It appears that spring has come early and everything is blooming in the nation's gardens.
Colin Crosbie, curator of the RHS garden at Wisley, analyses what the knock-on effects of an early spring means. Will the flowers all be dead by July?
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Householders were required to fill in the form on, or close to, 27 March Officials who can conduct interviews under caution are being deployed to visit householders who failed to return the 2011 census.Nearly 10% of 26 million households in England and Wales have yet to fill in the questionnaire, which was supposed to have been completed around 27 March.
Reminders have been sent and 29,000 collectors have visited homes to offer help with completing the questionnaire.
Anyone who refuses to take part faces prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
'Last resort'ONS census director Glen Watson said: "We are now in the final phase of follow-up and people need to act straightaway to avoid the risk of a fine.
"We realise people lead busy lives and completing their census might not be at the top of their 'to do' list, but the time to act is now.
"Where people refuse to complete their form, a formal investigation is undertaken and they can be interviewed under caution, evidence gathered and those details passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.
"The census provides vital information to enable planners to identify future local needs for housing, roads, school places, healthcare and other public services needed by local communities.
"It also gives a much clearer picture of how much society is changing over time.
"That's why we need everyone to respond and why there is a legal requirement for everyone to fill in the questionnaire.
"Our emphasis has always been to help people complete and return their form as quickly as possible.
"Prosecution is very much the last resort."
By James Landale Deputy Political Editor, BBC News 
The documents detail a meeting between Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude and the CBI The government is scaling back plans to use the private sector to deliver public services, the BBC has learned.Leaked documents suggest ministers have decided the "wholesale outsourcing" of public services to the private sector would be politically "unpalatable".
Ministers instead want to use more charities, social enterprises and employee-owned "mutual" organisations.
Outsourcing was meant to be a key part of the government's drive to cut costs and reduce the UK's budget deficit.
The shift in policy will raise questions about whether the government can make the savings it has promised - or deliver the services it is committed to - just by using charities and mutuals.
The change will also raise questions about whether the Conservatives are bowing to Liberal Democrat pressure to focus more on delivering public services locally rather than privately.
The government's plans will be unveiled in the long-delayed Open Public Services White Paper which is expected to be published later this month.
Continue reading the main storyThe government was not prepared to run the political risk of fully transferring services to the private sector”End Quote Note of a meeting between Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude and CBI director John Cridland The aim of the reform is to find new ways of delivering national public services, such as benefit payments, tax collection, services within the NHS, civil service administration, justice services like prisons and probation, and even the provision of things like driving licences.
The change in the government's thinking is revealed in the note of a meeting in recent weeks between Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude and the director general of the CBI, John Cridland.
The note, obtained by the BBC, is marked "strictly private and confidential" and was drawn up by the CBI as a record of the meeting.
It says: "The minister's messages were clear cut... the government is committed to transforming services, but this would not be a return to the 1990s with wholesale outsourcing to the private sector - this would be unpalatable to the present administration.
"The government was not prepared to run the political risk of fully transferring services to the private sector with the result that they could be accused of being naive or allowing excess profit making by private sector firms."
Private sector involvement would be limited to joint ventures with not-for-profit groups.
The note adds: "Government is very open to ideas for services currently provided within the public sector to be delivered under a private/government joint venture. Government is committed to new models of partnership, and private sector organisations need to offer joint ventures - joint ventures between a new mutualised public sector organisation and a 'for profit' organisation would be very attractive.
"Government... was very interested in turning existing services into government companies. These would avoid the downsides of 'hassle' and adverse political reaction."
'Independent provision'One source in the outsourcing industry said: "This is a bit surprising. Francis Maude gave the impression when we got called in last year that we would be very much needed.
"There was every expectation that the private sector would be needed to help get the deficit down. This goes the other way. It seems to be different to what the government was committed to a year ago."
The government began consulting on public service reform in November 2010.
