:00:15. > :00:18.A number of flood warnings are in place across coastal
:00:19. > :00:20.communities in the north east this evening because of a predicted
:00:21. > :00:23.Temporary flood barriers have been put in place
:00:24. > :00:25.on Newcastle's Quayside for the first time.
:00:26. > :00:28.The environment agency says the high tides combined with high winds
:00:29. > :00:31.could see the Tyne overtopping in the early hours of
:00:32. > :00:35.tomorrow morning and again tomorrow afternoon.
:00:36. > :00:39.We have reporters at two of the affected areas tonight.
:00:40. > :00:42.Alison Freeman is on the Quayside in Newcastle and Sharon
:00:43. > :00:51.To you first, Alison, and how is it there at the moment?
:00:52. > :00:56.It's not quite as blustery as we thought it might be in the water is
:00:57. > :00:59.not looking that threatening yet but not looking that threatening yet but
:01:00. > :01:03.the flash points are expected to be overnight and again tomorrow
:01:04. > :01:06.afternoon which is why we have these temporary flood barriers in place.
:01:07. > :01:09.There are 13 flood warnings in place so far in our region.
:01:10. > :01:11.These are red warnings - meaning flooding is expected
:01:12. > :01:18.The areas affected run right down the North East coastline and in some
:01:19. > :01:23.They run from Seahouses in the North, taking
:01:24. > :01:27.in the Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth area,
:01:28. > :01:29.to Roker at Sunderland, Victoria Harbour in Hartlepool -
:01:30. > :01:32.where a significant number of properties could be affected,
:01:33. > :01:39.Whitby has four alerts and Scarborough has three.
:01:40. > :01:41.There are also five of the less serious Flood Alerts along
:01:42. > :01:44.the North East Coast - these mean that flooding
:01:45. > :02:00.Back here, we spent the day with the Environment Agency where they told
:02:01. > :02:03.us how the events of 2013 lead to them getting hold of these flood
:02:04. > :02:04.defences. Three years ago, a tidal
:02:05. > :02:06.surge saw the River Tyne reach its highest level for 30
:02:07. > :02:09.years, engulfing the roads and Since then, the Environment Agency
:02:10. > :02:12.has acquired 700 metres of temporary barriers,
:02:13. > :02:14.which can be deployed It's like flatpack furniture, it
:02:15. > :02:23.comes as a modulated system, flat, The steel panels then sit
:02:24. > :02:29.on the front to form the barrier and then what we do is we put
:02:30. > :02:32.a membrane across the front and water pressure against
:02:33. > :02:35.the barrier holds it in place. You can do long lengths
:02:36. > :02:36.really quickly. It's a really effective system
:02:37. > :02:38.for extra protection Today, a 200-metre stretch
:02:39. > :02:45.is being put up along the lowest It's the first time the barrier has
:02:46. > :02:59.been used to protect We haven't had these
:03:00. > :03:02.barriers very long. We got them at the back end of last
:03:03. > :03:06.year and did a test in December so it is really timely that we've
:03:07. > :03:08.got these defences We're expecting quite
:03:09. > :03:12.a significant tide tonight, the highest of the year,
:03:13. > :03:14.plus with the strong conditions, there is a surge where the sea level
:03:15. > :03:18.will raise up plus onshore wind is driving the waves
:03:19. > :03:20.against the coastline and up the estuaries so these temporary
:03:21. > :03:22.defences will prevent water coming out of the River Tyne
:03:23. > :03:24.onto the Quayside. The water levels were noticeably
:03:25. > :03:26.higher this afternoon, but the high tides that are causing
:03:27. > :03:29.most concern are expected at around 3am tomorrow morning and then again
:03:30. > :03:41.at 4pm tomorrow afternoon. I am joined by Fiona Morris from the
:03:42. > :03:45.Environment Agency. Can you tell us if you're expecting it to be as bad
