0:00:15 > 0:00:16Hello, I'm Annabel Tiffin.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Welcome to North West Today.
0:00:19 > 0:00:25The headlines this Wednesday lunchtime:
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Help the homeless.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Experts try to identify the mystery subtsance that's been
0:00:30 > 0:00:36washing up on the Fylde Coast.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39And we chat to Sir Ken Dodd as
0:00:39 > 0:00:42And we chat to Sir Ken Dodd as he is honoured by the city of Liverpool on
0:00:42 > 0:00:45his 90th birthday.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48The Housing charity Shelter is asking the public to support
0:00:48 > 0:00:51an urgent appeal to help the homeless in the North West.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Its latest figures show there are growing numbers of people
0:00:53 > 0:00:56living on the streets, up by 24% in a year.
0:00:56 > 0:00:57The problem is most acute in Manchester,
0:00:57 > 0:00:59as Eleanor Moritz reports.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Donations of clothes for the homeless at this drop
0:01:01 > 0:01:04in centre in Salford.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Amongst those coming here this morning for a hot
0:01:07 > 0:01:10drink and breakfast, Graciano.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Having lost his home and then his job, he's been
0:01:12 > 0:01:16living on the streets.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Last night I slept on the National Express coach.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20The night before that I slept there as well.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22The night before that I collapsed at night.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25I was taken by ambulance to the hospital so I slept in hospital.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28There are now 9,340 homeless people in the North West according
0:01:28 > 0:01:30to the housing charity, Shelter.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33That's up 24% in a year.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36The problem's worst in Manchester, where the charity says one in every
0:01:36 > 0:01:37154 people are now homeless.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Its latest review is said to be the most extensive of its kind,
0:01:40 > 0:01:43combing official numbers of rough sleepers with those in temporary
0:01:43 > 0:01:47accommodation and figures from social services.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50And it's now asking the public to help by donating
0:01:50 > 0:01:54to an urgent appeal.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57It really is heart-rending and shocking that we are seeing
0:01:57 > 0:01:58these increases at the moment.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01That is why it is absolutely vital that services like shelters are able
0:02:01 > 0:02:04to continue to help people out of these situations.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06But we can't do that without the public's support.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09The charity blames a lack of affordable homes and the changes
0:02:09 > 0:02:10to the benefits system.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12At the centre in Salford, they've noticed an increase
0:02:12 > 0:02:15in the numbers wanting their help.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Some of them have had broken homes, lost their jobs, been evicted
0:02:18 > 0:02:22from their housing association.
0:02:22 > 0:02:30The real answer, of course, is there's a shortage of homes in this
0:02:30 > 0:02:34country that people like this can actually afford.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37The government says it's determined to tackle homelessness as a priority
0:02:37 > 0:02:44and is investing millions to try to help.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Experts are trying to identify a mystery substance
0:02:47 > 0:02:49that s been washing up on the Fylde Coast.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52The strange orange material started appearing at the weekend.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Until they know what it is, council officials are urging
0:02:54 > 0:02:55people not to touch it.
0:02:55 > 0:03:01Here s our Chief Reporter, Dave Guest.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04The perfect day for a stroll on the beach at Cleveleys.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07But some on the beach today weren't here to enjoy the scenery.
0:03:07 > 0:03:17Council workers have been deployed to track down traces
0:03:20 > 0:03:21of a mystery substance that has got
0:03:21 > 0:03:23environmental experts puzzled.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25The most important thing at the moment obviously is to remove
0:03:25 > 0:03:29it and we are double bagging it and putting it in our caged vehicle
0:03:29 > 0:03:31and it is being taken and locked up in our depot.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Obviously at the moment you don't know whether it's dangerous,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36what it is and where it has come from.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Absolutely not, we have had no idea.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40It has come from the sea, that is what we do know.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Where abouts and why, we cannot actually say.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45These are some of the larger samples that were picked up
0:03:45 > 0:03:46on the beach at Cleveleys.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It could be palm oil, but they are not sure.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50It has a very strong odour.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51How will it be analysed?
0:03:51 > 0:03:55The sample has already been collected and taken to a lab.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58The lab will analyse what is in it and tell us
0:03:58 > 0:04:04and then give us information about what it is and we will find
0:04:04 > 0:04:07out from the organisations where is the best place to put it.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12The stuff started washing up at the weekend on beaches
0:04:12 > 0:04:13along the Fylde coast.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15You are walking your dog on the beach,
0:04:15 > 0:04:16have you heard about the pollution?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18We have heard about it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Are you taking any more care with your dog?
0:04:20 > 0:04:23I am always careful what it eats and what it is doing.
0:04:23 > 0:04:24It does tend to pick things up.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26So, they do not know what it is,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29where it came from and most importantly whether it is dangerous.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32The advice if you find some on the beach is, do not touch it,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35certainly do not allow your dog to lick it and call
0:04:35 > 0:04:40the local council.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42There's more disruption for passengers on public transport
0:04:42 > 0:04:45across the North West today as staff at rail and bus companies
0:04:45 > 0:04:47are staging another one day strike.
