0:00:05 > 0:00:08Cold weather keeps up the pressure on the NHS.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13The UK's in the grip of the worst flu season for seven years.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16It comes as dozens of doctors in Wales warn that patient safety
0:00:16 > 0:00:21in A&E units is being "compromised to an unacceptable degree".
0:00:21 > 0:00:24We have got patients in the department and we don't have
0:00:24 > 0:00:27space to see them, and then we're coming back the next day and some
0:00:27 > 0:00:29of the patients are still here.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33It's getting worse every winter but this is the worst we have seen.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36As emergency services deal with raised levels of flu,
0:00:36 > 0:00:44we'll be finding out just how bad the situation is across the UK.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Severe gales cause disruption across much of the UK,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49as fallen trees block rail lines and roads,
0:00:49 > 0:00:51and tens of thousands of homes are left without power.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53A summit at Sandhurst - the French president holds talks
0:00:53 > 0:00:56with Theresa May as the UK agrees to pay an extra £44 million
0:00:56 > 0:00:59for Channel security.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Terminally ill - the man fighting for the right to a "peaceful
0:01:03 > 0:01:05and dignified" death wins the right to take his case to
0:01:05 > 0:01:07the Court of Appeal.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10And the train's to blame for a royal delay, but Prince Harry
0:01:10 > 0:01:13and his fiancee, Meghan Markle, finally make it to Cardiff
0:01:13 > 0:01:16and wow the crowds.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19And coming up on Sportsday - Johanna Konta says there's no
0:01:19 > 0:01:22catastrophe, after her shock defeat in the Australian Open to a player
0:01:22 > 0:01:25outside the world's top 100.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53The UK is in the grip of the worst flu season for seven years.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56The latest figures show that the number of people who went
0:01:56 > 0:02:01to their GP with suspected flu rose by 40% in the past week,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04with similar numbers in the rest of the UK.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07The cold weather is keeping up the pressure on accident
0:02:07 > 0:02:08and emergency units.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12In Wales, dozens of senior doctors have written to the Welsh government
0:02:12 > 0:02:14saying that patient safety is being put at risk
0:02:14 > 0:02:17to an unacceptable degree.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19They said planning for a winter crisis had been inadequate
0:02:19 > 0:02:23and the NHS in Wales is "chronically under-resourced".
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Here's our Wales Correspondent, Sian Lloyd.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31We've heard of emergency units across the UK in crisis
0:02:31 > 0:02:33but today doctors in Wales raised their concerns
0:02:33 > 0:02:36about the system here.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39A letter signed by more than three quarters of all Welsh consultants
0:02:39 > 0:02:43in emergency medicine warned the First Minister that patient
0:02:43 > 0:02:46safety is being compromised.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49There is good evidence that in a crowded emergency department
0:02:49 > 0:02:52that patients have their treatment delayed and that can
0:02:52 > 0:02:54make their illness more protracted and ultimately it can make people's
0:02:54 > 0:02:57lives be at risk.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59So, yes, people may die because of the pressures
0:02:59 > 0:03:00that we are facing.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03She had to wait three or four hours for the ambulance.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Then she had to sit outside Accident and Emergency in the ambulance.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Then she got transferred to a trolley in a corridor.
0:03:09 > 0:03:1382-year-old Joan is now being cared for in hospital but her daughter
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Trisha is horrified at the 13 hours it took for her mother
0:03:16 > 0:03:19to be treated.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23As a patient, especially in South Wales, you almost come to expect it.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26You know that once the winter comes, you know that if anything happens
0:03:26 > 0:03:30that you need an ambulance, get comfortable in the ambulance
0:03:30 > 0:03:34because that is where you are going to be staying for the next
0:03:34 > 0:03:35couple of hours.
0:03:35 > 0:03:36Resus is full.
