06/03/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

to a damning review of Scotland Yard's handling of the case. That's

Good evening and welcome to all from the BBC News at

Thursday's Look North. On the programme tonight: A mum s

seven`year battle for the truth after the deaths of her two children

from carbon monoxide poisonhng in Corfu. The Prime Minister h`s

pledged his support for the parents of Bobbi and Christi shepherd. We

speak to their mum live in the studio. Also tonight: Controlled

explosions have been carried out on a horde of weapons found in a

collector's home in Penistone. We knew he collected war

memorabilia, but he has left quite a bit of a fuss, hasn't he?

Amy and I pick up some tips for successful tandem`riding from a

couple of hardy riders in H`lifax. There have been glimmers of

brightness today, but most of us have seen cloudy skies. Join me for

the weather shortly. First tonight, a mum's seven`year

battle to uncover the whole truth surrounding the death of her

children in a hotel in Corft. Bobbi and Christi Shepherd died on holiday

in 2006 after they were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes. But now their

parents face going to an inpuest without proper legal represdntation

because they can't afford the fees. They fear without that, the full

facts won't be revealed and their pleas to improve safety within the

travel industry will go unhdard In a moment we'll be speaking to Bobbi

and Christi's mum, Sharon, but, first, Cathy Killick has a reminder

of her fight so far. It is the memory of their two

precious children and the determination that their de`ths

Sharon and Neil Shepherd fighting Sharon and Neil Shepherd fighting

for justice. The children dhed seven years ago in a holiday cott`ge in

Corfu due to carbon monoxidd poisoning. The border have been

negligently maintained. Shotld Thomas Cook, the tour operator, also

take some blame? That is a puestion they want answers to. At Grdek court

hearings they could not unddrstand much of the evidence, so thdy fought

for our UK inquest scheduled for next year. They have been told they

will not get legal aid. Thehr MP says they should. This will be a

difficult inquest. There is a lot at stake for the hotel and travel

company involved. It is vit`l that the interest of the parents are

represented in court and thdy are able to get the fact that that they

want to see, and they are able to have witnesses cross`examindd and

that the jury in that inquest are able to hear the full fact of what

went on. After the case was raised in the House of Commons yesterday,

the Prime Minister agreed to meet the family and look into thdir case.

I do remember this tragic c`se. It is appalling it has taken so long

for the inquest to take place. When you have lost a child you w`nt to

know the anthers and whether it could be prevented. Sharon `nd Neal,

supported by the new partners, and I hope there is going to be a change

of heart and they get the ldgal representation they need.

Well, Sharon and her partner, Paul, are with us in the studio now. How

important is it that you're represented properly at this

inquest? This is the final hurdle we have to overcome. After eight years,

finally the full fact will be made public in the UK. We need a level

playing field with legal representations of the inqudst can

be as broad as possible. Thdre has been so much you have gone through

in the past eight years. Emotionally, this must have taken

its toll. It has. We clearlx didn't get the and service. Thomas Cook

have helped us in any way. Why can't you get legal aid? Three different

reasons. We don't qualify financially because we have had the

compensation for the deaths of children. They deemed there has

already been a full investigation. And because they don't think it is

in the wider public interest to have a full inquest. Paul, having gone

through all this, now the Prime Minister has waded in, you have your

local MP involved, do you fdel that there is something there for you to

grab onto? It feels like at last we have got a little bit of hope of

getting some support. We have campaigned for a long time. Without

that support we will reach the final verdict get closure for anything.

What is it you are wanting to come out of this inquest? We want the

full facts to be explored. @s David Cameron said, we deserved to know

the circumstances surrounding the deaths of our children and hf it

could have been prevented. We believe very strongly that ht could

have been prevented. When wd speak with the Prime Minister will be

asking for government legislation to be made so that your operators ``

tour operators have to be in line with UK standards. The PM that you

suffer under way changes yotr life, that will never go away. To think

that nothing came of their death, that would be horrendous.

Could your viewers log onto our website, where we have a calpaign,

it is called time for the truth and it is an online petition to gain

support for our legal aid shtuation. Thank you.

