18/10/2013 Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)

from the BBC News at Six. So it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One, we

can now goodbye from me, and on BBC One, we

can now join the BBC's news teams Good evening and welcome to BBC Look

North. The headlines tonight: Hull City fans get an apology from

the police after travel restrictions to an away match last season. In

football terms, if not a victory it is certainly a result.

Campaigners fight new plans to breed dogs for animal testing.

The magic moment that's brought one photographer worldwide praise.

And pausing for thought ` the dog with a blog and 5,000 fans.

And it has been a cold and grey day. Writer and milder prospects for

tomorrow. I'll will be back later. Brighter.

One of the most senior police officers in the country has

apologised to hundreds of Hull City football fans for their treatment

over travel arrangements to a match. The Chief Constable of West

Yorkshire Police has said that the force was wrong to make supporters

take organised travel to a game at Huddersfield last season. At the

time officers said the decision was taken on safety grounds, but tonight

Hull City say they dispute there was any legitimate risk of trouble, as

our sports reporter Simon Clark reports.

It was a match many City fans were looking forward to, heading up the

road to Huddersfield Town. But when the match was chosen for live

television with a different kick`off time, West Yorkshire Police stepped

in. They felt their intelligence made the change difficult so instead

devised a scheme where whole city fans travel to the game by organised

bus. `` Hull City fans. But a review said that was wrong. In the Karl

Turner was one of those who objected to the travelling position. It

vindicates City fans, which I am delighted about. People were up in

arms about this and they are right to be, so this is definitely a

vindication for law`abiding fans. NA 40 page review, some key

recommendations were made, including...

Peter Johnson was one of those fans who had contacted West Yorkshire

Police before the game to express his concern. To some extent, there

was a slight slur on the football fan on the basis of what West

Yorkshire Police introduced for that game, and as to be realised that

football fans are normal members of the public. `` and it has to be

realised. This afternoon, Hull City released a statement fundamentally

disagreeing would be police's concerned that there were potential

problems around the match. Simon is live at the KC Stadium for

us tonight. Hull City aren't happy with this report, Simon. What else

have they been saying tonight? They are still unhappy that, in a sense,

they were attempting to slow the fans, as said in that report, that

the police were criminalising elements of the fans that wanted to

make the journey. What have learned is that there has been a

communication between West Yorkshire Police and Hull City. There has been

suggestion that an apology will appear in the match day programme

but as yet, nothing on that. Thank you. We will continue to follow that

story. In a moment, claims Hull needs a

Boris`style mayor if it's to turn its fortunes around.

Campaigners say they'll hold a protest this weekend against plans

by a company in East Yorkshire to breed dogs for medical testing. B

Universal want to extend their current site in Grimston, where they

already breed some small animals for lab work. There's a legal

requirement in the UK for all new medicines to be tested on animals,

as our rural affairs correspondent Linsey Smith reports.

This video from a company that promotes animals research shows the

type of facility B Universal want to build in Grimston. It will allow

animals to be bred on`site and kept permanently indoors. At present,

they are transported in as puppies and reared until they are required

by biomedical research labs. Insulin, for example, was discovered

using experiments on just 12 dogs and discovered to be how we could

treat type 1 diabetes. And 371 million people are alive today

because of that treatment. But Deborah Minns still has doubts.

She's organising a protest in Hull tomorrow. You've got the animal

experiment is on one side saying, this is saving your child's life,

but they don't seem to have any evidence, and on the other side, you

have these leading scientists saying, this is delaying cures for

humans. So we just want something in Parliament supported by MPs saying,

can we have a debate between new two? The UK is at the cutting edge

of finding solutions to animal testing. The group of scientists

previously set up say they are not quite there yet and there is still a

need for animal testing. The Government spends ?3 million each

year looking how to refine, reduce and replace animals in research, but

unfortunately, we have no blanket replacement for the use of animals.

Eventually, after it has worked its way through test tubes and computer

simulations, we need to try a drug in a whole organism. It's not the

first time owners have tried to build a bigger facility. In 2011,

plans were rejected by East Riding Council because they were too big.

