today at one, three boys have died after falling into a frozen lake in solihull, in the west midlands. they were aged eight, 11 and 12. police continue to search for other possible victims. officers went in waist—deep. one of my officers was trying to punch through the ice to actually rescue the children themselves. a fourth boy, aged six, remains critically ill in hospital. we'll have the very latest. also this lunchtime: snow, ice and fog leave travellers stranded, hitting roads, rail and airports. the uk economy shrank by 0.3% to october, with the chancellor

warning things will get worse, before they get better. the government is to hold an emergency cobra meeting, on how best to tackle a wave of public sector strikes. and another brilliant display and in the sport on the bbc news channel: england complete a series victory in pakistan — winning a thrilling second test in multan by 26 runs. the fireservice has described it as a "tragedy beyond words". three boys have died, afterfalling into a frozen lake in solihull, in the west midlands.

aged 8, 11 and 12, they were rushed to hospital after being pulled from the water at babbs mill park. a fourth boy who's six, remains in a critical condition in hospital, while officers continue to search the lake. our correspondent, phil mackie has sent us this report, which some viewers may find distressing. just after 2:30pm, four children had fallen through the ice. police officers raced to help. a few minutes later, firefighters arrived and took over in the water. there was a massive emergency response. a search to see if there were any others continued into the night. four young boys were pulled out and were taken to hospital, all had suffered cardiac arrests. today, we had confirmation of the news everyone feared, three had died, the other aged six is still critical in hospital. we have worked very closely with our colleagues in west

midlands fire service and also in west midlands ambulance service, this has been a realjoint effort. it is incredibly sad that we do not have any better news for you today regarding yesterday afternoon's incident. the boys�* deaths are a tragedy beyond words, and the the boys' deaths are a tragedy beyond words, and the thoughts and heartfelt sympathies of everyone here at west midlands fire service with their families, friends and the wider community is this distressing time. they are still not sure if there's anyone in the water, initial reports suggested there may have been five or six children playing on the ice. compared to the rescue operation that was going on yesterday afternoon and last night, things have a scaled down considerably. but you can still see police officers wading through the ice cold water as part of the recovery operation in appalling conditions. the news has affected everyone here, many of whom have come to pay their respects. as mothers and grandparents, we couldn't imagine how last night

went for them for that family and their parents and his mother. it is not something, you try not to think about. the prime minister has sent his condolences via the local mp, both of whom have children of a similar age. since i have heard the news, like many people might have been in shock. it is a great tragedy, this is a real close knit community, and to hear about children playing on the ice and falling through, just all of it, the shock and anguish is very real at the moment. the children's school, a short walk from where the tragedy happened, was shot today. grief remains the overwhelming emotion. there are questions about safety and whether children are fully aware of the dangers of playing on ice. yesterday's incident is a stark reminder to us all of the dangers of open water, especially during the winter months. frozen lakes, ponds, canals and reservoirs that look picturesque but they can be lethal. there are no greater warnings of

this than yesterday's tragic events. phil, we could see how distressing this tragedy has been for everyone involved, including the emergency services who battled to save these children yesterday?— services who battled to save these children yesterday? yes, you heard the were children yesterday? yes, you heard they were clearly _ children yesterday? yes, you heard they were clearly very _ children yesterday? yes, you heard they were clearly very brave. - children yesterday? yes, you heard they were clearly very brave. you i they were clearly very brave. you saw the pictures of police racing to try and help and some went into the water. one suffered hypothermia. firefighters weren't in specialist equipment, they were in their normal equipment, they were in their normal equipment and ran in and started to pull children out. it was only later that people with proper equipment arrived and searched. we understand members of the public also went into that freezing water to try to do what they could. there were obviously reports as i said are that there may have been other children there may have been other children there and they're still in the water trying to see if there may be

somebody else there. but no one else is reported missing so, the hope is that four is the final number and even has theirfingers that four is the final number and even has their fingers crossed and praying that six—year—old does manage to make a recovery. praying that six-year-old does manage to make a recovery. again, this a terrible _ manage to make a recovery. again, this a terrible warning _ manage to make a recovery. again, this a terrible warning of _ manage to make a recovery. again, this a terrible warning of the - this a terrible warning of the dangers of open water and the accepts sense that a frozen lake might be solid, but sometimes it isn't. might be solid, but sometimes it isn�*t. in might be solid, but sometimes it isn't. ., ., , isn't. in the morning there was uuite a isn't. in the morning there was quite a bit _ isn't. in the morning there was quite a bit of — isn't. in the morning there was quite a bit of snow _ isn't. in the morning there was quite a bit of snow and - isn't. in the morning there was quite a bit of snow and that. isn't. in the morning there was. quite a bit of snow and that may have settled on the top of the ice, it melted by the afternoon. but it may have given the impression that theice may have given the impression that the ice was solid than it was. when you and i were growing up there were public information films about the dangerers of ice and that doesn't happen now. once the news came out that those children had died, the

