:00:09. > :00:13.Hello and welcome to the programme. The headlines: More jobs and a 5%
:00:13. > :00:19.pay rise for thousands of JCB workers.
:00:19. > :00:22.We the pay rises, it is going to be ongoing, and it is with your
:00:23. > :00:30.overtime adding to the money you are picking up.
:00:30. > :00:34.Store wars report sales down as shoppers seek out bargains. You get
:00:34. > :00:37.two for one offers and save money anyway you can.
:00:37. > :00:41.The Prime Minister calls for an army of troubleshooters to work
:00:41. > :00:45.with a problem families, but who will pay? For these families are
:00:45. > :00:50.costing Birmingham and other West Midlands authorities a fortune.
:00:50. > :01:00.At snow Falls for some already with more on the way. Find out where and
:01:00. > :01:08.
:01:08. > :01:12.Good evening and welcome to the programme this Thursday. Good and
:01:12. > :01:18.bad news on the economy, with an industry leader powering ahead but
:01:18. > :01:22.more jobs at risk. The engineering company Norgren said today it is
:01:23. > :01:27.restructuring at its Litchfield base and 180 jobs could be lost.
:01:27. > :01:33.But a few miles away, the firm that makes the big yellow diggers is
:01:33. > :01:40.surging ahead. JCB is back to pre- recession employment levels, thanks
:01:40. > :01:44.to big rises in exports. 20% up to Russia, for example. Thousands of
:01:44. > :01:49.workers found out today they will get a 5.2% pay rise on top of a
:01:49. > :01:54.Christmas bonus of �500. That is in contrast to the average pay rise in
:01:54. > :02:00.this region of around 0.4%. Christmas cheer pull these JCB
:02:00. > :02:04.workers with their �500 bonus and inflation-linked pay rise. Some of
:02:04. > :02:08.these employees were laid off when recession struck but have been
:02:09. > :02:14.rehired. It has been tough for the company for the past couple of
:02:14. > :02:19.years and tough for me, as well. I got laid off in 2009 and struggled
:02:19. > :02:23.to find work. Eventually I managed to get on here through the agency.
:02:23. > :02:28.It has been just over 12 months working for the agency and I just
:02:28. > :02:31.got set on again. To have a bonus and a pay rise is great. The All
:02:31. > :02:37.prices are going up and the cost of living is going up and it is nice
:02:37. > :02:41.to have something that reflects that. -- petrol prices. It is going
:02:41. > :02:47.to be on going and it is something that, with your overtime, is adding
:02:47. > :02:51.to the money you are picking up at the end of the year. It helps with
:02:51. > :02:56.day-to-day living at especially when you have a family. A JCB made
:02:56. > :03:00.the pay awards in a year that saw sales increase by more than 30%.
:03:00. > :03:03.is a strong recovery from difficult trading conditions. It is just
:03:03. > :03:10.three years since workers voted to accept a cut in their powers to
:03:10. > :03:13.protect the jobs of hundreds of colleagues. -- in their hours. This
:03:13. > :03:17.pay rise is part of a three-year deal. Although that pay settlement
:03:17. > :03:21.is part of a long-term strategy, the company says decisions are
:03:21. > :03:27.still being made on a quarterly basis. It has been emerging markets
:03:27. > :03:34.that have seen the biggest up lift. Our recovery started in the early
:03:34. > :03:38.part of 2010. It is all driven from the emerging economies where growth
:03:38. > :03:43.is still strong and they need infrastructure, and we provide the
:03:43. > :03:46.equipment to make it. Even the UK has been quite strong for us this
:03:46. > :03:52.year. The company concedes the economic outlook has become more
:03:52. > :03:55.uncertain recently but as the new year approaches, it is preparing to
:03:55. > :04:01.recruit 350 more workers over the next four years to help meet
:04:01. > :04:08.growing demand. There have been some other headline
:04:08. > :04:12.pay deals. 3.75% at Cadbury and 6.1% at Jaguar Land Rover. They are
:04:12. > :04:16.pretty rare in this economic climate. With inflation around 5%,
:04:16. > :04:19.most people have less to spend this Christmas. Our Business
:04:19. > :04:24.Correspondent is at John Lewis in Tamworth. What is the picture
:04:24. > :04:29.there? Things are pretty good here. Plenty
:04:29. > :04:34.of shoppers around. This should -- this store opened two months ago,
:04:34. > :04:39.creating hundreds of new jobs, but things are not so buoyant elsewhere.
