29/07/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest Tonight. Our top story.

The thieves who used a getaway car to run over a policemen. One of

them is jailed for 19 years. A total of seven members of the same

gang have now been jailed. They have no regard for members of the

community or police alike. The potentially lethal gas and

terrible smell forcing families out of their homes for the next six

months. You are paying a mortgage on something that is not worth

anything. A call for Liverpool to have its

own gay village to boost the city's economy.

Also, a busy weekend of football ahead. And back with us to present

the sport is Olympic medallist Steve Parry.

To help me prove it is one of the best weekends in football, Sammy

McIlroy will join me with a preview to the start of the Football League

season and the Manchester derby on Sunday.

When PC Gary Marshall responded to reports of a robbery,, he couldn't

have imagined how things would turn out. He caught the gang red handed

and tried to stop them from escaping. But they ran over him in

their getaway car, leaving him seriously injured. Today, one of

those in the car, Christopher Jones, was jailed for 19 years. Our chief

reporter has the story They were men who would do anything

to get their hands on the cash carried by security vans. People

who are ruthless, determined and prepared to do anything to commit

the crimes and get the gainer from that crime. And when PC Gary

Marshall tried to stop them, they simply ran over him in their

getaway car. It happened as PC Marshall attempted to use his car

to block their escape following a raid at Partington in Greater

Manchester. The gang would not come quietly. They rammed the police car

out of the way and ran over PC Marshall. I think they would have

run over anybody or done anything to get away. The events that

unfolded will be a with PC Marshall for a lifetime. He says he lived

with constant pain and has frequent flashbacks -- flashbacks and

nightmares. He said his body and mind had been scarred for life. The

man seen smashing the police car window is Christopher Jones. The

22-year-old was jailed for 19 years at Preston Crown Court after being

convicted of grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to rob. Jones and

his partners in crime carried out raids in Greater Manchester,

Lancashire and Merseyside in 2009. Tracking them down involved

officers from three forces. The gang stole high-performance cars to

use in the robberies and then drove them at speed without regard to

others. Christopher Jones is in the blue car. The car was dumped and he

attempted to get away on foot. But cameras on the helicopter made sure

he could not evade capture. He is the seventh member of the gang are

to be locked up so far. Fears, residents living in Salford

have lived with a terrible smell, occasionally rising into their

homes. The smell is methane, which is potentially lethal. The

householders have been given a few weeks to get out of their homes so

the council can make the area safe. Our reporter is there.

The six houses behind me are affected. The lady in the first

house is going to have a baby in three-week so. She has just found

out she will have to move out of her home by then for six months.

The problem has rumbled on for years. But first, they had advice

such as not using lighted candles in their house. There, but the

council hopes this is a final solution. Birchfield Drive is on a

leafy estate. The houses have to be ventilated around the clock. Alison

Downie show be the problems. What is causing it is the gas seeping up

through the ground. There is a crack along the back of the house,

which is sinking. Monitors make sure the gas does not reached

dangerous levels. You cannot see it, you can smell it. The smell of the

gases, it smells like drainage. courses at the back of the houses

because until the 1950s, it was landfill. By the 1970s, the methane

was already a problem. We had been in the house three weeks. We

noticed they were taking two houses down. Any reason why? We thought

they were cutting another road through. It turned out to be gassed.

How do you feel, all these years later? It our mercy. Now, part of

the House will again be not down. realise residents have been under

stress. We can be on site in September and have the works

completed within six months. We will never have to come back to it

again. You have a few weeks to find somewhere else to live? There is

nothing. It is horrific. You are paying a mortgage on something that

is not worth anything. It will never be worth any. There are

residents who feel those fears are sensationalised. Others feel the

health concerns are genuine. The Council is taking this seriously.

They hope it is the final answer to a problem that has gone on for ages.

There will be a public meeting on Monday.

It black Paul based policemen who admitted having sex with women he

met while working has been shelved. The judge said judd macro, who

worked in a specialist sex crime unit, -- Jean-Christophe Novelli,

had abused the trust of the public. -- detective Sergeant John crack.

People in Lancashire have complained that rubbish will no

longer be collected from the doorsteps. Rossendale council has

told 700 households they will have to take rubbish to collection

points, rather than have the lorry go down a narrow road.

An acoustic wind pavilion has gone on display in Lyme Park. Named

Aeolus after the Greek rule of the four winds, it will spend time at

Salford Quays and the Eden Project in Cornwall. I've visited Iran. I

spoke to the people who extract water in the desert. One told me

that the well sometimes make a noise when the wind blows over the

top. It gave me inspiration to investigate architecture which

creates sound. Last night we featured a report on

Car Planet in Warrington. People said they had paid deposits and the

company had vanished. In the item, we featured this poster. We want to

make it clear that Top Coat is not the subject of a complaint.

A couple from Oldham have been charged with terrorism offences.

Mohammed and Shasta Khan have been appearing before magistrates in

London. Earlier, I asked the BBC Home Affairs Reporter what had

happened in court. Mohammad Khan is 33, his wife is 37.

