:00:07. > :00:10.Welcome to Thursday's Look North. In tonight's headlines: A multi-
:00:10. > :00:13.million pounds deal to save these paintings for the region has
:00:13. > :00:16.collapsed. Weather alert. Roads and trains
:00:16. > :00:18.have been affected by the high winds. We'll have the latest.
:00:18. > :00:22.Trailblazer. The inspirational story of how this 18-year-old
:00:22. > :00:26.became a torchbearer for the London Olympics.
:00:26. > :00:28.And Durham Cathedral Choir gets ready for a carol concert - with a
:00:28. > :00:31.difference. In sport, injuries turn up the heat
:00:31. > :00:35.on the Magpies ahead of a trip to Delia Smith's Norwich.
:00:35. > :00:45.And a busy night for this man as the great and the good turned out
:00:45. > :00:58.
:00:58. > :01:03.for an evening of sporting The Severe weather that has been
:01:03. > :01:07.battling Scotland has made its presence felt in our region. There
:01:07. > :01:11.is some flooding in Cumbria. We are getting reports that an aria
:01:11. > :01:15.helicopter was called to North Yorkshire after a car was swept
:01:15. > :01:21.into a river and three people were rescued. Our reporter joined us
:01:21. > :01:25.from Yorkshire. For a while this afternoon that
:01:25. > :01:29.wind died down that in the last hour or so it has picked up again
:01:29. > :01:33.with some a strong gust. It has been causing quite a few problems.
:01:33. > :01:37.We are still getting more information about that incident in
:01:37. > :01:42.his wheel. We believe a car went into a river and the RAF were
:01:42. > :01:49.called in to rescue the occupants. Across the North East today the
:01:49. > :01:53.weather has been causing all sorts of issues.
:01:53. > :01:59.Across the region to the the rain fell and the wind blew. Most get
:01:59. > :02:03.moving but the danger signs were up there in flashing light. At Scotch
:02:03. > :02:06.Corner no traffic was allowed to head towards Penrith for a period
:02:06. > :02:14.although after about one hour it did the open.
:02:14. > :02:18.15 miles west it was obvious why the road had been shut for a time.
:02:18. > :02:22.This is the summit of one of the busiest Trans Pennine it routes on
:02:22. > :02:26.the border between Cumbrae and County Durham. It was late this
:02:26. > :02:32.morning that this lorry was blown over. Luckily the driver escaped
:02:32. > :02:39.without injury but it shows a strong the wind has been. I had to
:02:39. > :02:44.respond to our wagon that had overturned. I found there were a
:02:45. > :02:51.few police cars and the wagon was lying in lean-to. How long had it
:02:51. > :02:54.been here for? Possibly overnight. Up here fast melting snow from
:02:54. > :03:00.earlier in the week has also been causing a few problems with
:03:00. > :03:04.flooding. On the trains the high wind meant
:03:04. > :03:09.no electric services running north of Newcastle. Timetables were
:03:09. > :03:16.revised to take into account the storms. I am not worried. I am sure
:03:16. > :03:20.British Rail have got our safety in mind. I have been told due to high
:03:20. > :03:24.winds in Scotland and the bridge being closed and will not get past
:03:24. > :03:28.Edinburgh. I have to choose whether to stay here or travel to Edinburgh
:03:28. > :03:35.and then find a hotel there. strong winds are forecast to
:03:35. > :03:41.continue well into the night. The worst may still be yet to come.
:03:41. > :03:48.Those incidents still keep clocking up. We have just heard the B1 is
:03:48. > :03:54.closed in Northumberland at Belford. There has been a report of flooding
:03:54. > :03:58.in it Swale deal. A lot of water coming of the Pennines. There are
:03:58. > :04:06.going to be more problems this evening. Keep up-to-date with your
:04:06. > :04:12.local radio station. Hour whether expert joins us now.
:04:12. > :04:19.Which areas are her worst affected? The whole area has been effected.
:04:19. > :04:23.It is due to this vicious front. Central pressure is 955 millibars.
