19/05/2017 East Midlands Today

It's almost 6.30 - you're watching East Midlands Today.

Our top story tonight: The half a million needed for a

Just like 20-month-old Dawson's cancer is chemo resistant. His only

hope is treatment in the United States. If it's the only way we can

save her son, we are these are going to go and fight to get there. Also

tonight, a pregnant Parliamentary candidate's ability to become an MP

is called into question. It's totally unacceptable, and cancel the

right has acknowledged he has been very naive. Plus, I am in Mansfield

to test the political waters with our collection bowls. And the

alarming art exhibition. Passers-by think the place is on fire. It still

looks like something is on fire. Good evening and welcome to Friday's

programme with Geeta Pendse First tonight, the desperate race

against time for the parents of a young boy who's been diagnosed

with a cancer so rare it affects 20-month-old Dawson Willcock has

endured several rounds of chemotherapy but this week

doctors broke the devastating news His parents Wendy and David

say his only hope is potential And now they've started a huge

fundraising campaign called Dollars For Dawson to raise

half a million pounds. This is the poignant record of

Dawson Willcock's treatment for rare liver cancer. Everything they go to,

they get a beat. That isn't what he has been through, for five months.

The 20-month-old, who is in the Queen's medical Centre, was

diagnosed in January. You never think your child is going to get

cancer, it happens to other people, not you. And then on January 24, my

birthday, we got the official diagnosis that it was cancer. And

the chances of a child having that is not .9 -- 0.9 in 1 million. Last

month, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to his lungs. His

parents, Wendy and David, were told one last resort would be to further

types of chemotherapy, but this week, came more devastating news.

The results came back. The tumours had in fact got bigger. At this

point, they are stuck for what they can do. And when I said about being

the hardest thing you thought you could hear, when they say your child

has cancer, the hardest thing is when you're told your child is chemo

resistant and nothing is going to work. That is the hardest thing.

It's hard and very difficult. Dawson's consultant consultant said

she would continue to work with the parents. She is liaising with

hospitals nationally and internationally to explore any

possible treatment options. But now the couple are trying to raise half

?1 million for possible treatment in America. If there is someone that

can save her son, we are obviously going to go and fight to get there.

So it all for Dawson, we want to get as many people as possible to donate

?1. It's nothing. You know, your ?1 could save my baby's life. What a

brave little boy. And we wish them all the best.

Next tonight, the leader of the Conservative group on one

of our councils has said comments made by one of her councillors

about a pregnant Labour election candidate were unacceptable.

Erewash Councillor Jon Wright suggested she'd be too busy changing

nappies to devote her time to things like Brexit.

Well, James Robeson's here with more.

This situation has blown up on Facebook following comments

by Cllr Jon Wright, who, for the last two years,

has represented the Hallam Fields Ward of Erewash Borough Council,

His comments were about Catherine Atkinson who is standing

for the Erewash contituency seat for the Labour Party

She is a mother of one, and is expecting her second child.

Recently, Cllr Wright commented on facebook

He asked if people knew she was pregnant, and then made

other comments about her fitness to be an MP if she is about to

But his comments received a stream of protests on facebook from people

who felt what he had said on the social media site

So what has Councillor Wright had to say about the remarks he made?

In response, Mr Wright has now issued an apology on facebook:

Earlier today, I spoke to the leader of the Conservative group

on Erewash Borough Council, who says they do not endorse

in any way Mr Wright's original facebook comments.

It's totally unacceptable, what Councillor Wright said,

has acknowledged that he has been very naive, he has put an

unreserved apology out, we will apologise to Catherine Atkinson,

and I hope that Catherine Atkinson takes the

apology in the spirit that it is being given.

We all, you know, apologise to her about this.

Catherine Atkinson has told us tonight that she does not accept

The Conservative group on Erewash borough council say,

that once they've gathered all the evidence, they will be

holding a meeting with Mr Wright about his comments, in due course.

An inquest has concluded the death of a 52-year-old man who was fatally

injured at the Leicester factory where he worked was accidental.

Tarsem Singh died last April after he'd been operating

a piece of machinery at Nylacast Engineering Plastic

Amy Harris is live for us there tonight -

Amy, what's the background to this case?

