13/12/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Welcome to Friday's Look North. In the programme tonight... An

investigation, after a second major town centre fire in a month.

A warning about the dangers of gambling from a former Newcastle

player who lost the lot. When you have earned over ?7 million in your

professional career, you should obviously not be bankrupt.

Drink to that. The Prime Minister announces a scheme to boost business

in the Tees Valley. And why festive lights in Thirsk

could be switched off in a row over an unpaid bill.

In sport, the region's most successful club is on the brink of

yet another Cup final. And in the Premier League, as

Newcastle look to build on that historic win at Old Trafford, can

Sunderland start planning the Great Escape?

It is the second major fire in a month.

Tonight as the region's fire`fighters walked out on yet

another strike, Durham Police have revealed they are treating a major

fire in Stanley town centre today as suspicious. The blaze is the second

in Front Street within a month. One fire`fighter was injured in the

incident which started early this morning. The fire is being treated

as suspicious. Another major fire in the start of

Stanley, firefighters were called this morning where they found a

severe blaze. Nine fire engines and over 40 firefighters arrived at the

scene. It is a busy street, we are trying to keep everyone is safe. A

lot of the buildings are close together, so the fire crews are

trying to make sure the fire doesn't spread into any of the other

premises, we need to protect the businesses that have not been

impacted. We are successful in doing that so far. We have taken one

firefighter to hospital with an injured leg. That happened very

early, but no members of the public have been injured. This evening,

firefighters were still at the scene. This is the third major blaze

on this street in the last few years. Five years ago, a row of

shops just here was destroyed by a blaze, and just about 500 metres

away, another major blaze. That blaze in November which started in a

Chinese takeaway destroyed a large Edwardian building, but the police

say there is no link between the fires. It is a bad blow to the area

just before Christmas. The market will continue tomorrow, and traders

remain upbeat. It should not have any impact, if anything, it could be

a positive boost, and that it will remind the local people that Stanley

is here, it is strong and they have got something they can cherish. We

will always recover, we are a very robust set of traders, there is a

lot of bad things around, but I'm sure we will bounce back. The police

are looking for information from anyone that knows anything as soon

as possible. And members of the Fire Brigades

Union are taking industrial action this evening, the fifth strike by

members since the end of September. Staff walked out at six o'clock

until ten, in a dispute over changes to pension plans and working times.

He earned millions and then lost the lot. Former Newcastle United winger

Keith Gillespie became addicted to gambling during his playing career,

and ended up bankrupt. Gillespie thinks there are others still in the

game with a hidden betting problem. Now clubs in our region are fighting

back, but is it enough? It's a cup tie. And Newcastle are

3`0 up. Yet their Irish winger is in no mood to celebrate. Because he's

backed his own team to win at that score. There's another goal, the bet

is lost. He's wishing he'd asked his team mates to slacken off.

Straightaway I was thinking about the 50 grand that could have been

coming my way, and it had slipped away. It was part of the slippery

slope by the Sun, where were chasing the big money. Keith Gillespie says

he was ignorant of football betting rules and never did it again. But he

lost millions on the horses. When you have earned

your professional career, you should not end up and cropped, obviously. I

am a classic egg sample of what's not to do. `` end up and cropped.

And E.ON player that is earning good money, they would be advised to read

about the downfall of what can happen. `` any young player that is

earning. And Keith was far from alone. Last month Michael Chopra

told a court tens of thousands of pounds were gambled in card schools

on the Magpies team coach. His debt was so bad, he later moved to

Sunderland to claim the signing on fee. He has been banned from horse

racing after a corruption enquiry in that sport. I know that for me,

gambling reflected some of the aspects of professional foot wall

for me. One minute I would be on cloud nine, the next minute, I was

lost. Things were really kind of down in the dumps. I would say that

gambling is the main kind of choice within football. Go to any football

ground and the links between gambling and the sport could hardly

be more obvious, but there is a growing awareness within foot wall

of the need to educate players of the potential dangers. `` within the

game. Here at Hartlepool, the players are lectured and advised by

a gambling charity. It is eye opening how easy you could fall into

the trap. We are taught about stuff in our game, but outside of it,

things like horse racing and stuff, we are not fully educated on that

kind of gambling, it is just the football that we would be worried

about. It makes you think about your decisions and what you would do if

you fell into that situation. For some, it is already too late, the

footballer that took on the bookies and ended up broke.