0:03:36 > 0:03:37Trolley bays are full.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40The team at this hospital in Swansea is trying to come up with new ways
0:03:40 > 0:03:43of dealing with busy times.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Many of those packed into this room have volunteered to leave their desk
0:03:46 > 0:03:50jobs to join medical staff on the front line.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Donna is one of them.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57A personal assistant with the health board,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59she is now working to speed up the flow of patients
0:03:59 > 0:04:04through the hospital.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06I'll come down onto the ward, get the beds' state,
0:04:06 > 0:04:10see how many beds we have got, have we got any discharges due,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12or potential discharges for the various times of the day.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15And if there is any delay in those discharges then I can chase that up.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18The scheme is having some success but the NHS in Wales
0:04:18 > 0:04:21is facing many challenges.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25The latest figures show that in December less than 80% of A&E
0:04:25 > 0:04:30patients in Wales were admitted or discharged within four hours.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33That is way below the Welsh Government's 95% target,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37and worse than a year ago.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41The Welsh Government says that this December was the busiest on record.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45It recognises the challenges faced by staff and says it has invested
0:04:45 > 0:04:50an extra £60 million to help people working in emergency units like this
0:04:50 > 0:04:53one deliver their services.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56We are better prepared than ever before, but there are real
0:04:56 > 0:04:57risks in where we go.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Spikes in demand, unavoidable pressures, but also unplanned
0:04:59 > 0:05:05for pressures, and we have seen some of those.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Politicians and doctors recognise that this problem isn't
0:05:08 > 0:05:11going away any time soon.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13In fact it is feared that patients could wait even longer
0:05:13 > 0:05:15unless there is a revolution in the way that health
0:05:15 > 0:05:20and social care is delivered.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Our health editor, Hugh Pym, is here.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27Huge pressure on A&E in Wales and now this sharp rise in flu cases
0:05:27 > 0:05:29across the UK last week.
0:05:29 > 0:05:36It is all adding to an already overstretched NHS?
0:05:36 > 0:05:41Yes, Sophie. Public health officials have confirmed this is the worst flu
0:05:41 > 0:05:45season since 2010, but it's not as bad at a similar stage as it was
0:05:45 > 0:05:49then. If we look at people going into GP surgeries with flu-like
0:05:49 > 0:05:52symptoms, there's been a big increase in the last couple of
0:05:52 > 0:05:55weeks, since the 1st of January. Looking at the figures, since
0:05:55 > 0:06:02January the 1st, people going into GPs in Wales with flu symptoms, up
0:06:02 > 0:06:08nearly 300%, which may explain some of the pressure on A&E. In Northern
0:06:08 > 0:06:13Ireland, Scotland and England, still 153% in England, a big rise. Public
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Health England is saying it isn't as bad as seven years ago and there is
0:06:16 > 0:06:20still time to have the flu jab, but there was concern at high levels of
0:06:20 > 0:06:25the NHS as to where this might go. In England, the A&E performance last
0:06:25 > 0:06:31week wasn't as bad as the first week in January, with not so many
0:06:31 > 0:06:35patients in ambulances outside hospitals, for example. But I think
0:06:35 > 0:06:39nobody is being complacent. There is immense pressure on the system, it's
0:06:39 > 0:06:43not just flu, so it doesn't take much to push things over the edge.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48That is the worry. The society for cute medicine, representing doctors
0:06:48 > 0:06:53in hospitals, said it is a crisis, and they say the pressure on staff
0:06:53 > 0:06:56is only really sustainable at this rate for a few weeks.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Severe gales have caused disruption across much of the UK, with gusts
0:06:59 > 0:07:01of over 80 miles an hour.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Tens of thousands of homes have been without power for much
0:07:04 > 0:07:06of the day in East Anglia and the south-east of England.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09The high winds brought down trees and power cables,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12blocking rail lines and roads and damaging homes.
0:07:12 > 0:07:20Robert Hall reports.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24A warning of what was to come.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26The vital cargo link with the Channel Islands ploughing
0:07:26 > 0:07:28through gales and high seas as the latest weather
0:07:28 > 0:07:32system barrelled in.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Ahead in Jersey, mountainous seas breaking over
0:07:34 > 0:07:35the island's lighthouse,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37and more alerts warning of coastal flooding.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39In England, the wind howled through the night,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41with gusts of more than 80 mph recorded in East Anglia.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Communities have been warned to expect disruption,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48if anything it was even more widespread than had been expected.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52This is the main rail line between Ipswich and Norwich.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Trees brought down power lines and blocked sections of track
0:07:55 > 0:07:58causing major disruption.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00At Norwich station, trains were still going
0:08:00 > 0:08:04nowhere by mid-morning.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08In Ipswich, frustrated travellers moved to buses or simply went home.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11We were going to get the 11 o'clock from Liverpool Street,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15it didn't run so here we are.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20It's tiresome but it happens.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Along a series of major routes, including the M25, the traffic
0:08:23 > 0:08:28ground to hold for mile after mile.
