17/04/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

in Ukraine. That is all from the BBC News at six. It is goodbye from me

Good evening and welcome to Thursday's Look North. On the

programme tonight: A medical breakthrough.

Millions suffering from diabetes could benefit from advances made by

scientists at Sheffield University. We talk to the patients who will

benefit. Also tonight: A peaceful protest.

Dozens protest over plans to build a new motorway service station on the

site of ancient woodland in South Yorkshire.

Could a bit of lane discipline be on the cards for inpatient consumers at

Meadowhall? And I promise you its no yolk! We

meet the woman who's hung onto this Easter egg for 65 years. I looked

inside and saw what it was like and I just did not have the heart to

destroy the egg. It was so beautiful.

The return to fine weather in the next few days. I will be back later

in the programme with all the details of the Easter weekend.

Our top story: A breakthrough by scientists at Sheffield university

could signal new hope to the millions of people who suffer from

diabetes. Two thirds of people who have the

condition get nerve damage and that can cause crippling pain which stops

them doing ordinary every day tasks. But this breakthrough could change

all that. Amy. Diabetes is a common condition. It

is caused when your body is unable to break down sugars into energy.

Around one in five of you watching the programme tonight will suffer

from it. That's almost three million people

around the country, with hundreds of thousands more remaining

undiagnosed. With numbers predicted to reach five

milliion by 2025, the need for new treatments and better understanding

is urgent. Diabetes is caused when your body is unable to break down

sugars into energy. Many sufferers need injections of insulin to

regulate the condition. Kate Bradbrook has been to meet one woman

whose life has been torn apart by the condition.

For the past five years Tracey has been in constant agonising pain. She

suffers from a form of diabetes that causes nerve damage and it affects

almost all aspects of everyday life. I suffer with it in my hands and my

arms and my feet and legs. There is a continuous deep rooted pain which

never goes away. Then there is added pain like pins and needles,

numbness, burning and shooting pains. Tracey's legs are often so

sensitive they cannot come into contact with her bed. She has a

cradle to make night`time more bearable but life is not easy. In

the beginning, because I did not know anything about it and I did not

understand, I was very depressed. At 1.I felt suicidal. I think it is

because I have tried many different types of medication and I tried to

feel normal and I wanted a cure but I have come to accept it now, they

cannot cure it and I have to live with it. Experts here at Sheffield

hospitals say they have had a breakthrough. By using MRI scanning

equipment they have revealed for the first time the impact the condition

as on the nervous system. We found that not only does it affect the

nerves in the feet and the legs but it also seems to have an impact on

the spies all caught in the brain as well. `` the spinal`cord. The

involvement of the nervous system is more extensive than previously

thought. MRI scanners are not new technology. It is the way they are

now being used to research this condition that has provided the

breakthrough. Although much more still needs to be learned about

diabetic uropathy, by understanding its effects, researchers say they

are one step closer to better treatment for Tracey and millions

more like her. We're joined now by the man whose

led this research Professor Solomon Tesfaye. He's in our Sheffield

studio. Did we know much about nerve damage before this research? We have

been researching it in Sheffield for many years and what we considered

initially was that the disease was confined only to the peripheral

nerves in the legs and hands. However over the past three years we

now think that in fact it is not only confined to the nerves in the

legs and hands but also involves the central nervous system, the

spinal`cord and the brain. Will this research allow you to help

patients? Absolutely. We have identified key areas of the brain

that are affected and we are now going to develop perhaps new drugs

in the next few years to try and stop the disease because we have a

keyhole to look at how the disease is progressing noninvasively, using

MRI imaging technology. Someone like Tracy could get help fairly

quickly? Absolutely. At the moment Tracey, who I know very well, is

cotton baying `` plagued by this condition and in constant pain. And

the treatments we have for her at the moment only work partially

because we do not understand the disease very well but now with this

breakthrough we have a better understanding of the disease and we

are going to, in the next few years, trying to develop new

compounds to mitigate the effect of diabetes on the nervous system. That

is encouraging news for millions of people. Thank you for joining us.

The owner of a long`established family`run business in West

Yorkshire has appeared at Crown Court charged with the murder of his

estranged wife. John Butler, who runs a well`known furniture store in

Yeadon, which recently featured in the reality TV series The Fixer has

been remanded in custody. Our Crime Correspondent John Cundy reports.