In the accompanying Green Paper, entitled Modernising Commissioning, the government said it wanted to "promote independent provision in key public services". It defined independent providers as "voluntary and community organisations, social and private enterprises".It emphasised how it wanted to save money: "Increasing the diversity of provision can drive innovation and efficiency by increasing competition and consumer choice and can deliver improvements in value for money and outcomes."
In a second consultation document, published at the same time, the government asked: "Can you identify specific opportunities for bringing private sector investment and expertise into the delivery of public services?"
On 17 January this year, the prime minister said in a speech: "We are injecting competition, saying to the private sector, community organisations, social enterprises and charities: come in and deliver great public services."
On 20 February this year, David Cameron wrote in the Daily Telegraph that the government would create a new presumption that all "public services should be open to a range of providers competing to offer a better service" - the only exceptions being national security and the judiciary.
Big SocietySupporters of outsourcing claim that it improves the quality and reduces the cost of public services. Opponents deny this and fear that workers' conditions, pay and pensions would be hit if public services are outsourced.
Mr Cridland told the BBC: "The taxpayer gets the best deal if government is prepared to be radical in remodelling public services in looking at a better way of delivering those services with less money to spend.
"I have every confidence in our conversations with government that that's exactly what government will do."
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "Too often there has been a binary choice between the government providing a service itself or outsourcing it to the private sector. This has been driven by a belief that services have to be controlled centrally, a one size fits all approach which has left little room for innovation.
"We want to change this. As part of building the Big Society, we want to open public services up to SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises], employee co-operatives, voluntary sector organisations and social enterprises, who may often partner with the private sector. We believe that this will create more innovative and localised services, while also decreasing costs and increasing efficiency.
"Sandwell Community Caring Trust is just one example where since the staff have taken over, back-office costs have halved meaning more money is spent where it matters. We need all parts of society including businesses, social enterprises and charities to play a part in this radical reform and there's no reason the state shouldn't keep a stake so that taxpayers benefit from the increased value of improved services."
Flower joined the England set-up as assistant coach in 2007 Andy Flower has signed a new contract to remain as England team director. The former Zimbabwe captain, 43, took over from Peter Moores in January 2009 and has since overseen successive Ashes series victories over Australia.
"I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to build on the considerable progress we have made to date as a squad," he said.
Flower had been India's first choice as their new coach before they appointed Duncan Fletcher in April.
However, the approach soon faltered as the former Essex batsman was unwilling to consider uprooting his family.
England begin a four-Test series against India in July.
"We have made no secret of our determination to become the number one side in the world and challenge for global titles and I feel we have been making steady progress," added Flower.
Continue reading the main storyNow that Flower's continuing services have been secured, the ECB's next task is to determine whether Andrew Strauss wants to stay on as one-day captainALISON MITCHELL BLOG Read more
"I firmly believe we have the talent amongst the playing squad and management team to help us realise our ambitions."
Despite an underwhelming campaign in the recent Cricket World Cup, Flower has built a formidable reputation during his spell with England.
In addition to Test series victories over Australia, he guided England to their first major tournament win at the World Twenty20 in May 2010.
During his tenure England have risen from sixth place in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings to third behind India and South Africa.
In contrast to the fractious relationship between then-captain Kevin Pietersen and his predecessor Moores, Flower has led a united dressing room.
Since taking the job on a permanent basis in April 2009, after an initial period as interim coach, he has forged a close and successful partnership with Test captain Andrew Strauss.
Flower also won admiration for the manner in which he managed skin cancer - having a melanoma removed from his right cheek during the during the second day of the opening Ashes Test in November.
"Andy's outstanding leadership, commitment, and his open and honest approach have been key factors in the success the England squad has enjoyed over the last two years," said England Cricket managing director Hugh Morris.
Although there is no specific clause in Flower's new contract giving him more control over the team's future schedule, he will meet with Morris and his support staff in the next few weeks to discuss players' workloads.