Peter is here now, now, many viewers might struggle to have sympathy with

him, because he has lost all of that money. I think this story is quite

sad, he has got all of this money, he is 20 years old, he comes to

Newcastle, he has got it made, but what he is saying is, he did not

understand the value of money, and sadly the money his talent had

earned him was squandered to gambling. The deeper worry is that

it could lead them into deeper trouble. Yes, there is something

potentially sinister, I spoke to a member of a sporting charity and I

said to him, he was a foot or, he had trouble with gambling, does that

not make you more susceptible to corruption. `` he was a football

player. He said, he was never offered any money, but he said it is

possible he could have taken the money back then, because your moral

compass becomes squandered, and that is the slippery slope we can get

into. A very frank interview. The light ack row `` thank you, Peter.

"A death that could have been prevented." The reaction from the

family of a Carlisle man who died in an industrial oven at the city's

Pirelli tyre factory. A jury at the inquest into the death of George

Falder today concluded his death in September last year was an accident.

For the family and friends of George Falder, this has been a gruelling

week. Four days of evidence into an horrific death inside an industrial

oven used in the production of tyres. What exactly happened to

48`year`old George Falder may never be known, his family accept that.

But they were sure all along that he had not killed himself, and

afterwards gave this reaction. The family would earnestly hope that

lessons can be learned from this tragedy and it will act as a wake`up

call for all employers and all involved in helping the. In this

case, the simple procedure of shining torch and putting 80 gun

check list would have prevented this door being close on a human life. ``

and putting a take on a check list. This case is still the subject of an

ongoing investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, and whether

any action is taken against the company is unclear. But the coroner

could also make recommendations that he believes will strengthen safety

in an industrial environment. In a statement, Pirelli said... "Everyone

at Pirelli extends their condolences to Mr Falder's family. The

management and staff at Pirelli are committed to ensuring high levels of

health and safety for all those working at the Company". Changes to

working practices in the department where George Falder died have now

been made. Lighting has been improved and checks must be carried

out before the door on the autoclave can be closed.

The Prime Minister visited Teesside today to seal an agreement he

believes will create thousands of jobs in the area. Under what's

called a city deal, the area's councils and business leaders will

get more powers and some funding to bring in extra investment. But as

our Political Editor reports, not everyone thinks the deal on offer is

one worth celebrating. Tetley Tea in Eaglescliffe, the

biggest manufacturer of tea bags in the world. But David Cameron arrived

at the factory with his own heady brew to offer. A deal he hopes will

create more successful Teesside businesses like this. It should

bring another 3500 jobs to Stockton, that also it will unlock millions of

investment using the waste heat in the chemicals industry to heat

homes, businesses and other premises, potentially cutting bills

by ten to 15%. It is a good, collaborative effort, a partnership

for growth either councils and the local enterprise partnerships.

Unlike the jobs of these Tetley staff though, none of the promised

posts exist as yet. We have seen ?300 million of regional growth

invested in the north`east, and we have seen figures on construction

that are encouraging. This takes time. The fact is, we have a

long`term plan to turn around the economy and need to stick to this

plan to deliver growth, jobs and investment and they may need in the

Richmond. It is not just me he needs to convince, but also the voters.

Some people say this might not happen quick enough to make a

significant affect for those on the streets. This deal does very little,

it is jammed together, there are lots of promises for tomorrow, but

they need more power to move things forward. I had expected much more.

The local authorities are working very closely together I do not know

what they will achieve that would not have been achieved anyway. Those

charged with making this deal a reality believe that jobs and

investment can be delivered. Clearly we will deliver this, commit

ourselves to deliver this, so it is right that people hold us to it. We

will have the actions we need to take, the timetable we're talking at

achieving, and I'm confident that we can achieve that. I do not want to

stand back and hope it is going to happen, I want the government is to

help to make it happen. The Prime Minister will hope that local voters

will be stirred, this factory is in a seat, a marginal seat that the

Conservatives will hope to win at the next election.

Businesses in Whitby have started to tot up the financial cost of last

week's flooding. Repair bills are estimated to be in millions of

pounds, with just one pub having to spend a quarter of a million on

refitting the property. This scene in the hotel in Whitby

last Thursday as the tide came sweeping in. As a consequence, today

everything has to go. Anything that the salt water has touched, tables,

chairs, fridges, any stock, the coolers, and eating that was on the

bottom bar. The pub only opened nine months ago after a ?6 million

refit, and they are replacing everything in the cellar and the

ground floor, and that will cost at least a quarter of ?1 million. Other

businesses around the square were badly hit also. Spec Savers lost 500

pairs of glasses. And this charity for the disabled saw its store

flooded out and most of its wheelchair fleet lost. This is a

very busy area in summer, but in the winter, it is not as bad, but unless

we get them sorted out quickly, that could be problems in the future. The

local area has rallied round, this church hall has become the store for

lots of equipment and bedding that the locals can help themselves to.

