22/01/2014 North West Tonight

Sunday. Make the most of Saturday because Sunday looks pretty filthy.

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and

Roger Johnson. Our top story: The jury in the William Roache trial

hears of the soap star's disbelief after he was arrested on suspicion

of rape. "It's against my nature", he told

the police. Also in tonight's programme: Actor Ricky Tomlinson's

40`year fight to prove he was wrongly jailed in the 1970s moves to

Parliament. A Wembley final against Manchester

City is the price for Ayr United tonight. Anything less, and the

pressure really will be on. And, meet the 81`year`old double

European champion who's hoping to pedal his way to further glory.

The jury at the William Roache trial has been hearing how he reacted when

first arrested on suspicion of rape. The actor told a police officer "I

am absolutely surprised and amazed. " The Coronation Street star denies

allegations of rape and indecent assault dating back to the 1960s.

Dave Guest has been following developments at Preston Crown Court

and joins us now. From the start, William Roache has

maintained he has done nothing wrong, and that was the message he

gave to detect this during a series of police interviews. Time after

time he said he did not know the people he who were accusing him of

indecent assault, and he said the incident of which they spokesman

Simkin never happened. The Coronation Street star arrived

today, as he has done on everyday, surrounded by his family.

He denies all the charges made by a total of five women, who all said it

happened whilst they were under 16. Today, the court heard that when the

police arrived at his home last May, the actor said he was absolutely

surprised and amazed to be told he was being arrested on suspicion of

rape. The accusation dates back to the 1960s. A woman, who is now in

her 60s, said he raped her on two separate occasions at two properties

he used to own in Lancashire. Interviewed at the police station,

William Roache said he had no knowledge of the woman and had never

raped her. Asked why someone should make up such an accusation, he said:

The court heard that when he was arrested at a later date on further

charges of indecent assault against four other women, the staff denied

any wrongdoing. At one point during the interview, he said: He said

youngsters held no attraction for him. This afternoon, the QC for Mr

Roach was questioning a detective involved in the investigation. He

wanted to know why the detective had interviewed one of the claimant in

the presence of her husband, who was himself to become a witness in the

case. She also queried why the 0th live had taken the alleged rape fit

Tim to the scene of the alleged crime, but had not actually recorded

that officially. She will continue her cross`examination of that

detective in the morning. Ricky Tomlinson has been on our

screens for decades ` Brookside the Royle Family ` he's one of the

region's best known actors. But in 1973, he was a trade unionist and he

was in jail for conspiracy, along with several colleagues, following a

building industry strike. The so`called "Shrewsbury 24" have

always protested their innocence. Tomorrow, ministers will be asked in

the Commons to release documents which could prove the men were

framed. Arif Ansari reports. 40 years after being jailed, Ricky

Tomlinson is still trying to clear his name and extract secret

documents locked away in Whitehall. It has certainly surprised me, and a

lot of other people, particularly the pickets. This case goes to the

heart of government. It goes to the heart of the Cabinet. Summer 19 2,

and building labourers go on strike over pay and safety conditions.

Conditions were appalling, absolutely appalling. I think we had

every right to go out for better health and safety, and better

conditions to work in. Documents uncovered by campaigners suggest the

Home Secretary wanted prosecutions. He ordered a review of what happened

during the 12 week strike. At the end of August 1972, the Area Strike

Committee, which included Ricky Tomlinson, met at this pub in

Chester as picketing spread. What was actually discussed? According to

the authorities, they were plotting violence, and were subsequently

charged with Conspiracy to Intimidate. But those who were here

remember it very differently. I have never been a member of the Communist

Party. You weren't trying to undermine the British state? I

consider myself a patriot. Of the 24, 20 to convicted. Ricky Tomlinson

got two years. We have got to have our names cleared. Have got have

everything squashed. But, why the big campaign for documents

continues, ministers have already decided to keep them secret for

another decade. A Sri Lankan politician, charged

with murdering a Red Cross worker from Rochdale, has been arrested by

Sri Lankan police, two weeks after jumping bail. Sampath

Vidana`Pathirana, has now been remanded in custody until the end of

his trial which starts in two months. He and five other men are

charged with murdering Khuram Shaikh.

Police on Merseyside are appealing for witnesses after a man was shot

in the face when he opened his front door to someone last night.

