:00:08. > :00:13.Welcome to Midlands today with Nick Owen. The headlines tonight.
:00:13. > :00:17.Call done a camera, the benefit fraudster who claimed she was
:00:17. > :00:21.disabled but was fit enough to run competitively -- caught on camera.
:00:21. > :00:26.Ho ho ho online Christmas shoppers have created 1,500 new jobs for
:00:26. > :00:30.their region. 60% in November and December, so
:00:31. > :00:37.important to get it right. The cold snap and the increasing
:00:37. > :00:42.cost of living are pressurising numbers into homeless shelters.
:00:42. > :00:52.And plenty of backing for the Glassboys, dreaming of more FA Cup
:00:52. > :00:55.
:00:55. > :00:58.Good evening and welcome to the start of the weekend here on
:00:58. > :01:01.Midlands Today. Our top story tonight: a benefits
:01:01. > :01:04.fraud that investigators say is one of the most blatant they've ever
:01:04. > :01:11.seen. The woman they were investigating
:01:11. > :01:16.claimed she was too disabled to tie her own shoelaces. In fact, she was
:01:16. > :01:18.fit enough to run regularly and even competed in road races.
:01:18. > :01:22.The Government says the current crackdown on benefit cheats has
:01:22. > :01:25.saved �100 million since October last year. During that time
:01:25. > :01:28.there've been 10,000 prosecutions. That compares with 8,200 in the
:01:28. > :01:32.previous 12 months. Liz Copper reports now on how video
:01:32. > :01:35.evidence made one woman part of those statistics.
:01:35. > :01:41.This undercover footage shows Gillian Hulme, in the black top,
:01:41. > :01:45.running in a road race through Stoke on Trent. She trained three
:01:45. > :01:47.times a week with a running club. She'd even taken part in a half-
:01:47. > :01:51.marathon. All whilst claiming benefit on the basis she could
:01:51. > :01:53.barely walk. The 55-year-old appeared at Stoke on Trent Crown
:01:53. > :02:03.Court after admitting illegally claiming more than �45,000 in
:02:03. > :02:08.
:02:08. > :02:11.benefits over ten years. She stated she was only able to
:02:11. > :02:14.walk 20 yards over a three-minute period and that was certainly not
:02:14. > :02:17.the case. Hulme had taken up running after having back problems
:02:17. > :02:20.- but continued to claim benefits even though her condition improved
:02:20. > :02:22.so dramatically. Pete Millington has represented disabled people who
:02:22. > :02:32.have had their claims disputed and feels fraudsters cause problems for
:02:32. > :02:33.
:02:33. > :02:36.honest claimants. I think it does have an unfortunate impact in
:02:36. > :02:41.demonising disabled people generally, that are genuine
:02:41. > :02:45.claimants of benefits. So we don't want there to be anxiety amongst
:02:45. > :02:48.and -- disabled people who genuinely need benefits. After this
:02:48. > :02:53.footage was played in court, Hulme was given an eight month suspended
:02:53. > :02:57.prison sentence and was ordered to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work.
:02:57. > :02:59.Sentencing Gillian Hulme, the judge said the benefits system is
:03:00. > :03:03.undermined and its reputation damaged by people who begin to the
:03:03. > :03:07.fund of money without being entitled to it. He said she had
:03:07. > :03:13.known perfectly well what she was doing was utterly wrong that power
:03:13. > :03:15.reputation had been publicly ruined. -- and her reputation.
:03:15. > :03:18.And the Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud tonight welcomed the
:03:18. > :03:21.prosecution and said benefit thieves cost the taxpayer almost
:03:21. > :03:29.one billion pounds each year - money intended to go to those most
:03:29. > :03:34.in need. Ahead of us tonight: up for sale,
:03:34. > :03:38.not up for grabs. How these car thieves asked for a test drive and
:03:38. > :03:40.never came back. With just three weeks to go until
:03:40. > :03:43.Christmas, online retailers are preparing for their busiest weekend
:03:43. > :03:48.of the year. It's estimated internet shoppers in
:03:48. > :03:52.this region will spend about �1 billion between now and the 25th.
:03:52. > :03:55.And hundreds of temporary jobs have been created servicing that demand.
:03:55. > :04:01.Our Business Correspondent Peter Plisner joins us now from one of
:04:01. > :04:09.the busiest online depots in South Warwickshire.
