16/12/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

arrives on Friday. Can't wait! That's all

Welcome to Monday's programme. In tonight's headlines: Still searching

for his killer, a year after this man's murder. Police reveal they've

found new DNA evidence. Banking crisis. He used to employ

100 people, now there's just seven on the books. Find out why he's

blaming RBS. A home for Christmas. Families

struggling to get on the housing ladder in the Lake District get a

helping hand. And the people's party. Preparations

underway for a Christmas knees up for those facing hardship.

In sport: The Durham all`rounder from Cumbria who's given

long`suffering English cricket fans something to smile about.

And while our football teams didn't give us too much to cheer at the

weekend, it's nice to know most fans were certainly enjoying the festive

spirit. He was a familiar figure in his

local community and at Newcastle United games, where he sold football

badges. But a year ago today, John 'The Badge' Roberts was found dead

at his home in Winlaton near Gateshead. He'd been murdered. One

year on, police have renewed their appeal for people to come forward

and identify the killer or killers. Adrian Pitches reports.

John Roberts was a very distinctive figure, as this Northumbria Police

reconstruction, issued six months after his death, shows. He was last

seen alive on Saturday December the 15th last year in the convenience

store in Winlaton. His body was found in his house the following

evening. John was found dead in his house on Sunday December 16, one

year today. He was found with head injuries which he had suffered as a

result of an attack and we have commenced an investigation that is

ongoing for the last 12 month to identify who is responsible for this

murder. John Roberts' mother has released childhood pictures of the

32`year`old and talks about a passionate Newcastle fan who was

selling badges and programmes while still a teenager. She said: There is

a person, or people, out there in our community who took John's life.

He was only 32`years`old. The law in our country doesn't hand down the

death penalty for anyone, but whoever is responsible for John's

murder could decide to do it again. They have got away with a year of

freedom so far. Next time it might be your child. Please help bring

them to justice. One year on from his death, police officers were once

again going house to house in Winlaton. They have DNA evidence

which shows an unknown female had been in John Roberts' home and they

want to eliminate her from their inquiries. We are particularly

interested in the female DNA. I believe that female may have been

present when John died and may have something to do with his death. I

would urge that female to come forward. And explain to us why she

was there and what she did, it would be an opportunity as to eliminate

her from enquiries. Eight people have been arrested in connection

with the killing in the past year. But all have been released without

charge. Police remain convinced that the answer lies in Winlaton and that

they will find the killer. Adrian Pitches, BBC Look North.

The taxpayer`owned Royal Bank of Scotland has been accused of pushing

a thriving and profitable Durham company to the edge of

administration. The boss of green company Cleaner Air Solutions claims

the bank hiked`up fees and interest rates, and then insisted he pay back

all loans and overdrafts within three months. A government`backed

report has already claimed RBS has deliberately put viable companies

out of business. Our Business Correspondent Ian Reeve reports.

Gary Bowden's renewable energy business near Durham is much

reduced. He once employed a hundred here. Today, it's just seven. The

blame, he says, lies with his bank. From 2001, Gary banked with Nat

West. He had big loans and overdrafts, yet never defaulted. But

in 2010 Nat West told him it didn't understand his business. He had to

pay ?35,000 for accountant Deloitte to produce a report to help it do

just that. The upshot was Gary's banking was moved from Nat West to

RBS, part of the same group. In 2011, RBS hiked Gary's interest

rates and told him he had just three months to pay off all loans and

overdrafts. At the end of the three months, obviously, then we default

it. Within six months of this, we went from paying around about less

than 3% interest on the loans, within six months we will pay about

11%. It is now costing us a further round about ?1000 per week extra in

interest. Gary's not alone in having problems with RBS. A

Government`backed report claims the bank has been trying to engineer

companies into defaulting, and then snapping up their properties on the

cheap. People have come to me with horrific stories of businesses that

in my view and Fairview weren't failing, did have a future and would

have gone on to keep people in employment. They have been put down

and RBS has been affected by getting their property at maybe about a

third in eight in a lot of cases of what it was valued at. That didn't

happen to Gary. He had to sell his properties on the cheap to pay off

his loans and overdrafts. Something he wants legal redress for today. We

had, between the companies, around about ?2.6 million with the

buildings. In the end, we had to sell the buildings at about half the

valuation to be able to get the sale in the time frame needed to be able

to satisfy the bank. In a statement, RBS said:

