:00:00. > :00:08.let-up. Thank you. That is all from the BBC News at Six. Goodbye. Now
:00:09. > :00:12.This is East Midlands Today with Geeta Pendse and me, Dominic Heale.
:00:13. > :00:20.Tonight: a warning that homeless people could die because of council
:00:21. > :00:23.spending cuts. This is one of several hostels that
:00:24. > :00:31.would close, forcing people onto the streets.
:00:32. > :00:33.40 million in the red, the financial crisis facing three Leicester
:00:34. > :00:39.hospitals. Plus, could some of our smaller
:00:40. > :00:41.councils go bust after the government's latest funding
:00:42. > :00:47.announcement. And find out why the deed pudding is
:00:48. > :00:53.no longer a festive favourite. `` figgy pudding.
:00:54. > :01:02.Welcome to Wednesday's programme. First tonight: a warning that
:01:03. > :01:06.homeless people will die, if council cuts go ahead. It's come from the
:01:07. > :01:06.head of this region's largest homelessness charity.
:01:07. > :01:07.The Framework 0 homelessness charity.
:01:08. > :01:10.The Framework Housing Association says all of its hostels and
:01:11. > :01:13.supported housing in Nottinghamshire, would have to
:01:14. > :01:16.close. The charity's helped hundreds of
:01:17. > :01:21.people sleeping rough here in the East Midlands this year. And it's
:01:22. > :01:23.already 0 East Midlands this year. And it's
:01:24. > :01:26.already sending some to emergency shelters that have been set up in
:01:27. > :01:31.churches. Our Social Affairs Correspondent, Jeremy Ball, is in
:01:32. > :01:41.Gedling near Nottingham tonight. This is Elizabeth House. It is a
:01:42. > :01:44.hostel for people who went somewhere in urgent. It is one of several
:01:45. > :01:48.centres which could soon be facing closure. That is happening just as
:01:49. > :01:53.demand for these services is growing. So much so, some people are
:01:54. > :01:59.now being sent to sleep in churches. The last resort, when your luck runs
:02:00. > :02:03.out. A space on a flaw in a church hall. Lloyd used to be a chef but
:02:04. > :02:05.when he lost his job, he got stuck in a vicious circle. Six weeks, I
:02:06. > :02:09.got 0 0 0 in a vicious circle. Six weeks, I
:02:10. > :02:12.got no money. My got closed down because I missed an appointment
:02:13. > :02:17.because of my homelessness. I had to make a new claim, start all over
:02:18. > :02:20.again. This being here has brought me from the street, to somewhere
:02:21. > :02:20.warm and comfortable. You can meet a few 0
:02:21. > :02:25.warm and comfortable. You can meet a few people. They are my brothers.
:02:26. > :02:30.Lloyd is one of more than 20 homeless people who moved in this
:02:31. > :02:36.week, one of several churches that are taking turns to offer shelter
:02:37. > :02:40.and tea and toast ease, before being referred by a drop`in centre.
:02:41. > :02:44.There's a waiting list. It is not just the emergency help. It is
:02:45. > :02:49.putting people on the path to rebuilding their lives. At a softer
:02:50. > :02:54.sugar. It's striking how many of these men had jobs until the hard
:02:55. > :02:58.times ahead. Stephen walked here from Liverpool after his market
:02:59. > :03:02.stall takings dried up. I was living in darkness for a few months. Had to
:03:03. > :03:05.come back to Nottingham and now I am at the bottom of the ladder and am
:03:06. > :03:05.trying to work my way up to the top. I 0
:03:06. > :03:08.trying to work my way up to the top. I know I can do it because I've done
:03:09. > :03:12.it in the past. The winter shelters are part of a wider push to
:03:13. > :03:16.eradicate the rough sleeping. The official figures have been falling
:03:17. > :03:24.for years. Now there are warnings that progress could be jeopardised
:03:25. > :03:29.by cuts. Jason runs Rumsey outreach service. We have worked with people
:03:30. > :03:32.in their 70s, suffering with cancer that we found rough sleeping, and
:03:33. > :03:35.we've also found 16`year`olds. If the cuts go through, if there are no
:03:36. > :03:36.facilities 0 the cuts go through, if there are no
:03:37. > :03:42.facilities to refer people into and no preventative services, were going
:03:43. > :03:46.to see an impact on the streets. We will see a rise in rough sleeping.
