Two of the most popular products in Britain’s vast health food industry come under attack today, as scientists cast doubts on the benefits of vitamin supplements and low-fat dairy products.

Norfolk County Council has been awarded four stars – the top ranking – in its annual assessment by the independent Audit Commission. The authority achieved four stars overall for the services it provides and is judged to be “improving well.”

An eight-year-old boy who faced being taken into care after his weight reached 14 stone (89kg) learnt last night that he will be allowed to remain with his mother. Connor McCreaddie, who is almost three times the healthy weight for a child of his age, was told that he would have to observe a strict diet.

The Met Office Health Forecasting Team has won the Innovative Services Award at the prestigious Health and Social Care Awards 2006. The award recognises an innovative new or improved service that is benefiting the delivery of healthcare for patients, users and carers.

A recent report suggests that elderly and disabled people are increasingly relying on family and friends to care for them and are being excluded from social care.

Numbers of children being taken under the wing of care workers after suffering significant harm have risen in the county. A total of 283 youngsters – predominantly aged under five – were the subject of new care proceedings in court in 2006, compared to 241 in the previous year.

Tony Blair tried yesterday to patch the cracks in his Cabinet over the Government’s policies on marriage and single parents as he defended its record on tackling poverty.

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance which is the first of its kind to make specific recommendations on the identification, treatment and management of all mental health disorders in antenatal and postnatal women.

Rioting has broken out for the second time in three days at a young offenders’ institute. A police spokesman said trouble at Deerbolt young offenders’ institute in County Durham was brought under control in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Donald Hoodless, chair of the national adult social care workforce development body Skills for Care, has made a hard-hitting call for a “one stop shop” system of social care workforce development funding through the Sector Skills Council.