09/08/2013 North West Tonight

Tonight with Jayne McCubbin. And Roger Johnson. Our top story. Was

Minnetta et down on her deathbed? Carers criticise the treatment of

one of the country's oldest people. Never ever have I come across such a

bad service, which is opposed to provide a service to vulnerable

people. We will here for Daschle from a charity who says carefully

elderly is in crisis. Also in the programme. The convicted bigamist,

awaiting sentence after being caught on Facebook, tells us why he didn't

divorce. Rubbish is piling up in Liverpool because of a strike from

street cleaners about possible redundancies. Facing extinction. Why

this local might not be seen in Lancashire for much longer.

Remembering one of the Beatles most extraordinary concerts. How they

were smuggled into this park for the Urmston Show at the height of

country, Minnetta Webb, died in the early hours of this morning. She was

107. Two weeks ago we reported how her family had been threatened with

arrest after taking her out of hospital, insistent she would spend

her final days at home. Which she did. Well, after that threat,

Manchester Social Services agreed that the right place for Minnetta

WAS at home. They promised on this programme to review her care. So did

they? Well, a new care package was agreed. Just hours before her death.

In a minute, we'll hear from Age UK on the impact of cuts to care

budgets. First this. Minnetta Webb died peacefully in the early hours.

Her family by her side. They were too upset to appear on camera today.

But her carers were not. I've worked in many fields of the care industry

and never ever have I come across such appalling behaviour via service

that supposed to provide a service to vulnerable people, the caring

industry. The family had gone through hell over the last couple of

months. They needed to fight what was right. They have been given

nothing. A month ago Minnetta was here. Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The hospital used a controversial power to try and keep her in, in her

best medical interests. But the family were insistent she should

come home. And when they did, they were accused of abduction and

threatened with arrest. Right now, Manchester Social Services has to

make �40 million of cuts. Two weeks ago, they promised to review

Minnetta's care. They said the situation had nothing to do with

money. But no new care package was agreed. Until yesterday. That was

when a GP agreed Minnetta was dying. At that point, the NHS pays for what

is now deemed medical care. Not social care. Her family were offered

24-hour care from a team of on-call carers. The family declined, wanting

Minnetta's own familiar carers. This was accepted. Hours later the great

great grandmother died. I think they wanted to put Minnetta into a

residential home. I think it's because of the funding. It's a

cheaper option. To do that for her, it would have been cheaper than

having carers at home. I'm totally disgusted with them, how they have

treated Minnetta. In a statement from Age UK who told me cases like

this were increasing. It is. It has grown worse over the past couple of

years. Due to restrictions on local government funding. And what we're

finding is that particularly people with slightly lower levels of need,

to avoid being isolated for example, aren't getting it. We're talking

about not low-level care, but Minnetta was in her final days. The

council say this is not about money. But do you think there is any

evidence that, even in those extreme need situations, carers are harder

to come by? That's always been the case local authorities are reluctant

to provide older people with expensive care packages at home.

They prefer people to go into care homes. That's often to do with

savings. Even social services here tell me this is difficult. Who pays

what, when? It's very complicated. Is there any help people out there

to navigate their way through this? They ought to be. It depends on

locality. What would've happened to the lady if she had had no family or

relatives to fight her corner? That's often the case with older

people. Stephen Lowe from aid UK, thank you very much for your time. A

man awaiting sentence for bigamy has told North West Tonight he's sorry

for what he's done. Brian Frain married two women at Tameside in

Greater Manchester ten years apart without getting divorced. He's one

of only four people prosecuted for the offence in this region in the

last two years. This week he pleaded guilty and today he spoke to our

Chief Reporter Dave Guest. This is Brian Frain marrying his second

wife, unfortunately, he was still married to wife number one at the

time. Both ceremonies took place at this town Hall ten years apart. You

were in the registry office where you had been married ten years

earlier. You knew you'd never got a divorce. Did anything ring inside

your head to say it was a problem? It was in 1999, I thought it would

just be, like, dissolved, the marriage but my first wife. He says

that's because his first wife and he separated after just a few months.

But that first wife tracked him down through Facebook and wanted a

divorce so she could remarry. And then she saw this picture on the

social networking site. It landed Brian Frain in court on bigamy

charges which excepted. You tell the court your first wife knew about the

second wife but the judge described you as a liar. Yes, he did.Do you

feel any regrets? Yes, I feel regret doing it. I should've gone down the

right channels. He now lives with his new partner Donna on the east

coast and she says she will stand by him no matter what. He's not tried

to deny any of it and excuse himself from it, so he's held his hands up.

