29/01/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

independent Scotland. That is all from the News at six,

Welcome to Wednesday's Look North. Tonight: Concentrating on the River

Ouse ` Police searching for the missing York student Megan Roberts

think she fell in after a night out with friends. Consequently the

strongest and most probably line of inquiry being pursued by the police

is that Megan, affected by alcohol, has entered the river. We'll be live

in York as police say there's no evidence of foul play. Also tonight:

Dame Kelly Holmes joins us to reveal news of another big event coming to

Yorkshire this summer. And the cultural side of the Tour de France.

Tonight, police searching for the missing York student Megan Roberts

say its most likely she fell in the river after drinking with friends.

The 20`year`old was last seen on CCTV footage on Lendal Bridge in the

early hours of Thursday morning. Police divers have been in the river

today, but officers say the chances of finding Megan safe and well are

becoming increasingly remote. Our reporter Ian White is in York for us

now. Yes well it is almost a week since Megan went missing, she seems

to have disappeared without a trace. Sorry, we will try and get back to

Ian as soon as we can. Let's look at the background to Ian's report.

Specialist police divers set up base in York as they spent another day

searching the River Ouse for Megan Roberts. They used every hour of

daylight to investigate the water. As speculation grew about what may

have happened to her in the national press and on social media sites,

police were brought to help rule out some theories, including a message

from Megan saying she had a stalker. The most probable line of inquiry is

that Megan, affected by alcohol, has entered the river. We will not be

able to confirm this to be case until Megan is found. The

possibility still exists that Megan is elsewhere, safe and well. But

realistically, given the passage of time, such a possibility is

increasely remote. Police say Megan has been drinking for several hours

before leaving. She was last picked up on CCTV bumping into cycle racks

in front of the Maltings pub and then running towards the river. When

her friends returned, she wasn't with them. As police officer checked

other areas, workers from the charity Missing People were on the

streets appealing for help. We are keen to raise awareness of Megan,

because she has been missing for a week and getting the word out it

important to being able to do that and let as many people know she is

missing. One former doorman said alcohol and the river are a lethal

mix. The undercurrents are strong and the river's about six metres at

the moment. The flow doesn't look too fast at the moment, but it would

take a strong swimmer, a sober swimmer, to get out safely. Police

said this appears to be a terrible tragedy and said there was nothing

to link Megan's disappearance to the Claudia Lawrence case. Claudia

Lawrence's mother has written to the Roberts family to offer support and

said she understands what they are going through. The search for Megan

continues and the police say they're desperate for information and if

anyone has anything they can tell them to dial police. Every bit of

evidence and a clue is what they need. Thank you. Sorry we had a few

technical problems at the start of that report. Doctors have told a

specialist conference in Wakefield that tackling obesity is much more

complicated than simple telling patients to eat less and exercise

more. And did you know that one in four of us are obese and almost 19%

of children aged between 11 and 15 ` which is particularly worrying ` are

overweight. And in our neck of the woods the number of patients having

weight loss surgery in the last five years has increased by 79%. Well, in

a minute we'll speak to one married couple who've both had weight loss

surgery, but first our Health Correspondent Jamie Coulson has been

to see some of the latest techniques being used to tackle the problem.

Yorkshire, like elsewhere, has a problem when it comes to people

being overweight, with around a quarter of the population clinically

obese. The bottom bit first. Today experts in o' piecety gathered in

Wakefield and were given the chance to see what it is like to weigh 30

stone by putting on a special suit. It was just one part of a conference

aimed at sharing the latest thinking on combatting obesity. It feels very

stifling. I feel like I can't move properly. Very unsteady on my feet.

The duty of a doctor or nurse is to find out why the patient is eating

more. What has made him eat more and why can't he exercise. What can we

provide and what it the `` is the alternative. And that is what we are

trying to achieve and not just telling them to eat less. Delegates

have come to see how they treat obese tichlt today it is about the

theory and this afternoon they will see how it is put into practice.

Doctors could see how patients like Mark have benefitted from

tailor`made programmes, that offer everything from dietary advice to

physio therapy and exercise. More self`esteem and a lot more movement.

