:00:02. > :00:06.Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and
:00:06. > :00:10.Ranvir Singh. Our top story. Donna's Dreamhouse destroyed.
:00:10. > :00:13.Arsonists set fire to a children's charity holiday home in Blackpool.
:00:13. > :00:19.Mementoes of Donna Curtis, the woman in whose memory the charity
:00:19. > :00:23.was set up, were destroyed. We'll hear from her devastated father.
:00:23. > :00:27.Also tonight: Home in time for Christmas. We meet the community
:00:28. > :00:30.nurses giving families the best present they could wish for.
:00:30. > :00:35.Preparing for Christmas thousands of miles from home, we're with the
:00:35. > :00:38.region's servicemen and women at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.
:00:38. > :00:48.Riding high: the Isle of Man's champion cyclist Mark Cavendish is
:00:48. > :00:49.
:00:49. > :00:55.crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. For someone from such a
:00:55. > :01:02.small humble place to be recognised at national and international level
:01:02. > :01:12.is marvellous. It is cold and wet but I have the tinsel and the music.
:01:12. > :01:14.
:01:14. > :01:18.I have been to Ramsbottom in search "They've stopped families in
:01:18. > :01:20.desperate need from receiving presents this Christmas." The words
:01:21. > :01:24.tonight of a Blackpool man whose charity has been targeted by
:01:25. > :01:28.suspected arsonists. "Donna's Dream House" provides holidays and
:01:28. > :01:31.presents for seriously ill children and their families. Though little
:01:31. > :01:35.was stolen, photos and mementoes of Donna Curtis, the woman in whose
:01:35. > :01:45.memory the charity was set up, were destroyed. Nina Warhurst has been
:01:45. > :01:47.
:01:47. > :01:51.to meet her devastated father. When we film to get this summer, 3
:01:51. > :01:53.year old Phoebe, and other seriously ill children were
:01:53. > :01:55.enjoying When we filmed at Donna's Dream
:01:55. > :01:58.house this summer, 3 year old Phoebe and other seriously ill
:01:58. > :02:03.children many too poorly to travel abroad were enjoying a free holiday,
:02:03. > :02:06.but look at the scene today. The charity was run from this room. One
:02:06. > :02:09.of the things destroyed, a list of 35 families due to receive free
:02:09. > :02:19.Christmas presents from the charity. Now Len says many of them will
:02:19. > :02:24.
:02:24. > :02:29.receive nothing. Proper some body if that is what you have to do to
:02:29. > :02:33.survive, but why do this, a charity which have helped so many people.
:02:33. > :02:35.Donna's dream house was the dying wish of Len's daughter who died of
:02:35. > :02:40.cancer aged just 20. Now it supports around 1,600 families
:02:40. > :02:46.every year, supported mainly by the local community. We tried to give
:02:46. > :02:50.them everything for nothing. It costs them very little. To see what
:02:50. > :02:56.has happened today has destroyed it for a number of Trojan and families
:02:56. > :03:03.for the foreseeable future. When you think about next year are you
:03:03. > :03:09.optimistic there is a future here? There will always be a future. When
:03:09. > :03:14.Don a diet, her dream house was born. All of the kids to come here,
:03:14. > :03:17.every time they smile I know that is why she died. Police say they
:03:17. > :03:20.are treating the fire as suspicious, the investigation continues.
:03:20. > :03:23.A student from Manchester jailed for faking an illness to avoid jury
:03:23. > :03:26.duty says he should never have been sent to prison. Matthew Banks who
:03:26. > :03:30.is 19 told clerks at Manchester Crown Court he couldn't attend
:03:30. > :03:35.because he was ill but instead he went to see a show in London's West
:03:35. > :03:43.End. He was given a fourteen day sentence for contempt of court but
:03:43. > :03:48.has been released after serving four days. I did deserve to be
:03:48. > :03:54.punished because I did break the law, but being locked up with so
:03:55. > :03:59.many other people there who had killed people and assaulted people,
:03:59. > :04:03.like I said, I deserved to be punished but I think it was a
:04:03. > :04:06.little harsh. Police in Rochdale have recovered
:04:06. > :04:09.drugs worth �1.6 million from a house in Castleton. The drugs found
:04:09. > :04:12.include cannabis and ecstasy. A 45- year-old man has been arrested and
:04:13. > :04:15.remains in police custody. Detectives are appealing for an
:04:15. > :04:20.anonymous caller to contact them again as they could have vital
:04:20. > :04:23.clues to the whereabouts of a missing teenager in Cheshire.
