17/07/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

You can get the latest on the plane crash on the BBC News Channel.

Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North.

Claims that an independent Scotland could cost the North thousands

of jobs and millions of pounds in lost trade.

An investigation's launched after a pensioner is attackdd

Traders in this town say delays in carrying out roadworks are

Flight of honour ` the North's tribute to

the birds dubbed the 'flying soldiers' of the two World Wars

And what now for the yellow bikes and bunting, after le Grand Depart

In sport, we say hello to a trio of Sunderland's summer signhngs

And bonjour to Newcastle's new striker who's swapped Monaco

An independent Scotland would cost Cumbria and the North of England

thousands of jobs and millions of pounds in lost trade every year.

That's the claim made by thd Labour Party today as it opdned

a new front in its battle to stop Scotland breaking away from the UK.

The Stronger Together campahgn has published a report saying trade

But those figures have been described as 'nonsense'

by those who want a Yes votd in September's referendum.

At this steel fabrication btsiness north of Carlisle in Lockerbie,

workers come from both sides of the border and even further afield.

In just 16 years, the familx owned firm has grown to become ond

Its founder is firmly opposdd to the idea of Scotland

To a lot of customers abroad, they don't understand why we would want

to move away from a union that has worked well for everybody. There are

obviously issues to address but in my estimation, we are better

together. And it was one port

of call today for the shadow Scottish secretary campaignhng

around the region as the vote on It's best to look at what wd have in

common and to create solutions. I think Scots and people in the North

of England can work together. If we divide, that damages as. Cldar

by 44% and this report says that by 44% and this report says that

would happen in this case to. Richard Arkless,

a Scot who's lived across the UK, has come back to set up in business

and is adamant an independent Scotland would improve forttnes

for both sides of the border. Border tariffs are controls has this

report says is not in their interests of companies on the

English side of the border or the Scottish side. That is what will

determine the policy. Commercial sense.

Back at Process Plant and M`chinery, opinions are mixed.

I think it will concern us hf we have to change from the pound and a

thorough going to be border controls or whatever. Lots of differdnt

things. Culture and languagd is different, so I think we should stay

together... Separate. The arguments will only get louder

with just nine weeks to go Mark, these huge figures

have been bandied around. What evidence are the

Stronger Together campaign drawing This is the report that

the party has produced. It says this is based on Trdasury

figures and in the worst case scenario shows

that trade from Scotland to England would fall by 83% over 30 ydars

and that trade flowing north Those who are campaigning

for a yes vote disagree. They say the figures are out of date

which makes the claims embarrassing. With the vote in nine weeks, we will

find out which argument has been most persuasive.

An investigation's underway tonight after a pensioner was attacked

The 73`year`old is in hospital, after being mauled when the dog

came into the kitchen of her home after she'd invited officers into

Cleveland Police say the dog has been removed from duty.

Our correspondent Peter Harris is at the Middlesbrough Police HQ now.

Police say they had stopped a car nearby as part of the drugs

operation and a man ran awax from it. They set off after him. At some

point it seems he went into the gardens on this road. They go into

one with a mission to look for him and unfortunately, the Germ`n

Shepherd police dog has found its way into the kitchen of a

73`year`old resident who is then written. `` bitten. The dog had

apparently jumped on her. I can see through her window. Ambulances came

and the two car. She looked very fragile. It is shocking, shd is a

lovely woman, very private. Any word on how she is? She is quite fragile.

Her condition is described `s poorly. She has baked winds to her

body. `` bite. The dog has been taken out of work well the situation

has assessed. Details have been passed to the Independent police

commission. Need equally regret what has happened.

Police in Sunderland are appealing for the

public's help as they try to trace a 57`year`old man who's disappeared.

Concern's been mounting for Robert Hutchinson, who's bedn

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder,

but the whereabouts of Mr Httchinson remains a complete mystery.

Jim Knight reports. Robert Hutchinson's been missing now

Police describe him as a devoted family man who

called`in on his daughter and granddaughter every day.

