20/02/2014 East Midlands Today

forces and protestors. That is all from BBC News. It is goodbye from

This is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight 0 Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight ` 0 Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight ` a 0 0 Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight ` a man's grief after his fiancee is knocked down and killed.

Might in the future was them. That was my future. Church leaders say

welfare reform has forced thousands into poverty. Plus the soldier bride

planning her wedding in a war zone. And a tale of two winters, why is

our 0 And a tale of two winters, why is

our weather so 0 And a tale of two winters, why is

our weather so wacky? The fiance of a 0

our weather so wacky? The fiance of a pregnant woman who

was knocked down and killed in Leicester says he's lost everything.

Kane Johnson is appealing for anyone who may have seen the car which hit

Paige Jackson to "have a heart and come forward". He says seeing his

son and fiancee in hospital after they'd died was the hardest thing in

his life. From Leicester, Helen Astle reports. Paige Jackson, 22

years old and pregnant 0 Astle reports. Paige Jackson, 22

years old and pregnant with her first child who was due to be born

in May. She died after being hit by a car in Leicester. There is a giant

hall. It was my entire future with them, that was my future. She

touched a lot of lives and she was kind and loving and everyone seemed

to love her and I cannot put it into words. Paige Jackson was taken to

hospital where doctors tried to save her life 0

hospital where doctors tried to save her life in the life of her baby but

sadly they both died. I'm so glad I went to see them both so I could see

my last goodbyes and hold my baby boy. 0

my last goodbyes and hold my baby boy. He just looked like he was

sleeping. There are dozens of tributes here. The police and the

family are appealing for anyone who might have seen something at 6:50am

on Saturday morning to come forward. For people 0 0

on Saturday morning to come forward. For people who have not come

forward, that is pretty heartless. She was an innocent girl with an

unborn child and she was going to work. Have a heart and see what you

have seen because if you do not, you will 0 0

have seen because if you do not, you will have to live with that. It is

disgusting. A 21`year`old man has been arrested and released on police

bail. Kane Johnson is 0 been arrested and released on police

bail. Kane Johnson is now 0 been arrested and released on police

bail. Kane Johnson is now trying to focus on the funeral.

Senior church leaders from the East Midlands claim the Government's cuts

in welfare benefits are forcing thousands of people into poverty and

hunger. The Anglican Bishops of Leicester, Derby and Sherwood have

jointly sent a protest letter to the Prime Minister urging a change of

policy. The intervention by the bishops coincides with a 40`day

hunger fast by a Nottinghamshire parish priest in protest at the

Government's welfare reforms. Here's our Political Editor, John Hess.

This reverence sets off from his parish church too fast for 40 days

in protest at government's cuts to welfare. Today he was helping out at

a nearby community centre that distributes food to people who've

lost benefits. We have patents missing meals to feed the children

and reports of patents spending money on children as they come to

school because they 0 money on children as they come to

school because they have not got food. These food bags impact on the

debate of the government's welfare reforms. The government claims it is

liberating people 0 reforms. The government claims it is

liberating people from a cycle of welfare dependency. Since the

welfare changes came in last April, we have seen a massive increase in

people with no income and to lack real basic needs. It has been quite

a reality check for us because we have had to give food to people as

well as advise. At this church hall, and anxious father waits 0

well as advise. At this church hall, and anxious father waits to collect

food donations for his daughter and her three children. It is a godsend

because we can come here and get food to bring her children up with.

They have to choose to spend money on food or pay rent or pay the gas

bills. That is a difficult choice for people who cannot afford to get

in here cut repair their shoes and cannot afford to eat either and not

just a few people but hundreds of thousands. That is a national

crisis. The Reverend starts his fast on Ash Wednesday and hopes that

after 40 days, his protest may have some impact on government policy.

