20/12/2016 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

BBC website. That's all from the BBC News at Six. It's goodbye from me.

On BBC One exclusive access to life

inside Holme House Prison. Investigations continue

in a County Durham village Finally celebrating

Christmas at home - Baby Lennox has spent

15 months in hospital. She opted to give one

of her kidneys to a total I would encourage people to think

about it very, very hard. If they're fit and healthy,

you just need one kidney. In sport, a five-match ban for one

of Newcastle United's most influential players,

accused of racial abuse. But Jonjo Shelvey joins

the rest of his team-mates as they try to spread a bit

of festive cheer. ?9 million is to be spent

on improving security at a Stockton Prison to try to make

it completely drug free. Body scanners, extra staff

and improved security are being installed at

Holme House Prison. They want to stop the influx

of so-called legal highs. But alongside the improved security,

extra money will be available to treat inmates with

addictions before and after Drugs have always been

rife inside our prisons. These CCTV pictures show visitors

bringing them to inmates. In recent years, new psychoactive

substances, formerly known as legal highs,

have become more popular I've seen a lot of people flopping

about, I've see them It happens on a daily

basis sometimes. Drugs have been around for many

years, and they've never stopped them in all those years, so how

are they going to stop them now? Staff at Holme House

described one drug, Spice, a synthetic cannabis,

as the biggest threat It's a massive problem,

and it's dangerous, because people under the influence

of it are unpredictable. They get superhuman

strength as well. There's been a number of times staff

of had to go off duty because they've inhaled the toxins

that Spice has given off. The most common way drugs

get into our prisons is through prisoners or visitors

smuggling them in. Anyone coming here to Holme House

has to go through a security system. But the prison's been given

money to invest in new, full-body scanners and other

security measures to try and crack It's in the hope of making

Holme House completely drug-free. Earlier this year, the Government

handed some prison governors Holme House is among

the first in the scheme. The man running the jail has

extra resources to try Over the course of three years,

it'll be approaching That's going to be significant

and we are doing the best that we can to prevent drugs coming

into the prison and help them get off drugs and lead drug-free lives

when they leave prison. We're using body scanners,

we'll also be investing in different bits of kit that can identify drugs

in different forms. Do you think it's possible to make

Holme House 100% drug-free? We're going to talk about people

leading drug-free lives, and we're going to do whatever

we possibly can to make that possible while

they're in the prison. And we're going to do whatever

we can tell the support that when they get out of prison

at the end. We're going to make sure we use that

public money as smartly and wisely And Lee Johnson joins us live

outside Holme House Prison tonight. Lee, staff at prisons

across the country say they're What has the Prison Officers

Association said about this The POA have woken this news, they

have at 50 new members of staff to work in. They will be a big straw

prison officers and drug staff. There will be a greater emphasis on

treating prisoners with addictions both inside and outside the jail.

The POA says that's positive news. Staffing levels have fallen here by

about a third over the last three years, said any extra staff in the

system, especially at a whether our problems in the prison system across

the country, can only be a good thing. And while, the management

here say the new security should be in place by spring next year.

The mother of a man whose body was found tied up in a house

in County Durham says the family has been left shocked and

Mark Shaw was found on Saturday after a passing police officer

became suspicious and forced their way

into a house in Grange Villa near Chester-le-Street.

Two men are being held in custody on suspicion of murder and three

29-year-old Mark Shaw had been subjected to a prolonged attack. His

body was found in a bedroom. Three days on, and friends at work is

expected to carry on tomorrow. This afternoon, his mother issued a

statement. We spoke to a woman who lives next

door to the crime scene. He was a nice lad, nice to talk to.