:04:09. > :04:13.Pete Happe. Yes, tonight they are at the
:04:13. > :04:19.warehouse -- we are at a warehouse, or internet shopping is very big
:04:19. > :04:23.business these days, it is estimated that a few years ago,
:04:23. > :04:28.there were 3.5 million shoppers, now there are 37 million. They
:04:28. > :04:33.process 15,000 orders per day here over Christmas, up from 1,000 per
:04:33. > :04:37.day and Christmas shopping is going hi-tech. 24% they use their
:04:37. > :04:39.smartphones to order goods, but whichever method you use, it
:04:39. > :04:44.promises to be an extremely busy weekend.
:04:44. > :04:49.Why go to the shops when you can buy almost everything online? That
:04:49. > :04:52.is what Martin Weale does. We do a big supermarket shop every two
:04:52. > :04:57.weeks, so this is Christmas, so we are doing a lot of Christmas
:04:57. > :05:00.shopping. It gives me the opportunity to get things that are
:05:00. > :05:05.a bit unusual. I won't tell you what I bought my wife, but it is
:05:05. > :05:08.something I wouldn't be able to buy easily locally. But not everyone
:05:08. > :05:13.has done their Christmas shopping yet, hence the reason places like
:05:14. > :05:17.this are so busy, with orders coming in thick and fast. The race
:05:17. > :05:20.is now on to get everything packaged up and delivered. A It is
:05:20. > :05:24.really busy, there are people running around all the time that
:05:24. > :05:30.everyone is a bit stressed. started in October, and which was
:05:30. > :05:35.quite nice, because it was quite steady, but now it has gone mad.
:05:35. > :05:41.big presence do you wrap a day? varies. -- How many presents.
:05:41. > :05:45.are so many. Such a lot to do. other popular products? These S
:05:45. > :05:52.weathers are selling a lot, you fill them with helium and then you
:05:52. > :05:57.remote-controlled of -- S weathers. This Spycatcher is doing well. But
:05:57. > :06:01.this is basically an adult baby grow. And in this business,
:06:01. > :06:05.selecting the right product is crucial. I would say looking out
:06:05. > :06:10.for a new products at gift fairs, looking to see what the major
:06:10. > :06:14.retailers are pushing it, keeping an eye on the sales trends and
:06:14. > :06:17.talking to the suppliers that there who have been doing it for years.
:06:17. > :06:23.Other online retailers are also busy, part of the reason that
:06:23. > :06:27.companies like Amazon have set up shop here. Its new warehouse in
:06:27. > :06:31.Rougerie is already processing thousands of orders, by -- and that
:06:31. > :06:35.the same time creating hundreds of jobs. Experts maintain that despite
:06:35. > :06:41.the recession, the growth of online shopping is helping many firms buck
:06:41. > :06:45.the trend, something that looks set to continue. We are around a cross-
:06:45. > :06:49.Channel, multi-channel retailing, you can buy through a website and
:06:49. > :06:52.our high-street store, for a mobile device and a telephone ordering. It
:06:52. > :06:57.is those different channels and options for retailers and customers
:06:57. > :07:00.that is a really big area of growth. Some products are quite literally
:07:01. > :07:04.flying off the shelves this year and with Santa's online helpers
:07:04. > :07:10.working overtime, it looks like being a happy Christmas for all
:07:10. > :07:13.concerned. And some other popular products
:07:13. > :07:18.flying off the shelves... These remote controlled candles. If you
:07:18. > :07:22.are feeling tired over Christmas, have about a blow up as ever frame?
:07:22. > :07:28.And if you remember the Styler phone, they are making a comeback
:07:29. > :07:35.as well. A Adam, tell me how much trade you actually do over
:07:35. > :07:42.Christmas. Which is 60% of our turnover in November and December.
:07:42. > :07:46.-- we do. A why is this so busy for are like chopping? It is the first
:07:46. > :07:53.weekend after pay-day, Christmas is looming. -- why is it so busy for
:07:53. > :07:58.online shopping. What about growth online, it seems to keep growing?
:07:58. > :08:02.We have seen between 40-80% year on year, but it is getting more
:08:02. > :08:07.competitive, so just about making sure your prices are right. Last
:08:07. > :08:12.year, snow affected online traders. Are presumably, you will be the
:08:12. > :08:17.Addie people hoping not to get a white Christmas. -- Oh the people.