With us now is Mark Spencer, the Conservative MP for Sherwood. These

welfare reforms are punishing the poor ` that's what these church

leaders are saying. I think they are on the wrong side of the argument

and what government is trying to address is people trapped within the

welfare system and we need to find a way to help people move from that

welfare trap into employment and be better off because the old system

meant that people phone they could not get out of benefits because of

the try to get a job and got a job they were worse off financially. Is

this not a case of the medicine killing the patient? We are talking

about the symptom and not the disease in the challenge is 0

about the symptom and not the disease in the challenge is to help

people trapped in that position where they are stuck in the welfare

state and to enable the system to move people into employment and be

better off for doing that. But we're hearing that people turning up at

food banks because they have knowing come. Of course, because the banks

are nothing new. The increased ten times under the previous government

which is a symptom of the economic crash the previous government

created. We need to find a 0 crash the previous government

created. We need to find a way to support people to move from the

welfare state into employment and be better off. Do you think that

cutting welfare benefits is popular with the voters? I had knowledge it

is very challenging for people who find themselves in that trap which

is why the government must do on can to help people escape from that

welfare trap and it is not there to read people `` fear to leave people

there. Still to come ` a night of incredible footballing drama.

Nottingham Forest and Leicester City shared the points but the game kept

25,000 on the edge of their seats. A full report coming up. It is

remaining windy with blustery showers but there will be plenty of

winter sunshine. More details later. People living in a Lincolnshire

village are calling for a new road to be built ` because of long delays

at the level crossing. Tallington, between Stamford and Market Deeping,

sits on the East Coast Mainline and people living there are worried even

more trains will use the line in years to come. Gemma Dawson reports.

Every time these barriers come down, traffic builds up. I have to sit

here and wait. In one hour, I counted that these barriers came

down nine times. Campaigners claim this crossing can be closed for 45

minutes an hour per day. They are worried that if more trains start to

use the 0 worried that if more trains start to

use the line, the crossing will be closed even longer. This man is

campaigning for a link road to be built. It is pure quality of life

and the bypass the North would solve everything. A number of options are

being considered. Campaigners prefer this route but are concerned of an

option that might cut through town. What we need is a proper solution

which involves bypassing the village and taking people out of the village

to a proper bridge. Network Rail say this: But people here hope a

solution can be found soon. Police say two men linked to a

Leicestershire theatre are being questioned on suspicion of

possessing indecent images of children. The Concordia in Hinckley

is at the centre of an investigation into alleged abuse. Two other men

have been banned from the premises after 0 0

have been banned from the premises after it 0 0

have been banned from the premises after it was found they had previous

convictions for child sex offences. A fifth man linked to the theatre

was convicted 0 A fifth man linked to the theatre

was convicted of serious sex offences against youngsters last

year. The County Council says it won't now issue licences for

children to take part in productions there. The Concordia hasn't

commented. The RSPCA says preparations are being made to move

horses from a field in Leicester. There have been public protests at

the field near Fosse Park after one horse lying in water had to be put

down when its condition deteriorated. The RSPCA says,

following a visit with a specialist vet, it found a series of issues.

It's now ordered the animals' owner to raise standards to what it calls

"an acceptable level". Officials say some younger horses will be moved

first. The others are expected to follow. The RSPCA says it'll

continue to monitor the situation. An 18`year`old man's been arrested

on suspicion of posting a racist comment on Twitter ` ahead of last

night's Nottingham Forest`Leicester City football match. The tweet is

alleged to have been directed at Leicester City fans. Nottinghamshire

Police say the man was held on suspicion of a 0

Police say the man was held on suspicion of a racially aggravated

public order offence. He's since been released on bail.

Two soldiers are planning their wedding ` in a war zone. Kiri

Bashford from Chesterfield in Derbyshire's been deployed to

Afghanistan at the same time as her fiance, Christopher. And while he's

out on front`line operations, she's keeping the regiment up and running

from their base at Camp Bastion. Our Social Affairs Correspondent, Jeremy

Ball, 0 Social Affairs Correspondent, Jeremy

Ball, reports. Kiri is a woman any man's world

because female soldiers are not allowed in fighting roles. She sorts

flying to the bases and make sure is that they get paid. Now I have

joined in and am part of the group and one of the lads. I teach

physical training and I get some respect for 0

physical training and I get some respect for that and I also pay

them, so if the try to get me on the wrong side, they will not get paid.

