16/09/2011 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

night Look North as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the

Gateshead Millennium Bridge and the biggest weekend in the Northeast

calender with the Great North Run. In the headlines...

She confronted two brutal thugs to save an injured man. Amazing

footage of a 22-year-old heroine shielding the victim from further

attack. He killed his girlfriend by

dangerous driving and he had done it before. Today he was jailed for

seven years. And about that blinking bridge -

celebrations on land and water to mark 10 years since it opened.

And haven't those 10 years gone in the blink of an eye! I am here on

the bridge and I will be bringing your Great North Run preview with

the race starter and 5,000 metres world champion Mo Farah.

In sport, we look forward to a busy weekend of football.

We count down to the 31st Great North Run, and it is GB versus the

First tonight, an extraordinary story of a young woman's bravery in

a violent situation. Just 22, she went to the aid of an injured man

as he was brutally assaulted by two drunken thugs in a busy street. The

pictures of the attack are sickening and we will not show you

the worst footage. But what is equally shocking is that so many

people simply drove past as heroic Aimee Yule stood her ground and

protected the victim from repeat attacks by his assailants. This was

the moment when taxi controller Aimee Yule put the safety of a

total stranger ahead of her own. The 22-year-old is seemingly

unfazed by the attackers' size and violence, and their determination

to continue their ferocious assault. One of the lads was quite big but

it was not them I was scared of. I was scared for the lad, that he

could have been more injured than you already was. That is what made

me approach him. I could see blood. I could see they were stamping on

his head and that is not nice for anyone to see. It was my initial

thought to help him first. They were my last worry.

From her desk, Aimee Yule had watched the assault unfold in broad

daylight on Darlington's Northgate. The attackers, Simon Taylor and

Ryan Pickford, repeatedly punched and stamped on Jason waters,

returning when he was lying unconscious in the middle of the

road. No one else was intervening. As I approached the lad, they came

back for another boat, to boot him in the head. I kind of, I was a bit

scared because I thought they would hit me. Then obviously they went

but then the police turned up and the ambulance. Actually a doctor

pulled over at the side of the road from Darlington Memorial Hospital

came and gave me a hand. It was not nice, but just helping, at I would

expect anyone to do it for me. Of tonight the police praised what

Aimee did. The attack was horrific. Your viewers will have seen it on

the video. It is quite shocking but fortunately rare. Aimee was

magnificent. A lot of people walked by. She stepped in and certainly

saved Mr Waters from having much more severe injuries.

Simon Taylor and Ryan Piggford were jailed for four years and eight

months after admitting grievous bodily harm. Their victim, Jason

Waters, has made a full recovery from the attack in July. He has

never been back in touch with Aimee. Amazing woman.

A learner driver has been jailed for seven years for killing his

girlfriend in a high-speed crash. Astonishingly, Graeame Eden has

been to prison before after killing another passenger in another crash.

Newcastle Crown Court heard 31- year-old Eden's last crime came

about because he was showing off in his powerful car.

Graeame Eden, described in court as a speed freak. A man obsessed. Back

in 2002 he had killed the pillion passenger on his motorbike.

Travelling too fast, he had lost control. Sent to jail for three

years, he then turned to cars. One of his regular runs would take him

along this road at Penshaw in Sunderland, not far from his home.

Eight years after killing one passenger he killed another. He was

a learner driver in a sports car capable of 150 mph. One motorist

who saw him accelerate along the road turned to his passenger and

said, look at that jackass. Another motorist said she was horrified by

the way he was driving. As he reached this roundabout, he lost

control. His car fishtail and then went side on into a car coming in

the opposite direction. Victoria little died at the scene from

multiple injuries. This was Victoria, caring and kind,

she left behind a daughter, Paige, who is now 12. Victoria's parents

Paul and Sheila spoke to Look North after seeing her killer sentenced.

Graeme Eden has deprived our granddaughter of a mother. Page is

by herself now, 12 years old. Her mum was her best friend. Whatever

sentence has been handed down, it will never be enough as it could

never bring Victoria back. Eden was also banned for driving -- banned

from driving for 10 years. The judge said he hoped Victoria's

family would understand he had to follow sentencing guidelines.

