15/04/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Gym buddy. A twist of fate meant an off duty paramedic was on hand to

save Mary's life. In that gym I died. And there was a man who was

qualified and able to save my life. And he did. Most of our beaches pass

safety standards. But we visit one in West Cumbria to find out why it

didn't. BIRDS TWEET.

And a date with the dawn chorus for Joanne, the woman who's getting to

grips with hearing after decades of silence. In sport, questions about

his future for Gus Poyet as he ponders how to deal with Manchester

City and the long`term problems holding Sunderland back. And why

have Hartlepool slumped from being promotion contenders to worrying

about their Football League status? It's racked up losses of hundreds of

millions of pounds in the two years since the blast furnace at Redcar

was re`lit. But now, the Teesside steel maker, SSI, says it's

confident it will finally start to make a profit by the early summer.

The Thai`owned plant, which employs almost 1,800 people, has been hit by

the higher`than`expected costs of restarting the blast furnace, as

well as floods in Thailand, the main market it sells its steel into. Our

Business Correspondent, Ian Reeve, reports. Two years since this Redcar

blast furnace was fired up again, brought out of mothballs. But it's

been far from an easy passage. The business, now Thai owned, has racked

up huge losses. It's often not paid suppliers. Its ?90 million business

rates bill went unpaid. It survived through the owners' deep pockets and

Teeside's affection for steel. A desire to see it succeed. We sit in

a place where we are not hated. We are actually supported. The

community has steel in its blood. They look at us as part of the

history. The support of the community, the suppliers, the

workforce, that's essential. Without that, this could never have worked.

But there are better times coming. The business should start to make a

profit in June. ?? YELLOW The good news is we've done many things. We

are very close and very soon we will turn profitable and then, hopefully,

you will see accounts which look differently. And that's good news

for people like Ron. After 40 years in steel, he missed it unbearably

when the blast furnace was mothballed for two years under its

previous owner Tata. I was sat at home and that was quite hard

actually. I left school and came straight into the industry. To

actually be sat at home doing nothing for a year and a half was

quite bad. I just did not know what to do with myself half the time.

Rasfan is new to steel but after the owners rather wobbly start, he now

feels that he and 1799 others are here for the long`term. I think

personally myself and everybody else around the plant and around the

region, you know, are willing to keep positive. And keep with the

correct attitude for the business and fight for it. Now the focus is

to ramp up production, to make more steel than ever before. Costs have

also been cut. The hope is that profits will now follow. Well, Ian's

in our Tees newsroom now. So profits on the horizon. But how many

problems has SSI had to overcome to get to this stage? They realised

they did more expensive with, initially thought. A contract on the

project going bust did not help and was a delay because of industrial

action. Through the last two years, the price of raw materials notably

coal, which comes from America, Australia and I and all, those

prices have risen. And the obscene slab steel, the product they make,

remain pretty flat. There are profits on the horizon `` iron ore.

If they do ramp up production, they will be hit by higher carbon tax

bill, the price they pay for being a big energy user and putting carbon

dioxide into the atmosphere. OK, Ian. Thanks very much for that.

We've all heard stories of people who say they are lucky to be alive.

Well let me tell you about this woman. Mary Harris from County

Durham collapsed in the gym with an undiagnosed heart condition, that

would probably have killed her like her Dad and her Grandad. But an

extraordinary series of coincidences means she's still here and very

grateful to the man who saved her. And it doesn't stop there. Gerry

Jackson has the story. She had no reason to suppose she was anything

other than fit and healthy. But by rights, she knows she shouldn't even

be alive. The regular gym goer arrived later than normal here.

Stroke of luck number one. I arrived at lunchtime rather than the planned

early morning session. It's a gymnasium she shares with this local

paramedic. He was there later than planned. I felt dizzy, I couldn't

breathe, and I felt as if my chest was being crushed in and then,

suddenly, nothing. She had been running on this treadmill. When she

collapsed, the only other person in here, a few yards away, was Mark. I

saw her slumped on the treadmill. The treadmill was still moving. I

did what anybody else would have done, I talked to her at first, she

wasn't responding. At that point, I realised there was something

seriously wrong. She had gone into cardiac arrest. If you are not a

hospital or an ambulance, your chance of surviving that are

normally around three in the 100. I was basically pounding her chest.

Like you see in the movies, she opened her eyes and gasped. It went

OK, obviously. Unbeknownst America, she inherited condition that had

weakened heart valve. She now knows that's what possibly killed her

father, uncle and grandfather. All suddenly, all in middle age. What I

was actually told if I was walking around as a ticking time bomb, ready

to drop at any point of accession. Not only that, but, even without

accession, in the next year, there was a 50% chance I would have died

if I had not had this detected and had surgery. Because of this genetic

link, it seems Mary's life is not the only one that might be saved I'm

Mark's intervention. He's potentially save me and Mike

cousin, too. There is a genetic fault and we are all going to be

tested for it from this point onward and I think Marcus helped us all. If

more of us knew how to perform CPR, the cardiac survival rates would be

higher. A few of us can count on having someone like Mark on hand at

the crucial moment. How do you thank some of the doing that for you but

here's hero and I will never ever forget him.

