14/01/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Australia. More about the weather where you are on-line.

Welcome to Tuesday's Look North. In tonight's headlines ` the big

sell off. Plans to scrap the home of

Northumberland county council to save millions of pounds in cash.

A police and crime commissioner defends her controversial views on

the rise in shoplifting. A mother and son scoop the "big one"

on the Lottery. She's still adjusting to the life of a

millionaire. I had fish and fingers for my tea.

And World Cup walk. The football fans from Teesside taking a long,

long road to Brazil. In sport: We've the latest on preparations for the

Winter Olympics. And the ex Magpie who tells us how

the Nottingham Forrest connection lured him to Hartlepool.

The home of Northumberland county council is to be sold off to save

money. The authority needs to cut its budget by ?130 million over the

next four years, and getting rid of Morpeth County Hall will achieve

that in one go ` but the move has its critics. Hundreds of jobs may be

dispersed to the sites of the former district council offices in Alnwick,

Berwick, Hexham, Blyth, Ashington and Morpeth ` with County Hall land

converted into housing. But there are fears the sell`off will damage

the economy of Morpeth ` where 60% of jobs are in the public sector.

Our political correspondent Mark Denten is at County Hall for us

tonight. Mark. 1981 and that building behind me opens. They

opened it in 1981 and now they wanted it closed. They have a

problem of ?130 million gas to save. They want to sell that

building and possibly the land for housing. They want to disbursed the

thousand staff across the county. The building is an extremely

expensive building to run and we have known that for some time now.

The internal renovation to bring the building up to a decent standard

will be over ?10 million. The idea of scrapping a central building and

disbursing to smaller centres sounds familiar, prior to 2008 that's what

we had, district councils in Northumberland. Some Conservative

councillors today, especially in Hexham, are backing what Labour

plans to do. If we could turn the clock back by this proposal, and get

people into the market towns, we could get council staff back into

Hexham, buying and shopping here. It is a huge bonus. Of course Hexham

will not get all of the 1000 jobs. Take that as an example, 33 miles

separate Morpeth from Hexham. There are great divisions in traders

between the two places. My name is Allison. We are traditional bakers

and Morpeth so we pride ourselves on fresh produce. If the County Hall

closes, it will mean loss of business to others, we struggle

anyway and Morpeth. It will have its implications, most definitely. My

name is Stewart. I am the assistant manager of this shop. It will be bad

for a Morpeth but you will be great for word people get sent back to.

Local people and local trade, they will buy local things and it will be

good for business. The more people in the town, the more chance that

this for shopping in your premises. Two things to remember on this

issue, one is the council are insisting that of those 1000 jobs of

people implied that building behind me, none those jobs will be lost, it

will be disbursed but they will not be lost. Also, this will not happen

tomorrow, this will take some time. Thank you.

A Sunderland man has appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via videolink,

after a fire on board a DFDS Seaways Ferry sailing from North Shields to

Amsterdam. Boden George Hughes is charged with "arson, reckless to

endangering life" and with "affray." The fire started on December the

28th when the ferry was about 30 miles off the Yorkshire coast. Six

people were airlifted to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, and