:03:47. > :03:51.These temporary shelters are not the solution but for now, they are
:03:52. > :03:57.providing a lifeline. And it is a similar picture across
:03:58. > :04:02.the region. In Derby and another group of judges are providing
:04:03. > :04:03.temporary shelters, just as the City Council cuts funding for voluntary
:04:04. > :04:05.groups. In Leicester, to 0 Council cuts funding for voluntary
:04:06. > :04:09.groups. In Leicester, to shelters are currently under threat. The
:04:10. > :04:15.council there is looking at getting ?1 million from its homelessness
:04:16. > :04:27.services. In Nottinghamshire, there are cuts from the County Council
:04:28. > :04:34.grant. We can talk note to the Chief Executive of... In the course of the
:04:35. > :04:34.year, we work with 6000 very vulnerable 0
:04:35. > :04:35.year, we work with 6000 very vulnerable people 0
:04:36. > :04:37.year, we work with 6000 very vulnerable people across the
:04:38. > :04:42.county, including about 400 people who use services like this one.
:04:43. > :04:46.Before the services existed, people did die on the streets and if they
:04:47. > :04:49.close, I'm afraid that is likely to happen again. What is going to
:04:50. > :04:52.happen to the people who live here at the moment? Some of them will
:04:53. > :04:58.sleep rough. Some will end up in hospital or in care homes or
:04:59. > :05:02.prison. More people will present to accident and emergency departments,
:05:03. > :05:06.to GPs and all kinds of public services. That will have a cost. The
:05:07. > :05:10.County Council service and we don't have the money because of cuts to
:05:11. > :05:15.their funding. Are their hands not tied over this? Central government
:05:16. > :05:21.is reducing funding but to no where near the extent of the cuts we are
:05:22. > :05:25.facing here. Notts County Council say they are still talking about
:05:26. > :05:29.finding alternative funding services but they say they have a legal
:05:30. > :05:32.obligation to provide other services and prioritise those. We will have a
:05:33. > :05:37.final decision sometime in the New Year.
:05:38. > :05:40.Finance bosses at Leicester's hospitals have revealed they'll need
:05:41. > :05:43.an emergency government loan to bail them out of debts of almost ?40
:05:44. > :05:46.million. The University Hospitals of
:05:47. > :05:52.Leicester Trust admits that its cost control has been poor. And as
:05:53. > :05:59.Eleanor Garnier reports its blaming the overspend on rising patient
:06:00. > :06:03.numbers and a lack of funding. Here in Leicester, we've got one
:06:04. > :06:05.very sick patient, the University hospitals 0
:06:06. > :06:08.very sick patient, the University hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. It
:06:09. > :06:15.runs the city 's three hospitals and it needs help. The symptoms, debts
:06:16. > :06:17.of almost ?40 million. That is against the trust's annual turnover
:06:18. > :06:21.of ?750 million. Today, 0 against the trust's annual turnover
:06:22. > :06:25.of ?750 million. Today, and admission, that cost control has
:06:26. > :06:29.been poor. We as a healthy economy and a trust could clearly have done
:06:30. > :06:33.better. We are working closely with our partners in the health
:06:34. > :06:33.economies, the clinical commissioning 0
:06:34. > :06:34.economies, the clinical commissioning groups, 0
:06:35. > :06:38.economies, the clinical commissioning groups, to work out
:06:39. > :06:42.better ways of meeting those challenges of access, patient
:06:43. > :06:49.quality and finances. How has the trust ended up in this financial
:06:50. > :06:51.mess? Well, it started the year ?15 million in the year ?15 million
:06:52. > :06:56.infrared and on top of that, hospital bosses say there has been a
:06:57. > :07:00.lack of funding, compared to previous years. They are also
:07:01. > :07:05.blaming a substantial increase in the number of patients coming to
:07:06. > :07:08.access and emergency. Patients should not worry. This is a
:07:09. > :07:12.financial issue. It will be dealt with by the NHS. It is just about
:07:13. > :07:16.juggling around the money. They will not see any impact on the wards.
