15/08/2013 North West Tonight

It's goodbye from me and on BBC One, we

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and Jayne

McCubbin. Our top story: The city with a drink problem, where one in

57 people is taken to hospital because of serious alcohol misuse.

It's a very slow and insidious progression, if you like. Day by

day, my life got slowly worse. Eight of the ten worst areas in the

country are here in the North West — experts say we need to act now.

Also tonight: On A—Level Results day, university applications up.

Apprenticeships up even more. The young people heading straight to

work. Ten years of the Typhoon — The

Lancashire—built planes celebrating a decade in the sky.

Lambert ! Dream debut. He was always heading for the top. Memories from

those who grew up with England's new star striker. Here's just a

down—to—earth bloke, and I think it just shows you that good guys can

succeed, good guys can win, because Rickie Lambert is just a genuinely

nice person. And it may be raining heavily now in

Southport, but it was a perfectly dry start to the 84th flower show.

Join me later for a look around. Last year, one in every 57 people in

Salford were admitted to hospital because of serious problems related

to alcohol misuse, the highest in the country. Compare that to

Berkshire, where one in every 380 were. Yes, the region is putting

more of a strain on NHS services because of alcohol misuse than

anywhere else in the country. Last year, £400 million was spent

treating alcohol related conditions in the region. So why are problems

so much worse here? Here's our health correspondent Nina Warhurst.

It's just casualties of the disease of alcoholism, really. It's a common

misconception that something happens that makes somebody drink too much.

For thousands like Chris, alcohol is the cause, and alcohol alone. It's a

very slow, insidious progression, if you like. Day by day, my life got

slowly worse. You can't tell. It it's like the hand of the clock. You

can't see them move, you can't see it on a day by day basis, but on a

year by year basis, I could. With help starting with the NHS, Chris

stopped drinking. But here in Salford in the space of the year,

one in every 57 people were treated for serious problems caused solely

by alcohol. These figures don't include people who say have a nasty

fall or have started a fight because they have been drunk, these are

serious long—term conditions like liver disease, mental health

problems and ethanol poisoning. Have a look around you on your boss, in

your office, at a football match. One in 57 people is a loss. Compare

that one in 57 to the national average of one in 140. And look at

this — in the top places where admissions are higher because of

alcohol misuse, eight of them are in our region, including Liverpool,

like pool and Blackburn. Research shows that it is not necessarily how

much you drink, but your capacity to cope with drinking too much. Less

secure financial conditions, within community that suffer greater levels

of crime and undress, and that all impact on our health. Evening

drinking the same amount will have a worse effect on the reading? It does

seem that way, yes. Minimum prices have now been rejected, but problems

and housing, and crime need to be later if we are to stop alcohol

causing more damage in the north—west than anywhere else in

England. So that is interesting, it is not

that we're necessarily drinking more, the secondary factors, being

able to cope. That's it, the secondary and even surgery factors.

The research, there were 160 areas across England looked at. There was

only one from the north—west that was in the bottom half, and that was

central gesture, which is really shocking. Research has gone beyond

secondary factors like unemployment and poverty, and now it is looking

more at why people don't have the desire to control a drinking, why

they don't feel there is a link to stop drinking or, so it is more

about aspirations and mental health and dealing with those causes. It is

far more complicated than dealing with the physical symptoms.

Other news from around the North West now, and detectives

investigating the murder of a mum—of—three from Manchester have

spent the day carrying out a detailed search. Officers are

focusing their investigations around a lay—by off the A1 near Thirsk in

Yorkshire. 25—year—old Rania Alayed's body has never been found.

She disappeared from her home in July. Searches are likely to

continue for a number of weeks. Police in Lancashire have released

CCTV footage of a 14—year—old girl who is missing from her home in

Ingol. Shelby Smith was seen at Preston railway station at ten to

four on Tuesday afternoon. She was last seen by her mother in the city

centre on Monday. In this picture, she's seen within 19—year—old man

who police believe she may be with all stop.

An environmental campaigner from Greater Manchester who scaled

Europe's highest building has been charged with aggravated trespass.

