:00:00. > :00:13.Thousands of protest to remain in Independence Square tonight,
:00:14. > :00:18.Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and
:00:19. > :00:21.Graham Liver. Our top story: On the front line of the fracking protests
:00:22. > :00:25.` the constant battle between police and campaigners in Salford. We'll be
:00:26. > :00:27.joined by the police commander to discuss the dispute.
:00:28. > :00:30.Also tonight: Facing eviction ` the couple who've lost their latest
:00:31. > :00:42.legal challenge to benefits changes. It's put a lot of stress on us. I've
:00:43. > :00:45.got medical problems. We're having to fight this. It's not on.
:00:46. > :00:59.The would`be rugby world champions ` Wigan prepare for battle down under.
:01:00. > :01:01.And the purple popster rocks up in Manchester ` fans have been queuing
:01:02. > :01:20.all day. Legal moves to evict anti`fracking
:01:21. > :01:23.protestors from their camp in Eccles have been put on hold. A court in
:01:24. > :01:27.Manchester today adjourned the hearing until early March. For now,
:01:28. > :01:30.the camp remains ` as do the protestors. They've accused the
:01:31. > :01:33.police of adopting heavy handed tactics at Barton Moss. The police
:01:34. > :01:39.deny that and say the cost of keeping order is rising by the day.
:01:40. > :01:43.Today there were three more arrests. Here's our Chief Reporter, Dave
:01:44. > :01:50.Guest. Policing Barton Moss hasn't come cheap. ?700,000 so far ` and
:01:51. > :01:54.counting. There are deliveries to the site on four days each week And
:01:55. > :01:57.when there are around 60 officers are deployed to ensure the wagons
:01:58. > :02:01.can get through. Some protestors claim to be victims of police
:02:02. > :02:06.brutality. The police say some protestors have been aggressive and
:02:07. > :02:09.provocative. GMP have recorded 2 official complaints from protestors
:02:10. > :02:27.` five of them apparently from one person. The force invited us to see
:02:28. > :02:31.their officers in action today. Another day at the office for police
:02:32. > :02:33.and protestors at Barton Moss. The police say they're here to
:02:34. > :02:36.facilitate peaceful protest. The protestors have a different point of
:02:37. > :02:43.view. They're aggressive. They force us up the lane and kick us in the
:02:44. > :02:47.back of the legs. Knuckling you in the back. I'm a teacher so I'm down
:02:48. > :02:51.more this week than usual. If you're expecting it to be brutal why have
:02:52. > :02:54.you brought a baby? I'm not going to get involved. The internet is awash
:02:55. > :02:58.with videos alleged to show police brutality at Barton Moss. The police
:02:59. > :03:02.deny claims that they're routinely heavy handed with protestors. But
:03:03. > :03:09.here, an officer is heard wrongly accusing a man of drink driving The
:03:10. > :03:11.incident's now being investigated by GMP under supervision from the
:03:12. > :03:23.Independent Police Complaints Commission. An 8am briefing from
:03:24. > :03:30.officers responsible for maintaining order at Barton Moss today. Be
:03:31. > :03:46.vigilant. How can you trespass on public land?! It's a public footbath
:03:47. > :03:52.on public land! Eh?! `` footpath. If the protestors move, the police are
:03:53. > :03:57.happy. If they don't, that's when an arrest would be made. Do you not
:03:58. > :04:07.accept that the protestors have done anything to exasperate the
:04:08. > :04:16.situation? No. They're exercising their human right. The police are
:04:17. > :04:24.not behaving the way they normally do. They'd be pushing us. They're
:04:25. > :04:37.saying you've changed your tactics because we're here? No. There are a
:04:38. > :04:42.mixture of people here. We've got to recognise that. There are more
:04:43. > :04:45.cameras here than on the red carpet at the Oscars. The protestors film
:04:46. > :04:58.the police who film the protestors who film us. Eventually the two
:04:59. > :05:01.trucks make it to the drilling site. Police and protestors disperse `
:05:02. > :05:13.both sides will reconvene again when the next convoy arrives. Joining us
:05:14. > :05:24.now is Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Ian
:05:25. > :05:27.Wiggett. 22 complaints so far, a YouTube video of angry scenes on
:05:28. > :05:40.site ` could GMP be handling this better? The majority of the
:05:41. > :05:43.complaints are related to minor pushing and people being filmed in a
:05:44. > :05:49.public place. There are some more serious complaints which we have
