20/04/2012 North West Tonight

Good evening and welcome to a special edition of North West

Tonight, live from Liverpool, with Roger Johnson and Annabel Tiffin.

Tonight, we're quite literally following in the footsteps of

giants as the city celebrates its links to Titanic in dramatic

fashion. It's the start of a spectacular three-day event which

could be watched by more than a quarter of a million people. Coming

up tonight: Street theatre on the grandest

scale imaginable - the Sea Odyssey giants come alive in Liverpool.

Brilliant. Absolutely mega. It is amazing.

And the 10-year-old Liverpool girl, a tragic letter and the father who

never received it as he went down with Titanic - the real-life story

which inspired the event. Also in tonight's programme:

Security lapse at Aintree - the failed test in which plastic

explosives weren't spotted by a sniffer dog

Premiership pressure - the tense fight at the bottom of the table to

survive. And bringing Isabella into the

world - the new IVF technique it's We're here for a special evening in

Liverpool - an evening alive with giants. It's the spectacular Sea

Odyssey, and Roger's already making friends with one of the stars of

the show from the country's largest-ever street theatre event.

They reckoned 250,000 people will see this event. People are lining

either side, ready to see this amazing marionette turf. It is a

spectacular side. She has been out on the streets already along with

her dog. And her uncle as well, who is a diver. The whole thing it is

one of the more unusual things that we have ever reported on, a bit

like a spider you may remember her four years ago. But it is

spectacular. Following events today, with the uncle, who is now asleep

in Stanley Park, my colleague. That is right. Here is the diver, a

fast asleep. Not doing much. Nevertheless, hundreds of people

here to see Hempel stop the diver, the story is based on a true story,

a ten-year-old a goal from Liverpool. She send a letter to her

father on the Titanic. The diver is on a mission to send his reply to

the little girl. So here is how the day ends in Liverpool, but here is

how the gigantic adventure began this morning.

Asleep, snoring, mumbling. A chance little girl. Before 9am, people

wait for her to wake. It is good. It is amazing. It is a delight to

be head. The story is she is the daughter of a Titanic's stowaway,

looking for her uncle who has a letter for her. School children

addressed in Titanic costume. Then, the music blares, the puppeteers

are right, and it begins. -- arrived. It is strangely moving.

The little girl's dog is an immediate favourite. And the girl

who wanted the giant to wash get her wish. Then, she is off.

Brilliant. Absolutely mega. I think it is marvellous. Outside Anfield,

she puts on a red and blue football scarf, and the dog gives rights to

the kids. Now, here is her uncle, who has spent 100 years walking

across the seabed from the wreck of the Titanic to deliver a letter

If he was actually not a puppet, I would have been so scared that he

would squash my. Diver and gold start a quest to find each other,

an emotional reunion sometime, somewhere, this weekend.

Now, her uncle may be having a little snooze, but the girl is

making steady strides through the city, a little bit slower than we

had anticipated. But everyone is waiting eagerly for her rival. She

should be arriving very soon where Roger is. In total, we reckon these

giants will cover 23 miles of this city over the next three days, and

if you want to come down here, be warned there will be some road

closures, and therefore traffic disruption. It may be wise to check

out the website first. If you cannot get down here, listen to

Radio Merseyside. They will be coming live from here tomorrow

evening, and then again on Sunday morning. You'll be able to listen

to it all then. We will be back in a few minutes. But now it

Good evening. It's emerged that undercover police officers managed

to smuggle plastic explosives on to Aintree racecourse during last

week's Grand National Festival, despite the tight security. A

sniffer dog failed to spot the Semtex which was driven on to the

site as part of a covert test Care workers have staged a

demonstration in Burnley in protest at proposed wage cuts.

On duty to protect racegoers, was a security firm. They are also in

charge of this summer's Olympics. Sniffer dogs like this one were on

duty at Aintree, but over the festival weekend, a policeman

managed to smuggle plaster of explosives into the ground, and the

dog failed to spot anything was wrong. In a statement, the company

confirmed the dog had a failed the test, but said three others have

identified the explosives. They said the dog had previously had a

very good track record, and had passed a number of assessments.

However, dogs can make mistakes, which is why they are only one of

the measures we used. It is less than 100 days until the Olympics.

Very soon, the time for testing will be over, and with the eyes of

the world on the games, there will be no room for mistakes.

Care workers have staged a demonstration in Burnley at protest

of wage cuts. The former NHS workers, who are now employed by a

charity Alternative Futures Group, say many will have to leave the

profession for better paid work. The charity, which supports people

with learning disabilities, says it has to save �5 million. Carers say

losing experienced staff will affect services. Without continuity

of care, you will get poor service, temporary staff. And staff who are

only there for the shore or. We are committed carers. We are in it for

the long haul. Sir Richard Branson has urged the

FA to look again at the timing of next month's FA Cup Final so

Liverpool football fans won't be left stranded in London. The owner

of Virgin Rail says the firm has cancelled all but three of their

services between Liverpool and the capital on the day of the game

because of long-planned track improvements. Sir Richard says the

FA were told of these plans and of the impacts of a late kick off, but

chose to ignore the advice of Virgin Trains.

