15/03/2012 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

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

As the first case of an incurable sheep virus is found in

Lincolnshire, what impact will it have on the county's farms?

I don't know how it's arrived here. It is worrying because we're about

to come into the peak lambing season.

More than 30 jobless people for every vacancy. Hull is amongst the

worst in the country for those trying to find a job. School pupils

investigate the local businesses benefiting from the Olympics.

And hundreds brave the elements to watch England's oldest horse race.

There should be more sunshine tomorrow. I will have the forecast

later. Hello. It kills livestock and is carried

by midges, and tonight the first case of an incurable sheep disease

has been found on a farm in Lincolnshire. Experts say

Schmallenberg is unlikely to affect humans. But farmers in the county

are being asked to be vigilant as it often leads to stillborn

offspring. Siobhan Robbins' report contains a picture of a dead lamb.

Bob Sheldon's ewes are expecting around 400 lambs, but until they're

born they won't know if any have the Schmallenberg virus. So far,

one case has been confirmed on an unnamed farm in Lincolnshire. It

causes stillborns and deformities. It's very worrying, but it is a

amongst a lot of other worrying things that affect livestock

farmers. It is another nail in the coffin. Because this virus is

carried by midges, it is very difficult for farmers to protect

against it. There is not yet a vaccine, so it is a cruel game of

Russian roulette for farmer and flock.

The virus spread to the UK from Europe at the start of the Year.

158 cases have been reported across the south, the latest in

Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. is very early days and we are in a

potentially low risk earlier, but it is worrying because we are about

to come into the lambing season. It is where the income for the rest of

the year is being given birth to. Scientists in Surrey are now

testing midges to find out more about the virus. Sheep that survive

often build up immunity, but a vaccine is needed to stop the

spread. We are infecting been set artificially in the laboratory to

confirm that midges are involved. That way, we can predict how the

virus was bed at night help us find ways to control it. The second way

is to develop a diagnostic test. Farmers know a vaccine could take

years. In the meantime, they can only wait to see if their flocks

are affected. That is an important story for

sheep farmers, and one that we will continue to follow.

In a moment: Last week London, this week Louth.

Olympian Kate Haywood returns to her first swimming club. No

criminal charges are to be brought over the explosion at an illegal

vodka factory in Boston last summer. Five people died in the blast, and

a sixth man suffered extensive burns. The Crown Prosecution

Service says it can't establish either the cause or who was

responsible. A �50 million development for Mablethorpe has

been given the go-ahead after councillors changed their minds

Developers want to build 180 new homes, together with a supermarket,

garage, pub and restaurant on the outskirts of the town. East Lindsey

District Council originally turned down the application in December.

Humberside Police say no members of staff at Scunthorpe General will

face criminal charges after allegations were made that a baby

had been injured during treatment. Police had received a complaint

about an incident on the hospital's children's ward. Let's speak now to

Anne-Marie Tasker. What have Humberside Police told you today?

When I spoke to them, they said their investigation into this

incident is now complete. It followed a complaint when it was

alleged that their baby had been injured when it was being

restrained for treatment on Disney Ward, a hospital's children's ward.

