11/12/2013 North West Tonight

News at Six, so it's goodbye from me, and on BBC One we now join the

BBC's Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest

Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and Roger Johnson. Our top story. A

court hears how killer Dale Cregan was helped to avoid capture by a

civilian police worker. He went on to kill two police officers. Also

tonight: Education's new postcode lottery ` why its no longer the case

that the best schools are in the richest parts of the region.

Past masters. The '30s jazz and blues tunes heard again ` after

years undiscovered in a basement. And lunch with the real stars. Our

Christmas award for the Wirral couple who make sure no`one is left

home alone. They are very lonely. This is a godsend.

Dale Cregan was wanted for double murder and evaded capture for weeks.

While he was on the run he went on to kill two police officers. Today a

court heard that ` while that hunt was going on ` a police call handler

Kathryn Smith passed on confidential information to Cregan's family.

Smith, her boyfriend and Dale Cregan's mother went on trial at

Manchester Crown Court. Dave Guest is there.

The prosecution say that an abuse of trust is at the heart of this case.

Catherine Smith was a police call handler passed on sensitive

information to the family at the very time Cregan was one of the most

wanted in the country. When officers searched high and low it emerged

that a civilian colleague passed information to his family and

friends. Catherine Smith is accused of accessing sensitive information

about the search and passing it to her boyfriend, a close friend of

Cregan. The information then reached Cregan's mother. All three are in

the dock at the Crown Court. Catherine Smith worked as a call

handler at GMP headquarters. It was her job to answer calls from the

public. But she accessed information she had no business to be saying.

She then passed it on to Sean Booth, who then related to the mother of

Cregan. The prosecution say that Catherine Smith is guilty of a

serious breach of trust. She was arrested in September the 8th. Ten

days later, Cregan went on to kill two police officers.

What information was she alleged to be passing on?

Various snippets. Among them, at the very time Cregan was on the run,

accused of the murders, she said to have passed on information from a

man who cold in reporting suspicious activity outside the home of

Cregan's mother. When that information reached her, she is said

to have confronted the person who provided the information. The trial

continues. It was school report day for the

region's education system today And region's education system today. And

` while primary schools and colleges got, for the most part, top marks `

it was very much a case of could do better for secondary schools. Our

reporter Andy Gill has been taking a look at the findings and joins us

now from Liverpool. Andy ` Ofsted talked today about pupils suffering

from a postcode lottery ` but not quite in the way we usually

understand the term. That's right. A normal reading of

that phrase would imply that if your postcode is in a relatively less

well`off area, then you might expect the secondary schools to be doing

less well than the posh parts of town, and vice versa. But what

Ofsted have said today is that the situation is not that simple. So you

might have two neighbouring local education authorities with big

challenges on deprivation. Yet one will have more than four`fifths of

its pupils in a good or better secondary school. While a

neighbouring authority has fewer than half it pupils in such schools.

We've been to a school in Liverpool which is one of the success stories.

This art college is in Croxton, parts of the ward are among the most

deprived areas of the country. But this school is officially

outstanding. When they come here as eleven year olds many of them aren't

doing well. But they leave with good grades and high ambitions. An

example of how living in a poorer area doesn't necessarily mean a poor

education. This is an outstanding school. The clarity for our young

people and staff about what is expected. People understand from the

first day what the code of behaviour is within the school. Today's report

looked at primary, schools has good news about North West Primary

Schools. The proportion going to good or better primaries is 83%.

That's compared to a national figure of 78%. But while some secondaries

are doing well, Ofsted say the overall picture for secondary

schools is patchy and access to good or outstanding secondary education

is a postcode lottery. And there are striking differences among

neighbouring areas. Take Merseyside. In Liverpool 82 per cent of pupils

are at good or better secondaries. In Wirral it's 71 per cent. But in

Knowsely it's 50 and in St Helens just 47 per cent. Liverpool council

says it has the best figures for any big city outside London. We all feel

included. Nobody is left out. It is like a family. In Greater Manchester

Bury had 95 % of pupils at a good or better secondary school. Trafford

90%. But Salford and Tameside have just 47 and 46 %. Ofsted say there

are excellent schools in poorer areas. So the popstcode lottery

isn't just about where you live. isn't just about where you live.