:05:50. > :05:57.here and one in particular is being investigated. This is the case of
:05:58. > :06:03.the man who was accused wrongly of drink`driving. That matter is under
:06:04. > :06:07.investigation. We have lots of allegations made but in terms of
:06:08. > :06:15.substantive complaints that have come forward, but evidence we can
:06:16. > :06:26.investigate, it is a small number. We have been the now for 90 days. We
:06:27. > :06:30.have 60 officers there at least It is a confined area. But are a lot of
:06:31. > :06:36.people filming. The protesters are filming all the time. Some footage
:06:37. > :06:40.is making its way online, particularly when it has been a
:06:41. > :06:50.confrontation, but the mood does change from day to day. Your
:06:51. > :06:53.officers are facing a volatile situation every day ` there are
:06:54. > :06:58.bound to be some tempers flaring ` your officers only human... We
:06:59. > :07:03.insist that the officers behave to higher standards. We review all of
:07:04. > :07:18.the footage at the end of the day. `` the highest standards. Are any of
:07:19. > :07:24.the officers still on site, the ones who are being investigated? We are
:07:25. > :07:32.investigating certain matters. The officers who work regularly down
:07:33. > :07:36.there. We are in a very difficult situation because you can see it as
:07:37. > :07:44.a constrained site. We recognised that emotions run high. We apply a
:07:45. > :07:49.fair degree of tolerance and we try our best to facilitate the process
:07:50. > :08:01.but unfortunately there are some numbers down here who are intent of
:08:02. > :08:09.people not carrying this out. What about a 15`year`old girl? That was
:08:10. > :08:20.trespassed. Whether it is a child or an elderly woman, we have to deal
:08:21. > :08:24.with the situation. `` trespass It is a situation we would prefer not
:08:25. > :08:29.to be in. It has cost us a lot of money and is a drain on resources.
:08:30. > :08:37.We are doing our best to try to get the balance correct. Thank you.
:08:38. > :08:41.Two officers found guilty of negligence after a soldier from Bury
:08:42. > :08:43.was shot and killed will be allowed to rejoin the army after winning
:08:44. > :08:46.appeals. 21`year`old Fusilier James Wilkinson died when a malfunctioning
:08:47. > :08:49.machine gun accidentally fired. Corporal Colin Bell and Staff
:08:50. > :08:54.Sergeant Patrick Price had their army dismissal orders quashed and
:08:55. > :08:57.their sentences cut. Four people have been arrested over
:08:58. > :09:00.a robbery at a Salford care home while more than 50 residents and
:09:01. > :09:03.staff were inside. It happened earlier this month at Pendleton
:09:04. > :09:06.Court Nursing Home. The raiders fled with cash and jewellery. Police say
:09:07. > :09:11.no`one was injured, but a number of people were distressed.
:09:12. > :09:14.Manchester Airport is to have its own specialist anti`slavery team.
:09:15. > :09:16.It's part of a Home Office plan to help spot potential human
:09:17. > :09:20.trafficking victims and disrupt organised crime gangs. The team led
:09:21. > :09:26.by Border Force, will start work later this year.
:09:27. > :09:29.And the future of one of the Isle of Man's red phone boxes has been
:09:30. > :09:33.secured ` after a local bank stepped in to fund it. The kiosk at
:09:34. > :09:36.Cregneash was one of six on the island deemed unprofitable ` but it
:09:37. > :09:42.will now be restored. 500 people have signed a petition for Manx
:09:43. > :09:45.Telecom to keep the phone boxes A couple from Southport say they
:09:46. > :09:48.face eviction after losing a court battle against housing benefit
:09:49. > :09:51.changes. Charlotte Carmichael says she's unable to share a bedroom with
:09:52. > :09:54.her husband because she's seriously ill. But under new rules his
:09:55. > :09:58.bedroom's treated as a spare room and the couple face a cut in benefit
:09:59. > :10:01.payments. An appeal against what critics call "the bedroom tax" was
:10:02. > :10:06.turned down in the High Court today. Stuart Flinders reports. Anxious
:10:07. > :10:09.moments for the Carmichaels. They were waiting to hear the result of
:10:10. > :10:21.an appeal against housing benefit changes. It's caused so much stress.
:10:22. > :10:24.My health is... I'm anxious all the time. The changes are supposed to
:10:25. > :10:28.discourage couples from living in properties big enough to house
:10:29. > :10:31.families on the waiting list. But the Carmichaels say they have no
:10:32. > :10:36.choice. Charlotte has spina bifida and needs to use a special bed.
