08/12/2011 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Welcome to Thursday's Look North. In tonight's headlines: A multi-

million pounds deal to save these paintings for the region has

collapsed. Weather alert. Roads and trains

have been affected by the high winds. We'll have the latest.

Trailblazer. The inspirational story of how this 18-year-old

became a torchbearer for the London Olympics.

And Durham Cathedral Choir gets ready for a carol concert - with a

difference. In sport, injuries turn up the heat

on the Magpies ahead of a trip to Delia Smith's Norwich.

And a busy night for this man as the great and the good turned out

for an evening of sporting The Severe weather that has been

battling Scotland has made its presence felt in our region. There

is some flooding in Cumbria. We are getting reports that an aria

helicopter was called to North Yorkshire after a car was swept

into a river and three people were rescued. Our reporter joined us

from Yorkshire. For a while this afternoon that

wind died down that in the last hour or so it has picked up again

with some a strong gust. It has been causing quite a few problems.

We are still getting more information about that incident in

his wheel. We believe a car went into a river and the RAF were

called in to rescue the occupants. Across the North East today the

weather has been causing all sorts of issues.

Across the region to the the rain fell and the wind blew. Most get

moving but the danger signs were up there in flashing light. At Scotch

Corner no traffic was allowed to head towards Penrith for a period

although after about one hour it did the open.

15 miles west it was obvious why the road had been shut for a time.

This is the summit of one of the busiest Trans Pennine it routes on

the border between Cumbrae and County Durham. It was late this

morning that this lorry was blown over. Luckily the driver escaped

without injury but it shows a strong the wind has been. I had to

respond to our wagon that had overturned. I found there were a

few police cars and the wagon was lying in lean-to. How long had it

been here for? Possibly overnight. Up here fast melting snow from

earlier in the week has also been causing a few problems with

flooding. On the trains the high wind meant

no electric services running north of Newcastle. Timetables were

revised to take into account the storms. I am not worried. I am sure

British Rail have got our safety in mind. I have been told due to high

winds in Scotland and the bridge being closed and will not get past

Edinburgh. I have to choose whether to stay here or travel to Edinburgh

and then find a hotel there. strong winds are forecast to

continue well into the night. The worst may still be yet to come.

Those incidents still keep clocking up. We have just heard the B1 is

closed in Northumberland at Belford. There has been a report of flooding

in it Swale deal. A lot of water coming of the Pennines. There are

going to be more problems this evening. Keep up-to-date with your

local radio station. Hour whether expert joins us now.

Which areas are her worst affected? The whole area has been effected.

It is due to this vicious front. Central pressure is 955 millibars.

The way they isobars are packed shows how strong the wings are. It

is a combination of strong winds and heavy rain. And also fast

melting snow lying on high ground is giving us all sorts of problems.

Central and southern Scotland is covered by a red warning area.

Moving further behind we are in an amber warning area. We are not out

of the woods yet. IQ. We will hear more later.

The multi-million pound offer to buy a unique collection of historic

paintings has been dramatically withdrawn by the man who said he'd

save them for the North East. Jonathan Ruffer had reached

agreement with the Church Commissioners to buy the set of

Zurbaran paintings hanging at Auckland Castle for �15 million -

and keep them there. But now he says the commissioners have added

unacceptable conditions to the deal and he's pulling out. This could

mean the paintings going to auction and leaving the region and perhaps

the country. Adrian Pitches reports:

These are the paintings depicting the Biblical characters of Jacob

and his 12 sons painted by Francisco Zurbaran in the 1640s.

And this is the man - Jonathan Ruffer - who's pledged to save them

for the North East and turn Auckland Castle into a showcase for

this regional treasure. It is here in the splendour of Auckland Castle

that the Zurbarans have hung for 250 years. There may not be here

much longer. The paintings have been valued at

�15 million. Church Commissioners would like to see that money.

Jonathan Ruffer has offered that sum. But if negotiations fail the

paintings could go to auction and the paintings could goal brought.