This furniture shop is a family business and has been here for 68

years. The store and its sister funeral business closed today

because of what happened on Monday. 61 you wrote Pauline Butler was

found dead from multiple stab wounds at a property nearby. Her estranged

husband and fellow company director was arrested on suspicion of her

murder. John Butler came to national attention two years ago in a BBC Two

TV series, The Fixer. It is a family business but I do not think it

really works. A business expert was called in to advise companies on how

to do better. There is a lever on the side here, pull the lever and

the rest comes out. Fantastic. John Butler appeared at Leeds

Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with the murder. His case was

switched to the Crown Court today. John Butler appeared in court for

just six minutes. No application for bail was made on his behalf and the

case was adjourned until April the 28th. Meanwhile the store is shut to

mark the family bereavement this week and it is expected to reopen

next Tuesday. Later on Look North: a final mercy

mission. A medical field hospital makes ready

`` gets ready to make its final trip to Afghanistan.

Dozens of Woodland Trust campaigners have been taking part in a peaceful

protest today over plans to build a new service station on the M1 in

South Yorkshire. Developers say the ?40 million

scheme, at junction 35, north of Sheffield, would create around 400

construction jobs and up to 300 permanent posts. But opponents say

it would destroy ancient woodland. Shamir Masri was at today's protest.

Protesters came out this morning to express their concerns over a

planned motorway services development on the site of ancient

woodland near Sheffield. Campaigners argue that Smithy Wood is part of

the green belt and has been designated as a local wildlife site.

There are lots of areas you can look at to build this thing, it doesn't

have to be in the middle of an ancient wood which the local

community value and is home to a lot of wildlife. It does not need to

happen. For the developer the site has Smithy Wood is an ideal location

for a new motorway service area. It overlooks junction 35 of the M1

between Sheffield and Barnsley. Locals and campaigners fear that

this 800`year`old wood and the tranquillity it provides for the

people and its wildlife could be lost for ever if this development

goes ahead. The developers want to build these motorway services on 27

acres of woodland. They will plant 60,000 trees, creating 39 acres of

new woodland on three nearby sites. There is also an offer to fund a

trust that would manage 172 acres of privately owned woodland for

community use. This afternoon campaigners delivered a letter to

the developer in Rotherham, detailing reasons why these plans

should not go ahead. There are a lot of people, the silent majority I

would argue are supportive of the investment and jobs that does not

always come across. I really hope that he reconsiders and thinks about

the loss of ancient woodland. I am not totally convinced that the jobs

outweigh the loss. People have another month to declare

their opposition over the plans. The campaigners will not know until the

summer if their voices will save Smiddy would. `` if their voices

will save Smithy Wood. A Sheffield man who beheaded his

teenage girlfriend with a kitchen knife has been jailed for life for

her murder. 18`year`old Reema Ramzan's body was found at Aras

Hussein's flat in Shire`cliffe in June last year. Hussein, who's 21,

had admitted the killing on the grounds of diminished responsibility

but denied murder. He was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison.

Police who've been searching the River Ouse in York for a missing

soldier have found a man's body. Tyler Pearson is thought to have

tried to swim across the river in the early hours of Thursday third

April. The 18`year`old has not been seen since. The identity of the body

is not yet known but Mr Pearson's family have been informed.

Two of our museums ` the National Railway Museum in York and the

National Media Museum in Bradford ` are said to be among the most

accessible in the country for disabled visitors.

A nationwide study looked at how 100 museums accommodated disabled people

and also rated facilities such as toilets, wheelchair access and

parking. The National Railway Museum was ranked fourth best in the

country and the National Media Museum came 15th.

The landmark tower at the former Yorkshire Post and Evening Post

building in Leeds is to be saved from demolition. The tower has

displayed the time and temperature since it was built in 1970.

Demolition work started on the Wellington Street site this week,

but the developer wants to retain the tower to provide a lasting

memory of the building. This weekend a team of medics

trained at the Army's 34 Field Hospital at Strensall York will be

deployed to Afghanistan to provide treatment and care at Camp Bastion

Hospital. The unit follows in the footsteps of many others, but this

time it's different. The team will be the last sent to

Afghanistan. When British troops withdraw at the end of the year a

field hospital will no longer be needed there. Olivia Richwald

reports. It is an emergency at the field

hospital. The casualties might be acting but the training here is very

real. There are 300 in the team, doctors, nurses, paramedics and

support staff. The British Army will leave Afghanistan by the end of this

year and these soldiers will be the last medical team to be deployed. We

are there to provide medical care for coalition forces but we also

supply support to the Afghan National Army and they are injured

in the vicinity. They are developing their own medical services and part

of our role is to mental that as well. This is a hospital on a

smaller scale, there is an accident and emergency and the latest

diagnostic equipment. This is the only field hospital training centre

in Europe and every medic in the British Army will come through here

at some point in their career. It is almost almost an exact replica of

the hospital in camp Bastian. The team training now is lucky enough to

be based here and in Afghanistan they will not just be saving lives.

