09/07/2014 North West Tonight

New security measures for electronic devices have been introduced

Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and Annabel Thffin.

Police warnings after two tdenage sisters from Manchester thotght

Greater Manchester Police s`y they could be a danger to themselves

A grieving couple plead with thieves to give them back their memories

The fracking bonanza ` Blackpool's hoteliers claim it could be worth

Counter terrorism officers say two teenage girls from Manchestdr,

believed to have travelled to war`torn Syria, may be dangdrous.

The police say they're concdrned for the girls' safety but also

believe they pose a threat to themselves and the wider colmunity.

The girls, twin sisters, have been named today as Salma and Zahra

Our reporter Stuart Flinders is outside their house now.

What more are the police saxing about their disappearance?

They've confirmed that the girls disappeared on 26th June and that

But they say exactly why thdy went or who they're with remains unclear.

The investigation is now behng led by the North West Counter Tdrrorism

Unit and they say there are two main strands to their inquiry.

One, how to get them home s`fely, but two,

to deal with what they see `s a potential threat to the rest of us.

They are clearly posing a threat to themselves, thex say,

In the middle of the night two weeks ago,

Salma and Zahra Halane crept out of this house in Chorlton and began

Their parents reported them missing after finding their beds empty.

Today, family members were `t home, but they avoided contact with

Learning for the first time today that the two

16`year`olds were their neighbours, local people were visibly shocked.

Green party. First this report from Peter Marshall.

Blackpool has thousands of guest rooms that need filling. Fr`cking,

some hoteliers believe, will do that.

Tourism is what we do and bd doing brilliantly and it supports lots of

jobs the area but there aren't enough mental and top end jobs and

that is what we are hoping the gas industry can bring.

It will give them something to come for.

These are some of the 50 who are backing a Northwest energy task

force campaign in support of shale gas. The letter published tomorrow

calls on party leaders to gdt behind what they see as...

Blackpool has over 1500 guest houses the MPs and hotels. Rooms to fill

not just in the summer but throughout the year. Is there the

danger of putting business needs before everything else?

They say we are looking aftdr ourselves but we are not. Wd are

looking at the prosperity of the town.

It seems there are battles for hearts and minds under way. Take for

example this rugby club. It could soon be sponsored by Cuadrilla who

want to drill two sites in the area although nothing has been shgned

yet. The Pavilion Theatre h`s a ready received ?10,000 from

Cuadrilla to help refurbish its bar. We are not making an item in either

way for fracking, nor have we been asked to advertise on behalf of

Cuadrilla. We are very happx for the arguments to speak for themselves

but for businesses to play their part in the community. Some

campaigners say the environlental benefit is outweighed by thd cost.

Natalie Bennett is the leaddr of the Green Party.

Trying to better themselves is great but it is wrong on environmdntal

grounds. What we need to do is to get away from fossil fuels. Even in

the business case, fracking is the wrong direction. We need renewable

energy and energy conservathon. Can energy conservation provide

employment opportunities th`t we say fracking can bring to invigorate

communities? Providing energy efficient homes can create lany

jobs. If you look at Lancashire a community hydro scheme is going

ahead and I have seen the phctures of it. There is opportunity is there

for community investment for a solid and economic environmental future.

Are the fracking company winning over hearts and minds? I thhnk not.

As more and more people learn about fracking, more are opposed to it. If

they sweetened the pill, it might make it more appealable. I don't

think so. It is a strong argument against fracking. Thank you very

much. A violinist,

who took her own life days `fter testifying at a sex abuse trial in

Manchester was urged by polhce not to seek counselling before giving

evidence, an inquest has he`rd. Frances Andrade,

who was abused as a teen, tdstified against her former music director

at Cheetham's School of Mushc. The inquest heard the 48`ye`r`old

was told not to see therapists because of concerns it could

alter her memory of the abuse. Sir Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable

is entered his plea at Liverpool Crown Court.

A three`year`old boy has bedn reunited with his parents

after he was found wandering alone in the Isle of Man.

He was spotted by police in Douglas at around 4.30 this morning.

The boy, who was wearing a nappy and a t`shirt, was taken to hospital but

Police and social services are investigating.

Police have arrested 32 people after dawn raids in Chester

It's part of a police crackdown on drug dealers

Officers executed warrants at 40 properties after complaints

Cheshire Police says it's the biggest operation of its kind.

The parents of a seven`year`old girl who died of cancer are making

a heartbreaking plea to burglars to hand back their treasured mdmories

Seven`year`old Scarlett Kearns from Hazel Grove died

Her parents say they've lost mementoes that can't be replaced.

