12/05/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

been told that Rolf Harris indecently assaulted one of his

daughter's friends They had planned to spend their

Sunday kayaking down the River Tyne. And today, the bodies

of three members of the same family It's thought the three men,

who haven't yet been named, went into the river at Hexham,

planning to end their trip about But search

and rescue teams found their bodies in a short stretch of the water

between Corbridge and Riding Mill. Our correspondent, Adrian Pitches,

has been following events and joins Yes, it was down these steps that

the men carried their kayaks yesterday.

The alarm was raised at 11 o'clock by relatives then the men did not

return to their homes in South Shields area. The police, the fire

and rescue services were all scrambled as was seeking

helicopter. It was a helicopter that found the first bodies. The men were

on kayaks, they were experienced kayakers. This is what the police

had to say. The three of them went as a group

from South Tyneside to Hexham in order to go down the river as they

have done before. It wasn't until they were excessively late home that

concern was expressed and a search was started. The river was high and

fast flowing. Quite challenging conditions. That is one aspect we

will be looking at. Adrian, we know the river was very

high, what do we know The river was high. It was running

about five feet higher than its normal level. These were set on

kayaks rather than sit in kayaks. We actually talked to a kayak axed Bert

/expert. Something like these, sit on top

like these, it would be something like slow`moving rivers, lakes and

lochs and possibly a little bit of You can go out and the river

is very, very slow moving. Within five, ten minutes,

rivers can be straight back up The kayaks that the men used

underwater conditions will be key in any investigation. We will have an

up to date update for you at half ten tonight.

Thank you. A major search operation is also

underway along the banks of the River Wear in Durham

as concern grows for a 19`year`old student missing since the early

hours of yesterday morning. Luke Pearce had been out drinking

with friends on Saturday evening in a student nightclub close to

the riverside. The River Wear, close to Durham

city centre, and search teams make The disappearance of 19`year`old

engineering student Luke Pearce has We would consider him as being

high risk at this moment in time. We are doing checks

of Luke's phones and bank account to In terms of the state he was in,

it's impossible to say He had been drinking with friends,

but nothing to indicate that he wasn't capable of looking

after himself. We are doing checks on his phone

and bank account to see if he is using those which would

indicate he is fit and well. In addition to that,

we are also doing house`to`house enquiries to see if anybody has seen

him in the area. On the night he went missing, Luke

had been drinking in Jimmy Allen's, But he was last seen several hundred

yards away on the riverside footpath, close to

the racecourse cricket ground. Seeing the search teams back

at work on this section of the river will remind many of the death of

20`year`old economics student Sope Peters who drowned after a night out

with friends in October last year. Police are keen not to draw any

similarities at this stage. They're still hopeful Luke Pearce

will be found safe and well. Durham University is working with

police to spread word among the student community to ensure everyone

is on the lookout for Luke. An inquest has heard that two

British soldiers serving in Afghanistan,

including one from County Durham, died in a fire that engulfed their

tent as they slept at Camp Bastion. Private Rob Wood and 23 year`old

Dean Hutchinson from Spennymoor died as flames swept through a logistical

centre at the Helmland province The men served with the

Royal Logistic Corps. Sir Richard Branson has revealed

a new plan that could save It comes after labour leader

Ed Milliband told Sir Richard he must think again about axing

the funds behind the charity. The Foundation was created

in 1997 after what was then the Northern Rock Building Society

was demutualised. It used some of the Rock's profits

to aid good causes in the North East But Virgin Money, which bought

Northern Rock in 2011, said it Our Business Correspondent,

Ian Reeve, reports. Sir Richard Branson came to his

Virgin Money empire this morning His bank had said it would no longer

support the Northern Rock Foundation ` the charity that gives to good

causes in the region. Too expensive, it said,

at ?4 million a year. But the tycoon now has

a new proposal. What they have said is that they

will pay, they are happy to put ?1 million a year in,

but they want other companies from So there's 11 other companies that

are bigger than Virgin Money, if everybody can contribute something,

I think we can get to more than So will business in the region

take up Sir Richard's challenge? A problem could be that most

already donate to charity. One of them is the

Afghanistan Trust. Since 2007, it has helped members

of the Parachute Regiment who are And software company Sage already

gives its name to the Gateshead music venue, as well

as putting cash into community Rather more straightforward for

Sir Richard this morning was meeting businesses that Virgin Money

has mentored. Andy's company makes activity

packs for young children. He was very impressed with

the fact we have broken even already and we had got from 1000 to 10,000

boxes in six months. It was very encouraging

from a man of such stature. As well as helping people like Andy,

Sir Richard's bank says it has supported 150 charities

in the north east. A claim to disarm critics if

its proposals for the Northern Rock The chairman of the foundation

called the proposal interesting. He said it would be discussed

at a board meeting tomorrow and promised that the foundation

would respond constructively. He was an influential mayor and an

honorary alderman of Scarborough. Today though, Peter Jaconelli,

the town's ice cream entrepeneur, was stripped of his titles,

15 years after his death. The decision was made by the town's

council members after recent allegations linking Mr Jaconelli to

historic cases of child sex abuse. The names of Scarborough's great and

good. The council's list of aldermen. But 15 years after his

death, the name of this man, Peter Jaconelli, will now be removed.

