five people are confirmed dead and more than 100,000 have had to leave their homes, as the number of dangerous wildfires threatening los angeles more than doubles. the famous sunset boulevard is left in ruins, and more than 1,000 buildings have been completely destroyed. down to my knees, when i got up to my parents�* house, with just sheer amazement at what i was looking at, which was basicallyjust a chimney stack and a pile of ash. i mean, it's something out of a movie. also on the programme... the number of people in hospital in england with flu is now five times higher than it was last month — health leaders say they're concerned. this is abnormal, what is happening, it isn't right, what is happening, and we're all trying to pull together to support them and support the patients. temperatures could get even colder tonight — —16 is forecast in some areas, as snow and ice continue to hit the uk. and scientists in antarctica extract the world's oldest ice —

the ancient gas and ash frozen inside could teach us more about climate change. join us laterfor join us later for bbc london when we will bring you up—to—date with the latest stories from in and around the capital. plus your local weather. at least five wildfires are still raging around los angeles, including one engulfing the iconic hollywood hills. fire chiefs say they're hard to control and rapidly expanding as they approach come of the city's iconic landmarks. the intense flames have been difficult to tackle because of high winds, dry conditions and low water pressure. five people are confirmed dead and more than 137,000 homes have been evacuated, in what has become

the most destructive wildfire in la's history. buildings on sunset boulevard, the famous strip that stretches for miles through west hollywood, are lying in ruins after being completely destroyed by the flames. the largest fires in palisades and eaton remain entirely uncontained — that means firefighters are prioritising saving lives rather than trying to put them out. three smaller fires are also still burning. these images show you what a house in altadena looked like before the fire broke out and once it had been engulfed in flames and the same for this cafe in palisades — the building has been completely destroyed. 0ur correspondent helena humphrey has this report from la. a picture of utter devastation. the flames here are pitiless, sparing nothing in their path. not the glitzy houses of pacific palisades, nor the hillsides. the imagery of this is next level. it's shocking. i mean, i was down to my knees

when i got up to my parents�* house with just sheer amazement at what i was looking at, which was basicallyjust a chimney stack and a pile of ash. i mean, it's something out of a movie. with the fires still burning, more people are being told to evacuate their homes, faced with the agonising decision of what to take and what to leave behind. you look at something and you go, you know what? i've had that for almost all my life, but you know what? i can let that go, i can let it go, i can let it go. and then i took photographs and things that meant something, a little figurine that my daddy bought for me when i was five, you know, those kinds of things. southern california is used to wildfires, but not like this. january is supposed to bring rain. instead, the ground is tinder dry. palisades, the first blaze to break out on tuesday, has now become the most destructive in la's history. hurricane—strength winds fanning the flames. some desperately trying to protect their homes. i know this looks pretty stupid,

but if i can save one ember- from burning down my house, i'll take the risk. _ the downtown of pacific palisades is nearly wiped out. its celebrity—filled suburbs, home to tom hanks, ben affleck and reese witherspoon, now deserted. vice president kamala harris's los angeles residence also affected. what residents will return to, no—one knows. i'll be ok. i'm tough and we'll start over. you are tough. even though i'm 91 years old, i'll start over again. the scale and severity of these blazes is changing day by day. here in hollywood, in the hills, another fire on the horizon, showing how the situation can change in an instant. 0n the ground, there's limited water supply. the wildfires have caused massive issues for power supply too, affecting 1.5 million people. the eaton fire is now at around - 10,600 acres with 0% containment, but we have over 2,000 city-

employees deployed and working non—stop to address this. but promises of help will do little to calm fears. scientists warn that wildfires in the region are growing faster and more unpredictable, fuelled by climate change. as residents watch the orange haze on the horizon, all they can do is wonder what the next hours will bring. helena humphrey, bbc news, los angeles. i want to show you these life pictures, what it looks like in los angeles right now, just after five o'clock in the morning. you can see the flames still burning out of control. we can speak now to cbs reporter kris van cleave. we are in easton area of los

angeles, this is pasadena, may be the most recognisable place nearby just on the road. this was a home, it looks like a gas fuel, natural gas line, still burning. we see that a lot. there are not many structures left on the block. in this neighbourhood, there were not many homes that look to be intact and untouched. water dropping helicopters and aircraft are in the air right now, they are trying to tackle the fire, more than 10,000 acres, 0% containment, much of it does appear to be burning in forestland away from homes. but if the wind picks up and the wind we saw yesterday hitting 70—80 miles an hour, hurricane force winds, if it picks up again, which may happen tonight, there is a lot of concern about glowing embers, little balls of fire, blowing one, two, three

