03/07/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening and welcome to Thursday's Look North.

To take the sport to hold an eye on getting a real tangle about this.

The opening ceremony is takhng place behind us right now. Just two days

to go until the race starts and tonight, all 198 of the raiders are

taking part in the opening ceremony. We will also catch up with some of

the famous faces taking part in the opening ceremony. To have it on our

home turf is quite a big honour owner of two pit bulls which savaged

to death a pregnant woman is spared There is going to be a festhval of

cycling here, but there's also a big campsite and I am going to tell

these campers whether it is going to be wet or not over the next few

days. Welcome to the programme.

We are at Leeds Arena, as the world's largest annual sporting

event is officially underwax. The opening ceremony has just begun.

We should be able to show you some of that later in the progralme, but

198 Tour De France cyclists are now making their way from the university

down to us here, to take centre We will bring you some of the leader

in the programme. We have sden one of the first teams cycling past It

is all about the 198 cyclists tonight. They are making thdir way

from Leeds University to take centre stage here. You have covered a lot

of tools in your time. Have you seen anything like this? This is the

biggest opening ceremony th`t has ever been put on for me Tour de

France. There's a lot of razzmatazz. I think this is a real innovation.

The great thing about this dvent is, you do not have to buy a ticket and

you get to the European noise when they come through the streets. Now,

we have some of the teams hdre, this is one of the smaller ones, but

Bradley Wiggins actually st`rted his career with them a few years ago.

So, with the global spotlight now on Yorkshire, how can our businesses

take advantage? Our business correspondent Danni

Hewson reports from the Grand Depart International Business Festhval in

If there's one thing Yorkshhre people are good, it is figuring out

how make money. There are a a lot of companies to meet. For sports

industries, it is a great opportunity to meet people `nd do

business. This is the first time a business conference has been

organised to coincide with the opening of the two are diffdrent and

it is likely to be a future innovation. It is stage one for the

race, but also stage one for us for a long`term plan. Events ard

targeted, so potential buyers and the health care sector spent the

afternoon visiting this factory in Rotherham. Yorkshire is a rdal

centre of excellence for thd industries. It is a fantasthc

platform to tell the world `bout the great technology we have in being

produced and enervated here in Yorkshire. If the joints do not

catch the fancy, how about the suits? A celebration of the textile

manufacturers in the region. They are looking to expand into larkets

such as China. China is a good market for luxury goods, but it is

also a matter of exposing the company to them and that is what

we're hoping this will do. No one with interest in the underestimates

the tour fever. To harness the enthusiasm and energy and thme it

into something concrete, like jobs, where people are coming to visit

Yorkshire, businesses, openhng up offices here, some people coming

here most are wondering how far it was from London. Now they h`ve the

answer. Now, the police operation for the

Grand Depart has also been ` massive event.

In fact, it has been a year in the planning.

Joining us is Assistant Chidf Constable Mark Milsom, the lan in

charge. So, what about the riders

themselves? Several of the teams have bden

holding their pre`race press How much of the challenge h`s this

been? Yorkshire always comes together for the big occasion. All

the police forces have come together and the other emergency services and

the councils, so it has been a big team effort. We are absolutdly

delighted. The police raiders were also out today, which was a sight to

behold. Yes, there are about 80 police motorcyclists out and about

on the route. We wanted to lake people aware that they will be

coming through. There are s`fety issues. It was a friendly rdminder.

He also had the French police here? Yes, it has been a real ple`sure

working with them, although the always kiss you finally meet you, so

I am not so sure about that. Clearly, these are challenghng

times. It was an event that which you obviously want to run sloothly.

That is why we plan it over such a long time. We look at all

eventualities and make sure we are ready if something should h`ppen.

The number of people who cotld be involved is obviously an issue? Yes,

the amount of people involvdd and also the amount of places that are

being involved as well. We `re expecting a very friendly code. Yes,

we are expecting a family code, a cycling code. We are expecthng them

to get a fantastic welcome. Of course, the Raiders have bedn

arriving over the last couple of days and today has been verx

exciting because news conferences have been taking place just about

everywhere. No, just what about the raiders themselves? You can see that

bakes, but no one is on thel. The days just before the tour are

fraught with danger. A crash, an illness. No one faces more of these

than the defending champion. It helps if the boss can see them off

with the charm offensive. Yesterday, I drove up the motorway

and I saw all these signs as I was driving up, it said possibld delays

due to the two different onds. It made me stop and think. It hs

amazing that we are starting at like this in Yorkshire. It is not easy

getting ready for it. You h`ve to put yourself through a lot of

training and beyond the start line mentally physically fit. Each one of

the name guys has done that. We are ready for this. Great kiss from a

close second was Mark Cavendish He had a lot of support in the room.

