09/03/2012 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and

Annabel Tiffin. Our top story... Murdered by his kidnappers in

Nigeria. Tributes to the "likeable, sociable and professional" Chris

McManus. We did not want him to leave. So we are all devastated to

hear this. Chris died when an attempt to

rescue him ended in tragedy. We'll be live in Oldham.

Also tonight... Going to the chapel. A Unitarian church becomes the

country's first religious venue to offer civil partnerships.

The DIY X Factor. Rebecca Ferguson visits the housing charity where

work brings rewards. At the moment, charity starts at home for me. And

Liverpool has been so good to me. And David's decade. Moyes clocks up

ten years at Everton. But could he be tempted by the lure of a bigger

club? Any talk of any other clubs, A model student who was building a

promising career. A keen traveller. An Oldham Athletic fan. That's the

picture emerging of Chris McManus, murdered after being held hostage

in Nigeria. Chris, whose family live in Royton near Oldham, died

when a rescue attempt involving British and Nigerian forces failed.

Today, those who knew him have been paying tribute. Stuart Flinders is

in Royton for us now. Chris McManu's family live in this

estate. They have lived with his disappearance for ten months.

They've had the uncertainty of not knowing what would happen to Chris

since he was captured last May. He and an Italian colleague were both

killed in an attempt to rescue them Guitarist, Formula 1 fan, Oldham

supporter, according to his CV. When chartered surveyor, Chris

McManus, was apprenticed to a firm in Bolton, they were reluctant to

let him go. We tried hard at all levels to make him stay. He

qualified here, so he was very much a team member. We wanted him to

stay. We left his job open for two years when he decided to leave.

Chris went to school in Royton. He got 11 GCSEs and three A-Levels. He

left a decade ago, but staff here remember him fondly. It has come as

a shock. It is a very sad time. He was very popular with his peers and

with the staff and very fondly remembered. And did very well?

well, achieving very well and going on to university. But really, at

the moment, our plots are primarily with the family at such a sad time

and they are very much in our thoughts and prayers. Chris McManus

was working as a contractor in the north west of Nigeria when he was

taken hostage. His captors released a video of him with fellow detainee

Franco Lamolinara. The Prime Minister authorised an attempt by

British and Nigerian forces to release them, but they were killed.

Chris's family chose not to speak directly to the media. But in a

statement, they said they were confident everything that could be

done was being done during his ten month ordeal.

You will be aware from the national news that there is a bit of a spat

between our and Italian governments in terms of how that rescue attempt

was done. Chris's family said in a statement, we were aware of the

people trying to get Chris returned. We would like to thank all of them

for their efforts. Stuart Flinders, thank you.

The family of one of the six soldiers killed in Afghanistan on

Tuesday has paid tribute to him. A book of condolence has opened for

Sergeant Nigel Coupe. The 33-year- old from St Anne's served with the

1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. This tragedy

has left two little girls without a daddy. A loving wife with no

husband. A sister with no brother. A mum and dad with no son. A family

which a broken heart. Nigel would be touched by all the

support we are getting from family friends and the British Army in

which he loyally served. I also have no doubt in my mind he will be

proud of our children and the way in which they have dealt with his

untimely death. Our eldest daughter Ella said, Daddy is a star now.

Everyone who knew Nigel would know he has always been a star. The only

difference is now he is shining in a different place.

The issue of gay weddings in churches has been in the headlines

this week. Tonight, the news that a chapel in Manchester is to become

the first place to effectively, they say, offer just that. Cross

Street Unitarian Chapel has been granted a licence to conduct both a

religious ceremony and the legal same-sex civil partnership in the

same venue. It is thought to be the first religious venue in the

country to offer the service. We are joined now live from the chapel

by Reverend Jane Barraclough. Thank you for cocky to us this evening.

Why have you decided to do it? -- thank you for talking to us.

seemed like a natural extension of the work we have already done.

controversial? It is amongst the religious right, not amongst

religious liberals. The religious right get all the headlines, when

some of us are tried to carry on been decent, human communities,

including people. Do you worry about not a backlash, but by the

reaction you are likely to get from certain sections of the Church?

wake it up, making your choice. We have decided to do this. We are an

inclusive church. It would be strange for as not to do it. We

have to live with the consequences. We thought about it, our committee

discussed it, doing that on a long time. But for us, this is not a big

drum up. It is part of our every delight., because you are saying

this will be done up under one roof, are you effectively offering a gay

wedding? Effectively, yes, but legally, we cannot all further up -

- we cannot offer a gay marriage is. It will be a civil ceremony. It

will be the civil signing of document patient. The registrar

will come to her mac building and do that, which was not possible

before. What have the congregation said? Is the key Minty are in

favour and we are celebrating. -- the Cook -- the committee are in

favour. You were the first to have women ministers are in your church.

