:00:00. > :00:00.Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North.
:00:00. > :00:10.The man caught up in the Westminster terror attacks speaks
:00:11. > :00:14.of the moment he tried to save a police officer's life.
:00:15. > :00:23.When I'd seen the guy the gate, two knives in the, attacking, the
:00:24. > :00:24.decision was made, get over and give assistance.
:00:25. > :00:26.The former top boss at Middlesbrough Council tells
:00:27. > :00:29.a tribunal there was no cover-up over the sale of prize buildings.
:00:30. > :00:34.A council's threatening to withdraw collections
:00:35. > :00:52.And in the sport we are live with one of Sunderland's most famous
:00:53. > :00:53.strikers at the city's -- at one of the most famous buildings in the
:00:54. > :00:58.city. The region's MPs and police forces
:00:59. > :01:02.have made a plea for unity and calm in the face of yesterday's terrorist
:01:03. > :01:04.attack at Westminster. They were speaking as it emerged
:01:05. > :01:07.that a north-east boxing trainer was one of the first to come
:01:08. > :01:10.to the scene of the fatal Our political correspondent,
:01:11. > :01:25.Luke Walton, reports. A routine afternoon for the mother
:01:26. > :01:35.of Parliaments, transformed in moment to tragedy. Parliamentarians,
:01:36. > :01:40.tourists and visitors forced to bear witness to terrible violence. Among
:01:41. > :01:43.them, GB boxing team coach Tony Davis who rushed to help having seen
:01:44. > :01:51.the attacker close-up. He brandished two knives, attacking one of the
:01:52. > :01:54.policemen. That's the decision I took to then leap the fence and try
:01:55. > :02:03.to get persistent in any way I could. Mr Vigurs tended to the
:02:04. > :02:06.fatally injured list officer. I tried to stem the blood flow with my
:02:07. > :02:12.jacket, checked his pulse and made sure he was breathing. To die in the
:02:13. > :02:19.fashion he did it is totally unjust. His was one many acts of bravery and
:02:20. > :02:22.in the Commons today, tributes to the police and parliamentary
:02:23. > :02:26.officials. Yesterday two of my constituents were caught up in the
:02:27. > :02:30.attacks, one of whom was eight months pregnant, and they have asked
:02:31. > :02:33.me to pass on their gratitude and thanks to the house staff and the
:02:34. > :02:39.police for the consideration with which they were treated during the
:02:40. > :02:42.five hour lockdown. That personal impact was also felt by another
:02:43. > :02:48.north-east MP. Back in the region this afternoon. I'm very upset, we
:02:49. > :02:52.were aware pretty quickly that people had died, not only on the
:02:53. > :02:56.bridge but also one of the policemen who looks after us in the House of
:02:57. > :03:01.Commons who we see everyday. The most important thing is that, whilst
:03:02. > :03:05.we remain vigilant, we make it abundantly clear that these people,
:03:06. > :03:10.whether it was one individual terrorist or a group, do not deviate
:03:11. > :03:14.us from living our normal lives. And the plea for calm and unity in the
:03:15. > :03:22.face of terror was echoed by a Teesside MP. The worst possible
:03:23. > :03:24.scenario is that people turn on each other, on people of different faiths
:03:25. > :03:26.or communities, they turn on foreigners. We don't know the
:03:27. > :03:30.situation here and we need to make sure that everything is good about
:03:31. > :03:35.our society, our strength and tolerance and openness, our welcome,
:03:36. > :03:40.is something we value. It was a day that saw the worst happen but also
:03:41. > :03:42.saw the best side of human nature on full display. Luke Walton, BBC Look
:03:43. > :03:44.North. Our police forces say there is no
:03:45. > :03:47.specific threat to our region Nevertheless, security
:03:48. > :03:53.measures are being assessed. Quite clearly we constantly monitor
:03:54. > :03:56.what the level of threat is and that level of threat has not increased
:03:57. > :04:00.here in County Durham or Darlington. What we're doing is increasing our
:04:01. > :04:03.profile in certain areas around areas which we keep confidential
:04:04. > :04:06.and to ourselves to provide additional reassurance
:04:07. > :04:09.to the communities. I think the key response
:04:10. > :04:11.I want to stress here is about communities staying
