06/11/2013 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and

Roger Johnson our top story: Broadcaster Stuart Hall back in

court ` this time to face 15 new rape charges.

The veteran broadcaster was brought to court from prison where he's

serving 30 years for indecent assault. `` 13 months. Also in

tonight's programme: Claims of abuse at the Hillcroft care home.

A cleaner says she saw one staff member slap a patient whose wife had

made a complaint. Annger as fancy dress costumes

depicting the horror of 9/11 win first prize at a nightclub party.?

As water quality in this region improves, Blackpool's beaches passed

the test. The home of swallows and Amazons, we

discover more about the author Arthur Ransome's hideaway.

History and histrionics in football, join me later.

The veteran broadcaster Stuart Hall has appeared in court to face

fifteen charges of rape against two girls. He's currently in prison

serving 30 months for sex offences. Along with the rape charges the

83`year`old also faces a fresh charge of indecent assault. Peter

Marshall was in court and joins us now.?.

He's lived much of his life in public, and today stuart hall

appeared in public once again, this time for a brief hearing at Preston

magistrates court. He's currently serving 30 months in prison after,

earlier this year, admitting 14 charges of indecent assault.

Following that case new allegations came to light, he now faces 15 rape

charges and one of indecent assault. The alleged offences are said to

have taken place between 1976 and 1981 in Manchester, Sale and

Stockport. They involve two alleged victims who were aged between 1 and

16 at the time. No plea was entered and because of the serious nature of

the allegations the case will now go to crown court. Stuart Hall has been

well known in broadcasting for the last 50 years. A boy and girl from

each team. They must get two buckets of water and go down the these

springs here that chic. He gained national recognition presenting the

TV entertainment programme It's a Knockout. He was also the face of

BBC regional news in the North West. In later years he was best known for

his football reporting on BBC Radio Five Live. Today's court hearing

lasted little more than ten minutes. He was remanded in custody and

returned to prison. He'll appear before Preston Crown Court on

November the 29th.? A cleaner at a nursing home near Lancaster has

given evidence against three former colleagues saying they abused

elderly residents for fun. Lisa Greeland said she saw one carer

slap a patient in revenge after his wife made a complaint at the

Hillcroft Slyne and Hest Nursing home near Lancaster. But the defence

said she had fabricated the stories because staff at the home had become

divided and cliquey.Our Health Correspondent Nina Warhurst has been

at the trial for a second day. Nina, Lisa Greenland worked closely with

the alleged abusers. What does she claim to have seen?? `` to have

seen? She was a cleaner at Hillcroft back

in 2010 when she says she witnessed things that shocked and disgusted

her, the kinds of things and she says you should never see at a

nursing home. One of the people she says she saw was abusing a patient,

was Caroline Miller. `` Carol Maul. She said she deliberately slapped a

patient after his wife made a complaint about the care she was

receiving, seem to colleagues, I will teach him a lesson. She alleges

the second perpetrator was Katie Kerins, who she says stood on the

foot of one of the patients intentionally. The third perpetrator

she says was Gemma Pearson, she says she her deliberately try and catch

an elderly gentleman out of teacher because he would not move. She said

I had to say something, I was sick of seeing these people upset by the

people who are supposed to be caring for them.

The defence says she is making up these allegations. What I be basing

that on? The defence painted a picture of

quite a hostile environment in the nursing home, one with infighting

and where staff were divided, and suggested that Lisa was making these

stories up because she was any group was separate from the group she is

making allegations about. They also claim that her statements were

inconsistent and questioned why if she had seen things that were so

shocking and so appalling it has taken her so long to report them and

why she could not remember specific details about where and when they

happen. All three defendants deny the allegations, the case continues.

David Cameron says he's "looking carefully" into how an East

Lancashire Conservative councillor, wanted in connection with a brutal

murder in Pakistan, came to attend a party at Downing Street. The Prime

Minister told the Commons he was investigating how Abdul Aziz, a

councillor in Pendle, received an invitation to a Number Ten

celebration for the Muslim festival of Eid.? Around a hundred jobs are

under threat at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead.

The firm says the jobs are at risk as a result of the completion of

large contracts, meaning current staff levels can't be maintained.

The company says it'll continue to bid for future contracts and hopes

to secure more orders. The body of a great`grandmother originally from

Weddle was discovered in the Alps. She went missing last month after

going for her daily walk. She retired to France to years ago,

police say her death is consistent with fallen from a high rate.

Two students have apologised after dressing as the 9/11 disaster at a

halloween fancy dress competition. The costumes even showed bodies

jumping from windows. The Chester University students Amber Langford

and Annie Collinge won first prize at the contest at Rosie's Nightclub.