They are also tasked with closing down the hospital. I am excited. I

have orders wanted to go on tour and I have been here for five years and

I have been dying to go for that times are now it is the last one so

it is an honour to pack up after. Not many people can say they were

there to close the hospital. I am pretty nervous. It is fear of the

unknown at the moment. We do not know what to expect when we're out

there. There was a good group of people going out so we will be fine.

The hospital at camp Bastian is among the best in the world. So many

soldiers owe their lives and limbs to the medics trained in North

Yorkshire. It is so interesting to get an

insight into what is going on out there.

What annoys you most about shopping? Queues? High prices? Or dawdling

shoppers? I am adored love myself. I stop in

my tracks when I see a bargain. I am looking for a bargain.

You are one of those annoying people! You are one of those people

that one girl got so frustrated about it, she wrote a letter of

complaint. And offered a suggestion. Rather than her letter being

ignored, one shopping centre has taken her up it. Ian White has been

to see if the next Mary Portas's ideas are a shopping success!

You know what it is like. You have an hour for your lunch break and you

do not have much time and you want to get your shopping done and people

are in the way everywhere! It is so frustrating! A ten`year`old girl has

come up with a clever idea to solve the problem. Chloe shows me her

invention being trialled at Meadowhall shopping centre. A slow

lane and a fast loan. If you are stuck behind a slow person you can

go on the fast lane. Who do you think would use the slow line? Older

people and people with prams. At peak times it is incredibly busy

here and some shoppers come here and they want is a very quick experience

and they want to flash around the place so they might want to use the

fast lane and other people are here for a full day so they might want to

use the slow lane. The idea behind the letter was good so we want to

trial it. People walk slow here and you can get to shops quicker if you

are faster. Which lane would you choose? I would be in the fast lane?

What about the wife? She'd be in the slow lane. Is it a good idea? Yes,

it is really good, you get stuck behind people. If you can get your

wife around the shopping centre more quickly without spending the money,

I will be stopping her using the slow lane. Meadowhall will introduce

the idea across the whole shopping centre if people say that they like

it. It is a brilliant idea. I used to be adored love but now I have a

baby I smash and grab. 3000 of you liked this story on our

Facebook page. Jamie Peters got in touch to say, I for one hate getting

stuck behind a group of slow people with no way round them, hopefully

this will take off! However, Andrea Allan wrote, It's a

ridiculous idea. Patience and manners would be a far simpler idea.

Some insight here from Rachel Orchard, she said, I'm disabled and

walk slower than most people. I'm OK with that and this way I'm less

likely to be knocked over by people going faster.

That is a really good point. Finally this comment from Eleanor

Barnes, It's an ace idea. I don't need to feel guilty that I'm on

toddler speed and holding up other people now!

And you can still join in the debate. Just head to Facebook and

search for Look North Yorkshire to find our page.

Before 7:00pm: One of Yorkshire's most successful bands breaks its

eight year silence. Embrace gives Look North exclusive

access to rehearsals for their brand new single.

And for goodness sake, don't drop it! Why this 65`year`old Easter egg

has never been nibbled. That would last two minutes in my house!

One minute in mind! Football now, and a quick glance at

the bottom of the Championship table is enough to tell us how much is at

stake this Easter weekend ` for Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers and even

Huddersfield Town. Those three names in particular are nowhere near safe

from the threat of relegation. Barnsley host Leeds United on

Saturday. Huddersfield play Brighton tomorrow afternoon. And Rovers?

Well, they really need to pick up some points tomorrow night against

Derby, and especially at Millwall on Monday. We could get three points on

Friday night and everybody else could win. We could lose both games

and still be the situation we are in now. But is how crazy the leaders.

We have to get back to getting points on the board just because we

can. On the performances we are far away.

And in Boxing, Leeds Featherweight Josh Warrington is into his final

preparations for what he describes as the biggest fight of his young

career so far on Saturday night in Manchester. Warrington will be

defending his Commonwealth Featherweight title against Rendall

Munroe, in front of his largest audience yet at the Manchester

Arena. He is by far the biggest name on the record. He has boxed four

world titles vamping Commonwealth champion before and European

champion before. If I can beat the likes of him it shows that I am at a

good level and I know that to progress onto the European level

which I want to go want to do and maybe world one day, I need to be

beating the likes of Rendall Munroe. Good luck. Now let us talk music.

One of Yorkshire most successful bands are about to go back on the

road with a new album after an eight year break.