Next tonight, controversial changes to hospital services in Dewsbury

have today been given the go`ahead by the Health Secretary, Jeremy

Hunt. Dewsbury and District Hospital's A department whll be

scaled`down, meaning that more urgent cases will now go to

Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield instead. Dewsbury's maternity

services will be turned into a midwife`led unit, with most

mums`to`be now going to Wakdfield. Our reporter James Vincent joins us

live from Dewsbury. This is a decision that has been

years in the making. It is `bout the beginning of life, potentially the

end of life. Fewer babies whll be born here and fewer accident and

emergency cases will be seen here as well. Stephen, people will be

worried about this, and be saying this is about saving money. It is

not about saving money. It hs all about improving the quality of

care. These changes mean th`t we will be able to offer a consultant

led maternity service at all times. One of our local MPs said today that

it could be closed by 2016, this hospital. That is completelx wrong.

There are no plans to close this hospital and by 2016 will sde about

11,000 more people than we do at the moment. It will be hugely the

straight for local people if they need to go to an accident and

emergency department? Peopld who will be taken by ambulance to that

hospital and offer specialist support. We can offer that hn either

of the hospitals `` can't offer that in either of the hospitals today.

Later on Look North: They'vd got the local lowdown ` we catch up with two

Tour de France contenders who hope their Yorkshire roots can ghve them

an edge. Hundreds of weapons including

shells, grenades and guns h`ve been recovered from a house in Pdnistone.

Police discovered the haul `fter finding a man's body in the property

yesterday afternoon. The arda was cordoned off until early thhs

afternoon, when the bomb sqtad gave the all`clear. Neighbours s`y the

dead man was a collector of World War Two memorabilia. Kate Bradbrook

reports. A difficult start to the day for people living and working on

Sheffield Road in Penistone. This area was cordoned off by police for

almost the whole day after our discovery of a man's body in a

terrace house, which was fotnd to contain a large collection of World

War II munitions. He was a big collector of war memorabili`. He had

actually bought items off md. A bit of a loner. A nice guy. 51 hs no

age, is it? We knew he colldct did a lot of war memorabilia, but he has

left quite a bit of a farce, hasn't he? Around 100 people were dvacuated

from their homes, but have now been allowed back. I went and st`yed at

my friends. It was scary at the time, but it was all right. At your

bomb disposal teams removed bullets and explosives from the house, the

area was declared safe and the road reopened. Police in the process of

removing hundreds items frol the house, weapons like this. It is very

unusual. The Ministry of Defence tell us there are collect is to

collect memorabilia like thhs all over the country, but it is the

first time I have seen anything like this, certainly on the scald we have

been looking at. This chap has this he spent a lifetime collecthng

memorabilia. Police said thd man was found in his bed and that hhs death

is not being treated as suspicious. It is not yet known what will happen

to the arsenal of weaponry he left behind.

Around 70 people have been demonstrating in Barnsley town

centre today against cuts to public transport. Campaigners lobbhed a

meeting of the South Yorkshhre Passenger Transport Executive. It's

about a decision to scrap free train travel passes for elderly and

disabled people and restrict bus passes. The organisation saxs the

changes are necessary because of government funding cuts. But the

protestors say there hasn't been any consultation. They had a medting

three weeks ago ready`made these cuts which weren't publicisdd

beforehand. People are here protesting against the cuts that

have taken place, but protesting as well that it has all been done in

secret without letting people have a voice or put forward altern`tive

proposals. We have made all the cuts we possibly can to avoid thhs. We

had no choice. Because the government is counselling `` is

cutting the council'sfunding, it means we have two do things like

this. A report published today shows an

increasing number of our rural communities are in poverty `nd are

desperate for help. The charity Rural Action Yorkshire says a

quarter of rural households are struggling to heat their holes. The

report also says Isolation `nd the increasing cost of rural petrol is a

problem along with low incoles. It says the issues are masked because

of preconceptions about the attractive countryside. If xou look

at rural communities generally, everything looks exactly thd same as

it always did. The reality hs that there is much more rural poverty in

Yorkshire then there was two years ago.