:08:17. > :08:21.We don't mind it on Christmas Day, because everything is done by them,
:08:21. > :08:26.but not before. A my favourite thing will be this knife throwing
:08:26. > :08:30.set, it is plastic, but hours of endless fun.
:08:30. > :08:33.Peter, thank you very much. An 11-year-old boy who was killed
:08:33. > :08:36.in a road accident in Warwickshire has been named as Tiarnan Welland.
:08:36. > :08:39.He died yesterday morning as he tried to catch the school bus.The
:08:39. > :08:42.car involved stopped at the scene. The accident happened on the A423
:08:42. > :08:45.between Southam and Farnborough. Police are appealing for witnesses
:08:45. > :08:48.to contact them. Four men from Stoke on Trent have
:08:48. > :08:51.denied being part of a group plotting terror attacks on major
:08:51. > :08:58.London targets. The four, aged between 20 and 27, were arrested in
:08:58. > :09:01.dawn raids a year ago. Today at Woolwich crown crown court, they
:09:01. > :09:03.pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, which related to an
:09:04. > :09:06.alleged plot to target the Stock Exchange, the Houses of Parliament
:09:06. > :09:08.and the American Embassy. Selling cars through online
:09:08. > :09:13.advertising or auto trading magazines has become common
:09:13. > :09:16.practice. But it nearly cost a disabled woman from Coventry her
:09:16. > :09:19.life. Dawn Markham was seriously injured
:09:19. > :09:24.when two men drove over her while test driving her BMW X5 and then
:09:24. > :09:29.made a getaway. Detectives believe she was the victim of an organised
:09:29. > :09:32.gang who're shipping stolen high- powered vehicles out of the country.
:09:32. > :09:35.Here's Bob Hockenhull. Captured on a street security
:09:35. > :09:41.camera - the moment two men arrived at Dawn Markham's house purporting
:09:41. > :09:44.to be interested in her car. The luxury BMW X5 had been advertised
:09:44. > :09:54.for sale for �43,000 and one of the man calling himself Raj Singh from
:09:54. > :09:59.Luton said he wanted to buy it. -- one of the men. There was
:09:59. > :10:04.absolutely nothing suspicious about them. They produced insurance
:10:04. > :10:07.documents, they had actually made eye-contact with May. But when she
:10:07. > :10:13.accompanied the men on a test drive, things quickly turned nasty a mile
:10:13. > :10:19.from Dawn's house in Coundon in Coventry. He actually grabbed my
:10:19. > :10:26.arm, basically swore at me and told me to get out the car, otherwise he
:10:26. > :10:30.would kill me. I actually grab that the door handle of the car and he
:10:30. > :10:35.sped off, and of course, as it tried to be several yards down the
:10:35. > :10:39.road. Dawn was knocked unconscious and suffered severe bruising. The
:10:39. > :10:42.thieves abandoned the car outside this pub less than two miles away,
:10:42. > :10:47.police believing they had got scared because of what they had
:10:47. > :10:51.done. It is hoped security camera images will help identify the
:10:51. > :10:55.thieves. We are seeing more and more that it is organised crime
:10:55. > :11:00.gangs committed these crimes and taking their number of cars --
:11:00. > :11:03.committing. They are moving them abroad or disposing of them in this
:11:03. > :11:07.country somehow. Trade in standards officers say prospective sellers
:11:07. > :11:12.need to be on their guard -- Trading Standards. Don't let the
:11:12. > :11:16.keys out of your possession and be a bit wary of how they are behaving.
:11:16. > :11:20.If they are showing little interest in the car and are more interested
:11:20. > :11:26.in getting to the test drive, you might be wary of that. But Dawn
:11:26. > :11:32.says her ideal means she will never advertised at car for sale again --
:11:32. > :11:36.ordeal. Still to come, how a surgeon's
:11:36. > :11:38.skill and the dedication of his owners saved Sebastian after he
:11:38. > :11:41.fell 50 feet. This time last year we were
:11:41. > :11:45.battling with the snow to get out and about, and although it will be
:11:45. > :11:54.cold over the weekend, the snow stays north of us and it is looking
:11:54. > :11:56.like a lovely, crisp wintry weekend. With forecasters predicting
:11:56. > :12:01.temperatures sinking to below zero again over the weekend, there's a
:12:01. > :12:04.warning about support for homeless people struggling to keep warm.
