28/03/2014 BBC London News

for the first time spotter planes find debris. That's all from the BBC

News at Six so it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

news teams where you are. Tonight on BBC London News: The

tower block danger, a new rdport says hundreds of thousands could be

at risk if a fire breaks out. Landlords are urged to do more.

They have a really important responsibility in law to make sure

their tenants understand wh`t to do in the event of a fire, to give

really clear guidance. We'll hear if the Lakanal House

blaze, which killed six, ch`nged tower block safety.

Also tonight: Publicist Max Clifford, brands the women who've

accused him of sexual assault as fantasists and opportunists.

Searching for life on Mars ` not on the red planet itself, but tp the

A1M in Stevenage. I will be reporting from an exact replica of

Mars on efforts to design the next generation of Martian rover.

And the unsung heroes who fhnally take centre stage in a new

Oscar`winning documentary. Good evening and welcome to the

programme. Hundreds of thousands of people

living in high`rise blocks could be at risk if a fire breaks out. That's

according to a new survey bx the London Fire Brigade. It found that

nearly half the residents qtestioned wouldn't know what to do in the

event of a blaze. Today's rdport comes nearly five years aftdr six

people died in a fire in Lakanal House in Southwark. A number of

failings were identified in the inquest into their deaths. Here s

Emma North. The fire at Lakanal House in

Camberwell claimed the lives of six people. It was also a warning for

landlords and residents abott how to survive in a similar situathon. But

five years on, lessons still need to be learned. Since the fire `t

Lakanal House, do people around here have a better idea of what to do if

there were a fire in their own home? I'm not sure. I think they light

have been made aware of what happened and what could happen, but

I don't know if people are looking to themselves, what to do. Do you

talk among yourselves, the neighbours and the communitx, more

about what you could do? No. It s everyone for themselves. It is

perhaps no surprise that so few Londoners have an escape pl`n. More

than half of the capital's high`rise residence, 760,000 households, say

they don't, and half said they would get out of their flat even hf the

fire were somewhere else in the block, something the Fire Sdrvice

says is one of the most dangerous things to do. You want people to

stay in their flat, why? If they are not affected by the fire, it is

important to stay put. This is where the confusion arises. When the fire

engulfed Lakanal House, people stayed put and it cost them their

lives. So even if the instrtctions are followed, there seems no

guarantee. Nobody can give ` 10 % commitment that they will bd safe

from all sorts of fire becatse there are particular circumstances in

individual cases. But the gdneral advice from the fire brigadd, which

we support, is that people should remain in their home until they are

told otherwise. Southwark spent ?60 million on upgrades, and safety

instructions for everyone c`n now be found online, but there are two

things that can never be controlled ` people's attention, and fhre.

Lots more to come, including: The research which reveals what

Londoners think about the c`pital's changing skyline.

"Fantasists and opportunists" ` that's how Max Clifford has

described the women who've `ccused him of sexual assault. The

70`year`old PR guru is standing trial over 11 counts of inddcent

assault against seven women and girls, which he denies. Richard

Lister has been at Southwark Crown Court.

Arriving at court this mornhng, Max Clifford knew he would have to

answer prosecution questions for the first time in this trial, qtestions,

the court heard, about why 45 witnesses have made allegathons

against him. Pressed for an explanation, Max Clifford s`id, I

can only think it is an opportunity for compensation, to make some

money. He added later that, possibly they are just fantasists, possibly

because they don't like me. The court heard that he had kept diaries

during the 1970s and 1980s when he was based in these Bond Strdet

officers, diaries which onlx came to light in the last few weeks. Max

Clifford said the diaries wdre in his office when he was first

arrested in December 2012 btt were shortly after put into stor`ge and

were not found by police, only introduced as evidence just before

the trial. But he said he dhd not know the whereabouts of somd

specific diaries covering the period in question. The exchanges became

more heated and Mr Clifford was asked about organising sex parties,

good honest filth in his words, where he confirmed there were agents

who helped women get into show business in exchange for sex. Max

Clifford has consistently ddnied ever demanding sex in return for

helping a woman's career, and insists he has no firm memory of any

of the women making allegathons against him. His evidence whll

continue on Monday. The former pop star Gary glhtter has

been bailed again until early June after his arrest over allegdd sex

offences. The 69`year`old w`s first arrested at his home in central

London in October 2012. The allegations against him are linked

to the late television presdnter, Jimmy Savile. He denies any

wrongdoing. Nearly 100 teachers and staff

working for schools in Essex have been disciplined over sex abuse

claims in the past five years. Details have been released by Essex

County Council showing that in 70 schools, there were nearly 050

allegations. The council saxs the claims were dealt with according to

child protection guidelines. Now, is there life on Mars? A

question scientists in Hertfordshire are helping to answer. They've

recreated a little piece of the Red Planet to help with Europe's next

space mission. The facility is being used to design and test a M`rtian

rover which will be sent to the planet in four years to search for

life. Pallab Ghosh has been to Stevenage to see it.

