Good afternoon.

Three children have been killed and two women seriously injured in an accident on the M-6 motorway today. It happened just before lunch time when the vehicle left the road closing partial the route through stapriture in both directions.

Tutor Smart reports.

The Queen has used her Christmas message to reflect on a year of major events in the UK, saying she was humbled by the public response to her Diamond Jubilee. In her annual broadcast, she's also touched on the Olympics and Paralympics, paying tribute to the athletes and the volunteers. For the first time this year the speech has been broadcast in 3D.

Here's our Royal correspondent Nicolas Rachel.

Well in his Christmas address the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has attacked the government's proposals on gay marriage. The Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols said the process had been undemocratic and shambolic.

Our religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggott reports.

Well, thus you had a moment to go. Prince Harry is not with the Royal Family this Christmas. Instead, he is one of the thousands of soldiers celebrating in Afghanistan.

Our defence correspondent Jonathan Bill reports now on their Christmas far from family and the loved ones.

And that's it. And now the late news here on BBC-1 is at a quarter to 11 tonight. Until then, from all of the peer at BBC Television Center, Happy Christmas.