miles from the fire line earlier this week, worry about that, all of southern california holding their breath given the number of fires burning, the winds are in the forecast for at least another night, a major point of concern. you look around here, you seejust snippets of what was homes, chimneys standing, one wall still intact over here. appliances that burned, the remnants of that, but anything, the memories, things we all care so much about, photos, they arejust memories, things we all care so much about, photos, they are just gone. it is this house, that house, almost every other house on the block here. you drive by burnt out cars. yesterday we were coming up here, we drove down a street, it was either every house was on fire or already burnt to the ground. take care, thank you forjoining us. if you want to follow the story, special programme on the la fires at seven

o'clock this evening on the bbc news channel and on bbc i player. flu cases in england have risen dramatically in just a week. new official figures released this morning show the extreme pressure that hospitals and other parts of the health service are under. nhs england says it was dealing with an average of 51107 flu patients a day last week. that's an increase of more than 900 patients per day, compared to the week before. ambulance response times in england are also much slower than they should be. the average wait for a category 1 call in december — that's for life—threatening emergencies like a cardiac arrest — was 8 minutes and a0 seconds. one minute and a0 seconds above the target time of seven minutes. delays on category two calls — which could be a heart attack or stroke — were even worse. the average wait in december

was 47 minutes 26 seconds. almost half an hour above the target response time of 18 minutes. and there were long waits in accident and emergency units too. just over 70% of patients were seen within the target waiting time of four hours. that's well short of the 95% who should be treated within that time. we can speak now to our health editor hugh pym. these are figures that will cause concern. . , ., , concern. that is right, always really busy — concern. that is right, always really busy for _ concern. that is right, always really busy for the _ concern. that is right, always really busy for the nhs - concern. that is right, always really busy for the nhs at - concern. that is right, always| really busy for the nhs at this time of year, just after the new year. there is always flu. a particularly bad flu winter, a lot worse than last year, and you have got the cold weather adding to the immense strain on hospitals with more patients coming in. and what we see is essentially a&e units throughout the whole system around the uk really unable to fully cope in the best way with the number coming through the front door. you have people in corridors, people sitting in chairs waiting for care. in terms of bed numbers, the

nhs is always running pretty close to full capacity, it does not take much to push it very close to being absolutely full in terms of bed numbers and that is what flu has pushed it too. critical incidents declared in various hospitals around england in the last few days. pressure too in wales, critical incident declared for the ambulance service there a week ago. northern ireland, pressure is set to be intolerable. in scotland, emergency consultants say they are in the depths of a winter crisis. i spent some days this week at warwick hospital to see what sort of pressure they have been under. the nurse has asked for help.

you go and come and tell me what it is. 0k, thank you, amit. minutes into his 12—hour shift, raj, a consultant, is updated. and he's dealing with that sick patient there in ambulance bay. the situation looks dire. the challenge — finding beds. how are you feeling at the moment? percy has an underlying condition and suspected norovirus. we're just trying to find a space for you inside. it takes several hours to get him in, but at least percy does have a bed. yeah, and it's gradually getting worse. it's getting worse. we're just having a look at who's in all the rooms, just to make sure they're 0k, and whether we canjuggle people around a little bit. what i was trying to do was see if anybody can be out of a cubicle so i can put a new patient in a cubicle. but all of them either need active treatment or need to be in a cubicle because of their medical state, so i can't. patients deemed fit to sit are given chairs for their treatment. they're warm and fed, but it isn't ideal for anyone. as the light fades outside, ambulances start queuing. a dash to free beds is on. can i relocate him? the answer is no, isn't it? we met when you were last here. one patient that can move on tonight is george. he has gallbladder stones.

at the surgical unit, he'll have his scans while waiting for a ward bed. we need to find a bed for you, and we'll do that. who knows when that'll happen. 0k. sometimes you get a bed within about half an hour, and then sometimes we wait a few hours. but full wards means george spends the night here. morning! a new day and hope that some patients will be able to leave. david has taken over from raj. alert david has taken over from ra'. alert cominu in. is one of you able to see them? and bed wait times have risen to over 26 hours. this is one of the worst days i've known it. now, rachel, a senior manager, has come down to assess the situation. so, two of our team are just now getting percy ready for us to be able to move him to charlecote ward. and it's been a long old wait for him. it has, yes.

