10/10/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North. Tonight: Seven Newcastle

United fans are locked up for their part in the derby day violence.

Police launch a murder investigation after a body is found in woodland.

Could this be the way to boost brain power in the classroom? An exclusive

report coming up. And why hundreds of buildings across

the North East and Cumbria are at risk from neglect or decay.

Where have all the Englishmen gone? A worrying football survey on the

state of the game. And like father, like son. A

footballing dynasty linking Teesside and Wearside.

Seven Newcastle United football fans have been sentenced to at least a

year in prison or a Young Offenders Institution for their part in the

derby day violence following the club's defeat by Sunderland in

April. The sentences come on the day the Home Office published figures

which put the Magpies at the top of a list of the number of arrests at

home football matches, with half as many more than the second highest,

Manchester United. 175 fans were arrested in total, 156 of them at

home. Sunderland meanwhile had 71 fans arrested, 45 of them at the

Stadium of Light. Let's cross live now to Adrian Pitches who joins us

from outside Newcastle Crown Court. First of all remind us of the events

of April the 13th and the judge's comments about the violence after

the game. This was the famous 3—0 victory for Sunderland at St

James's Park. Afterwards there was not violent disorder. Newcastle fans

tracked the Sunderland fans back from the ground to Newcastle Central

Station, throwing bottles, rocks, one fan even through a police at a

police —— a punch at a police horse. That was caught on CCTV and seven

people appeared in court today. The judge talked about persistent

intimidation and violence along the route. He said that those who wish

to attend a football match or visit a city ad entitled to do so without

fear of violence and there was fear of violence for people in Newcastle

that day. People in the city centre and the station were terrified. Who

was in court today and what were their crimes? There were seven

people in court who had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to

violent disorder. They came from Gateshead, South Shields,

Northumberland, and sentenced to a minimum of 12 months in prison or a

young offenders and digestion, up to 18 months, depending on previous

convictions —— institution. All those arrests must have helped push

Newcastle to the top of the arrests league? Yes, unusually for

Newcastle, topping the league, 175 arrest, 156 at home. 100 of them

were on derby day. If it had not been for those arrests, Newcastle

would be much more lower down the league. Perhaps where they used to

be. A murder investigation is underway

tonight after a body was found in a makeshift grave in woodland in

County Durham. The discovery was made by a member of the public in

Darlington. Police have yet to confirm the identity of the body,

but they've been searching for a missing 25—year—old.

A popular walking route, today taken over by forensics teams, a body

found in a makeshift grave in the woods. It has taken two days for us

to recover the body of a man who was buried in the woods. We are working

to do a formal identification which is not always easy. It is important

we formally identify the person before we say who we believe it to

be, because we have to share that information with family members. The

police have been looking for Alan Youngson, missing since August. His

family are being kept informed. The family just want to know all where

he is. We are keeping in daily contact with them to share

information as quickly as we can. There are 50 police officers working

on mass murder investigation alongside —— working on this murder

investigation. As police carried out door—to—door inquiries, the shock of

such a grim discovery was sinking in. Horrendous. It is awful. Such a

busy thoroughfare here, it could have come from anywhere. I would not

expect it to be round the back of my house, it does not really bother me

because it is a rough area. This investigation will take time. The

next step to confirm who was the man found buried in the woods?

A British woman, originally from the North East, has been found dead in a

stairwell at a hospital in the United States. It's more than two

weeks since she went missing from her hospital room. Lynne Spalding,

57, originally from Peterlee, had lived in the States for 23 years.

