16/01/2017 North West Tonight

Five people are injured - as two houses are destroyed

It was like a bomb had gone off. We turned around and there was smoke

everywhere. The street remains cordoned off -

as the investigation continues. Inseparable in life. The funeral was

held for two young cousins killed in an alleged hit-and-run in Oldham.

And in memory of Cilla. A new bronze statue of the singer gets the thumbs

up from her granddaughter. I love it and she would be amazed to have

statue of herself in Liverpool. And getting teenage kicks in blue and

white. Everton's younger generation show the City superstar is how to do

it. Two people are in hospital tonight -

after an explosion wrecked two Three other people were treated

for injuries at the scene Neighbours have described

how their homes Our Chief Reporter, Dave Guest

has been at the scene As we said in the introduction, gas

seems to be the culprit but we don't know the sequence of events leading

up to the explosion. It was around 1230, just after lunchtime this

afternoon, that this quiet street was literally shaken to its

foundations by an enormous explosion. The scene of the blast is

through in the Merc. When you take a look from the air, you get the cool

picture of the devastation caused. A terrace house reduced to ruins in

an instant. Neighbours left shocked and below that. It was just like a

bomb had gone. The trees shook in my garden and we turned around and

there smoke everywhere. Just described the scene as you went

down? Just horrible. Smoke and stuff coming from the side. You could

smell gas and like an oil burning smell. You could see the neighbours

flooding out and you'd it was like a bomb or something. You could see

people were injured but I saw one person lathered up and covered in

rubble. A scary moment. A woman phoned me hysterical and crying.

Neighbours' windows had gone on and I flew down to see how she was. She

is a bit shook up. Two and a half hours since the blast happened and

the road is now completely cordoned off. The Fire Service have Saint and

search dogs to check whether there are any other casualties. Thankfully

there were no other casualties found but there was a miraculous escape.

This curtain was pulled alive from the wreckage by firefighters. It

appears to have suffered some injuries but we're just waiting for

the Addis PC and hopefully we can get some treatment. At this stage we

suspect it may have been a gas explosion but there is a joint

investigation underway by ourselves, the police and national Grid gas

that isolating the gas to the property. Houses on either side have

been affected by the blast and it is not certain when immediate

neighbours will be able to return to their homes. Tonight, two people

still ill in hospital. Their identities as yet not released.

Cecil Road here remains sealed off and I am told that in the next hour

or so they should be lifting vessel traffic can start going through but

the investigation into exactly how the explosion was caused will take

some time and will of course continue throughout the night and

into tomorrow. The funeral has taken place -

for two cousins who were killed in an alleged hit-and-run in Oldham

on New Year's Eve. Hundreds of people came to pay

their respects to the youngsters - Zaneta Krokova - who was 11 -

and 12-year-old Helina Kotlarova were holding hands crossing a road -

when they were hit by a car. Four men have been charged

in relation to their deaths. They were inseparable during their

short lives and rarely apart. Today their coffins were taken to a church

in Oldham just metres from the hit and run which killed Helina

Kotlarova and Zaneta Krokova on New Year's Eve. Something has broken

insiders. She was the craziest one out of the sisters, holding them

together. Now she is gone and we don't know if we're going to get

through it. Neighbours will tell you the generals always wanted to be

happy and liked messing around. This was taken shortly before they died.

Every picture they are drawn, they are together, and when it happened

they were holding hands. They have passed away, so they are soul mates.

Mourners stood at the sides and back to the church was soulful. Their

favourite songs were played during the hour-long service. The Reverend

said he knew the girls personally and often sat around the church. He

said they were full of life and warm and generous. The deaths of both

cousins affected this community deeply. Helina Kotlarova was 12 and

wanted to be a singer, 11-year-old Zaneta Krokova and actress. For

Asian people, English people and all religions who support their own, now

they are helping hours, we just really want to say thank you because

in my country, the girls wouldn't get that much help.