:10:37. > :10:38.Campaigners went to court, claiming the changes penalise disabled
:10:39. > :10:43.people, but a senior judge today found against them. The relevant
:10:44. > :10:46.legal test for a successful challenge is whether the measures
:10:47. > :10:56.are manifest without reasonable foundation. This stringent test is
:10:57. > :11:06.not satisfied in these cases. The appeals are dismissed. We may be
:11:07. > :11:15.evicted. There's no guarantee we'll be able to live here. It's put a lot
:11:16. > :11:21.of stress on us. I've got medical problems. We're having to fight
:11:22. > :11:25.this. It's not on. The Government says the old system was open to
:11:26. > :11:32.abuse. Campaigners are seeing if they can now take their appeal to
:11:33. > :11:36.Europe. She's been one of the region's most
:11:37. > :11:39.distinctive and well known MPs. But Hazel Blears, the Labour MP for
:11:40. > :11:43.Salford and Eccles, has decided to call it a day and step down at the
:11:44. > :11:47.next general election. Elected in 1997, she reached cabinet before
:11:48. > :11:51.imploding in the expenses scandal. Our political editor Arif Ansari has
:11:52. > :11:58.been looking back on a memorable political career. Her first public
:11:59. > :12:02.appearance was as a movie extra And there's always been a little bit of
:12:03. > :12:12.showbiz about Hazel Blears. Now she's decided to leave the political
:12:13. > :12:17.stage... The energy and passion she shows is fantastic. It is amazing to
:12:18. > :12:23.see how she connects with local people. The grammar school girl from
:12:24. > :12:26.Salford was first elected in the Blair landslide of 1997. She became
:12:27. > :12:28.a minister, introducing the five`a`day healthy eating regime and
:12:29. > :12:32.then Police Community Support Officers. Always loyal and usually
:12:33. > :12:35.chirpy ` Tony Blair promoted her to cabinet as Party Chair. It didn t
:12:36. > :12:37.stop her campaigning against her own government's plans to close
:12:38. > :12:40.maternity services at Salford Royal. Gordon Brown promoted her again to
:12:41. > :12:44.Communities Secretary. But they fell out spectacularly. She mocked his
:12:45. > :12:46."youtube if you want to" moment He called her expenses record "totally
:12:47. > :12:52.unacceptable". I've sent a cheque to the same equivalent amount. What I
:12:53. > :12:59.don't was in accordance with the rules. People are angry. Under
:13:00. > :13:02.intense media pressure, she quit on the eve of European elections.
:13:03. > :13:10.Labour campaigners were furious that she was "rocking the boat". She
:13:11. > :13:17.resigned on the eve of the local elections, weeding a badge and it
:13:18. > :13:27.was something she regretted later. `` wearing. But she campaigned hard
:13:28. > :13:30.and won re`election with a 6,00 majority four years ago. She wasn't
:13:31. > :13:33.wanted in Ed Miliband's new team. Instead she helped Salford recover
:13:34. > :13:36.from the riots and ensured the BBC chose Salford Quays to base Media
:13:37. > :13:39.City. But family life was becoming painful. It was the brutal diagnosis
:13:40. > :13:42.we have about in relation to cancer sufferers but he did was happening
:13:43. > :13:45.to the people I live with. Many will remember Hazel Blears for her
:13:46. > :13:54.expenses. Others will recognise her total commitment to Salford and her
:13:55. > :13:56.constituents. Now to the big fuss surrounding the
:13:57. > :14:00.smallest of Lakeland properties Bridge House in Ambleside is
:14:01. > :14:03.centuries old and The National Trust wants to put up a couple of
:14:04. > :14:07.handrails to help visitors view it. But that has led to a flurry of
:14:08. > :14:18.opposition from the local parish council. Peter Marshall reports
:14:19. > :14:25.They believe it was built in the mid`1600. Built over 400 years ago,
:14:26. > :14:29.once apparently home to a family of eight. The National Trust wants to
:14:30. > :14:36.put in guardrails to stop people falling off. They aren't planning
:14:37. > :14:47.massive changes. They just want to put guardrail Cor. Also a handrail.
:14:48. > :14:51.The steps are quite steep but the idea hasn't gone down well with the
:14:52. > :14:58.parish council. It wants the proposals blocked. It's an iconic
:14:59. > :15:06.building, gifted in 1926. People photograph it. They don't like
:15:07. > :15:17.change. It has been like that for years and years. Why would you
:15:18. > :15:25.change? It's not about health and safety. It's about letting people
:15:26. > :15:35.enjoy it. If they can't navigate the states then that is no use. `` the
:15:36. > :15:44.steps. I think it's ridiculous. Unnecessary. You've got to be safe
:15:45. > :15:52.if you're claiming up to the top so I don't think it would spoil it If
:15:53. > :15:58.it was bright pink... The decision is likely to come down to the Lake
:15:59. > :16:09.District National Park Authority. This debate could get lively.
