31/08/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest Tonight with Tony Livesey and Kate

Simms. Our top story. Fighting fit. 100-year-old Dorothy thanks her

doctors as she becomes the world's oldest breast surgery patient.

think this story is inspiring. delighted doctors say they were

right to operate and say she could become an inspiration to woman of

every age. Also tonight.

Tributes to the drowned teenage girl and her boyfriend missing off

the Wirral coast. The police search for him continues.

Back home for Eid. 7-year-old Qasim who lost his parents and siblings

in a car crash in Pakistan. I was his brother, now I am his father.

And a whole new ball game. The self-promo video that may help Owen

Also tonight. Happier times at the now derelict Lido in Grange-over

Sands. It's received listed building status, but some want it

redeveloped. Well, if you've ever been there or

have fond memories of another outdoor pool in the region, we'd

like to hear from you. Get in touch via email, twitter or Facebook and

we'll read out some of your stories at the end of the programme.

$WHITE When great-great-grandmother Dorothy Affleck, from Hyde, was

told she had breast cancer, she thought she would be too old to be

offered surgery. Dorothy was 99 when she was diagnosed last summer.

But doctors at Tameside Hospital said her age was not a factor in

having an operation. They believe Dorothy, who is now 100, is the

oldest person to have breast cancer surgery. Today, she went back to

find out if it was successful and Abbie Jones went with her.

It is now a year since Dorothy Affleck had her operation at

Tameside Hospital. But the memory of being told she had cancer is

still raw. I thought it would just be months of suffering. I was

frightened. Then I met the surgeon, he was so confident he could do the

operation. People said not to have But Dorothy's consultant didn't

agree. Her cancer was aggressive. Surgery, the only option. Last

August, she had a lump removed from her breast. Because she was 99, she

had a local rather than a general anaesthetic. But apart from that,

her doctor says her age wasn't a factor. It was never on my mind. In

fact, when I presented the case in are up team meeting, I just said

that physiological issues were as good as anyone in their late

Seventies. So now, time for the moment of

truth. You do not have any sign of disease. Thank you very, very much.

You are welcome. Dorothy is in remission. She cannot

technically get the all clear for another four years. But her

consultant says she's a success story. I think the case is

inspiring. It will encourage other people to come to the hospital.

Dorothy has now become a bit of a celebrity. She says the fuss is

worth it if it encourages other patients, and doctors. Just love

life and enjoy it. Abbie Jones, BBC North West Tonight, Tameside

Hospital. Police are still searching for a

young man from Merseyside whose teenage girlfriend drowned off the

Wirral coast. Hayley Holmes's body was found at New Brighton on Monday.

Shoes belonging to the couple were found near the beach. A friend of

Hayley's says she should have been away at the weekend but someone

stole a ticket she had for a festival. Our Merseyside Reporter,

Andy Gill, is at New Brighton now. You can see behind me the floral

tributes to Hayley. It is a lovely evening here. The tides and the

current here at New Brighton can be very dangerous. That is why the

police are very concerned for the safety of Hayley's boyfriend. Ahmed

of the holidaymakers and laughing children, forensic keep a grim a

vigil for one my right honourable friend is dead and another is

missing. Hayley's body was found on the beach on Monday, she had

drowned. Shoes belonging to her and her boyfriend were found near by.

John is a close my right honourable friend and spent it hours on the

beach waiting for news. I have never felt so bad. I have never

felt so low. The couple had not been going out very long postop

they had been at a music festival on Sunday before going to the beach

of that night. A my right honourable friend of the Hayley's

had said she should have been a way at home at a music festival, but

somebody had stolen her ticket. It is horrible. She should not even

had been you. Somebody stole her ticket. I police say that the

search for Robbie is carrying on. We have a number of searches going

on. We are linking him with other agencies to assist us. Relations of

Robbie work at the scene at this afternoon but were too upset to

talk. Police say they were keeping an open mind as to whether he went

into the water as well. One line of enquiry that the police are

pursuing concerns at this hotel behind me. This was full on Monday

night, the night that the couple came down to the beach. Police are

they there might have been witnesses who saw them on the beach.

If anyone was staying in this hotel, Merseyside police are urging them

to get in touch. For the moment, the search goes on.