At the time of transfer to RBS' Restructuring Group there was a

"lack of clarity over the company structure" and its "funding

requirements," However, RBS insists it "continued to extend investment

property funding" until this summer, which enabled Gary to repay his RBS

borrowings. The magazine Private Eye Centres Mac

Has Its Own Take On The Affair, In One Car To A Private Fish Is Seeing

To Its Other, , apparently RBS can pick a small company playing in two

minutes. `` picked a small company clean.

Police investigating reports of historic sexual abuse, including

incidents at two north`east schools, have arrested a former TV weatherman

for a second time. Fred Talbot, who was a weather presenter with ITV

Granada, was first arrested in April on suspicion of indecent assault. He

was arrested again today to answer five new claims and detectives are

also questioning him on suspicion of abuse at schools including Saltwell

and Slatyford High School. It's thought Mr Talbot taught there from

1968 to the early 1970s. A former Chief Superintendent is

facing a six months suspension from the House of Lords. An investigation

by reporters from the Sunday Times alleged that Lord Brian Mackenzie of

Framwellgate sought payment for providing access to Parliament and

parliamentary facilities. The Committee for Privileges and Conduct

found he'd committed four breaches of the code of conduct.

It's hard enough to climb on to the housing ladder, but the high cost of

homes within Cumbria's national park often prices first`time buyers out

of the market. Now, though, a new housing trust in Keswick has

completed eleven new homes in the Lake District town and they've all

been allocated to local people for rent or part`ownership, as Alison

Freeman reports. This is the kitchen, it is a wonderful size with

plenty of storage, big storage cupboard downstairs. We even have a

utility room. And a great sized living room.

It's a dream come true. An affordable three`bedroom house in

Nicola's home town. She's renting from Keswick Community Housing

Trust. The 11 houses are the first development project by the group

created by Churches Together. We were in a little two`bedroom

cottage. We had my partner's son, our little girl and there was not

much room at all. We were not going to get anywhere with the council. We

now have a garden for them to play in. There's lots of space, it is a

wonderful family home. Because Keswick's inside the Lake District

National Park buying and even renting a house can be too costly

for people who grew up and work in the town. Next door the Thoburn's

have bought their house through a shared`ownership scheme. Both of our

families are from the local area and our friends are here, with Sarah

having to commute to work, it makes it easier for childcare. It . Today,

The Hopes was declared officially open. The brand`new homes a far cry

from the muddy piece of church land they now occupy. All made possible

through grants and the generosity of local investors. Demand was roughly

four times what we had, so we have disappointed three times as many

people as we have pleased and that is why we want to go on to do an

even bigger size, if we can. Organisation had no experience of

created social housing until this project. Now they are not stopping

here, they have already started looking at other sites to create

even more affordable homes for local people.

A two`day strike planned at a school in Tynemouth has been called off.

The Kings Priory Academy only joined the state system in September after

formerly being a private school. The NASUWT union called the strike over

working conditions. But after talks today, both sides say the problems

have been resolved. Strikes planned for Wednesday and Thursday have now

been cancelled. It's one of the more unusual

Christmas parties ` none of the guests has been invited and each

would probably rather not be there. Tonight, a street party is being

thrown for homeless people in the centre of Newcastle. As well as an

outdoor meal and entertainment, it's a reminder of the hardship many face

at this time of the year. Peter Harris is live at the People's

Kitchen now. Peter, it looks they're expecting plenty of folk to turn up?

Judging by the amount of food, that is just the potato wedges. This is

the very last case that is about to be sent on its way. OK, Tony, you

can send that after the arches which is where the party is. It is open

air and they have been busy all day. Let's have a chat with Beverley, one

of the volunteers. Tell me how exciting tonight will be. Very

exciting. We have prepared all year, we have been really busy trying to

get everything prepare. It must be lovely to be part of this.