Flower blamed injuries in the run-up to February Cricket World Cup on the length of the Ashes tour that preceded it prompting fears he could walk away from his post.
England played their first tour match against Western Australia on 5 November and completed the trip with their seventh one-day international on 6 February.
Flower is keen to ensure England do not endure a similarly congested fixture schedule again, ensuring he has sufficient recovery time from intensive Test, one-day and Twenty20 series.
"The volume of cricket played is tough for anybody," said former England fast bowler Angus Fraser told BBC Radio 5 live.
"Andrew Strauss has a huge workload, players are rested so why shouldn't coaches?
"It is difficult for coaches to be fresh to maintain their enthusiasm over a period of time."
There were gorse fires across NI over the bank holiday weekend - at one stage an average of one call every 45 seconds was being received.
The worst of the blazes on Tuesday is at Glenshesk near Ballycastle.
The Mournes and Gortin were also badly affected, although the flames there have now subsided.
BBC NI reporter Alexandra McKenzie was in Ballycastle on Tuesday afternoon. She said that although fears the fire would spread to the Ballypatrick forest have not been realised, damage was nonetheless extensive.
"The fire has wiped out hundreds of acres of farmland. That will take years before it can be used again," she said.
"There are points when you drive along that you can hardly see in front of your car, you can hardly see where you're going the smoke is so thick.
"It's even difficult to breathe."
Two boys, aged 10 and 15, have been questioned by police about a gorse fire in County Tyrone.
They said they were also following up reports that a man with a petrol can was seen in the Rostrevor area on Saturday evening and that two youths were spotted lighting fires on Slieve Gullion Mountain in south Armagh on Sunday night.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary White said the thought that "individuals may be deliberately causing such destruction is very hard to comprehend".
"Not only are they putting livestock in danger, and destroying the habitat of wildlife, but as seen in the necessary evacuations in Annalong and the Lenamore Road in Omagh, homes and therefore the lives of residents are being threatened," he said.
"I would also appeal to those people who are causing the fires to think of their actions and the consequences involved which will most certainly include prosecution."
A fire on the Munie road in Ballymena on Friday is also believed to have been started deliberately. Police said it claimed around 40 acres of land and, at one stage, threatened to destroy a farm house and out buildings.
'Community problem'Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Peter Craig said it had been "phenomenally busy".
"What we are highly concerned with is protecting life, property and infrastructure," he said.
"In Rostrevor, I saw a ball of flames rolling towards a property. Firefighters, the local community and property owners themselves worked extremely hard to make sure that that person's home did not go up in flames."
Mr Craig said this was a "community problem" and adults should question young people about where they are going.
"Not only are they putting the community at risk, they are putting themselves at risk," he said.
The NIFRS said the holiday weekend had been the busiest in its history.
In a 24-hour period from midday on Sunday, the fire service received 927 calls and sent appliances to a total of 376 incidents. Gorse and grassland fires accounted for 194 of these.
The Sellafield site handles nuclear material and is carefully guarded Five men are being held under the Terrorism Act after being arrested close to the Sellafield nuclear site.The men, who are all from London and aged in their 20s, were arrested on Monday shortly after 1630 BST.
The arrests were made after Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers conducted a stop check on a vehicle close to the Sellafield site, in Cumbria.
The BBC understands the men were taking photographs and are all believed to be Bangladeshi.
The arrests are not thought to have been intelligence-led.
The men were held in Carlisle overnight and then moved to Manchester.
Four houses in east London were raided by counter-terror detectives as part of the investigation.
Scotland Yard said a small container was removed at one of the addresses.
The container is being examined. Explosives officers attended as a precaution, although the container is now not thought to have had explosives or hazardous material in it.
The North West Counter Terrorism Unit is leading the investigation.