When Kiri is off duty at Camp Bastion, she is planning a wedding

to Christopher. Initially we saw each other every week but we have no

settled into a routine where we do not see John. They tried to sort out

at the beginning of the two 0 not see John. They tried to sort out

at the beginning of the two to have the mass of wedding here and then a

blessing at all. Fortunately that was not allowed and I was happy

about that because I was the one that did not want that. They will be

well away by the time that they tie the knot and the wedding day is set

for August, only weeks after the last of the regiment finish their

duty. We wish them all the very best. A man's been found guilty of

the manslaughter of a fellow bus passenger following a chance

meeting. Nottingham Crown Court heard Leon Lockhart and his

girlfriend Michaela Griffiths had spotted 32`year`old Daniel Baker on

a bus last July. They spent the next day together before Mr Baker was

stabbed to death on Mansfield Road in South Normanton. Lockhart 0

stabbed to death on Mansfield Road in South Normanton. Lockhart and

Griffiths 0 in South Normanton. Lockhart and

Griffiths were spotted running away. Griffiths admitted perverting the

course of justice. Both will be sentenced tomorrow.

The Nottingham Playhouse could lose all its County Council funding as

the authority prepares to make swingeing cuts. The 0

the authority prepares to make swingeing cuts. The theatre

currently receives ?95,000 a year from the Council, which says it

needs to save ?80 million over the next three years. Councillors will

discuss scrapping the donation next week and increasing Council Tax by

almost 2%. The theatre says it's disappointed.

The region's waterways are going to be checked by the Environment Agency

to see how they've coped with the recent heavy rainfall. The

Government says every watercourse in the country will be checked after

the 0 the country will be checked after

the severe flooding 0 the country will be checked after

the severe flooding in the southwest of England. It's hoped that the

survey of rivers and canals will be completed by the end of March.

Well, later on in the programme we'll be looking at the 0

Well, later on in the programme we'll be looking at the vagaries of

the British weather. The last two winters couldn't have been more

different ` or more extreme. So, is this a taste of things to come?

Now, some news that we're thrilled to tell you about. Last night, BBC

East Midlands Today was voted the best regional news programme in the

whole country. The Royal Television Society presented us with this

fantastic award at a ceremony in London last night. Sarah Teale has

more details. It is the highest honour a regional news programme can

achieve, to be voted the very best in the whole country by the Royal

television Society. 0 in the whole country by the Royal

television Society. The programme for the swimming was a special

half`hour donated entirely to this. Tonight, 0 0

half`hour donated entirely to this. Tonight, a tribute to the children

killed in a fire here. Our reporter was granted access to the people

behind the enquiry. It demonstrated an investment in local journalism

over many months and shed new light in the behaviour and motives of the

deaths of six children behind the house `` in a house fire. It shows

that East Midlands Today is a real team effort. East Midlands Today is

a fantastic place to work, thank you so much. The trophy is already

taking pride of place back home in the East Midlands. It is a tribute

to the whole team. Thank you so much for your support and your well

wishes today and over all 0 for your support and your well

wishes today and over all the years. We were all up rather late last

night. Also I imagine some football fans will be feeling rather tired. .

The game last night was exciting and full of drama. Nottingham Forest and

Leicester City shared the points last night, it finished 2`2. But

what a game! Four goals, two penalties, a player sent off and a

manager sent to the stands. For our reporter Kirsty Edwards and the

25,000 in the crowd it was far better than a night in watching the

telly! It was a much better than any soap opera. 0

telly! It was a much better than any soap opera. Both sides arrived

knowing what was at stake. Behind the scene score, pre`match, the calm

before the storm. Everyone was getting ready for what was brewing

and as kick`off approached it was time to be focused. Two teams with

big ambitions and the GM of promotion very much alive tonight.