We understand that four nurses and health support worker were

suspended, but the police say no criminal charges are to be brought

and no further action taken, and all people involved have been

updated with this development. has a hospital trust said? I spoke

to the Northern Hospitals NHS Trust, which looks after the Scunthorpe

General Hospital, and it confirmed that its internal investigation is

still continuing, but it would not comment on how long it expects that

investigation to take. I asked about the five staff who we

understand were suspended, and they would not confirm or deny whether

they remain suspended or ever were suspended. They would only say

appropriate action had been taken against the staff involved. Thank

you very much. A man who called 999 for an ambulance for his wife has

lodged an official complaint because they had to wait four hours

for a vehicle. Jenny Hook from Hessle near Hull is still in

hospital after breaking her hip on Saturday night. Her husband Alan

says when an ambulance arrived to take her to hospital, it had come

all the way from Doncaster. He's complained to the Yorkshire

Ambulance Trust about how long she was left in pain. She could have

cut a blood vessel of whatever, especially trying to move around on

it. She said it was grating. That his what I was trying to tell the

staff there. If she had cut something like that, she could have

bled to death with internal injuries. Yorkshire Ambulance

Service has told us "the patient's condition wasn't deemed to be

immediately life-threatening". It says it was referred to NHS Direct,

who contacted the family to say a non-emergency ambulance would take

her to hospital within four hours. It says it's looking into the

family's concerns. Two constituencies in Hull are

amongst the worst places in the country to get a job. It's

estimated more than 35 people are competing for each vacancy in East

Hull. In North Hull, the figure is almost 31. The news comes after the

latest unemployment figures showed the number of people out of work

has risen across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Linsey Smith has more.

This weekly job club helps the unemployed with CVs, interview

skills and applications. There are 5,000 people out of work in East

Hull. Today, just five attended. was made redundant in October from

a printing company where I was a production manager. I am finding it

very difficult to find someone to employ me. I lost the internet

recently, so have been coming here. I get the paper every Wednesday.

There are 45 people chasing every vacancy in East Hall. That compares

to a national average of just over five. It is not the worst. In one

place in Wales, 63 people are chasing every vacancy. That does

not make any living round here easy. I have been looking for a job for

the last two years. A lot of the time, it is not getting knocked

back, it is not getting a reply that is ready this heartening.

son cannot get a job. A Iowa plaster and it is hard to get wet.

Tell me about your experience. It is hard, really hard. It is not all

bad news. This coffee shop was set up in East Hull. The manager saw it

as an option -- saw the downturn as an opportunity. The employer gets a

choice of so many good applicants. There is no doubt businesses like

this are easing the pressure, but this area is hoping for a major

boost to lifted off the bottom of this league table. I spoke to Karl

Turner before we came on air. Government's plan is clearly not

working. It is clear to me that the austerity measures are hurting, but

not working. We have been saying for over 18 months that the

Government need a plan for growth. We have offered them the systems,

and a five putt plan, we suggested reducing VAT, a banker's bonus to

get young unemployed people back to work. The Government are not

listening. They need to listen, because it is painful to people in

my constituency. It is a vicious circle. Without new businesses,

they ran their jobs. How do we break it? The reality is, the

Government have one plan, and that is to reduce the deficit. It is not

working. Businesses are not keen on investing in areas such as mine,

when they are not sure how the Government will be dealing with the

economy. We need a plan for growth. Today, we've learned that two

organisations in East Hull that were set up to help people back

into work have closed or have had to reduce their services because of

funding cuts. They are not listening to people like me, when

we say they need a plan for growth. We have put one forward, and the

Government need to take that on board.

What do you say tonight to the people in your constituency who are

genuinely trying to find work and improve their chances of getting a

new job, but who after months of applications just can't get

anywhere? I don't want to be pessimistic. Siemens are coming to

Hull soon, and that will create about 700 jobs immediately. They

write good things happening, but the Government needs to sit up and

listen. Very good to talk to you. Thank you.

What's your experience of trying to find work? Or have you even

struggled to get the support and help that might give you a better

chance of getting a job? Contact me And on Monday, Tim Iredale will be

hosting a special programme on unemployment and prospects for

growth in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. That's Our Economy,

The Look North Debate on Monday at 11.05pm here on BBC One.

Still ahead tonight: And after some last minute re-

fuelling, the country's oldest horse race is run once more.

And we are live in Louth as Kate Haywood returns to her swimming

That photograph from last night, someone told me it really was taken

from a two-seater Bain. -- Bain. Tonight's picture is of Flamborough

by Mike Barnard. The man flu has taken hold and a serious way. Hello

to you. It was planned that he would be off

today. It was also planned he would give

us a barometer check. Perhaps you could do that tomorrow.

