28/10/2011 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Friday's Look North. Tonight:

Could a daily dose of aspirin protect you from cancer? The

findings of a landmark study by scientists here in the north coming

Also tonight - the Deputy Prime Minister visits companies awarded

government cash to help them grow. Labour brand the scheme a fiasco.

Police dig up fields in the search for a woman who disappeared five

years ago. We're live on Tyneside for the

launch of this year's Poppy Appeal. And we meet Chatty Man as he

returns to his northern roots for a new tour.

In sport - he used to be a hero, now he's a villain. Darren Bent

says he won't celebrate if he scores against Sunderland for his

new club, Aston Villa tomorrow. Find out what a real red and white

hero thinks about the striker's Just two aspirin a day could

protect you from a range of hereditary cancers. That's the

conclusion of a landmark study by scientists at Newcastle University.

They believe the humble aspirin could actually cut the long term

risk of contracting bowel cancer by an astonishing 60% for people with

a family history of the disease. Our health reporter Sharon Barbour

has more. Audrey Francis from Blyth in

Northumberland has fond memories of her wedding day. This was before

she learned her mother had bowel cancer, before her sister died of

brain cancer and before all three were told they had a genetic

disorder, Lynch Syndrome, putting them at high risk of developing

cancer. 17 years ago Audrey was told she had not one, but two

cancers. They would not exactly say how long they thought I would have.

They said it might be three months, six months, they didn't know. They

had not really come across this idea of having to cancers at the

same time and they are not related. Having been successfully treated

for both cancers, Audry was one of the first to sign up to an

international study led by Newcastle University to find out if

aspirin could fight bowel cancer. We set out to find 1,000 people who

had a genetic predisposition to have bowel cancer. Some of them

have received two aspirins, others receive none. After the immediate

treatment there was no effect, but after five years the people given

aspirin had half as many cancers at the people who did not receive it.

Simply taking aspirin therefore could prevent thousands of

hereditary cancer deaths. This little pill cut the risk of bowel

cancer in those with a family history by 60 %. The research has

said that aspirin could prevent up to 10,000 cancers over the next 30

years, potentially saving thousands of lives. Audrey believes hers is

one of those lives saved. I have been very lucky. Here I am 17 years

later. I never thought I would see these days. Anyone planning to take

aspirin over a long period should consult their doctor.

Well, earlier I spoke to Dr Kat Arney from Cancer Research UK and I

began by asking her how exciting a breakthrough this is. This is

really fantastic to see the results of this study because it shows that

a drug that is as cheap and humble as aspirin could make a difference

to a lot of people. Its people with a particular genetic condition that

predisposes them to getting cancer, but it could potentially save

thousands of lives. So can see UK could give it their full support?

We help to fund this trial. -- can see UK. We look forward to the

results of further results and we do hope it will come into clinical

practice soon and benefit patients. It makes me wonder how many

existing drugs, humble drugs could be used in a similar way. There are

a lot out there and many trucks we have had for a long time are being

looked at by cancer researchers to see if they can benefit cancer

patients. There is a drug called thalidomide, which has a bad

reputation, but there are trials to see if it can benefit people with

cancers. There are many drugs that we need to find out whether they

can work and benefit people. Well our health reporter Sharon

Barbour joins me now. So Sharon, should we all now be taking

aspirin? It is an exciting study and it does have built on other

studies that shows aspirin can be effective against preventing cancer.

However there is a question mark over whether aspirin would benefit

all of us. There is a downside as it can be associated with a higher

risk of ulcers and strokes. But for those who do have a high risk of

cancer, it may be worth taking that risk. The key thing is if you want

to take aspirin over a long period of time, told to your doctor.

you. The inquest into the death of a

pensioner in the Grayrigg train crash has been hearing about

maintenance work carried out on the points which failed, causing the

derailment. A railway technician claims that work record forms were

poor and that sometimes unrecorded work might have been carried out.

