16/07/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

resulted in the arrest of up to 600 suspected paedophiles.

Welcome to Look North. In the programme tonight:

Why does the North East appdar to be going in the opposite direction

Hopes are rising that Lakeland's Blencathra could still

The tea party where guests had to be at least 100 years old

And we're live from the preliere of the latest BBC series to be

In sport, find out why the Commonwealth Games will givd the

region's top table tennis player the chance to catch up with his wife.

Here's a clue ` he's the England men's number two, and she's

Unemployment has risen again in the North East.

The quarterly figure rose bx 5, 00 to 129,000 between March and May `

Cumbria remains unchanged, at 13,000.

Scotland and the South West also saw a rise, but everywhere else, there's

Nationally, there are 2.1 million out of work `

But the North East still has the highest unemployment rate

And in the 16`24 age group, almost one in four is looking for work

Andrew Hartley's been to a training centre on Tyneside

to meet a group of young people determined to get their first job.

In sight, a fresh start. Sara left education at 13.

Five years on, she's being given a second chance.

I got kicked out of school in year nine.

Then I did nothing until I was 6. I school with nothing, so this gives

you the qualifications to gdt the job. Guess you prepared for work.

Sara is one of 65 learners at the NACRO Education Centre

She's studying Maths and English and animal care.

We look at personal and sochal development and diversity skills and

employment skills. Part of the course is to get them out on

volunteer placements, so th`t they can get hands`on experience in a

real`life setting. What is ht about the way that people here trdat you

that is better you have been treated before? They treat me like H am an

adult, not a kid. One in fotr young people in this region are unable to

find work. And the north`east economy is said to be the

fastest`growing in the country. That should mean more jobs. Which should

enable this place to help these young people find work. Each one of

them knows what they want in the long`term. But sometimes thdy have a

bit of fear of pursuing it. We just support them in driving tow`rds

those goals and those long`term plans.

No`one's pretending it'll bd easy to find work ` but this

at least is another shot for a group of young people who might

have fallen through the cracks otherwise.

Our Political Correspondent Mark Denten's with me now.

Mark, nationally, the unemployment figures paint an optimistic picture.

Why do we keep bucking the trend in the north east?

Well one level it certainly is the case nationally unemployment rate

In the north`east it's gone up to .6%

But here's the thing, every month, the Office Of National Stathstics

presents a whole smorgasboard of stats on employment

You pay your money and you take your choice.

And employment up and unemployment up in the north`east.

Help us out with that ` how can that happen?

Actually what's happening is in simple terms,

the pot of economically acthve number of people has grown.

But although the employment rate's gone up, it hasn't gone up dnough to

absorb all those job hunters, hence unemployment and employment in what

looks like a massive contradiction, with both going up and the

politicians, surprise surprhse, picking and choosing which bits

As you might have seen, more than 600 arrests have been made

in a nationwide police oper`tion targeting people accessing

45 police forces were involved, including those from our region

Stuart Whincup's in our Tees newsroom now.

Stuart, this has been a major operation

That is right. It has been six months in planning. The biggest ever

crackdown on people suspectdd of accessing child abuse images online.

Among those arrested are doctors, teachers and police officers. In

this region, Northumbria has made the most arrests, 19 arrests. Durham

has made five arrests. North Yorkshire, 11, Cleveland, 12, and

Cumbria has made four arrests. Following those raids this lorning a

number of children have been moved to different addresses for their own

safety. It seems like this has become a growing problem in recent

years. The National crime agency says it believes there are 40,0 0

people around the country sharing images of child abuse. In Cleveland,

sexual exploitation has been set up. It is photographs of young girls

inappropriately dressed or not dressed at all, right through to

people watching act 's, usu`lly of a sexual nature but sometimes

violence, taking place betwden adults and young people, and people

watch it live, and I don't understand that. How anybodx could

want to do it, or watch it. But we will find these people and they will

be dealt with. Paedophiles watching child abuse images often fedl that

they are going unnoticed, btt this action today shows that thex are

being. It still feels like a relathvely new

technology ` but it's now 50 years since Sellafield started a new way

of dealing with nuclear waste. Magnox re`processing began on the

site in West Cumbria back in 19 4. Over the past five decades,

it's processed To mark the anniversary,

old workers were invited back to mix with present day staff and see

if anything much had changed. This plant is a direct link with

Britain's nuclear past. Reprocessing fuel from Magnox reactors which once

produced plutonium for the nuclear weapons programme. Today it is still

dealing with that legacy. The final Magnox plan are still making power

for about another year, then that will close and we will take the fuel

from that and the process it as part of an ageing off the UK Magnox

programme. James followed hhs father into the same trade in the same

place. For the family's sanhty we were never here at the same time.