:04:39. > :04:44.Figures out show that a retail sales in November were down 0.4%.
:04:44. > :04:48.Shoppers are waiting for discounts to appear. They are also setting
:04:48. > :04:52.out special voucher deals, as our special Correspondent reports. --
:04:52. > :04:56.searching out. High streets are facing a perfect
:04:56. > :05:00.storm - appalling sales and a squeeze on prices. Shoppers are
:05:00. > :05:04.looking for the best deals and waiting for even bigger Christmas
:05:04. > :05:09.discounts. One couple in Redditch represent the new shopper -
:05:09. > :05:15.computer savvy and bargain aware. Luke and Larisa did most of their
:05:15. > :05:19.shopping online and demanded vouchers. Anything I am buying, I
:05:19. > :05:28.always said for that to Kurds to try and save money. It does not
:05:28. > :05:31.mean I will be able to spend less - - always look for voucher codes.
:05:32. > :05:35.you get a voucher for a free medlars, that would be a good
:05:35. > :05:43.present for someone. There is nothing new about loyalty deals and
:05:43. > :05:48.vouchers. This year, online sales are up 17%. Websites offer
:05:48. > :05:53.discounts on almost everything. they are looking for discounts on
:05:53. > :05:57.groceries, discounts to take their wives to a restaurant or a cinema,
:05:57. > :06:01.clothing, electrical goods - everything. In these tough times,
:06:01. > :06:07.the big chains may be offering their special discount days and
:06:07. > :06:13.vouchers but here, in a town between Solihull and the big
:06:13. > :06:16.shopping centres in Birmingham, small traders, too, are having to
:06:16. > :06:20.offer deals - but they are hoping that their customers will stick
:06:20. > :06:24.with them because of high standards of service. This flower shop has
:06:24. > :06:28.been in business 30 years. This Christmas is looking the toughest
:06:28. > :06:33.yet. I have noticed myself in Solihull and Birmingham, there are
:06:33. > :06:37.sales already. The big stores are obviously suffering and they are
:06:37. > :06:40.trying to attract people in. So I am optimistic in a way because I
:06:40. > :06:45.think it will all be last minute, but I think people will be much
:06:45. > :06:48.more savvy about what they spend their money on. Some shoppers do
:06:48. > :06:54.have money, but the majority are demanding ever bigger deals.
:06:54. > :07:02.instance, a few years ago we would offer a fully fitted bathroom for
:07:03. > :07:06.�4,000. We are now doing the same sort of thing at 2,500 to �3,000.
:07:06. > :07:09.Shoppers and small businesses are all saying the same thing. To
:07:09. > :07:18.succeed this Christmas, retailers need to offer great deals and great
:07:18. > :07:22.service. Joining me are two people who are
:07:22. > :07:26.closely watching retail sales. Isabel is the store manager here.
:07:26. > :07:31.But John Lewis is always a good barometer for Christmas sales, so
:07:31. > :07:35.how are things? Very well indeed for us. Customers are certainly
:07:35. > :07:39.shopping for Christmas gifts at the moment, albeit a little later than
:07:39. > :07:43.we expected. Last week was the strongest ever week for the John
:07:43. > :07:46.Lewis division overall and this week is looking promising, too.
:07:46. > :07:49.will slogan is never knowingly undersold but our people looking
:07:50. > :07:54.for more than price matching this year? Customers are being more
:07:54. > :07:59.discerning than before. They are not as looking at a price
:07:59. > :08:02.commitments. It is also about offering good quality and service.
