ALASSANE Toure is in Austria with Derby County and could figure in tonight's friendly against Russian side Zenit St Petersburg.

Rams boss Steve McClaren, speaking straight after Saturday's victory over Notts County, said the 25-year-old defender would not travel.

"He has got other options," said McClaren, but Toure's trial with the Rams has continued.

He can play right-back or centre-back, and helped French club RC Lens win promotion from Ligue 2 last season.

New signing George Thorne is likely to face Zenit.

The midfielder completed his move from West Bromwich Albion at the weekend for a undisclosed fee.

Goalkeeper Lee Grant is with the squad but tonight's game comes round too soon for him as he recovers from knee surgery at the end of last season.

Midfielder Paul Coutts (hip flexor) and Zak Whitbread (back) are injured.

A COW had to be rescued from the River Derwent today.

Firefighters were called to the incident, in Borrowash, at 7.05am. 

A Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said the cow was unable to get out of the river due to the steepness of the embankment.

Animal rescue and water rescue equipment was used to get the cow from the river as well as the help of a tractor. 

The cow was left in the care of the farmer. 

HOW much longer will we have to wait for the reopening of the Cattle Market car boot sale?

It was cancelled without any notice or consultation with the thousands of visitors on June 1.

This car boot sale must have been the most successful event the council has ever run, both in public attendance and revenue collected over many years.

At a time of severe financial cutbacks, how can the council not want to maximise the revenue that can be collected from the land?

The car boot sale is a win-win situation – the council makes money, people selling surplus goods make money and visitors have a pleasant time looking for a bargain.

I ask the council to reopen the car boot sale as soon as possible.

Chris Tomlinson

Littleover

THE A38 in Alfreton has now reopened after a car hit the back of a lorry.

Police said they were called to the incident on the A38 between Watchorn and Alfreton at 9.30am today.

The road was blocked but all lanes were cleared by 11.45am. 

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire police said there were no serious injuries.

There are reports of queuing traffic and delays on the A38 northbound between Watchorn island in Alfreton and the M1 junction 28 in South Normanton. 

Staff and children at schools across Derbyshire are saying goodbye to much-loved teachers as the term comes to an end.

YOU "just know" when the time is right to leave, according to retiring head teacher Dr Chris Reynolds.

He has completed 45 years in teaching – 30 of which he has spent as a head teacher, firstly at St Thomas More School, in Allenton, and then for 28 years at St Benedict Catholic Academy, in Darley Abbey.

And he is a year over the regular retirement age at 66, although you would never guess so because of his vitality and enthusiasm for the job.

Mr Reynolds said: "Many things have happened during my career and there have been many changes in education over the years.

"But there was a moment last year when I took stock of life generally and realised that the school is in a good position physically and academically and it was time to look to the future.

"A particular turning point was following our most recent inspection when a woman from the Office for Standards in Education had remarked on something I had written in a report.

"I had said that St Benedict school is a 'special place' and she added 'and I think it is', which gave me a tremendous boost."

Over the years, Mr Reynolds has combined his work as head teacher at the school with duties connected with examining boards, which has enabled him to see many changes in the education system.

"Some are for the better and some are not," he remarked.

"But I intend to carry on working with the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors, which oversees excellence in assessment in schools, offering a kind of kite mark."

Originating from the Birmingham area, Mr Reynolds entered teaching almost by accident.

He said: "I was very keen on drama and PE at school and had an assistant management job lined up for when I left.

"One of the teachers asked me what I would be doing as a career and, when I told him, it was suggested that I would get nowhere with it.

"He said to me, 'Get a job that combines your hobbies and interests and you can't go wrong'.

"I thought about it and decided to apply to train to be a teacher specialising in PE and drama. The rest, as they say, is history."

Within a short time of entering teacher training, the profession became a degree subject and resulted in Mr Reynolds spending four years studying part-time, two evenings each week, to gain his qualification.

Since then, he has gone on to complete a Masters in education and, about eight or nine years ago, gained a doctorate.

Since Mr Reynolds took over as head of what was then Ralph Sherwin School, later to be renamed after St Benedict, the changes have included a growth in the number of students' nationalities at the school.