A soldier killed on patrol in Afghanistan has been named as Lance

Corporal Jonathan McKinlay from Darlington. He served in the First

Battalion The Rifles and leaves a widow and three children. His

commanding officer said he was one of the company's most colourful and

vibrant characters, a man with a huge personality and irrepressible

optimism. A Wearside man has been convicted

of murdering his teenage nephew after a petty argument over a

mobile phone. Jordan Cooper, who was 14, was stabbed to death by his

uncle Alan Cooper at the house they shared with Jordan's grandmother in

Washington. Alan Cooper was told he faces a life sentence when he

returns to court a week today. Some of the North's biggest

councils are failing to use local companies to supply a majority of

their services. Instead they use suppliers from elsewhere in the UK

or even abroad. The Politics Show has found out that in the past year,

Redcar and Cleveland has reduced its total contracts by 17 %. But

the council says, at a time of cuts, it is vital to get food good value

for taxpayers. After a few tough months this

Hartlepool engineering firm has just landed a �200,000 order for

paving work. The customer is the local council. The by local message

does not seem to have got through to everyone. The Politics Show has

discovered big variations in the amount our councils spend in the

region. Here in Hartlepool 62 % of council

contracts are placed with North East firms. In Newcastle it is 51 %.

But what is perhaps more concerning is that some of our councils have

actually reduced the amount they are spending in the region.

Middlesbrough Council has reduced the percentage of local contracts

by 8 % and Redcar and Cleveland Council have seen a 17 % drop in

its North East contracts. On Redcar's seafront, a vertical peer

and new sea defences are taking shape. But large parts of this work

went to companies based outside the region. But the council is also

making �17 million of cuts. It says that means council taxpayers demand

the best deal. I think people expect value for money. They also

expect a good job. Don't get the job done dirt cheap if it is not

fit for purpose. This Gateshead stationery firm used to supply four

councils in the Northeast. The last company that got a contract was

The Government says private firms will help the Northeast absorb job

losses at our councils, but some firms say they cannot do that

unless councils support them as well.

And you can see more on that story on the Politics Show which starts

its new series on Sunday afternoon on BBC One. That is at 1:40pm after

Sylvia Hall went into hospital able to walk but came out totally

immobile. The case of the disabled 76-year-old grandmother from North

Yorkshire has been highlighted by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

They say they have evidence that the lives of 6,000 people with the

rare muscle-wasting condition across Yorkshire are being put at

risk by inappropriate treatment in hospital.

She has been stuck in his one run since May. Trapped between the bed

and the commode she cannot get to on her own. Sylvia has muscular

dystrophy and has had mobility problems for years. Before a stake

in Walton Hospital for a suspected broken knee, she could get out and

about. Her family say they repeatedly told staff that her

condition meant she should not be left immobile, that they should

seek advice from her specialists. We did try to tell them and they

tried to tell them that I could not just lie in bed. But I never

expected when I tried to get out that I couldn't stand. That was

quite a shock. Because I had been standing before so you expect to

come out the same way. Her husband is disabled as well so four times a

day care is coming to help Sylvia to the commode and to bed. We told

them not to keep her bed-bound because of what would happen. We

explain the muscular dystrophy. You can maintain the level of fitness

you had but you cannot regain it after it is lost. She said the

other day when I asked about her life, she said it is over.

Unfortunately stories like Sylvia's are far too common. These are rare

conditions and often hospital staff are simply do not know enough about

them. That is why we are calling on NHS bosses in the region to ensure

that there are more specialists and posts on the ground and that staff

in general hospitals are community in -- are communicating better with

specialists to address the needs of patients like Sylvia and make sure

they are not overlooked. Melton They have asked the family to

contact them so they can look into the issues the stop there are a lot

This weekend sees the 10th anniversary celebrations for the

Gateshead Millennium Bridge. 10 years ago tomorrow, the bridge was

opened to the public. Since then it is a sight that has become known

across the world. Jeff is there for us now.

It is a bit chilly and damp. I had to get my scarf out of the

cupboard! I have to say, there are some people sightseeing on the

bridge still because the views on the river are fantastic, whatever

the weather. For one group of youngsters, the bridge has a strong

personal connection. When I got a letter I thought it

was from my mother and granny but it was not. It said: to the

Millennium Bridge and celebrate your birthday. This is their

Millennium Bridge moment, celebrating all their birthdays at

once with the bridge they have grown up with. 10 years old

tomorrow. A blink of the bridge, a flotilla of boats to mark the

occasion. And a Millennium Bridge moment for the man who engineered

the landmark. It feels like revisiting part of my life. It took

over my life for about five years in the planning stages and design

stages. To see it built now and still there 10 years, the real icon

it has become, it is wonderful, amazing. You could not do better as

an Engineer, as a local lad, you could not want for something better

than this to mark your life. It is terrific. Sailing along with the

fun of the day under the vast curves of the bridge. A sticky

moment, take, they are glad they came. I have made some friends and

I get take as well. Good because it is, like, it may not happen again.

