although Benghazi has witnessed many targeted killings, Friday saw the first assassination of an activist.
Mr Mismari, a lawyer, was one of the earliest organisers of protests that eventually led to the overthrow of dictator Col Muammar Gaddafi.
He later became a critic of the armed groups that helped to topple Gaddafi but which have since refused to lay down their weapons.
He has also opposed the presence of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya.
"He was coming out of Friday prayers when he was shot," said Benghazi security spokesman Mohammed al-Hijazy.
"It seems it may have been the work of a sniper because he was shot in the heart."
His colleague and friend Hannah Ghallal told the BBC Mr Mismari was "a hero and a man of principle who did what he preached". Fighting back tears, she added that his death was a loss for Libya.
A large crowd later gathered in central Benghazi to protest against the killing.
Our correspondent says Mr Mismari's death marks a potentially dangerous turning point. Some feel it is an attempt to silence civic groups, she adds.
In separate attacks on Friday, retired air force Colonel Salem al-Sarah was killed as he emerged from a mosque and police Colonel Khatab Abdelrahim al-Zwei was shot dead at the wheel of his car, officials said.
Benghazi has seen a number of violent incidents since the fall of Gaddafi, including an attack on the US consulate last September in which the US ambassador and three other US citizens were killed.


A councillor in Kent has been suspended from the Conservative Party while it investigates an apparently racist comment he made on Facebook.

Dover District Councillor Bob Frost appeared to make comments about black people during an online conversation about the recent riots.
Mr Frost, a teacher, has apologised "unreservedly" and deleted the posts.
Deputy Council Leader Sue Chandler said: "There is no place in our society for this kind of language."
She added: "We have therefore suspended Councillor Frost from the Conservative Group pending investigation."
The comment was made while Mr Frost was having a conversation on the social-networking site, alluding to the London riots while he was on holiday.
On his status he wrote: "I'm missing the vibrant and multi-cultural society which I normally celebrate here in Sicily! Not!"
It was then suggested by someone else on Facebook that he take a trip to north London.
He replied: "All the bunnies here are of the woodland variety rather than the jungle."
Sola Afuape, chair of the equality charity Afiya Trust, said: "You don't expect somebody in a position of power, in a leadership position, to make comments like this.
"They're clearly offensive - racist in fact."
In a statement, Mr Frost said: "What I said was wrong and I apologise unreservedly.
"I am mortified by the offence that I have caused and have deleted these comments.
"I am very sorry."


Two film stars have received honorary degrees from universities in Northern Ireland on Monday.

Belfast man Ciaran Hinds received a degree from Queen's University in his home city for services to film and drama.
Roma Downey, from Londonderry, was honoured by the University of Ulster, of which she is an alumna.
She received a Doctorate of Fine Art (DFA) for her contribution to acting and philanthropy.
The university also gave honorary degrees to author and former BBC correspondent Fergal Keane and screenwriter Frank Cotrell-Boyce.
Ciaran Hinds has appeared in a number of major films, including Road to Perdition, Munich and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two.
He also voiced the Troll King in Frozen, appears as Mance Rayder in hit HBO drama Game of Thrones and was Julius Caesar in the series Rome.
Speaking after the ceremony, he said: "It is not something I usually go for in my life, but it is such an honour and a privilege to be considered for a doctorate.
"My father was a doctor and I was never going to follow in his footsteps because I am not very good with blood, but here I am."
Hinds studied at Queen's 40 years ago and left to become an actor.
"I'm the slowest graduate in Christendom but it was lovely to see all the graduates," he said.
Roma Downey recently starred as Mary in the film Son of God, and has appeared in a number of TV series, including Touched by an Angel and The Division.
Talking about the honorary degree, she said: "It is very special, my entire family will be showing up. I am delighted and thrilled.
"It is so nice to be home, I have come back regularly over the last 25 years - I reside in Los Angeles, but I love coming home, it is like coming back to the well, I feel it is restorative and regenerative."


Ryan Christie will return to Aberdeen on a season-long loan deal from Celtic for the forthcoming campaign.

