:00:00. > :00:00.Welcome to North West Tonight with Graham Liver and Annabel Tiffin.
:00:07. > :00:09.Accused of illegally dumping tonnes of rubbish,
:00:10. > :00:11.two people are arrested after an investigation
:00:12. > :00:25.Also tonight, mental health campaigners in Manchester say
:00:26. > :00:28.cost-cutting is leaving them without vital support.
:00:29. > :00:31.Political musical chairs - Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson wants
:00:32. > :00:38.Steve Rotherham's Parliamentary seat.
:00:39. > :00:52.The stench was horrendous. to
:00:53. > :00:53.The swarms of flies almost unbearable.
:00:54. > :00:59.Hundreds of tonnes of rubbish were dumped in parts of Liverpool,
:01:00. > :01:01.making life a misery for many people last summer.
:01:02. > :01:03.Today, after an undercover investigation,scores of police
:01:04. > :01:04.and environmental protection officers carried out
:01:05. > :01:06.raids across the country and arrested two people.
:01:07. > :01:12.Here's our Merseyside reporter Andy Gill.
:01:13. > :01:18.Police and environment agency staff raided businesses and homes in three
:01:19. > :01:22.A covert operation was set up after alleged illegal
:01:23. > :01:30.dumping at 17 sites, including Liverpool and Warrington.
:01:31. > :01:33.Nearly 500 tonnes were left at this site in Everton last year.
:01:34. > :01:35.Another 2,000 tonnes were dumped nearby.
:01:36. > :01:43.In Liverpool, the council welcomed today's arrests.
:01:44. > :01:54.a significant waste crime. Organised criminals involved in this and we
:01:55. > :01:57.The dumping here last summer caused plagues of flies and other vermin.
:01:58. > :02:00.And the cabinet member for neighbourhoods says
:02:01. > :02:20.people who live near areas like this of toxic waste is on your doorstep.
:02:21. > :02:23.It Collecting rubbish is the relatively
:02:24. > :02:39.Taking it to landfill or for recycling is expensive.
:02:40. > :02:49.And by just dumping it, unscrupulous operators can
:02:50. > :02:56.the clean-up cost Liverpool close to half
:02:57. > :02:58.Two men have been arrested on suspicion of organising
:02:59. > :03:01.the illegal dumping of waste in Liverpool and elsewhere.
:03:02. > :03:03.One man was arrested in Hertfordshire, and the other
:03:04. > :03:15.I've been speaking to Lee Rawlinson from the Environment Agency.
:03:16. > :03:18.I asked him how big a problem the dumping of waste by criminal
:03:19. > :03:22.Waste dumping across the whole country is a massive problem.
:03:23. > :03:24.It diverts about a billion pounds from the Treasury and
:03:25. > :03:26.legitimate business across the whole of England.
:03:27. > :03:35.Here in the north-west, the Environment Agency has managed to
:03:36. > :03:36.It's a huge problem, because waste is
:03:37. > :03:39.something that we all generate and will be ongoing,
:03:40. > :03:41.but there's a big criminal fraternity out there
:03:42. > :03:46.Yes, I take it they do it because there is a lot of money
:03:47. > :03:48.that's right, you know, the waste industry, 97%
:03:49. > :03:50.of the industries that are legal and legitimate anbd we need those
:03:51. > :03:58.because we do produce a lot of waste is a country, but then there is a
:03:59. > :04:01.criminal fraternity that does get involved with this and will try to
:04:02. > :04:11.illegal activities such as drugs and other crimes.