:04:12. > :04:14.together through all of this. Because the best method of tackling
:04:15. > :04:18.terrorist attacks like this is through community intelligence,
:04:19. > :04:19.community feeding Here at Northumbria Police
:04:20. > :04:26.headquarters, the flag has been lowered in respect of those
:04:27. > :04:28.who lost their lives In efforts to keep the public safe,
:04:29. > :04:33.Northumbria Police has increased its armed officer
:04:34. > :04:36.recruitment by 50% in the last year giving the force more
:04:37. > :04:43.than 100 firearms officers. Armed officers are already visible
:04:44. > :04:47.in some of our key shopping areas. In a statement today,
:04:48. > :05:06.Northumbria Police said... We are bringing a group of students
:05:07. > :05:11.from our country, from Spain, and of course when you think
:05:12. > :05:14.the parents are watching the news from abroad,
:05:15. > :05:17.they might be worried and of course it makes you think that it
:05:18. > :05:22.could be any of us. If you stop going,
:05:23. > :05:29.you are giving in to them. As policing is stepped up
:05:30. > :05:31.across our communities, including at key locations
:05:32. > :05:34.like York Minster and railway stations,
:05:35. > :05:36.we are urged to stay vigilant. Well Stockton North's MP,
:05:37. > :05:43.Alex Cunningham, was in London this morning and has just arrived
:05:44. > :05:45.back on Teesside. He joins me now from our
:05:46. > :05:57.Middlesbrough newsroom. If you could briefly tell us what
:05:58. > :06:04.happened to you yesterday? I had just voted in the lobby and sat back
:06:05. > :06:08.down in front of the dispatch box. I realised there was something
:06:09. > :06:14.happening and the deputy speaker just suspended the house. Sorry, you
:06:15. > :06:19.have some trouble with your inner peace, I hope you can hear me. There
:06:20. > :06:23.have been some reports and debate today that maybe those front line
:06:24. > :06:30.officers at the gate should be armed. What is your opinion on that?
:06:31. > :06:34.I'm not sure about that. The chaps there did a tremendous job, I'm not
:06:35. > :06:40.sure having more armed policeman directly on the gate would have
:06:41. > :06:42.stopped what happened. The security services were absolutely fantastic.
:06:43. > :06:49.They train all the time for things like this. And they actually
:06:50. > :06:53.delivered on the things they were trained to do. We had the terrible
:06:54. > :06:57.tragedy and we looked at what happened to that young policeman and
:06:58. > :07:02.our hearts go out to all of them. I know you attended an event in London
:07:03. > :07:06.today before travelling home, but is there a sense that MPs might feel
:07:07. > :07:12.vulnerable? Do you feel vulnerable as an MP? Some people say we should
:07:13. > :07:16.always feel vulnerable and always feel vigilant but the idea is that
:07:17. > :07:20.we must get on with our jobs and not allow these sort of incident to get
:07:21. > :07:23.in the wake of us representing the people and doing what we are
:07:24. > :07:26.supposed to do. The message is the same for everybody across the
:07:27. > :07:30.country as well, we must not allow people to get in the wake of us
:07:31. > :07:34.getting on with our British way of life. Alex Cunningham, thank you for
:07:35. > :07:40.joining us, we are glad you are safe and sound.
:07:41. > :07:43."There was no corruption and no cover-up."
:07:44. > :07:46.The words of the former chief executive of Middlesbrough Council
:07:47. > :07:52.after claims it sold some its prized buildings below the market value.
:07:53. > :07:55.49-year-old Karen Whitmore, a former Assistant Director
:07:56. > :07:57.of Organisation and Governance, is taking the council
:07:58. > :08:00.to an employment tribunal after she was made redundant last
:08:01. > :08:03.She claims she was targeted after raising concerns about the way
:08:04. > :08:09.Karen Whitmore claims she was targeted because she refused
:08:10. > :08:13.to turn a blind eye to the flawed way that the council was selling off
:08:14. > :08:20.She said she was told to cover up and hide information about the way
:08:21. > :08:25.the council handled the sale Acklam Hall after council
:08:26. > :08:30.officials agreed a price reduction of ?1.2 million.
