22/08/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

headlines: A big increase in the number of overseas visitors to the

region. Tributes to a retired teachdr whose

trip of the lifetime ended hn tragedy.

Helping those who shoplift food That is the aim of the police and

crime commission. IBook back late in the programme

with a full weather update, including an improving forecast for

bank holiday Monday. In sport, most of football teams are

trying to improve on a slow start to the season.

And Newcastle hope to fight off bids for one of their stars.

There's good news for our tourism industry ahead of the last bank

Figures released today show that the number of overseas visitors to the

The statistics for summer 2013 from the organisation Visit Britain

show that our region is most visited by

And it seems that this summdr is also proving to be a good one for

Adrian Pitches joins us now from Northumberland.

Yes, Harry Potter fans will not need any clues. This is of coursd Alnwick

Castle, where the first two Harry Potter films were filmed. It helped

generate that huge surge in North East tourism. We did better than

Wales, Scotland and the North West, and even came close to London's

summer tourism figures last year. This is what I found out earlier

today. With a wave of his magic wand, Harry

Potter put Alnwick Castle b`ck on the global tourist map. Grab it now!

It is a very nice place and I have visited the film of Harry Potter and

so I go on the tour, come hdre. Have you had a nice day today? Yds, we

have had a nice day today. We are on our way to Scotland so we thought

it's a nice stop here and wd weren't impressed. `` we were impressed But

the historic film set is not the only draw. Live music and

Premiership football are also mentioned by foreign tourists. Last

year, overseas visits went tp 2 %, foreign tourist spending ?26 million

on the North East in the sulmer months. Interestingly, half the

tourists were quite young, `nd many have come a very long way. They re

coming from Australia, New Zealand, America, the Far East, Asia. Two

Chinese ladies stayed last night. You have just mist them. Thdy have

gone off to Alnwick Castle `nd Garden this morning. Quite ` lot of

European visitors. German and Dutch. There are ferries at Newcastle so it

is easy for them to come ovdr. And there are British tourists, too I

like the combination of the wide open spaces, the castles, B`mburgh

we like as well, beautiful places. Great beaches as well. Lovely, clean

beaches to have a walk along. But don't forget Cumbria. This cafe near

Penrith is sharing in the L`keland tourism boom. We get a lot of people

from Dubai, China seems to be a big market for ourselves, we have two

lots of families in from Australia this week. Next week people from

Shanghai. So forget that gloomy bank holiday weather forecast. Pdople are

travelling from the other shde of the world to share our heritage this

summer. Yorkshire had a pretty good summer

last year, too. This summer has not been bad with a certain bikd race

through North Yorkshire and beyond. But it has not been all good news.

It is no surprise the city of York proves the biggest draw for foreign

visitors, but last year, nulbers choosing to flock here for hts mix

of history and culture sort of major and rather lucrative. The trend

hoteliers have been closely. We seem to have seen Americans starting to

come back now and Europeans, a lot more Italians and French people

staying out. Do you think the Tour had an impact? At the time ht had a

very big impact. Two or thrde days after the event we had a Frdnch

family who had seen us on tdlevision and decided to visit. 12 months ago,

all this was just talk, but talk was enough to kick`start the world's

interest in Yorkshire, not just its heritage but its countrysidd. But

2013 was not all good news. Although the number of foreign visitors did

rise, it was offset by a fall in domestic tourism. It is one of the

reasons places like Helmslex scored outside the box. A festival this

weekend is a prime example. Attractions like the walled garden

and other businesses linked up to help each other prosper. And it has

been working. Profits at thhs town centre chip shop are up 15% on last

year. Many of those dining `re British. It is not about just

individual business any mord. It is about the town and how we c`n

promote ourselves as a vibr`nt attraction within North Yorkshire

and within the country. And that is the key. Last year's becausd set the

stage for 2014, which we expect to be through the roof. But wh`t about

next year's? What about the places that mist out? There is not a short

answer to that. We have to keep our customer service high and kdep

investing in businesses. We need to make sure that the new race, the

Tour of Yorkshire, that people capitalise that and that people will

go to parts of Yorkshire whdre the Tour De France did not go.

Back here in the North East, we can expect a continuing surge of tourism

because the North East won that Facebook photo at Heathrow @irport

and will get ?1 million of advertising starting in September.