:03:46. > :03:49.as first thought? We are working around the clock to monitor the
:03:50. > :03:53.situation and we're expecting some flooding on the high tide and
:03:54. > :03:58.tomorrow afternoon, so the levels will not get as high as 2013 but
:03:59. > :04:03.we're expecting very high winds and that will create a lot of large
:04:04. > :04:06.waves which will cause problems with overtopping so that'll be all the
:04:07. > :04:12.way along the coast and we encouraging people to stay away the
:04:13. > :04:19.coast. It is tempting to have a look but it is dangerous both the waves
:04:20. > :04:24.and debris is. Do you think it will be as bad as you were expecting? We
:04:25. > :04:29.are expecting to be high in the early hours of the morning and it is
:04:30. > :04:33.hard to predict whether waves but we are prepared and we have taken all
:04:34. > :04:38.the necessary steps and we're confident all the steps put in place
:04:39. > :04:45.will minimise risks. I know it is a bit of a cliche but we are going to
:04:46. > :04:46.have to just wait and see. The whether the forecast will come into
:04:47. > :04:47.fruition. Well, as Alison said,
:04:48. > :04:49.Hartlepool is another location under Sharon Barbour is there
:04:50. > :05:01.for us this evening. It is a really rather beautiful
:05:02. > :05:07.evening with the midnight on the sea and it is from the sea the real fear
:05:08. > :05:12.as are that it'll overtop the 14th century wall protects Hartlepool. I
:05:13. > :05:15.am joined by Denise Ogden from the council. You have new flood defence
:05:16. > :05:21.the first time tonight. Yes, we are the first time tonight. Yes, we are
:05:22. > :05:28.very confident it will likely do the job it was engineered for. What are
:05:29. > :05:30.your biggest concerns? We don't really have concerns, we are
:05:31. > :05:33.confident the engineering is in place and the council was on
:05:34. > :05:41.stand-by to assist any residents as needed. We have the high sea levels
:05:42. > :05:44.and the strong winds and this is why the Environment Agency is concerned
:05:45. > :05:48.about the waves coming over Larkhall. You have flood defence
:05:49. > :05:51.scheme that you hope will protect residents but it is not only in the
:05:52. > :05:55.morning but in the afternoon as well? The cautionary measures that
:05:56. > :05:59.have been issued for this flood defence warning will be in place for
:06:00. > :06:03.their tour Monday to ensure we are their tour Monday to ensure we are
:06:04. > :06:09.protecting our residents and as always the council are there to
:06:10. > :06:13.assist. And any advice for residents tonight and tomorrow? If you're
:06:14. > :06:17.concerned contact the council land Environment Agency and we will be on
:06:18. > :06:25.hand to help. Thank you very much and for now it is back to you.
:06:26. > :06:28.A man's been accused of murdering a grandmother before using HER phone
:06:29. > :06:31.79-year-old Norma Bell from Hartlepool fostered more
:06:32. > :06:34.than 50 children but was found dead at her home last April.
:06:35. > :06:36.Today the man accused of killing her, 33-year-old
:06:37. > :06:39.He's accused of strangling the pensioner with an electrical
:06:40. > :06:41.cable and then starting a fire at her home.
:06:42. > :07:01.Norma Bell had nine children of her own. For over 35 years she and her
:07:02. > :07:07.husband had fostered and cared for at more than 50 babies and toddlers.
:07:08. > :07:14.Last April fire crews were called to her home in Hartlepool. As officers
:07:15. > :07:19.carried her out they found the 79 euros's trousers had been pulled
:07:20. > :07:22.down below her knees and her tights and underwear cut. An electrical
:07:23. > :07:30.cable had also been widened around her neck. The prosecution claim
:07:31. > :07:35.Gareth Dack strangled Norma Bell and then started two fires in her house.