Quite a times, apart from his music, but used to tell him about it and he

was very apologetic and everything. Other than that, he was quiet. Nice

lad. As you can see, the investigation is

ongoing. The search team are out here looking for evidence. There has

been a huge amount of activity at the other end of the village as

well. A search was happening on this land next to a golf course. Members

of the public won't allowed in. Tonight, this investigation

continues. A County Durham teenager's been

sentenced to almost nine years in jail after admitting killing

32-year-old Dale Arnold Mr Arnold was stabbed

to death in the main street Josh Johnson, who's 19

and from Ushaw Moor near Durham City, pleaded guilty

to his manslaughter last month. At Teesside Crown Court today

he was jailed for eight Northumbria Police have

expressed their sorrow at the terrorist attack

on Berlin's Christmas Market. The force was criticised

earlier this month for posting pictures on social media of armed

officers at Newcastle's Christmas Market, smiling

with members of the public. The leader of Newcastle City Council

has also written to the mayor of Berlin to express Newcastle's

condolences and solidarity The Cumbrian business that makes

the polymer films for the new ?5 note is to be sold to a Canadian

packaging specialist. Innovia, which employs

750 people in Wigton, is being bought by Toronto based CCL

for ?680 million. A spokesperson for the Innovia Group

says CLC would be an excellent owner and it expected the deal to be

completed by the end of February. Police in Durham are preparing

for a sharp rise in domestic abuse Latest figures suggest the force has

the highest rate in England and Wales for crimes

and related incidents. Other forces in the region -

Cleveland and Northumbria - Fiona Trott has been to a project

in Sunderland which aims to stop men from abusing their partners before

it becomes a criminal matter. It's believed to be the first

of its kind in the UK. Welcome, everybody,

we'll make a start. The new way of tackling

domestic abuse. These men are learning how

the abusive behaviour Is that a reason to stay

or a reason to go? She might be the breadwinner

at the minute, but, obviously, she's got no money, because she's

keeping him and the bairns. Obviously, she'd be better

off if she left him. The 26-week course involves

the charity, Bernardo's. It can get up to 20 referrals

a month, and that's just Sunderland. Little kicks, little

punches, stuff like that. Then it was vice versa,

she was starting to hit me. The course allows

you to take time-outs. So even if I'm texting,

and the texts are getting out of hand, as you would say,

I might just stop texting This project means we can get to men

and help them change their behaviour before they get involved

with the criminal justice system. We want to stop things escalating

to that point, because we know, when the police get called,

it is likely usually quite serious But there's another element to this

early intervention programme. The local housing association

is also involved. They check the perpetrators

are attending the course, and they check up on the

victims themselves. You might have something

like a broken window, broken bathroom door locks,

for example, things like that. Could be that we're looking

at an anti-social behaviour complaint, could be we get a call

about noise nuisance, but is it actually about noise nuisance,

or is it about domestic abuse? He was kicking me door

in in the middle of the night. This woman were so afraid of her

ex-partner, she carried a knife. Her words are spoken

by somebody else. And it finally came to the day

when he put us in hospital. I was so pleased, I know it

sounds crazy, you know, I was lying on a hospital bed

covered in blood, but I was so glad he'd done it,

because, to me, I was free. In every community,

there's a woman like her. Here in Sunderland, charities hope

that by working with the local housing association,

abusive relationships can stop before women are put

in more serious danger. Campaigners against fracking

received a blow today. Protesters in North Yorkshire have

lost a legal challenge against one of the first planning applications

to carry out fracking in England. The High Court's dismissed

an application for a judicial review of a decision to allow the company,

Third Energy, to frack for shale gas The county council welcomed

the decision but campaigners said Nerve-racking in Yorkshire!

And he fracking protesters from Kirby Misperton took their fight to

the High Court in November. Today's news that their challenge to

planning approval had failed was not the festive message they had been

hoping for. Sad, disappointed. Obviously, it's

been a long battle for us, a lot of detailed research has gone into what

we think were very good grounds for bringing this judicial review.

This is the site at the centre of the concerns. Nestled in fields not

far from the village of Kirby Misperton. It's here that third

energy want to extract shale gas. To get gas at the shale rock, chemicals

pumped down and gas pumped out. People living here I worried about

the environmental impact, and the long-term effects on their health.

That Energy, the company behind the plans, insisted estate and regulated

process that will begin -- bring benefits locally. We are already

employing around 25 people locally, the likelihood is that the

operations are expanded, there will be more jobs and apprentice schemes.

There would be a significant benefit to the activity -- community.

North Yorkshire council who approved the planning application, said they

had a responsibility to apply national and local policies, and had

followed the process is correctly. Even today's challenger failed,

campaigners say they will fight on. We won't go away, we went change

your mind and think this is a good idea. The bottom line is we are

opposed to further extraction of fossil fuels. We are looking to a

future, which, unfortunately, we don't think the Government is.

A County Durham family say they've been given the best

Christmas present ever - with their 15-month-old son home

from hospital in time for the festivities.

Lennox Knight, from County Durham, was born

After surviving his first Christmas in Newcastle's Freeman hospital,

his family have finally been allowed to take him home.

