20/07/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening. It welcome to North West Tonight police search a flat

in Stockport as they arrest a nurse on suspicion of murdering patients

at Stepping Hill Hospital. We have been following the story, and sex

minute is is on our doorstep. We will have the late is on that

investigation at the hospital. The legal challenge to one

council's plans to reduce adult social care. Walking tall, the

upstanding members of the community that lived 2 million years earlier

than we thought. And that of the rising Sun? Not sup

-- not quite. It looks as if the Police are questioning a nurse from

Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport on suspicion of murdering patients.

27-year-old Rebecca Leighton from heavily -- from Heaviley was

arrested this morning. The deaths of three patients are being

investigated, another patient remains in intensive care.

Laureates has been following developments as joins us from the

hospital. Yesterday we were saying do not expect any arrests soon, and

then early this morning this development. Yes. Eight days into

this investigation, and tonight Rebecca Leighton is being

questioned on suspicion of murdering three patients. The

arrest was an unexpected one given that 24 hours earlier police were

warning us it was likely to be a long and complex investigation.

Early this morning at her flat in the Heaviley area of Stockport she

was arrested. We have been speaking to people who lives near by.

have been following the story and next minute it is on my doorstep.

It is a shock. What reaction has there been from the families of

those three people whose deaths are being investigated? Let rename it

reminds you of the three patients at the centre of this story. They

are 44-year-old Tracey Arden, 71- year-old Arnold Lancaster and

George Keep. I was speaking to George Keep's daughter and son-in-

law this morning. They say they are very shocked at what has happened,

but they are hoping that George's death has nothing to do with this.

And what has been happening at the hospital today? This remains a

working hospital in the mist of a police investigation. Increase

security and police presence is here to reassure patients and staff

at all it under control, but also MMI debt as to what is happening in

this investigation. Staff say it is a difficult time. We are being more

careful. We are just watching everything and everything that is

going on. It makes the daily work harder. It is quite stressful

because you have to sign up everything. Everyone is looking at

everyone else really suspiciously. Tonight the hospital has told us

that special security measures remain in place. Greater Manchester

Police have until 6am tomorrow morning to charge or release

Rebecca Leighton. Laureates, thank you.

When spending cuts were made by local councils, did they do enough

to protect the vulnerable? To pensioners with disabilities say no.

They are now challenging Lancashire County Council in court, accusing

it of breaking the law. The council says his reduction in

the Budget was lawful. Both sides of the argument are being heard at

Manchester High Court. If the council loses, it could have

widespread implications. Margaret Cropper has cerebral palsy,

and relies on support from Lancashire County Council to lead

an independent life. She fears cuts to the social care budget could

threaten her independence. With my personal care needs, getting up in

the morning, getting dressed, they will not be so good. Regarding my

ability to get shopping, in --, regarding my ability to keep out of

the house, regarding my ability to make friends, my normal life, that

will beat seriously curtailed. Protesters took to the streets to

oppose cuts which they say targeted the most vulnerable in society. Two

have now taken their battle to the courts. They have been granted

anonymity, but one is 65 and has a range of health problems. She has

been unable to work since 1981. The second is 73 and partially

paralysed. Both say the cuts could seriously undermine their chance of

leading normal lives. The charity Disability Equality North West has

supported them. We know that Lancashire has to save money, but

we would like them to just do it differently. As the High Court in

Manchester, the women's lawyer has argued that the council broke the

law by not taking into account the impact the cuts would have. The

council insisted it sticks to decision-making process was that it

be legal. Dave joins us from outside the court. If the women

when their case, this will have major implications for Lancashire

County Council and not just them, but others to? That is right.

Lancashire are vigorously defending this case. They say they played

everything by the book, but if they do lose, if the judgment goes

against them, they will have to look again at their budgets. They

still have to save �71 million somewhere, so they will have to

have a look. Birmingham is in a similar position, and an action

against them succeeded. The they said they would have to make the

cuts somewhere else. That will be the case here as well, they would

have to look at the budget again, and decided other savings can be

made in other parts of the Budget. This case is expected to go on

tomorrow, the council were beginning their side of things then,

but the judge will make his judgment public at a later date.

Sonae has announced plans to start rebuilding its chipboard plant in

Kirkby after a fire last month. Demolition will finish in six weeks.

Two workers died there last December in a fire. A local MP had

called for the plants to close. It should be fully operational early

next year. The Royal Northern College of Music

has suspended a member of catering staff following the accidental

contamination of a bottle of salad dressing. Five people were taken to

hospital on Friday after eating salad contaminated with dishwasher

liquid. They were all unharmed. The college has apologised, and is

investigating. Members of the Isle of men at --

Isle of Man Trade Union Council have mounted a protest outside

Government Building. They are questioning the cost of having 33

members of Tynwald. It follows the loss last week of �75 million a

year, thanks to a new VAT deal with the UK.