Now that is common in the Anglican church. Do you think other charges

will follow suit? I hope so. We have no agenda to make other

denominations take this on. This is about religious liberty. We

consider we have the right to have these services in our churches and

chapels. If other denominations choose not to, that is their

business. It makes me sad. I was just going to say that I am sad

about all the homophobic rhetoric in the press right now. It gives

religious people are really bad name. In one word, have you had

much interest? We had one pre- booked before legislation had gone

through. We have not done any advertising, which we will do. I

hope people feel free to come here and have a religious ceremony.

grateful for your time, the Reverend Jane Barraclough, from the

Cross Street Unitarian Chapel in Manchester.

An air accident inquiry is underway after a plane crash landed in the

Isle of Man. The undercarriage collapsed as the flight from Leeds

landed at the island's Ronaldsway Airport. When it skidded off the

runway last night, 12 passengers and two crew not injured.

A lucky escape for passengers, looking back at do craft the

managed to walk off. We get the run week with a big fat, sparks were

flying. -- with a baked crash. I thought we were going to turnover,

then it flipped back and we went on to the grass. Luckily, we got out

the back. You can just about see it behind me at the airport. It landed

last night and be carriage under the collapsed, leaving it to skid

across onto the grass. It is business as usual today. All 12

passengers and two crew walked off safely. It was operated on behalf

of a company based in the Isle of Man. It said this type of aircraft

has a good track record. It was one of the most frightening experiences,

I am still seeing it. I wasn't going to try and get out because of

the sparks. The craft will be held and the investigation is continuing

to find out what caused this to happen.

Moors murderer Ian Brady will have his mental health tribunal held in

public on Monday the 9th of July. Brady wants to be released from

Ashworth Hospital in Sefton, where he is held under the Mental Health

Act. The hearing will be at the hospital and people will be able to

watch it via CCTV at the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester.

Mistakes at a forensic laboratory mean a Manchester rape case is to

be reopened. It has emerged that a DNA sample was contaminated in the

laboratories of a company called LGC Forensics. It led to a man

being wrongly accused of the attack which happened in Blackley last

October. Greater Manchester Police are reviewing of some their

investigations where the same company was used. We spoke to the

forensic regulator about a review to be undertaken in relation to

that particular sample and other samples. I must stress, at the

moment, this is one isolated case. As tragic as it is, this is one

case. We will wait for the Home Office and forensic regulators to

give us that review. An old mill in Oldham has turned

its entire roof into a solar- powered generator. It is not only

cutting the energy bills of the company based there. It is making

them money. But will the government's plan to cut the

subsidies for solar power take the shine off a power source that's

good for business and the environment?

Baum Trading designs, imports and distributes clothing. It works out

of Devon Mill in Oldham. Heating and lighting this five-storey, 100-

year-old building eats money. costs are going up all the time. I

am paying �25,000 roughly a year in electricity. I have a resource on

the roof. He's right. The roof is a big resource. It is big enough to

house more than 600 solar panels. The panels also earn money. He has

paid for every kilowatt produced using a feed-in tariff, organised

by the Government, but with cash from the Government. The scale of

the scheme means the Feed-In Tariff should generate up to �35,000 a

year. On top of that, surplus energy generated here and fed back

into the National Grid should bring in another �3,500 from his energy

supplier. But the Feed-In Tariff payments will be lower or newt

installations, because of changes ordered by the Government.

tariff has been reduced. It is still a viable commercial project.

Do you see yourself as someone tried to convert more businesses?

am hoping other businesses will take up these opportunities.

with so many former mill buildings, with so many acres of roof space,

David believes this region could lead a solar-powered revolution.

Not a lot of sun there. Sunshine all this helps.

That was a mill using solar panels to power itself. Well, a long time

before solar panels or fears over global warming, water power was the

future. In Stockport, they have just excavated what was, in the

1700s, the world's biggest water wheel. It powered a six-storey

mille employing 500 workers. Our Environment Correspondent Colin

Sykes has been to take a look. With just hours to go before the

opening, there's still work to be done. This was the site of Samuel

Oldknow's magnificent Mellor Mill. 400 feet long and six storeys high.