:12:04. > :12:09.One charity says it's had to move to bigger premises and open a
:12:09. > :12:14.fortnight early to cope with demand. Giles Latcham is in Birmingham.
:12:15. > :12:19.Giles, pretty chilly for anyone outside tonight?
:12:19. > :12:23.The bone-chilling commander decided going to get colder for the
:12:23. > :12:26.hundreds of people taking part -- it is bone-chilling, and it is only
:12:26. > :12:32.going to get hold up for the hundreds of people taking part in
:12:32. > :12:34.the annual fundraiser. More of that in a moment, but first, Ben Godfrey
:12:34. > :12:36.in Worcester, where they are worried about an influx of people
:12:36. > :12:39.seeking shelter. Six o'clock this morning,
:12:39. > :12:44.temperatures in Worcester have hit minus two. There's warmth and
:12:44. > :12:47.comfort at the YMCA in St John's. They call this place the Night
:12:47. > :12:51.Assessment centre. Those seeking shelter can get food, sleep and
:12:51. > :12:55.support. Nick Jackson came here after separating from his
:12:55. > :13:02.girlfriend. He says he was born in Worcester but can't afford to live
:13:02. > :13:06.here. First of all, it was the only place that basically would accept
:13:06. > :13:11.me. Pilot light to go to college, study a few things and then
:13:11. > :13:14.hopefully get my own place and settle down -- I would like to.
:13:14. > :13:17.This centre relies on donations - like sleeping bags - and it's had
:13:17. > :13:24.to open two weeks early. It's run by St Paul's hostel but moved to
:13:24. > :13:27.the YMCA for more space to meet demand, as winter begins to bite.
:13:27. > :13:31.would say last year particularly, because temperatures were a lot
:13:31. > :13:35.lower at this time of year, there would have been quite a high
:13:35. > :13:40.likelihood of people dying out on the streets, if the night assessed
:13:40. > :13:43.and said they hadn't been open. One of they reasons we have opened
:13:43. > :13:47.early is to try and pre-empt what might be a caring with the weather
:13:47. > :13:52.-- one of the reasons. Around 20 people had used the night
:13:53. > :13:57.assessment centre here. Growing numbers coming year on year. It
:13:57. > :14:00.coincides with figures from the homeless charity crisis, who say
:14:00. > :14:04.there has been a 15% increase in the number of people contacting
:14:04. > :14:07.local authority for help. Staff say they're told of many reasons why
:14:07. > :14:11.people come to this centre and one that stands out. In a riverside
:14:11. > :14:21.city - a city where many aspire to live - the cost of rent is pricing
:14:21. > :14:24.more people out and onto the streets.
:14:24. > :14:29.The cost of rented accommodation seemingly exacerbating the problem
:14:29. > :14:32.it was there. Let's talk about the scale of the problem in Birmingham.
:14:32. > :14:36.You deal with young people but what do you understand the situation to
:14:36. > :14:42.be questioned Arc unfortunately, this is all pretend, so the people
:14:42. > :14:45.here are not really homeless. understanding is that number is
:14:45. > :14:48.increasing in Birmingham as well -- my understanding. Particularly
:14:48. > :14:53.those suffering from the economic situation, problems with their
:14:53. > :14:57.mortgage situation and also people whose landlords and may have an
:14:57. > :15:01.issue with their mortgage situation, so it is increasing. Casting it
:15:01. > :15:07.forward, we have record youth unemployment, how do you see this
:15:07. > :15:13.forward playing out. -- this problem? I think there is a real
:15:13. > :15:16.worry for young people. We are in a situation, family, relationship,
:15:16. > :15:22.frictions that a conflict tend to lead to a youth homelessness a bad
:15:22. > :15:26.when families are under pressure, that often spills out on to
:15:26. > :15:31.teenagers and adolescence -- and when families. Also welfare reform,
:15:31. > :15:34.very worried about that. Pressure on funding, which makes all of this
:15:34. > :15:37.all the more valuable, and when you are going to a nice warm bed
:15:37. > :15:40.tonight, spare a thought for those on the streets of Birmingham.
:15:40. > :15:43.For three months he's been on and off the surgeon's operating table,
:15:43. > :15:49.but tonight Sebastian the tabby cat is coming home after �6,000 worth
:15:49. > :15:51.of operations. He'd fallen from the fourth storey
:15:51. > :15:59.of a building, suffering extensive injuries, which required braces and
:15:59. > :16:03.metal pins to put him back together. Joanne Writtle has the story.