:04:23. > :04:29.Eighteen year old Hayden Evanss was last seen at a Christmas party at
:04:29. > :04:32.Carden Park hotel near Chester on Friday.
:04:32. > :04:36.Manchester United have finished top of a 'league of shame' for match
:04:36. > :04:39.day arrests. The champions had more fans held by police than any other
:04:40. > :04:44.team in the Premier League last season. The figures, released by
:04:44. > :04:49.the Home Office show 276 United fans were arrested. Manchester City
:04:49. > :04:51.were fourth on the list with 108 arrests.
:04:51. > :04:58.15-month-old Alice Barness from Radcliffe has spent the last month
:04:58. > :05:00.in hospital and she was expected to be there until the New Year. But
:05:00. > :05:03.thanks to a team of community nurses in Greater Manchester, who
:05:03. > :05:07.support children like Alice at home during the holidays, she's out in
:05:07. > :05:17.time for Christmas, much to the delight of her family. Here's our
:05:17. > :05:19.
:05:19. > :05:25.health Correspondent Laura Yates. For Alice's family this means so
:05:26. > :05:31.much. Christmas at home after weeks in hospital. Amazing. I still can't
:05:31. > :05:37.believe it. The best Christmas ever, better than last year which was our
:05:37. > :05:42.first Christmas with her. I am just so grateful, I really am. When
:05:42. > :05:49.Alice was born, she could no brief for eight minutes, she suffered
:05:49. > :05:53.brain damage and spent much of her young life in hospital. Sue and her
:05:53. > :05:57.team of committee nurses did everything they can to make sure
:05:57. > :06:03.children like Alice can have Christmas at home. That is where
:06:03. > :06:09.they should be on Christmas Day, I will go up in the morning, to look
:06:09. > :06:15.at the children on the ward. If we can put them at home safely, even
:06:15. > :06:23.if just for a day, we will. nurses visit Alice every day, and
:06:23. > :06:28.they have talked Alice's mother how to use the equipment. So scary, I
:06:28. > :06:32.think I just watched her all night, I could not sleep. Ski area it may
:06:32. > :06:40.be, but Alice's family say they will make it a Christmas to
:06:40. > :06:43.remember. I hope they have a peaceful and lovely Christmas.
:06:43. > :06:46.Well, Alice's family aren't the only ones gearing up for Christmas,
:06:46. > :06:48.the region's shopping centres have been packed with people rushing to
:06:48. > :06:51.buy last minute presents and supermarket shelves are being
:06:51. > :06:53.emptied as we speak And there's already plenty of revelry at
:06:53. > :07:03.Castlefield in Manchester, carollers, a brass band and not
:07:03. > :07:04.
:07:04. > :07:09.forgetting North West Tonight's Mr Christmas himself, Stuart Flinders.
:07:09. > :07:17.I have to say, I did a hear a word of that because there is a very
:07:17. > :07:23.loud brass band here, from Yorkshire call -- Court Yorkshire
:07:23. > :07:30.Imperial band. We have got a lot to get through, we have got a crowd
:07:31. > :07:39.from the pantomime. You are all from the pantomime, aren't you?
:07:39. > :07:46.no we're not! They are. You are Beauty And the Beast. How did it
:07:46. > :07:56.go? Brilliant, we loved it. Very popular. The kids loved it, they
:07:56. > :08:06.screamed and shouted. What did you play? I played the teapot. I am the
:08:06. > :08:07.
:08:07. > :08:13.mad professor, Bell's father. sussing tonight, thanks for coming
:08:13. > :08:18.along. We have a quiet to hear, this is a choir from Marple who are
:08:18. > :08:22.rehearsing for us now. Before we have a chat with them, this is what
:08:22. > :08:32.happened when I took the Santa Special from it buried to
:08:32. > :08:35.
:08:35. > :08:44.Ramsbottom. -- from Bari to A is Father Christmas come into
:08:44. > :08:51.your house? Yes. We have been good. How does he get into your house?
:08:52. > :08:57.think the chimney. Have you got a chimney? We have, but it is small.
