27/11/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Wednesday's Look North. Tonight: Three die in an

early morning head`on crash. Three others are seriously injured.

Fears that hundreds of jobs could go from Npower here in the North. The

latest coming up. Found ` one of Britain's most wanted

criminals is discovered in a remote country house. Cumbria Constabulary

deals effectively with organised crime in all of its forms. He was

arrested and I can reassure the public that we are out to protect

them. And how this two`year`old poster boy for Nissan went on to

work at the Wearside car plant. In sport ` good news and bad for

Carlisle United. And we meet the team on an

unbelievable winning run of 66 matches.

First tonight, the horrific head`on collision which left three people

dead and three others seriously injured. The crash, involving a car

and a van, happened early this morning on the B1248 road near

Wharram Percy, a village to the south of Malton in North Yorkshire.

It's emerged that the woman and the two men who died all worked at a

local bacon factory. Phil Connell has been at the scene all day and

joins us live from there now. Phil. The road here has reopened tonight

after being closed for the last 11 hours. A special police team has

been on the scene here since ten o'clock this morning, trying to

establish exactly what has happened. That may take days or potentially

even weeks. For those police teams that have been here today, additions

have been described as difficult and distressing.

Police called to the scene of this morning's crash have described the

collision as one of the worst they have seen. In one car, to man and a

woman were certified dead at the scene while three others, one in a

second vehicle, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Police said both vehicles had caught fire. It is quite a goal seemed to

be present at. It is safe to say that there has been a small fire at

the scene. `` it is quite difficult to be present at. The three people

killed in the car, believed to be Polish, were employed at the bacon

factory and were on their way to work when the crash happened. A

spokesman said they were extremely saddened to hear about the accident

and were offering support to the families of those who died. The

factory's flag has been at half mass, with one fellow worker blaming

the accident on poor local roads. Shocking but not surprised. The way

the road system is around here, the A64 is invariably blocked, it often

has accidents. Locals have described this stretch of road as a notorious

accident blackspot. In the last three years, they say at least four

separate et al and the have happened here, with campaigners calling for

improved safety measures. `` four separate fatalities. This man has

been campaigning for improved safety measures. It is something that is

shocking but not surprising. We have had some very bad cases of driving

through the village in the last few years. There have been some

fatalities up there in the past two years and we at the village are

concerned about this guide and overtaking that takes place on the

road. Late this afternoon, police began the process of lifting both be

a gold onto the back of two trucks. They have been removed from the

scene, the ban is a burnt out shell and the car is covered with

tarpaulin. `` the van. Police are appealing for witnesses. They want

to trace the driver of a van who may have passed these two vehicles

shortly before the collision happened. Tonight, the three people

rescued from this crash remain in a critical condition in hospital with

one being described as very serious injuries. `` with water are being

described as a serious injuries. Some breaking news now, and it's

believed the energy company Npower will announce tomorrow that it's

cutting 1,400 jobs across the country. More than 3,000 people work

for the German`owned business here in the North. So could they be

affected? Our Business Correspondent Ian Reeve is in our Tees newsroom

now. Ian, what more can you tell us? Carroll, the company has three sites

in our region. It is a big employer. About 2000 people are employed at

the call centre in County Durham, 570 people are employed at a similar

contact centre in Thornaby. 520 people working Peterlee at a call

centre in County Durham. The staff deal with calls from some B's gas

and electricity customers. We know that the company has been looking at

a review of the business since August. `` deal with calls from

Npower's gas and electricity customers. There is a big fear that

one or more buildings could close. The GMP union seems convinced that

both Thornaby and Peterlee will close with the loss of more than

1000 jobs. For the company was my part, they say they want to talk to

the workforce first before the talks to the media. We do think they will

confirm tomorrow that 1400 jobs across the country will be offshore

debt to India, we will have to wait and see the detail but it looks like

it could be bad news for our patch. Thank you.

He was one of Britain's most wanted criminals ` and the subject of a

Europe`wide search. But last night, Brian Thexton was captured at a

remote Cumbrian house. Police won't give the exact location of where he

was discovered, but say it was near the town of Kirkby Stephen. Graham

Moss has this report. This is remote hill country. Brian

Thexton, one of the most wanted men in the country, was arrested at what

police say was an isolated rural property close to Kirkby Stephen,

though they won't reveal the exact location. Over recent weeks we have

worked with our organised crime intelligence units, across the

country, in response to some intelligence that he was in our

area. I cannot talk about the specifics of how we located him but

we were able to find him last night and arrest him. It was the routine

arrest. Hard work had gone in beforehand in finding him in an

isolated property. Kirby Stephen is not a community used to major police

operations. It is a small market town on the edge of the Pennines.

