24/02/2014 North West Tonight

One, we now join the BBC's news teams where

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

Annabel Tiffin. Our top story. Taking us all for a ride. The

benefits fraudster, who claimed he was too ill to work. Tonight, Steven

Worton is starting a prison sentence. Also tonight.

Plans to build a controversial incinerator in Greater Manchester

are given a final go`ahead, even though the council don't want it.

How a night out at a Manchester Music Hall led one young man to the

trenches of World War One. We are in the kitchen here. How 40s inspired

food can still be today's flavour of the month.

Biomass incinerators, green sustainable energy for some, a

source of dangerous air pollutants for others. For three years,

Trafford Council has been fighting plans for one in its borough. Today,

the council finally lost, the incinerator will be built. The

European Commission began legal receding is against the UK for

excessive air pollution levels. This is what the Barton Renewable

Energy Plant will look like. Peel say it will create green,

sustainable energy. Enough to power 37,000 homes. So how will it do

that? Well, biomass plants run, largely, on recycled wood. Around

70% of it recovered from the construction and demolition

industry. But it's what those plants emit which caused Trafford concerns.

They fear dangerous pollutants, including arsenic, dioxins and

nitrogen dioxide, being pumped into the air. Today, campaigners said

they were dismayed by the decision. These are my fears, fears for the

children. We have schools right on the edge of the motorway, over

polluted in our area. We are an air quality management area so how can

they put... More pollution in the area? How can they do it to

children? I am fighting for those children. The row began back in

2012, when Trafford Council unanimously blocked the plans. That

led to a public enquiry. Since then, the Environment Agency has said the

plant would be safe and should go ahead. The Planning Inspectorate

agreed. That didn't satisfy the council. It appealed. But, this

morning, a High Court judge cast the deciding vote. The plant will be

built. This is a plant that we know is going to put pollutants into the

atmosphere. It is something that is contributing to damaging the

environment and we need to make sure that we have tough conditions in

force, and that is something we will work to do very quickly. Peel

weren't available for interview today but said:

Campaigners and Trafford maintain this will add to pollution. Just

last week, the EC announced legal action against the UK for excessive

air pollution levels at a number of areas. One of those areas was

Greater Manchester. Thank you very much.

A builder from Liverpool has been sent to prison after falsely

claiming nearly ?90,000 in benefits. Stephen Worton told the authorities

he was so ill he could barely walk. At the same time, he was running a

roofing business and enjoying lavish holidays. Worton was caught on

camera riding an elephant in Goa and a camel in Egypt. A judge described

his nerve as breathtaking. From Liverpool Crown Court, Stuart

Flinders reports. This is a man who said he was

suffering from cancer and unable to work. He was fit enough to clamber

aboard an elephant in Goa. And to cope with a camel in Egypt. The

holidays were paid for by the taxpayer. He was claiming he could

barely walk. Clearly, that was alive. He perpetrated that light

over ten years. While claiming benefits, Warton was running two

businesses as a roofer. In one year making ?60,000 in profits while

claiming income support. Now he says he really is ill. He arrived at

court on crutches. His lawyer told the court he had a heart condition

and his health was deteriorating. Worton has admitted 16 offences He

claimed housing and council tax benefits, saying he was a tenant at

this house in Whiston. In fact, he owned the property and didn't even

live here. In all, Worton falsely claimed more than ?41,000 in housing

benefit. More than ?4,000 in council tax benefit. And more than ?40, 00

in income support. Grand total: ?85,768.99. His lawyer told the

court even he was shocked when he was shown the final figure. Worton,

whose wife, Suzanne Martin, has recently been convicted of benefit

fraud, had nothing to say as he arrived to be sentenced. Do you feel

any sense of shame at taking this money from the taxpayers of this

city and other cities? Why did you do it? He was given an 18 month

prison sentence. The judge described it as a devious, cynical and brazen

deception. He told Steven Worton, you are able to enjoy a lifestyle

out of reach for most law`abiding members of the public. Members of

society will be appalled by your behaviour. Your nerve was

breathtaking. The house, the caravan near Blackpool, the motor cruiser

moored on Windermere, have all gone. Worton took nearly ?90,000 from the

taxpayer. And the taxpayer is unlikely to get it back.

Police have arrested a convicted murderer who's been on the run since

Friday, after disappearing whilst on day release in Rochdale. Paul

Maxwell was found in Salford earlier today. Last week, he escaped from

prison staff who'd been accompanying him. Another man has also been

arrested on suspicion of assisting an escapee.