Because got found out. He genuinely didn't know, you generally didn't

know he was still married. bigamy, whilst rare, is still a

serious one according to lawyers. terms of his excuse, he didn't

realise that he wasn't divorced, I'm afraid ignorance of the low is no

excuse. -- law. In a month from now, Brian Frain will leave Cleethorpes

to face a Crown Court judge and discover what his sentence will be.

The maximum penalty for bigamy is seven years in jail. Brian Frain

says, whatever his punishment, he is now ready to accept it.

Some more of today's news now. The Liverpool footballer Raheem Sterling

has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend after an incident Huyton

in Knowsley last night. Sterling appeared at Liverpool Magistrates

earlier today and pleaded not guilty to assaulting Shanna Halliday.

Friends and family of Linzi Ashton, who was found dead at her home in

Salford, said their final farewells at her funeral this lunchtime.

Hundreds of mourners wore pink and released balloons with a message

attached in memory of the 25-year-old mother-of-two. Michael

Cope has been charged with her murder. Thousands of people have

been attending the Isle of Man's Royal Agricultural Show. The two-day

farming celebration showcases the best in Manx farming, produce and

crafts. Animals from across the island will be entered in

competitions. The other attractions include stunt shows. Rubbish is

beginning to pile up in Liverpool because of industrial action by

street cleaners and refuse collectors. The workers are in

dispute with the company, AMEY, which runs the cleaning services

under a contract from Liverpool Council. AMEY says it's offering the

unions a pay rise above the national agreed rate. But workers say the

company's refusing to negotiate. Here's our Merseyside Reporter, Andy

Gill. Overflowing, filthy and unhygienic. Bins in Liverpool city

centre haven't been emptied since 4am When street cleaners began a

24-hour strike. There's some sympathy for the workers. And some

disgust at the effect of their action. All the money that's been

spent in Liverpool, reinvested, it's a shame. It's absolutely disgusting,

all the rubbish today. The people should take it home instead of

throwing it all over the place. not good in peak tourism time.

contractor AMEY is offered less than 2% and the unions have concerns they

may be up to 60 compulsory redundancies among the street

cleaning staff. Street cleaners were picketing the contractor's depot

today. We won't accept any compulsory redundancies whatsoever.

The company are failing to talk to us. We've asked for talks with the

company since Monday. In a statement But they are on a work to rule. And

that means a backlog. These bins in south Liverpool should haven been

emptied on Tuesday. Another one-day street cleaning strike is scheduled

next Friday. Two years on from the rioting which broke out in the

region, Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner says the

government needs to do more to tackle problem families. A panel set

up to look at the causes and solutions gave 63 recommendations,

but only 11 have been accepted by the coalition. The main argument is

please tell us if you intend acting on these recommendations, because

they have not responded to the report. The government's response

has ignored the recommendations of the panel. Now, that's silly. Maybe

the government doesn't agree with everything so let's have a public

debate. The government says it hopes to electrify the rail line linking

the Lake District and the West Coast mainline within the next three

years. Upgrading the ten miles of track between Windermere and

Oxenholme will cost �16 million. Engineers are installing the final

pieces of a temporary bridge across the River Weaver in Cheshire that

will carry 20,000 vehicles a day. It's part of a multi-million pound

restoration of the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge and has been built to

help reduce disruption for drivers. The temporary bridge will open to

traffic in September. Complaints about maggots in a bin and a man

wanting "pregnancy pills" are just some of the 999 calls that Greater

Manchester Police have dealt with in the last few months. The force says

the number it received went up by 19% in July and nuisance calls could

stop them getting to real emergencies. Elaine Dunkley has this

report. Good afternoon, can I help Police deals with over 4,000 calls.

Some are real emergencies but increasingly operators are having to

no other way to describe it. They are not even calls for the police.

The month of July has seen an increase in this sort of call. And

it's having a serious impact on police getting to genuine

emergencies. If you are ringing 999 four something like, I can't get

through to Dancing On Ice, my girlfriend is on Facebook and I

can't get a hair off, those silly calls coming to the police. If you

tie up the line, and someone has a real need for the police, they won't

get through to us. Police are reminding residents to only ring 999

if there is an immediate threat to life or property. Or if a crime is

in progress. To report less urgent crimes, members of public should

dial 101. Bonkers. They are one of our rarest birds of prey and used to

be found in Lancashire. But now the RSPB has warned that hen harriers

are on the brink of extinction. For the first time since the 1960s,

breeding pairs have failed to produce any chicks. Ahead of the

grouse shooting season, which starts on Monday, the charity has accused

gamekeepers of deliberately shooting hen harriers to protect the grouse.

