27/03/2017 North West Tonight

That's all from the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye from me,

Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin -

Gas engineers found no leak - 12 hours before this.

So what caused the weekend Wirral explosion?

Lots of people screaming, lots of people shouting,

I ran to the corner of the estate and I said, "What's

happened?" and they pointed to a huge

We'll have the latest live - as dozens count their blessings

A famous face shakes things up - as anti-fracking campaigners start

a fortnight of disruption in Lancashire.

In built up areas, on agricultural land

and I really don't think's a

Police believe he may have been murdered.

And what would you do for your best friend?

How Helen has changed Andy's life forever.

Andy's got kidney disease and needs a transplant and, because I'm able

and I'm fit, I'm donating my kidney to him today.

Police are investigating the huge gas explosion in Wirral

Dozens of people were hurt and a building which housed a dance

school was obliterated by the blast in New Ferry on Saturday night.

National Grid have confirmed they'd received reports of a smell of gas

Our Chief Reporter, Dave Guest, is nearby,

The devastation is apparent over your shoulder. That's right, they

have moved the police cordon so we can get near tore the devastation.

-- nearer to the devastation. That heap of rubble was a dance studio.

But there was a huge explosion that wrecked it and turned many lives

upside down. The moment when lives were changed was captured on a car's

dash cam. Now, as you can see, the devastation is plain to see down

here, if you look from above you can see the true extent of the damage.

This was an explosion which left more than 30 people injured. Two of

those people still in hospital tonight. I have been catching up

with some of the people affected by the blast. Fortunately, we have

got... Paula is trying to sort out a temporary home for her family and

the strain is beginning to show. Her husband, Chris, was home alone at

their house a few doors from the scene of Saturday's blast. There was

a huge bang, the windows came n glass every where, I jumped up, ran

out, lots of people screaming and shouting, I ran to the corner of the

estate, I said, what's happened and they pointed to a huge building

which has collapsed. This is their home they're not being allowed back

yet. An added worry is their pet cat has not been seen since Saturday

night. We talked to the animal rescue department and see whether

they can go in and find our cat. What about the future for you,

you're citying at your sister-in-laws, what is going to

happen to you? We have chatted to our insurance and they're going to

sort out accommodation tomorrow. Sometimes you watch things on

television and you think to yourself, that will never happen

here. And it did on Saturday night. Roger lives a couple of streets from

the explosion. This big bang and I managed to jump up quick. As I went

to the door, all the slates was coming down off the roof. Tom says

?2.50 saved his life. He would have been walking past the very point of

the explosion, had it not been for the fact he was delayed collecting

his modest winnings after a game of bingo. If we had been a minute

earlier, we would have been in the explosion. So I'm very lucky. A

number of locals have said they smelled gas in the area on Friday

and National Grid have confirmed they did have people in the area on

Friday investigating such reports. However, they found nothing. While

the investigation continues, many here have praised the way the

community pulled together to rally around and help those affected by

the blast. That is a theme that has come out today and I'm joined by the

pastor of the local church. You said you have been amazed at how the

community has pulled together? I have been amazed that the whole

community and the wider community have come together. The paramedics,

the councillors and the church and areas have come together, even

though it is devastation, people are helping each other and it has took

this to bing people together. What are you able to do help people and

businesses? We have been here most of the day to try and understand

what are the issues and what support they need and we are working to

identify a building where we could provide space and pop up space for

the existing traders, whose property has been damaged. It will take a

long time for the community to rebuild? Yes, it is, even though I

think it will take some time, I think with the likes of the

different partners of commerce, I'm sure we will get this sorted. Thank

you. Let's not forget there is still two people in hospital who suffered

serious injuries and 30 who were affected by the blast. The effects

are going to be going on for some time to come. Thank you.

A man from Merseyside who went missing nearly a quarter

of a century ago may have been killed and buried on scrubland

That's what an informant has told the police

and today they're acting on that tip-off.

Officers have started an extensive search for Steven Preston,

who was 23 when he was last seen alive.

Our Merseyside Reporter, Andy Gill, has the story.

Police begin their search of scrubland near the M53

It's somewhere here that police have been told

A tip-off they're treating as credible.

But they're not saying why anyone would have wanted to kill him.

