25/10/2011 North West Tonight

Tonight with Roger Johnson. And Ranvir Singh. Our top story.

Only a matter of time before someone dies. Cocklers are warned

not to go out to sea after a major rescue operation off the Lancashire

coast. We are in Lytham to ask whether fisherman will heed the

warnings. Also tonight. The parents of a teenage swine flu

victim urge others to make sure they are vaccinated.

Given a Royal seal of approval. Burnley's Weavers' Triangle gets

another visit from Prince Charles. I will report a more come as to why

there is no love lost between the local council and this statue.

And Much Ado About Nothing, or All's Well That Ends Well? Why a

Hollywood film is forcing a pub in Southport to lose its name for a

day. Cocklers are being warned not to

venture out into the Ribble Estuary after a major rescue operation

there last night. Coastguards say weather conditions are not suitable

for cockling and stress it is only a matter of time before someone is

killed. But despite their concerns, they have no power to stop

fishermen going out to sea. Our chief correspondent has spent the

day in Lytham. Was it business as usual despite last night's drama?

Very much so. These vehicles belonged to cockler Blue Square

Premier -- Copper Clubs. These are rich harvesting sites. People are

wanting to bring in these cockles. Last night a major search and

rescue operation after six cocklers got into difficulty.

Are they satisfied there is nobody else left their? The police

helicopter was involved in last night's operation. Six had got into

difficulties off the coast of Lancashire. They had difficulties

getting back to shore. The today, there was no shortage of cocklers

going out to harvest the coastline. What has happened is a Klondike

operation that has grown up as people realise there is money to be

made. More people are getting involved and it is difficult to

regulate. Their destination is five miles off the coast of Lytham.

Cockle reserves there are said to be worth millions. It open to

fishing in September. Even at low tide you need a boat to access the

cockle beds. They will use something like this one and sail

out to the cockle beds. They will gather the cockles and when the

tide comes back in, it floats the vessel and they get back in and

sail back to shore. At least, that is the theory. The local lifeboat

has been called out nine times since the beginning of September to

deal with Cockers who have got into difficulties. The if they continue,

there will be a fatality at some stage, yes. All the beach today,

the Fisheries and conservation agency warned them not to set out

because of difficult weather conditions. By do not have powers

to stop them going and behaving in an unsafe manner. I am concerned

about what has happened. What we do? Go home. Would you go home?

I am thinking of going out today. The weather is said to be good

later on which is when it counts. So some say the time has come for

tighter controls on the activities. This evening, the local MP is due

to meet with the fisheries minister to discuss what can be done. He

says everybody wants to avoid a disaster similar to that that

happened in Morecambe Bay seven years ago. The terrible tragedy up

there. Prince Charles was back in Burnley

today to check up on the Weavers' Triangle restoration project. His

Royal Highness, a lover of architecture, wants to make sure

the historic industrial area remains intact. The Prince's visit

came on the day a report revealed that his charities have done more

for Burnley than any others. That is since the 2001 riots. A prince

Charles is no stranger to Burnley. He has visited four times in the

past six years. Weavers' Triangle is a project close to his heart.

His campaign is to use restoration projects to restore pride in local

areas. We are bringing back some of these great buildings. You can

convert them to residential, mixed use. We have done it quite a lot

with old mill buildings. Weavers' Triangle was once the heart of the

textile industry in Burnley. For these apprentices the old building

is giving them a chance to learn something new. It is important.

keeps trades going. Not a lot of people do this work any more. We

need these trades to keep going. Burnley council has put millions of

pounds into the area. But when the pomp and ceremony has been put away,

will it make a difference? I am glad it has been spent here. It is

positive. It does not make any difference. Everything will be the

same in Burnley. Will people from Burnley have enough money to enjoy

the good life here? Give that was not the case, we would have got it

wrong. We are changing the area to have leisure, cinemas, restaurants

and places to drink. If that is not attractive to people in Burnley we

have got it wrong. transformation of Weavers' Triangle

is due to finish in 2013. More news from around the region. A

man has begun legal proceedings against Furness General Hospital

after the death of his wife and baby son there three years ago.

