24/12/2016 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

A North East homeless charity says cuts to its funding

means it faces a constant battle to survive.

For more than 20 years Coatham House in Redcar's

provided accommodation for young people in need.

But homelessness is no longer considered

a statutory funding provision for many councils,

Across the country - the Charity Crisis says it's latest

figures show around 180,000 people affected by homlessness.

Housing shortages and changes in benefits are often blamed -

I couldn't find a job. I got depressed, started arguing with mum

and stepdad and everyone in the family and just never left the

Over the years John stayed with his mother, father and brother.

But he says he argued with them all and became

They want you when no one else does. I don't know where I would be. If I

kept getting moved out I would probably be living on the streets. I

don't even know if I would be alive, genuinely.

Coatham House supports 35 young homeless people in Redcar -

If it is survivors of abuse you would usually find there may be more

understanding of what it is all about. If it is challenging

behaviour, it is challenging behaviour so therefore it is

difficult for them to fill a form or talk to someone without storming out

talk to someone without storming out the room.

Now the town's mayor is sleeping on the streets - for two nights -

on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to raise money for Coatham House.

People just ignore them and people just think they are scum because

they are living on the streets and they are not. There are people who

have got real problems and all they need is help.

The charity needs ?350,000 a year to survive.

And with grants reducing - every year - they say -

Two men arrested on suspicion of murder

after the death of a woman in Middlesbrough

The 44-year-old was found at an address in the

The body of a man's been found in the River Wear in Washington.

The police were called to the stretch of water

It's not thought there are any suspicious circumstances.

And a man's body's been recovered from the Riven Ehen at Egremont.

Cumbria Police say formal identification's yet

to take place, and there are no suspicious circumstances.

The family of local man, David Hornsby, who went missing

Well, despite the shops only being closed until Monday,

that's not stopped thousands of us spending Christmas Eve getting those

Megan Paterson's spent the day with shoppers in Carlisle.

We've all got our Christmas traditions and, for some,

the last-minute shop is as much a part of the festivities

I never ever shop before Christmas Eve. You get the bargains, and save

loads of money. It is a man thing. Buying a feud

last pieces. Helping my dad by my mum are

present. I just always leave it to the last minute. I thought it would

be quieter but it is always busy. Have you got every thing you need

now? That's it. Finish now.

Home. Feet up? Yes. Will you be more organised next

year? Definitely not. Extreme flooding in the early part

of December last year kept shoppers away but this year customer numbers

at the Lanes in Carlisle are healthier than

the national average: Comparing the figures from early

December this year versus last year when we had the floods, we have seen

an uptake of about 31% one footfall figures but that is obviously...

You've got to compare what was going on in the city at that time.

The Christmas Eve rush ended in most shops here at five o'clock,

for the dedicated shopper it'll start all over again

Megan Paterson, BBC, Look North Carlisle.

Football - and just Berwick playing today.

Not a happy Christmas for them though - losing 3-1 away at Annan.

And in Rugby Union's Premiership: Newcastle Falcons losing 21-6 to top

So onto the weather forecast for Christmas day now -

Good evening. The windy weather looks set to continue. In fact

tomorrow we've got another warning for gales. The strongest of the cast

are likely to be to the east of the hills. It is going to be quite wet

across country and western parts overnight. The rain will become more

light and patchy as the rain wears on and mild air will spread from the

west. On Sunday very mild state. Damp and drizzly across Cumbria but

largely dry elsewhere. The risk of gales. Very mild at 13 degrees with

some persistent rain by tomorrow evening.

No bulletin tomorrow, but I'll be back with the latest

It just remains for me to wish you a very happy Christmas,