:00:02. > :00:05.Good evening and welcome to Look North. Coming up.
:00:05. > :00:07.Government cash for the volunteer life savers, but critics say it is
:00:07. > :00:11.not enough. Jailed - the drunken woman who
:00:11. > :00:14.caused terror when she took a gun onto the streets.
:00:14. > :00:17.Padlocked gates and unpaid players - a special report on the crisis
:00:18. > :00:20.that nearly killed off one of our football clubs.
:00:20. > :00:26.And in our Headliners series, former North East journalist Greg
:00:26. > :00:28.Dyke on Iraq and Rupert Murdoch. In sport, we meet the middle
:00:28. > :00:32.distance runner with London 2012 in her sights.
:00:32. > :00:42.And where now for Joey Barton, after one twitter rant too many saw
:00:42. > :00:53.
:00:53. > :00:56.They are called out dozens of times a year. They risk their lives to
:00:56. > :01:00.save lives, not just during the height of the summer holidays, but
:01:00. > :01:03.in the depths of winter too. Today, the Government has announced it is
:01:03. > :01:06.giving money to the mountain rescue teams around the country to help
:01:06. > :01:16.with their funding. But so far there has not been much rejoicing
:01:16. > :01:21.
:01:21. > :01:24.at the news. That's right. As you can see, I am
:01:24. > :01:27.in the glorious Cumbrian countryside, very popular with
:01:27. > :01:31.walkers at this time of year when the School holidays are upon us.
:01:31. > :01:36.But what happens when those walkers get into trouble? Often they call
:01:36. > :01:39.on a or volunteer mountain rescue teams.
:01:39. > :01:42.William Bingley, who was 61, from Lancashire, fell while walking at
:01:43. > :01:50.the Rawthey Gill at Ravenstonedale on Sunday. The Kirkby Stephen
:01:50. > :01:57.Mountain Rescue Team was called out. For he suffered serious injuries
:01:57. > :02:01.and died. It just goes to show, the risks that people take. Today, the
:02:01. > :02:04.government announced with great fanfare that they are giving
:02:04. > :02:10.�200,000 to the mountain rescue teams across the UK and Northern
:02:10. > :02:17.Ireland. Of that, 124,000 will go to teams in England and Wales. That
:02:17. > :02:27.includes here, in the Lake District. That works out to around �1,600 per
:02:27. > :02:27.
:02:27. > :02:29.team, per year. A earlier I spoke to the man who created the all
:02:29. > :02:35.party parliamentary committee who looked at funding on this issue. He
:02:35. > :02:41.said he did not think it was enough. It is a profession or activity.
:02:41. > :02:47.They put much effort into it, in many cases more than their jobs. It
:02:48. > :02:51.is a fantastic commitment of time and effort. They may be other ways
:02:51. > :02:55.of doing it, but if they are going to get money from the government,
:02:55. > :03:02.it needs to be more to make up for the lack of fund-raising they will
:03:02. > :03:12.get if they are seen as funded. So, is this good news for our teams?
:03:12. > :03:17.Joining me now is the leader of Cockermouth Mountain rescue. This
:03:17. > :03:24.is a donation promised by the government, it has not yet arrived.
:03:24. > :03:30.To put it in context, it costs �46,000 per year just to operate
:03:30. > :03:36.the team. This donation is being given to 70 teams across the
:03:36. > :03:42.country. Also, the Cave rescue Organisation. An estimate of their
:03:42. > :03:45.costs is around �3.1 million. It is a donation, but it is only a small
:03:45. > :03:55.donation, compared to the vast amount of money that has to be
:03:55. > :03:56.
:03:56. > :04:00.donated through businesses and the general public. Thank you.
:04:00. > :04:10.feeling here is that if people see these teams as being government
:04:10. > :04:10.
:04:10. > :04:13.funded, the generous donations may cease.
:04:13. > :04:16.A 21-year-old woman was jailed this afternoon after she caused terror
:04:16. > :04:18.by taking to the streets with a rifle. Jane McComb pointed the
:04:18. > :04:21.weapon at passing motorists, forcing the police to lock down
:04:21. > :04:24.part of North Tyneside during a huge armed operation. In the end,
:04:24. > :04:33.the weapon turned out to be an unloaded air rifle, and McComb told
:04:33. > :04:36.the police it had been a drunken dare.
:04:36. > :04:40.Seven police marksmen, schools told to keep children in class, and
:04:40. > :04:45.dozens of terrified 999 calls. On what had started as a quiet January
:04:45. > :04:55.morning, here in Cullercoats. All caused by this woman - Jane McComb.
:04:55. > :04:57.