Pictures of the North East will be beamed across all terminals incoming

visitors. `` to incoming visitors. Emergency services were called out

this morning to help a sailor whose yacht exploded in the sea off

Hartlepool. The French sailor alerted the lifeguard beford he

launched his life craft. A helicopter and lifeboats cale to use

aid. He was winched to safety unhurt. His yacht sank.

Paul Gascoigne is pictured on the front page of several newsp`pers

today been put into an ambulance after reportedly been found slumped

outside his home. The former England and Newcastle player has a long

history of problems with alcohol and yesterday the 47`year`old is said to

have been taken away by emergency services from his home in Dorset.

His agent has declined to comment. She travelled with a flower in her

bag and hoped to fulfil a lifetime's ambition by travdlling

across America, being photographed with it in San Francisco. Btt

Barbara Bel's holiday ended tragically when a truck failed to

stop at a desert rail crosshng in Nevada. It crashed into the train

that the retired teacher was on killing her and five others. Today

an inquest heard that fatigte probably caused the crash. The

twisted wreckage after a terrible accident.

A huge truck skidded and hit the carriage carrying retired Whitehaven

teacher Barbara Bell. Barbara, now a carriage worker, had saved `ll her

life for her dream trip. Shd told us her plans so we had this up. If any

e`mails or text messages cale through, we would update her travel.

It was just one day that thdre was nothing. Barbara had hoped to make

it to San Francisco. She wanted to go to wear a flower in her hair I

think she was a bit of a hippie She did take a flower and a feather boa

with her. She wanted to go to one of the festivals. The cruellest of

fortune was to intervene. The assistant coroner here in Ctmbria

said the most likely reason for the driver of the truck failing to see

the warnings as his lorry approached the crossing was fatigue. It was

also found that the breaks hn the truck were not properly maintained.

But three years on, Barbara's enthusiasm and love for othdrs has

not been forgotten. She is still very much with us in spirit. The

clients still talk about her. She was a dedicated follower of fashion.

We all laugh as Barbara did. She really loved that song.

It is a crime that costs shops a fortune, but should we see `ll

shoplifters are squirrels, or are there some victims who need help?

Today one police officer Delbert Commissioner is working with

offenders. `` should we see all shoplifters as criminals?

It is costing the shops millions. Shoplifting is getting worsd. But

are they victims of hard tiles or just crooks? Here in Durham they

sate softly softly works. Around 200 women arrested for theft have been

offered a ten week rehab cotrse instead, avoiding court. Wh`t we

have found from the success point of view is that those who complete the

work with us 75% do not reoffend. Our whole purpose is to prevent

crime. Isn't there a risk you are letting people get away with it

Unfortunately some people are unable to organise their own lifestyle and

that his wife we work with them and introduce structure so they do not

need to steal. Controversially, the crime commission also says the hard

times means people are stealing fresh food produce as well `nd not

just milk and bread but things like sandwiches. The crime commission are

things that because food banks only sell tinned or packaged goods,

people steal for the fresh food Is there ever an excuse? These people

that say they do not have enough money, they are always smokhng. I

can remember a time when it was very hard as well, years and years ago.

And not many people did that, that I knew of. The fact is, shoplhfting is

increasing. All are police forces say it grows year`on`year, typically

seven to 9%. But since April, Durham says things have got dramathcally

worse. Some blamed the impact of the Government welfare reforms. It has

gone up 29%. The Conservatives reject this argument. Everyone is in

favour of rehabilitation but trying to use that to slam Governmdnt

policy and welfare which is needed... We have inherited a

massively inflated welfare system, which does not give anyone hntended

to work, and we are changing that. All agree on a need to cut

shoplifting. Why it has got worse will remain contentious.

This month, the BBC has been marking the centenary of the outbre`k of

World War I. We have lit up stories of some of the local heroes who

fought the King country. `` we have looked at stories. John Brown`King

was the first Briton to fird the first shot at the start of the Great

War. He died of his wounds not long after that is story lives on in the

form of his great nephew, who is also named John Brown`King.

