:00:00. > 3:59:59more throughout the evening on the BBC News Channel. We're back with
:00:00. > :00:15.the Good evening. The North West
:00:16. > :00:18.Ambulance Service warned people not to go out on the Lancashire coast
:00:19. > :00:22.today after strong winds knocked over and injured six people. At one
:00:23. > :00:24.stage, hundreds of homes in the region were without electricity
:00:25. > :00:28.after the gales brought down power lines. And in Barrow, a house
:00:29. > :00:34.partially collapsed as gusts of up to 70 mph hit South Cumbria. Mark
:00:35. > :00:37.Edwardson reports. The North West coast lashed by
:00:38. > :00:47.gale`force winds, leading to a warning to stay away. But for some,
:00:48. > :00:55.the temptation proved irresistible. We just drove down from Manchester
:00:56. > :01:06.to see the waves. Why are you out on a day like this? My mum's ashes are
:01:07. > :01:09.down there. We had a quick look and walked back. There have been
:01:10. > :01:15.problems elsewhere. Manchester Airport says the winds have
:01:16. > :01:18.disrupted flights to Dublin. Speed restrictions have been imposed on
:01:19. > :01:21.motorways and exposed root is. At the Chill Factore, the roof was
:01:22. > :01:24.being inspected after a section came loose. This is Greenhayes Farm near
:01:25. > :01:27.Middlewich in Cheshire. Power companies have been reconnecting
:01:28. > :01:35.hundreds of homes, blacked out after lines came down. In Ulnes Walton
:01:36. > :01:39.near Leyland, it proved spectacular. It is like a scene out of a movie,
:01:40. > :01:45.all the wires were arcing together with sparks everywhere. The kids
:01:46. > :01:51.were frightened, we got them all in one room and just put the quilts on
:01:52. > :01:57.the floor and all that. Around the coast at Barrow earlier today, I
:01:58. > :02:00.house partially collapsed in the wind, roof tiles and bricks piled on
:02:01. > :02:04.top of the car. Thankfully, no one was injured. But Rutland Street and
:02:05. > :02:08.Westmoreland Street were cordoned off.
:02:09. > :02:13.The gales are continuing to disrupt train and ferry services. Virgin
:02:14. > :02:15.Rail report delays on the West Coast Main Line. Trans`Pennine has also
:02:16. > :02:18.been having problems, particularly heading north. Tonight's ferry
:02:19. > :02:22.services between the Isle of Man and Heysham will be delayed. An earlier
:02:23. > :02:27.Stena Line ferry to Belfast was cancelled, but tonight's service is
:02:28. > :02:30.expected to run on time. As wild weather batters the region,
:02:31. > :02:33.spare a thought for those who've been sleeping rough over the festive
:02:34. > :02:36.season. 100 homeless people were given some Christmas cheer today
:02:37. > :02:45.with a party at Manchester Cathedral. It was all organised by a
:02:46. > :02:48.local DJ, as Naomi Cornwell reports. Spreading a little Christmas cheer
:02:49. > :02:51.to those who might not otherwise get a chance to celebrate. Jon Besant, a
:02:52. > :02:54.Manchester DJ enlisted 100 volunteers to buddy up with 100
:02:55. > :03:04.people, supported by the Booth Centre, a charity for the homeless.
:03:05. > :03:13.Some are sleeping out, others are in hostels, it is a really lonely time
:03:14. > :03:16.for people. You get the most well `` wonderful but vulnerable people out
:03:17. > :03:19.there. We wanted to give them as close to possible Christmas Day as
:03:20. > :03:22.we. The result was a party this morning, complete with three`course
:03:23. > :03:28.dinner, festive jumpers for all and rucksacks full of vital provisions,
:03:29. > :03:34.donated by businesses. They need a lot of help. I couldn't do it by
:03:35. > :03:43.myself. It provides me with clothing, food, I am very proud of
:03:44. > :03:46.them. Tell them thanks from me, they had a brilliant job. The charity is
:03:47. > :03:49.now urging anyone with unwanted presents to donate them at the
:03:50. > :03:58.Cathedral, and make someone else's Christmas special.
:03:59. > :04:02.A 44`year`old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body
:04:03. > :04:05.was found at a flat in Greater Manchester. The 62`year`old victim
:04:06. > :04:13.was discovered at Stock's Court in Walkden at 8:30pm last night.
:04:14. > :04:17.A former footballer who was once the world's most expensive teenage
:04:18. > :04:20.player has died at the age of 4 . Wayne Harrison was 17 and tipped for
:04:21. > :04:23.stardom when Liverpool paid Oldham Athletic ?250,000 for him in 19 5.
:04:24. > :04:29.But a series of injuries blighted his career. He died from pancreatic
:04:30. > :04:32.problems on Christmas Day. A Manchester couple whose Christmas
:04:33. > :04:35.present to their disabled son was destroyed by arsonists say they ve
:04:36. > :04:37.been overwhelmed with offers of help. Harvey Ratcliff has severe
:04:38. > :04:41.physical and learning disabilities. His family saved up to convert a
:04:42. > :04:45.garden shed into a sensory room for him. But thieves stole the equipment
:04:46. > :04:48.and set fire to the shed early on Christmas Day. Now it's being
:04:49. > :04:52.restored, thanks to donations. Now, are the gales going to
:04:53. > :04:58.continue? Eno's here with the weather.
:04:59. > :05:05.It has been blowing a gale across the region today. Even Crosby and
:05:06. > :05:11.Merseyside saw winds as high as 70 mph. Angrily, as we had overnight,
:05:12. > :05:17.`` thankfully, the winds will ease away. As we head towards dawn, we
:05:18. > :05:20.will have some clear skies, particularly over Cheshire and
:05:21. > :05:26.Greater Manchester. We could see some ice formation, some mist and
:05:27. > :05:31.frostbite dawn tomorrow. The picture for tomorrow looks much better,
:05:32. > :05:37.brighter and just more breezy as opposed to win the. Still one or two
:05:38. > :05:42.showers tomorrow but we will get some good spells of sunshine in
:05:43. > :05:48.between. Six or seven Celsius at best, but less windy. It is dry on
:05:49. > :05:51.Sunday but colder. For the next few hours, BBC Radio Cumbria,
:05:52. > :05:53.Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside will keep you updated on
:05:54. > :05:58.any travel disruption. We will be back at 10:15pm, goodbye
:05:59. > :06:12.for now. Good evening. What a week it has
:06:13. > :06:15.been, a stormy start, a law through Christmas, then a wild end to the
:06:16. > :06:19.week, had to keep up, isn't it?