:08:02. > :08:09.A great example of that is the iPad which is a fantastic seller this
:08:09. > :08:14.year, where customers get a two year guarantee of the shop with us.
:08:14. > :08:17.You are a retail analyst. Tell us about Christmas. It is worse than
:08:17. > :08:20.the figures might suggest because if you remember this time last year,
:08:20. > :08:25.we were in the grip of an icy winter and shoppers were being
:08:25. > :08:29.discouraged from going out. people waiting for bargains?
:08:29. > :08:32.think it is a game of nerves between the retailer and the
:08:32. > :08:38.consumer. The retailer needs to get rid of their winter stock and the
:08:38. > :08:44.customer needs to buy for Christmas. It is who gives way first, and
:08:44. > :08:52.getting bad value. Electronic goods are popular this year, including at
:08:52. > :08:55.80s made. -- getting it that value. -- a tea-making machine.
:08:55. > :08:58.The Prime Minister has been in the region talking about a plan to
:08:58. > :09:02.recruit an army of troubleshooters to work with families affected by
:09:02. > :09:06.addiction, anti-social behaviour and unemployment. The scheme will
:09:06. > :09:11.cost around half a billion pounds and it is claimed it will save more
:09:11. > :09:16.than that being paid out in benefits. Those being targeted are
:09:16. > :09:19.so-called problem families, an estimated 13,000 in this region.
:09:19. > :09:24.They are what David Cameron describes as troubled families and
:09:24. > :09:29.today, he came to meet them. He announced a new fund and that early
:09:29. > :09:34.intervention. In Smethwick, you can see just what persistent and
:09:34. > :09:38.intensive work can achieve. 14 a's family, the problem is her 16-year-
:09:38. > :09:43.old daughter Kirsty, who kept running away from home until she
:09:43. > :09:47.was given her own caseworker. Tina says having one person to deal with
:09:47. > :09:51.made a difference. There is something in place now that is
:09:51. > :09:54.going to help us and we can help our children to get them back on
:09:54. > :09:57.track and let them know that it is OK to fall down sometimes, but
:09:57. > :10:03.there is someone who will pick you up and put you back together.
:10:03. > :10:06.council has been running its own family intervention prodded for
:10:06. > :10:09.four years but it is making spending cuts. The news that the
:10:09. > :10:15.government is going to give it more cash to help troubled families is
:10:15. > :10:21.welcome here, but there is a cabbie at - the government is putting in
:10:21. > :10:25.40%, the councils have to find the other 60. -- Baker have the at.
:10:26. > :10:30.They're always strings attached. We want to continue the work that we
:10:30. > :10:36.are doing but that is against a backdrop of a massive cut some that
:10:36. > :10:40.we as a local authority are facing. -- massive cuts. These families are
:10:40. > :10:45.costing Sandwell and Birmingham and other West Midlands authorities a
:10:45. > :10:48.fortune. They are costing council taxpayers a fortune so it is in
:10:48. > :10:52.local government's interest to find the money to match the central
:10:52. > :10:57.government money to turn these families around. That will actually
:10:57. > :11:01.save council tax payers' money. the troubleshooters would not be
:11:01. > :11:05.sent in to help this woman. Her problem is poverty. The kids had to
:11:05. > :11:10.go hungry after she lost her job and home. It would be based on
:11:10. > :11:15.people who have got kids that are doing crime and committing other
:11:15. > :11:20.things. People who, like us - myself and my children - who have
:11:20. > :11:24.had to struggle might miss out on that will stop with 13,002 troubled
:11:24. > :11:29.families in the West Midlands, it will be down to councils to decide
:11:30. > :11:35.who gets the help. A mother and her former partner
:11:35. > :11:39.have appeared in court charged with murdering a Birmingham toddler.
:11:39. > :11:45.Two-year-old Keanu Williams died at an address in Ward End in the city.