Merseyside Police have launched a murder investigation after a man

was shot in Liverpool last night. The 25-year-old was found dying in

the street with a single gunshot wound to the head on Brayfield Road

in Norris Green. Police believe it was a targeted attack. They are

also investigating whether his death is connected to an earlier

incident in the area. We are keeping an open mind, but the

incidents were very close by in a short space time, so I think they

are certainly related. A motorcyclist has died at the Manx

Grand Prix festival on the Isle of Man. Adam Easton, who was 71 and

from Scotland, was killed in a crash while racing today. He is the

third motorcyclist to die during the festival, which started just

over a week ago. People in Ellesmere Port have been

given the chance to look around the town's new multi-million pound

college today. The Sutton Way campus is part of West Cheshire

College and cost �65 million. It opens to students on Monday and

offers vocational courses in creative and service industries.

have a building a matches our ambition, which is that students

get a job. Students must get a job, not just any old job but the job

they want. This building will help them get those jobs. We used to

teach in classrooms but you cannot teach vocational subjects as

successfully in a classroom as in buildings like this.

A collection of Viking coins and other artefacts unearthed in

Cumbria last month has been formally declared as treasure. A

metal detectorist found the items, known as the Furness Hoard, at a

secret location on the Peninsular. Since then, the hoard has been

under the scrutiny of experts at the British Museum.

When Sabina Akhtar's husband beat her and threatened to kill her, she

reported him to the police. But he was never charged. A few months

later, he returned to her Manchester home and killed her.

Today, a coroner has decided to reopen an inquest into Sabina's

death following a legal challenge by her family. We'll hear more from

their solicitor in a few moments. But first, Rachel Foley has this

report. Sabina Akhtar lived in fear of her

husband. Two months before her death, she told police he had

assaulted her and threatened to kill her. Malik Mannan was arrested

twice but never charged, even when he breached bail conditions that

said he couldn't contact her. Then in September 2008, he forced his

way into her home in Levenshulme and stabbed her through the heart.

He's now serving a life sentence for her murder. Ms Akhtar's family

received a formal apology from the Crown Prosecution Service who say

they were wrong not to charge Malik Mannan earlier. Today, the

Manchester coroner announced an inquest into Ms Akhtar's death will

reopen. It will examine whether decisions made by the police and

the CPS in the months before her death could have breached her human

right to life. Rachel Foley, BBC North West Tonight.

Well, earlier I spoke to the Akhtar family solicitor Matthew Gold and

asked how they had reacted to the news her inquest was to be reopened.

They are really pleased because for the first time, there will be a

full investigation by the coroner into the circumstances around

Sabina's death. The Crown Prosecution Service has already

apologised to the family and, in light of that, the Independent

Police Complaints Commission has said it will not pursue an

investigation. What do you hope reopening the inquest will do?

family want to establish what happened after Sabina, in July 2008,

went to the police, a very big step for her to take, and made a full

detailed statement of the threats to kill, the violence against her

and her son by her very dangerous husband. She went to the police for

protection, the police did not provide her with the level of

protection she was entitled to. this just about blaming someone?

is not about blaming anyone really. In place at the time, the police

had a domestic violence policy. That was designed for various steps

to be put in place, for risk assessments to take place in order

that the police and other agencies could have better protected her.

gather it is quite unusual for an inquest to be reopened. It is. I

they get is unusual but a bigot has taken place before. I believe legal

action has already been taken against the police? Yes, a civil

case is being issued in London. It includes an allegation that her

right to life was breached because the police did not protect her when

they should have done from a known violent individual, her husband.

Thank you. Eight months ago, Qasim was enough

horrific accident in Pakistan. Like thousands of Muslims across the

North West, 7-year-old Qasim Akbar is celebrating Eid today. But his

relatives in Blackburn didn't think he'd make it after a bitter custody

battle. Qasim's parents died in a car crash in Pakistan and he spent

eight months there before his elder brother could bring him home. Nazia

Mogra has the story. The Eid feast marks the end of a

month of fasting. The meal is a time for families to come together.

This year, Qasim is spending it with the only close family he's got

left - his half-brother. Now I am his father. I will try my best to

be a father and a brother. We will make sure that we can give him lots

of lovely. He always talks about the good times with his family.

Qasim's parents and two sisters died on New Year's Day in a car

crash in Pakistan. Qasim was in the back of the car and the only person

to survive. He was bruised, but otherwise unhurt. His half-brother

flew out straight away to bring him home to Lancashire, but family

friends in Pakistan wanted to keep him. What followed was a bitter

custody battle. It has taken me nearly nine months. But this is

they will be person I have left as a brother or sister so I was not

going to leave him. I am happy that he is here with me. He we are all

happy. All his friends and family. He has settled down well. He is

playing. Everything is new for him. But it is really good.