the ferry turned back to the Port of Tyne. Boden Hughes will face trial

in June. Vera Baird ` the Police and Crime

Commissioner for Northumbria Police ` says benefit cuts mean more women

are being tempted to shoplift. She claims figures show the amount of

meat, poultry and fish being stolen has almost doubled ` and some people

are simply no longer able to afford the basics. But she's been

criticised by some, for making excuses for criminal behaviour. Amy

Lea reports. If had been in my own house, my

frame of mind at the time, I would have shoplifted or ended my life

because it was that bad. Desperate and ashamed. Donna ` not her real

name ` says she can completely understand why some women feel they

have no option but to steal in order to survive. I have friends who have

turned to shoplifting who have children. They got their benefits

stopped, it's awful. It's heartbreaking, especially when they

have children. Wearside Women in Need help people like her ` and say

her story's not unique. With the benefit changes in the last couple

of years, the recession and an appointment, we're seeing the rise

of desperate women. This is not just about women who live and work, or

young women, it could be about women who are working. Statistics show

there has been a rise in the number of women shoplifting for the first

time ` in fact ` they now outnumber men who also head to the shops to

steal ` having never done so before. Over the past two years ` figures

for the number of first time shoplifters show 44% are women `

compared to 26% who are men. The most common stolen item was alcohol

at 19%, followed by meat, poultry and fish at 11 per cent. Toiletries

and clothing totalled 18%. Vera Baird is the Police and Crime

Commissioner for Northumbria Police. She says there is growing evidence

that some thefts are being driven by cuts in welfare reform. Some people

will get tempted into crime. Many people will not. It does not say

anything about the decline in morals. These statistics suggest a

clearly and it is unavoidable. In Gateshead ` the work of the local

food bank has been praised by the police and the probation service for

helping to reduce the number of people feeling the need to turn to

crime just to get by. Only experience is that people are

tempted, but with the work with the probation services, they can give

them vouchers and give them access to food which removes temptation.

The colossal work with them to fix the problems. But critics say there

is still a need to be tough on people caught breaking the law.

There might be reasons for it happening but they are not excuses.

There cannot be any exceptions in applying the law. The hope now is

that communities, charities and the police can work together to try and

step in before someone feels the need to step out to steal.

And Amy Lea joins me now. Vera Baird claims there's a link between

benefit cuts and shoplifting. How does she plan to tackle the problem?

The first thing to make clear is that Vera Baird wanted to say she is

not excusing shoplifting. She is saying now they have identified the

problem, she wants to nip it in the bud. One way is to advise front line

police officers to catch those people early you are shoplifting and

offer advice. Like making an appointment with your local citizens

advice bureau or approaching probation officers or local GPs and

getting food vouchers. It is about understanding the causes of crime

and getting in there early. Thanks for coming in.

A mother and son from Middlesbrough who've won ?7.5 million on the

lottery say they are looking forward to their first ever holiday as a

family. Doreen and John Hay matched the six winning numbers in the Lotto

rollover draw in Saturday. As well as new homes and cars, Doreen says

she already has plans to give one and a half million pounds away. Phil

Connell reports. As mother and son, we have played the lottery for 20

years. Today there are ?7.5 million richer and they are keeping their

feet firmly on the ground, choosing to celebrate with something quick

from the freezer. I had a few fresh fingers Thank you very much. Fish

fingers which I shared with my grandson at Christmas time. I had

them for my tea. The family say a new luxury car is top of their

list, new homes and a holiday to Disney and donations to six

charities. After that there will be careful investments and hopefully a

lifetime of luxury. And good to get my passport and getaway. The

family's winning numbers were randomly selected. For coding it is

her lottery win. She previously won ?1300. I have seven brothers and

sisters, I have grandchildren. But personally, a little bungle and

maybe a little poodle fur company. And there they have no plans to

leave Middlesbrough. They have ?7.5 million to spend between them.

Why can't a millionaire have fish fingers for T! And if you visit our

Facebook page, you can find out what Look North viewers would spend their

?7.5 million on. If you want to share your views, the web address is

on your screen now. North Yorkshire MP Anne McIntosh

wants those responsible for putting horse meat in frozen burgers and

lasagnes to be punished ` a year after the scandal first broke. So

far ` nobody's been prosecuted. Meanwhile, scientists at the Food

and Environment Research Agency near York have spent the year developing

new methods for testing our food. Danni Hewson has more. Many of us

had been unaware of how vigorously outfit is tested and checked until

something went wrong. Binding horse meat on our shelves was a wake`up

for many shoppers and scientists. `` finding. Now they are looking for

what should not be present. This equipment has the advantage of

seeing all the atoms of a particular type so you cannot hide anything. It

is a tool which is expected to be more relied on as our world gets

smaller and the males are food travels increases. We do not know

how convoluted the supply change `` chains are. They can change

quickly. It can mean we have two source materials from parts of the

world we have never done before which always makes us from rubble

with respect to safety and authenticity. Has it impacted on

local shoppers? Customers that this daily are searching for more local

produce. We specialise in local produce. For a lot of our customers,

that is why they come here. They know the products they are buying

from the area. There is traceability there which is quite important for

them. That traceability comes at a premium not everyone can afford. As

import becomes a greater part of our menu, the food on our table will

require ever more scrutiny. There's plenty more in tonight's

Look North. Coming up after the sport: The World Cup is months away

` but three men are already heading for Rio on a fundraising mission.