84-year-old Margaret Masson was killed in the crash, 22 others were

injured. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick

Clegg has been in the North today. He visited companies who have been

awarded grants from the regional growth fund. 14 projects will get

cash. But Labour has described the fund as a fiasco, claiming

companies haven't been given the money, even though the grants were

announced six months ago. This is the sort of company the

Government says it likes to help. An engineering business in North

Shields that's gone from employing five people to 44 in just eight

years. All the investment, �1.8m worth, has been self funded. Until

now. It's been given 75,000 from the regional growth fund, a pot

that's meant to help alleviate cuts in the public sector by creating

them in private businesses. planned is to invest the money in

at more machine that talks. We just took delivery of one of the last

couple of weeks. We have another one on the way. That investment

alone is about �250,000. It should create up to eight new jobs.

Little wonder then that the deputy prime minister wanted to visit. And

to see where the government's cash will be spent. Although one

criticism of the scheme is that although the first 45 winners

across the country were announced six months ago, only two have

actually received their cheques. About 50 % of all the companies who

were awarded the money had already started their projects. They know

they have got the assurance regarding the money. I think some

of the criticisms from Labour are wide of the mark.

But the company here isn't worried that the money won't turn up, so

it's employed three apprentices. Ryan is one of them. It is great, a

lot better than I hoped for. The next round of winners of

regional growth fund cash will be announced soon. The Government will

be hoping it's put to use employing a lot more people like Ryan.

Sunderland footballer Titus Bramble has been charged with two counts of

sexual assault and urinating in a public place. The 30-year-old was

arrested in September on suspicion of sexual assault. He was then re-

arrested on suspicion of the same charge last month after a second

allegation was made. Mr Bramble's due before Teesside Magistrates in

November. Police in Northumberland have begun

digging on two sites in connection with the disappearance of a woman

from the Hexham area five years ago. 51-year-old Janet Brown hasn't been

seen since November 2006. The police say their investigation also

involves financial irregularities. Since Janet Brown disappeared, no

trace has been found of the part- time actress, who lived in a

bungalow at cottage at Plane Tree Farm near Lowgate. Last month there

was an extensive search of the property and on another site. The

man who currently lives at the farm says the police has made - that

have made many visits over the last few years. They have got everything

up, looking at the floor. How many of them were here? Close to 50.

There were eight or nine police vans. Did they bring specialist

equipment? They did. There was also a sniffer dog. The excavations that

took place here recently were the latest in a series of visits to the

property by the police. We did request an interview with the

police but they declined on the grounds that there was too much

speculation going on surrounding this case.

A congregation of nearly 2,000 packed York Minster to watch the

consecration of Justin Welby as Bishop of Durham and John Freeman

as Bishop of Penrith today. The two come from very different

backgrounds. The former having worked 11 years in the oil industry

and the latter having been a student of psychology, who now

enjoys Motown and rock guitar. Quite overwhelming. An

extraordinary ceremony and beautifully sung. A great day. It

has been exciting to have all these people gathered hair. A little

daunting. Still still to come -- still to come, the weather and the

sport as well as Alan Carr, Chatty Man of the North.

Now, if you're a budding film-maker, here's a new BBC project you might

be interested in. We're asking viewers to take part in the Britain

In A Day project, which aims to capture a snap-shot of modern

Britain on the 12th November. We want you to film whatever you're

doing on that day. To give you an idea of what the project's all

about, we've been to see a typical day at one of Northumberland's best

known businesses - Craster Kippers. Once you are prepared and you have

decided what part of the day you want to film, the easiest thing to

do is try in a friend, upload your video... My name is Duncan, I am 41,

I work at Craster Kippers and this is a day in my life. I start at 7

o'clock. That first job is to go into the smoke house and take out

the kippers that are ready. After that it is on to the splitting

machine. From the basket they go onto the table where they are

cleaned. You pull out the guts and any bits of blood. That is a

horrible job. That is about one! From that table, Prix basket at the

time go into the brine. They are taken out and put on the hooks.

After that they go back in the smokehouse, ready for next time.

After that, brush the rubbish of the floor. You put down wood

shavings and oak and like them. They left a for Abu Abbas. The

smoke drives them out. -- they are left for a few hours. After work

you have to have a good shower and a scrub. Sometimes you sweat

kippers! Why not film a day in your life? Go to the website for more

information. Now, you have probably noticed it is the time of year for

sharing our respect for our armed forces. This year is the 19th

anniversary of the poppy appeal. -- 90th anniversary. Let go live to

the Millennium Bridge. It looks absolutely gorgeous. If

you can see, there is a procession coming across the bridge at the

moment. They are servicemen and women, past and present, and

members of the Royal British Legion. A question for you - how many

people can potentially be helped by the Royal British Legion today?