The search has been continuhng today for a 22`year`old man who wdnt

missing in York at the weekdnd. Ben Clarkson disappeared after ` night

out in the city. He was last seen outside Fibbers nightclub in the

early hours of Sunday. Therd are concerns he may have fallen into the

River Foss. Next tonight, some good news about

manufacturing in Yorkshire. It is on the up with more than half of our

firms recruiting new staff, according to figures releasdd today.

The increase is down to a growing trend of production being brought

back here from places like China. Our Business Correspondent Danni

Hewson is here to tell us more. Yes, 21% of the firms survexed said

they were actively planning or considering bringing manufacturing

back to Yorkshire. That's compared with just 3% last year. The main

reasons for it are shorter lead times, reliability, reduced costs

and improved quality. I've been to see two firms who say they're

already reaping the benefits. Six years ago staff were having to work

short weeks to keep the company afloat. Today the company is

booming. They developed a revolutionary alarm system that

needs precision manufacturing and the best place for that is here in

Yorkshire. So, they brought production back from China `nd

discovered cost is not the hssue people once thought it was. It is

true that it is much cheaper to have the workforce in China but there are

hidden costs, if you need product urgently, you have to fly them over.

It is important that you colpare everything, the whole. You can make

it cost`effective here. It hs a trend that has a ripple effdct.

Bigger companies move reduction back to Yorkshire, and they need part,

which spreads the wealth thd smaller companies. Smaller companies like

this. For the last 20 years they have seen the steady drip of work

heading east, but not any more. The company 's bosses having to expand.

We are getting a lot of people coming back. They can toler`te the

deliveries, they can live whth the fact that they are transporting a

lot of fresh air, they have to put it in warehouses over here, pay for

it before you get it and thdre are six`month lead times. We ard

benefiting from that. It is a trend that is expected to continud.

Generally, the whole stimults package for bringing ills of ``

business backers working. 20% of companies in the region are thinking

about or are actively doing bringing manufacturing back to Yorkshire It

means further investment, and more jobs.

Before 7.00pm: I'm hoping this is in the nick of time! Yes, Harrx and I

have been getting some last`minute tips on successful tandem rhding

ahead of our big event! Yorkshire's Joe Root will have an x`ray today on

the thumb he injured during a Man of the Match performance for England as

they beat the West Indies in the deciding One Day International.

Despite the injury, he scordd his first century for his country in One

Day cricket helping England set up a huge score for the home sidd to

chase. He also picked up thd first wicket. He was named man of the

series, which England won 2`1. Much like Premier League football

clubs, professional cycling teams are multi`national rather than local

affairs, with riders coming from all over the globe. But with thd Tour de

France coming to Yorkshire this summer, Matt Slater has been to

Majorca to talk to two Tour hopefuls who know our roads very well `

Rotherham's Ben Swift, and Scott Thwaites from Burley`in`Wharfedale.

A dozen men from happy doesn't countries training in Spain for a

French race that starts in Yorkshire. Confused? That is an

occupational hazard for cyclists, which is why they get so excited

about riding on roads they `ctually know. Nobody in the sport knows

those roots in Yorkshire better than Ben Swift. I never thought the Tour

de France would come to the roots I grew up cycling on. It is pretty

surreal. It is a once`in`a`lifetime opportunity. I want to see how the

season goes, way up the opthons and decide what I'm doing closer to the

time. Team sky were always going to be at the Tour de France, btt the

minnows of the sport have two rely on invitations. This team h`s

managed to get one of those precious invitations. I go quite a lot up the

hills in birdie in Wharfedale. I love to drive `` cycle North as

well, up to Ripon. It is rolling, nice hills. It is a great area to

train. It is very different to the roads that you get on the continent.

With millions of fans expected on the roadside in July, they would

will not be short of support. You can't beat the prospect of ` couple

of hometown heroes. Much like Premier League football

clubs, professional cycling teams are multi`national rather than local

affairs, with riders coming from all over the globe. Well, talking of

cycling, in just over a week Amy and I get on our bike. In case xou

hadn't heard, to raise monex for Sport Relief we'll be riding a

tandem around the Yorkshire section of the Tour de France` up hhll and

down dale` all 242 miles of it! Don't remind me! As part of the

training for our Tandem Tour, we've been out with a couple who've been

riding a tandem together for more than 25 years. Cheryl and Steve

Stanger took us around hillx Elland to give us some tips. These to know

a thing or two about tandems. Good to see you. We made the happy couple

are in Elland. It is not quhte as leisurely as we might have hoped.

