10/09/2013 BBC News at Six

Not guilty - Coronation Street's Michael Le Vell is cleared of all

rape and child abuse charges. A seven-day trial in which his private

life was laid bare - the jury took just four hours to reach its

verdict. I am delighted, obviously. It is a big weight off everyone's

shoulders. We'll be asking if the actor will be back on screen. Also

tonight: Bombs and blood in Syria as the world debates the latest

diplomatic moves, a special report from the heart of the conflict.

There's been fairly bitter fighting in this particular area over the

last four or five days. In fact this region has been contested heavily.

The holiday villa in Turkey that's become a murder scene - a British

woman is killed and her mother and son are left injured.

Ed, you are very welcome here today and we look forward to your remarks.

But Ed Miliband tells unions his controversial reforms of funding

will go ahead despite their criticism.

We've had the flexible friend now here's the plastic pound - the Bank

of England unveils its new banknotes.

Michael Le Vell, the Coronation Street actor, has been found not

guilty of 12 rape and child abuse charges. The seven-day trial ended

yesterday and the jury of eight women and four men took four hours

to reach their verdict. Judith Moritz is at Manchester Crown Court

for us now. This has been a trial of high

emotion. A teenage girl sobbed as she gave her account here in court

last week, making serious allegations of child sexual abuse.

Today, the tears instead came from Michael Le Vell's relatives, who

held hands in the courtroom gallery of court room number three, and

cried when he was acquitted. This report contains flash photography.

Michael Le Vell stood to lose everything.

In the glare of publicity, accused of being a child sex abuse, his

liberty and reputation have been on the line. Outside court, his family

liberty and reputation have been on shared his joy at being acquitted.

It is a weight off everyone's shoulders. I would like to thank my

legal team and thank you all for being patient. I might go and have a

drink now! I asked him whether he will be back on screen soon. When

might you return to Coronation Street? I don't know, I might have a

holiday first, I have to talk to my boss. Earlier, the jury brought 12

not guilty charges. The actor mouthed, " thank you" . To the jury.

The jury dismissed the account of his alleged victim who dismissed the

claim he raped her when she was six. Having been in the soap since 1983,

he is one of the longest serving cast members. He often appeared

alongside Nigel Pivaro, who played that character, Terry Duckworth. He

came to court to watch the trial. The indication is clear he is going

back to Coronation Street. Why not commonly has been exonerated. Do you

think you should have been given and on unity during this? Without a

doubt, this man, because he is high profile, has suffered grievously for

two years. Being high profile has exacerbated his position. At the

Coronation Street Studios, fellow cast members were taking in the

news. I have only just heard, I think it is great news. Michael Le

Vell knew he could have been leaving court today in a prison van.

Instead, he is enjoying his freedom and will try to rebuild his

reputation and career. Judith, you asked this question, but

is it any clearer he will be back on screen or not? Michael Le Vell's

reputation has been damaged. He accepted during this trial he is an

alcoholic and has had extramarital affairs. He has not been appearing

on Coronation Street whilst these legal proceedings have been

ongoing. But ITV have said in a statement they are looking forward

ongoing. But ITV have said in a to meeting with Michael, to discuss

his return to the programme. Thanks very much.

Britain, France and the United States are to table a motion at the

UN Security Council, demanding that Syria surrender its chemical

weapons. The news came on a day of intense diplomatic activity in which

Damascus accepted a proposal from Russia to put its chemical weapons

under international control. Tonight, all eyes are on Barack

Obama and the big question, what happens to his plan for military

intervention? David Willis reports from Washington.