:11:45. > :11:49.His mother Rebekah Shuttleworth, 23, and 30-year-old mood Soberton, are
:11:49. > :11:53.caused -- charged with causing his death. They were remanded in
:11:53. > :11:56.custody by magistrates. An inquest has recorded a verdict
:11:56. > :11:59.of accidental death on a rugby player from Birmingham who died on
:11:59. > :12:03.a canoeing trip in the Lake District. He was paddling the
:12:03. > :12:08.length of All's water with a friend last able when his kayak capsized.
:12:08. > :12:14.At the inquest heard that 22-year- old was a talented sportsman but a
:12:14. > :12:18.week's winner, with little experience of growing. His
:12:18. > :12:22.colleague made it safer to shore. The police are to examine a mobile
:12:22. > :12:27.phone of a teenager found dead in a river six years ago. Jack McLeod
:12:27. > :12:30.was last seen out with friends in Leamington. His mother has
:12:30. > :12:36.campaigned for years to detectives to take a fresh look in the case to
:12:36. > :12:40.find out exactly how her son died. Jack McLeod's death six years ago
:12:40. > :12:45.shocked Leamington Spa. And how he ended up in the river is still not
:12:45. > :12:48.known. Warwickshire Police was severely criticised for the way
:12:48. > :12:52.they handled the investigation but today, they agreed to re-examine
:12:52. > :12:58.his mobile phone, saying that advances in technology mean they
:12:58. > :13:01.may now be able to pinpoint when he went into the river. Clearly, if
:13:01. > :13:07.the new evidence establishes that will what appears to have been said
:13:07. > :13:11.is not the case, there may well be a possibility of further criminal
:13:11. > :13:14.investigation. But police revealed their intentions at his special
:13:14. > :13:18.coroners' hearing today to decide whether the inquest into Jack's
:13:18. > :13:21.death should be reopened. The original was adjourned when a man
:13:21. > :13:25.was charged with his manslaughter, but the criminal trial that
:13:25. > :13:29.followed was halted because of insufficient evidence. Today's
:13:29. > :13:33.hearing follows a determined campaign by Jack's family. The
:13:33. > :13:37.coroner concluded that all the issues surrounding his death had
:13:37. > :13:41.already had a full airing in public during the criminal trial. However,
:13:42. > :13:46.she did say that if new evidence came to light then Jack's family
:13:46. > :13:51.could again apply for the inquest to be reopened. If you can
:13:51. > :13:55.establish a time of death, whatever that be, it is a very important
:13:55. > :14:01.part of our grieving process. We know what time he was born. We
:14:01. > :14:05.would like to know what time, if possible, he died. Jack McLeod's
:14:05. > :14:13.mobile phone is now in the hands of police forensic scientists, he will
:14:13. > :14:21.be carrying out tests over the next few weeks.
:14:21. > :14:25.Still much more ahead: A crucial European class for Birmingham City.
:14:25. > :14:35.It is a massive night here where Birmingham City must win to keep
:14:35. > :14:38.
:14:38. > :14:47.Much of the region is on the alert tonight for its first significant
:14:47. > :14:52.snowfall of the winter. There is a pretty fast moving weather picture.
:14:52. > :14:59.First, took Worcestershire. He expecting to do lots of quitting on
:14:59. > :15:06.the roads there. -- gritting. Yes, we are looking at a very
:15:06. > :15:13.narrow window, sometimes between 2am and 3am tomorrow morning. 2500
:15:13. > :15:21.tons of rock salt behind me. It is looking good. Shropshire has got
:15:21. > :15:26.something like 20,000 tonnes of grit, Warwickshire, a 14,000 tonnes,
:15:26. > :15:30.Gloucestershire, 11,000 tons of grits, and 6,000 tonnes in
:15:30. > :15:34.Herefordshire. We may be needing it in Worcestershire tonight because
:15:34. > :15:38.the Met Office is saying we could get anything up to 10 centimetres
:15:38. > :15:44.on higher ground but some parts of the region have already had a
:15:44. > :15:49.covering of snow already. The landscape around the village of
:15:49. > :15:55.Flash in Staffordshire was looking distinctly wintry today, as 463
:15:55. > :16:01.metres above sea level, it is the UK's highest village and got its
:16:01. > :16:05.most significant snowfall so far this winter. It might look picture
:16:05. > :16:09.postcard to visitors like me but as is often the case, the snow has
:16:09. > :16:16.brought some disruption to locals. Although driving conditions had
:16:16. > :16:19.improved by this afternoon, earlier, locals had to contend with delays.