0:08:28 > 0:08:35Damage to buildings and to woodland was also extensive.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39This pub near Clacton in Essex lost most its roof.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43in county after county, local authorities were at full
0:08:43 > 0:08:45stretch as they tried to clear trees and other hazards from
0:08:45 > 0:08:47roads and pavements.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Trees which all too often left families and businesses without
0:08:50 > 0:08:51power.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54More than 100,000 in the Midlands and East Anglia.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Through last night and today, these repair
0:08:56 > 0:09:00crews have been moving from call to call.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02In the east of England alone,
0:09:02 > 0:09:07there are 300 of them at work and by the time
0:09:07 > 0:09:09tomorrow morning dawns it will have covered around 900 locations.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12This call centre in Ipswich brought in extra staff to
0:09:12 > 0:09:14deal with the rising number of lines down.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18First light this morning when the winds hit, we were out there.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20As soon as it's safe to climb we were
0:09:20 > 0:09:22climbing, putting those wires back up.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24In the north of England and in Scotland, more snow to compound
0:09:24 > 0:09:28the difficulties on transport links.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32These pictures filmed in Northumberland were typical, as
0:09:32 > 0:09:35police again warned drivers not to use the roads unless it was
0:09:35 > 0:09:38absolutely necessary.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40The gales may have left us again, but winter has
0:09:40 > 0:09:48us in a firm and often beautiful grip.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56The latest from UK power networks is that those waiting for power to come
0:09:56 > 0:10:01back are now about 8000 properties. That's mainly spread across Norfolk
0:10:01 > 0:10:04and Suffolk. One property that has been waiting for the power to come
0:10:04 > 0:10:09on through today was Wes Newton village hall. They were expecting a
0:10:09 > 0:10:13very special visitor, a special member of their WIA, and I'm told
0:10:13 > 0:10:17the Queen, who lives up the road in Sandringham, was offered a generator
0:10:17 > 0:10:22for the visit but she turned it down, preferring to come and share
0:10:22 > 0:10:25the wartime spirit and, by all accounts, a good time was had by
0:10:25 > 0:10:30everybody. I'm glad to say that Wes Newton village hall now has the
0:10:30 > 0:10:31lights back on.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33The severe gales have hit much of northern Europe as well.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Four people have been killed by falling trees or debris
0:10:36 > 0:10:39where gusts of up to 90 miles per hour have been recorded.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Across the Netherlands and Germany, winds caused severe disruption
0:10:41 > 0:10:42on roads and damage to property.
0:10:42 > 0:10:48Hundreds of flights and trains were also cancelled.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Theresa May has welcomed Emmanuel Macron on his first
0:10:51 > 0:10:54official visit to Britain since becoming French president.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57The Prime Minister is understood to have agreed to spend an extra
0:10:57 > 0:11:01£44 million on improving border security at French ports,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05and to take in more migrants from Calais.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08The talks are expected to underline the leaders' commitment to working
0:11:08 > 0:11:10closely together after Brexit, as our deputy political editor,
0:11:10 > 0:11:16John Pienaar, reports.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Nothing like a bit of pomp and ceremony to get
0:11:18 > 0:11:26the meeting started.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Monsieur Macron and Mrs May won't the EU partners much longer.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Now they are keener than ever to keep in step where they can.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36To stay in tune.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40France is a key ally.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41Brexit is coming and the Prime Minister is
0:11:41 > 0:11:48treading a delicate line.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53Cooperation now, hoping friendship pays off in future.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56At the least French goodwill is on Theresa May's wishlist.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58The President came to this Sandhurst Summit to talk business
0:11:58 > 0:11:59about militantly collaboration and border cooperation.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01He wanted more cash for border control.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04He went to a migrant centre near Calais this week.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06And now he is getting £44 million to help with security, fences,