The population is under 2000. This is what local people had to say

about what happened. It is very quiet and rural. People go about

their own business in their own town. It is quite unusual for

something like this to occur around here. I am sure people are locking

their doors tight tonight because it is the sort of area where people do

not lock their doors. People trust each other and trust the neighbours.

I saw a little bit on Facebook that a fugitive had been arrested in a

rural location. I was a bit surprised, to be honest. I was

stunned. I was not watching the television and then I heard Kirby

Stephen. We all looked at each other and thought, we knew nothing about

this. It is `` it has passed us by. Cumbria Constabulary deals with

organised crime in all of its forms. The man was arrested without

any danger to the public and I can reassure the public that we are out

to protect them. While people in this East Cumbria

community are still catching up with the events of the past 24 hours,

Brian Thexton has since been transferred from Carlisle to Durham

for further questioning. Graham Moss, BBC Look North, Kirkby

Stephen. Well, Brian Thexton has been

convicted or accused of many high`profile crimes in the North in

recent years. Our news correspondent, Adrian Pitches, has

more details and joins me now. Adrian, what are the headlines? I

guess there are three headline crime. He absconded while awaiting

sentence at Newcastle Crown Court for his part in a nationwide ring

that stole heavy goods vehicles. He is awaiting sentence for theft. He

was also awaiting trial for the supply of Class A drugs ` cocaine `

across the North East. And he's wanted for questioning by both the

Durham and Northumbria forces about robberies at remote properties where

the householders were tied up and threatened. Those robberies were

particularly nasty? Yes. They were aggravated burglaries. We reported

both of these in 2012. In June of that year, in Northumberland, a

couple were tied up, they ran a jewellery business. Three men broke

in, tied them up, stole jewellery and their car, drove to the

jewellers and stool more jewellery there. And then in October of 2012,

in Bishop Auckland, a similar operation, two men actually posing

as police officers knocked on the door of the remote property, were

let in, these men then burst in, tied up the couple and stole more

jewellery. Five people have been charged for these crimes. But the

local police forces would like to talk to this gentleman as well. And

he has a previous conviction for a high`profile series of cashpoint

thefts? Yes. Between 2005 and 2006, there are a number of these thefts

by the so`called hole in the wall gang, and this involves ram raiding

using a fork lift truck. They netted ?350,000 in cash, this gang. The

ringleader was Brian Thexton. He was jailed for four years in 2007. So

what happens next? He has been transferred from Cumbria's custody

to Durham's. Charges might be laid within the next 24 hours. Thank you.

One of the region's MPs is calling for all disabled people to be exempt

from housing benefit rules, dubbed the "bedroom tax". Under the change,

introduced earlier this year, thousands of council tenants in the

region have lost part of their housing benefit after being deemed

to be under`occupying their homes. The Labour MP for Middlesbrough,

Andy McDonald, told the Commons today he believes the Government's

refusing to listen to charities. The disability benefits Consortium of

over 50 charities has signed a letter to the Secretary of State

Colin for immediate action to exempt and disabled people from the bedroom

tax. Why on earth does he and his government refused to listen? What

we have done is exempted disabled people who need an extra room at it

does, I think, come back to a basic issue of fairness. The basic issue

of fairness is this. People in private sector rented accommodation

who get housing benefit do not get a subsidy for spare rooms whereas

people in council houses do get a subsidy for spare rings. That is why

it is right to end it, thinking of the 1.8 million people in the

country on housing waiting lists. You're watching Wednesday's Look

North. Coming up: Jeff's here with tonight's sport. And the young

poster boy who helped recruit workers for the Nissan car plant

becomes one himself. The weather is set to stay fairly quiet over the

next few days but it will feel colder by the weekend. I will have

all the details later. Inspections of some Cumbrian schools

are being brought forward because of concerns about "below average"

standards. Ofsted says Cumbria doesn't have enough secondary

schools that are judged to be "good or outstanding". It follows a

similar judgement by Ofsted on some schools in Northumberland. In fact,

there's evidence the North is lagging behind the rest of the

country in a number of key areas. One is the relatively poor

performance of children from low income families. In the first of a

series of reports for Look North's Big Question, we ask why are we

bottom of the class? Time to experiment for these GCSEs

students in Durham. This is the Belmont community School which, like

its pupils, appears to have a formula for success. Children from

all backgrounds do well. But in some other parts of the North, the

picture is less positive. With those from low income families tending to

lag behind. We know that those groups start off at a lower level

when they start school so we need to look at this across`the`board from

cradle to career, what can we do at every stage to ensure those young

people have all of the things they need to be able to progress? Are 57%

of north`east children achieve private GCSEs including endless and

maths in 2012. Slightly below the national average of 59. But pupils

on free school meals, it is just 33% to hit the target compared to 36%

across the country. The proportion of children on free school meals

hitting the bench Park in Northumberland was just 26%. ``

hitting the benchmark. This is a problem that worries ministers. And

the government we are giving every school the money to deliver even for

disadvantaged young people who are funded with almost double the rate

of funding for their time in education as a young person from a

non`disadvantaged background. At Belmont at least, the approach seems

to work. The school uses funding from the government's pupil premium

to ensure pupils do not miss out, regardless of family income. That

can mean help with buying stationery are calculators or going on school

trips or extra tuition were needed. Why should there be any different in

aspiration for students because of their economic circumstances? To you

think you can narrow that gap? Absolutely. We have been successful

in narrowing the gap in the last few years to a level where it is on a

par with the rest of the students nationally, so the sky 's the limit.