The University has condemned their behaviour. This from our Cheshire

reporter, Mark Edwardson. 3,000 people died when the twin

towers of the World Trade Centre in New York collapsed. 12 years on

undergraduates Annie Collinge and Amber Langford have drawn

condemnation for their Hallowe'en fancy dress costumes depicting

crashed planes, flames and perhaps most disturbingly people falling

from the towers. In a statement they said: "We never meant to be

offensive but we apologise if any offence was caused. The idea was to

depict a serious, modern day horror that happened in our life time ans

was not intended as a joke." Today in Chester fellow students were

celebrating their graduation. Halloween unit `` Halloween outfits

and unique gins, they want to be as controversial as they can. It was in

a concealed area, but it in public you must be more careful. Should not

have been done. It is out of order. The fancy dress contest, which the

girls won was staged at a city centre nightclub in Chester. We ``

we asked the nightclub for a statement, and they said, a serious

error of judgement was made by a contractor to DJ. They say they

apologise to anyone upset or offended by the photos. The girls

were due to get ?150 prize money, but the nightclub says that won t

happen. Chester Pictures, who published the photos on a social

media site immediately took then down after a deluge of criticism.

Chester University and the student union have launched an immediate

investigation. A petition against the development

of the Summerland site has been handed in to the Isle of Man

government this morning. The leisure complex burnt to the ground, killing

50 people, mainly holiday`makers in 1973. The site could be sold for

developers to build apartments. But nearly 2,000 people have signed the

petition calling for a memorial garden to be created there. We feel

strongly, almost 2000 people here in the UK and all around the world

that this site should be commemorated. To all those people

who died. Fire crews in the region have seen a big fall in the number

of emergency calls made during bonfire night. Liverpool and

Lancashire border experienced a drop in the number of reported incidents

convert to last year and called in Manchester fell by one half. Only,

you saw a slight increase in the number of calls made.

The National Lottery's searching for the holder of a winning ticket on

the Fylde Coast, worth a million pounds. It was bought for the

Euromillions draw on the 26th of July. The holder won the Millionaire

Raffle prize but hasn't claimed it. It could be you!

It is not behind this is over. Now last night we broke the news

that the Liverpool drugs baron Curtis warren had been ordered to

pay back a staggering ?200m from the proceeds of his crimes. Today senior

police officers welcomed the confiscation order, thought to be

the biggest ever in Europe, as a "tremendous result". But the

question now is ` has he got any of the money left? He says he hasn t,

and those in the know reckon he could be telling the truth. Here's

our Merseyside Reporter, Andy Gill. Curtis Warren's spent most of the

past 17 years in jail for drugs crimes in Holland and Jersey. He

could be released in January. But only if he can find a hundred and

ninety eight million pounds in less than a month. `` and ?90 million. A

court in Jersey made the order against him based on jail phone

records and covert recordings in a Dutch jail of him boasting about his

wealth. If this gentleman has the assets then we want to take them off

him so he can continue on his life of crime. The hearing in Jersey saw

a world map showing countries here in red the authorities say Warren

contacted by mobile phone from prison. They range from Bolivia to

New Zealand. The map also showed countries here in blue he had

contacts for in his address book. From Argentina to Iceland. But

Warren's lawyers said the boasts were nonsense and he has nothing

left. Much of his wealth is repeatedly tied up in property,

including a flat here in Liverpool. One writer in Liverpool's underworld

has told the BBC today he does not think Warren has ?198 million in

cash. He has told us that when he was released from jail in Holland he

tried to get some of his money from criminal associates. But they would

not let him have it. The police say the order is a great result against

a man they say is one of the most prolific drug dealers of a

generation. His standing as rate up there and he has used his reputation

to his own advantage. This order will send the real Queen message not

only to him but to other criminals who `` and the National crime agency

and other law enforcement agencies who will ruthlessly pursue top

criminals. In a recent interview, Warren said he was anti`drugs and

wished he had trained as a lawyer. Still to come, the future of rugby

league dreams. Papua New Guinea s players visit Old Trafford, the

venue for the World Cup final. And we visit the restored home of

the man who wrote swallows and Amazons, a tale of innocence and

adventure in Lakeland. It is Remembrance Sunday this weekend a

good time to announce a key initiative in next year's Vance to

mark the sitting of the of the start of the First World War.

A commitment of paving stone will be laid in the hometown of everything

will be across one from the great War. It was designed by a barrel

`based architect who I am delighted to see joins us now. You are an

architect by trade, how did you get involved in this? Some friends asked

me to enter a competition to redesign the main square of Preston.