Starting to lose some weight. It is a long process, but the biggest

thing is the activity, increased activity. It is the first time where

it is a holistic programme, where it is not just a doctor or a dietician,

but you have a specialist dietician and a psychologist and a surgical

nurse. You have the whole lot. It is hoped the methods will be adopted

elsewhere. Well Kevin and Catherine Falconer from Leeds know all about

how difficult it is to lose weight. Their shared love of takeaways and

sedentary jobs meant they piled on the weight. Here they are. Tell us

what you weighed at your biggest. Myself I was was 25 stone plus. And

Catherine? Just short of 20 stone. Tell us how much you have lost? I

have 11 and a half stone. Catherine you have lost? Just short of six.

Between you that is 17 stone. That is just in less than a year isn't

it? Less than nine month. Why surgery, because surgery, I know has

had great results, but it is dangerous as well. Very dangerous.

But when a professor tells you if you don't get surgery, you will be

dead in two years. Some people may say why should we pay for your

surgery and why not diet and exercise. Well you're entitled to

say that, I have tried to diet, bit wasn't happening. At what point did

you decide this must stop? Well, when I realised that I had reached

nearly 20 stone, my health problems, they were getting more by the day

and I was just... So depressed. Well how do you feel now? I feel like a

teenager. Every morning I wake up, I just feel younger. Let's look at how

big you were before. We have the photographs. This tells it all,

Harry, if you stand up. We can probably both fit in those slam You

can have them! Thank you, I'm not sure what we will do g them. You can

make a tent out of them. You never even wore these. No, I put more

weight on. How will you celebrate. We are going to go Las Vegas and

renew our vows. Looking more slender than the first time. Well we went to

Las Vegas in January last year, but with being over weight, we couldn't

walk, it was too hot and we are going to go back just to enjoy it.

What is your advice to anyone in the same position that you were in less

than a year ago? There is help out tl for people who want to get you

know, lose weight. If you see your doctor, they will give you the

information you need and you will go to weight management. And keep up

your appointments. And keep eating well after the surgery. Yes,

definitely. Well done and enjoy that big moments. Can we say a thank you?

Yes. To everyone at the hospital, and professor Hodge. I would like to

thank my... We need to leave it there, sorry Kevin. We know those

who, you want to say thank you to everyone who supported you. Now

let's move on. A nursery worker today relived the horror of finding

a toddler she'd been looking after strangled in an accident on a

playground slide. Sophie Redhead, who's 25, spent several hours in the

witness box at Leeds Crown Court. She's denied the manslaughter by

gross negligence of three`year`old Lydia Bishop at the York College

nursery in September 2012. Our Crime Correspondent John Cundy reports.

Lydia Bishop died on her first full day at the York nursery on September

17th 2012. She had been under the supervision of a part`time nursery

assistant, Sophie Redhead, who was on a bench after a lunch break.