:04:12. > :04:13.that you said how much money there is
:04:14. > :04:17.Well, much if the cost of cleaning comes from the public purse,
:04:18. > :04:20.of this waste is dumped in fields or industrial
:04:21. > :04:35.And if we catch the perpetrators, we can take them to court and get
:04:36. > :04:37.them to try and clear the case, but if they don't,
:04:38. > :04:43.So we ask people to remain vigilant and if they are
:04:44. > :04:46.because the criminal fraternity is looking for places that
:04:47. > :05:28.People can report it on the Environment Agency hotline and we do
:05:29. > :05:34.with it 24 hours a day. Six robbers who blew up cash
:05:35. > :05:36.machines to steal huge amounts of money have been jailed
:05:37. > :05:40.for a total of 92 years by a judge He said the gang were ruthless,
:05:41. > :05:43.brazen and breathtakingly arrogant. They travelled the country attacking
:05:44. > :05:46.ATMs, pumping gas into the machines Police investigating the murder
:05:47. > :05:52.of a former restaurant manager in Salford say he died
:05:53. > :05:55.after his neck was compressed, either by strangling
:05:56. > :05:57.or being stamped on. The body of 61-year-old
:05:58. > :05:59.Giuseppe Roncari was found at his Detectives are appealing
:06:00. > :06:08.for information. CCTV pictures have been released
:06:09. > :06:11.of a man police want to speak They show a man getting into a car
:06:12. > :06:16.from which shots had just been fired on Lane End Road
:06:17. > :06:19.in Burnage on Sunday. A cat has lost one of its legs
:06:20. > :06:22.after being shot six times at close Despite his injuries
:06:23. > :06:26.Jasper managed to limp The RSPCA said the two-year-old
:06:27. > :06:35.was shot by an air gun and had Mental health campaigners
:06:36. > :06:38.in Manchester claim they're being left without vital support
:06:39. > :06:42.because of cost cutting. They say the health trust
:06:43. > :06:44.providing their care is wrongly marking them down as improved,
:06:45. > :06:48.leaving them vulnerable. The trust denies that, and says it's
:06:49. > :06:51.working with the patients. This report from our
:06:52. > :06:56.Health Correspondent Gill Dummigan. This brother and sister have lived
:06:57. > :06:58.with his paranoid schitzophrenia In the past it's
:06:59. > :07:05.left him in hospital. These days, it simply
:07:06. > :07:15.leaves him terrified. I hear voices saying they are going
:07:16. > :07:19.to kill me. How does it make you feel? Really scared.
:07:20. > :07:22.Until late January, he had the support of a He has a support
:07:23. > :07:24.worker and until late January, access to a psychiatric
:07:25. > :07:26.nurse who he could turn to for advice and support.
:07:27. > :07:29.But then, they say, the mental health trust decided he was well
:07:30. > :07:36.It has a massive effect on our life because when he does have the
:07:37. > :07:44.support, that means we can step back a little bit. We worry about him all
:07:45. > :07:49.the time. Mental health services are often categorised by a step method.
:07:50. > :07:54.Zero is the support of friends and family. Step five is inpatient
:07:55. > :07:59.services and as individuals change, they can step up or step down to
:08:00. > :08:03.different levels. Campaigners in Manchester say too many people are
:08:04. > :08:04.being stepped down before they are ready, leaving them unsupported and
:08:05. > :08:05.vulnerable. One group which represents people
:08:06. > :08:08.with mental health needs say they've heard from dozens
:08:09. > :08:10.who because they've been judged recovered have lost not only medical
:08:11. > :08:23.but also financial support. Many of them have lost most of their
:08:24. > :08:27.benefits. They used that for personal needs. When they can't do
:08:28. > :08:31.that, they can't look after themselves. It's a vicious circles.
:08:32. > :08:36.They go back into hospital or something drastic happens to them.
:08:37. > :08:38.No ifs, no buts, no mental health cuts.
:08:39. > :08:40.This isn't the first time Manchester's mental health services
:08:41. > :08:44.This time last year they were forced to drop ?1.5 million pounds worth
:08:45. > :08:47.of planned cuts after campaigners applied for a judicial review.
:08:48. > :08:50.In January that trust, which covered the city of Manchester,
:08:51. > :08:54.was taken over by the current trust, which covers the whole
:08:55. > :09:00.that they were producing a "robust two-year transformation plan
:09:01. > :09:03.to further improve mental health services" and that a "targeted
:09:04. > :09:24.review" on step down had led to " some recommendations for change".