:16:03. > :16:10.Two-year-old Sebastion is checked over by the vet who helped save his
:16:10. > :16:14.life. He suffered lung and chest injuries after a dramatic fall.
:16:14. > :16:20.Metal supports have helped mend broken bones in three legs.
:16:20. > :16:24.front left leg, he there are metal bars going through the bones of his
:16:25. > :16:28.legs, the top and bottom of his radius and metal bars on the
:16:28. > :16:32.outside connecting those. This X- ray shows a break in the femur soon
:16:32. > :16:39.after the accident. Here, pins hold together a fracture in a front leg.
:16:39. > :16:44.His back legs are also held together with metal. He is jumping
:16:44. > :16:47.a little bit higher now, since the metal is in there. I don't think he
:16:47. > :16:51.worries as much about the landings any more. Vets put his survival
:16:51. > :16:57.chances at less than 10%. His owners paid �6,000 for orthopaedic
:16:57. > :17:00.surgery, chest draining and other procedures. Pet insurance of �11 a
:17:00. > :17:07.month covered two-thirds of the bill. His owners say it was worth
:17:07. > :17:11.it to take him back home to their other cat. I just can't believe it.
:17:11. > :17:15.But when we first got him home, it was a hard week, he was fed through
:17:15. > :17:21.a tube, the other cat didn't recognise him, it was emotional
:17:21. > :17:24.trauma. Sebastian fell from here. A fourth floor window at his owners'
:17:24. > :17:29.flat in Edgbaston in Birmingham. He's spent today at the vets in
:17:29. > :17:32.Halesowen. Sebastian is about to be sedated for more X-rays to see
:17:32. > :17:40.whether some of his metal inserts can finally be removed, there it is
:17:40. > :17:45.likely that some of the metal supports will have to stay for good.
:17:45. > :17:49.The cat is little face. He is a beauty, isn't he? -- look
:17:49. > :17:54.So back home tonight. And Sebastian's latest op earlier today
:17:54. > :17:56.was apparently a great sucesss. Good luck, Sebastian. Let's talk
:17:56. > :17:59.sport. There's yet more upheaval behind
:17:59. > :18:06.the scenes at Coventry City. Dan's here now. What's happened now?
:18:06. > :18:08.This time it's the chairman Ken Dulieu who's stood down. Back in
:18:08. > :18:12.March, Dulieu and the board held a press conference stating bold
:18:12. > :18:16.intentions. Three of the five who were present that day are no longer
:18:16. > :18:21.in place. But the chairman said the day his appointment was only ever
:18:21. > :18:24.saw -- short term. It has been an interesting journey, but my job was
:18:24. > :18:27.only ever to put the building blocks in place and but the
:18:27. > :18:32.strategy in place, stop there had lecturing of cash and convince the
:18:32. > :18:38.owners to keep funding. -- the haemorrhaging of cash. It doesn't
:18:38. > :18:42.get better the commentary. -- the Coventry. What next?
:18:42. > :18:46.He is going to become head of operations, help the manager signed
:18:46. > :18:49.contracts and get the players into the club. They are looking for
:18:49. > :18:53.investment from the local community, but they need to do it quickly,
:18:53. > :18:56.because Coventry have struggled for quite a while financially, and if
:18:56. > :19:03.they don't have sorted out soon, they will be in League One and even
:19:03. > :19:07.more trouble. But better times at Stoke City.
:19:07. > :19:10.Absolutely. They're through to the knockout stage of the Europa League
:19:10. > :19:13.after drawing 1-all with Dynamo Kiev last night. It didn't look
:19:13. > :19:16.likely during the first half in which Stoke struggled and fell
:19:16. > :19:19.behind to a Matthew Upson own goal. But Stoke rallied after the break
:19:19. > :19:22.and got their reward nine minutes from time when Kenwynne Jones
:19:22. > :19:25.converted Jermaine Pennant's cross. Afterwards the Stoke manager Tony
:19:25. > :19:33.Pulis said he was proud of his players. This is what the fans
:19:33. > :19:37.thought. Their manager was playing spoiling tactics, they kept on
:19:37. > :19:43.falling down, all the way through it. What can you do? You can only
:19:43. > :19:49.do your best, can't she? How far as you think they can go? All the way.