people who gathered from this part of the world, many have been in tears and i think it has affected a lot of people, because it is just one of those things, desperately fear as a parent particularly and it has happened and caused a great deal of tragedy not just for the community, but specifically for those families.— snow, ice and fog have caused serious travel disruption across the uk, particularly in the south of england. all flights at stansted airport were suspended overnight, though they've now resumed, and there have also been delays at heathrow and gatwick. southeastern railway has warned passengers against travelling, and others hoping to get trains today are being advised to check before leaving home. here's duncan kennedy. this is what many roads in south—east england have looked like today. others have been completely blocked. we came across this young

driver in kent, his tyre caught an icy patch and he hit a concrete post. he was shaken, but unhurt. for others it has been a morning of clear ups. what do you make of the conditions?— conditions? great for children, but the 're conditions? great for children, but they're not — conditions? great for children, but they're not the _ conditions? great for children, but they're not the best _ conditions? great for children, but they're not the best for _ conditions? great for children, but| they're not the best for businesses and commuting.— they're not the best for businesses and commuting. every kind of travel s stem and commuting. every kind of travel system has — and commuting. every kind of travel system has been _ and commuting. every kind of travel system has been hit _ and commuting. every kind of travel system has been hit by _ and commuting. every kind of travel system has been hit by the - and commuting. every kind of travel system has been hit by the snow. i system has been hit by the snow. dozens of cars were abandoned op the m25. some people were stranded for more than 12 hours. i m25. some people were stranded for more than 12 hours.— more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like — more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like it- _ more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like it. as _ more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like it. as soon _ more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like it. as soon as - more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like it. as soon as i - more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like it. as soon as i hit - more than 12 hours. i never seen snow like it. as soon as i hit the | snow like it. as soon as i hit the m25, _ snow like it. as soon as i hit the m25, it— snow like it. as soon as i hit the m25, it was_ snow like it. as soon as i hit the m25, it was chaos. there were different — m25, it was chaos. there were different parts where we were just stranded, we didn't see any emergency services. the gritters were out in _ emergency services. the gritters were out in gloucestershire - emergency services. the gritters were out in gloucestershire as i emergency services. the gritters i were out in gloucestershire as parts of east and south—west were carpeted

by snow. major airports have seen more than a hundred flights cancelled. not only at heathrow, but at stansted, gatwick and luton, hitting pre—chris mat travel plans for thousands. trains have been badly affected, especially in rural places like here in kent, where commuter and other services have been severely reduced. euston is one of the stations full of people rearranging their plans. south eastern, south western and great anglia report disruption, as does london underground. in sussex a0 people were forced to take refuge in the pub, which laid on hot drinks and mattresses. we the pub, which laid on hot drinks and mattresses.— the pub, which laid on hot drinks and mattresses. ~ ., and mattresses. we trekked here, two miles, a two-mile _ and mattresses. we trekked here, two miles, a two-mile journey _ and mattresses. we trekked here, two miles, a two-mile journey from - and mattresses. we trekked here, two miles, a two-mile journey from the . miles, a two—mile journey from the other pub. and sure enough, pauline

wilson and her team welcomed us with open arms and made hot food, hot drinks and said you can all stay. the effects of weather will play out across today. there will be clear ups, disruption and some chaos for many hours to come. it continues to be freezing here, particularly in kent, but right across the south—east and many other parts of the country as well. that will continue to bring disruption. we have been told that all motorways across the country are open, but many dual carriageways have lane restrictions and b road and minor roads like this, well, many are blocked. and they're unlikely to be unblocked for the rest of the day. there has been train disruption, particularly in the rural stations that can't operate today and at airports, we are told by the

authorities that they're doing all they can to keep the runways clear. but we are told many planes are in the wrong place and that will add to the wrong place and that will add to the disruption of the passengers trying to get away from christmas and make other travel plans that we have seen in the last 2a hours. here in kent and east sussex there have been school closures and it is not just commuters, it is parents and many others affected by this weather and most likely that will continue for the rest of today. thank you. we've just had the coldest night of the year, with temperatures in northern scotland dipping below minus 15 celsius. our weather presenter, matt taylor is with me. how worse could things get and when are things going to turn and get a bit warm sner ==