:09:25. > :09:32.The two sides will be meeting next week to try to find a solution.
:09:33. > :09:35.As the general election looms ever larger, it looks like we could be
:09:36. > :09:37.about to see some political musical chairs in Liverpool.
:09:38. > :09:40.The city's mayor Joe Anderson has declared that he wants to be an MP
:09:41. > :09:43.and would like to stand for Labour in Liverpool Walton,
:09:44. > :09:45.the seat currently held by Steve Rotherham.
:09:46. > :09:46.Mr Rotherham is one of the candidates
:09:47. > :09:48.hoping to become Merseyside's first metro mayor.
:09:49. > :09:51.Our correspondent Clare Fallon is live for us tonight in Liverpool.
:09:52. > :10:05.Clare, we've just heard that Steve Rotherham...
:10:06. > :10:12.There are a lot of ifs and buts and maybes. I will try to make it
:10:13. > :10:17.simple. Joe Anderson is politically a big figure in Liverpool and today
:10:18. > :10:21.he said he would like to run to be the MP in the constituency of
:10:22. > :10:27.Liverpool, Walton. Joe Anderson wanted to do a job swap. He is
:10:28. > :10:33.currently the mayor of Liverpool. He wanted to become the newly created
:10:34. > :10:38.metro Mayor of murdered side. When Labour picked its candidate for that
:10:39. > :10:43.selection, Joe Anderson missed out and instead Labour picked Steve
:10:44. > :10:47.Rotheram, who is currently the MP for Liverpool, Walton. Mr Rotherham
:10:48. > :10:53.had until 6pm today to tell the Labour Party what he was going to do
:10:54. > :10:58.with his current job as an MP. We are waiting to hear that decision.
:10:59. > :11:02.What Joe Anderson has said today is that if Labour needs a new candidate
:11:03. > :11:07.in that constituency, Joe Anderson would very much like that gig and
:11:08. > :11:13.he's not the only person who would want that. Jeremy Corbyn's son would
:11:14. > :11:18.also like to throw his hat into the ring, according to rumours. That
:11:19. > :11:23.rumours was quickly quashed, Labour sources telling the BBC it was
:11:24. > :11:27.nonsense. What is not nonsense is the timing of the Manchester, Gorton
:11:28. > :11:32.by-election. We have confirmation. It was due to happen in two weeks,
:11:33. > :11:37.but once the general election was called, that timing became
:11:38. > :11:40.practically impossible. We now know the Manchester, Gorton by-election
:11:41. > :11:47.will be held on the same day as the general election. They will go to
:11:48. > :11:53.the polls on June the 8th. You explained that very well! We may
:11:54. > :11:58.find out later on whether Steve Rotheram will stand. Again. As an
:11:59. > :12:02.MP. It will all become clear.
:12:03. > :12:04.The Conservative candidate in the election for the mayor
:12:05. > :12:07.of the Liverpool City Region says he could be the link
:12:08. > :12:08.between Merseyside and central Government.
:12:09. > :12:09.Tony Caldeira launched his manifesto today.
:12:10. > :12:18.He says if he became Metro Mayor, he would be prepared to work closely
:12:19. > :12:26.Our city region is such a fantastic place. We have so many natural
:12:27. > :12:31.advantages, we just need to sell ourselves and sell ourselves better.
:12:32. > :12:35.If I'm the metro Mayor, I will be banging heads together and looking
:12:36. > :12:40.to promote our fantastic region locally, nationally and
:12:41. > :12:42.internationally. You can find a full list of all those standing on the
:12:43. > :12:44.website. Still to come on North
:12:45. > :12:50.West Tonight - why Old Trafford's United
:12:51. > :13:01.in a desire to stay in Europe. An oasis of calm and fun in
:13:02. > :13:05.Blackpool as we go behind the scenes of the refurbished dollars dream
:13:06. > :13:07.house. And you'll see my interview later.
