01/05/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

First tonight, a story which sounds like science fiction.

Researchers at Newcastle University have fitted tiny 3D glasses to

a preying mantis, to help them better understand sight.

It's hoped their experiments with the insect could help in the

Here's our health reporter, Sharon Barbour.

It's an extraordinary sight ` a praying`mantis wearing

Thought to be the first insects in the world to wear spectacles.

But while the idea may seems a little bonkers, the science behind

You they are the smallest spectacles in the world. And they are being

developed to fit on to these praying Mantis is. And the idea is that the

scientists could better understand site. And that will help them to

develop vision for robotic technologies in future.

They chose the praying mantis because, like humans,

it has 3D vision but uses it with a tiny, much less complicated brain.

Potentially, they use simpler mechanisms. More 3D. If that is so,

it might be easier to implement them into computer robotics.

Once the glasses are fitted on with beeswax, the insects seem relaxed as

And with a ?1 million research grant,

the scientists will now closely monitor the eyesight of the praying

mantis in the hope of one day giving that same 3D vision to a robot.

A care watchdog has said improvements are needed to one

It follows an unannounced inspection of North East Ambulance Trust by

The CQC said the Trust was failing to meet four of the six national

The Trust's Chief Executive said it's investing,

A man who's spent 60 years building up a collection of metal machinery,

engines and farm vehicles, has had his eviction delayed.

Redcar and Cleveland Council wants to remove Husky Petch

from a property in Dormanstown, because of concerns about

He's now been given two months to find somewhere else to live.

The Euro elections are just three weeks away,

and today the Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna launched

Labour's North East Euro election campaign, with a warning about the

impact leaving the European Union would have on jobs in the region.

Speaking in Peterlee, he said business leaders here have

told him it's vital to stay in the EU, and their opinions should

People can talk about the emotional aspects of the EU but I think we

have to make sure it delivers jobs. Frankly, least when we are a member

of the EU, we have a strong government. If it is a Labour

government, we will be fighting your calls on the battlefields, instead

of Nigel Farage and members of the Tory Party, who basically want to

walk off the field and allow Britain to lose.

And you can see a full list of candidates for the European

elections on the BBC Politics website.

Berwick's annual "Riding The Bounds" originally protected the town

But today's event was the last before Scotland decides whether it

wants independence, creating a new international border.

Here's our Political Correspondent, Mark Denten.

A soggy Derek car park, and men and women on horses about to take part

in a 400`year`old tradition. Pillaging and rotting by Scottish

invaders, not on their watch. It started as a military patrol when

the garrison would check that there were no intruders on the wrong side.

These days, many of the writers checking the boundary for marauding

Scots are, well, Scots. Why are you here? To invade, as usual! But with

Scotland's independence vote months away, today's event has a different

edge. 60% of the hinterland of Berwick is on the other side. If

that became another country, life would change you significantly. It

is 10:30am, lead by a Scottish piper, their vehicle, to patrol the

border. We would prefer to be amicable with anybody on either side

of the border, which is what we are doing today. We have a great

relationship so whatever happens next year, the relationship will

still stand. The bones are written between England and Scotland for the

400 and time. Who knows, by the 406th, a little bit of Borders

culture could have a new international role.

On to football, and Gateshead's bid to regain

their place in the Football League, after more than half a century.

Tonight they were at Grimsby, in the first leg of the Conference

And what a second leg we have got in prospect on Sunday afternoon after

this match finished one apiece. And it was the visitors that took the

lead first. It looked as though Colin Larkin had overrun his

position but suddenly he cut the ball back for a splendid opening

goal. After no more than six minutes. Cue the Grimsby fightback.

It was inevitable and it came from Craig Disley, it wonderful header.

One`to`one was how it stayed. Not that it looked like it could stay to

that for much longer because Grimsby peppered away. But they could not

break Gateshead's resolve. A great second leg in prospect and one of

these two teams still in with a chance of booking a place at the

stadium. Good luck to great tent and `` it said.

And congratulations to the England women's union rugby captain,

Katy Mclean, who received her MBE for services to the sport,

at Buckingham Palace today. The 28 year`old fly`half from

South Shields who plays for Darlington Mowden Park Sharks has

won 64 caps, combining her playing career with teaching in Sunderland.

I don't think the weather would win too many awards today, but what

about Friday and the weekend? Here's Hannah Bayman.

about Friday and the weekend? Here's Hannah Bayman.

Thanks, Jeff. It was very calls today. The temperatures closer to

February, rather than the first day of May. Tomorrow, brighter weather,

and still cool for the time of year. Some sunshine first thing and then

it will become widespread. Bright, blue skies, and the highest

temperatures are likely to be in the West. Cumbria will see those

temperatures rising to 13 Celsius. Still cool, on the Northumberland

coast, with brisk breeze is of the North Sea. Over the next couple of

days, high pressure keeping things settled for a time. Saturday is a

good start to the bank holiday weekend. Bright spells, but turning

cloudier on Sunday with drizzle in the West. Now a reminder of the

forecast. on that at the moment, that there

will be some sunshine around. More on that in the national forecast.

Our weather is taking a turn for the colder. You would be forgiven for

thinking that does not bode well for the Bank Holiday Weekend. But as we

go through the weekend, temperatures will be performing a U-turn, and

recovering, as