28/03/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

for the first time spotter planes find debris. That's all from the BBC

Hello and welcome to Friday's Look News at Six

Hello and welcome to Friday's Look North On the programme tonight ` The

Sikh parents speaking out against the stigma of down's syndrome in

ethnic minorities. People think it is a disease and they gave us advice

to cure it. It is not a disease. We hear how families have been left

feeling isolated. Also tonight... The hundreds of

eviction notices served across Yorkshire as a result of the "spare

room subsidy". And the Bradford Alhambra celebrates 100 years by

staging its most ambitious performance yet.

And in sport the latest on Leeds United struggling to pay players'

wages, and I'm with Chesterfield fans ahead of their Wembley cup

final. The clocks go forward this weekend and I have quite promising

forecast to give you this evening. Join me for the details.

But first tonight a couple from Leeds has spoken out about the

stigma and isolation that's often felt by Asian families who have

children with learning disabilities. Sarbjit Core and Jatinder

Singh`Mehmi say they've come up against a lot of ignorance,

including the belief that they've been cursed, simply because their

son Gian has Down's Syndrome. Anna Crossley's been to meet the family.

This three`year`old is a familiar face here, his parents have been

bringing him to worship since he was a baby. Although they say they have

always been made to feel welcome, people's reactions from elsewhere in

the Seek community has not always been positive, just because Gian has

down syndrome. People think it is a disease and they gave us advice on

how to cure it. It is not a disease, it doesn't define his whole

personality. The couple say there is stigma within other religions as

well, but the pair sometimes are made to feel they have been polished

with a child who has this. It is nothing I have eaten, the way I used

to sit, what I used to watch. There is no blame, no curse, we see Gian

as a gift. This couple clearly received a lot of support from their

own temple, but they also want to let other parents know there is more

help available in the wider community and cultural differences

will be treated sensitively. The family is involved with a charity

that supports children with down syndrome and their parents, Sunshine

And Smiles. They welcome everyone, irrespective of ethnicity and

religious beliefs. We realise some people don't want to come to a group

and it might not be the right time for them to come to a group

situation, so we also say we are very happy to meet people at home

and talk about support they would find helpful. It is a culturally

sensitive issue, but this couple feel it is important to reassure the

parents that there is support out there, and having a child with a

learning disability is not a curse or a punishment.

A BBC investigation has revealed that rent arrears increased and

hundreds of eviction notices have been served across Yorkshire as a

direct result of the squeeze on housing benefits. In the last year

more than a thousand tenants of council or Housing Association homes

have moved. Out of more than 275,000 tenants across Yorkshire and the

Humber more than 36,000 have been affected by the changes. Of those,

more than ten thousand tenants that were up to date with payments are

now in arrears, that's about twenty nine per cent. More than eight

hundred people were served with eviction notices. While more than

one thousand one hundred people have moved house. Our Political Editor

Len Tingle has been looking at the figures. This is the spare room, the

room that costs ?14 per week. Elizabeth is in her early 60s and

has been unemployed for a couple of years. She lives alone on benefits

of around ?70 a week and for the last year has had to pay some of

that money to the council because she has a spare bedroom in her flat

in Leeds. I have daughters and grandchildren, friends, and now

there is another year to look forward to. Elizabeth isn't alone,

in Leeds over 5000 tenants on benefits had to pay extra rent if

they had a spare bedroom, 1700 of them went into arrears with their

rent, but one key government objective was to encourage a switch

to smaller properties. Only 300 of them did, around 6%. The real issue

we found with the study that cuts across the north is that it is not

just the rent arrears, it is the greater debt people are getting into

which is related to this. The households we work with experienced

debt of around ?3500 per household. I don't want to leave my home. It is

a flat, a room at the top of the house. My grandchildren stay here

with me at weekends sometimes. Leeds has not issued any eviction notices

but across Yorkshire over 1000 have been served. In a statement the

government said that the BBC figures show the success of its policies. It

has reduced the housing benefit budget and at the same time it is on

track for its five`year plan of seeing 30% of those with the spare

bedroom move to a smaller house. And there will be more on that on

the Sunday Politics Show at 11.15 here on BBC One. Later on Look

North... The Sheffield couple making history by tying the knot at

midnight. As soon as gay marriage becomes

legal, Richie and Kyle are to say their vows.

