Today's Papers: School to start earlier

THE Observer reports that the school starting age will in effect be lowered from five to four in an announcement by Education Secretary Gillian Shephard at the Conservative Party Conference. All children will be guaranteed a place in the academic year in which they become five. There are about 1.2 million children between three and four but only 10,000 attend full-time nursery classes.

According to a register of battlefields to be published by English Heritage, the Leicestershire site traditionally associated with the Battle of Bosworth Field is at least half a mile from where the battle actually took place in 1485, writes the Sunday Telegraph. Bosworth is regarded as one of the most important battles in British history. It was the last time a British king died in battle.

Children as young as seven are showing early signs of heart disease, according to the Sunday Times. Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London have developed a technique that detects the first stages of the illess in youngsters. They believe that a couch potato lifestyle is to blame and have begun to chart the sedentary lifestyles of those children shown to have heart defects. It will be some time before a screening test is available to pick up susceptible infants.

The Sunday Express reports that thousands of motorists around Britain could have their drink-driving convictions overturned after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a case because a defending solicitor claimed fingerprinting chemicals affected test equipment. Police are blaming the CPS for 'caving in' to a solicitor's claims that the tests are unsafe. Scotland Yard has been forced to amend its testing policies in stations throughout London and the Home Counties.

Baroness Thatcher will miss the Conservative Party Conference this year for the first time in four decades in fury over the Government's Northern Ireland peace deal. The Mail on Sunday claims that political allies of the former prime minister said her decision was influenced by the decision to send IRA bombers home to Ulster.

Profits from the TV share deal involving Lord Archer exactly match the losses of a Kurdish business associate, according to the Sunday Mirror. The coincidence is sure to increase calls for more answers from the Tory peer and his wife. The pounds 77,000 cheque for profits made from dealing in Anglia TV shares, made payable to Mr Archer's friend Broosk Saib, matched exactly Mr Saib's business losses.

The Post Office sell-off may be dropped from the Queen's Speech as fears grow of a revolt by Tory MPs and rural voters, says the Mail on Sunday. New doubts about the proposed sale emerged as government and business managers began listing bills for the next Parliamentary session. A delay, possibly until after a general election, would be a blow to trade president Michael Heseltine who is keen to push forward with privatisation.