08/11/2017 North West Today

Hello, I'm Annabel Tiffin.

Welcome to North West Today.

The headlines this

Wednesday lunchtime:

Help the homeless.

Experts try to identify the mystery

subtsance that's been

washing up on the Fylde Coast.

And we chat to Sir Ken Dodd as

And we chat to Sir Ken Dodd as he is

honoured by the city of Liverpool on

his 90th birthday.

The Housing charity Shelter

is asking the public to support

an urgent appeal to help

the homeless in the North West.

Its latest figures show

there are growing numbers of people

living on the streets,

up by 24% in a year.

The problem is most

acute in Manchester,

as Eleanor Moritz reports.

Donations of clothes

for the homeless at this drop

in centre in Salford.

Amongst those coming

here this morning for a hot

drink and breakfast,

Graciano.

Having lost his home

and then his job, he's been

living on the streets.

Last night I slept

on the National Express coach.

The night before that

I slept there as well.

The night before that

I collapsed at night.

I was taken by ambulance to

the hospital so I slept in hospital.

There are now 9,340 homeless people

in the North West according

to the housing charity,

Shelter.

That's up 24% in a year.

The problem's worst in Manchester,

where the charity says one in every

154 people are now homeless.

Its latest review is said to be

the most extensive of its kind,

combing official numbers of rough

sleepers with those in temporary

accommodation and figures

from social services.

And it's now asking the

public to help by donating

to an urgent appeal.

It really is heart-rending

and shocking that we are seeing

these increases at the moment.

That is why it is absolutely vital

that services like shelters are able

to continue to help people out

of these situations.

But we can't do that

without the public's support.

The charity blames a lack

of affordable homes and the changes

to the benefits system.

At the centre in Salford,

they've noticed an increase

in the numbers wanting their help.

Some of them have had broken homes,

lost their jobs, been evicted

from their housing association.

The real answer, of course, is

there's a shortage of homes in this

country that people like this

can actually afford.

The government says it's determined

to tackle homelessness as a priority

and is investing millions

to try to help.

Experts are trying to identify

a mystery substance

that s been washing

up on the Fylde Coast.

The strange orange material started

appearing at the weekend.

Until they know what it is,

council officials are urging

people not to touch it.

Here s our Chief

Reporter, Dave Guest.

The perfect day for a stroll

on the beach at Cleveleys.

But some on the beach today weren't

here to enjoy the scenery.

Council workers have been deployed

to track down traces

of a mystery

substance that has got

environmental experts puzzled.

The most important thing

at the moment obviously is to remove

it and we are double bagging it

and putting it in our caged vehicle

and it is being taken

and locked up in our depot.

Obviously at the moment you don't

know whether it's dangerous,

what it is and where it

has come from.

Absolutely not, we have had no idea.

It has come from the sea,

that is what we do know.

Where abouts and why,

we cannot actually say.

These are some of the larger

samples that were picked up

on the beach at Cleveleys.

It could be palm oil,

but they are not sure.

It has a very strong odour.

How will it be analysed?

The sample has already been

collected and taken to a lab.

The lab will analyse

what is in it and tell us

and then give us information

about what it is and we will find

out from the organisations

where is the best place to put it.

The stuff started washing up

at the weekend on beaches

along the Fylde coast.

You are walking your

dog on the beach,

have you heard about the pollution?

We have heard about it.

Are you taking any more

care with your dog?

I am always careful what it eats

and what it is doing.

It does tend to pick things up.

So,

they do not know what it is,

where it came from and most

importantly whether it is dangerous.

The advice if you find some

on the beach is, do not touch it,

certainly do not allow your dog

to lick it and call

the local council.

There's more disruption

for passengers on public transport

across the North West today as staff

at rail and bus companies

are staging another one day strike.

Merseyrail and Northern trains

are both running reduced services

as union members have walked out

for 24 hours in an ongoing

dispute over plans for

driver-only operated trains.

And Arriva bus drivers are staging

the second in a series

of strikes there over pay.

Meanwhile, rail uses

in Lancashire also face

months of disruption

when Blackpool North Station closes

this Saturday for 19

weeks, while the track

to Preston is upgraded.

It's part of a billion pound scheme

to electrify one of the busiest rail

routes in the region.

Network Rail says it will help

provide faster, cleaner and more

reliable rail services.

We are urging people

to plan their journeys in advance.

Visit things like National

Rail Enquiries, the

Network Rail website and the train

operators can provide plenty of

information around timetables

and frequency of services.

The Liverpool based comedian

Sir Ken Dodd is celebrating his 90th

birthday today with a civic lunch

at the town hall.

He'll be treated to a rendition

of his famous hit Happiness,

by local school children.

And a special Doddy themed afternoon

tea will be served with sandwiches

fresh from the Jam Butty mines

and Diddy pies.

Roger Johnson went to meet him

on the eve of the big day.

TV PRESENTER:

Ladies and gentlemen,

live from Blackpool,

it's The Ken Dodd Show.

Life, for me has been a journey.

I have been very blessed.

I got lost once or twice.

Kenneth Arthur Dodd,

the one sitting here now and I am

also Ken Dodd the performer.

Kenneth Arthur Dodd has never moved.

Why have you stayed?

I live in a beautiful old house.

It is my grandmother's house,

my father and mother's house.

My father used to make my props

and wrote my first jokes.

My mother said, Kenny,

I do not care where you go,

as long as you wear a clean shirt.

Why have you had such longevity?

Being alive for so long.

I have been very blessed.

But the jokes still

work, don't they?

I do not do dirty.

I do not know how

to spell the words.

You have approximately 30 seconds

to make friends with the audience.

You play an audience

like you play an instrument,

you know where the hotspots are,

where you need coaching,

where you can flirt.

At midnight tonight,

ladies, your husband,

your boyfriend, or both of them.

Where is your favourite theatre?

The one I am playing

tonight or tomorrow night.

Quite right.

It has got to be.

Every show has got to be

the best you have ever done.

Sir Ken Dodd, many happy returns.

And thank you for talking to us.

Thank you.

Lord Rodger.

There was great excitment

at Accrington Cricket Club last

night after former player

and West Indies fast bowler

Sir Wes Hall returned

for the first time in 26 years.

The trip was arranged

following a BBC North West Tonight

documentary on the influence

of West Indian professionals

on the Lancashire League.

Accrington was my launch I had

in terms of being excellent.

Learning to bowl, I did

it right out here.

Now the weather for the rest

of the day with Rich Davis.

Now the weather for the rest

of the day with Rich Davis.

It has been a lovely day so far.

Plenty of sunshine this morning and

it looks like it will continue this

afternoon.

It will stay bright and

dry out there. Clouds moving in

later this afternoon. For the most

part, sonny. Temperature is around

nine or 10 Celsius. Fuelling

chillier than yesterday. Tonight,

that cloud is thickening up. It is

going to be quite mild overnight.

Temperature is around six Celsius.

Tomorrow, it will start off gloomy

but that will gradually move away.

Writer spells as we reach the

afternoon. More sunshine as well. --

brighter spells. Warm tomorrow with

temperatures of around 13 Celsius.

-- 12 Celsius. More on that story of

the return to Accrington cricket

club. Ken Dodd will be talking more

to Lord Rodger at 6:30pm.