A play opens in Bury tonight hours after the author appealed against

her deportation from the UK. Playwright Lydia Besong and her

husband Bernard are asylum seekers from Cameroon. Today, supporters

staged a demonstration outside a tribunal. They'll be told if their

appeal's been successful in a few weeks' time. They are part of a

group who are banned, and they were imprisoned and tortured. Lydia was

raped by a guard. So, they came to greet -- Britain seeking asylum.

For the past 20 years, there has been very little improvement in IVF

treatments. But clinicians using a new technique here in Manchester

say their success rates have increased by more than 40%. The

treatment could offer new hope for those struggling to conceive.

From this to this. Having him is wonderful. It is everything me

under dad ever wanted. German and Simon were left distraught when

they were told they could not conceive naturally. It wasn't earth

shattering day for us both. Everything we ever wanted to was a

family, and to be told we could not do that want our own was difficult.

But thanks to new techniques carried out here in Manchester,

they are now proud parents to daughter Isabella. Everything has

changed. Life will never be the same again! Old priorities thrown

out of the window. Normally, during IVF treatment, embryos are desert -

- observed once a day. But cameras can take multiple photos. If you

compare standard incubation, or we might have five observations. With

the Empress cope, we have 1,500 images. And we can make an informed

decision on which embryo is the most viable. The clinics say this

could offer new hope to couples across third country.

Sport now, and a group of Manchester City fans are raising a

petition to keep Roberto Mancini as manager next season even if the

club fails to win the Premier League title. They've launched an

internet campaign called Respect Roberto Mancini following

speculation he could be replaced by Jose Mourinho. City travel to

Wolves on Sunday while United face Everton at Old Trafford. United are

five points ahead, but former United striker Andy Ritchie says

the title race isn't over. When you look at the Games Manchester United

have got left, they have got Swansea, Everton, and Sunderland

away on the last day of the season, they will be saying, we have to

make sure we get full points from them, because there is a little

Derby in the middle! Detention is perhaps even greater -

Blackburn, Bolton and Wigan are locked in a battle to stay up.

After a terrific run of form, Wigan are five points above the drop zone.

Bolton are third from bottom and have two games in hand. Blackburn

At the moment we have a huge belief and huge confidence. We have

decided our own fate, Irish-owned estimate. It is not only this one

that we must win, there are games now that we have to win. Recently,

there was a more relaxed feeling here. Recent results have turned

that on its turf. -- on its head. So what and two could make the

difference? For Rovers, Yakubu is crucial. They are very important.

Bolton have shared the goals around, their manager says their task is

simple. When we bring it all together as we have done many times

before, we can be a real fortress. For Wigan, Victor Moses has been

grabbing the headlines. He is important, when you have got 12 or

13 nationalities in the dressing room you need strong figures to get

the group together. He does a great Very tense. Blackpool could secure

their place in the play-offs tomorrow as they tried to bounce

back into the Premier League. On Tuesday, they beat Leeds. Tomorrow

they face a Lancashire derby against Burnley. Even if Blackpool

lose, they will still be in the play-offs if Middlesbrough fail to

beat Southampton. Rochdale will be relegated in Division One unless

they win at Chesterfield. In Division Two, Macclesfield a close

to losing their Football League status. They cannot be relegated

tomorrow, but they really need to beat Bradford City.

A group of Northwich Victoria fans are planning a protest tomorrow

following the news that the group - - Club is to be kicked out of their

league. The League says it has failed to pay money to its

creditors. Supporters are planning a peaceful protest.

There are hundreds of people lining the streets in Liverpool to see the

Thousands are here. This is the first of the giants coming along.

The anticipation is almost killing does. The little girl we have been

telling you about is just a short distance behind. We are going to

talk to Annabel for a minute and The production is all been brought

alive by the renowned French street theatre company, Royal de Luxe.

Their inspiration is the story of a Liverpool girl called May McMurray.

It is a tragic and fascinating story and it has links to the

sinking of the Titanic exactly 100 This is the real little girl who

inspired a giant. May McMurray. In 1912 she lived in Kensington in

Liverpool. Her father was a first- class steward on the Titanic. She

wrote a letter to him at which was to become history. It is very

beautifully written and just from her words you can tell she is

missing her father. She is counting down the days until he returns.