It's about the schools you have access to. The question now is what

should be done about the schools and the areas which are not doing as

well they should. One point Ofsted make in this report is that the

north west has a lot of what it calls National Leaders of Education

` teachers who are experts in running schools or getting the best

of pupils. Often they go into other schools to help out But some weak

schools here haven't used these leaders at all. In fact Osted says

there's little tangible evidence that these leaders are being used

systematically and successfully in the areas that need them most. And

it wants that to change. Thanks Andy. Earlier I spoke to

Ofsted's Regional Director for the North West, Michael Cladinbowl. I

asked him what was going wrong at secondary school level.

For too many pupils, when they reach the age of 11. They cannot get into

a good school. We need to do something about that. Many skills in

Liverpool city centre doing very well compared with ten years ago.

But out areas are not. How do you tackle that? It is to do with will

and determination. Ten years ago people said we would never make all

the schools in Liverpool good, it was just too difficult. Never make

all the schools in Manchester good, too difficult. But where there is a

determination, politicians and school leaders, parents,

communities, all getting behind it, you can really make a difference. If

my child was going to a secondary school in Knowsley I would come away

feeling depressed I what you are seeing. We all want all our schools

to be good. We must be honest. Some of them are not yet. If you are a

parent in Nelson the and you are not sending you people to a school that

is good, let your view be held. `` sending a pupil. `` let you view the

heart. We will do everything that we can do. All right.

Police on Merseyside are appealing for information over the

disappearance of a twenty`year`old man from Wavertree. James Bennion

has been missing since Sunday. He was last seen in the early hours of

the morning after leaving a bar in the Concert Square area of

Liverpool. Family and friends say his disappearance is "totally out of

character". The jury in the trial of the Isle of Man's Attorney General `

who's accused of perjury ` has retired to consider its verdicts.

Stephen Harding ` the main legal adviser to the Manx Government `

denies charges of committing acts against public justice and perjury

when he was the Government Advocate in 2010. The 52`year`old was

suspended last year. Serious flaws in the way Midwives

are regulated have ` and continue ` to put babies' and mothers' lives at

risk. That's the finding of a report published today ` which looked at

the deaths of three babies and one mother at Furness General Hospital

in Barrow. It found that mistakes were not properly reported ` and

grieving families were left with unanswered questions. Our Health

Correspondent Nina Warhurst reports. Joshua was nine days old when he

died from an infection that staff failed to properly monitor. An

independent report looking at the deaths of three babies and one

mother found that not only were their failings in midwifery care,

but midwives failed to demand an investigation. As a result, lives

and were and are put at risk. The father of Joshua demanded the report

because he knew that his son's death was not being properly looked at. To

lose a child is one of the worst things that can happen. For that to

be compounded by not getting answers, it is frustrating.

Impossible to move on properly. The report found that unlike anywhere

else in the NHS those who supervise and mental midwives are also those

who investigate mistakes. `` mentor. We think there are weaknesses in the

legal setup. That puts mothers and babies at risk across the country.

That must change. The findings will contribute to a full public enquiry.

The enquiry is expected to last a year. It will conclude a whole ten

years after the first death under investigation. It is only now that

we are starting to see a full picture of what went wrong at

Morecambe Bay. And more importantly, what it says about fundamental flaws

in the NHS. Nina ` once again what happened at

Furness General is having an impact well beyond the North West.

That is right. Back in June events exposed effectively a cover`up at

the Care Quality Commission. The watchdog that makes sure standards

of care are up to scratch. And now this, about care and supervision

under midwifery. It will have to be completely reassessed. Like

Mid`Staffs, it goes beyond individual trust. It is how the NHS

allowed these mistakes to happen. And separate to this story ` some

breaking news about the financial state of one of our hospitals.