:07:17. > :07:21.Hospital is still recruiting nurses and doctors. They are having a full
:07:22. > :07:26.confidence of staff. There should be not be any changes inside the at
:07:27. > :07:30.all. The trust has already had ?30 million of extra funding in the last
:07:31. > :07:35.two years. But now, if it is to avoid being put into special
:07:36. > :07:38.measures, more serious treatment is needed. Hospital bosses are
:07:39. > :07:44.admitting, they need a government loan to bail them out. A large
:07:45. > :07:48.deficit at our hospital trust is of concern. However, the important
:07:49. > :07:48.thing is, we work together to try and 0
:07:49. > :07:53.thing is, we work together to try and develop a sustainable health
:07:54. > :07:56.care model for our population and ensure we meet their needs in the
:07:57. > :08:01.future. I'm confident we can do that. Clinicians and politicians all
:08:02. > :08:03.agreed that until care in the community is transformed, 0
:08:04. > :08:07.agreed that until care in the community is transformed, fewer
:08:08. > :08:13.people end up in accident and emergency, this patient's vital
:08:14. > :08:16.signs will not improve. Still to come: cold comfort for
:08:17. > :08:17.residents banking on a warmer Winter.
:08:18. > :08:19.People on 0 Winter.
:08:20. > :08:23.People on this estate paid up to a thousand pounds to insulate their
:08:24. > :08:28.homes. Now they've been told it could be months before the work's
:08:29. > :08:32.done. And in the weather, a stormy evening
:08:33. > :08:32.ahead with strong winds and heavy rainfall. 0
:08:33. > :08:33.ahead with strong winds and heavy rainfall. I 0
:08:34. > :08:35.ahead with strong winds and heavy rainfall. I will have your detailed
:08:36. > :08:41.forecast at the end of the programme.
:08:42. > :08:48.Before that: A number of local councils could end up going bust or
:08:49. > :08:51.have to merge because of government demands that they cut their budgets.
:08:52. > :08:55.That's according to an influential committee of MPs.
:08:56. > :08:58.Today, the Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles
:08:59. > :09:02.ruled out extra funding to take the financial pressure off some local
:09:03. > :09:06.council services. Instead, he confirmed a 3% cut in
:09:07. > :09:09.the next round of funding and called on councils to continue to find
:09:10. > :09:14.sensible savings. Our Political Editor John Hess joins us from
:09:15. > :09:25.Downing Street. So John, no surprise Christmas treats from Eric Pickles?
:09:26. > :09:30.Actually, there is no surprise extra cash underneath the Christmas tree
:09:31. > :09:33.this year. For a prime as to who is committed to deficit reduction, this
:09:34. > :09:37.is why local authority spending matters so much. It still accounts
:09:38. > :09:41.for a quarter of all government spending on the public services and
:09:42. > :09:43.today, the Communities Secretary and his ministers announced how much
:09:44. > :09:49.funding local authorities will get over the next year or so and in
:09:50. > :09:53.exchange dashed in exchanges in the House of Commons, that in turn
:09:54. > :09:59.provoked fury. Is he aware that in Derbyshire, the Tories lost control
:10:00. > :10:02.last May and they have left behind the biggest mess that Derbyshire
:10:03. > :10:12.County Council have had to deal with. ?151 million in cuts. Isn't
:10:13. > :10:19.the truth of the matter that this Tory government, with its coalition
:10:20. > :10:23.allies, are intent on wrecking the public sector and bringing local
:10:24. > :10:26.government to its knees? I would suggest he goes back to his now
:10:27. > :10:30.Labour`controlled authority and ask them to do what the last authority
:10:31. > :10:32.was doing, which is magic that is evident it better so they don't have
:10:33. > :10:38.to punish taxpayers by increasing council tax, please their council
:10:39. > :10:41.tax which we have done and make it better for their local residents. So
:10:42. > :10:46.the message from the government as there is no letup in the squeeze and