:16:10. > :16:12.Sport now, and some welcome news for Manchester United and for Wayne
:16:13. > :16:15.Rooney's bank balance as well? Yes, he's agreed a new five`and`a`half
:16:16. > :16:24.year contract worth up to ?300, 00 a week. That makes him the highest
:16:25. > :16:29.paid player in the Premier League. It will raise eyebrows. Chelsea
:16:30. > :16:32.tried to buy the England striker in the summer but David Moyes, and of
:16:33. > :16:35.course this incredible deal, the most expensive in the club's
:16:36. > :16:46.history, persuaded him to commit his future to United. The Reds play
:16:47. > :17:08.Crystal Palace tomorrow. Curator has charged Manuel
:17:09. > :17:20.Pellegrini with conflict. We lost against Barcelona and we were angry.
:17:21. > :17:23.I apologise for what I said. Meanwhile, Everton have a tough
:17:24. > :17:25.match at Chelsea but have no intention of giving up on that
:17:26. > :17:29.crucial fourth Champions League place. Boss Roberto Martinez has
:17:30. > :17:31.made a behind the scenes change He's appointed iconic Everton hero
:17:32. > :17:35.Duncan Ferguson to first team coach. The former striker scored 72 goals
:17:36. > :17:38.in 273 appearances and has spent the last two`and`a`half years as youth
:17:39. > :17:42.coach. He's developing into an exciting coach. I think we need him
:17:43. > :17:50.in the first team environment. He's an Evertonian. A great influence.
:17:51. > :17:55.He'll be a big part of the staff in the first team from now till the end
:17:56. > :18:00.of the season. Wigan Warriors fans have just a few
:18:01. > :18:03.hours to wait to see if their team will be crowned the best club side
:18:04. > :18:06.in the world. The Warriors are preparing to take on the Sydney
:18:07. > :18:09.Roosters in an annual challenge that pits our title winners against the
:18:10. > :18:13.Australian champions. And If Wigan do lift the trophy, they'll be the
:18:14. > :18:16.first Super League side to do it down under. Wigan Warriors are on
:18:17. > :18:20.the brink of history ` already double winners at home, they could
:18:21. > :18:31.become the first Super League team to be crowned World Champions on
:18:32. > :18:38.Australian soil. Victory would also make them the first team to lift the
:18:39. > :18:42.title four times. The coach did that himself as a player in 1987. He
:18:43. > :18:49.still views it as the pinnacle of his career. I want these players to
:18:50. > :18:52.understand the importance. In 2 years, when they've finished, they
:18:53. > :19:01.want to look back and know they ve created history. I understand the
:19:02. > :19:05.challenge. They're a fantastic team but we'll make it a fantastic team.
:19:06. > :19:09.Wigan were successful again in 991, and caused a big upset in beating
:19:10. > :19:17.the Brisbane Broncos on their own patch in 1994. But the Warriors also
:19:18. > :19:29.know what it's like to lose to the Ozzies, as they did three years ago.
:19:30. > :19:33.It's a challenge. We understand Wigan won two titles last year.
:19:34. > :19:39.Wigan won a warm up match comfortably against New Zealand
:19:40. > :19:41.Warriors. They won't be lacking support either ` some fans have made
:19:42. > :19:55.the ten`and`a`half`thousand mile journey to cheer them on.
:19:56. > :19:58.And you can hear commentary of that match on BBC Five Live Extra with
:19:59. > :20:12.build up starting at 9am tomorrow morning.
:20:13. > :20:15.In the Winter Olympics in Sochi we have two competitors in this
:20:16. > :20:18.weekend's events. Former Queen's Guardsman Lamin Deen from Manchester
:20:19. > :20:22.is the pilot of the four man bobsleigh. The former Burnage High
:20:23. > :20:26.School pupil David Ryding from Chorley who learned to ski on Pendle
:20:27. > :20:29.dry ski slope and competed at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver is
:20:30. > :20:42.competing in the slalom. You can see how they get on on BBC Two over the
:20:43. > :20:46.weekend. Good luck to them. Now, in just ten minutes the doors
:20:47. > :20:50.are going to open on one of the gigs of the year in Manchester. Pop
:20:51. > :20:56.royalty's come to the city in the diminutive form of Prince. He's at
:20:57. > :20:59.the Academy. Unsurprisingly, there have been queues forming there since
:21:00. > :21:14.last night. Gill Dummigan's there now. You're a fan? I am! It is a few
:21:15. > :21:32.minutes until the doors open. Prince has been here four times in
:21:33. > :21:41.Manchester. Last time at the Apollo. Will the drizzle put you off? No!
