14/01/2014 North West Tonight

Australia. More about the weather where you are on-line.

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight. Our top story: William

Roache's sex abuse trial hears claims the Coronation Street star

used his fame to manipulate young girls.

Also tonight, our reporter on the pressure of hospitals facing winter.

This morning, every bed in the Royal Preston was being used. I have been

looking at the reason behind why hospitals are reaching full

capacity. The price of shale gas ` police

reveal the financial cost of Salford's anti`fracking protest

The children at the centre of an international tug of love and the

Manchester mum in Vienna who wants them back.

The children should never have been taken away from my care. They need

to correct that mistake and give my children back.

Every dog has its day ` meet Nell the guide dog who saved her trainers

life. The Coronation Street star William

Roache used his fame to manipulate the trust of star struck teenagers.

That's according to the prosecutor at Preston Crown Court.

That's where the actor who plays Ken Barlow went in trial today accused

of rape and sexual assaults dating back to the '60s. The star denies

the charges. Our reporter is at the court now.

Dave, this is a case that's attracted widespread attention,

isn't it? That is right. William Roache is one

of the best`known faces in television, having been in

Coronation Street ever since the first episode. He was surrounded by

cameras today as he arrived at Preston Crown Court to face the

charges of rape and sexual assault dating back to the 1960s, charges

that he denies. What was the scene like inside the

court? Courtroom number one was full to

capacity in the public gallery and on the press benches. On the front

of the gallery sat William Roache's sons. William Roache listen to the

prosecution, as they outlined the case which they say prove his guilt.

Both the judge and prosecutor reminded the jury on many occasions

that they are here to try William Roache, not Ken Barlow, the

character he plays on television. The judge says that they must put

aside any views that they have about Ken Barlow, and that they must try

William Roache during the proceedings.

These allegations date back 40 years. What are you able to tell us

about the people who are making them?

One of those accusing him is a woman who is now in her 60s. She said that

when she was 15, William Roache raped her on two separate

occasions. The prosecutor said today that the woman had kept it all

secret for more than 40 years. She only spoke about it in the wake of

the Jimmy Southall `` Jimmy Southall scandal when her son asked her why

people remained quiet about such things. She went to the police.

Another person said that she was 14 and visiting Granada Studios when it

happened, another person said they were also assaulted in the toilets

in the 1960s. The other two were sisters who used to hang around

outside the studios of Coronation Street. One says that she was

assaulted in the dressing rooms another one says that she was

assaulted in his car. He denies all of this.

Who else are we likely to hear evidence from?

The defence have been calling a number of people, including William

Roache's co`stars. That includes the woman who plays Deirdre Barlow, and

Chris Gascoigne who plays his son Peter Barlow in the soap. William

Roache left with his real sons tonight. The trial is expected to

last for four weeks. It has been another startling day

for one of our local councils. People working at Lancashire County

Council were told 2500 posts would be cut over the next two years.

It is one of the largest councils, it will mean that services will be

reduced for the people in the county.

It runs the county's strategic services, social services, roads,

education. After three years of contraction, staff were told that

were as much worse to come. I am gutted. I have had talks with

staff and I said then that absolutely, I understand how

difficult it is for them. The council's budget is ?776

million. It has saved ?220 million over the last three years and now

needs to save another 300 million over the next four years. Staff have

reduced from 14 and half thousand to 13000 and will go down further to

11,500 x 20 16. Meanwhile, the County Council is raising the tax by

just over 2%. You are worried about the impact on

a bus services? Yes, I am worried about that.

This campaign has already set up an online petition to protect bus

routes around Lancashire. Some of the messages are upsetting to hear.

Some people are saying that they will not be able to get to work and

people saying that they may have to move house.

The government says that cutting money to councils is necessary to

balance the books. Do people in Lancaster agreed?

The people who cannot afford to pay more or receive less are being

penalised. I have to pay ?15 a week, and I was given a four`bedroom

house. I do not use is anymore. We are getting a glimpse of what

local government will look like when it emerges from the cuts. Leaner,

more efficient but with far fewer resources to spend on people.

Now is Jon Tonge, a professor of politics at Liverpool University. We

had little porn announcing that services would be cut. Lancashire ``

Liverpool announcing that services would be cut. Lancashire has

announced that today. What are we looking at today?