:13:08. > :13:10.Five months ago - a few former footballers stepped forward
:13:11. > :13:12.to say they were sexually abused as children.
:13:13. > :13:15.Since then around 560 victims and more than 250 potential suspects
:13:16. > :13:21.have been identified, and the numbers are still going up.
:13:22. > :13:24.Steve Walters and Jason Dunford, who were among the first to speak
:13:25. > :13:26.out, have set up a charity called the Offside Trust.
:13:27. > :13:29.Their website went live today, and I began by asking them
:13:30. > :13:40.whether they thought there was still a problem today?
:13:41. > :13:46.The standard of safeguarding now is 1 million miles better. There are
:13:47. > :13:53.still ways and means of these predators beating the system. The
:13:54. > :13:59.Premiership have got the wealth to provide these services, but further
:14:00. > :14:03.down the league and grassroots football, there's still a
:14:04. > :14:10.significant shortfall of safeguarding. Which is worrying.
:14:11. > :14:14.What can be done? Going forward, the offside trust has to work alongside
:14:15. > :14:21.the football clubs. Football clubs are part of the gym unity, they do a
:14:22. > :14:27.lot of work within the community. Mainly football with boys and girls.
:14:28. > :14:31.Going forward, the offside trust needs recognition from the football
:14:32. > :14:37.clubs to make sure the safeguard framework is in place to stop these
:14:38. > :14:41.predatory people. Since you spoke out, people must have been coming to
:14:42. > :14:48.you with their own stories. Yes, I've had over 70 people. We've been
:14:49. > :14:55.through that. They feel safe that they will be believed. You're going
:14:56. > :15:02.to be there to support them, you will listen. Even if it's a 30
:15:03. > :15:06.minute phone call, we are there to listen and then we guide them to the
:15:07. > :15:12.right channels. It's the bravest thing I've ever done, along with the
:15:13. > :15:17.rest of the lads. At the same time, we've had fantastic support, not
:15:18. > :15:22.only from our families, but from the general public. The general public
:15:23. > :15:26.have been very supportive. When you think they are going to mimic you or
:15:27. > :15:35.you think you're going to be the butt of jokes... They've appreciated
:15:36. > :15:41.that this isn't easy for us to have done and this is why going forward
:15:42. > :15:47.we are pleading with lads that are survivors to come and speak to us.
:15:48. > :15:50.There is a way through this. As difficult as it is, it's better to
:15:51. > :15:55.come to someone like yourselves and talk about it. You have to talk
:15:56. > :15:58.about it. The worst thing you can do is keep it in your head. It's the
:15:59. > :16:05.worst thing you can never do. The best thing to do is talk. The
:16:06. > :16:13.support is there for you. Thank you both for coming in. Steve Walters
:16:14. > :16:17.and Jason Dunford speaking earlier about the offside trust, which they
:16:18. > :16:21.have set up. The website has gone live today.
:16:22. > :16:24.The Dee marshes in Cheshire are home to a host of wildlife but wardens
:16:25. > :16:26.are urgently appealing tor volunteer fire watchers after another
:16:27. > :16:28.suspected arson attack on the reedbeds.
:16:29. > :16:30.The marshes, a site of international importance, have suffered a number
:16:31. > :16:33.of fires in recent years, killing birds and mammals
:16:34. > :16:48.Thousands of birds visit this nature reserve. Many nest in the reeds and
:16:49. > :16:53.rushes. It's here that volunteered Tim discovered the blaze. Turned
:16:54. > :17:00.around and saw a plume of smoke so I came to investigate. I hoped it
:17:01. > :17:05.hadn't spread to the main reed bed. Four years ago a large fire did
:17:06. > :17:11.spread on the marshes. The RSPB want people to be aware of how important
:17:12. > :17:17.the area is. It destroys the habitat and it's not just for these birds,
:17:18. > :17:22.its species like harvest mice. A lot of harvest mice will have died
:17:23. > :17:27.during the fire. It then destroys the habitat where the birds nest for
:17:28. > :17:31.the breeding season. This is an internationally recognised site of
:17:32. > :17:37.special interest and local people want it protected. It attracts a lot
:17:38. > :17:44.of visitors. It attracts bird-watchers from far and wide.