Police in Cumbria have confirmed a body found in Windermere this

morning IS that of missing student Matthew Jordan. Matthew, who was 20

and lived in Middlesbrough, went missing in Bowness on Windermere

more than two weeks ago. Police have thanked all those involved in the

search for Matthew, and say their thoughts are with his family at this

very difficult time. A man has this afternoon been found guilty of the

murder of a Darlington man whose body was discovered in a shallow

grave. Alan's Youngson's body was found last October. He had been

missing for two months. His body was found in a wooded area on the

outskirts of the town. He had died of head injuries. Daniel Dodsworth

who's 28 and of Branksome Green in Darlington has been found guilty of

murder at Teesside Crown Court. A man has been arrested on suspicion

of murder in Hartlepool. It's after a woman was found with serious

injuries in the early hours of this morning. Police were called to an

address on Eddleston Walk in the town, shortly after one o'clock. A

50`year`old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A 49`year`old man

is being questioned by police. Natalie Bennett, the leader of the

Green Party, was in Cumbria ahead of local and European elections next

month. She visited Carlisle's new Meals on Wheels service run by the

local food co`operative Fair Food Carlisle. It aims to support local

producers and supply city residents with locally grown food. Something

the Greens say they would encourage across the region. What you've got

is good local food that's available immediately that's supporting local

producers, helping the local economy, seeing money going round

and round in the local economy. And that's one of the things we really

need to do, rebuild strong local economies around small businesses,

cooperative food growers, small manufacturers, get away from the big

multinationals. Money from them, you spend your money in one of the big

supermarkets, it whizzes off out of Carlisle, out of the North, off to a

London office and all too often into the nearest tax haven. And, of

course, we'll be bringing you news from the other parties ahead of the

elections on May 22nd. Road signs placed by businesses in the north

York moors national park could be forcibly removed, if they are too

intrusive. It's thought many signs are unauthorised, with planners now

hoping to clarify existing laws and regulations. Phil Connell has more.

Blots on the landscape or an important boost to the local

economy? In the North York Moors National Park, an increase in road

side advertisements has led to growing complaints. In response,

planners are taking action. And this week are aiming to enforce stricter

regulations to protect the landscape and get rid of inappropriate signs.

If you travel along the main road between Desborough and Whitby you

come across an enormous number of very large, some decrepit, multiple

signs and it's becoming a bit of a clutter. Some of those signs are

unauthorised. In fact, we feel a lot of them are. For the owners of this

hotel near Whitby the enforcement could mark the end of their sign on

the A171. Planners think it's too big but without it, the owners say

their business will suffer. We really depend on the passing trade

during the summer months. So, if people didn't know we're here, they

wouldn't come in so we need something there to say who we are

and where we are and what we're doing. The legalities of road signs

are complex and open to interpretation. At its meeting on

Thursday, though, the planning authority will aim to simplify the

regulations. And give businesses clearer guidelines as to what they

can and cannot do. For the tourists who visit the North York Moors,

signs and their size have left opinions divided. I don't like them.