are things going to turn and get a bit warm sne— are things going to turn and get a bit warm sne ., .,, ., ., , bit warm sner -- warmer? those areas that have been — bit warm sner -- warmer? those areas that have been affected, _ bit warm sner -- warmer? those areas that have been affected, there - bit warm sner -- warmer? those areas that have been affected, there is - bit warm sner -- warmer? those areas that have been affected, there is no i that have been affected, there is no more sn expected, but snow will affect north—east scotland and blizzard conditions there. in south—west england tomorrow, if anyone is making cross country travel, there could be a slight area of snow. but widely it is just how cold it has been. tonight the biggest problem will be the risk of ice with temperatures minus 15 or lower. the areas that saw snow last night will be colder and that cold will continue for much of the week. thank you. for the latest travel updates, go do the weather app or visit the weather page on the bbc news web—site.

new official figures show britain's economy shrank by 0.3% in the three months to the end of october. the office for budget responsibility has already suggested the uk has tipped into recession, a period of negative growth, that could last "just over a year." our economics correspondent, andy verity, has that story. in edinburgh's morningside district, toys galore has been open for more than a0 years. but these are not times of plenty. because the pound is much weaker than last year, and most of the toys are imported, they have been getting more expensive. some cost so much now that they're no longer worth stocking. it's an affluent area but even here people are feeling the pinch. pretty much most people are struggling because they've seen all the costs going up, interest costs, fuel costs, food costs. and yet their wages haven't kept up. everyone is getting squeezed. i think that although they will still buy a toy for someone's birthday or someone's christmas, they might buy maybe a small toy or there might be not the trip

to a toy shop on a saturday. the economy, in other words all the goods and services the uk produces, grew by 0.5% in october but that was largely a bounceback from september, which saw a 0.6% fall, largely because of the extra bank holiday for the queen's funeral. the three months from august to october showed a 0.3% fall, suggesting the uk is on course to be officially declared in recession next year. it's quite clear that with the squeeze that people are experiencing from high inflation, holding back consumer spending and uncertainty holding back investment, there will be some form of a recession. but it's only as these recessions develop you can really assess how long they're going to last. services for consumers from restaurants to shops to sports venues also saw a modest bounceback in october through september. in the midst of what's predicted

to be the tightest squeeze on living standards since the 19a0s, they are still 8.9% down on pre—pandemic levels. these figures confirm this is a very challenging economic situation here and across the world. it will get worse before it gets better. but we have a plan that will more than halve inflation over the next year and, if we stay the course, we can get back to the strong economic growth that we need. activity in manufacturing drop by 1.8% and the sector has now been in a slump since the summer of last year. figures also suggest the economy produced a% less electricity and gas in october than a year before. the temperatures higher and prices soaring, households and firms put the heating on for an average of only 2.8 days. but that was two months ago. that was then, this is now. andy verity, bbc news. the time is 1:15pm. our top story this lunchtime. three boys have died after falling

into a frozen lake in solihull in the west midlands. please continue to search for more possible victims but say there is no information others are missing. jersey. silent remember those who died in a suspected gas explosion this weekend. coming up on the bbc news channel: we'll hear england captain owen farrell, who defends the record of former head coach eddiejones, saying the poor form that led to his sacking was everyone's responsibility, notjustjones's. senior ministers will attend a meeting of the emergency cobra committee, to discuss contingency plans for a wave of planned strikes by public sector workers. they'll discuss the deployment of military personnel and civil servants, to help cover walk—outs by border force officers, and ambulance crews. also this week, there'll be four days of rail disruption, as a0,000 staff go on strike. after a breakdown in talks,

more than 100,000 royal mail workers are involved in two days of industrial action. if you're a learner driver, check your test date this week. examiners are set to walk out over pay, pensions and job security, with scotland and the north east of england affected. other areas could be hit later. healthcare workers in northern ireland, including nurses, technicians and administrative workers, have gone on strike. they rejected a pay offer last week, that was below the rate of inflation. and the royal college of nursing will begin its first strike in more than a century on thursday. over 100,000 nurses are taking part, demanding better pay. here's our political correspondent, damian grammaticas. every corner of the country now is feeling the effects of this rolling wave of strikes. today its health workers in northern ireland. as it stands, they say, there's no incentive for staff to stay in the nhs, the pay simply isn't good enough. they have had ten years extensively of pay cuts. they cannot afford to make ends meet at this point in time,

