24/12/2013 Look North (Yorkshire)

struggled with an Australian barrage all tour. Let's hope this guy has a

lot Hello and welcome to Look North. A

project to install a statue in South Yorkshire to rival the Angel of the

North has been given a ?1 million boost from an anonymous local donor.

The pledge means construction on the Man Of Steel sculpture ` which will

stand on a hill overlooking the M1 ` should start next year. With this

exclusive report, here's Tom Ingall. Drop into Rotherham's Advanced

Manufacturing Park and the Man of Steel will already tower over you.

And this is just the model. The proposed statue will be 13 metres

tall. `` 30 metres tall. Now, we can reveal it has received an anonymous

?1 million pledge to making it happen. We wanted to make sure that

this wasn't just kind of an empty gesture, so we sat down and drew up

an agreement with them, and they are very keen to support the project,

because they are invested in this region. Their lives and their

families lives are kind of invested in the region. Brand`new animations

show how the sculpture will sit on the South Yorkshire skyline, clearly

visible to the 100,000 drivers who head over the viaduct every day.

It's expected to cost around ?3 million. The pledge takes the total

amount raised so far, including commitments and materials, to ?2

million. Performance Engineering Solutions is just one of the

companies who have given time to translate vision to reality. This

was just an idea five years ago, there was a lot of people who

probably doubted it could be done, but the fact is, there are a lot of

people who wanted to be done. Planning permission has been granted

for the Man of Steel venture. All being well, he will sit here, gazing

out over the valley. This donation of ?1 million isn't just another

step in the road. It's a turning point for the whole project. Steve

is now confident there will be shovels in the ground in 2014, and a

year later, it will be finished. The high`profile boss of Leeds and

Partners has been cleared of bullying by an independent

investigation. It was Lurene Joseph's job to head up a new

organisation to bring investment to Leeds, but around 20 Council staff

seconded to her department accused her of bullying. An investigation

has rejected the claims. The union UNISON has said it's disappointed by

the outcome. A police officer who was shot and

seriously injured in Leeds has been discharged from hospital. PC Suzanne

Hudson, who's 33, suffered several shotgun wounds in the incident

earlier this month in the Headingley area of the city. She will now spend

Christmas at home with her family. James Leslie, the 37`year`old man

accused of the attempted murders of PC Hudson and her colleague, faces

trial in April. In Super League, the future of

Bradford Bulls is unclear tonight after Chairman Mark Moore and two

fellow directors stepped down from the board. It's because of a row

over the transfer of shares in the club and repayment of loans to

former directors. It could leave the club heading into the New Year with

outstanding debts of around ?500,000.

Now, I know there's really only one thing on your mind ` Christmas! So

here comes a little reminder of what it's all about. Cathy Killick's been

to Halifax Minster this afternoon for a nativity play where everyone

gets to play a part. In common with churches across

Yorkshire, Halifax Minster was full this afternoon. Around 2000

worshippers will attend services here today and thousands more

tomorrow. It is easily the busiest time of year for the church. I think

for most people, this is when Christmas really begins. When you

remember the great Christian story and families come together. People

stop work and families travel to be with each other. It is about being

with their families, but with the holy family at the same time. Mary

is so tired, she can feel inside her about the baby is about to be born.

Children were invited to come dressed up to take part in limited

to play. It makes a classic scene. One that has been staged on the spot

for 900 years. I did time of year often criticised for being too

commercial, the children help provide focus for a spiritual

celebration. And that's what it's all about.

Let's take a look at the weather. celebration.

And that's what it's all Very windy conditions, but a decent day

tomorrow. Very strong and gusty winds will be accompanied by a few

shivers, particularly over high ground, but they will tend to clear

way southwards overnight. There is a frost and risk of a icy patches. It

will be a dry and Bright Christmas Day, with temperatures just six or

seven degrees. And from all of us here, very Merry Christmas to you.

Goodbye. Hello. The weather has been a little

kinder today to travellers and last-minute Christmas shoppers

across England and Wales. Not as bad as we feared across Northern

Ireland. We have a warning out across parts of Scott and for that

strong wind through this evening. Up to 80 miles an hour across the far

north of Scotland for a