Carl Hendrickson is suing the Trust for damages, accusing the hospital

of negligence. The maternity unit has been the subject of a number of

damning reports from regulators and police are investigating the deaths

of several babies and mothers. A man is in hospital after being

shot twice early this morning in Liverpool. The 22-year-old was

targeted on Pennard Avenue in Huyton. Police are investigating

CCTV. Faults on a set of points that

caused the Grayrigg train crash started developing at least ten

days before the accident, an inquest has been told. Today the

jury was given detailed analysis of the cause of the derailment, in

which 84-year-old Margaret Masson died. The government is considering

introducing a so-called Clare's Law after a campaign by the family of a

murdered Salford woman. Clare Wood was strangled by ex-boyfriend

George Appleton. She did not know he had a history of domestic

violence. Under Clare's Law, people would be able to find out whether

new partners have a violent past. Staff at a doctors' surgery in

Wirral have been operating out of car boots after being locked out.

It's all because of a row over rent. The GPs say they are being asked

for more than two and a half times what they previously paid. The

landlord says the rent rise is fair. There were many patients at

Sandstone Medical Centre in West Kirby, but no doctor in the house.

The first I heard was when I turned up. I had an appointment this

morning. Where do you go? You want your own doctor. Wirral Primary

Care Trust staff outside, directing patients elsewhere and a taxi

service to ferry them. Landlord Wayne Roberts says he has not been

The trust made good case for the doctors. His actions are

unreasonable. There is no need to go down this route. It has an

impact on patients. And how the practice can deliver its services.

Patient records are still inside the building. As the row continues,

patients are asking questions about confidentiality. I had a referral

to a consultant to said he would write to my GP. I am anxious about

the fact that my letter might be in there. When the solicitor said

records are locked away. The trust says that if they are not handed

over soon, it will have to consider options.

Five Conservative MPs from the region rebelled against the

Government in last night's vote about whether to hold a referendum

on our membership of the European Union. Although the Government

defeated the motion and a referendum won't now be held, the

man behind the debate, Bury North MP David Nuttall, told me earlier

EU membership is an issue we should all care about. When you ask people

an open question, very few people mentioned the issue of Europe. But

it affect so many things. I made a reference yesterday in my speech to

the fact that the European Working Time Directive, it was one of the

reasons behind the changes in the maternity services in the North

West. My constituency, it is leading to the closure of the

maternity department. When the prime minister says he wants

fundamental reform and Europe, and yet he will bring in a three-line

whip to defeat the motion, do you trust in? A of course I trust the

Prime Minister. I hope this motion will strengthen his arm in

negotiations that he will have to have in future with European

partners. If we could have a referendum on the issue, that would

further strengthen his arm. It will not happen now. The motion last

night was defeated by a large margin, which is not surprising

considering all three of the major parties were imposing a three-line

whip against it. But by a -- by a large majority, most British people

would like a national referendum on our relationship with the European

Union. In the 36 years since the last referendum, not a single power

has been repatriated from Brussels. The parents of a 17-year-old girl

who died from swine flu are urging anyone eligible for a flu jab this

winter to make sure they get one. Olivia Clee-Barnett from Wirral

died in January. She did have mild asthma, but wasn't in what is

called an at-risk group. Her parents say they want to do all

they can to prevent other families going through what they have. We'll

hear from Olivia's parents in a moment. First where are we up to

with the flu vaccination programme? It is still early on. It only

started at the beginning of October. But, so far, almost 45% of people

over 65 have had the jab. You'll know if you need it by the way

because your doctor will already have been in touch. What's worrying

health bosses though is this figure, less than 25% of those under 65 and

in an at risk group have been for THEIR vaccination. It's that group

that is always the hardest to persuade into their doctors.