He said: "We take pupils from across the Catholic diocese, which includes 42 primary schools, 40% of which are in the most deprived areas of Derby, and we have 38 nationalities.

"We have developed a centre for blind and visually-impaired pupils, which has about 28 children now but has had up to 42.

"And we have seen the expansion of the Robert Ludlam Theatre, at which I have been proud to help produce shows and will miss very much.

Mr Reynolds won the OBE for his services to education and the arts in 2002.

He has also managed to keep up his sports interest.

In the 1990s, he was county champion in the hammer and, in the early 2000s, was a champion in the 200-metre breast stroke.

More recently, he came seventh in the world championships for swimming for people of comparable age.

But throughout his life and career, Mr Reynolds, who will now be able to spend more time with his children and grandchildren in the UK and US, has been sustained by his faith.

So it was with great delight and pleasure when he was presented with a Papal Knighthood of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great at a recent St Benedict Mass celebration at the school.

The award is given by the Pope following recommendation by the diocesan bishop to Rome.

Dr Reynolds said: "Everyone knew about it but me.

"My wife said she struggled not to tell me at times.

"But I feel so honoured to receive this.

"I was also given numerous medals to wear on my chest and a ceremonial outfit I can use to attend an official function I am invited to by the diocesan bishop.

"I have loved my time in education but I haven't given up yet."

WHEN Helen Salih left Weston-on-Trent C of E Primary School yesterday, she was able to look back on 15 highly successful years in charge.

In the intervening years, she has seen the school move into new premises and grow from 49 to 114 pupils currently.

She said: "It has been a wonderful time at the school and our recent 'outstanding' inspection was the icing on the cake for me and everyone at the school.

"But I feel the time has come to pass on the baton to someone else and at the same time I am entering a new phase in my life with a blank page awaiting me."

Some of that page will be filled with taking her grandson to and from school and also setting up a new education consultancy business called Parakleatos, where she will support other head teachers through the minefield of education bureaucracy.

Mrs Salih added: "It has been a privilege to know and work with everyone at Weston."

Also retiring are Stephen Whiteley, former head of Landau Forte College, and more recently chief executive of the Landau Forte Charitable Trust, with responsibility for the trust's six academies in Derby and the Tamworth area.

He was employed at Landau from 1992 and was principal from 1996 to 2009, when the role was taken over by Liz Coffey. Mr Whiteley's role will be taken up by Dr Anthony Edkins from Manchester Academy.

Carmel McKenna, head of St Clare's Special School in Mickleover, has also retired from teaching this week.

Under her leadership the school gained an "outstanding" Ofsted in 2013 following on from the same outcome in 2010.

WHEN Val Thorp retires after nearly 40 years teaching Derby children, she won't be putting her feet up and pottering in the gardening.

Instead Val, head of computing at Kingsmead School, in Bridge Street, will be jetting off to Canada to represent Great Britain at swimming.

For Val is taking part in the 15th FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Montreal, where she will compete in the senior categories of the 3km open water swimming, and pool races from 50m to 800m.

The 60-year-old will be cheered on by her biggest fans – pupils at the school, which offers provision for students with behavioural and social difficulties, are hoping to watch Canadian TV's coverage of the championship via the internet.

Val, based at the school's Wisgreaves Road site, said: "The pupils here at Kingsmead have always followed my progress and, although some of them were disappointed when they found out I wasn't going to win an enormous cash prize, they are very excited that I am representing Great Britain. I will miss teaching at Kingsmead enormously.

"It can be very challenging but it also unbelievably rewarding. Most teachers know they have helped pupils get better exam results; here we know we have probably changed some pupils' lives."

Although Val will miss both staff and pupils, she does not plan to turn her back on teaching altogether.

When she returns from Canada Val, a member of City of Derby Swimming Club, plans to devote more time to coaching youngsters in her biggest passion – open-water swimming. She said: "I know I am going to miss teaching terribly, which is why I plan to combine both my loves when I retire and do some open-water coaching.

"I have a particular passion for open swimming, it's very different because you have nothing to guide you in a straight line, it can be very cold and, of course, there are fishes, which not everyone likes."

Val started her teaching career in 1975 as a PE teacher at St Benedict School, in Darley Abbey, before retraining as an IT teacher. She has worked at Kingsmead School for 12 years.