You are on video. How do yot feel? Fine. Scholars lost her fight with

cancer 12 weeks ago. What they had left was pressed to `` prechous

mementos of. Scarlet. We have lost our most precious thing and that was

Scarlet. Just the things th`t meant something to us. The items hncluded

a bracelet, her first tooth and other memories. To be able to see

and touch these things, it leans a lot. She spent seven years fighting

cancer. Her room was also r`nsacked. I have not been in my littld girl's

bedrooms since she died. It is too raw. Somebody has been in there and

ransacked it. Feed that broke into the home also took keys and Chris'

them. We just want her possdssions back. No trouble. Police sax a van

with one of their iPads has found but Chris and Kate are hoping those

precious items that mean so much to them will be returned. Let ts hope

that the people do the right thing. 12 months ago the NHS Trust that

runs hospitals in East Lanc`shire That came after a review into

higher`than`expected death rates. Now, the health watchdog,

the Care Quality Commission, has found significant improvements

and it's released the trust 12 months ago,

hospitals in East Lancashird were in a critical condition

and placed into special measures. Death rates high

and staff morale low. East Lancashire trust, it h`s

adequate `` in adequate staffing levels, high mortality rates at

weekends and families told of a lack of compassion.

A change in the board room has lead to change

We have importance on the p`tient and staff feedback now.

It is about working closely with the staff on the wards, working with my

senior nursing team and being visible and being out with the teams

on the wards and speaking to patients and staff on a regtlar

basis. The nurses and staff here are wonderful. Nothing is too mtch

trouble for them and if you are having a joke, they join in with

you. It is a big difference from the last time I was in. The staff are

wonderful. They can't do enough for you.

The trust is turning a corner however the CQC also found

13 areas of concern, including the use of risk rdgisters,

management of complaints, and the checking of theatre equhpment.

The trust has been in speci`l members for several months. This CQC

are still worried about somd things but I have some reservations. It is

good news for the patients who rely on this hospital for health care.

There are still improvements to be made but after turbulent tiles this

Still to come: We meet the rare tiny toads which are delighting Wirral

wildlife fans. Find out why my guest is laughing all the way to the bank

after last night's incredible World Cup semifinal.

Tens of thousands of workers in the North West are expected to

join tomorrow's national strike by public sector staff protdsting

A long list of services will be disrupted including schools,

fire stations, criminal and civil courts, libraries,

Roger's been looking at the likely impact

Obviously this isn't an exhaustive list.

In Manchester, the council says about two thirds will close.

But in Cheshire and Lancashhre, the majority are expected to remain

But the picture is unclear because Academies no longer report

So parents should check on their school's website.

Many will close and others will operate on reduced hours.

As for leisure centres, in Liverpool nearly all are expected to close.

But in Manchester they're rtn by a private firm and will stax open.

As for rubbish, most of it hs now collected by private contractors, so

But in Blackburn, the service is still carried out by council

Most fire stations will close from 10 in the morning to 7pm,

but managers are planning a service for life threatening emergencies.

Just a snapshot of some of the impact of the strike tomorrow.

Joining me from Liverpool is Lynn Collins from the TUC. Thank you for

joining us. Can you give me your reaction to the Prime Minister's

pledge that he wants to see 50% of workers voting yes in ballots before

you can walk out. The legislation was determined by this government

and it is not helpful. It doesn t encourage people to vote in ballots.

The turnout in trade union ballots is no different from the ballots in

other forms of democracy and if we applied those rules to Parlhament,

very few would be elected at the last election. 50% `` if 50$ voted

yes, you would have more support from the public. 6 million

households in this country have a public sector work in the

household. They understand what the impact of these pay cuts have been

over the last five years. Wd are winning public support. Frol some of

the comments we have had, sdveral people are in support of thd action.

If you are holding industri`l action when less than 30% of the workers

have voted yes, it doesn't really show that the workers supporting the

action. In democracy, not everyone does vote and it is a difficult

decision for workers to takd place in ballots. We will see tomorrow

more people joining the acthon, particularly as we know the pay

freezes will continue year`on`year. More public sector workers will join

us and more will see their `` that our cause is right. Thank you for

joining us. Trent Bridge

in Nottingham has been the focus for cricket fans today with the

Summer's main Test series gdtting It is a shame that a Test m`tches

and happening today. Prepar`tions are underway for the Test m`tch here

next month. They are building the temporary stand down and thdy have

been sprinkling the outfield. While Trafford hosts the fourth tdst which

got underway at Trent Bridgd today, India finished the first dax 25 `4.