with percy finally heading to a ward, a new space has been created in the emergency department. a number have been in the waiting room overnight. how do you feel? it is disappointing. we know a long stay in a&e is no good for any patient, especially elderly and frail patients, a night on a chair, trolley, it can compound the reason they originally came to a&e. elsewhere in hospital, and infection outbreak means patients are not leaving as fast as hoped, ambulances backing up. aiii." leaving as fast as hoped, ambulances backin: u -. ., , leaving as fast as hoped, ambulances backin: u. ., , backing up. our longest patient waitin: backing up. our longest patient waiting for— backing up. our longest patient waiting for a — backing up. our longest patient waiting for a pad _ backing up. our longest patient waiting for a pad has _ backing up. our longest patient waiting for a pad has over - backing up. our longest patient waiting for a pad has over 26 i backing up. our longest patient - waiting for a pad has over 26 hours. 0ur longest patient waiting for a bed is over 26 hours. senior managers are left with little option. what we discussed was the fact we will declare a critical incident within the south warwickshire area. we have never done this though before. so, just explain, rachel, what's just happened? we've just declared a critical incident. it's helped the staff understand we know this is abnormal, what is happening,

it isn't right what is happening, and we're all trying to pull together to support them and support the patients. back in the emergency department... evening! how are you all? as raj comes back on shift... you needed your medication? ..he's depressed to see some familiarfaces. so, there's a lady... i don't know if you saw me, who got wheeled past me, who i had a little conversation with, because at six yesterday i had a conversation with her about her medication. so what do you think about that? it's a rubbish service. patients shouldn't be spending 28, 29 hours in an emergency department. for george, it's been 2a hours since he arrived. so, what's the situation, george? well, i'm still waiting. still waiting to hear the next move. with no space on any wards, it looks like it'll be a second night here. hugh pym, bbc news, warwick hospital. we would like to hear your experience of winter pressures on the nhs. you can find out how to send us your story by going to the

bbc news website. the former scotland rugby union captain stuart hogg has been sentenced to a one—year community payback order after he admitted abusing his estranged wife over five years. the 32—year—old was previously given a five—year non—harassment order and fined £600 after breaching bail conditions. the prince of wales has publicly praised the princess of wales as the most incredible wife and mother to mark her 43rd birthday. posting online, prince william said the strength she'd shown over the last year had been remarkable. she's returned to royal duties after chemotherapy treatment, following her cancer diagnosis last year. two illegally released lynx have been successfully recaptured in the scottish highlands. the royal zoological society of scotland worked with police to humanely trap the cats overnight and they will be transferred to edinburgh zoo following quarantine. the charity condemned the release as highly irresponsible. temperatures in parts of the uk could fall below

—16 degrees celsius tonight — even colder than last night — as cold air continues to sweep across the country. fresh weather warnings have been issued with snow, ice and fog forecast across southern england, wales, northern ireland and northern scotland. 0ur reporterjessica lane has the latest. temperatures fell as low as —12 in the scottish highlands overnight. weather warnings are in place for much of the uk today. it means widespread disruption across the south—west of england overnight, drivers and the 838 in devon got stuck for hours. in between bradford and halifax in the village of queensbury they are used to wintry weather, one of the highest villages in england but they say this year is especially difficult. this in england but they say this year is especially difficult.— especially difficult. this is the worst i've _ especially difficult. this is the worst i've seen _ especially difficult. this is the worst i've seen for _ especially difficult. this is the worst i've seen for many - especially difficult. this is the i worst i've seen for many years. especially difficult. this is the - worst i've seen for many years. but basically, it needs sorting, doesn't