0:12:06 > 0:12:07closed-circuit cameras.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09That has helped ease tension.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Border control has been a sore point.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Boris Johnson and a troupe of Cabinet colleagues mingled
0:12:14 > 0:12:19with French counterparts.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21The two countries are the EU's biggest military powers.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Today they promised British helicopters to help French troops
0:12:23 > 0:12:27fighting jihadists in West Africa.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Although the deals and agreements being struck here are
0:12:30 > 0:12:37important this summit matters more than just the sum of its parts.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42France will be crucial to Britain's chances of getting a good Brexit
0:12:42 > 0:12:47deal, including on trade, and the France- UK relationship will be
0:12:47 > 0:12:49important in determining Britain's clout as a global player after
0:12:49 > 0:12:58Brexit.Thank you very much. On the count of three, a bit of a smile.To
0:12:58 > 0:13:02look at the leaders and their top teams beaming on cue, you'd never
0:13:02 > 0:13:07know the two countries have been your's biggest rivals and closest
0:13:07 > 0:13:11neighbours for time out of mind. They still are but exudes both sides
0:13:11 > 0:13:16to get on well. Mrs May certainly hope they will.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20The leaders' news conference is running late, but both sides seem to
0:13:20 > 0:13:27have done what they can to make it go smoothly. They were going to see
0:13:27 > 0:13:32the Bayeux tapestry without crossing the channel. Emmanuel Macron cannot
0:13:32 > 0:13:37call him self the European leaders' most strong and stable leader, and
0:13:37 > 0:13:40this relationship matters more than ever, since Britain joined the old,
0:13:40 > 0:13:45market 45 years ago. You can expect a lot more high energy diplomacy in
0:13:45 > 0:13:47the weeks and months and years ahead.
0:13:47 > 0:13:53Our top story this evening:
0:13:53 > 0:13:58The UK is in the grip of the worst flu season for seven years as
0:13:58 > 0:14:02doctors in Wales warn that patient safety in A&E units is being
0:14:02 > 0:14:03compromised to an unacceptable degree.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04And still to come...
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Prince Harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle, wow the crowds
0:14:07 > 0:14:09in Cardiff on their first official visit to Wales.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Coming up on Sportsday on BBC News...
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Will he, won't he?
0:14:12 > 0:14:14The Arsenal manager says his star striker, Alexis Sanchez, is likely
0:14:14 > 0:14:16to move to Manchester United, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan
0:14:16 > 0:14:19going the other way.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Noel Conway is 68 years old.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30He's terminally ill with motor neurone disease.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32He says he feels entombed by his illness and simply wants
0:14:32 > 0:14:37the right to a peaceful and dignified death.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Today he won the right to appeal a ruling
0:14:41 > 0:14:45that forbids assisted suicide.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48The Court of Appeal will now consider if he should be allowed
0:14:48 > 0:14:49help to end his own life.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52The issue of whether or not there should be a "right to die"
0:14:52 > 0:14:53provokes passionate opinions.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Our medical correspondent Fergus Walsh has spoken to two
0:14:55 > 0:15:01campaigners with opposing views.
0:15:01 > 0:15:07Sarah Jessiman from Warwickshire knows her time left is limited.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Breast cancer has spread to her spine and the treatment has
0:15:10 > 0:15:14at times been extremely painful.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19Sarah, who has an unrelated hearing disorder, fears for the future.
0:15:19 > 0:15:26The possibility that I'm going to have the painful
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and prolonged death, and I'm scared.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I am very scared of the thought of being bedbound in agony
0:15:32 > 0:15:37for weeks or months.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Sarah wants a doctor to be allowed to prescribe her a lethal dose
0:15:40 > 0:15:45of drugs if her final months become unbearable, but MPs
0:15:45 > 0:15:52overwhelmingly rejected proposals for a right to die in 2015.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56I'd like the law changed so that I can have a peaceful death
0:15:56 > 0:16:04at the time I choose, rather than the time
0:16:09 > 0:16:11cancer might have in mind for me.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13Sarah, who recently celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15says people should have a choice over how they die.
0:16:15 > 0:16:23I don't want to have the kind of death where my friends
0:16:27 > 0:16:30and family say to my husband and to each other, "Thank goodness
0:16:30 > 0:16:33she is not suffering any more."