Swimming has always been Val's passion and she has travelled all over the world representing Great Britain, most recently to Sweden and Holland.

The FINA World Masters Championships is one of the biggest competitions in terms of participation. Held every two years, swimmers, divers and waterpolo players aged 25 to more than 100 years old enter from around the world.

Val is hopeful of bringing home some medals, particularly in the 3km open water, in which she is the National Masters champion.

LIAM Pennick, 31, of Green Lane, Derby, was conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £2.69 compensation and a £15 victim surcharge for stealing two bottles of Lambrini from Savers in Derby on July 6.

PAUL Bramley, 26, of Huntingdon Green, Derby, was jailed for 12 weeks for stealing £63 of coffee from Aldi in Nottingham Road, Chaddesden, on April 17.

DIANE Smith, 50, of Harvey Road, Alvaston, had her licence endorsed with six points, was fined £138 and ordered to pay £35 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for failing to provide information to the police on January 28 about the identity of a driver who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence.

ADRIANNE Wells, 23, of Town Street, Holbrook, had his licence endorsed with six penalty points, was fined £190 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for driving in Belper Road, Bargate, over the drink-drive limit on May 2, when he was moving his car a short distance for the safety of others.

A 44-YEAR-OLD Derby woman was handed a suspended jail sentence after fraudulently claiming benefit.

Kerry Anne Johnson admitted at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court to failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions on three counts that she was living with a partner between 2008 and 2012.

Johnson, of Mayvale Grove, was handed a 12-week jail term, suspended for 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay £100 prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Johnson pleaded guilty to the charges.

A DEPOT which maintains trains that serve Derby is set to throw open its doors as part of the city's celebrations marking its 175-year association with rail.

For the first time ever, the Etches Park Train Maintenance Depot will open to the public for a Community Open Day, which is set to take place on Saturday, September 13.

It will offer a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes at the depot, which maintains trains for Derby train operator East Midlands Trains.

It will feature a range of exhibits and demonstrations throughout the day, which will be aimed at train enthusiasts of all ages.

Subject to availability, exhibits will include locomotives and rolling stock operated by Midland Railway dating as far back as 1902.

There will also be model railway exhibitions ranging from 8ft to 24ft long, demonstrations showing how the depot's wheel lathe and jacks work and a rerailing display.

Representatives from East Midlands Trains and Derby's preserved railway companies will be on hand to answer questions.

In honour of Derby's 175th anniversary, there will also be a special unveiling of shunting loco 08899 which will be re-painted in "Crimson Lake livery" and will be fitted with a new nameplate "Midland Counties Railway 175 1839-2014".

Malc Simpson, engineer at Etches Park, who repainted 08899 in the same colours to mark Derby's 150th anniversary, will once again get his paintbrush out to mark another 25 successful years.

Mark Coney, head of fleet delivery for East Midlands Trains, said: "Etches Park plays a crucial part in Derby's railway heritage and it's very important for us to mark the 175th anniversary of the railway in our city.

"We're really proud to be opening the doors to Etches Park for the first time so people can come and see what goes on at the depot and see some great examples of heritage and modern-day rolling stock."

Tickets are now on sale at the website www.theticket factory.com under "Etches Park Open Day". Admission for adults will be £11 and concessions £7. Family tickets (two adults and three children) are priced £29.

Gates will open at 10am and close at 4.30pm, with the last entry at 3.30pm.

All profits from the open day will be donated to the Railway Children's Charity.

JON McLaughlin has signed for Burton Albion on a one-year deal.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper joins the Brewers after failing to agree a new deal with Bradford City and will compete against Dean Lyness for the first choice goalkeeping birth.

McLaughlin, who is expected to debut against Mickleover Sports this evening, was first choice for the Bantams last season, making 48 appearances in all competitions, and spent six years at Valley Parade after spells with Harrogate Town and Harrogate Railway.

However, after Bradford signed ex-Brewers stopper Jordan Pickford, he was allowed to move on.

"He brings experience," said Albion boss Gary Rowett.

"He's played over 100 games for Bradford and was ever present in League One.

"He was as good as any other goalkeeper in the division, so I'm pleased to get him on board."

