18/12/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

let-up. Thank you. That is all from the BBC News at Six. Goodbye. Now

Hello and welcome to Wednesday's Look North.

Tonight... Why the North has seen a dramatic fall in the number of

people dying of cancer. On trial... The former chairman of

the Cleveland Police Authority is accused of intimidating a witness.

A world first... The panto being beamed from our region to 150

hospitals across the country. Travellers' fare... The festive

feast cooked on the foot plate of a steam train.

And we meet the calendar boys baring all in a bid to get their local

railway station re`opened. In sport it's heart`break for

Hartlepool as they miss out on a third round FA Cup tie, but no way,

Jose! It's Sunderland who have the 'Ki' to the League Cup semi`finals.

Cancer can be beaten. That's the message from a leading cancer

charity on the day new figures suggest fewer people are dying of

the disease here in the North compared with 20 years ago. 261

people in every 100,000 died of cancer in the early 1990's in the

North East. That figure has fallen to 198 people in every 100,000, a

drop of 24%. But nearly 15,000 people are still diagnosed with

cancer in the North East every year, so the battle to beat it is far from

over. More on Cancer Research UK's latest campaign to fight the disease

in a moment. But first Alison Freeman has been to meet one woman

who's conquered the cancer with the lowest survival rate.

Getting ready for another Christmas. But three and a half years ago

Marion Brown didn't think she'd be here. Her daughter noticed she'd

been wheezing so she went to the doctors and eventually was diagnosed

with lung cancer. I was very offhand about it. She sent me for an x`ray.

Are you glad you took the step? Yes. I do not think I would be here now

if I hadn't. Soon after diagnosis Marion had an

operation to remove the top third of her right lung, then had

chemotherapy. She's been cancer free ever since. I was very lucky it was

caught early because I had no idea. I was totally shocked. I did not

have a cough. I was well. I was devastated. But I thought I'd just

have to get on with this and do it. My life was in their hands.

Fortunately they were excellent. Marion still has check ups every

three months and makes the most of life, travelling with husband Kevin.

Both believe early diagnosis, and a positive attitude have been key to

her well`being. We are three years now and are looking good. We have in

very fortunate and every day is special. Did you think you would be

today? Know I did not. But I hope to be here for a long term to come.

Alison Freeman joins me now. A 24% drop in people dying from cancer in

the North East seems remarkable. What do they put it down to? As you

heard, that lung cancer was caught early and demonstrates a greater

awareness and need to check. But all that would mean nothing if effective

treatment was not available. Cancer Research UK says spending money on

research is vital. It is not always clear why some areas have better

rates than others. What is probably behind this is things like the level

of research that happens in the north`east. There are some really

amazing institutes there which are developing new drugs. That helps

because patients there can get involved in new trials and

treatments and it is also down to things like better diagnosis, making

sure we catch cancer earlier. Alison Freeman joins me now. A 24%

drop in people dying from cancer in the North East seems remarkable.

There is going to be a new campaign by Cancer Research UK. You'll act

yes. It will investigate how much progress has been made and the

message they are trying to get across is that people donate to

research, eventually cancer will be beaten.

A court has heard claims that the former chairman of Cleveland Police

Authority threatened a man he feared would give evidence against him.

52`year`old Dave McLuckie denies a charge of intimidating a witness. Mr

McLuckie was said to have been aggressive towards Peter Blyth,

telling him, ''You don't know what I can do.'' Stuart Whincup sent this

report from Newcastle Crown Court. Dave McLuckie was described in court

as a well known figure, an important man who had an air of authority

about him. The former chairman of Cleveland Police Authority was under

investigation as part of Operation Sacristy, a major inquiry examining

allegations of corruption at the Authority, at a time when he was its

chairman. The prosecution claim Mr McLuckie became angry when he learnt

Peter Blyth, a former taxi driver ` seen here at the back, on the left

with grey hair ` had been speaking to officers about the lifts he had

given him and his friends. The prosecution said Mr McCluskey went

round to the home of Peter Blythe to see if the police had been round.

They say he tried to put the frighteners on him and made veiled

threats against him. David McLetchie said that maggot was said, had been

running an unlicensed taxi and a found out, could lose his house. The

court heard McLuckie was convicted of a separate offence in June of

perverting the course of justice, after he persuaded a friend to take

his penalty points, so he could avoid a driving ban. But he denies

intimidating or threatening Mr Blyth and the trial continues tomorrow.