He diverted the River Goyt to power his water wheel, the largest in the

world. The water would have come in at the top here. It would have

driven the water wheel down and exit through the tunnel I am facing

now. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1892. But the pit for the wheel

is being painstakingly restored. have something functioning two

years is tremendous. And to this sort of standard of work. This was

an age where, if I was building a house, it was going to be better

than your house. And my mill would be better than your mill. There was

that competition going on between entrepreneurs. We tend to think of

technology being a new thing. But back in 1792, when this opened,

this really was the biggest in the world. But it would only be a

matter of time before it was overtaken. Oldknow was one of the

great entrepreneurs of his age. must have been able to get people

to work for him. To work very hard for him. And people to lend him

money. He had several partners that came and went. And he spent, spent,

spent. There is still much work to be done here, but with a huge

effort, the history of the site is slowly coming back to life.

That is an excavation job and a halt -- and a half. A lot of power

there. Sport now. And Tony, a bad night

for both Manchester teams in the Europa League, particularly for

Manchester United? Yes, this cheeky back-heel goal by Xandao meant City

were beaten 1-0 at Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. But the real shock of

the night was United losing 3-2 at Old Trafford to Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao are only fifth in the Spanish League, but they outclassed

United for large parts of the match. Wayne Rooney put United ahead in

the 22nd minute. But Bilbao equalised with a great header. In

the second half, the Spanish side scored another two, both of them

controversial. De Marcos appeared to be just offside when he finished

off a brilliant move. Two minutes from time, Patrice Evra was

penalised for kicking the ball without his boot on. Never seen a

free kick given for that before, but it was. And seconds later,

Bilbao scored their third goal. Just before the final whistle,

United were awarded a penalty. Rooney kept his cool and scored.

The upshot is that, in the second legs of these ties next week,

United and City both need to win by two clear goals. This is what the

managers had to say. An uphill fight for us, obviously. The

question is can we win the match? I think we can. We do not think we

deserved to lose this game. Maybe we did not play very, very well.

With the chance to score, we consider it so-so.

Against the need to go away and score? And players need to tie

their shoelaces. Now one of the managers Fergie most

admires, his fellow Scot, David Moyes is about to celebrate ten

years in the hot seat at Everton. Experts like Fergie say Moyes has

worked miracles at Goodison Park given the club's lack of cash. And

as next week's anniversary approaches, there's speculation

Moyes could be head-hunted by a richer club.

One day, they'll build a statue to David Moyes at Goodison Park. It

can only be made of one thing. Rock. Everton had only finished in the

top half of the Premier League once before he arrived. During the last

decade, they've done it seven times. There are some really experienced

managers who are managing on and still going and doing it

unbelievably well. I hope that there is a lot more to come for me.

I hope there is more development. And I have to say, I hope there is

the chance I might win some trophies along the way. Moyes is

the third longest-serving manager in football behind Sir Alex

Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. That's even more remarkable when you

factor in fan unrest over the lack of cash afforded him by the board.

He is a first class manager. And he has that grittiness and

determination that has allowed Everton to be in there all the time.

No matter how many players he has had injured, he has always produced

a team that represents the club very well. With no big bucks, the

Scot has had to nurse countless new generations like Jack Rodwell and

Seamus Coleman. Oh, and someone else, too. Although Rooney's sale

to Manchester United remains a constant reminder that the

manager's nuggets may always have to be for sale. Nevertheless, he's

not been tempted by links to top six sides. Yes, of course you hear

it. I would be lying if I did not say I did not hear or see it. But

Everton have been great to me. They gave me that chance when I was

young. Any talk about any other clubs, I do not want to hear about

it. After a decade, the gaffer worries his players think he's

mellowed with age. How will that affect the average Moyes match day?

Not much we hope. Well done today it, a remarkable

achievement. Premier league fans are familiar

with Super Sunday. Well, for those in the relegation fight, welcome to

worry weekend. Second-from-bottom Bolton are at home to QPR, who are

only two points above them. Rock- bottom Wigan travel to Norwich.

Blackburn are offering their fans free transport and a free pie if

they travel to the Midlands for tomorrow's game against Wolves.

Rovers are currently trying to sign the former Dutch international Bolo

Zenden. We are confident we have made a good case for what we want

to do, how he will fit in, the dynamic in the dressing room, or

what we need from him. I'm sure he left much more positive than when

he came. Jeff Whitley tasted the glory of

playing professional football for his beloved Manchester City and

winning promotion. But his career was ruined by drink, drugs and

gambling. He's since rebuilt his life, and now he warns young

players about the temptations which he fell prey to. Jeff delivers his

message through the League Football Education Programme.