In a few weeks, he will be starting school again. With his family

behind him, Qasim hopes one day he can become a cricketer.

Still to come in North West Tonight. A whole new ball game - the self-

promo video that may help Owen Hargreaves move across the City.

the end we all hope that he can get back to his best. Add open-water,

winning medals and a wedding. It is a big make your next you for Kerry

Depending on your view, the now derelict Lido at Grange over Sands

in Cumbria is either a faded art deco gem, or a blot on the

landscape. Many will have happy childhood memories of swimming

there in the open air. Well, English Heritage has decided

it should be listed as historically important. Great news for some, but

not for developers who fear the move will scupper development plans.

Peter Marshall reports. The location is wonderful, but many

people now say that this place has fallen down. It has seen better

days. Nowadays, it's a lido that's not

much to look at. Derelict since 1992, what a difference a few

decades can make. This was it in the '30s when it attracted

thousands. Even in the '70s, it was the place to be. Memories of this

place is going swimming with our brother, serving in freezing cold

to see water but loving it. There was always busy. Should it be

listed? I do not think it needs listed, it is not a thing of beauty.

And that's the big issue according to Jonathan Denby, a prominent

hotelier who featured in the recent Channel 4 documentary The Hotel.

He's part of a development partnership which wants to fill the

lido in and turn it into a garden and cafe complex. He claims any

thought of re-opening it as an open air pool are pie in the sky.

The developers fear listing the lido and its buildings will make

their plans impossible. Can you imagine that they would have the

funds to keep this enormous structure going? A you do not think

it would happen? There is no chance of that happening. This listing is

wrong. It is hard to mention it ever returning to the height of the

past, but it still encourages strong passions. It is heritage. It

is part of the cultural heritage of this area. We have always had a

swimming pool here, it will always be used. Developers say they will

challenge the listing. I know I have lots of happy

memories of soaring pools. And lots of you have been sending us your

memories of lidos. We'll be reading some of them out at the end of the

programme. Sport now and Graham Liver's here. And a long night

ahead for you. It's transfer deadline day. No fan or manager can

relax till 11 o'clock tonight. A day of rumours and gossip but at

least it looks like Manchester City are going to get Owen Hargreaves.

Still waiting for confirmation from City about the signing. The 30-

year-old was released by Manchester United this summer. He came to Old

Trafford after being England's star performer in the World Cup in

Germany, signing from Bayern Munich for �18 million. He played in

United's 2008 Champions League victory. After that, the injuries

struck. He made just four appearences in the last three

seasons, playing just 11 minutes in the last two years.

What else has been happening? I gather Joe Cole's on his way to

France. And it looks like Everton are going to completely change

their strikeforce? Liverpool never really worked for

Joe Cole. He's off to Lille on a season-long loan. At Everton, they

might be bringing a striker in. They have accepted a �4 million bid

from Leicester for striker Jermaine Beckford. And it looks like Yacubu

is leaving Goodison to join Blackburn Rovers.

Rounding up today's transfer news, here's Liam O'Donoghue.

Arguably England's best player in the 2006 World Cup, Owen Hargreaves

is so desperate to play again, he's put up a film on YouTube to prove

his fitness. After surgery on both knees and two years out injured,

Hargreaves lasted only five minutes when he finally returned to the

Manchester United line-up last November. United let him go. City

might resurrect his career. When he is fully fit, he is a great player.

We all hope he can get back to his best. There may be a little bit of

sour grapes, but all the best to them. If he does well, he deserves

it. If he is on pay as you play, you cannot lose.

How has Joe Cole gone from scoring fantastic goals like this to

becoming an Anfield reject? A Roy Hodgson signing, he too has

suffered from injuries. Kenny Dalglish is loaning him to French

side Lille for the season. Cole out, Coates in. The huge young Uruguayan

defender joins compatriot Luis Suarez at Liverpool. Only 15 months

after signing Jermaine Beckford from Leeds, Everton have sold him

to Sven's Leicester for around �4 million. Yakubu could be on his way

to Blackburn. Replacing him could be 6 foot 7 tall Denis Stracqualani

from Argentinian side Tigre. Arsenal are reported it to her bed

for Miguel Arteta. Back at Manchester City, a fee's been

agreed to seal Shaun Wright- Phillips to Queens Park Rangers

player, and Craig Bellamy could be heading there too.

Wigan have played busy today as well they have Broughton a couple

of winners including Shaun Maloney from Celtic.