:04:23. > :04:28.The way they isobars are packed shows how strong the wings are. It
:04:28. > :04:32.is a combination of strong winds and heavy rain. And also fast
:04:32. > :04:36.melting snow lying on high ground is giving us all sorts of problems.
:04:36. > :04:43.Central and southern Scotland is covered by a red warning area.
:04:43. > :04:48.Moving further behind we are in an amber warning area. We are not out
:04:48. > :04:50.of the woods yet. IQ. We will hear more later.
:04:50. > :04:53.The multi-million pound offer to buy a unique collection of historic
:04:53. > :04:56.paintings has been dramatically withdrawn by the man who said he'd
:04:56. > :04:58.save them for the North East. Jonathan Ruffer had reached
:04:58. > :05:01.agreement with the Church Commissioners to buy the set of
:05:01. > :05:04.Zurbaran paintings hanging at Auckland Castle for �15 million -
:05:04. > :05:11.and keep them there. But now he says the commissioners have added
:05:11. > :05:14.unacceptable conditions to the deal and he's pulling out. This could
:05:14. > :05:19.mean the paintings going to auction and leaving the region and perhaps
:05:19. > :05:21.the country. Adrian Pitches reports:
:05:21. > :05:26.These are the paintings depicting the Biblical characters of Jacob
:05:26. > :05:30.and his 12 sons painted by Francisco Zurbaran in the 1640s.
:05:30. > :05:33.And this is the man - Jonathan Ruffer - who's pledged to save them
:05:33. > :05:43.for the North East and turn Auckland Castle into a showcase for
:05:43. > :05:48.
:05:48. > :05:52.this regional treasure. It is here in the splendour of Auckland Castle
:05:52. > :05:57.that the Zurbarans have hung for 250 years. There may not be here
:05:57. > :06:00.much longer. The paintings have been valued at
:06:00. > :06:05.�15 million. Church Commissioners would like to see that money.
:06:05. > :06:09.Jonathan Ruffer has offered that sum. But if negotiations fail the
:06:09. > :06:12.paintings could go to auction and the paintings could goal brought.
:06:12. > :06:14.The newly enthroned Bishop of Durham has urged the Church
:06:14. > :06:22.Commissioners and Mr Ruffer to continue negotiations so the deal
:06:22. > :06:27.to keep the Zurbarans at Auckland Castle can be revived.
:06:27. > :06:33.It is not just me. All of us who were interested in the future of
:06:33. > :06:38.preserving their heritage of the paintings need to work to look for
:06:38. > :06:41.a solution between the Church Commissioners and Jonathan Ruffer.
:06:41. > :06:43.Besides their artistic and historic significance, the plans for
:06:43. > :06:44.Auckland Castle and its paintings are of great importance for
:06:44. > :06:47.economic regeneration in County Durham.
:06:47. > :06:54.Joseph of Technicolor Dreamcoat fame astounded his father Jacob and
:06:54. > :06:59.his 11 brothers with his dreams. is really important that we
:07:00. > :07:03.emphasise that everybody should get round the table. Should the end
:07:03. > :07:10.reward in terms of keeping their Zurbarans here and in terms of
:07:10. > :07:15.developing Auckland Castle will be well worth it. Joseph of
:07:15. > :07:18.technicolour Dream Coat fe me astounded his brother two with his
:07:18. > :07:21.It's still a dream for their portraits to remain in County
:07:21. > :07:26.Durham but it needs a new agreement for that dream to be realised.
:07:26. > :07:28.Adrian Pitches, BBC Look North, Bishop Auckland.
:07:28. > :07:31.A Teesside University lecturer, arrested over phone hacking
:07:31. > :07:34.allegations at the News of the World, has been told she won't face
:07:34. > :07:37.charges. Bethany Usher, who's 31, denied any wrongdoing after she was
:07:37. > :07:45.questioned last week over her time working for the tabloid. A Scotland
:07:45. > :07:47.Yard spokesman said there would be no further action.
:07:47. > :07:50.Robert Black, the man who killed Northumberland schoolgirl Susan
:07:50. > :07:56.Maxwell, has been jailed for a minimum of 25 years for the murder
:07:56. > :07:59.of a nine year old girl in Northern Ireland in 1981.