Raising standards in the classroom is all very well but it is not much

good if people do not turn up in the first place and truancy is a

particular problem in the north`east. The head teacher he said

he will not tolerate it. Yeah taking action. This is an area in Newcastle

which is using attendance officers in vehicles like this one to crack

down on absenteeism. All part of a wider message that education is

crucial to a pupil's prospects. There are high`level skills that we

need and in fact in our region there are lots of vacancies, there may be

unemployment in some areas but in the high skill areas there are

vacancies and children need a very high level of qualification and

education to meet those vacancies and Bill are beginning to understand

that now. As schools, we need to lead on that and explain that to the

communities. The hope is for schools which are not just on song but also

in tune with the demands of the economy. With hard work like this,

it might just be possible. And on Look North tomorrow we'll ask

why fewer people from the North go to university than other parts of

the country. And BBC Newcastle will be taking your calls on the future

of education ` that's from nine in the morning. As a two`year`old,

Chris Pickbourne from Sunderland became the poster child of the UK's

biggest car plant. Nissan in Wearside. His photograph

was used to prompt a recruitment drive in 1988. Now Chris works there

himself. From toddler to technician. The

girls in the office, my mum was asked to bring her child in and took

them to the canteen where they had a big white role of background. Got

told to stand on a spot and I did, I was the only one that would stand

still. In 1988, Chris was the baby face of Nissan's recruitment drive `

a company itself just two years old and looking to expand. Now the

wheel's come full circle because last year Chris found a job here

himself ` after leaving the Navy. Nissan was the first choice. I live

two mile down the road, and it is nice and local. Good reputation.

That is it. 25 years ago, when Chris was still at nursery, Nissan

employed just 1200. Back then, it was the Bluebird rolling off the

production line. The factory's a lot bigger now. Back in 1988 when Chris

appeared in his photograph, Nissan was producing about 25,000 cars per

year. Now it is 500 isn't. We have come from something extremely small

back in those days to the biggest car manufacturer in the UK. `` now

it is 500,000. We have over 6500 employees here. We are producing for

models with the new model at in December.

And that means Nissan is looking to take on even more staff. `` we are

producing the new model ahead of December.

By 2016, Nissan expects to take the workforce to almost 7,000 when work

starts on its new baby ` a luxury vehicle called Infiniti. But

Chris's job as Nissan's poster boy is over. From now on he will be

concentrating on helping to make the cars.

Time for this week's Sportskids now ` and tonight we meet a youngster

from Darlington who has her sights set on an Olympic medal. And, as

Stephanie Cleasby found out, discipline and concentration is what

her sport is all about. My name is Emily and I am 12 and my

sport is shooting. Emily's sport requires a keen eye

and steady hand. You need to not get tense because it results in a bad

shot. I just like it. I don't like dancing, it is just what I like. I

am not a typical girl, it is what I like. Emily was introduced to ten

metre air pistol by her dad a couple of years ago and she quickly became

a sharpshooter. We wanted a bit of father and daughter time and I was

surprised how quick she took to it. We were quite competitive at one

point but now she just beats me all of the time. It always feels good

when you beat your dad. He does not really like it. He gets angry but it

is good for me because I beat him and I am beating him at the time

now. Emily is a rising star in competitive shooting. She won her

class in the Welsh air gunner open earlier this month. `` airgun open.

It is good when you win competitions. It does not matter if

you get a trophy. In a few years, it will matter. For now it is just

about trying my best and getting used to it.

I would like to go to the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. You need

to set yourself big goals. Does she have what it takes? Yes. She is one

of the best I have ever trained. She is dedicated. She is in the best

place because she is shooting with the junior squad, so she has got the

benefit of additional coaching and it will put in the right direction.

What do your friends think of you shooting? Tell me I frightened them.

But they are mostly happy. `` they tell me I frightened them. Time for

me to take aim at the target. That is good. You got one shot in the

black. She is obviously a crack shot. Now, more sports news.

Football. Plenty of football league action

last night but only one victory for our teams ` a vital one, too, for

Carlisle, who beat strugglers Crewe in League One in front of fewer than

3,000 fans at Brunton Park. Mark Tulip reports.