:21:42. > :21:46.He's been filling stadiums for more than 30 years ` last time he was in
:21:47. > :21:50.the UK in 2007 it was for a 21 night tour of the huge 02 arena in London.
:21:51. > :21:53.So when the artist currently known as Prince did this at Wednesday s
:21:54. > :21:57.Brit awards... The result was inevitable. Sold out in 60 seconds.
:21:58. > :22:00.With a face value of ?70, they were soon appearing on resale websites
:22:01. > :22:03.for many times that. Then a rumour went around that a couple hundred of
:22:04. > :22:11.tickets were going to be available and look what happened. I have come
:22:12. > :22:19.from Aberdeen. This morning. It took seven hours. I came from Surrey
:22:20. > :22:23.Those tickets go on sale at 7pm but in the meantime, the fans here have
:22:24. > :22:33.worked out a numbering system to get them. We have been here since 1 pm.
:22:34. > :22:41.We didn't really use the sleeping bag. We just stayed up. It was a
:22:42. > :22:50.good atmosphere. I got here before 10pm last night. I have been a
:22:51. > :23:03.Prince fan for 20 years. He puts a show one for you. `` on. Since the
:23:04. > :23:10.late 70s, Prince has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. His
:23:11. > :23:34.last UK top ten single was many years ago. He has the funk. An inner
:23:35. > :23:38.Hendrix. He will deliver. There are a few people there who think it will
:23:39. > :23:45.be a fantastic night. They have travelled a long way. We are from
:23:46. > :24:08.Aberdeen. We set off at 1am this morning. What about you? Venice We
:24:09. > :24:17.came here yesterday. What is it about Prince? Here is the greatest
:24:18. > :24:28.musician in the world. The greatest artist. We love him. Thank you. 2000
:24:29. > :24:45.lucky people are here tonight. 000 more tomorrow. There are rumours of
:24:46. > :24:53.more UK concerts. They are keen Tickets aren't cheap! Are you a fan?
:24:54. > :25:14.I saw him many years ago! We are going to see some rain on
:25:15. > :25:21.Sunday. With that in mind, parts of Cumbria and North Wales have issued
:25:22. > :25:33.a yellow earlier let. The winds will be strong. This has been the story
:25:34. > :25:36.of the day. Many places have managed to get away from the showers. There
:25:37. > :25:44.was almost springlike sunshine in places. Over the last few hours the
:25:45. > :25:47.showers have moved. I think we will see some more as we head through the
:25:48. > :25:55.evening. If you are going out tonight you will probably see some
:25:56. > :26:01.of them. The year is fairly cool. You're overnight temperatures are
:26:02. > :26:05.not quite as cool as last eight We are looking at three or four
:26:06. > :26:16.Celsius, perhaps a degree lower than that. Tomorrow, the morning is the
:26:17. > :26:22.best part of the day. I think you will see good light of through that
:26:23. > :26:27.period. The weather system starts to come towards us and we will see some
:26:28. > :26:32.more showers eventually. They should be isolated and not too much of a
:26:33. > :26:43.problem however. Towards the end of the day, the temperatures will be
:26:44. > :26:47.seven or eight. Thank you. Just a word before we go about next
:26:48. > :26:51.week, when we begin our coverage of the centenary of World War One here
:26:52. > :26:54.on Northwest Tonight and on BBC local radio. All through the week
:26:55. > :26:58.we'll be covering stories about the impact of the War here at home. I've
:26:59. > :27:00.been filming over the last few weeks. There are some moving
:27:01. > :27:04.stories. Those stories will be featured on your BBC local radio
:27:05. > :27:07.breakfast shows on Monday morning at 8.15am. On my Radio Lancashire
:27:08. > :27:10.breakfast show I'll have the story of the Butterworths minus four
:27:11. > :27:29.brothers from Lancaster who all lost their lives in the war. `` the
:27:30. > :27:40.Butterworths ` four brothers. We discuss a young couple. Remarkable.
:27:41. > :27:46.That's it from us. Goodbye.