After the service a large crowd followed the procession to a

crematorium. Four men are in custody after being charged over the

incident. The health trust which runs

Furness General Hospital in Barrow has appealed to staff to work extra

shifts to help cope with mounting The University Hospitals

of Morecambe Bay Trust has also commissioned beds in a care home

to try and reduced so-called bed Tonight's Inside Out programme

on BBC One has been given exclusive access to the hospital to see how it

and other health trusts in the region are innovating to try

to ease the pressures they face. Daily life in the emergency

department at Furness General Hospital is nonstop. More and more

patients are coming through the doors. Its this consultant's job to

treat them. At the moment we have every single cubicle bar one Phil of

patients needing proper assessment. And you have ambulance staff year

waiting to get patients transferred so they can get back out on the

roads. Exactly. The problem we have this we have not got anywhere for

those ambulance patients to be put and consequently ambulances are

backing up waiting to hand over patients. Queues build up when beds

in the main hospital or blocked by patients that to be discharged but

waiting for the dead in a nursing home to be free. The hospital is

innovating and has just commissioned 12 of its own beds in a nursing

home. Hopefully the trust have beds we can move people to while waiting

for the long-term bed, it means we would be able to free up some of the

acute beds needed for those medical leap or lay. Bed blocking and how to

tackle it is a conundrum occupying innovative minds across the NHS.

Faversham house nursing home in Greater Manchester is one of over 40

homes and two hospitals in the Trafford area piloting a new system

to reduce delays in finding care home beds. Previously were used to

have a team who would ring the nursing home on Friday morning and

complete the spreadsheet with the available information and e-mail it

out to the teams needing to know what beds are available. That gets

out of date very quickly. It can be out of date by the time the phone

call is finished. This new app gives real-time information on what beds

are available and where. That can be updated every minute of every day.

The Lancashire company which has developed its believes it could save

the NHS millions in lost bed days. We have a vision the discharge

coordinator can go down the ward and find the whole and have someone

admitted. That gets rid of bed blocking. The pressures faced by the

NHS won't ease any time soon but on the front line they are doing all

they can to offer quality care to as many as they can.

And you can see more from Peter on Inside Out North West Tonight.

The former Crewe Alexandra football coach - Barry Bennell -

has pleaded not guilty to eight child sex offences,

The 63-year-old - who appeared at Chester Crown Court

via videolink from HMP Woodhill - has been remanded in custody

Police investigating the disappearance of a woman -

from Fulwood near Preston 15 months ago - have arrested a man

Victoria Cherry was 44 when she disappeared.

A public consultation on controversial plans to build

thousands of homes on greenbelt land in Greater Manchester ends today.

There have been protests by groups unhappy about

Four of the five candidates to be Metro Mayor of Greater Manchester -

from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the English Democrats -

?1.5 million is being given - by Cancer Research UK -

to scientists in Liverpool, who are working to develop

The money will go to the city's Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.

From Cilla to four lads from Liverpool who shook the world -

The Cavern club was the centre of Britain's own brand of rock

Today, it celebrated its 60th birthday!

It's hard to believe it's six decades since bands including Gerry

and the Pacemakers and the Searchers graced its tiny stage.

So, what is the Cavern's legacy and how does it continue to impact

Let's take a walk down memory lane - or Mathew Street as it's known

with our Merseyside reporter, Andy Gill.

You are inside that iconic venue. That's right, we had in front of the

stage at the Cavern with preparations underway for the

festivities, this TV creation of the original stage a few doors down, but

you feel the pull of Mercy musical memories and not just by the

Beatles, there are posters all around various bands, the Kinks, Rod

Stewart, Queen. There have been events throughout the day to

commemorate 60 years of this iconic venue as Mark Edwardson now tells

us. Out of the Have emerged a new sound.

And that swept the world, I was in and out the place like a yo-yo. As a

band manager, jewel was part of the furniture in the 1960s. He was there

and can remember it. When Brian Epstein first signed them, his

parents were worried about him. They wanted to discuss Brian hanging

around the town, so I made a promise I would stick with it and we weren't

buddies and did lots of things together. Visitors to Matthew Street

are often confused. There is a cover Cavern club, but there is no

confusion for Simon who says punk wouldn't have happened without the

clash of cultures. We changed music but there are parallels.

