10/09/2014 Midlands Today

sledgehammers, at the end of last month ` but the store's owndr says

he's had little support frol the police. Louisa Currie reports. With

their faces masked, they were in and out in just 48 seconds, but for

jewellery store owner John Davis it felt like a lifetime:

Within two minutes it was chaos They were ruining my life in that

short time. Sometimes I still do not believe it.

The four men escaped with an estimated ?30,000 worth of stock `

but it would have been far lore had this customer not intervened.

I cannot explain why I did ht. As the last person left the shop I

lunged at home. to be the most valuable, containing

an estimated ?50,000 worth of stock ` including this ?8,500 dialond

ring. John says he's only released

the CCTV in the hope the gang can be Good to have you with us thhs

here on Midlands Today. On the 30th anniversary

of the groundbreaking discovery of DNA, experts on the vergd

of another stunning developlent Hundreds of people lined

the streets of Worcester today to see the fourth stage of the Tour

of Britain cycle race. The dvent, which includes the former Tour de

France winner, Sir Bradley Wiggins, is thought to have been worth at

least half a million pounds to the local economy. The riders sdt off

from Worcester at 11 o'clock, travelling through Evesham `nd

Broadway before entering Gloucestershire, and finishhng in

Bristol. Here's our Sports reporter Ian Winter. Team Sky is the hottest

team on two wheels. Their attographs were much in demand. Their star

rider is one of the most falous faces in world cycling. And this

morning, Sir Bradley Wiggins was guaranteed the warmest of wdlcomes

in Worcester. How much would it mean to do what he

did last year? That Jura Brhtain is very important. `` the two of

Britain. It is a fantastic place to have a bike race. They were all

desperate for a glimpse of the latest gear and the fastest bikes.

They get to catch up with all the other people. Attracting less

attention. This team are colpeting in their first two of Britahn. What

is the most enjoyable part of this stage? The last 200 metres. The city

waves farewell to the Raiders. Destination Bristol. In the blink of

an eye all 170 cyclists havd famished. `` all 170 cyclists have

gone. Really has the High Street witnessed such a sporting fdast

Fantastic. I did not expect it to be so busy. The atmosphere was some.

Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish Give us a win if you would like to

see this event return soon. couldn't really have gone any

better, Ian? Bradley Wiggins finds himself 2

seconds behind the leader. This has been a huge success. It has been a

fantastic day for Worcestershire. The Tour de France received rave

reviews in Yorkshire. How does this compare? The crowds on the hill

climbs have matched the two advance. People have turned out in

their tens of thousands. Yot always had the confidence to back this

event. Does it raise awarendss of the county? It raises awareness It

is estimated to have raised half ?1 million. We have waited six years

products to come to this region do we have to meet another six years? I

am confident we can celebrate again in three years time. It sounds like

a resounding success. A 13 year old boy has been ordered

to appear before Worcester Crown court to face charges connected to a

knife attack at a school in Malvern. Two people were slightly injured,

including a teacher at Chase School, during an inchdent

on Monday morning. The teenager, who can't be named for

legal reasons, has been rem`nded into a local authority children s

unit until the 18th of Septdmber. The Scottish flag's being flown

by a number of councils across the region in the run up to

the referendum over independence The Saltire can be seen

above the council houses in Stoke, Campaigning stepped up

a gear today as the leaders of all the main parties

in Westminster cleared their diaries And the Leader of Sandwell Council

said he felt it was important to add I want to send a message to the

people of Scotland. We want them to stay in the United Kingdom.

All the latest polling suggdsts the vote will be very tight, but what

impact could the result havd on people here in the Midlands? One

whisky distributor says he's concerned about what a yes vote will

mean for consumers. He spokd to Joanne Writtle, as she gaugdd

reaction from those for and against an independent Scotland.

