08/03/2014 North West Today

earlier-than-usual time of 4.25pm this afternoon. Now it's

Good afternoon. The mother of a two`year`old girl

who died in Blackpool after drinking the heroin substitute methadone has

been remanded in custody by magistrates in the resort. Lichelle

King is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child. Her

partner, Barry Jones, who f`ces the same charges, was also remanded in

custody. It follows the death on Tuesday of two`year`old Sophie

Jones. From Blackpool Yunus Mulla reports. Michelle King, 29, and

Barry Jones, 41, are both from Blackpool and appeared before

magistrates here today. The pair, the parents of two`year`old Sophie,

are charged with causing or allowing the death of a child. Sophid was

taken ill earlier this week and died in hospital. Toxicology reports

revealed she had swallowed methadone, although the exact cause

of death is not clear. Michdlle King wept throughout the hearing. Barry

Jones offered her words of reassurance. They spoke onlx to

confirm their names and address They were remanded in custody.

They'll appear before Preston Crown Court on the 27th of March.

A 25`year`old man has appeared before Manchester Magistratds this

morning charged with the murder of a 24`year`old woman in Salford. Becky

Ayres was found at an address on Holt Street in Eccles on Thtrsday.

She'd suffered multiple stab wounds. 25`year`old Liam King has bden

charged with her murder and will appear at Manchester Crown Court on

Monday. An investigation's underway after a

stun gun disguised as a mobhle phone was found by police searching a

14`year`old boy in Manchestdr. It's believed the device, which hs

illegal, was found when the schoolboy and three other tdenagers

were arrested after a bus driver complained of racist abuse on

Portland Street. The curtain goes up on Liverpool's

new Everyman theatre this wdekend. "Twelfth Night" opens tomorrow which

sees the return of Matthew Kelly ` who began his acting career at the

theatre 40 years ago. Last weekend, a parade was held to celebr`te the

new building. Football, and it's FA Cup qtarter

finals weekend. Everton havd just kicked off at Arsenal. The score is

1`0 to Arsenal. Meanwhile, in the Premier Ldague,

Manchester United have just kicked off at West Brom and United are

looking for a much needed whn. The score is 0`0.

The North West derby finishdd goalless between Bury and Rochdale.

Bury came close in the final few seconds of the match with Josh

Lillis making a great save for Dale. Rochdale move up to second hn league

two with that point. St Helens ran in seven tries and

extended their perfect start to the Super League season to four games

when they beat Hull KR 38`18. Now for the weather with Sara

Blizzard. Good afternoon. Wd started off cloudy but it is now improving.

We see clearance across the south. It's a lovely afternoon for

Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Quite a bit more cloud for the Isle

of Man. A blustery day therd. The wind will help keep any frost at

bay. A low of six Celsius tonight. Possibly some showers, however. A

better outlook next week. Goodbye for now.

Good afternoon. Our weekend forecast did include some sunshine and warmth

but was never going to be wall-to-wall across the whole

country. We started with a lot of