16/01/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North. In the headlines tonight: Two

fishing ports in mourning. The young fishermen found dead in

Whitby were based at Amble in Northumberland. Just feel so sorry

for everybody and everybody feels the same. Total shock.

Fixed odds betting machines, the crack cocaine of gambling. We hear

one addict's tale. A short walk to the betting shop, going, put the

money in, played, money had gone and I was back in the car within six

minutes. ?600 gone. Is your baby under a vest? Police

scramble after a caller claims a child is not wearing a coat!

And the tunnels beneath the Somme. Are you related to the soldiers who

fought the First World War underground?

In sport, he scored an iconic goal for Sunderland, but Ji's now on his

way back to Germany! And our latest Sportskid is the

high`flying teenager who first flew solo on his 14th birthday.

"Total shock". That was the reaction of one Northumberland fisherman

today on hearing that two young men found dead on their boat in Whitby

yesterday, came from the port of Amble. The men have been named by

police tonight as Mark Arries and Edward Ide. Their boat is registered

in Milford Haven and at first it wasn't clear they were from this

region. It's still not known how they died, though police say there

are "no suspicious circumstances." Our correspondent, Mark Denten,

reports now from Amble. In the mist at Amble harbour,

tributes to two local fishermen who died at another port 87 miles away.

The two men, named locally as Mark Arries and Eddie Ide, were found on

board their boat near Whitby's West Pier. It's thought they were working

as part of a five`strong fleet fishing for scollops. The men, both

in their twenties, were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Amble fisherman Alan Brown knew one of the dead men well. He grew up

around here. If we needed any... He would fill in for us. Nice and flat.

He's done this job before, it is nothing new to him. He knows how to

work, it is just a tragic circumstance. Both men were from

fishing families going back generations around here. Both

fathers and both part of a declining younger generation of fishermen. One

of the tributes reads simply, always in our thoughts, gone, but never

forgotten. Just cannot take it in. I don't know, they just can't believe

it happened. North Yorkshire Police say there are no suspicious

circumstances behind the men's deaths but their investigation into

exactly what happened is ongoing. He won and lost a quarter of a

million pounds, and became so desperate he considered suicide.

He's addicted to roulette machines, the controversial terminals some

want banned. Betting shops in our region have hundreds of them, raking

in millions in profits. Now one addict has told Look North how he

became hooked and how it almost destroyed him.

They call them the crack cocaine of gambling. High`speed betting and

high speed losses. 30 seconds, bang, bang. Money is gone. ?100, ?100. I

got out of my car, walked to the cashpoint, to cut ?600, went to the

betting shop, went in, put the money in, money was gone and I was back in

the car within six minutes. ?600 gone. Can't even describe how I

felt. It really is bad. It has ruined my life up to this point and

I don't intend to let it continue. Now in therapy, Michael charts his

progress in an online blog. I don't like the thought of being a

part`time dad. He's 29 and from Middlesbrough. The Labour Party

thinks councils should be able to ban these roulette machines or

fixed`odds betting terminals from bookies. What concerns those who

object to these roulette machines is not just that people can lose so

much so quickly, but there has been a clustering of betting shops in

town centres and often their alleged targeting people with the least

money. Which sounds contradictory but the Campaign for Fairer Gambling

insists the machines have spread the most in poorer areas. It claims

Hartlepool has 73, with ?81 million gambled in a year. Carlisle has 55

with ?61 million gambled. In Sunderland, 110 with ?122 million

gambled. Much of which is won back. Campaigners say it has to stop.

These companies and the machines that they have strip almost ?13

million out of the quayside at Conwy, where it is vital. ``

quayside economy. As for Michael, he thinks the

machines should be for members only. He hopes for him, the worst is over.

I will not lie, I have had some dark thoughts. Thankfully, it did not go

that far, and managed to use the love for my children and they should

not have to go without a father because of the addiction. Well,

earlier I spoke to Peter Craske who represents the Association of

British Bookmakers. I asked him if they deliberately target the poorest

communities. It is completely untrue. There would

be no point opening a business like ours in an area where people don't

have money. Also, just before Christmas, the health survey for

England was published and prove the claim was untrue as it showed there

is more gambling in areas of high afterwards than that are in areas of

least affluence. We have spoken to one addict who lost ?600 in just six

minutes, don't you have an obligation to police those people

who may have a problem? We must keep things in perspective. We have 8

million customers. One problem gambler is definitely one to many.