Elland is very heavily. Look at this hill! We have made it up ond hill!

You get out of your saddle puite a lot. I always do. If I got out of

the saddle, I would end up hn a ditch. When you get up I am

struggling. Does it make it easier if they stand up in terms of Pentium

`` if I stand up in terms of peddling?

I think I have the bum deal in this relationship. Time for

refreshments. Why did you start riding tandems? It balances things

up, if one of you is a bit fitter than the other. If we fall out,

sometimes I get the shark p`in in the back. You wiggle! You are a

back`seat driver. I have noticed that, certainly. Those were quite

tough climbs, very steep. On the way home it was a joy, downhill It is

so nice not to have a wiggld on the back.

We set off on our tandem from Leeds a week tomorrow, Friday, 14th March.

We'll give you full details of where you can come and see us and, most

important, how you can donate to Sport Relief on Monday's programme.

We all know how precious girls are about their hair, especiallx you,

Amy. I never go anywhere without my heated rollers! Men don't understand

how important a woman's hair is and I never trust male hair dressers

because every time they've cut my hair I've come out with a bob!

Well, now a new exhibition's opened in West Yorkshire looking at that

relationship between young women and their hair. Over a 12`month period

dozens of girls were plucked from the streets of Leeds and

photographed purely because of their spectacular hair`dos. They're now on

display at a gallery in the city. Anna Crossley's been to havd a look.

display at a gallery in the city. There are cute colours and carols in

abundance, not to mention a lot of hairspray. If you think the

exhibition is nothing more than photos of girls with big hahr, you

would be wrong. According to the photographer, it runs a bit deeper

than that. The exhibition is about young women and how they ard

presenting themselves. I sed them as being hyper visible and plaxfully

transforming themselves through their hair and whether you `re

presenting themselves in thd world. I find that really exciting and

positive and creative. Katie spent nearly every Saturday

afternoon for a year wanderhng around the centre of Leeds looking

for the right girls to take part. They needed a really strong identity

and an obvious pride in thehr hair. When I was 14 I saw a girl with

backcombed hair. I thought, I want to try that. It expresses md,

really. Everyone who knows le, then only because my hair. If I didn t

have big hair, people wouldn't recognise me. We like to look a bit

more striking and different, because we are twins. We may as well say on

the fact that we are twins. My hair is rounder. Mine goes straight

across. A number of events will run alongside this exhibition, hncluding

talks and performances exploring the idea of duty and the power of women.

It is on the lead Gallery until the end of the month stop `` thd Leeds

Gallery. I only get my haircut once dvery

three months, cost`effectivd! Paul will be on the tandem with me

in the Vale of York from ten o'clock tomorrow morning.

I power from the back, this is what I keep trying to tell you.

Will you be able to tell if I am slacking? I certainly will!

Let's have a look at one picture that has come in. We want cheering

up, so I have ignored the grey ones. Keep the pictures coming in. That

should be some sunshine tomorrow afternoon.

It will be a cloudy, damp start tomorrow with fresh winds. By ten

o'clock in the morning clearer skies will be coming to Yorkshire.

Tomorrow looks lovely with increasing amounts of sunshhne.

There is a cold front that will bring the rain southwards through

tomorrow morning. Behind thd tomorrow morning. Behind thd

pressure will build. The wedkend looks cloudy, but mostly fine. Next

week looks very promising, huge improvement. There will be frost and

fog by night. Nevertheless, we managed to reach 12 degrees this

afternoon. The cloud will thicken at times. Tonight will be frost free.

The sun will rise at six 40 1am A cloudy start with outbreaks of

rain and drizzle. Very quickly it will clear. By the afternoon it

looks fine with a good deal of Sunni weather. Quite easy to writd.

Temperatures above average for the time of year. We might get 02

Celsius in Doncaster. The wdekend will have variable cloud. I have

sorted out the rain, it will clear by ten o'clock. Bring your wallet

for lunch!