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Why do I have to suffer that indignity?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Juliet Marlow from Hampshire has had rheumatoid arthritis
0:16:37 > 0:16:39since she was five years old.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Her immune system attacks her joints.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44She's had both her knees and hips replaced.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48Juliet can no longer walk and relies on carers.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Every joint in my body has got arthritis in it.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55I have a large amount of pain, but I take
0:16:55 > 0:17:01painkillers on a daily basis.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03I take anti-inflammatories and between them they
0:17:03 > 0:17:11keep the pain at bay.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Juliet is opposed to a change in the law.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17She says allowing assisted suicide would make many disabled people feel
0:17:17 > 0:17:20even more vulnerable and scared.
0:17:20 > 0:17:25We don't want society to turn its back on us.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29It would send a message to me that my life wasn't worth living,
0:17:29 > 0:17:35you know, because so many people judge me on what I can't do
0:17:35 > 0:17:39without focusing on what I can do.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41And she says allowing doctors to help people to die
0:17:41 > 0:17:46would break the bond of trust.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49The relationship between doctor and patient, I believe,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52will be fundamentally damaged if we ask them to be our
0:17:52 > 0:18:00executioners as well as our healers.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Noel Conway, who is fighting for the right to an assisted death,
0:18:06 > 0:18:08is becoming progressively weaker and is thought to have little more
0:18:08 > 0:18:10than six months left to live.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13His legal team have asked the Court of Appeal to hear his case
0:18:13 > 0:18:14as soon as possible.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20Fergus Walsh, BBC News.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22The Northern Ireland Secretary has announced that talks to restore
0:18:22 > 0:18:26the devolved government at Stormont are to resume next week.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27Karen Bradley, who was appointed last week,
0:18:27 > 0:18:33made the announcement alongside the Irish Deputy Prime
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Minister, Simon Coveney.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36Power-sharing between the Democratic Unionists
0:18:36 > 0:18:40and Sinn Fein collapsed more than a year ago.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43The Justice Secretary, David Gauke, has been ordered to make immediate
0:18:43 > 0:18:45improvements to Nottingham Prison after he was warned the jail
0:18:45 > 0:18:48was "fundamentally unsafe".
0:18:48 > 0:18:54Peter Clarke, the Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales,
0:18:54 > 0:18:55used a new "urgent notification" letter to demand
0:18:55 > 0:18:57action within 28 days.
0:18:57 > 0:19:04Our Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford reports.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Violent and dangerous, HMP Nottingham today became the first
0:19:10 > 0:19:15jail to face a new procedure for troubled prisons that need to be
0:19:15 > 0:19:18urgently improved. Just days after inspectors visited the prison, their
0:19:18 > 0:19:30boss sent a letter to the Justice Secretary saying:
0:19:30 > 0:19:39And they needed to be an unwavering focus on safety.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43focus on safety.All levels of violence had increased quite
0:19:43 > 0:19:46significantly, but in particular levels of self harm had increased
0:19:46 > 0:19:52dramatically in the last two years, and tragically there have been eight
0:19:52 > 0:19:56deaths that appear to be self-inflicted. This is obviously
0:19:56 > 0:20:00quite acceptable and raises the question of whether any of those
0:20:00 > 0:20:04deaths were preventable.Among those who died in the prison last year was
0:20:04 > 0:20:10Sharon Whitford's son, who had only served three weeks of his four month
0:20:10 > 0:20:15sentence.He rang me about a week before and said he wanted moving out
0:20:15 > 0:20:19of the prison because it was really bad. People harming themselves. He
0:20:19 > 0:20:25just said it was horrible, being in Nottingham.This new process of
0:20:25 > 0:20:29sending urgent letters about failing prisons came about partly because
0:20:29 > 0:20:33prisons inspectors were fed up with having their recommendations
0:20:33 > 0:20:39ignored. The new Justice Secretary, David Gauke, now has 28 days to
0:20:39 > 0:20:44respond and say how Nottingham prison will be made safe. David
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Gauke was being sworn in as Lord Chancellor today and will now be
0:20:48 > 0:20:52realising what a huge job he has, to turn around the prison system that
0:20:52 > 0:20:56is crying out for leadership.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Parents in England are subsidising free nursery care because it hasn't
0:20:59 > 0:21:00been properly funded by the government -
0:21:00 > 0:21:02that's according to a new survey.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Many nurseries say they're struggling to cover costs,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06and are having to ask parents to help for fees,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08nappies and lunches.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10The government says it's investing £6 billion
0:21:10 > 0:21:11in childcare by 2020.