She'd been admitted to San Francisco General Hospital with an infection,

but vanished two days later. Officials say they're investigating

how she found her way to the outside stairwell, what caused her death and

why a search didn't find her sooner. Four people have been arrested on

suspicion of violent disorder and assault, following a man's death on

Teesside. Benji Bolsenbroek, 23, died after a disturbance at the Park

Hotel in Middlesbrough on Saturday night. Two women, aged 19 and 22,

have been bailed, while a 24—year—old woman and a 26—year—old

man are in police custody. Two other men who were arrested on Tuesday

have been bailed. The father of the missing York chef

Claudia Lawrence has today been marking 40,000 hours since she

vanished. Nothing has been heard of Claudia since March 2009. Her dad,

Peter, marked the occasion at York Minster. He's also been discussing

the case with the new North Yorkshire Chief Constable, Dave

Jones. It's 11 years since York teenager

Caroline Stuttle was murdered while backpacking in Australia. And today

her family launched a new mobile phone device, which, it's hoped,

will save lives in the future. The Safer Travel App is the first of its

kind. It'll provide up—to—the—minute information on cities around the

world, including crime blackspots, environmental disasters and

political unrest. It is a concept for laptops and

mobile phones, conceived and developed from the family's own

tragic story. In 2002, Caroline Statoil was murdered while

backpacking in Australia —— Caroline Stuttle. 11 years on, and a special

foundation established in her memory launched a phone at —— called Safer

Travel App. When I was 19—24, I was a mortal, like many young people,

but when that happens to Caroline, there were maybe a few steps she

could have taken, but looking into it further we realise there are a

lot of precautions you can take. The travel up contains information on

250 cities around the world. It includes York, where Caroline left.

It will be updated for travellers of all ages. It could potentially save

lives, according to its developer. Students in York have also played a

part in the project's development, providing their own ideas on how to

travel safely. My dad is always telling me, you have to watch out

for dodgy areas. It is a much more relevant tool to travel with because

it will not be out of date. Year in York, overseas visitors described

the app is a great idea with safety for many a main priority. Any and

all information that you can get is critical. And informed traveller is

a happy traveller. It would be interesting for me as a parent to

use for my children. The travel up can be downloaded free from today.

Providing key information that will hopefully keep thousands of

travellers safe. You're watching Thursday's Look

North. Dawn's here, shortly, with tonight's sports desk. Also coming

up: At risk, hundreds of buildings in the North face neglect or decay,

according to a report published today.

Stormy conditions continue to affect the region. I will have the weather

for the weekend. The Prime Minister has also been in

York today. During his visit, David Cameron said Yorkshire's economy had

turned a corner and claimed more than 100,000 new jobs had been

created there over the past three years. But Labour MPs say families

are facing a cost of living crisis. Unemployment is still rising.

In York, there was an up the message from the Prime Minister, who said

the county's economy was on the up. Yorkshire and Humberside is the area

outside London where the number of people in work is growing the fast

as. There are a more private—sector jobs today than there were in 2010

—— 110,000 more. He spoke to workers at a firm which is seeing a growing

order book. We are seeing an increase in education and health

orders and the private sector is coming back. As David Cameron was

speaking, the talk at this club was dominated by the cost of living and

what the government is or is not doing to help. What good David

Cameron do to help you? Stop the price hike in energy suppliers. All

the money is down there, and we do not have a lot. Anywhere south of

Doncaster. My message to David Cameron is to stop giving out money

to people on benefits, benefit cheats, who get all the money.

People like us, you apply for money or to get something, do I get it?