:04:57. > :05:01.A court heard she has been abusing alcohol since the age of 12. She
:05:01. > :05:06.had been drinking all morning and the previous night.
:05:06. > :05:09.She told the police she brought a rival out for a dare. She pointed
:05:09. > :05:14.the gun at its passing motorist, who the judge said was genuinely
:05:14. > :05:20.scared she would be shot. Then it was the turn of a taxi driver, who
:05:20. > :05:24.also told the judge she feared for his life. -- He. McComb admitted
:05:24. > :05:27.the offence of affray and was sent to prison for 12 months. Newcastle
:05:27. > :05:30.Crown Court heard the air rifle was actually powerful enough to kill
:05:30. > :05:37.somebody, but wasn't loaded. The police say those who had the gun
:05:37. > :05:43.pointed at them wouldn't have known that. The 12 month sentence
:05:43. > :05:47.reflects the criminality. My advice to anyone thinking of playing a
:05:47. > :05:53.prank like this is that we are right resource is in place, we will
:05:53. > :05:56.rescue, taking to court, and push for the strongest penalties.
:05:56. > :06:06.people who live here say the incident didn't seem real. For the
:06:06. > :06:12.
:06:13. > :06:16.woman responsible, crying in court Northumbrian Water, which provides
:06:16. > :06:21.services for much of our region, could soon be in the hands of a
:06:21. > :06:26.Hong Kong tycoon. The firm has accepted a takeover offer run by C
:06:26. > :06:36.K r I, run by a multi-millionaire who made his fortune from plastic
:06:36. > :06:36.
:06:36. > :06:40.flowers. -- CKI. It provides essential services for millions,
:06:40. > :06:45.now a Northumbrian Water has accepted a takeover from a group of
:06:45. > :06:48.Hong Kong firms owned by this man, the 11th richest in the world.
:06:48. > :06:53.He made his fortune on plastic flowers, and experts say his
:06:53. > :07:00.company could have had an eye on Northumbrian Water for a while.
:07:00. > :07:08.Last year, Datacom UK based electricity assets. -- they took on.
:07:08. > :07:13.They are trying to build a global infrastructure network.
:07:13. > :07:18.Northumbrian water was privatised in 1989, taking over in 1995,
:07:18. > :07:22.listed on the Stock Exchange in 2003, but even then, the
:07:22. > :07:32.international connection continued with 27% of the company's shares
:07:32. > :07:32.
:07:32. > :07:40.bought by teachers in Ontario. What does this all mean for customers?
:07:40. > :07:49.Are they should be prepared for price rises, but that is largely
:07:49. > :07:59.because inflation is on the up. If share whole does approve a takeover,
:07:59. > :08:00.
:08:00. > :08:09.it could go through within months. A new Accident and Emergency regime
:08:09. > :08:11.The new football season is just days away. But 25 years ago this
:08:11. > :08:15.month, Middlesborough fans feared their team would never play again.
:08:15. > :08:17.In the summer of 1986, the club was on the brink of extinction. Facing
:08:17. > :08:20.massive debts, the gates to Ayresome Park were padlocked and
:08:20. > :08:30.the players went unpaid. In the end, Boro were saved with just minutes
:08:30. > :08:31.
:08:31. > :08:36.to spare. It became apparent that the club
:08:36. > :08:40.was going to close. We were called into the boardroom and closed --
:08:40. > :08:47.and told it was going into liquidation and everybody was out
:08:47. > :08:52.of work. For or August, 1986. Boro facing oblivion. A massive
:08:52. > :08:55.debts, relegated, and events conspiring against them. A
:08:55. > :09:00.consortium had formed to try and save the club. Other clubs at the
:09:00. > :09:05.time had gone bust, and simply reformed, without paying off their
:09:05. > :09:09.debts. No such luck for Boro because the Football League was
:09:09. > :09:16.insisting they pay all of their debts in full or be kicked out. The
:09:16. > :09:23.players continued training without pay. We were literally using
:09:23. > :09:28.jumpers for goalposts. We were playing in open, vast areas with no
:09:28. > :09:34.pictures marked out. Even Margaret Thatcher was a roundabout problem.
:09:34. > :09:39.Speak council had pledged �200,000 to the consortium but the threat of
:09:39. > :09:43.a budget cap from the government forced them to pull out. That left
:09:43. > :09:51.four parties trying to save the club, including Steve Gibson's
:09:51. > :09:56.Bulkhaul, which had raised �825,000. They needed �1.9 million. And so to
:09:56. > :10:03.deadline day, 22nd August. They had until half past four to seal the
:10:03. > :10:07.deal. The Football League was in another office.
