08/04/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Good evening.

A man's died after a glider crashed in a field shortly

after taking off from a club near the Northumberland/Durham border.

It happened at midday - at the Northumbria gliding

club - near Leadgate.

It's understood the glider was being towed in the air -

but crashed to the ground as it was being released.

A 62 year old man was treated by paramedics

and the air ambulance - but died at the scene.

An investigation by the air accidents

investigations branch is underway.

Rail users are facing disruption today because of a strike

by Northern Rail staff.

More than 60% of services are affected.

The dispute's over plans to downgrade the role of guards

when new trains are introduced.

Union leaders say this dispute isn't just about job cuts.

It's also about safety.

They say Arriva Rail North management are refusing to talk.

So today's 24 hour strike was inevitable.

Now, our concerns are, if you remove that second

person off the train, who would take care

of safety and well-being if an incident occurred?

Likewise, if it's only going to be a driver operating the train,

and the driver is incapacitated, who looks after the

travelling public?

But Arriva Trains north says it does want to talk.

What we want to do with the RMT is to sit down and talk with them

about how best we can introduce some of the changes to the benefit

of their members and our customers, as well.

In Hexham, commuters had to wait until 1120 to catch

a train to Newcastle.

Unfortunately, obviously due to the strike we've only got

a couple of hours there.

I don't mind being disrupted when it's about passenger safety.

I think we can be little bit inconvenienced to show our

support to the drivers.

The RMT union says it will intensify its action

if Arriva Trains North doesn't come back to the negotiating table.

Joanne Carter, BBC Look North Hexham.

Hundreds of health campaigners marched

through Carlisle this lunchtime.

They're angry about possible changes to maternity services

in West Cumbria and the closure of beds at community hospitals.

Health managers say the changes are about improving

care and saving money.

The former Bede's World Museum in South Tyneside re-opened

today under a new name.

Jarrow Hall, as it's now know, has been taken over

by the charity Groundwork.

Bede's World closed last year due to financial problems.

A new lease of life for this piece of living history.

With a new name and new management - Jarrow Hall promises to celebrate

the life and times of the saint and scholar, The Venerable Bede -

at the same time as creating a more family friendly attraction.

There's been quite an incredible amount of work that's gone

on since we took over the site last year.

We've invested over ?100,000 to date and that's just the beginning

of a major investment project for us.

We've retained all the historical aspects of the site.

The museum, dedicated to the English monk,

will remain central - boosted by battle re-enactments

around the farm and village - giving a flavour of Anglo-Saxon life.

It's important that we continue to tell the story

of that history to the people of this area and beyond.

The challenge now is to ensure the venue stays open.

Steph Cleasby, BBC Look North, Jarrow.

At this afternoon's Grand National North Yorkshire

based Definitly Red, the early favourite,

trained by Brian Ellison, pulled up a third of the way through the race.

But guest of honour at Aintree was Bradley Lowery from Sunderland.

The five year old, who's battling neuroblastoma,

was given an honorary place on the race card.

Yesterday his parents said his latest cancer treatment had

not been successful.

Onto football now - and Middlesbrough are still

six points from safety in the Premier League after

a goalless draw against Burnley.

Manchester United play bottom-placed Sunderland tomorrow.

There's still half an hour to go in Newcastle's Championship match

at Sheffield Wednesday.

It's currently 1-0 to Wednesday.

In League Two Carlisle beaten 2-1 at home by Notts County.

Hartlepool grabbed a point at Morecambe.

In the Conference a win for York but defeat for Gateshead.

And in Scotland, Berwick beaten by Stirling.

And in last night's Premiership Rugby match

Newcastle Falcons beat Gloucester 16-14.

Let's have the weather forecast now with Lisa Gallagher.

Good evening.

It has been a fine and dry day today with plenty of sunshine.

And as we go through the night it will stay dry and clear.

Light winds may be allowing some patches of mist here and there,

possibly a touch of ground frost, but for most of us the temperature

will drop no lower than around 5-7 degrees.

Tomorrow will be another fine day.

It will cloud over from the north as we head through the afternoon.

Possibly a bit of rain in Cumbria later, but another warm day, 16-20C.

And that's all from us.

We're back tomorrow evening.

Have a good night.