This new application has been scaled down but villagers say they'll

object again. During the build period, if it was to be passed, the

traffic would involve heavy vehicles coming to and fro on this tiny farm

track, really. It is just a paved over from track. And, as you can

see, the road is full of small, sharp bends. The company insists it

is just supplying the demands of science. Protestors have told us

more demonstrations are planned. So this village may be quaint but not

quiet for long. Earlier I spoke to Dr Victoria

Martindale, who is from Humane Society International, and asked her

whether she would be happy for dogs to be used for medical purposes if

scientists can't find an alternative. The trouble with using

dogs or any animals for toxicology testing is the fact that they cannot

predict the wide range of effects of a drug in a human. And these dogs

have to be given very high doses, sometimes 1,000 times the dose level

a human would normally encounter, which, of course, doesn't represent

the normal situation at all. So when we try to extrapolate the evidence

for humans, it is inaccurate. UK Cancer Research says this sort of

experimentation is essential if they are to find a cure for cancer. We

have been trying to find a cure for cancer for decades, yet there have

been very few breakthroughs and very little progress. That doesn't mean

we just have to give up, though, does it? Well, we're missing out on

the huge potential that modern science has to offer and therefore

we are missing out all the medical progress and breakthroughs in

development that could occur from modern science. But dogs have helped

find, for example, insulin to help treat diabetes. If we want to tackle

these things, like MS, diabetes, aids, then there is no `` and there

is no alternative, shouldn't we continue using dogs? You are talking

about a process developed decades and centuries ago. We have many more

methods available to us. For example, instead of cutting open the

brain of a cat or monkey to look at its brain, instead, we can use

highly sophisticated human imaging techniques to look at a human brain

at the level of a single neuron. But they say that is not possible and

they need live animals. It is possible. The more time and money we

spend on that, the less time and money we have for new methods to

progress medicine. We want to hear from you on this

story. Do you think there need to be more alternatives to testing new

medicines on animals? Or do we need to use animals if we are to find

cures as soon as we can? We will have some of your thoughts

on that before we finish tonight. A Grade`II listed building in

Grimsby has been described as one of the most threatened buildings in the

country. The Victorian Society has published its top ten most

endangered buildings and it includes the former Wintringham School and

School Board Offices on Eleanor Street in the town. It's furry sad

to see them in that way. There was hardly a pane of glass not broken.

It really is appalling. `` it's very sad. I was particularly struck by

just how dilapidated these buildings are and how precarious their

position is. Artists' impressions of a

multi`million pound tourist attraction that could be built at

the base of the Red Arrows in Lincolnshire have been revealed.

Lincolnshire County Council wants to create an aviation heritage centre

at RAF Scampton. It's currently in talks with the Ministry of Defence

and the RAF about the plans. When Samantha Svendsen from Grimsby

was awarded almost ?3 million compensation it was supposed to take

care of her life, but a court has heard how her mother and stepfather

spent the money instead on expensive cars, jewellery and holidays. Cathy

Watson and Robert Hills are alleged to have stolen more than ?500,000

from the money meant for their diasbled daughter. Today, Robert

Hills, who has admitted theft, told the court he and his now ex`wife

lived well beyond their means. Jake Zuckerman has this report from

Doncaster Crown Court. The case concerns the theft of

compensation money paid out by the NHS to Samantha Svensons, who

suffered permanent brain damage as a child due to medical negligence. She

was awarded ?2.6 million in 1999. Her mother, 44`year`old Cathy Watson

from Scunthorpe, and her stepfather, Robert Hills, who is 49 and from

Grimsby, were charged with the theft of more than half ?1 million in

total, money that was supposed to pay for Samantha's ongoing care

throughout her life. The court heard the couple lived a lavish lifestyle,

spending more than ?200,000 on cars, ?18,000 on jewellery and several

thousand pounds on credit cards. They bought several properties in

Yorkshire that were supposed to be investments for Samantha but when

the properties were sold the court maintains the couple kept the money

for themselves. Cathy Watson has not admitted to the counts of theft

while Robert Hills has admitted theft. He maintained they acted

together and lived way beyond their means, and when it was put to him

that he was lying to spread the blame and had volunteered to be a

witness to try to receive a lesser sentence, he replied, a prepared to

take responsibility for my actions but I will not take it for decisions

that she took. The case, which is expected to last two weeks, was

adjourned until Monday. Thank you for watching tonight.

Still ahead tonight, the Bempton gannets caught on camera. Now their

photographer is named one of the best in the world. When you actually

capture on the back of your camera that special image, you just look at

that and you know, that is the one. More on that in just a moment and if

you have one you are proud of, do send it in and we will show it next

week. We have some belters for you! Here they are.

