05/04/2012 North West Tonight

Tiffin. We're live as the city prepares for its first major event

of this historic Guild year 2012 - the BBC's Preston Passion. Hundreds

of local people have gathered here for the final rehearsals ahead of

tomorrows live Good Friday extravaganza. Coming up tonight.

Passionate and proud - but in these recession times can Preston beat

the odds for a brighter future? A spectacular bus station show -

but how do you get a thousand people to get the moves right?

And Amy's big moment - the local girl with no acting experience

picked to star on BBC One at Easter. It is a dream come true, seriously.

Also in the programme: The Bolton man shot dead by the police: his

girlfriend accuses officers of murder.

The Christie's leading the way again with a powerful new way of

targeting tumours. And the Preston plumber with two

great feet and 187 goals for his club. Tributes to Tom Finney on his

90th birthday. Hundreds of thousands of people would travel

miles and miles and miles to see It's been two years in the planning

and tomorrow at midday, the city of Preston, its people and its

somewhat controversial bus station will star in the BBC's big Easter

production The Preston Passion. It's going to be a massive

spectacle. Thousands of people are taking part, and as you can see

just behind us here, they're about to get going on the first dress

rehearsal. This is the choir about to start singing, so we might get

drowned out. Naomi Cornwall has been watching them all get ready.

Buses have made way for brass bands. Shoppers have been joined by

singers. And the cameras are everywhere. As Preston prepares for

the Passion. There is a tutor now to be moving parts, people and

equipment, so lots of planning going into that. This is a huge

event covering much of the city centre. A thousand people have been

rehearsing here today and that figure will increase to three

thousand tomorrow. We are really just presenting a brilliant, new

interpretation of the Passion, from the North of England. We're doing

your tarot way. The flag bearers are the ones to watch. It looks

amazing. Even on the ground. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do

something like this. Tomorrow on live TV, they'll retell the Passion

story, with Preston as the backdrop - its people the stars of the story.

It's going to be great. The participants that we have worked

with four weeks are very keen and proud to be part of it for Preston.

It's meant a few changes to life in the city centre. Not least at the

busy bus station. It is confusing. We should beware the busses Taran

for the passengers have to go. exciting to? Yes, it is. Never seen

anything like it before and Preston. It is a magnificent, really. With

just hours to go, Preston's making the final preparations for it's big

performance. We are joined now by the person

that will bring all of this together tomorrow, Fern Britton,

baked you for joining us. You have been here all day, it's really

exciting, isn't it? It is a wonderful day, the producer has

been telling me about it in the last few weeks and months, and

Steve finally be here, and I opened back bedroom curtains and I could

see them putting all of the things up on the roof, which is a great

surprise! AIs in the right place, and there was sunshine. But it is a

little bit chilly. So much work has been put in rehearsing over the

last few weeks and months. plans started two years ago. All of

these people have been working for a few months working in separate

rehearsal rooms all around the place, choreographing. It is

fantastic. Have you seen art attack? It is like that to. It is

that kind of stuff. You need revision to pull this off. Yes, and

the director is brilliant. Juliet has did in at the last

minute and sounds great. Yes, Heather Small was due to sing, but

she cannot because she has a throat infection. And we had a rehearsal

this afternoon, and Jimmy and has stepped do, she sings beautifully

alive. It will all be brilliant. Thank you very much and good luck

for tomorrow. Thank you. Midday tomorrow BBC One, please watch!

Thank you, we will be back later with more of the people involved.

Let's go back to the studio now for the rest of the news.

A woman whose partner was shot dead by a police officer says she wants

that officer charged with murder. Gail Hadfield was speaking at a

news conference after hearing that the Independent Police Complaints

Commission was now conducting a criminal investigation into the

shooting of Anthony Grainger. He was killed by officers

investigating an alleged armed robbery plot. Here's our Chief

Reporter Dave Guest. Anthony Grainger was sitting at the

wheel of a stolen car when he was shot dead by a police officer. It

happened on this car park in the Cheshire village of Culcheth last

month. I don't believe he knew if this car was stolen, but I know you

should not have been murdered. Officers from Greater Manchester

Police had been following the red Audi as part of an investigation

into armed robberies. A search later revealed there were no

weapons in the vehicle. The independent Police Complaints

Commission began an inquiry and has now classed it as a criminal

investigation, saying the officer will be interviewed under caution.

