:00:00. > :00:00.from the Atlantic. Thank you very much. That's it from us.
:00:00. > :00:09.Welcome to Friday's Look North. In tonight's headlines: A life sentence
:00:10. > :00:13.for a man who set fire to the home of a vulnerable father of three.
:00:14. > :00:16.Battle for compensation. A thalidomide victim takes his case to
:00:17. > :00:20.Europe. A small North Yorkshire company
:00:21. > :00:23.takes on a pharmaceutical giant in a row over new technology.
:00:24. > :00:28.And rail restoration. Could an independent Scotland bring a
:00:29. > :00:33.transport boost to our region? In sport, can Newcastle United end a
:00:34. > :00:35.run of three straight defeats? Can Sunderland take their Cup form into
:00:36. > :00:38.the League? And can the most successful team in
:00:39. > :00:53.British basketball end a year`long wait for a trophy?
:00:54. > :00:59."You took advantage of a vulnerable man who showed you nothing but
:01:00. > :01:03.kindness." The words today of a judge who sentenced 30`year`old Paul
:01:04. > :01:06.Nash to life in prison. He started a fire last year which killed father
:01:07. > :01:10.of three Andrew Simon in his home in Hartlepool. Mr Simon, who had mental
:01:11. > :01:18.health problems, had suffered years of abuse from drug users before his
:01:19. > :01:25.death. Stuart Whincup reports. This is Andrew Simon placing a bet
:01:26. > :01:29.just hours before his death. He suffered mental health problems and
:01:30. > :01:34.four years was bullied, abused and exploited. His home in Hartlepool
:01:35. > :01:38.was well`known to the police. It was a meeting place for drug addicts and
:01:39. > :01:46.alcoholics who he was too frightened turn away. Even people who annoyed
:01:47. > :01:51.him, he would let them sit there. That's why I used to make him a meal
:01:52. > :01:56.and stuff, just to give back to him. Paul Nash was one of those who
:01:57. > :02:00.regularly visited Andrew Simon's home. When he came here last June,
:02:01. > :02:06.another group already in the house turned him away. Footage from the
:02:07. > :02:11.CCTV camera at the top of the street showed Nash walking in and out the
:02:12. > :02:16.house. Detectives believe that that snub angered him, and that is why he
:02:17. > :02:21.came back to the house at around midnight. He went inside and started
:02:22. > :02:26.the fire on the sofa as Andrew Simon was asleep on the sofa upstairs.
:02:27. > :02:31.Then Andrew Nash walked outside and watched through the window as the
:02:32. > :02:38.fire took home. `` Paul Nash. This was the moment Paul mash was
:02:39. > :02:44.arrested for killing Andrew Simon. `` Paul Nash. People's sole reason
:02:45. > :02:51.for going there was to take drugs and alcohol. Andrew was vulnerable.
:02:52. > :02:56.Paul mash will serve a minimum of ten years in prison. The judge said
:02:57. > :03:01.he had taken advantage of of honourable man who had shown him
:03:02. > :03:04.nothing but kindness. A Cumbrian teenager has been
:03:05. > :03:07.sentenced to ten years for armed robbery. Conner Newall, who's 19 and
:03:08. > :03:11.from Wigton, threatened a woman with a gun before taking her car. He went
:03:12. > :03:15.on to Kirkbride, where he carried out an armed raid on the Post
:03:16. > :03:17.Office. He was then involved in a high`speed police pursuit in West
:03:18. > :03:20.Cumbria involving armed officers and the National Police Air Service,
:03:21. > :03:25.before being stopped on the A596 near Prospect. Newall was sentenced
:03:26. > :03:28.at Carlisle Crown Court for two counts of armed robbery, possession
:03:29. > :03:33.of a firearm with intent and dangerous driving.
:03:34. > :03:39.A former teacher from Durham, who's a BNP activist, is challenging a
:03:40. > :03:42.lifelong teaching ban. Adam Walker resigned from Houghton Kepier Sports
:03:43. > :03:44.College in 2007 after calling some immigrants "savage animals" on an
:03:45. > :03:51.internet forum using a school laptop. He was banned from teaching
:03:52. > :03:54.after receiving a suspended sentence for chasing three boys in his car
:03:55. > :03:59.and slashing their bike tyres in 2011. At a hearing in Leeds, the
:04:00. > :04:02.44`year`old claimed the decision to ban him was prejudiced because of
:04:03. > :04:08.his BNP support. The judge indicated he will reserve his judgement.
