11/06/2014 East Midlands Today

has fallen into the hands of militants.

Unemployment falls. People `re feeling more confident and taking

people on as a result. Also, matters of the heart, why it's hoped this

new research centre in Leicdster will help us better underst`nd the

causes of heart disease. Plts, to the rescue. Hopefully it's second

time lucky around Britain. How long are you going to do it in? Nine

days, nine hours and nine mhnutes. The team from Derbyshire who are a

cut above the rest in Brazil. The East Midlands has recorded one

of the the highest falls Latest figures show that thd number

of people out of work across That's a drop of 22,000

in the three months to April, and an Business leaders are now saxing that

our economy is showing real signs You have to go back to the summer of

1996 for the last time we h`d it so If big sports events create a

feel`good factor, then 1996 was a vintage year. England staged the

European Championships, with some of the games being played at this city

ground in Nottingham. We had come out of the recession of the early

90s but there were still mixed news on jobs and different attittdes in

the workplace. That year 4,000 manual workers at Rolls`Royce in

Derby turned down a two`year pay deal worth just under 8%. And 2 0

new jobs were created there, as well. There was a ?40 million order

to refurbish trains as rail privatisation arrived. But later

there were 120 job losses. Hn June 1996, the half`yearly profits at

Boots were on their way to ` rise of around 10% to almost ?240 mhllion.

The jobs of 300 workers hung in the balance in Leicester after ` shoe

company went into receivership. Thousands attended this jobs fair

with the British Midland airline trying to recruit staff. 1986 has

parallels. And in this World Cup year let's hope the football doesn't

echoUre 96. `` Euro 96, England went out on penalties to Germany.

Let's hear from Chris Hobson, from the Chamber of Commerce. Obviously

you welcome these figures btt can you give us an idea of the puality

minimum wage. A number of elployers already do. There are lots of

employers and for practical reasons would have to have a discussion

internally about whether thdy could afford to do that. The news is good,

employment is on the up and people are starting to look at pay rises,

as well. Thank you. Coronary heart disease is the UK's

single biggest killer so today's opening of a multi`million pound

heart disease research centre could well be the first step towards

saving hundreds of lives. The centre brings doctors,

scientists and patients togdther. The aim ` to improve diagnosis and

treatment, as Geeta Pendse reports. Trying to unlock the causes of heart

disease, scientists at the new research centre in Leicester are

analysing the protein and DNA samples of patients who havd

suffered from heart conditions. They want to discover how to detdct the

first signs of both common `nd rare forms of disease. A quarter of the

people in this country will die of cardiovascular diseases, it's really

important area of medicine. We don't fully understand the causes, often

they have a genetic basis. This research will help to unravdl those.

The research centre is based here where they treat around 17,000

people every year for cardiovascular diseases. It's hoped they c`n

harness as much of that pathent information as possible and use it

to better understand the catses and potential treatments for he`rt

disease. Feeling fit now but three years ago this man suffered two

heart attacks and was treatdd at Glennfields. He has been a huge

supporter of the centre. In 201 I had a heart attack. I was rtshed to

the hospital and they put a stent in it, if they had not I would not be

here with you today. Since that all my life to this hospital. The centre

has cost 12. ?12.6 million, of which ?2 million was raised by thd local

community. The University of Leicester hopes it will become a

leading research hub for thd whole of the East Midlands.

Almost 200 packs of so`calldd legal highs have been seized

180 packets of tablets and powder were found at a shop in Broxtowe.

They were seized by the county council's Trading Standards team

and Nottinghamshire Police after information from the public.

Tests are now being carried out to identify the chemicals inside them.

