13/07/2011 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

Good evening and welcome to BBC Look North. The headlines tonight:

Lucky to be alive. A woman is rescued by helicopter after her car

fell down a cliff in East Yorkshire. If I just find it incredible that

nobody is seriously injured. The Prime Minister is urged to step

in and stop the Humber Bridge tolls rising. The bridge was built to

unite both sides. Unfortunately they put it will be fair, which is

the barrier that is holding back the Humber.

The North Lincolnshire invaders costing a water company more than

�1 million. And the American tradition loved by

teenagers but hitting parents in the pocket.

Join me for the weather later in the programme.

A woman is tonight being treated in hospital after surviving a 50 foot

fall in this car. It happened this morning at a beauty spot close to

Flamborough. A passer by raised the alarm after seeing the vehicle

close to the cliff edge at Thornwick Bay, sparking a huge

rescue operation. Crispin Rolfe is live at the site for us this

evening. What more can you tell us about what happened?

We are not sure of the why, but be more or less know what the House.

You can see where the car has:. It went down the side of the Cliffe

face. You can see the idea that that has flattened down on its way

down. It did not get as far as the beach, but it effectively ended up

by one of those dishes are right there. The good news seems to be

that the occupant inside the car has managed to escape many serious

injuries. Airlifted to safety by doctors at the base of the Cliffe,

it is thought that this local woman could have been here for hours

after her car plunged over the edge. She's found at 7am this morning.

The car's only of -- occupant, the woman is now being treated for

minor injuries. It is a slow process in with it their fire

service having to cut the car to get her out. Once that she was

airlifted, it is a fairly short trip straight to hospital. She is

barely shaken, conches and breathing in the vehicle. The fire

service are experts at extracting people in these circumstances.

11pm, -- at 11am, the recovery began. It is that it clear how she

came to plunge at this popular tourist spot. We heard the

helicopter coming over and we had no idea what had happened. I did

not know until somebody had told me that that had been on the radio

that the car had that gone over. I just find it incredible that

nobody is seriously injured. The car looks in good condition

considering it has gone over a Cliffe and turned over a few times.

Today's Christie has taken almost all the emergency services efforts,

but the car and its contents have been recovered for a driver that

has amazing play escaped without serious injury.

What have local people made of what has happened?

They have been shocked, as have two arrests. They want to put this

incident behind them were the saviour is known as a beauty spot

rather than an anything else. In a moment:

The family of a Second World War hero visit his former base in

Lincolnshire. A letter landed on David Cameron's

desk this morning calling for him intervene in the decision to raise

tolls on the Humber Bridge. It was sent by councillors in North

Lincolnshire who have unanimously decided to opposed the price raise

which will see cars drivers having to pay �3 for a single crossing.

The council says the Government's decision, "Simply adds insult to

injury for businesses and residents on the Humber." Phil Connell

reports. It will celebrate its 30th birthday

this weekend, embroiled again in politics. This letter about the

latest rise in poll -- toll charges arrives on their Prime Minister's

death. -- desk. Today the council raised their objections directly

with Downing Street. The letter, signed by all political parties,

calls for the tolls to be reduced or abolished altogether. The bridge

was built to unite both sides. What the dead was put a toll booth there.

That is the barrier that is holding back the Humber. According to

research, the abolition of tolls would be is the area's economy here

by �1.2 billion. And no charge policy could attract further

investment, enhancing the Humber's prospects of being Britain's

leading centre of renewable energy. It is a massive ambition that is

already on the brink of being realised. Plants are in preparation

to build new sites it to support the renewables in jail -- industry.

It is crucial investment that business leaders could be -- fear

could be jeopardised by bridge tolls. It is important for the UK

economy. We're tucking about big developments around here. We need

to get people to work to access these jobs. At the moment, the

bridge is a barrier. Foreign today, it they hoped that the Prime

Minister will find a long-term solution, we know which will find

the bridge celebrating future birthdays with no financial

pressure. Andrew Percy, the MP for Brigg and

Goole, joins me now live from Westminster on this one. Will this

letter make any difference? In one sense, it already has. There are

already meetings taking place. We had this Treasury-led review which

is looking at a range of options. The Department of Transport renewed

the tall rise and they knew about the review, they will not change

anything now, while they? They have to put the case to the Department

of Transport, but that is their decision at the end of the day. In

one sense, as I said, they Treasury-led review is the first in

the whole history of the bridge. The EU agree with the decision to

raise the tolls? Of course we do not agree. It was not the

Government's decision. But the Government approved it. They could

have stopped that. The government always gives the bridge board

devoted to raise the dolls, because if they did not then taxpayers

would have to pay. That demonstrates what is wrong with the

whole structure of the bridge. That is why the rich you, something that

has not been done before, is looking at all of those issues.

are due to meet the Prime Minister to discuss the job cuts. Will you

be suggesting to him that the dolls are reduced? Were we'll be talking

to him, when we can get the meeting, about the whole impact on the sub

regional economy. These are the issues that will come up. I have

the letters here that were sent to the Prime Minister. The last line

is that they look forward to a prompt response. Will they get one?

