:00:04. > :00:08.Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North. Tonight.
:00:08. > :00:10.Deal or no deal? Why have plans for a new train building factory been
:00:10. > :00:13.hit by delays? Moving to the Met - Cumbria's top
:00:13. > :00:16.police officer reflects on the county's "terrible tragedies" as he
:00:16. > :00:24.prepares to leave for a new job in London.
:00:24. > :00:28.Thousands head for the sun as the big Christmas getaway begins.
:00:28. > :00:31.It's going to be about 19 according to one of our friends and we're
:00:31. > :00:34.looking forward to having Tapas in the old part and chilled Rose wine.
:00:34. > :00:37.And, how the north handed in a mountain of winter coats to help
:00:37. > :00:44.those in need this Christmas. In sport, ten goals but only one
:00:44. > :00:54.winner - O'Neill tastes victory again with Sunderland. But despair
:00:54. > :00:55.
:00:55. > :00:59.for the Magpies as the winless run continues.
:00:59. > :01:03.It was a deal that promised to bring thousands of jobs to the
:01:03. > :01:06.North. But nine months after it was announced, there's still no word on
:01:06. > :01:09.when work on a new railway carriage factory in Country Durham will
:01:09. > :01:12.start. Hitachi, the company behind the plant, wanted to sign an
:01:12. > :01:16.agreement with the Government by the end of the year. But it hasn't
:01:16. > :01:19.happened. And it now looks like it'll be 2015 before production
:01:19. > :01:26.does finally begin. The factory at Newton Aycliffe would create 500
:01:26. > :01:30.jobs, plus many more in the supply chain.
:01:30. > :01:32.In May, the popularity of the rail project was apparent. 600 companies
:01:32. > :01:39.signed up to hear the opportunities that Hitachi's carriage-making
:01:40. > :01:42.plant can bring. Not everyone was impressed though. Jo Biker has her
:01:42. > :01:44.own events management company in North Yorkshire. She regularly
:01:44. > :01:54.works for blue chip businesses and registered her interest with
:01:54. > :01:58.Hitachi. I felt towards the end when they were finishing off the
:01:58. > :02:05.registration process, it was for the construction and engineering
:02:05. > :02:09.industries. Their fall for the likes of my services, it was pretty
:02:09. > :02:14.much know go. I felt I wasn't able to get through the doors and
:02:14. > :02:18.therefore I backed off a little bit. It is a great pity and I hoped I
:02:19. > :02:22.would hear back from them, as they did promised they would contact me.
:02:22. > :02:25.Other potential suppliers have also yet to hear anything. And they're
:02:25. > :02:28.going to be waiting longer than anticipated. The deal to supply
:02:28. > :02:32.1,400 new carriages has to be signed with the Government. The aim
:02:32. > :02:37.was for the end of the year. But that's not going to happen. It
:02:37. > :02:40.could be signed by the end of March next year. But then a 90-day
:02:40. > :02:43.judicial review period would kick in, delaying it further. 2015 is
:02:43. > :02:49.the mooted date for the first carriages to come out of the new
:02:49. > :02:52.factory - 11 years after the project was first proposed. Hitachi
:02:52. > :02:56.has been to its main Japanese, European and UK banks to ask for
:02:56. > :03:00.cash to fund the scheme. But it's still in talks with other lenders
:03:00. > :03:03.for so-called secondary funding. And there have also been planning
:03:03. > :03:09.delays for three rail depots around the country that would link in with
:03:09. > :03:13.the development here at Newton Aycliffe. Hitachi though says the
:03:13. > :03:23.scheme is not in any doubt. And its benefits are still eagerly awaited
:03:23. > :03:23.
:03:23. > :03:29.in the region. It definitely is worth waiting for. It has the
:03:29. > :03:32.potential of delivering not just direct jobs, but supply-chain jobs.
:03:32. > :03:35.Right throughout the region, can get involved in this.