That was helpful. Former employees were invited back to share lemories.

Very nostalgic. I have only been retired for six months. It hs as if

I have not left the place. Was it like you were getting up for a shift

this morning? Yes, that's rhght It is good to see a few of the old

faces. Not a lot has changed. Just a few things have been tweaked here

and there. Very similar to when I left the place. Absolutely

brilliant. The thing that I do miss is craic with old colleagues. With

only one reactor remaining `t Anglesey in North Wales, thdre is a

shelf life to the amount of reposting sing that can be done

here. It does not mean that work. . Less than 3000 tonnes left to go.

That's all take another six years to finish that remaining fuel, then

this facility will move into decommissioning, it will be cleaned

out and decommissioned. Just when it looked all over,

there's fresh hope for a colmunity group which wants to buy thd

Cumbrian mountain, Blencathra. The group says it's back in talks with

the landowner over the sale despite the news a few weeks ago th`t the

mountain had been sold to a private bidder. The Friends of Blencathra

are now saying they've made a new offer which is believed to be of

"significant interest" to the seller. Alison Freeman joins us from

our Carlisle studio now. Alison, are

they really in with a chancd? They certainly believe

that they are. Saying they have been in

negotiations with the current owner and now have an offer on thd table

that they believe will be accepted. But this story has had

many twists and turns. Starting at the beginning,

Blencathra was put up for s`le with a guide price of ?1.75 millhon by

the current owner, Lord Lonsdale, to The Friends of Blencathra c`mpaigned

publicly to raise the cash. But a couple of weeks ago it

was announced a sale had bedn Then days after that

Eden District Council designated it a community asset ` which mdant

the group could be given more time to raise the money ` but didn't

guarantee them first refusal. Last night however the Friends

of Blencathra took the bold step of saying they would have

a positive announcement abott The founder of the friends told

me how they were feeling. It is clearly within touching

distance now. We are thrilldd with the announcement last night. The

response is one of total excitement and happiness. We know that we can

get this and then start doing some really good work on the mountain.

So what do land agents have to say about the claims of the Fridnds

They would not say who they were moving towards an exchange

of contracts with and whethdr the Friends were still in whth a

They also said there would be no further comment

So until then we won't know who has made the successful bid.

The way to beating loneliness is through the stomach.

That's the idea behind a ?1 million scheme that s up

for a National Lottery award and could be used across the cotntry.

It's even got the backing of John Torode `

He's been to meet pensioners at East Stanley in County Durh`m.

John the road is best known for appearing on Masterchef Allsop now

he finds himself in County Durham, eating mince and dumplings. He's

part of a scheme to get the older generation working together. Many

older people can be isolated and the ethos of this project is about

enabling them to get togethdr over food and make friends and gdnerally

better social networks and have a good time together. The ment might

not be as fancy as Masterchdf but Jonty Rhodes says it a good idea.

Good food is not just about eating well. It is also about King sociable

and reigniting a life for pdople, flicking a switch that says life is

not about setting in a room by myself feeling lonely and e`ting

toast every single day. And what these guys have been nominated for

one of seven national lottery awards that are programmes, and I hope that

they get it. Pat was married for 18 years but has been now living alone

for over 30 years. You hear about lots of issues that you havd been

thinking about and discussing and you have nobody to talk to. It is

hoped that this idea will bd used in other parts of the country. People

say that it has made a big difference to their lives.

And in Northumberland, they've been trying a different

quite special. More than a hundred centenarians from across thd

north`east were invited and the oldest was 107! It's all part of the

Elderberries Project at the visitor attraction, which works to help

those who find themselves isolated in their old age.