Fantastic. Enjoy the party. Let's do follow me around. These volunteers

are the ones who are left. The fans have gone off. Let's chat to

Russell. Tell me, how important is this event? It is massively

important for many of our people. People will be entertained by how

Carol singers. It will be quite special. With difficult economic

times, has there been a greater uptake of people needing this kind

of thing? Yes, there has been an update. We are serving over 33,000

meals per year. A lot of people are drawn to our services. Some people

are coming for our friendship and our food, others are coming to

connect with other services. We form an important role that together with

a number of other agencies. It must be rewarding for the volunteers.

Most of us have a day job and come here in our spare time to support

those who we want is to assist. People get a lot of pleasure out of

that and also our friends appreciate the services. Thanks for that. The

party starts about 8:30pm in the centre of Newcastle. There will be

bands and food. It will be a great atmosphere as well as being an

important social thing. We will have coverage on our late bulletin at

10:25pm. Still to come: Christmas is just around the corner and there are

pantomime moments in team talk. Soaking up the atmosphere, why

living in the home of his hero. A unique prize for his... Join me for

the forecast, as well as the story behind this shot.

He was a novelist and journalist who wrote about the darker side of

humanity. Gordon Burn, from Tyneside, influenced a generation of

writers. He died four years ago, but now the first literary prize in his

name has been awarded to an author from Durham. For tonight's Look

North report, our arts reporter Sharuna Sagar has been to meet the

young writer who hopes to follow in his footsteps.

What is the green cathedral? Everything that is around us, there

are loads of things I could learn. It is just about reading the signs.

You are never bored when you are surrounded by nature as there are so

many things to see and smell and everything is changes all the time.

Ben Myers reads an extract from Pig Iron ` his novel that's won him the

inaugural Gordon Burn Prize. Part of the prize is to spend up to three

months at Burn's much loved cottage in the Scottish borders. And write

just like the celebrated author himself used to do. Ben's here

putting the finishing touches to his next novel. And he's drawing

inspiration from being surrounded by his literary hero's possessions. I

can see why... I could see why a writer would want to move here and

work. It is beautiful views and you just need a desk and some peace and

quiet and that is what this house provides. Newcastle`born and bred,

Gordon Burn was a writer's writer ` an innovator who blurred the lines

between crime and celebrity, fact and fiction. There are certain books

like this, for example, there are notes in there, he that he made

them. He must have made them when he was writing and researching previous

works. Gordon Burn died in 2009 and his widow says he wished only that

his house in Duns be used to foster great art and literature. Because he

came from a background that wasn't privileged, he always wanted to help

people who wouldn't. And it's slowly happening for Ben. Quite a few of

the people on the short list don't have major publishers and they are

exactly the sort of people that he would want to get into the

mainstream and bring to people's attentions. And's story about the

son of a bare knuckle fighter set in his home city of Durham and written

in the local dialect captured the imagination of the judges. Gordon

was always exploring. He was interested in life and death, he was

interested in change and transition and how humans adapt. That is the

reason why pick on mac Pig Iron Centres Mack Seem To Be The Winner

For Me. Would You Say You Have Channelled Him? No, But He Is One Of

The Writers In The Background Shaking His Head Saying You Are

Doing It Wrong. Ben Myers Is Now On The Panel To Judge The 2014 Gordon

Burn Prize. Sharuna Sagar, BBC Look North, Berwickshire. Great story!

And from there we move on to the tale of the weekend sport, with Team

Talk. Now it's been too painful to talk

about cricket these past few weeks, unless you're an Aussie, but before

we move on to the football, let's celebrate a landmark for a Cumbrian

youngster who's making a name for himself down under.