The newly enthroned Bishop of Durham has urged the Church

Commissioners and Mr Ruffer to continue negotiations so the deal

to keep the Zurbarans at Auckland Castle can be revived.

It is not just me. All of us who were interested in the future of

preserving their heritage of the paintings need to work to look for

a solution between the Church Commissioners and Jonathan Ruffer.

Besides their artistic and historic significance, the plans for

Auckland Castle and its paintings are of great importance for

economic regeneration in County Durham.

Joseph of Technicolor Dreamcoat fame astounded his father Jacob and

his 11 brothers with his dreams. is really important that we

emphasise that everybody should get round the table. Should the end

reward in terms of keeping their Zurbarans here and in terms of

developing Auckland Castle will be well worth it. Joseph of

technicolour Dream Coat fe me astounded his brother two with his

It's still a dream for their portraits to remain in County

Durham but it needs a new agreement for that dream to be realised.

Adrian Pitches, BBC Look North, Bishop Auckland.

A Teesside University lecturer, arrested over phone hacking

allegations at the News of the World, has been told she won't face

charges. Bethany Usher, who's 31, denied any wrongdoing after she was

questioned last week over her time working for the tabloid. A Scotland

Yard spokesman said there would be no further action.

Robert Black, the man who killed Northumberland schoolgirl Susan

Maxwell, has been jailed for a minimum of 25 years for the murder

of a nine year old girl in Northern Ireland in 1981.

Black's already serving a 35 year sentence for the murders of 11-

year-old Susan from Cornhill on Tweed, as well as two other girls

in the 1980s. Today he was sentenced for the killing of a

fourth girl - 9-year-old Jennifer Cardy.

It appears there'll be no financial bail-out for the troubled Health

Trust which runs hospitals in North and West Cumbria. MPs in Carlisle

and Copeland had been pushing for the Department of Health to help

ease the impact of a financial crisis on patient care. But a

letter from a health minister suggests extra money isn't the

answer. The Trust itself though says the issue is one for

politicians. Mark McAlindon reports. Even leading doctors at the North

Cumbria NHS Trust have described the situation at the two hospitals

in Carlisle and Whitehaven as, "close to breaking point." Many

fear that cuts are putting incredible strain on patient care

and that further savings can't be made without making that worse. The

Trust is also saddled with multi- million-pound annual repayments

under the PFI scheme which was used to build the Cumberland Infirmary

in Carlisle. Last month, the Copeland MP Jamie

Reed wrote to the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley asking for the

Department to come to the rescue. In 2008 I wrote to the then Health

Secretary regarding debts and they were wiped out it was a clean slate.

It is disturbing and disappointing that we are in this situation again.

It clearly is local accountability which needs to be brought into play

here. There is also a lot of national accountability to be

brought in here. I was hopeful that the Secretary of State would assist

us financially. But now Health Minister Simon Burns

Both Jamie Reed and his Carlisle equivalent, John Stevenson say

they'll continue to push for more financial support. Mark McAlindon,

BBC Look North, Carlisle. Newcastle is one of eight English

cities going to be handed more power. The city will be able to cut

its business rates, and spend more of what it collects. The Government

says it's a dramatic shift of power, and will help to create jobs and

get the economy moving. But as our Political Editor Richard Moss

reports, not everyone in Newcastle is convinced.

The Deputy Prime Minister announces plans to give new powers to

England's big cities, including Newcastle. And after all Christmas

is a time for giving. What extra powers are being offered?

The Government says Newcastle will get greater powers to co-ordinate

public transport, build houses, create apprenticeships and offer

business rate discounts to selected companies. If we can keep this

sights on the ambitious goal I believe this will have a big

transformative effect on the millions of people live and our

biggest cities. And this is the man who could well

be exercising those powers. The problem is, he's not actually sure

what they are. The next it was clear about the responsibilities

but far less clear about the powers. The devil is in the detail. The

government was hot on spent but we have not had a great deal of detail.