Do you fail �80,000 is a fair cost for each MHK? That is what the

government in the Isle of man wants everyone to ask themselves in the

run-up to the elections in Manchester. We want to find out if

people think they are worth it. The same is going on across the public

sector, and it is applicable to our politicians. People are getting

steamed up about it. Demonstrations like this with the government --

with the people questioning how government spend its money have

more resonance after the renegotiated VAT deal, which cost

the island �75 million a year. It is a view echoed on the street.

Everybody should be worried about the cuts. It will affect lot of

things. It is a great place to raise children, but if cuts are

made in education that is a bad thing. The government says

adjustments will have to be made, but they are what -- unwilling to

say where. Some things are for the next administration, we have a

general election in September. It is important that we all start

realising and recognising that we are going to have a tighter job on

our hands and we have up-to-date. The business community is worried

about how the island will deal with this drop in revenue. They will

have to cut their cloth a bit tighter. We do not want there to be

a significant reduction in services, or the island would not be such a

good place to do business or to live.

The first visitors have been arriving at the RHS Flower Show in

Tatton Park. It opens today. Tens of thousands of visitors are

expected over the next five days. Among them will be both of us on

Friday morning at around 11am. Right now Kate Simms is there.

It has not rained at all today, but I think that is about to change. No

rain could dampen this display. This one has been designed by

schoolchildren across Cheshire. This has been designed to represent

different countries, this one is France. And this one here is

designed to represent the country of Chile. There have been a record

number of gold medals given Altair, giving you an idea of the standard.

The show has been changed completely this year. We decided to

remove some things from where they have been for 10 years and switch

the show around. It has a completely different feel to it.

looks as though the weather will hold out. He just stands there and

carries everything! As soon as I saw this I was taken at right back.

This is a college's homage to the children's Classic Garden. Talk be

through how this garden represents Blackpool. We have got the orange

flowers, the marigolds. We have got shrubs at the back, a seaside

shrubs. You must be a big black ball back? I do not know a thing

about football. Have you feel about being second in young design of the

year? I feel pretty prowled. -- prowled. What d'you think of the

garden? It is really beautiful. The combinations are super. Thank

goodness for your programme. My mummy and daddy watch it every

night, so I get to stay up a little One of those gold medal gardens is

this one, a Japanese garden. It was created by the head gardener at

Tatton Park. Why the Japanese theme? We thought it would be

appropriate to celebrate when it was built. It has won an award.

This has a special meaning for you. After 32 years as head gardener,

you are retiring? Only from Tatton Park. I cannot say forever. I am

going on to do other things. I am passionate about gardens. You have

been involved in this show since it has started. Do you have any

highlights? The weather can play havoc. One of the highlights was

1997 when it rained solidly. But, we did a garden about Venice, so it

was ironic. It has got bigger every year of. Yes. Some fantastic

exhibits are here. Thank you. I have a feeling we will be seeing

you again. We will be back with them weather later. Fingers crossed

it does not start raining before then.

Still to come. Saturday-night showdown. The Bury footballer

turned boxer with world champion potential.

A and why scientists in Liverpool are making footprints on the shore

of the Mersey to understand how cavemen walked millions of years

ago. What would you say if your local

council started renovating a house he owned, with a theatre getting it

rented out without your permission? This happened to a property in

Kendal. The house had been empty for almost eight years. South

Lakeland District Council have permission to take it over and

rented out to a local family without the owner's permission.

It is one think machinery tearing up your driveway, but quite another

when you did not invited. On in Kendal, this house has been falling

apart for almost eight years. The council has used an empty dwelling

management order to do something about it and will offer it to one

of 3000 local families who need it. In seven years, the owner has the

option to take it back. We will get some by D from the housing list

command and we will get it done up and the neighbours will get

something that was an eyesore taken away and replaced with something

new. It has not been pleasant recently. Especially when it was

broken into, and teenagers were using it as a drinking den. My wife

was terrified. We invited the owner for interview. He has not responded.

Neighbours say in the eight years since there were tenants here, they

do not recall seeing him at the house. High property prices and low

wages means this area has a serious housing shortage. The owner could

argue it is not their problem. is about freedom and you could say

you have the freedom to hang on to your house and do what you like,

but I says somebody has a freedom to have an affordable home in the

area they grew up. It is estimated there are 1,000 empty properties in

the area. The council is saying do something about yours before the

diggers turn up. It is time for sport. We start with

the breaking news that Manchester City's South American footballer is

on his way back home. The final chapter for Carlos Tevez? If only.

Manchester City have announced their Brazilian striker is on his

way back home. As for Carlos Tevez, what is the story tonight? The deal

worth �40 million with Corinthians is off. The transfer window expired.

By does this leave him? He has gone on record -- where does this leave

in? He said he did not want to be back in Manchester. He is

contracted until 2014 to Manchester City. He could go in the January

transfer window. He scored 43 Premier League goals in two seasons

at City, more than any other player. Manchester City will hope he will

turn up and diet -- do his best. The alternative is to sit at home

and watch himself on North West Tonight until something happens!