At a news conference Anthony Grainger's partner welcomed that

news. The police themselves have to be held accountable for their

actions that night. I believe justice for Anthony means that the

police officer that pulled the trigger should be charged with

murder. But her solicitor said he suspected a cover up after hearing

the police were claiming there was no video evidence of the shooting

or the events leading up to it. Police cars have routinely been

kitted out with video cameras these days and it stands to reason this

kind of operation that surely, this evidence is there. Greater

Manchester Police say they refute "in the strongest possible terms"

suggestions of a cover up. They say they're fully cooperating with the

IPCC. Ultimately, it will be for the CPS to decide if there is

sufficient evidence and that officer would face a criminal trial.

The family say they will not rest until he dies. -- until he does.

Many of you will know someone - or may yourself have been treated for

cancer using radiotherapy. You'll know too well how damaging the side

effects can be. Well now "proton beam therapy" is coming to

Manchester. It targets tumours in a more accurate way, and has never

been used in the UK before. Our health correspondent Nina Warhurst

has more. A new building the size of a

football pitch, housing new technology that will change the way

cancer is attacked by radiotherapty. It is a very advanced form of

radiation therapy allowing us to accurately target these tumours in

the body. Traditional X-ray waves can destroy the tumour they're

targeting - but also kill off healthy tissue in the process.

Proton beam therapy's much more accurate - pinpointing where it

should stop - much better for treating children, getting closer

to vital organs without it being risky and protecting healthy cells.

At the moment, the NHS pays for a select few patients to travel to

America to receive the treatment. Opening two sides here in the UK

will mean up to 1500 patients every year can receive the treatment and

were better to start than here. Obviously, they are looking after

children and adults and they can put it in the context of a cancer

hospital that has access to all of the complementary therapy. To we

didn't �50 million is being spent here and that as site in London had

both will be up and running in five years.

Police have charged a man with theft after a woman was found dead

in a Manchester road. 62-year-old Sarwari Ashraf from Longsight was

killed crossing Upper Brook street last Thursday. Her handbag and

shoes were also taken from the scene. 46-year-old Marc Kirvin from

Altrincham, has been charged with theft at will appear at court next

month. One of the UK's most wanted

fugitives who fled a prison van in Salford last July, has been

arrested in Amsterdam. 26-year-old Kirk Bradley was being taken with

Anthony Downes from Strangeways to Liverpool Crown Court when the

vehicle was ambushed by armed men last July. Bradley was found guilty

in his absence of firearms offences. He's expected to face extradition.

Labour's refusing to remove a council candidate who's apologised

for making offensive comments on Twitter. Janette Williamson is

standing for Labour on Wirral Council. When the Duke of Edinburgh

was ill in December, she tweeted: "Why hasn't he died yet?" In

another tweet she said: "I'm here to reintroduce Marxism back into

the Labour Party." Opponents say her words are unacceptable. I think

they are incredibly offensive, and to say that I cannot repeat what is

said in them and to go on about militants and Marxism and bringing

this back to the council, I find this really worrying and I hope

that Ed Miliband will find it within himself to apologise for

what has been said our cities associated cell from this person.

It's a big weekend in Superleague with two North West derbies which

could have major repercussions at the top and bottom of the table.

Tomorrow, in-form St Helens take on Wigan, but first tonight,

Warrington meet Widnes. As Ian Haslam reports, it's a fixture

that's been a long time coming. Nine miles separate them - but the

distance in their recent fortunes has been great. Widnes have found

their return to Superleague tough. A win can move them off the bottom.

Warrington can go top. They're expecting a big crowd here at the

Halliwell Jones for what will be the first Superleague derby between

these two sides since 2005. They talk about Wigan and Saints, but

Widnes is the biggest derby in high-rise. For us to get back on

track and for them to start something. I think Warrington will

get a quicker sport tonight. Warrington's last home game ended

in defeat. Widnes' weekend thrashing at Catalan Dragons was

disappointing after the highly encouraging recent wins over Wigan

and the London Broncos. We have not started the greatest of seasons. I

think when it comes to derbies, anything can happen, and it would

be a good game, I think. Nathan Brown was appointed as head caught

-- coach. It is part of the Easter weekend, everything gets friends

and family here, it is a massive. The players understand that. Wigan

are two points off top spot in a desperate to make up ground quickly.

