01/01/2014 North West Tonight

2014 in the traditional way. There's 2014 in the traditional way. There's

Good evening. Merseyside Police are urgently

appealing for witnesses after a man was attacked and critically injured

on his way home from a New Year s Eve party. Detectives say

40`year`old Michael Cunliffe was the victim of what appears to have been

a random, unprovoked attack. Lindsey Prosser reports.

Say we are tagged here on the way home from a party. He stopped to a

group of people, and was then punched to the ground in an

unprovoked attack. The no time to defend himself. The group of

individuals talking to Mr Cunliffe prior to the attack did come to his

aid afterwards and offer first aid, which is credible conduct. I would

appeal to those individuals in the first instance to come and speak to

the police and give us an account of what happened. At the moment, we

have no motive whatsoever. Also it is a busy thoroughfare. There are a

of people milling around and cars driving around, so anyone who was in

the locality at the time and saw this take place, I would appeal for

them to come forward and contact police. Police say Mr Cunliffe's

partner and teenage son keeping a vigil at his bedside and are

desperate for any information. Detectives investigating the death

of a woman found at a house in Warrington have arrested a

38`year`old man. Police called to Knutsford Road in Latchford at :45

last night discovered the body of a 34`year`old woman. They're treating

her death as suspicious. Three members of staff at North West

Ambulance Service were assaulted during last night's celebrations.

Paramedics were called to more than 2,000 incidents across the region

between midnight and 6am. One of the worst was a fight in Skelmersdale

involving as many as 20 people. Football, and Manchester City are

still second in the Premier League, just one point behind Arsenal, after

winning 3`2 at Swansea. The Blues' goals came from Fernandinho, who

struck after just 13 minutes, Yaya Toure, who made it 2`1 with a

deflected shot, and Alexander Kolarov, who beat the keeper after a

run which started in his own half. Meanwhile, Liverpool's 2`0 win over

Hull means they go fourth. Everton drop to fifth after being held to a

1`1 draw at Stoke. Hull means they go fourth. Everton

drop to fifth after And in the :30 kick off, it's Manchester United 0,

Spurs 1. Now here's a rather extreme way to

get rid of that New Year hangover. 100 swimmers dived into Salford

Quays for charity today. They braved the cold water to raise money for

the children's unit at Tameside Hospital. Naomi Cornwell reports.

These brave souls opted to start 2014 by dunking themselves in dock

nine. The water temperature is just five degrees, and there is a

bitterly cold wind, but that has not deterred them. It was all the idea

of a nurse from Tameside Hospital who wanted to raise money for the

children's unit where she works It's going to go towards the

children's unit, because it is fantastic to have the extra

equipment during the winter. It will be brilliant. You drop in, and your

first reaction is to have an intense heat, it is your body's mechanism to

try and heat itself. You have each gym and is burning sensation. You

just feel completely alive. Every sense, every nerve ending is

singing, so it is indescribably lovely.

Well, 2014 has started with a lot of rain. Is that going to continue

Eno? It will continue for the week

ahead. Good evening. A bit of a soggy start to the new year. Plenty

of rain around this morning and into this afternoon. A yellow weather

warning in place for rain from The Met Office until midnight. Flood

alerts keep rising, we are now up to 14 from the Environment Agency. The

number on the screen is the one you may want to call if the rain

continues to pile into this evening. Still some heavy pulses in places.

It will be quite a breezy night may be windy across the Isle of Man

Temperatures are OK, down to three or four Celsius. Thankfully, the

second day of 2014 looks better Drier and writer, once we get rid of

the showers in the morning. They will head to the other side of the

Pennines. Another breezy day. Some 's spells of sunshine. Maybe eight

Celsius if we're lucky. Some rain on Friday, and strong winds. BBC local

radio with you updated as always. That is all from us for now. Have a

very happy New Year. Hello. It is a New Year but it is

the same old weather. Flood warnings are on the rise. The flood line

number is on screen if you are at all concerned. Still some rain to

come this evening and overnight Still some heavy bursts. It will

push the way towards the east taking the strongest winds with