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner has insisted that

there's no case to answer, despite the police watchdog announcing it's

to reinvestigate his expenses claims. Clive Grunshaw was told in

January that he would face no charges over allegations of

dishonesty. But the Independent Police Complaints Commission says

it's looking again at the case. Forgery charges against the Isle of

Man's Attorney General have been dropped. 52`year`old Stephen Harding

was facing charges of perjury and acts against public justice. He was

suspended as the Manx government's main legal adviser in 2012. Mr

Harding, who's always denied the accusations, has stood trial twice,

with the jury failing to reach a verdict on both occasions.

The Head of the Crown Prosecution Service in the north`west has

revealed there are more than a dozen cases of alleged historical sexual

abuse being investigated in the region. Nazir Afzal told BBC One's

Inside Out north`west programme that he's deliberately taken on the most

challenging, high profile cases in the country, like the Rochdale

grooming case, in the hope that it will encourage more victims of abuse

to come forward. More people are coming forward now

with the confidence and the courage to talk about their experiences

talk about what happened to them. And, so, we are seeing more cases,

the police are seeing more referrals to them, we are seeing more

referrals, we are taking more cases to court, and that is as it should

be. And you can see a full profile of

Nazir Afzal on tonight's Inside Out north`west 7:30 on BBC One. Fracking

for shale gas, this divides opinion. . Some say it could be the answer to

the impending fuel crisis, others, that it's a short`sighted fix which

could lead to environmental disaster. But the controversy's not

just here. In Europe, France, Germany, the Netherlands and

Bulgaria have either banned or put the industry on hold while countries

such as Poland, Romania and Ukraine are pushing ahead. Radio

Manchester's Mat Trewern has been to one part of Spain that has banned

fracking because of public fears. The opposition to fracking in the

villages of Cantabria is open and defiant. This area is known as Green

Spain, and you can see why. It is a beautiful part of the country,

dearly loved by those who live and work here. TRANSLATION: ?? TRANSMIT

If that gas has been under the ground for the last 20 or 30 million

years... Can't we wait another 0 or 30 years to ensure that there will

be no dangers whatsoever extracting that gas? Because if we do that now,

the damage to this part of the world will be irreversible. Thousands of

people have taken to the streets, worried about the potential impact

on health and the environment. The Spanish government says fracking

will bring energy security and jobs. Promises that campaigners reject.

This industry taints completely the surface of the place they work and

also the underground. Almost everybody who lives in Cantabria is

against fracking. Despite strong opposition in the city, and here in

the villages, the Spanish government has changed the law to allow test

drilling to start in areas like this. But with tensions running

high, gas companies know they have to tread carefully. When you have

something new, you create fear. For this reason, we need to explain to

educate the people, to show that, for us, for Spain, it is an

opportunity. And we can do that actually, with the best practice in

the industry. It's unclear how effective Canterbury's fracking ban

will be. `` Cantabria. The national government has launched a legal

challenge. The gas companies are ready to start drilling. The

protesters say they will fight on. An uncertain road lies ahead.

Mat Trewern's with us now because, as we said earlier, this is a hugely

important subject, but one you might still have a few questions over

Local radio this week is looking at it. Tell us what you will be doing.

We will be taking it back to basics, looking at the process, what it

involves. We will also look at the benefits, or potential benefits of

extracting shale gas. We'll also look at the claims that fracking

could damage environment. And our health as well. We'll also consider

what the future of the industry may be here in the north`west and then

on Friday, you'll be able to hear Fracking: The Big Debate with a

panel of guests, including representatives from the industry

and those opposed to it. And, of course, Annabel, you'll know all

about that because you're hosting it. I will, it should be live. ``

lively. You might need to be peacemaker.

Still to come on North West Tonight. We meet the Blackpool boxer

preparing for the fight of his life. Cooking on a budget, how wartime

recipes like these are inspiring the online generation to eat healthily.

The first weeks of World War One saw tens of thousands of young men

joining up as the country was swept by a patriotic fever. Tonight, in

the first of a week`long series looking at the impact of the war on

life here at home, we're going to tell you the story of the moment one

of those young men decided to volunteer. And it was all down to a

music hall star and a song. "We don't want to lose you but we think

you ought to go." Another busy night here at the

Palace Theatre in Manchester City centre. People going in to catch the

show that's just about to start 100 years ago in September 1914, a

young, newlywed couple, came through these very doors for a big night

out. But it turned out to be a bigger night than either of them

could ever have imagined. That night, Percy and Kitty Morter

joined the excited crowd at the Manchester Palace, the city was in a

patriotic ferment. In France, the war was going badly. The country

needed troops. And the music hall was only too happy to do its bit.

I know the Army is perfect, it can't be beat.

I know it's true. Because I do. Top of the bill here that night was

one of music hall's biggest stars, the legendary male impersonator

Vesta Tilley. That night, Vesta became a recruiting sergeant.