:08:31. > :08:33.She also raised concerns about the way Middlesbrough's Tad Centre
:08:34. > :08:36.was sold to Ray Mallon's election agent for ?400,000.
:08:37. > :08:39.This despite the fact it was valued at up to ?900,000
:08:40. > :08:45.and there was a higher offer on the table.
:08:46. > :08:47.Giving evidence to the tribunal, Middlesbrough's former chief
:08:48. > :08:53.executive said there had been no cover-up and no corruption.
:08:54. > :08:56.Mike Robinson said he had actually asked Karen to investigate
:08:57. > :08:58.the sale of Acklam Hall because there were accusations
:08:59. > :09:03.flying around on social media and in the press.
:09:04. > :09:06.He said she was never asked to hide facts and actually came back
:09:07. > :09:09.within a few weeks to say there had been no illegal
:09:10. > :09:13.Mr Robinson said he had little involvement in the Tad Centre
:09:14. > :09:16.but said the preferred bidder had carried out a successful similar
:09:17. > :09:23.Mike Robinson was then asked about the laddish culture
:09:24. > :09:25.that was said to have set in at Middlesbrough Council
:09:26. > :09:30.during his time as chief executive between 2014 and 2016.
:09:31. > :09:34.The tribunal had been told earlier that senior managers had referred
:09:35. > :09:39.He said he didn't recognise that language or that behaviour.
:09:40. > :09:42.He said Middlesbrough Council was a good place to work and people
:09:43. > :09:49.He says he also was unaware of any bullying that had taken place
:09:50. > :09:51.at the council during his time as chief executive.
:09:52. > :09:54.The tribunal is expected to continue into next week.
:09:55. > :10:01.Stuart Whincup, BBC Look North, Middlesbrough.
:10:02. > :10:04.Cumbria has been identified as the worst area in England when it
:10:05. > :10:06.comes to patients stranded in hospital when they
:10:07. > :10:11.Figures collected by the BBC found that, on average between April 2016
:10:12. > :10:13.and January this year, 103 beds every day were taken up
:10:14. > :10:16.by patients who didn't need to be in hospital but couldn't be
:10:17. > :10:19.discharged because of a lack of care to support them at home.
:10:20. > :10:29.A stay in hospital, seldom looked forward to.
:10:30. > :10:31.For every patient here there is one key aim -
:10:32. > :10:39.I've got a wife at home and she's very anxious for me to be at home.
:10:40. > :10:49.William's being helped by the Home First Team,
:10:50. > :10:52.a mix of health and social care professionals who work
:10:53. > :10:54.with the voluntary sector to get patients home again.
:10:55. > :10:56.The process begins as soon as they're admitted to hospital.
:10:57. > :10:58.There's nothing that can describe being able to promote someone's
:10:59. > :11:00.independence and getting them back home.
:11:01. > :11:02.Being in hospital makes people more dependent,
:11:03. > :11:05.basically makes people less able to do things for themselves.
:11:06. > :11:07.A delayed return home doesn't just reduce independence.
:11:08. > :11:09.It can have a lasting physical impact.
:11:10. > :11:12.This is a particular problem in Cumbria -
:11:13. > :11:20.Anyone over 80 years old who spent ten days in an Acute Hospital
:11:21. > :11:23.is equivalent to ten years of muscle wasting.
:11:24. > :11:26.So if you imagine your relative who is maybe just struggling
:11:27. > :11:29.to get up into standing, if they stay in hospital for ten
:11:30. > :11:33.If you can't stand, you can't live at home so you probably
:11:34. > :11:40.The demand for the Home First Team is high here.
:11:41. > :11:43.Yesterday, looking at figures, of the 553 beds here in Carlisle
:11:44. > :11:46.and at the hospital in Whitehaven, 88 of those were being used
:11:47. > :11:49.by people who were medically fit but had nowhere else to go,
:11:50. > :11:55.something the trust admits is unacceptable.