Detectives believe something happened to him on the night of June

the 23rd, which should have been a normal Monday night for Robert.

But Police are hoping someone might be able to throw new light on his

movements that night One possibly significant sighting at 4:40pm

Was he going to meet someond? Was he going to a destination?

The Asda petrol station in Leechmere,

where Robert was captured on CCTV filling up his blue Nissan Licra.

It adds weight to the concerns around his well`being. He w`s a

devoted family man. He left the house full of food and a car full of

petrol. It is completely out of character.

This is where his car was dhscovered between Chester Road and Stdwart

Street. It was a blue car btt police think it was left here on Monday the

23rd of June. They are appe`ling for anyone who saw anything suspicious

to come forward. Tonight, two men remain in Police

custody on suspicion of murder. And with each passing day,

the concern for Robert Hutchinson A former Cumbrian MP has apologised

to the House of Lords after breaking its rules

by agreeing to lobby Parlialent An inquiry has ruled that

David MacLean, now known as Lord Blencathr`,

breached the Parliamentary code of conduct by signing

a contract with the Cayman Hslands. It's reported his company w`s

being paid ?12,000 pounds a month. Traders in a Cumbrian town say

months of roadworks have sedn their They're furious that Main Street

in Cockermouth is still closed to The council says it sympathhses with

the traders, but it's come across some 'unforeseen problems'

with utility pipes. The delay's put the project back

by six weeks, It's been a tough few years

for Catherine Hetherington. Her book shop was of many

independent stores in Cockermouth And just as they struggled to keep

their businesses alive during the clean up then, they feel

a long`running set of roadworks is I think we all felt we put that

behind us. As much as we kndw there was going to be work to be done at

some stage on the roads, it was something we thought we could cope

with. But this just really feels like a huge obstacle becausd it is

greatly affecting our busindsses and living our lives, and the ptblic's

enjoyment of the whole town. I have lost my patience.

Cumbria County Council is carrying out the much`needed

It blaming unexpected utility for a lack of progress.

I think that people have bedn incredibly patient while thd

roadworks have been going on and I think that we all have got to a

stage where we are very affdcted by it. We are getting to the end of the

project. We just wanted to be finished. The business is probably

lost 33% of their income, which is huge considering the size of the

town. The council says it is facing a four to six week delay me`ning

completion could be put back until October. It is a typical town centre

which is always going to be difficult. We do appreciate that

we're going to have to as efficiently as we could do `nd there

have been delays, but we're doing everything we can to reduce those.

It is open for business in the meantime and I would encour`ge all

your viewers to come to Cockermouth and shop as they would norm`lly

The council says Main Street will open one way to traffic next week

and it will do everything it can to make sure the upcoming T`ste

New plans which will see 50`metre high pylons

over parts of Cumbria have been unveiled by the National Grhd.

The lines will carry electrhcity created at the planned Moorside

nuclear power station near Sellafield.

One line would head north vha Whitehaven and Carlisle with another

going south to Barrow in Furness and under Morecambe Bay.

It was thought the pylons m`y have had to go through the Lake District.

But the new routes will still pass through areas of natural be`uty

The Labour councillors responsible for the botched Lendal Bridge trial

will formally face calls to resign, at tonight's meeting

Council Leader James Alexander and Dave Merrett will both face

a vote to decide whether they keep their jobs.

The move's part of a Liberal Democrat motion which also

calls for the 60,000 motorists fined for crossing Lendal Bridge to be

repaid automatically without having to apply for a refund.

So far, Labour's only said York Council will reimburse those

Carol Downworth nearly died in a car crash in 2010.

The mother`of`two lost control at the wheel and hit a stond wall,

leaving her with a serious head injury.

The former nurse was flown to the intensive care unit at James

Cook Hospital in Middlesbrotgh, where she used to work.

But now, four years on, she's rebuilt her life thanks to

the Move into Sport programle at Durham Amateur Rowing Cltb.

Carol's life was literally turned upside down

The car overturned and hit ` wall so I was headfirst onto a stond wall. I

have metal plates in my skull and ran my face. `` around my f`ce.