:03:35. > :03:38.Potential suppliers though would like the work now. As would 500
:03:38. > :03:44.other people waiting for the new jobs that Hitachi said it will
:03:44. > :03:46.create in Newton Aycliffe. Well, meanwhile up to 500 jobs
:03:46. > :03:49.could be created on Teesside's Wynyard Business Park with the
:03:49. > :03:53.building of a huge warehouse. It will be used for distributing
:03:53. > :03:59.supermarket chain ASDA's clothing range. The warehouse, on the former
:03:59. > :04:02.Samsung electronics site will come on stream in September next year.
:04:02. > :04:05.Cumbria's top policeman has been looking back on the terrible
:04:05. > :04:09.tragedies which have hit the county as he prepares to move onto a new
:04:10. > :04:12.role in London. Craig Mackey, who has landed the job of Deputy
:04:12. > :04:17.Commissioner at the Metropolitan police, says he felt "empty" when
:04:17. > :04:20.he heard an officer had died during the floods of 2009. And he says he
:04:20. > :04:30.was completely devastated by the murderous rampage of west Cumbrian
:04:30. > :04:31.
:04:31. > :04:35.taxi driver, Derrick Bird. He's been talking to Mark McAlindon.
:04:35. > :04:40.devastating floods we saw across the county. You could not help but
:04:40. > :04:45.be moved when you saw the impact it had on real people across the
:04:45. > :04:48.county. And we, like everyone else were very much part of that all the
:04:48. > :04:51.way through. There have been dark days in the
:04:51. > :04:54.five years Craig Mackey has been Cumbria's Chief Constable. It was a
:04:54. > :04:56.cold November morning when the news of police constable, Bill Barker's,
:04:56. > :05:03.disappearance was announced. Colleagues and friends feared and
:05:03. > :05:09.then were faced with the worst. How did he feel when you heard a police
:05:09. > :05:12.officer has been swept into the river that night? Very empty. It is
:05:13. > :05:14.the called nobody wants, we had lost an officer. The floods of 2009
:05:15. > :05:16.tested Cumbria police under Mackey's leadership. A genuine
:05:17. > :05:24.civil emergency, with thousands flooded out, communications broken
:05:24. > :05:27.and destruction across west Cumbria. But worse was to come. In the
:05:27. > :05:29.summer of 2010, a previously unremarkable taxi driver went on
:05:29. > :05:34.the rampage, shooting 12 people dead before turning the gun on
:05:34. > :05:37.himself. Derrick Bird threw a massive media
:05:37. > :05:47.spotlight on west Cumbria and the way the county's emergency services
:05:47. > :05:47.
:05:47. > :05:53.were able to respond. Every conceivable human emotion is going
:05:53. > :05:57.through your head when you are in the eye of the storm. On a very
:05:57. > :06:03.human level, you understand immediately what impact this is
:06:03. > :06:08.going to have on the county. And on individuals involved. Each and
:06:08. > :06:15.every one of those things people reports are statistics and we
:06:15. > :06:18.report as numbers, are people. In the New Year, this well-
:06:18. > :06:21.respected chief officer leaves for a new post as Deputy Commissioner
:06:21. > :06:24.in the Metropolitan Police. A tough task, but one he's willing to take.
:06:24. > :06:28.I have been lucky and privileged to be the Chief Constable of Cumbria
:06:28. > :06:31.and to work here with amazing people. This was a different
:06:31. > :06:35.opportunity and a point in my life were the opportunity arose and
:06:35. > :06:38.thankfully, I have been successful in terms of that process.
:06:38. > :06:48.The search for a successor starts now, and whoever it will be will
:06:48. > :06:50.
:06:50. > :06:54.A woman's died after a crash in the early hours of this morning in
:06:54. > :06:57.Gateshead. It happened on Fellside Road in Whickham. A car and a van
:06:57. > :07:00.collided just before 3.30am. The 26 year old woman involved was taken
:07:00. > :07:04.to hospital but later died. The 49- year-old van driver suffered minor
:07:04. > :07:05.injuries. Police are appealing for witnesses.