Naomi Cornwell reports. I've been watching the hen harriers for nearly

40 years. They have a very graceful gliding flight, low over the ground

when they are hunting and they can twist and turn on a sixpence.

birdspotters like Tony haven't seen any Hen Harriers here for a while.

We keep detailed computerised records and if we look at the

records each year, we can see how the number increased and in the last

few years, decreased quite dramatically. This part of

Lancashire will be busy next week as parties come to shoot grouse. But

the RSPB fears that gamekeepers trying to protect those grouse

numbers could be targeting the hen harriers. They are being shot

because they will take grouse. We haven't had any breeding hen

harriers so we are deeply concerned about that. This has always been a

stronghold for hen harriers. Today the British Association for Shooting

and Conservation told us it condemns any illegal persecution of any bird

of prey. And will not tolerate such behaviour from its members. Adding

that the dynamics of the hen harrier population are complex. And it's too

simplistic to point to an absence of nesting pairs as proof of

persecution. In many areas, gamekeepers and conservationists are

working together. But the RSPB has warned that the actions of a few

could be jeopardising the survival that is already up and running. The

Premier League is still a week away. Are we going to hear the end of Luis

Suarez? It's an ongoing saga but the owner says he's not going anywhere.

Sorry to talk about it again. He has left himself much room for

manoeuvre. This is what John Henry said. "Suarez won't be sold, even if

a foreign club comes in, because we do not have time to sign a suitable

replacement". The head of of the PFA Gordon Taylor also said it's

practically impossible for the Uragauyan to leave Anfield in this

transfer window. Suarez is currently training alone after trying to force

through a transfer. Wayne Rooney is also linked with a move away, with

Chelsea bidding for him. Is that a distraction for manager David Moyes

ahead of this weekend's Community Shield? Yes, it's been a distraction

for him, Jane. We don't expect him to play in the community Shield

against Wigan but it hasn't gone to plan for United in the transfer

market. Their key target Cesc Fabregas says he's staying at

Barcelona but a man who is observed David Moyes up close this summer has

been impressed by what he seen. dealt with it well, enjoyed his time

away with the players. Enjoyed the opportunity to begin to feel what

are being manager of Manchester United is about and you get that

when you go abroad because it can be a bit crazy. Next in Moyes' diary is

that 2.00pm kick-off at Wembley on Sunday. Another big occasion for

their opponents. FA Cup holders Northern Soul music, Wigan seemed to

discover its football identity with that magnificent FA Cup win in May.

And now the man whose has put his heart and soul into the club is a

pairing for another proud day at Wembley and only the Premier League

champions stand in their way. For another bit of history. We can

celebrate we won the FA Cup and we are playing the great Manchester

united so our lads will enjoy it. It's going to be a great day. Go on

the pitch, and enjoy yourself. proud moment for you as well?

magnificent moment for town of Wigan, yes. Wigan 's squad has been

strengthened by the arrival of ten new signings, the latest James

McLean, from Sunderland. We've tried to do some good business and, given

what we will cope with the season in terms of the games, the Europa

league, the community Shield, the domestic cup, addition, we are set

for huge programme. Wigan sold 6000 tickets for the community Shield on

Sunday but it shows where the priority lies for supporters.

tickets are the same as last season and they took a healthy following of

more than 2500 to the opening game at Barnsley. A number of that will

sell before Sunday. They've got behind the club and it's fantastic.

Regardless if you are the biggest club or not, you have the fans who

want to see the team playing at a good level, quality football.

won't be another victory parade if they win the committee Shield but

for the chairman, it will certainly put a shine on a remarkable few

months. Manchester United kick off tonight when they host Seville in a

testimonial for Rio Ferdinand. The pick of tomorrow's Football League

matches is Bolton-Reading in the Championship. Wanderers play a

number of promotion favourites in their first six games. But that's

fine by the boss. These teams I believe are very strong. We have got

to make sure that the ambition shown by these teams are matched by our

ambition in signing players and the desire on the picture will tell us

that. Rugby league now. Wigan Warriors welcome a number of key

players back into the squad as they try to regain top spot in Super

League tonight. Sam Tomkins, Pat Richards, Liam Farrell and Gil

Dudson all return after missing last week's win over Hull KR for the

visit of current leaders Huddersfield. The Giants have a

point lead over Shaun Wane's side at the top of the table. And there will

be full match commentary from the DW Stadium on BBC Radio Manchester from

8.00pm. Finally from me, good luck to Chester FC who are back in the

Conference after three successive promotions. They start their season

at Barnet tomorrow. Good to see them back. It's a great example of the

fans refusing to give up on their clever. Have they still got a

sloping pitch at Barnet? I think, they do, yes. On the Hill.