It is Mars, but not as we know it. It looks like a film set but it is

actually a laboratory to test out technologies for Europe's ndxt

mission to Mars. This is an exact replica of the Martian surf`ce.

Everything from the sand to the size of the rocks, to the rough to rain

is exactly the same as it is on Mars. And it's going to be tsed to

design the next generation of Martian rover. The prototypd creeps

across the surface, to avoid damaging itself. But by spedding up

the footage, engineers can study the weaknesses in the wheels and

suspension. This to rain is quite complex to simulate on a colputer.

You cannot build a simulation environment. We actually nedd the

physical interaction of the Rover with a real environment. Thd

curiosity rover is currentlx on Mars. The European rover will be

able to see better than it. We will have it about the height of a human

above the surface. Its camera is being built in Surrey. It whll have

small, coloured filters which will be used to find out what thd rocks

are made of. Curiosity, at the moment, can see a small reghon. We

will be able to see a much larger region, outlined in red. We can also

zoom in and look at the blud section in great detail, a high`resolution

camera. With that, we will be looking for where to drill to look

for signs of life. The European mission is purpose`built to search

for life. It will drill deep into the Martian surface and analysed

samples in an on`board laboratory. The probability of detecting ancient

life on Mars is very good. We know that Mars and Earth were very

similar in their early history, so we would expect to find lifd on

Mars. 4 billion years ago, Lars looked like this, similar to the

earth, with a thick atmosphdre and running water. So there is ` real

possibility that there was once life on the red planet. If there was

there is a good chance that Europe's rover will find evhdence of

it in just a few years time. The director of public has ` is has

conceded that an administrative error by the Crown Prosecuthon

Service prevented a convictdd Mafia boss from being extradited from his

home in London. Having lived in Uxbridge for the past 25 ye`rs, he

was arrested last August after evading Italian authorities.

Prosecutors failed to serve his lawyers with papers in time, meaning

he may never be tried in It`ly. A bus has crashed outside Pttney

Bridge station. No passengers were on board at the time. It had just

pulled up outside the station but lost control and crashed into the

building. The driver has bedn taken to hospital with minor injuries

The killing of Shereka Marsh, a schoolgirl from Hackney who was shot

in the neck last weekend, shocked us all. Today, friends of Sherdka Marsh

are rallying to help the 15`year`old's mother pay for her

funeral. Victoria Graham went to Shereka's school where they're

raising funds. Shereka Marsh, shot dead allost a

week ago. The news shocked not only those who knew her, but the media

reeled in disbelief as to how this could have happened. Such a side,

sad story, such a waste, tr`gedy, the death of a 15`year`old. She was

shot in the neck and could not be saved. A 15`year`old boy has been

charged with her murder. Wh`tever happened here last Saturday resulted

in the tragic loss of a young life which held so much promise, and for

Shereka's mother, the ongoing struggle to try to cope with the

grief of losing her only chhld, and now having to arrange her ftneral.

But she is not alone. Support at Shereka's school is in abundance,

whether it is thoughts, words or memories. She was always latghing,

always smiling, and those dhmples were so deep. People would `lways

look at Shereka as the person who was always there. Knowing hdr mum is

not on her own is a big opportunity for us to show her that we `re here

to support her. And she is `t peace now. No mother wants to burx their

child. It is a very hard tile so we are here to support her. Right now,

Shereka is thinking, yes, I see you all. This is a Hackney family that

need our support, and particularly with a funeral to pay for. Nobody

saves up for the funeral of a 15`year`old child, so we ard

starting a fundraising camp`ign to finance the funeral and to support

mum, hopefully, after the ftneral as well. Last Friday we were r`ising

money for Sport Relief and she took part in a challenge. This Friday we

are raising money for her. Still to come, the speedway kings of

Essex begin their season tonight, asking all of London to back them.

And why a former backing vocalist for Michael Jackson and Stevie

wonder is giving singing lessons in Croydon.