More moments and birthdays in the future but tonight's dreams will be

off -- will be full of an historic occasion.

It looks like they had a great day. This is the bridge that links

Newcastle and Gateshead but the official name is the Gateshead

Millennium Bridge. Gateshead council, the ones who pushed for

the project to go through, and I am with the deputy leader of the

council. End 10 years, what has the Bridgestone for the town? It has

been fantastic apart from the weather today. It is very much part

of Gateshead's council vision for the City, linking with the Baltic

and the Sage and making it a major centre for tourism and encouraging

further development into the quayside. It is key to our

development. It has been fantastic for Gateshead and everyone who has

visited. Colin Briggs has been looking at the history of the

bridge and finding out how it works. There are other bridges around the

country built to celebrate the millennium, some are very

attractive. But none of them capture not just the imagination

but the soul like this. It all came from such an unpromising start. If

you look back to the Gateshead council minutes of May 1997 you

will see a reference to a pedestrian bridge across the River

Tyne. That was before they started the, oh, but moments. The you have

to sit cyclists on there. But you'd have to get pedestrians on. It has

to be tall enough for a tall ship. What the council got was not only

an elegant design that echoes the Tyne Bridge, but a remarkably

simple technical solution. Think of it as a giant see-saw, perfectly

balanced to push and pull coming from hydraulic pumps. The sort of

thing you see on a JCB digger, but much bigger. The works are down

here below ground level, below water level for most of the time,

by the side of the bridge. It is very straightforward. Electricity

powers the pumps, they pressurise the pumps which then move the

bridge. These are your mortars. kilowatt mortars, like a family car

engine. We have the hydraulic pumps which build up the pressure. We

have got four of them working at want. Microprocessors ensure the

pressure is even on both banks. If it wasn't, you would break it.

There is an emergency generator for power failures and even a back-up

for that. We have got the trustee hand pumped. Have you use that!

several occasions. It builds up your muscles. It is very heavy.

Maybe I should have had a go. I did not try that, but I did try this.

This is the exciting bit, we have got the all-clear and this finger

is going to do the business. Which wonder wipers? That one false top

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for troubling Gateshead Nellie and

Bridge today. We hope you have enjoyed your journey and we saw you

That is all from the Millennium Bridge for now but they have found

me a brolly so I will be back with two of the biggest names in

athletics. Then we will get the weather.

This weekend is all about one thing. All about the Great North Run.

We will turn our attention to Great North Run weekend shortly, but

first to football. Middlesbrough are close to signing young

Manchester City striker Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely on loan. Newcastle

United's August signing Davide Santon will see a specialist next

week about his knee injury while the Sunderland boss is hoping to

draw a line under the shock departure of his star striker.

Steve Bruce was on the golf course this week with chairman Niall Quinn

and owner Ellis Short. So after a poor start to the season, how a

patient is the American? He is disappointment -- disappointed like

we are with the start. He understands that we have virtually

build a new squad and team and that takes time. If I am being honest,

the big thing I have got is to try and find the right balance of the

team. To get a result and get us up and running is what everyone

requires. Sunday's opponents Stoke drew their European League match in

Kiev last night. They have been one of the big spenders in the transfer

market and will not worry that they have not won on Wearside in nine

attempts. Both goals in the 2-0 Sunderland win last season were

scored by Asamoah Gyan, and he has now up sticks to the United Arab

Emirates. A bit of a surprise for the Wearsiders' new loan signing

from Arsenal. I thought we would be playing together. I do not know why

he left. Meanwhile Newcastle, who didn't add another striker on

transfer deadline day, travel to Aston Villa unbeaten and in 4th

place. There is no sign of us getting carried away. We are under

this management and we are where we deserve to be. From now on that is

where we have got to try and stay. Flying high in the championship are

Middlesbrough, who travel to Crystal Palace twice in four days

in the League and League Cup. have to have concentration levels

at the back and work very hard for each other. When the chances,, the

strikers have to take them. We need to continue on Saturday and hope

You can follow Chesterfield versus Carlisle and Hartlepool versus Bury

on Radio Cumbria and BBC Tees respectively.

