Papers launch Home Office attack

Problems within the Home Office are widely reported in Monday's papers.

The Daily Express says the department is in a state of "utter chaos" and accuses the home secretary, John Reid, of failing to show leadership.

The Daily Mirror says Mr Reid inherited a mess he did not make. It says dividing the department into different ministries would improve efficiency.

And the Daily Telegraph leads with the news of hundreds of dangerous criminals absconding from open prisons.

'Upgrade week'

The Iraqi prime minister's promise to use "maximum force" against terrorism is the lead story in the Guardian.

But the paper notes that the country's new government was faced with a fresh wave of bombings in Baghdad on Sunday.

The Times reports plans to change the university admissions system by creating an "upgrade week" from 2008.

In it, A-level students who gain higher than expected grades will be encouraged to apply to enter better universities than those where places are confirmed.

Pension advice

Efforts to combat the problem of childhood obesity are reported in the Daily Mail.

It says children are to be weighed at four and ten and their parents will be informed if they are overweight.

The Sun looks ahead to the release this week of reform proposals from the Work and Pensions Secretary, John Hutton.

The paper points out that while he will call on people to save for old age, he already- at 51 - has a guaranteed pension of £28,000 a year which will continue to grow.

'Banana-geddon'

The story of an 83-year-old former factory worker who gave away £3.5m he won on the lottery is covered in great detail in the Mirror.

Bob Bradley, a great-grandfather from Llanelli, has made large donations to charities, bought a car for his son and a five-bedroom house for his grandson.

The Daily Mail reports that a fungus has attacked banana plantations and is threatening production of the fruit.

Fearing the popular fruit is in danger, the paper calls it "Banana-geddon".