:17:45. > :17:47.It's clearly an important local resource. Education for the young
:17:48. > :17:52.people is really, really important. You have to get them interested at a
:17:53. > :17:56.young age and caring about the environment more. The RSPB are
:17:57. > :18:01.asking the people to volunteer to deep a watch over the reed beds
:18:02. > :18:05.during the mating season. It's really important to have volunteers,
:18:06. > :18:18.to keep an eye on the site, to make sure this doesn't happen again.
:18:19. > :18:21.We were yesterday at Esher Marsh and there were fires there.
:18:22. > :18:23.Mindless. Football now and Manchester United
:18:24. > :18:26.aim to book their place in the semi-finals of
:18:27. > :18:28.the Europa League tonight. After a 1-1 draw in last week's
:18:29. > :18:30.first leg in Belgium, the Reds host Anderlecht
:18:31. > :18:32.at Old Trafford. It's a competition that has taken
:18:33. > :18:34.on extra significance for Jose Mourinho's men,
:18:35. > :18:37.with the winners guaranteed a spot Richard is outside
:18:38. > :18:42.the ground for us. Can we expect Jose Mourinho
:18:43. > :18:56.to pick his strongest team then? I think so. He does have a congested
:18:57. > :19:00.fixture list to deal with. United go to Burnley on Sunday in the Premier
:19:01. > :19:05.League and then the little matter of the magister derby a week today.
:19:06. > :19:08.Because the winners of this competition get a spot in next
:19:09. > :19:13.seasons Champions League you would think it would go to the top of his
:19:14. > :19:19.priorities. United have an away goal from the first leg. But after that
:19:20. > :19:22.match, Jose Mourinho was pretty critical of his strikers.
:19:23. > :19:31.Fascinating to see who he opts for tonight. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came
:19:32. > :19:33.late against Chelsea. He'll be chomping at the bit. Marcus Rashford
:19:34. > :19:37.scored and starred in that match. Wayne Rooney is back tonight. Plenty
:19:38. > :19:43.of options for Mourinho, who says this is whether you believe it gets
:19:44. > :19:47.extremely serious. A big club like Manchester United, probably when you
:19:48. > :19:54.start the Europa League, you don't have that high motivation. That's in
:19:55. > :20:01.September, October the group phase. When you get to this level, I think
:20:02. > :20:07.the motivation has to be very high. The draw for the last four is on
:20:08. > :20:12.Friday. Assuming United get through, anyone they should fear? If we look
:20:13. > :20:20.through the other ties taking place, the sick Tass, the Turkish champions
:20:21. > :20:24.come against Lyon. -- Besiktas. Lyon are strong, but not exactly tearing
:20:25. > :20:31.it up in France. Schalke, same in the Bundesliga, only mid-table.
:20:32. > :20:36.Perhaps the interesting one Celta Vigo. Mid-table in La Liga, but they
:20:37. > :20:41.have beaten Real Madrid and Barcelona this season. I think
:20:42. > :20:44.United fans will be confident of beating all those teams and
:20:45. > :20:51.confident of beating and elect a night. They have never won at Old
:20:52. > :20:55.Trafford or in England. Kick-off is at 8:05pm. We'll bring you the
:20:56. > :20:58.result tonight in the late bulletin. Can you imagine as a child being
:20:59. > :21:01.told you're getting your own ice Well, that's what's
:21:02. > :21:07.happened to seriously ill youngsters at a holiday
:21:08. > :21:08.home in Blackpool thanks to the generosity of a Lancashire
:21:09. > :21:11.lad turned millionaire. Ken Townsley,a former baggage
:21:12. > :21:13.handler at Blackpool Airport, made a surpise donation
:21:14. > :21:14.to Donna's Dream House. Today, amid lots of smiling faces,
:21:15. > :21:17.the centre officially re-opened In the shadows of Blackpool Tower,
:21:18. > :21:38.the dream that became a reality. critical it at a hospice, making and
:21:39. > :22:05.over the dollars It offers respite for children who
:22:06. > :22:11.are seriously ill. It even has its own sweet shop. Can I have an ice
:22:12. > :22:17.cream? Thank you. From themed rooms to a special place for mum and dad.
