22/04/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Good evening. at the earlier time of nine o'clock.

Time is running out for a Cumbrian charity which gives furniture

and food to flood victims and others in need.

The Community Emergency Response Team was formed in December 2015,

after the devastating floods caused by Storm Desmond,

but it says it will be forced to close by the end of next week -

cutting off support at a vital time. Mark McAlindon reports.

The Community Emergency Response Team UK used to be known

In the wake of Storm Desmond, they helped stricken householders

all across the county at least start to get back on their feet.

But it seems time is running out at this, their Penrith base.

We've no other funds available at the present and we can't

knowingly take the charity into a defecit, so we have no

alternative but as of the 28th of April to close

The rooms here are all lined with supplies, and volunteers

An example of a gentleman we've had in today, we helped

furnish his property because all he had was a sleeping bag.

We furnished his property and we've had to find him

emergency food packs, etc, because he's got nothing.

If the charity does indeed close next Friday, much of the stock

Police are looking for a woman who absconded

Donna Willis, who's 36 and from the Tyne and Wear area,

is serving a five year sentence after being convicted

of grievous bodily harm at Newcastle Crown Court.

Northumbria Police believe she is in the north east.

The group hoping to reopen a west Cumbrian private school which closed

two years ago have held an open day to discuss their plans.

St Bees near Whitehaven, which counts comic actor

Rowan Atkinson among its former pupils, closed in March 2015.

But a new board of trustees, alongside a Chinese group,

plan to offer education again there from Autumn next year.

It was a crucial defence in World War One and World War Two,

but volunteers at Blyth Battery say the landmark has become

As well as regular graffiti on the buildings, a soldier's gold

Repairs to an old defence under a very modern attack.

This isn't the first time the Battery has been

branded with graffiti, but it's no less upsetting

It's heartbreaking because that much hard work goes

It's a nice beach and a lot of people love walking

The Battery's vantage point, once key to its function,

now makes it popular with visitors, and when news of the damage

was shared on social media, one local firm was keen

Such a great historic landmark locally and not many

Obviously, it's entirely ran by volunteers.

A service, like this, is often quite a lot of money,

Obviously, money which the volunteeres don't

Just felt quite compelled to get involved.

Callum's team will also use anti-graffiti paint

on the buildings, which should repel any further attacks,

keeping the Battery in the condition a war veteran deserves.

Megan Paterson, BBC Look North, Blyth.

Onto the day's football now, and with just minutes to go

in the Premier League, Middlesbrough's first

win of the year seems to be evading them.

They're currently losing to hosts Bournemouth 4-0.

In League Two, Carlisle United's hopes of moving back

into the League Two play off places are taking a boost.

They're winning 3-2 away at Crawley Town.

And Hartlepool United are losing 2-0 at Barnet.

In the National League, Gateshead are beating

Borehamwood 2-0, and York City are drawing with Woking.

And in the Scottish league two, Berwick are losing

Well, with rumours of a return of more wintery weather next week,

let's see how it's looking for the weekend.

Hello, some noticeable changes as we head into next week,

but for this evening and overnight, it's fairly

quiet, late spells of sunshine this evening and the skies become

That will mean temperatures in town down

to around four or five Celsius, but out in the countryside closer

We can't rule out a touch of frost first thing tomorrow morning.

Certainly a chilly start, but bright, plenty of sunshine.

Through the afternoon, more cloud creeping

in from the north-west and maybe one or two afternoon showers.

Some rain pushes southwards on Monday, behind it

some cold air, wintry showers and frosty nights.

That's it from me this evening, Gerry Jackson will be back

here tomorrow with your next update at 6.50.

Hello. No change to the rest of the forecast into this