Today, council members voted to strip the former mayor of his

honorary title following recent claims linking him to historic

allegations of sex abuse. Had we known, we would have dealt with him

differently. We don't describe him as the former mayor of the borough.

I think that is very important that all recognition is gone. Allegations

against Peter Dzeko Nelly, a friend of Jimmy Savile, were made earlier

this year. `` Peter Jaconelli. One of the men who made the allegations

was here to witness the council's decision. It is the very least that

can be done. I am looking over the people that covered it up. The

decision has been supported by people in Scarborough. I know he is

dead, but he should not have that respect given to him. I think you

need to be a good example to have a title like that. Today's decision

will put further distance between Scarborough Council and their once

influential mayor. 15 years after his death, the name of Peter

Jaconelli will now be removed from the council's roll of honour first

thing in the morning. Still to come,

an end of term report on our two We'll be catching up with

the escapades of the intrepid trio of football fans from Teesside

and Cumbria, walking across South And what does the weather hold for

this week? One of the oldest,

working passenge world has returned to a Cumbrian

lake after months of renovation. The Lady of the Lake went back

into Ullswater this morning after a six`month project

which saw the leaking deck rebuilt Alison Freeman went to see it regain

its rightful place in the team But the Lady of the Lake has spent

six months on dry land while tens of thousands of pounds

of renovation work was carried out. Specialist craftsmen replaced

the leaking wooden deck on one of the world's oldest working

passenger steam boats. It might be sunny here at Ullswater

today, but as we know, the Cumbrian weather isn't always so

kind, and two steel bulkheads were The boating equivalent of an MOT

needs to be carried out on Lady It is important not to throw the

heritage of way. It would be very easy to make a more practical in

some ways, but we would lose the elegance. And that is cocking a

snook at the gentleman who designed, which would be a shame.

It might be sunny here at Ullswater today, but as we know,

the Cumbrian weather isn't always so kind.

Two steel bulkheads were moved to create the extra space.

The challenge was to create more room.

The boating equivalent of an MOT needs to be carried out on Lady

before she regains her rightful place in the working fleet

of Ullswater steamers in the next few weeks.

Alison Freeman, BBC Look North, Ullswater.

And with that, it's full steam ahead to

So here we are, at the end of another Premier League season.

As well as bringing you yesterday's action, we'll look back

at how the season panned out for both Sunderland and Newcastle.

And we'll start with the Magpies, because despite losing seven

of their last eight games, they did finish in the top 10.

And their final game was another roller`coaster ride!

Yes, games at Anfield tend to be pretty memorable

Liverpool were going for the title. But they did play very well.

This match was like Newcastle's all season.

A couple of dodgy refereeing decisions.

That looked a lot worse than it actually was. A corkscrew spin. A

reflection of the way it has gone in the last few months.

We've had a difficult second half of the season.

We should have done better, I should have done better.

The first half we were pretty close to where we want to be.

We will recruit over the summer and our fans need to see that.

If we can recruit well in the summer, hopefully we can come

Well, Newcastle might have finished six points higher than they did last

season, but there was a very negative end to

a campaign that promised so much. Yes, it was a season

Pushing for a Champions League spot at one

stage, Alan Pardew's own personal highlights were the win at Old

Trafford and the victory over Jose Mourinho's Chelsea at St James'.

When Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy were on top form, there seemed

And for fans, the departure of Joe Kinnear as Director of Football

Yes, he'd failed to replace this fella in

January and after Cabaye left for PSG, it was downhill all the way.

Newcastle lost both derbies this season 3`0.

And then Alan Pardew lost his head in an altercation with

Hull's David Meyler ` a three match stadium ban and four

It's a good job United did so well at the start because losing

eight of their last ten games looked more like relegation form,

leaving fans frustrated and calling for the manager to be sacked.

But despite rumours it looks like he's staying.

Sunderland, of course, were safe from relegation going

into their final game of the season at home to Swansea.