The Attorney General has lost his appeal against what he described as

the "lenient" sentence given to a Sheffield ice`cream maker who kept

another man as a slave. Dominic Grieve was attempting to increase

the six and a half year jail term handed to David Rooke for false

imprisonment and assault. He was convicted in January this year of

keeping Craig Kinsella ` a man with learning difficulties ` in his

garage and forcing him to live like a modern`day slave. But the Court of

Appeal ruled the sentence wasn't too low. This was a difficult sentencing

exercise, even for this experienced judge. We refuse to leave and the

matter is concluded. 22 people have now been identified as suspects at

the centre of the two ongoing inquiries into the Hillsborough

disaster in 1989. 96 Liverpool football fans died at the Sheffield

Wednesday ground. A mix of serving and retired police officers as well

as others working for other organisations at the time are being

interviewed. Alleged offences include manslaughter, misconduct in

a public office, and perverting the course of justice.

A petition's been launched calling for more information about the mass

resignation of a North Yorkshire school's governing body. In February

all the governors at Richmond School stood down, but the reasons why were

unclear. The people behind this new petition say there's been a cover up

and the community has a right to know what's happened. In a previous

statement, North Yorkshire County Council said the governors left

because of a serious breakdown in trust and their relationship with

the school's leadership team. A pensioner from the Peak District,

who became the most watched person in the world in the early days of

YouTube, has died aged 86. Peter Oakley became an unlikely internet

sensation when he started posting his own videos online. His first

contribution received three million hits.

As midnight strikes tonight, history will be made in Sheffield and in

other towns and cities across the country as gay marriage becomes

legal. South Yorkshire couple Richie Wood and Kyle Emerson will be among

the first to tie the knot. They're getting married at Sheffield Town

Hall in a special ceremony just after midnight. Kate Bradbrook has

been to meet them on their big day. The town Hall is one of Sheffield's

most historic buildings and tonight history will be made here. Richie

Wood and Kyle Emerson, becoming one of the first same`sex couples in the

country, tying the knot at midnight and now there is only hours to go.

Kyle and Ritchie met at midnight seven years ago and will be the

first couple in Sheffield to take advantage of the change in the law.

Our relationship is no different to anyone else's, and as much as it is

about gaining equality for us, it is about the marriage we are going

into. The civil partnership automatically gives you the barrier,

and we are excited to have the opportunity and the chance to get

married. We have a lot of friends from up and down the UK, and some

coming from Europe as well. We are excited and we are going to proceed

with the ceremony as of the first chime of midnight so it will have

that magical fairy tale theme to the wedding which is exactly what we

wanted. It may not have been a whirlwind romance but the wedding

has been planned in just 26 days, and with a little help from local

businesses and loved ones, their dream Day is now a reality. Everyone

has pulled together, and it is not over yet. We have tonight to come,

so until it has happened I don't think anyone will relax. Because the

ceremony is happening so late, the whole day has been turned on its

head. After midnight, people will come through to the ceremony room

where the couple will tie the knot. Same`sex marriage may seem

unconventional at the moment but it will soon become the norm.

Thanks for staying with us. Before seven o'clock: Fighting a financial

handicap. And the Bradford Alhambra marks its centenary with the Lion

King, its biggest show yet. Now onto sport and it's a big

weekend for Chesterfield fans who are getting ready to go to Wembley

for their cup final on Sunday. Yes, they play Peterborough for the

Johnstone Paints Trophy and Shamir Masri is in Chesterfield for us now.

