Sloane Square paperman gets reprieve

A newspaper vendor who faced closure after nearly 30 years has been given a reprieve after a campaign backed by 32 peers and England manager Fabio Capello.

Kensington and Chelsea had said Mark O'Brien, 50, was not licensed to trade outside the Tube. Locals backed him with a 1,000-signature petition. The council has now given him a temporary licence and will decide whether to make the pitch permanent.