It is almost upon us, the 31st Great North Run, the world's

biggest half-marathon. In less than 48 hours, 54,000 runners will set

off on the 13.1 mile route from Newcastle to South Shields. But

first it is Team GB against the USA as some of the world's top athletes

compete in the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead in tomorrow's Great

North City Games. It has become one of the most iconic sporting images,

more than 50,000 runners pouring across the Tyne Bridge accompanied

by the Red Arrows. They will complete the flyover at the start

and finish lines. As usual, there will be an exciting mix of

wheelchair races, fun and as an elite athletes and even for them it

is all about the atmosphere. It is phenomenal. You are running and

people shouting your name and also just having the privilege of

running in a race with 54,000 people. It really lifts you and it

is lovely to be part of it. Dean GB take on the USA in the City games

on the quayside in a unique chance for spectators to get up close and

personal with a host of Olympic and world champions and medallists.

Andy Turner will be there as well as delight Phillips from the USA.

It is very innovative. I was in Manchester earlier this year and

they invited me to come so I am delighted to be a. The junior Great

North Run takes it all off at 10am. -- kicks it all off.

One man has been running coast-to- coast all week before his Great

North Run. Horrible histories author Terry Deary was joined by

our Hannah Bayman on day five of his 100 mile challenge for Durham

charity Integrating Children, the pair were given a guard of honour

by Brownies in Wylam in Northumberland. The excitement is

mounting, so let's go back to Jeff, who is with two running legends.

I am indeed. They are under a brolly. Sadly, it is too much of a

squeeze to get 50,000 runners over the Millennium Bridge on a Sunday

but there is still plenty going on all weekend. It is part of the

Great North Run extravaganza. Here is the man who started it all,

Brendan Foster. And you have brought Mo Farah. Brendan, 30 years

ago, could you imagine all this would have happened? It wasn't

raining 30 years ago. The weather was better. It has grown

fantastically and the region have embraced it. It is a spectacle to

behold and I am privileged to have this man coming to run here

tomorrow of. I hope it will not be run -- and that it will not be

raining for you tomorrow it is an honour for us to have him here.

probably wasn't born in 1981? I was born in 1983. You are running

tomorrow but you have been here before. I have. This is a great

event. It is one of the biggest half-marathon is in the world so I

am looking forward to it. I am doing the two mile. I am looking

even more forward to racing a half- marathon. Life since the 5,000

metres win, what has it been like? A little bit more busy with media

stuff but other than that, this is what we work hard for. Brendan,

getting people like Mo Farah to come a long is all about -- is what

it's all about. That is right. are you coming to run here? I would

love to compete. A couple of months ago there was talk of me competing

but I have been tied up with the world championships. One day I will

compete and I am looking forward to it. Get back name on the contract

now, Brendan. It will be great to have a British winner, we have not

had one for 26 years. Once he has got the Olympics, that little event

in London, out of the way I hope we will see him here. We have got the

best of the coverage of the Great North Run and the whole of the

Great North Run weekend all over the weekend on BBC television,

radio and online. What is the weather going to be like? I think

We will have a difference of opinion split two ways for Sunday's

weather. The crowds will not like the fact that it will be on the

poolside with the odd shower but the runners could well be glad of

that. Let's have a look at the first chart. It shows that as the

elite wheelchair athletes get under way at just after 10am, it will be

cool. There will be the chance of a shower throughout their journey to

South seals. By the time they get there, and by the time the Red

Arrows are celebrating with the runners, it will be well on the way

to a sham very high of 15C. Lots of coverage across all of the BBC.

Let's have a look at the rest of the weekend. They will be some big

heavy showers through Saturday and won a to a brighter spells coming

in between them. On a Sunday. And we have got his reign tonight

thumping down here but it will drag itself into the North Sea over the

next few hours. We will replace it by tomorrow morning with big, heavy

and thundery showers moving in from the West. They will move into

Cumbria by the end of the night so you could have a rude awakening in

the early hours with thunder. Low temperature tonight 10C. We wake up

to the weekend on Saturday morning with big showers in place already

in the West. They will possibly turn thundery with some hail and

after the -- and through the afternoon they would decrease in

number and intensity. East of the Pennines you will always be in the

shadows own for the showers. A better chance of bright spells

later on. Temperatures tomorrow I'll in the mid- teens. Sunday will

be the better of the two days. Saturday the biggest showers,

Sunday some still left over not just for the Great North Run but

also scattered around the region. They will be fewer in number and

much lighter than on Saturday. Top temperatures on Sunday in the mid-

teens again. 15-16, probably, at the South Shields. For most of us

it will be a case of those temperatures stuck in that zone.

Death, the runners might be happier than those waving them on -- chef.

It will be a great sporting weekend whatever the weather.