The attack happened in the Bootle area. The victim's injuries are

serious, but not thought to be life threatening. Police say it was

targeted. Five boys have answered their bail

in connection with a huge fire which devastated a school in Lancashire

last year. The youths, who are all under the age of 15, were arrested

on suspicion of arson after the blaze at St Mary's Roman Catholic

Technology College in September Students returned to the site in

December. Unemployment in the North West has

dropped by nearly 8%. Figures show that, between September and

November, ?270,000 people in the region were unemployed. That's

24,000 fewer than in the previous three`month period.

Three of the region's councils are facing tough choices after

announcing they need to make tens of millions of pounds in savings.

Preston, Cumbria and Wigan councils have all announced decisions for the

budget for the ahead. In some areas it means cuts, but in other areas,

they are looking for a more imaginative way around the problem.

Our local councils have some difficult decisions to make as they

set their budgets for the year ahead. In Preston, the authority

says every service will have to be cut, as it tries to save an extra

?3.6 million. That includes the iconic Guild Hall, which may close

if a private company can't be found to run it. Cumbria County Council

says it's received around 2000 responses to a public consultation

on how to tackle what it calls its "toughest ever financial challenge."

?24 million needs to be saved. The authority says that equates to 1 in

every ?4, which used to be spent on local services.

In Wigan, another ?15 million will be cut from the budget. So the

council's proposing a new contract with residents called the Wigan

Deal. Instead of cutting back services, it's been stepping in to

help communities run them instead, as I've been finding out.

It costs ?200,000 a year to keep this pool in Tyldesley open, but

none of that's coming from Wigan Council any more. For the last two

years, it's provided the building, and the rest has been up to the

community. Few of the staff are paid ` most, like Grace, are volunteers

doing it for free. Although I'm not getting paid, I'm getting experience

through it, which will look good on my CV. I learned to swim here. My

family did as well, so it is my community. When you think you are

going to lose it, it makes you realise we need people like me to do

things. It's a model the council thinks could save some services that

would otherwise disappear with cuts. So, it's offering residents the

Wigan Deal ` a freeze in Council Tax if they get involved in running more

facilities. Just like Beech Hill Library. The charity Book Cycle took

over when the council moved out two years ago. We are completely run by

volunteers and rely on donations, everything from furniture to the

books and the computers they have all been donated by the community.

Flowers by the roadside might brighten your day, but few

authorities can afford to make them a priority. Projects like this in

Courage committee is to take ownership of their local areas, and

try to make a difference. It is hard for us because we were constantly

active. But it is something we like to do. It will just turn up. I can't

see any reason why they can't do this anywhere else. Not everyone

will want to lend a hand, but Wigan Council hopes that civic pride will

spur on many to do their bit. Earlier I spoke to the authority's

deputy leader, Councillor David Molyneux, and asked him if the

scheme would really save that much money.

When you start to look at the level of cuts that local government are

facing, we have got to be realistic about what we can deliver. What we

do know is that we can build on projects already going, and you have

just given a good example with the swimming pool. I think that is the

way the going to have to look all of our services. You are using

volunteers, and that is relying on the good nature of the people of

Wigan. That can only last so long, can't it?

Well, I don't think any council campaign you how long the government

cuts are going to hit us. In Wigan, we have got a very good volunteer

sector who have stepped into the breach on a number of projects that

are going across the authority. They have proved very worthwhile. It is

about delivering services that people expect us to deliver. We have

got to help them deliver it themselves. I feel that with the

Wigan Deal we can do that. We have got some fine examples already, and

we can build on them, looking closely with volunteer groups to

deliver the services that people expect. Once you have gone into

libraries and swimming pools, how much further can you go? Are you

talking about volunteers going into social services and so on? We have

already got a project running in part of the borough where people are

doing just that. Some people need the support of a friend or

neighbour, where previously they have been relying on home helps and

this is now proving a very worthwhile organisation that is in

the community, giving the support it requires. I am sure we can spread

this across the borough. Still to come on North West Tonight:

Find out what 14th century Liverpool looked like, when the city's

official seal was created. And, we go out for a jog with the

81`year`old who's outrunning all the competition.

Student fees are still a sore subject for many. But, how about

paying for them with a virtual currency? The University of Cumbria

has become the first public university in the world to accept

Bitcoins. The digital money will be accepted for two finance`based

courses only. Alison Freeman explains how it works.