Alison Garrigan, who's 27, was one of six women who climbed The Shard

last month to protest against oil and gas drilling in the Arctic. The

Greenpeace protestor will appear before magistrates in London on

August 29th. In the last few hours, a farmer from

Chester has told is of his relief that only one of his cows has tested

positive for bovine TB. We spoke to Richard Fair, who runs Brookside

Farm in Poulton, on Monday's North West Tonight. Six results are

inconclusive. The herd will now have to be tested at 60—day intervals

until all results come back clear. Work has begun in early on a 2.3

million redevelopment of the railway station. It is part of plans to

reinstate a faster rail route between East Lancashire and

Manchester. The new station is being built ahead of the reopening of the

Todmorden Curve, a section of track which, when in use, will cut travel

time to Manchester by half. It is hoped the new station will open in

March. And a rock and roll marathon is

coming to Liverpool. Runners will be encouraged by live bands performing

at each mile of the route followed by a post—race concert at the finish

line. The Rock and Roll Liverpool Marathon and Half Marathon will be

held in May next year. Right. A—levels. Big day today. More

students in the North West have applied to university this year than

last, but that number is still down compared to two years ago, when

tuition fees were much lower. Roger's here with more.

Thank you very much. Two years ago, almost 69,000 people here in the

North West applied to go to university. Back then, tuition fees

were no more than £3,000 a year. Then, last year, they went up to a

maximum of £9,000. And look at what that did to the number of people

here choosing to study at university. Down from almost 69,000

to just under 63,000, a drop of almost 9%. This year, current

estimates suggest the number has risen slightly, to just over 64,000,

but it's still less than two years ago. So are students thinking twice

about further study, and what does that mean for our universities?

Here's Naomi Cornwell. Around the region, envelopes were

nervously opened this morning. And lots of you have been sending us

your celebration photos. I got to As and to degrade. I got a, B and B,

and I am carrying on. I am happy. A drop in the number of university

applications last year coincided with the increase in tuition fees,

but students at Canon Slade School in Bolton told us today that hasn't

put them off going to university. No, not really. If I want to go, I

go. I don't think it was me off, because looking towards the

long—term. £9,000 is a lot of money, but with student loan schemes

we have to help is, it is possible to do.

And many of the region's universities have seen an increase

in demand for places this year. At Chester University, applications

were up by 12%. At Edge Hill, they increased by 10%, and at Manchester

University there was a small rise of 2%. But others have bucked the

trend. Blackpool and the Fylde College, for example, saw

applications for its university courses fall by 7% this year. At

Bolton University's clearing centre, the work to match students with

courses began this morning. They have around the same number of

places left to fill as this time last year. There are a few tears

sometimes, but hopefully positive resolution is reached and there will

be smiles at the end. If you lose places, you lose money. That the

standard pattern across the country, the way the government set

it up, and clearly every university is concerned about money because

they want to invest in education. But to make sure it stays that way,

this is the kind of thing Bolton University students will be studying

in future. To compete with other universities and try to attract more

applicants, they're offering a degree in motorsport technology.

Students will be part of a fully functioning racing team. People can

be analysing whatever we're doing on track, whatever track whereat, Le

Mans or wherever in Europe quite often. They will be doing the thing

back here as though it is a Formula one base. They might not all end up

at Le Mans, but thousands will be hoping their results today will fast

track them to a job in the let's pick up on vocational training

Naomi Ball stalking about. Many of those who're choosing not to go to

university are turning instead to apprenticeships. Higher level

apprenticeships, those you tend to do after A—levels, are up 50% this

year compared with last. Beccy Meehan's been speaking to some of

those who've chosen another form of training.