This was taken last Tuesday on one of the remaining sunny days.

Now for the weather. I hope you are going to be nice to me tonight.

White? Because you have me for the next two weeks! You are brave to do

that! We have had a lot of cloud today and

it has been low, so quite grey and dank, but after a grey start

tomorrow, it will brighten up and feel milder, with temperatures in

the mid teens. The weather will continue to be dominated by low

pressure with the isobars Paddy `` fairly packed. Looking at relatively

mild conditions for the next two days and into next week, it looks

frost free, you will be pleased to know. The cloud has been producing

some patchy drizzle. As we head into this evening and overnight, further

spells of rain and drizzle will push in, so a damp night to come and

breezy, too. But vary mild with temperatures down to just 12 or 13

degrees. The sun rises at just after 7:30am tomorrow morning and sets

just before 6pm. These are the high water times. We start tomorrow with

a loss of cloud around and it will still be producing out rakes of rain

and drizzle. `` a lot of. `` outbreaks. We should cease and

spells of sunshine and it will feel pleasant as well. `` we should see

some spells. Looking further ahead, on Sunday,

more of a mix. Sunshine and blustery showers and wet and windy weather to

come on Monday and then Tuesday. I will try to wear my glasses for next

Monday! You are struggling! But we can see you! Your fans will be alive

on Twitter now you have given them your schedule for the next two

weeks! Hull needs a Boris Johnson`style

elected mayor if it's to compete with other cities for government

money. That's according to the former Deputy Prime Minister Lord

Heseltine, who's been reacting to a controversial magazine article that

said Hull was decaying and people should be encouraged to find jobs

elsewhere. Lord Heseltine says the city can learn lessons from

Liverpool, where he led a programme of economic regeneration in the

1980s. Here's our political editor, Tim Iredale.

With its waterfront, docks and industrial heritage, Liverpool has

much in common with Hull, its fellow maritime city at the other end of

the 62. Many people in Hull will look at Liverpool with some envy. In

recent years, it has had one of the fastest`growing economies in the UK

so it is hard to imagine that just over 30 years ago, there was talk in

government of abandoning this city. Archive documents reveal that

following riots in the report in 1981, the then Chancellor, Geoffrey

Howe, suggested a programme of managed decline. There was an echo

of that Iran in the latest edition of the Economist. An article

entitled Britain's Decaying Towns suggested the Government should not

pour any more money into so`called failing cities such as Hull. We had

a think`tank a few years ago saying places in the North should be

abandoned and everybody move down to London, and this is nonsense. Any

forward`looking government, any forward`looking society would want

to invest in Hull as they invest in difficult. Now the man credited with

turning Liverpool's fortunes around back in the 80s has entered the

debate. Lord Heseltine has been commissioned by the present

government to look at ways of boosting economic growth in cities

like Hull. The first thing is to find out who is in charge and that

is why I believe in directly elected chief executives or mayors, because

then you know. Everybody knows about London's Boris Johnson. You'd be

much better off saying, what would you do if you were originated the

idea is? Because you know what Hull needs. So let's start from the

bottom up. Ministers have been talking about struggling Northern

cities being abandoned, a move sure to make waves from the Humber to the

Mersey. Tim Iredale will be here with the

Sunday Politics this weekend discussing the issues raised by Lord

Heseltine's comments on BBC One at 11am.

Yesterday we told you about the secondary school in Hull that's

handed out free iPhones to its students. The head teacher at Sydney

Smith School says the phones will help pupils with research, revision

and coursework when used as a mini tablet. They were handed out without

consulting parents. We've had lots of responses on this

one. Not surprisingly. Thank you for all of them that you have sent. We

do read them all. Thank you for those.

A man who captured this amazing image of two gannets at Bempton in

East Yorkshire has been named in a prestigious competition as one the

worlds best wildlife photographers. The image taken by Steve Race was

selected out of 46,000 entries from all over the world. Phil Connell has

been to meet him. For any wildlife photographer, it is

the early bird who catches the worm. And Steve often starts work at 5am.

