:00:03. > :00:06.Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North. In the headlines
:00:06. > :00:09.tonight: The Good Samaritan mowed down by a
:00:09. > :00:11.driver escaping the scene of an accident. His killer is jailed for
:00:11. > :00:16.seven years. Shake-up in the North East
:00:16. > :00:18.Ambulance Service. Changes to 999 call-outs across the region. There
:00:18. > :00:21.are winners and losers. Great Expectations as Darlington
:00:21. > :00:23.fans move to take over the running of the football club.
:00:23. > :00:28.Our mutual friend Colin Briggs follows in the footsteps of Charles
:00:28. > :00:30.Dickens on Tyneside. And a tale of two critters - these
:00:30. > :00:34.prickly customers forgot to hibernate, and now there's a cold
:00:34. > :00:37.snap coming! In sport, we look back at a good
:00:37. > :00:41.night on the football pitch for our top three, including a first
:00:41. > :00:51.Premier League goal for this man, and a second in four days for the
:00:51. > :01:01.
:01:01. > :01:06.A driver has been jailed for knocking down and killing a man who
:01:06. > :01:11.had stopped to help at the scene of an accident. Michael Ritson had his
:01:11. > :01:16.family in the car when he went to the aid of a motor cyclist, but
:01:16. > :01:23.Steven Black drove into him, killing him. Blackwood's jailed for
:01:23. > :01:30.seven years today. Killed after trying to help.
:01:30. > :01:33.Michael Ritson, a father of three, had gone to the aid of an injured
:01:33. > :01:39.biker. A split second decision that was to have devastating
:01:39. > :01:44.consequences. Michael Ritson had pulled over here, on the bypass,
:01:44. > :01:48.after witnessing a crash between a car and a motorcycle. He stood in
:01:48. > :01:54.front of the car, believing that the driver, Steven Black, was
:01:54. > :01:58.attempting to flee the scene. But he drove straight at him. He hit
:01:58. > :02:04.the windscreen, it was thrown on the roof of the car and onto the
:02:04. > :02:09.road. He suffered head injuries and died in hospital two days later.
:02:09. > :02:14.Steven Black, who had his daughter in the car with him, pleaded guilty
:02:14. > :02:20.to causing death by dangerous driving. His defence was that he
:02:20. > :02:24.had not intended to leave the scene of the accident. End a recording of
:02:24. > :02:31.the call played to the court, Black was heard to tell the operator "I
:02:31. > :02:36.have got some idiot tried to getting". The actions of Steven
:02:36. > :02:40.Blackwood callous and it reckless. They have had a massive impact on
:02:40. > :02:45.the family of Michael Ritson. It has been devastating for his wife,
:02:45. > :02:52.three children and parents. The children were in the car when this
:02:52. > :02:58.tragedy occurred. Michael Ritson's widow, Tracey, told the court of
:02:58. > :03:06.her overwhelming grief. She said, "I have lost my best friend. I
:03:06. > :03:13.cannot describe the pain I feel." Steven was sentenced to prison for
:03:13. > :03:17.seven years. Changes in the running of the North
:03:17. > :03:20.East Ambulance Service have been announced. The service says it has
:03:20. > :03:28.had to do this because it could not guarantee that none 99 call-outs
:03:28. > :03:36.would get to patients in time. But critics say the plans could put
:03:36. > :03:40.lives at risk. The North East Ambulance Service
:03:40. > :03:46.response to emergencies from the Scottish borders, to North
:03:46. > :03:53.Yorkshire and West of the Pennines. It serves over 2.5 million people.
:03:53. > :03:58.But now it is planning major changes. The changes include
:03:58. > :04:03.expanding its urgent care category of ambulance. These do not have
:04:03. > :04:08.paramedics on board, but that would leave paramedic ambulances to
:04:08. > :04:13.concentrate on emergencies. What we aim to achieve this they focus on
:04:13. > :04:18.making sure that where it is a transport arrangement with clinical
:04:18. > :04:24.supervision, those patients are treated by our urgent care team,
:04:24. > :04:28.and leaving our paramedics more free and able to respond to more
:04:28. > :04:36.life-threatening conditions. ambulance service is changing its
:04:36. > :04:44.map as to what services are offered to wear. Some places will gain a
:04:44. > :04:48.double croute paramedic ambulance, but others will lose one of theirs.
