22/03/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North. The shocking truth

about liver disease here in the north. Campaigners vowed to fight

the so-called Granny Tax. The government insists existing

pensioners will not lose out. I am a state pensioner and I have seen

real poverty in different parts of the world and it is time we had

real perspective. Also tonight: Queue here for work.

500 new jobs up for grabs in the call centre industry. And, I am a

lumberjill and I'm OK. The unsung heroines of World War

Two look back on their vital work during the conflict. In sport, the

unsung hero of Darlington Football Club tells us why he's staying on

as manager. And clap hands for the Newcastle

Eagles - hoping to add the British basketball trophy to their

impressive list of honours. Deaths from alcohol-related

diseases are up by 25 % according to a new report. The north east is

one of the worst affected areas in the country. Now campaigners are

accusing the government of failing to tackle the problem. They say

that yesterday's budget was an opportunity to control binge

drinking by hiking up the price of alcohol or imposing a minimum cost,

but that did not happen. Our health reporter Sharon Barbour joins us

now from outside Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

We had been here before for the same story - alcohol admissions

like this one. The number of liver deaths is up by a quarter. The main

cause is alcohol. One in 10 of those deaths in the under 40s.

Staggering and Stan -- sad statistics. Is the government doing

enough. The cost of drinking is rising. Because the NHS billions

each year. A new report says deaths have increased by a staggering 25 %

with alcohol the main cause. The North East is among the worst

regions. I have come to a ward for Tait to meet some doctors and

nurses to have to cope with the problems. -- Ward 48.

Alcohol has so nearly cost this patient her life. She now has

permanent liver damage and only in her thirties. If she keeps drinking

she may live only a few years. could have one or two bottles

easily. I could have spirits as well as wine. My liver has

permanent damage and it will never repay itself. And grant as well is

back in hospital. He has been admitted more than 70 times in the

last year alone because of alcohol. I was drinking about three litres

of vodka and. And perhaps six litres of cider. At my worst, I was

sitting outside a shop waiting for it to open to buy another bottle.

Peto think -- people think they will get warnings this -- signals.

In fact, what happens in the liver is feeling at the time by the time

they realised something is wrong. Help to control the but -- the

problem is are urgently sought. was hoping they would introduce

minimum unit price for alcohol in the budget which targets cheap or

call which is run by young people and harmful drinkers. The it would

have been nice to see something to address the problem. Unlike the

government to bring in minimum pricing which is the only way to

drive down consumption and reduce deaths from alcoholism. -- I would

like. As the number of deaths continues to rise, the North

continues to pay a high price for drinking too much. Many campaigners

are campaigning father a minimum price increase. The government has

been working behind the scenes and the minimum price is expected to

come out in the government's alcohol strategy which is due out

any day soon. Staying with fall-out from the

Budget - campaigners here in the north of promise to fight plans to

cut a freeze tax allowances on the income as have many pensioners.

George Osborne's plan has already been christened the Granny Tax. But

one Northern Conservative MP has defended the move, insisting that

no existing pensioners will lose out. Gerry Jackson reports. The

newspaper's reaction to a budget normally depends on their political

loyalties - not it seems on this issue. At the moment, over-65s can

receive �10,500 before paying tax on their income. Quite a bit more

than the under 65. From next year, anyone turning 65 will get the

standard of allowance of about �9,200. If you are already getting

the higher allowance, that will be frozen until the law a figure

catches up. It will raise about �3 billion a year. The government says

this system will be simple, fair, with less form-filling. Campaigners

say it is a stealth tax that will cost some future pensioners over

�3,000 a year. And who - �300. of those people have worked since

they were 14. They find it very hard to understand why they have to

pay tax on their pension and they will have to pay more and more.

am really disappointed. It would affect the way it I vote in the

next election. Government MPs say the criticism is unfair. Their

state pension has gone up under this government. The universal

benefits remain. They will be better off, there is no tax loss.