We're keeping an open mind about that at the moment. Steven's

background, it was a bit chaotic, and we are not sure at this point in

time whether he was involved in any activity that may have meant he was

under threat by anybody. Steven lived

in Bebington in Wirral. His family say he was

gentle, kind and funny. Steven was 23 when he

was last seen alive. He waved from his bedroom

window to his Mum, Isobel as she went to work one

morning in September 1992. The circumstances where are

investigated at the time and former officers have been spoken to. It was

passed over to what was the missing person's bureau at the time and any

sightings were recorded and followed up.

Police are clearing large areas of brambles.

And making up to 90,000 aeration holes to release any scent

of human remains that a cadaver dog may be able to detect.

There wouldn't be an issue, if we prepare the area, the dogs should be

pick it up. This is win of biggest operations of its kind in the area

for many years and the police officers could be on site for at

least a week. Police want

anyone who has information about what happened

to Steven Preston to contact them. A student from Morecambe who was

injured in last week's terror attack on Westminster,

says he wants people to unite, Owen Lambert was among a group

of Edge Hill students hit by Khalid Masood's speeding car,

one of whom remains in hospital. Owen's been speaking

to the Panorama programme, I don't want to blame anyone, I want

us all to make sure that we're thankful for what we

have, for the people that are still alive

and the people that are currently

recovering, and we should sort of try and unify through that,

through love and compassion, rather than through our hatred

and anger about what happened. A cricketer from Manchester has

avoided jail after beating his wife with his own bat and making

her drink bleach. The judge gave Mustafa Bashir

an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years,

after being told Bashir was set to play professionally

for Leicestershire, a claim the county cricket

club strongly denies. A woman has been sprubg by a

suspected stolen car on Friday. A 13-year-old boy was airlifed

to hospital after falling Police said the incident happened

at around 5 o'clock yesterday evening at an industrial unit off

Bolton Road. The teenager was treated

for a broken nose and cut lip. Police are investigating a road rage

incident in Chorlton This footage was filmed on a drivers

dash board camera on Wilmslow Road Anti-fracking campaigners have

started a fortnight of action - aimed at disrupting the Cuadrilla

drilling site near Blackpool. They held up traffic this morning

on Kellet Road near Carnforth - targeting a nearby firm

which they think And there we also more protests

at the fracking site itself, as our Environment Correspondent

Judy Hobson reports. They called it a happy Monday.

They're fracking in built up areas and agricultural land and I don't

think it's the right way to go about things.

Earlier today, a very different kind of protest.

This time in Carnforth Environmental, group

Reclaim The Power blockaded a company that they believe supplies

materials to the Lancashire fracking site.

Lifz climbed on to a swing this morning. Why are you doing this? We

are here in solidarity with the people who said no to this.

Cuadrilla claims the companies, Aggregate Industries and Tarmac Ltd,

Back at Preston, new road more disruption -

this time a go-slow march in front of a lorry

Today's protests have been condemned by some local businesses.

They've called it unfair and say it could damage the local economy.

This man runs a company which supplies contractors

I just feel it has been taken too far, interfering with local

businesses that just want to be benefit from being part of supply

train and bringing this industry to our doorsteps. Cuadrilla says their

plans won't be delayed and the fight over fracking does not seem likely

to quiet dune. Now to sport and Richard is here. It has been a

lovely day for sport today. But for Anthony Crolla, Saturday didn't pan

out as he hoped? No, I'm afraid Anthony

was well beaten. All three judges gave

the fight to Jorge Linares The Manchester fighter was trying

to win back his WBA lightweight belt at the Manchester Arena and fought

bravely in front of But his Venezuelan opponent

proved to be too good. Anthony fractured a rib

early in the fight and was still bloodied and bruised today

when I spoke to him at his home. But typically wasn't

making any excuses. I lost to a great fighter,

there's no excuses whatsoever. So a bit of a rest, recharge,

come back and bring those big nights to Manchester,

whoever it will be, hopefully a few These are the shorts

you wore in the fight and When you look at this

and you think back to the fight, what's the main

feeling you have got, There's all sorts of emotions,

bloodstains into those shorts, yes, I was proud

and the reception I got coming out in that arena is something I'll

never forget and the support I've had since,

I'm trying to get through me phone, there's hundreds and

hundreds of messages, honestly, you're trying

reply to people and the support was more than anything.