:11:56. > :12:00.Quite a lot of the care market, if I can put it that way,
:12:01. > :12:02.in this area, is under pressure and beds have been closing
:12:03. > :12:05.so we are going to have to find new ways of responding
:12:06. > :12:08.People who hear this news will automatically say, well,
:12:09. > :12:11.we do have beds in community hospitals and some of those
:12:12. > :12:17.In a sense that is part of the problem.
:12:18. > :12:19.I understand completely what people say about that.
:12:20. > :12:22.Just to make a clear point, if I may, which is that none
:12:23. > :12:25.of those beds would be lost until alternatives are in place.
:12:26. > :12:27.Cumbria County Council says it takes the delays
:12:28. > :12:30.Over the next three years it'll get almost ?22 million
:12:31. > :12:33.from the government to meet rising social care costs, used in part
:12:34. > :12:36.to speed up the move from hospital to home.
:12:37. > :12:43.Megan Paterson BBC Look North, Carlisle.
:12:44. > :12:45.Two people have been charged with kidnapping two
:12:46. > :12:48.The two-year-old boy and five-year-old girl were picked
:12:49. > :12:51.up in Newcastle by a female relative on Tuesday morning.
:12:52. > :12:55.A 33-year-old man and a woman who's 24 appeared before magistrates
:12:56. > :12:58.charged with two counts of kidnap and will return to Newcastle Crown
:12:59. > :13:02.The children were not believed to have been in immediate danger
:13:03. > :13:08.We're sorry, but on last night's Look North we showed pictures
:13:09. > :13:13.of a school completely unconnected with this case.
:13:14. > :13:17.People who fail to sort their recycling are facing "a four
:13:18. > :13:20.strikes and you're out" policy in parts of North Yorkshire.
:13:21. > :13:24.Hambleton District Council has introduced the new tough
:13:25. > :13:28.measure to control the rise in contaminated household recycling.
:13:29. > :13:30.The cost of sorting and disposing of bad recycling is costing
:13:31. > :13:37.At this collection and sorting centre in Hambleton,
:13:38. > :13:42.the list of things people have absentmindedly thrown
:13:43. > :13:43.into their recycling bins is endless.
:13:44. > :13:46.We'll show you some examples of the stuff that shouldn't be
:13:47. > :13:51.If we open the lid up, we will see that some of the common
:13:52. > :13:53.contaminants are things like clothing, which should be
:13:54. > :13:55.put in clothing banks at supermarkets etc.
:13:56. > :14:02.We do recycle glass but it has to be put in the separate box
:14:03. > :14:06.Loads of nappies, loads of nappies, used ones.
:14:07. > :14:08.And this is what happens from now on if you fail
:14:09. > :14:15.The first time, we leave a leaflet explaining what can and can't
:14:16. > :14:19.The second time, we leave a letter, again explaining what can and can't
:14:20. > :14:24.The third time, we write a letter to the property owner telling them
:14:25. > :14:29.The fourth time, we remove the service temporarily.
:14:30. > :14:32.We really want people to have as much opportunity to get it right
:14:33. > :14:35.as possible and that is why, when we find contamination,
:14:36. > :14:37.we are not removing the service straightaway, we're giving people
:14:38. > :14:45.To be a good recycler you can't go far wrong by sticking to clean
:14:46. > :14:48.paper and cardboard, clean plastic containers
:14:49. > :14:54.Last year, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council launched a scheme
:14:55. > :14:56.rewarding people with gym and swimming vouchers for good
:14:57. > :14:59.recycling and for at least some people here in Hambleton,
:15:00. > :15:05.What goes in the green bin, what goes in the black bin,
:15:06. > :15:08.what goes in the bin with the blue lid.
:15:09. > :15:14.You just follow the instructions and you won't get it wrong.
:15:15. > :15:17.You've got a little leaflet to look at so you should be able
:15:18. > :15:20.to get the right things in if you've kept it.
:15:21. > :15:26.Phil Chapman, BBC Look North, Northallerton.
:15:27. > :15:29.The first ever trade mission from South Africa to the north east
:15:30. > :15:33.Seventeen companies are visiting the region along with dignitaries
:15:34. > :15:35.and a regional economic minister in an attempt to find
:15:36. > :15:36.mutual business and investment opportunities.
:15:37. > :15:43.Our business correspondent, Ian Reeve, reports.