:04:48. > :04:55.The service says there will be no redundancies, and says the changes
:04:55. > :05:02.will not jeopardise the health of patients. But the MP of Berwick
:05:02. > :05:07.says the plant may put lives at risk. People from -- people feel
:05:07. > :05:12.very strongly of this. They know the value of ambulance services.
:05:12. > :05:21.They do not want a situation where if one ambulance is 50 miles away,
:05:21. > :05:25.they have got to find another one. The union Unison it says the move
:05:25. > :05:34.damages the ambulance service and will leave staff and patients
:05:34. > :05:41.missing out. If you look at this planet, there is a need for
:05:41. > :05:46.services in that area for patience and staff. There will be a
:05:46. > :05:50.reduction of qualified staff. the service is under pressure. The
:05:50. > :05:55.number of 999 calls has doubled in the last 10 years, and the service
:05:56. > :06:04.needs to find savings of �200 million. It is hoped the changes
:06:04. > :06:07.will come in by the end of the year. It's a new dawn for Darlington. The
:06:07. > :06:10.fans have stepped in to run the club which was facing extinction
:06:10. > :06:13.just a week ago. There are successful clubs across Europe
:06:13. > :06:18.which are run by their fans - from AFC Wimbledon to the mighty
:06:18. > :06:21.Barcelona. Darlington is not expecing to win the Champions
:06:21. > :06:25.League just yet, but the manager is now viewing the future with
:06:25. > :06:35.cautious optimism. Keith Akehurst has all the latest developments.
:06:35. > :06:40.
:06:40. > :06:45.Darlington players train on the outskirts of Durham city today.
:06:45. > :06:51.They were given the go-ahead to start a community interest club,
:06:51. > :06:59.but what does this mean? Keep centres of activity for unemployed
:06:59. > :07:03.young people, a creche, a theatre. You can encompass all of this in a
:07:03. > :07:09.community club. It becomes a football club it comes to the
:07:09. > :07:14.community. It means the club can survive without an individual
:07:14. > :07:24.playing a part. The fate of Darlington Football Club is now in
:07:24. > :07:26.the hands of the managers and players.
:07:26. > :07:29.They are looking to model themselves on Spanish teams like
:07:29. > :07:31.Real Madrid and Barcelona. They expect to offer what they call
:07:31. > :07:34."bitesize chunks" that are affordable for ordinary supporters.
:07:34. > :07:38.But a reported �500,000 is needed before the end of the season. Craig
:07:38. > :07:43.Liddle's optimism is laced with caution. I think it sounds good,
:07:43. > :07:49.but we are not getting too carried away. The last few weeks have been
:07:49. > :07:52.aimed roller-coaster. Until it is all done, we will not get carried
:07:52. > :07:59.away. Advice is being sought from Supporters Direct, an independent
:07:59. > :08:03.body that helps communities run their own sports clubs. We have got
:08:03. > :08:08.AFC Wimbledon it back and the Football League, we have got Exeter
:08:08. > :08:14.City End League One, we also have Wrexham have recently taken over by
:08:14. > :08:21.the fans. You only have to look to Germany where many clubs are owned
:08:21. > :08:24.by the fans to show it can be a successful model. The for Bob Crow
:08:24. > :08:34.believe they have achieved their aim of stopping the club going bust.
:08:34. > :08:34.
:08:34. > :08:38.Now, they will meet in this hotel tonight to plan the future.
:08:38. > :08:44.If you were given the choice between a small wind farm on your
:08:44. > :08:47.doorstep or a large one, which one would you go for? The people in
:08:47. > :08:57.Northumberland want the large one because the development could kick-
:08:57. > :08:57.
:08:57. > :09:02.start a large leisure complex, which promises to create 800 jobs.
:09:02. > :09:06.They have had the scars of opencast the years, they have had foot-and-
:09:06. > :09:14.mouth burial site, so the last thing the people would want is a
:09:14. > :09:22.wind farm. But what did that when farm brought with it a golf Carles,
:09:22. > :09:32.Holiday Village, hotel, even an Olympic-sized swimming-pool? It is
:09:32. > :09:33.