If years down the track, they will never be able to do this `` the same

things they do now. There have been very high cuts in real terms in the

councils cut back? Only one in 5 are raised in council tax, and local

authorities cannot raise the tax by that much. Central government will

let them. We're not talking about the vulnerable, we are also talking

about libraries closing, some educational services closing,

after`school clubs that allow parents to go to work will be hit.

So everyone will feel the impact of those cuts? Not just those who rely

on social services? Yes, a few years ago, there were

some extra jobs, and there are now some questions about why some people

in local government are receiving higher salaries than the Prime

Minister. But the whole story is one of savage cuts, with no end in

sight. People thought that the cuts would only be for one or two years,

but there is no prospect of normal services being resumed any time soon

in the future. So far, they seem to be able to

avoid compulsory redundancies. Cannot carry on?

They can either cut services or jobs. So far, they have allowed

people to retire early. That is not possible any more. We are into the

territory of compulsory redundancies. The question is the

scale. The shire counties have not done as badly as the big cities but

even the shire counties like Lancashire County Council are now

struggling. It does not matter, they are all suffering these big cuts.

A zebra crossing in Oldham where a 12`year`old girl died is to undergo

significant improvements by the council. Annalise Holt was crossing

Milnrow Road in Shaw with a friend when the accident happened last

month. She died at the scene, her friend was seriously injured.

Thousands signed a petition calling for the changes.

The MP for Morecambe David Morris is to table an early day motion in the

House of Commons calling for the Hillcroft care home owners to

apologise for the abuse of patients. Last week, three care workers were

found guilty of abusing dementia patients at the home near Lancaster.

A double decker bus has had its roof ripped off after going underneath a

low bridge in Lancaster. The accident, involving a Stagecoach

bus, happened on St George's Quay this morning. Police said no one was

injured. And good news for Manchester

Airport. 1.3 million passengers travelled through the airport in

December ` that's more than 5% higher than last December. Christmas

was particularly busy, with 720 000 people using the airport over the

festive period. Macclesfield face Sheffield

Wednesday in an FA Cup third round replay this evening. Victory would

earn the Silkmen a date with Rochdale in the fourth round and a

much needed cash boost of nearly ?70,000. The club is in danger of

folding with debts of ?500,000. We will have the results of the other

games on hourly news. One of the region's biggest

hospitals reached full capacity today, with every bed at the Royal

Preston being used and no space for new patients. Winter pressures are

now stretching NHS resources across the region.

Today, Leighton Hospital in Crewe asked local people to think twice

before using the Emergency Department as they've seen a rise in

patients being admitted with symptoms of norovirus. Both

hospitals say care is not being compromised. Our health

correspondent is at the Royal Preston now.

It might not look like it at the moment, but this is one of the

busiest A departments in the North of England. Hundreds of patients

come through these doors every day. But this morning, some people were

told there would have to wait, because this hospital may have 00

beds, but every bed was being used. Here is the director of operations

joining us on this busy day. How did it come to that, that the patients

could not get a bed? It is a combo nation of issues.

We have had a high number of issues, and patients who are elderly

and need a bed. People will say that it is winter,

there is more illness about, but it is the same in other areas, they are

not saying that they are at full capacity? It is a national problem.

The pressures felt right across the region. It is a national problem,

the medical director of the NHS has commissioned an urgent care review,

because we know that there has been a significant increase in emergency

admissions. We are coping, the teams are working really hard to ensure

that we deliver in `` affective care. That is delivered across the

hospital. One of the reasons behind our

hospitals filling up is that have an aging population. Last year here at

the Royal Preston they saw a 22 increase in the number of patients

aged between 80 and 90. As I've been finding out as part of a three day

series on winter pressures. So many patients want to go home, but they

cannot. I was doing the shopping and cooking

and making sure that she was not left on her own.

Eric is a busy man. At 89 years old, he is his wife's carer, he

plays in a bridge club and he organises foreign excursions. But he

cannot go home, because social services have not organised his

community care. How much you need to get back home?

I very much need to go home. I can't get anywhere.