This is what we do when things like this happen, as locals, we help each

other out. It is lovely to see the temple in together and we have met

some individuals that now would be friends for a long time. `` it is

lovely to see people pull together. The way things are looking now, it

is hard to imagine the high winds and high floods that have come by.

Plenty more to come in tonight's Look North. Why the lights could go

out on one town's Christmas celebrations.

And staying reasonably mild over the weekend, but we pay the price with

some wet and windy conditions. All of the weather details for you later

on. A couple from Chester`le`Street are

celebrating an early Christmas present after they matched six

Lottery numbers to win one and a half million pounds. David Younger

and his wife Elizabeth, who are both 59, used the same numbers that David

picked 20 years ago when the Lottery started. David handed in his notice

the following day and is looking forward to an early retirement. Why

not?! Enjoy at! `` enjoyed it. They were switched on to mark the

season of goodwill, but now traders in Thirsk fear their Xmas lights

could be switched off. They've been landed with a ?10,000 bill. The

traders can't afford to pay it and say a possible computer error could

be to blame. This contained some flashing images.

The festive lights are on, but the Christmas spirit is being dampened.

And expect to electricity bill. It normally costs ?800 for the six`week

Christmas season, but for last year's display, a bailout of the

delivered of more than ?10,000. It is thought computer mistakes are to

blame, but despite that, the lighting is in threatened with

disconnection unless it is being paid. It is a dark cloud hanging

over the town. We have excellent community spirit, we just want the

electricity company to show some Christmas spirit. The big switch on

happened at the end of November, an event that is organised by the

district business Association, but despite its members making and thus

calls to try and sort the problem, they have now been served with two

disconnection measures. `` endless calls. We have been trying to get an

answer, trying to get a reduced bill, but we cannot get one, they

say it is a computer built. According to the company, the matter

is still being investigated, but in a statement, they say that they are

working hard to resolve the issue and do not want to switch off the

Christmas lights. In the town, the patient is running thin. `` patience

is running thin. You just want to have a good celebration of

Christmas. I think, bah, humbug, to switch it off, they might find some

people change to lamp posts! For now, the lighter still on, but there

are fears that the plug may be pulled at any given time. `` these

lights are still on. Now, all of the sports news.

Starting with football now. Newcastle are on a high after

beating Manchester United at Old Trafford last week, for the first

time in more than 40 years. Tomorrow, they take on Southampton

at St James Park, with Alan Pardew's former club just one place and three

points behind the Magpies. At the other end of the table, it's crunch

time for Sunderland who're five points adrift at the bottom of the

Premier League. They're at fellow`strugglers West Ham tomorrow,

and three points is a must. Sunderland are the only team in the

league without an away win this season but West Ham aren't doing

much better. The pressure is mounting on Hammers boss Sam

Allardyce and with both teams desperate for points there'll be

plenty of anxiety at Upton Park. The game normally, it is going to be

difficult, but I am sure that for the players on the pitch, it would

be a difficult game, but we always talk about pressure and how they can

deal with that. It would be a. We will see which team is in the better

form. `` it will be a test. The Black Cats must capitalise on the

absence of key West Ham players including suspended captain Kevin

Nolan. And in a game where passion and commitment are called for Lee

Cattermole could be vital but with his poor discipline Gus Poyet must

decide whether it's worth taking the risk particularly with referee Andre

Mariner in charge who sent Cattermole off against Hull.

It is worrying when you are at the bottom, but when you are playing and

you're down to ten, there is no way you can win with what you need it is

a sure that these risks don't happen and those are there on the pitch on

Saturday. If Sunderland are to double their points tally by

Christmas victories over West Ham and Norwich are crucial. From now on

every game is a cup final, there's no longer any hiding place. I

totally agree, they are must win games.

You know what it's like when you feel you've done a good job, and you

maybe don't get the rewards you deserve. Well, while it's three

years since Alan Pardew was sacked by Southampton, the pain of that

dismissal still hurts. Yes, it does, I felt an injustice to lose my

job there. I am not the first manager to say that. I'm looking

forward to seeing some of my old players that have done brilliantly.

They were all there in the first division with me. That side of it I

look forward to seeing, but certainly, on a personal level, it

is a game I really want to win. And while last week the Magpies cashed

in on what was a good time to play Manchester United, this may also be

a good time to play Southampton. 15 million pound man, Danny Osvaldo

finally hit a bit of form, to help stop a run of three straight

defeats, but it's clear what's on Newcastle's Christmas wish`list.

