Kelly 'smear' row fills papers

"How could they stoop so low?" asks the Daily Mail.

The paper accuses Downing Street of launching a new smear campaign and this time, the government scientist David Kelly is the target.

The paper says after a day of denials, Number 10 confirmed a senior official had branded Dr Kelly a "Walter Mitty" style fantasist.

That official is identified as Tom Kelly, one of Tony Blair's spokesmen, by several papers, including the Financial Times.

Number 10, says the Mirror, is up to its neck in a sickening campaign to blacken Dr Kelly's name.

Immigrant health screening

There is a mixed response to Conservative proposals to enforce health screening for all immigrants coming into Britain.

The proposal is welcomed by the Mail which says it could protect public health and relieve pressure on the NHS.

In its editorial, the paper dismisses the "fashionable liberals" who have reacted to the policy, with "knee-jerk outrage and barely concealed accusations of racism".

It is unclear whether the "fashionable liberals" include the leader writers at the Independent.

It says the idea to make all asylum seekers undergo health-checks is an "unpleasant stunt".

The Tories, it says, have been infected by the old virus of xenophobia.

The Sun reports that a stalker is hounding the parents of the murdered Cambridgeshire schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

The paper says police have obtained an anti-social behaviour order against the man who has been bombarding the families with phone calls and letters.

He's said to have been trying to tell them about his conspiracy theories as to how the two girls died.

Lotto price rise

According to the Mirror, the price of a Lotto ticket is set to double to £2.

It says the operator Camelot will try to justify the move by claiming it will provide better prizes.

But the Mirror is not impressed with the idea, describing it as a desperate attempt to boost flagging profits.

Leslie preoccupies tabloids

Not for the first time in recent weeks, the Daily Express devotes its first half a dozen or so pages to the row between the television presenters John Leslie and Ulrika Jonsson.

The Sun reports Ms Jonsson is flying to Sweden to escape the media scrutiny.

Her spokeswoman tells the paper she has no comment to make.

Mr Leslie's comments span seven pages of the Express.

The Times warns the cost of a loaf of bread is about to soar in line with the heat.

It says large quantities of French wheat have been frazzled by the sun.

The knock-on effect could be 8p on the price of a loaf.

Meanwhile the Independent says the scorching weather has meant some English apple harvests are two weeks early.

Good news if you like apple pie, bad news if you prefer bread and butter pudding.