You can't hold it in your hand, and it is not considered legal tender,

but the virtual currency bitcoin can be used to pay for a wide range of

things, and that now includes education. As of next year, the

University of Cumbria will accept the online payments for two

financial courses where the role of new kinds of money are being

studied. They are the first public university in the world to access

this payment. Bitcoin and other cryptographic currencies have really

taken off in the last 12 months so we need to include it in our

analysis of comp entry currencies, which also includes local

currencies, Time banks, or local pounds like in Bristol. Bitcoin is

run from a central database which can be accessed by all bitcoin

owners. You can either buy your Bitcoins, or you can earn them by

processing data for that database. The system runs itself, meaning no

one can profit from sitting on transactions. Business students can

see both the pitfalls and the benefits. It is probably the way

forward, but for the moment, in this current economic world, it is very

volatile and I think it is a bit risky and everyone is unsure. This

particular type of currency is more popular with those who understand

it, and I think it is quite complex. I imagine people would prefer to use

the money in their pocket or in the bank. Bitcoin could challenge the

financial world in the same way file sharing challenged the music

industry, but it seems people need a better understanding of the system

before that can happen. Maybe it will catch on.

In Medieval times, Liverpool was just seven streets and not much

else. But it did have an official seal. The one copy is normally kept

at the British Museum in London but it's now been brought back to the

city which created the original One man reckons it holds the answer to

why the city's symbol is a Liver Bird and there's now a campaign to

get it housed in Liverpool permanently. Here's our Merseyside

Reporter Andy Gill. It's rather small, and we couldn't

take it out of the glass to film it. Luckily, they made a bigger version

so we can show you it clearly. It's a 19th century copy of the seal of

Liverpool from 1352, on display here for the first time. In those days, a

seal and a visual symbol was as important at times as the writing,

so any important document would have needed that authentication from the

sale attached to it. A local historian tracked down the seal to a

drawer in the British Library in London. And he reckons the modern

symbol of the city, the Liver Bird, started here. This seal shows pretty

good evidence that the original live bird was, in fact, an eagle of St

John, which was the emblem of King John, who granted the city its first

Charter in 1207. These imagined pictures are as close as we can get

to what Medieval Liverpool might have looked like when the long lost

original seal was in use. But there would have been a Water Street then,

as there is now. One of just seven streets. Almost a rural community,

but next to the sea. So, fishing and ship repair down on the foreshore

would have been common sites. It took two letters for the British

libel to agree that this could come here on loan until the end of March.

Now there is a campaign to get it on display here permanently. The

British Library says it's not allowed to lend out items

permanently. But it's happy for it to come back in the future.

On to sport, and can United make it an all`Manchester League Cup Final

tonight? City cruised through to Wembley last night, but the Reds

have it all to do against Sunderland at Old Trafford later. Richard Askam

is there live for us. There is a bit of transfer talk

there? Yes, Manchester United have approached Chelsea with a view to a

35mm and offer for one of their stars will stop he is the sort of

player that United needs. They have to overturn a 2`1 deficit against

Sunderland if they are to reach the final at Wembley, which would be a

boost for David Moyes and perhaps ease things financially as well It

has been a little volatile recently and is caused people to ask the

question, is this the beginning of the end of the United Empire, or

just a blip? Few predicted an easy transition from Sir Alex Ferguson to

David Moyes. But on the pitch, one win in five

tells its own story. Manchester United are making more money than

ever. Revenue for this financial year is estimated at ?400 million.