I hope so. The Prime Minister and government in general are

completely aware of the situation and aware that the Humber has

lagged behind the rest of the country. Thank you for talking to

us tonight. Police officers from East Yorkshire

and one should have joined calls from across the country today to

protest against latest cuts to their budget.

Off duty Humberside policemen Ian Springett and Pete Musgrave both

travelled to London and take part in today's rally. Like many other

officers, they want the Government to look again at a 20% cut in the

police budget over the next four years. Humberside Police will lose

around 120 officers over the coming year. Lincolnshire Police will lose

around 70 officers. We want to send a message to the Government that

the proposed changes are too much and too quick and our forces will

struggled to deliver to the men and women of the public in Humberside.

We represent uniformed PCs in Grimsby. They have come to me with

numerous worries and concerns about the speed of the changes and the

state of the service at the moment. Police officers from across the

country came to London to date to showed their feelings. But the

government argues that police reform is necessary and that pay

and perks will not be affordable in the years to come. Ministers want

police chiefs to use their resources wisely and point to the

example of Lincolnshire Police, which announced it would be using

volunteers to carry out some forensic work. There is a long and

proud history of volunteering in this country and there is a long

and proud history of volunteering in policing. That is not policing

on the cheap, that is just people volunteering to do their bit within

society. But many officers argue that no amount of cuts to red tape

and bureaucracy will make up for the fact that fewer officers will

on the streets of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Steve Garmston from the Humberside Police Federation told me that cuts

will lead to crime levels rising. think there is evidence of that

happening already. We have seen a burglary increased in increasing in

the last month. Police numbers are falling, and it is too early to

link the two, but it I think they are connected. Workers everywhere

are seen their pay frozen, why should the police be any different?

Partly because we do not have the right to strike. Partly because the

level of cuts are aimed at the police service are so much more. We

have a two-year pay freeze, but we have pensions, terms and conditions

attacked and every other form. Would you like to see more senior

police goal? -- leave to? -- goal on the beat? There has to be a

level of supervision. There should be a corresponding decrease in its

senior offices -- officers. A what is morale like you might it really

is poor. We have had such a large amount of change in such a short

amount of time. We had a survey were 98% said their morale had

deteriorated considerably. There is a real problem. A If you could

strike, you are not elected committee could which you? Know,. -

- know, I would not. -- no. What do you think on this one? How

do you think police cuts will affect our local forces? How do you

feel about seeing officers protesting like this? Get in touch

Three members of a family, including an eight month old baby,

are being treated in hospital after a serious crash in Lincolnshire.

Police say their car was on the A1073 bypass near Crowland when it

was involved in a collision this morning.

Police investigating the deaths of two men found in North Lincolnshire

have confirmed they had spoken to one of them about downloading

inappropriate images. 44-year-old Craig Harris's body was found near

Winteringham last week alongside that of another man. Mr Harris,

from Cleethorpes, had been questioned about downloading images

Still ahead tonight: the underwater invasion costing a company more

than �1m. And the American tradition loved by

teenagers, but costing parents a Tonight's photo is North Ferriby,

taken by John Wharam. Look at that, that is a winner. We will have

another picture tomorrow night at the same time. Good evening, young

man. The a lot of people were Let us have a look at the headline

for the next 24 awards. There has been a bit of cloud affecting us

today, but there is some hope that a bit of sun will break through to

more off. It should not you can see this low pressure coming in from

the east, but it should not affect our region too much. Because of

this cloud cover, the temperatures did not get above 15 degrees today,

the average is normal to be 21 at this time of here. So, at some

include thickening overnight and bringing in the Lords small shower

into east of Lincolnshire. Here are There will be a lot of cloud,

particularly towards the coast tomorrow morning. Into the West,

the cloud should break and will be a better chance of some sunshine

breaking through the air. On the coast, it will still be quite

chilly, with the northerly breeze. Inland, it should feel a bit warm

or, a bit about 19 or 20 degrees Celsius. On Friday, much the same

picture, but there is a rein on its way come the weekend. I got a

letter here from an expatriate who watches the short even though he is

based in Spain. The last time I was over there I was watching a

gorgeous Spanish blonde on their network doing the weather. A any

chance we could get her instead of George Keston helped guide bomber

planes from Lincolnshire through raids over Germany during World War

As a German speaker, he would secretly fly with crews based at

Ludford Magna near Market Rasen, translating intercepted Nazi

messages. Today, for the first time, his sister, who survived the

Holocaust, visited the site where George was based to see the

memorial left in honour of him and his comrades from 101 Squadron.

It is a name on a page, George Keston, but for Berta Aronson it is

a key piece in the story of her younger brother George, the Jewish

boy who fled Nazi Germany, the son of parents murdered in the war. The

teenager joined the RAF to avenge their deaths and died fighting for

their honour. This is the first time she has visited the village he

was based in. It is quite emotional for me, but it is also an owner. -

- I great honour. He was just a young boy. He wanted to get back at

their Germans for what they did to our parents.