And that might explain why there was a party atmosphere

around the Stadium of Light and why the players maybe weren't as sharp

A lot of the players will have been drained after their massive fight

back. That was a nice goal, will he stay?

It's not looking likely. The fans were in party mood. They

just want to hear that Gus Poyet is staying.

It's natural in England, as soon as you do a little bit,

a little bit, not even big, just a little bit, they say you will

I'm really looking forward to the summer.

This will probably be the best seven days of my life, the next seven.

And I think Gus Poyet deserves a week off after an amazing season

This was probably the turning point. Newcastle had a pretty big say in

keeping Sunderland up. Then Gus Poyet came in and after a great

weekend, heroic defeat. 5`1 at Tottenham. Fortunately for them,

they found a miracle. It was party time last week at the

stadium of light. Gus Poyet milking the applause.

York City are another team hoping to reach Wembley.

They'll make another attempt tonight to host the first leg of their

Yes, they were due to play Fleetwood at

But torrential rain left the pitch unplayable so they'll give

We'll have action on our late news at 10.25.

So York City are hoping to get to Wembley.

Gateshead will play there next weekend.

But Northern League side West Auckland,

winners of the very first World Cup, beat them both to it, didn't they?

That's right, West were hoping to make it six

years in a row that a Northern League side won the FA Vase, the cup

They lost in the final two years ago against Dunston but John Campbell

nearly gave them the lead against South Coast club Sholing.

The County Durham hopefuls were made to pay when a wickedly deflected

And the equaliser just wouldn't come.

Disappointed in the result. But not disappointed we didn't win it. It's

just one of them things in cup football.

Well, I'm afraid our teams didn't just taste Wembley

British Basketball League winners Newcastle Eagles were hoping to be

crowned play`off winners at Wembley Arena.

Top scoring for the Eagles in front of 8,500 fans were

But BBL Trophy winners Worcester were in impressive form and

Zaire Taylor's 30 points ensured the Wolves led at the end

of each quarter, whatever Eagles player`coach Fab

So disappointment for Fab and Co at the end.

It was Worcester, who took the trophy by 90 points to 78.

So, the football season's nearly over!

Just the play`offs to come, then the World Cup starts!

You might recall our report on the three England fans who were setting

out to walk across South America to the World Cup finals in Brazil.

They're raising money for charity by walking 1,966km, a memorable number

for football fans, through three countries and 29 towns and villages.

Well, so far they've been chased by bulls, been electrocuted and

Stuart Whincup caught up with them in Uruguay.

Three men trekking across South America with their golf trolleys.

This is what's meant by budget travel.

Even the little luxuries seem a little painful.

Playing football along the way, they've been struck

by the kindness they've received in small villages like Baldi.

They've opened their doors to us, they've fed us, let us watch

the foodball at their house and have arranged for us to be able to

get safely across to the next town, because it's quite a rough area.

They did everything they could for us.

They left Mendoza in Argentina on the first of March.

They've opened their doors to us, they've fed us, let us watch

the foodball at their house and have arranged for us to be able to

get safely across to the next town, because it's quite a rough area.

They left Mendoza in Argentina on the first of March.

They've now passed the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo and are close

They're due to arrive in Porto Alegre in Brazil

on June the 8th, four days before the World Cup starts.

We camp on beaches and things at the moment,

and we're managing to find places where we can buy meat to barbecue.

But the gang of three has now become four.

Walking through Punta Negra on the Uruguayan coast,

We've had quite a few that have followed us for maybe a kilometre

In the first instance, we thought, he stinks, we would have to run.

But by the end of the day, we had grown quite fond of him.

Jefferson's now part of the team, having followed the boys for

And as they all head to Brazil, the end of their remaerkable journey

Over the next few days, fewer scenes like this. We will have fewer

showers, more sunshine and getting warmer. This evening, further heavy

showers to come for a time. Some lightning around your area as well.

`` the York area. Quite chilly tomorrow morning first thing. A few

isolated showers, but much more sunshine, especially for the East.

Through the afternoon, things can change again with more showers

developing in the North. Top temperature 13 Celsius, with light

winters in the North East. In the West, 15 or 16 Celsius, feeling very

pleasant with dry skies. Over the next few days, high`pressure rising

across the UK. Things settling down for the next few days. Spells of

sunshine across Cumbria for Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures

could rise to 16 or 17 Celsius by the end of the working week. Similar

in the north`east as well, a glorious day on Wednesday. Possibly

a bit more cloud here on Thursday. But for the most part, it will feel

like spring again. The weather is set to improve through Wednesday and

Thursday. Thank you. That is all for now. We

are back at half`past ten. Goodbye for now.

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