:04:09. > :04:11.A date's been fixed for the demolition of a second block of
:04:12. > :04:14.flats on a Tyneside housing estate devastated by flooding. The flats at
:04:15. > :04:19.Spencer Court in Newburn were inundated by water after a nearby
:04:20. > :04:23.culvert collapsed in 2012. One block has already been demolished. Dunelm
:04:24. > :04:27.Homes says it plans to demolish a second block next Wednesday. It'll
:04:28. > :04:32.cause disruption in the area for two weeks.
:04:33. > :04:35.The crew of a ship detained in the Port of Tyne for almost two months
:04:36. > :04:38.are on their way home to the Philippines. Eleven sailors have
:04:39. > :04:41.already gone, leaving just the captain and two others aboard. The
:04:42. > :04:44.Donald Duckling was detained by the Coastguard at North Shields early in
:04:45. > :04:49.November when it was deemed unseaworthy. Its Taiwanese owners
:04:50. > :04:52.failed to pay the crew wages or carry out repairs. Local people and
:04:53. > :04:56.the Mission to Seafarers fed the sailors and even provided phones for
:04:57. > :05:05.them to make calls to their families.
:05:06. > :05:08.They had been fishing over the sides, anything they could catch.
:05:09. > :05:13.They cooked it on the deck of the ship. By the time they reached
:05:14. > :05:19.here, they only had two days supply of food left. By the Monday, they
:05:20. > :05:24.didn't have any food, which is when we put the appeal out. It's just
:05:25. > :05:26.unbelievable. In this day and age, you can't understand that this is
:05:27. > :05:29.going on. A thalidomide victim from North
:05:30. > :05:31.Yorkshire has been in Brussels for talks with the European Health
:05:32. > :05:34.Commissioner. It's over his long`running fight for compensation.
:05:35. > :05:37.Guy Tweedy is hoping to negotiate with the German pharmaceutical
:05:38. > :05:40.company Grunenthal. The drug was given to pregnant women in the late
:05:41. > :05:44.1950s and early 60s to combat morning sickness. It was withdrawn
:05:45. > :05:54.after it was linked to limb deformities in newborn babies. Anna
:05:55. > :06:00.Crossley reports. At the time it was deemed a wonder drug, but these
:06:01. > :06:04.days, it is synonymous with one of the biggest pharmaceutical disasters
:06:05. > :06:09.this country has ever seen. Fill in the `` thalidomide was prescribed to
:06:10. > :06:14.pregnant women in the 1960s for morning sickness. It was withdrawn
:06:15. > :06:19.after thousands of children were born with crippling defects. The
:06:20. > :06:23.UK's first memorial to thalidomide victims is here in Harrogate. This
:06:24. > :06:30.tree was planted to mark the 50th anniversary of the pill's withdraw
:06:31. > :06:33.from the market. This plaque commemorates the babies and families
:06:34. > :06:40.whose lives were devastated by the drug. The memorial was paid for by
:06:41. > :06:46.thalidomide victim Guy Tweedy. He spent the last decade trying to get
:06:47. > :06:50.Grunenthal, the Germany company who made the drug, to compensate
:06:51. > :06:53.victims. Today he has been in Brussels to try to broker talks
:06:54. > :07:00.between the German government and Grunenthal. It is very sad that I am
:07:01. > :07:02.still fighting after tenures. What we are looking for from Grunenthal
:07:03. > :07:09.is an apology and a financial settlement, to make the last part of
:07:10. > :07:15.the lives of thalidomide victims more comfortable. Guy has been
:07:16. > :07:20.supported by the chair of the all party Parliamentary group for
:07:21. > :07:24.thalidomide. Grunenthal do have a responsibility to help with those
:07:25. > :07:27.funds. We sometimes forget that people who are victims of
:07:28. > :07:32.thalidomide are now moving into a later stage of life. Now it is the
:07:33. > :07:37.fact that they have had to use their mouths for much of their lives,
:07:38. > :07:43.their jaws are starting to crumble, so there are other issues coming to
:07:44. > :07:46.the fore. Guy says his meeting with the EU commissioner was positive,
:07:47. > :07:53.and hopes that victims could be moving closer to receiving the
:07:54. > :07:56.compensation they feel they deserve. The wreck of the sunken cruise ship,
:07:57. > :08:02.the Costa Concordia, could be on its way to Teesside. Ship recycler Able
:08:03. > :08:05.UK is one of 12 companies bidding to take the liner apart when it's
:08:06. > :08:10.refloated in the summer. The company wants to dismantle the wreck at its
:08:11. > :08:13.Seaton facility near Hartlepool. 32 people died two years ago when the
:08:14. > :08:17.vessel sank off the Italian holiday island of Giglio. Able should find
:08:18. > :08:20.out if it's been successful in its bid to recycle the ship by early
:08:21. > :08:23.March. The giant Swiss health care company
:08:24. > :08:28.Roche has been accused of breaking contracts with, and taking ideas
:08:29. > :08:31.from, a tiny business in our region. Roche was interested in a DNA
:08:32. > :08:36.analysing machine developed in North Yorkshire, but then walked away.