:10:47. > :10:47.no letup in the pressure on local politicians to try and guarantee a
:10:48. > :10:50.freeze in council 0 politicians to try and guarantee a
:10:51. > :10:55.freeze in council tax. To view is mad, one from a Derbyshire Tory MP
:10:56. > :10:59.who was once the leader of a local authority. First, the views of a
:11:00. > :11:03.Nottinghamshire County Council were who was responsible for finance, who
:11:04. > :11:07.says trying to balance the budget whilst squeezing and freezing
:11:08. > :11:12.council tax is Mission impossible. Certainly, over the past four years
:11:13. > :11:15.of the previous abstraction, we have seen a zero council tax which has
:11:16. > :11:22.put us in the position that we were in in May of ?133 million of deficit
:11:23. > :11:26.in our budget. We are now facing ?154 million deficit in our budget
:11:27. > :11:30.as a result of the further spending review and George Osborne's further
:11:31. > :11:32.cuts. I hope they will have more imaginative ways of saving money and
:11:33. > :11:32.providing 0 imaginative ways of saving money and
:11:33. > :11:34.providing value for 0 imaginative ways of saving money and
:11:35. > :11:37.providing value for money services. One really good idea that is
:11:38. > :11:42.happening now in the south`west is to councils have come together,
:11:43. > :11:45.politically different, they are keeping their councillors but all
:11:46. > :11:50.the back`office work is going to be merged together with one council. A
:11:51. > :11:53.huge opportunity for savings. A report from MPs on the Public
:11:54. > :11:57.Accounts Committee is already warning that if the cuts continue,
:11:58. > :12:10.some smaller councils will go bust and they will not be viable. I
:12:11. > :12:14.suspect it will be... A woman and a young child have been
:12:15. > :12:17.rescued from a house fire in Nottingham, with the help of their
:12:18. > :12:17.neighbours. The Fire Service was called to 0
:12:18. > :12:20.neighbours. The Fire Service was called to Roderick Street in Old
:12:21. > :12:22.Basford at eleven o'clock last night. Police are trying to
:12:23. > :12:25.establish what caused the blaze. Onlookers described how a neighbour
:12:26. > :12:29.helped to rescue the child from the upstairs bedroom. A chap had gone
:12:30. > :12:34.upstairs and was searching in the bedroom. He found the little boy. It
:12:35. > :12:36.was full of smoke but he felt, found him in the bed underneath about
:12:37. > :12:40.bucket. He passed him at the neighbours. If they hadn't search,
:12:41. > :12:46.that little boy probably wouldn't have been here today.
:12:47. > :12:49.The number of people who are unemployed in the East Midlands has
:12:50. > :12:52.fallen by almost 24,000 in the last year. Government figures released
:12:53. > :12:55.today show there are now just over 79,000 people claiming Job Seekers
:12:56. > :12:58.Allowance. The Chambers of Commerce in the East Midlands are welcoming
:12:59. > :13:01.the drop in unemployment, but say figures for January and February
:13:02. > :13:04.will be better indicators of the economy.
:13:05. > :13:07.More than 300 people have so far signed two petitions opposing the
:13:08. > :13:12.possible closure of a charity that helps vulnerable children. Safe and
:13:13. > :13:17.Sound, based in Derby is worried the loss of its council funding could
:13:18. > :13:21.see other donations dry up. It helps victims of sexual exploitation.
:13:22. > :13:24.Senior police officers have said it's vital that Safe and Sound
:13:25. > :13:28.continues. An apology's been given to residents
:13:29. > :13:29.who've paid up more than a thousand pounds for home insulation, with
:13:30. > :13:31.little or nothing 0 pounds for home insulation, with
:13:32. > :13:36.little or nothing to show for the money.
:13:37. > :13:39.One couple on the Clifton estate in Nottingham say they face a wait of
:13:40. > :13:43.six months before the government`backed Green Deal work
:13:44. > :13:46.can be done. The organisers, which include the City Council, say
:13:47. > :13:58.administrative changes have led to delays.