OK. The Sun did eventually come out for us today. Tomorrow, I think the

sunshine will come out a little earlier. If we look at the pressure

chat, you can see there is a weather front that will start to

approach. It will bring some rain eventually. Back to today, you can

see how that low cloud eventually cleared away. The cloud is tending

to fill in a game. Some clear spells, but on the whole it will be

cloudy but try. By the end of the night, temperatures will be about

five or six degrees. Looking at the sun times, the sun will rise at

6:12am, setting at 6:09pm. Tomorrow, there will be a few patches of mist

and fog, but not as extensive as this morning. It will brighten up

towards lunchtime. It is going to be dry all day. Temperatures will

be a little higher than today, round about 12 in Gainsborough, 13.

That is 55 in Fahrenheit. Into Saturday, we will see some

outbreaks of rain, which will become heavy by the end of the

night. Maybe the odd rumble of thunder, but it clears the way

overnight into Sunday. Sunday I rudely did not say it was

delightful to see you. But perhaps you could do the barometer cheque

tomorrow. Businesses in East Yorkshire and

Lincolnshire say they're being helped to survive the economic

downturn by people being much more careful with their money. Caravan

makers are feeling the benefit of more residents holidaying at home,

and as householders grow more of their own food, producers of garden

products in Lincolnshire are also enjoying a boom. Here's Paul Murphy.

For many, holidaying in this country has not been a choice but

an economic necessity. Tourist boards are continuing to market the

so-called staycation. For some businesses, this change is welcome

news. Victory Leisure Homes in Hull make many of the seaside homes

which line our coast. They are currently expanding. People are

staying at home and holidaying in local caravan parks. The

marketplace is changing and a lot of people now vacation at home and

that reflects what is happening. Down at these allotments in Lincoln,

Fred is a familiar face, and he has observed more and more people over

recent years turning to their own as budgets get tighter. They made

65 more allotments. Other councils are making more allotments

available and it is getting to a state now that we don't need them.

The growing waiting list for allotments here is a very clear

example of how the economic downturn has changed their

behaviour. Some businesses have really benefited from that. Still

in Lincoln and down the road at a compost factory, they will tell you

that economic hard times are generally good news for this

business. We were actually helped by recession when people do not

want to risk buying new cars or going on expensive holidays,

putting kitchens in. They are prepared to spend a few pounds on

gardening consumables and so we benefit. The downturn has seen many

consumers shun luxury goods and big-ticket items. That is not all

bad news for businesses when they do. A judge has ruled in favour of

Boston United. Two men have been ordered to pay Boston United more

than �20,000 in damages and costs. Boston claimed the pair breach

their contracts in resigning. Two pupils from a school in Hull

have been given the chance to question Lord Coe about the

forthcoming Olympic Games The opportunity was part of the BBC

News School Report Day in which thousands of young people from

across the country have been reporting on issues that affect

them. Charlotte and John from Sirius Academy have been finding

out how businesses in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

are benefiting from the Games. I'm Charlotte. I'm John. We will be

looking at how local firms are benefiting from the Olympics.

stories that in East Yorkshire. This activity may seem a world away

from the Olympic Games, but the modular units being built here

provide a temporary space for the teams. They have also built a huge

catering unit for the media which will serve 10,000 meals a day

during the Games. The contract is worth �20 million. The contract has

been beneficial for our business and other businesses in East

Yorkshire, which is very important for the region. It is great to get

that work. This company has been busy growing an Olympic-sized lawn.

We have been preparing ourselves for about three years before, and

this has been a challenge as security is extremely high.

grass that was in the field at North Lincolnshire is now in the

Olympic Stadium. We met up with locals. -- we met up with Lord Coe.

What advice would you give to athletes who dream of competing in

the Olympics? If you speak to any Olympian, they would probably tell

you it is at least a ten-year journey, and sometimes even more.

Our businesses in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have been busy

building the Olympic venues. It is now up to local athletes to bring

home the medals. This is Charlotte and John reporting on behalf of the

BBC News School Reports. And you can see what other pupils

have been doing for BBC News School Report Day by going to the website.