Blackburn Rovers are expecting to find El Hadji Diouf when they find

him. The Senegal International should have reported for training

but has not been seen at Ewood Park since the month of May. This

weekend, three of the best boxers in the area will be in action. We

will praevia Amir Khan's fight in Vegas on Friday. Tonight, Tyson

Fury and his clash at the wheel of Derek Chisora. Now, Scott Quigg,

and his home time defence of his WBA title -- home town defence.

Saturday cannot come quickly enough for 22-year-old Scot quake. There

is nothing better than fighting in front of home fans -- Scott Quigg.

He may be only eight stones 10, but he packs a powerful punch. He has

not down 14 of his 21 opponents. has proved himself as a fighter.

There is not much more to say. He is dedicated and disciplined.

says once he has beaten Franklin Varela from Venezuela, there will

be no limits. I believe I can become world champion. As a

youngster, he tasted failure when he was rejected as a footballer by

his home town club. He then turned to boxing. To be knocked back

because of your size and not your ability, I got disheartened. It was

rough on the pitch. I had a go at boxing. I ended up -- it ended up

working out for the best. I would not be doing his job. I would

rather be on the pitch. For him, football is just for fun now, but

on Saturday, it will be serious business.

Finally, second-placed Lancashire's bid to capture Durham took them to

Headingley for the Roses match. Headingley for the Roses match.

Lancashire were put into bat. They are not doing too badly.

It is good to get a day's cricket It is good to get a day's cricket

in. And hello to Carlos Tevez if he is watching! Scientists at

Liverpool University discovered one of ancestors walked upright earlier

than had been at thought. That was almost 4 million years ago, not 2

million. They used computers to work out whether a species of

caveman walked like us. This is how a BBC series portrayed

a creature called Australopithecus afarensis, an ancestor. Scientists

thought that predecessors did not walk upright until 2 million years

ago. Here are casts of fossilised footprints made by Australopithecus

afarensis almost 4 million years ago. The Liverpool team it used

modern scanning methods to work out an average footprint. They worked

at the pressure pattern that print would create. They got a computer

to work at the most efficient way for the creature to walk. The

answer was upright with straight legs. The pressure pattern for

walking that way matches the pressure pattern which our ancestor

made. This is an animation. Compare this to the bench legged way that

animals like chimpanzees war. It is important because it suggests an

early humans walked upright to get out fruit in trees rather than

chasing animals to eat. -- chimpanzees walked. A it is not

being a predator, but being a fruit eating her before. A more we know

about how they walked, the better we will understand how they evolved.

This is why scientists are taking measurements of their own feet in

the sand at New Brighton beach. Now, the team are gathering samples of

the way modern humans move to further understand how our walk

involved. Great. Before we go back to Tatton

Park, I will tell you about a programme you might be interested

in watching tonight. It is about regional television. It is called

Regional TV: Life Through A Local Lens. It is the story of how

audiences fell in love with regional television. It is on BBC4

at 9pm. Now, we can go back to RHS Flower

Now, we can go back to RHS Flower Show command at putt. And the

weather. Hello, then weather is

disappointing today. For the moment, I am standing next to gardens that

are back to back. This is designed by Gordon Bayley, the head gardener

at a company -- at Arley Hall. There are lots of pinks and reds.

We have the spider flower. Gordon Bailey has not exhibited before. He

has the bronze medal for this garden, which is amazing. My

favourite part of the garden is this. This was inspired by the

Arley Hall and garden. I think we will see a lot of hats tomorrow for

Ladies' Day. What about the weather? It has been a miserable

day today. We have a warning for rain from the Met Office.

Temperatures have been disappointing. It has been very

cloudy. Tomorrow, disappointing temperature for this time of the

year. On Friday, we may see sunshine. The reason for the

weather being so cloudy is that over the next couple of days we

have low pressure. My first day, you can see the low-pressure

starting to creep away in the direction of the North Sea. On the

other side, we have high pressure. On Friday, we are stuck between two

systems. We could see sunshine. This evening, it is fairly cloudy.

We may see some scattered showers. It will be a fairly quiet night.

Temperatures will remain in double figures. By Thursday morning, it

will start off fairly cloudy. As we head into the afternoon, we may see

scattered showers. We may see cloud breaks as well. The temperatures of

very disappointing. As we look at Friday, temperatures up to 18

degrees. Maybe a bit more sunshine. And the weekend is looking better.

We should see brighter conditions for the weekend. That is the

weather. I think I have found a hat for

Ladies' Day. That is very becoming.

It is the first ladies' day tomorrow.

If you come tomorrow you have to make sure you are wearing your best

clothes. You may win a prize. Hats are the order of the day. If

it rains, used a -- you will stay dry.

We shall be there on Friday. Before we go, we have something fun to

show you. The studio as you have not seen it before. It is made of

paper. Jim Scott has sent this picture of a model he made.