:08:37. > :08:43.However, it then brought out its own DNA machine. Now the company, IT`IS
:08:44. > :08:45.International, which is based in Stokesley, has accused Roche of
:08:46. > :08:54.using its technology. Here's our business correspondent, Ian Reeve.
:08:55. > :08:58.This North Yorkshire company thought an approach from the health care
:08:59. > :09:04.giant Roche could be the making of it. The Swiss business was
:09:05. > :09:10.interested in a DNA analysing Sheen developed here in Stokesley, used to
:09:11. > :09:19.identify cancers or food contamination. We allowed Roche
:09:20. > :09:23.assess the machine as part of a feasibility study. It was shown to
:09:24. > :09:30.them under a confidentiality agreement. However, Roche opt its
:09:31. > :09:35.interest, but then brought out its own DNA machine. This company says
:09:36. > :09:40.that is based on intellectual property that has been taken. The
:09:41. > :09:45.intellectual property we create is our lifeblood, and without taking
:09:46. > :09:52.forward those ideas, we simply cannot survive, so we have two
:09:53. > :09:57.respond and protect those ideas. The upshot is the dispute will soon be
:09:58. > :10:04.played out in a German court. It will be a David versus Goliath
:10:05. > :10:10.battle. Roche is 118 years old. It is the world's biggest health care
:10:11. > :10:18.company. It has 82,000 employees and turns over about ?30 billion a year.
:10:19. > :10:24.By contrast, here, turnover is ?4 million, and there is 13 staff. One
:10:25. > :10:30.of them is Roderick, who worked for Roche 13 years. They respect the
:10:31. > :10:33.intellectual property of others and they respect confidential
:10:34. > :10:39.disclosures. Unfortunately, in our opinion, in this case, that doesn't
:10:40. > :10:44.seem to have happened. The court case to decide those issues should
:10:45. > :10:49.start next month. For Roche's part, it should only confirmed their legal
:10:50. > :10:52.proceedings between itself and the company here. It says it never in
:10:53. > :10:55.such circumstances. Still to come tonight: a spot of
:10:56. > :10:57.north`east Passion, as our region starts preparing for a major Easter
:10:58. > :11:01.event. And mud, sweat ` but hopefully no
:11:02. > :11:10.tears ` for one of the toughest things you can do on two wheels. As
:11:11. > :11:15.the skies clear and cold air comes in from the west, we are in for a
:11:16. > :11:20.frosty night tonight. Join me later for the full weekend forecast.
:11:21. > :11:23.Campaigners for Scottish independence say a Yes vote in
:11:24. > :11:26.September's referendum could create new transport opportunities for the
:11:27. > :11:29.North of England. The Waverley Line, which used to run through the
:11:30. > :11:34.Scottish Borders, is being restored between Edinburgh and Tweedbank. But
:11:35. > :11:38.for many, the long term aim is to restore it all the way to Carlisle.
