08/02/2017 North West Tonight

Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin -

Oldham's University Technical College closes

after just three years - not one child passed

But the man in charge denies it was a failed experiment.

Also tonight: Jail for the thugs who fed a pet hamster drugs -

A bird flu case is confirmed at the Martin Mere Wetlands

And the Normandy veteran still putting his best foot forward.

Why Don's daily mountain hike keeps him fighting fit at 94.

The Government spent tens of millions of pounds setting up

new vocational colleges in the North West, but today

a second University Technical College in our region

UTCs allow children to leave school at 14 and concentrate on learning

But Oldham's is the latest to fail due to low student numbers.

It opened only three years ago, at a cost of ?9 million.

But this university technical college in Oldham will

The trustees in charge say too few teenagers wanted to study here,

These students say they'd benefited from unintentionally small classes

The people that were here were stuck here because they had no other

choice. This year, the exams would be great because they are here for

the right reasons and doing their best. At the beginning of the air,

there wasn't as many students. One of the town's MPs

has branded the project They are throwing money at it but

not good at making sure the foundations put in place are solid

and sustainable in the long term. What I want to see is a decent

college funding. That the Met -- at the moment that isn't what we have

got. It is working with the area to find more students. It is not the

only place that will close in the summer. Birmingham's said it will

close at the end of the year. Another engineering college with

recruitment problems. This is one of our smaller studios.

We are doing well in terms of our recruitment. We have 400 students

and are on track to hit the target. Each UTC is different and is based

on the infrastructure it has in place. We are fortunate and are

based in the heart of media city and linked to the University of Salford.

We have backing and the employers know we are here and working with

this. That is what makes it successful.

The Department for Education says its priority

in Oldham is to minimise disruption for existing UTC students

and to find an alternative educational use for the site.

University Technical Colleges were the brainchild of the former

The Baker Dearing Trust is now responsible for promoting

Earlier I spoke to Charles Parker from the Trust.

It is a new programme. It is something which has come into the

English school system because of the terrible shortage of skills and

because employers and universities have been saying to us that it

doesn't matter what the school system is producing. It's not giving

us what we need. What we have done with the backing of the government

is to start these schools in areas where the skills requirement was so

great. The employers were prepared to support. It sounds like you are

just experimenting. This is an experiment and you are experimenting

with children's futures. It was an experiment. That was the one thing

that we were really concerned about. What is so great. Even in the case

of this one, the students that have come to us have had a really good

experience. Now that experience has ended and they are in the middle of

their GCSEs and they have to find a new school. That is failing these

children. Actually we know it will not be failing these children. We

will know what we will do with each and every one of them. They will all

find a proper place to go either to complete their education at the end

of this year or to carry on for the following year. And you are failing

and this UTC is failing these pupils because not one of them has achieved

grade C or higher in both English and maths. That is failing those

children. That is one way of looking at it. There is no other way of

looking at it. If they are not coming out with maths and English,

that is failing those children. I suggest that is another way of

looking at it. The students who came to us had a really poor experience

at what is called Key stage three from 11 to 13. They came to us

because quite candidly the schools from which they came work content

for them to leave. They came to us and have done remarkably well in

terms of progress. How do you judge pupils failing maths and English as

doing really well? The weight you judge children is by the progress

they make. The children who have been at the Oldham UTC have done

better in exams. They have done better in exams than they would have

done well -- if they had stayed where they were. We can never know

that the shore. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for having me.

Greater Manchester Police say they've found no evidence of a cover

up of sexual abuse at the former Knowl View Childrens

They carried out a two year investigation, after allegations

that abuse at the home in the 1960s and 70s had been

The alleged abusers are said to have included the town's

A man who abandoned his friend and left him to die after a police

car chase has been been sentenced to six years in prison.

21-year-old Declan Blackburne was a passenger in Mark McCormack's car

After losing control of the vehicle and crashing

into a lampost in Stockport, McCormack fled, leaving

Mr Blackburne in the car with severe injuries.