Olivia's parents hope that by speaking out about losing their

daughter they might be able to change that.

17 years old and with so much ahead of her. Olivia wanted to become a

teacher. One thing we all miss is how she used to come home from

school and just shine a light into our life. Olivia had mild asthma

but was not in an at risk group and did not have the flu jab. When she

fell ill with swine flu, she contracted another infection and

her body could not fight both at once. Now, her parents had this

message. If you are at risk, get the flu jab. If you are in doubt,

seek medical advice. That would be her wish. Just because she is not

here physically does not mean she cannot put the message through to

as many people and she can. Maybe she might save some lives.

Hopefully, other people will not have to go through what our family

has gone through this year. parents say they do not believe

there are enough warnings about what a danger flew can be. One

group that the condition is dangerous for his pregnant woman.

That's why midwives at Tameside Hospital are making sure anyone who

comes in to see them is offered the flu jab there and then. It means

they don't need to go to their GP for it but can get protected while

they are in hospital. Still to come in North West Tonight.

Celebrating the achievements of George Daniels. One of the greatest

watchmakers of all time. And Much Ado About Nothing? Or

All's Well That Ends Well? Why a Hollywood film is forcing a pub in

Southport to lose its name for a day. There's a statue in Morecambe

of Venus and Cupid, the ancient symbols of love. But it's feeling

particularly unloved at the moment and may even be about to disappear.

The local council is refusing to pay the sculptor who created it ten

thousand pounds to keep it on the sea front. This is the other statue

in Morecambe. Along the seafront from Eric, Venus and Cupid. She is

the guardian of those who work on the sea. We located it here to

watch over fishermen and everybody who works here. Shane Johnstone

created it and still owns it. After putting it here with the council's

blessing, he wants the council to buy it from him. The T-shirt is

part of the campaign. The town council house money to spend this

year and does not fancy handing over �10,000 to Shane Johnstone.

There can Saul is under pressure to -- the council is under pressure

with funding. The town council wants the community to benefit on

what it agrees to spend the money on. It is popular, but is it worth

the money? Probably not. You could spend it elsewhere. �10,000 is

�10,000. Too much? Yes. I put it here at my own expense. Local

people asked me to do it. They said it ought to be here. The are artist

has set a date for the removal of the statue. It will go on February

14th, St Valentine's Day. Bolton has been specially chosen for a

brand new TV experiment. An experiment to harness the punter

power of Bolton's combined wallets. Here's the deal. Boltonians buy one

thousand TVs every week. But what if those thousand customers came

together to buy in bulk? Programme makers say the potential savings

are enormous. Another quiet day at this

barbershop. Just one customer in this morning. I have been here 17

years and it has not been so quiet. Money is tight for everybody.

tight as it has ever been. overnight, this appeared on the

barbershop building. A film crew is offering to help during the

economic squeeze. They are making a programme called Bulk Buy Britain.

If I bought a television, I would play -- pay one price. If I got a

hundred people working together, you were getting cheaper. I need

people to get involved. A good idea but they need Bolton to

jump on board to tell the team what they want to bulk buy. Justine

macro will do the deal. I aim for a 50% discount. But more people who

sign up, the more discount I can negotiate. In it is a nice TV

format. But can it work when the production team Leeds? Over to

Manchester Business School. Somebody has to do the buying and

selling and take the cash to the bank. That is not the job of the

consumer. Back at the barber shop, the Barber is not convinced.

would have to have the money. If you have not got it, you cannot do

the buying. The programme will be on Channel 4 in the new year.