:22:18. > :22:22.Strangely enough, I was a very good friend of Donna. My son was involved
:22:23. > :22:27.in an accident six years ago and they came to help very quickly and
:22:28. > :22:32.helped us immensely in various ways. I stayed for quite awhile because
:22:33. > :22:37.our house under construction and I had just had a serious operation on
:22:38. > :22:46.my leg. We stayed here and we really enjoyed it. The refurbishment
:22:47. > :22:50.doesn't come cheap. It's thanks to fundraisers and a generous donation
:22:51. > :22:58.from Ken Townsley, who made his fortune after setting up a travel
:22:59. > :23:04.agency. Blackpool is all about children and families. Anything I
:23:05. > :23:09.can do to resurrect the childhood I knew in Blackpool in the 50s, I will
:23:10. > :23:13.do everything possible. The revamped house will continue to give those
:23:14. > :23:19.who need the most help precious memories. We are very fortunate and
:23:20. > :23:23.I hope that continues because it's desperately needed. We don't get any
:23:24. > :23:29.government funding. Not a single penny.
:23:30. > :23:33.Lovely. So lovely. You can imagine them going in and seeing all those
:23:34. > :23:38.sweet! I would love it.
:23:39. > :23:46.Will we love the weather? I don't think so. It's very average. Nothing
:23:47. > :23:50.wrong with average! Are you aspiring to average? I think
:23:51. > :23:54.you've achieved it! It is very average over the next
:23:55. > :23:59.couple of days. Lots of cloud cover today and as we head through the
:24:00. > :24:04.next couple of days. You might catch some sunshine on Saturday, but as we
:24:05. > :24:07.start next week, April is traditionally very showery. It has
:24:08. > :24:11.been quite dry this week, but next week it looks like the showers will
:24:12. > :24:17.return and we'll get a drop in temperatures. A drop in temperatures
:24:18. > :24:24.this weekend as well. Some parts of the country reached 18 Celsius
:24:25. > :24:28.today. A front coming through will bring a drop in ten majors and it
:24:29. > :24:33.could feel quite chilly. Our weather watchers did capture one or two
:24:34. > :24:37.spells of sunshine. This evening and overnight, plenty of cloud cover.
:24:38. > :24:44.Every now and then it will thin and break. A very settled picture. The
:24:45. > :24:50.breeze is relatively light, not much going on. Last night the rain was
:24:51. > :24:55.heavier than anticipated. In terms of the numbers, the air is still
:24:56. > :25:01.relatively mild. Eight or nine, maybe even 10 Celsius. Mild in the
:25:02. > :25:06.morning. A great picture and very much like today. A lot of cloud
:25:07. > :25:12.cover. Relatively light breeze coming from the Irish Saint. About
:25:13. > :25:17.five miles per hour. We will see more drizzle tomorrow. They will not
:25:18. > :25:23.turn up everywhere. Some places won't see any. There's a slightly
:25:24. > :25:28.greater risk as you head into the afternoon of more organised rain. We
:25:29. > :25:32.are not seeing the sunshine and that makes all the difference.
:25:33. > :25:39.Temperatures realistically the same as today. 13 if you're lucky.
:25:40. > :25:48.He is still pulling the dagger out of his heart! He knows I don't mean
:25:49. > :25:52.it. We should point out. Lynn has pointed out that she thinks the
:25:53. > :25:56.clock on the live the building was wrong because it said 6:55pm when we
:25:57. > :26:03.were live. It might be average, but it's live!
:26:04. > :26:04.Simulator. -- see you later.