05/08/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

programme tonight. All eyes on us. The Ashes are won,

now England bid to win the series as the most important fixture in world

cricket comes to our region for the first time.

Also tonight, lean times for the charity set up by blinded police

officer David Rathband, as donations fall away.

Big, brazen, and after your bin bags. Carlisle battles to stop the

seagull flocks trashing the city centre.

And a celebrity surprise for the charity that's just been voted the

nation's favourite. In sport, Newcastle United edge

closer to their first summer signing.

And how three of our Football League clubs are wishing rain had stopped

play as pre-season optimism turns to It's the biggest week for cricket

our region has ever seen. On Friday, the Fourth Test in the Ashes series

starts at the Emirates International ground at Chester-le-Street.

Thousands of cricket fans will be making their way to the County

Durham town. Cverage will be seen world-wide. England, of course, are

now certain to hold on to the sport's most coveted prize, the

ceremonial urn,- because rain over Manchester today meant the Third

Test ended in a draw. Even if they lose the last two games, and share

the series, England, as holders, will retain the Ashes.

But the goal now is to win the series outright at

Chester-le-Street. Katie Gornall is there for us now.

You may be able to make out some puddles forming on the field. It is

usually quiet will stop we can only imagine what the atmosphere will be

like on Friday when this all gets underway in front of a sell-out

crowd. Chester-le-Street has been hosting matches for some years. The

excitement has been building. We can have a look at some of the

population figures for other places coming here to watch the cricket

than there are people in the town itself. It is not the first time

that is truly have come to the region play cricket. -- the first

time that Australia. This ground in Sunderland has hosted

no fewer than ten matches against Australia. Australia's cricketing

connections with Darren Gould back further than you may think. --

connections with Darren. For nearly 100 years team photos were taken in

the adjacent bowls pavilion. will have to go a long way back will

stop -- long way back. Most famous cricketers have had their picture

taken outside that pavilion. Why did Australia can do this region so

often? The and are is sheer enthusiasm for the game. They had

22,000 in 1926. It was in the middle of the general strike. All the stops

were pulled out to let the miners have a good time.

The last game to be held here was in 1977. The most memorable game was in

the 1940s. It was traditional that the duelling captain did play.

Everybody wanted to see them. When they batted the worst three wickets

down. Everybody thought Darren might defeat them. But they settle down.

-- everybody thought Durham might defeat them. Nobody would ever have

Trent they would be an Ashes test on this soil.

Last year we had the Olympics. The hope is that bringing the Ashes to

Chester-le-Street will cause an upsurge in cricket interest.

That is the hope, that it will inspire more people to bring up a

cricket bat. Where better to do that The big Test may be just around the

corner, but these youngsters just couldn't wait to have a go. With the

North East set for a summer of cricket like no other, the hope is

that the Ashes can inspire a new generation.

And for those that want to take their game to the next level,

opportunity knocks at Durham. The club's youth set up has proved

fertile ground. This season as many as eight first team players were

from the local area. It is a chance to give opportunities. Everybody

wins. The first team has got a fair sprinkling of lads who can develop

at their own game. It hasn't always been like this.

Before Durham's became a first class county in 1992, players like Geoff

Cook were forced to leave the North East to pursue their careers. But

these young players have grown used to having professional cricket on

their doorstep. And have watched the likes of Paul Collingwood and Steve

Harmison progress right to the very top. It has been brilliant. We have

been able to walk down and watched the day's tickets. What could I do?

What could I do better? It's been a successful formula so

far for Durham. And who knows - the next Ashington Express may be

already be waiting in the wings. You mentioned earlier how the rain

saved the day for England at all Trafford. I am informed that the

weather is set to improve this week. Heavy rain has led to localised

flooding in parts of the region. A woman and a toddler were rescued

from a car stuck in ford in West Cumbria. The fire service said the

car had drifted in waist-high water and became lodged on a rock at Mill

Hill in Cleator Moor. A man also had to be rescued from a House in

Loweswater after a river burst its banks this morning. Elsewhere burst

drain covers left the roads under water and around the region surface

water combined with the heavy rain caused problems for drivers.

A primary school teacher has admitted 23 sexual offences against

children in York. Richard Oldham, who's 31 and now lives in Devon,

taught in at least three primary schools in York. He admitted

secretly filming children, sexual assaults on six boys and possessing

more than 2,000 indecent images of children. He'll be sentenced at

Leeds Crown Court next month. A football fan who made a "monkey"

gesture at a player, at the Stadium of Light last season, has been

banned from attending all football matches for three years. Liam Jones

was also given an 18-month conditional discharge by Sunderland

Magistrates. Jones, who's 22 and from Hendon in Sunderland, had

repeatedly denied the offence - which happened after the Belgian

striker Romelu Lukaku scored for West Bromwich Albion against the

Black Cats. Jones was due to stand trial in September, but has now

admitted causing racially aggravated harrassment.