I got an A* in law, and A in psychology and the B in English

literature and language. With those results Emily Hemlin could have had

her pick of top universities. But instead she's taken up a

apprenticeship to train as a paralegal. I think the

apprenticeship just really leapt out for me. The fact that you'll be able

to work at the same time and get experience of really being in a law

firm and learning what it is all about. Apprenticeships offer

on—the—job training, nationally—recognised qualifications

and at least minimum wage though often more. And apprentices can

pursue their training right up to the higher level, which is

equivalent to a traditional degree. It's a combination that appeals to

an increasing number of young people. Chantelle advises students

on their apprenticeship options. I've just spoken to a young girl

from school who has just had her A—level results through today. She

did really well. She is looking at doing an apprenticeship in health

and social care. What we have chosen to do is invite her in, one of our

sessions next week. As part of her paralegal training, Emily will go to

Manchester Metropolitan University several times a month and lecturers

will visit her at work too. Those who run the programme say this

arrangement is increasingly popular with employers. Many companies want

to grow their own. And this is a really good opportunity for them to

do this, and what they often do is then take the person on and keep

them, and take them right through their career. And that's a chance

that Emily relishes. Hopefully they'll be many opportunities for me

to visit court and learn about cases and how it all works. I'm really

excited to see at first hand. First though, there's the important

business of celebrating those excellent A—level results.

If you did get your A—level results today and you are still hoping for a

place at university. There is plenty of advice on the clearing process on

the UCAS website. The address is there on the screen. Good luck.

It's ten years since the Typhoon fighter jet went into operation,

carrying with it the hopes of thousands of aerospace workers in

the North West. The jobs of staff at BAE Systems in Lancashire depend on

it. It got off to a tricky start, with delays and overspends, but has

now established itself in a fiercely competitive market. The company says

the next ten years look promising, as Stuart Flinders reports.

Eight seconds after taking the brakes off it's in the air. Two and

a half minutes later, it's travelling at supersonic speeds. An

American general, and bear in mind the Americans make a similar plane,

described it as "the best fast jet in the world".

It's the Typhoon, made by BAE Systems and aerospace companies in

three other countries. This is the BAE Systems plant at Wharton in

Lancashire. It is here that they carry out the final assembly of the

Typhoon. 5000 jobs here and elsewhere depend on it. Howard

Kerr's been working on the Typhoon since it was still in development

fifteen years ago. You could build an entire career around this one

plane. Looking at potential export orders in the future, yes. Work like

this is hard to find and young apprentices can't believe their

luck. Every day is different. I learned so much. Every day, you

learn something new about it. Ten years on, how's the Typhoon seen by

outsiders? I think it has been a success. It was late coming into

service and over budget, but all defence project like that nowadays.

It is a very good at superiority fighter. It has been pretty good in

the export market, and I think it is probably the fighter which might

prove the Best Buy. It takes about four years from the moment an order

is placed for a Typhoon to be delivered. Do you ever hear in the

news of an outbreak of trouble and think that will be good for

business? No, we do not. We're working on opportunities now where

our customers are not expecting to make decisions until 2021, 2022, and

so, frankly... They're not wanting to use these planes next week?

Essentially, no. These planes are being made for our own and the Saudi

air force. The company says the next ten years are looking bright.

Well, Ian Haslam joins us in the studio, because you've been talking

to the union there today, not happy about another one of their planes,

the Nimrod. Yes. You'll remember these pictures from 2010 — this was

the Nimrod being broken up. A £4bn pound project literally scrapped in

a government review. The project was too expensive, it was flawed and the

MOD just didn't need it. Well, today, unions saw this — a story in

the aerospace industry trade press about the RAF looking at an

alternative to Nimrod. A union rep said to me, workers are still upset

and angry about spending three years of their lives working on a world

class aircraft, that was then in his words "callously chopped up and

thrown in the bin". He also said to me, "we feel the government has

lied." the RAF wouldn't be looking at what he's worried is a

replacement if they weren't interested. The replacement he

refers to is this, an Airbus Military C295 — an aircraft he says

many workers would say is much inferior to the Nimrod. Now, this

all comes after Parliamentary Committee report late last year said

that the ''Ministry of Defence accepted that there were capability

gaps, most notably from the cancellation of the Nimrod''. But

this afternoon the MOD told me they weren't looking for an alternative

to the Nimrod and haven't commissioned a replacement. Unions,

though, don't believe that — and they're pretty angry. It seems we

have not heard the last of this. Thank you very much. Still to come

on North West Tonight: Still blooming marvellous after 84 years.