:19:49. > :19:54.All the way. At it is going to get to play their next round. But Albu
:19:54. > :19:59.way to the final. That will be a journey into the unknown. Likewise
:19:59. > :20:02.for Stourbridge Football Club tomorrow. It's their first
:20:02. > :20:05.appearance in the FA Cup second round. And tomorrow, more than
:20:05. > :20:08.3,000 fans will pack inside the War Memorial Ground, hoping to see the
:20:08. > :20:11.Glassboys pull off a famous victory over Stevenage from League One. Ian
:20:11. > :20:16.Winter reports. It was hard work today at the Glass
:20:16. > :20:20.Centre, like it was every day. But they I used to it in Stourbridge.
:20:20. > :20:24.Players like Ian have been doing this for more than 400 years, which
:20:24. > :20:29.is why they are called the Glassboys. One of them, Sam the
:20:29. > :20:34.Rock, has just clocked up 300 games. Now you know why they are called
:20:34. > :20:39.the Glassboys. It has been on my doorstep the whole time, and there
:20:39. > :20:43.I know why. It is like Hart, the way they go around making it. --
:20:43. > :20:47.art. It is some heritage for the town. Did you ever envisage you
:20:47. > :20:53.would be cutting a piece of crystal glass to celebrate Stourbridge in
:20:53. > :20:57.the FA Cup second round? No, but things happen, especially in the
:20:57. > :21:02.second round of the FA Cup. Bring gone mad United. This afternoon,
:21:02. > :21:08.they had no time to put their feet up before the cup tie. They were
:21:08. > :21:15.too busy coaching the youngsters at a or primary school in
:21:15. > :21:20.Wolverhampton. They all work for a charity called believed to achieve.
:21:21. > :21:23.The FA Cup, nobody comes to these grounds and fancied themselves, and
:21:23. > :21:28.we are in good form at the moment that we are all confident, really
:21:28. > :21:35.lucky -- looking forward to it. Stourbridge expat come on,
:21:35. > :21:39.Stourbridge! You can't let them down after a reaction like that.
:21:39. > :21:44.Back row no, it is a great atmosphere, the kids want us to win
:21:44. > :21:48.it -- no. Hand on heart, can Stourbridge really beat Stevenage?
:21:48. > :21:53.I really think we can. With the community behind us and thus
:21:53. > :21:58.pushing to the standard we can play, I definitely think we can.
:21:58. > :22:04.Stevenage beware. Some rock doesn't score many, but when he does, they
:22:04. > :22:09.tend to be rather special. -- Sam. Tomorrow, 3,000 fans will be
:22:09. > :22:15.looking to break that -- C the Glassboys make history. Stourbridge
:22:15. > :22:20.glass is unique. Commemorating the first ever appearance in the FA Cup
:22:20. > :22:25.second round. Just over 100 tickets still unsold.
:22:25. > :22:30.The kick-off is 2pm, a regular update on BBC WM. And you can
:22:30. > :22:40.follow your tea by John local radio. Let's hope Stourbridge can make it
:22:40. > :22:45.
:22:45. > :22:47.through. -- follow your team on your local radio. Always back the
:22:47. > :22:52.underdog. Come on, Stourbridge.
:22:52. > :22:55.You said it. Dedication, enthusiasm, fairness.
:22:55. > :22:58.70-year-old swimming coach Derek Northcote has them all in abundance.
:22:58. > :23:01.He's devoted the past 30 years to helping people with disabilities at
:23:01. > :23:03.the Tamworth Unicorns Swimming Club. That dedication has won him a place
:23:03. > :23:06.among the finalists in this year's BBC Midlands Sports Unsung Hero
:23:06. > :23:09.Award. Lindsay Doyle's been to meet him.
:23:09. > :23:19.For 30 years, Derek Northcote has been head coach at the Tamworth
:23:19. > :23:25.
:23:25. > :23:28.Unicorns Swimming Club for Disabled Persons. Despite suffering a heart
:23:28. > :23:33.attack and spinal injuries, he spends three days a week at the
:23:33. > :23:38.club. You just get over that a bad give something back. It is
:23:38. > :23:42.something I learned in my younger days, and why not help, help people
:23:42. > :23:48.who love -- who are less fortunate than I am. Derek has helped change
:23:48. > :23:53.the club from a casual swim to the competitive swimming club. He was
:23:53. > :23:57.instrumental in the club would in the Queen's Award for voluntary
:23:58. > :24:02.services in 2002 -- wedding. Dedication, enthusiasm, honesty,
:24:02. > :24:07.fairness, just some of the words used to describe the coach. He is
:24:07. > :24:10.brilliant, he is amazing. He helps others out and he is a great team
:24:10. > :24:13.manager. Derek has helped hundreds of disabled people of all ages to
:24:13. > :24:23.learn how to swim, indeed some of the original members are still
:24:23. > :24:25.