You might remember, 15 years ago, with insurer hospital took about a

loan of ?15 million. Hugely controversial as critics said they

would have to pay back 16 times the amount. Today, concern about the

short and long`term situation at the hospital. A recovery plan is in

place but it is one of several NHS Trust that are effectively really

heavily mortgaged. Tomorrow we will look at the problems that can arise

around those loans. The rising cost of energy ` and the

power of the companies which provide it ` is a hot political topic. But

how do you get the better of them? Increasingly, individuals and

communities are doing it by taking them on at their own game `

generating their own electricity. Sounds like a great idea ` but does

it work? Our Environment Correspondent Judy Hobson's been

taking a look at plans for a mini`hydroelectric plant in

Lancashire. This is Whalley Weir on the River

colder. A local beauty spot which could soon be providing power for a

hundred homes. The plans are to install a turnbine like this ` an

achimedean screw. The power would be fed into the national grid. It

provides renewable energy. After the initial cost, virtually without

cost. It runs itself. It'll cost ?750,000, almost half of that has

already been raised by local investors The minimum amount is

?250, the maximum ?20,000. Here s how it works. If for example you

invest ?10,000, you'd receive a tax break of ?3,000. Once the scheme is

established ` a dividend of ?30 to established ` a dividend of ?30 to

?500 is paid every year, money which you can put towards your own energy

bills ` extra profits go back to the community. So who's invested? We

have had five donations of ?20,000. have had five donations of ?20, 00.

80 pound below ?1000. A large variety of people. In the town of

Marple near Stockport, Community hydro electricity is already being

generated and has been for a year, supplying energy for 60 homes. It

has been a tremendous excess. If the weather had been good to us, a bit

more rain, we would not target. But we have been very successful, paying

back all loans on schedule. `` we would be on target. Back in Whalley,

not everyone is happy. Some think it'll the beauty spot will be

spoiled and question the amount the community will benefit. Others think

it's necessary to invest in green energy.

Great if you can do it. Hundreds of blues and jazz records

dating back to the 1920s will be played to music lovers tonight ` in

one of Manchester's more unusual club nights. The old vinyl records

remained undiscovered in a basement in the city's Northern Quarter for

decades. Elaine Dunkley went along for a listen. These are some of the

rarest of grooves, a secret stash of old shellac discs found in a

basement of an old record shop in Manchester, From the 1920's to

1950s, there are decades of discs from around the world. This is a

John Lee Hooker card from 1952. . from around the world. This is a

John Lee Hooker card from 1952... We John Lee Hooker card from 1952... We

did not know what to expect. As soon as I got the phone call I was down

there. Every single record we came across was historic. Everything from

Sonny boy Williamson to lead belly. John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters. All

the legends. For Music lovers this is a treasure trove of vintage

sounds that predates vinyl. It is the warmth of the sound. The style

of recording was very different. the warmth of the sound. The style

of recording was very different. It of recording was very different. It

is an opportunity for people to hear the blues on its original format,

the 78. They will not believe how good it will sound. With the dust

blown of, these disc will be once again music to the ears.

Neither of the Manchester clubs singing the blues today Richard.

Yes, both United and City are safely through to the knock`out stages of

the Champions League. The Blues though not without some confusion.

City beat Bayern Munich 3`2, but one more goal would have seen them top

the group and avoid the big guns in the next round. And in explaining

after the game why he didn't bring on striker Sergio Aguerro, to try

and get that all`important goal it and get that all`important goal, it

seemed clear that manager Manuel Pellegrini thought his team needed

two more. It was the sort of result that will have shaken up Europe s

elite. But with a back story that might have left one or two City fans

shaking their heads. I wondered myself why he was bringing a

midfielder on when the top all scorer was sitting there. ``

goal`scorer. But to come back from two goals down at Bayern should not

be downplayed. Goals from David Silva, Aleksander Kolarov and James

Milner enough for a stirring victory at the home of the European

champions. Absolutely fantastic. champions. Absolutely fantastic

Probably the best way performance in Europe we have ever had. `` away

performance. Absolutely brilliant. Yes, I do think we could win it.

Manchester United also went into their game having qualified. But

there was a nervy air around Old Trafford. David Moyes, desperate to

avoid a third home defeat in a row saw the Reds gradually wrestle

control of the game. Before they scored through Phil Jones, to the

obvious relief of his manager. As a team we must improve. But hopefully

we have given ourselves the best chance in the group. By topping

their group United, unlike City will avoid other Group winners, the

likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Well last week it was Daniel

Sturridge ruled out of Liverpool's crucial Christmas fixtures, today

it's skipper Steven Gerrard. Following a scan on the hamstring

which forced him out of Saturday's 4`1 win over West Ham, it's been

confirmed that he'll miss a minimum of four weeks. The Reds have six

Premier League games scheduled over the next month.