:11:39. > :11:41.The question is, under whose rule is it most likely? In the final report
:11:42. > :11:47.looking at whether an independent Scotland would be a friend or a foe
:11:48. > :11:50.for our region, here's Emily Unia. The Waverley line ran through the
:11:51. > :11:54.Scottish borders from Edinburgh to Carlisle. The closed in 1969. But in
:11:55. > :11:57.2006, The Scottish Parliament passed the Waverley Railway Act, making way
:11:58. > :12:03.for the partial restoration of the service. On the scottish side of the
:12:04. > :12:06.border, work's already under way. But extending the line all the way
:12:07. > :12:10.to Cumbria is still only an ambition. Let's not underestimate `
:12:11. > :12:16.this is the single biggest restoration project ever in the UK.
:12:17. > :12:23.It's over 30 miles. There's still 60 miles to go. It's a great ambition
:12:24. > :12:27.and it will take a long time. It's an achievable ambition, and I do
:12:28. > :12:30.believe that it can be done. The current restoration only goes from
:12:31. > :12:32.Edinburgh to Tweedbank. Those backing a Yes vote in September's
:12:33. > :12:37.referendum say independence will help extend the line back to Cumbria
:12:38. > :12:40.once more. As a long term objective, I believe it's essential and will
:12:41. > :12:42.ensure that there's meaningful communication and connection between
:12:43. > :12:52.Carlisle through the border to Edinburgh. This is Scotch Dyke, just
:12:53. > :12:55.north of Longtown in Cumbria. The Waverley route once ran through
:12:56. > :12:58.these fields, and restoring the line would create new links between the
:12:59. > :13:01.north of England and southern Scotland. But down the road in
:13:02. > :13:06.Carlisle, transport links are just the beginning when it comes to
:13:07. > :13:09.cross`border communication. I think transport is a major factor but
:13:10. > :13:13.there are other issues that we're working on and that we would want to
:13:14. > :13:17.work in collaboration with our Scottish neighbours. That's on
:13:18. > :13:26.tourism, that's on rural issues, it's on retail. Carlisle is the
:13:27. > :13:29.capital of this particular area, this economic functional area, and
:13:30. > :13:33.our catchment for retail is a 400,000 population. So it's a huge
:13:34. > :13:40.area that we attract, or connect to, so it's really important. But the
:13:41. > :13:44.prospect of an independent Scotland on Carlisle's doorstep is viewed as
:13:45. > :13:49.more of a challenge than an opportunity to those supporting a No
:13:50. > :14:00.vote. Carlisle is at the centre of the United Kingdom at present. If
:14:01. > :14:04.there was to be an independent Scotland we would really be a border
:14:05. > :14:07.city. I do not think that is for the benefit of Scotland. I don't think
:14:08. > :14:11.it would benefit Carlisle and I don't think it would benefit
:14:12. > :14:13.England. I think we're better as a united country. Exactly how Northern
:14:14. > :14:17.England can benefit from Scottish independence is still far from
:14:18. > :14:19.clear, but the very fact that the referendum's happening at all is
:14:20. > :14:22.certainly focusing minds in Cumbria. And Sunday Politics will be
:14:23. > :14:25.discussing how independence could affect the north`east and Cumbria
:14:26. > :14:30.this weekend. That's at 11:00am on BBC One this Sunday morning.
:14:31. > :14:34.We might only have just got over Christmas, but there are already big
:14:35. > :14:38.plans in place for Easter on South Tyneside. Bents Park in South
:14:39. > :14:42.Shields is to retell the story of the Passion of the Christ ` using
:14:43. > :14:46.shipping containers. It's all part of a big live event to be broadcast
:14:47. > :14:50.on BBC One later in the year. Amy Lea has been finding out more The
:14:51. > :14:55.perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors, to walk the dog and even
:14:56. > :14:58.to watch the birds. But Bents Park in South Shields is
:14:59. > :15:05.preparing to take centre stage in this year Easter celebrations on the
:15:06. > :15:07.BBC. It's difficult to imagine on this chilly winter's day than in the
:15:08. > :15:13.slightly warmer temperatures, hopefully, of Easter. Behind me will
:15:14. > :15:19.be a giant shipping container. It will be one of 100 that will make up
:15:20. > :15:22.a giant cross here in Bents Park. What makes the shipping containers
:15:23. > :15:27.special is not the number of them, or that they will be arranged in a
:15:28. > :15:29.giant cross, but that 12 of them are going into communities right across
:15:30. > :15:35.the north`east, from Northumberland to Sunderland. They will decide how
:15:36. > :15:40.to illustrate the 12 stations of the Cross. Each of the communities will
:15:41. > :15:45.work with an artist to come up with their interpretation. So it could be
:15:46. > :15:48.love. What does love mean in the 21st`century? What does it mean to
:15:49. > :15:51.that community? It could be represented in the form of dance or
:15:52. > :15:55.through digital. It could be interactive with the people who are
:15:56. > :15:58.attending. It will be a massive, massive event. In 2012, Preston
:15:59. > :16:02.hosted its own version of the Passion, which was televised live.