A charity set up by the Northumbria police officer shot by gunman Raoul

Moat will not meet its target of raising �1 million. In July 2010, PC

David Rathband was shot twice while sitting in his patrol car in

Newcastle. Shortly after the attack, he set up the Blue Lamp Foundation -

but trustees say donations have slumped. Heather Clancy has the

story. Three months after he was left blind

the Blue Lamp Foundation was set up by PC David Rathband. Its purpose -

to help members of the emergency services who are injured during duty

and to raise �1 million pounds by October this year. So far, �400,000

has been raised and with October just two months away, the Foundation

says the target won't be met. There has been a downturn in the

nations we are receiving all-star -- there has been a reduction in the

donations we are receiving. It is disappointing. After David

died we made a decision to continue with the objective of raising �1

million. But on reflection maybe it was a step too far.

In 2011, the charity's first grant went to a paramedic in

Staffordshire, who was injured when a lorry crashed into the ambulance

he was driving. Blue Lamp paid for a bathroom to be fitted downstairs so

he could recover at home. Since then they've given out grants to eight

other people. After PC Rathband's death last year,

the foundation has carried on, run by a board of trustees, including

his son Ashley. Despite not meeting the �1 million

target, they're encouraging members of emergency services to apply for

grants and say the charity will continue.

Paul Gascoigne has pleaded guilty to assaulting a railway guard and being

drunk and disorderly. The charges relate to an incident at Stevenage

Railway station last month, just weeks after he left rehab in the

USA. Stevenage Magistrates fined the former Newcastle and Middlesbrough

footballer �1,000. Berwick Bandits speedway rider Ricky Ashworth is

seriously ill, but stable in intensive care, following a crash on

Friday. The 31-year-old sustained severe head injuries in the match at

Scunthorpe. The rest of the Berwick team voted to go ahead with

Saturday's home match against Edinburgh at Shielfield Park, and

dedicated their victory to their injured colleague.

A major shutdown of part of the Tyne and Wear Metro system moved into

full swing today. In an almost military-style operation, a huge

fleet of buses has been brought in to ferry passengers around the areas

of track which are being modernised - and the disruption appears to have

been kept to a minimum. Jim Knight joined the commuters in Newcastle

this morning. Monday morning and steady persistent

rain. Throw in a little extra confusion about where to find your

replacement bus and you might have expected three tempers. But guided

by the staff the passengers seemed pretty relaxed. This is the first

day for me. For now it is fine. they had to be repaired that is

life. Everything is fine except for the weather. This is the peak of the

rush-hour. Things are running smoothly. People have given extra

time for their journey. Here at the Metro control centre in

South Gosforth the staff are co-ordinating and facilitating the

biggest modernisation programme in Metro's history.

At the flick of a switch, points change, and trains can then reverse

away from the areas closed off for modernisation. We are calling this

mission control. We are keeping track of all the trains. The team is

keeping track of what is happening on the ground.

And they've already stared ripping out the old track. These rails and

sleepers were first laid in 1864 by the then Blyth and Tyne Railway

company - so they haven't done badly. It's all to be replaced

though, and of course there will be some disruption for passengers over

the next four weeks. People are organising themselves well and

making use of the information that we have been providing. The buses

have been organised to meet the needs of most people using the

system. So far it is coming together.

One consolation, when this modernisation is complete, the new

track won't need replacing for at least 50 years.

Seagull-proof rubbish sacks will be given to thousands of homes in

Carlisle - to stop the birds ripping them open to feed on the waste

inside. Carlisle City Council will also be re-introducing wheelie bin

collections in some areas, after homeowners and businesses complained

about the gulls' behaviour. As the birds have gone for the food,

they've even attacked people - as Mark McAlindon reports.

Seagulls can live for 30 years. are opportunists. They are quite

intelligent animals. We have had photos sent in by members of the

public. On the flat roofs of this building. These are the bin liners

that people use to put out the rubbish.

In this area of the city people are sick of the site of them. You could

be walking down to the post office and they are diving at you. It has

got worse. It is quite scary. They just die at you. There is rubbish

everywhere. The city council is thinking of introducing sacks that

cannot be ripped open. But will it work?

Still to come tonight, Mark will be here with the sport round-up. And

we'll be joining the seaside town residents who've adopted a

do-it-yourself approach to cleaning up their beach.

And I will have the full weather forecast later.

A Teesside charity which works with victims of domestic violence has

been voted one of the nation's favourites. Called: "My Sister's

Place", it helps more than 1,000 women escape violence in the home

every year. More than 6,000 people voted for the charity, in a ballot

organised by the National Lottery. That news, and a special celebrity

presentation, were kept secret from staff in Middlesbrough, until the

very last moment. Peter Lugg reports.

Blissfully unaware of their success in the National Lottery's good

causes ballot the women of My Sister's Place got down to business

as usual at the charity's Borough Road headquarters. Outside there was

something of a commotion. The X Factor's Jahmene Douglas arriving

with entourage to pass on the good news. When it came his interruption

was entirely unexpected. You are the My Sister's Place has already

received �400,000 in Lottery funding. Today's award - a public

vote for the nation's favourite charity - gave further recognition

to its work with over 1,000 victims of domestic violence every year.

has been a validation of what we do. Jahmene - an X Factor runner up -

went public on the show about his own family problems last year.

have been through domestic violence myself. If you do not have funding

in one area it will affect all the other areas.