The attacking midfielder, 22, joined the Dons on loan in January and scored seven goals in 15 games, including five in his last five outings.
With Jonny Hayes heading the other way for a reported £1.3m fee, retaining Christie, along with manager Derek McInnes, provides some solace for fans.
Niall McGinn, Ryan Jack, Peter Pawlett and Ash Taylor have also left the Dons.
They have already signed midfielder Greg Tansey from Inverness, with other replacements set to follow.
Christie signed for Celtic from Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a deal worth around £500,000 in September 2015 but immediately rejoined the Highlanders on loan until January 2016.
He started last season back in Glasgow but was restricted to just seven outings for the champions until the end of the year before joining Aberdeen on loan.


The maker of the quintessential New York handbag is taking over its younger rival in a deal worth $2.4bn (Â£1.85bn)

Coach is offering $18.50 a share for Kate Spade in a bid to create a multi-brand fashion house.
Both firms are grappling with sliding sales at US department stores where their products have traditionally been sold.
Shares in Coach rose 4.6% in New York, while Kate Spade jumped 8.2%.
Coach was founded in 1941, while Kate Spade was established in 1993 by former journalist Kate Brosnahan Spade.
It expanded quickly and its products stocked by upmarket retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Although Coach and Kate Spade sell shoes and clothing - the latter is a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge - both are best-known for their handbags.
Kate Spade's handbags have found favour with millennials due to their subtle logos and quirky and colourful designs, including bags shaped like cats and cars.
Victor Luis, chief executive of Coach, said the acquisition would allow his firm to target "a new customer segment".
Prices for a Kate Spade tote bag starts at about $150 and rise to around $450. A Coach equivalent begins at about $285 but can rise to as much as $2,500.
Mr Luis, who took over as chief executive in 2014, has been working to expand Coach's lines and two years ago acquired shoe company Stuart Weitzman.
Analysts described Kate Spade as a good fit for Coach.
"We like the complementary product assortments, complementary customer bases, potential for synergies," said Mark Altschwager at Robert W. Baird & Co.


Defender Ambroise Oyongo believes the team spirit in Cameroon's squad is stronger without the eight players who turned down the chance to play at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Indomitable Lions are aiming for a fifth title when they play seven-time winners Egypt on Sunday in Libreville.
Oyongo says the squad is united without the absentees from Gabon.
"If the guys were here, we wouldn't be how we are now," the Montreal Impact player told BBC Sport.
If the guys were here, we wouldn't be how we are now
"We have made an effort in every game. If they were here, I don't think they would put in the same effort so it's good for us to forget the other players so we focus on the team [that is here]."
Liverpool defender Joel Matip was among the players to stay away and Oyongo believes their absence will come into sharper focus when World Cup qualifying resumes later this year.
"For the next competition and the next international game, the coach will have to take the decision about them," added the 25-year-old.
Cameroon coach Hugo Broos has previously said the missing players will have to prove themselves if they want to be recalled in the future.
Former Cameroon international Patrick Mboma, meanwhile, is impressed with the way the 2017 squad has coped without the absentees, who he thinks should now be kept out of the side.
"I'm very proud because they have brought a good atmosphere and a good energy," he told BBC Sport.
"That means that players are happy to be here playing for one another. They have no tension on or off the pitch and are just fighting for the flag - that is very, very important."
"Some players, who are healthy, want to think about themselves. That can be understood but I think that choice should be their choice forever."
"I don't know if (their absence) has had a positive impact, but we have to focus on the 23 who accepted to play."
It is a group of 23 friends and I never saw this in a football team
The Cameroon coach, former Belgian international Hugo Broos, is impressed with the team spirit in his squad and thinks those missing are now having second thoughts.
"There were some players who didn't come - I think maybe now they regret that they are not here with us.
They still have a future, but the decision is now with them.
"I will not phone them and ask them if they will come. They have to phone me to say "I'm ready to play for Cameroon". And not only one game. Because when they come, they stay. It's not today I come and the next they go. So it's all they come or they are definitely not coming.
"I have been a coach for 29 years and I have never had a group of players like this.
"It is a group of 23 friends and I never saw this in a football team - there are normally arguments.
"Here they are 23 friends who like to play football and do everything to win the game. So for me it's very easy as a coach."