:09:33. > :09:38.called the blue sky project. It is definitely blue sky, and we have
:09:38. > :09:43.been working on this for over 10 years. It has been a hard slog, but
:09:43. > :09:49.we have committed developers on board who are putting money into
:09:49. > :09:53.the planning and developing of the project. It is growing. We are very
:09:53. > :09:59.pleased with the way things have gone. The key to that development
:09:59. > :10:04.is a wind farm off 13 up turbines proposed by a company, because it
:10:04. > :10:10.would build all the roads and put in all the services, which the
:10:10. > :10:14.developers would like before this dark spending money. Jobs could
:10:14. > :10:23.follow. But another company, which wants to build four turbines, could
:10:23. > :10:28.get planning permission first. are keen that the local authority
:10:28. > :10:32.make a decision on the adjacent wind farm with the information
:10:32. > :10:38.available, including the planning application we have submitted. It
:10:38. > :10:42.does not mean that both can't move forward. The County Council says it
:10:42. > :10:50.will not prejudge the schemes, and that all applications are judged on
:10:50. > :10:52.their own it merits. People living in one of the
:10:52. > :10:55.remotest valleys in the Lake District are facing another two
:10:55. > :10:58.months without electricity. 11 properties in the tiny community of
:10:58. > :11:00.Wasdale have been cut off since Christmas Eve. A section of cable
:11:00. > :11:05.at the bottom of Wastwater needs replacing and Electricity North
:11:05. > :11:08.West says it won't be fixed until Easter.
:11:08. > :11:12.According to new figures, more than 11 people die every day from
:11:12. > :11:15.smoking-related diseases in the North East. The statistics, from
:11:15. > :11:20.anti-smoking agency Fresh, show that nearly one in five deaths in
:11:20. > :11:30.adults over 35 is due to smoking. That's more than 4,200 people in
:11:30. > :11:33.
:11:33. > :11:38.the North East every year. A World War Two glider is being restored at
:11:38. > :11:45.the regimental museum in Carlisle Castle. It is thought the glider
:11:45. > :11:51.was used to carry Border Regiment troops into Sicily.
:11:51. > :11:56.Damien has been to meet the man who has tried put it back together.
:11:56. > :12:05.Nearly 14,000 gliders were built during World War Two, and carried
:12:05. > :12:10.troops into battle. Made from metal and plywood, and covered in fabric,
:12:10. > :12:17.in the post war years the box they were shipped in it was worth more
:12:17. > :12:23.than the glider itself. This lump of steel was discovered in a field.
:12:23. > :12:30.After the war, when the timber was rationed, this thing came up packed
:12:30. > :12:34.in five huge crates, bearing in mind there had a wingspan of 84
:12:34. > :12:40.feet. The farmers used to buy these things, and through the glider in
:12:40. > :12:47.the field and use the timber around the farm because it was rash and.
:12:47. > :12:57.This is a side of the glider. The entrance was here. This was the
:12:57. > :13:00.
:13:00. > :13:09.wheel, and this was the win support. -- the wing to support. And apply a
:13:09. > :13:15.wood. Very brave indeed! During the war, this space here would have
:13:15. > :13:22.been occupied by 15 men, or four men and a Jeep. Flying through the
:13:22. > :13:29.air, being shot that bite the Germans with no protection at all.
:13:29. > :13:33.-- with no protection. You're watching Look North. Still
:13:33. > :13:36.to come: A Dickens of a tale from Colin Briggs, and Dawn has all the
:13:36. > :13:46.goals from last night's football. Plus: Is it too late to hibernate?
:13:46. > :13:47.
:13:47. > :13:55.This hedgehog needs to wrap up warm Very cold temperatures. I will be
:13:55. > :13:59.back with all the details. Next Tuesday is the two hundredth
:13:59. > :14:06.anniversary of the birth of one of our greatest novelists, Charles
:14:06. > :14:10.Dickens. The BBC has already mark the bicentenary with a new TV
:14:10. > :14:14.adaptations. This autumn, the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle will present a
:14:14. > :14:24.lavish stage production of his ghost stories. Dickens had strong
:14:24. > :14:27.