Next, do tall buildings improve the capital's skyline? Research suggests

Londoners are split on the hssue. An equal number favour skyscrapers to

those who feel London has too many. They have also been voting on their

favourite. More on this frol Primrose Hill, with a beauthful

view. It is a beautiful view, one of the nicest places to view the

capital's ever`changing skyline There are something like 214 new

skyscrapers planned for the capital over the next decade. But those new

buildings will have some wax to go to beat the capital's current most

popular tall building. It has won many architecturd awards

and now the gherkin has won the hearts of Londoners. It is the

capital's most popular skyscraper, according to a new poll. It was

designed by Lord Foster, who is proud of this accolade. It has to be

the most important award of all because the building is in the

public domain. So if it is liked, and somebody votes in favour of it,

in the end, that is the gre`test award of all. What is it th`t people

love? It is kind of completdly different to anything else hn the

country, completely different. There is nothing in London like it. I love

it. I like it. I like modern architecture. I had a lovelx lunch

at the top and enjoy the vidw tremendously. It is an interesting

and stunning building. The gherkin is famous for its curved sh`pe but

the glass is flat and the steel is straight. The illusion is created by

tiny angles in the joints. Do you have a favourite tall buildhng in

London than the gherkin? I think the shard is, despite its height, is a

very delicate intervention hnto the fabric. Great minds think alike

with Londoners choosing it `t number two in the survey. Number three is

the cheese grater. Unfortun`tely for the Barbican, it was voted `s

London's least favourite tall structure. The think tank that

carried out the poll is calling on the mayor to monitor the ch`nging

skyline. We would like Boris Johnson to set up a commission to look at

the skyline, so they can take a strategic view, as well as looking

at the designs of individual buildings. We want tall buildings,

which we need to meet the growth happening in London in the next few

years. When we have tall buhldings, we can make sure they are bdautiful,

enhance the skyline and our place as people want to live and work. For

the gherkin, the shard and the cheese grater, they can enjoy their

place at the top of London's affections. But not all people in

London have affectionate fedlings towards skyscrapers. The survey

showed a fairly equal split between people who said tall buildings had

improved the skyline in recdnt years, and those who said they had

not at all. Actually, more people would rather not live in thdm than

live in them. But it would seem people are happy to look at them, to

work in them, but they are not happy to come home to them. She's one of

the most famous voices you've never heard of. Judith Hill, who's worked

with the likes of Michael J`ckson and Stevie Wonder, and is the star

of a new Oscar`winning doculentary about backing singers. Our

Entertainment Correspondent, Brenda Emmanus caught up with her, as she

gave singing workshops to young Londoners.

Backing vocalists are often regarded as the unsung heroes of the music

world. And the film providing a remarkable insight into thehr lives

proved worthy of an Oscar. Twenty Feet from Stardom shines a spotlight

on the untold stories of sole hugely talented vocalists behind some of

the greatest music legends of the 21st century. Including Judhth

Hill, who has provided vocals for Elton John and Stevie Wonder. I feel

truly blessed to have been `ble to work with so many incredibld icons.

Really, they could have chosen anyone but the fact I got the

opportunity to share the st`ge with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder

and all these amazing peopld, it's been incredible. Judith was booked

by Michael Jackson for his highly anticipated concert series `t the O2

arena. She was in London thhs week sharing her experiences with

students at the Brit School in Croydon. A backing singer doesn t

just help, it really adds to an artist. That makes the whold

performance what it is. I think backing singing would be solething

good for me to do, just to get the experience of touring. If you can

make a living up music can be at the back of the stage, I still think it

would be a great experience. Twenty Feet from Stardom won Best

documentary at this year's Oscars and revealed that while somd talents

remain in the background, others managed to shine with the stpport of

the stars they were backing. This was the experience of the b`cking

vocalist of any wine house for over six years. My experience is I've

always been interested in btilding a career for myself. Amy was `lways

aware of that, she started her label for me. We started working on an

album together. She gave me 15 minutes in the middle of her concert

to perform my own material, which gave me a great window of

opportunity. It has been awdsome. He should hit the main spotlight with

the release of his album later this year. Let's get the sport now with

Sara Orchard and you've got some crazy people on motorbikes with no

brakes?! I do, but not yet. First, a little

football. Crystal Palace ard hovering just above the Prelier

League relegation zone but tomorrow they host top of the table Chelsea,

at Selhurst Park. The Blues are a side that Palace haven't be`ten

since 1993, easily making Chelsea the favourites. Eagles' man`ger Tony

Pulis has never beaten a te`m led by Jose Mourinho but says he does have

a good relationship with his opposite number tomorrow. Hd's

interesting, a very interesting character. I think people, whether

you like or dislike him for what he is the pitch, that is all pdrsonal.

You will get some people who like him and some won't. There is no

doubt he is a top manager. The time I had with him was in Germany, but

they'd just beaten us. And there's full commentary of Crystal Palace

against Chelsea in the Premher League tomorrow at 3pm on BBC London

digital radio. Listeners to the BBC London 94.9FM Sports Show whth Phil

Parry can hear Millwall agahnst Blackburn in the Championshhp. Now a

little something for the petrol heads out there. We're going to talk

about speedway, that's racing motorbikes with no brakes on dirt

tracks. As the new season gdts under way, the Lakeside Hammers w`nt to

encourage more fans to come along to the circuit and find out about the

sport. So we sent our reporter Emma Jones along to Arena Essex Raceway

to watch the team in training. It's noisy, it's fast and it's back.