Here at Corbridge in Mr Opperman's constituency, it looks like many

would take some convincing. Howdy feel about that headline? It was

obvious he was going to do something to pensioners, he has to

balance the books but he's robbing the wrong people. Inflation for

pensioners is about 13 % per year and this will make it worse. Go it

was when since Churchill who introduced age-related tax breaks

90 years ago, campaigners say it will be worth the fight to keep

them. -- Winston Churchill. Many of us have received windfalls

from the banks for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance, or

PPI. It is believed thousands more people are still to make a claim.

So today recruitment began to fill 500 new jobs on Teesside, 72 per

cent of which will deal with complaints about PPI. Hundreds of

potential staff queued outside Middlesbrough Town Hall to apply.

Richard Thomas reports. They have been queuing since before

10:00am. 500 jobs in an area of the north east for 12 people chasing

every job. Their different levels of jobs. Our management jobs,

supervisory jobs and call centre jobs. The first job as the most

important job anybody ever gets. There will be a lot of people here

looking for their first job and that will be important.

The jobs will be based at existing customer service centres operated

by Firstsource. One in Stockton and one in Middlesbrough. Both will be

expanding. Thousands of people work in call centres in the North East

but the 600 jobs are for us but -- particular speciality - they are

for payment protection insurance complaint handlers. And people from

all ages and backgrounds turned up for a chance of a job. Indeed so

many it turned up that by lunchtime the company had to draft in extra

staff. There is a lot of call centre work going in the region,

and if you want to get you fit in the door it is where you have to go.

It has been quite easy to find different jobs but the job I want,

is quite hard to find. He in this climate it is everyone for himself.

Unfortunately. The jobs are initially for 12

months while the PPI payouts continue. After that it is hoped a

newly employed staff will find alternative work in the company

which employs 30,000 people globally.

GlaxoSmithKline has confirmed it is investing �20 million in the firm's

factory at Barnard Castle in County Durham. The drugs company says the

investment will establish a centre of excellence for the production

skin creams and ointments. The investment will help secure the

future of a factory that employs 1100 people. A police officer and a

civilian worker had been found guilty of assault by Keating after

these assault on a man to get him to answer questions. -- by beating.

They were convicted at Teesside Magistrates Court and will be

sentenced in April. An investigation found they used at --

excessive and unreasonable force on a man in custody. The commissioner

said it could be argued their actions amounted to a form of

torture. Staff at two Cumbrian hospital say

they would not recommend them as either places to work or received

treatment. The hospitals in Carlisle and Whitehaven have been

ranked among the worst in the country in a survey carried out by

the Department of Health. The trust which runs them has admitted there

are problems but says it is working hard to address them. Mark

McAlindon reports. On many counts, this is a damning

indictment from staff the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle

and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. Among the problems they

cite are poor support from and communication with management.

Crucially, a large proportion said they would not recommend the North

Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust as a place to work or receive

treatment. It makes very sad reading. We know that our staff go

to work to do the best they can and when these same they would not

recommend that the trust as a place to work or a place to receive

treatment and are worried they do not have all the resources they

need to deliver the care they want to give, it makes sad reading and

we want to see that change. In a statement, the trust said it

there have been challenges across the NHS, and our trust is

undergoing an unsettling acquisition. We also have a very

challenging cost improvement programme to follow. The trust is

committed to working hard to improve things for staff and

patients. We want to encourage staff to get involved - the

creation of staff focus groups will provide an arena for feedback.

But the challenge will be tough. Results show that pressure fell by

staff has increased. The percentage of staff satisfied with work and

the quality of patient care is down. Staff motivation has also fallen.

wee bit like a trust to say this is the information we have an this is

how we will work with staff to address these points and do

something meaningful, so that staff next year when they do a survey

will come back with improvement. It has to be tangible and meaningful.

The new guide book honouring the veterans of County Durham has just

been published. Some of them are more than 400 years old! These are

the veteran trees scattered across the county, remnants of ancient

woodland or planted and country estates centuries ago. The guide

features more than 50 of these natural monuments. Ideal planning

for your next country walk. This is an. She in County Durham. It is

estimated at 400 years old. -- an oak tree. It is one of the trees in

a new guide from Durham Wildlife Trust. Tell me more about this tree.