A chain ferry has made its final journey after operating for 40 years on the Isle of Wight.

A Â£3.5m replacement for the Cowes Floating Bridge is due to enter service in late March.
Until then, drivers travelling between West and East Cowes face a 10-mile diversion via Newport, although a replacement launch will operate for foot passengers.
The old bridge will be moored in the River Medina ready for sale.
The Isle of Wight Council said the new ferry, being built in Wales by Mainstay Marine, would carry more vehicles than its predecessor and would make "faster, more regular" crossings.
The ferry office said it hoped that 20 vehicles would fit on the new vessel, compared with 10 or 11 on the old ferry.
Mainstay Marine said the vessel would be capable of reaching speeds of up to 5 knots and would carry a total deadweight of "no less than 52.65 tonnes".
The cost of the vessel was shared between the Isle of Wight Council and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.
West Cowes restaurant manager Lydia Lee said the three-month gap without a vehicle ferry would "have an impact" on trade, while takeaway owner Richard Quigley said it "smacks of bad planning".
The council said the gap would allow "substantial reconstruction work" to be carried out on both slipways.


The story behind an almost 3,000-year-old Egyptian whose mummified body is on display at a Kent museum is about to be unearthed, thanks to lottery money.

The mummy is already a favourite at Maidstone Museum, but scientists plan to use a grant to reconstruct her face and discover more about her background.
Ta-Kush is believed to be a 14-year-old girl who died about 2,700 years ago.
But museum staff say the results of a CT scan on the mummy and coffin could even rewrite history.
They plan to use the £78,700 grant to bring together the museum's Egyptian and Greek collections in a new ancient civilisations gallery.
But the centrepiece will be Ta-Kush, who until recently was thought to be called Ta-Kesh.
Samantha Harris, the museum's collections manager, said studies by an Egyptologist in Cairo had revealed the girl's true name.
"For over 150 years we've been calling her Ta-Kesh. But she's reinterpreted her name as Ta-Kush, which means the Kushite lady," she said.
The mummy, which has been at the museum since the 1850s, will be scanned by experts at Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery (Kims) and the results analysed by their counterparts at Liverpool John Moore's University, who will digitally reconstruct the face, head and shoulders.
Lyn Palmer, who is managing the project, said: "It is going to personalise Ta-Kush. It will mean that our visitors will be able to see what she looks like."
The scientific analysis should also help establish for sure the body's age and even confirm its sex.
Ms Palmer added: "We think she's a 14-year-old girl, but she may turn out not to be. Previous scans of females have turned out to be male."
Work already being undertaken has helped narrow down where she originated to the area around Thebes, details about her parents and her name, gleaned from hieroglyphics on the coffin.
Matt Travail, imaging manager at Kims, said: "It will be completely different from how we scan our patients. The scan itself will be over and done with in five minutes, but a lot of the time... will be spent on the analysis of it and the reconstruction."


A painting of a nude by Amedeo Modigliani has sold for more than $68.9m (£42.7m) at an auction in New York - a record for the artist's work.

Sotheby's said five bidders competed for La Belle Romaine, pushing its price well past its $40m (£24.8m) estimate.
The painting, part of a series of nudes created around 1917, was purchased by an anonymous buyer.
Modigliani's previous auction record was 43.2m euros (£35.8m), set earlier this year in Paris.
"We are delighted with the results of our sale," said Sotheby's Simon Shaw.
"It was a great night for Modigliani... that price represents over four times the price realised when it was sold at Sotheby's in 1999," he added.
Another painting by the artist - Jeanne Hebuterne (au chapeau) - one of the first portraits he painted of his lover, sold for $19.1m (£11.8m), high above its estimate of $9-12m (£5.6-7.4m).
The artist, who lived from 1884 to 1920, originally focused on sculpture but switched to painting in part because of health problems.
Other top-priced works at the Impressionist and Modern Art sale included a canvas from Monet's famous water lily paintings, which fetched $24.7m (£15.3m) and Matisse's Danseuse dans le fauteuil, sol en damier, which sold for $20.8m (£12.9m).