:13:59. > :14:02.David showed me his house on the cliffs estate in Nottingham,
:14:03. > :14:06.surrounded by scaffolding. He is a homeowner and has paid out more than
:14:07. > :14:10.?1600 since October, for installation. He says he still
:14:11. > :14:15.doesn't know when the work is due to start. Frustrated, annoyed. The fact
:14:16. > :14:21.that somebody's got my money and if anybody else, a builder would have
:14:22. > :14:25.come along and said to me, we will start some work on your house but we
:14:26. > :14:29.will deal with it when we feel like it, I would have kicked them into
:14:30. > :14:36.touch and said thank you, not for me. The owners should get a cashback
:14:37. > :14:39.payment of up to 16`650 pounds from the Green deal when their concrete
:14:40. > :14:43.homes insulated. The City Council is working with the contractor. They've
:14:44. > :14:45.had 0 0 working with the contractor. They've
:14:46. > :14:49.had to build in `` bring in another third party to run the cashback side
:14:50. > :14:54.of things. Switching from British Gas, who declined to get involved in
:14:55. > :15:00.mid`November, to a local company. Some other rules changed as well.
:15:01. > :15:05.Disappointed and all the partners are equally frustrated. We have
:15:06. > :15:10.regular meetings. We go through where things have got to. I am sorry
:15:11. > :15:16.that so much administration has got in the way. Down the road, his
:15:17. > :15:21.mother and father house. They sign up to, paying more than ?1400 in
:15:22. > :15:27.early October. There have been told work could start in March. We keep
:15:28. > :15:27.getting put back and put back. We are 0
:15:28. > :15:27.getting put back and put back. We are not 0
:15:28. > :15:28.getting put back and put back. We are not getting any 0
:15:29. > :15:30.getting put back and put back. We are not getting any real answers
:15:31. > :15:34.from anybody as to when the work will be done. The council says 600
:15:35. > :15:42.private homes have applied. The first wave has been completed. Work
:15:43. > :15:42.should speed up in the New Year. Work is 0 0
:15:43. > :15:46.should speed up in the New Year. Work is beginning a new ?42 million
:15:47. > :15:51.Centre for Medicine Addie University of Leicester. It will bring together
:15:52. > :15:54.leading medical academics, numerical research and education under one
:15:55. > :15:56.roof. Construction will begin later this year and will be completed in
:15:57. > :16:00.2015. 0 this year and will be completed in
:16:01. > :16:05.2015. A disease that devastates ash trees has been confirmed for the
:16:06. > :16:07.first time in Establishment land in Derbyshire.
:16:08. > :16:15.Ash Dieback, shown here, has been found on it lands. The Forestry
:16:16. > :16:18.Commission says it is inevitable the disease will eventually reach the
:16:19. > :16:21.Derbyshire Peak District, but attempts are being made to manage
:16:22. > :16:28.the problem, including a ban on importing ash trees.
:16:29. > :16:32.The Severn Trent water company says it is amazed at what people flushed
:16:33. > :16:38.down toilets. Knives, forks and spoons were found in the sewers.
:16:39. > :16:42.People complained about blockages. Officials say someone in the area
:16:43. > :16:47.had managed to flash these down the toilet. They warn people to be more
:16:48. > :16:51.responsible. Still to come: Some wild weather
:16:52. > :16:55.expected this evening. A full forecast after the sports. That's
:16:56. > :17:17.the choirboys hankering after a long forgotten Christmas delicacy.
:17:18. > :17:24.Caring for a family member with special needs can be rewarding, but
:17:25. > :17:26.at times it takes its toll. A scheme running in Nottinghamshire gives
:17:27. > :17:29.carers a well earned break, and allows the person being cared for
:17:30. > :17:39.the chance to live more independently. The two families it's
:17:40. > :17:43.been proving a success. 18`year`old David is autistic. He is
:17:44. > :17:48.also partially deaf and blind. Once a fortnight, he stays with this
:17:49. > :17:53.family for the weekend. It's a chance for him to relax and catch up
:17:54. > :18:02.with his best friend. I feel relieved. I get my piece. I also get
:18:03. > :18:06.to play on an Xbox. His main character 's grandmother, who he
:18:07. > :18:12.lives with most of the time. It can be tough. He's out of his bedroom
:18:13. > :18:17.every hour. He has to do his thing is that he has to do ` his routines.