Our staff are trained to spot people and talk to them in confidence and

try and help them overcome their problem. Ultimately, a customer can

self exclude themselves from a shop which means they will never be

served in their way period of time they have chosen. Our new code of

responsible gambling adds new measures, like someone on a games

machine from March will be able to set a limit on the amount of time

they play for or the amount of money they lose. That is the first time

that has been introduced. That takes a lot of self`control for people who

in some cases have lost control. We want people to bet safely and enjoy

themselves. We are committed to helping the people who get in

trouble. To self exclude yourself, you provide a photo, fill in a form

and the staff keep this behind the counter.

And tomorrow morning, on BBC Newcastle's Breakfast show, Alfie

Joey and Charlie Charlton will be asking if people addicted to

gambling need more help to protect themselves.

A new, single`site school will be built to replace two west Cumbrian

schools which have both failed their latest Ofsted inspection. Parents of

children at Stainburn and Southfield schools in Workington were told this

week that both were judged "inadequate" and placed in "special

measures." The leader of the County Council says it's tragic for the

children, but says a new, single school will offer a better future.

We will be able to fulfil our long held ambition of having a single

secondary school, combining the two schools, we will be able to access

their capital funding which we would not have been able to do had they

become an academy. Ultimately, the law requires any new schools that

are built to be academies, so that is eventually what will happen.

Demolition work was completed today on a second block of flats on a

Newcastle housing estate which was flooded in June 2012, causing a

culvert to collapse. These were the scenes at Spencer Court in Newburn

earlier this afternoon. The estate is now at the centre of a dispute

over who was to blame for what happened. The final bill is likely

to exceed ?7.5 million pounds. Smoke from a fire involving 15,000

tonnes of tyres could be seen for miles across North Yorkshire today.

Plumes of black smoke billowed from the blaze at a recycling plant at

Sherburn in Elmet, near Selby. Schools kept children indoors and

some flights at a nearby airfield were grounded.

A mother has criticised police after they questioned her over the amount

of clothing her nine`month old baby was wearing! It happened when Paula

Andrew took her daughter, Maddy, for a stroll along the seafront in

Scarborough. Phil Connell has the story.

It should have been an enjoyable ten minute play on the beach. But here

in Scarborough Paul Andrew was stopped and quizzed by police with

her nine`month`old daughter. Officers said they had received a

999 call, the caller was concerned that Paula's daughter wasn't

properly dressed for the weather. I was incredulous, it's just seemed

far`fetched. I don't think it is their remix to check the temperature

of children. She was wearing leggings, vest, long`sleeved thick

T`shirt. The story has made headlines in several national

papers. Here in Scarborough, it has become a growing topic of debate. I

think people should mind their own business. That woman has every right

to bring her little girl out in anything she wants, providing she is

well covered. Over the top. You want to come in the summer when there are

all of the baby is getting sunburnt, that is worse. Today, North

Yorkshire Police wouldn't be interviewed on the matter, but did

release a statement, in it they said all reports concerning the safety of

children were taken very seriously and will always be rapidly checked

out. It seems heavy`handed. They should've Jeavons passed, seeing

that we were OK. It wasn't a story. `` driven past. It just seems silly.

I waste of police time. Police say they will talk with Paula privately

to discuss the matter further. A simple walk on the beach that has

ended in a blaze of publicity. You're watching Look North. Still to

come, Dawn has the sport, and we meet our latest Sportskid ` a

high`flyer, who first flew solo at the age of 14!

They will be one or two showers tomorrow, but most places will hang

on to bright spells. Join me later for your full forecast.

Yesterday we told you about the soldiers from the Border Regiment

who signed their names, deep underground, on the walls of a vast

tunnel system beneath the Somme battlefield in France. The complex

was abandoned after the First World War, and the names only discovered

as archaeologists began recent excavations. Today, in our second

Look North Report to commemorate the Great War centenary, Gerry Jackson

reveals what happened to the three men, and how you can help in the

search for their descendants. In the gently rolling hills above

the Somme is one of the many memorials to the fallen. But this

one is different. 73,000 British and Commonwealth names are carved here.