:07:06. > :07:09.Cleveland Police Authority's been criticised over redundancy payments
:07:09. > :07:11.to senior officers. An Audit Commission report says the
:07:11. > :07:17.authority inappropriately used delegated powers to approve
:07:17. > :07:21.redundancy for senior officers. The report also highlights potential
:07:21. > :07:24.overpayments on redundancy packages amounting to �35,000. The authority
:07:24. > :07:30.says significant changes have been made and it's seeking legal advice
:07:30. > :07:33.about trying to reclaim the overpayments.
:07:33. > :07:36.Police are appealing for the public's help to find a man missing
:07:36. > :07:39.from his home in South Shields since the weekend. 54 year old,
:07:39. > :07:42.Russell Chadbourne, from Whitehead Street was last seen leaving home
:07:42. > :07:45.at 8:00am on Saturday morning, December 17th. There have been no
:07:45. > :07:48.confirmed sightings of him since and officers have concerns for his
:07:48. > :07:54.welfare and state of mind. It's thought he could have travelled to
:07:54. > :08:00.Malta. The big Christmas getaway and
:08:00. > :08:03.homecoming has begun. Thousands of people are heading out of the North
:08:03. > :08:07.for the festive break and that of course means our roads and the
:08:07. > :08:09.railways will be particularly busy over the next few days. And of
:08:09. > :08:13.course some lucky people are heading further a field for some
:08:13. > :08:20.welcome winter sunshine. Adele Robinson is live for us now at
:08:20. > :08:25.Newcastle Airport, where it's been a hectic day Adele?
:08:25. > :08:30.You wouldn't be able to tell looking at it now with empty cheque
:08:30. > :08:35.in desks and no queues to be seen. But at Newcastle Airport today, it
:08:35. > :08:40.saw its busiest day of the festive season with just under 120 flight
:08:40. > :08:45.coming in and out by the end of the day. That high volume of passengers
:08:45. > :08:51.is set to continue over the coming week. With up to 100,000 people
:08:51. > :08:56.expected to travel in and out of the airport with between 800-900
:08:56. > :09:00.flights in total. On Christmas Day there will be seven flight, and one
:09:00. > :09:05.flight going to London Heathrow. That is the only public transport
:09:05. > :09:10.link to the capital on that date. While there has been a large number
:09:10. > :09:14.of people catching those types of domestic flights, there has also
:09:14. > :09:18.been at large number of people heading off to the sun. Earlier I
:09:18. > :09:24.spoke to some lucky travellers spending their Christmas in Spain.
:09:24. > :09:30.It was red hot last year. We were on the beach last year on Christmas
:09:30. > :09:39.Day. They tell us it will be about 19 and we are looking forward to
:09:39. > :09:45.eating in the old part and chilled rose wine. No turkey. No turkey for
:09:45. > :09:53.you? No, no turkey for me. Are you looking forward to your hotter
:09:53. > :10:00.holiday? Yes, definitely. It is not just Spain, have a
:10:00. > :10:05.destinations, Dubai and Thailand. It is clear that despite the
:10:05. > :10:10.economic difficulties, Newcastle Airport is managing to hold down
:10:10. > :10:16.those passenger numbers. This is a robust airport. We are in good
:10:16. > :10:23.shape. People need to travel. It is not just for holidays. People live
:10:23. > :10:25.around the world and they are coming back for Christmas. The
:10:25. > :10:29.students at the north-eastern universities are travelling home
:10:29. > :10:36.for Christmas. But there are the lucky people going on holiday. We
:10:36. > :10:40.have had flights to Egypt and Dubai. It is not just the planes, it is
:10:40. > :10:45.the trains, East Coast Main Line, Virgin and cross country are
:10:45. > :10:50.predicting their busiest day tomorrow. East-coast mainline is
:10:50. > :10:56.expecting more than 28,000 pre-book passengers. Extra staff will be put
:10:57. > :11:02.on duty at stations like Newcastle and York. On the last services to
:11:02. > :11:07.South finish on Christmas Eve at 6:30pm and trains won't resume
:11:07. > :11:11.until 27th December. The roads will be hardest hit with around 80
:11:11. > :11:16.million cars taking to the roads are nationally. The AEA has