Everything seemed to be normal. Miss Redhead cried as she said she ran to

the slide seeing something white. It was Lydia's trousers. The girl had

been strangled by a rope hanging from the slide. Miss Redhead carried

her into the building. The court heard the ropes hat not always been

removed from the slide after play and children shouldn't have been

allowed there unsupervised. Cross`examined, Miss Redhead denied

she had seen Sophie walking past her and said she thought Lydia had gone

back into the nursery after playing in a sand pit. She denied failing in

her duty. The jury heard that the nursery, who deny breaches of health

and safety regulations, had enjoyed good inspection reports since it was

opened in 2007. As well as the negligence charge, Sophie Redhead

denies failing to take reasonable care of Lydia Bishop. The trial

continues. Wakefield has become the first place in the north of England

to formally oppose HS2. Councillors have voted against the ?40 billion

high speed railway. HS2 would pass through 11 miles of the district,

but there would be no station for Wakefield. The council says money

should be spent on improving regional rail links, better roads

and a new airport for Yorkshire. I think when a council calls for a new

airport in the city region, that's ambitious and we believe that the

package we have put forward is realistic and deliverable and one

that in the long run will make a huge difference to the north. How we

are going to stop this migration away from the north and make sure

that our young people can live and work in the great cities of the

north? I think this proposal is more likely to do this in the long run

than HS2. In the rest of the day's news, the Prime Minister has told

campaigners demanding an inquiry and an official apology for the handling

of the miners' strike that the ones who should really be saying sorry

are Arthur Scargill and Neil Kinnock. Confidential Cabinet papers

recently made public under the routine 30 years rule gave some

indication of what Margaret Thatcher's Government knew and

planned just before the strike started in 1984. But a new campaign

launched in the House of Commons today by Barnsley East MP Michael

Dugher says that is not enough. Let's publish the communications

between the then government and the police to see exact think extent of

political interference in the police in the conduct of that strike and

let's get that transparency so we can have some answers about what was

a very dark chapter in our history 30 years ago. If anyone needs to

make an apology for their role in the strike, it should be Arthur

Scargill for the appalling way he led that union and if other people

want to ask about their role, there was the role of the leader of the

Labour Party who at the time never condemned the fact that they

wouldn't hold a ballot. Barnsley central library will be demolished,

despite a campaign to save it. The council does plan to build a new

library in the next three years, but campaigners say it won't be as good

as the existing one. They formed a human chain around the town hall to

protest against the decision. Very angry at the decision to pull the

library down and I believe that it's time for the rest of the council to

listen to the large numbers of people in the town who are opposed

to demolition. We got over 13,000 people signing our petition ` the

biggest petition in Barnsley's history. I think councillors should

listen to the people and not listen to their Labour leaders. Before 7

o'clock: Dame Kelly Holmes joins us. A star of the Commonwealth Games

herself, she reveals where the baton will come in this region in June And

cycling meets culture ` the launch of a 100 day Yorkshire Festival

ahead of this year's Tour de France. Football now and last night's games

had a bit of everything. There were punch`ups, red cards, penalties and

even some goals. Here's Ian Bucknell with a selection of the action.

Doncaster thrashed fellow strugglers Charlton 3`0 last night. Meite got

the Rovers rolling with a tap in after good work by Duffy. Minutes

later, Sharp was brought down by the last defender, who got sent off.

Brown made no mistake from the spot. Duffy found space and a fine finish

to complete the scoring. Doncaster are now three games unbeaten and

move four points clear of the relegation zone. Sheffield

Wednesday's unbeaten run now stands at nine games. Cope put The Owls

ahead. An equaliser soon followed, before Coke appears to be stamped on

by Millwall's Lowry. That triggers a dust up between both sets of

players. Meanwhile the match finished 1`1. Kebe casually gives

the ball away as Leeds United helped Ipswich take the lead. A howler by

Kenny in goal completes the pantomime. McCormack went on to

equalise after a foul on Stuart and it finished 1`1. Jennings's cross

was calmly converted by Proschwitz to put Barnsley in front. Blackburn

scored twice to take the lead, but after Lawrence was fouled, O'Grady

made it 2`2 from the spot. Finally, in the Championship, Woods' goal

couldn't stop Huddersfield losing 2`1 at Bournemouth. Agard broke

through the Tranmere defence to set up Revell's opener for Rotherham.

Revell powered home a second after the break as the Millers won 2`1 to

strengthen their position in the play`off places. No goals at Valley

Parade, but there was controversy. Bradford's Bennett raised his hands

and Kilkenny's legs gave way. Both players sent off. And finally

Chesterfield went back to the top of League Two after beating York City

2`0s with goals from and Roberts. Now the Olympic torch relay was a

huge success travelling the length and breadth of the land ahead of the

London Games. And today we've learned there's to be a baton relay

as a curtain raiser to the Commonwealth Games in July. Will the

Queen's baton relay be able to recreate some of that Olympic torch

magic? Once again local people will be chosen to be baton bearers. And

here in Yorkshire, Sheffield and the Peak District get it first on June

1st ` with the focus on cycling and boxing. It comes to Leeds on June

12th ` with a schools sporting event planned for the John Charles

Stadium. Commonwealth and Olympic Gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes

joins us now from Salford. Now, the buzz and excitement we felt around

the Olympic torch relay was incredible. Do you think that we can

re`create that feeling again? Yeah, I think the excitement of the

Commonwealth Games will build when the queen's Baton reaches England on

31st May. I think what people should know it is very different this one.