They were brought to London from Manchester in the early hours. The

main hearing took place just before lunch. After that hearing, Mohammad

Khan was remanded in custody. They are accused of conduct in

preparation for acts of terrorism. In addition, they face three counts

of possessing a record of information likely to be useful to

a person preparing an act of terrorism. They were arrested last

week following a investigation last week by the North West counter

terrorism unit. His wife's lawyers argued she

should be allowed bail. It was not granted. The lawyer for

the Crown Prosecution Service stood up and said the Crown was objecting

to that. They lodged an appeal against that decision. It will mean

there will have to be a separate hearing. The next main hearing,

involving Mr and Mrs Khan will take place in August 22nd at the Old

Bailey. The Manchester and Blackpool are

well-known places with a thriving gay scene. They make money from the

so-called pink pound. A report has recommended that Liverpool should

have its own official gay village. That study commissioned by the City

Council said it would attract visitors and boost the economy.

The area around Stanley Street in Liverpool is already the unofficial

gay quarter. Bars and gay support organisations can be found here.

One man who works in a health centre welcomes the idea of an

official village. More people are coming into the city because of the

development. It is a destination for gay people to come to.

Independent experts say that branding the area as a gay quarter

would bring in more visitors and money. If it went ahead, Liverpool

would follow Manchester in having a name to gay area. The council

recognises Liverpool has a reputation of being less tolerant

towards gay people than other cities. One idea behind this is

that gay people would feel safer. An organiser of the Pride event

says that homophobic attacks are rare, but it would help. I think

having an official status would reassure people that this is not an

area of the city that the council wants to hide away. The council

says that being known as safe and tolerant brings benefits. Cities

that have a and distinct and inclusive gay quarter of ten to do

better and to be able to position themselves as gay friendly.

area has daytime business companies. The council says money needs to be

spent on this relationship. We need to make sure the streets are clean

for the benefit of both sectors so that the night-time economy can

thrive and the daytime will not suffer. It will be discussed next

week. Still to come. Made in Manchester,

one of the most powerful production cars makes a record appearance.

All eyes on St Helens and Wigan Warriors for an historic rugby

league game. From motorbikes to milk floats,

scooters to skateboards, a former top gear presenter, Steve Berry has

been trying to break the world record. He has tried to use 101

different modes of transport. Earlier, he arrived at the BBC in

his 98th vehicle, that flash sports car. And he switched to this, a

battery-powered solo wheel. He came right into the studio.

Here he comes. Well done. Welcome. Well done. That was 99. Yes.

look tired! Has it been a hard week? It has. I was asked by my

friends at Museum of Science and Industry if I could do something to

help them promote my Transport Festival. A lot of people will see

a commercial for a certain make of cars and motorcycles and boats, and

they set it as an impossible dream. They had somebody moving from a

scooter, to a motorbike, to a race car, and I thought I want to do

that. This is a good excuse to do it. There was just one role,

whatever I travelled by hacked to get me from A to B. Even if it was

from this sofa to way you guys were. -- had to be. The previous record

holder did 100 in 276 days. have done them in a week! Five days.

This is 99 on the fifth day. What wonderful things have you been on?

One of my favourites was called the Personal watercraft. Most people

think of it as a jet ski. People have written them on holiday. They

feel quite fast. When this one was delivered, I said why is it called

the 260? I was told it had 260 brake horsepower, twice a normal

family car. I thought I was going to end up in Timperley when I set

off from sale water park! A lot of people remember the C 5. Clive

Sinclair thought it was the transport of the future. The

biggest problem was how low down it was in traffic. You have a couple

of injuries. Hopefully, you will break the record by tonight.

Absolutely. What else do you have to ride? I

have three standby is in the garage. I have my Vintage bicycle, a

motorcycle and a skateboard. Then you will be the world record holder.

Go along to Transport Festival. It is free and fantastic. We had a

great day today. Good luck. He is a good sport. We move on to

sport are now, presented by a man who did not need any transport. He

has an Olympic medal. Steve Parry is with us. And also my fellow

Northern Ireland or Sammy McIlroy. I would have gone for a pair of

flippers. We are talking football. We have the start of the

championship with Hull against Blackpool. Last year, we thought

they could stay up, do they have a chance of bouncing back, Blackpool?

If there is one manager who can do it is Ian Holloway. Can you talk us

through some of the players they have had in their? Barry Ferguson

have had in their? Barry Ferguson and Kevin Phillips. Two experienced

players. 38 years of age. Will he players. 38 years of age. Will he

play a lot of football? What about the quality players they have lost?

the quality players they have lost? It is hard to replace Charlie Adam

and their main goal scorer. They are important players and they have

gone. There is another team in action. Burnley will be playing

Watford. He has done some recruitment with his first season

at the club in its entirety. He has not bought any players that will

not bought any players that will get the supporters jumping on his

get the supporters jumping on his seeds. He is a young manager. He

seeds. He is a young manager. He has done well. Kieran has come in

as well. You are missing Chris as well. You are missing Chris

Eagles. You have had good players he will be big holes in the team.