Vicente produced a storming finish to win the Scottish Grand National at odds of 14-1 as champion trainer Paul Nicholls enjoyed four winners at Ayr.

There were high hopes of a Scottish victory when Seeyouatmidnight surged to the front with one fence to jump.
However, Vicente, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, powered home in style to seal the £120,000 first prize.
Alvarado passed Seeyouatmidnight right on the line for second, with Royale Knight coming in fourth.
A good day at Ayr gives Nicholls a lead of just over £30,000 from Willie Mullins in the prize-money-determined trainers' championship for the jumps season, which ends next Saturday.
Mullins' hopes of winning the big race for Ireland came to a premature end as 8-1 joint favourite Measureofmydreams crashed out in the early stages.
Then Folsom Blue, trained by Mouse Morris, who had won both the English and Irish Nationals, exited six out to end dreams of a historic hat-trick.
"It was a brilliant result," Nicholls told BBC Scotland.
"You try all season to win these big races and a few of them have eluded us but that was a special moment.
"That was one of Sam's best ever rides, I'd say. He's learning all the time and he's a fantastic guy.
"This has been the target for Vicente all season. I thought Cheltenham would do him good and you don't win these races without a prep run."
"I suppose Paul Nicholls has not been champion trainer for nine of the past 10 jumps seasons by waving the white flag when the going gets tough.
"And despite predictions that the title was well and truly slipping away when he lost the lead in the prize-money-determined championship to Willie Mullins at Aintree, Nicholls himself determined to retaliate, and an Ayr four-timer highlighted by Vicente was the perfect way to do so.
"A week to go, and with big money at Perth and Sandown to come, this race is going to the wire."


A Bangladeshi blogger known for his atheist views has been hacked to death by a gang armed with machetes in the capital Dhaka, police say.

Niloy Neel was attacked at his home in the city's Goran area.
He is the fourth secularist blogger to have been killed this year by suspected Islamist militants in Bangladesh.
Imran H Sarkar, head of the Bangladesh Blogger and Activist Network, told the BBC that Mr Neel had been an anti-extremist voice of reason.
"He was the voice against fundamentalism and extremism and was even a voice for minority rights - especially women's rights and the rights of indigenous people," he said.
BBC World Service South Asia editor Charles Haviland says that, like previous victims, Mr Neel was not only secular but atheist and, like two of the others, he was from a Hindu, not a Muslim, background.
All four men killed were on a list of 84 "atheist bloggers" drawn up by Islamic groups in 2013 and widely circulated.
It was originally submitted to the government with the aim of having the bloggers arrested and tried for blasphemy. The groups which wanted bloggers arrested told us they have no knowledge of who is behind the killings.
There is also a more complex backdrop to the killings. Islamic groups label all these bloggers "atheists" - and many did indeed use the internet to criticise those who believe in God.
But in fact, not all the bloggers were atheists. What they did have in common was they were part of a wider, secular movement that took to the streets in protest in 2013.
'Nowhere is safe': Behind the blogger killings
BBC World Service: Bangladesh's murdered bloggers
The BBC's Akbar Hossain in Dhaka says Mr Neel had filed a police report expressing fear for his life, but his complaints had not been not followed up.
Police said about six attackers had tricked their way into Mr Neel's home by saying they were looking to rent a flat.
"Two of them then took him to a room and then slaughtered him there," deputy police commissioner Muntashirul Islam said.
"His wife was in the flat but she was confined to another room."
In May, secular blogger Ananta Bijoy Das was killed by masked men with machetes in Sylhet. He was said to have received death threats from Islamist extremists.
In March, another blogger, Washiqur Rahman, was hacked to death in Dhaka. Blogger Avijit Roy, who courted controversy by championing atheism and also tackling issues such as homosexuality, was killed in Dhaka in February.
Bangladesh is officially secular but critics say the government is indifferent to attacks on bloggers by Islamist militants.
Two people have been arrested, but no-one charged, in connection with this year's killings, our correspondent adds.