And there are concerns that giving the council the power to cut

business rates for some and not for others will be unfair. Councils are

there to offer everyone a level playing field. They are not there

to discriminate in favour of one or another. If I have a successful

business and I expect to be able to draw down on council services just

the same as anybody else and not necessarily have to pay more for

that privilege. The Government insists the new

powers will be a Christmas gift worth cherishing. But we might have

to wait and see if they are more than just window dressing.

And there's more on this in the Politics Show, Sunday, at 12 noon,

here on BBC1. It's one of the most coveted jobs

of 2012, to carry the Olympic torch, and an honour that brought a lot of

interest - 68,000 nominations. And today hundreds of people from our

region received the prestigious offer to carry the torch when it

comes to us next June. One of them is 18 year old Jessica Colborn from

Allenheads near Hexham. She was nominated by the Stroke Association.

Julie Smith's been to meet her. was amazing when I got the phone

call. I was speechless. It will be amazing. It will be a good

atmosphere. The waiting is over for Jessica Colborn. Like other Olympic

hopefuls she is an inspiration. Chosen to carry the Olympic torch

inner region because of her story of inspiration. She had a stroke 18

I was 17 when I had my stroke and in the past 18 months I have been

through a lot. I had to learn to walk and talk again. She left there

in October 2010 and, with a lot of support, she has been getting

better every day. She has turned her life around and is applying to

university to become a doctor. This chance has come at the right time

for her. It means so much. It will be two years since I had my stroke

so it will be an amazing celebration that I will remember

Our summer might have been a bit of all washout, but it was a bumper

year for the apple harvest and growers are coming up with all

sorts of ways of using up the crop. We have been finding out more about

Nothing sums up England quite like a country garden and his tortured.

This year, the apple harvest has been one of the best. -- a country

garden and an apple orchard. Here, they are Apple experts, with

knowledge of many varieties, centuries old and from all over the

world. If you thought autumn was the only time for an apple, think

again. There are many different varieties of apple and England and

we rely on them to keep us right through. This is an iron apple, and

it should keep right through until June as a cooking apple. Last year,

when there was a lot of snow, I found apples through the snow and

they were still crispy and fit to eat. What are we going to do with

this glut of Apple's? Obviously, you can make pies or crumbles,

Japanese or sauces, or you could have Cider With Christmas dinner.

But there is another use for the Apple. Just a few miles away in the

Pennines, the great serve it -- the grape harvest has been so poor. The

great harvest has been poor and they have turned to apples.

spend so much time trying to grow grapes when you can make wine from

other wonderful fruits? Why are they such a good substitute?

Because it has a good amount of sugar, about half the amount of

sugar as great juice, it has tannins, which are good for mature

in the wind, giving it a harshness and body, and it has pretty much

everything that a great has, just not as much sugar. We met it with

elderflower and it gives a beautiful decay of elderflower so

that it smells and tastes like summer. -- a beautiful Bucquet.

Would you like to taste some? taste of summer or on a cool

winter's day. What more could you want from a humble apple?

Back from a glitzy affair last night, Dawn, wasn't it?

Middlesbrough Football Club picked up two of the prizes at the North

East Sports Awards last night. The great and the good joined the stars

of the future and the unsung heroes of grassroots sport as there

prestigious event was held on Tyneside for their first time.

I rousing start to the evening from these Gateshead college students.

They use the running track at the academy of sport as a dance floor.

The region's Olympians and power Olympians were asked to take about

what London 2012 approaching. excited as we are now, I guarantee

you that when this torch starts coming through the region, and then

the games themselves, it will be phenomenal. People will be wanting

to get on the train and going the car and go down and be part of it.

Triathletes Charlotte Ellis received the Disability Sport award.

Stephen Hogg picked up -- Anthony Hogg picked up the awards for Youth

achievement. And Danny heart from Redcar picked up an award for

mountain biking. I did not know that I would get it. I am pleased.