:15:44. > :15:46.We are, as I say, just delighted to welcome you.
:15:47. > :15:49.A spiritual interlude for the 17 South African business leaders
:15:50. > :15:52.here on the first trade mission from that country to the north-east.
:15:53. > :15:55.They are here to drum up trade, make contacts.
:15:56. > :16:00.But today, a tour of Durham Cathedral.
:16:01. > :16:08.Yet for Justin, business is never too far from his thoughts.
:16:09. > :16:10.Big Box Car is a social development enterprise that provide
:16:11. > :16:14.retail and working spaces where entrepreneurs can grow.
:16:15. > :16:18.This company takes shipping containers and turns them
:16:19. > :16:20.into retail units in South Africa's townships, something
:16:21. > :16:26.The prospects for us is really finding great partners to be able
:16:27. > :16:28.to launch into the UK through the north-east
:16:29. > :16:33.chamber and there is really a hunger for it here.
:16:34. > :16:37.And I know in particular Newcastle has put a lot of work into urban
:16:38. > :16:40.renewal and we really want to jump in and assist with our model
:16:41. > :16:45.This man is looking for investment in his call centre company.
:16:46. > :16:47.The intention is to get foreign direct investment
:16:48. > :16:56.back into our country because we are a developing economy.
:16:57. > :16:59.I believe that both parties involved, us as business
:17:00. > :17:04.and the government at home, will definitely reap the rewards.
:17:05. > :17:06.The South Africans from the province of KwaZulu Natal are
:17:07. > :17:16.The trip builds on existing business links between Durban and Newcastle
:17:17. > :17:18.and its chambers of commerce, but given extra focus by Brexit.
:17:19. > :17:21.We know of a number of businesses that are exploring market right
:17:22. > :17:23.now that they never considered previously.
:17:24. > :17:25.Knowing they have got to keep their businesses moving,
:17:26. > :17:27.that the European market is an uncertain place having been
:17:28. > :17:32.And to further extend the hand of commerce,
:17:33. > :17:34.Gateshead's Millennium Bridge has been lit in South Africa's colours
:17:35. > :17:37.for the duration of the mission, a beacon for business.
:17:38. > :17:47.Time for sport now and Jeff's in Sunderland to give us a bit
:17:48. > :17:58.Carol, I'm inside one of the city's great buildings,
:17:59. > :18:01.Monkwearmouth Station, built in 1848 for George Hudson,
:18:02. > :18:08.the man they called "The Railway King".
:18:09. > :18:10.The station closed 50 years ago this month, March 1967.
:18:11. > :18:14.Well, for many years it's been a railway museum but the plan
:18:15. > :18:17.is to reopen it as a museum dedicated to Sunderland
:18:18. > :18:20.And Michael Ganley - the man behind it -
:18:21. > :18:23.is with me now, along with someone every Sunderland fan will recognise.
:18:24. > :18:28.We'll come to Kevin Phillips in just a minute.
:18:29. > :18:34.I know you have been looking for a home for your collection, how are
:18:35. > :18:40.the plans going? Everything has been going smoothly. We have been in
:18:41. > :18:44.talks with the City Council for nine months and we are just about to sign
:18:45. > :18:51.on the dotted line to say that we will be the new tenant of
:18:52. > :18:57.Monkwearmouth station. And tell us some of the things in your
:18:58. > :19:04.collection. I have got Martin O'Neill's underpants! We have got a
:19:05. > :19:11.very diverse collection, not just of shirts and boots, but it is so
:19:12. > :19:19.diverse and New Year -- unit, going from medals, turnstiles, seats,
:19:20. > :19:25.boardroom chairs from Roker Park. That sounds great. And with the is a
:19:26. > :19:30.man who is a huge part of Sunderland history, record goal-scorer Kevin
:19:31. > :19:36.Phillips. You are a big part of the club's history. You haven't got my
:19:37. > :19:40.underpants! I am always delighted to come back to Sunderland and coming
:19:41. > :19:47.back to help out Michael, we have been friends for a long time, I love
:19:48. > :19:51.coming back and as you say, I have a great part of Sunderland in my heart
:19:52. > :19:55.and it will always stay there. And you played for a long time until you
:19:56. > :20:00.were nearly 40 so you will know what Jermain Defoe is going through, 34
:20:01. > :20:03.and still doing the job you did, almost single-handedly keeping the
:20:04. > :20:08.club going. He did not play for England last night but it is a hard
:20:09. > :20:12.burden. It is that you can see they top quality professional and what
:20:13. > :20:17.you can achieve if you look after yourself. If it wasn't for him,
:20:18. > :20:20.Sunderland might be in trouble. Let's hope he comes back from
:20:21. > :20:24.England fully fit and can score a few more goals between now and the
:20:25. > :20:29.end of the season but he thoroughly deserved his call-up. Will they stay
:20:30. > :20:33.up? I have to states confident, they have done it by the skin of their
:20:34. > :20:37.teeth so let's hope they can go on another amazing run and stay up.