Thanks very much. They played at Shea Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl.

Performed for huge audiences in Hamburg and Tokyo. The world had

never seen anything quite like the Beatles. Less well known is their

appearance at the Urmston Show exactly 50 years ago. It's an

extraordinary story. Stuart Flinders is in Urmston to tell us all about

it. Autograph hunters were out in force when the Beatles were there.

Stewart has been signing a few. right, thanks very much. There's a

band rehearsing for tomorrow's concert to mark the anniversary of

the Beatles are parents here. What an extraordinary story. 1962, the

organisers of the Urmston Show booked this up-and-coming band the

Beatles to play here and they said, next, do you fancy coming back and

they said, yes, we will do, but in the next 12 months, Beatlemania

really kicks in and the question is, will they honour their contract?

They did and it turned out to be a heck of a day. There's some flash

photography coming up in minutes time. Preparations for an

anniversary concert in Abbotsfield Park. It was here in 1962 that a

little-known band called The Beatles performed at the Urmston Show. By

the time they returned a year later and tried to disengage them from the

contract to appear. The council insisted they honour the contract.

It is a myth that they were smuggled in in a council dustcart. I can say

that was not the case. They got changed in a shared on the parks

premises across the road from the park and were then driven over in a

van. The stage for tomorrow's concert is being built exactly where

the Beatles performed 50 years ago and on that occasion it was all too

much for some. My sister said I fainted and got taken out but I

don't remember that. I was stood right in front of Paul McCartney all

night, so close, all I could see was his legs. I saw the bottom half with

legs and that was it. It was brilliant. This weekend the Beatles

are back. Well, a tribute band anyway. Amongst the other

performers, Rain Band. They performed at Glastonbury this year

with the Rolling Stones. Now they get to play with The Beatles on the

very spot where it's thought they performed their latest song, weeks

before its release. It's difficult to find details of the set list but

I think it's coming out a fortnight before, any band would tell you they

would at least have a couple of outings, so maybe it was played

here. The Beatles were too busy to return the following August. They

were performing at the Hollywood Bowl. Pauline was there on that

incredible day. What do you remember? It is very exciting. Of

course, the show was very big event. You told me earlier they were

appearing in the dark tent? Yes, there was Gymkhana, rabbits, all

sorts of things. Did they go to the pub beforehand? Somebody told they

went to the Bird in hand. Maybe it was a landlord who said that?

probably was, actually. They were all in their, in their original

beetle suits. It was brilliant. We had the tremor lows, and quite a lot

of us remember them. Very exciting. It must've been an incredible

atmosphere and a day to remember. Thank you for joining us and you can

relive us that this tomorrow at the show which is on all weekend. Sounds

like it's going to be pretty good. Thank you for that, Stuart. They

Saturday night. Today, well, it didn't really get going. Some places

saw some good sunshine but for most of us, more cloud cover than you

would like and at times, it's been fairly blustery out and about and

it's felt fairly cool. The forecast that doesn't change too much from

that. Showers from time to time and it is going to get a little bit

cooler. As we start the working week, next week, we could see

temperatures of only 16 degrees. Remember, earlier in June and July,

it is up to 30 degrees, so it's not what you want. A rain band on

Saturday night and Sunday night but it's all about our wind direction,

north-westerly 's, bringing showers and cooling things off. After a

breezy day today, the wind eases down tonight. A very settled affair.

You could once again see temperatures around 8-9dC but for

towns and cities, 12-13. Tomorrow morning, cloud cover for many places

but it's not long before it starts to break up. Brighter skies come

through every now and then. There's a risk of showers and the most part,

they will stay away. There is a risk of showers. You might be lucky and

dodge them, but as you head to the afternoon, one or two places will

see some. It's not brilliantly warmer. 18-19 at the very best. The

rain pushes in Saturday evening through to Sunday morning. Then we

are back to that combination of patchy cloud, sunny spells,

scattered showers but look at the this from 26th of July which you

bought in Bolton or Blackpool, the millionaire raffle, there are two