What is the plan, have you are you just going to

Yes, I would like to say for the future, certainly I

won't be able to do much exercise for the next few weeks with the

But there's plenty of options there and plenty of big fights.

What have your friends and family said to you?

They have said they're all very proud.

Your trainer wanted to pull you out, it looked

It's probably said a few stronger words.

But that would have hurt more than the defeat itself.

So you're going to take a bit of time

out and spend time with your fiance and your son and bit of time to

Yeah, I don't know about planning the wedding - if I

get involved in that, I will end up more bruised

No, my thing is I will spend time with my

little boy and I am long forwarding to getting back.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill says

Everton's Seamus Coleman is still pretty down

after breaking his leg in Friday's World Cup

The full-back has had surgery which O'Neill says went well

and he'll be replaced as Ireland captain by Burnley's Robbie Brady.

Meanwhile Fifa will pick up Coleman's wages

Manchester City Women will face Liverpool Ladies in the semi finals

of the Womens FA Cup following today's draw.

The tie will be played on Easter Monday.

Onto the weekend's EFL winners now and Bolton Wanderers remain

in League One's automatic promotion places after a 2-0

And how about this for a finish from Rochdale's Ian Henderson

in their 3-1 success at struggling Chesterfield.

In League Two, Blackpool moved into the play-off places

after Kyle Vassell's cross-cum-shot secured a late 2-1 success over

And how about this for a fine team goal from Crewe

who beat Carlisle 2-0, their third win on the bounce

There was more success for Chorley squash star Laura Massaro who became

the first English woman for 66 years to win two British

The former World Number One, seen here in blue, beat

Sarah Jane Perry in yesterday's final in Hull.

The next challenge is the World Championships in Egypt

Finally from me, a reminder that you can see all the action

and reaction from the weekend's Super League games

on The Super League Show, right here on BBC1 at 1145 tonight.

Great win for St Helens over Warrington. Still to get off the

mark, Warrington. That was a great goal. Thank you.

Now to a story of real friendship - a woman from Cheshire has given

the most precious gift to her best friend - a kidney,

When Andy Clewes from Crewe was told he'd need dialysis

if he didn't have a transplant, friend Helen offered to become

That selfless act has changed both their lives,

But first Mairead Smyth followed Helen as she prepared

As dawn was breaking in Liverpool on a cold January morning,

Helen Crowther was preparing to do something most of us

would never dream of - donate a kidney to her best

Andy's got kidney disease and needs a transplant, because I'm able and

fit, I'm donating my kidney today. The reason we are working with the

BBC is to try and tell everybody that this is something you can do

for somebody you love or for a stranger.

Helen had months of tests at the Royal Liverpool University

Hospital to prepare for surgery as an altruistic donor.

The team here need more people like Helen to come forward

There are around 6,000 people on the transplant waiting list. To maybe

clear the kidneys can be donated while you're living.

The operation to remove Helen's left kidney took just over two hours -

it was then packed in ice and transported to

We are following the courier and going to meet the team at the

hospital and find out what is happening to transplant the kidney

into Andy's body and hopefully transform his life. We got the call

saying the kidney was out and on the road about 12.30. It arrived here

just after 1 by blue light ambulance. The kidney was received

in theatres and our surgeons were ready to go.

Helen's kidney began working as soon as it was transplanted into Andy's

body, but his recovery has been tough

because of other complications - today though he's healthier

Helen Crowther and Andy Clewes here now.

Both looking remarkably well. Andy, what an amazing best friend you have

got. Yes, it really is. I have been doing the rounds of interviews today

and I still can't find the right words to say thank you. It doesn't

seem to be enough. But you do know how I feel about it? Yeah! How ill

were you first of all? It is one of those things, I didn't know how ill

I was until I got the new kidney and when you feel 100% better, you

remember how bad it was. So it was difficult at the time, I think the

body gets used to what's going on. You had been hill for a long time?