An independent investigation into the deaths of 13 premature

babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit

has found there was no single cause or factor behind the increase

The review makes 24 recommendations to improve standards,

including strengthened review procedures and incident reporting.

The Martin Mere Wetland centre in West Lancashire is taking

precautionary measures against bird flu after the disease

The centre hasn't closed to the public and there are no plans

Thousands of birds, including pheasants and ducks,

have been killed at farms in Lancashire because of

Our reporter Andy Gill joins us now from Martin Mere.

Andy how much concern is there there this evening?

The concern is for the welfare of birds and wild birds and domestic

birds. It has tens of thousands of birds which come here overwinter.

They have had one case of bird flu here in goose which is confirmed

late last week. This is a strain of bird flu called H5N8. It has been

making its way across Europe and arrived in December last year. It

has been end farm premises north of here in Lancashire. It was found at

pheasant farm and other premises. There are no plans for a cull here

at Martin Mere. Mott measures to contain any possible risk being

taken now? -- what measures? It can come through bird droppings. They

have disinfectant mats for pedestrians and visitors going into

the centre here and for vehicles going into other parts of the site.

They are taking other precautions and I am joined by Nick Brooks who

is the general manager here at Martin Mere. Tell us about the

disinfectant mats. What are they supposed to do? We have put them

down so people coming in, bring the disease into the site but also

people coming out in case we do end up with another case on site, don't

take it out. We know people around the area keep birds themselves and

live on a farm and we don't want to infect their birds. We don't want

their birds to infect our birds. That is the reason for going over

the mats. You have wild birds here but also a zoo of domestic birds.

You had to take some precautions with those also. The wildfowl

collection is separate from the reserve birds. What we want to do is

prevent as much as we can, a mixture between the wild birds and domestic

birds. When we discovered the wild bird, the goose, had been discovered

with the H5N8, we took the decision to stop selling birdseed to the

public because that's one of the activities that people want to do.

We decided to control how that feeding is done. If we can control

that at specific times, we are better able to control wild birds

coming in and trying to free loads on the birds in our collection.

Thank you. From Martin Mere, back to you.

Trading standards officers in Blackpool investigating a rogue

trader needed three articulated lorries to move all the counterfeit

They found more than a quarter of a million

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle dolls at premises in Salford and London.

Jacob Kahn was found guilty of trademarking offences

He'll be sentenced at a later date.

Former Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher has

helped launch an appeal - to raise 15 million pounds

for a new dedicated cancer hospital on Merseyside.

The Clatterbridge Centre in Wirral which treats more than

28,000 patients a year wants to build a new

Sad subject, really, it is something that affects us all

whether individually or a family or a friend

To have a facility like this in the heart of Liverpool can only

A man from Lancaster has been jailed after feeding drugs to a hamster.

RSPCA inspectors today said they had never seen a case like it

and that they were sickened by the cruelty involved.

This isn't an ordinary fizzy drink and it isn't being shaken as a

prank. It is being mixed with the deadly drug LSD. The footer shows a

group of men feeding the drug mixture to a hamster. Cannabis

leaves were put through the cage. He was given four months in prison and

banned from keeping animals for years. The other man got 80 hours

community service and was banned from keeping animals for two years.

It sickens me because they are defenceless animals may look to us

to be looked after you stop it is sad because it willingly went up to

them and had clearly got no idea. Obviously was made to suffer. The

hamster has now been re-homed but he also owned two dogs. He pleaded

guilty to failing to provide veterinary care for them after they

sustained head injuries. Here at the RSP CAA -- RSPCA centre in

Blackpool, they have made a good turnaround. Really happy with how

they have come on. It is amazing how they can be so loyal to us with the

way they have been treated. They have responded really well to our

training. They are still excitable puppies. They are fantastic dogs,

they really are. Be RSPCA that now the court case is over, both dogs

will be able to find new homes and a new lease of life.