Following the accident, both Carol and her husband Lick

I had an option. I could sit on the couch and feel sorry for myself or

try to do something. Luckilx my husband Mick is very encour`ging and

we looked at something we could do together. Rowing came up as

something very good for vistally impaired people because you don t

have to see, you have to fedl. Despite now being registered blind

and suffering from severe headaches and mdmory

loss, Carol has rebuilt her life When I'm walking around, I `m very

anxious and tense. People btmp into you and you knock over, I al always

injuring myself. But on a boat, you can fall in but you don't worry

about that. I actually relax more. It's a wonderful feeling. After

taking a beginners course, she is now a passionate competitor. She is

one assessment away from becoming a newly qualified coach. She has taken

it up with determination and love. I am very proud of because shd is

becoming a coach as well. She wants to give something back to rowing.

She has made so much progress over the years she has been here. She has

been doing a variety of reghonal and local competitions. As many as any

other club member. She has `lready achieved so much but Carol still has

plenty of goals on and off the water. I want to win more r`ces

It's about breaking down barriers. Anyone can do it, you don't have to

be young. You can be my age or older.

You're watching Thursday's Look North.

The Tour de France is long gone from the North

but what should they do with all the yellow bikes and bunting?

And there a weather warning in the forecast. I'll have all the details

for the north`east and Cumbria. Now, we all know they race thousands

of miles but how many of us are aware of the role racing

pigeons played during the Fhrst Well, they were crucial in keeping

open vital lines of communication. And now, pigeon fanciers from

across the North East are preparing to remember their efforts

in a special commemorative race The modern racing pigeon is lean

and fast and can cost tens 100 years ago though, the v`lue

of these birds was even gre`ter During the last two World W`rs,

200,000 were used as a vital means of communication, with 32 even

receiving medals for braverx. Today, the role they played

during the war is still recognised by John Thompson,

a pigeon fancier from Thorn`by. How big a role did these

pigeons play in the World W`rs? As you can see in this picttre here,

the Duke of Normandy, this pigeon here,

was the first pigeon to get the word back about the D`Day landings

during the Second World War. He cut across enemy lines to get

the message back He was shot at by the Germans,

so they done exceptionally well to To mark the role

our feathered friends played during both wars, a special commemoration

race is being held in Belgitm this weekend with 3000 pigeon fanciers

from the North East releasing We are in the loft at the moment and

these pigeons here are the ones that will be going to the race and flying

for first prize, fingers crossed. My great grandad died in thd war so

it means a lot to me and my family. Pigeons from the North East were

sent down to the south shord To highlight

their wartime achievements, the pigeons will take around seven hours

to fly back to the North East. A different generation, perhaps now

regarding them in a different light. They sprung up all over

the place to welcome But what now

for the yellow bikes and bunting? You've been decorating our Facebook

pages with your ideas, with suggestions from a lasting lonument

to a trip to the scrapyard. The paper the tour route, coming up

here there and everywhere. But what now for the yellow bikes? This

shopping Yorks giveaway hundreds of wrecks for people to paint `t the

promised to bring them back. Shannon has plans for them. Meet thd man

whose goals it is hoped will make Newcastle are forced to be reckoned

with. Why has he left Monaco for Tyneside? It's a big club whth a big

manager and a lot of fans. Ht's easy for me because some players are

French, but I want to talk with English players to because H want to

learn English fast to adapt with the team. He won't reveal his goals

target, but he's determined to top the 14th he scored for Monaco last

season. Quick and strong, hd's been likened by some to Thierry @udel

Henry, who he would like to emulate. Thierry Henry is my idol. Hd is my

hero. I am not him, but I w`nt to work to become like him. Next up, a

pre`season tour of New Zeal`nd and plenty of packing.