Three wins in the next three games, hopefully. A couple of tough games

coming. Southampton and Crystal Palace, then still at home on Boxing

Day. Hopefully we can keep this run going that we are on. We are

obviously in good form and it is important that we do not slag off

and we keep it going. In the Championship tomorrow, the

only two Spanish coaches in English football go head`to`head, when

Middlesbrough's Aitor Karanka tries to put one over his

fellow`countryman Oscar Garcia, who's in charge of Brighton. You can

follow that one on BBC Tees, which will also have coverage on its

digital channel, of Hartlepool's trip to Cheltenham. And, also in

Legaue Two, BBC Radio York has commentary as the Minstermen travel

to Burton Albion. Carlisle have been given five and a

half thousand tickets for their FA Cup tie at Sunderland, in the New

Year. And, starting with tomorrow's important League One home game with

Tranmere, manager Graham Kavanagh wants his side to put together a

solid run over the crucial holiday period. After Christmas, you really

see who is struggling and who is going to start vying for the

play`off spots and two can jump into the top half, and I think we are in

the last category. We have coming to the Sunderland game, we need to have

confidence, but at that stage we will have played five games.

In basketball, it's an important night for Newcastle Eagles as they

aim to reach the final of the BBL Cup. Fab Flournoy's side have to

overcome a three`point deficit from the first leg of their semi final

against Sheffield Sharks, when the league's top two sides meet again at

Sports Central tonight. The winners will play Leicester Riders in the

final next month. Today is December the 13th. Friday

the 13th. Its 12 days to Christmas, and the day that many people choose

to put up their Christmas Tree. Today also marks the start of a

special Christmas Tree Festival, to light up a Tyneside community.

Hundreds are expected at the festival in Blaydon, over the

weekend. It includes music, carol singing, and lights on 40 Christmas

trees! They're officially being turned on a bit later, but Sharon

Barbour is at St Cuthbert's Church, now, for a preview.

Hello, it is looking a lot like Christmas here. More than 40 trees,

47 trees are here, and very shortly, the lights will come on and

everybody will coming to the church. What is this all about, Helen? 47

trees, all donated by a local, or by a family loved one, it brings us all

together. We have a jazz evening tonight and then tomorrow, a

spectacular building here, this would be opened from ten until four,

free admission, come along and enjoy it with your families. Then Sunday,

there is a huge community carol service at 4pm. Adrian, you have got

a Christmas message for the viewers. Yes, simply a very happy and

peaceful Christmas from everybody here. You are going to allow me to

test the lights, a great honour. Be my guest. Hopefully I will not fall

over. Let's have the lights off, please. Don't they look beautiful?

All we need now, Carol, is a little bit of snow for Christmas. Back to

you. That is beautiful, worth waiting

for. I do not think we can promise any snow, but tomorrow will be wild?

Yes, turning blustery. This lovely view sent to us this morning. It

will stay reasonably mild, but we pay the price with windy weather and

some rain through the first part of the weekend. This evening and

overnight, as the rain clears over the North Sea, it is drier and

clearer. The wind adds up to a much cooler night then recently. Two,

three Celsius. After the patchy rain, one or two icy patches. A cold

start for tomorrow, but drier and bright in eastern areas. The cloud

comes in during the day. This is where we have the strongest winds,

on the Scottish Borders, and the rain comes in by the end of

Saturday. Quite heavy at times. The wind, how strong? 60 mph.

Essentially further north and west, that is where you have the strongest

wind. Blustery everywhere. Despite the wet and windy weather,

temperatures in double figures. This is the picture for tomorrow, wet and

windy weather, this system pulls away. A gap through Sunday with

brighter weather. A frontal system for Sunday, then showery westerly

wind flow. Some dry weather, but it will turn a bit cooler. Over the

weekend, rain spreading from the West, it will get to Cumbria first,

spread to the north`east later. Strong, gusty south to

south`westerly winds. Windy on Sunday, but drier and brighter and

temperatures dipping. Single figures on Sunday afternoon, despite the

sunshine. Temperatures slowly beginning to fall away, so we have

single figures by day, a return to overnight frost as we head through

the night. Staying windy through the early part of the week. You can keep

up`to`date on the BBC weather app. Keep up`to`date on your local BBC

Radio Ulster a share in, and keeper December weather pictures coming

into us. Thank you. Letters get festive

again, let's return to that beautiful Christmas tree Festival,

good night.