It came virtually at the 11th hour. A face-saving solution for a

reluctant commander-in-chief. Back from the brink, a major turn

tonight. As news of a possible diplomatic breakthrough emerged, the

president was asked if Syria handed over their chemical weapons, would

America pull back from the brink? Absolutely. If that happens, I don't

think we would have got to this point unless we maintained a

credible, possible military strike. I don't think now is the time to let

up on that. I want to make sure that norm against using chemical weapons

is maintained. It is not only the tactical considerations that lie

behind this new plan, but the practicalities of enforcing it,

placing Syria's chemical weapons under international control will

involve some difficult and detailed measures. Measures, which it is

thought could take months to achieve. First, a chemical weapons

inspection team would need to be assembled. Then the weapons

themselves would have to be located and given the Syrian government's

secrecy, it could be difficult to work out if they had been handed

over. Then there is the inspector 's safety. Unlike in Iraq, they would

be setting out their task in the midst of a raging civil war. Hence

the administration continues to push Congress for military action, and

the man whose off script comments open-door to a diplomatic solution,

is concerned the new plan may be just a stalling tactic. It has to

is concerned the new plan may be real, measurable and tangible. I

want everyone to know, it will be difficult to fulfil those

conditions. But we are waiting for that proposal. But we're not waiting

for long. Averting a military strike would suit the war wary American

public. At this party at the start of the new American football league

season, we found opinion divided. Everyone wants to see their own

season, we found opinion divided. country taken care of first. You

kind of have two, when that role is needed, you have two step up when

the situation requires it. President Obama's lonely journey over Syria

may be coming to an end. The UK and France said they will join America

in tabling a resolution to the United Nations. Tonight, he

addresses the American people. This afternoon, David Cameron has

been speaking about the Russian plan to put Syria's chemical weapons

under international control. He made it clear Britain wanted to be sure

it was not a delaying tactic. If this is a serious offer, a serious

proposal, we should treat it accordingly. Of course we should be

sceptical and should not forget a war crime has been committed. But

this could be a major step forward, but we need to test it out properly.

Let's get some reaction from Matt from Downing Street. Some have been

calling this a breakthrough, but there was plenty of caution today

from David Cameron? Scepticism, he used words like hard-headed, cool

calculation. There is a feeling here as well as in Paris and Washington,

DC, yesterday Russia, who have been President Assad's allies, the

country who had blocked any of the United nation's condemnation of

Syria, moved to seize the initiative. There is a sense the

British, French and Americans want to seize it back again and test the

sincerity of Moscow. But the who, the Watts, the when Amber Howe, what

weapons might be removed from Syria, who would be removing and he would

be supervising the process and to what timetable. Although that is

going on, what is really going on is an attempt to test whether Russia

means to put pressure on its old ally. That gives diplomats a real

choice around the world. Do they try to come up with a resolution that

Moscow and indeed the Chinese in Beijing might support? Or do they

try and come up with a hardline resolution, which they are pretty

clear Moscow will veto once again, to prove there is little point going

through the UN process. That is the test happening now. The Russians

have said they will come up with their own proposals. That would

suggest if Russia are in charge of dismantling Syria's chemical weapons

programmes, I am told here that no one would take that seriously.

As the international community debates its next move, with the

diplomatic landscape changing, that debates its next move, with the

appears to be no letup in the war in Syria. Our correspondence and

cameramen are among the few Western journalists who are in the west of

the country. This report contains distressing images.

Syrians live in fear of many things, but it's so-called conventional

weapons, not chemicals, that has killed so many of them. For the last

two years, this town has been bombed and shelled, each attack recorded by

a local media activist, Ibrahim. Weaving among the rubble and ruins,

he guided us through the devastation inflicted on his village. He filmed

the fighter jets last year, and this is what he says he filmed a few days

ago. Another aerial attack that left 14 dead, many more injured. The

rebels had used this as a base, but when the government responds, it is

rebels had used this as a base, but usually civilians who died. This

wasn't the worst date the town has known, possibly not even the worst

in Syria that day. But the attacks have increased and Ibrahim suspects

it is because of the threat of American air strikes.

TRANSLATION: Before this strike, they hit as with missiles for no

reason, there are only civilians here. But I think it is because of

American statements about strikes on Syria and the regime wants to prove

it is still strong and will not surrender.

This is where one of the bombs landed in the latest attack. Many

families have fled the fighting but came home, thinking it was now safe.

They were wrong. This 14-month-old was playing in the house when it

landed. His scarred face is testament to this war. His father is

angry at what he sees as indifference from the world.

TRANSLATION: why is their silence? Is it because we are Moslems? What

religion are you? Are you Christian, Jewish? I respect you. But is our

blood cheaper than yours? You have seen the destruction, the chemical

attacks, shelling. What did anyone do? It is almost as if you enjoyed

watching others. Like millions of the Syrians, he is trapped inside

his own country, his family on the move, desperate for Shelter and

safety. But few parts of Syria offer that comfort. Events on the ground

have consistently outpaced the international debate about what to

do. And up in the hills of the North, the struggle between the army

and the rebels is undiminished. There has been fairly bitter

fighting going on in this area over the last four or five days. This

region itself has been contested heavily over the last year and a

half. Both sides are bracing themselves over what may come from

the international community, there is no sense of a pause and they are

still fighting each other as hard as ever. While one side fears the

possibility of air strikes, the other one sees an opportunity. The

possibility of air strikes, the rebels are talking about using them

to push forward. If it does not happen now it could cause resentment

and marginalised more rebel groups ready to engage with the West. The

struggle for control of Syria has left main roads impassable. At

night, the likes of government controlled cities in the distance

seemed to taunt rebel held towns, consumed by the darkness. Syrians

have different views on their future. What they can agree on is

the suffering must end. A court has found four men guilty of

the gang rape and murder of a woman on a bus in Delhi last year. The

problems of sexual violence in India generated a global coverage. The

family of the victim have asked that the guilty men be given the death

healthy. Jaguar Land Rover is creating 1700 jobs in Solihull in

the West Midlands. It is investing on designing systems

to allow the chassis of models to be made out of aluminium. A woman from

Yorkshire has been shot dead while on holiday in Turkey.

