20/05/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)


20/05/2014

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degrees. A bit of cloud and the risk of a few showers. That's

:00:00.:00:00.

The growing row over children's homes in a borough's leafy suburbs.

:00:00.:00:11.

The cycling charity which called in the police,

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after a man removed brambles and an old fence from their route.

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I honestly thought they were going to compliment me

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The million`pound payout for the railway museum

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Taking the oars as therapy for wounded service personnel.

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Durham's county cricketers plan to play a home game in Northumberland.

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And we meet the man behind the mic, who's been keeping north east

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speedway fans informed for the past 50 years.

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They are figures that may shock many.

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Look North has learned that it costs Stockton Council ?6 million

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a year to have vulnerable children cared for outside the borough.

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And it's costing Stockton more than half a million pounds to take care

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of just three children from one family.

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To tackle the problem of care costs, the council's bought three houses

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in upmarket suburbs, to turn into residential homes

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But, as we've previously reported, neighbours fear an increase

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Our reporter, Stuart Whincup, joins us tonight from Thorpe

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Thewles, one of the villages where a residential home will be opened.

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The first car home will be opened here later this summer. Let us show

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you around the village, just in front is the playground, children

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are playing football. Fields above. Beautifully maintained gardens.

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There are two village pubs. 100 people in this small village

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complained to the council, saying they did not want this care home and

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objected in the strongest terms. The objected in the strongest terms. The

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council went ahead, regardless. These are some

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of Stockton's most affluent areas. Some of these children might be

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very angry at the world and may They fear their homes could be

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damaged, their families harmed, if a handful of troubled teenagers

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move in to their village. You get stolen cars deposited

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at the end of the street. But Stockton Council says these

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homes are not for ?bad children?. And it'll mean she

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and others will no longer have to be sent away from the hometown to care

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homes across the country. It was quite scary

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because I didn't know anyone. Turning the three residential homes

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in Thorpe Thewels, Stillington and Hartburn

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into care homes will, the council says, be good for the children

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and save it vast sums of money. Currently, there are 35 children

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being looked after The council say it's costing

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a lot of money. ?6 million a year for those

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children outside of the area. One family which has three children

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in care is costing the council The most expensive child

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in council care is costing it over The consultation process should take

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place They say Stockton Council has been

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secretive, underhand and dishonest, after it bought the properties

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without telling people what they And in Stillington, they say it's

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ludicrous to place a care home They can jump over

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the fence where our children are There's windows that overlook

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the school. There could be abuse, or anything

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being thrown from the window. When we lived in Darlington,

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there was a hostel opened there. After a short while,

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it became a bail hostel, problems. I've got young kids

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of a certain age, The council stresses these children

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in care are not criminals and they deserve to live

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in the borough's best areas. Children looked after do not create

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lots of antisocial behaviour. Whilst there are some who have come

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from deprived areas, we do have children in care

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from affluent areas as well. Everyone deserves a chance,

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and given an opportunity to thrive And what will worry some is

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the property hunt goes on. Even though Stockton Council admits

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it's has almost spent its ?2.3 million budget, and it will

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have to seek more money. It's now on the lookout

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for a fourth property. So, Stuart, when will we see the

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first new residential home opened? A number of people feel it is a

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formality. The council is stressing anybody could have bought this

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property or the other, set it up as a private business and operated it

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as a care home. Local people could not object. The council 's a local

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people should be reassured about their involvement. If there are any

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concerns to be raised with the council, the council will deal with

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it. Police in South Yorkshire say two

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prisoners from the North East are on the run, after absconding

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from an open prison in Doncaster. Damien Burns, who's 39 and from

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Scarborough, and Dean Jackson, 27, Burns, on the left, was serving

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time for knifepoint robbery. Jackson was

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on remand, awaiting sentencing The Justice Secretary,

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Chris Grayling, said: "I have already ordered immediate

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changes to tighten up the system Now,

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is he a good citizen or a thief? When Jim Higgins cleared up

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a cycle path near his home, he just He took out fencing,

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cut back brambles, and chopped His neighbours in Moor Row

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near Whitehaven loved it, But the landowners, a charity called

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Sustrans, said Jim's actions had actually cost them money, and that

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led to a call from the police. Jim Higgins built this bench out

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of trees he cut down whilst tidying

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a path next to his home. and took down a metal fence

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which he said was dangerous. But, seven weeks after he started

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the project in Moor Row, he's been

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visited by police over allegations I honestly thought they were coming

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up to compliment me on the work I

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had done. That is how crazy it is. The cycle path,

