Thames Water, Anglian Water and Southern Water are ready to lift their temporary hosepipe bans following the tremendous April, May and June showers that UK experienced. “We don’t need a ban, but we do need to ask everyone to keep on using water wisely.”

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During the last few years the average house prices have risen in just two local authority areas since the UK's property boom peaked in 2007. According to the Halifax bank, the only two areas to increase were Rochford in Essex and South Lakeland in Cumbria.

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British house prices unexpectedly fell by 0.2 per cent in January for the second month in a row in January, due to the prospect of greater unemployment and buyers' problems finding large enough mortgage deposits, data from lender Nationwide showed. Furthermore, the market could tilt further in buyers' favour over the coming months.

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The government has failed in an appeal against the decision and has blocked its attempts to reduce solar subsidies. "We want to maximise the number of installations that are possible within the available budget rather than use available money to pay a higher tariff to halve the number of installations," said Energy and Climate Change secretary Chris Huhne.

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UK unemployment rose by 118,000 in the three months to November to 2.685 million, official figures show. The Office for National Statistics said the unemployment rate also rose to 8.4% from 8.3%, the highest since January 1996. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in December rose by 1,200 to 1.6 million.

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The fall in infaltion was helped by much-reduced year-on-year increases in fuel, transport and energy prices. Retail Prices Index inflation including mortgage interest payments has fallen to 4.8% from 5.2%. This is along the Bank of England predictions that inflation will be 2% by late 2012.

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EU leaders poised to line up 26-1 in support of Franco-German blueprint, but PM had apparent blessing of Nick Clegg rejected the invitation. After the deed was done, some leaders didn't want to shake his hand. French President Nicolas Sarkozy walked right by him, as if he wasn't there.

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Last year I did a loft conversion and when it was close to finish, I decided that the old fashion staircase had to go. After spending over £50,000 on the loft, I decided it was a good idea to spend another 5000 extra on a custom ultra-modern staircase.

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Residents of a sleepy village are braced for change as its major landowner sells up. The ASKHAM RICHARD Estate, is an historic Estate located in and around the village of Askham Richard, on the outskirts of York, in North Yorkshire.

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UK House prices rose by 1.2% last month as the property market continues to weather the economic storm, mortgage lender Halifax said today. This performance means the UK's average property price of £163K is marginally higher than at the end of last year.

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