These were the early arrivals last night but the eventual crowd was one

of the lowest for a league game at Brunton Park in recent years. The

manager was focused solely on three points although only a clash of

heads and the referee's Little speared his team going behind. At

least Carlisle won. David Symington's shot glanced off Sean

O'Hanlon to give them the lead just before the break. Moments later,

Matty Robson doubled the advantage. They just had to give the fans a few

anxious moments near the end. Crewe's goal was a late consolation,

but if Ben Amos hadn't been alert there could have been an even later

equaliser. But it was job done. We had the lion's share of possession.

We had a hell of a lot more opportunities to I am really

pleased. As I say, onwards and upwards. It is unbeaten in five.

Kavanagh's hoping to strengthen his squad in the next few days.

Extending defender Max Ehmer's loan would be a good start.

In League Two Hartlepool's play`off push was dealt a blow by strugglers

Bury and this goal from former Pools loanee Danny Nardiello. Colin Cooper

called it a scruffy game. His side had won six of their previous eight

league matches but a chance to close in on the top seven was missed.

York City are still only three points above the relegation zone but

Nigel Worthington's side did keep a clean sheet at Morecambe, playing

out a goalless draw. There was some frantic defending at both ends in a

game the York boss thought his side could have won. Mark Tulip, BBC Look

North. Now, when it comes to successful

sports teams in our region, you won't find many with a record to

match this lot. The women's volleyball side at Northumbria

University hasn't lost a game for more than a year. And as Simon Pryde

found out, the men's team isn't bad either!

Newcastle United have won three on the trot. Durham's cricketers put

together a club record run of five consecutive Championship victories

this year. But to win 66 matches in a row at the highest level of your

sport puts those achievements into perspective. Team Northumbria's

women are top of the Super eight League ` and last season they won

everything in sight. They could have rested on their laurels but instead

they reached for the next level and signed Team GB skipper Lynne

Beattie, who opted for the North East instead of professional

volleyball overseas. I played abroad for five years. I have sampled lots

of different cultures and teams and I think I have heard so much about

team Northumbria and it really is the best place to play volleyball in

this country. Training and playing matches at Sport Central in

Newcastle under Olympic coach Dave Goodchild, Team Northumbria boast a

table`topping men's team too. They also recruited in the summer. I have

played internationally, at the world University games last summer, I

played for years in college and 13 national championships. Now I am

continuing to try and further that oversees here as well. There are

also players from Hungary, Poland and Canada, but the majority are

British, with home standards rising in the wake of London 2012. After

the Olympics we wanted to create a legacy for our sport and raise the

profile and we definitely manage to do that. With Team Northumbria we

have a high level of volleyball here. It compares to some of the

teams I have played abroad. There is a gap there but we are working hard

in this country to close that gap. Next up for the all`conquering

women, a Cup derby with Team Durham on Sunday. And it would be a major

surprise if they didn't smash their way to win 67. Simon Pryde, BBC Look

North, Newcastle. That is tempting fate. 66 in a row.

Let see what happens. That is tempting fate. 66 in a row.

The weather is behaving itself at the minute. We had respectable

temperatures this afternoon. Northumbria especially so the best

of the sunshine and a highest temperature, 13 Celsius, I think as

we head through the next 24 hours it will stay reasonably quiet.

Overnight tonight a fair amount of cloud around in the West, but there

will be breaks in the cloud as well especially further east and that

will allow one or two things to happen. It will allow the mist of

taxis to develop in the valley bottoms and the temperatures could

be a shade cooler as well. `` the mist of organ to develop. `` missed

or their. Tomorrow morning it is a misty start and there is some

drizzle. The cloud will tend to lift and break, there will be some

brighter spells developing as weekend through the day. There would

be as much sunshine as the day but northern parts of Northumberland

might do as well as anywhere else and temperatures will be a shade

down on today. The winds are light from a south`westerly direction but

after a two`day's temperatures we are back into single figures.

Peaking at nine Celsius in Whitehaven. Tomorrow night, we have

got a frontal system working its way down from the North West. That will

bring some cloud and gusty wind and rain but it clears away again by the

time we get to Friday and then it is a cold wind as we head towards the

weekend. A fair and adult I weather to be had. If you are out and about

over the next few days, after we get tomorrow out of the way, a lot of

cloud in Cumbria on Friday. `` a fair amount of whether to be had.

Generally single figure temperatures through the weekend. Golden of

overnight for just a touch of frost here and there. For the north`east,

those gusty north westerly winds will make their presence felt on

Friday and Saturday, so the temperatures, it will feel cooler

than those numbers suggest and as I say, clear spells overnight and

shelter from the wind could lead to a touch of frost in places. That is

how it is looking for the next few days.

how it is Thank you very much. That is it from

us tonight. Good night.