I would love to have gone there with my best team, they would be

competitive. And a Manchester City striker has

left on hurt after an accident in Manchester city centre Eugene gates

locked this afternoon. He was not injured but his female passenger

was taken to hospital as a precaution. The driver of the other

car is believed to have been on hurt.

Well it's a big week in Preston. It's the first major event of their

Guild year. Let's rejoin Annabel and Roger. We're at the top of the

bus station. At few moments ago, they were playing Jerusalem, you

can hear the rehearsal behind me. A beautiful view. You can see more

rehearsals getting under way. Not sure what they are doing, but very

intriguing nevertheless. We are very lucky with the weather because

it gives us a fantastic view of the city. You can see the river over

there and the famous Museum and Art Gallery and the town hall and the

courts. And if you are into snooker, he will recognise the Guild Hall.

Preston is a very proud city only major city 10 years ago, built on

the cotton industry in the 18 hundreds, but what about its future

in these hard economic times? How can they ensure that it flourishes?

Peter Marshall has been to meet some people that would be holding

the future of Preston in their hands.

Busy, bustling and above all, Preston is proud, but what of?

Everything. The people. The community, living together. It has

beautiful parks. It is not the football club! 10 years of city

status has not been a success, the project for shopping flopped, but

this rebuilding could be key to the future. The University of Central

Lancashire's incubation unit for fledgling companies has lifted it

into the top five universities when it comes to creating a start-up

companies. Last year it had to launch 161 fledgling businesses

where the average per university has just 28. 77 % are still in

business after three years. What has Preston got to be proud of?

This couple could have set up their creative design and communications

company anywhere. We thought of the idea of a media city and we thought

to Blackpool for a while. When we looked at Preston and the

facilities here, it seemed to make sense. One thing it has got for it

is that it is a central location and in terms of being a hub for the

north-west, it is perfectly situated for this. This woman whose

health the food products had the Dragon's den drooling is another

entrepreneur from the incubation unit. For a start-up company, there

was no where else better. There is support, there is free hot asking

in there, and a nice community vibe as well. -- free hot testing.

say it is a confident city with a positive future. Whitaker risk

investigating and investing in this new industry, and it is important

to push this method back to other people battery interested in

investing in the City and say come here, let's do business and make

ourselves proud. Lots are proud people around at the

moment, and they will be very proud tomorrow when this city is in the

focal point of the Easter celebrations. Final rehearsals

going on behind us. They are practising elsewhere in the city.

Nobody will be powered or tomorrow than 12-year-old Amy, a young

schoolgirl from the city that has a key role in one of the allegorical

movies that forms part of the Easter story and will be shown as

part of the entire play experience. I went to see her, a young girl

with no acting experience before she broke up for the Easter

holidays from school. In class, another pupil, but she is

the envy of her friends after coming through auditions to land a

starring role tomorrow in the Easter story. I did not think I

would get it, because I was really nervous. They said some of the

scary people had, so, yes, it was very frightening. Her character,

Ballack, is a contemporary representation of Jesus. My mother

is stroke. She spends all of her money on alcohol and never takes

care of her children, and I have money saved up for a smart phone

that I have always wanted. And I have to go out to the shops to buy

my little brother is some food. And then the bullies when I am walking

home, they say, how is your mother?! And a trip me up. She had

never acted before, but her horizons had just been broadened.

They did my hair and make-up and I was really shocked because I got my

own hair stylist and make-up artist and it was just like incredible!

be an actress is maybe now what he would like to do? I say to the

director, I am an actress, now! He said, you're an actor! He said that

is what they say now! It is not for boys! It is a complete surprise. It

is a dream come true, seriously. She is a star in the making! Now

the family here have three generations taking part tomorrow,

Mary, her daughter-in-law Jennifer and two daughters, Natalie and law

have. Mary, you'll be here for 50 years, how proud are you of what is

happening? We proud to be in the Guild 2012, it is really enjoyable.