They're dangerous. They're probably not legal and probably are

dangerous, so we are appealhng to people to let us know if thdy know

where they are and if we ard concerned about them we will get

them off sale. Investigations are under wax

into the cause of a huge fire at Crews were called to

the derelict building on Wigman Road in Bilborough just

after 10.00pm last night. They spent the night working to

ensure the flames didn't spread An army reserve centre

was also evacuated. Gas has been ruled out as a cause

of the fire. There's been a sharp rise

in reports of abuse involving The County Council were contacted

more than 2,500 times in the year to March, that's around

500 more than the previous xear The County Council is urging anyone

who suspects abuse, whether in a care home or private

setting, to report their concerns. Coming up later: The rescue teams

taking to the water for a challenge around Britain in nine days, nine

hours and nine minutes. The newly`elected MP for Newark

Robert Jenrick, has taken his seat in the House of

Commons for the first time today. He was cheered by Conservathve

backbench MPs and personallx Let's talk to our political editor

John Hess who is in Westminster A big day for the new MP. There was

a noticeable sense of excitdment but also relief among Tory MPs `s Robert

Jenrick was formally introdtced to the House of Commons today. If he

was hoping for a lower profhle on his first day, well the Prile

Minister and Tory backbenchds couldn't resist savouring the first

by`election victory in a generation for the Conservatives in Government.

After a welcome from the Colmons Speaker and before finding ` seat on

those famous green benches, Newark's new MP took the parliamentary oath.

I swear by almighty God I whll be faithful and bear true allegiance to

Her Majesty and her heirs and successors. It's been a big day for

you, as a new MP there must be practical things you have to sort

out like new offices and thhngs Good evening. Yes, it's likd a first

day at school except I am in a class of one. There is a lot to gdt done,

I have to get an office and get organised. We are getting m`il

coming through, we had a few hundred letters already from cop constitute

yents, so getting on with the job. `` constituents. The Prime Linister

looked pleased to greet you here at Westminster but why do you think

your by`election victory mattered so much for the Prime Minister? Well,

as we said throughout the c`mpaign it mattered because we wantdd Newark

to have a good constituency MP. It was a Westminster election. It had

the European elections two weeks before, a lot of people had used

that to ` UKIP had said havd a free hit against the Government `nd this

was about choosing your MP `nd also setting the tone for which hs the

most credible party to be the Government. Economically thd East

Midlands as we heard this evening seems to be enjoying somethhng of a

revival but is it a flash in the pan and will it be sustained up to and

after the next general election I certainly hope so. There's good news

out today, in Newark the nulber of people on jobseeker's allow`nce is

down again, particularly amongst young people. You see great

statistics, 8,000 new busindsses in the East Midlands. The East Midlands

is the fastest growing part of the British economy. Throughout the

by`election campaign we werd amazed by the fact statistics that 7,0 0

new jobs in Newark alone since 010. Aren't a lot of those zero hour

contract jobs? There is a r`nge of different jobs, not all of them are

zero hours. If you look on the high street there are shops openhng and

good businesses. Of course things aren't perfect but it's cle`r the

East Midlands is on the up. Thank you very much. Some news about

UKIP's Rodger Helmer who cale second in the by`election. He has been

elected leader of UKIP's group in the European Parliament and that, no

doubt, frees up Nigel Faragd and gives him breathing space to find

that Westminster seat. Thank you for that, John.

The Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry has proved she's not just prepared

for political battles by breaking up a brawl in a cafe.

The Defence Minister, who has previously described herself

as a tough old bird, took action at a coffee shop

She stood between staff and a drunk man, blocking hhm

She told him to, stop it, stop it now.

She believes being a woman prevented the brawl going any further.

The new tram bridge over Nottingham's ring road has

It's to be called the Ningbo Friendship Bridge,

The structure is about 62 metres long, weighs 1, 00

It spans the A52 linking thd Queens Medical Centre with the main

It opened a campus in Ningbo ten years ago.

It's known to locals as the "Big Pit".

The area is a haven for birds and other wildlife.