The best time of day to capture his award`winning pic shows. It is the

buzz of being outdoors in a wild place and space and sitting for a

while quietly, like here, and seeing what comes across your path. `` his

award`winning pictures. But now it is this picture of two gannet that

has brought in to the attention of the world. The photograph was chosen

out of 46,000 worldwide entries, with Steve just one of six British

people to be commended. To get this true, special moment of them

offering flowers to each other and then the necklace to actually go

around the neck of the bird was, for me, exceptional. I've had wows and

amazing, and then sheer silence, because people look at it and say,

that is really something special. Steve's interest in wildlife to ``

began at the age of just ten. He has now captured thousands of images on

his camera. It can be instant, which is again it was, or it can take

time, but when you capture that special image, you know. You just

look at it and think, that is the one. It feels fantastic. Steve's

photo is now part of a touring exhibition. But he is already up and

out searching for that next magic moment.

Hull City are back in action this weekend and manager Steve Bruce says

his side will be in for a tough time when they travel to play Everton.

The Tigers are only a point behind tomorrow's opponents and a victory

could potentially lift them into the top five. David Moyes has left a

very good side and of course, new managers come in with different

ideas and they have got off to a great start. It will be a hell of a

difficult game but one we will also look forward to.

And of course there'll be full coverage of the game and match

build`up on BBC Radio Humberside from 1:30pm.

Scunthorpe United's game against Exeter is on AM.

Grimsby Town v Forest Green Rovers is on DAB and online.

BBC Radio Lincolnshire will have full commentary of Lincoln City's

match at Kidderminster. Enjoy your football!

Scientists at the University of Lincoln have been given a grant of

almost ?500,000 to study the facial expressions of cats. They say the

animal's faces could reveal how they're feeling emotionally and let

owners know when they're sick or in pain. Cats clearly can communicate a

lot with their face though it is much more subtle than something like

a dog, which we are more familiar with. We are really only at the

beginnings of beginning to explore this so we are going to learn a lot

whatever happens. Now, having your own website or blog

on the internet has been around for many years, but one blogger in North

Lincolnshire has been capturing world attention. Polly the dog has

had more than 5,000 hits from people wanting to know about her travels,

videos and photos. Simon Spark has been to find out more.

Meet Polly. She loves to play like any other dog. But when she's

finished and settled, she doesn't just go to sleep like any other dog.

She contemplates what she's going to tell her 5,000 fans. Because Polly's

a dog with a blog. Here she is writing her latest edition now. Some

of you have asked why the camera loves me so much. I have been told

it is a mixture of bone structure and genetics. I think it has

something to do with me being so very cute. Today it was bike`ride

day, something she really enjoys and no doubt will blog about, adding to

her many other travels. Polly, when did you start blogging?

OK, here's the truth. Polly doesn't actually do the blogging. It's her

owner David, who by chance wasn't available today, so his wife Lyn

told us everything. I can't believe anybody outside the family is

reading what Polly does! It was basically for our amusement. And it

has just got bigger! 40% from the UK, 40% from America and then there

are places like China, Canada, Korea. And so it goes on. It is

relieved as, isn't it! Really bizarre! I can't even believe I'm

talking about it! Well, actually it's not as bizarre as you think.

For example, George W Bush's dog Barney had his own video blog and he

did the Christmas decorations at the White House, apparently. Then

there's Pudsey the dancing dog who also tweets to 44,000 followers. But

David Cameron's cat, Larry the tabby, has fewer than 2,000

followers. So, Polly, it looks like your blogs are already more popular

and it doesn't look like they'll stop soon. Good job you're so very

cute after all. A reminder, if you have a story you

would like to tell us about, do drop us an e`mail and give us a telephone

number as well. Or maybe tweet me directly.

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

A coroner has ruled the collector played a part in the deaths of five

elderly people in a care home. West Yorkshire Police says sorry to

the Hull City fans stopped from making their own way to a game.

Tomorrow's weather ` a grey start with some drizzle at first but then

becoming drier and brighter, with highs of 17 C.

Our conversation there about testing on animals. Sheila has texted in to

say, would those who demonstrated against animal testing refuse life

saving treatment if the queue had been testing on animals? Do they ask

if it has been tested on animals before they use it? Another says, I

don't care how queue is found for MS, I have. `` how a cure is found.

Another woman says, there must be a way to experiment without using

those poor animals. Georgina said, I wanted to hear more from the

scientists. My mother has cancer and if animal experiments don't work, I

want to know how and what we can do to support this if they don't find

the cure. I want to hear the scientists debate publicly so we can

hear both sides. Have a peaceful weekend. Good night.