:11:16. > :11:22.estimated there will be 850,000 cars on our roads today and
:11:22. > :11:26.tomorrow, regionally. Prepare as usual, the weather may be mild now
:11:26. > :11:32.but it can turn and you return journeys can be different from when
:11:32. > :11:38.you set Act. Listen out for all of the local BBC services for a safe
:11:38. > :11:40.and happy trip home. Mind those crowds! It was busy
:11:40. > :11:44.earlier. Still to come on Thursday's Look
:11:44. > :11:51.North: Sport from Dawn, plus - The bridge blunder that's led to red
:11:51. > :11:55.faces in Cumbria. What will the roads and the weather
:11:55. > :11:59.have in store? I will be back with the weather forecast at the end of
:11:59. > :12:01.the programme. A campaign using Twitter and
:12:01. > :12:06.Facebook to encourage donations of old winter coats to the homeless
:12:06. > :12:12.has been a spectacular success. The Winter Coat Amnesty in the North
:12:12. > :12:14.East follows a similar scheme in London. The coats will be handed
:12:14. > :12:20.out to people using the Crisis centre in Newcastle this coming
:12:20. > :12:24.weekend, from where Adrian Pitches reports.
:12:24. > :12:29.This is a mountain of winter coats that had been amassed by donors
:12:29. > :12:34.across the North East. This is not all of them. This is clerk, who has
:12:34. > :12:40.been organising it. She is sorting them out now. Ashik Ali Claire.
:12:40. > :12:44.Tell us about the amnesty, it looks like it has been a success? It has
:12:45. > :12:49.been fantastic. It was set up by five local people in the business
:12:49. > :12:55.community. We have been relying on friends from Twitter and Facebook
:12:55. > :13:01.and it has been a fantastic success. What happens to the Coates now?
:13:01. > :13:06.They will be given to the users of the crisis skylight Centre this
:13:06. > :13:11.Christmas in Newcastle. We are hoping everyone who visits will at
:13:11. > :13:15.the very least walk away with some warm winter clothing, thanks to the
:13:15. > :13:19.generosity of the people from the North East will stop the man behind
:13:19. > :13:25.crisis is Peter. What can people expect with all these amazing
:13:25. > :13:29.donated goods? The people of the North East have been generous, both
:13:29. > :13:35.in terms of coats and other items of clothing, important for someone
:13:35. > :13:40.living on the streets or in a hostel. We have had schools to make
:13:40. > :13:45.things like Pastor, hats, gloves, everything that someone might need
:13:45. > :13:50.he was going through a rough time. A warm winter coat and a food
:13:50. > :13:53.parcel will be waiting for all uses of the Centre at Christmas.
:13:53. > :13:57.The 60s pop star, Sandie Shaw, made a surprise visit to Sunderland
:13:57. > :14:00.today. She's currently in the North East on tour with the Jools Holland
:14:00. > :14:02.Band. But she went to Wearside as an ambassador for the homelessness
:14:03. > :14:06.charity Centrepoint, to see their new hostel and training centre for
:14:06. > :14:08.vulnerable young people. The �1 million purpose-built hostel opens
:14:08. > :14:18.next month, providing temporary accommodation for 18 young adults,
:14:18. > :14:24.while teaching them basic domestic and life skills.
:14:24. > :14:28.We all go on about everybody should have a job, but you need the basic
:14:28. > :14:32.skills to be able to do that. These kids in particular, because they
:14:32. > :14:35.have not had any structure in their background they need to be able to
:14:35. > :14:38.learn to give themselves structure. This is a perfect opportunity for
:14:38. > :14:40.that. Sport England has announced more
:14:40. > :14:43.than �1 million of funding to improve local facilities in the
:14:43. > :14:46.North East and Cumbria. 24 projects will benefit, including �93,000 for
:14:46. > :14:49.Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure in Northumberland. The money will
:14:49. > :14:51.provide new changing accommodation, suitable for disabled athletes, and
:14:51. > :14:58.equipment and storage facilities for the King Edward VI School in
:14:59. > :15:02.Morpeth. Now, history tells us that
:15:02. > :15:06.Christmas is a time for miracles, so how's this for a lucky escape?