Sadly, he never read it. By the time her letter reached the

headquarters, of the Titanic was already sinking and the letter was

returned to sender. It may would never see her father again. May's

nephew says that his grandfather died air hero. My grandfather was

manning a lifeboat with an officer. The officer decided to say to my

grandfather that they needed extra effort, he did that and he never

came back. This tragic tale, at least in Liverpool this weekend,

has a happier ending. May's son-in- law says that she would have

approved. She would have been delighted. But she never have

talked about it. She would be tickled pink. If only she could

have seen it. You can see the 30 ft-high little

girl just behind. It is absolutely amazing. Look at all the people

from the company in France who have made it happen. They are moving

these giant marionettes as they come forward. A little boy has come

out to stroke the dog. What do you make of it? It is lovely! Of I saw

the spider a couple of years ago which was amazing. How does it

compare with the spider? I saw the UN call this morning and that was

breathtaking, just the scale of it. -- the uncle. It is great to see so

many people out on the streets. Are you star-struck? Absolutely

incredible. A look at the little boy on the back. He is not afraid

of being on the television. Absolutely terrific. They are

making their way down the street. The little girl, 30 ft high, you

heard the story that links all of this to the Titanic. The Titanic is

inextricably linked to Liverpool, having carried the city's name on

its turn on its ill-fated voyage all those years ago.

They are getting very excited over here because we know it is not very

far away from us. We cannot quite see them just yet. We have been

following it may's footsteps through her long journey and

joining me now is that Jillian Kearney, the actress as. There is a

special documentary on Wednesday night. It is called Liverpool's

Titanic Girl. We went to France and met the director of C show. He told

us all about his vision. It is fantastic. How have you managed to

see heard today? Yes, we woke up with her this morning. We also met

the diver, who is her uncle. dog is turning out to be the star

of the show. He really years. sure I just saw him cocking his leg,

did I imagine that? Yes, he does do that. He drinks and he shakes!

this documentary follows her right the way through because it is a

tragic story. It is a very poignant story. At May McMurray lived 100

years ago and she was a little girl who wrote a letter to her father.

It did not reach him and it was returned to sender. The director

saw the letter in the Maritime Museum and he created the dot of

May. The diver is meant to be her uncle who brings her the letter

back. Thank you. We are just going to get a look at what the weather

Hello. We have had a lot of a slow- moving showers through this

afternoon and it will continue over the weekend. You can see sunny

spells, some sunny spells, and I am afraid a lot of heavy showers over

the weekend. There will also be some hail. Today we have had a lot

of cloud around. You can see this area of low pressure sticking

around this weekend. It tries to drift away on Sunday but then

slowly drifts back. For Monday there is no let up. Slow pressure

is still in charge and bringing you plenty of heavy shower was. --

heavy showers. I saw some big hailstones this afternoon in

Greater Manchester, but as we head into this evening I think the

showers will ease away and hopefully leave you with a night

which should be mostly dry. There will be some clear skies in between

patchy clouds. Also, in terms of temperatures, it is not so bad. It

will be four or five Celsius. For the weekend, sunshine and heavy

showers. Tomorrow we will start of mostly dry and then the showers

will pile in. The showers will be very slow moving because we have

this westerly breeze bringing the showers in. They could be thunder

and maybe Hale. Highs of 10 or 11 Celsius tomorrow. This is the

picture for Sunday. It is not so bad for Sunday, 12 Celsius, won a

two showers. But Monday is not pretty. Rain will slowly drift in

from the Atlantic on Monday and it looks as if the rest of April could

be a bit of a washout. These are Roger has made it here very quickly

and we can just see the dog over our shoulder. It is really

spectacular. Let's talk to Wendy Simon who is the Cabinet member for

tourism and culture on Liverpool City Council. It is spectacular.

is fantastic, the day has been brilliant. The crowds have been out

on the street all day. Crowds have been waking -- waiting for her to

go to sleep. This is great that Liverpool should get at two events

like this. Yes, the other event in 2008 was fantastic as well. This is

building on the legacy of this event. But I think that people are

more emotionally attached to bits. They really relate to the girl and

the dog. They are really working the puppets well. We have to ask

you at a time when the council is having to make cuts, it this has

cost over �1 million in taxpayers' money to put this on, can you

justify it? The cost of the event has not been borne by the city

Council, just a small proportion of it. The private sector and public

organisations have contributed. You can see the cloud -- crowds at here

today and you can see the lift that this is giving them. People see

that Liverpool is alive and it is open for business. It offsets what

the council tax payers may have put in. For every pound that we spend

we get more money back. We're expecting over a quarter of a

million people here and the hotels are full. The image it gives us as

a region is fantastic. Thank you. I hope it stays dry. This event

will go on all over the week. Check the website for any road closures.

You can check out what is going on on our late bulletin tonight. Don't

forget the special programme on Wednesday evening, here on BBC One