This is a massive short of we are cycling has now got to. The amount

of people embracing it is jtst blows your mind. I am looking forward to

taking that all end. The he`d of teams carriers and they are

somewhere. He has just almost completed his first round of daily

interviews. It all starts on Saturday and they know they are

going to get a lot of support along these roads. We have seen another

team go past. We saw a Russhan team, a French team. They have a

substitute, Scott, who it would be nice if you get the chance. Towards

the end, we may get the Australian team, who have the British raider.

The British riders have been saying it is great to be in Yorkshhre and

for to be starting in Great Britain. They are very excited. The sponsors

of obviously noticed a really Raiders have engaged with the

public. Have you heard the response from the foreign raiders? Yds, they

all seem to be enjoying it. They have all remarked on the fact that

we have really grabbed the opportunity to promote the race We

will speak to you later. We will have you on because you know what

you are talking about! Now, obviously a lot of roads will be

closed for the tour, starting tomorrow. You can tune into local

radio to have all the inforlation and we will also have some

information to mention to hdlp you get around. Whether you are watching

it live or on television. Another team is coming pastors. The as

Simon. Give us a wave! He h`s got a twin brother, and, as well. You can

also go on TV website to get all the information, and features. Lots of

you have been asking us exactly where the tour is coming through,

but we will be telling you `ll about that later in the programme.

The owner of two pit bull dogs which mauled to death his pregnant partner

in Leeds has been spared jahl, because a district judge sahd he had

expressed his deep remorse for the horrific attack.

But he told Lee Horner he would have to live the rest of his lifd with

the responsibility for and the torment of Emma Bennett's ddath

On December the 9th last ye`r, a dog stands outside, a second cornered by

police. It had fatally attacked a young mother. Emma Bennett Was

pregnant with her fifth child when attacked by the dog of Lee Horner.

Today, the Magistrates' Court was told it was not clear why the

previously passive dogs had turned Emma Bennett on. Neighbours remember

hearing the woman screaming. She died after suffering severe dog

bites, in the hospital. The Deputy district judge told Lee Horner he

would have to be for the rest of his life has torment of the death of the

love of his life, but because he showed remorse, they said hd would

not be sent to prison. He w`s sentenced to 280 hours unpahd

community work. He must also pay ?100 of having the dogs destroyed.

He has been banned for life for keeping dogs. He refused to comment

after leaving the court. Supermarket chain Asda is to cut

1,360 jobs, as part of an overhaul of its store management strtcture.

The move comes two months after the Leeds`based chain, which has nearly

600 stores in the UK, warned that around 4,000 roles were at risk

because of a need to reduce the Letters have been sent to thousands

of patients across Chesterfheld telling them that plans to split a

troubled GP surgery in Stavdley away from its parent company havd been

shelved. The Rectory Road practice h`s been

investigated by NHS England over a number of concerns, including

continuity of care and patidnt access.

A report published in Febru`ry recommended the practice should be

split from the Holywell Medhcal Group and taken over by another

provider, but one could not be I think patients will be very

disappointed at this stage. There were promises made. They were

competition requirements and because of the GP shortage crisis.

West Yorkshire's Police Comlissioner Mark Burns`Williamson has sdcured a

?200,000 grant from The Minhstry for Justice to create a network to help

victims of human trafficking. Police will join the Hope For

Justice charity and other groups aimed at rescuing and protecting

victims of what Mr Burns`Williamson calls "the significant emerging

threat" of trafficking. The Commissioner wants to hdad a

national working group to hdlp combat the crime.

Yet another date and venue have been announced for Sheffield boxdr, Kell

Brook, to fight for the world title. He will now take on defending

champion Shaun Porter on August 6 in California.

It is the third date so far given for the IBF welterweight title

In Sheffield, a giant cycle, about the size of a football pitch, has

been created in a field along the route of the Tour de France. It has

been created in honour of Nobel prize winner Sir Hans Krebs, who

discovered the Krebs Cycle ` how our bodies turn food into energx.

Today, school children re`enacted the whole process.

We are still waiting for sole of the teams to arrive, which will happen

over the next 30 or 40 minutes. Where is the best vantage point to

see the event? We are going to help you know. Because the event has so

much information, so here's a gate to what is happening and whdn. The

raiders leave Leeds town hall just after 11 o'clock.

The group has written to finish in the aggregate around p.m..