Yes, congratulations to Durham all`rounder Ben Stokes, who's

playing in only his second Test match. England will almost certainly

lose the Ashes tomorrow, but young Ben's making sure they go down

fighting. He certainly is. He scored his maiden Test 50 in Perth today

having shared in a fifth`wicket stand of 99 with Ian Bell. He

finished the day on 72 not out. England still need another 253 to

win with five wickets left. They won't do it, but it would be

fabulous if Ben could go on and make a century.

Right, on to the weekend's football now and Newcastle are sixth in the

Premier League, but couldn't quite make it four home wins in a row

against Southampton, one of manager Alan Pardew's old clubs. No, and a

draw probably a fair result. More than anything else though, the game

will be remembered for its pantomime moments and a couple of big misses

from star striker, Loic Remy. This isn't something you see too often

from the Frenchman who's been in stunning form ` eight goals so far

this season, but it wasn't his day! Fortunately for Newcastle, Yoan

Gouffran isn't doing too badly and he was in the right place at the

right time to put away his fifth Premier League goal. But Southampton

always looked threatening and Steven Davis was perhaps unlucky not to get

his reward for this effort. Just a couple of minutes later, Southampton

did equalise ` a nice one two between Davis and Jay Rodriguez

which on the upside can only be good news for England. But then it all

got a bit silly. Referee Mike Jones ended up on the ground with a nose

bleed after Moussa Sissoko accidentally hit him in the face

during a confrontation with Saints goalie. Fortunately, he realised it

was an accident and didn't send Sissoko off! No, but he did send the

two goalkeeping coaches off after Andy Woodman and Tony Jimenez

squared up to each other following this challenge on Massadio Haidara,

and it ended in a bit of a fracas on the touchline! There was a bit of

pantomime season there. I'm not sure what role I had. I don't know,

really, it was silly, but it was tense because it was one of those

games and it happens, but you do not want to see it. As I say, it was

handbags at half`mast. Alan Pardew trying to make light of

that incident, but both clubs could well face an FA charge.

Now, if you regularly travel to see Sunderland play away from home,

you've probably forgotten what it's like to celebrate a goal. Look at

this. It's now six blanks in a row on their travels around nine and a

half hours of football since the Black Cats last scored outside the

North East. And they won't have a better chance of breaking their duck

than they did at West Ham on Saturday. The Hammers were missing

three key players ` Stewart Downing there, meeting up with his old

Middlesbrough team`mate, Adam Johnson. And ex`Newcastle buddies

Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll were also out. I you sure that is not

Russell Brand? These fans are making the most of it. Not much to dance

about when the match started. They did not score any goals. This chance

early on, but having seen that, I think that the decided not to swear

it. Phil still don't top scorer. If you goals more than any team. A

decent chance, that was. Two points lost, rather than a point game. I

cannot just think about the result. We need to win games. Dow wins and

this is the one we needed to take and we didn't. Let's make sure that

we do better against Norwich. In the Championship, Middlesbrough

have taken the Christmas spirit of giving just a bit too literally,

with yet another late give away. This time against Brighton.

That's right, they've now conceded a late goal in each of their last

three matches, and that's cost them four valuable points, but it's a

habit they've been trying to shake off for a couple of seasons now.

Brighton did go close before this scramble, which Boro couldn't quite

turn in. And then came the killer blow ` Matthew Upson, five minutes

from time, with a header which left new Middlesbrough coach Aitor

Karanka almost lost for words. We can believe this, the situation is

the same thing. It is always the same. It is the same mistakes. We

can't continue in this way. In League One, a great win for

Carlisle over Tranmere and a couple of terrific goals to watch out for.