52-year-old Tarsem Singh is described as a factory worker who

loved his job. But it was well doing that job that he was critically

injured on April 15 last year will stop he died the following day, with

his family by his side. His presence is missed, you know,

going home is just not the same. Something we will never get over, it

is something that will just have to learn to live with. He worked here

at neither cast, -- at Nylacast, a plastics engineering company. A

piece of equipment flew off and struck him while he was working. An

inquest heard that it was at the speed of up to 80 mph. It hit him

with such force that it fractured his door and chest and the trauma

led to a heart attack. At the inquest here in Leicester town Hall,

the jury heard that the incident was foreseeable. The end cap had

previously struck another employee on the hand and a health and safety

inspector told the court, the machine's risk assessment wasn't

suitable or sufficient, someone would have been injured eventually.

The inquest concluded Mr Singh died accidentally. The family are still

waiting to you the outcome of an investigation into his death by the

Health and Safety Executive. Neither cast as it has ensured all

relevant information will be available for review and will

continue to work with the Health and Safety Executive. In a statement, it

says... Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

says discarded smoking materials were probably to blame for a fire

in Newhall last night. It happened at a house

on Main Street. A woman escaped from the property

via a first floor window Firefighters say the house didn't

have any working fire alarms and they are reminding people

of the importance of Drivers in Leicester faced

disruption this morning after a car overturned

at a city centre roundabout. The vehicle ended up on its roof

at the St Nicholas Circle at around Emergency services were called

to the scene and officers say the driver was not

seriously injured. A jury has heard the to former BBC

radio presenters had sex in parkland in full view of a group of teenage

boys. Tony and Julie Wadsworth have both worked for BBC radio Leicester.

They both deny charges of public indecency and assault. A reporter

outlined what the jury had heard. And she is at Warwick Crown Court.

What did the jury here today? The juror was told that they were

partial to having golf course in Warwickshire,

known locally as the Outwards. Now, the married

couple, who are from Broughton Astley in Leicestershire,

are said to have had sex out in the open

knowing and taking delight, it was said, in the fact that

young lads were watching, something that they

deny. It's alleged that Julie Wadsworth

would encouraged boys to engage in sexual acts

with her, her husband is said to have been

there In one case, it said,

he is alleged to have had a camera. Now, these offences

are said to have taken place with different groups of boys

from 1992 until 1996. The boys, seven in

total, were roughly 14 We heard from the prosecution

counsel, Miranda Moore QC. She said that it wasn't until 2015,

when one alleged victim attended a child protection course

as part of his work It struck him, she said,

that what had happened between him and Julie Wadsworth

was "not right". He spoke to people on his course,

went to the police and gave Now, the Wadsworths,

both former presenters on BBC Radio Leicester,

deny outraging public decency We have heard that

Julie Wadsworth has said that she and her husband

would engage in what is described as "outdoor hanky-panky," but she has

denied any activity The trial here in Leamington Spa

is due to continue on Monday. Plans for several new quarries

in Nottinghamshire may be stopped, after a lower than anticipated

demand for sand and gravel. Sites including Barby Moor,

Shelford and Coddington were among the areas that had been identified

after the Local Minerals Plan Nottinghamshire County Council

will now await more up-to-date data which is due later this year before

making a decision. The discovery of a huge water main

has delayed major roadworks. The water main runs under a roundabout

meaning that the island and junction works can't go ahead. The City

Council says it is working with seven Trent to find a solution.

We've now had the majority of the party manifestos published

and the first of the big TV election debates -

week of electioneering? all at the end of this significant

Our general election reporter John Hess has been

to Mansfield to find out, together with his election

I have come to Mansfield's historic Westgate water pump area.

There have been political rallies and events

staged here for centuries, so it is just the right place to test the

political waters as we get closer to the general election.