:14:27. > :14:31.links with the North, as Colin The one-man show - a stand-up
:14:31. > :14:35.comedians sell-out arenas, thousands come to see them. But an
:14:35. > :14:41.author? One man, alone on stage, one man, just reading extracts from
:14:42. > :14:48.his books. That is what Dickens did, and he packed them in.
:14:48. > :14:52.The venue was the city's premise it -- premier music hall. I don't know
:14:52. > :14:58.about bringing the house down, he needed brought it -- burned it down
:14:58. > :15:05.when he started a fire. A woman screamed but Dickens kept his cool.
:15:05. > :15:10.He said it, please, please, sit down. We will fix it. She sat down
:15:10. > :15:15.and they all applauded him. He stood with his hands in his pockets
:15:15. > :15:19.and said that he was so frightened that if he turned his back, they
:15:19. > :15:22.would all flee. When he played Newcastle, Dickens
:15:22. > :15:28.stayed here at the Royal Station Hotel.
:15:28. > :15:32.He liked his entourage to stay with him. If he had a big group of
:15:32. > :15:38.people, they could not or stay at his friends' houses, but he did
:15:38. > :15:42.tend to stay with in a hotel where he could have a bit of privacy, and
:15:42. > :15:52.he had the opportunity to learn his words and to practise and to
:15:52. > :15:54.
:15:54. > :15:57.He was an inveterate wanderer, always looking for stories. A
:15:57. > :16:03.stroll to the quayside reveal details -- telephone and
:16:03. > :16:06.traumatised by the loss of two sons at sea and moved by tales of
:16:06. > :16:10.unidentified bodies being plucked from the river.
:16:10. > :16:17.He said that in any body found a body in the River Tyne and did not
:16:17. > :16:21.have any identification, the body would be pulled out and the person
:16:21. > :16:26.would get a guinea. Dickens's her the story and he
:16:26. > :16:32.liked it and used it as a basis for one of his stories, our Mutual
:16:32. > :16:38.Friend. In the town, pubs like the old
:16:38. > :16:46.George provided rich pickings. This tale involves the artist and Ralph
:16:46. > :16:51.Headley forced up wrath was walking down the row off Headley.
:16:51. > :16:55.A stranger stopped him and said stop, let them fight on. They are
:16:55. > :17:00.British boys fighting in a British fashion. If you stop them, they
:17:00. > :17:04.will go away and fight again. If you let them fight, they will end
:17:04. > :17:08.up being pals afterwards. The pair exchanged cards. It was
:17:08. > :17:13.not until he got home that he realised that the stranger was in
:17:13. > :17:17.fact the country's best-selling author. Dickens never missed a
:17:17. > :17:23.chance to add to his gallery of characters. They rang true because
:17:23. > :17:27.they were largely taken from real life. Polished, modified, slyly,
:17:28. > :17:32.but real people with real quirks and real personalities.
:17:33. > :17:38.As Dickens completed his last tour of the region, so the theatre was
:17:38. > :17:48.finished off. He never made it back here, but if he had, the draw would
:17:48. > :17:50.
:17:50. > :18:00.have been irresistible. And what a Just fascinating. Colin's died, Pat
:18:00. > :18:04.
:18:04. > :18:08.Lowery, will be leading a series of There's just 176 days to go until
:18:08. > :18:13.the Olympics. But will the 2012 London Gazeley a sporting legacy
:18:13. > :18:15.for young people in the North? The likes of Steve Cram, Alison
:18:15. > :18:19.Curbishley and Sally Gunnell hope so. They launched the Olympic
:18:19. > :18:24.challenge for children in Newcastle this morning, culminating in the
:18:24. > :18:34.country's biggest ever school sports event at this summer.
:18:34. > :18:35.
:18:35. > :18:39.It is not about the winning. Thankfully! Unit there. -- you
:18:39. > :18:46.missed there. It is not to do for a professional
:18:46. > :18:50.player. But it is all good fun. Referee! I will make the next one.
