0:00:00 > 0:00:02Now on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.
0:00:02 > 0:00:02Goodbye. for the news where you are.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Good evening and welcome to BBC London News.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16I'm Alex Bushill.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Rail passengers travelling over Easter are being warned
0:00:18 > 0:00:19to expect disruption.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Works will be taking place on a number of main lines in London
0:00:22 > 0:00:23over the Bank Holiday.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25With fewer people travelling over the Easter weekend,
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Network Rail say it's the best time to do the work.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Paul Murphy-Kasp has the details.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35The motorways are manic.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36The terminals are teeming.
0:00:36 > 0:00:42And for some, rail travel gets a whole lot harder.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Yes - it's Easter weekend.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Here at London Bridge, the multi-million pound
0:00:47 > 0:00:49rebuilding works continue, but works are taking
0:00:49 > 0:00:52place elsewhere too.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Great for passengers in the long term, but not so great
0:00:55 > 0:00:58if you want to get somewhere.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Network Rail say the number of people using the trains over
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Easter drops by half, so it's a great time
0:01:03 > 0:01:08to get works done.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Here at Waterloo, they're taking full advantage of that drop
0:01:11 > 0:01:13in passengers by upgrading the tracks and the signals,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15in order to increase the number of trains.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17But compared to some of the other stations,
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Waterloo gets off quite lightly.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21So what about the rest of the network here in London?
0:01:21 > 0:01:24For the first half of the weekend there will be no trains
0:01:24 > 0:01:25to Charing Cross or Cannon Street.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28And for the second half, the line into Cannon Street stays closed.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31At Liverpool Street, there will be a big reduction in trains,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33so if you're travelling towards Norfolk or Suffolk
0:01:33 > 0:01:35you'll need to factor in a tube or a bus journey.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Then on Easter Sunday, for one day only, Southern won't run
0:01:38 > 0:01:40any trains from Victoria, and there will be no
0:01:40 > 0:01:41Gatwick Express.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42And what about TfL services?
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Make sure you don't get caught out by works on the tube,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48London Overground, DLR and TfL Rail.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51At London Bridge, rail users have had four years of disruption caused
0:01:51 > 0:01:54by the Thameslink programme.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57That's finally due to be completed next summer.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01We're very confident around the works we are doing
0:02:01 > 0:02:04here and we are bang on programme for where we need
0:02:04 > 0:02:05to be at this stage.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07There will be some finishing off works beyond Christmas,
0:02:07 > 0:02:12but we're looking for substantial completion by around May 2018.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Come Tuesday, lines will reopen, trains will run and commuters
0:02:14 > 0:02:18will go on as normal.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21But at London Bridge, the 24-hour operation continues.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24There's still much more to do and more closures to come
0:02:24 > 0:02:31if they're to have it all open on time next year.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36Parents of children with severe special needs in East Surrey
0:02:36 > 0:02:39are fighting plans to close a local respite care centre,
0:02:39 > 0:02:40which provides short breaks close to home.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Beeches Respite Home in Reigate is due to close
0:02:42 > 0:02:45at the end of the year, after the NHS withdrew funding.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47But families say it's a vital service.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50They've been speaking to Mark Norman.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55We'll get some music.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59James presents himself mentally at about 18 months old.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01He's got limited mobility, hardly any speech or understanding.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04When Paul found out that the local Beeches respite home was closing,
0:03:04 > 0:03:06it left him deeply worried about his son's future.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Thank you, James, thank you.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11What that's meant for us as a family, it's means we've
0:03:11 > 0:03:14continued to be able to keep James with us at home.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19It's really hard to cope, and without that respite
0:03:19 > 0:03:24you wouldn't be able to cope.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28We are hearing from families every day on our helpline about cuts
0:03:28 > 0:03:32to their essential services, such as short breaks,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34like the Beeches, and this is causing families a lot
0:03:34 > 0:03:37of worry and stress.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40But the trust which runs the respite care told us it had taken
0:03:40 > 0:03:43the difficult decision not to tender for the new service.