it? ' , basically, it needs sorting, doesn't it? g , basically, it needs sorting, doesn't it? g ., ., ., basically, it needs sorting, doesn't it? my husband cannot go to work, he is in the army- — it? my husband cannot go to work, he is in the army. but _ it? my husband cannot go to work, he is in the army. but other— it? my husband cannot go to work, he is in the army. but other than - it? my husband cannot go to work, he is in the army. but other than that, i is in the army. but other than that, everything — is in the army. but other than that, everything is — is in the army. but other than that, everything is on foot and my toddler did not— everything is on foot and my toddler did not like — everything is on foot and my toddler did not like it. as you see, it's just— did not like it. as you see, it's just useless to walk on.- did not like it. as you see, it's just useless to walk on. holly works at the nearby _ just useless to walk on. holly works at the nearby calderdale _ just useless to walk on. holly works at the nearby calderdale hospital i at the nearby calderdale hospital and says her car has been snowed in for days. and says her car has been snowed in for da s. ,, �* , and says her car has been snowed in forda s. ,, v, and says her car has been snowed in forda s. ,, �*, , ., and says her car has been snowed in fordas.,, ., ,,, and says her car has been snowed in fordas.,, ., ,, for days. she's been on buses and we still cannot take _ for days. she's been on buses and we still cannot take her _ for days. she's been on buses and we still cannot take her out _ for days. she's been on buses and we still cannot take her out yet. - for days. she's been on buses and we still cannot take her out yet. to i still cannot take her out yet. to buses to get to the hospital. yes, no chance — buses to get to the hospital. yes, no chance i— buses to get to the hospital. yes, no chance i can get back out. how much extra _ no chance i can get back out. how much extra problems _ no chance i can get back out. how much extra problems is _ no chance i can get back out. firm" much extra problems is that causing? earlier starts. much extra problems is that causing? earlierstarts. i've much extra problems is that causing? earlier starts. i've got to be there for 7am. — earlier starts. i've got to be there for 7am. but_ earlier starts. i've got to be there for7am, but it's earlier starts. i've got to be there for 7am, but it's fine. 12 earlier starts. i've got to be there for 7am, but it's fine.— for 7am, but it's fine. 12 hour shifts. another _ for 7am, but it's fine. 12 hour shifts. another essential i for 7am, but it's fine. 12 hour i shifts. another essential lifeline for people or warm hubs like this in witness. they say demand for services has increased. i’d witness. they say demand for services has increased. i'd probably be sat services has increased. i'd probably he sat upstairs _ services has increased. i'd probably be sat upstairs in _ services has increased. i'd probably be sat upstairs in my _ services has increased. i'd probably be sat upstairs in my bedroom. in | be sat upstairs in my bedroom. in bed keeping warm. i think i've got

about £5 for my gas and my heating. the weather brought problems in the peak district, take hours to rescue a man who had become trapped in snow, 60 volunteers helping to get him safely down in icy conditions. after the coldest night so far in england, wales and northern ireland this winter, we can expect it to get colder later across the uk. i can show you what the wintry weather is causing such a problem. this is the main road through the village, you can see it has been gritted and ploughed and cars and vans and buses are able to move quite well, they've been going through it all morning but this side road, let me show you. this is still thick with snow that fell on sunday and you see it is people who live or work and who are trying to get in and out of side

roads like us are having problems. that is why the advice if you are going out a stick to the main roads as much as possible, give yourself extra time and date take care as the temperatures are going to plummet again overnight. jessica, thank you. the time is 13.19. our top story this afternoon... five people are confirmed dead and more than 100,000 have had to leave their homes, after the number of dangerous wildfires threatening los angeles more than doubled. and the father and son preparing to face—off in the same match. tonight's fa cup game may have been called off due to ice, but when it happens, tyler and ashley young will make history. join us laterfor join us later for bbc london, join us laterfor bbc london, we will bring you up—to—date with the latest stories from in and around the capital. plus your local weather.

a former police officer who was at the heart of a grooming investigation in oxford is warning that a similar type of sexual abuse is still going on, both locally and nationally. it follows yesterday's vote by mps, who rejected calls by the conservative party for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs. here 5 our senior uk correspondent sima kotecha. in recent days, attention has been back on the dozens of men, predominantly of pakistani heritage, sexually abusing white girls on the streets of britain over decades. 0ne survivor of abuse says it's still going on. i was one of those girls. it's naive to think it's not still happening. and the political debate is not focussed on the problem, but on trying to outdo one another. in oxford, more than a dozen men were convicted of sexual offences against underage girls between 1998 and 2012. the lead detective at the time is convinced the problem hasn't gone away. i have sources within the police.

some of them are my friends. some of them are still interested in what i can help them with as far as my experience goes. so yes, it's still happening. of course it's happening. it's happening in every city around the country. do you think there should be a public inquiry? no. we've done the public inquiry. every single investigation has been thoroughly reinvestigated and checked. we've had seven years' worth of professorjay and her team looking at csc and made the 22 recommendations. let's get it going. don't waste your money on more pointless inquiries. thames valley police says the exploitation of children continues to be a priority for the force, and that more officers are working on investigating child abuse. so this big fat book is the 2022 independent inquiry into child sexual abuse. and it came about after several high profile cases involving the abuse of girls. and it clearly states on page nine

that there appeared to be a flawed assumption that this problem was on the wane, meaning it's farfrom disappeared. the government says it will adopt all recommendations made by an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, including criminal sanctions for those found guilty of failing to report the crime. my life has been destroyed by this. people need to focus on us and how to stop this and not on scoring points. sima kotecha, bbc news. the foreign secretary, david lammy, has unveiled new plans today to use economic sanctions to try and beat people smuggling gangs. the new measures include asset freezes, and travel bans imposed on gang members and firms who assist their operations. 0ur political correspondent, tom symmonds is at the foreign office.

this is part of the attempt to stop a small but will it work? this is part of the attempt to stop a small