More than 120 people have now told police they were subjected to sexual

and physical abuse while serving at a detention centre in County Durham

in the 1970's and '80s. The claims have been made by men who served

time as teenagers at the Medomsley Detention Centre, near Consett,

which closed in 1988. Two former warders were jailed for rape and

have since died. Police have confirmed that a body

found in West Cumbria yesterday was that of a teenager who'd gone

missing from Maryport. Officers searching for 17`year`old Callum

Chapman were called to the Maryport Golf Club yesterday after a member

of the public found a body on the beach. The teenager, from Grimsby,

had been staying with a relative. Police say there are no suspicious

circumstances. A former Durham Police Chief

Superintendent has been formally suspended from the House of Lords

for six months. Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate was exposed by the

Sunday Times when he sought payment for providing access to Parliament

and parliamentary facilities. The Committee for Privileges and Conduct

found he'd committed four breaches of the peers' code of conduct.

Sailor has been arrested on suspicion of drink`driving after a

fishing boat crashed into the South Pier in the mouth of the Tyne

yesterday morning. The ship was escorted to the Little Haven beach

at South Shields by other local boats. The skipper was taken to the

RVI in Newcastle for treatment. A former teacher from York has added

her voice to the campaign for assisted suicide. Margaret John has

terminal cancer and wants the law changed to allow doctors to help

people like herself "die with dignity". Written evidence from

Margaret was heard in the Supreme Court today as part of the case

being taken by Paul Lamb, who was paralysed after a road accident.

Charlotte Leeming's been to meet her. 72`year`old Margaret was

diagnosed with ovarian cancer four years ago. When she learned it was

spreading she went to her doctor and asked him which drug might offer her

the most peaceful way to die. I went to see him and I said I know you

cannot talk about assisted suicide because that is not permissible but

I want to discuss what happens at the end of life and he said, let's

start off from the premise I do not kill people. I do not want to go

into a hospice and I want to die at home with my own things around me,

preferably to some classical music. I want to go out with things playing

very loud. People will empathise with you but few people will know

what you are going through. Tell us about your health and why you feel

so strongly about this. If people were aware that I doctor had

discussed it with me, there is some dizzy body somewhere who will accuse

him of assisting suicide and breaking the law. My doctor is very

caring. He has been very honest and open with me and I do not want him

to be at risk of seclusion. You have two grown`up children stop tell us

what they think about your wishes. They will not give me anything, they

will not help me but on the other hand I do not think they would try

to have me revived. They know how I feel. Do you feel confident you will

know when it's the end and how would you like to be when it does come? I

have always felt great sympathy for people who are in a persistent

vegetative state, who are kept on ventilators and fed through tubes

simply because it is possible because that is not living, that is

in existence. I want to go on living as long as possible!

Unemployment in the region has fallen. Latest figures show there

are 133,000 people out of work in the North East ` a drop of 3,000 on

last month. Cumbria's jobless total fell to just over 6,350, the lowest

it's been for five years. Our councils have been told today

just how much government money they'll get next year. And there'll

be no respite from cuts, with some of the North's local authorities

amongst the biggest losers. They'll now have to decide where to make

savings and whether or not to raise council tax. Our Political Editor

Richard moss is at Newcastle Civic Centre. There are losers, but were

there any winners? It is fair to say that our local authorities will not

be sending Eric Pickles a Christmas card. Let us look white. Some of our

councils are among the biggest losers in the country. These are the

figures and the councils and what they will lose. The top and bottom

but, say the trade unions, or job losses and pro`service. The

government needs to fundamentally rethink its approach. They need to

rethink their austerities measures and the devastating impact their

happening in public services, particularly in our region where we

are seeing a disproportionate impact in terms of public sector job cuts.

What has the government said? Eric Pickles said the settlement was

reasonable and fair. He quoted a figure. Newcastle Council, he said

after the cuts, will be able to spend ?2406 per household. Here they

say that as a non`comparison because Newcastle is deprived and can raise

less money. Eric Nichols found some extra money to provide an incentive

for local authorities to freeze rates. There are some people who

believe that people should pay a little bit more to protect services.