No. Labour rejected the Prime Minister'soptimistic message to

voters. Families facing a cost of living prices will be shaking their

heads. They know from going shopping and filling up the car that prices

are rising faster than wages. Yet another energy company has announced

a big increase in prices. David Cameron's comments have sparked a

fierce political debate. Are we starting to see some green shoots

here in the white rose economy? A new report says the north—east

needs a direct flight to the United States to help its economy. Firms in

the region could win extra business if there was a direct link to New

York from Newcastle, according to a report. It also says it needs its

own version of London's Oyster card to make it easier to travel on

public transport. A school in Sunderland is the first

in the country to use a pioneering new system which involves short

bursts of activity in the classroom to boost learning. It's an idea

which comes from America and it could be heading for every primary

school in the UK. History made in the classroom. These

children at Fulwell Infant School are the first in the UK to try out a

new idea to boost their learning. Known as activity breaks, the system

consists of a number of energetic exercises which the children do four

or five times every day close to their desks. Each session lasts up

to five minutes and when it's over, the children sit down and go back to

doing their schoolwork. Our children have really taken to it. They have

really enjoyed them. They understand it is a quick activity they can do

in between lessons and it gets them ready to learn and energised and

they are really focused. It is a lot of fun for them. It is an idea

brought to this country by the former London Marathon one and

Olympic medallist Charlie Spedding. Physical exercise helps us to

concentrate and especially for young children, their attention span

cannot be held for very long. Experiments in America show that

short bursts of activity boosted brainpower and attention span. The

reason our school should do this is that it helps the children do better

at their school work. Sunderland University is now carrying out

research at the school into the new scheme, but the children there

already know what they think. When we go to our tables to learn, they

help us to concentrate. They help you to learn and they are really

fun. You do them because it makes your brain go. It is hoped that this

will be introduced into all primary schools, a real challenge that will

once again put the pioneering to the ends —— into the history books.

Campaigners say hundreds of beautiful old buildings in our

region face falling into dereliction unless funds can be found to save

them. English Heritage has published its latest list of historic

buildings which have been neglected. Some will be brought back to life

while others need urgent attention. In Whitehaven, the grade listed ——

grade two listed YMCA has been a blight, but this is one of the lucky

ones. With funding from the Heritage lottery fund and other sources this

building will be brought back into use as somewhere where young people

can learn new skills, particularly those from disadvantaged

backgrounds. There will be 17 bedrooms out the back and so you

have a fantastic historic building that will fill a useful social

purpose. Buildings and identified by volunteers keen to see them

rejuvenated. This town is wonderful. History is incredible. It should be

brought back. I understand we have been concentrating on grade one

staff and now we are looking at grade two. That is marvellous. To

get the town centre brought up to be Richard B. —— to where it should be.

Two buildings and structures have been added to the North East

register, the Union suspension bridge in Northumberland — it's

listed Grade I and spans the River Tweed — and Home Farm in County

Durham. It was at risk and it was important to us that we took our

past to help it to the future and then we had to try to get money

together for that, so working with English Heritage, lottery money,

European money and council money. The million pounds has been spent

specifically. —— three. This demonstrates you cannot do it on

your own, but in a group you can. This gives the businesses, local

community and local authority coming together in terms of regeneration

and the result is what you see, including the work on other sport.

English Heritage hopes that more volunteers can help it save at risk

buildings across the region. The hot topic of the moment. When I

went to my first football match, I cannot think that there was a

foreign player. It partly explains why the England

football team have struggled. English footballers account for less

than a third of all the minutes played in the Premier League,

according to a State of the Game study for BBC Sport. The figure for

home country players, just under 32%, is down from more than 35% six

years ago and is far lower than all other major European leagues. Both

Sunderland and Newcastle have welcomed a large influx of overseas

players in recent seasons. Former Magpies and England captain Alan

Shearer says it's a difficult situation. When you look at

managers, you have to have sympathy with them, because they have a

budget to work to and foreign players are a lot cheaper than

British players and managers have no time whatsoever, you have to be

successful instantly. Particularly with the wealthier clubs, the demand

success and have to have success otherwise the manager gets sacked.

A former Premiership side that once boasted a team of 11 English players

is hoping its successful academy will help it through difficult

economic times. One of its products, Middlesbrough young gun Andre

Bennett, is hoping to break into the first team and has plenty of advice

at hand from his dad, Sunderland legend Gary.

Andre Bennett is not the first footballer to follow his father into

the game. He has a lot to live up to. Gary Bennett is a Sunderland

hero and captain, and advice is never in short supply. I could not

get anyone better, he has been there, done that. He always puts

their video on of when he was scoring goals. You put them on now

to give him a gentle reminder of what you were like. Not trying to be

critical on his performances. I just ask the question, how have you done?