Edinburgh-born McLaughlin told the Yorkshire Post earlier today: "I am looking forward to life at Burton and seeing how far we can kick on.

"There have been opportunities at clubs in other divisions, but a concrete offer from a club like Burton doesn't feel like a drop down in division or class.

"They have been a team who in the past two years have been unlucky not to reach League One."

On McLaughlin's exit, Bradford manager Phil Parkinson said: "Jon has been a great servant to the club and we would have ideally liked to see him stay.

"But financial constraints mean it hasn't been possible to strike a deal that is right for both parties."

OLYMPIC medallist Gail Emms MBE has been added to the Team Derby line-up ahead of the inaugural National Badminton League campaign.

Emms, who took silver in the mixed doubles alongside Nathan Robertson at the 2004 Games in Athens, has been named in the finalised 11-strong Derby squad.

The 37-year-old joins the likes of Great Britain number one Rajiv Ouseph, and two other players competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Andy Ellis and Kate Robertshaw.

Karin Schnaase of Germany - 2014 European bronze medallist - is another new addition, along with Scot Martin Campbell, who will also be in Commonwealth Games action.

Also joining Team Derby are Ollie Baczala, Rhys Walker, Chris Coles and Lydia Powell and Helena Lewczynska.

The University of Derby-based franchise is being coach by Derby's former GB star Donna Kellogg and Julia Mann.

"Julia and I are delighted to be working with a group of very talented players," said Kellogg.

"It's great for Derby that these players will be representing the university.

"Hopefully, this will encourage more youngsters to play the sport across the county and the squad will become role models to aspire to."

Team Derby franchise director Ollie Shearer added: "This is the University of Derby's first ever professional sports team.

"We have sat down as a management group to agree our recruitment strategy and Donna and Julia have worked tirelessly to achieve our aims and we are delighted with the players we have secured. We have high hopes for the forthcoming season."

FULL TEAM DERBY LINE-UP:

Andy Ellis – men's doubles/mixed doubles

Chris Coles – men's doubles/mixed doubles

Gail Emms – ladies doubles/mixed doubles

Helena Lewczynska – ladies' singles/ladies doubles/mixed doubles

Karin Schnaase – ladies' singles

Kate Robertshaw – women's doubles/mixed doubles

Lydia Powell – U21 ladies singles/ladies doubles/mixed doubles

Martin Campbell – men's doubles/mixed doubles

Ollie Baczala – U21 men's player/men's doubles/mixed doubles

Rajiv Ouseph – men's Singles

Rhys Walker – men's Singles

DERBY is currently basking in temperatures warmer than Portugal – and forecasters say the summer heatwave is likely to last well into August.

The hot spell is expected to continue for at least three weeks with the occasional thunderstorm, according to the Met Office.

The heat has reached 26C in Derby today – slightly warmer than Lisbon – and similar temperatures are expected over the coming days.

Nicola Maxey, of the Met Office, said: "We are looking at settled sunny and dry weather into the middle of August, with above average temperatures and occasional summer showers.

"It is a lovely start to the school summer holidays and will remain warm throughout next week."

Most will welcome the extended heat wave but Derby City Council warned the temperatures could be "dangerous" and has issued advice on staying safe in the sun.

Derek Ward, director of public health, said people should try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, wear loose cotton clothing, drink lots of cool drinks, seek shade and wear a hat to reduce the risk of sunburn.

He added people can keep their homes cool by closing the curtains on windows that receive the sun and opening windows at cooler times of the day and overnight.

Mr Ward said: "It's great to be expecting such nice weather this weekend. However, high temperatures can be dangerous, which is why we want to make people aware of how to look after themselves in such heat, so we can all enjoy the sunshine.

"The elderly and those with long-term illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the effects of very hot weather, so it's important to look out for them."

DERBY County loan star Patrick Bamford is hoping that playing alongside Chelsea's latest stellar signings will help him develop his game.

The 20-year-old striker scored 25 goals last season during loan spells with MK Dons and the Rams.

Bamford scored eight goals in 23 appearances for Derby, helping them to reach the Championship play-off final.

The former Nottingham Forest forward is currently with Chelsea's first team on their pre-season trip to Austria.

And he has been learning from the likes of new recruits Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

"It's great watching them and you can learn a lot just from playing with them, watching the way they protect the ball and that type of thing," Bamford told the club's official website.