I am enjoying every minute. were here 20 years ago celebrating,

is a grand mother a good singer? She is really good! She brought us

into this and I am so proud of her. What are you doing tomorrow? We are

doing a lot. We have to dance. can see some pictures that you

rehearsing will today. Jennifer, you must be delighted having three

generations altogether are. Yes, we really are, it is great to do this

as a family and it has been greater because be made new friends in the

community as well at the Abbey enjoying it as well.

Good luck tomorrow and we hope it goes really, really well. Thank you.

We can cross back up to the roof now, it is a bit warm up there,

some sunlight! A little bit warm axe back not a

lot warmer! But look at the view, spectacular! In 1922, in detail in

a street behind the over there, a boy that was born that would become

one of Preston's most famous sons. A plumber by trade and quite

possibly one of the world's greatest footballer has, Preston

North End have put up a 40 ft mural of hemp on the stand that bears his

name, well, I am of course talking about Sir Tom Finney, celebrating

I always think, he was definitely one that you could say was the best.

Two great feat, terrific in the air, brave as a lie-in, in fact, he had

everything. A one-club man, a one- off, 14 years with Preston North

End, 433 League appearances, 187 goals, 76 caps for England. He just

had this Murat, thinking oh, he has got the ball! Hundreds of thousands

of people would travel for miles and miles and miles to try and see

his skill and see him playing. seems inconceivable now, with the

millionaire lifestyles enjoyed by today's top players, but during his

career, Tom Finney continued to work as a plum are. He had a

Would and also the centre for it was an accountant. They would push

the wheelbarrow to plumbing jobs. Was it unfair to describe Preston

as a one-man team? Bill Shankly was a colleague year at Deepdale and he

said that Tom Finney would have been great in any team, in any

match and in any era, even if he had been wearing an overcoat.

Finney plays his last game for Preston at home! He may have

finally hung up his boots in 1960, but he is still revered in Preston

and throughout the game. A be a legend, happy birthday to

Sir Tom Finney. Lots more from here in just a few minutes' time, but

what they cannot guarantee for tomorrow is the weather. We hope,

we hope, fingers crossed, that it stays dry. It has been gloriously

sunny but cold, what will it be like for the rest others, and most

importantly for the performers here tomorrow, let's go back to the

tomorrow, let's go back to the Sometimes you use up all you're

lucky in one day, and I think that happens today with significant

changes. It has looked beautiful, but temperatures have not been good.

Manchester are creeping up to ten degrees. Most places struggling

with eight degrees and a chill in the air. Looking beautiful through

the evening. Easter weekend, they had lied says it all, cloudy and

some rain at times. Not a great deal of cloud cover, so before

midnight, it would be pretty chilly with temperatures down to minus one

degree. The cloud will roll back with temperatures not going any

lower. Some drizzly rain in the forecast and that is what you have

through the day tomorrow. Good Friday, predominantly cloudy. In

north-westerly airflow from time to time. Drizzly spots. Just putting a

slight dampener on the day. In a north-westerly, parts of Lankester,

not too badly affected. Sh sunshine in short supply with temperatures

up to nine degrees. The next few days, some weather fronts taking a

run at us with a north-westerly airflow pushing the cloud cover.

Not a wonderful picture. Sunshine in short supply through the weekend,

so make the most of what we have Thank you. We will keep our fingers

crossed. One man, Mark Murphy, he is in charge, he is keeping his

fingers crossed. Are you happy, is it all coming together? Yes, so far.

We're halfway through the process, tomorrow is the big day. Up until

this point it is going very well. How do you get everyone to do this

at the same time altogether? need the right spirit for the whole

project. You can make these shows in a number of ways, giving people

numbers and putting them in grids and shout at them, we prefer to

treat everyone with the same respect as human beings and you

find the collective will and energy and love for the subject is what

brings it all together. Briefly, a sleepless night tonight or will you

sleep well? Hours sleep well between four and six and that will

be it! Every success. Get back to the

rehearsal. Thank you. Is into this, I defy you not to think it is

Sorry to interrupt the choir, it is beautiful.

Absolutely fantastic, a gorgeous sound it is making, and don't

forget, this will be a live events happening to Morrel, the bosses