:07:59. > :08:02.Black's already serving a 35 year sentence for the murders of 11-
:08:02. > :08:06.year-old Susan from Cornhill on Tweed, as well as two other girls
:08:06. > :08:12.in the 1980s. Today he was sentenced for the killing of a
:08:12. > :08:15.fourth girl - 9-year-old Jennifer Cardy.
:08:15. > :08:18.It appears there'll be no financial bail-out for the troubled Health
:08:19. > :08:21.Trust which runs hospitals in North and West Cumbria. MPs in Carlisle
:08:22. > :08:26.and Copeland had been pushing for the Department of Health to help
:08:26. > :08:29.ease the impact of a financial crisis on patient care. But a
:08:29. > :08:32.letter from a health minister suggests extra money isn't the
:08:32. > :08:38.answer. The Trust itself though says the issue is one for
:08:38. > :08:40.politicians. Mark McAlindon reports. Even leading doctors at the North
:08:40. > :08:45.Cumbria NHS Trust have described the situation at the two hospitals
:08:45. > :08:48.in Carlisle and Whitehaven as, "close to breaking point." Many
:08:48. > :08:53.fear that cuts are putting incredible strain on patient care
:08:53. > :08:56.and that further savings can't be made without making that worse. The
:08:56. > :08:59.Trust is also saddled with multi- million-pound annual repayments
:08:59. > :09:04.under the PFI scheme which was used to build the Cumberland Infirmary
:09:04. > :09:07.in Carlisle. Last month, the Copeland MP Jamie
:09:07. > :09:17.Reed wrote to the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley asking for the
:09:17. > :09:18.
:09:18. > :09:24.Department to come to the rescue. In 2008 I wrote to the then Health
:09:24. > :09:28.Secretary regarding debts and they were wiped out it was a clean slate.
:09:28. > :09:32.It is disturbing and disappointing that we are in this situation again.
:09:32. > :09:37.It clearly is local accountability which needs to be brought into play
:09:37. > :09:41.here. There is also a lot of national accountability to be
:09:41. > :09:44.brought in here. I was hopeful that the Secretary of State would assist
:09:44. > :09:54.us financially. But now Health Minister Simon Burns
:09:54. > :10:00.
:10:00. > :10:03.Both Jamie Reed and his Carlisle equivalent, John Stevenson say
:10:03. > :10:07.they'll continue to push for more financial support. Mark McAlindon,
:10:07. > :10:12.BBC Look North, Carlisle. Newcastle is one of eight English
:10:12. > :10:17.cities going to be handed more power. The city will be able to cut
:10:17. > :10:20.its business rates, and spend more of what it collects. The Government
:10:20. > :10:23.says it's a dramatic shift of power, and will help to create jobs and
:10:23. > :10:25.get the economy moving. But as our Political Editor Richard Moss
:10:25. > :10:28.reports, not everyone in Newcastle is convinced.
:10:28. > :10:31.The Deputy Prime Minister announces plans to give new powers to
:10:31. > :10:41.England's big cities, including Newcastle. And after all Christmas
:10:41. > :10:46.
:10:46. > :10:49.is a time for giving. What extra powers are being offered?
:10:49. > :10:51.The Government says Newcastle will get greater powers to co-ordinate
:10:51. > :10:59.public transport, build houses, create apprenticeships and offer
:10:59. > :11:08.business rate discounts to selected companies. If we can keep this
:11:08. > :11:11.sights on the ambitious goal I believe this will have a big
:11:11. > :11:14.transformative effect on the millions of people live and our
:11:14. > :11:17.biggest cities. And this is the man who could well
:11:17. > :11:22.be exercising those powers. The problem is, he's not actually sure
:11:23. > :11:27.what they are. The next it was clear about the responsibilities
:11:27. > :11:34.but far less clear about the powers. The devil is in the detail. The
:11:34. > :11:37.government was hot on spent but we have not had a great deal of detail.