You'll make Eric Pickles. People were not active they wanted to pay a

little bit more to keep services open and I think they should have

been. It is only right. What's owed of democracy is this? `` Ford sort

of. `` what. They should be given the chance. Are councils were given

a glimpse of what will happen in 2015 and for some the situation gets

better. For Newcastle and Middlesbrough it gets worse. Plenty

for them to consider over Christmas. Still to come, a sports round`up

plus railway workers stripping off in a campaign to get the local

stationery opened. It is where the two be wrapped up. We have wet and

windy conditions tonight and it will turn bitterly cold tomorrow.

It's panto season, of course, but this year one production in our

region will get a nationwide audience. In a world first, the

Theatre Royal in Newcastle is beaming Jack and the Beanstalk

direct to 150 hospitals across the country. It's hoped the cast will

bring some festive cheer to those facing Christmas on the wards. Peter

Harris reports. They can't go to the panto, so this

year the panto will come to them. 152 hospitals across Britain are

receiving a broadcast of Jack and the Beanstalk from Newcastle's

Theatre Royal. It is a world first and has never had been done before

anywhere. `` has never been done. Let's hope they understand what is

going on! What is the difference between act kangaroo...

The show will be beamed to hospital bed TV screens. Last year the panto

was shown in hospitals in this region. On Saturday, virtually the

entire NHS will take it. These children cannot get to the pantomime

so this is the reason we are doing this, to give them a taste of the

festive season. Hopefully it will bring a bit of sunshine into the day

for them. The older people like it as well, the entire hospital. There

may not let you out of here! And with the show going nationwide,

audiences will get the chance to shout he is behind you. The old ones

are the best. And wherever in Britain the panto is

seen, at least everyone knows the words. Is smell the blood of an

Englishman! `` is smell. They're baring all for a cheeky fund

raising calendar as part of a campaign to re`open their local

railway station. The station in the village of Gilsland on the

Northumberland Cumbria border is on the Newcastle to Carlisle line and

it closed nearly half a century ago. But now the men of Gilsland are

showing just what they're made of in the hope that the train service can

be restored. Graham moss has the story.

Welcome the men of Gilsland, men of community action, throwing their all

behind a campaign to re`open the village's railway station. To that

end and also to raise money for the local school the men of Gilsland

decided to show what they were made of. Hello. We want the station to

stay over `` stay open. It would mean a great deal for local people.

It was strange. I was worrying about the hot fat, but apart from that it

was all right! It was a all round. I am keeping my clothes on. A station

further along closed in 1967, but reopened in 1981. People are losing

buses, they want to keep the trains and they love it here. They love it

here! But they need to get out and about as well. It will help the

tourist industry. The station is right beside the wall. This Hadrian

swore. It will make a change to the village and deserves something good.

It seems the calendar is hot property. They had done a wonderful

job. All credit to that the dog River for keeping a straight face.

Would you do it again? Next year, I will think about it. `` the

photographer. But they were a little shy to take

up the TV challenge until... Ah, thank you, Mr March! I think I would

buy a calendar with Joe on it! A week today we'll probably all be

suffering a little, after too much turkey and Christmas pudding. We

haven't decided who'll be cooking it in our house yet. Probably best if I

leave that bit to my husband, but it'll definitely be done in the oven

and not on the footplate of a steam engine, though I think he'd quite

like that! Danny Carpenter has been to the National Railway Museum in

York where a traditional festive feast has been cooked up in a rather

unusual place. This made the traditional, sort of all stop this

is best of their and engine drivers in days gone by would have sorted

out a hot breakfast on a cold day. You have got a frying pan, hob, why

not! But this is surely pushing your luck, a full Christmas dinner. That

is going in the smoke box. Is it ambitious? Apparently not. We can do

this every single day if we want. The type of work is suited to

cooking that type of thing. If you wanted to do that sort of thing on a

big engined you would not be able to because they are working too hard

and they are too hot. You are working them too long and you end up

burning them. The fire is lit and the dinner is on. Now it just needs

some cooking time. Three hours or so. Here comes dinner. And the

moment of truth is truly momentous. Whilst, mouthwatering, cooked to

perfection. That is how to take the hassle out of the big day and finish

up with a Christmas pudding that has been truly steamed! 14 train

enthusiasts everywhere. `` that is one for.