This is not the sum total of the dead, just the ones whose bodies

were never identified or never found.

On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, nowhere was the death

toll heavier than in these fields near La Boisselle. For almost a

century, this vast network of tunnels dug by British, French and

German miners lay unexplored. Now a team of volunteers is uncovering the

past. For the men that cut this in the first place, it must have been

unbelievably hard. The La Boisselle Study Group is a band of unpaid

enthusiasts united by a deep respect for the men who fought and died in a

war waged in silence. Until your explosives killed your enemy or his

killed you. To be able to enter these tunnels as the first people

since the end of the war has been something really quite astounding.

At the same time, at the bottom of this shaft, we know that we are just

a short distance away from the remains of men that were buried

alive. In fact, there are 38 men known to be entombed here, it will

stay their resting place. But near the surface, amid all the litter of

war, the real cost still makes its presence felt. As we were filming,

the bones of eight British, French and German soldiers were being

excavated. The professional archaeologists handle all such

remains with reverence. Even the litter of war makes you wonder whose

hands last held it. Like the fact that you get to see and touch and

work on objects that people have used, people's food tins, knives

forks. Adding the people back to the stories that you hear about the war.

Deep below ground, a handful of men from the border Regiment left as

something more personal, their names, pencilled in the chalk. They

were infantry men requisitioned for work underground. The La Boisselle

group would like to trace their descendants and bring them here. The

signatures have been there for almost 100 years. They are as fresh

as the day they were made. I was blown away when I first saw them. I

just thought it was an amazing piece of history and so fresh. I feel that

the relatives, if they are interested, would love to have a

chance to come and see them. At the museum in Carlisle, I hope to find

details of the men's' experiences. The diary tells us that they were

working parties for the Royal Engineers. And that three of them

were wounded. They were taking the same risks that a lot of people

focus on. If something went wrong underground, whether it was a

natural thing like a collapse of fighting, they will be there as

well. The other important thing is the preparation site, this is one of

the great logistical things of World War I. All of this work for a great

big battle in July. And that was the Battle of the Somme. After the

colossal toil above and below ground, the attack here was a

failure. The Tyneside, Scottish and Irish lost especially heavily. 800

border men who went into action, more than 500 were killed or wounded

that first day alone. But what of our trio? All three men attacked the

German lines that day. All came through. Although William Carr was

wounded, he survived the Battle of the Somme. But not the war.

Amazing story. So, are you a relative of William

Carr, Obadiah Henderson, or William Chard? Or can you help us find any

of their descendants? If so, contact us via our Facebook page. Or drop us

a line the old fashioned way! Now, it's time to meet another of

our Sportskids. And this film has been a long time in the making,

waiting for the right weather forecast! Stephanie Cleasby has been

to meet a teenager who's flying high.

I am Matthew Moore, I am 14 and my sport is gliding.

You have done all of your checks and you are ready to do a bit of gliding

now. How is the weather looking? The weather is OK for solo flight. It is

not great for general flying. But it looks good for solo flight. We will

let you take off and get ready. Have fun. Thank you.

Thanks to the age limit for going solo being lowered, on his 40th

birthday, Matthew became one of the youngest people to fly a plane solo.

`` 14th. I was nervous on the ground. As soon as I took off, it's

just became normal and I knew what I was doing straightaway and the nurse

left. `` the nervous. When you are still, you're the only pilot up

there, it is up to you to get the aircraft down. When it comes to

gliding, Matthew's family know what they are talking about. His dad flew

solo on his 16th birthday. His grandad is an instructor. I was a

bit nervous. But I know how good he is, so I have every confidence. In

actual fact, the day he did go solo didn't have the best weather, but he

did a few flights before me first and I was confidence to let him go.