I am guessing Thousands. I have no idea.

Believe it or not, 10 million. To explain that we have a

representative from be Royal British Legion. Explain that to us.

We are proud that we stand this shoulder to soldier with all who

serve, or all who have served and their families and dependants.

is not less relevant today, it is probably more relevant, isn't it?

Yes. It is in the media every day, the current conflict. So far be it

while British Legion has helped 16,000 veterans of Iraq and

Afghanistan. It highlights how important the poppy appeal is.

a lot of people in our region had been held. Give us an example.

have a variety of cases. We have things like campaigns that help

recent service leavers to set up their own businesses, or helping a

soldier with disabilities to become independent in his own home. We do

very well in this region supplying the armed forces with personnel.

What are we like when it comes to handing over the money? Fantastic.

Last year we have raised nearly �1 million. It would be great if we

could pass that this year. Let us finish with another look at that

gorgeous bridge which is wonderful. One last question - who wrote the

poem who inspired be poppy appeal? It was John McRae in 1915. My old

teachers will be very proud of me! Now, it is time for spot. It will

be quite lively tomorrow, when to it. -- won't it?

He used to be a hero at the Stadium of Light and on the eve of the the

panto season Darren Bent will be back on Wearside to play the

villain tomorrow. Back with Aston Villa, of course, the club who

snatched him away from Sunderland for �18 million in the January

sales. The Black Cats have never been the same since.

He scored on his debut. He scored in his first game at the Stadium of

Light and he kept on scoring until he suddenly disappeared off to the

Midlands. Just don't expect Darren Bent to get as close to the

Sunderland fans as this tomorrow afternoon. The disappointment was

the timing and hit it was. He was a bigger player here. If he had stuck

around, he would have been one of the Sunderland greats. A bit like

this man. Not just for the double save which helped Sunderland win

the FA Cup in 1973. As much for the 600 games he played for his

hometown club. They do not realise it these days. They move on. They

see what is supposedly at better club. If he can find be a better

club than Sunder land, you are a better man than me. -- Sunderland.

Sadly, Sunderland haven't been a better team without him. Since

Bent's shock departure, they've found goals and points hard to come

by. But if he does do this tomorrow, well he won't be doing this. No

celebrations, certainly no slapping the badge. I am happy being an

Aston Villa player. I enjoyed my time at Sunderland. It will be

great it go back. And Sunderland today sent defender

Nyron Nosworthy off to Watford on loan until the New Year. Now the

Premier League's surprise package are fourth-placed Newcastle, who

don't play at Stoke until Monday night. Manager Alan Pardew must

decide whether to bring back defender Steven Taylor, who'd wear

a mask to protect his broken nose, and midfielder Cheik Tiote, who

watched today's open training session from the sidelines.

Thousands of Magpies fans descended on St James's Park this morning to

get close up and personal with the players, collecting autographs

before watching the squad put through their paces. One fan was

even allowed to train with them. It was a half-term gesture than went

down pretty well. It is a fantastic idea for the children to come and

see and make the players, spend time here getting autographs and

getting closer to the players as they are not able to do that on the

match day. We have got some fantastic players. The team is

built on ability and there is a lot of continuity. Wednesday night at

Blackburn was great. Alan Pardew is doing an excellent job. Let us hope

he continues. There's a big game for

Middlesbrough tomorrow - third in the Championship, they take on the

leaders Southampton who have won six out of six on the south coast

so far this season. Boro boss Tony Mowbray celebrated a year in charge

this week. In that time, he's turned the club around after the

dark days of Gordon Strachan. And he's hoping to strengthen Boro's

promotion challenge when the transfer window reopens in January.

The chairman has been hugely ambitious over the last few years.