The long and short of it is the end of the stalling and adding to the

war memorial there. As part of the funding process we have to allow the

stories that would engage people and excite people and make them

understand what this was about. Then we went on to do it again in

Fleetwood, with the community there. The local community of veterans that

help us, give us the time to learn what the memorial is. He won the

competition with your design, didn't you? The design, the representation

of it is a great white disc that is the design of the First World War

Americas headstones that will be brought to town centres. We are

seeing it now. The name you have inscribed on it, William Young,

tells about him. He was a Scot who base himself in person? He is buried

in the local cemetery. He was injured, he received his award of

bravery on the 22nd of December 1815, he was shot in the mouth and

went on to pull people back to the trenches and safety. He was given a

hero 's welcome in Preston and then he unfortunately died under

pioneering corrective surgery in August 1916. I did not know this

until starting the project, my fantasy curator at the Harris resume

and Art gallery and he showed me some of his joyous homecoming. That

was his funeral. There is another film of him arriving. We have gone

past that. It was just knowing, when you have a list of 627 names of

those who received the Victoria Cross, to know of one, that is why I

picked him. It has a lovely way to commemorate what they did and he

respects to it. Some people have said on Facebook, they don't want to

step on them! I am always concerned about carvings and pavements.

Interestingly, the 400 of these that will be in the UK will be registered

War memorials, they will go on a but people may walk on them and travel

on them. We might start looking at pavements in a different way. That

makes one stop, learn and pause Looking at the floor and different

things. I don't know. It is certainly a good idea and as you see

it as something that should be rendered. Thank you for coming in.

Not a great day for swimming today, but if fancied a dip in Blackpool

the good news is that for the first time in years all the resort's

beaches were given top marks for clean bathing water. But not such

good news elswhere in fact of the six UK beaches that failed the tests

` four were here in the North West. Beccy Meehan, who didn't opt for a

bracing swim, reports. The Northwest is renowned for its

coastline, and new research shows the quality of the water at most of

our beaches is continuing to improve. The results do show there

is more work to be done in the north`west, we do have heavy

rainfall and some of the problems it causes is the sewer system getting

blocked up. We get run`off rainfall landing on farmland but this year we

had a really good summer and some real vocal sources causing issues.

Things like dog mess on the beach. These problems mean that the five UK

beaches that field test, for in the Northwest. And the, Blackpool's

beaches have passed. Blackpool is a family resort, we want to encourage

people with children to come here. Anything that says we are clean and

safe and healthy as part of what we are about. We want to encourage

people to use the beach and have a good time. The family audiences what

we want to gain. The authorities may be very pleased that water quality

is improving, but visitors here in Blackpool remain to be convinced.

Could be improved more, because it is very dirty. I can't tell with

this weather. If they are working hard at trying to clean up the

sewage and the health of the beach I would say it is all positive. There

is more work to be done, but it is an improvement nonetheless.

I was out and about and felt like I could go swimming, I almost got

washed away! Came for the sport They have had a few goes at it, but

classmates on the policy for Manchester City. Yes, another

ambition set out, the Abu Dhabi takeover could be on the list. City

are through to the play`offs for the first time in their history.

They are certainly scoring lots they must be confident.

Yes and the manager hinted at this after the five dash to thrashing

from CSKA Moscow. The strikers are leading the way.

This was the first to, before the limelight was stolen with this

hat`trick. The boss is delighted with his team. The whole team is

playing as an offensive team and that is very important. They play in

a team and we have a lot more chances, we scored five goals today

and had at least five or six more chances. The Reds of Manchester also

claimed. Top of the group but not the result in the game that got

everyone talking. No, David Moyes wished it was, the

know will result was not making the headlines, it was the allegation of

diving against Ashley Young. Let's look at it. The winner has

previously come under fire for going down the easily. He is under

scrutiny again. Ironically, Robin van pessimist these bot kick. ``

Robin van Percy mess to the spot kick. A missed penalty and a red

card. United that Manchester United would

want to forget. Yes and no. I will head my bets. It was not a bad

result, they are still in good shape to make the next stage but they will

have to do without key players. Including this man, who was sent

off. The second red card came from this trip. They are still

well`placed to make it out of the equipment into the final 16. If we

had wanted eight it would have given us a real chance of making sure that

we were the team who were going to lead the group. But we are in a

healthy position. He wants to be top but I do feel we missed out on the

chance to make sure it was three. That's the sport to rugby league,

the World Cup is gaining momentum. England still have their sights set

on lifting the famous trophy, but for some smaller nations like Papua

New Guinea the fact that they are taking part is just as important. I

caught up with them as the ticket to the venue for the final.