The name comes from the fact that the site was opened -- owned by the

Bishops of Durham. We do not know when the nicknames started. For as

long as the trust have owned the site, it has always been called the

bishops Oke. How do you measure in the it age of ancient trees. Most

people think you cut it down and measure the Rings, so it is based

on the girth of the tree. It is over five metres. So it is probably

about 400 years old. Do you tree hard to measure the tree? You can

do. When we excepted records for the tree, people could say that our

she equalled the three hugs. We lost a lot of her woodland with our

industrial heritage so the few we have remaining are exceptionally

important and provide a habitat for important species. There used by

birds and bats and a number of inverted its species use them as

well. Their spread across the whole region. -- they are spread. There

is a beautiful whole of ancient sweet chestnuts in Oakland Park.

They are really old and have lots of rot and are amazing to lookout.

You can obtain the guide for a freak. -- three. I have a favourite

local tree as well still to come this Thursday

evening: Meet the lumberjills - the heroines who helped the war effort

look back on their vital work. I'll be back with a full forecast at the

end of the rest of the news. It is one of the older cinemas in

the country and to celebrate its centenary here the Ritz in Thirsk

has come bang up-to-date by joining the digital revolution. Quite a big

step for a picture house dating back to the days of silent movies.

Peter Lugg was at the matinee. It is fitting perhaps that the main

feature this week harks back to the silent movies of the Ritz would

have been showing when opened in 1912. It now hoping it -- in now

has new digital equipment. We are looking forward to the challenge.

In here, in pieces, the old projector. Sad, really. This is her

hundredth birthday, in 1912 the cinema was opened. It has been

running ever since. We get very good audiences. We have 20,000

people a year come to the cinema so we're very pleased. These are the

posh seats minus five pounds a time. Have the cinema now is now run

entirely by a staff of volunteers. We have about 70 volunteers to come

along and do every sort of job. All our volunteers do everything. That

is how we manage to survive. multiplex it is not, it is one

feature a week, like it was in the picture houses of old and who would

want it any other way? They were known as lumberjills -

women who chopped down trees for the war effort. Last autumn the

Forestry Commission appealed for former lumberjills to come forward

to tell their stories. That appeal was a success. Our reporter has

been to meet two of these forgotten heroines of World War Two. Cutting

wood in the wartime way at Chopwell Woods.

With a saw that has not seen service for nearly a half century.

We had a practice with this Awe yesterday and it occurs ages to cut

down his cheek. -- it took us ages to cut down this victory.

Doreen Morrison and Ethel Oliver are in their eighties now, but have

returned to the woods where they did their bit for the war effort as

lumberjills. The on the problem was in the winter when it was really

called, my hands and feet were always called. -- cold.

The Women's timber Corps was set and 1942, and thousands of young

women were sent to the northeast forests to replace the men serving

at the front. Although it was back- breaking work, it formed a lifelong

friendships. We were bridesmaids for each other. We have been very

good set -- friends ever since. It was not all bad. I would not have

missed it for anything. And not all the friendships were

human. One day there was a little squirrel which jumped out and I

caught 10. I kept him for several weeks. He used to hide in my sleeve,

inside my court. Ethel and Doreen have come to

Kielder Forest to see how much the work of logging has changed. And

this is a far cry from how they remember the back-breaking work.

Ethel was here in 1942 when she was snowed in. Now it is hoped their

memories and stories will be passed on to schoolchildren, to keep the

memories of the lumberjills alive. What a difference a year makes.

This week, 12 months ago, Darlington were celebrating an FA

Trophy semi-final win over Gateshead, which booked them a trip

to Wembley. They went on to beat Mansfield in the final but it has

been downhill ever since, with no sign of them stopping. March 2011,

Darlington on their way to Wembley. Victory at the National Stadium was,

arguably, one of the greatest days in the club's history. Now it must

seem like it was all just a dream? Yes, and the trophy left the

stadium last week. A lot of people at the club were sad to see it go,

but I was not because I think it has jinxed as. Hopefully, now that

it has moved out of big club, that will kick has on words.