:18:18. > :18:25.It can take on quite a few hours. It is hard. You take these jobs on and
:18:26. > :18:26.you have to do the best. I'm happy that I can 0
:18:27. > :18:31.you have to do the best. I'm happy that I can see someone's life
:18:32. > :18:38.improves. I can give support and break for somebody's family. 31
:18:39. > :18:42.households across Nottinghamshire have signed up to be Sheriff life
:18:43. > :18:47.scheme, which provides foster care for vulnerable adults. In addition,
:18:48. > :18:51.there are ten new recruits due to a campaign earlier this year. A
:18:52. > :18:56.further 23 households have applied and are now being considered. I
:18:57. > :18:58.think people come to this because they have a real 0
:18:59. > :19:04.think people come to this because they have a real passion for
:19:05. > :19:10.caring, and supporting other people. For David, staying with the family
:19:11. > :19:16.gives him some independents and allows his grandmother time to rest
:19:17. > :19:25.and recharge. So inspiring.
:19:26. > :19:29.The sports news: Leicester City are out of the Capital One Cup, at their
:19:30. > :19:37.time with Manchester City last night has left their fans wanting more.
:19:38. > :19:40.Their challenge for promotion continues on Saturday against league
:19:41. > :19:42.leaders Queens Park Rangers. Today, they were given the day off to
:19:43. > :19:47.reflect 0 they were given the day off to
:19:48. > :19:53.reflect on quite a nice. `` quite a nice.
:19:54. > :19:57.There were so many top`class players, you didn't know where to
:19:58. > :20:02.look. They knew it would be tough, but they didn't know how tough.
:20:03. > :20:10.Manchester City have names a full strength team tonight. They are
:20:11. > :20:13.taking no chances. It took no time to appreciate Manchester City's
:20:14. > :20:17.quality. The task ahead of Leicester. The team would hugely
:20:18. > :20:25.impressive and took the lead after eight minutes. `` were hugely
:20:26. > :20:31.impressive. Powerfully bent into the top corner. Lester's keeper had to
:20:32. > :20:37.be at his best to stop more going in. Just before half`time, he
:20:38. > :20:44.conceded a second. The first of two on the night. It was strictly
:20:45. > :20:50.Manchester City. Leicester needed the X Factor, and therefore the
:20:51. > :20:52.night, was Sam Bailey. Sam is a season`ticket holder, who is for the
:20:53. > :21:00.and produce a sensational performance. By fully, Manchester
:21:01. > :21:15.City didn't in the second half. `` thankfully. Less than some steel,
:21:16. > :21:22.and held their own. 31 was no disgrace at all. I think it was OK,
:21:23. > :21:28.not a bad results. At least we didn't get trashed. You expect that
:21:29. > :21:35.from man city, don't you. It's a good results. We were severely
:21:36. > :21:40.punished for several mistakes. That's the biggest difference
:21:41. > :21:56.between top and Premier league. It was a memorable night.
:21:57. > :22:02.Leicester went the only ones playing in the cup last night. Mansfield
:22:03. > :22:07.were in action in the FA Cup. They ploughed out `` played out a replay
:22:08. > :22:11.with Oldham. They started well, with Ross Dyer giving a 12 minute lead.
:22:12. > :22:17.They conceded four goals in the space of 24 second`half minutes.
:22:18. > :22:24.They lost the Game 41. They miss out on a money spinning FA Cup third
:22:25. > :22:25.round tie with Liverpool. In rugby: Matthew Tait could 0
:22:26. > :22:27.round tie with Liverpool. In rugby: Matthew Tait could make his
:22:28. > :22:33.long`awaited comeback from injury, in this weekend's premiership class
:22:34. > :22:46.to top of the tables Saracens. Finally, boxing: Randall has gone up
:22:47. > :22:57.awaits. The European Commonwealth champion is set to become a
:22:58. > :23:01.bantamweight. Good luck to him. It's that time of year when we can
:23:02. > :23:12.ask, have you ever wondered what our most popular carols mean?