Girls, I want to advise you, won't you please attend...

She came out in the audience, walked all down, either sides. The men were

following her. She also had a big union Jack wrapped around her. And

she introduced that song, We Don't Want To Lose You But We Think You

Ought To Go. And we were sat at the front, and

she walked down, and she hesitated a bit, and she put a hand on my

husband's shoulder. And all the place was full of it, her voice

following her down. I didn't want him to go to be a soldier. Because I

didn't want to lose him. Before television, before radio, the music

hall would have been the perfect place for recruitment. Music hall is

the greatest educator, greater than the churches, the schools, political

parties or anything else. And music hall educated people emotionally,

and it brought out those kinds of responses, the kind of responses

that would be needed for somebody to go to war. In that first week of

September, something like 1,400`1,500 men were enlisting every

day. Percy joined the Royal North Lancashire Regiment and was shipped

out to Flanders. He last saw Kitty when he came home on leave in 1 16.

Weeks later, he was dead. His body was never found. Lost amongst the

blood and mud of the Somme. Back home, Kitty discovered she was

pregnant. Kitty described her young husband as blonde and beautiful

but, sadly, no picture of him exists. Have a look at this

photograph. It shows his regiment on the Somme in 1916, just days before

he went into battle. It is strange to think that one of these smiling

faces might just be Percy's. I used to pass the time away, trying to

make little baby clothes for my baby. And I felt I didn't want to

live. I'd no wish to live at all. Because the world had come to an end

for me. Because I'd lost all that I loved. It is amazing to hear

first`hand somebody speaking. There is nobody left from that time. And

it is part and parcel of the World War I commemoration, to make sure

those stories live on. BBC Radio Manchester has traced

Kitty's grandson and great grandson and played Kitty's interview to

them. You can hear their reaction by going to Radio Manchester's Facebook

page. It is worth going to have a listen. And all this week you can

hear more stories about how this region was affected by World War One

on your BBC local radio stations and by logging onto bbc.co.uk/ww1. We

will have another report, one of your other reports, tomorrow.

Richard is here with sport now and after another high scoring win for

Liverpool. A busy weekend in the Premier League. They are now really

starting to be talked about as title contenders, aren't they?

Yes, they've now overtaken Manchester City as the Premier

League's top scorers. It's 70 goals in all after their 4`3 victory

against Swansea yesterday. As you implied, they are letting in a lot

of goals as well, which is the main question against their title

challenge. But their attacking power is clear and Daniel Sturridge is now

closing in on Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of scoring in ten Premier

League games in a row for Manchester United. Sturridge has done that in

his last eight League matches, including two yesterday. Jordan

Henderson also netted twice for the Reds, who are now just four points

off the top. City, who have a game in hand, are a

place and a point better off after a 1`0 win against Stoke. United are

into the top six after a 2`0 win at Crystal Palace.. In the

Championship, Burnley took Nottingham Forest to the cleaners

with a 3`1 victory at Turf Moor Sam Vokes scored twice for the Clarets

who stay in that second automatic promotion spot. Wigan and Blackburn

both won to keep in touch with the play`off spots. The Latics 2`1 at

Brighton, Rovers thanks to an excellent 1`0 result at Reading

Craig Conway the scorer. And at the other end of the table there was a

crucial first win in nine for Bolton. 2`0 at home to Watford.

Boxing now and we're still waiting for official confirmation but it

very much looks as though Amir Khan's dream fight against Floyd

Mayweather isn't going to happen. The Bolton fighter has said he's

sure the fight's not happening. Well, Amir's plans are on hold, but

Blackpool's Brian Rose is preparing for a contest that could change his

life forever. The light middleweight will take on Demetrius Andrade for a

world title in America in May. I went to see him at his gym just

outside Manchester. Brian Rose is a fighter who has done

his time, an outstanding amateur, he believes this is his time to become

a professional world champion. I've done everything I can, I deserve

that world title, so there is no way I am just making up the numbers I

am coming back with a world title. The man who has honed his skills as

a well`known face in boxing. He was once part of Ricky Hatton's team. He

is based on Ricky Hatton's former gym. He is in no doubt he will

follow in the great man's footsteps. Every fighter has a certain point

when it is his time. I know that in my heart this is Debra`mac's time.

The relationship between boxers and trainers is often close. In Bobby

and Brian's case, it feels like father and son. Me and Brian have a

different relationship. He's been with me for six or seven years.

We've done everything together. We are more than just boxers and

trainers. We don't live normal lives. There are things we have had

to sacrifice to get to the top but it is going to be worth it and I

will give up a bonus. Darcy expect that? Always! Brian is laid`back and

personable outside the ring. He s not one to bad`mouth his opponents.