Last week, this was the scene as Lincolnshire swimmer Kate Haywood

qualified for the Olympics, but tonight she's back where that dream

began. The breast-stroke swimmer from Louth is at her first club to

show the youngsters there what it takes to be an Olympian. Simon

Clark reports. I look up to sports people that are not just in

swimming, so someone like Roger Federer, the tennis player. Kate

Haywood was back at the club where it all started in mouth. Here to

inspire Olympians of the future. Mind-blowing. It is incredible, the

amount of effort that goes into so much speed. It was really good,

getting to see an Olympic swimmer or swimming in our poll. Amazing

opportunity. It was this race last week which tend Kate qualification.

Tension and joy for the family. Because it is a home Olympics, she

wanted to be there. It has come full circle. Kate gave a practical

demonstration of world-class swimming for the youngsters before

she goes for gold in London. Simon is live in Louth tonight.

What advice she been giving today? Very good advice, because she is

now a swimming teacher in her own right. Practical advice about

strokes and diving. Here she is. This is what the double Olympic

swimmer looks like. How have things been since qualification? It has

been a bit manic. Everybody wants to speak to you, the media, friends,

everybody. They want to be involved. It has been fantastic, but pretty

tiring. This has been a week off and I have not really had time to

sit and chill out. But it has been good. It is nice to have some

attention. I want to show everybody this image. This issue, in slow

motion, winning, turning round, looking to their clout and bashing

the water. Were you aware you did that? Yes, and now it will haunt me

forever. It is so unattractive. It was a fantastic moment. When I

touch that war, it was relief. I was so glad to be there.

started here at this club, and you are retiring this year -- and due

aback this year. How many lengths abuse from? I have no idea. It is a

lot! Marvellous to see you. Have a safe journey to Australia.

Everybody was tickled pink when you qualified. It's been announced that

X-Factor finalists JLS will perform at the Lincolnshire Showground

later this year. It's one of the six venues included in the band's

UK summer tour. This morning, 20,000 tickets for the show went on

sale. It's on the 2nd of September. England's oldest horse race has

taken place in East Yorkshire today. The Kiplingcotes Derby has been

held every year since the reign of Henry the VIII, but this time they

had health and safety regulations and foggy weather to contend with.

Leanne Brown was there. Weighing in for a taste of horse

racing history. Four miles of arduous farm track and field await

these riders. They need stamina and, for some, a little Dutch courage.

I'll do it in memory of my late father, who was a bookie. I have

had a drink. I just want to have fun and let her come back in one

piece. You really do need to know where you were going, and be as

safe as you can. It's the oldest horse race in the

country, having taken place each year since 1519. Since then, little

has changed but health and safety regulations are now starting to

creap in. The police want to man all the Cross Code -- all the

crossroads. We've had to get signs and we have at a gay insurance

sorted and sponsors to do all that. -- we have had to get insurance

sorted. As the riders head for the start

line, poor visibility is also a problem this year, but the freezing

fog hasn't dampened spirits. It is the oldest race, that is the

attraction. Old fashioned, back to the grass roots. The race has been

delayed by an hour, and the problem is the road at the top. The weather

means that traffic cannot be stopped, so riders are having to

dismount and then carry on the rest of the base.

But against the odds, John Thirsk was victorious with his horse Bob.

I could not be more pleased with an animal. I could have kissed him. I

have done. Luckily, this East Yorkshire

tradition has been kept alive for another year, as the rules state

that if a race is cancelled, it Well done to John and BOP.

Let's get a recap of the national and regional headlines. Leaked

evidence reveal new evidence that Merseyside Police wrongly blamed

drunk Liverpool fans for the Hillsborough disaster. 96 people

died in the tragedy almost 23 years ago.

Farmers in Lincolnshire are asked to be vigilant after the first case

of an incurable virus is found at a farm in the county as lambing

season begins. Tomorrow's weather: A mostly cloudy

start to the day but some bright or sunny spells will develop through

the morning and continue through the afternoon and it will stay dry.

Response coming in and jobs. Danny said, I was out of work for one

week and they got two interviews in that time, and the jobs are there

if you are prepared to look. Joe says, I lost my job and Hull City

Council nearly a year ago, got no support in finding a new job and

applied for anything and everything. Almost 200 jobs. I now work for the