This was quite possibly the biggest of gathering of centenarians, and

definitely the happiest. I do not often get to things like thhs so it

was a great excitement for `n old person. Nobody was expecting this

impromptu performance from 107`year`old Danny.

I did a course as an armourdr with the RAF. But because of my singing I

worked with the RAF band. In of the great war, many guests have memories

to share. I was eight. It w`s the day after my birthday. And H was

allowed to go up the church tower, and we lived near Milford H`ven and

I saw all the ships in Milford Haven, dressed with their flags and

everything. It was really something, quite a memory. H

remember when the First World War was finishing, and the zeppdlins

would fly over here from Germany trying to bomb here. And I saw them.

The party is linked to the centenary of the First World War, but it is

also about looking forward `nd tackling social exclusion and making

the older generation visibld. Sometimes when you speak to them

they have now been out for ` year, or ten years. Just sending them an

invitation for today, we have had people saying, that is the first

invitation I have had in 20 years. I think it is a good idea. To

celebrate what people have done That is the thing to do. Not the

glory of war. APPLAUSE

Some great stories and memories there from Alnwick

And of course many children played astonishing roles

And that's the inspiration for a new CBBC drama ` filmdd in

It's part of the BBC's Great War commemorations.

And there's a special screening in Gateshead tonight.

Our arts reporter Sharuna S`gar joins us live from the Quayside now.

Daniel Buren installation on the windows. But inside the Baltic,

in half an hour, a special screening has been organised by the Royal

Television Society and Northern film and Media of a brand new chhldren's

drama set during world war one and filmed in the region.

What do you reckon? Do not be daft, you will not pass for 19.

Harriet's Army ` is the story of a group of children keeping the home

front while their fathers and brothers fought in the trenches

It is interesting because it shows children how children helped with

the war effort. You do not get many things that show how childrdn

helped. It is about all the soldiers, the adults involvdd, but

it is fresh to get it from ` child's perspective.

Not many people know that scouts and the guides were the second line of

defence in the war effort. But in this storyline Harridt is

thrown out of the guides for fighting.

And so she forms her army of misfits and forms a new friendship `long the

I play the love interest and that has given me a bit of an ego boost.

It is a bit embarrassing soletimes, to be honest, but it is a good

feeling. Filming close to home has got to

help. The starting point was the leans. It

is such a wonderful place to use. That was the basis for our town And

we radiated out from there to other places. Earlier, special prdview for

young viewers in the region took days, but the show will be `ired on

CBBC at the beginning of August I'm joined by the head of CBBC

productions. Harriet's Army was the latest children's, to be filmed

here. Can we surely call ourselves the capital of children's drama

here in the north`east? You can call yourselves a centre of excellence.

Bearing in mind that CBBC dramas filmed in the north, Liverpool,

Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle so spanning that great corridor of

northern creativity. I do not want to cause any row between thd great

urban centres of the North. What attracts two`year time and time

again? Tracy beaker returns. We have had the most marvellous timd working

in the north`east the craft base, the community of talented pdople who

help us make dramas, is rem`rkable. Tied in with the warm welcole that

we get from everybody. And did events this evening is just one

example. And a little bird tells me there is another production in the

pipeline. We will be using the village around Bamburgh Castle.

A poisonous wild flower which was thought to be virtually exthnct

in the wild has been discovdred growing in South Shields.

The corncockle flower was used in folk remedies and even whtchcraft

in the Middle Ages but was wiped out by modern farming.

A National Trust ranger found the dark pink flower flourishing

Delicate but deadly, the corncockle, Latin name Agrostemma githago,

growing in fields a short w`lk from the beach.

Its leaves and petals can cause sickness

and headache if broken and daten, while a pinch of corncockle seed can

The flower was discovered near Souter Lighthouse here

I spend lots of time down hdre. I know the area well. I am always

looking out for unusual things. And this is what I turned up on the day.

It is quite a good find, I `m pleased. We have had calls from the

press and newspapers. It has been great for The National Trust, and we

are pleased to have it on the property.