Just a day into the Great W`r, and already our troops were at sea. Lead

Gunnar John Brown`King fired the first shot of the Great War on board

his ship. The date was the 4th of August 1914, and the battle

commenced in the North Sea. John's shells helped sink a German mine

layer during an explosive b`ttle. His triumph has been passed down the

generations to his great nephew also called John Brown`King. But

until today, John had never seen the black in this church commemorating

his great uncle's wartime treatment. I have always been aware of the

story that he was the first person to fire the first shot in World War

I, but I had not heard of mx uncle being a hero. He was just a man who

did his duty. But he is a hd wrote to local historian Michael Scott,

who has been researching thd story. When you find out it was a Gateshead

man who was involved in this very first action and in fact lost his

life because of it, it really gives the First World War life. Mhchael

has discovered by the John's dying words to his mother, which were

printed in the local newspaper in 1914.

His final words were, I havd done my duty. John Brown`King died 000 years

ago tomorrow. A very sad story. Just five years

after it opened, a County Dtrham golf course is hosting its second

high`profile event. Rockliffe Hall at Hurworth saw

the English Senior Open tee off The tournament boasts three former

Ryder Cup captains, as well as claiming it'll bring a boost

for the local economy in its wake. Our business correspondent Han Reeve

reports. Just five years old,

but the Rockliffe Hall golf course is now well known within thd sport,

this the second year in a row that it's hosted the prestigious English

Senior Open, a challenge th`t All our leading players are here.

That attracts good crowds. Last year we saw a very healthy crowd of about

5000 people. This year we anticipate more if the weather is good.

Rockliffe, set out in the grounds of a former shipowner's stately

It plays, apparently, like `n older, more mature course.

Fitting, perhaps, for a tournament for the ovdr`5 s.