:16:03. > :16:06.This year's is hoping to show what the story of the crucifixion of
:16:07. > :16:21.Christ means to people living in the north`east today.
:16:22. > :16:25.That looks good, but we can top that! Get on with the sport!
:16:26. > :16:28.We'll start tonight with basketball, because Newcastle Eagles are up for
:16:29. > :16:32.the Cup this weekend. On Sunday, they meet Leicester Riders in the
:16:33. > :16:35.BBL Cup final in Birmingham. For two of the veterans of the side, it's a
:16:36. > :16:40.chance to make up for the disappointments of last season.
:16:41. > :16:43.This is what we're used to seeing ` the Eagles, carrying off yet another
:16:44. > :16:47.trophy. But 12 months ago, the champagne dried up. It's the memory
:16:48. > :16:56.of that barren campaign that's driving them on now. It happened a
:16:57. > :16:59.couple of years ago, and the guys came back really focused, and we
:17:00. > :17:04.were able to get all four pieces of silverware. This year, our main
:17:05. > :17:07.focus is this one. Charles Smith and coach Fab Flournoy have been the
:17:08. > :17:10.backbone of the Newcastle set`up for more years than they care to
:17:11. > :17:16.remember. But that hunger for success is what keeps them going. It
:17:17. > :17:22.would have been easy for me to stop a few years ago, when we won or
:17:23. > :17:28.four. I considered it, but I came back, and I am even more motivated
:17:29. > :17:33.this year because I didn't win anything last year. I am going to
:17:34. > :17:37.ride this as long as I possibly can. It is just like the final. You don't
:17:38. > :17:43.know how long it is going to last. This could be the last one. This
:17:44. > :17:47.could be my last season. I don't know, so I am enjoying it and I am
:17:48. > :17:50.taking it as it comes. The Riders downed the Eagles five times last
:17:51. > :17:53.season. Surprisingly, they haven't faced each other since Leicester
:17:54. > :17:56.triumphed in the Play`Off final last April. For Newcastle, it's a
:17:57. > :18:01.long`awaited chance to put the record straight.
:18:02. > :18:04.After three straight defeats there's another tough game for Newcastle
:18:05. > :18:08.this weekend, at home to Manchester City, on Sunday. Before then, a
:18:09. > :18:12.sell`out away crowd will cheer on Sunderland at Fulham tomorrow, on
:18:13. > :18:16.the back of three home games in six days. To help fans with the cost of
:18:17. > :18:18.a busy fixture list, the club's offering free buses for supporters
:18:19. > :18:23.travelling to the League Cup semifinal second`leg tie at Old
:18:24. > :18:27.Trafford later this month. Gus Poyet's job now is to find a way to
:18:28. > :18:31.transfer their cup form to the Premier League.
:18:32. > :18:34.There's no doubt Sunderland's Cup runs are making the burden of
:18:35. > :18:38.propping up the Premier League easier to bear, but they have
:18:39. > :18:41.another chance to move off the bottom this weekend which they've
:18:42. > :18:47.got to take. It's how to do it that's the problem. I tried to make
:18:48. > :18:51.them think that we are playing in the cup on Saturday. I am looking at
:18:52. > :18:57.the difference, if there is a difference between one or the other.