Baby Lennox Knight and his family have faced an uphill struggle

At just three days old, he had to undergo major surgery.

He came back and just wasn't well at all.

He went onto the highest form of life support for the first time,

he had a really rough ride, and we finally got him off that.

He came back from theatre for about an hour, and then

arrested, then the life just drained from his body.

We could only put full trust in the team at the Freeman,

their speed and dedication was the only thing

The operation was followed by another 11 procedures, and Lennox

All his parents could do was watch and hope.

Just seemed to pull through, he got through Christmas,

and then he got to February, and since then he's

I thought he had problems with his airways, he went down again,

needed a lot of reconstruction on his airway and membranes,

Throughout his treatment, the Sick Children's Trust supported

Lennox's family with free accommodation near

But now, after 373 days in hospital, Lennox is back home with his mum

and dad and his two brothers for their first family Christmas.

We kind of live life in the fast lane, whatever

we want to do with him, we want to do right away.

Whatever happens in the future, we can always say we had those

memories with all three of the boys together.

What's it like having him back for Christmas for you?

Just having them all back together again.

As we approach the festive period, we thought it would be nice to show

you some people who are always thinking of others,

You might even call it the real meaning of Christmas.

Tonight, we meet a remarkable woman who decided to donate

Not only that, but it went to a complete stranger.

Now Lillian Read from Chester-le-Street wants to encourage

other people to do the same, as Gerry Jackson found out.

At the age of 73, the only chair you're likely

to find her in is the one at her experimental dance class.

It's very important for me to be active.

It gets you going in the morning and get you through the days,

instead of just thinking, Hmm, what day is it again?

Her many friends will tell you about Lillian's

But two years ago, she surprised even them, by becoming

One of her kidneys went to a stranger.

I'd met quite a few people with kidney problems over the years

I just thought, that must be really, really hard.

When I can survive doing anything I want to.

So it wasn't really a hard decision to make.

It has been nearly ten years since the law changed which allowed

people who aren't related to or in a relationship

with the recipient to donate a kidney, bone marrow or even part

But it's still unusual for someone of Lillian's age to do it.

Now at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, they want to encourage more of us

An ideal donor is fit, healthy, active, a nonsmoker,

Blood donors, people who work for charities,

The commonly found one, I think, is called Give A Kidney.

If anyone's interested in donating, that's the way to take things

forward, and we would love to hear from them.

She's amazing, she never once mentioned it to anybody.

Not once, we found out in a sort of curious way.

She just got on, she was back dancing two weeks afterwards.

She's really made me think about what it is to be generous,

Lillian has never met her kidney's recipient.

It was a man of my age, and that's all I know about it.

So I really would encourage people to think about it very, very hard.

If they're fit and healthy, you just need one kidney, you really do.

I might never do anything like that again, but I've

Can't save the rest of the world, but I saved somebody.

And we know you don't feel the need to meet him, Lillian,

but we hear the man with your kidney is also living life to the full.

Brilliant news. Now time for sport, what have you got tonight?

The Newcastle United midfielder, Jonjo Shelvey, has been hit

with a five-match ban and a fine of ?100,000

for a racist remark aimed at a Wolverhampton Wanderers player.

He's also been ordered to attend an education course.

The incident is alleged to have taken place towards the end

of a Championship game at St James' Park in September,

Shelvey was charged by the Football Association

with an "aggravated breach" of their misconduct rule.

His remarks to the Wolves player, Romain Saiss, are said to have

contained a reference to the Morroccan's

Shelvey denied the charge, and the sanction has been put

on hold while the Magpies consider an appeal.

Newcastle can, at least, look forward to Christmas at the top

But it's always a difficult time for children who have to spend

So the Magpies made their annual visit to the Great North Children's

Hospital, in the shadow of St James' Park, to spread some cheer -

and given today's news, there was a surprise visitor,

Looking like he'd come straight from the FA hearing,

Jonjo Shelvey was among the players to deliver some early presents

to youngsters who might not be well enough to go home for Christmas.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, Rafa Benitez didn't want to talk

about the Shelvey situation, preferring instead to concentrate

on the importance of giving something back to the city.

I think it's really important for the children, for the families.

This time is always a bit sad, especially when you're in hospital.

So to come here, to see the smiles and the reaction

of the people is really pleasing, because, for us, it's little,

We've got a football here for you as well.

