内容摘要：Campaigners have long challenged the law, arguing that the public and private sectors do not operate on a level playing field.

Campaigners have long challenged the law, arguing that the public and private sectors do not operate on a level playing field.

They are working on new and smarter ways to fight the war. And what failed today may succeed next time.Politicians across Worcestershire might spend this Christmas contemplating the county's future after Labour's devolution white paper heralded the end of its two-tier council system.

Bosses at Worcestershire County Council want to fast-track plans to scrap both it and the county's six districts, replacing them with a single, unitary authority, the BBC understands.The Conservative administration will ask ministers if Worcestershire can be among the first areas to undergo reorganisation, a move which could see next year's county council elections cancelled.However, councillors across Worcestershire are split over whether Labour's plans will be good or bad for local democracy.

At present, Worcestershire has one county council, with responsibility for services including roads and social care, sitting above six district councils running taking care of things including rubbish collection and housing.However, the new Labour government has argued merging two-tier areas will streamline services.

Last week local government minister Jim McMahon invited council leaders to submit proposals for reorganisation by March.

Councils wanting to be fast-tracked must respond by January 10 - a move Worcestershire County Council's conservative administration agreed to pursue in a private cabinet meeting, sources told the BBC."Operations like this require information from the public telling us of any suspicious activity they might have seen or heard about," he added.

West Midlands Police said anyone with concerns about shops selling illegal or counterfeit items can report it via 101.When two white vapour trails cross the sky near the front line in eastern Ukraine, it tends to mean one thing. Russian jets are about to attack.

But what happened near the city of Kostyantynivka was unprecedented.and a new object quickly accelerated towards the other vapour trail until they crossed and a bright orange flash lit up the sky.