:15:06. > :15:11.This calf had to be saved by fire fighters after ending up neck deep
:15:11. > :15:14.in mud. It had been born in a muddy field in Cowpen Bewley near
:15:14. > :15:18.Billingham, and become stuck. Rescuers using ropes managed to
:15:18. > :15:28.free the calf and reunite it with its mother. It's been named
:15:28. > :15:28.
:15:28. > :15:34.'miracle'. A controversial new bridge has
:15:34. > :15:39.turned into a costly problem of the National Trust in Cumbria. Building
:15:39. > :15:43.work had begun at the five years of planning, but was stopped when the
:15:43. > :15:47.foundations were found not to support the planned structure. The
:15:47. > :15:51.trust admits it is an embarrassing problem.
:15:51. > :15:55.The National Trust won't say how much it has cost them so far, but
:15:55. > :16:01.it is clearly an expensive problem Bostock it was a big decision
:16:01. > :16:07.choosing the new design, trumpeted as in a to bid, it took five years
:16:07. > :16:10.to get to the building stage after the last bridge was deemed unsafe.
:16:10. > :16:16.Having started the project the Trust has found the design won't
:16:16. > :16:21.work because the foundations cannot support it. It is slightly
:16:21. > :16:25.embarrassing, the Design came up hasn't worked when we started
:16:25. > :16:30.working on site. That happens on many construction sites and we have
:16:30. > :16:34.had to be honest and say, it is not working, we would rather build the
:16:34. > :16:38.right bridge rather than something that fell over in five years. That
:16:38. > :16:44.would be far more embarrassing. We hope our efforts over the last five
:16:44. > :16:48.years will help us continue to find the right solution. This follows
:16:48. > :16:51.existing path because of the corridor that has been created by
:16:52. > :16:55.the current structure. Under the new scheme there would be a series
:16:55. > :17:00.of channels beneath the causeway like structure which would allow
:17:00. > :17:06.the river to find its own path, like it has in the past. Thousands
:17:06. > :17:10.of walkers come here every year. The valley is the gateway to famous
:17:10. > :17:15.peaks like Star fell and Great Gable, so the trust's choice of a
:17:15. > :17:19.modern design attracted some criticism. Some people were very
:17:19. > :17:24.upset about it. It has been said walking across the bridge would
:17:24. > :17:27.make you feel as though you were walking along the prom at a more
:17:27. > :17:34.come, which is not what you would like to feel like in his wonderful
:17:34. > :17:37.landscape. There have been three bridges in the past 100 years, and
:17:37. > :17:42.it is hoped the new bridge to replace the current temporary
:17:42. > :17:48.structure would be more resilient. But until a solution can be found,
:17:48. > :17:52.the temporary bridge will stay in place.
:17:53. > :17:57.For most of us, Christmas is a time for a family, but there are some
:17:57. > :18:04.people who will be alone this weekend without any food or gifts.
:18:04. > :18:07.This is where a Stockton charity is helping women to have problems with
:18:07. > :18:14.addiction and other personal issues. This week they have been having a
:18:14. > :18:24.party. This is the latest in our series of looking at the true
:18:24. > :18:26.
:18:26. > :18:31.spirit of Christmas. Getting ready for the Christmas
:18:31. > :18:35.party. This is a charity in Stockton which helps women with
:18:35. > :18:42.problems like drugs, homelessness and mental health. People like
:18:42. > :18:49.Carla his life has changed a great deal. I am trusted, in a way that I
:18:49. > :18:55.never used to be before, with money and in certain positions. People
:18:55. > :19:01.know they can rely on me. Work as before I wasn't very dependable.