The plant was once a common sight on the edge of grain fields,

but modern herbicides led to the species being almost wiped out.

We cannot touch it, it is vdry rare, we have just gone along to see. We

have had lots of interest in the flour, and it has put South Tyneside

on the map. When the siege drop they will settle in fresh soil and

hopefully we will get more plants next year. As long as you do not

take it home and put it in xour salad, you will be all right.

The wardens hope more corncockles will grown here

But they are warning the public to look but not touch.

Pretty little thing, but absolutely lethal. Transfer news, something is

hotting up. We were hoping to bring you some concrete news on ndw

signings for Newcastle Unitdd. They expect to formally announced two

signings in the next 24 hours. We will be able to show you three new

Sunderland signings because they are unveiling them tomorrow morning

Competitors at the Commonwe`lth games, in 11 days in Glasgow, will

be trying to focus on bringhng back a medal, but for one of our top

table tennis players, from Cleveland, it is a rare chance to

spend some quality time with his wife. The youngest national champion

in the country when he won the 007 title aged 17, Paul spends `

lifetime at the table. Last year, the England and is number two found

time to marry Joanna Parker, the England women's number one. And now

the couple are packing their bags for a family trip north of the

border. Because we both do ht to both travel what and we do not see a

lot of each other, which is a shame, but that is how it has to bd. On the

other side of it, we get to experience things like the

Commonwealth games, together, and not many couples can say th`t. We

understand what the other is going through when I am away in Gdrmany,

and then the next week, she is in France. And it is going good. And

you can sort of enjoy the good and go through the bad times together.

It helps that we both understand exactly what we're going through.

Not surprisingly there is a lot of table tennis chat in the hotsehold,

but what are the chances of the couple bringing her medals? I think

to be honest the entire teal can do very well. We have got good chances

and we will be fighting for medals. The Premiership sevens serids is

being moved from Kingston P`rk to the Darlington Arena becausd the

Newcastle Falcons ground is having a new pitch laid and will not be ready

in time. It will host the fourth leg of the series on August two. Big

crowds are expected for the event which will see Newcastle Falcons

play in a group with Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks and London

Welsh. The National forecast had 29 Celsius, maybe even more. In London

on Thursday. It is not going to be pleasant, it is going to be hot and

humid. We are going to be 18, are we not? Not quite that cold as the

nation Mark it as King to bd worn over the next few days. If xou're up

early enough, you might havd caught that lovely sunrise and red sky in

the morning off the coast of County Durham. Thank you to Dan Mydrs for

that shot. Tomorrow, a diffdrent sort of day.

It will be pretty warm inland tomorrow. We have seen rain coming

in from the west today. One or two bright echoes on the radar. As we

head into the evening, showdrs will become fewer and further between. It

will be a dry night to come with clouds breaking and clear spells.

Some patches of mist formally went there with temperatures rem`ining"

is. `` patches of missed forming, he went there. And Ted Richards

remaining in double figures `` temperatures remaining in double

figures. Most places will stay dry tomorrow with broken cloud,

expecting good, sunny spells and high afternoon temperatures as well.

In the afternoon you're looking at the high teens on the coast, then it

will edge up into the mid`20s in parts of Cumbria, up to 25 Celsius,

that is knocking on the door of 80 degrees. It is pretty warm tomorrow.

Courtesy of this high presstre. Over the next few days this area of low

pressure to the West will start to mess things up a little bit. Because

of those weather fronts, hulidity is rising as well. As we head hnto the

weekend, itself. An early w`rning from The Met office for somd

potential heavy downpours and thunderstorms and some hail and

amongst them as well. Not exactly sure where we will see thosd most

frequent showers, but we ard certain that we will see some of thdm across

the country. We will keep you updated on how that are shaping up

over the next couple of days. Friday and Saturday, the risk of some heavy

showers on Friday, but headhng into Saturday, it looks like the rain

will become more widespread with thunder and lightning and

hailstones, even though the temperatures remain in the low to

mid 20s. Warm and humid as we head towards the weekend. 25 degrees

tomorrow? Maybe that is too hot That's it from us, good night.