But campaigners in this part of Leicestershire say proposals to

build dozens of houses would have a devastating impact

These photographs show what the pit used to look like. Campaigndrs say

the site was a haven for wildlife. This is what the area looks like

now, the site's already been partially cleared to make w`y for

the development. If permisshon is granted, the lake would be filled in

and around 60 houses would be built. Locals aren't happy. The celetary

backs on to it. Can you imagine the effect it's going to have on people

who might be burying their loved ones with all that going on behind

it? There's not many truly wild sites you can go and around there

there was a lovely site. Thdre were fish in it, we put a boat on it

There's loads of places that are derelict that could be built on

This year campaigners and councillors successfully stopped a

plan to fill in and build on the land but that decision is now being

appealed. A public meeting hs being held today for residents to speak

out. There's real concerns from residents that to fill in the pit

would take so many lorry movements and would cause disruption `nd noise

and dust and harassment to residents. It's been there since the

World War I. I think it will be a disaster because it's a large

stretch of water which is ilportant for wildlife and it's important for

people to be able to see it. It s part of the hingly scene and it ``

hingly scene. A decision is expected in the next few weeks.

A team of volunteers has set off for the south coast today to enjoy

the trip of a lifetime and they're hoping it'll be

Last summer, Watersafe UK ` a Derbyshire`based inland w`terways

rescue team ` attempted the 999 challenge `

to circumnavigate Britain in nine days, nine hours and nine mhnutes.

Now, as James Roberson reports, they're trying again.

Practising out on the water last July, the team were full of hope

that their around Britain voyage would be successful. Becausd the

volunteer team members are lainly emergency service workers from

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshhre who carry out inland waterway rdscues,

it was called the 999 challdnge Their plan was to raise tens of

thousands for their charity and the RNLI in one go, they would take the

boat around Britain leaving from the RNLI headquarters in Poole hn Dorset

and stop each night at lifeboat stations, completing the ch`llenge,

it was hoped, in nine days, nine hours and nine minutes. But on day

one the boat split, by day two it was all over. Pretty gutted. The

whole boat split. One of thd ` it was really the end of the challenge.

It was back to the drawing board. A similar plan, but with a new

stronger, bigger boat. Whild that was being organised, the te`m was

hard at work carrying out rdscues in East Anglia and Berkshire dtring

this winter's floods. You don't believe how much water can cover

such a vast area. For such ` prolonged amount of time, as well,

obviously you get used to flash flooding and stuff but therd was a

metre and a half in places `nd it was shocking to see the dev`station

to people's lives, to be honest Today, the team were packing to

leave Derby, hopeful this thme it will go to plan. We will set the

target to ?50,000. Hopefullx we will get near to that target. How long

are you going to do it? Nind days, nine hours and nine minutes. The

team leaves tomorrow and should be back on the 20th.

Fingers crossed for them thhs time! Plenty more on the way: The

Bladerunners. The team from Derbyshire who have made all the

mowers for the World Cup st`diums in Brazil.

Did you say World Cup? Brazhl? It all starts tomorrow in Brazhl. World

Cup fever is naturally spre`ding across the East Midlands. In a

moment we will chat to the first ever Englishman to play professional

football in Brazil. First, here is something to get you in the mood.

There is no bigger stage th`n the World Cup and with it being in

Brazil it makes it extra spdcial. We are determined not to let the

opportunity slip by without grasping it.

Everyone's desperate to do well We can't wait until June 14th comes

around. We are going to plax Roy Hodgson's way and England's way and

hopefully that's successful. We believe that we are in the right

place and we are the right people to do it.

To the story of Loughborough University student Seth Burkett here

with us and sports writer I`n Ridley. You have released a book

about Seth, Ian. Tell us about his amazing story. It's a fascinating

story. I have my own publishing company Floodlit Dreams and this

manuscript arrived months ago from a young lad, the only English

professional footballer in Brazil. I read it and he asked for sole advice

on it. As I got into the story, I thought, wow, this is prettx

staggering. A young lad, 18, spotted on a tournament playing for Stamford

out there and he gets a chance to play in the middle of nowhere.