0:04:47 > 0:04:54Merseyrail and Northern trains are both running reduced services
0:04:54 > 0:04:57as union members have walked out for 24 hours in an ongoing
0:04:57 > 0:05:00dispute over plans for driver-only operated trains.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02And Arriva bus drivers are staging the second in a series
0:05:02 > 0:05:05of strikes there over pay.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Meanwhile, rail uses in Lancashire also face
0:05:10 > 0:05:12months of disruption when Blackpool North Station closes
0:05:12 > 0:05:14this Saturday for 19 weeks, while the track
0:05:14 > 0:05:24to Preston is upgraded.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31It's part of a billion pound scheme to electrify one of the busiest rail
0:05:31 > 0:05:32routes in the region.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Network Rail says it will help provide faster, cleaner and more
0:05:35 > 0:05:36reliable rail services.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40We are urging people to plan their journeys in advance.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42Visit things like National Rail Enquiries, the
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Network Rail website and the train operators can provide plenty of
0:05:44 > 0:05:46information around timetables and frequency of services.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49The Liverpool based comedian Sir Ken Dodd is celebrating his 90th
0:05:49 > 0:05:51birthday today with a civic lunch at the town hall.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54He'll be treated to a rendition of his famous hit Happiness,
0:05:54 > 0:05:55by local school children.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58And a special Doddy themed afternoon tea will be served with sandwiches
0:05:58 > 0:06:00fresh from the Jam Butty mines and Diddy pies.
0:06:00 > 0:06:07Roger Johnson went to meet him on the eve of the big day.
0:06:07 > 0:06:15TV PRESENTER:Ladies and gentlemen, live from Blackpool,
0:06:15 > 0:06:16it's The Ken Dodd Show.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Life, for me has been a journey.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19I have been very blessed.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23I got lost once or twice.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Kenneth Arthur Dodd, the one sitting here now and I am
0:06:25 > 0:06:29also Ken Dodd the performer.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Kenneth Arthur Dodd has never moved.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Why have you stayed?
0:06:33 > 0:06:36I live in a beautiful old house.
0:06:36 > 0:06:46It is my grandmother's house, my father and mother's house.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51My father used to make my props and wrote my first jokes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54My mother said, Kenny, I do not care where you go,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56as long as you wear a clean shirt.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Why have you had such longevity?
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Being alive for so long.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08I have been very blessed.
0:07:08 > 0:07:14But the jokes still work, don't they?
0:07:14 > 0:07:16I do not do dirty.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18I do not know how to spell the words.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21You have approximately 30 seconds to make friends with the audience.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24You play an audience like you play an instrument,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26you know where the hotspots are, where you need coaching,
0:07:27 > 0:07:28where you can flirt.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30At midnight tonight, ladies, your husband,
0:07:30 > 0:07:31your boyfriend, or both of them.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Where is your favourite theatre?
0:07:33 > 0:07:35The one I am playing tonight or tomorrow night.
0:07:35 > 0:07:36Quite right.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38It has got to be.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43Every show has got to be the best you have ever done.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44Sir Ken Dodd, many happy returns.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46And thank you for talking to us.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47Thank you.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52Lord Rodger.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55There was great excitment at Accrington Cricket Club last
0:07:55 > 0:07:57night after former player and West Indies fast bowler
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Sir Wes Hall returned for the first time in 26 years.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02The trip was arranged following a BBC North West Tonight
0:08:02 > 0:08:04documentary on the influence of West Indian professionals
0:08:04 > 0:08:13on the Lancashire League.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Accrington was my launch I had in terms of being excellent.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20Learning to bowl, I did it right out here.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21Now the weather for the rest of the day with Rich Davis.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Now the weather for the rest of the day with Rich Davis.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29It has been a lovely day so far. Plenty of sunshine this morning and
0:08:29 > 0:08:34it looks like it will continue this afternoon.It will stay bright and
0:08:34 > 0:08:39dry out there. Clouds moving in later this afternoon. For the most
0:08:39 > 0:08:44part, sonny. Temperature is around nine or 10 Celsius. Fuelling
0:08:44 > 0:08:51chillier than yesterday. Tonight, that cloud is thickening up. It is
0:08:51 > 0:08:56going to be quite mild overnight. Temperature is around six Celsius.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Tomorrow, it will start off gloomy but that will gradually move away.
0:09:00 > 0:09:07Writer spells as we reach the afternoon. More sunshine as well. --
0:09:07 > 0:09:12brighter spells. Warm tomorrow with temperatures of around 13 Celsius.
0:09:12 > 0:09:20-- 12 Celsius. More on that story of the return to Accrington cricket
0:09:20 > 0:09:29club. Ken Dodd will be talking more to Lord Rodger at 6:30pm.