:19:01. > :19:06.She is one of the success stories, from a charity which offers
:19:06. > :19:11.education as well and not just at Christmas. It is an open door to
:19:11. > :19:15.anyone. It might be a woman whose journey either through addiction or
:19:15. > :19:18.another challenging situation is improving and they are rebuilding
:19:18. > :19:22.their lives. For the people it might be the first time they have
:19:23. > :19:27.come into the centre. People will tell you, they don't have a great
:19:27. > :19:33.deal. As well as a Christmas party there is also food parcels and
:19:33. > :19:38.presents on offer. The sum, this charity may be the only first is --
:19:38. > :19:43.festivities they attend. I haven't got many friends. The staff are so
:19:43. > :19:50.lovely and I find it a great comfort. I have had problems with
:19:50. > :19:56.depression and my weight. I have never known a place like it. They
:19:56. > :20:00.do care for you. It is not just a paid job, they do actually care.
:20:00. > :20:08.There is a lot of people that will be alone at Christmas. Been here,
:20:08. > :20:12.you don't feel alone, it is just one big family.
:20:12. > :20:17.Time for the sport and if it is goals you're looking for, we have
:20:17. > :20:22.got them. There were 10 last night. Goals
:20:23. > :20:27.galore in the two Premier League matches. Newcastle's disappointing
:20:27. > :20:36.season continued at the losing 3-2 to West Brom. But Martin O'Neill
:20:36. > :20:42.seems to have brought the Midas touch to the Black Cats.
:20:42. > :20:45.Five goals, a late winner, even the dogs were supporting the Black Cats
:20:45. > :20:50.last night. Nicklas Bendtner has made headlines for the wrong
:20:50. > :20:54.reasons recently, but he said Sunderland on the way at QPR and
:20:54. > :20:59.then celebrated in front of the fans and the dock. Sunderland
:20:59. > :21:07.doubled their lead in the second half but were pegged back as
:21:07. > :21:11.Rangers drew level in a four-minute burst. But Martin O'Neill's team
:21:12. > :21:16.were not to be denied. Wes Brown's late header meant the manager
:21:16. > :21:20.collected his second win in three games. There reach Christmas three
:21:20. > :21:24.points clear of the relegation zone. Afterwards, praise for Nicklas
:21:24. > :21:30.Bendtner. A great goal, he is a fine player
:21:30. > :21:34.in the making, it is up to him. This is a cause we want him to be
:21:34. > :21:41.involved in and he responded tonight. I think we have won it
:21:41. > :21:45.twice tonight. 2-0 up, in a grid position but we let it slip. But we
:21:45. > :21:50.came back strong in the end. A winning goal can make you feel
:21:50. > :21:55.anything, but in terms of character, I thought we showed that tonight.
:21:55. > :22:01.What a difference a few weeks make, Newcastle, who until recently had
:22:01. > :22:07.the best event record, it conceded 14 goals in six games. West Brom
:22:07. > :22:15.went ahead, much to do the light of the travelling fans. But they were
:22:15. > :22:22.soon back on level terms with a free-kick. In an entertaining game,
:22:22. > :22:29.it was the Baggies he's had the lead at half-time. Newcastle puds
:22:29. > :22:32.West Bromwich Albion's under severe pressure after the break. Winner --
:22:32. > :22:38.Newcastle were brought level again, it seemed they would go on to win.
:22:39. > :22:44.But with five minutes left, the winner was trolleyed in. In our
:22:44. > :22:49.performance tonight we could have been better. -- volley. We were
:22:49. > :22:53.cheap with possession and we want to get that win under our belt. We
:22:53. > :22:58.were desperate at times tonight and I think it showed. Sometimes you
:22:58. > :23:02.have to be more patient and be more control, especially when attacking.
:23:02. > :23:06.We were throwing numbers forward and got caught a couple of times.
:23:06. > :23:11.It is something we can reflect on but we still have a good points
:23:11. > :23:17.total and we need to take that to Bolton. Worth pondering the Magpies
:23:17. > :23:21.still had not won at home since the name was changed in November.