In February 2016, a baby rhino called Lofo was rushed to an animal rescue centre by helicopter.

11 May 2016 Last updated at 13:11 BST
He was badly wounded and needed specialist care from a team of vets.
Lofo's mum had been killed by poachers for her horn in Kruger National Park, one of the world's biggest animal reserves.
Rhino poaching is a huge problem there and in other parts of Africa.
The poachers also attacked the baby rhino and tried to take his horn.
Amazingly he managed to escape and was found by the Kruger team after five days of searching.
Experts at a special rhino orphanage called Care for Wild Africa have been taking care of him ever since.
'Rhino mum' Petronel Nieuwoudt, named him Lofo - because he was lost and then found.
Watch his amazing story here...
Pictures courtesy of Care for Wild Africa


Former IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has arrived at a New York court, where a judge is expected to drop a sexual assault case against him.

Prosecutors have told the judge they were no longer convinced of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case, based on a claim by hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, has crumbled in recent weeks over questions about her credibility and motives.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, was accused in May of attacking the African immigrant.
Ahead of a hearing scheduled for 11:30 local time (15:30 GMT), Mr Strauss-Kahn arrived at the court room in lower Manhattan in a six-car motorcade with his wife Anne Sinclair.
On Monday, prosecutors told the judge that Ms Diallo had "not been truthful on matters great and small", in a filing in New York state court.
An international media frenzy erupted on 14 May when Ms Diallo told police that Mr Strauss-Kahn had confronted her naked as she entered a suite at the Sofitel Hotel in New York City, chased her and forced her to perform oral sex.
If the case is dropped, Mr Strauss-Kahn would be free to return to France, though he still faces a civil lawsuit from his 32-year-old accuser.
In the court filing, prosecutors laid out in detail the case they had assembled against Mr Strauss-Kahn - and their doubts.
"The physical, scientific and other evidence establishes that the defendant engaged in a hurried sexual encounter with the complainant, but it does not independently establish her claim of a forcible, non-consensual encounter," the filing said.
In addition, "evidence gathered during our post-indictment investigation severely undermined her reliability as a witness in this case".
Prosecutors said that if they were unable to believe Ms Diallo's story beyond a reasonable doubt, "we cannot ask a jury to do so".
Speaking to reporters after a brief meeting on Monday with prosecutors at the court in Manhattan, Ms Diallo's lawyer Kenneth Thompson said: "Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has denied the right of a woman to get justice in a rape case.
"He has not only turned his back on this innocent victim but he has also turned his back on the forensic, medical and other physical evidence in this case."
Mr Thompson filed a motion asking the judge to disqualify Mr Vance's office from the case and to appoint a special prosecutor, a move rejected on Tuesday morning by the judge.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers, meanwhile, said they had always "maintained that there were many reasons to believe that [his] accuser was not credible".
"Mr Strauss-Kahn and his family are grateful that the district attorney's office took our concerns seriously and concluded on its own that this case cannot proceed further," William Taylor and Benjamin Brafman said in a statement.
The Frenchman was forced from his job as director of the International Monetary Fund after his arrest on board an Air France jet.
But within weeks, prosecutors said there were inconsistencies in Ms Diallo's accounts of the alleged assault and of her background.
It was revealed that she had been recorded discussing the case with a jailed friend and appeared to refer to Mr Strauss-Kahn's wealth, which his supporters said pointed to a financial motive.
Prosecutors also said Ms Diallo had not been truthful in tax documents, nor on an asylum application form in her account of a gang rape she said she suffered back in Guinea.
Mr Strauss-Kahn was later freed from his restrictive bail conditions.
Ms Diallo then took the unusual step of giving media interviews, defending her allegations against him.
On 8 August, she filed a civil suit against Mr Strauss-Kahn.
Authorities in Paris are still considering whether to press charges against him over an allegation by French writer Tristane Banon that he tried to rape her during a 2003 interview.
Mr Strauss-Kahn had been touted as a leading contender to take on French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the April 2012 presidential elections.