If he is an inspiration, what about Newcastle United fan Mark Allison,

who ran across the USA for charity. He received the sporting

inspiration Award from one of his heroes, Newcastle United skipper

Fabricio Coloccini. He has been a brilliant year and this has cut it

off nicely. The important thing was raising the money.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson joined a Who's Who of northern

sport in winning their Jackie Milburn award. Tony Mowbray was

surprised to be named North East sports personality of the year.

am a lucky guy. I am lucky to be back where I a was born and

managing the team. It has gone OK in the last year. Charlie Charlton

accepted the challenge of judo lessons - without the heels, of

course. Hopefully there will be some success from the North East in

London 2012. Alan Pardew has more injury worries

ahead of Newcastle's game against Norwich at the weekend. Danny

Guthrie will be sidelined for at least a month after sustaining an

injury against Chelsea and Steven Taylor also ruptured his Achilles

in this game. Fabricio Coloccini went off with a thigh injury but it

looks as if he may be fit. There is an outside chance of him playing.

We will not risk him. Steven Taylor is out for the season and Danny

Guthrie looks like he will miss the weekend as well, so that could be a

46 week lay-off. -- for week to six-week lay-off. It is important

now that everybody plays a part. Newcastle Falcons kick-off their

Challenge Cup game and around an hour's time. The match sees the

return of Jonny Wilkinson and Carl It could be windy tonight at the

rugby. Now, the stars of stage and screen are getting ready for a

Christmas performance at Durham Cathedral this morning. Carols of

Light has been specially created by Sir Tim Rice. Barbara Dickson and

Joe McElderry will perform ahead -- in front of the Countess of Wessex.

We went along to rehearsals. The perfect way to kick off the

festive season. Carols sung by a Durham Cathedral choristers echo

around one of Britain's finest cathedrals. What does the producer,

Sir Tim Rice, best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd

Webber, have in store? The chance to perform with great artists from

the classical world, from the pop world, from the rock world.

cathedral be transformed tonight, featuring a celebrity line-up.

lot of those tonight have roots in the North East. It is a really

County Durham born opera star Sir Thomas Allen will take to the stage

after being appointed to a new leading role as Chancellor of

Durham University and Joe McElderry will perform a special version of

the David Essex hit A Winter's Tale, which was written by Sir Tim Rice.

I did not finish their lyrics properly, because it was rushed to

get out for Christmas. It has taken me 30 years to write the third to

first. I am very excited to be here to perform. And they're going to

raise lots of money, too. The Carol Service is so close to raise tens

of thousands of pounds. Tim Rice is a lifelong Sunderland fan. I remain

Hopefully, everyone gets their safely tonight. Have the er winds

peaked? Things will change overnight, not necessarily for the

better. His will be a bit more We see that the depression crossing

the North of Scotland there. There are very strong winds, all adding

up to cause problems today. There was some warm air in there.

Temperatures much warmer than what we have seen of late. Most places

made it into double figures, which melted the snow that had fallen

very quickly. That combined with a few hours of heavy rain to cause

some flooding problems. The windiest place in our region?

Carlisle. There is still a Met Office warning in force. The wins

will decrease over the night. -- the winds. There will be some icy

patches returning as the head through the night. Those winds

wellies through the night. -- will ease off during the night. It is

the areas that saw that snow previously in the last week that

will be most likely to see snow again. In many areas, the ground

will be cold enough for ice to form. There will be added problems thanks

to the low temperatures and those showers. It is a generally dry

picture, there will be a few showers again. There will be some

sleet and snow mixed in. There might be a fair amount of dry

weather as well. Although it is lighter than today's winds,

temperatures will struggle to get up above freezing tomorrow. As the

head through the next few days, that is the pattern. Things are

looking a bit quieter on Friday. It will be breezy at times. Some of

those showers will still be wintery over the high ground. Dry, bright

and cold on Saturday. More rain on Sunday. We will keep you updated on

your local radio station tomorrow It pays to be informed at the

moment. Scotland has been battered by the

worst torment 10 years. It has left schools closed and 50,000 people

without power. In our area, roads have been affected and two people

were taken to hospital after being rescued by an RAF helicopter.