they cannot afford to fill their cars, they cannot afford to heat their homes. they really do need to secure a decent standard of living. everywhere, the issue is the same. salaries, workers say, have been squeezed too far. strikes on the railways will be stepped up this week and last right across the holiday. royal mail staff have already been out and will be again in the coming days, following ambulance drivers and border force officers. in action starting this week, nurses too, their biggest union, the rcn, has said if the government were to sit down and have realistic and honest talks about pay it may well recommend its members call off the strikes. but there's no sign of that. we would have to take money away from patients waiting for operations, to then fund additional pay. everyone on the public sector were to get an increase in line —— if everyone on the public sector were to get an increase in line with inflation, that would be costing £28 billion at a time when

the government has to get inflation under control. that 28 billion figure has been disputed as an overestimation. while the government appears to be toughening its position, labour has stepped in, criticising ministers for what it says is a profound lack of leadership. at the same time, the labour leader and its shadow health secretary don't want to be seen to be backing the highest pay demands. labour would be willing to negotiate with the nurses. we want to be honest from the point of view of the opposition, inflation plus 5% is not a figure we could reasonably offer if we were in government today. given that unison and the royal college of nursing has offered to talk and negotiate and compromise, i don't understand why ligament isn't biting their hand off. instead ministers today will be discussing using the army to drive ambulances and carry out passport checks at our borders. so the outlook for compromise looks bleak. any thaw between the government and unions unlikely this side of christmas. damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster. downing street is stressing there will still be serious disruption as

a result of industrial action despite the army then drafted in. jonathan blake is in westminster for us. weeks of strike action ahead. is there any suggestion that the government is willing to sit down with sections of those people who are going to take industrial action and try to sort this thing out? home and try to sort this thing out? none at all at the — and try to sort this thing out? none at all at the moment. _ and try to sort this thing out? none at all at the moment. the - and try to sort this thing out? time: at all at the moment. the government says it will do all it can to minimise disruption caused by the strikes. it accepts there is only the magic candy. ministers from various government departments will meet at a meeting of the government's emergency response committee to talk about members of the armed forces standing in for border. even with those plans in place the ability to respond to emergency call—outs will be limited, there will be several challenging days when the strikes take place and they are warning people to accept there will be serious disruption. it is

that disruption that will mark the coming weeks of december but also a determination, both from the government, who argued further increases above inflation full public sector workers would push rising prices ever higher and are unaffordable in the first place but also unions who say members have had to suffer below inflation pay increases year upon year, meaning in real terms wages have fallen. what could break the deadlock? labour says ministers need to get round the table and negotiate with unions on pgy- table and negotiate with unions on pay. there is plenty of conservative mps who will tell you ministers have no place in negotiating directly with unions on pay and public sympathy for those going out on strike is limited. thank you. as we've been hearing, health care workers in northern ireland, members of unison, and the northern ireland public service alliance, have gone on strike over pay and staffing levels. our ireland correspondent, chris page, is at the mater hospital in north belfast.

what has the impact been so far of the strikes?— the strikes? this picket line is one of thousands _ the strikes? this picket line is one of thousands at _ the strikes? this picket line is one of thousands at hospitals, - the strikes? this picket line is one of thousands at hospitals, health | of thousands at hospitals, health centres, office buildings right across northern ireland. thousands of workers have walked out. this picket line is organised by the unison trade union. santa claus himself has evenjoined unison trade union. santa claus himself has even joined the picket line. do not mistake this for a lack of determination. they say what they really want for christmas is fair pgy- really want for christmas is fair pay. they are not appealing to saint nicholas for that they are appealing to the government of westminster who said the government for local northern ireland because there are no ministers in power. today they say they would want is staff to be properly rewarded in the pay. while they are not saying that explicitly

what that is being read as is an expression of frustration about the political situation in northern ireland. there has been no fully functioning devolved government since february. they are blocking a power—sharing executive. the officials, the civil servants here in effect running northern ireland at the moment have been offered a £1a00 pay increase for each individual working in the health service, a minimum of that. union said because of the rising cost of living are amounted to a pay cut in real terms. living are amounted to a pay cut in real terms-— prosecutors in greece have frozen all assets of a greek member of the european parliament, eva kaili. she's been arrested in belgium, accused of corruption. bags of cash were allegedly found at her home. investigators believe this was money she received from qatar in return