Today was only the start of celebrations. Charity members will

appear in to a star studded Lottery television show later in the year.

Peter Lugg BBC Look North Middlesbrough.

Staying on Teesside, millions of pounds have been spent remodelling

Redcar seafront and building a new sea wall. All well and good, but to

attract much-needed visitors, the beach has to match the standard of

the promenade. So today, a group of local volunteers rolled up their

sleeves and took to the sands. Also there was Martin Forster.

Hardly a D4 playing in the sand. As the rain fell on Redcar beach people

got stuck in. This is a real picking exercise. You can see people getting

things off the beach. It is fine for local residents to do that. It is

exactly what we need. It lifts the spirits of the place. A lot of the

rabble being removed is thought to be left over from their

multi-million pound make over of the seafront. 30 million was spent on

the seafront. 75 million in total with all the facilities and

buildings. But they have missed a bit. We want to attract tourism onto

the beach show as well as onto the seafront. What we are finding on the

beach is brick and rubble. Is that a fossil? That is a fossil. Today's

events may have been modest but its organisers have big plans. We are

going to see what we can do. Time for the sport.

Let's start with some football transfer news and Newcastle United,

who've been tracking three different strikers this summer, hope to secure

the services of at least one of them in the next 24 hours. The Magpies

have agreed a season-long loan deal with relegated QPR for France

international Remy, who chose West London over Tyneside during the last

transfer window in January. He was due to undergo a medical today.

The Football League season kicked off unusually early at the weekend.

But our teams could only muster one win between them. Congratulations

York City. But "must do better" our other three clubs, starting with

Middlesbrough - up against last season's play-off semi-finalists

Leicester. Two former Middlesbrough captains,

Nigel Pearson and Tony Mowbray, the latter desperate for new additions

to a wafer-thin squad on Teesside. Boro who slumped from top six to

16th in the second half of last season dominated the first half

against Pearson's Leciester. But crucially they only managed one goal

- Lucas Jutkiewicz forcing the ball in off ex Boro loanee Shaun St

Ledger. The visitors upped their Ledger. The visitors upped their

game after the break. No offside flag given as Drinkwater scored on

the hour. And Vardy's winner turned the game on its head to the delight

of the away fans - no longer behind the goal. It could have been worse

for Middlesbrough's boss - left to bemoan a disappointing start.

Leicester will be among the Leicester will be among the

favourites for promotion. They have got plenty of power and peace in the

team. We dealt with it very well. Greg Abbott's quiet pre-season

optimism was left in tatters by optimism was left in tatters by

Leyton Orient, who took the lead thanks to some lax defending from a

optimism was left in tatters by Leyton Orient, But the key moment

was captain Lee Miller's clash with Nathan Clarke which left the Orient

player unconscious and Miller - injured for most of last season -

with a straight red card. The visitors went two up before new

signing David Amoo gave the Cumbrians hope from the penalty

spot. In the second half, though, Orient ran riot leaving the majority

Orient ran riot leaving the majority of the 5,000 crowd utterly dejected.

We are looking at people taking responsibility. Began players are

looking for guidance and leadership from me and from the senior players

from me and from the senior players on the pitch. Looking dapper before

his first league game as Hartlepool on the pitch. Looking dapper before

And Colin Cooper was to watch his team make a bright start to life in

League Two. It was short-lived sadly. Cooper knows his team will

have to improve in both penalty areas as Rochdale dished out a

football lesson with three goals which showed that the new Pools

management team have much to do if promotion is to be anything other

than a pipe dream. Leaving the best till last, York City, who avoided

relegation under the wily stewardship of Nigel Worthington.

City had a goal disallowed against Northampton, who went pretty close

themselves in the second half. Going down to ten men didn't help the

visitors' cause. And they were made to pay in the 90th minute as the

Minstermen won it. Debutant Ryan Jarvis securing York's first home

victory on the opening day of a league season since 1999. Mark

league season since 1999. Mark Tulip, BBC Look North.

Gateshead game with then. At the World Swimming Championships

sixth-place for Jemma Lowe in the medley relay.

But Aimee Willmott was unable to reach the final. She missed out by a

single place. Graham onions has been added to the

squad for the fourth Ashes test. Englund's cricketers do not mind

Englund's cricketers do not mind rain.

How is it looking over the next few days? There is a weather warning in

place for further heavy rain across associated with thunderstorms. They

will be cleaning away overnight tonight. The rain will be

commuting. It will be dry after dark. First thing tonight there will

be heavy outbreaks of rain. A if summer has returned. Through the

afternoon it will become more cloudy. There may be one or two

isolated showers. Tomorrow's temperatures are average for this

time of year. Temperatures West words are similar to those in the

East. Still a pretty good day to come with high pressure from

tomorrow keeping things more settled and Thursday. One or two isolated