Murray's dream crushed by Nadal

British dreams of a first Wimbledon men's finalist in 72 years have been crushed.

Andy Murray suffered a straight sets defeat by Rafael Nadal in a heart-breaking semi-final for the Scot on Centre Court.

David Beckham and a celebrity-packed Centre Court audience watched helplessly as Murray battled manfully but was eventually outclassed by the world number one 6-4, 7-6, 6-4.

Reflecting on defeat, Murray said: "It's not like I played badly - he played great. And that was the difference. He just played better than me. But I am disappointed because I had chances. I'm annoyed I've lost this match."

Minister rebukes top terror officer

Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer has been publicly rebuked by a Government minister after warning that planned spending cuts could not be delivered without increasing the risk of a terrorist attack.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said public servants should not indulge in "shroud waving" and should be concentrating on getting costs down rather than "alarming the public".

The highly public spat erupted after Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner John Yates said counter-terrorism officers would have to make savings in the region of £150 million as part of "eye-watering" Treasury cuts.

He said that shaving 25% from the police budget - as Chancellor George Osborne suggested in his emergency Budget last week - risked weakening defences against al Qaida.

David Beckham watches Murray match

David Beckham has become a "Murraymaniac" at Wimbledon as Britain's best tennis player serves for a place in sporting history.

The injured former England football captain is among a host of stars at Centre Court for Andy Murray's semi-final clash against Rafael Nadal.

Success would see Murray become the first home player to reach the last stage of the men's singles since Bunny Austin in 1938.

There were chaotic scenes as fans - who had camped through the night - sprinted through the All England Club to the ticket resales office hoping to get the chance to watch the 23-year-old in action.

A source close to Beckham said: "He has come over to support Andy.

Forty schoolchildren escape unhurt after bus crashes into bridge near Wrexham

FORTY schoolchildren on board a double decker bus escaped unhurt after it crashed into a bridge.

Emergency crews are still dealing with the incident in Cefyn y Bedd near Wrexham.

The red bus is wedged beneath a railway bridge near the Holybush pub.

The passengers, including 40 school children are unhurt, a North Wales Police spokesman said.

The children are on a school trip from the North West.