Both of them scored by Tom Lawrence, on loan from Manchester United, the

first after just 38 seconds ` a lovely first touch and a fabulous

volley. A great start to the game. It was nearly an hour later before

David Amoo made it 2`0 ` a nice volley on the edge of the six`yard

box, something to cheer the fans on a horribly wet afternoon. But then

came this, a contender for goal of the season. Yes, Lawrence again,

picking the ball up and running at the Tranmere defence, before firing

across the keeper and into the far corner. Such a good goal. Mnager

Graham Kavanagh even sprinted half the length of the pitch to join in

the celebrations! Superb goal, wasn't it? Just for good measure,

James Berrett hit number four with the help of a deflection. The Blues

are up to 13th in League One. In League Two, Hartlepool were 2`0

down at Cheltenham. Scott Flinders' huge boot upfield put away very

neatly by Jonathan Franks. And it was Franks again with the equaliser,

20 minutes from the end. A good point for Pools. They're back on the

road tomorrow for an FA Cup second round replay with Coventry City. And

there was a point, as well, for York City ` a sixth draw in eight games,

after they'd gone ahead with an own goal from Burton defender Shane

Cansdell`Sherriff. Away from football, there could be

another basketball trophy coming north in the New Year.

Newcastle Eagles stormed into their third consecutive BBL Cup Final

after beating Sheffield Sharks 84`57 in the second leg of the semi final

on Friday. Fab Flournoy's side overpowered the Sharks to reverse a

first`leg three`point deficit, and dominated for long spells pulling

well clear midway through the game. The victory sets up a repeat of last

year's final, where the Eagles will look to avenge their defeat to

Leicester Riders and reclaim the silverware they last won two seasons

ago. It was described as perfect and

phenomenal. We are not talking about Paul

Star`gazers said the Geminid meteor shower which peaked over the weekend

was one of the best this year. And it was visible in clear skies over

the North East coast. The display was captured by local photographer

Tom Heaton. Our reporter Stuart Whincup went to meet him.

To see a shooting star every 30 seconds, going over your head, it is

fantastic. To get that picture, Tom came here at 4:30am. It was dark,

cold and quiet. But the sacrifice was worth it. When you see a

shooting star when you are a child, it is the best thing. The tide was

out and there was no wind. It was peaceful and quiet. There were no

cars or dogs barking. A professional photographer for six years, some of

Tom's most striking images have been taken at night. The North East is

great as an area. Northumberland is quite sparsely populated. An area

has just been given the dark skies award. The coast is always good,

young and Brand Hadrian's one. The North East is a great location. The

one that gets me is the photograph of the Northern lights, which are

photographed here at the White House. That is a rare event for them

to be that strong to be able to see them here. `` at the Lighthouse. We

have quite high profile stories like the rover on Mars and trying on the

moon. I think people are getting more interested. The skies will soon

be a again for another meteor shower in early January.

Dramatic stuff and it was not just Tom who had his camera out. Ali

Moffat and her family were battling gale force winds.

This week, I think it will be windy at times and wet. Especially on

Wednesday and Friday. That combination is making things feel a

bit colder. This evening and through the night there will be one or two

showers around. Many places will have a dry night. There will be

clear spells and lighter winds. It will be low temperatures for towns

and cities, down to two Celsius, rural areas will be cold enough for

one or two icy patches or mist patches. It is a cold start

tomorrow, but a dry and bright start for most of us. Most places will

stay dry. There will be some weak winter sunshine for most of us. Any

cloud around will be thin and fairly high. Having said that, it won't

feel warm and after the first you start. You will struggle to beat

five Celsius. You may see seven or eight in Cumbria, but it would feel

any warm with that freshening southerly wind later in the day.

Quite quite weather`wise, but this frontal system marches in from the

West on Wednesday, bringing a spell of very wet and windy weather. It's

the gap on Thursday, blustery showers coming on the westerly wind.

Come the end of the week, the next winter storm is ready to approach by

the tail end of Friday and into Saturday. If you are out and about,

Wednesday will be wet and windy in Cumbria, a bit of a respite on

Thursday, maybe some brightness between the showers before the rain

and the wind of return on Friday. It is a similar picture for the

north`east. But with the winds coming from the South or

south`westerly direction, a bit more shelter, so maybe not quite as much

strain on Wednesday or Friday. Gusty winds wherever you are, especially

over the high ground. Wednesday in particular, again on Friday.

Remember to keep your weather pictures coming, you can post them

or click on the website. No sign of snow? Not just yet. That

is it. Thank you, we'll be back at 10:25pm.