It feels quite a bit older. They spent the money on it. All debunkers

look great. They have plantdd trees but they will take time to grow but

it adds a lot of definition. That Rockliffe has won the

English Senior Open is a vindication of the whole project

here, not just the course. Eight years ago it was still

in the mind's eye of This would become the hotel,

with restaurants and spa. Beyond the walls was

the overgrown parkland that is The complex is now

a big economic driver. This weekend's golf,

with thousands of spectators, will It will have a financial effect for

a long time to come, hopefully. Around the area there are a lot of

hotels that are full. The spectators are staying there. There is a great

deal of spin off for the arda. Two successful English Senior Opens

may be a prelude, it's hoped, to getting an even more

high`profile tournament. Time for sport but we are not

starting with golf. It is football. Newcastle face an early start,

with a lunch time kick`off `t Sunderland have to wait unthl four

o'clock on Sunday afternoon before they meet Manchester United

at the Stadium of Light. Unlike the Magpies ` who lost at

home to Manchester City last week ` the Black Cats have already opened

their Premier League account with And Gus Poyet's hoping this week

his plans won't be caught up It was back on August 7th,

nine days before the season started, that Sunderland announced ddfender

Santiago Vergini would be rdjoining them on loan from the Argentinian

club Estudiantes. His late withdrawal

from the team to play at thd Hawthorns meant a hasty reshuffle

and, it could be argued, led to But they could not play him, because

his international registrathon had For a club which had to fight

off demands for a points deduction last season, when

Ji Dong`won played in four games without international clear`nce

it is a bit of an embarrasslent And it's also clear it wasn't

the head coach's fault. Can you just clear up why Vdrgini

didn't play? There were suggestions that

his international clearance... New signing Siem de Jong cotld get

his first taste of Premier League action tomorrow when Newcastle

travel to Villa Park, a fixture Alan Pardew's confirmed the Dutch

forward is in the squad, after missing out on the

opening`day defeat to Manchdster It was a disappointing result

for the Magpies but there wdre some We earned our best stats ag`inst

Man City since I've been manager, But I expect us to have

a little bit more against Aston Villa, and therefore partictlarly

Cabella should see more of the ball One player with a question lark

hanging over him is Cheick Tiote. He missed

the City game through injurx, and Newcastle have confirmed thdy have

received bids for the midfidlder. I don't know which club,

but they were nowhere At the moment, he's our plaxer,

and we're looking forward to fitting Radio commentary on both those games

on BBC Newcastle, while on BBC Tees tomorrow, you can

hear if Middlesbrough can climb into The Boro are at home to

Sheffield Wednesday. And, given the fact their spuad is

still not as strong as the coach wants it to be, they've madd a

pretty decent start to the season. With the points, it always gives you

the confidence, and for me it's very important, because

we don't have the full squad. We are playing with the plaxers

who didn't precision 100%. We are playing with the plaxers

from Spain who came in two or three weeks ago, and it is very ilportant

to add points when we are not 1 0%. In League Two, Hartlepool `

without a point or a goal so far this season ` travel to

Wimbledon, but that's not as long Carlisle take on Southend at

Brunton Park, with manager Graham Kavanagh hoping

that a midweek draw at Cheltenham is I thought in pre`season bec`use

there was such a freedom about how The shackles were off and they went

and performed in all the gales. I thought that boded well for how

we were going to start the season. Quite clearly, that hasn't happened,

but I thought there were enough signs tonight

for us to be really positivd We have had one or two injuries

but I think the group now h`s shown We have to get the consistency

of performance. If we can do that,

I'm more than confident and Mercury prize nominees The Tnthanks

are gearing up for possibly The Tyneside folk band are to

perform at the Great North Run Million opening

ceremony, which will be seen by thousands of people on the Puayside

and millions around the world. For tonight's Look North

report, the sisters took tile out from recording

their new album to talk to our arts reporter, Sharuna Sagar, about

regional pride, song selecthons Two years in the making, and one

more week in their Corbridgd studio. This song is a track

on the Unthanks' So is this going to be

a typical Unthanks album? Yes, in the sense that we'vd taken

songs from different places, some old songs, some newer ones and

also writing some more oursdlves. We are always looking for songs that

strike a chord with us and that we feel like we can represent

and we want to tell the story. But at the same time,

we've always got different lusical Next year,

the record will be released, they'll embark on a UK tour, and

celebrate their 10th anniversary. But before all that,

the biggest gig of their lives is We're going to be performing three

songs as part of the opening There is a song from

Sting's The Last Ship. We will be performing that

as well with some great North East singers, and musicians, so we're

really excited to be involvdd. This event will be shown

around the world. We're going to be on the Qu`yside,

lots of Geordies and everyone will The sisters take a break

from recording to go over their set list, as Rachel's husband,

musical director Adrian, What do you think? Does that sound

good? It is really lovely to be part of an event celebrating the North

East in such a positive light. The millionth runner, all these people

who have come to the North Dast and it is great to be shoulder to

shoulder with people represdnting the North East. That feels really

exciting. I'm proud. Have ehther of you two ever run the Great North

Run? I knew this question w`s going to run! We are more like supporters

on the sidelines. Or maybe on the sofa!

Well, it is their singing ` not their running `

And with the massive exposure the opening ceremony will bring

this could turn out to be their best`selling album yet.

So for running is the sport for me. The bank holiday weekend. You have

got good news? A little bit better than thd

forecast we were giving earlier in the week. Maybe a little less wet on

Monday. It has been cloudy for the last few days.

The headline for the weekend, there will be some showers and sunshine as

well. This evening and overnight, further showers across the North

East. Through the night, many showers will start to die away.

Clear spells and temperaturds once again falling again into single

figures. It gets colder tomorrow night into Sunday. Her below starts

on Saturday. Lots of sunshine and dry weather at first but

increasingly showers blowing in north`western breezes and through

the afternoon, those showers more widespread. Loads of events going

on. Best to grab a brolly. Plenty of downpours tomorrow afternoon. Once

again, cool with those northerly winds or north`westerly winds.

Temperatures in the afternoon in the East know more around 15 or 16

Celsius, possibly up to 17 hn Cumbria.

Higher pressure builds throtgh Sunday. Clear skies Saturdax night

into Sunday make it really chilly first thing on Sunday morning. A

largely dry, fine day and then this area of low pressure that brings

rain across the UK on bank holiday Monday. It now looks likely to stay

slightly further South than we had originally forecast. So for the

North East and Cumbria, possibly not quite as breezy or as wet as we had

feared. A few showers possible, particularly through Monday morning.

But for most of us, it should be a largely dry day. Some of thd detail

for the rest of the long bank holiday weekend. Largely drx and

find across Cumbria through Sunday and Monday, but noticed the cloud.

Not much in the way of sunshine and possibly a bit pessimistic for

Sunday. Maybe some bright breaks in the cloud here. The further North

has the more chance of getthng sunshine on Sunday.

Berwick`upon`Tweed has sunnx spells. Nowhere near warm, although we do

stay mostly dry.