:08:57. > :09:04.We do not know how he will get in there. The that is a bit of a worry,
:09:04. > :09:14.isn't it? How will he get into your house? He slides down the chimney.
:09:14. > :09:14.
:09:14. > :09:24.Have you got a chimney? Yes. don't think I have got a chimney.
:09:24. > :09:38.
:09:38. > :09:48.Everybody has got a chimney on "we want Santa!" Merry Christmas
:09:48. > :10:20.
:10:20. > :10:30.They still wanted additional cakes. A bit of sparkle on there. But with
:10:30. > :10:37.
:10:37. > :10:47.We sell the Bronze turkeys, they are the main ones we sell. We sell
:10:47. > :10:56.
:10:56. > :11:03.over 300 of those. About 15 of us Weren't the kids great? We have
:11:03. > :11:10.music at the end of the programme, this is Nancy and Jackie. You are
:11:10. > :11:15.called Heartbeat. Why? We sing from the heart. Based in Marple. I took
:11:15. > :11:20.over a year ago. We like to have fun, but we like to sing well as
:11:20. > :11:26.well. I know you are looking for new members, Jackie you are a
:11:26. > :11:34.relatively new member. Why? A the best thing I have ever done. Part
:11:34. > :11:44.of a news year's resolution yesterday. Get in touch with us, we
:11:44. > :11:46.
:11:46. > :11:50.will find two choirs in your area. Heartbeat .com. He really could not
:11:50. > :11:54.hear! Still to come on North West
:11:54. > :11:57.Tonight: Oh Come All Ye Rovers Faithful. As Blackburn fans protest
:11:57. > :12:03.at the training ground, big names come out in support of beleaguered
:12:03. > :12:08.boss Steve Kean.. It does not say a lot for our society when you see
:12:08. > :12:13.that kind of behaviour from fans. And searching out Santa, how
:12:14. > :12:16.Jodrell Bank is helping kids to spot his sleigh in the sky.
:12:16. > :12:20.Hundreds of servicemen and women from the North West will be
:12:20. > :12:23.celebrating Christmas thousands of miles from home in Afghanistan. At
:12:23. > :12:27.the biggest British base, Camp Bastion, the work won't stop.
:12:27. > :12:31.But thanks to friends and families here there will be a few home
:12:31. > :12:41.comforts. In the final part of our series, Naomi Cornwell's been
:12:41. > :12:48.
:12:48. > :12:53.finding out how they're spreading a The bar is dry, but there will be
:12:53. > :12:58.turkey on the table this Christmas. 3 1/2 tons of it is being flown in.
:12:58. > :13:02.Few here will get a chance to stop for more than a quick meal. It will
:13:02. > :13:09.be an operational day like any other on Christmas Day, but there
:13:09. > :13:12.will be a few home comforts. Back home the chefs at Aintree Hospital
:13:12. > :13:17.have been cooking up a Christmas cake for their colleagues in
:13:17. > :13:21.Afghanistan. Anything to change the day, to distract them from what
:13:21. > :13:30.they normally do and have a laugh. I think that makes a difference and
:13:30. > :13:40.I hope they enjoy the cake. Look at that! Thank you. We can fix
:13:40. > :13:41.
:13:41. > :13:45.him, we are a hospital. He is mended. Yes! In Liverpool, Father
:13:45. > :13:49.Christmas made an early appearance at this party for Merseyside
:13:49. > :13:56.territorial families. Some have had to explain why their father's will
:13:56. > :14:04.be a wave. You have had to explain why you will be a way. They have
:14:05. > :14:13.been very good, they understood the explanation, really. Merry
:14:13. > :14:18.Christmas and see you soon. Say "I love you.". Celia has become a
:14:18. > :14:28.grandmother for a second time since she has been away, but yet she has
:14:28. > :14:37.not met her young grandson. I know it is something she wants to do.
:14:37. > :14:40.Happy Christmas grandma. Big hugs and kisses to everybody. At the
:14:41. > :14:49.Post Office encamped Bastion they are delivering Christmas cheer to
:14:49. > :14:57.the front line. -- Camp Bastion. They don't notice really, but it
:14:57. > :15:03.does bring the morale up. My cousin works in the school in Burley, and
:15:03. > :15:08.we are getting Christmas jokes. Cheering us all up. It is fantastic.