Speedway returns to the arena in Essex and night with the Lakeside

Hammers hoping to at least reach the play`offs this season and phck up a

few new fans along the way. I think it's really important for us to try

and sell the sport as best we can. We bring as many fans and stpporters

and businesses and local people along to see what we do. Thdre was a

time when supporters could watch speedway at a different track in

London every night of the wdek even Wembley Stadium hosted regular

meetings with huge crowds cheering on the riders. 75,000 were there to

see the speedway giants as they roared away in the qualifying heats.

Today the sport might have loved out of the capital, but the Hamlers have

found some of those funds h`ve followed. Speedway has got ` rich

history in London. We feel we are maintaining that history, albeit

just on the edges of the M24. But we do very much feel we are London s

team. The support we get from people both from London and those of

originated from London is the real hard`core of our support. P`rt of

the appeal no doubt is the speed and danger. A bike that can go `t over

70 mph without any breaks. Ht means riders can pick up a long lhst of

injuries. 18`year`old Jack Kingston's started with a broken

foot. I broke my left wrist, then I broke it again. That's the lost

dangerous thing about when xou have a crush, if the bike hits you.

Usually you are all right if it doesn't. A broken both coll`rbone

since then as well. The thrhlls and spills of speedway. If you fancy an

afternoon by the river on Stnday, Oxford and Cambridge will rdnew

their rivalry when they compete in the Women's Boat Race. Oxford won

last year's contest at Eton Dorney, but this year it's taking place for

the last time at Henley`on`Thames. From next year, both the men's and

women's races will be held on the same day on the same stretch of the

river. The decision follows the success of the female rowers at the

London 2012 Olympic Games. H'd like it to be the case that when people

say Oxford and Cambridge bo`t race, people think of both genders as

well. I think we are starting to see that. I think there's a gendral

trend towards parity across sports in Britain in general. I'm so

excited and thrilled that otr club gets to be an integral part of.

Surrey batsmen Kevin Pietersen has announced he is entering to play in

the Caribbean Premier Leagud this year. Having been dropped bx

England, he's become one of the most desirable players for teams to

employ across the whole world. He has already capped the Daredevils in

the India Premier League but remains contracted to Surrey for thdir

Twenty20 campaign, he is hopeful he will also play for them in other

formats as well. A tough life having to go and work in the Caribbean

Three Sumatran tiger cubs born at London Zoo have made their first

public appearance. The seven`week`old cubs joined their

mother, Melati, when she ventured outside to stretch her legs earlier

this week. The cubs won't bd named until the keepers know if they're

male or female. There's a rumour that it's going to

get much warmer this weekend, Elizabeth Rizzini is here to give us

the forecast. We saw Helen on Primrose earlier,

the sun had just set. Not only is it good news in terms of a nicd

weekend, but also that we are going to see much lighter evenings with

the clocks going forward on Saturday night into Sunday. For the weekend,

it's dry and bright. Right rather than sunny. Not too much in the way

of directly bright sunshine, because there will be a lot of cloud. But

some good spells of brightndss and sunshine around, albeit a bht hazy

at times. It will be warm as well. We've had a boost in the

temperatures this afternoon with mild airbrushing in. Yes, it was a

chilly start but by the timd we got to the afternoon was feeling a lot

warmer. Most areas staying dry, but with quite a lot of cloud. The cloud

will continue into this evening Showers to the north and west, but

most of London staying dry. Some good, clear spells developing the

temperatures not dropping off very far with the southeasterly wind We

are remaining frost free into tomorrow morning. Tomorrow, a pretty

lovely day. Good spells of sunshine, quite a lot of high and

medium level cloud at times, so the sunshine will be quite hazy. A bit

of a southeasterly breeze and temperatures all the way up this

time to 18 or 19 degrees. Yds, it is above average for the time of year.

Sunday is looking very similar to Saturday. We are going to sde some

sunshine, there will be somd cloud. It will be bright rather th`n

wall`to`wall sunshine, but the winds are reasonably light and it will

stay dry. On Sunday, we could be looking at highs of 20 degrdes in

the centre of town, cooler hn some of the other towns, but we `re

looking at 20 degrees, if it gets up to 20.7 it will be the warmdst day

of the year so far. Quite a lot of showers into next week. Don't forget

the clocks going forward on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Now a look at the main headlines. The search for the missing Lalaysian

airlines plane has moved after spotter planes found debris which

could be from the flight. 10 unidentified objects were spotted

after the search shifted 700 miles north east off the west coast of

Australia. According to the online video regulator thousands of

children, including some as young as six, have watched pornography on the

internet. But the figures don't include smartphones and tablets so

the real number is likely to be far higher. Two people in the UK have

caught tuberculosis from thdir cats in the first known cases in the

world. But cat owners are bding reassured that the risk of catching

TB from their pets is very small. That's it. I'll be back latdr during

the 10 O'Clock News. Have a lovely evening.