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which runs on the C2C route between Whitehaven and Ennerdale,

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is owned by the charity Sustrans. It is their job to maintain it. They

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weren't doing it. All the people using

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the track have commented Brambles, overgrown, damp,

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full of muddy, smelly water. He has really enhanced

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the area here. What a difference it has made to

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the community, it is lovely now. Sustrans said they will be leaving

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the bench in place, as they were only concerned

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whether it was robust enough. But, they said, they had reported

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the removal of 130 metres of iron fencing from the site to the

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police, to satisfy their insurers. I did take the fence down,

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I admit it. I did scrap it. It was rusty, old metal. It cost me

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more paying for help. Cumbria Police has confirmed

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it's investigating. a temporary fence has been put in

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place of the iron railings. I asked a representatives of

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Yes, the path was properly maintained.

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One of the difficulties we have as a charity is some people want to

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see the paths really clear of vegetation, everything

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Other people see the path as being more of a haven for natural habitat,

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We try to get that compromise between keeping the verges clear,

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but allowing the natural habitat, so that the wildlife can enjoy

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Was it necessary to involve the police?

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It was necessary because what we were presented with was 130 metres

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And what had been left was metal spikes where

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So we have had to spend money in replacing the fencing, making good

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And metal theft is a serious problem in this country.

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We did need to report it to the police.

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Do you worry this could open up a can of worms for you,

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the residents taking things into their own hands and cutting

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We would encourage people to work with us.

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We had a fantastic team of volunteers across the country.

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We provide training, support to volunteers, so they can work on

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our land, gather new skills, and do this safely, and with regard to the

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What is the way forward in this case?

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I hope Mr Higgins will volunteer to work with us.

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What do you think? Join the debate on the Look North Facebook page.

:10:50.:11:03.

Now, the political parties have gone into the final lap

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of campaigning ahead of Thursday's European and local elections.

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And surprise, surprise, they're all confident of success.

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Today, Lib Dem deputy leader Sir Malcolm Bruce was in Redcar.

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But, although Nigel Farage, Ed Miliband

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and David Cameron have all visited the region during the campaign,

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However, the Lib Dems say they're not running away from the voters.

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Here's our political correspondent, Mark Denten.

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This firm makes labels. But this chap might need one himself, Sir

:11:37.:11:48.

Malcolm Bruce was here today, his boss conspicuous by his absence.

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You have to remember we have a lot of territory to cover. We have

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target seats. The point of having a deputy is you can cover the ground

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more effectively with two people. There are swathes of seats in the

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election where you are not standing. Have you given up?

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The truth is a party which has a track record in local government has

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two support those governments where we are fighting effectively. We

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would love to put candidates are across all the country.

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It looks like you have given up. It doesn't.

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We are concentrating on defending the seats we hold and bringing the

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seats we are strongly challenging. UKIP. Your leader has had some

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strong things to say about them. Saying it is the politics of blame.

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Isn't that insulting UKIP voters? We want people to think what they

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are voting for. And not be taken in by what they believe UKIP is rather

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than what it actually is. UKIP wants Britain out of the European Union.

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An area of the north`east of England, there are 156,000 jobs

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directly attributable to the EU. Companies have made it clear they

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will reconsider their investment in the UK were we to leave.

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This is an important election. A protest boat sending people who do

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not do the job and whose job is damaging to Britain and will

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prejudice Britain is not what you want.

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If the Lib Dems finish behind the Green Party, should Nick Clegg

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resign? No. It has happened before but I do

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not anticipate that. You fight your ground on what you believe in. The

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one thing Nick Clegg and all of us will say is we fought a clear,

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open, honest, pro`European position. If the country projects that it's

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not for us to change our position. We have to engage with people. The

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other parties say the Lib Dems are a spent force.

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I am the Lib Dems are showing their face on Teeside, their record is

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shameful. People feel betrayed. Tuition fees,

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bedroom tax, rising VAT. This much talked about economic recovery isn't

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affecting people here. People are living below the living wage. Their

:14:21.:14:23.

leader hasn't bothered to come to the region. They keep telling us

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everything is wonderful. They won't support our plans for reform or a

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referendum. Art any of them a turn on or turn off for the voters?

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We found out `` find out in a few days.