One player also on the move is Bury's Ryan Lowe who has joined

Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee. Lowe scored 28

goals for the Shakers last season, nine of which came in consecutive

games, setting a club record. Boss Richie Barker hopes to bring in a

replacement before the window closes tonight.

Cricket, and Lancashire are fighting back in their crucial

county championship game against Worcestershire at New Road. They

were bowled out for 161 in their first innings. In reply, the home

Swimming now, and the first British athlete to qualify for the Olympics

was Keri Anne Payne from Heywood. She is the best open water swimmer

in the world and one of our strongest medal hopes at London

2012. But the Olympics are not the only big event in Keri Anne's life

next year, as Stuart Pollitt found out when he went to meet her.

Open-water swimming is not for the faint-hearted. You need to be very

fit, fearless and keep an eye out for the hazard. Jellyfish. Dead

animals. All that kind of stuff up. But if I did not do that, somebody

else would follow instead. You just have to grit your teeth and get on

with it. It is not glamourous are pretty, but I loved doing it. I

love it, but it was something I was steered into doing. At first I was

not so keen on it and it all like it. She has concurred that, winning

a silver in the Olympics. Your racing of the same people you have

raised against for years and years. It is huge. The whole nation as

always lifted by the crowd. It will be brilliant everyone cheering for

us. As well as planning an assault on Olympic goal next year, she is

also planning her own wing -- her own wedding. I have to make sure we

are organised. A lot of it has been organised. I have not found a do

the go so far. If you are able to some attempt, to as dodging

jellyfish, organising a table Prime it should not be so hard.

A multi-medal winning Paralympian was in the region today to meet

aspiring competitors for next year's games in London. Chris

Holmes, who is blind, represented Great Britain at the Paralympic

Games between 1988 and 2000, winning nine gold medals. He is now

the director of Paralympic Integration for London 2012. This

morning he was at Guinea Gap swimming Pool in Wirral. It is

great to see programmes like this which demonstrate how to balance

high end Paralympians performing next summer and also the next

generation coming in from 2020 and beyond. Yesterday we brought you a

preview of Steve Parry's charity relay swim across the Irish Sea.

Well, Boyzone singer Ronan Keating led the team out last night and the

latest is, they're nearly at the halfway mark despite confronting a

shoal of giant jellyfish along the way.

He should have got a wet suit to fit him!

Stephen good swim the Irish Ceri -- Irish Sea.

Now here's Di with the weather. I am still puzzling over that

I am still puzzling over that It is not going to get warmer as we

head through the next couple of days. It might go up by a degree of

soul -- a degree or so. Temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees.

We could expected to be a little warm rat than that. But is the

driver most of us today. -- but it stayed dry. There has been a

glimpse of brightness sometimes. We might get a little bit more as we

head towards the end of the night. It is getting dark very early

nowadays. Tonight, it will be predominantly cloudy but dry. Just

the chance of a tiny shower it now and again. The cloud could break

from time to time in rural areas, which means that temperatures could

go as low as eight Celsius. But most of us will be in double

figures. 11 or 12 of. For tomorrow, it might not be too bad at all,

again. Cloudy. In the morning, there might be a light shower first

thing. But hopefully, this cloud cover will start to thin and break.

Sunshine could work its way through. The wind will be light which is

favourable for us. Temperatures should be better than today. 19 or

20 degrees. If you are stuck under the cloud cover, 17 or 18 degrees.

For the next couple of days, high pressure it moves away. Weather

front after the front moving in. Friday. The weekend it looks very

Well, earlier, we talked about the future for Grange Over Sands

historic open air pool and asked for your memories of lidos across

the North West. Lots of you have taken the plunge.

Tom Gray on Facebook says, "My family and I used to swim at Grange

Over Sands. The views across Morecambe Bay were amazing. It's a

shame to see it standing derelict and if I had the money I would

rebuild and re-open it!" Peter from Prestwich where do this for them to

Bob the bomber who used to bomb into the pool. Lee Lloyd Green on

Facebook says, "I used to go to the open air lido at New Brighton. I

even remember the ladybird swarm that came and covered the pool."

Jean it says she used to have that some lessons every week.

Judith Simpson on Facebook, "I used to go regularly to the Grange pool.

Everybody used to rush to the top railings when the horn went to warn

of the tidal bore coming up the bay, and we would watch it roaring up

past the pool. Spectacular!" Paul says here is a picture of myself

and other winners take him at a swimming gala. I think it is 1972.

Also, in case you were wondering, we've had a lot of debate in the