:15:08. > :15:18.As it worked? It has. You realise how many people are thinking about
:15:18. > :15:24.you. Everyone here is thinking of home. I am sure I will not get a
:15:24. > :15:28.better meal than my mum's cooking, but happy Christmas and New Year.
:15:28. > :15:34.Happy Christmas and New Year from Afghanistan, hope you have a
:15:34. > :15:39.fantastic day and see you soon. my mum and dad to live in a Little
:15:39. > :15:47.St Annes, happy Christmas. -- Lytham St Anne's. Thanks to all of
:15:47. > :15:54.the support. And for all the merchandise sent to the boys.
:15:54. > :16:04.you to my a brand new granddaughter, I wish you all the best. Merry
:16:04. > :16:09.
:16:09. > :16:16.If you have missed any of the reports from Afghanistan you can
:16:16. > :16:22.see them all on our Facebook page. And we have more news on a lead
:16:22. > :16:32.story tonight. Lots of people are getting in touch to ask if they can
:16:32. > :16:33.
:16:33. > :16:43.donate. Yes you can, but please go to this website - www. Donna's
:16:43. > :16:51.
:16:51. > :16:57.dream house Dot UK. They will be Sports personality of the year last
:16:57. > :17:04.night was brilliant. -- Sports Personality Of The Year.
:17:04. > :17:11.Amir Khan was shortlisted. Beth Tweddle was there. Ricky Hatton was
:17:11. > :17:20.there. I spoke to Patrick Rae era. A lot of the Manchester City team
:17:20. > :17:30.that were there. Beth Tweddle said she did not
:17:30. > :17:31.
:17:31. > :17:36.recognise anybody! Mark Cavendish got 150,000 volts.
:17:36. > :17:41.Darren Clarke in second place only got 42,000 votes. The man they call
:17:41. > :17:44.The Manx Missile has had an incredible year. He won in the
:17:44. > :17:54.green jersey at the Tour de France and became the road-race world
:17:54. > :18:00.
:18:00. > :18:05.champion. Following in the footsteps of some
:18:05. > :18:08.of the most famous names in British sport. Even though he was the
:18:08. > :18:18.bookie's favourite, Mark Cavendish could not quite believe he turned
:18:18. > :18:21.
:18:21. > :18:28.out to be the people's favourites. I am speechless. After winning in
:18:28. > :18:37.front of a glittering array of sports stars his emotion was clear.
:18:37. > :18:47.But it is incredible. You are striving to achieve what you can in
:18:47. > :18:49.
:18:49. > :18:59.any sport. It has been bestowed upon me by the public. And this is
:18:59. > :19:00.
:19:00. > :19:03.what his mother said: You have worked so hard up right-to-life to
:19:03. > :19:11.achieve everything you have accomplished.
:19:11. > :19:18.Well done. He had 20 stage wins at the Tour de France and this year
:19:18. > :19:26.got the green jersey, followed by the road race world title.
:19:26. > :19:34.To be recognised at national and international level is marvellous.
:19:34. > :19:40.He is now planning a quiet family Christmas in the Isle of Man.
:19:40. > :19:44.The Manx Missile was not the only one celebrating. It was also a good
:19:44. > :19:48.night for a cricketer Jimmy Anderson. He was a key member of
:19:48. > :19:53.the England cricket team which won team of the year.
:19:53. > :19:56.Bob Champion that the jockey who recovered from cancer to win the
:19:56. > :20:04.Grand National on Aldaniti receive an award for his outstanding
:20:04. > :20:10.courage. I never dreamt I would get it. I love this show. It is the
:20:10. > :20:14.best show on TV. There are so many good sportsmen out there. I am a
:20:14. > :20:21.lucky man that was in the right place on the right horse at the
:20:21. > :20:25.right time. Thankfully I got over my disease.
:20:25. > :20:29.The Blackburn Rovers saga took a fresh twists today as supporters
:20:29. > :20:37.took a trip to the training ground. They say they were there to give
:20:37. > :20:41.the orders some stick. But while the owners remain distant in India,
:20:42. > :20:46.the manager remains at the ground and now has some powerful new
:20:46. > :20:55.friends. It is no surprise what the wish-
:20:55. > :21:00.list is - and you order under new manager. Sooner rather than later.