"Playing with top players always helps improve your own game, so it's great to also have the likes of Cesc Fabregas here as well.

"You can always pick up little tips to help your own game.

"Obviously there are certain things other players can do that I can't, because of the difference in style and body shape, but I'm always trying to learn.

"For example, I've been watching the way they play with their back to goal. Diego is so strong and looks really good, so hopefully I can take something from what I've seen in training."

Bamford earned praise from boss Jose Mourinho after opening the scoring in the Blues' recent 5-0 friendly win against Wycombe Wanderers.

"The manager said I sniffed out the chance and finished it well, so that was nice," he added.

DERBY County have teamed up with Network Rail to help educate young people about the dangers of trespassing on railway lines.

The partnership will see the Rams choose a player ambassador who will take a role in the project by attend training sessions with youngsters and act as a role model.

The initiative involves 10 clubs, across the country, including neighbours Notts County and Nottingham Forest, as Network Rail bids to reduce the numbers of young people injured or killed after trespassing on the railway.

The partnership between Network Rail and the Football League Trust will see clubs work with Network Rail's community safety managers to boost awareness of railway safety.

Mike Evans, general manager at the trust, said: ''Football League clubs are at the heart of their communities and therefore have the incredible ability to reach people.

"Our partnership with Network Rail shows how football can use this ability to talk to young people about a serious issue and make a positive difference to people's lives."

The project is a development of Network Rail's Rail Life programme which has successfully worked with schools and community groups to get across safety messages in fun and engaging ways. Figures reveal 164 people in the UK lost their lives after going on to the tracks in the past five years.

Of these, 70% were struck by trains, with 18% suffering electrocution by coming into contact with the power supply, which can be as much as 25,000 volts. The peak ages for trespass deaths are late teens and earlier twenties, with around one in five deaths in this age group.

In the past year, there were as many as 8,500 incidents of trespass, with at least 1,080 of these involving children or teenagers. More than 100 incidents of people playing 'chicken' were recorded and dozens of objects were left on the tracks, with 26 incidents of trains striking bicycles.

Many of these incidents caused serious damage to trains and infrastructure and disruption to travellers.

While young people were not responsible for all these incidents, Network Rail focuses its education activities on school-age children to promote good behaviour.

Gareth Llewellyn, director of safety and sustainability at Network Rail, said: ''Every day around 24,500 trains run across the network and it's getting busier with modern, quieter trains travelling up to 125mph. We know of too many incidents where seemingly harmless pranks or games along the tracks have resulted in painful injury or even death.

"The Football League Trust and the clubs involved can help us raise awareness of the dangers and engage kids in something much more positive. The results will be a safer community and better running railway for all.''

As well as Derby County the other clubs taking part in the project are: Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Portsmouth and Shrewsbury.

THE venue has been confirmed for Derby County's friendly match against Slavija Sarajevo on Friday.

The game will take place at the home of UFC Jennersdorf, who play in the Austrian Burgenlandliga.

The match kicks off at 6pm local time (5pm UK time).

A TEENAGER suffered a broken jaw after he was punched outside a McDonald's restaurant in Derby.

The victim, 18, had been inside the St Peter's Street branch, in the city centre, with a friend when the pair walked outside.

Shortly afterwards, four men approached them and after a verbal altercation, the victim was punched to the face, causing him to suffer a broken jaw.

The victim's 18-year-old friend was also punched and both were taken to Royal Derby Hospital.

The incident took place between 4am and 4.30am on Sunday.

The area was busy at the time and police want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the assault or might know the people responsible.

Witnesses or anyone with information should call Derbyshire police on 101, quoting crime reference 30183/14.

You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

DERBY'S old Victorian system of registering to vote will be replaced this summer in a bid to make it "more secure".

The current system assumes that the head of the household will provide details of any resident who is eligible to vote.

But critics says this is an approach that is open to error and abuse, diminishing the accuracy of the Government's data and undermining confidence in the electoral register.

The new system of Individual Electoral Registration will make each individual, across the country, responsible for registering themselves.

Over the summer, all Derby residents will receive a letter through the post telling them about the change, dubbed the biggest change to the electoral registration system in nearly a century.