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Still to come, Jeff has the sport, plus:

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The National Rail Museum makes a million from the gathering

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Thundery showers are becoming more widespread. Join me for a detailed

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forecast later. The National Railway Museum built up

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a head of steam with the historic gathering of Mallard and its five

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surviving sister locomotives. Visitor numbers were at an all`time

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high, and the events at York and Shildon took the museum's annual

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turnover to more than ?1 million. Our business correspondent,

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Ian Reeve, reports. It was a gathering

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unlikely to happen again. Mallard and its five surviving

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sister locomotives reunited last year to mark the 75th anniversary

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of becoming Two of the A4 Pacifics crossed

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the Atlantic to be here. Displays of the six, between

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the National Railway Museum in York and Shildon here, brought 364,000

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visitors. The locomotives helped the museum to

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its best year, 1.3 million visitors It was pretty good financially

:15:52.:15:55.

as well. We took ?55,000 in donations over

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the period of the exhibition. Financially,

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it has been a shot in the arm. The appetite for all things Mallard

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was enormous, We never had queues

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in the shop quite like it before. The items we sold, sold in massive

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quantities, particularly souvenir There was demand

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for everything Mallard. Durham Amateur Rowing Club is

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helping injured servicemen Rowing has been added to a support

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programme run at a recovery centre for veterans and service personnel

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at Catterick Garrison. Stephanie Cleasby has been to meet

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some of the people who are being helped to lead active,

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independent and fulfilling lives. Susan was injured in an explosion

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in Afghanistan in 2009. At the same time, she was

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diagnosed with breast cancer. With her nursing career over,

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she turned to the Phoenix House My whole life was going to have to

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change. Now there was a new beginning which needed to happen.

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To help her recovery, she's receiving expert coaching

:17:54.:17:55.

It is also about trying something new that you would never dream of

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doing, and rowing would certainly have been that, not something I

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would have said, yes I'm going to have a go.

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Time to get out on the water, and put the training into practice.

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When we mention rowing, some of the guys say, that is elitist. An

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activity they have never taken part in before, the majority. A real,

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positive uptake, everyone wants to have a go.

:18:28.:18:29.

Dean Middleton, from Seaham, was injured in a bomb blast

:18:30.:18:32.

He's using his experience to help others.

:18:33.:18:38.

You can't do a course in being blown up, in Game two able to relate and

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empathise with the soldiers. Guys with confidence issues can come

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here. When you get the hang of it, it is

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relaxing, extremely peaceful. Durham Amateur Rowing Club is

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offering fortnightly sessions on the River Wear, for service personnel

:18:59.:19:01.

and veterans from Phoenix House. And for those who are keen to

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take the sport further and show potential, they will be offered

:19:05.:19:07.

coaching up to competition level. I thought the football had

:19:08.:19:25.

finished. But the transfer season has opened.

:19:26.:19:27.

Sunderland hope to hear this week whether Jack Colback

:19:28.:19:29.

But, within the last hour, West Bromwich Albion have announced

:19:30.:19:33.

the free transfer signing of Craig Gardner who'd come to the end of his

:19:34.:19:37.

Gardner cost the Black Cats ?6 million when

:19:38.:19:41.

Steve Bruce signed him from Birmingham City, three years ago.

:19:42.:19:44.

Now, while thousands of sports fans in the region may

:19:45.:19:46.

know his voice, chances are few would recognise him in the street.

:19:47.:19:50.

But stadium announcer Barry Wallace has now notched up exactly 50 years

:19:51.:19:53.

Best known at Newcastle speedway, he's also worked as far afield

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as Workington, Berwick, Sunderland and Hull.

:19:58.:19:58.

Barry Wallace leading both teams out at the Newcastle Stadium in an old

:19:59.:20:25.

style parade reminiscent of the first time he induced the speedway

:20:26.:20:30.

riders to the crowd in May 1964. 50 years has flown by. It was the

:20:31.:20:35.

first time I had done any speedway announcing, although I have been a

:20:36.:20:42.

fan since I was six. Newcastle and Sunderland, Sunderland had a

:20:43.:20:46.

speedway team in those days. A local derby. Tonight is as near a local

:20:47.:20:52.

derby as you can get. Barry caught the bug is a young boy when he was

:20:53.:20:56.

taken by his dad at the end of the war.

:20:57.:21:02.

The meeting was rained off. The track was waterlogged on Monday.

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Fortunately in those days, they didn't have a dog racing on a

:21:06.:21:09.

Tuesday, so the meeting was restaged on Tuesday and I was here. The first

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meeting, the smell, the feel, it got into my blood. So it has been ever

:21:18.:21:24.

since. As for the best rider he has ever

:21:25.:21:29.

introduced, a kiwi world champion, Ivan Meijer.

:21:30.:21:36.