Staff do not like the term, but these patients are sometimes

referred to as a bed blockers, who are able to leave medically, but

cannot. It could be that they are waiting for a space in a nursing

home. All of this intensifies in January, because of the slowdown

over Christmas. It is not a case of they have been

in the hospital for a long time and they need to be moved on, as health

care professionals, we need to make sure that they are safe and that the

quality of the care that they are receiving is the right quality

within the community. We are living for much longer and

with a better quality of life, which is great, but the longer that we

live, the more complex our health needs become, and the more pressure

that gives on teams like this. I have a wonderful career and a

wonderful home life. Water came in nine weeks ago after a fall, but

cannot go home, Denise to go to a care home and then used to be a

place for him. `` he needs to. If I need to be looked after, I need

to go to a care home. I am quite looking forward to it.

Staff say that these patients are a privilege to work with, and that

they are entitled to the same standard of care inside and outside

the hospital. Talking to staff here, they have

freed up some beds. There 43 beds, so please do not worry. Tomorrow, we

will be looking at another thing that puts pressure on hospitals The

NHS have become victims of their own success. People living for longer.

We will be looking at how this increases pressure on capacity, and

we will also give you an update on how Eric and the others are doing.

Still to come on North West Tonight: To the rescue ` how Nell the guide

dog made it a new year to remember. And we are at the Lancashire nature

reserve were a rare occurrence has got bird`watchers very excited.

The plight of a mother from Manchester, whose children have been

taken from her by a court in Austria, is being raised in

Parliament tonight. Beth Alexander lost custody of her twin boys after

an acrimonious divorce. Her family claims the courts in Vienna, where

she now lives, have treated her unfairly. The Manchester MP Graham

Stringer is raising their concerns in the Commons.

Sammy and Benji are at the centre of an international custody battle that

has consumed a family from Manchester. Their mother, Beth

Alexander, grew up in Crumpsall and moved to Vienna to marry a doctor,

Michael Schlesinger. Their marriage broke down in 2010, with Mr

Schlesinger claiming she was mentally ill. Her mental health was

considered by the courts in Austria, which decided to take the boys from

her. There is no evidence of mental

illness. There was nothing wrong with the children in my care. You

can see that there is something terribly wrong that has happened

here. The children should never have been taken away from me. A mistake

has been made, and they need to correct that mistake and give me my

children back. The decision was backed by the

Austrian courts. Back in Manchester, her family say that she has been

treated badly. Has she has `` has she ever had

mental problems? She has never been to a psychiatric

doctor for anything. Under the court reports, which stated that she has

never been mentally ill and is not mentally ill.

Tonight, an MP has been speaking to Parliament about this.

Austria has similar laws to ours, but something seems to have gone

wrong. I need to explain it to the house these series of events that

has led to her not having custody of the children.

We've tried to contact the boys father for his view on the case but

been unable to reach him. The Alexanders say their lives have been

taken over by what they see as a battle for justice. They're now

considering appealing to the European Court.

We will follow that story and give you any developments.

Police have accused some anti`fracking protestors at Barton

Moss in Salford of behaving in a "reckless" way, as they attempt to

prevent IGas lorries from making deliveries to the site near Eccles.

The protestors, on the other hand, have accused the police of being

heavy handed and intimidating. Our environment correspondent Judy

Hobson has been speaking to both sides.

They have come from all of the UK with one common aim ` to try to stop

energy company IGas drilling here. The tactics vary from go slow

marches to so`called vehicle "lock`ons". Police claim that there

is a major concern in the slow go marches that can be dangerous and

affect people living nearby. At one point, it took 55 minutes to

travel 30 paces. When does that become unreasonable and become a

criminal offence? When you have a large number of vehicles entering

the site, it blocks Barton Moss for a large amount of time, which has an

effect of local people. The protesters say that they try and

avoid disruption to the local people, and say that police have

been heavy`handed. Police said that there have been 55 complaints `` 35

complaints against them. The police have done a fear and

intimidation to the protesters and the local people. Police say that

that is not true, and that the operation has gone well. It has cost

?330,000 so far. There have been 55 arrests, but police said that most

people are peaceful. Meanwhile, questions are being asked

in Cheshire East area, home to George Osborne's Tatton

constituency, the scene of anti`fracking protests last year.