League Two Fleetwood are just one round from Wembley after reaching

the northern final of the Johnstones Paint Trophy. This goal from Jeff

Hughes ` assisted somewhat by the goalkeeper ` and an absolute

screamer from Connor Mclaughlin helped them to a 2`1 semi final win

over League One Rotherham at Highbury. They'll play Chesterfield

for a place at Wembley after they beat Oldham 6`5 on penalties in last

nights other semi. Now to a United hero of the past. A

hero both on the pitch and off it. That sentiment one of many expressed

at the funeral of former Manchester United captain Bill Foulkes. The

81`year`old, who survived the Munich air disaster, died last month. Sir

Bobby Charlton led tributes ` praising his friend for performances

on the pitch ` and for how he acted in the aftermath of the 1958

disaster. Peter Marshall reports. It was a day to celebrate a life well

lived. Those paying tribute included many former team`mates. I glad he

was on our team. I would not have survived playing against him. Was a

tough player. Great to have behind me actually. He was tough as teak.

Played their night at 688 times. `` playing for United. Surpassed only

by Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Bobby Charlton. He survived the

Munich shed disaster. `` air disaster. He took it on himself to

do as much as he could by going back into the aircraft. Probably saved a

lot of lives. He led the team to an FA Cup final against Bolton, and in

the 1960s, to European glory. His family said that the tragedy filed

his determination. He felt a duty to the legacy. That legacy has created

a bond with supporters that are still there today. Gratitude been

showing today to a man and a Manchester United legend who will be

sadly missed. Finally from me, something in short

supply at the moment, some good news in cricket! Lancashire have

announced free membership for Under 11s next season. It's to celebrate

the club's 150th anniversary. All Under 11's can get into Emirates Old

Trafford free with a paying adult. Now tonight's Christmas Star ` these

are the people you've nominated for their outstanding kindness and

generosity over the years. Today it's the turn of Lin and Les McGrath

from Wirral. They run a lunch club for pensioners, providing food and

company for seventy people every week ` making sure no`one is left

home alone. Naomi Cornwell went to meet them.

For Les and Lin, the lunch they provide once a week at this church

hall in Spital is about much more than food. We meet every Friday A

three course meal, ?2. It takes is another day to get all the shopping,

the preparation. But we look for bargains. That is all we can afford!

They've enlisted the help of a whole team of volunteers. And Les even

runs a free taxi service, picking up those who need help getting to the

club. Lots of them live alone. A very lonely. Widows, widowers. It is

a godsend. They don't have a clue why we're really here, while they're

getting lunch ready let's nip next door to meet Dorothy who nominated

them. Dorothy is a volunteer here too ` and runs a chair exercise

class next door. Many of her clients go for lunch with Les and Lin after

the class. They care about everybody. Birthday cards for

birthdays. They look after the body so wonderfully. I was not well one

day. There was a knock on the door, dinner was presented! When the

weather was bad, they would it is up so we did not have to walk. The main

course is served. It's time for a bit of a surprise. Dorothy wrote to

us about the wonderful work you do. She nominated you for a BBC award.

Absolutely shocked. Never won anything!

# For they're jolly good fellows... #.

Fantastic. They looked so thrilled. That is what it is all about. And

now the weather. More clout than we suspected today,

but in between, good spells of sunshine. But all change tomorrow.

Proper rain. This evening, clear skies, the temperatures will fall

towards freezing. The rain moving in by dawn. It will be a breezy night.

Coldest will beat Cheshire. Very close to freezing. Very mild across

the Isle of Man. Tomorrow morning, cloudy, rain on and off. Heavy

pulses actually. Plenty of cloud. The breeze will lift throughout the

afternoon. Not too bad in terms of temperatures, we could see 12

Celsius. So despite the rain, a mild day. Saturday, wet and windy. An

early weather warning, strong winds on Saturday afternoon.

Finally to a subject which has caused a bit of debate in the

office: the rarity ` or otherwise ` of double yolk eggs. There have been

stories in the papers claiming odds of a trillion`to`one ` when people

find half a dozen in a box. That's not strictly true. But the chances

of picking a box full off the shelf are still pretty slim. So our

cameraman Mark Hilton thought he'd hit a jackpot ` when these turned up

in his family kitchen. The eggs came from Staveley's Eggs in Coppel near

Chorley ` where Ken Staveley sorts them by hand and picks out the

likely doubles. He still thinks it is a weird coincidence and they

ended up in the same box. So not eggzactly one in a trillion ` but

pretty lucky to get that box all the same! Could not resist! Goodbye.

pretty lucky to get that box all the same! Could not resist! Goodbye