For many of these children, and their mums and dads,

meeting their black-and-white heroes is the next best thing

But Rafa and co will never be short of supporters,

even if the babies amongst them are too young to know it yet.

It's important to have fans behind the team,

but here in the hospital, we have seen one Sunderland fan.

But a lot of Newcastle United fans, and we're really pleased for them.

It doesn't matter who you support, the main thing is that you leave

It's often said that not nearly enough money trickles down

from the cash-rich Premier League to the grassroots of the game.

Well, North Shields FC - 2015 FA Vase winners and currently

top of Northern League Division One - are hoping their new grant-aided

clubhouse will help continue their recent revival.

And - as Mark Tulip reports - a famous number nine was on hand

It's quite handy, when you've got a big unveiling to make,

that the club president just happens to be one the region's

Ex-Newcastle and England forward Malcolm MacDonald teamed up

with some of the stars of the original club's 1969

Amateur Cup winning side at today's official opening.

It was a ship container, yes, that it's replaced.

It was getting a bit old, rusty, and there were a few holes emerging.

So it's a lot warmer in this new one.

The new clubhouse was made possible thnkas to a ?100,000 grant

through the Football Stadium Improvement Fund.

Hopefully come it's going to increase the revenue

Because it is hard, it really is, financially, so hard to just

survive in the lower levels of football these days.

Although, I have to say, we are brilliantly supported.

It's going to be wonderful to let them socialise

here within the club, rather than, on the final whistle,

disappearing out the gates and into pubs down the road.

Gone are the single, wooden bench and assorted chairs.

The new facility, including a swanky function room,

will accommodate home and away supporters, and provide post-match

hospitality and a venue for local community events.

The captain of the North Shields 1969 Wembley winners fondly

remembers the thriving social club at former home, Appleby Park.

It's great that these lads playing today have a clubhouse

It's one of the things I found, when we left after a game,

you could sit in the clubhouse with the opposing team

and just have a good old banter with each other.

Brian Clough, I remember coming to North Shields,

with his youth signings from Hartlepools, and his words,

I just wish I had half of this at Hartlepools.

Because we had sunken baths, full-size dressing rooms, billiard

All your kit was always laid out for you.

Uncle was once a goalkeeper Bernard Shields. They didn't even have the

shipping container then! The weather stunning Asti?

Turning nasty towards the end of the week. First of all, your weather

pictures this week, they have a festive theme. This street looking

festive. You can think festive without thinking Robbins, so here's

a fine east Durham specimen. This third shot, we are told the streak

the sky is the International Space Station. Might be, could have been

sent out on a dry run before the stormy weather settles in. Because

it will turn and settled, but the tail end of the week is what we are

concerned about. Stormy weather, gale force winds and heavy rain to

go with it. Tonight, mostly dry, rain on the way on the west. Heavy

at times, not hang around too long, clearing away for most bases early

tomorrow. The sky is clear, the wind lighter, touch ground frost as

temperatures dropped to 2 degrees. A dry, chilly start tomorrow morning.

Not lasting too long, war rain from the west. Not lingering too long,

across the tops of the hills, brining up again, around most bases.

Temperatures struggle to eight Celsius at best tomorrow. The wind

brisk at times from the west or south west. That's the way it looks

tomorrow. Towards their estate, staying at breezy. Heading towards

Friday, we start to see this from the west, the second named storm of

the season, Storm Barbara, ringing really windy weather. Through

Christmas Eve as well, another load to the west heading our way for

Christmas Day itself. A stormy spell of weather for the end of the week.

Thursday, although gusty, many places will be dry, showers coming

in on that westerly wind at times. Then really strong rains and winds

on Friday for a time. Not lasting too long, only a few hours, but

those winds very strong. Staying away day for Saturday, Christmas

Eve, though most places are back to dry. So a bit quieter on Saturday.

Though a killer warning out for the strength of those winds on Friday.

60-70mph gusts, strong enough to do a bit of damage and disruption to

travel. A lot of people out and about, so worth bearing in mind if

you're planning to travel on Friday. We'll keep you updated as we head

towards the tail end of the day on your BBC Radio station, and on the

BBC weather app. So, all full on Friday, the ideas

stay in and watch Look North, because have a bit of a treat on

Friday, don't we? The last one before Christmas. That's it tonight,

though, bye-bye. You only grow old once,

so you might as well enjoy it. Four go mad in Florida and Japan in

search of the perfect retirement. The Real Marigold On Tour

starts with Florida.