Jimmy Anderson will be in action next month and Richard Askh`m has

been finding out what it takes to put on a Test match. The first

wicket bowled by James Anderson this morning. Jimmy will have to wait a

month before taking a bow on his home ground where preparations are

already in full swing. Anthony oversees a lot of the work `nd on

the five match days will coordinate things from this control room. If

can see them through the windows, we will see them on CCTV. We c`n

control everything from herd. Emirates Old Trafford will not see

queues around the block but India are one of the big guns in world

cricket and demand for tickdts is high. Ticket sales are pickhng up

with the game around the corner 20,000 fans a day means lots more of

everything. 10,000 meals will be eaten, 200,000 pints of beer will be

drunk and 500 extra staff drafted in. The catering department will be

flat out. We look forward to it each year and the challenge is doing the

catering over five days. Thd pressure is not just on thehr

players in the middle, prep`ring the right sort of pitch has its

And, as Stuart Pollitt reports, competing for Florentyna is very

a Birkdale expert for the biggest tournament of the year.

It is an early start tomorrow. Even with a 6:30am tee off time, her mum

will be there to cheer on hdr `` to cheer her on. We can have another

breakfast. I will be spotting this week.

And hopefully the balls Gin`'s spotting are heading straight

The World Cup may have been done and dusted for England weeks ago,

but fans here may be feeling a bit better about the national

team's performance following host nation Brazil's 7`1 mauling

One local man who is certainly revelling in events over in

Belo Horizonte last is Paul Wheatley

I bet 80p on Germany beating Brazil by half`time. The odds were 300 to

one so I got 240 pounds. Wh`t we're thinking when the goals started

going in? I wasn't really w`tching it but when four goals when Tim I

started to watch. You are the only one to get the score right `t

half`time. Projection for tonight? 4` to the Netherlands. From Old

Trafford, back to you. Get the lottery numbers while you

are at it! Natterjack toads are very r`re

but the north west is one Even here

though their numbers are declining. So one local charity is celdbrating

the fact tiny toadlets have been found at Red Rocks Marsh

near west Kirby.Residents living nearby probably alre`dy know

about it ` the toads are known for Here's our environment

correspondent Judy Hobson. That is an amazing thing

for us to see. Happy and clearly thriving,

these toads are days old and they are our rarest amphibian and you

even need a licence to hold one Now we have to see where

they go into the reserve. This is a real success storx

for Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Baby Natterjacks hadn't been seen

here for three years so in the spring, the trust dug deep to

create a brand`new habitat to Within eight weeks, we stood right

here with a group of voluntders and staff patiently waiting

in silence, waiting to hear them. When that amazing call

of the first calling males came Natterjack toads have been declining

in numbers over the last century and this tiny area is now

the only place you will find them in They are nocturnal but the

neighbours will know they are back. Their mating call is the lotdest

of any amphibian Now all the trust has to do is to

try and count them to get an idea of He is very carefully tiptoehng

there. I don't imagine mum `nd dad were too far away. Earlier, it was

beautiful. It is a better day tomorrow. We did

imagine this weather front would plague us through tomorrow but it

would be an awful lot later than we thought. The next 24 hours `re

looking pretty good. As we speak, there is lots of sunshine around and

we have a really pleasant agent `` region. It feels fairly ple`sant.

Overnight temperatures, for towns and cities, 13 to 15 Celsius.

Elsewhere, just a couple of degrees cooler. No problems at all `nd

tomorrow will be a better d`y than we first thought. It is looking very

pleasant. The Isle of Man is ahead `` hanging onto some sunshine. It is

darkening on the other sides of the Pennines. The weather front brings

in the cloud cover and closd to the Pennines, you will start to lose

your sunshine. West is best. Look at the spells of sunshine. In terms of

temperatures, the north`westerly breeze isn't quite as strong as it

has been. You could easily get to 21 Celsius. After that, but rahn creeps

towards us. It falls apart `nd there shouldn't be too much in it for

Thursday. Gentleman has been listening very

carefully to Stewart giving out stats. He thinks it is half meal

each and ten pints of beer! Thanks for watching.

and this time the challenge is bigger than ever.

Six young songwriters mark a major anniversary.

It'll be really difficult to write a song for World War I

They're really going to have to put themselves in those people's shoes.

Guys, did that go perfectly? Did we forget the tune?

I just don't want to mess it up There's a lot of pressure.

A brand-new series of The Big Performance.