Football is what he is known for, not what he is here to talk about.

Instead, he is telling you to teams about how he lost his career and

nearly his life to alcohol and cocaine. I went weeks and weeks not

being sober. Just completely on another planet. I was trying to

kill myself and waking up and braying to die. Then waking up and

thinking, how can you still be alive when you have abused your

body? It was until four years ago, with his career in tatters, that he

sought help, checking into a clinic founded by Tony Abbott -- founded

by Tony AB -- founded by Tony Adams. I have my daughter and my partner,

I thanked her for that, she has been to a lot with me. Welcome to

this... All but three years, hundreds of youngsters have had

this about the potential pitfalls of life as a professional

footballer. It is only recently that ex-professional have come

forward to tell their story. This is something I wish I had as a

player. And I am delivering it knout. Just hearing about how many

goals he has scored, and the consequences behind the scenes, it

opens your eyes. It is best to come from another professional.

matter what these youngsters a cheap, this could be the most

important 90 minutes of their careers.

Good stuff. More of the region's swimmers have qualified for the

Olympics during this week's National Swimming Championships.

James Goddard came second in the 200 metres medley after leading

most of the way. But his time was good enough to qualify. And

Southport's Fran Halsall won the 100 metre freestyle in the fastest

time she's ever achieved in a British pool. The 21-year-old is

now ranked number one in the world for that event. Amazingly, she said

she was disappointed because she can go faster.

You can hear some Super League action tonight.

Back to Manchester United. When your team is up against it in

Europe, can it get worse? It did for Alex Ferguson yesterday when he

tried to make a substitution of. Watched the electronic board. Right

on his shin. I got that would be amusing. We hope his leg is all

right if he is watching. Thank you, Tony.

House building isn't a very glamorous business. But it was

today when X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson dropped in to a house in

Liverpool. She was there to lend her support to a charity that helps

people buy their own homes by getting them to build them. Instead

of paying a deposit, potential homeowners put in hours of work

shifting bricks or shovelling cement.

They don't teach this on X Factor boot camp. Cutting the first sod

for the next stage of a charity housing scheme in Toxteth. SINGING.

A year and half ago, Rebecca was unknown. Now she has a critically-

acclaimed album and sell-out shows. But she wants to help out good

causes in her home city. At the moment, charity starts at home for

me. And Liverpool has been so good to me. I am focusing on Liverpool

charities for the first year, then I will move on. I have such an

attachment to my home city, I wanted to get back, really. -- give

back. Rebecca visited Julia Walimbwa's home. Julia helped build

her own house. It's how the charity helps people who otherwise couldn't

afford their own home. It was difficult, but the joy it is you

have something and have benefited from a hard work. The Territorial

Army are building the new road. The charity says there's big need for

affordable homes here. The housing stock in the City, there is a lot

of poor, derelict housing. There were over 2000 derelict properties

at one time. It is brilliant, giving people hope and pride as

well, pride in their own worth. Rebecca's was a flying visit. She's

singing at the Philharmonic Hall this weekend.

I've thought she was going to be up a ladder painting. How to look

glamourous in that jacket. And all was looking glamourous, here is the

weather. Can I say to Alex Ferguson at I was the only one not laughing?

It is really quiet weather-wise. Quiet, mild, up but it is fairly

cloudy. Not constantly, but fairly cloudy. That is thanks to this high

pressure. Up until about Tuesday or Wednesday, we can predict this high

pressure will stick around, keeping weather fronts out of the way. It

is not a bad picture. A weak weather front makes it way across

the region tonight and first thing tomorrow. Some spots of drizzle in

the forecast, particularly for parts of Cumbria. For many, it is

just quiet, cloudy, some mist a possibility in the early hours. But

temperatures are good tonight. Very mild, between 8 and 11 Celsius

along the coast. Into Saturday. The weather and comes down, dying out

all the time. Some drizzle in parts, but for most, a cloudy picture,

resembling today. This that I could come out every now and then,

feeling quite pleasant. -- the sun it could come out. When not causing

any problems. Temperatures tomorrow do not rise that much from

overnight values, because the air is so warm. It could get to 13 or

14. Temperatures could creep up with an hour of sunshine.

Temperatures continuing to be quite good in to Sunday. Nothing really

changing. The high pressure keeps averaging very static. And