:18:50. > :18:59.Today is about taking part, and that is one of the things we are
:18:59. > :19:05.trying to show the kids. We are kicking -- keeping them active.
:19:05. > :19:07.7,000 children have signed up for the Schools 500 Challenge, which
:19:08. > :19:11.involve competing in all sorts of sports at every level.
:19:12. > :19:16.We have tried to use the Olympics to enhance all areas of learning,
:19:16. > :19:20.not just through sports participation. We are also trying
:19:20. > :19:24.to use the Olympics to provide a true legacy for the children in
:19:25. > :19:31.Newcastle's cause. I really do like football. I am
:19:31. > :19:37.excited about it. It has been really fun and everything.
:19:37. > :19:41.Did you shoot a hoop? Know. But I did try. It gives children a chance
:19:41. > :19:47.to go and get fit and have fun instead of being stuck in a
:19:47. > :19:53.classroom all day. It is cool. I like the Olympics and I watch it
:19:53. > :20:03.every year. And who knows, rubbing shoulders
:20:03. > :20:06.
:20:06. > :20:11.with the likes of Sally Gunnell And it is time for sport now. A
:20:11. > :20:14.good night last night for all three of our clubs.
:20:14. > :20:17.Yes, seven points from a possible nine for our top three. For
:20:17. > :20:26.Sunderland and Newcastle it meant a jump up the Premier League table -
:20:26. > :20:29.and the Magpies are back in the defeats and without a number of
:20:29. > :20:32.first team regulars, the pressure was on to bounce back at Ewood Park.
:20:32. > :20:35.Often an unsung hero, Ryan Taylor stepped up to the plate once again,
:20:35. > :20:38.firing in a long-range shot that deflected in off Scott Dann to give
:20:38. > :20:41.United the lead. Blackburn had their chances, but a questionable
:20:41. > :20:43.penalty decision saw Tim Krul more than equal to David Dunn's effort
:20:43. > :20:46.from the spot and the subsequent return. Blackburn's hopes of
:20:46. > :20:48.getting anything from the game ended when Newcastle's often
:20:48. > :20:51.maligned winger Gabriel Obertan, on as a substitute, kept his composure
:20:51. > :20:55.to see off Rovers with a clinical finish in stoppage time, scoring
:20:55. > :21:05.his first Premier League goal and taking United up to fifth in the
:21:05. > :21:06.
:21:06. > :21:12.It was a big goal for him, because our fans, for them, he needs to
:21:12. > :21:21.grow. For them, the goal will have helped. We need to stay there, and
:21:21. > :21:25.we can. There's no reason we can't eighth after ending Norwich's six
:21:25. > :21:28.match unbeaten run in style. After scoring a peach of a goal in the FA
:21:28. > :21:31.Cup at the weekend, Frazier Campbell fired in the opener on his
:21:31. > :21:33.first start for the Black Cats in 17 months. Sunderland, who've
:21:33. > :21:36.discovered a new-found confidence under Martin O'Neill, then conjured
:21:36. > :21:38.up a magnificent second, Campbell this time turning provider for the
:21:38. > :21:41.impressive Stephane Sessegnon to head home. After the interval
:21:41. > :21:44.another quick break from Sunderland ensured it would be a long trip
:21:44. > :21:47.home for the travelling Norwich fans when Phil Bardsley's cross
:21:47. > :21:50.went in off Daniel Ayala's knee to make it three. Wayne Bridge got his
:21:50. > :22:00.debut eight minutes from the end, but it was another night to
:22:00. > :22:00.
:22:00. > :22:06.It is great for him. He is obviously tired at the end of the
:22:06. > :22:10.game. If anybody deserves some luck along the way, it is him.
:22:11. > :22:14.Middlesbrough's injury list is getting longer. They'll be without
:22:14. > :22:17.striker Scott McDonald for up to two months after he limped off with
:22:17. > :22:27.a knee injury in last night's draw at Leicester. But not before the
:22:27. > :22:31.