Good evening. Good evening, I am here at the home of justice ``

Chesterfield FC. The team themselves headed down sale this morning so

they are already preparing for the big match, but my colleague caught

up with them before they left to give them a big sendoff. There are

some exciting events to look forward to round here, and the Chesterfield

ladies love no one more than big Tom, that's Tommy Lee of course, the

Chesterfield goalkeeper and his mates who after their final training

session this morning said their goodbyes to fans who will soon be

following them to Wembley. For the larger than usual media presence,

there were some big messages to digest. They will be hoping to avoid

Wembley and the play`offs in their quest to be automatically promoted

instead. The priority since the start of the season has been

promotion. We need to be in the top three come May and that is where our

focus will be. We are in a good position, but we have some massive

games to come on Sunday and afterwards. As the games become

less, the intensity and the pressure builds up but it shouldn't really

because it should be something you can look forward to. Are likely

40,000 plus attendance at Wembley should provide a useful split of

gate proceeds, but Chesterfield have been quick to change the subject.

Pride for the supporters, for the day itself, that is what the game on

Sunday is all about. It is not about finance. The point is that if the

manager and the players get their way between now and many, this will

be Chesterfield's only trip to Wembley this season, so enjoy it,

and there is still time to work, flag`waving technique. I am here at

the community hub at the stadium, and with the man behind it. It is a

fantastic stadium. Yes, it is great, a number of community

tenants, a great addition for the club and it shows what a great

community focused this club has. Absolutely, the kids are enjoying

themselves. Fantastic facility. Let's speak to a couple of fans,

Ian, how much are you looking forward to this final? Really

excited and it is on my bucket list so it has been fulfilled. I was away

last time in Malta so I am making up for it. You have been supporting the

club for quite some time, you were there two years ago and it was a

bittersweet season. Yes, we won the trophy but we got relegated from the

league. This time we are going to do the double. You had a bit of a

stutter but you are looking to rectify that now. Yes, we can still

get promotion and the title. Fantastic. The game is this Sunday,

they play Peterborough and we will keep you updated on our Sunday

bulletins. Good luck! It is another day, another Leeds

United story. The players have agreed to defer part of their wages

for March according to Professional Footballers' Association chief

executive, Gordon Taylor. The players were due to receive their

wages today, but only the general members of staff were paid.

Businesman Massimo Cellino has paid the last two wage bills, but on

Monday, the Football League blocked his takeover of the club, although

the Italian has since lodged an appeal against the decision. There

is an approximate amount that has been acceptable to the players. They

are aware of the situation. There has been a meeting today with the

players and things are looking to be sorted next week one way or the

other. Castleford have gone back to the top

of Super League after demolishing London Broncos. The Tigers won 54`6

at the Hive in Barnet. There were two tries apiece for Justin Carney

and Michael Shenton. Carney is the League's top try scorer with seven

this season. As for Shenton, his coach Daryl Powell says he's playing

as well as at anytime during his career.

That is a cracking story, at the top of the super league. Well there's

also an important sporting weekend ahead in Doncaster where a crowd of

around 15,000 is expected to welcome in the new flat racing season. It's

not just a big weekend for the venue, but also for the local racing

industry, as Ian Bucknell reports. At 26, Scott Dixon is one of the

youngest racehorse trainers in the business, he is based near the

village of barbed `` Babworth and this is an exciting time. We always

try to set our stall out to have a few winners round Doncaster. Horse

racing is big business here, and Scott has eight stable staff. He

says that for a small training operation like this it can be a

struggle to survive. It is having a bit of luck to get a good horse,

that is the dream, that's why most people get into it. The dream of

having a top`class horse that will take them around the country and

hopefully around the world. Doncaster racehorse helps to support

the nearby racing industry by encouraging its members to invest in

horses trained by Scott and other local yards. They are an integral

part of our business, without them we wouldn't have an event put on.

