:00:00. > :00:11.earlier-than-usual time of 4.25pm this afternoon. Now it's
:00:12. > :00:15.Good afternoon. The mother of a two`year`old girl
:00:16. > :00:18.who died in Blackpool after drinking the heroin substitute methadone has
:00:19. > :00:21.been remanded in custody by magistrates in the resort. Lichelle
:00:22. > :00:24.King is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child. Her
:00:25. > :00:27.partner, Barry Jones, who f`ces the same charges, was also remanded in
:00:28. > :00:30.custody. It follows the death on Tuesday of two`year`old Sophie
:00:31. > :00:38.Jones. From Blackpool Yunus Mulla reports. Michelle King, 29, and
:00:39. > :00:47.Barry Jones, 41, are both from Blackpool and appeared before
:00:48. > :00:50.magistrates here today. The pair, the parents of two`year`old Sophie,
:00:51. > :00:54.are charged with causing or allowing the death of a child. Sophid was
:00:55. > :00:59.taken ill earlier this week and died in hospital. Toxicology reports
:01:00. > :01:07.revealed she had swallowed methadone, although the exact cause
:01:08. > :01:10.of death is not clear. Michdlle King wept throughout the hearing. Barry
:01:11. > :01:17.Jones offered her words of reassurance. They spoke onlx to
:01:18. > :01:20.confirm their names and address They were remanded in custody.
:01:21. > :01:31.They'll appear before Preston Crown Court on the 27th of March.
:01:32. > :01:34.A 25`year`old man has appeared before Manchester Magistratds this
:01:35. > :01:37.morning charged with the murder of a 24`year`old woman in Salford. Becky
:01:38. > :01:40.Ayres was found at an address on Holt Street in Eccles on Thtrsday.
:01:41. > :01:43.She'd suffered multiple stab wounds. 25`year`old Liam King has bden
:01:44. > :01:49.charged with her murder and will appear at Manchester Crown Court on
:01:50. > :01:53.Monday. An investigation's underway after a
:01:54. > :01:56.stun gun disguised as a mobhle phone was found by police searching a
:01:57. > :01:58.14`year`old boy in Manchestdr. It's believed the device, which hs
:01:59. > :02:01.illegal, was found when the schoolboy and three other tdenagers
:02:02. > :02:07.were arrested after a bus driver complained of racist abuse on
:02:08. > :02:10.Portland Street. The curtain goes up on Liverpool's
:02:11. > :02:13.new Everyman theatre this wdekend. "Twelfth Night" opens tomorrow which
:02:14. > :02:17.sees the return of Matthew Kelly ` who began his acting career at the
:02:18. > :02:22.theatre 40 years ago. Last weekend, a parade was held to celebr`te the
:02:23. > :02:25.new building. Football, and it's FA Cup qtarter
:02:26. > :02:39.finals weekend. Everton havd just kicked off at Arsenal. The score is
:02:40. > :02:42.1`0 to Arsenal. Meanwhile, in the Premier Ldague,
:02:43. > :02:46.Manchester United have just kicked off at West Brom and United are
:02:47. > :02:48.looking for a much needed whn. The score is 0`0.
:02:49. > :02:51.The North West derby finishdd goalless between Bury and Rochdale.
:02:52. > :02:55.Bury came close in the final few seconds of the match with Josh
:02:56. > :02:58.Lillis making a great save for Dale. Rochdale move up to second hn league
:02:59. > :03:01.two with that point. St Helens ran in seven tries and
:03:02. > :03:03.extended their perfect start to the Super League season to four games
:03:04. > :03:15.when they beat Hull KR 38`18. Now for the weather with Sara
:03:16. > :03:18.Blizzard. Good afternoon. Wd started off cloudy but it is now improving.
:03:19. > :03:21.We see clearance across the south. It's a lovely afternoon for
:03:22. > :03:26.Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Quite a bit more cloud for the Isle
:03:27. > :03:33.of Man. A blustery day therd. The wind will help keep any frost at
:03:34. > :03:47.bay. A low of six Celsius tonight. Possibly some showers, however. A
:03:48. > :04:06.better outlook next week. Goodbye for now.
:04:07. > :04:14.Good afternoon. Our weekend forecast did include some sunshine and warmth
:04:15. > :04:17.but was never going to be wall-to-wall across the whole
:04:18. > :04:19.country. We started with a lot of