Eagles and was an exciting player. He could beat people and score

goals and make them. How would you rate Burnley's chances? The way

they were last year, and if they can push themselves to was a play-

off place, it will be a good season. Burnley will kick her off at

Watford. On Sunday, the community Shiels. Manchester United against

Manchester City, it is a friendly Manchester City, it is a friendly

but not this time. It is important because it is against United. We

want to win. Both managers will want the psychological edge this

week. No doubt about it. Everybody said it is an opener for the season.

Mancini will want a marker for the season. Beating them in the FA Cup,

the community shield. You'll have your feet up. What would you be

doing? I will be at a football game tomorrow. I will see what happens

next. We have match commentary on BBC Radio Manchester on Sunday.

Radio Lancashire will have the Blackpool match tonight. Now, the

biggest derby in rugby league with St Helens and Wigan Warriors. With

both teams in top form, this has got everyone excited.

50 Years On and some things have not changed. St Helens against

Wigan is still the big one. It is one of the biggest games of the

year. The Challenge Cup is making it bigger. It is the best derby

game. There will be a lot of atmosphere. That is why you play,

to be in competing games. Every time we play against St Helens, the

passion and the community, it is a special game for everyone. This

will be a match-up of form teams. St Helens have won their last five

and for Wigan, eight on the bounce. The stadium holds 13,000. We have

got to be them and they have got to beat us. Saints and at Wigan, the

Derby of all derbies. If they can contain sound Tomkins they will

have a good game. I have never been so confident coming up to a game.

The fashion in headwear may have altered since the 1961 final, but

tomorrow, one set of fans will be planning their Wembley out it.

-- Wembley outfits. Finally the latest from the CB40

clash with Gloucestershire. The clash with Gloucestershire. The

visitors have reached 164-four visitors have reached 164-four

after 32 overs. We will have the result in our late bulletin.

I will! You did not push Sammy McIlroy to

say who will win on Sunday. I am putting him on the spot.

You know me. I will go for Manchester United. How will

Liverpool do this season?! It is good to see Kenny Dalglish back in

again and I think he will do well. That is good enough for me!

Thank you. We can look at the weekend weather. We are hoping for

weekend weather. We are hoping for sunshine.

A tiny bit of sunshine, but this is not a good August weekend. This is

how it is shaping up after a nice afternoon. The weekend will be

cloudy and cooler than it has been this week. You may have seen the

National forecast and that for parts of northern England there are

severe weather warnings. At the moment, not for us. It is the other

side of the Pennines where the worst of the rain will be. I think

we will see our fair share. We have had such a pleasant after-dinner

just about everywhere. We knew it would be dry. But no great

temperatures. Between 18 degrees and 22 greens this afternoon.

Temperatures are easing off. That is good news through the night to

night. This evening, the sunshine will still be around. As the night

progresses, the cloud will be spinning in a from the West. The

good news about tonight is the humidity has gone. It will be

fresher. Down to 11 degrees. The picture tomorrow is grim. There

will be a lot of cloud in the morning. Showers will be coming in

through the morning. And you can see how patchy it is in nature. It

is moving towards the Pennines. What this means is that there will

be outbreaks of rain at any point in the morning. Earlier in the day,

we were keen on improvement through the afternoon. It might get their

little bit better, but the rain seems to be slowing down over the

top of farce. It looks like the south-western corner will be the

best place to be -- over the top of us. The Isle of Man will get the

best of the forecast on Saturday. It will be feeling fresher. The

rain moves, but showers keep on coming through on Saturday night.

On Sunday, not great. Outbreaks of that showery rain. There will be

one or two spells of sunshine, but it is feeling fresher. This is how

we start the next week. 15 degrees on Tuesday!

In the middle of summer! I was saying are you looking forward to

the weekend, but I'm not sure whether we are. But you should be.

The survey said that tomorrow night at 7pm is the happiest time of the

air. To find out more, we have sent

Peter Marshall to live and St Annes, which has a big weekend of its own

lined up -- 11. I went up to Lytham St Anne's in

search of happiness. But I decided it was best to ask others. When I

you happiest? When I am in the fresh air and sunshine. Selling ice

cream? And no! Can I ask you that happiness? When I you happy as?

When I am not at work! When I am not doing this job. 7pm tomorrow,

are you likely to be happy then? suppose I will be happy because I

will be going to see my daughter. But at 7pm, I have to be back at

the prison. So, of Tamara 7pm is the happiest time of the year. Why?

-- tomorrow. Why seven o'clock? Because they are looking forward to

Saturday night. It is the anticipation that is important. Why

August? We like the sunshine and the summer. If you cannot beat

happy here, with the festival happening with Status quo and

Catherine Jenkins, when can you be happy as? When is a rock star happy

as? Straight after a concert, apparently. At that point, it is

apparently. At that point, it is good. Your mind goes clear. That is

probably the best moment. Everybody knows what it is like. As much as

you love your job, you have finished.

That was a random mix. Brilliant, there! We will be happiest tonight

when we finish. Except, you will not be finished!

You were happiest getting your medal in the Olympics?