:16:19. > :16:25.There cabin lot of lorries skidding about and several cars and the
:16:25. > :16:29.roads had been shut -- there have been. It has taken a lot longer.
:16:29. > :16:34.The seven children who attend this primary school were in a pantomime
:16:34. > :16:39.with pupils at a neighbouring school today. The conditions meant
:16:39. > :16:43.the performance was delayed. The we were waiting for the Flash children
:16:43. > :16:48.to arrive. If they had not had arrived because of the weather, we
:16:48. > :16:53.would not have had a pantomime. they are used to hard conditions
:16:53. > :16:59.appear and the snow is not as bad as last December. There is a whole
:16:59. > :17:05.winter to go yet though. We have a new edition to be a fleet
:17:05. > :17:09.here, it is a mini one, good for the roads in the Malvern Hills.
:17:09. > :17:12.With me is a councillor from Worcestershire County Council. A
:17:12. > :17:20.lot of people are worried in the Times of cuts that gritting has
:17:20. > :17:26.been cut. No, we have 15,000 tonnes of grit, better than ever. But you
:17:26. > :17:31.can't do all the roads? No, we do around 800 miles of the main roads,
:17:31. > :17:36.but there are also other facilities, like grit bins, which we have
:17:36. > :17:42.increased this year. Tomorrow we are expecting snow. What is the
:17:42. > :17:47.latest? The lads on standby. We are estimating about eight 2am start in
:17:47. > :17:53.the morning. They will be here to load their vehicles and start to
:17:53. > :17:57.grit as and when is required. will be a long life -- long night.
:17:57. > :18:01.We could get three up to five centimetres on low ground in
:18:01. > :18:06.Worcestershire and the south-west of the Midlands, 10 centimetres on
:18:06. > :18:13.high ground. Take care on the roads tomorrow. Hopefully they will have
:18:13. > :18:17.been gritted because this grit is effective up to-seven degrees. --
:18:17. > :18:20.up to minus seven degrees. Is it going to be as bad as there
:18:20. > :18:25.is saying? Not quite as bad but it has always
:18:25. > :18:29.been the case that the movement of the low pressure over the South
:18:29. > :18:32.would be influential in the outcome for us and now it has moved a
:18:32. > :18:37.little further east, the concentration of the heaviest
:18:37. > :18:42.snowfall will be in the south and west of the region. We are now
:18:42. > :18:46.looking at between two and eight centimetres at most levels, instead
:18:46. > :18:51.of 10. How long will this last four?
:18:51. > :18:55.I think it could cause quite a lot of disruption during the rush-hour
:18:55. > :18:59.tomorrow morning but we should be out of the danger zone for us know
:18:59. > :19:03.by tomorrow afternoon, but ice is the problem for tomorrow night, but
:19:03. > :19:06.you will be glad to hear that it will be turning milder next week.