Scotland is famous for its whisky. It's distributed all over the world,

some of it ending up here, hn Leamington Spa, in the hands of

whisky consultant Matt Swift. As the referendum on Scottish independence

looms, he fears a yes vote could lead to an increase in dutids. Matt

My concerns are the tax and duty implications.

supplies restaurants and bars with top shelf whiskies. But if he's

right about price rises, both he and licensees like Helen Wild mhght

start looking elsewhere for their supplies.

figures there are about 750,000 people born in Scotland livhng south

of the border. That's more than the population of Edinburgh or Glasgow.

And here in picturesque Henley in Arden there's a Scotsman who's keen

to see his homeland go it alone Brian Reilly moved away frol the

west of Scotland 14 years ago. But he's passionate about his roots He

wants independence, and it's a strong talking point among his large

The author generation Arleigh Burke people. The younger generathon are

looking to the future. `` the older generation are Labour peopld. Is it

frustrating that you do not have a vote? Slightly frustrating hn that I

am very interested in the vote. I think it is fair that peopld in

Scotland get the vote. campaigning goes on. And cole

September 18th, voters will decide. But whatever happens Scotland's most

famous export is still likely to be this businessman's favouritd choice.

And there's more about the hmpact the referendum could have in the

Midlands from our Political Editor Hundreds line the streets as Tour

of Britain cyclists speed through As the late summer sunshine

continues, we'll have your detailed Hi, I'm Bob,

join me later on Midlands Today to find out how me and the rest

of my robot friends could one day I will be at the premier of a new

film which features the amazing life of a man from Newcastle.

Forensic scientists at West Midlands Police say they're working on ways

of cutting the time it takes to give officers information taken from DNA

evidence from five days to `round an hour. Today's an important

anniversary ` it's exactly 30 years since DNA profiling was devdloped

here in the Midlands. Our special correspondent Peter Wilson has been

finding out more. At the forensic labs in Birlingham

the West Midlands police te`ms are examining evidence found at dozens

of cime scenes. Looking for finger prints. CCTV. DNA. 30 years on from

the discovery of the crimefhghting tool, advances are still behng made.

We have gone from obtaining a DNA profile from a stain the size of a

Hundreds of high profile murders have been cleared over the last 30

years thanks to DNA profiling. On New Years Eve 1996 17`year`old

Nicola Dixon was murdered in Sutton Coldfield.

Banks to DNA the family werd given justice. `` because of DNA.

to convict Colin Waite ` his DNA profile meant there was 1 in a

billion chance that someone else had carried out the murder. DNA

identifies variations in each human retrieved from hair, saliva and

blood that makes each one of us unique. But the police teams here

The impact would be to bring offenders to justice more swiftly.

DNA has proved people innocent as wdll as

guilty. Giving detectives DNA hits almost from the crime scene could

mean some criminals being arrested red handed.

Work is underway to repair what some historians have described as one of

the finest buildings in the Midlands. Beauchamp Chapel hn

Warwick dates back to the 14th century. It was built to honour a

man who was the richest in the country at the time. In the latest

in our series on crumbling buildings, Bob Hockenhull rdports on

the mission to save an archhtectural masterpiece.

St Mary's Church in Warwick. Within its walls lies one of the greatest

medieval chapels in Europe. When the richest man in the country Richard

Beauchamp died in 1439, he wanted his fortune to be spent on creating

this finery. But now it's all under threat.

300 halls of beheading if I do. `` 300 halls have been identifhed.

badly eroded too. ?1 million has been raised for these repairs. But

another ?1 million is needed to restore the chapel completely. The

problem's been compounded bx shoddy repairs in the past. So where

is the other ?1 million needed for the restoration coming from? Nobody

knows yet. But the town's MP, who worships here, believes it would be

disastrous if Beauchamp Chapel was allowed to crumble.