D2 starts at the racecourse in York at 11 o'clock in the morning.

The unexpected and Huddersfheld just before 2:30 p.m.. They are dxpected

to finish in Sheffield just before 4:30 p.m..

The opening ceremony is well underway.

Now, the opening ceremony is being screened all over the world, but as

well as the cyclists, Yorkshire s musicians are also playing ` major

part in tonight's celebrations. Earlier, we caught up with some of

Tomorrow evening, we will bd live in Harewood, where the Duchess of

Cambridge will start the Totr on Saturday. And on Sunday evening we

Embrace With me. Do you still feel a bit nervous about performing at

these sort of things? Yes, ht is an amazing event. What is the first

song you are going to do? It is going to be a new version of one of

our singles, fall your hope. It start small and comes to a

crescendo. We are consummatd professionals! We are always doing

these sort of things! I met them on a bus on the way from Bradford this

morning and I cannot get rid of them! I hope you are really going to

enjoy yourselves and be really energised by the event. Gre`t to see

you, guys. Please enjoy it. This is special because I al back in

Yorkshire. I have not performed at the arena before either. Just to be

representing our home turf hs quite a big honour. When you are on home

turf, it is so different. Yds, the love that. It is a big deal. Any

nails? A couple. Any gig on home territory is a bit nerve wr`cking.

I did the coast`to`coast bike ride from Scarborough to Cumbria. Going

through the villages and thd deals, if the weather is anything like

that, it will be an absolutd treat for them. It is not happening for

me, I am afraid. Shall we gdt a tandem? Enjoy tonight. Have a

fantastic show. Thank you. We will do. Embrace well we have to say that

our massive fans of you, Harry. Here, you talk to people from

France, Germany, Belgium. Where are you from? We are from Leeds We re

going to watch all the breaks and be cheering. If you were going to go to

one part on the 258 males, free reduce go? We are hoping to watch

them on the cobbles. Take your time if you are claiming a beer. I did

that and I was in a bad way. To the road closures worry you? Should we

just put up with that? Everxone has been given alternative routds.

Simply, you have to go with the atmosphere. It is going to be

fantastic. Have any of you been inspired to take up cycling now that

you found out that the Tour de France was coming here? I dhd. I was

cycling beforehand. Clearly going to watch that is wrong? Harrowgate

With all the media coverage, it can be difficult to get in and out. Do

you think the event will show off Yorkshire? I am sure it will. As

regards cycling, I used to do a lot of it. That is fantastic. Wd will

look out for you. Well done. What is special to you about the race? I

think it is brilliant that hs so much support, it makes you really

proud of the region. No French, no German here. Yorkshire born all of

them. We are going to cross over to Paul. I can hear some jeering,

actually. I think another tdam is coming round the corner. We can just

see them know in the green jerseys. There's Michael Rogers. There's a

battle can't adore, a previous winner of the race. He is in great

form this year. We need to cross over to Paul. He has got thd latest

weather forecast. It is perfectly in North Yorks. What

a fantastic sport. You can watch the race go back live and watch all the

footage on the huge televishon screens. There is live music and a

big campsite. It may be right on Friday night. Let me just show you a

few of the photographs sent in over the last day. This was a prhmary

school. In the shape of our basic call. Terrific. And look at this

lamb and these look like beds buzzing in the countryside. A look

at this one. And this one m`de me laugh. Man in a bush after ` cycling

accident. Fantastic. Please keep them coming in. Now, some overnight

rain to clear on Saturday morning, but hopefully, it should be clear by

the time the race starts and some sunshine in the afternoon on

Saturday. On Sunday, a sunnx start, but clouds will bubble up in the

afternoon and roll we will see a scattering of showers, with some

good spells in between. I temperatures of 20 Celsius. This

evening, the sun is out. A purge of rain as possible both this dvening

and overnight. Another one of these very mild nights. Just the risk of a

bit of patchy rain. Tomorrow morning, again the chance of a light

piece of rain. It is a mostly cloudy day, with Easter Navy is a lostly

cloudy day, with Easter nearly as generally speaking, the morning is

dry, but through the afternoon, this weather front comes across the

region from west to east. Thoroughly wet by the end of the afternoon

Temperature is not bad, up hnto the 21, 20 2 degrees region. Thd further

Outlook, Saturday, overnight rain clearing and then brightens nicely.

Sunny spells in the afternoon. Sunday, a sunny start, with a view

heavy showers in the afternoon. Back to you. Thank you, the Amerhcan team

have just arrived. We will review some some of the pictures from

inside the opening ceremony. Good night.