:10:07. > :10:11.Not once did everybody getting the same room and resolve it. It was
:10:11. > :10:17.just people running from room to room, with different messages and
:10:17. > :10:22.suggestions. I was called by the chief of police. He said sorry, the
:10:22. > :10:32.deadline has gone, we cannot now police the game at Middlesbrough.
:10:32. > :10:33.
:10:33. > :10:40.So the game will not take place. The only saviour was it a big
:10:40. > :10:45.company like ICI would bundles. And that was what saved Middlesbrough
:10:45. > :10:50.Football Club. Next day, they kicked off at Hartlepool as their
:10:50. > :11:00.own ground was still padlocked. The team went on to win back-to-
:11:00. > :11:04.back promotions, a fairy-tale complete. I think the hardship
:11:04. > :11:14.created a bond which survives today, we are still in touch with each
:11:14. > :11:16.
:11:16. > :11:26.other. The can a robbery of the players, it created a unique and
:11:26. > :11:31.
:11:31. > :11:33.special bond. -- camaraderie. For a Coming up next, former BBC Director
:11:33. > :11:35.General Greg Dyke on weapons of mass destruction, Rupert Murdoch
:11:35. > :11:39.and more. And, living her Olympic dream, we
:11:39. > :11:46.meet one of the Northern athletes hoping to be a part of next year's
:11:46. > :11:53.London games. Brolly all shades?
:11:53. > :12:00.Looking at tomorrow's weather, I would pack both. -- brolly or
:12:00. > :12:04.shades. On to our series of Headliners, about people from the
:12:04. > :12:07.region who are making an impact. This week we have been to meet
:12:07. > :12:11.someone who has spent almost all his working life making the news as
:12:11. > :12:18.well as being a part of it. Only you might not recognise him in the
:12:18. > :12:23.outfit he wears for his current job. Speak to any were no who has worked
:12:23. > :12:25.under him, and they will tell you that Gregg Dyke is a first class
:12:25. > :12:30.boss and a first class bloke. But you do not quite picture him in
:12:30. > :12:34.the cap and gown he has to wear on graduation day, in his role as
:12:34. > :12:44.Chancellor of York University. tier's is not really me! The only
:12:44. > :12:45.
:12:45. > :12:55.time I would wear them is here. You have be connections here? I came
:12:55. > :12:58.
:12:58. > :13:05.here as a mature student. I've always stay in touch. A news paper
:13:05. > :13:09.reporter before attending York, he left to join the Newcastle Journal.
:13:09. > :13:14.I'm only ever applied for two jobs at the BBC.
:13:14. > :13:17.The first I did not get, the second was director general. Which I did.
:13:17. > :13:24.I did an interview for Radio Tees but I think they thought that
:13:24. > :13:34.nobody would understand me. So, why you got that second job, the BBC
:13:34. > :13:34.
:13:35. > :13:40.finally realised you are worth? had worked with the chairman before
:13:40. > :13:47.and I think he felt the BBC needed changing and you wanted somebody
:13:47. > :13:57.who would cheer the place up a bit. That is why so many staff took to
:13:57. > :14:01.the streets when he took the rap for a controversial report.
:14:01. > :14:05.I do not meet anyone now who does not think the Government sexed up
:14:05. > :14:09.the case for war. The other day, I bumped into Alastair Campbell, and
:14:09. > :14:18.he said I got it wrong. I told him that he manned Tony Blair were the
:14:18. > :14:24.only people who still believe that, everybody else knows. After that,
:14:25. > :14:31.Peter Hennessy said to me that history was on my side. Do you get
:14:31. > :14:37.any pleasure, having had run-ins with Rupert Murdoch? Enormous
:14:37. > :14:41.pleasure, the way things are going. I have never liked his empire, the
:14:41. > :14:45.way they used politicians. Australian Americans lecturing on
:14:45. > :14:54.how to run his country's broadcasting. It will never happen
:14:54. > :14:59.again, their credibility has gone. Something that gives him almost as
:14:59. > :15:04.much pleasure as Rupert Murdoch's problems is this building. Opened
:15:04. > :15:09.last month at a cost of �20 million, it is York University's Department
:15:09. > :15:14.of film, theatre and television. used to run London weekend
:15:14. > :15:22.Television, a rehearsal rooms were over a pub. This is a great
:15:22. > :15:31.facility. One last thing, I have to ask about your passion for football.
:15:31. > :15:35.I'm afraid Carlisle are on our patch. We beat your lot at Wembley.