:23:21. > :23:25.Bad news for Darlington, Ian Miller has decided to leave. His decision
:23:26. > :23:31.comes as many of the players are having to decide their own future
:23:31. > :23:35.after a row over wages with the Germans. The caretaker boss has won
:23:35. > :23:39.Gete Wami of his last seven games, but could see his squad depleted by
:23:39. > :23:45.the time they meet Gateshead in a double header over Christmas and
:23:45. > :23:50.New Year. Rugby Union - Richard and Michael
:23:50. > :23:53.Mayhew had signed new contracts at Newcastle Falcons. They had signed
:23:54. > :23:57.two. Five-year deals after impressing so far. But the
:23:57. > :24:01.Newcastle Falcons are in trouble at the bottom of the Premiership and
:24:01. > :24:07.the points against Sale on Boxing Day.
:24:07. > :24:12.I fill sorry for sportsmen, they don't have a break. -- feel.
:24:12. > :24:16.At least they won't be playing in snow this year.
:24:16. > :24:26.Not a white Christmas as we had said at the beginning of the week.
:24:26. > :24:29.
:24:29. > :24:34.It is the winter solstice to date. It was a unseasonably mild, the
:24:34. > :24:44.mildest so far this winter with temperatures hitting 12-13 Celsius.
:24:44. > :24:49.
:24:49. > :24:53.Beautiful clouds whip this fine weather. The headline for tomorrow,
:24:53. > :24:57.and rain clouds on the way. A wet morning although the rain will
:24:57. > :25:02.clear in the afternoon. It could be wet it you are heading out to do
:25:02. > :25:06.Christmas shopping. It begins in the worst and it is misty and grey.
:25:06. > :25:13.It would clear for a time in East but it clouds over in the night
:25:13. > :25:18.with the rain splashing its way southwards. It is mild again, not
:25:18. > :25:22.quite as mild as last night that temperatures only as low as around
:25:22. > :25:27.five or six Celsius with some places even milder to begin Friday.
:25:27. > :25:32.In the morning it does not do much for us, it is a wet morning and the
:25:32. > :25:36.rain splashing south. Miserable it you are heading out to the shops.
:25:36. > :25:40.In the afternoon things brighten with Sunshine behind the main band
:25:40. > :25:47.of rain and temperatures lower when the rain has clear. Temperatures
:25:47. > :25:54.still on the mild side for this time of year. 6, 7 or eight Celsius
:25:54. > :25:58.or most places. Brighter skies and many places. More rain to come in
:25:58. > :26:04.the West later in the day on Friday, and it stays unsettled over the
:26:04. > :26:09.next few days. Tomorrow, a bit colder but the mild theme continues
:26:09. > :26:13.through Christmas weekend. We're not expecting any trouble problems
:26:13. > :26:18.with snow or ice or even Frost. Could just have a light frost in
:26:18. > :26:22.the countryside first thing on Christmas Eve. But it is a fine
:26:22. > :26:28.date for the North East and Yorkshire. Drizzly rain in the West.
:26:28. > :26:33.It is the rain that will keep things mild. Degrees is drawing in
:26:33. > :26:37.the mild Atlantic air, to Mile for it to snow on Sunday. The big day
:26:37. > :26:40.on Christmas Day looks like a wet Christmas in the West, but a cloudy
:26:40. > :26:44.Christmas elsewhere. Christmas elsewhere.
:26:44. > :26:47.I think we have got that message now, thanks. A last look at
:26:47. > :26:52.tonight's headlines: A 14 bomb attacks have left more than 60
:26:52. > :26:55.people dead in Baghdad. It is the worst violence Iraq has seen for
:26:55. > :26:58.months. A deal with it that she to make
:26:58. > :27:03.railway carriages in County Durham has not been signed nine months
:27:03. > :27:07.after it was announced. One of the things we embarked on
:27:07. > :27:11.this year was the making of a musical video about the Tyne and