:22:31. > :22:34.Aussie hitman got Boro back on by surprise here. But 10 minutes
:22:35. > :22:41.later, they were back in the game, Scott McDonald knocking in the
:22:41. > :22:46.corner from a yard out. A half-time row with the referee saw Pearce and
:22:46. > :22:52.sent to the stands. But there could be no disagreement over the second
:22:52. > :23:02.goal, a superbly taken free-kick. But just as borage -- Barry Robson
:23:02. > :23:11.
:23:11. > :23:16.did at the weekend, he returned to You might have heard me and the
:23:16. > :23:22.beginning there say that they were our top three Premier clubs. There
:23:22. > :23:26.are only two. Now the weather. We are expecting
:23:26. > :23:33.80 forecast, which is bad news for these guys. The mild weather has
:23:33. > :23:37.fooled many hedgehogs and they have decided not to hibernate.
:23:37. > :23:41.A severe cold snap has been predicted, but because it has been
:23:41. > :23:45.one of the mildest winters on record, hedgehogs have not been
:23:45. > :23:49.hibernating. So with the big freeze setting in and areas of
:23:49. > :23:59.Northumberland already covered in snow, a Charles like Daisy just
:23:59. > :24:00.
:24:00. > :24:07.don't have the body fat to survive. The hedgehogs to come here receive
:24:07. > :24:11.food, shelter and a warm bed. They also get a brand new social circle.
:24:11. > :24:14.Carol is the find of the rescue Trust, and she has this advice for
:24:14. > :24:18.anybody who finds an unexpected guest.
:24:18. > :24:23.If you see what looks like a very small hedgehog, the best thing to
:24:23. > :24:30.do is bring it in, weighed on some scales, and it is less than 500
:24:30. > :24:40.grams, it needs help. So there you have it. Where there's
:24:40. > :24:47.It seems like a good idea to hibernate for the whole of winter.
:24:47. > :24:54.I think I could do it! Are you going to give us the worst
:24:54. > :25:02.in the forecast now? Yes, we are. A real thrust on the way tonight.
:25:02. > :25:06.It was the coldest day of the It has been much colder than
:25:06. > :25:16.January or December. This is how cold it was first thing this
:25:16. > :25:17.
:25:17. > :25:20.morning. The coldest spot was minus nine degrees. Cumbria is the very
:25:21. > :25:27.cold us, but North Yorkshire and the North East are also sub-zero
:25:27. > :25:31.first thing today. It is another cold night and day to come. This is
:25:31. > :25:35.the picture for this evening. Clear for much of North Yorkshire and the
:25:35. > :25:41.North East. A bit cloudy at times, but everywhere the map is blue with
:25:41. > :25:45.cold. The temperatures by dawn will be around minus five in countryside
:25:45. > :25:52.spots. Sub-zero, though, even in towns and cities. We are going to
:25:52. > :25:56.be scraping the car windscreens. The best of tomorrow's sunshine is
:25:56. > :26:00.likely to be in North Yorkshire and the North East. A bit cloudier in
:26:00. > :26:04.the West. The West has had the best of the week's weather so far. It
:26:04. > :26:11.will not tomorrow. It will be brightest in the east. Top
:26:11. > :26:16.temperatures, though, low, at around minus two Celsius. A bit
:26:16. > :26:22.higher in the West. Light winds everywhere tomorrow. Mostly they
:26:22. > :26:27.will blow from the south or south- west. A bitter end to Friday. It is
:26:27. > :26:31.frosty at first and clear overnight. But the weather is set to change
:26:31. > :26:37.from Saturday onwards. The Met Office has already issued a yellow
:26:37. > :26:40.weather warning for Saturday. We are expecting a wintry mix of snow,
:26:40. > :26:43.sleet and rain fall across not Yorkshire, the north-east and
:26:44. > :26:47.Cumbria. That will come in from the West through Saturday lunchtime,
:26:47. > :26:56.and it could cause some tricky conditions for the region's roads.
:26:56. > :27:02.The Met Office warns of up to five centimetres of snow. Sunday, though,
:27:02. > :27:06.is likely to be brighter. By the end of the day, it could be less
:27:07. > :27:11.smelly. If you are going somewhere in the morning, the conditions
:27:11. > :27:16.could be tricky. By the end of the day, it will be bright and a tiny
:27:16. > :27:20.bit milder. If you are out with the cameras, this is the address to