The most famous speedway rider ever. His career has taken him as far

:21:37.:21:40.

afield as Workington, Berwick, Sunderland and Hull. He has covered

:21:41.:21:44.

cricket matches and had a spell at St James's Park.

:21:45.:21:54.

With players like Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand. David Ginola, Andy Cole

:21:55.:21:59.

as well. Here is me, lucky enough to be in the announcers box.

:22:00.:22:09.

I have seen a couple of riders killed here at broth Park. That,

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fortunately, it is never likely to happen again now we have this safety

:22:16.:22:21.

fencing. The good side is the dramatic and exciting finishing.

:22:22.:22:27.

When a rider comes whizzing around the last bend and pips the lead on

:22:28.:22:29.

the line, great stuff. Having secured their place in

:22:30.:22:38.

Rugby Union's Premiership for another season, Newcastle

:22:39.:22:40.

Falcons are looking to the future. They've signed

:22:41.:22:43.

an agreement with Rotherham Titans. It'll see four of the

:22:44.:22:47.

Falcons' Academy players, centre Chris Harris, scrum`half Andy

:22:48.:22:49.

Davies, back row Ben Morris, and second row Sean Robinson, joining

:22:50.:22:52.

the Yorkshire club for the whole Harris, Davies and Robinson have

:22:53.:22:55.

been playing, locally, for Tynedale and Blaydon, while Robinson's been

:22:56.:22:59.

starring for Durham University In cricket,

:23:00.:23:02.

Durham have announced they're to To help celebrate

:23:03.:23:08.

the south Northumberland club's 150th anniversary,

:23:09.:23:13.

the county's Royal London Cup match with Warwickshire will be staged

:23:14.:23:15.

at the Gosforth ground in Newcastle Meanwhile, back in the

:23:16.:23:18.

County Championship, Durham trailed 21 degrees with a bit of sunshine,

:23:19.:23:53.

but this scenery still looks stunning. Tomorrow, a nice day, dry

:23:54.:24:00.

with sunny spells making it feel quite warm, especially with those

:24:01.:24:04.

light winds. In the meantime, we have some weather to get out of the

:24:05.:24:09.

way. An increasing risk of heavy, thundery showers this evening,

:24:10.:24:13.

spreading from the south. They should keep on moving. By the end of

:24:14.:24:18.

the night, most places are dry again. Overnight temperatures

:24:19.:24:23.

staying in double figures. Nothing lower than nine Celsius. The winds

:24:24.:24:28.

will be fairly light. Some localised downpours.

:24:29.:24:35.

Tomorrow has a great `` a great start, but most of us will see some

:24:36.:24:38.

good, sunny spells developing through the middle of the day.

:24:39.:24:45.

Temperatures, rising up to 19 Celsius. A light south`westerly

:24:46.:24:53.

breeze. That is the picture for tomorrow, make the most of it. By

:24:54.:24:57.

the time we get to Thursday, this low pressure is moving from the

:24:58.:25:03.

south west, bringing weather fronts and creating clouds and heavy rain.

:25:04.:25:09.

Staying into Friday with showery outbreaks of rain, heavy and

:25:10.:25:16.

thundery. If you are out and about, the message is to make the most of

:25:17.:25:22.

tomorrow. Cumbria is fine and dry. Thursday and Friday, a lot more

:25:23.:25:27.

cloud, heavy rain, the odd rumble of thunder. Feeling cooler in that

:25:28.:25:31.

north`easterly breeze. Eastern areas will feel the effect of that tail

:25:32.:25:39.

end. After the sunshine tomorrow, 5 degrees lower than Thursday and

:25:40.:25:46.

Friday, with cloud and rain. Feeling completely different.

:25:47.:25:55.

You can keep up`to`date with the BBC weather app. We would love to see

:25:56.:25:59.

you all Mayweather pictures, if you think you have a picture which sums

:26:00.:26:06.

up this month, it could feature in our weather calendar.

:26:07.:26:16.

Join us again this evening after the Ten O'Clock News.

:26:17.:26:20.

Some people don't think real change in Europe is possible.

:26:21.:26:56.

Some people don't think real change is necessary.

:26:57.:27:00.

Some people don't think it's worth fighting for.

:27:01.:27:04.

But we want to make Europe work for Britain,

:27:05.:27:06.

and give you the final say with an in-out referendum in 2017.

:27:07.:27:11.

have made Britain's economy stronger and more competitive.

:27:12.:27:17.

a record number of people in work. And we're predicted to be

:27:18.:27:22.

the fastest-growing economy in the G7 this year.

:27:23.:27:26.

We're working through our long-term economic plan at home

:27:27.:27:31.

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