I am a laid`back guy, but in the ring, I get down to business, and I

always win. His record of one defeat in 27 fights suggests he has every

chance of doing it again. He is a very pleasant fella.

I was hoping we'd be talking about Wigan Warriors being the World Club

Champions today but it didn't work out, unfortunately. Head coach Shaun

Wane said his team only got going for a quarter of an hour in their

36`14 defeat to Sydney Roosters Well, it's back to Super League

action now for Wigan. And, in their absence, there was a good victory

for Salford Red Devils at the weekend. The Red Devils ran in no

fewer than eight tries in a 44` 8 victory against London.

Mark Cueto scored on his 200th Premiership appearance for Sale

Sharks, who notched up another victory at the weekend. This time at

Worcester. Mark went over for his 85th score. The Sharks won the match

by 24`12. He was going to retire, it is a good

job he didn't. He is the all`time try record score. And Brian Rose, a

really nice chap! I guess he's a little bit intimidating, you had to

say that! They say we can learn a lot from

history. But can the past give us any tips on how to feed a family

frugally? Well, one mum from Cleveleys in Lancashire thinks so.

Rebecca Inman has turned to her grandma's recipe books, which date

back to the days of rationing, for help. And it seems that

'40s`inspired food is proving popular. Peter Marshall is with her

now. So, what is that cooking in the oven

behind you? Welcome to Rebecca's kitchen. She's been making something

spelling rather nice. It is a cottage pie. We will be talking to

Rebecca in a moment. We're here trying to work out if you can eat

cheaply and healthily by looking at lessons from the past. Take a look

at this. It is a thoroughly modern kitchen where food can be a

throwback to the past. Because of the portion control,

because of the type of food they add, everything was cut fresh on the

day and eaten. It is Mac full, good produce. All it involves is corned

beef topped Mac Rebecca Inman delved into her late run more's collection

of recipes for inspiration when trying to feed her family well on a

budget. You don't have to spend a fortune to eat well. You look at the

quantities, and it is so much less than now. It is about portion

control. I think people do have too much on their plates. Marjorie

Frohman was a teenager in the Second World War and she died in 1999 but

she left behind a treasure trove of culinary tips. Rebecca has updated

them and put her grandma's Legacy online. Seeing all of this, it is

lovely to know that I have a part of her, she is in my home, and my son

can share it as well. It's lovely. The interest her recipes are

receiving means that many are still keen for culinary lessons from the

past. Rebecca, you have been putting a lot of these online, these

recipes, updating them, obviously, but have you been surprised by the

popularity? I cannot believe the amount of positive feedback I've had

from friends, people I don't know, people who want to give their

families nutritious, healthy, economic or food. Many people will

say, it's all right to have a good idea, but do people have the time to

do it? I understand that, but it is just half an hour planning. Plan

your budget, plan what you're going to buy, plan your menu, and then it

is fun! Get your family in the kitchen, get them cooking, it's

great. Kenny believe you can create a meal for four `` can you really

believe you can create a meal for four every night? Absolutely,

vegetarian meals everything. Good luck with the website. From here,

back to the studio. Lots of people on Facebook this afternoon getting

involved on how to cook cheaply on a budget.

Sonia says, don't buy ready meals, and markets are the best thing for

bargains. Bring back cookery lessons in school.

Someone who really likes a good team now.

I was frightened somebody would mention tripe, you'd lose me at

tripe. Good evening, if you are out and

about today, it was springlike. It was very pleasant with temperatures

up at ten or 11. Do not be fooled because there is wet weather on the

way. If you don't get a band of rain, you will get some showers

This is how it looks, that is the rain tonight. A little bit more

coming through tomorrow, Wednesday doesn't look too bad, it looks

quiet, but the next area of low pressure is on that far away. As I

say, more rain and showers this week. With the arrival of this

rain, the temperatures stay up. We are talking about cloud cover, a

narrow band of rain, so it doesn't last long, it whips through just

shortly after midnight, turning up at about 9pm. When it turns up, it

brings some strong winds tonight. As we head towards the morning, it goes

up to the Pennines, then it falls apart, so not a bad start to the day

with temperatures of five or six as our minimum. Tomorrow, a combination

with patchy cloud, sunny spells scattered showers. The morning might

be the best part of the day. In the afternoon, the showers work their

way in, and there are some gusty winds, rattling around, fairly

lively. No torrential downpours but fairly blustery. Slightly cooler

than today with a top temperature of nine or ten. If you don't like

tripe, just listen to Richard's ran. My Gran gives us this thing that she

gives the switches mixed up egg and tomato.

Mock crab. Thank you, that sounds to is

gusting. See you tomorrow. `` that sounds disgusting.