:11:37. > :11:44.And there are concerns that giving the council the power to cut
:11:44. > :11:48.business rates for some and not for others will be unfair. Councils are
:11:48. > :11:54.there to offer everyone a level playing field. They are not there
:11:54. > :11:58.to discriminate in favour of one or another. If I have a successful
:11:58. > :12:04.business and I expect to be able to draw down on council services just
:12:04. > :12:07.the same as anybody else and not necessarily have to pay more for
:12:07. > :12:10.that privilege. The Government insists the new
:12:10. > :12:13.powers will be a Christmas gift worth cherishing. But we might have
:12:13. > :12:17.to wait and see if they are more than just window dressing.
:12:17. > :12:22.And there's more on this in the Politics Show, Sunday, at 12 noon,
:12:22. > :12:25.here on BBC1. It's one of the most coveted jobs
:12:25. > :12:31.of 2012, to carry the Olympic torch, and an honour that brought a lot of
:12:31. > :12:34.interest - 68,000 nominations. And today hundreds of people from our
:12:34. > :12:38.region received the prestigious offer to carry the torch when it
:12:38. > :12:41.comes to us next June. One of them is 18 year old Jessica Colborn from
:12:41. > :12:51.Allenheads near Hexham. She was nominated by the Stroke Association.
:12:51. > :12:52.
:12:52. > :12:59.Julie Smith's been to meet her. was amazing when I got the phone
:12:59. > :13:07.call. I was speechless. It will be amazing. It will be a good
:13:08. > :13:11.atmosphere. The waiting is over for Jessica Colborn. Like other Olympic
:13:11. > :13:20.hopefuls she is an inspiration. Chosen to carry the Olympic torch
:13:20. > :13:30.inner region because of her story of inspiration. She had a stroke 18
:13:30. > :13:35.
:13:35. > :13:44.I was 17 when I had my stroke and in the past 18 months I have been
:13:44. > :13:47.through a lot. I had to learn to walk and talk again. She left there
:13:47. > :13:52.in October 2010 and, with a lot of support, she has been getting
:13:52. > :13:56.better every day. She has turned her life around and is applying to
:13:56. > :14:02.university to become a doctor. This chance has come at the right time
:14:02. > :14:04.for her. It means so much. It will be two years since I had my stroke
:14:04. > :14:14.so it will be an amazing celebration that I will remember
:14:14. > :14:18.
:14:18. > :14:21.Our summer might have been a bit of all washout, but it was a bumper
:14:21. > :14:27.year for the apple harvest and growers are coming up with all
:14:27. > :14:37.sorts of ways of using up the crop. We have been finding out more about
:14:37. > :14:46.
:14:46. > :14:52.Nothing sums up England quite like a country garden and his tortured.
:14:53. > :15:01.This year, the apple harvest has been one of the best. -- a country
:15:01. > :15:05.garden and an apple orchard. Here, they are Apple experts, with
:15:05. > :15:10.knowledge of many varieties, centuries old and from all over the
:15:10. > :15:16.world. If you thought autumn was the only time for an apple, think
:15:16. > :15:25.again. There are many different varieties of apple and England and
:15:25. > :15:30.we rely on them to keep us right through. This is an iron apple, and
:15:30. > :15:39.it should keep right through until June as a cooking apple. Last year,
:15:39. > :15:45.when there was a lot of snow, I found apples through the snow and
:15:45. > :15:51.they were still crispy and fit to eat. What are we going to do with
:15:51. > :15:55.this glut of Apple's? Obviously, you can make pies or crumbles,
:15:55. > :16:05.Japanese or sauces, or you could have Cider With Christmas dinner.
:16:05. > :16:06.
:16:06. > :16:13.But there is another use for the Apple. Just a few miles away in the
:16:13. > :16:19.Pennines, the great serve it -- the grape harvest has been so poor. The
:16:19. > :16:23.great harvest has been poor and they have turned to apples.
:16:23. > :16:29.spend so much time trying to grow grapes when you can make wine from
:16:29. > :16:33.other wonderful fruits? Why are they such a good substitute?
:16:33. > :16:40.Because it has a good amount of sugar, about half the amount of
:16:40. > :16:46.sugar as great juice, it has tannins, which are good for mature
:16:46. > :16:54.in the wind, giving it a harshness and body, and it has pretty much
:16:54. > :16:57.everything that a great has, just not as much sugar. We met it with
:16:57. > :17:02.elderflower and it gives a beautiful decay of elderflower so
:17:02. > :17:08.that it smells and tastes like summer. -- a beautiful Bucquet.