I might pass on advice or ideas in regard to his development, but I

leave that to the football club and the coaches as well. As a

commentator and pundit, his dad does not get to watch him as often as he

would like but he is keeping a close eye. I am a proud parent. He is a

better player than me. You have to look at the facilities, what the

train on, the day—to—day training they get, the culture, the

development and support behind his development is a lot better than

that which I received. Only time will tell a few will play an an FA

Cup final, but it is only like father, like son to a point. Have to

be quick, and my dad was quite quick, but the difference, people

see me and think of my dad, but we are totally different. Years his own

person. He has his own personality and way of playing. All I can do is

help him, give him advice, but it is up to him, he has to make sure he

takes things on board. Days after announcing his retirement

from cricket, the former Durham and England fast bowler Steve Harmison

is trying his hand at football this evening with a bit of help from the

family. As part of his benefit year, Harmison will line up alongside

brothers Ben, a fellow cricketer, and non—league footballer James in a

Northumberland side taking on a Newcastle United 11. Kick—off at

Ashington FC is at 7pm. On to speedway, and Redcar Bears

take on the newly—crowned Premier League KO Cup winners, Somerset, at

the South Tees Motorsport Park tonight. The Bears need to win to

keep alive their hopes of reaching the play—off final, having been

heavily beaten, 61 points to 35, by Newcastle Diamonds on Tyneside at

the weekend. Newcastle, Redcar and Somerset each have a win apiece in

the three—team mini—league, with the ones who top the group going on to

meet Edinburgh, who've already qualified for the big final. The

Diamonds head for the West Country tomorrow, before the return match at

Newcastle Stadium on Sunday. Meanwhile, there was a home win at

Derwent Park, as Workington wrapped up their season by hosting the

Cumberland Trophy individual meeting which was won by the Comets' Danish

star, Rene Bach. Finally, there's not long left to

nominate someone you know for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the

Year Unsung Hero award. Last year's winner in the North East and Cumbria

was Peter Crawford, a gymnastics coach from Billingham. It could be

someone who's unearthed a real winner or someone who gives up their

time to keep a local club going behind the scenes. If you'd like to

nominate someone go to bbc.co.uk/unsung hero. Closing date

is October 14th, that's next Monday. It seems as if we are going from

summer to winter. This was the scene earlier on the

Solway Firth. The CS QuickCam to further east. On the opposite coast,

very different. Sunshine in between the showers here, but another huge

shower breaking over the ground. Over the next few days, things are

going to stay cold. Temperatures really struggled. We only just made

it into double figures. There was also a northerly wind. The wind

gusted 55 mph. Coming from the cold northerly direction, it had a bite

to it. Showers pushing down on the northerly winds down the eastern

side of the country, things much quieter further west. That was where

the best of the sunshine was. Still gusty winds along the north—east

coast as we head through the evening. They Met Office warning out

until midnight. The showers become fewer and further between. They do

not die away completely. It will be driver Cumbria with long clear

spells. —— drive for Cumbria. Still a few showers near the coast.

Tomorrow, those showers will feed out through the course of the

morning. It is never going to feel worn by any means. The best of the

sunshine for Cumbria. There will be temperatures slightly higher than

today. Nothing to write home about. Although the winds are not as

strong, still pretty gusty near the north—east coast, still rough seas

and feeling bitterly cold. As we head towards the week end, high

pressure to the north, low pressure to the south and the isobars get

squeezed in between. That moves that frontal system further north which

will bring rain to places over the weekend. A lot of cloud on Saturday

and Sunday, temperatures struggling. Add in the north easterly wind and

it will feel quite called. —— cold. Now for a last look at tonight's

headlines. Millions of people face higher energy costs, up by more than

8% for SSE customers. And seven men have been jailed for

violent disorder at last April's Newcastle/Sunderland derby match.

We are back at 10:25pm.