We continue our countdown to the start of the new Super League

season with two more of the region's top teams.

How Don's daily mountain hike keeps the Normandy veteran in his prime.

Is this getting your mouthwatering? Especially if you haven't eaten this

morning -- this evening. The campaign has been launched by the

RAF. Stuart Robinson from Morecambe

sustained life changing injuries while serving in Afghanistan,

including the loss of both legs. He was in the kitchen with a top

chef earlier today. We have strict instructions not to get in the way.

The Great British Sunday Lunch is calling on the country to get

And it's a cause close to Stuart Robinson's heart.

Sunday lunch is a Great British tradition that families can do

together as one and why not do it in aid of the fund who I've been

Support that began in 2013 after Stuart, then an RAF

Regiment Corporal, lost both his legs following a Taliban

Not only are you trying to come to terms with what happened

and what injuries you sustained, it's then trying to focus

They've had the fatal knock at the door, to deal with the whole

Which means combining his role as a house husband and Dad to two

children with winning wheelchair rugby medals for Britain

Being from a forces background, you wear the Union Jack

on your sleeve and to be able to go out there and do it again

but in a sporting environment, it means an awful lot not just

to myself but to prove that life goes on after injury.

To be able to go there and win medals, it's kind

This is a pearl barley broth and apparently your onions

Underneath all these nice ingredients, yes.

I feel like a poor man's Aynsley Harriet here.

Also feeling good was happy chef, Michael.

He's chopping the onions, sweating the onions really well.

He's an inspirational person to have met.

But how inspirational does his food taste?

And the thoughts of his daughter, Amelia?

There'll hopefully be more enthusiasm when Stuart cooks

for the Great British Sunday Lunch on April 2nd.

Ian Haslam, BBC North West Tonight, Morecambe.

Looked good. Richard is here the sport. We are starting the countdown

to the Super League season. We will do two and night for three nights.

Tonight Rich we're looking at St Helens and Widnes Vikings?

Yes, Saints will have their sights set on the big prize this year.

They were knocked out in the semi-finals last season.

Widnes Vikings will be looking to build on their last campaign.

Denis Betts side made it into the Super 8's - the

But both sides have big holes to fill due to injuries

Season starts and very excited about it. St Helens score. At the

weekends, you live them. You can't wait for them to come round again.

St Helens were champions three seasons ago and a hungry first

silverware and their fans are hopeful. Do you think they can win

it this year? I think so. Looking for to them doing better than last

time. I am like that. Matty Smith, a hero for Wigan Warriors will be key

to their plans. A broken leg in a warm up game against Widnes Vikings

will keep him out for a few weeks. To lose him is unfortunate. We

thrive in adversity and have had it chucked at us now since I have been

here. We dust ourselves down. Widnes Vikings are a team that has been

progressing season by season although filling the big boots of

Kevin Brown, now with the Warrington Wolves, won't be easy. Nor was his

decision to leave. Couldn't have any more respect for my old coach,

Dennis. He is someone I didn't want to let down on some of my best mates

are there. To leave there was tough. It will be a tough one for Widnes

Vikings. We have lost some personnel. I hope the youngsters

come through. They are fighting for their places. Keep this group moving

forward. You need to do the unsexy stuff which is work with the people

that are of value to you and will enhance your organisation. With

Saints kicking off tomorrow and Widnes Vikings against Huddersfield

on Friday, both sides, the new season can't come quick enough.

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera says being in three

cup competitions AND the race for a Champions League place proves

They're currently sixth in the Premier League,

but speaking at a sponsorship event today, Herrera thinks teams

The first six teams in the league and I add also Everton because

We all want to be in the top four and still a lot

to play for but I think we are in a good moment.

Onto football and it was a mixed night for Wigan who took

an important point from a 2-2 home draw with play-off chasing Norwich.