But, the slump on the pitch has led to a large drop in the share price

that has wiped about ?300 million off the club's market value. In

order to get back into the Champions League, they will probably have to

spend big. Sir Alex Ferguson wore United's crown for so long that he

was allowed to be king maker and choose his successor. He left behind

a team that had won the Premier League title, but one that needs

significant reinforcement. Chelsea and Spain star Juan Mata could be

about to move to Old Trafford. An indication perhaps that the owners

are willing to loosen the purse strings. United have not invested

big in the last five years. Their net spend is less than Stoke, for

example. If you look at sales less money coming in from purchases,

Manchester United have not been spending the same amount of money as

their competitors. However, United's worldwide fan base is enormous and

numbers hundreds of millions. Supporters from all over the world

regularly come to Old Trafford in large numbers. But, with the likes

of Manchester City and Chelsea increasingly powerful, is the future

of Asian Premier League support likely to turn from red to blue If

you go to some of these overseas markets, English football is

Manchester United, as far as many overseas fans are concerned. Do you

see that changing? In the short term, probably not. What is clear is

that one of football's most in during empires now needs to find a

way to strike back. Manchester City have already booked

their place at Wembley after completing a 9`0 thrashing of West

Ham in their semi final last night. Already 6`0 up from the first leg,

it took City just three minutes to pile on the misery for Sam

Allardyce's side when Alvaro Negredo scored for the eighth time in six

games. Sergio Aguero doubled their lead on the night midway through the

first half while Negredo made it nine from six after the break to

secure City's first League Cup Final appearance in 38 years.

We are very proud. I think that the plate five games here, we won the

five, we scored 19 goals, we just conceded one goal.

Rochdale staged an amazing comeback to stay second in League Two,

scoring twice in injury time to draw 2`2 away to promotion rivals

Chesterfield. Trailing 2`0 in added time, Dale were awarded what looked

like a consolation penalty for handball. Ian Henderson converted

from the spot to set up a frantic finish. The visitors earned their

point with just seconds remaining when Peter Vincenti headed home from

a corner. As for tonight, we will see how

United go. BBC Radio Manchester will have full coverage for you. You also

get highlights on the League Cup show on BBC One at 11:15pm. From Old

Trafford, back to you. Richard, thank you.

After a life of hard work, I dare say most people in their eighties

would like to relax and take it easy. But not Brian Forster from

Ashton Heyes in Cheshire. Brian suffered a stroke in 2006. As part

of his recovery, the lifelong runner and cyclist pushed himself harder

and harder until he became a European duathlon champion ` not

once but twice. Now he's got his eye set on a third title. Our Cheshire

reporter, Mark Edwardson's been trying to keep up with him.

Twice a European champion, eager, enthusiastic and 81. Me meet Brian

Forster and his wife Alison. Preparing for another day pounding

the paths around Delamere Forest. I thought no, I will go back to

racing, and I am not going to give up until I have two. He is very

obsessive. If he doesn't train, he is as miserable as sin. Whenever he

can get out, gets out on his right and goes riding. He is pretty

active. Due Avalon is to five kilometre runs

with a 20 kilometre ride in between. After the army, he was a motorcycle

racer, a road cyclist and a marathon runner, before his/ eight years ago.

All the money the NHS wasted on me, or the people who encouraged me I

was letting them down. I knew that if I didn't start again... You feel

like you have had a second chance? Yes. Brian was crowned champion for

his age group in 2012, and again last. I liked it so much the first

time, I was determined to do it a second time. So, the European

champion in 2012 and 2013. If it's probably fair to say that his

confidence of a treble is high this year. I better get on with my

training. I don't think you would bet against

him getting that trouble. It is looking very unsettled. We

have got plenty of whether coming your way over the next few days

Lots of rain to talk about. When it is not raining, we will see plenty

of showers. Some showers tonight which will not last. They will leave

some clear skies behind. Maybe some frost and fog forming. It will be a

bit breezy around the coast, and another line of rain lines up for

breakfast tomorrow. Overnight, we could see some hail and thunder

Temperatures possibly down to three Celsius in Cheshire, where we may

also see some frost. The rain will move through quite quickly. The

westerly winds pick up, but there will be some good spells of

sunshine. Perhaps some snow on high ground. It will not be warm. A

breezy afternoon, just five or six Celsius tomorrow. Tomorrow night, we

start off with plenty of cloud around initially, but again, heading

into dawn, we see the next band of rain lining up for Friday morning.

It falls as snow on higher ground. More rain on Friday. On Saturday,

maybe a bit of a respite. Maybe some snow flurries, and on Sunday, we are

going to see some very wet and windy conditions. Enough rain for The Met

Office to issue an early weather warning for rain. Lots of rain and

showers coming your way. Considering we are almost towards

the end of January, we haven't had much snow.

We don't know mine `` we don't mind. It will come, don't worry about

Good night. We all have hopes and fears

for the future and for the lives our children

and grandchildren will lead. I want to build a Britain

where everyone feels secure, so our long-term economic plan

is building a stronger, more competitive economy

and securing our country's future. We're reducing the deficit

so we deal with our debts,