Yes. It got to the point where it was dialysis or a transplant. Helen,

for you it was one of those I presume casual offer that was made

in the past and actually turned out after a lot of steps to be something

you did. Did you ever have doubts? No, not at all. When it became clear

that Andy was going to go down that route and needed a transplant, I

said, I'll do it. And time passed a bit. And then they came to him and

said, dialysis or transplant. I said, I mean it. I wouldn't have

said that. You were a match of course. Y, Yes so we lucky, but we

could have gone into the pairing pool and he could have got somebody

else's kidney and they would have got mine. So it works in a chain?

You're giving one to somebody and someone else can give it to somebody

else. You say you feel better. How has it changed your life. You said

you have been ill for a long time. I think the general thing is energy.

Because beforehand, I would be going to work and come home and I would be

on the sofa and in bed. I didn't have the energy to do anything else.

Now, I'm being told by consultants I need to pull back a bit. You got

married a your wife is giving you jobs. Yes I keep saying, the

consultant says you have got to take it easy. She says whatever. But she

has been so supportive and was there every day at the hospital. How long

was the recovery for both of you. For me, longer because there were

other issues, the kidney worked fine, but there were other problems

and I was in hospital until 9th February. So about a month. What was

your recovery. I was out in three days. I had the operation on Tuesday

and I was home at Friday. What would you say to anybody else who has

thought about it, because there will be people watching who are perhaps

in ill health and heading down the route that Andy was going down. What

would you say to anybody who's considering it. I would say talk to

somebody at the hospital. Have a chat with with them. They will

reassure you about how well you will be look after. They won't allow to

go into this unless you're in the right condition and they will look

after you every step of the way. I have been well looked after by the

Royal Hospital in Liverpool, who have made me their No 1 priority.

You made a point of saying in the piece, that you wanted the

publicity, because you, it is so important, you want others to get

involved. Yes absolutely. We need people to sign up to the donor

register or consider being a living donor. I know that won't be for

everybody. But sign up. Does it worry you, there is, there is an up

side for Andy, but you only have one kidney, does it worry you that

anything might go wrong? There is a possibility that could happen, but

there is more a possibility it won't happen. And I'm a healthy and fit

and they have made sure I was before they let me go through with this.

I'm confident that I should be OK. Things can happen to anybody. But

the main thing for me is that Andy's looking so well and he is. You

really are. Is there anything you can't do? Only things I couldn't do

before. But no generally, apart from having to take it easy, there is

nothing stopping me. I can do whatever I want. You have been

friends for a long time. You're now, does it feel you're carrying a bit

of your best friend around with you. I think I'm tidier. Helen's kind of,

well you're a bit OCD with tidiness. I wouldn't say that! But I would.

Who know you carried an OCD gene in your kidney! We have discovered

something. Thank you. A wonderful story and nice to see Andy and Helen

talking about that story. If you want more details, we will put that

on our Facebook page. A wonderful three days, but

everything has to come to an end. You knew it wouldn't last. We ask

for so little. Temperatures around the mid teens, rising into the high

teens. The temperatures will be good. I'm suring you some sunshine

out of our window. You will have the same picture. Our weather-watchers,

there is not a bad picture that has come in. Everything looking

beautiful. But we do change and things slip and we will see low

pressure through the next can you remember of days. If you watch the

arrows, the wind is from a favourable direction. It is still

bringing some mild air. So the temperatures won't be an issue, but

there will be some rain. That starts from tonight. Although there is

hardly a cloud in the sky, by the early hours, the map darkens and

cloud rolls in. It is not blanket cloud cover. But the air is mild. So

look at the temperatures. Generally around six and seven degrees. Four

in rural areas. When you get up tomorrow, the sun it back up at 6.51

after the clock change. You get some sunshine here and there, but the map

is mainly grey. So that means a veil of cloud. It is not too gloomy and

you may catch a glimpse of sunshine. But this front brings light and

patchy drizzle. For many place, it hardly even touches the ground. Many

places will stay dry. There will be some spells of sunshine. So it is

the half way house between the fabulous weather of today and the

poorer conditions through Wednesday. But the numbers are still good. 13

or 14 degrees. There are three donkeys waiting for you! I'm glad

you said that. And finally tonight a vicar

in Chorley is looking for a donkey It seems that donkeys aren't

as popular as they used to be So if you have one and can help

the Reverend Martin Whiffen then send us an e-mail and we

can put you in touch. I bet we do get someone. We will

have a viewer with a donkey. Good night.