Time for a sports update. They may be bottom of the Premier

League and favourites for relegation. But Sunderland showed

real fighting spirit to launch a dramatic comeback against Jose

Mouriniho's Chelsea last night and book a place in the semi`finals of

the Capital One League Cup. There was little to suggest in the

early part of the evening that this cup tie would erupt into life in

such dramatic fashion. Despite reduced ticket prices, a crowd of

under 21,000 may have been influenced by Christmas shopping,

live TV and the feeling that Chelsea's defence couldn't be as

generous as in the league a fortnight earlier. This penalty

shout was as interesting as it got in a low key but fairly even first

half. Straight after the interval the home side were behind to a sixth

own goal in 11 games, as the otherwise excellent Lee Cattermole

and Frank Lampard both slid in for the ball. Well over the line but the

first goalline technology ruling in the League Cup. It was one way

traffic in the second half after that with this glaring miss from

Chelsea's Samuel Eto'o the Londoners' best chance to kill the

game off. But just when it looked as though Sunderland were heading for a

dispiriting loss ahead of the vital league game against Norwich, up

popped derby hero Fabio Borini to give the Black Cats unexpected hope.

The Italian could even have won it in stoppage time. It was end`to`end

stuff in the extra half hour with chances at both ends including Ki's

header kept out by former Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer as a resurgent

Sunderland belatedly sensed an upset. Two minutes from the end,

Borini set up Ki for the South Korean to spoil Mourinho's night and

possibly kick`start the Wearsiders' season. They were hammering us. They

were on top. We stuck it out. I thought we were going to be

disappointed but at the end, it was a good call and it lifted the entire

team. `` a good goal. I think if we were off to Wembley again it would

be fantastic. It would kick`start the season. Another win on Saturday.

Get some more points and get off the bottom. We will be safe. So, the

Wembley cup dream lives on but what about the rest of the season? I want

to transform the mentality of these players and become winners. When you

play against the best in the country and you can prove that you can do

it, you should do the same against other teams. It is important. I hope

we can recover physically and be ready. We shall see.

Hartlepool United are out of the FA Cup after losing to Coventry City in

equally dramatic fashion last night. Coventry's Leon Clarke put the Sky

Blues ahead before the break and they continued to have the better of

the play, but Pool's keeper Scott Flinders was in top form. It looked

like defender Jack Baldwin had forced the game into extra time when

he got on the end of Matty Dolan's corner to equalise in the 88th

minute, but in the third minute of stoppage time Clarke struck again to

deny Hartlepool a third round tie at Barnsley. A trip to Barnsley they

would have had. Time for a weather update. There is interesting and

eventful weather on the way. You can see this lovely view of the quayside

in Newcastle. The already taking place with much more volatile

weather coming in. Overnight tonight will have gales and heavy rain for

most of us. It will feel much colder as well. Rain is spreading in from

the west and there are some heavy bursts. It will clear away from most

places by about 11 o'clock tonight. Guests will be in the region of 60

miles an hour. `` the wind gusts. The rain clears away and leaves some

spells. There could be someone tree showers. `` someone tree. Tomorrow

it will be a cold day and showers will come in from the west.

Temperatures will struggle tomorrow with a dusty at `` gusty

south`westerly wind. Towards the end of the week it will be Sheryll

Murray with cold air moving in. On Friday, the next hand of wet and

windy weather comes in from the west. There will be some showers and

they will be on the wintry side. On Thursday there will be some bright

spells and showers. Here you can see the temperatures reaching no higher

than nine degrees. For the north`east, the showers will tend to

be few and far between on Thursday. The rain will get to north`eastern

parts late on Friday. Overall, it will be a spell of wet and windy

weather and on the tops of the hills, some sleet and snow showers

are possible. Keep up`to`date and BBC Look North radio for all your

weather news. `` on BBC local radio. Thank you.

Just before we go tonight, BBC Newcastle will tomorrow be

investigating why so many people are using A when they don't need to.

As the service faces extra pressure at this time of year many people are

confused about where to go for help. What do they do? `` I do? Who is the

best person to get in touch with? Tune in to BBC Newcastle tomorrow

from 7am. That's all for now. Thanks for

joining us. Good evening.