Tonight could be key. It was just before the half hour mark of that

drama really began. This goal capitalised on some indecision in

the Nottingham Forest defence but then minutes later a header made it

all square. Then 0 0 then minutes later a header made it

all square. Then Leicester gave away a penalty. He was a defender who

spent ten years at Nottingham Forest. I love them and think he is

a fantastic player but it should not have been on that pitch. The penalty

was calmly slotted away. This tackle and a red card and I nearly walked

to the dressing room. It is easy using going down to ten men as an

excuse but I thought right to the end of players that what they could

to when. Then there was another penalty awarded, the Leicester,

which after being saved. Was converted into a goal from the

rebound. A typical game of a local derby, full of tension and action. I

think our players showed determination in getting something

from the game in the face of adversity. It is good that given the

players were missing, the boys are still competing well.

So where does the result leave all three of our teams in the

Championship table? This is how it looks tonight. Leicester are eight

points clear at the top. Derby ten points behind Leicester in third

spot and last night's draw sees Forest stay fifth, three points

behind the Rams. At Derby, Head Coach Steve McClaren is looking at

signing former Wolves, Celtic and Cardiff City left`back Lee Naylor on

loan. Naylor, who is 33, is a free agent after leaving League Two

Accrington and has been training with the Rams. Naylor started his

career at Wolves, where he worked under academy manager Chris Evans.

We have 0 under academy manager Chris Evans.

We have invited him for a couple of weeks and he is doing very well. And

in rugby, Boris Stankovich has been talking about leaving the Leicester

Tigers at the end of the season.The 34`year`old has signed a two`year

contract with the Newport Gwent Dragons after 0

contract with the Newport Gwent Dragons after spending seven seasons

at the Tigers. Still plenty to play for at the moment.

Now, we all know it's been a pretty miserable start to 2014. Early

figures are indicating that is has been the wettest winter on record.

But last year some of us were knee`deep in snow. So why have the

last two winters been so extreme, but yet so different? 0

last two winters been so extreme, but yet so different? Our weather

presenter Kaye Forster has been taking a look. Winter means short

days and cold nights and ice and snow. Last year, we had that in

abundance but this year it has been a very different picture with strong

winds and rain. In some parts of the country, it caused chaos. The water

has been in my house since January. It has been going on for the last

six or seven weeks. Here, we have been quite lucky in terms of

flooding but why has it been so dramatically different this year? We

need to head back to the charts to answer that. We are 0

need to head back to the charts to answer that. We are no strangers to

cold weather here and without the influence of the warmer sea we can

get the lowest temperatures in Great Britain. Last year, cold easterly

winds became established over the UK and lowered the temperature is and

areas in the Peak District got a particular battling. This year, a

vigorous jet stream was stuck right across the UK. It meanders across

the Atlantic and driving our weather systems in choosing `` and leading

to the weather conditions we have had. This is consistent with the

warmer world where we expect a wet of events and that windfall coming

in stronger bursts. Winter can always throw challenges but what

ever is in store for next year, one thing is for sure `` mother nature

will keep us on our toes. Anything beyond five days of forecasting is

witchcraft. I thought I would cheer things up

with the beautiful for tall of snowdrops. `` photo of snowdrops.

Today, we started with sunshine but the showers started to push through

as we went through the afternoon and if you got caught on, you knew it.

The showers will continue for a time this evening but will then start to

die out in the skies start to clear with temperatures dropping quite

quickly and the winds will be lighter. It should be frost free for

most of us with just a few in more sheltered spots. There will be lots

of dry weather first thing on Friday but as we go through the day, there

will be more cloud and 12 sharp showers beginning to push through.

It will be breezy as south`westerly winds pick up and attempt of seven

degrees are eight Celsius. That is about average for this time of year.

Saturday is the best day of the weekend is lot of sunshine but more

cloud on the afternoon. It will be nine are 10 Celsius but on Sunday it

will be quite dusty with a lot of cloud around. There will be quite a

lot of dry weather first thing before this front of weather ends

the day on Sunday. There will be some decent sunshine over the next

few days so you could get out and about with your camera. It will

return to wet and windy conditions Sunday but look forward to some

decent sunshine. Hope you can join with the latest

news. Goodbye.