He's doing so well, isn't he? It seems to be perfect every time. Far

better than me. Very proud. Gliding is a fine weather sport, conditions

have to be just right, but it is all fun when they are. The thing I love

about gliding is the thrill and experience which is good for working

life and aviation. It doesn't have an engine to start off with, so it

is a bit difficult. My ambition is to become an airline pilot and

flight people across to America and Australia. Now it is my turn to

experience the thrill of gliding. But the winch cable breaks during

the launch, so we're forced to make an emergency landing. Second time

lucky and Matthew's grandad shows off acrobatic skills.

I can see why Matthew loves it. That is quite a rush. It is one of the

sports when you get addicted to it. I'll certainly keep on flying.

I am happy going up in a plane, but I would not fancy that.

Some news in the last half hour, Middlesbrough have just completed

the loan signing of a second Chelsea youngster, highly`rated defender

Nathaniel Chalobah on loan until the end of the season. It looks like the

relationship with Jose Mourinho is paying off. Meanwhile South Korean

striker Ji Dong`Won has left Sunderland to re`join Augsburg, the

German Bundesliga club he played for on loan last season. Despite never

really becoming a first team regular on Wearside, Ji will be remembered

for this last`minute goal which secured a famous 1`0 victory over

Manchester City at the Stadium of Light.

We wish him well. He is a very good player. For some reason, it didn't

work for him somehow. He was in and out of the game and the club. You

never know why, really. Let's hope he can play at the highest level in

his club. Newcastle Falcons are in European

Challenge Cup action tonight at Kingston Park. They take on Romanian

side Bucharest Wolves but the Falcons' chances of making it

through to the quarterfinals are slim. They have to rely on bottom

side Calvisano beating Pool leaders Brive.

Now, what with marriage, a new hip and a shot at the World

Championships, it's been a busy 12 months for Tyneside Paralympian

Stephen Miller. Three times a gold medallist in the club throwing

event, Stephen and wife Rachel are now putting their energies into

persuading others to find inspiration through sport, as Mark

Tulip reports. The medal ceremonies and the

international recognition are just a small part of Stephen Miller's life

story. It's been a long, incredibly hard road to the top. But now he's

hoping to give something back. SMILE stands for Stephen Miller Inspiring

Learning and Education through Sport. When I was young, I had a

great upbringing. I had the opportunity to go and do sport. If

you don't get the opportunities, you never know, do you? I think there

are still a lot of young disabled people who don't know where to go or

where to start. So from their base, at Gateshead College's Academy for

Sport, Stephen and wife, Rachel, are organising events and opportunities

for everyone, but especially the disabled, to show sport can change

lives. When he's talking about disability sport and getting into

it, you know he is telling the truth as he has been there. But he has had

horrific injuries, he has had to work hard. Because he started off

the `` before the apparent pixels anything, he has the story of how to

keep his motivation going. And this new venture doesn't mean the end of

Stephen's own sporting ambitions. The focus now is on Rio, 2016.

Time for the weather. It was almost like spring this

morning. It was one of the brighter spells that Ian Jefferson managed to

capture fast. `` for us. There will be one or two showers around

tomorrow yet again. Many places will cease and drier weather. Early mist

patches could take a while to clear. As we head into the evening, the

showers become a bit more widespread. Then it dries up for a

time. There will be some clear spells in between. Temperatures like

last night, no lower than for five Celsius. Away from the bigger towns

and cities, temperatures closer to freezing. Maybe some ground frost.

They could take a while to clear. There will be some showers around,

but most places will have some dry interludes and the brightest from

time to time. Temperatures similar to today. You will be looking at

highest of around seven or eight Celsius. The wind will be quite

light from a southerly direction. Low pressure in charge of the

weather. Another one forms to the south`west and that drives this

frontal system North as we go through Saturday. That cold front

then drags it heals through Sunday, the eastern areas will see some more

rain from that. For Friday, certainly some showers around. As I

say, most places will see dry interludes. Temperatures similar to

today. Saturday, it looks like there will be the outbreaks of rain. At

temperatures not too bad, eight or nine Celsius. Sunday, at weather

front drags across eastern areas, there will be some thicker cloud and

some rain, best of drier weather further West and most places will

then dry up. Keep your January weather pictures coming.

Thank you. But is it from us. We will see you tomorrow.