for supporting the country and debates at the european parliament. johar denies bribing meps. —— st helier denies. ursula von der leyen said this was extremely worrying. the highest ethical standards were required. a minute's silence has been held acrossjersey and flags on official buildings lowered, afterfive people died in a suspected gas explosion at a block of flats on saturday. police are continuing to search for four people, who are still missing. they've warned the recovery operation could take weeks. our correspondent danjohnson is in st helierfor us. clearly a solemn moment. a terrible moment, this marking of the deaths of these people with this minute's

silence a little earlier today. absolutely, clive. this is a disaster that has shaken the island community, i think. disaster that has shaken the island community, ithink. it disaster that has shaken the island community, i think. it has hit everybody here very hard. it was an enormous explosion that destroyed this small block of flats that stood where they are a charm up the digger now is. just a pile of rubble is there, which search teams have continued to go through because they are still searching for four people. we made five people lost their lives. the declaration of the weekend was the search effort would turn into a recovery operation because there is no hope of finding any survivors. people across the island fell silent today at 11am for a minute that was respected by people from the emergency services, people from the emergency services, people involved in the search. they stopped their work for a moment. people working on the harbour here in jersey. a people working on the harbour here injersey. a moment, they lined up and bowed their heads in respect meant notjust for

and bowed their heads in respect meant not just for the and bowed their heads in respect meant notjust for the lies that were lost in the explosion but also for a fishing boat which sank a few days ago with the loss of three fishermen. people here on the island have had a lot to deal with in the last week and there is still a huge clear up going on. the explosion was so powerful even buildings a couple of hundred metres away were affected. an investigation is going on to the —— into the cause. affected. an investigation is going on to the -- into the cause. thank ou. the messaging platform twitter is relaunching its subscription service. for a monthly fee, users will get a blue tick badge, indicating their account has been verified, and their tweets will be given more prominence. people subscribing on apple devices will have to pay more. the initial launch last month was suspended after a rash of fake accounts. england's cricketers have had another thrilling test match victory in pakistan. they won the game in multarn by 26

runs and now have an unassailable 2—0 lead in the three—test series. joe wilson has the full details. one team needs six wickets, the other 157 more runs. a classic test match conclusion with mohammad nawaz on the attack for pakistan. they'd lostjust one early wicket — saud shakeel was guiding, surviving. look at the signs! it was heading pakistan's way. useful runs, they'll take however they can. just 65 to win now. england getting desperate. a touch on nawaz�*s glove and he was gone. saud shakeel on 9a was out, caught two. well, was he? the onfield umpire thought so but asked his colleague to study these replays. now did the ball touch the ground? the official gave the decision in england's favour. well... big moment in the game, this. abrar ahmed took on the bowling for an entertaining 17. there was still hope.

commentator: it's down to 46. but mark wood was too quick too often for zahid mahmood here. did you get that? oh, yes. 27 runs from their target, mohammad ali's bat touched this and that was all out. england had found another route to victory. we all understand what we've managed to achieve today. and to come to pakistan and win is obviously very, very difficult. turned out to be another down—to—the wire game again. england have won twice in pakistan this month. they'd won twice there in the preceding 60 years. under ben stokes, the extraordinary just happens, almost every day. joe wilson, bbc news. with less than two weeks to go, there's a late contender for this yea r�*s christmas number one. mark and roxanne hoyle — better known as the youtuber duo ladbaby — are aiming once again for the festive top spot, and have brought in help from the money saving expert martin lewis. our entertainment reporter

daniel rosney has more. # we built this city on sausage rolls!# for the fifth year, they're back. over the last four years, thanks to all of your a i mazing —— amazing support, we have been able to do something truly phenomenal. with not one... # we built this city on sausage rolls... or two... # i love sausage rolls! or three... # come and sing and dance to sausage rolls!# but four christmas no 1s. profits from the duo's charity single will be donated to the food bank charity the trussell trust, saying they had to do something when people are struggling more than ever. # feed the world! funds will also be split with the band aid foundation, because they're releasing a version of this 198a classic. # feed the world, let them know it's christmas time... bob said he was excited to see

what we was going to do. like the original, there will be some celebrities involved this time around. it's top secret for now other than... hello. the financial expert martin lewis. martin lewis! i don't think everyone's ready for martin lewis's singing voice, i genuinely don't, it's so good, in the beginning we had to convince him to start singing and then by the end of it we had to convince him to stop! ladbaby could trump the beatles to have the most christmas no 15, but they have tough competition from mariah carey. i've beaten mariah carey before, come on we can beat mariah carey. # we love sausage rolls!# mariah carey likes a sausage roll, apparently. ijust make that up. time for a look at the weather. here's matt taylor.