Catherine Bury from Northallerton on holiday in Turkey.

was killed after celebrating a family birthday at her villa in the

southern resort of Dalyan. Her son and mother have been treated in

hospital. Police have arrested a man thought to be a gardener at the

villa. The balloons from a birthday party

are still on display at a holiday villa were three generations of the

same British family were shot. A poignant backdrop to the police

investigation as detectives try to establish whether the cause of the

tragedy was a row with a gardener. Catherine Bury died just hours after

turning 56. It was her party. A 24-year-old, Sam Alex, and her

mother survived, but 24-year-old, Sam Alex, and her

treatment for gunshot wounds. Today, her neighbours in North Yorkshire

have been paying tribute. She has been such a good neighbour that I

don't think we can ever replace her. Such a good neighbour, to be

honest. For such a thing to happen, in this day and age, it is

unbelievable. Turkish police have arrested a 46-year-old local man in

connection with the shootings. He arrested a 46-year-old local man in

understood to be the family gardener. He had initially been on

Saturday. It is believed the family called the police after a row with

him. The following day, the family held the birthday party at their

villa. The Gardner, who had been released on bail, allegedly returned

villa. The Gardner, who had been in the early hours of Monday morning

with a shot gun. Her son, Alex, is still in hospital, where he is said

with a shot gun. Her son, Alex, is to be in a stable condition. His

grandmother has been discharged. The Foreign Office says it is providing

assistance as Turkish police continue their investigation into

the circumstances that led to the shootings.

Our top story: Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell is cleared of

all rape and child abuse charges. Coming up, the verdict on the Bank

of England's new plastic notes. It's a bit like Monopoly money, to be

honest. In Sportsday, is this the most powerful man in sport? Thomas

Bach is the new president of the IOC.

We have been reporting in recent days on signs that an economic

recovery is underway. But the benefits have yet to be felt on

recovery is underway. But the Britain's high streets. A new study

has found that, on average, one in seven shops have been empty for the

last three years. That is more than 45,000 in town centres right across

Britain. Amongst the worst areas affected is the north-west of

England, where one in five is empty, with many businesses

complaining at high rates are empty, with many businesses

driving them out. It looks busy enough. But things are

far from well in this town centre. The big names are still pulling out.

They do not need as many The big names are still pulling out.

more of us shop online. Here is something we are less likely to buy

on the internet. But Ian Shaw's chip something we are less likely to buy

shop will also not be open for much longer. When he lost his job and

could not find another, he started his own business. But, 18 months on,

he is giving up because of crippling costs. If I can't make it work,

nobody is going to make it work in this shop. I have literally put my

heart and soul into it. He is paying £10,000 this year in rent. He is

also paying almost £19,000 in £10,000 this year in rent. He is

business rates. That is before any of his other bills. It is not worth

killing myself to stay open. Whether it is back on the dole, trying to

set up another shop. I used most of my funds that I had. I cashed in my

pension and that is what set it up to begin with. Here is the thing

about his nest rates. They are not based on any profits that businesses

like Ian's make. It is a national property tax, currently calculate it

on values set at the height of the property tax, currently calculate it

property boom. But in many parts of the country it is a very different

economic picture now. Over the last few years, property values in

Rochdale have decreased by something like 40%. At the same time, business

rates have stayed exactly where they are and that is putting people off

opening up new stores. That means you end up with a vacant properties.

The government says that business rates are fit for purpose. When you

are running a small business, rates are fit for purpose. When you

business rates and other cost is weigh heavily. That is why we are

helping businesses with £900 million of business rate relief. Ian's

shopper does not qualify for relief and it is already on the market. The

shopper does not qualify for relief question is, who will take it on and

managed to keep it open? The House of Commons Deputy Speaker

Nigel Evans has been arrested on suspicion of the indecent assault of

two further alleged victims. It is the third time the MP for Ribble

Valley has been arrested for sexual offences. He has been arrested for

rates and indecent assaults against men in their 20s. -- rapes. Ed

Miliband says he is absolutely determined to redefine his party's

relationship with the unions. At a speech at the TUC annual

meeting in Bournemouth, he said union members should choose to be

meeting in Bournemouth, he said part of the Labour Party, rather

than being automatically signed up by the union. James Langdale

travelled with Mr Miliband. He is taking Labour on a journey.