:18:58. > :19:01.We will try to do what we do in the league. Sunderland will have to get
:19:02. > :19:08.over any nerves quickly when they run out at Craven Cottage `` Craven
:19:09. > :19:14.Cottage. No one knows better than Gus Poyet that the danger man will
:19:15. > :19:18.be Dimitar Berbatov. I had the pleasure to coach him for a year. I
:19:19. > :19:24.can tell you, he is unique. The things he can do on the pitch. I
:19:25. > :19:31.like him. I'm really looking forward to seeing him. I hope he doesn't
:19:32. > :19:36.have a good day. Nearly five months on, Alan Pardew still thinks media
:19:37. > :19:41.criticism of his thumping at Manchester City at the start of the
:19:42. > :19:46.season was over the top. Newcastle gradually put that behind them, and
:19:47. > :19:52.a recent run of form has only been ended by a cup exit. One came at the
:19:53. > :19:59.weekend against Arsenal. I felt we lacked a bit of ambition against
:20:00. > :20:03.Arsenal. I would like to do a bit more against Manchester City. They
:20:04. > :20:09.are a side that can turn on the gas and blow you away. Pardew is looking
:20:10. > :20:15.to make at least one new addition to his squad, but he is hoping to hang
:20:16. > :20:19.onto his star performers in the January transfer window, including
:20:20. > :20:23.Yohan Cabaye. He has two years on his contract left in the summer, and
:20:24. > :20:27.we are looking forward to him playing for Newcastle for the rest
:20:28. > :20:30.of the season. We will take it from there in the summer.
:20:31. > :20:33.Elsewhere tomorrow, in the Championship, 20`year`old Nigerian
:20:34. > :20:35.defender Kenneth Omeruo could make his debut for Middlesbrough away at
:20:36. > :20:39.Blackpool, who're managed, of course, by former Boro skipper Paul
:20:40. > :20:43.Ince. In League One, Carlisle have a tough trip to play Leyton Orient,
:20:44. > :20:46.who are just one place off the top. Hartlepool are at home to Rochdale
:20:47. > :20:50.in League Two, while York go to bottom club Northampton. And in
:20:51. > :20:53.Scottish League Two, it's Berwick Rangers against Annan Athletic.
:20:54. > :20:57.Coverage of all those games on your BBC local radio station.
:20:58. > :21:01.In Rugby Union, a disappointing result for Newcastle Falcons last
:21:02. > :21:04.night in the European Challenge Cup. They're all but out of the
:21:05. > :21:08.competition after losing to the French side, Brive. The Falcons went
:21:09. > :21:12.ahead at the end of an uninspiring first half, after Brive saw two men
:21:13. > :21:15.sent to the bin. Newcastle were awarded a penalty try after the
:21:16. > :21:20.scrum was pulled down again, leaving Joel Hodgson with an easy
:21:21. > :21:24.conversion. But with just five minutes left on the clock, the
:21:25. > :21:27.French side scored a penalty which saw them snatch victory by two
:21:28. > :21:31.points. So it's looking grim for the
:21:32. > :21:34.Falcons, and I'm afraid it's the end of the road for Hartlepool's Tony
:21:35. > :21:37.Eccles in the BDO Wolrd Darts Championships at Frimley Green. Tony
:21:38. > :21:40.was up against fourth seed Robbie Green in last night's quarterfinal
:21:41. > :21:46.at the Lakeside Country Club, the same stage he reached back in 2007.
:21:47. > :21:59.He put up a brave fight, before losing by five sets to two.
:22:00. > :22:03.Now the sport Extreme Enduro is one of the toughest things you can do on
:22:04. > :22:05.two wheels. First one home wins. You compete on different types of
:22:06. > :22:09.surfaces, with gruelling courses that in some cases can take days to
:22:10. > :22:14.complete, tackling a whole range of natural and man`made obstacles.
:22:15. > :22:18.Sounds just the thing for me! It's still quite new, and the best in the
:22:19. > :22:43.world is Graham Jarvis from Ripon. Nick Gemzoe reports.