0:21:11 > 0:21:19Our Education Correspondent Elaine Dunkley has the details.
0:21:22 > 0:21:29For 21 years, this nursery school in Roderick has been this woman's life.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35Coming in now empty, cold and quiet is very painful.Eve knew she would
0:21:35 > 0:21:40be unable to deliver the Government scheme of childcare to parents
0:21:40 > 0:21:45without cutting corners so she decided to close.My gusts past £6
0:21:45 > 0:21:5150 and the Government are giving me for pound 36. Somehow I've got to
0:21:51 > 0:21:56make that difference and so no, no, it wouldn't have worked. It would
0:21:56 > 0:22:03have just been one massive struggle. In order to pay redundancies, we had
0:22:03 > 0:22:09to close before we run out of cash. Others fear the same fate. At the
0:22:09 > 0:22:13sparkling stars preschool in Poole, the numbers don't add up. Gusts are
0:22:13 > 0:22:18going up and the future is not certain.The only person this policy
0:22:18 > 0:22:23is free to is the Government, it is not free to parents or their
0:22:23 > 0:22:27children because we are having to ask for additional contributions to
0:22:27 > 0:22:31cover parts of what we offer that the funding does not cover.Before
0:22:31 > 0:22:35the scheme was introduced, the high cost of childcare meant some parents
0:22:35 > 0:22:41were worse off going back to work, but with some mercenaries struggling
0:22:41 > 0:22:46to offer 30 hours a week, parents are having to cover additional
0:22:46 > 0:22:51gusts.Obviously if they can't sustain it, that is concerning.When
0:22:51 > 0:22:56they go to bigger schools we are not asked to make donations there.It is
0:22:56 > 0:23:00costly, when you look at a minimum wage and what they earn commutator
0:23:00 > 0:23:06of the cost of the nursery.A report suggests only 35% of childcare
0:23:06 > 0:23:14providers are delivering 30 hours per week completely free. 37% have
0:23:14 > 0:23:20or increased charges for meals and snacks to make up the shortfall.
0:23:20 > 0:23:26What will happen is providers will struggle and struggle to try and
0:23:26 > 0:23:29make this work, they will have to review how they do things and have
0:23:29 > 0:23:34to make a decision. Either fees will go up for the parents who don't
0:23:34 > 0:23:39qualify for the 30 hours, or they will have to close their doors.The
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Government insists the additional hours are working for parents but
0:23:42 > 0:23:49nurseries say they are going out of business.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53A wolf which was on the loose in Berkshire this morning for six hours
0:23:53 > 0:23:56has been safely recaptured after escaping from its enclosure in
0:23:56 > 0:24:01Newbury.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12It was initially thought the animal, called Torak,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14fled the site after strong winds had damaged fencing.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17But now staff at the sanctuary believe the enclosure gate may have
0:24:17 > 0:24:18been left open deliberately.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Police say the wolf travelled eight miles before it was caught
0:24:20 > 0:24:21beside the M4 motorway.
0:24:21 > 0:24:28It turns out even the Royals can suffer train delays.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Prince Harry and his fiance Meghan Markle were an hour late
0:24:30 > 0:24:32for their first official visit to Wales this afternoon.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36But that didn't stop hundreds of people waiting in the cold to see
0:24:36 > 0:24:37them at Cardiff Castle.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39The couple - who are due to marry in May -
0:24:39 > 0:24:43are on a tour of UK cities to introduce Meghan to her new home.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Nicholas Witchell reports.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49They were an hour late arriving, courtesy of Britain's rail system.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53A points failure at Didcot to be precise.
0:24:53 > 0:25:01And though perhaps there wasn't quite the excitement they had found
0:25:01 > 0:25:04in Brixton, south London, last week, the crowds who'd waited in Cardiff
0:25:04 > 0:25:06nevertheless made the want of their welcome very clear.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08And when people had waited so long in the cold,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Harry and Meghan did their best to give a little warmth back
0:25:11 > 0:25:13and to ensure that everyone, and most particularly
0:25:13 > 0:25:14the children, was included.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Meghan scribbled a message for someone...
