:00:00. > 3:59:59now. There is more throughout the evening
:00:00. > :00:17.Hello. I'm Tom Williams. on bids the BBC News
:00:18. > :00:19.Hello. I'm Tom Williams. Fire fighters have held a
:00:20. > :00:25.demonstration in Essex this afternoon, as crews across the
:00:26. > :00:27.region walked out on strike. The current 12`hour stoppage is the
:00:28. > :00:30.longest of three strikes this weekend, as the dispute over
:00:31. > :00:32.pensions remains deadlocked. Fire fighters from across Essex
:00:33. > :00:37.attended this afternoon's demonstrations in Chelmsford.
:00:38. > :00:41.Members of the Fire Brigades Union said they are angry at the lack of
:00:42. > :00:49.progress in this dispute. The FBU nationally has been in talks
:00:50. > :00:52.with the Government for 17 weeks. And, unfortunately, the Government
:00:53. > :00:55.is refusing to budge whatsoever with regards to a pension. As far as we
:00:56. > :00:57.are concerned, it isn't fit for purpose.
:00:58. > :01:02.Full`time crews in Cambridge are among those who joined the weekend
:01:03. > :01:04.stoppages. Kerry will have to work until 60 under the present
:01:05. > :01:07.proposals. It is a huge risk for me,
:01:08. > :01:13.particularly, as a woman fire fighter. The majority of fire
:01:14. > :01:17.fighters won't be able to pass current fitness standards at the age
:01:18. > :01:20.of 55 and over, up to 60. It is a huge risk to us losing our jobs.
:01:21. > :01:23.Fire brigades across the region have contingency plans for cover during
:01:24. > :01:26.the strike. With shifts being covered by management and non`FBU
:01:27. > :01:31.members. All emergencies will be responded
:01:32. > :01:35.to. Inevitably, that level of service will not be that normally
:01:36. > :01:39.expected. We ask the public to take extra care and be mindful.
:01:40. > :01:47.In Milton Keynes yesterday, stand`by crews helped out at a fatal crash.
:01:48. > :01:50.Although it happened before the walk`out was due to start, the
:01:51. > :01:54.Buckinghamshire Fire Service isn't letting strikers do only part of
:01:55. > :01:57.their shift. The Government claim blames the FBU for breaking off
:01:58. > :02:01.talks, and says its pension offer remains generous.
:02:02. > :02:04.As you may have heard, a woman's been arrested on suspicion of
:02:05. > :02:08.assaulting a resident at a care home in Essex. Seven staff at the Old
:02:09. > :02:11.Deanery in Braintree were sacked, after a BBC Panorama programme
:02:12. > :02:14.showed residents being bullied and humiliated. Today, Essex Police said
:02:15. > :02:17.anyone who's witnessed abuse or neglect at the home should contact
:02:18. > :02:21.them. To the football. 94 years in the
:02:22. > :02:24.Football League, and Northampton Town have earned a 95th. The
:02:25. > :02:29.Cobblers escaped the drop, winning 3`1 against boss Chris Wilder's
:02:30. > :02:31.former side. He left Oxford in January, joining Northampton when
:02:32. > :02:37.they were bottom. But victory today meant they completed a remarkable
:02:38. > :02:40.turnaround. Elsewhere, Southend won. They finish fifth, and will play
:02:41. > :02:43.Burton again in the play`offs, starting next Sunday.
:02:44. > :02:47.On the final day of the Football League, Ipswich finished with a win.
:02:48. > :02:50.Smith and Green scored in a 2`1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
:02:51. > :02:52.Town end up ninth in the Championship. Boss Mick McCarthy
:02:53. > :02:56.admitted he's delighted with their progress.
:02:57. > :03:01.In League One, relegated Stevenage lost, to finish bottom.
:03:02. > :03:04.No luck for MK Dons either. Peterborough head into the play`offs
:03:05. > :03:09.where they'll play Leyton Orient. Colchester finished 16th, after
:03:10. > :03:12.beating Walsall. In the Premier League, the trapdoor
:03:13. > :03:16.is opening for Norwich who now know they need at least a draw at Chelsea
:03:17. > :03:19.tomorrow to survive. Sunderland's surprising win at Man U today gives
:03:20. > :03:22.them a three`point advantage over the Canaries who have a vastly
:03:23. > :03:25.inferior goal difference. Not helped by last week's thumping at Old
:03:26. > :03:33.Trafford. They're now staring at relegation.
:03:34. > :03:42.We have two games left. We need to put everything into that. We can't
:03:43. > :03:45.mope around, saying, we've got to beat Manchester United. We have
:03:46. > :03:48.another tough game again this weekend. We need to make sure we are
:03:49. > :03:51.right, and put everything in place to give ourselves the best chance at
:03:52. > :03:53.the weekend. Meanwhile, Cambridge United tomorrow
:03:54. > :03:56.hope to set up another trip to Wembley. After winning the FA
:03:57. > :03:58.Trophy, the Us play the second leg of their Conference play`off
:03:59. > :04:00.semifinal, trailing Halifax 1`0. Luton, meanwhile, enjoy their
:04:01. > :04:03.promotion parade tomorrow. In the rugby: Northampton remain
:04:04. > :04:09.second in the Premiership, and in prime position to secure a play`off
:04:10. > :04:12.semifinal at home. In a thrilling climax last night, Bath looked like
:04:13. > :04:16.they'd won it with a late penalty, only for Stephen Myler to respond
:04:17. > :04:18.and level it up at 19`19 in the dying seconds.
:04:19. > :04:23.Time for the weather, and here's Sara Thornton.
:04:24. > :04:26.Good evening. A chilly start this morning and another chilly start in
:04:27. > :04:30.prospect for tomorrow. A cold and frosty night tonight for many of us.
:04:31. > :04:35.A ground frost quite widely, and air frost. Tomorrow, plenty of sunshine
:04:36. > :04:41.to start, some cloud advancing in the afternoon. Sunshine will turn
:04:42. > :04:45.hazy, but we are dry again for tomorrow. A top temperature of a
:04:46. > :04:50.degree on today, in the mid`teens, typically, 15 Celsius. Bank holiday
:04:51. > :06:14.Monday stays dry. Scotland and North East England.
:06:15. > :06:18.Showers continuing across north-west England. The odd shower in North
:06:19. > :06:20.Wales and Midlands but generally the southern half of the UK and dry with
:06:21. > :06:21.spells of