:07:36. > :07:40.The court heard he was a drug user who was short of money and he had
:07:41. > :07:44.borrowed ?10 from the pensioner. His DNA was found on a spent match on
:07:45. > :07:49.the gas hob and on the ligature around her neck. In the hours before
:07:50. > :08:01.the body was discovered the prosecution had Gareth Dack called a
:08:02. > :08:04.chatline using Norma Bell's phone. The Court also heard Gareth Dack
:08:05. > :08:11.sold a new television the night before the body was found. Police
:08:12. > :08:17.found ?400 in the glove box of his car, parked nearby. The prosecution
:08:18. > :08:17.say that money was also stolen. 33-year-old Gareth Dack denies
:08:18. > :08:20.killing the pensioner. Two teenagers have appeared in court
:08:21. > :08:23.jointly charged with robbing a post office in Ravenglass in west
:08:24. > :08:24.Cumbria. 19-year-old Reece Kirk,
:08:25. > :08:26.and a 17-year-old boy are accused of taking ?130
:08:27. > :08:28.in cash yesterday morning. Today magistrates in Carlisle
:08:29. > :08:31.remanded Kirk in custody and bailed the younger teenager
:08:32. > :08:40.to local authority accommodation. The Princess Royal was in
:08:41. > :08:42.North Yorkshire today visiting a scheme which aims to make houses
:08:43. > :08:45.more affordable for local people She toured 16 new houses
:08:46. > :08:49.at Hutton Rudby where people had become concerned that a lack
:08:50. > :08:55.of families would threaten the future of the school
:08:56. > :08:57.and other services. People like Nick, who thought he'd
:08:58. > :09:00.be priced out of his local area by commuters, have been able
:09:01. > :09:13.to secure a home. It is really expensive, house prices
:09:14. > :09:18.are through the roof. Now you can spend the rest of your life you and
:09:19. > :09:20.your kids can stay? It is lovely what we have here, a fantastic area.
:09:21. > :09:22.Well, we've got flood alerts on the east coast,
:09:23. > :09:24.but on the west coast they've had snow.
:09:25. > :09:26.This was scenic Kirkstone Pass in Cumbria this afternoon.
:09:27. > :09:28.Plenty of people there wanting to capture the view.
:09:29. > :09:41.What have we got to look forward to, Paul?
:09:42. > :09:47.Tonight, it is mostly dry and clear at the minute but we are expecting
:09:48. > :09:51.an area of cloud, sleet and snow to spread down from the north through
:09:52. > :09:57.the night. That puts down a light covering of snow in places. Icy
:09:58. > :10:02.stretches could be the main thing to watch out for tomorrow morning. The
:10:03. > :10:06.wind is picking up. We have all about the flood risk on the
:10:07. > :10:10.north-east coast through the early hours of the morning with the winds
:10:11. > :10:15.gusting up to 60 mph overnight. Tomorrow essentially it is a dry day
:10:16. > :10:20.with plenty of weak winter sunshine and the odd shower clipping the
:10:21. > :10:25.coast but the wind stays very strong with gusts of around 60 mph along
:10:26. > :10:30.the coast was another spring tide expected around about 4pm tomorrow.
:10:31. > :10:35.The temperature tomorrow peaks around for Celsius and it will feel
:10:36. > :10:40.bitterly cold in the north-west winds. Heading towards the weekend,
:10:41. > :10:44.we start to see the windy Kiesling, still a chilly day on Saturday but
:10:45. > :10:47.by Sunday these weather fronts start to lift the temperature somewhat by
:10:48. > :10:54.the end of the weekend. Satterlee is mostly dry, the temperature up to
:10:55. > :10:58.four or five but the wind much lighter. Sunday sees a lot more
:10:59. > :11:00.cloud and the temperature up towards double figures. I will leave you
:11:01. > :11:03.with the summary for the note. If that's not your sort of
:11:04. > :11:08.thing, Sunday will be cloudier and milder.
:11:09. > :11:16.Good evening. It was such a mild December, wasn't it, but winter has
:11:17. > :11:21.arrived. Tomorrow morning, again, could be prising the wipers off the
:11:22. > :11:24.frozen windscreen. Yes, it's going to be cold tonight, whether it is
:11:25. > :11:26.liquid,/ or snow, it will