In their day Embrace had three number one albums and a number one

single. Just days before the album is released and as they prepared for

their tour, they gave look North exclusive

access to their rehearsals. We were riding on the crest of a wave and we

had never been more popular but we felt like puppets rather than

puppeteers so we went away for while and rediscovered what it was about

being in a band that made us all this `` that made us all excited in

the first place. We needed time to find out about a normal life and

know it was not as much fun as being in a band. We worked on and off to

start with but we have been full`time for the last few years.

Our manager said we had been away for so long now it didn't matter how

long it took us as long as the record was right and that was really

encouraging. We just wanted to make a record that

was a bit more up and Qatari and not all ballots because we got sick of

writing ballads. The new album is darker than anything we have done

before but it also has the epic and euphoric choruses. We have been

trying to write an album that is better than our first album for the

last 15 years and I do not think we managed down till now. We all think

that this is the first time we have managed to do it.

There will be people who love it and people who will not. We are all

massively proud of it so as far as we are concerned it has done the job

already. We are very proud of the record so we want a lot of people to

hear it. Playing in front of crowns of people even if it is small clubs

in Germany or massive festival it is what we are really fired up to do

now. Being away for so long you assume everyone has forgotten about

you but it does not seem like that now, it seems they have really

missed us which is good. If it goes to number one I will take my top off

and run down the street. That is a good tune. They still have

got it! Will you take your top off and land on the street?

If it gets to number one, I promise you that! If you want to see more

from them you can see it on Facebook.

And still on a musical theme, Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh has

been filming the video to the official Tour de France anthem. The

anthem, called The Road, has been specially written by North Yorkshire

singer songwriter Alistair Griffin. It's to coincide with Le Grand

Depart which takes place in Yorkshire in July. As well as

Bradford born Kimberley, the anthem also features the Grimethorpe

Colliery Band. Now it's the last working day before

the Bank Holiday weekend, for some at least. And we couldn't mark the

occasion without an Easter egg. But this is a very special one. It's

vintage and has survived 65 years without being nibbled. Shirley Henry

has been to meet the Doncaster pensioner who'se will power is

second to none! Yours has got a hole in. Mine has not. There are a few

cracks and the colour is faded and one has a hole in the middle but for

their age they look good. These Easter eggs are 65 years old and

they are owned by two sisters. It is so beautiful inside. There are

little cardboard children playing with little lambs. Their uncle gave

them the eggs in 1949 when they were both children but the girls were

never tempted to take a nibble. I just had not the heart to destroy

BA. It was so beautiful. I said, that is something I will keep. And I

have kept it. All of these years. Probably because it was all sugar,

that is probably why I didn't eat it because I would have rather had some

chocolate that have sugar! The white sugary eggs were made in the 1940s

and it cost one guinea which is ?1 and it cost one guinea which wages.

They have now attracted the attention of a Japanese TV company.

I thought, no, I am dreaming! I am dreaming! The monetary value of

these eggs is of no concern for these sitters because in their eyes

they are priceless. These eggs are our pride and joy. Yes, definitely.

We will keep them for the rest of our lives. They are beautiful, they

do not make them like that any more! Any Easter eggs for you yet?

What about you? I have a rabbit and that is all. A

second on the lips and a second on the lips underlie from the hips.

Do not forget that! I will forget it on Easter!

I'm glad they did not send me on that bits I could have dropped the

egg and it would have that bits I could have dropped the

egg been in a million pieces. Let us look at some photographs. The

first two are quite cloudy. The first is of Ripon and the second one

is Marston Moor. There is a promise of brighter skies tomorrow. You can

keep your photographs coming in. Easter weekend is one of two halves.

Friday and Saturday looked good but Sunday and Monday not so good.

Tomorrow has a frosty start and it will be brighter than today. I

pressure has reasserted itself. Light wind as well. Chile along the

coast. A lot of clouds today, as you can see. We are starting to see a

brightening up with cloud breaks filtering down from the north which

will continue to spread southwards during the evening and overnight. A

final night with long and clear spells but Chile one. Temperatures

falling back to two four or five degrees.

Tomorrow morning a nippy start to the day but it will be a lovely day.

Dry and fine with plenty of sunshine. A lovely day to come on

Good Friday. It will be quite chilly out there. Not as breezy as it has

been some days this week but particularly along the coast I think

you will struggle with temperatures and coastal spots could stay in

single figures. Inland we will merely get up to the average for the

time of year. I nearly fell over there, a broken ankle for Easter

weekend will be nice! Outbreaks of rain spreading up from the south on

Sunday. I promise I have not had a drink. I couldn't balance on those!

And enjoy your Easter weekend. I will be on tonight with Keely if she

can stand up straight. I will see you next week.

Do not eat too much chocolate. Do,

you next week. Do not eat too much chocolate.

Do, eat it!