We meet the flood`hit woman who bought the pub next door to say

"thank you" to her neighbours. These were fronts will bring rain

tomorrow and also warmer weather. Further details shortly.

Teenagers from across the region have been battling it out in

Newcastle, at the regional heats of the "Formula one in Schools"

competition. They design, build and race their own scale model cars, in

a bid to make it to the world final. The idea behind the challenge is to

introduce the next generation into engineering ` and help bring the

country out of recession faster. Sharuna Sagar reports. Formula one `

the ultimate in automotive technology is a billion dollar

industry ` but it would be nothing without engineers ` and so the next

generation is being sought out through the international F1 in

Schools competition. 15 schools from the NE are currently racing to

representing Britain. Although today is all about the art of building

cars, the bigger picture is about opening the minds of children in the

North East about the amazing possibilities a career in

engineering can bring. It should run down the track very quickly. We

wanted a car to be unique. Despite the enthusiasm from this all girl

team from St Bedes in Peterlee, there's a real shortage of students

that go on to be skilled engineers in the region Hoping to bridge that

gap ` the Discovery School ` a new venture soon to open in Newcastle.

There are not enough good engineers coming out of university to fill the

positions we need for the future. The discovery School is a new

venture to open in Newcastle. We have fantastic young people in the

North East, they just do not know that they are young engineers in the

making and I will help them to aspire to be engineers. And so the

message is clear ` engineering is not an oily rag profession but a far

reaching career which could really take you places ` and fast.

When Juliet Hudson and her husband were flooded out of their west

Cumbrian home in 2012, the pub next door took them in, while neighbours

helped them get back on their feet. So, when the pub began to struggle,

Juliet and a friend made the decision to save it and put it back

at the heart of the community. Mark McAlindon reports from the village

of Beckermet. J and clear became firm friends after J's house was

flooded out in August 2012. So much so that when the pub needed tenants,

the pair took the plunge. They were so supportive of us when we were

flooded. Everyone helped with cleaning up, with feeding us. We

actually stayed here. We were amazed by the support of the community. It

was getting very sad and look lonely and needed life put back into it. I

do love this place and soda clear so be decided to take it all in. We had

under no illusions, to keep this place open will be extremely tough.

Country pubs are closing at an alarmingly. This place has proved

there is community spirit and the pair are determined to keep that

alive. It is not just a business, it is a village community. I think that

is really important. To see that disappear was heartbreaking. It is

heartbreaking to see a place you love not do well. They both have

long`term plans for the pub, even if it doesn't make them a fortune. They

want to keep village businesses alive. Nobody wanted this place too

close. Everybody just mocked him. That is the spirit in this village.

It is a rare thing to have. `` they just mocked ==mucked in.

Former Newcastle striker Marlon Harewood has joined Hartlepool

United until the end of the season. The 34`year`old who started his

career at Nottingham Forest says the opportunity to work under his Forest

hero Colin Cooper was the main reason he decided to sign for Pools

who've been suffering a bit of a dip since the new year.

Marlon Harewood cuts an impressive figure on the training ground. And

his ability to find the back of the net will help Hartlepool who've won

just two of their last ten games. After being released by League One

Bristol City a couple of weeks ago the 34`year`old was wondering what

his next move might be when the call from Colin Cooper ` and the pair go

way back. I was in the team with him years ago. He was one of the senior

boys and I looked up to him. It was just amazing for him to be my

manager now. Harewood scored five goals in fifteen games for Newcastle

` but his arrivals about much more than that. I have known Marlon as a

young player at Forest. I have watched his career. I just thought

he would be the perfect person at this moment in time to come into the

squad to give us a boost and be a positive role model. I do not care

if he is 34, he is fit and strong. He will help the younger players, we

need a figurehead. We want someone who will show by example and he can

do that. Marlon's arrival will certainly help the likes of young

Luke James. The 19 year old's scored ten goals this season and won a

player of the month award but can't be expected to shoulder all the

expectation. Colin speaks very highly of the players and he thinks

I can help them, to push them all in and hopefully get sorted. Harewood

could make his debut on Saturday. Well, a former Hartlepool loanee has

just signed for Conference Premier side Gateshead after his contract at

Championship club Burnley expired. Ryan Noble, who's 22, and made five

Premier League appearances for Sunderland, has been brought in to

help the Tynesiders move into the play`off places. Sixth`placed

Gateshead are at home to Aldershot this evening.