Derby's Electoral Registration Officer will write to all of the city's 248,700 residents.

The letter will explain that a new, more secure, system is being introduced to replace the old Victorian system.

Many Derby residents will automatically move on to the new electoral register. Some will need to take action to join or remain on it, which they will be able to do for the first time by registering quickly and easily online. Janie Berry, electoral registration officer, said: "Derby residents will receive a letter soon that will explain the change to the electoral registration system. Look out for the letter as it will tell you if you have been automatically transferred to the new register or not.

"If you have not been transferred, you will need to provide some additional information and the letter will tell you exactly what you need to do."

An Electoral Commission spokeswoman said the organisation had been calling for the change since 2003.

She said: "The legislation providing for it was initially introduced by the last Government, which was followed up by the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced by the current Government.

"It's the most significant change to our electoral system for over a century, abolishing the old outdated system of household registration and introducing a more secure, personalised approach."

For more information visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters. If someone does not receive a letter they should contact the city council's elections team on 01332 640837 or e-mail elections@derby.gov.uk.

A 24-YEAR-OLD from South Derbyshire was among three cyclists injured in a hit-and-run incident in Kent.

Police said the trio were struck on the A2 close to Bridge, near Canterbury, shortly after 10pm on Tuesday.

The vehicle that hit them, believed to be a Ford, left the scene.

The South Derbyshire man suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance along with one of the other cyclists.

The third cyclist was flown to hospital as his injuries were more serious. 

Witnesses are urged to contact Kent Police on 01622 690 690.

ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is a brutal terrorist group associated with the civil war in Syria which has taken over areas in neighbouring Iraq.

ISIS is made up of Muslims from the Sunni arm of Islam, which split from the rival Shia form of the religion hundreds of years ago.

The areas it has claimed to have conquered in Iraq are largely Sunni.

ISIS is known for its harsh interpretation of Islam and brutal violence directed at Shia Muslims and Christians in particular.

It claims to have at least 4,000 fighters in its ranks, who, in addition to attacks on government and military targets, have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed thousands of civilians.

ISIS had close links with al-Qaeda until 2014, but in February, after an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda cut all ties with the group, citing, among other reasons, its "wanton brutality".

The extremists of ISIS have boasted of beheading captured soldiers and civilians who are against it.

It has proclaimed a "caliphate", or strict Muslim state, in its zone of influence in Syria and Iraq. It has expressed the desire to bring much of the Muslim-inhabited regions of the world under its direct political control, beginning with nearby territory in the Levant region, which includes Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Kuwait, Cyprus and an area in southern Turkey.

ISIS grew significantly as an organisation owing to its participation in the Syrian Civil War and the strength of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Economic and political discrimination against Iraqi Sunnis since the fall of Saddam Hussein also helped it to gain support.

A Birmingham MP has said that over 1,500 young Britons have gone to fight in Iraq and Syria after being recruited by ISIS.

The number suggested by Khalid Mahmood MP is over three times the figure Foreign Secretary William Hague previously claimed.

Mahmood's warning came as British security experts claimed that the UK may suffer from the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts for "many years" in the future.

He also said that young people were more likely to get indoctrinated in universities and prisons than mosques.

Yesterday, the Home Secretary said British Muslim families should act if they suspect their children or siblings are thinking of travelling to join conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

Theresa May has backed a nationwide campaign by not-for-profit organisation Families Against Stress and Trauma (Fast), which puts the emphasis on families preventing their loved ones from travelling to join the conflicts.

Speaking in London, she said: "I would encourage all families to see the answer lying with them and their communities."

Meanwhile, the families of three Britons who left to fight with jihadis in Syria have appeared in a government-backed video aimed at dissuading young Muslims from travelling to the Middle East.

The father of two brothers from Cardiff who joined Isis and the brother of a man suspected of carrying out a suicide bombing in Syria, appear in the film to describe the pain their decisions have caused to the men's families left behind in the UK.

Ahmed Muthana, father of Aseel Muthana, 17 and Nasser Muthana, 20, who last month appeared in an Isis recruitment video – said that he has been "devastated" and "sad" since they left for Syria.

The father of a 41-year-old man from Crawley in West Sussex, also spoke out.