:17:08. > :17:17.Would you like to taste some? taste of summer or on a cool
:17:17. > :17:24.winter's day. What more could you want from a humble apple?
:17:24. > :17:27.Back from a glitzy affair last night, Dawn, wasn't it?
:17:27. > :17:32.Middlesbrough Football Club picked up two of the prizes at the North
:17:32. > :17:36.East Sports Awards last night. The great and the good joined the stars
:17:36. > :17:43.of the future and the unsung heroes of grassroots sport as there
:17:43. > :17:47.prestigious event was held on Tyneside for their first time.
:17:47. > :17:51.I rousing start to the evening from these Gateshead college students.
:17:51. > :17:55.They use the running track at the academy of sport as a dance floor.
:17:55. > :18:00.The region's Olympians and power Olympians were asked to take about
:18:00. > :18:05.what London 2012 approaching. excited as we are now, I guarantee
:18:05. > :18:09.you that when this torch starts coming through the region, and then
:18:09. > :18:15.the games themselves, it will be phenomenal. People will be wanting
:18:15. > :18:22.to get on the train and going the car and go down and be part of it.
:18:22. > :18:31.Triathletes Charlotte Ellis received the Disability Sport award.
:18:31. > :18:40.Stephen Hogg picked up -- Anthony Hogg picked up the awards for Youth
:18:40. > :18:50.achievement. And Danny heart from Redcar picked up an award for
:18:50. > :18:51.
:18:51. > :18:56.mountain biking. I did not know that I would get it. I am pleased.
:18:56. > :19:00.If he is an inspiration, what about Newcastle United fan Mark Allison,
:19:00. > :19:06.who ran across the USA for charity. He received the sporting
:19:06. > :19:11.inspiration Award from one of his heroes, Newcastle United skipper
:19:11. > :19:18.Fabricio Coloccini. He has been a brilliant year and this has cut it
:19:18. > :19:22.off nicely. The important thing was raising the money.
:19:22. > :19:31.Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson joined a Who's Who of northern
:19:31. > :19:36.sport in winning their Jackie Milburn award. Tony Mowbray was
:19:36. > :19:43.surprised to be named North East sports personality of the year.
:19:43. > :19:50.am a lucky guy. I am lucky to be back where I a was born and
:19:50. > :19:54.managing the team. It has gone OK in the last year. Charlie Charlton
:19:54. > :20:00.accepted the challenge of judo lessons - without the heels, of
:20:01. > :20:05.course. Hopefully there will be some success from the North East in
:20:05. > :20:10.London 2012. Alan Pardew has more injury worries
:20:10. > :20:13.ahead of Newcastle's game against Norwich at the weekend. Danny
:20:13. > :20:17.Guthrie will be sidelined for at least a month after sustaining an
:20:18. > :20:26.injury against Chelsea and Steven Taylor also ruptured his Achilles
:20:26. > :20:33.in this game. Fabricio Coloccini went off with a thigh injury but it
:20:33. > :20:41.looks as if he may be fit. There is an outside chance of him playing.
:20:41. > :20:46.We will not risk him. Steven Taylor is out for the season and Danny
:20:46. > :20:56.Guthrie looks like he will miss the weekend as well, so that could be a
:20:56. > :20:56.
:20:56. > :21:02.46 week lay-off. -- for week to six-week lay-off. It is important
:21:02. > :21:07.now that everybody plays a part. Newcastle Falcons kick-off their
:21:08. > :21:17.Challenge Cup game and around an hour's time. The match sees the
:21:18. > :21:26.
:21:26. > :21:32.return of Jonny Wilkinson and Carl It could be windy tonight at the
:21:32. > :21:38.rugby. Now, the stars of stage and screen are getting ready for a
:21:38. > :21:45.Christmas performance at Durham Cathedral this morning. Carols of
:21:45. > :21:52.Light has been specially created by Sir Tim Rice. Barbara Dickson and
:21:52. > :21:59.Joe McElderry will perform ahead -- in front of the Countess of Wessex.