With Newcastle after New Ze`land soon, late this afternoon they

finalised a deal for Netherlands World Cup star Al Janmaat after

Mathieu Debuchy completed hhs move to Arsenal. The 24`year`old arrives

from Feyenoord after an impressive summer in Brazil. The writeback has

signed a six`year deal at St James' Park. The perfect step for le, the

next step in my career. Amazing club, big club, big history. The

fans are amazing, I like thd fans. For me it's a perfect step. You may

remember that Sunderland signed a trio of players last month, but

today they were introduced to the media. All three were signed on a

free transfer and each is expecting to play a big role at the Stadium of

Light next season. Three press conferences, three new

signings. First up the biggdst, literally, at six, Costel

Pantilimon, the tallest plaxer in the Premier League. Last se`son at

Manchester City, the Romani`n goalkeeper kept Joe Hart out of the

side for 18 matches, includhng the 1`0 defeat at the Stadium Of Light

in November. But he knows hd's also got stiff competition for the

goalkeeping jersey at his ndw club in the form of Vito Mannone. I to

work hard, to fight for a place in the team. For the same thing I came

here, with this mind, after I talked to the manager. We had a good

discussion and he convinced me this is the right place. Next up, a Judy,

Jordi Gomez. Signed on a frde from Championship side Wigan Athletic. He

would appear well`suited to the possession based passing gale Gus

Poyet is after at Sunderland. Everyone has been very good with me.

I'm enjoying it, I'm happy to be here working with them. Hopdfully we

can have a good season. And finally Billy Jones, a defender frol West

Brom who has instant hero s`y this ` status because his only goal in the

Premier League was against Newcastle 16 months ago. With Phil Bardsley

gone, the writeback position seems to be his, but that's not how he

sees it. I know the club ard working high ` hard behind`the`scends to

bring in more players. Full`back is probably one of them. Having

strength in depth is massivd for any team so I'm looking forward to the

challenge of hopefully getthng Fisher to keep. ` getting the shirt

to keep. Time for the weathdr now. It was a bit warm today!

More warm weather on the wax, but first pictures of a daring rescue.

Firefighters from Cleveland Fire and rescue were called to the rdscue

when five little ducklings got stuck down the drain. They flushed it with

warm water in Middlesbrough and all the ducklings were safely rdscued.

But their mum ran off so thdy are all being brought up at a whldlife

centre, but it's hoped they will be released back into the wild. Some

wild weather in the forecast. Luck ` lightning flashes likely later this

week. This evening, some late sunshine and after dark, it stays

largely dry with some clear spells, especially in the West. Overnight,

temperatures staying high and in some parts no lower than 16 Celsius.

Another warm day in land tolorrow. Bright spells for much of the

region, but a few showers in Bright spells for much of the

region, but a few Cumbria, particularly through tomorrow

mid`morning. In the afternoon, most parts will be dry and clear and

temperatures rising as high as they did today, around 22 Celsius.

Towards the coast, it will be cooler. Temperatures of arotnd 7

Celsius. One or two showers towards the Borders and Info West l`ter in

the afternoon. But it's not until the hours of darkness tomorrow and

early on Saturday that we whll really start to see some showery

activity. A Spanish plume of warm air is pushing up from the continent

and when that meets relativdly cooler air across the UK, it will

force up towering shower clouds through Friday night and Saturday

morning, through Saturday afternoon and through Sunday. By Sund`y things

will start to calm down. A weather warning in place from midnight on

Friday until midnight on Saturday across the Northeast, North

Yorkshire and Cumbria for hdavy thundery showers, potentially large

hailstones, frequent lightnhng flashes and strong gusts of wind.

This is the forecast in det`il for Cumbria. A wash`out on Saturday with

heavy showers all day. Sund`y will be a little bit drier and brighter.

In the north`east, we will `lso expect heavy showers on Sattrday,

heavy enough in places to c`use localised flash flooding. On Sunday

a weather warning for the coast but drier inland. We are popping up to

leaving do now. Soft drinks only and we'll be back at 10:25pm. Sde then.

` see you then. It took less than 90 seconds for the

eight-storey building to collapse. Imagine the number of women

this industry supports. This World investigates

the true cost of fashion. It took less than 90 seconds for the

eight-storey building to collapse.