:21:00. > :21:05.We are very concerned. The existence of our club is being
:21:05. > :21:10.threatened. Steve Kean is a scapegoat, but he is not up to the
:21:10. > :21:16.job. But it is the fault of Venky's in the first place.
:21:16. > :21:21.The owners may have been in the main target, but sections of the
:21:21. > :21:27.crowd also taught to shreds Steve Kean on Tuesday. -- toured to
:21:27. > :21:34.shreds. I left at half-time. I could not believe the criticism
:21:34. > :21:39.they gave their manager. I have never seen something as bad as that.
:21:39. > :21:46.He has held his dignity well. fans may have teamed up with the
:21:46. > :21:54.local council and the local MP, but with the support of David Moyes and
:21:54. > :22:00.Alex Ferguson, Steve Kean has come out fighting. When you have
:22:00. > :22:07.experienced managers saying that you're doing a marvellous job, I
:22:07. > :22:10.listen to them. The fight for Blackburn's soul goes on. They play
:22:10. > :22:14.Liverpool and Manchester United over Christmas. It is how that
:22:14. > :22:20.plays on TV back in India which will probably decide whether or not
:22:20. > :22:25.he is shown the door. Liverpool's decision to wear T-
:22:25. > :22:31.shirts supporting Lily Slack is has been described as shameful by
:22:31. > :22:37.former or Manchester United player Paul McGrath.
:22:37. > :22:41.Paul McGrath says it is a big blow for football's and two races and
:22:41. > :22:47.campaign but Glen Johnson has said on Twitter he will support who he
:22:47. > :22:52.wants when he wants. Have you ever seen Santa?
:22:52. > :22:56.I have heard him. I thought I saw a book once.
:22:56. > :23:02.Lots of people will be gazing skywards tomorrow night hoping to
:23:02. > :23:07.catch a glimpse. Scientists at Jodrell Bank have been called in to
:23:07. > :23:12.help. Using the famous telescope there
:23:12. > :23:22.they are on alert to try and track any movement which will confirm
:23:22. > :23:26.
:23:26. > :23:31.just hope Father Christmas manages Searching disguise 24 hours per day.
:23:31. > :23:35.Now the scientists at Jodrell Bank or on the lookout for Santa. They
:23:35. > :23:40.are encountering some pro Michal -- some primitive life-forms along the
:23:40. > :23:48.way. There are many impostors.
:23:48. > :23:55.This is a search for the real thing. It is a radio telescope. It lets
:23:55. > :24:05.you see invisible things. You can see through clouds.
:24:05. > :24:11.
:24:11. > :24:18.One of the problems is Santa's I am not a scientist. That is
:24:19. > :24:28.correct! But even Ali man can understand this. A glass of milk
:24:29. > :24:30.
:24:30. > :24:40.and a mince pie. It is important that children watch
:24:40. > :24:55.
:24:55. > :25:05.out for any signs. They could be re Here is the weather: Santa will
:25:05. > :25:07.
:25:07. > :25:17.have to be quick to dodge the ream tomorrow. -- the rain.
:25:17. > :25:17.
:25:17. > :25:21.One or two showers trailing behind this afternoon.
:25:21. > :25:31.It will become drier through the night. For a time it will become
:25:31. > :25:31.
:25:31. > :25:41.clearer. There could be a touch of frost tomorrow morning. They could
:25:41. > :25:46.
:25:46. > :25:56.be some ice on untreated surfaces. Tomorrow there will be a lot of
:25:56. > :26:06.drizzly rain. The rain will become more widespread by the afternoon.
:26:06. > :26:09.
:26:09. > :26:19.There will also be a strong breeze. Tomorrow night the show was
:26:19. > :26:25.
:26:25. > :26:29.continue for a time. The biddies continues. -- the wind continues.
:26:29. > :26:39.Christmas the is a mixed picture. The wind will be strong. There will
:26:39. > :26:39.
:26:39. > :26:49.be no snow and no sunshine. Are you giving me might present?
:26:49. > :26:51.
:26:51. > :27:01.That is about et. Merry Christmas. We will review a carol sung live by
:27:01. > :27:28.
:27:28. > :27:33.Number signed Christmas is here # Merry Christmas # Merry Christmas