:23:13. > :23:16.# We wish you a Merry Christmas. # We wish you a Merry Christmas. # We
:23:17. > :23:33.wish you a Merry Christmas. # And a Happy New
:23:34. > :23:37.this carol originates from the 16th century when wealthy people would
:23:38. > :23:39.give treats, M figgy 0 century when wealthy people would
:23:40. > :23:59.give treats, M figgy pudding, to carol singers on Christmas Eve. ``
:24:00. > :24:04.like it figgy pudding. Apart from the obvious, that's figgy pudding
:24:05. > :24:11.has lots of figs, is a big difference between it and Christmas
:24:12. > :24:16.pudding? No. Figgy pudding is paler, and it starts off as more of a
:24:17. > :24:22.batter. You are starring in a particular direction? And starring
:24:23. > :24:22.anticlockwise, which is to remind us of 0 0
:24:23. > :24:23.anticlockwise, which is to remind us of the journey 0
:24:24. > :24:27.anticlockwise, which is to remind us of the journey that the wise men
:24:28. > :24:32.took towards the stable. And it's a special day for making your
:24:33. > :24:35.Christmas pudding? It became known as Stir`up Sunday. They even had a
:24:36. > :24:41.special church service to remind you to make it. Do we know why it is
:24:42. > :24:46.that we eat Christmas pudding and not figgy pudding? I don't know. It
:24:47. > :24:51.seems to have fallen out of favour. It's very difficult to find. There
:24:52. > :24:52.are some recipes online. Perhaps we should all be 0
:24:53. > :25:02.are some recipes online. Perhaps we should all be making figgy pudding
:25:03. > :25:11.and trying it. I sung in a choir and we used to sing that song ` I had no
:25:12. > :25:16.idea why we wanted figgy pudding. Staying with the Christmas theme `
:25:17. > :25:20.if you are putting the finishing touches to your decorations, how
:25:21. > :25:25.about this? A giant Santa made hay. This design was spotted on the
:25:26. > :25:29.Leicestershire Nottinghamshire border. We like to see more of your
:25:30. > :25:34.creative designs. Send them via Facebook or e`mail us. We already
:25:35. > :25:38.have some exciting 0 Facebook or e`mail us. We already
:25:39. > :25:45.have some exciting ones on there. And now for the weather.
:25:46. > :25:53.We are expecting it to be stormy for the next two hours. The winds have
:25:54. > :25:57.already started. That's between 40 and 50 mph. The rain will live in
:25:58. > :26:01.shortly. There's a area of low pressure ` isobars squeezing in to
:26:02. > :26:07.give us a strengthening southerly winds. It will be moving quickly,
:26:08. > :26:12.however, but it stays and settled for the next few days because we
:26:13. > :26:16.have another area of low pressure. This is the current position of that
:26:17. > :26:19.heavy band of rain. Some patchy rain fall at the moment. But it will meet
:26:20. > :26:22.again in the 0 fall at the moment. But it will meet
:26:23. > :26:26.again in the next hour, giving us torrential downpour and gusty winds
:26:27. > :26:30.for a time. It clears away quickly. A few showers around through the
:26:31. > :26:33.night, but also a good deal of clear skies. The temperatures will drop
:26:34. > :26:35.quite quickly. We are 0 skies. The temperatures will drop
:26:36. > :26:35.quite quickly. We are expecting lows tonight 0
:26:36. > :26:39.quite quickly. We are expecting lows tonight three degrees. Lower
:26:40. > :26:45.integrals shelters will stop you might get a touch of frost. A very
:26:46. > :26:49.cold starts to Thursday and a much colder day on the whole. A lot of
:26:50. > :26:49.clear skies in the morning, some beautiful sunshine. 0
:26:50. > :26:54.clear skies in the morning, some beautiful sunshine. One to showers,
:26:55. > :26:58.it may feel a bit wintry across higher ground. Top temperatures
:26:59. > :27:02.tomorrow of five degrees, so you will notice that feeling chilly. Not
:27:03. > :27:04.a breezy day but the winds won't be as strong. `` 0
:27:05. > :27:04.a breezy day but the winds won't be as strong. `` a breezy 0
:27:05. > :27:12.a breezy day but the winds won't be as strong. `` a breezy day. It could
:27:13. > :27:16.just cause a little bit of tricky conditions on the roads through
:27:17. > :27:22.rush`hour, do a spell of snowfall at lower levels is possible. Into
:27:23. > :27:28.Friday, we start the day promising ` dry and sunny, with a high of seven
:27:29. > :27:31.degrees. But more wet and windy conditions to take us into the
:27:32. > :27:33.weekend. A rather unsettled few days.