Astonishing story really. Sdth, from Stamford FC to there, what was it

like? An incredible experience. It really was. But at the same time it

was a massive change in culture The whole team live together in a

converted garage on the edgd of a favehla. In my room six of ts, in

the next eight and the next 14. Within that we are served t`steless

rice and beans, but at the same time it was fantastic. We have phctures

of the glamorous image of Brazil, the carnival, and images of Brazil.

What was it really like plaxing there? Yeah, the reality for a lot

of footballers is actually very poor conditions, cramped conditions. They

do this on purpose in Brazil because it instills a real desire to succeed

and get to the top. Players are given a lot of pampered in Dngland,

in Brazil, because they don't have that they have that desire to get to

the top. We can see pictures of where you play now and you obviously

have skills. What is the he`t like and the conditions for the Dngland

players going to be like? I was 1,000 south of there and evdn there

it was hot. The lads in my team found it hot. It got to abott 5

degrees every day, it was lhke playing in a sauna. It was hard to

breathe. Ian, you have covered four World Cups, how are we going to get

on? England might do better than people think. Young players that

don't have the baggage of previous tournaments that might do us well.

Fingers crossed. Hope they have as good a story as Seth has produced

here. Absolutely, thank you very much for coming in guys. Th`t's just

about it for the sport but let's look now at some of the sports

stories happening today with Kirsty. In tennis Sam Smith hurs has been

handed a wild card for Notthngham. In cycling Annie Lass has bden named

in the England squad for thhs summer's Commonwealth Games in

Glasgow. Lucy Garner is also part of Team England and will be part of the

road cycling squad this sumler. In cricket, Nottinghamshire's County

championship match at Yorkshire has ended in a draw.

That's all the sport on a d`y when we met the incredible Seth Burkett.

Brilliant story. Some of thd World Cup `` staying with the World Cup

theme. Now following a World Cup theme

what's one of the most important pieces

of equipment needed in any stadium? Yes, if you think about it,

how can you get that perfect playing But that's exactly what thex've got

at all 12 major stadiums in Brazil for the World Cup and guess what `

they've been made right herd Dennis has been a name synonymous

with buses and lorries. And mowers? Yes, good enough for the pitches in

Brazil and other World Cup competitions. It started in 200

with the Eeuro finals. We stpplied the equipment. We went to South

Africa World Cup and supplidd again all the equipment. Followed by the

Ukraine and Poland and finally in Brazil this year for the World Cup.

The mowers have been manufactured at this factory near Derby for the last

three decades. 40 staff hand`build them and they're tested to dnsure

the Blades are razor sharp. It's this British quality and thd

pedigree that had the Brazilians coming to Dennis 18 months `go for

more than 30 machines. Started in 2013. We went out there to do

training. First, to the distributor and some contractors dealing with

the projects ongoing. Subsepuently, January 2014 we did the samd

exercise, training the spechfic groundsmen when the machines were in

place. The engines are Japanese but all the other components ard made

next door. This firm too is seeing engineering business taking off The

mowers seem tradition, but, in fact, the designs are well, cutting edge.

They might be in Brazil this summer but the firm's already lookhng well

ahead. We have France coming for the Euro finals in 2016 and then Russia

in 2018 with Qatar at 22. It's a massive

everybody within the companx. Everybody's proud. We are a British

manufacturer. We put the Unhon Jack on with pride.

We found out that a groundslan covers eight miles cutting one of

those pitches, amazing. I ctt all our lawns once and never put the

Blades down. I thought it looked the same. I despair!

We have had a lot of water `nd warmth. Thankfully things are

quieter for us and it's nicd to show you something on a cheerier note.

This is a field of poppies captured nicely by our cameraman tod`y.

They're worth a view, they're stunning. More photos to show you,

this one was taken by Andrew today. looks beautiful. It could bd Brazil!

I will see you for the late news. Bye.