We'll be live at the Southport Flower Show.

And don't mess with them. Adorable now, but they'll soon be fighting

the bad guys on the Isle of Man. Cute animal story of the night !

Friends and former team—mates of the man of the moment say Rickie Lambert

deserves all the praise he gets after his debut for his country.

Lambert, born and bred in Liverpool, scored seconds after coming on

against Scotland last night. His rise to the top is an inspiring

story in itself. He has played for a number of clubs in the north—west,

but rejection by Blackpool 13 years ago saw him working in it beat Route

factory, his football dreams literally in tattered.

As Roy of the Rovers debut go, Ricky of the Saints couldn't have done a

much better. Although he now plays his club football on the south

coast, Ricky's career is rooted firmly in the north—west. But

Liverpool's you've commented then went on to play for Blackpool,

Stockport, Rochdale and in his late teens, Macclesfield town. His

team—mates are still there, one is a midfielder. And believable. It's

what dreams are made of. Like any professional footballer, you dream

of playing bring them. The other is now the manager. A club like

Macclesfield, but want to go on and later England is amazing, but I'm

just pleased he has done so well for himself, because it is nice to see

nice people get on. Rickie Lambert was obviously ambitious, even as a

young man. This is when he was 19 years old. It is an interview in the

club programme, almost 12 years to the day. August, 2001. In it, he

says one day I would love to play at a higher level. He probably didn't

imagine it would be boys country. Rickie Lambert's talent first showed

itself at school than Kirby. That is on the back row, second from the

right. His PET Jan football coach from 12 to 15 is now a good friend.

He went to Rickie Lambert's recent wedding. I just know how much it

will mean to him, his family and everyone from Kirby. Eutectic him

after the game. Yes, we had a bit of banter, because every time he

scores, I send in the text, and he thanks me and stuff. He is a

down—to—earth bloke. I think it just shows you that good guys can

succeed, good guys can win, because Rickie Lambert is just a genuine

nice person. Lots of very proud people in

Liverpool tonight. The Manchester United manager David Moyes says the

defending champions face their toughest start to a Premier League

season for 20 years. United begin their campaign at Swansea on

Saturday, and among their first five games they host Chelsea and face

Manchester City and Liverpool away. At an event today to launch the new

season, the Premier League insisted the process was "random and above

board". I can't see how the Premier league drew them out of the bag,

that is the shore. But overall, I am really looking forward to it. I have

been a Premier league manager now for quite a few years, and I have

some experience from that, so I really looking forward to it. I'm at

a great club, I have a great group of players who were champions last

year, and I look to taking them on again. And on tomorrow's programme,

we will look at the start of the Premier league season and discussing

what it may hold for all of our teams.

Lots of very excited supporters this weekend. Lancashire's cricketers,

though, are playing to tonight against Scotland in Glasgow.

Lancashire bowled the home side out. A girl a rain delay, the match is

being reduced to 28 overs. They have a target of 125. A short time ago,

Lancashire were 100—2, needing another 25 59 balls to win. It looks

pretty promising. That rain is affecting everybody !

After weeks of preparation, one of the region 's biggest celebrations

of gardening opened today. The Southport Flower Show is in its 84th

year, and thousands are expected to attend the four day event at

Victoria Park. As Jane says, the rain might be good for the flowers,

it might be dropping nicely into the bond, but what is it meaning for the

visitors? I'm glad you can see the rain, and once again I have drawn

the short straw, and Diane has drawn the long straw. She is back in the

studio, beautifully dry. It is pouring here ! Having said that, it

was a perfectly dry start for the 84th flower show.