:15:35. > :15:40.We didn't turn up. Carlyle could have got more goals in. There was
:15:40. > :15:50.no doubt, on the day, Carlisle were the better side. Much as I hate to
:15:50. > :15:53.
:15:53. > :15:57.say it. You might lie to a no, Gregg Dyke joins Jacqui Smith, the
:15:57. > :16:01.Home Secretary, and the ex Formula One boss Max Mosley, to talk about
:16:01. > :16:11.emotional subject of resigning in the wake of a crisis tomorrow night
:16:11. > :16:12.
:16:12. > :16:16.on BBC for. -- Four. Now, is he a disruptive influence,
:16:16. > :16:19.or just telling it like it is? Whatever your view on Joey Barton,
:16:19. > :16:21.it seems just a matter of days before another Premier League club
:16:21. > :16:23.takes the outspoken midfielder off Newcastle's hands. His relationship
:16:23. > :16:32.with the Magpies' hierarchy has completely broken down after
:16:32. > :16:42.perhaps one rant too many on the social networking site twitter.
:16:42. > :16:50.
:16:50. > :16:54.For which, he has been fined two The news that one of Newcastle's
:16:54. > :17:00.best players and highest earners has been offloaded by a free
:17:00. > :17:07.transfer should perhaps not be a surprise. He had become ever more
:17:07. > :17:14.on spoken about the club's transfer policy, but when his tirades were
:17:14. > :17:20.accompanied by a verbal equivalents at work, things became untenable.
:17:20. > :17:25.It is a sad day for Newcastle, when a good player leaves. He is trying
:17:26. > :17:32.to run the club rather than let the management buy-out. He should just
:17:32. > :17:36.played football. He should not be on a free transfer when they paid
:17:36. > :17:46.so much for him. You cannot keep employing -- annoying your employer
:17:46. > :17:56.and get away with it. The supporters have been brilliant
:17:56. > :18:06.
:18:06. > :18:11.with him, spit is a shame he has to announcement but was beaten to the
:18:11. > :18:21.punch by the club, who will now forgo a fee, just to get him off
:18:21. > :18:24.
:18:25. > :18:28.the pitch. He has lost he is best mates.
:18:28. > :18:32.think this has been coming for a long time. They were looking to
:18:32. > :18:42.sell him anyway, they want to be mad because of his previous
:18:42. > :18:43.
:18:43. > :18:45.outbursts. I am sure there will be further developments. A near sold-
:18:45. > :18:47.out Victoria Park will tonight show its appreciation for Hartlepool
:18:47. > :18:50.United's Ritchie Humphreys. Pools' record appearance holder will
:18:50. > :18:53.celebrate a decade at the club with a much deserved testimonial. Steve
:18:53. > :18:56.Bruce's Sunderland are the visiting opponents and you can follow full
:18:56. > :19:00.coverage of that match which kicks off at 7:30 on BBC Tees.
:19:00. > :19:03.Now, it is less than a year to go until the Olympics and this week on
:19:03. > :19:06.Look North we will be featuring some of those athletes from our
:19:06. > :19:08.region dreaming of competing at London 2012. One of those hopefuls
:19:08. > :19:12.is Stacey Smith, a middle-distance runner from Hexham. The 12-year-old
:19:12. > :19:17.lives and trains in the North East and is mentored by none other than
:19:17. > :19:27.Dame Kelly Holmes. -- 21. We have been ton her home town in Kent to
:19:27. > :19:44.
:19:44. > :19:54.meet the Olympic champion and her Stacey is just one of the 2012
:19:54. > :19:57.
:19:57. > :20:00.Stays C Smith, getting really involved. She has the lead in her
:20:00. > :20:03.side. Stay seen recently made her debut
:20:03. > :20:07.for Great Britain in the 1,500 metres.
:20:07. > :20:11.Those within the sport believe she has the potential to make it to
:20:11. > :20:16.London in 2012. If it was not for the intervention of Dame Kelly
:20:16. > :20:23.Holmes, that potential would have been lost for good. I gave up
:20:23. > :20:26.athletics at the age of 16. I found it too serious and wanted
:20:26. > :20:30.to spend time socialising with my friends. I think every athlete
:20:30. > :20:40.needs to go through that. Kelly wrote me a letter saying that she
:20:40. > :20:40.
:20:40. > :20:50.thought I was a wasted talent. watch too or on the telly, at
:20:50. > :20:53.
:20:53. > :20:57.Athens, she was very inspirational. I am admired her very much. I
:20:57. > :21:07.thought, well, she definitely knows her stuff so why had better listen
:21:07. > :21:10.