George was based at RAF Ludford and flew with the 101 Squadron,

blocking Nazi radio signals. But their jobs were high risk. Their

squadron lost more men than any other. In 1944, George's plane was

shot down. He was just 18. What they did was absolutely incredible

and inspirational. The bravery the it showed was and slowly remarkable.

This is the first time that Berta has seen the memorial which honours

her brother and the others killed in 101 Squadron. Until a few months

ago, she thought George was only remembered by a war grave in

Germany. Until now, it is a name and a story. But now it is visual.

It is official that his memory is remember it, as the soldier and as

a human being who fell. For more than 60 years, his family knew

nothing about his connection with Lincolnshire and, for the first

time, they have been able to return here to see that he has not been

forgotten. They are no bigger than a 10p piece,

but they are costing one water company a fortune. Zebra mussels,

which are native to Russia, have invaded the River Ancholme and have

multiplied so much that they are now blocking a water filtering

plant near Brigg. In just one square metre, as many

as as 10,000 shells can be found. It means six tonnes of mussels are

clogging up the system every month. And the problem is costing Anglian

Water more than �1m. The view me appear serene, but the situation is

not that way. Thousands of these Zebra mussels are blocking up the

system. Most of the what it is treated at this site. Millions of

litres of what others are treated here every day. This is a first

step in turning river water into drinking water, but these Zebra

mussels shells are blocking up the filtration systems. They are called

an invasive species, because they are not native to the United

Kingdom. They also cause a lot of problems with our ecosystem. The

first came to the country attach to Russian bought its 200 years ago.

Many invasive species come because there is that an environmental

window of opportunity for them. In this case, they have just taken

over. A Anglian Water say it will not cost consumers anything for

this problem to be fixed, but it is feared these creatures will

continue to multiply under the surface.

Mussels from Russia are not the only animals to be outstaying their

welcome in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It is estimated there

are more than 10,000 alien species in Europe and the cost of dealing

with them in the UK reaches �1.7 billion a year. Our rural affairs

correspondent Caroline Bilton has been taking a look at some other

invaders that have made their home here.

Lurking beneath our waters and stalking our shores. East Yorkshire

and Lincolnshire has its fair share of predators.

First up is this hairy-clawed crustacean, the Chinese Mitten Crab

Thought to have been brought over here from China, it is breeding in

vast numbers in the Humber, burrowing into river banks and

causing serious damage to our flood defences.

Another clawed critter causing chaos is the Giant American

Crayfish. This six-inch killing machine eats almost anything in its

path. Introduced in the 1970s and bred on farms for the restaurant

trade, they are now breeding in our waterways here.

Our next suspect looks like a giant rat, biu it it is in fact a coypu.

Imported to Britain from South American for fur farming, stories

of them being on the loose in Lincolnshire were circulating just

last year. Finally, you might not get close to

a coypu, but you may well come face to face with one of these, the

average house mouse. It has become a common pest in homes up and down

the country and is thought to be the first species to be introduced

to Britain. They are all here living among us. It is just that

some have outstayed their welcome. It started in America, but now the

school prom is costing parents here dearly. With girls demanding

dresses, spray tans, hairdressers and even eyelash inserts, they can

end up spending around �500 on that single night out. Anne-Marie Tasker

has been finding out why prom nights have become such a big event.

Some girls say it comes only second to their wedding. And for many,

getting ready for prom night starts many hours, if not months, before

the event. Sophie Shields is leaving David Lister School in Hull

next week, but booked her prom dress back in November. I saw it in

the window and I was like, up I want no one mum.

Hiring it for one night costs �200. The mums and a lot easier to deal

with, sometimes the fathers come in and say, how much exclamation mark

however, I have not seen one father not coming back the next day with

the money. With acrylic nails and eyelash

inserts already paid for, Sophie and her mum's next stop is the

hairdressers. Including her new hair extensions,

it has cost almost �100. School proms started life in America, but

over the past decade, they have caught on here. Children as young

as eleven are having proms, but for those leaving school at 16, it is a

big deal. It is one of the more special days and I will ever have,

except for my date my wedding. think she deserves it. I think it

is a bit extreme and obscene that in some people's eyes. It does

sound a lot of money, but I work hard, so why not.

The weather brought some wardrobe challenges. And with every

limousine in Hull already booked up, Sophie and her friends travelled by

vintage bus. It took her teachers six months to organise the big

night. I think there is an expectation that they want to

celebrate their years at secondary school. It is amazing. Everyone

just looks beautiful, even their boys. It is a lot of money, but

they think it was well worth spending.

The 80 school leavers voted for their prom king and queen, then

they enjoyed a night of dancing and celebration. It may have cost

hundreds of pounds, but each said it was worth every penny. Is it me,

or am I just be grumpy old man? Let us get a recap of the national

and regional headlines. The hacking scandal forces Rupert

Murdoch to drop his bid to take full control of BSkyB. A driver

whose car fell off a cliff in East Lincolnshire is recovering in

hospital. We have got responses to it the earlier story about the

police. In this one, at this e-mail says, they should worry more - -

they should join the Army or the local services. They do not know