Some trade unions fear he is taking them for a ride. Today, Ed Miliband

travel to the TUC to tell the unions to their face that their

relationship must change. Are you nervous, entering the lions den?

After three years in this job, you always have to times and faced

difficult moments. Audiences you aren't necessarily going to see

liking what you say. The right thing to do is to say what you believe and

liking what you say. The right thing that is what I'm going to say today.

Are you going to win this battle? Yes. To do that he will have to

change minds. That was the aim of the speech, to convince a sceptical

audience he is serious. We have 3 million working men and women

affiliated to our party. I am proud of that. I am proud of that link.

Here is the problem. So many of them, the vast majority of them,

play no role in our local parties. They are affiliated in name only.

Instead, he wants them to choose to join Labour, as individuals, instead

of being automatically affiliated, as now. Even if it cost the party

support and money. Change can happen. Change must happen. I am

absolutely determined that change may happen. He hopes this

absolutely determined that change defining moment for him, showing

courage and independence, changing the way Labour does politics. The

problem is, many people in this hall think that it is the wrong strategy

at the wrong time. The applause was muted. No great confrontation, no

threats to curb union powers. Equally, no evidence of mind is

being changed. What he has to do is be certain he keeps the eye on the

ball and he does not get embroiled in internal navel-gazing. Labour

Party rules are Labour Party rules. They will change their rules they

will not. That is up to them. They cannot change the GMB rules, the

Unite rules. We will have to wait and see. If it ain't broke, one

asked, why fix it? Just to be told this will happen in 2014, to me,

seems absolutely nonsense. Ed Miliband's journey is not over yet.

Nothing will be agreed until a special conference next year. That

is, of course, if any thing can be agreed. Bold, tatty and ripped. It

does not take long before a crisp banknote becomes limp and dirty.

Now the Bank of England has announced it could introduce plastic

notes. It is claimed that they last longer and they are cleaner and more

secure. The Bank of England, guardian of our

money. Here is what they have come up with. It looks like a normal £5

note. But you can crumble is, bend it, try to rip it and it stays

intact. -- crumble it. It's made of plastic. It is potentially a big

change after years of printing paper money. The bank will consult the

public. Unless there is a big outcry, paper fivers antennas will

be replaced with plastic. The man with his signature on the notes told

me why plastic is the way ahead. They tend to stay clean, they are

durable, they can have new security features like transparent windows.

We can also keep the elements that people value. They put this note

through a washing machine. Here is what happened to the paper one. They

even did a red wine test. The plastic one cleaned up after

staining, here is a paper one that got the same treatment. They say

they last 2.5 times longer. And the got the same treatment. They say

bank of England Governor Mark Carney did the same thing in Canada. An

astronaut launched the polymer note in zero gravity. So, what is the

view here? What do you think? A bit like Monopoly money, to be honest.

They look the same, slightly different feel. More robust. No more

Sellotape to £10 notes about. Really? Yes. What is that? That's a

joke! Stand-by for the new notes in 2016 if the plan gets the go-ahead.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, it will be up to local issue is to

decide if they want to go plastic. Waterproof money might come in

tomorrow. We have some rain on the way for many parts of the UK

gradually working southwards as the day wears on. Some southern areas

not seeing much until late on. Some southern areas of pots of sunshine.

That has not been the case down the eastern side of England, with rain

That has not been the case down the piling in. It's been a pretty

miserable day, temperatures ten or 11 in some places through the

afternoon. Not getting any warmer through this evening and overnight.

The Gaels continue, especially across the North Norfolk coast. The

heaviest rain easing away towards the East as we go through the second

half of the night. Clear spells through central areas, temperatures

dipping in rural parts. In larger towns and cities, staying that

little bit higher. One or two patches of mist and fog about,

perhaps. By the end of the night, rain pushing across Scotland and

Northern Ireland. Then we start to see this next band of rain pushing

steadily southwards. A fresher feel across East Anglia and the

south-east. The cloud increasing, but not seeing rain until later on.

Brighter parts in the afternoon, they could see up to 14 degrees.

That rain is sitting right across the top of Edgbaston where we have

the third one-day international tomorrow. Fingers crossed, but the

forecast does not look good here. Thursday, more rain pushing in from

the west. Eastern areas are best. 19 or 20 degrees here, possibly. A bit

cooler in the rain. Looking rather changeable right through to the

weekend. That is all from us. On BBC One we join the news teams