:21:10. > :21:16.to her. She was persuaded to give it another try. She joined Kelly's
:21:16. > :21:22.mentoring programme. We select The Gulls by looking at the ranking
:21:22. > :21:31.list. I noticed her name, and that she was not really doing much. --
:21:31. > :21:34.the girls. She is a really talented young athlete. I thought it was a
:21:34. > :21:44.real shame for her to give up when I did not want to see some one of
:21:44. > :21:45.
:21:45. > :21:55.her ability not give it a go. was five years ago, and she has not
:21:55. > :21:55.
:21:55. > :22:00.looked back. The Olympics is always special, but in your own country,
:22:00. > :22:10.the support will be unbelievable. I want to be there. I want to make my
:22:10. > :22:14.country proud. I have the determination to get there. It is a
:22:14. > :22:24.hard sport, nobody ever knows. You have to hit certain times. But can
:22:24. > :22:27.
:22:28. > :22:37.she do it? Absolutely. We will be following another young
:22:38. > :22:41.
:22:41. > :22:45.athlete to Morrow. You can follow them all online. Now, the author of
:22:45. > :22:50.horrible histories is making history himself. Yes.
:22:50. > :23:00.He is embarking upon a challenge to run the length of Hadrian's wall
:23:00. > :23:08.
:23:08. > :23:18.His is a world of naughty nuggets, foul facts, and a higher quotient
:23:18. > :23:21.
:23:21. > :23:31.of Pru. -- poo. Going to the toilet in a hole onto the street has
:23:31. > :23:40.
:23:41. > :23:48.The children's author will put his writing decide. I love Hadrian's
:23:48. > :23:51.wall. I want to encourage people to visit. They asked me to set up a
:23:51. > :24:00.runner's trail which will run parallel to the wall, so people do
:24:00. > :24:07.not run on the wall itself. Just like the Romans before him.
:24:07. > :24:12.All money raised will go towards a children's charity.
:24:12. > :24:18.I have been bullied all of my life. It did not help my confidence but
:24:18. > :24:23.this charity gave me friends and it has really helped.
:24:23. > :24:28.So, with the right help, horrible histories can become fantastic
:24:28. > :24:33.futures. A after six days of doing half a
:24:33. > :24:36.marathon a day, Terry and his legion of runners will end up at
:24:36. > :24:40.his Roman fort. But there is no rest for the wicked
:24:40. > :24:50.because the next day he will be doing the Great North Run! Even the
:24:50. > :24:53.
:24:53. > :25:02.I know it has been humid today because I have very frizzy hair!
:25:02. > :25:12.There are more mixtures of downpours and sunshine to contend
:25:12. > :25:17.
:25:17. > :25:20.with tomorrow. You can say that in this picture. Tomorrow will be even
:25:20. > :25:25.more humid than today with another outbreak of big and thunderous
:25:25. > :25:31.showers. You may be wondering why it is so humid? We trace the air
:25:31. > :25:37.back to where it has come from, it is coming from the Gulf of Mexico.
:25:37. > :25:41.Of course, that is a warm and humid place. That there continues towards
:25:41. > :25:45.the British Isles tomorrow. For Thursday and Friday, we start to
:25:46. > :25:52.get a different direction coming in. If we trace that air back, it
:25:52. > :25:58.becomes a more northerly flow. As you will see, it will cool down and
:25:58. > :26:04.freshen up. If you are coping with frizzy hair, it will be OK by
:26:04. > :26:10.Friday. Mainly dry overnight tonight, clear spells and mist
:26:10. > :26:15.patches. A sultry night with temperatures all in the teens. Into
:26:15. > :26:19.tomorrow, we start the day dry and bright with sunshine and, but that
:26:19. > :26:26.is the fuel for the showers which will bubble up through the end of
:26:26. > :26:32.the morning. Into the afternoon, it will turn heavy and thundery again.
:26:32. > :26:37.Temperatures on the rise, highs of 21 for Cumbria. Into the North East,
:26:37. > :26:41.25 around York. Through the rest of the week, let's have a look at
:26:41. > :26:46.Cumbria. The temperatures remain high through Thursday, but the rain
:26:46. > :26:52.will wash the humidity out. Friday looks fresh, dry and bright, and a
:26:52. > :27:01.similar pattern for the North East which loses the high temperatures
:27:01. > :27:05.on Thursday the. Friday is the day if you do not like the humidity. A
:27:05. > :27:09.bit of freshness will be back. Please continue to send your
:27:09. > :27:18.weather pictures to us. They are great for checking if the forecast
:27:18. > :27:23.A father, dying from heart failure, has been given the UK's first
:27:23. > :27:27.artificial heart, which allows him to leave hospital and awaiting