It is very unlikely they will be back at Old Trafford for the final,

but for Papua New Guinea the World Cup is just as much about the whole

experience as the result. Some of our boys have never had a passport

before so to be part of a World Cup was to enjoy it and get the

experience overseas and meet people and other cultures and we are really

enjoying it. They were shopping this afternoon at the Old Trafford

centre. Some big sizes and their! Big size 16 shoes. It seems that his

players are taking it all in the trade. Very different to Australia,

but very enjoyable. What about the experience of Old Trafford? Yes it

is an unbelievable stadium. We have a stadium on the Gold Coast which

seats 27,000 in this one is obviously about three times the size

so it has been a wonderful experience just to see what the

stadium was like. Asfordby head coach he knows Old Trafford well

from his within days when he was involved in some proud moments. ``

as for the head coach. Non`coder than leading his country. There is

no prouder moment than putting these boys, and we have an opportunity on

Friday against New Zealand, the current world champions. They will

be up against it, but one of the friendliest teams around will not be

short on support. Before I go, you'll remember last

night we were previewing a big auction of Nat Lofthouse

memorabilia, including his England cap from the famous Lion of Vienna

game. Well the auction was today, and some good news lots of the items

up for sale have been bought by Bolton Council with help from NCP

and they'll go on permanent display at Bolton Museum. Much better than

gathering dust in a collectors safe.? `` collector's safe. Everyone

can now see them forevermore. He was absolutely phenomenal. The council

had help, so they weren't spending council taxpayers money on!

When you move into a new home, you might sometimes wonder what the

previous owners might have been like. Well, one couple who moved

into a house in Cumbria have spent a fair amount of time finding out

about the past resident of their place. He was the children's author

Arthur Ransome. And as Dave Guest reports, documenting his connections

with the house has become a labour of love for the pair.? it is a

quintessentially English tale of well spoken children enjoying a

spiffing adventure in the Lake District.

Swallows and Amazons as a children's classic and the man who wrote it,

Arthur Ransome, also loved Lakeland. He spent many summers at this

cottage, and he liked it so much he wanted and spent the final years of

his life here. The current owners, Stephen and Gillian Sykes, spent

half ?1 million renovating hilltop. The view is unmistakable. They have

retained other features, that would also make the offer of you at home.

Was it the Arthur Ransome collection that persuaded you to buy the place?

It is a beautiful home in any case, but with the Arthur Ransome

connection it was the added sparkle that we were looking for. Stephen

spent a lot of time researching the residents, he looked out long

forgotten photographs of the offer and his wife at the cottage. He even

discovered rarely heard sound recordings of the author. He has

been restoring them. As you can see, once you have used the software the

crackling that was on the recording previously is extracted entirely and

you get a nice clean recording. Has he become in recession for you? I

wouldn't say obsession but he's a very interesting character, Arthur

Ransome. Indeed he was. As a newspaper correspondence he covered

the rushing revolution and married Trotsky's former secretary. He was

named the cease`fire and double agents years after his death. This

is the laps picture ever taken of him and it was taken in this very

room. Arthur Ransome died in 19 7, he is buried about four miles as the

crow flies in that direction. Stephen hopes that by resetting the

writer's connections with this house, those connections will never

be forgotten. `` re`searching the connections.

It is something that every child of the generation must read. I am

afraid to say it is a gap in my literary education!

As I mentioned earlier, I was nearly washed away. It was absolutely

bucketing down. It has been a bit of a damp squib.

We have had plenty of rain throughout this afternoon, barely

any sunshine at all. It will be a disappointing day for November and

there is plenty more where that came from. Over the next two or three

days and into the weekend you can see we are going to see a lot of

rain, a bit of improvements tomorrow on Friday and Saturday and Sunday I

think I can guarantee you some rain and disappointing temperatures. It

is not going to be particularly warm, either. Tonight we have rain

around and it will eventually easily into the morning. It will not

disappear completely and we still have showers continuing to make

their way in from across the Irish Sea. It D please unite, we see clear

skies into dawn. `` we see a breezy night and clear skies. For tomorrow,

very much of an improvement, actually. It will be a breezy day

but right from the word go, and also a desire to from the word go. We

have one or two showers initially by the stiff westerly breeze continuing

to bring showers on. Perhaps even the risk of thunder from time to

time tomorrow. In Lancashire tomorrow we could see places with

temperatures rising no higher than in degrees, but elsewhere we could

see ten or 11 degrees. Make the most of the dry in bright conditions

because tomorrow night the showers will begin to pale backing from the

West and it will be another chilly evening and for Friday and Saturday

it will stay quite breezy with plenty more showers to come.

A wet picture. What is the weather world like? A parallel universe I

always say damp squid, but apparently it is damp squib! Damp

squib made us laugh. I must treat Swallows and Amazons, we decided the

Labour club. Good night.