From handbags and shoes made of flowers to place mats made from

grass, the Southport flower show burst into bloom today. But it isn't

just about flowers. And you bought anything yet? A handbag, that is

all. Handbag?Yes. They got horses over there, cows, things like that

of you want to see it. Dogs, everything. There is so much you can

see. This year, there are over 400 exhibitors and 19 fantastic show

gardens. One local gardener swept the board. I have one for trophies,

or for awards today. The first award this morning was a large gold

medal, and then we found out that we had won the class, which is very

nice, and them we want the whole of the outside gardens, and then we

found out that we had won the whole show. We are local people. To have

this on our doorstep is so, so lucky. This is a family business,

and Rob has had some help. I'm proud of him. I think it's a beautiful

garden. Why are you proud of your dad? Tell me about your dad? Because

he's got all the medals. He is one. His trophies. With plenty of new

features on display, organisers are hoping there is something for

everyone at the four—day flower festival.

A perfect start to the Southport flower show. There are three more

days to go, and the festival is said to be worth over £4 million to the

surrounding area. Back to you. Thank you very much. Diane, who was

mentioned a moment ago, will be here with a weather forecast in the dry

shortly. Before that: They say that success breeds success, and in the

Isle of Man Constabulary, that's certainly true. Two years ago they

started their first police dogs breeding scheme. Many of those

animals are already hard at work. And now Saxon, a German shepherd,

has provided the next generation after having a litter of nine more

puppies. Cute alert ! Kelly Foran has been to meet them.

Just four—week sold, it is only their second ever time outdoors. For

now, they are busy getting used to their surroundings, but soon, they

will be catching criminals, helping to find people, drugs and cash.

Sometimes when officers think we have lost people that we perhaps

want to speak to, on occasion, and quite recently, the dogs have

tracked them. We would not be able to do that. We have no idea when

somebody has gone, and the dogs are very useful. Their mum, Saxon, has

the job of bringing the pops up. A week before they were born, I was

living in my garage, just waiting for the pending birth, and I spent

the week afterwards making sure everything was all right. His family

have been helping with the new additions. The best has probably

been giving them hugs, and the worst is probably feeding them, and when

they do their business. It is hard to believe that soon they will be

like this. At 18 months, these dogs are from the last letter, and are

almost fully trained and ready for work. Standstill !The pups will be

separated for the first time in a couple of weeks, and set to work to

sniff out any trouble. Diane was going while the bear !

Wild ! Well, I suppose that is true. It is what you have to think about.

Weather—wise, today we did not exactly get it right. Rain has

turned up so much later than anticipated, meaning most places and

a better day than we forecast. The rain overnight cleared earlier, so

many places have had a huge amount of sunshine, and timber does have

been very good, but as we saw from Southport, the rain has finally

arrived, and now it is here. What a horrible ends of the day. The bad

news as it will keep coming through the night. The Met Office have

issued a yellow warning for heavy rain through parts of Lancashire and

parts of Cumbria in particular, but the rest of us will see our fair

share as we had through the next few hours. It will not last forever, or

look at the colours as it moves in across Cumbria. Some really heavy

downpours there. After midnight, the back edge moves into the Isle of

Man, and it all starts to look a little better as we head towards the

early hours. Like last night, temperatures will stay up. We will

talk about maybe 13 to 16 degrees, but remember, as the cloud —based

lovers, visibility will be poor and that will be true first thing

tomorrow, even as the rain falls away. If you are heading to the

flower show for day two, it shouldn't be a bad forecast for the

most part. It should be dry and it should be fine. The rain drops of,

and the cloud cover starts to break, we cannot promise you wall—to—wall

sunshine, but there will be bright spells sometimes time. Temperatures

will rise up fairly nicely. Having said that, cooler and fresher than

today, so I wouldn't be surprised if temperatures were 19 or 20 at the

best. Just going to get wet on the way home tonight ! On top of those

puppies, another story you'll appreciate. An update from our

lunchtime viewers about petty, the is—she/isn't—she shark from

Blackpool's Sea Life Centre. Betty was sent off to Birmingham to hook

up with a male shark recently. The pregnancy results are in. Bit like

Jeremy Kyle, this. So, is she? No, she's not. It's not a bad thing,

because that would be one ugly baby, wouldn't it? It's not a cute thing !

So the news is, there's no news. You said that, not me ! Thanks for

watching. Have a good night.