15/07/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening, I'm Michelle Mayman. Welcome to North West Tonight.

A total of 14 patients may have been affected by the deliberate

poisoning of saline drips at a Stockport hospital. Three deaths

could be linked to the contamination, and today it emerged

that another 11 patients may also have been victims.

Increased security outside and inside the hospital today to

protect patients and staff, as the police inquiry into the deaths

begins. Senior officers say it is clear someone had tampered with

vials of saline, but all was been done to protect people at a

hospital. We are working closely with a hospital to improve the

security and protection of patience, the staff themselves and their

families. Our intention is to ensure that no further harm is

caused by this incident. The three people have died are a woman aged

44 and two men aged 71 and 84. The deaths remain unexplained. A

further 11 patients have been affected but not seriously harmed.

The hospital contacted police on Tuesday after an experienced nurse

reported high numbers of patients with unexplained low blood-sugar

levels. It was the staff at hospital we got this matter to our

back attention, and I have asked them to continue to beat extra

vigilant. We have increased security in terms of access to the

hospital and access to medicines, and replaced all saline ampules

across the hospital. The police say all professionals and patients will

be spoken to all the next 24 hours to establish how the saline vials

were contaminated. Outside Stepping Hill Hospital, local people were

full of praise. I have had five years' cancer treatment at the

Bobby Moore Unit, and there would not be here without them.

Everything has been highly commendable. It is just shocking

that something like this should happen. My mum is in there at the

moment, and they have always look after people well. The nursing

staff are excellent. As part of the investigation, all deaths that show

any sign of relevant symptoms will be looked into.

Police excavating farm land in Cornwall in the search for are

messing with milk -- Wirral man have recovered a body. Brett

Flournoy, a former boxer last seen on 16th June met up with another

man, David Griffiths from Berkshire, also missing. Police have recovered

a burned-out car that had been buried on the farm near placemacro.

The car contained to the body of one person -- sake or style.

will get a result to the families today. We know it is a very

difficult period with them being left in limbo, but at the same time

they want answers. An electrician in Fiji has been sentence to 18

months in jail after a teenager from Stretford was electrocuted.

17-year-old Luke Molner died five years ago after touching a washing

line post that had been accidentally connected to a live

cable. His parents gave their reaction to the sentence. It is a

very light sentence. But thinking about it, if you bear in mind the

fact that he may not even have been charged with manslaughter, we have

actually got a conviction and for that we are grateful because that

is what we have been a need to do over the last five years. People

have had to the their homes and work after a fire in Bootle today.

A 250 metre exclusion zone was put in place by Merseyside Fire Brigade

after they discovered a gas cylinder in the workshop blaze.

They have spent the day could in the cylinder.

For the next few days, the peace and tranquillity of a Cheshire

country house will be replaced by the sound of roaring engines.

The annual Cholmondeley Pageant of Power starts today with displays of

vintage motorbikes, rally drivers, and even simulated aerosol from the

RAF and the Army. It was a lovely day at Cholmondeley,

Tonight, damp and breezy throughout the night. The outlook for tomorrow