:20:38. > :20:39.Thank you, Kevin and good luck with the project, Michael.
:20:40. > :20:41.Well, Sunderland fan Paul Collingwood was leading
:20:42. > :20:43.Durham's cricketers in their latest match at the Emirates T20
:20:44. > :20:47.The skipper did OK, top scoring with 41 for the Jets.
:20:48. > :20:49.But the pre-season fixture ended in defeat against
:20:50. > :20:52.Ryan Pringle was the last man out with Durham,
:20:53. > :20:54.who'd been chasing a victory target of 144, eventually
:20:55. > :21:13.That's all for now, I'm back with all of the sport tomorrow looking
:21:14. > :21:18.ahead to the weekend's action. Paul has news for something I cannot
:21:19. > :21:23.pronounce! It is world meteorological Bay! It is
:21:24. > :21:31.understanding clouds so let's have a look at a lovely picture, this was
:21:32. > :21:37.at the beach with some lovely stratocumulus. And lovely weather
:21:38. > :21:42.coming up as we head to the weekend with high-pressure keeping is mostly
:21:43. > :21:46.dry with some sunny spells in the day but chilly nights. The cloud was
:21:47. > :21:51.reluctant to break, we expected Sony spelt this afternoon in eastern
:21:52. > :21:56.areas and many hung on to the cloud. It will become more fragmented
:21:57. > :22:01.tonight and with clear spells, temperatures go down to zero itself
:22:02. > :22:06.is so a touch of frost in places and one or two patches of mist and fog.
:22:07. > :22:10.Where you keep the cloud, the temperature is called up a few
:22:11. > :22:14.degrees above freezing. Tomorrow, chilly start in places but dry and
:22:15. > :22:20.it should stay dry through the day. One or two patches of cloud and
:22:21. > :22:24.something high cloud as well but generally speaking dry and bright
:22:25. > :22:29.with plenty of sunshine for many of us and warmer as well with
:22:30. > :22:33.temperatures making 11 or 12 Celsius, the low 50s Fahrenheit. And
:22:34. > :22:38.the fact that the winds are much lighter and it will feel warmer if
:22:39. > :22:42.you are out and about. We have high-pressure building over the top
:22:43. > :22:46.of the country in the next few days and that dominates the weather chart
:22:47. > :22:52.heading through the weekend and probably into the next working week.
:22:53. > :22:56.Nothing will change quickly over the weekend. After the final date for
:22:57. > :23:01.most of us tomorrow it stayed similar as we head into Saturday.
:23:02. > :23:06.And if anything, a bit more sunshine on Saturday with temperatures up to
:23:07. > :23:10.13 or 14 and again, with light winds it will feel warm through the
:23:11. > :23:14.afternoon. But those clear spells will allow the temperatures to drop
:23:15. > :23:18.overnight so they could be frost again on Saturday night. Most places
:23:19. > :23:22.will be fine and dry on Sunday, a bit more clout in the east than the
:23:23. > :23:26.West and that is where we will have the highest temperatures, up to
:23:27. > :23:29.about 14 Celsius in Carlisle -- a bit more cloud. You can keep
:23:30. > :23:36.up-to-date on your local BBC radio station. Thank you, that is it from
:23:37. > :23:39.us this evening, we will be back at 10:30pm with the latest for you.
:23:40. > :23:42.Join us then. Goodbye.