Heavy security
The arrests were made within hours of the news breaking that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan, and members of the public have been warned to remain vigilant amid fears of reprisals from groups sympathetic to al-Qaeda.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "At this stage we are not aware of any connection to recent events in Pakistan."
A GMP spokesman said the investigation is in its early stages and no further information will be released yet.
A police officer can arrest anyone they "reasonably suspect" of being a terrorist, under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Sellafield site is responsible for decommissioning and reprocessing nuclear waste and fuel manufacturing on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
The site, which has operated since the 1940s, is heavily protected by both private security and officers from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
Sellafield has a bunker that stores about 100 tonnes of plutonium, which experts say is enough to manufacture thousands of nuclear weapons.
www.sublimedvds.com
John Humphrys clashed with the prime minister several times during the 20-minute interview The BBC has said Today presenter John Humphrys could have been "clearer" about how the alternative vote works during an interview with David Cameron.Mr Humphrys told Mr Cameron it was incorrect to argue that some people's votes could be counted more often than others under the system.
In response, the prime minister said the presenter was "completely wrong" and should go "back to school".
A BBC spokesman said the disagreement was part of a "lively" exchange.
The argument came less than 48 hours before voters decide whether to change the way MPs are elected.
Counting disputeVoters will be asked whether to stick with the current first-past-the-post system, in which voters select one candidate and the individual with the most votes, wins or switch to the alternative vote, in which voters can list candidates in order of preference if they choose.
Under the AV system, if one candidate gets more than half the votes, they are elected straight away.
If not, the candidate with the fewest votes drops out and their second preferences are handed out to remaining candidates.
This process continues until someone gets over half the votes or no more votes can be distributed.
The dispute during Tuesday's interview came after Mr Cameron said the current system was "simple, fair and decisive" and under AV "you start counting some people's votes more than once".
Mr Humphrys said this was "simply not true".
Mr Cameron replied: "Yes you do. You count all the votes and then you start eliminating candidates and then you count people's preferences."
The BBC presenter continued: "And I have a second preference as well as you or anybody else and you count them again as well, so you don't count some people's votes more than others."
The prime minister said this was not the way the "complicated" system worked and that the interviewer was "completely wrong" but Mr Humphrys suggested the process was, in fact, "terribly simple".
Pressed again, Mr Cameron replied: "If you vote for a Labour candidate and I vote for a Monter Raving Loony candidate and the Monter Raving Loony comes last, my second preference is then counted again."
'Quite worrying'When Mr Humphrys replied "so is mine", the prime minister said he "didn't understand the system" he was explaining.
Continue reading the main storyAt the moment MPs are elected by the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate getting the most votes in a constituency is elected.
On 5 May all registered UK voters will be able to vote Yes or No on whether to change the way MPs are elected to the Alternative Vote system.
Under the Alternative Vote system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.
Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected.
If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers' second choices allocated to those remaining.
This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes in that round.
"It is quite worrying if actually the lead broadcaster on the BBC does not understand the system," he added. "I do think that is worrying. Back to school."The two men clashed again minutes later when Mr Humphrys suggested first-past-the-post was used by "no other major democracy". Mr Cameron said he was "absolutely staggered" by this and insisted that the system was used "by half the voters in the world" including in the US.
The official "No" campaign in the referendum have claimed AV would undermine the principle of "one person, one vote" that it says has underpinned British democracy and argued that only three countries around the world use it.
The "Yes" campaign have said AV would more clearly reflects the range of voters' views, is used to elect Labour and Tory leaders and that first-past-the-past has been not been used by any devolved UK legislature set up since 1997.
In a statement, the BBC said Today and other programmes had "spelled out in great detail how AV would work" if introduced.
"During a lively Today interview, David Cameron and John Humphrys disagreed over a technicality when the AV referendum was discussed," a spokesman for the corporation added.
"John Humphrys was trying to reflect the point of contention between the campaigns over whether some people, in effect, have more than one vote under AV.
"In hindsight, he could have made this clearer".