Money was spent, but it did not work out. I would like to think

that, January the chairman will be ambitious again and if he sees an

opportunity for promotion, he will probably listen to where I feel we

need the strength and try and help. In League One, Carlisle take on

Oldham at Brunton Park tomorrow - fresh from that stunning fightback

against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday when they scored three

quick second-half goals, to shake off that 4-0 thumping by the

leaders Charlton a few days earlier. This weekend it's Hartlepool's turn

to take on the Londoners - Pool's having lost to Tranmere in midweek.

Now, while the region's top three clubs don't enter the competition

until January, the FA Cup is already in full swing. Among the

fixtures tomorrow a North-East derby at the International Stadium,

home of Conference club Gateshead. The visitors are near neighbours

Hebburn Town, who play just up the road and are ready for the biggest

game of their lives. Forget Wembley. It does not get

much bigger for Hepburn town when they make the short visit to

Gateshead. Everyone is excited. Is the biggest game in the club's

history. Everyone is up for it. It will be a challenge because

Gateshead are a good team. We have to go in and enjoy it. Whilst their

opponents are professional, this team is made up of plumbers

merchants and bar staff. I have not been able to sleep properly. I had

been out training nearly every day. It is a massive game and a big test,

but it is there for the taking if we play well. The winner will pick

up �12,500 and the chance of drawing a League One show I into

the first round proper. There would be 20,000 people, it will be great.

The excitement of the FA Cup. It will be the best day of my life

tomorrow if we win. Elsewhere, it would be a big turn-

up for Ashington to beat ex- Football League club Grimsby. Craig

Liddle takes caretaker charge of Darlington at the Arena. Conference

promotion rivals York and Wrexham clash in North Wales and famous FA

Cup giant killers Blyth travel to Droylsden, also from Conference

North. A big weekend coming up. He's known as Chatty Man and he's

returning to his Geordie roots this weekend. Alan Carr comes from

generations of miners and is the son of Newcastle United Chief

football scout Graham Carr. This weekend his stand up tour Spexy

Beast is at Newcastle's Metro Arena. Our entertainment reporter Sharuna

Sagar's been trying to get a word in edgeways.

But that you are doing Arena's means you are big. You are massive!

Do you know what? But first time I did an arena, I came off and the

buzz is unbelievable. But it is embarrassing the first time. You

tell a joke and it is like a Mexican wave of laughter because it

is so big. I thought, I'd better start it again. And there were

people with bad seats and you start the next joke and they are still

laughing at the one before. You go, keeper! You must be delighted to be

up north. I am. The whole clan will be here. We will be on the Quayside

after works wearing mini-skirts and not wearing a coat. How do you find

the Geordie audience? They are raucous, but I would not want it

the other way. There is a lot of love for you out there. People just

love you, don't they? Yes, they want to be me. Men are jealous of

me! Is that true? No, you are all right! And now for the weather.

It is glorious hair is evening. It is a clear and calm evening hit in

a Gateshead. Perfect for the launch of the poppy appeal. Let us have a

look at the weekend and I am afraid it is not as good as it was today.

It will be a bit more cloudy and breezy. It will be mainly dry in

the North East, but Cumbria will have a wet start. This evening and

overnight, clear skies for now. They will last up until about

midnight, particularly in the North East. After that the cloud will

thicken and from dawn tomorrow morning the first fringes of rain

will be waiting to pounce on Cumbria and the borders. Overnight

temperatures will be up on last night because we have more of a

breeze picking up and we have at cloud overhead. Into the weekend

itself on Saturday you one noticed that the breeze will be back. It

will be mainly south-westerly and it will continue to blow in from

the West with the cloud and rain. Most of the rain will be confined

to Cumbria and parts of Northumberland, but there is no

line in the sky over the Pennines. It will be light and patchy here,

but heavier in Cumbria. Despite the breeze, it will not be cold. Highs

of 14 Celsius in that south- westerly breeze. If you have a look

at the pressure charts, you can see that the winds are still blown from

the south-west. Although it will be cloudy in the West, it will be dry

it with a hint uprightness for the North East. Just a reminder that it

is the RSPB feed the birds day tomorrow. We are asking you to get

in the habit of leaving food out for the birds to see them through

the winter. Make sure your bird feeder is out of the way of any

caps and docks. A final look at the headlines. --