A bit of off the pitch football news now and Manchester United

tickets assigned to manager Sir Alex Ferguson ended up in the hands

of ticket touts. Sir Alex, who is not suspected of any wrongdoing,

was named in a court case involving four men convicted of distributing

unauthorised tickets. On the field, United are in Carling Cup action at

Aldershot tonight just two days after that 6-1 humiliation against

Manchester City and their League Two opponents are raring to go.

am looking forward to the challenge. I want more of this. I am sure we

will be nervous. I will make sure that by a portrait calmness to the

players and we enjoyed the occasion. We will have everything from the

games on tomorrow's programme. Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean

has distanced himself from speculation that the former England

manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been lined up to become Director of

Football at Ewood Park. Sven left Leicester yesterday and there were

rumours he'd been spotted at Rovers. I do not know anything about that.

We already have a person who is sports director. I have not been

told there would be a change in that capacity. He is as one of the

greatest watchmakers of all time. Dr George Daniels from the Isle of

Man made 37 watches in his career and no two were ever the same. He

died on Friday at the age of 85. He was one of the few people in the

world to be able to make a watch completely by hand, and his

mechanical design is hailed as the greatest achievement in horology

for 200 years. We look back at an extraordinary career.

Tiny components and minute detail and extreme concentration that went

into every watch. He was one of the few people in the world who could

make a watch by hand. When I am satisfied I have the best

performance out of it, it can go. His greatest invention was

developed in the 1970s from mechanical watches. It is being

hailed as the most important horror logical development in 200 years.

He was the only one left still making watches like this. His

invention was something new. Roger Smith met George for the first time

when he was 18. Such was George Daniels' status in the watchmaking

world, Roger moved to the Isle of Man to study under him. He made

hand-made individual watches. One watch per year. As an 18-year-old I

was bowled over and awestruck. I knew my career was mapped out from

that point. I want to make English watches the most superior, which

they always were. We have achieved that again. A genius. �145,000.

Friends, Romans, Viewers. Lend me your ears. One of the hundreds of

phrases in English coined by William Shakespeare. Except it

wasn't Shakespeare who wrote Julius Caesar. Or MacBeth. Or Hamlet. At

least that's the claim of a new film about the Bard. That's not "as

they like it" at The Shakespeare pub in Southport. In fact it's lost

its name for a day in protest. Andy Gill hath this report.

Is your named James? Actors at the Shakespeare Theatre pub. They

perform plays by Shakespeare, or not by him if the new film is to be

believed. Anonymous is based on the idea that the plays could not have

possibly been written by a lowly grammar-school boy from three

Midlands. It must have been a tough, specifically the Earl of Oxford.

The conspiracy theory has been going on since I was doing A-levels

in the 1970s. It is a Hollywood blockbuster with great actors.

covered up the pub has signed as part of the campaign. Imagine a

world without Shakespeare. But one says that the idea the Earl of

Oxford wrote them is a tale told by an idiot. What is in a name? The

Earl of Oxford died in 1600 and four -- 1604. That means some plays

were written after the death of the Earl of Oxford. But the film people

will not worry about this. All good publicity -- all publicity is good

publicity. Something that Shakespeare did not say.

They have been arguing about whether Shakespeare wrote these

plays for hundreds of years and I do not think it will settle it. We

can move on to the weather. I am can move on to the weather. I am

interested in the Isle of Man particularly!

I think the Isle of Man will have one or two showers and many of us

will have showers tonight. Today, it has not been too bad. The Isle

of Man did catch showers but for most of ours it has been a dry day

with decent breaks in the cloud cover. Temperatures were not

wonderful. Over the next couple of hours, the showers will move in.

Some of these will end up being heavy. They will not make it

everywhere. They will move back to the coast and breaks will develop

in the cloud cover. Where there are breaks, the temperature could be as

low as four degrees. That is in rural areas. In towns and cities,

down to seven degrees and along the coast, nine degrees. Tomorrow, some

of the showers will still be around in the morning. The showers will

move north during the day. The sunshine will then come through.

Quite a few hours of sunshine. Showers developing in the afternoon.

Temperatures not so good. Up to 13 Temperatures not so good. Up to 13