Berwick Rangers fans are still awaiting news on who will succeed

Ian Little who was sacked as manager following the 4`1 defeat by Annan

Athletic at Shielfield Park over the weekend. Little had been in charge

for just over two years. The club blamed poor recent results on the

need to "part company" with the 40`year`old.

Staying at Shielfield Park ` but switching sports to speedway ` the

Berwick Bandits inducted another five black and gold favourites into

the club's Hall of Fame at their annual dinner. Among those receiving

a trophy from former Bandits' skipper Rob Grant senior were Graham

Jones ` who rode for the club in the 1970s ` and popular New Zealander

Bruce Cribb, who wore the Berwick colours from 1982 to '85.

Two more of the region's competitors are now finalising their

preparations for the Winter Olympics next month after hearing that they

WILL be on the plane to the Russian City of Sochi. Amanda Lightfoot,

from South Shields, is the top ranked GB woman in biathlon ` a

mixture of skiiing and shooting. Also selected in the squad is Lee

Jackson, from Stockton ` here in the red ` who's been Britain's leading

male biathlete over the last decade. Both serve in the British Army. We

wish them well! Back to football now, and it's the

adventure of a lifetime. Three England fans are on a plane, heading

for South America. Once they land ` they'll be WALKING to the World Cup!

Pete Johnston and Adam Burns from Teesside and Dave Bewick from

Cumbria will pass through three countries and 29 towns and villages.

They'll be walking 1,966km, a memorable number for English

football fans, of course ` arriving in Brazil in June, for the start of

the World Cup. Stuart Whincup met up with Pete and Adam ` before they

headed off. The think we are crazy, that is the normal reaction we get.

Feeling more nervous and excited. Today there in Saltburn ` tomorrow

they'll be in South America. The planning finally over, their

adventure about to begin. I think because it started off as an idea

which slowly grew, it seems more normal now four hours. There has

been a lot of preparation. As it gets closer, it is starting to dawn

on me. The big excitement is the adventure is about to begin. We're

very excited. Their journey will take around 80 days to complete.

Starting from Mendoza in Argentiana on the 1st of March, they head to

Buenos Aires. Starting from Mendoza in Argentiana

on the 1st of March, they head Then in May it's along the coast of

Uruguay before arriving in Porto Alegre four days before the World

Cup starts. And they've already recived high profile support. I just

wanted to say very very good look on your walk to the World Cup. You will

need all the luck. I'm sure it will be very difficult, it is a fantastic

thing you are doing for a great cause. Well done for doing it,

thanks. The boys' aim is to raise ?20,000 to build a water well in

Bahia in Brazil, a place which has suffered the worst drought in 50

years. We wanted to do suffered the worst drought in 50

years. We wanted something to help Brazilian communities. We don't just

want to go to the World Cup and give nothing back. Their epic journey

will take 80 days ` across three countries and 29 towns and villages.

Then when they get to Brazil ` all they have to do is find a way of

getting tickets for England's World Cup games. Good luck. I just hope

you don't expect to see England went. Most of us hardly saw any snow

this winter. If you missed the white stuff, let me take you on to the

Cumbrian fells. This is the view from the fells. An

ice covering of the white stuff there. We have a weather front

coming in from the West. That will bring rain. Things will turn milder

later in the night. These weather fronts are thickening with client

and spreading eastwards. Some snow on Monday. There will be some dry

interludes. The next persistent band of rain will then spread and across

Cumbria. That suddenly believes will be brisk at times. A wet and cloudy

start for many office tomorrow. There will be drier spells and

perhaps some brightness further east before the next band of rain comes

in to the west later in the day. The weather fronts also bring milder air

today. With the cloud and rain and that risk southeasterly winds, it

might not feel that mild. This weather system is bringing the rain

tomorrow at low pressure stays in charge as we head towards the end of

the week. This comes through on Friday bringing more frequent

showers. We don't expect anything too cold for the next few days.

There will be heavy rain in Cumbria tomorrow, a bit brighter on Thursday

with more rain coming in from the west on Friday. Southerly breezes

throughout. Most places will see a lot of cloud. I brisk southerly

breeze at times. We will keep you up`to`date on your local BBC Radio

stations. Keep sending your pictures. That's it for now. See you

then. Goodbye.