Papers focus on Beckham protection

The furore over the collapse of the Paul Burrell trial shows no sign of relenting but the papers' unofficial royal family, the Beckhams, vie for prominence.

The Daily Star claims that, in the wake of an alleged kidnap plot, David and Victoria Beckham are to get the same protection as the Windsors.

The Star says MI5 wants to take charge of their security because their safety is considered to be of national importance.

Under a headline: "Becks calls in an army", The Sun reports that the Beckhams are recruiting even more former members of the SAS to protect them to add to five they are already said to have.

Royal immunity

Meanwhile questions continue to be asked about the collapse of the trial involving the real royals.

The Times says that the Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, is demanding an explanation of the prosecution's failure to investigate Mr Burrell's evidence that he had spoken to the Queen about keeping some of Princess Diana's belongings.

The paper says he wants answers to suggestions that the fiasco was caused by an exaggerated deference to the Crown.

The Independent says the Queen's immunity from being called as a witness in a criminal court will be reviewed by Parliament as a result of the Burrell case.

Under fire

The Independent reports that the most senior Army officer present on Bloody Sunday is to face hostile questioning on Monday, at the official inquiry into the episode.

Major-General Robert Ford was the Commander of Land Forces in Northern Ireland on the day in 1972 that 14 people were fatally wounded by soldiers, at the end of a civil rights march in Londonderry.

It is said he will be asked whether he deliberately "escalated the battle" by deploying members of the Parachute Regiment in the Bogside district of the city - rather than units with a better knowledge of local conditions.

Recluse's riches

The Mirror has news of a recluse who lived in a tumbledown farm with no central heating and wore threadbare trousers.

Edward Reid, 86 from near Haddington in East Lothian, has left £17m in his will.

His secret fortune is thought to have come from an inheritance invested on the stock market.

It is now going to three cousins who hardly knew him.

The paper said Mr Reid's neighbours felt sorry for him, so they cooked him meals and mended his trousers.

Smoke without fire

The Daily Telegraph carries news that on Tuesday night, people in the village of Sherston in Wiltshire will gather round a fake Guy Fawkes bonfire - complete with a smoke machine.

The reason is that insurance costs have spiralled ten-fold to nearly £2,500.

The "fire" is being built from beanpoles, straw and flaps of orange paper to imitate flames.

It will be adorned with plastic lights and its centre will be lit by a lightbulb.