0:25:16 > 0:25:17And received bunches of daffodils.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19What other flower would be appropriate to give
0:25:19 > 0:25:21as a welcome to Wales?
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Well she said at the time of her engagement that she wanted
0:25:23 > 0:25:26to get to know as much of the country as possible,
0:25:26 > 0:25:29and clearly as the future wife of Prince Henry of Wales,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33this visit is important.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38Meghan seemed to soak it all up, then she and Harry went
0:25:38 > 0:25:40across to meet...
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Harry and Meghan, aged six and nine.
0:25:42 > 0:25:43Their gift?
0:25:43 > 0:25:44A Welsh love spoon.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49Further comment seems superfluous.
0:25:49 > 0:25:55And to this royally inclined crowd, this almost royal couple were hit.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00They are the ones we love the most.
0:26:00 > 0:26:07Or I love the most anyway.
0:26:07 > 0:26:08They are just so, like, normal.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Harry was really pleasant and Meghan was lovely.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11Absolutely lovely.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Wales, or at least that part of it which came
0:26:14 > 0:26:16to see Harry and Meghan, seemed to approve.
0:26:16 > 0:26:17Nicholas Witchell, BBC News, Cardiff.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Time for a look at the weather.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20Sarah Keith Lucas is here.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22It's been revealed that last year was one of the hottest years
0:26:22 > 0:26:23It's been revealed that last year was one of the hottest years
0:26:23 > 0:26:26globally since records began.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31Yes, both the Met office and Nasa have released press releases today
0:26:31 > 0:26:34indicating 2017 was the hottest year on record without the natural
0:26:34 > 0:26:43warming effect of El Nino.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45warming effect of El Nino. Warming was different in different locations
0:26:45 > 0:26:50around the globe. The polar regions were one of the warmest regions.
0:26:50 > 0:26:582015 and 2016 were both slightly warmer than 2017 but during these
0:26:58 > 0:27:05years we have the warming effect of El Nino. This was the scene taken by
0:27:05 > 0:27:11one of our weather watchers today in Durham. Blue skies but a lot of
0:27:11 > 0:27:16lying snow there and more of those snow showers parking in.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Particularly across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the
0:27:19 > 0:27:23north-west of England, we are seeing the snowfall continuing to
0:27:23 > 0:27:28accumulate. I think some icy conditions likely to start your
0:27:28 > 0:27:33Friday morning. Clear skies, a cold and frosty morning, and do watch out
0:27:33 > 0:27:38for the slippery conditions on untreated surfaces. On Friday, a
0:27:38 > 0:27:43similar dating today. We're blue skies and wintry sunshine. Lots of
0:27:43 > 0:27:46these snow showers moving across Northern Ireland, Scotland and
0:27:46 > 0:27:51north-west England as well. Heavy and persistent for a time. Further
0:27:51 > 0:27:55south and east you are likely to stay dry with cold but sunny
0:27:55 > 0:27:59conditions. For Wales and the south-west, rain showers and they
0:27:59 > 0:28:04will be falling as sleet or snow over the highest ground. Moving
0:28:04 > 0:28:07through Friday night and into Saturday, we have a front
0:28:07 > 0:28:15approaching from the south-west. Before it gets
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Before it gets there there is a ridge of high pressure keeping
0:28:17 > 0:28:19things quiet and settled. On Saturday we are likely to start with
0:28:19 > 0:28:22cloud and outbreaks of rain along the south coast for a time but that
0:28:22 > 0:28:25should clear away, then a much improved day. Lighter winds, more
0:28:25 > 0:28:31sunshine and a largely dry picture for Saturday but we still have the
0:28:31 > 0:28:36cold air in charge. Into Sunday, this band of rain works in, it bumps
0:28:36 > 0:28:40into the cold air so we could see some snow for a time in northern
0:28:40 > 0:28:44England and Scotland, then some wet weather and temperatures will be on
0:28:44 > 0:28:48the rise. Through the weekend, Saturday will be the brightest and
0:28:48 > 0:28:52joyous day, wet and windy by Sunday.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53Saturday will be the brightest and joyous day, wet and windy by Sunday.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Sarah, thank you. The UK is in the grip of the worst flu season for
0:28:57 > 0:29:02seven years as doctors in Wales warned that patient safety in A&E
0:29:02 > 0:29:04unit is being compromised to