They certainly need something. Without a win in their last 12

games, the Quakers are on course for relegation to conference North.

That will mean trips to Harrogate Town, Workington and if they stay

up, Blyth Spartans. Earlier this week, almost worn out by the

struggles on and off the pitch, Craig Liddle offered to stand down

for a more experienced coach. Now he's ready to fight to the end.

times it gets too much but I just thought, perhaps someone could come

in and produce a spark, but that is not going to happen so I have given

my word that I will stick it out. I will fight if the players and

administrators are prepared to do the same for me.

A couple of players on the move - Carlisle striker Craig Curran has

gone out on loan to Morecambe, and Newcastle's Nile Ranger - who spent

some time with Barnsley last year - has been loaned to Sheffield

Wednesday for the rest of the season.

It is not often we talk about fashion in our sports slots, but I

am sure you are dying to know what the best-dressed British athlete

will be wearing at this year's Olympics. The kit has been designed

by Stella McCartney, daughter of the one and only Paul McCartney of

course. Among the medal hopefuls on the catwalk, were Middlesbrough at

long jumper Chris Tomlinson and Richmond swimmer, Jo Jackson.

never expect to go to the Olympics. The hype is amazing. When my son

Piquet, it was amazing. It is an honour to be here. -- when we saw

the kit. This makes it feel real and it is really exciting that we

will be going to the Olympics in a few weeks' time.

Another big sporting event is next year's rugby league World Cup and

it has been announced today the planned Pow Beck Valley Stadium in

Whitehaven is scheduled to host games involving Tonga, Scotland and

Italy. One basketball trophy in the

Cabinet - three more to play for her - starting tomorrow night at

their new sports central city home. Newcastle Eagles take on arch-

rivals Plymouth in the second leg of the BBL Trophy, facing a nine

points deficit from the away match. He is one of the most successful

player coaches in professional sport. Inspirational on court and

spreading the word about his beloved basketball offered as well.

- off it as well. Flournoy is with GB Olympic hopeful Andy Thomson and

other squad members at St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic primary-

school head of the second leg of the Trophy final against arch-

rivals Plymouth. One a volley two teams to win at sports centre this

season. A coach being good is not enough, we want to be the best.

When you're good, that is OK, but for arouse, outstanding is not

enough. We have to be better all the time. -- for as. It is a legacy

we're trying to set. We're starting. Down so we have to make that up

writer way. Sports centre will be wild. We have to impose ourselves

on ned again. We're not going to give up the trophy easily. -- on

the game. Tickets are still available for the game. Earlier in

the programme we heard about rain but it has been a lovely day today.

We do need the rain. Ago it a glorious day if you had been out

and about. There is no significant rainfall in his forecast, however.

Thank you very much for this picture of the butterfly. For

tomorrow brightening up after a tomorrow brightening up after a

dull start. A few spots of drizzle for the hills. They are heading to

Cuba for the darker skies in England and they will have fabulous

conditions for viewing the skies. - - Kielder Park. Cloudier in the

west by dawn. It's in clears and there is no significant rain, one

or two isolated showers. For the artiste coast it will brighten up

swiftly. Sunshine spreading swiftly. -- North East Coast. And cooler

than today on the North East coast on Friday. Towards the West - the

warmest spot is Cumbria, reaching 16 Celsius. Another very pleasant

afternoon to come in the light winds. This is a big picture - an

area of high pressure sitting across their UK. This disappears by

Saturday and things become very settled. No rainfall. That high

pressure is capping of atmosphere and squashing it down. Know whether

happening to speak of. Those gardens will become increasingly

parched. Farmers are now desperate for a spell of rain. What does that

mean in terms of the detail? A fine weekend to come. It will be cloudy

for a time on Saturday but the Sun will return on Sunday. It will feel

very pleasant indeed. Well above the March average. Thank you very

much. The headlines. The man who murdered a 3 soldiers, three Jewish

children and a rabbi in the French children and a rabbi in the French

children and a rabbi in the French city of Toulouse has been shot dead