Events from 2009 in England Incumbent Events January 2 January – A light aircraft crashes into overhead power cables on the West Coast Main Line near the village of Little Haywood in Staffordshire, causing widespread disruption to train services, and reportedly killing the three occupants of the aircraft. 5 January – Cold weather consisting of snow and freezing temperatures causes widespread disruption across the UK. Travel routes are severely affected including roads and railways, in addition to Luton and Birmingham airports respectively. The weather also leads to the closure of many schools who were due to return after the Christmas break. Waterford Wedgwood, makers of the famous Wedgwood pottery, enters administration. 7 January – England Cricket Captain, Kevin Pietersen resigns after months of rows with England Manager, Peter Moores. Moores is sacked from his job by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Andrew Strauss is named as the new Captain. 12 January – At the 66th Golden Globe Awards, British actress Kate Winslet wins two awards, Best Actress (Motion Picture Drama) and Best Supporting Actress (Motion Picture); while British film Slumdog Millionaire wins all four of the awards for which it is nominated. 15 January – Approval is granted for the building of the controversial third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow Airport. As part of the decision, the Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, announces restrictions on aircraft using the third runway that are designed to limit noise pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, alongside proposals for a high-speed rail hub, also located at Heathrow. John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, the constituency which includes Heathrow Airport, is suspended from Parliament after picking up the ceremonial House of Commons mace in protest at the government's approval of a third runway. 23 January – Karen Matthews and Michael Donavon are sentenced to eight years in prison for the kidnap of Shannon Matthews, the former's daughter, having held her captive in Donvon's flat in Dewsbury last year as part of a bid to claim £50,000 for her "safe return" after reporting her missing to the police. 26 January – Possession of "extreme pornography" becomes illegal under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. 28 January – Hundreds of workers go on strike at the Lindsay Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire in protest at the hiring of foreign construction workers at the site, despite rising unemployment in the UK. February 2