The bowls for the different parties... It may have been cold and

wet today, but this general election and the sight of John stars have

helped turn up the political temperature. To reason may is that

your marketing, and that you did us no favours whatsoever. -- Margaret

Thatcher. In the referendum last year, is staggering 70 1% of people

voted for Brexit. And 19% of the working population rely on benefits,

that's the highest in the country. Because I'm in my 60s now, and I

used to work, I am not entitled to that pension I work for. I have to

wait and when you have health problems as well. You don't even

know whether you are going to be your pension age. I don't think it's

fair. Mansfield elected its first Labour MP in 1923 and has stuck with

Labour ever since. Why have you chosen Bradford Labour? It's working

class, isn't it? Is what I have brought up on. At the last general

election, Labour's MP was re-elected with a 5000 majority. Ukip in third

place behind the Tories, to a quarter of the vote. Why Ukip? We

are seeing the NHS declining. I think they have attracted a lot of

young people because I think it is something people can get behind.

Before, there were pets and flying thousands of miners here. Now, it's

all just a memory. I've been waiting 30 years for that kind of manifesto,

it's brilliant. Wavy chosen bread? Rivals, Labour. I am working class.

I don't want the leader, be honest. But I am voting for them. Byes a

picture is emerging. Its neck and neck, but Mansell, hobbies, it's

that has got the edge. Next week, John's jars and a selection bowls

are in Derbyshire. Nottinghamshire Fire

and Rescue Service say they've received numerous calls in recent

weeks about a possible fire Staff have been reassuring concerned

members of the public, that it's not smoke

they're seeing, but steam. The vapour clouds are part

of a new art exhibition which officially opens tonight

at the Nottingham Contemporary. Four weeks, steam has done rising

from the roof of Lottie Contemporary. The art Gallery has

been publicising a new exhibition, but many people have confused the

vapour clouds for smoke. At first, you think, oh, it's on fire. But I

follow them on Twitter so I knew there was something going on.

Initially, I did think something was on fire. Is going to have that

reaction, isn't it? People look up and go, what the hell is going on?

Nottinghamshire wire and rescue said they had taken numerous calls from

members of the public concerned that the art galleries on fire. Because

we know when the exhibitionism to be in operation, we reassure the

colours. The artist says the intensity of the steam clouds

threatened the intensity of the thinking happening inside the

gallery. Staff say there is no cause for alarm. Is not a worry at all

because it's harmless water vapour. We are working closely with our

neighbours, the City Council, with the Fire Service and we have been

getting lots of adverts up so I think everybody understands that

this is about producing a cloud of harmless water vapour. It's really

signifying all of these ideas that they are having in the building. You

don't want to assume that all steam or smoke in the area is to do with

the exhibition. So we would always encourage members of the public in

the vicinity, if they genuinely have a reason to believe there is a fire,

was call 909. It's better to be safe than sorry. The exhibition runs till

the end of August. It's a chance to see ace show where there's smoke

without fire. It is quite something isn't it? I

reckon it's vaping. Let's start with Leicester City,

and don't worry, we do have some But last night's penultimate game

did not go according to plan as Leicester City

suffered their worst home They were already 2-0 down to Spurs

when the one bright spot of the day arrived -

a first-ever Foxes goal But after that Tottenham carried

on being completely dominant and Harry Kane ended up

with four goals in their But it can be put right on Sunday

when Leicester host Bournemouth and try and end their Champion

season in style. Before they kick off,

an end of season tradition. Undaunted by his heart attack

in January, club ambassador Alan Birchenall WILL be

doing his annual pre-match run. Leicester City's stars want

Sunday to be a special day I know now I'll be

emotional, you know. End of the season, always done it,

90 minutes, duration of a game, Remembering the early

days, you know. The Birch, as he is

a known, is now 71. But this weekend marks his 37th

annual charity run, and he will be there, despite recovering

from a cardiac arrest. Four months ago, he was dead

for seven minutes, That's a lot.