In today's packed club, a blast from the past with the fab three. And

more than a hint of yesterday. You have taken your love of the 1960s

Dewi whole new level? This is how I dress. It's not even a special

occasion dress, this is how I dress. Many avid Beatles fans are too young

to remember them as a unit, including this couple married today

and celebrating. She wanted to marry John Lennon but... She got their six

nothing I can do! And as legacies go, let's all it's a long and

winding road for Antonio and Patricia.

Well if the Beatles are the most famous old boys, its most famous old

girl is Cilla Black, and the video a new statue of Howard said the club

as part of the celebrations and we will have more details on that later

than the programme. England's new star opening batsman -

opens up to us about his And we are alive and Liverpool to

commemorate 60 years and two celebrate its most famous cloakroom

girl. Can't have too much of him on this programme!

Special guest tonight and looking back on that big weekend of

football, Manchester against Merseyside with Everton the big

winners. Former Manchester United player Danny Webber is here with us.

Manchester United drew 1-1, but let's focus on Everton first, when

the second goal went in from Kevin Mirallas, there was only one winner.

Everton played extremely well, so well in the second half that Koeman

said he was spot-on. The second half was perfect in every aspect of

football. Was the dream topping the two goals from teenagers. That makes

the final result and how we played as a team perfect. He thought it was

perfect than just picking up on that point about the young players, Tom

Davies, 18, local boy. He scored the third goal and we will see it now,

and Adam on his debut, a veteran at 19. Tom Davies, first and foremost,

the fact he is home-grown you can see it in the way preferred -- the

way he performed. I am actually glad that Romelu Lukaku never got a

touch. That would have been cruel. What about Manchester City? Problems

to solve. Do you see it as a problem in terms of the tactics of Pep

Guardiola? It is a bit of both. You have to look at when a manager comes

in and implements what he wants to happen it is difficult for the

players to take it fully on board and especially at the top of the

Premier League to implement it. City were probably spoiled that the

beginning because they got off to a flying start but it is very

difficult to maintain that. What about United against Liverpool?

Liverpool lead for the bulk of the match until James Milner's penalty.

Do you think he ever said the weaknesses of both sides as much as

the strengths? You are always looking for something special and

there wasn't much of that in the way of individual greatness yesterday,

so the teams cancelled each other out. Liverpool came and sat back in

the way United dead at Anfield and 1-1 was a fair result. We will see

how they go. I think Liverpool and Manchester United a few back. Thank

you. We can't move on from the Premier

League without mentioning yet The Clarets are tenth in the top

flight after their eighth League win at Turf Moor so far this season,

Joey Barton's free kick the only goal of the game

against Southampton. In the Championship,

Wigan Athletic had a new boy to thank for a vital win

at relegation rivals Burton Albion. 19-year-old Callum Connolly

only arrived on loan from Everton before the game,

but scored both goals And Preston moved up to ninth

after a 2-0 success over Callum Robinson scored

the second as North End handed Brighton their first

defeat since September. In League One, John Sheridan's third

stint in charge of Oldham ended It's thirteen unbeaten now

for play-off chasing Fleetwood And here's something I haven't been

able to say since September. James Vaughan scored four

as The Shakers hammered Peterborough 5-1 to end their record winless run

of 20 games. Onto the trophy winners now,

starting with ladies 'The Lancashire Rose' won her third

BDO World Championship thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over

Australia's Corrine Hammond. Lisa, who's from Bolton,

won the trophy and a And it's congratulations

to Manchester Mystics who won the inaugural Womens'

British Basketball League Cup. They were comfortable 71-60 winners

over Nottingham Wildcats Of all the fantastic north west

sporting stories of 2016, the achievements of Haseeb Hameed

were up there with the very best. The 19-year-old from Bolton

had a record breaking, run laden season with Lancashire

followed by a call up Tonight he's overseeing

an indoor cricket session for young people in Salford,

from where Ian Haslam welcome to the world of chance to

shine cricket, played indoors with a tennis ball. Here's the top young

Lancashire and England batsmen Haseeb Hameed. You were brought up

playing indoor cricket, in the living room with your bad! I was and

that is where the passion for the game started with me. It has been a

phenomenal few months for you, please sum it up. It has been

surreal in terms of how quickly things have happened but I can on

say I have loved every minute of it and I am hungry for more. You made a

stunning start to your international career, averaging four for four.