:24:25. > :24:29.members today. Derek is kinder to me. I have been so been for about
:24:29. > :24:33.30 years at than proud of Derek -- I have been swimming. Definitely
:24:33. > :24:37.Clare's Unsung Hero. Derek's reaction to being nominated?
:24:37. > :24:41.Embarrassed. They came out of the blue Subara complete shock. I
:24:41. > :24:45.wasn't aware it was going to happen -- it came out of the blue, a
:24:45. > :24:50.complete shock. He's a brilliant guy, a brilliant coach Andy has the
:24:50. > :24:54.club at heart, and I thought he deserved some recognition for the
:24:55. > :24:58.work he has done for this club. another thing that makes him stand
:24:58. > :25:02.out, his conviction that even though funding is hard to come by
:25:02. > :25:12.these days, the Tamworth Unicorns must continue to provide swimming
:25:12. > :25:12.
:25:12. > :25:16.and friendship for some of the most vulnerable people in society.
:25:16. > :25:18.And you can catch up with all four of the finalists we've featured so
:25:18. > :25:21.far on our Midlands Today Facebook site.
:25:21. > :25:24.That will be really interesting. Time for the weather now, Sarah, I
:25:24. > :25:28.was outside this afternoon and it was perishing.
:25:28. > :25:31.It was a very cold day, with enquire at -- winter might have
:25:31. > :25:34.enquire at -- winter might have come. Overnight tonight, we will
:25:34. > :25:38.see things turn quite wet as the weather front was whipping across
:25:39. > :25:43.the region, bringing outbreaks of rain and quite a lot of cloud as
:25:43. > :25:46.well. It would be quite as cold tonight, but the cloud thickening
:25:46. > :25:51.and bringing outbreaks of patchy rain at first. It will clear by
:25:51. > :25:56.tomorrow morning, turning drier, but temperatures go no lower than
:25:56. > :26:00.five or 6C. Quite breezy night as well. But for the weekend, it is
:26:00. > :26:05.looking cold, but it is also staying quite bright. A breezy as
:26:05. > :26:09.well, especially tomorrow. Tomorrow morning start off quite a cloudy
:26:09. > :26:14.with some rain around, but it will clear, giving way to dry and bright
:26:14. > :26:19.weather, with plenty of sunshine around. Temperatures a touch higher,
:26:19. > :26:24.nine or 10C, but in the wind, it was still feel quite cold, westerly
:26:24. > :26:29.indirection. Looking ahead to the evening, it will stay dry but it
:26:29. > :26:33.will be quite a cloudy. And it will be a cold night and on Sunday, the
:26:33. > :26:38.weather for the skirting the far south of the UK, so where it is
:26:38. > :26:42.still clear, dry and bright, plenty of sunshine around. A few showers
:26:42. > :26:46.across the north of the region through the day, temperatures
:26:46. > :26:50.around seven or eight. Ahead of us, dry and bright over the weekend but
:26:50. > :26:52.quite call, turning especially cold quite call, turning especially cold
:26:52. > :26:58.overnight, so that is how it is looking -- quite cold.
:26:58. > :27:00.We have been warned. Pentti very much indeed. -- thank
:27:00. > :27:03.you. A look at tonight's main headlines:
:27:03. > :27:05.The German Chancellor has called for a new treaty of Europe to
:27:05. > :27:08.control tax and spending across the Eurozone.
:27:08. > :27:12.And a suspended jail sentence for the benefits cheat who was filmed
:27:12. > :27:14.running even though she claimed she was disabled.
:27:14. > :27:18.That's all from us this evening, but on Monday's Midlands Today
:27:18. > :27:23.we'll be looking back at the last 30 years, as Birmingham band Duran
:27:23. > :27:29.Duran celebrate the big three-oh with a homecoming gig. That'll be a
:27:29. > :27:33.New Moon on Monday, then? I see what you did it there. It is
:27:33. > :27:39.a bit of a rock'n'roll weekend, one way or the other, because you and I