I know. He's up there on the verge

of doing his 37th run. So it's been a really good recovery

and were all looking forward to He has raised millions

of the use for others, but the proceeds from this year's run will

go to a charity close to his heart. It's for, heart wise,

we need new mannequins, over 100 happen ordered, for schools

and businesses and stuff like that. After they have been paid for,

hopefully there will be quite a bit of dosh available so we can go out

and buy more defibrillators so we can spread out to schools

in and around the country. It's great to see him back

at the training ground because there was a time when he had

had a serious illness, if you like, and we are really pleased

to see him back down here. We'll know it's too a good cause,

and he will get the support from the players,

we was a couple of laps as he does, and it will be great to see him back

out there. Vardy and the gang will be with him,

and they are asking for support for the man

they call Mr Leicester City. A crowd pleasing move

from the new Forest owners. On day one, they've announced that

season ticket prices And after a turbulent season

featuring record defeats and two new head coaches,

Leicester Tigers are STILL in with a chance of winning

the Premiership Title. The Champions are decided by the end

of season play-offs. And that means they can

still finish on top. In December, Richard Cockerill

and Aaron Mauger were running And so, in March,

amid strange victory So now, it's Matt O'Connor

with his eyes on the prize. It's been a tough,

challenging season on a lot of levels, but you know,

this is what the lads play for, this is what they are about and this

is probably the starting point for this group,

the players and coaches, to make sure that we use Saturday

as an opportunity to make a statement about how

we want to be moving forward. Tomorrow's opponents, Wasps,

have spent big to excite and deservedly finished

on top of the league. Leicester could get close,

but Wasps, so far, too good. I think we have got to go

out there and try to With the talent they have got,

they're going to score tries, I don't think there's

been a whole season without scoring one

in a game, so we have got to go out

there and score tries and then our defence has got to try

and get on top of their attack. Owain Williams is off to Gloucester,

but this is one last Yeah, to be honest,

we probably perform better when we are underdogs

and people write us off. And like I said, at Christmas

time, if you would have thought we were in the top four,

it would have been doubtful. So, like I said, we just

have to prove people wrong. If you can't be there,

you can catch all the action on BBC Radio Leicester tomorrow

afternoon. Cricket, finally, and it

was actually dry enough in Wales for a full day's

County Championship play. It was a tricky start

for Nottinghamshire, but Jake Libby and Ricky Wessels

have more than stabilised the ship. Wetter in these parts so not long

for Derbyshire to bat Just finished there. But the rain

came pouring down. We might have had a fair amount of

rain in the last few days, but as we know, it has followed a long dry

spell. And despite those showers, reservoir levels remain a little

down. But in Derbyshire, that has revealed a fascinating piece of the

past. So lovely. It's fascinating. I like

it up there. Meet, too. Those pictures are on our Facebook page if

you want to have a look at them. It does feel as though we have seen

more than our fair share of rain over the last few days, doesn't it?

And certainly something a little bit drier around the corner, but seems

like this have become quite familiar. But as I say, drying up as

we had to the weekend. It does look as though Sunday will be the best of

the dry weather, with more showers to, and Saturday despite a promising

start. Let's just recap and look at the rain this morning, it worked its

way up towards the north-east by the quickly but we were left with his

tail end which has outstayed its welcome. It turned what Ari as it

has broken up, but those showers will continue this evening and into

the night, gradually easing and fading as we had through the early

hours of the morning. Most places will dry up and it would be

particularly cold, with a minimum temperature of around eight Celsius.

Not a bad start to Saturday morning, a dry start, some of the morning

sunshine around as well. Then we start to see one or to showers edged

their way in from the west and then they will be get going. Extensive

showers in the afternoon, and I think you will be quite lucky if you

managed to avoid them altogether. Having said that, in between, there

will be some bright, bright spells, some good spells of warm sunshine

with highs of around 16 Celsius. Those showers are going to take a

while to clear overnight, but on Sunday, what a difference. It will

be a dry day, good spells sunshine around throughout the day, and

feeling pleasantly warm as well in that sunshine with a top temperature

of around 17 Celsius. We are just go to that aired a little bit too next

week. On Monday, we will see when to showers edged their way end but it

will be the warmest day of the week next week. 19 Celsius possibly the

maximum on Monday. As we head into the rest of the week, pressure will

build, that will settle things down so actually, a much quieter week to

come next week. Sunday sounds nice, doesn't it? You

have a drought story, don't you? It was amazing seeing that rail, but I

remember in Yorkshire, there was one with a an entire village at the

bottom. It's cold.

Tastes a bit like avocado. And soon we're all

going to be eating them. Four crickets have the same amount

of calcium as a glass of milk, and a dung beetle,

twice the protein of beef. dazzling designs

and inspiring ideas. Daily coverage of the RHS Chelsea

Flower Show 2017.