For Scott, a win on Saturday could change his fortunes forever,

attracting new owners and more horses. As with so much in racing, a

lot is at stake. Sheffield is known as the steel city

for a good reason and its metal used to be found on golf courses

everywhere before lighter and more durable materials came into use. A

Rotherham company is aiming to put Sheffield steel clubs back on the

fairway. Their only handicap is their prototype has been deemed too

risky for conventional financial backing. Our business correspondent

Danni Hewson has this exclusive report. Precision comes as standard

at Newburgh engineering from aerospace to military projects, the

core business is booming, but despite their proven track record in

new scheme to make golf clubs has struggled to get off the ground. A

hangover from the credit crunch, finding finance is stopping

innovation at the first tee. Most don't understand it so they tend to

move away from things they don't understand and if they can't see an

immediate return. It has been difficult to raise money and we have

tried to get funding from various routes and failed. We are going to

Kick starter, and anyone can take part in the project. From Monday,

anyone can pledge money to the project but only those offering

?1000 will get one of the putters. I'm not a golfer but I'm told this

could bring about a new era, repatriating golf club production to

South Yorkshire with that all`important stamp of made in

Sheffield. The project is already attracting support from some high

profile figures, even if this sportsman is better known for his

football skills. I think it is brilliant for Sheffield, Yorkshire,

for Britain. A lot of our manufacturing has gone to China and

they are putting the prices up. They don't really care about the

workmanship, they just want to get paid and I think there is a bit of

pride that it will be in Sheffield. So why now after so many years is

steel making it back on the fairway? We can do it because we have the

technology, the materials and the reputation. Big dreams, now they

just need the cash. Here we go,

it is embarrassing! I have only ever done crazy golf in Ambleside, once!

Give it some welly. You can win this. Absolutely hopeless. Is that

your teacup? It is mouldy in the bottom. There we are. We wish them

all the best with the project anyway.

Bradford's Alhambra theatre turns 100 this year. To celebrate, it's

staging the largest show in its history. Disney's The Lion King will

play for seven weeks at the theatre as part of its UK tour and Look

North's had exclusive access backstage. Here's David Tracz. The

music in the show is familiar to a generation. The productions and

adaptation of the 1994 Disney film. Since it premiered on Broadway, this

production has toured the world. It is the story of Simba and the

journey he goes through in his life to become a king. This is one of the

show's principal characters. It is a fairy tale, she is the one calling

the animals to praise the birth of the King. Some roles in the

production are also played by puppets. You can get quite a lot of

character out of this puppet. He has a trigger for his beak, and a cradle

here that works his eyes. The guys that come in here have about five or

six weeks to learn the puppetry. 21 trucks are used to transport this

production across the country and it is the biggest show the Alhambra has

had in its history. It means a lot for the cast to be here. We are

really proud to be here in Yorkshire, also in this Alhambra

Theatre. The show runs in the Alhambra until May.

That looks something else! I'm sure it will be fantastically successful.

Looking forward to that. You were terrible! What about all those hours

you spend on the fairway? What do you mean all those hours! This is a

picture of cherry blossom, it has obviously been a grey day. The

bluebells out there, thank you for that. This was the 29th of March

last year, and of course it was one of the coldest and snowiest Marches

on record. British summer Time starts on Sunday, both Saturday

afternoon and Sunday afternoon looked promising with sunshine,

although both mornings could get off to a great start. We are pulling up

dry air from the near continent, and temperatures could reach 17

degrees. There is a lot of cloud, still giving some patchy rain and

drizzle in places. It stays cloudy overnight, some mistiness and hill

fog and further patchy rain in places with most temperatures around

six Celsius. The sun will rise in the morning at 5:48am, your next

high water time: A very slow start to the weekend,

some hill fog. It is a slow process but gradually the cloud will break

up, south Yorkshire will be sunny by the end of the morning. Elsewhere it

might take until the afternoon but it will be fine and sunny, and

inland it will become warm as well. Not one along the coast with a fresh

easterly wind, just nine degrees in Scarborough. The best of the

conditions will be further west. You can see 16 in Leeds and Sheffield. A

repeat performance on Sunday, perhaps less in the way of low

cloud, then it brightens up readily. The first day of British

summertime looks beautiful, 16 or 17 Celsius. On Monday, more in the way

of cloud and the risk of some scattered showers. That is the

forecast. I am looking forward to Stuart Lancaster tonight, having a

chat with him. The weekend is set up nicely. Of all good weekend,

goodbye. chat with him. The weekend is set up

nicely. Of all good weekend, goodbye.