Last night, the Tory leader of the council Mike Jones said his council

was against shale gas exploitation and people living there could "rest

assured" there would be no fracking in the county. But he said that he

could not ban fracking. Fracking where we have the shale gas

deposits. You would expect him to say that you would not do it if you

did not have the ability to do it. The protests go one, and there is no

end in sight. Now to a remarkable story about a

remarkable dog. Nell, a guide dog who is training, showed she really

is woman's best friend, when she came to the rescue of her trainer.

You really like that picture, don't you? When Lesley Hailwood from

Liverpool started to choke on a Christmas chocolate, Nell thankfully

knew exactly what to do, and saved her life. This afternoon, our

reporter went to meet them both This is the real hero of the hour,

Nell. She stayed she should `` she stays with you while she is

training. What did you do? It was New Year's Eve, and I had a

box of chocolate, and a chocolate got stuck in the back of my throat.

When I walked into the room where Nell was asleep, she jumped up onto

the sofa and jumped up with her two front feet onto my chest, which

dislodged the chocolate. Were you surprised by what she did?

Yes, I was. It's not something she is trained to do. Shoppers who knew

it instinctively. `` she obviously knew it

instinctively. She did not know what she was

doing? No, she has not been trained to do this, but it shows what a

fantastic bond Nell has formed, and she knew that her owner was in

trouble and she helped her. She is proving that she will make a very

good guide dog. She is now having a rest on the bench.

Clever and beautiful. Well done Nell. What a beautiful dog.

Now, do you know your herons from your bitterns? Would you recognise a

Little Egret or even a Great White? Pop along to Brockholes reserve near

Preston and you'll find plenty of people who are tweeting about them.

Bird`watchers have been flocking there to see a rare phenomenon. You

might usually spot one type of those breeds, but never before have all

four been seen together. Naomi Cornwell went in the hope of getting

a glimpse. They are usually a solitary breed

found hiding in the reeds, but suddenly, the lesser spotted

bird`watchers are flocking to Preston. Or because they are smitten

by bitterns. One of our local people shouted that

there were four different types of herons at Brockholes. And he was

right. There are bitterns, herons, and egrets.

To see all four types of herons at the same time is very unusual, and

has got people excited. I was the one who saw the bitterns.

I was very happy. I have been in the quarry since it was a working

quarry, and to see it develop into a working bird place, it is wonderful.

I saw the heron fly. It is iconic. It is a bird that is not common and

not easy to see. To get them all together at the same

time and all within January, it is quite a feat.

Birders at Brockholes have been able to capture all the species on

camera. Everyone can see them and spot them. It is great.

At one challenge remains. So far, no one has managed to photograph all

four together. They are stunning. I think our

producer was a bit disappointed because she thought there was a

great white there, she thought it was a shark.

Yes, she sent a camera crew out then it was just a birds.

It was a bit grey at Brockholes today, what is the weather like

I will and sat on our producer's behalf, a shark in the sky?

We had plenty of sunshine today But it is all about to change tonight.

The week ahead will be very unsettled. It is more rain to night.

We will see this rain moving in overnight. It will stay with us

throughout most of Wednesday. It edges away on Thursday. It looks as

if we will see a respite on Thursday, then you will see an area

of low pressure heading this way on Friday. So maybe some more rain on

Friday in places. For this evening, the rain begins to

cross over. There could be some snow on high grounds. But just the

showers overnight. It will be persistent overnight. The wind will

pick up, fog patches in some places. Because of the breeze, the cloud in

the rain, it is much milder than it was last night. We saw temperatures

below freezing last night, tonight it will be four or five Celsius

Seven Celsius in the Isle of Man. Tomorrow, it will be very mild. It

will be cloudy. The rain continues, not everywhere. On and off, the

showery rain. You can see the breeze picking up on the south.

Temperatures in double figures in one or two spots. We may see 11

Celsius. These temperatures are definitely well above average for

the time of the year. Tomorrow night, more showery rain stopped

said Thursday looks better, but it will be colder on Thursday. Just

eight Celsius. Thank you very much. Just to

reiterate, because Nina was there at the Royal Preston, if you are in

that area and you do in that area and Eugenie to go to hospital, they

are open to new patients. `` and you do need to go to hospital. If you

need treatment, go to hospital. And he will be back at 10:25pm.

Goodbye.