They actually have the events at locations and are trying to bring

the spirit of the sport and community together at these

locations. There is 15 regions around England that were hit. It

will be different, but what is important is we want people to be

aware that the Commonwealth Games is happening in Scotland, yes, but Team

England are there in force. We are England is our slogan and we want to

show them how good we are. I was involved with BBC coverage over a

number of the Commonwealth Games and they're very exciting games, because

they give the chance to athletes who are knocking on the door of the

Olympics to get a real platform? Yes, you're correct. We break down

into seven nations for the Commonwealth Games and Team England,

being the largest, of the nations and the largest mmonwealth nation,

we have the opportunity to have more people selected. There is 17 sports

and 18 if you include diving. It allows more participants. If you

think of the split of nations. It is the only other multi`sport games

outside the Olympics and not many people have the opportunity. This is

giving a massive platform for up and coming people to show who they are

and for established people to get the medals. You have sold it

brilliantly as usual. Thank you. A flash mob of singers, artists and

performers have helped launch the programme for the Yorkshire Festival

which will herald the Tour de France in July. Details of Festival events

have been revealed and include plays, concerts, monumental works of

art and even a bit of knitting! What can we expect? Cathy Killick's been

finding out. It is noisy, colourful and wacky and that is just the

launch. Performs came to Leeds to publicise the festival. There is a

one hundred day festival will be for everyone and everybody. It is

inclusive and not just high`brow arts stuff. But stuff that is fun

and most of the events are free. What can we expect from the

festival? 47 events have been commissioned to be part of it and it

will run for 100 days from 27th March to 6th July. It will have the

ghost peloton, dancers will do a cycle dance through Leeds. A

sculptor will made a new sculptor and there will be a new parade in

April. That is not all. This lot are called Hope and Social and this is

the official festival song. They're created something called a band

anyone can join and it will play 12 concerts. The idea is to take part.

They will come in their droves and come to our free events and find

pieces of fun and activity in places they have never been before. This is

Beryl Burton, a Yorkshire woman and winner of seven world titles and

this is Maxine Peak, who is writing a play about Beryl, which is part of

the festival. I hope I can do Leeds and Beryl and the idea and the

cycling fraternity proud with the piece. Thank you. There is something

for everyone. It is Yorkshire's ?2 million party, so be there, or miss

out. If you want more information about exactly what's going on and

where ` there are full details on your local BBC website. Now Paul

normally reads the Daily Express. Day he was in the Times. That is a

slur. Page four of the Times. I used some big words. Did you manage it.

Let me show you something more interesting. They lifted it from my

blog. You two did your first tandem bike ride. 13 miles. 13.5 actually.

But where did you get that helmet from and what were the padded

underpants like? Well that was taken outside Rotherham. Keep the pictures

coming in. And you can read that fabulous blog. There is a warning of

the potential of a bit of ice, chiefly across higher level routes.

Colder air is pushing in from the east. Tomorrow, cold, some patchy

rain and a little light sleet or snow. But it won't amount to much.

The risk is ice over high ground. The easterlies will come in and by

the end of Friday the south`westerly will push in with more wind and

rain. Of course, it has been a dreary day today with patchy rain at

times. As we head through the night, although there will be a drier

spell, we will see further shourt and `` showers and some light sleet

and snow and icy patches. Lowest temperatures around zero to three

Celsius. The sun will rise in the morning at 7.57 and your high water

times are here. It is another dreary, dank winter's day. Over cast

with patchy rain and some sleet and light snow over the hills. Later it

may give longer breaks of rain. There might be a centimetre over the

hills. But it is not an issue. The top temperatures, feeling chilly,

highs of around four Celsius, that is 39 Fahrenheit. Friday, cloudy

with heavy rain and strong winds sweeping in from the west. The

weekend bribinger. `` brighter. You will be pleased to haerp it didn't

rain. As forecast. No, you said it was going to rain. I will see you at

10. 25. Good night. 'The cost of living crisis goes

deep into people's lives, 'deep into the way

our country is run, 'deep into who our

country is run for. 'the solutions need

to be deep as well.' I opened a pub six years

ago in Hackney, about ten minutes'

walk from my house. One of the things that

really struck me was that most of the beers that we

sold weren't London beers. They were international beers,

UK beers, but from further afield. "Wouldn't it be really great

to open our own community brewery "right here in the heart of London,

in Hackney?"