TRIBUTES FLOOD IN FOR COMEDY 'GENIUS' CAROLINE AHERNE

Tributes have poured in for comedian and actress Caroline Aherne after her death from cancer aged 52. The star was best known for hit sitcom The Royle Family and the riotous chat show The Mrs Merton Show, which both won a string of awards. Aherne, who more recently narrated Channel 4 show Gogglebox, had been battling lung cancer and had previously been treated for bladder and eye cancer.

After her death was announced on Saturday her Royle Family co-star Sue Johnston, who played her on-screen mother, said: "I am devastated at her passing and I am numb with grief." Alan Partridge comic Steve Coogan hailed his "incredibly funny" long-time friend, telling ITV News: "It was almost like an honour to have her make fun of you because you couldn't help but laugh. It's hard to imagine not hearing that laughter." Aherne gained public attention as the Checkout Girl in The Fast Show. But she became a household name as straight-talking blue-rinse granny Mrs Merton in The Mrs Merton Show, which first aired on BBC Two in 1995 and won the best talk show Bafta in 1997. The Royle Family was born after she and friend Craig Cash, who played gormless Dave Best in the show, threw themselves into their work after a suicide attempt, which she described as her lowest ebb. It is considered to be a classic British sitcom, despite the unusual format of a working class family sitting in a living room. The BBC show was the toast of the 1999 British Comedy Awards, scooping four trophies including best actress for Aherne. It went on to take home the best sitcom Bafta in 2000 and 2007. Aherne was nominated for Baftas for her performance in both shows, as well as her directing of The Royle Family in 2001.

CAR THIEF ABANDONS 11-MONTH-OLD BABY ON DOORSTEP

A MAN who stole a car with an 11-month-old baby inside has abandoned the tot on a doorstep. The drama happened when a 27-year-old woman parked her three-door Vauxhall Astra in Kempe Road, Enfield ,with her 11-month old son and and 12-year-old daughter inside at around 12.45pm on Saturday, police said. As the woman left the vehicle a man got in and as he drove off, the woman's daughter managed to get out of the car - but the baby was left trapped inside. Detectives said the baby was found a short while later uninjured on the doorstep of a house in Guinevere Gardens, Cheshunt, and police were called. The car was later found abandoned in Coopers Walk, Cheshunt. Police said the suspect was white, in his late teens, with light hair in a spiky style and possibly wearing a hooded top. Anyone with information should call the police non-emergency line on 101 or Enfield CID on 0208 345 3323.

POLLS SHOW THERESA MAY RACING AHEAD IN TORY LEADERSHIP CONTEST

THERESA May is racing towards victory, with most Conservatives backing her to replace David Cameron, polling has revealed. Bitter recriminations over rival Michael Gove's decision to pull the rug from under Boris Johnson's leadership bid appear to have dented his prospects of taking on the Home Secretary in the final vote. The Justice Secretary faces being pushed into third place by fellow Brexit campaigner Andrea Leadsom, whose support is growing. Former City worker Mrs Leadsom has likened herself to Margaret Thatcher and praised the late prime minister's ability to mix toughness with "personal warmth". She told The Sunday Telegraph: "As a person, she was always kind and courteous and as a leader she was steely and determined. "I think that's an ideal combination - and I do like to think that's where I am." Mr Gove has faced accusations of "treachery" since his decision to pull his support for Mr Johnson and stage his own bid for the top job. He told the newspaper his confidence in the former London mayor had "evaporated".

LIAM FOX PENCILS IN BREXIT DATE AND SAYS HE WOULD INCREASE DEFENCE SPENDING

LIAM Fox has pencilled in a date for Brexit and said under his leadership he would like to see an increase in defence spending and the size of the Navy. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Conservative leadership candidate Dr Fox said the "referendum changed all the rules," calling it an "earthquake in our political system". Marking January 1 2019 as a potential Brexit date, he said if he becomes prime minister, under his budget the welfare bill will likely be in line for cuts and he will increase defence spending. "We need to spend money on our national security because you need to buy insurance in a dangerous world," the Vote Leave campaigner told the paper.