:21:59. > :22:04.We went along to rehearsals. The perfect way to kick off the
:22:04. > :22:10.festive season. Carols sung by a Durham Cathedral choristers echo
:22:10. > :22:16.around one of Britain's finest cathedrals. What does the producer,
:22:17. > :22:26.Sir Tim Rice, best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd
:22:27. > :22:27.
:22:27. > :22:34.Webber, have in store? The chance to perform with great artists from
:22:34. > :22:38.the classical world, from the pop world, from the rock world.
:22:38. > :22:43.cathedral be transformed tonight, featuring a celebrity line-up.
:22:43. > :22:53.lot of those tonight have roots in the North East. It is a really
:22:53. > :22:57.
:22:57. > :23:01.County Durham born opera star Sir Thomas Allen will take to the stage
:23:01. > :23:06.after being appointed to a new leading role as Chancellor of
:23:06. > :23:11.Durham University and Joe McElderry will perform a special version of
:23:11. > :23:18.the David Essex hit A Winter's Tale, which was written by Sir Tim Rice.
:23:18. > :23:24.I did not finish their lyrics properly, because it was rushed to
:23:24. > :23:30.get out for Christmas. It has taken me 30 years to write the third to
:23:30. > :23:35.first. I am very excited to be here to perform. And they're going to
:23:35. > :23:45.raise lots of money, too. The Carol Service is so close to raise tens
:23:45. > :23:49.
:23:49. > :23:59.of thousands of pounds. Tim Rice is a lifelong Sunderland fan. I remain
:23:59. > :24:06.
:24:06. > :24:14.Hopefully, everyone gets their safely tonight. Have the er winds
:24:14. > :24:24.peaked? Things will change overnight, not necessarily for the
:24:24. > :24:25.
:24:25. > :24:33.better. His will be a bit more We see that the depression crossing
:24:33. > :24:38.the North of Scotland there. There are very strong winds, all adding
:24:38. > :24:43.up to cause problems today. There was some warm air in there.
:24:43. > :24:47.Temperatures much warmer than what we have seen of late. Most places
:24:48. > :24:52.made it into double figures, which melted the snow that had fallen
:24:52. > :25:02.very quickly. That combined with a few hours of heavy rain to cause
:25:02. > :25:03.
:25:03. > :25:11.some flooding problems. The windiest place in our region?
:25:12. > :25:21.Carlisle. There is still a Met Office warning in force. The wins
:25:21. > :25:28.will decrease over the night. -- the winds. There will be some icy
:25:28. > :25:38.patches returning as the head through the night. Those winds
:25:38. > :25:39.
:25:39. > :25:43.wellies through the night. -- will ease off during the night. It is
:25:43. > :25:51.the areas that saw that snow previously in the last week that
:25:51. > :25:58.will be most likely to see snow again. In many areas, the ground
:25:59. > :26:02.will be cold enough for ice to form. There will be added problems thanks
:26:02. > :26:09.to the low temperatures and those showers. It is a generally dry
:26:09. > :26:13.picture, there will be a few showers again. There will be some
:26:13. > :26:21.sleet and snow mixed in. There might be a fair amount of dry
:26:21. > :26:29.weather as well. Although it is lighter than today's winds,
:26:29. > :26:35.temperatures will struggle to get up above freezing tomorrow. As the
:26:35. > :26:43.head through the next few days, that is the pattern. Things are
:26:43. > :26:52.looking a bit quieter on Friday. It will be breezy at times. Some of
:26:52. > :27:01.those showers will still be wintery over the high ground. Dry, bright
:27:01. > :27:09.and cold on Saturday. More rain on Sunday. We will keep you updated on
:27:09. > :27:13.your local radio station tomorrow It pays to be informed at the
:27:13. > :27:18.moment. Scotland has been battered by the
:27:18. > :27:26.worst torment 10 years. It has left schools closed and 50,000 people
:27:26. > :27:31.without power. In our area, roads have been affected and two people
:27:31. > :27:35.were taken to hospital after being rescued by an RAF helicopter.