This Church symbolises the history of Warwick. The battles and the

intrigues. In a sense it represents vanity

Richard Beauchamp donated hhs vast buy his way into heaven. In doing so

he's left the church with both a The best artists of the timd puts

their work into the chapel. to preserve all this beauty is

available. Now all that's ndeded is Not many of us can claim to

have had a life that's exciting But Neil Baldwin

from Newcastle`under`Lyme c`n ` and the premiere of Marvellous,

based on his life, is taking place You might know him better

as "Nello". He's 68

and he's been a familiar figure Our reporter Elizabeth Glinka is

at the red carpet launch Yes they have. Tonight 's event is

about the film Marvellous, which will be broadcast on BBC Two later

in the year. He has been a fixture on this university campus for many

years. But he has never been a student here. He counts celdbrities

amongst his friends. Prince Edward, Prince Charles. As a shy tednager he

began visiting the campus. If he says he knows somebodx, he

more than likely has. Assessed as having special needs as a child his

story reached the national press in 2010. Marvellous recounts m`ny of

the surprising events in his life. How do you do it? How do yot stay

positive? I always wanted to be happy, so I decided to be. He also

has a passion for music. Frhends from the local choir also fdature in

the film. I felt that I had achieved something. I am very excited. I

joined by the star of the fhlm and also by the director. What did you

make of the script when you first read it? I could believe it. I could

not believe it was set in and around the Stoke City. I have been a

lifelong Stoke City supportdr. The script works because it is

quintessentially revealed. The events that happened are marvellous,

but they are not incredible. What was it like being watched bx Henman?

`` by him. He was like a Gu`rdian angel to the set. Is there ` message

to this film? It is an optilistic message. You can make things happen.

If you expect people to say yes they generally do. The premher will

get under way shortly. The rest of us can see it on September the 5th.

There's been a big focus on robots today ` however wdird `

at the 175th British Sciencd Festival in Birmingham.

The festival first visited the city way back in 1839 and everyone from

Charles Darwin to Professor Brian Cox has taken part over the years.

All the talk today has been on ways robots might one dax make

their way into our workplacd and even the classroom.

Here's our Science Correspondent David Gregory`Kumar.

But are they ready to gradu`te from the lab and enter the workplace

Robots on a production line are often inside a safety cage.

Researchers now based on having them interact with us.

Stevie the geography teaching robot will be on trial in Mhdlands

Children enjoy robots. Robots are an additional tool. An additional tool

Bob the security robot has `lready been spotted patrolling

And even if you won't see the robots themselves

in an office or school near you you may well find the technologx they

A car has been launched that recognises road signs. For ` moment

your car is becoming autonolous There are lots of little thhngs in

There's more good news for fans of Coventry City football club.

Just days after their return to the Ricoh Arena the club has

announced that manager Stevdn Pressley has signed a new contract.

The Scot has agreed a four year deal.

Pressley had been linked with a number

Another manager staying in the Midlands is

He's turned down an approach by Championship side Blackpool.

It is the West that will be the best for the sunshine and the East less

so. We are seeing pleasant sunshine even in the East of the reghon. The

sunshine is turning easy through the day. With high pressure across the

rest of the week it will be dry More of this very pleasant dry

weather to come. Clear skies being taken over by Chloe dear onds. ``

being taken over by cloudy skies. There could be marking us tomorrow

morning. The sunshine will start streaming through. In the afternoon

clouds will come through from the East. It will be cooler tomorrow.

More cloud tomorrow night starting to filter through. Reasonably mild

in towns and cities. Meanwhile, it's magnificent weather

for the closing stages of the cricket season. Well done this

evening to Jonathan Trott and teenager Sam Hain of Warwickshire in

a stand of over 200 against Northants at Edgbaston.

Finally, there's just time to wish our competitors good luck in the

Invictus Games. The event, which is being championed by Prince Harry, is

bringing together injured sdrvicemen and women from 13 nations. Our

Midlands athletes include Clive Smith. He'll be competing in the

cycling after being injured in Afghanistan. Everything is

short`term, but that has given me a bit of focus. The headlines.

David Cameron makes a direct appeal to the people of Scotland not to

His message is backed by Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg.

Smash and grab caught on calera but an intrepid customer stdpped

in and snatched loot worth ?50, 00 back from the armed robbers.