:19:06. > :19:10.Six months from now, the nation will be marking the Queen's Diamond
:19:10. > :19:12.Jubilee. One of the biggest events will be a floating cavalcade on the
:19:12. > :19:18.Thames. 1000 vessels will take part, among
:19:18. > :19:26.them a sailing trow. Once as many as 700 of them plied the River Wye
:19:26. > :19:29.They carried up to 90 tonnes of cargo at a time until the trade and
:19:29. > :19:37.the boats gradually died out. But next June, one will proudly take
:19:37. > :19:39.its place in the Diamond Jubilee At Tommy Nielsen's boatyard in
:19:39. > :19:46.Gloucester, shipbuilders are recreating a piece of maritime
:19:46. > :19:49.history. This will actually be in the water. Getting a closer look is
:19:49. > :19:55.a group from Herefordshire who are behind the project to build the
:19:56. > :20:00.first Wye trow for 150 years. decided, let's do something special
:20:00. > :20:06.for Herefordshire, and so rather than just find an existing boat,
:20:06. > :20:08.why not build a historic replica of a River Wye trow, which is hugely
:20:08. > :20:12.significant for the region. anonymous philanthropist from
:20:12. > :20:15.Herefordshire has donated a six- figure sum to build it. Even the
:20:15. > :20:22.timber comes from Herefordshire. And for these shipbuilders, it's a
:20:22. > :20:28.first. It is fantastic, isn't it. It is one of the best things, to
:20:28. > :20:31.see all of this lovely timbre. When you see it all come together, it is
:20:31. > :20:35.a very satisfying feeling. Up to the 19th century, trows were
:20:35. > :20:41.used to transport freight along the Rivers Severn and Wye. 1996 is the
:20:41. > :20:44.last time one took to the water. It's now at the Ironbridge Museum.
:20:44. > :20:49.For Tony Gardner, this is a special moment. He's the fifth generation
:20:49. > :20:57.of his family to work as a boatman on the River Wye. It is amazing to
:20:57. > :21:01.think that well after a century, in my last days on the river, that I
:21:01. > :21:04.can actually see one of these coming to life. I can't wait to see
:21:04. > :21:07.the finished article. They are looking for between eight and ten
:21:07. > :21:11.volunteers to row the trow up the Thames for the Queens Jubilee
:21:11. > :21:15.Pageant. The only qualifications are you need to be fit, you need to
:21:15. > :21:21.have some experience of rowing, and you need to come from Herefordshire.
:21:21. > :21:25.And the Wye trow will be launched next spring.
:21:25. > :21:28.And if you'd like to row the trow along the Thames during the Queen's
:21:28. > :21:37.Diamond Jubilee Pageant next June, you can find out how by logging on
:21:37. > :21:43.to the BBC Hereford and Worcester website and following the links. A
:21:43. > :21:47.crucial night for Birmingham City in Europa League action. Our
:21:48. > :21:52.reporter is outside the ground. What will the crowd be like?
:21:52. > :21:57.They are expecting close to a full house this evening, we should
:21:57. > :22:01.create a red hot atmosphere inside, and the players will need it
:22:01. > :22:07.because they have to win and hope that blogger will win in the other
:22:07. > :22:13.match. Braga have already qualified for the knockout stages so perhaps
:22:13. > :22:17.they will not try too hard tonight. In these European games, it is very
:22:17. > :22:22.much an experience, it is very much a test, I don't think anybody wants
:22:22. > :22:29.to lose any game, whether that is the first game of the group or the
:22:29. > :22:36.last one. It is about pride, club pride. I would expect very much
:22:36. > :22:40.that from blogger. Of course, they are an excellent side -- Braga.
:22:40. > :22:45.Joining me is a Birmingham City performance. Can it they do it?
:22:45. > :22:49.course. We just have to it look at what is going on in the other game
:22:49. > :22:54.in Belgium and hopefully Braga it will do it for us. These boys are
:22:54. > :22:59.magic, a magic manager, fantastic football. Keep right on! It will
:22:59. > :23:04.certainly be a special occasion if they do. If you can't get here, you
:23:04. > :23:10.can follow the match at 8pm on the radio this evening.
:23:10. > :23:14.It no warmth of your home as well. -- and in the warmth of your home
:23:14. > :23:17.as well. Millions will be watching the final
:23:17. > :23:21.of Strictly Come Dancing this weekend and it may just inspire
:23:21. > :23:26.some of us to take up lessons. But one hospital is already using
:23:26. > :23:29.Strictly to inspire heart surgery patients to get fit. And they think
:23:29. > :23:34.they're on to a winne.r as, our health correspondent has been
:23:34. > :23:39.finding out. It might not be as glamourous but
:23:39. > :23:43.it is serious and fun. These dancers have cardiac problems. They
:23:43. > :23:46.need exercise and it is better to be light on your feet then he be
:23:46. > :23:52.hearted on the treadmill. I have missed it!