0:03:43 > 0:03:49It says it wasn't confident to provide a viable affordable
0:03:49 > 0:03:51programme, and said it found other providers were better placed
0:03:51 > 0:03:56to deliver social care services.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Despite her obvious abilities on a trampoline, seven-year-old
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Livvy has a range of conditions that require both social
0:04:01 > 0:04:06and nursing care.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10And the other providers that were being offered to look around,
0:04:10 > 0:04:14they may be suitable to a certain extent, but there's no nursing care
0:04:14 > 0:04:15there, and that's a worry.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18That's a big worry.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21The parents also argue that respite care is more cost-effective
0:04:21 > 0:04:24than putting their children in residential units.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28That's an argument they've yet to win with the NHS.
0:04:28 > 0:04:35Hillingdon Council says it will provide funding to challenge
0:04:35 > 0:04:38a third runway at Heathrow for "however long it takes to win".
0:04:38 > 0:04:41The leader made the pledge as a freedom of information request
0:04:41 > 0:04:43showed it was one of four councils to spend a total of
0:04:43 > 0:04:47?350,000 on legal fees to fight the third runway.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Arsene Wenger has dismissed speculation about his future
0:04:50 > 0:04:54as Arsenal manager at a news conference this morning.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Wenger has come under pressure after a series of defeats.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59He insists his relationship with the club's board has not changed.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04His contract is up at the end of the season.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09Thousands of people flocked to Trafalgar Square earlier today,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12to watch a full-scale re-enactment of The Passion of Jesus.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15It told the tale of Christ's betrayal by Judas and his trial
0:05:15 > 0:05:17before Pontius Pilate.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Our reporter Emma North joined the Good Friday crowds.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24As the rest of London went about its normal noisy business,
0:05:24 > 0:05:31Trafalgar Square was transformed.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34For the eighth year, the performance of The Passion of Christ is fast
0:05:34 > 0:05:36becoming a London fixture on Good Friday.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39It started so small and now it seems to have become an event.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42I looked at Google Maps and there we were, the Passion
0:05:42 > 0:05:50of Jesus popped up.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56The base of Nelson's Column became the setting for the Last Supper.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57The lions, the backdrop for Golgotha, the scene
0:05:57 > 0:05:59of the crucifixion.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01With a cast of around 100, the betrayal, crucifixion
0:06:01 > 0:06:04and resurrection of Jesus was portrayed on a grand scale.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05It's extraordinary.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10It truly was.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13There were emotions that were felt certainly amongst the actors
0:06:13 > 0:06:16that we've never felt in the rehearsal room.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19There was something quite special today.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Afterwards, a bit of a party atmosphere developed.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23We'll come next year again.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26To appreciate what Easter is about, because that is very much
0:06:26 > 0:06:28getting lost, I feel now, with the commercial side
0:06:28 > 0:06:35of things taking over.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39All the costumes and the horses, the Romans, it was very spectacular
0:06:39 > 0:06:41and moving and it brought the story for everybody out.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43You could see the response of the audience.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Seeing everyone here of all faiths and all cultures
0:06:46 > 0:06:48is awesome, it's great.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51People could rub shoulders with the star of the show,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54or even have a selfie with a disciple.
0:06:54 > 0:06:59Bringing fresh meaning to the idea of spreading the word.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02And now a look at the weather, with Sarah Keith-Lucas.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Good evening.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08It's been a fairly cloudy Good Friday, as you can see
0:07:08 > 0:07:10from this scene sent in by a Weather Watcher
0:07:10 > 0:07:11in Dartford earlier in the day.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14We will stick with fairly cloudy skies as we head
0:07:14 > 0:07:15through this evening.
0:07:15 > 0:07:16Overnight, a few splashes of rain likely.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19We could do with a bit of rain for our gardens.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21First thing Saturday morning, you could be left
0:07:21 > 0:07:22with a light shower or two.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24But quite a chilly, fresh start to the day.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26The showers should clear away quickly.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Saturday is shaping up to be a fairly fine day.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30A reasonably good amount of sunshine.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34Temperatures 15 degrees or so - 10 degrees cooler than last weekend.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38A fresh feel, but in the sunshine a fairly pleasant day.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Largely dry to start off Easter Day.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Later in the day, we'll see cloud increasing.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47A few spots of showery rain possible later in the afternoon.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Temperatures on Sunday around 15 degrees.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Bye for now.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52That's all for now.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54I'll be back at 10:20pm with our late bulletin.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55For now, have a lovely evening.