10/02/2014 BBC Wales Today

reputation enhanced. That's it. Starting on BBC Two now,

Good evening. Police are investigating whether the

death of a man in Cardiff is linked with an internet drinking game. The

29-year-old man has been named locally as Stephen Brookes from the

Rumney area of the city. "NekNnominate" involves dares which

are filmed and posted online - it's already been linked to the death of

a 20-year-old man in London and two deaths in Ireland. Matt Murray

reports. I would like to nominate. It is an

Internet drinking grain which swept through social media. NekNominate

involves people filling in on themselves downing a drink, posting

the video online and then nominating someone else to do the same. It is

also involves carrying out a stunt or a trick. But has it played the

part in claiming the life of Stephen Brooks? Today his family told me

they are awaiting the results of a postmortem before making any

comment. But last night his friends took to Twitter to pay tribute and

express their concern. One said: The drinking game has already

claimed lives. This man's teenage nephew died ten days ago in Ireland.

It made headline news after he jumped into a river as part of the

Internet drinking game. It is believed he had downed a pint of

mixed spirits. It is all the weirdest things, you name it as a

dare and they will do it. These kits, they have got to get it

through their thick heads, the damage it is doing to families. Our

family is ripped apart, burette with grief. We just... We just don't know

what to do. There is no answer to it. He was a lad you would never

think he would do something like that. He was such a quiet boy. The

use of social media has seen videos shared across the world. We as

students at Aberystwyth University what they think of it. It is funny

to watch, but I don't think I would partake in it. I was nominated by

one of my flatmate. He had done his and nominated a few other people. I

decided not to do it because I don't like the idea of it. It is believed

it started in Australia and has seen people down toxic substances

including motor oil and nail varnish remover, but most of all it is

alcohol. It is a tendency for people to up the anti-and claim they have

done all sorts of things which other people are trying to copy with it

seems, tragic complement -- consequences. This man believes many

are taking part in NekNominate against their will. Don't do it,

become a chicken. There is nothing wrong about being honest about not

killing yourself. That is what it amounts to.

Len Brimble on what he sees as the dangers of NekNominate.

Police have confirmed tonight they've seized heroin worth millions

of pounds. Nine people have been charged with supplying drugs. They

were arrested in Cardiff, Newport and on the M5, in a joint operation

by Gwent and South Wales police. The family of a kayaker who went

missing on the River Usk in mid Wales have described him as an

adventurous and caring man. Gareth Lockyer, from Warwick disappeared

when he was with a group of experienced kayakers at Llangynidr

near Crickhowell. Rescuers found a body this morning.

Your water bill's going up. Welsh Water and Severn Trent will increase

their charges from April by a little over 1%. Welsh Water's average bill

for a home will go up by ?6 to ?440 a year, the third highest in Wales

and England. Dee Valley Water customers will see an increase of

3.2%. A new package of support to help

raise standards in our worst performing schools has been

announced by the Welsh Government. Schools Challenge Cymru will receive

?20 million a year targeted at the 40 schools the government believes

are most in need of support. It's modelled on a scheme rolled out in

London. Our education correspondent, Arwyn Jones, has been to see how it

worked there. Ten years ago, Woodside secondary school in

Tottenham was the worst performing school in London. In 2003 they were

included in the London challenge. As a result, standards here as

elsewhere in London, went through the roof. Results at schools like

this speak for themselves. Since they became involved in 2003, the

number of pupils here who have achieved has gone up between five

and 10% every year and that is why the Welsh government is so keen on

this idea. The London challenge was a programme of support for the poor

performing schools in London. They brought in experts who work

alongside my teachers to build up their capacity to get them to focus

on the things that were critical do develop the teaching, so the

learning of the children improved hugely. Schools had to help each

other, share best brat this and staff. But that had its own

problems. There is a problem about the government's desire that schools

both cooperate and complete. Obviously be outstanding school

helping other schools, does not want its own results to go down as a

result of its staff being out somewhere else. This school in Port

Talbot is a textbook example of how the Welsh government would like all

our schools to work, seen as some work where they get the most out of

their pupils and sharing expertise. The head of English helps other

schools learn how to improve their teaching. It is something we have

worked very hard on within this school, and other secondary schools

in Wales. It is always useful to share effective back this and see

what other schools are doing in their practice and bring it to your

own classroom. When she is helping others, this school loses valuable

teacher. Launching the scheme today, the education minister said it is

important to get the right mix. In Wales, schools are reluctant to

share West practice, let alone their best teachers. There are other

schools that are frankly underperforming and there are those

who we know are delivering, who are taking part in this. Those we know

who are delivering will be leaned upon to be part of the programme, we

want their expertise. It would only be right we acknowledge that. Others

say we must not assume a system that worked well in London will

necessarily work here. It is all well intended. It has got that drive

to improve performance, particularly in the most challenging situations.

And we need to get the learning. It has been a difficult few months with

disappointing exam results and slipping standards. Opposition

parties say it is the fault of the Welsh government. The question now,

will this renewed focus on helping the worst schools turn things

around? There is snow, ice jails in

torrential rain in the forecast. -- gales.

In the next four days we could see another 40 to 70 centimetres of

rain. At the moment there are two flood warnings in force in

Monmouth, and the lower Dee Valley. A touch of frost inland, but the

next band of heavy rain will cross the country in the early hours. Snow

on higher ground and wind picking up. A wet start tomorrow, snow on

some of the hills and mountains. During the morning it will brighten

up nicely with sunshine. Across the rest of the UK, band of heavy rain,

snow on the Pennines and other parts of Scotland. Sunshine following but

wintry showers. These falling as hailstones, sleet and snow. Ailing

coal tomorrow and that goes for Wales. At 3pm tomorrow, a few

showers dotted around, but a few places dry and bright. Tomorrow,

more rain and showers will spread across the country, some snow to

even down to low levels from the valleys northwards. Into Wednesday,

this deepening air of low pressure, another Atlantic storm looks like

tracking towards us. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for

severe gales to the south and west of the country. We could see ghosts

in excess of 80 mph. More heavy rain as well. The rain will ease on

Thursday but there is more rain on the way on Friday. Worth staying

tuned to the forecast. We're back in Breakfast from 6.00am

tomorrow. That's Wales Today, thank you for watching. Good night.