:23:52. > :23:58.Ralph has had stents put in his main arteries. Last July, I
:23:58. > :24:04.couldn't even walk, let alone dance. It has been a big boost to me.
:24:04. > :24:08.80, Dora had her aortic stem replaced. It raises my heart rate,
:24:08. > :24:17.which is good, because we need to do that. And Derek's had a triple
:24:17. > :24:23.by-pass. I have had a second chance and that's it, I am taking it.
:24:24. > :24:26.10! 10! The BBC blockbuster, Strictly Come Dancing inspired
:24:26. > :24:31.these dance lessons that are being choreographed by the Queen
:24:31. > :24:36.Elizabeth Hospital. It gives them confidence, it strengthens muscles,
:24:36. > :24:41.it improves balance. It makes things so much easier and they get
:24:41. > :24:44.enjoyment out of it. They get healthier and they lose weight. You
:24:44. > :24:50.are a bit of a big bloater I'm afraid, so maybe you could do with
:24:50. > :24:58.some, too. I have got my pointy shoes. I guess it is time for some
:24:58. > :25:05.dancing. Why do I get myself into this?
:25:05. > :25:10.OK, that's enough of that. People are eating. Healthily, I hope.
:25:10. > :25:15.Everyone is as heavy as lead, very unsteady on the Thames, the list is
:25:15. > :25:20.endless. I am not watching tonight! I've really am not watching
:25:20. > :25:25.tonight! That was fantastic. His daughters will be covering their
:25:25. > :25:30.eyes in shame. He is not a big blow to, that is a terrible thing to say
:25:30. > :25:34.it! -- Big blow to. So far this week, we have been
:25:34. > :25:44.bound by the activities of this area of low pressure to the south-
:25:44. > :25:44.
:25:44. > :25:47.west, but wherever it goes, we will It has moved further east, so the
:25:47. > :25:53.concentration of the heaviest snowfall will be to the south and
:25:53. > :25:58.west of the region, but we will all see some between two and five
:25:58. > :26:04.centimetres. Yesterday, the Met Office up graded its warning, the
:26:04. > :26:09.second highest, for the early hours of Friday morning. Between two and
:26:09. > :26:14.five centimetres at most levels, up to eight centimetres at higher
:26:14. > :26:19.ground. Tonight is wet and windy and later it will be wintry. Under
:26:19. > :26:23.this canopy of cloud, the rain lies. It will be with us in the next
:26:23. > :26:30.couple of hours. It is splitting up from the south-west. The wind will
:26:30. > :26:40.pick up in the process. The air will turn a lot colder. Minus one
:26:40. > :26:43.
:26:43. > :26:48.The rain will turn readily to snow and moving much further south. The
:26:48. > :26:52.concentration will be South and West. Tomorrow morning, we will get
:26:52. > :27:02.some disruption in the rush-hour, but the snow will gradually ease.
:27:02. > :27:05.It is looking a lot drier by the The next big problem will be ice,
:27:05. > :27:09.particularly by tomorrow night. A look at tonight's main headlines:
:27:09. > :27:11.Trained for the war zone - now they will make their mark on London 2012.
:27:11. > :27:14.13,000 troops are drafted in to help with the Olympics.
:27:14. > :27:16.Finally an early Christmas present for a Staffordshire couple. They
:27:16. > :27:19.faced losing their animal sanctuary because of spiralling costs but
:27:19. > :27:22.they have now received �15,000 in donations. In September, Daphne and
:27:22. > :27:24.Cliff Wain from Pattingham feared their animals might have to be
:27:24. > :27:34.destroyed because they couldn't afford feed and vet bills. But
:27:34. > :27:36.