:22:44. > :22:50.It has taken me to new places, like Australia and South Africa. Every
:22:51. > :22:54.event is different every year. They make a new course and you do not
:22:55. > :23:04.know what is ahead of you. Raymond Jarvis keeps winning Extreme
:23:05. > :23:08.Enduros. Several different events. As new races are created and the
:23:09. > :23:13.going gets tough, he's more determined than ever to keep
:23:14. > :23:19.winning. I have one every event at least once, so I need new
:23:20. > :23:24.motivation, and I think that comes from new riders coming in, new
:23:25. > :23:28.competition and new events. A lot to look forward to, and I've got to
:23:29. > :23:33.keep working hard, maybe harder than I ever have done to keep up with
:23:34. > :23:37.began to us. When the careers adviser at school asked Graham what
:23:38. > :23:47.he wanted to be when he grew up, he said, I'm going to be a professional
:23:48. > :23:51.motorcycle rider. By the age of 16, Graham had already been
:23:52. > :23:59.semiprofessional for five years. By 1993, he had reached fourth in the
:24:00. > :24:02.world rankings. Ten years later, he had won nine scotched trials and
:24:03. > :24:09.four British Championships. At the age of 32, he considered calling it
:24:10. > :24:15.a day. Then he had a go at a new type of riding ` Extreme Enduro. But
:24:16. > :24:20.success comes at a cost. It is hard being away from your family and away
:24:21. > :24:24.from home for long periods. At the end of the day, it's a job as well,
:24:25. > :24:31.and you come out there to win. Graham is moving to a new sponsor
:24:32. > :24:34.for 2014, and he is ready to take on the challenge of winning anything
:24:35. > :24:44.that Extreme Enduro can throw at him.
:24:45. > :24:50.Terrific pictures! Will you give it a go this weekend? If the weather is
:24:51. > :24:57.right. Perhaps on my trike. Now for the weather.
:24:58. > :25:03.Last night I said that the Northern lights might be visible.
:25:04. > :25:08.Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but there were some very clear skies at
:25:09. > :25:13.Whitley Bay. No show for the Northern lights, though. Tonight
:25:14. > :25:16.there was a chance that you might catch a glimpse of the Northern
:25:17. > :25:22.lights, because it will be dry and clear. A cold might as well, and we
:25:23. > :25:26.will see some ice forming in places. We have a weather front over us at
:25:27. > :25:31.the moment, which is clearing away south`east, taking with it the
:25:32. > :25:36.patchy rain. The cold air that comes in behind it is from the really cold
:25:37. > :25:42.weather over the states in the last week or so. It isn't going to bring
:25:43. > :25:46.us that extreme weather, but there will be widespread frost. After
:25:47. > :25:52.today's rain, ice, in Cumbria in particular. Something to watch out
:25:53. > :25:57.for on the roads as we head through tonight. One or two mist and fog
:25:58. > :26:02.patches, but the fog slowly lifting through the course of the morning.
:26:03. > :26:06.Most places having a fine day tomorrow. Plenty of weak January
:26:07. > :26:12.sunshine, especially in eastern areas, and most places stay dry.
:26:13. > :26:17.Temperature is nothing to write home about. The winds are drifting in
:26:18. > :26:22.from the west, not too strong. All in all, not looking too bad
:26:23. > :26:27.tomorrow. The ridge of high pressure that brings us dry weather also
:26:28. > :26:32.brings us a cold, clear, frosty night tomorrow. Later on Sunday,
:26:33. > :26:37.that weather front comes in for the west. Things dry up again on Monday.
:26:38. > :26:42.Through the course of the weekend, a lot of dry weather to be had. Best
:26:43. > :26:48.of the sunshine will be tomorrow, but temperatures struggle. Another
:26:49. > :26:55.frosty night tomorrow night. Most places dry, if a bit more cloudy,
:26:56. > :26:59.especially later in the day. Monday sees things brightening up again for
:27:00. > :27:05.most people. Rain will then spread in from the west as we head through
:27:06. > :27:10.Tuesday. If you are out and about over the weekend, we will keep you
:27:11. > :27:16.updated on your BBC local radio station. You can also use the free
:27:17. > :27:20.BBC weather app. Following the success of the current BBC Look
:27:21. > :27:25.North weather calendar, we are doing it again. If you have a picture that
:27:26. > :27:31.says January in our region, we would love to see it. Send those pictures
:27:32. > :27:40.to us on our website. Thank you. That's it from us
:27:41. > :27:47.tonight. Stephanie will be on later. Bring on the young ones! Good night.