Hell is that no? It is OK, getting there. I can start fitting cricket

balls now. It is good news. What does 2017 mean for you for England?

We go to Sri Lanka next month with the Lions and hopefully in terms of

England's lead as a Test series against South Africa and then there

is the Ashes in the winter but I am trying not to look too far ahead and

it is important from me to head out and hopefully perform well and that

should bring a further honours. You mentioned Lancaster, Ashley Giles is

gone and now it is Glen Chapple. You must be excited about working with

him? Absolutely. We have got a really exciting squad to have him

guiding is all the way be exciting. It is something I am looking forward

to and I am sure the rest of the lads as well. And the little birdie

told me it is your birthday tomorrow, well, Wikipedia! No longer

a teenager? I guess I am a big boy as of tomorrow so no sympathy for

the kids. Except that as a gift from you, thank you very much!

So generous! Finally from me, the retirement of one of the Legion's

best nonswimmers. Three-time Olympian Fran Halsall

says it's time to move on to the next chapter in her life

after eleven years The 26-year-old won 30

medals at World, European and Commonwealth Games and narrowly

missed out on an Olympic After 11 years you can understand

that! Now earlier we were at Liverpool's

famous Cavern Club which is Think Cavern and you think

Beatles, of course. But it's also where Cilla Black

started her career. Cilla died two years ago,

but today a new statue of her was unveiled right

outside the Cavern. Our Merseyside Reporter,

Andy Gill, was there. Cilla Black's family

were in Liverpool for the unveiling. They commissioned the statue partly

as a thank you to the city It moved us and profoundly affected

us, in a good way, and he wanted to try to do something that had a

lasting thing and be a good thing. And the family helped

make sure the likeness They told stories and give us

photographs you would have never have seen and they couldn't have

helped any more than the dead. And they brought in an expert to get the

hair just right. My favourite approaches from the right-hand side

because you couldn't see the face so they face is covered and you know it

is hard but because you can't see the face, she actually draws you

She reveals herself and it is quite emotional.

Cilla was a cloak room girl at the original Cavern

The statue shows her in the 1960s pop with the miniskirt on which you

will find key events from her life, including her grandchildren. I love

it and she would be amazed to have statue of herself in Liverpool. The

family have kept the copyright of the statue and any profits earned

from selling reproductions will go to Liverpool charities. So what do

the fans think? They captured her hair and her figure really well and

it is really lifelike. What I can see of this I think it is beautiful.

I can only see her head! I think it is absolutely marvellous and a great

tribute. The family say the statue

captures the joy Cilla had It is great. It has got that pose

she had throughout. Some are not good but that one several years.

How's the weather? Mild. Last week we saw some really

good conditions and snow in this week will be very settled. One of

our weather watchers caught this shot very early on and most of the

Northwest is like this, really quite grey and any spills of sunshine have

been so limited. This week we are mild but dull in the damp at times,

and at most times. And area of high pressure and sometimes we can have

these really sunny days and cold nights. Because of the weeds are

situated at the way the winds are blowing we will see quite a few

weather fronts a one off a lot of cloud cover and some fairly wet

conditions. Through the day most places were bright but to weather

fronts coming towards us one from the other side of the Pennines and

the other from the IDC so this is how we really spend the night and

most of tomorrow. Even if you don't see much of the dull and drizzly

stuff the cloud base is low and it is really market so will be quite

poor. The numbers are saving grace and it will be relatively mild and

tomorrow the weather drops south everywhere. Want to be pouring down

all the way through the day but it is cloudy and bile and it is mild.

The top temperature generally around eight Celsius. Staying that way all

week and even into the weekend. And you will be here later for the

forecast for the weekend on Monday night. Thanks for watching. Good

night. Let me see them hands up.

Let's do this. Glastonbury!

Make some noise! How you doing, Big Weekend?

Get ready. Go solo, Hyde Park.

Don't believe you. Secure your place at

the 500 Words Final,