I don't think they are needed. It's the only way they can advertise and

get interest. Fairly noisy signs trying to grab your attention does

detract from the surrounding countryside so, yeah, too many can

be damaging. The authority says it wants to help local businesses but

those who fail to work with them could have their signs forcibly

removed. Today saw the publication of the 2014 Good Beach Guide and

it's almost a clean sweep for those in our region. The Marine

Conservation Charity says more beaches have passed the test because

of last year's dry summer. But two in West Cumbria failed. Allonby and

Seascale. More on that in a moment. First Hannah Bayman joins us from

South Tyneside on one of the 538 beaches recommended for excellent

water quality. Hannah. Thanks Jeff, I'm at Sandhaven beach in South

Shields one of a record number this year recommended in the Good Beach

Guide. Some lovely summary seems almost hear. Dozens of dog walkers

enjoying the late evening sunshine and the nearby ice cream parlours

are absolutely packed, but despite last year's hot, dry summer not all

beaches passed the necessary standards. Our Cumbria reporter

Alison Freeman has been to Allonby beach on the Solway coast. It is one

of just 14 beaches in the country that failed to meet clean water

standards. Enjoying the sunshine. Today's announcement that Allonby

has failed to meet European clean water standards was not putting the

visitors. Everybody can see if it is a good day. I don't think it makes a

lot of difference. It doesn't worry me in the slightest. I absolutely

love Allonby. I comes directly with a dog and the children. We've never

had a problem with the water. If we thought was a problem, the dog

wouldn't be in it. The Good Beach Guide is compiled by the Marine

conservation Society using samples taken from the water at different

points in the year. Those who look after the designated area of

outstanding natural beauty say becks which pass through farmland are to

blame for bad readings. They argue the results have been skewed because

effluent from livestock gets caught in the bay at high tide in poor

weather. I think it is safe. Currently we have a situation where

there hasn't been any rainfall for two or three weeks. It's unlikely

you would want to swim during the cold conditions. Samples have been

taken. It's raining, cold, windy. You know, basically it's about kind

of day you would think to have a swim at Allonby with your family. We

sampled during dry weather and wet weather so it picks up those

anomalies. We pick a real range. One thing which was important this year

for the first time, it's actually warning the public when we get heavy

rainfall and equality may not be as good. Allonby has been a great

resort since the 18th century. Whether you agree with the findings

of the Good Beach Guide or not, if the water here fails to come up to

standard next year, then by 2016, signs will be erected telling people

not to swim in the water. It's a glorious evening here in South

Tyneside. I'll be here later in the programme to tell you what lies

ahead weather`wise on the east and west coasts and the rest of the

region. OK, thanks for now. Imagine hearing the sound of birdsong for

the very first time. Then imagine hearing it, after 40 years of being

deaf. Well that's just what happened when award`winning BBC sound

recordist Chris Watson invited Joanne Milne to hear the dawn chorus

at Saltwell Park in Gateshead. Here's tonight's Look North report.

I'm on a very unusual assignment. I spend a lot of my time recording in

tropical rainforests but today I'm in my local park. And I've had to

get here very early before any of the wildlife wakes up. And I know

from my experiences that here in the north`east, we've got the very best

dawn chorus in the world. Can you imagine hearing that for the very

first time? NEWSREADER: Joanne Milne hears for

the very first time and is overwhelmed. Did you hear those

words? Yes. A rare medical condition meant Jo Milne was born deaf. Can

you hear that? But after 40 years of silence, cochlear implants mean she

can now hear. That's beautiful. And it's worth getting up early for this

free concert here in Jo's local park, Saltwell.

This is the dawn chorus. It's starting to really build now.

There's another blackbird down there. Let's head down towards that

other Blackbird. It's a completely different sound away from the hustle

and bustle. I just had no idea that what they sounded like. It's just

amazing. I might start getting up earlier.

It's only been a couple of weeks since you've had your hearing

restored. What's that been like as an experience? I'm still on an

emotional roller`coaster. Because it's been two`and`a`half weeks and

it is not died down in the slightest. I'm very, very high.

Every day I'm experiencing more sound every minute, every hour, a

new sound. It had been very, very daunting because I'm so used to the

quiet silent world. It's very, very loud. I find myself not having to

tell people to be quiet because people are just talking exactly the

same way. And I don't want to be, you know, like, a bit boring and a

bit like keep your voice down but it's not that. It's me. I have to

take my time. Do you have a favourite sound yet or one that you

have particularly enjoyed? Today, definitely the Blackbird. This

morning, definitely. There's been so many which to me, personally, would

be like the sound of the instruments, the music, the piano

and guitar. And a child's voice. I imagine the voices of your family as

well. That was very, very emotional, yes. A child's voice, when you hear

that, that has to be one of my favourites, yeah.

# Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these broken wings and

learn to fly #. It's been absolutely fantastic to hear the birdsong this

morning. You've introduced me into another world and it's been an

absolutely amazing experience. Thank you. # You were only waiting for

this moment to arrive #. Fantastic story. We had a fabulous

guest in the studio last night. There he is. He's on the Facebook

page. There you go. Fantastic. If only our football teams could be as

successful as the basketball team. The Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet

was playing a straight bat this lunchtime when asked about his

future ahead of tomorrow's trip to Manchester City. The Uruguayan spoke

at the weekend of the need to root out deep`seated problems at the club

as well as find a way of bringing back a winning mentality. The

bookmakers have Poyet down as favourite to be the next Premier

League boss to leave their post. So how likely is it that he will remain

on Wearside next season, whatever division the bottom club finds

itself in? I don't think it's a problem being the favourite for the

next favourite to leave or not. It's about what I believe. What I think

is needed. And the support that you get. Depending on that, you can move

forward and, if not, it's impossible. So we will see. I'm

under contract. I'm here. I'm head coach. I'm not manager. There are

things I can deal with and there are things which are not my

responsibility. Once they are mine, I take it. I run with it. To another

manager, feeling the heat just now. A few weeks ago, Hartlepool United

were pushing for a place in the League Two play`offs. Now, after

five defeats in a row, they are looking nervously over their

shoulders at the wrong end of the table. In his first year in the job,

it's been a roller`coaster ride for Pools' boss Colin Cooper. As a

football manager, when your team is on a bad run, you're always looking

to do something different so this morning Hartlepool's first`team

squad tried their hand at rugby. Not the sort of approach you might

expect with some big Easter games coming up but this first year has

been a steep learning curve for Colin Cooper. I know this is what I

want to do. And I'd like to think that, over the course of time, I

have proved I can do it. I just want to make sure that this group and the

supporters and the people at Hartlepool United are not dragged

into a messy end of the season. A few weeks ago, Cooper was planning

for a shot at the promotion play`offs. Now Pools find themselves

just three points above the trap door which leads to non`league

football. And the slide began when assistant Craig Hignett left to

become Aitor Karanka's number two at Middlesbrough. When Craig was here,

yeah, of course, we can bounce off each other. Craig's personality

speaks for itself. It's probably no coincidence that, even though I know

he's enjoying his job down at Middlesborough, it's probably no

coincidence that he has now become the link between Aitor and the

players in the dressing down there. So it's a lonely battle at the

moment. Cooper has been frustrated in his bid to find Hignett's

replacement but he's confident Pools will survive. These lads are working

hard for me. They really are. We just have to make sure we find the

solution to not losing for the next couple of games because we are more

than capable. There's nothing to suggest that we can't get the points

on the board this weekend that we need and if that's not the case, we

still have two more opportunities. On to cricket, and on the third day

of their opening game of the new county season, champions Durham in

their second innings lead newly promoted Northants in a

Right, one for the dog lovers now. A feature film about border collies

and their heritage in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders is about to

go on tour. It tells the story of the Border Collie through the words

of the people who work with them every day. Katie Cole reports from

Wooler. One man and his dogs. Border collies have been part of Colin

Bamburgh's life since he was a young lad. His family have been

shepherding for generations. Colin, along with his dogs, Cap and Scott,

share their experiences in the Border Bred: The Border Collie

Story. The documentary looks at many aspects of the border collie in the

area where it originated. From newborn litters, to the first time a

puppy is taken to sheep. This is pure herding instinct. Just balanced

with absolute joy. His tail is in the air. For centuries, these dogs

have been doing their jobs and we could not do it, I can't state that

enough, we could not do this job without these beautiful creatures. I

thought it's about time they got recognised for the brilliant dogs

that they are, like. The film also tells the remarkable story of Sheila

the sheepdog and her involvement in the rescue of American airmen from

the Cheviot during World War II. In 1944, a B`17 crashed on Cheviot

killing two airmen. Sheila and the shepherd John Dagg along with

another man called Frank Moscrop went up to the top of Cheviot and

Sheila left the men and then found the surviving airmen, four of the

surviving airmen, sheltering in one of the peat hags and brought them to

safety. She was awarded the Dicken medal. The film which has been

partially funded by Northumberland National Park will be screened in

venues around the county over the coming weeks. For shepherds like

Colin, they hope that this film will help show people that their reliance

on border collies in remote areas like this one is still as important

as ever. Very nice. Time now for a look at the weather.

It's beautiful here in South Shields. We have seen some surfers

out and dog walkers are making the best of it. For tomorrow, first of

all, we expected to be a bright day, like today, but with more cloud

in the skies. So that's the headline. Let's take a look at the

forecast for this evening. Clear skies, beautifully clear. A

wonderful chance to see planet Mars glowing brightly red near the full

moon tonight. Clear skies allowing temperatures to fall as low as

around for Celsius in places. The high 30s in Fahrenheit. A chilly

night. `` macro`4 Celsius. Tomorrow morning, through the afternoon

things will slowly start to turn a little bit more cloudy to the North.

Still light breezes generally blowing from the south`west tomorrow

but there is a weak weather system passing to the north and through the

afternoon, this could bring more cloud to Northumberland. Top

temperature tomorrow, around about 15`16. For many parts, even higher

than today. It could be the warmest day we have had so far this spring.

The low 60s in Fahrenheit. Over the next couple of days, let's take a

look at the outlook as we head towards the bank on a look at the

outlook as we head towards the bank, day weekend. In Cumbria, cool and

cloudy on Thursday as the weather and continues to cross eastwards.

That will clear, though, and on Good Friday, it looks fine and dry with

an increasing amount of sunshine. 13 Celsius. For the north`east over the

next couple of days after tomorrow, once again cloudy on: Thursday but

the long weekend starts and the sunshine returns. Fine and dry for

Good Friday and for the north`east and Cumbria, it looks as if holy

Saturday will also be fine. We will update you on Easter Day itself and

into the bank, they Monday tomorrow. Thanks, Hannah. Sounded quite nice.

A decent bank holiday. That's it. Join us again tomorrow if you can. I

buy. `` bye bye.