On the plus side, deadline day signing Omar Bogle scored both

of The Latics' goals, his first for the club,

The down side is that they couldn't hold on, the visitors equalising

Life may be tough off the field for financially strapped Morecambe

but the League Two side produced the highlight of the football night.

It came courtesy of midfielder Paul Mullin who scored this

Messi-esque winner in their 1-0 success away to Leyton Orient.

The Shrimps are now unbeaten in five and ten points clear

What a goal that was. It is amazing that Morecambe, with all these

problems, Jim Bentley is still finding a way to get points.

He is not to be trifled with. I know him reasonably well now. He

is a gentle giant and you wouldn't want to cross him. Thank you very

much. Don Austin has sent seven

decades enjoying the great And he doesn't intend

to let a small thing Don regularly strides out

on the Lakeland hills - in fact he goes at least

once each week. And today he took a comparative

youngster with him. Many who reach their mid-90s might

see it as a time to slow down a little. But not Don Austin. He's had

a love affair with walking ever since been demobbed from the Army

shortly after the Second World War. I had my old army boots with me and

I went up Snowdon and it changed my life completely. He has kept diaries

of his exploits and even at the age of 94, he has no plans to stop any

time soon. Today he setting off on one of his favourite walks and he's

allowed me to tag along to. We're heading near to his home in

Windermere. I remember hearing somebody say something about my age.

I love talking to people. Music plays. We have stopped for a rest.

We have. The first one. I have a banana. You haven't got a spare one,

have you? Thank you very much. We need some energy to keep us going.

You never know who you are going to bump up to -- bump into a peer. The

world and his wife comes up here. I can see why you do this. It is just

beautiful. It is. I seemed to go better uphill and on

the level. Are we nearly there yet? No, not yet. I don't like the look

of those steps. You are surely not going to make that. It is a bit

slippy up there so I always go by this wall. Here we are at the head.

We've made it. How long do you think your carry on doing this? About

three years probably. Till 100? I don't think so. We will see.

Roger, a renowned fell walker was questioning Dave's attire. You don't

walk in the hills in jeans. If it rains, they take forever to dry.

They are really heavy. You are right. Why was that not our

top story? Man wears wrong clothes to go out. I can see why you are

incensed. As we head to the next couple of

days, the cold air will make his presence felt. It has felt quite

raw. West has been best in terms of sunshine and that will be the story

through the next couple of days. Our weather watcher pictures are just

glorious. Send us a picture. It is about the cold coming towards us

from the continent. It will stick around and the whole of the weekend

will be quite chilly. It is all about the wind direction. It is

coming towards us from the continent. Weather fronts Rian short

supply. It will be a largely dry picture stop because you have the

cold air and the outcome towards us over the tops of the Pennines, any

weather around would be wintry in nature. We not expecting any big

deals out of it. You can see the map as it goes blue through the night.

Just about everywhere away from the coast. We are talking about towns

and cities down to zero or minus one. The rural areas will be colder

than that. Widespread frost tomorrow morning. The Isle of Man is

relatively warm. Three Celsius for you but a touch of frost over the

high routes. Tomorrow, it isn't a brilliant picture. You can see how

cold it will be. That cold weather stays around. There are some spells

of sunshine around and down the coast, through the Merseyside coast

into the Wirral, that is where the best of the sunshine will be. Closer

to the Pennines comes this cloud. On the other side of the Pennines,

there could be some wintry showers. A couple of those might top the tops

of the Pennines. It is about the cloud cover and once it spreads, it

is going to feel cold. The numbers on the chart are not impressive.

Three and four Celsius at the very best.

Dave edits and films a lot of his stuff. He filmed that himself today.

What I'm wondering is if he got Don to carry his tripod. Thanks for

watching. Goodbye. when farmers leave

their daily routines behind... Right, here we come, Dorset!

..for a show day. When author

Sir Terry Pratchett died,