:00:11. > :00:14.Workers from two rail companies in the north-west are on strike
:00:15. > :00:17.on one of the busiest days for visitors to Merseyside -
:00:18. > :00:22.The action by the RMT union is against changes to staffing
:00:23. > :00:30.On Saturday, the 8th April, due to strike action being taken
:00:31. > :00:33.by members of the RMT union, a reduced train service will run
:00:34. > :00:40.Grand National day and thousands descend on Aintree in the sunshine.
:00:41. > :00:46.The day chosen by the RMT union to make the loudest voice possible,
:00:47. > :00:51.but some punters didn't know the strike was happening.
:00:52. > :01:03.We would of got a train, I suppose, but just got a taxi.
:01:04. > :01:05.We're probably just going to try and find a train home
:01:06. > :01:11.Well, yeah, we'd usually get the train, but we're going to have
:01:12. > :01:14.to get taxis or walk, and have you seen these shoes -
:01:15. > :01:18.The strike started at midnight with RMT members on the picket lines.
:01:19. > :01:20.It's a serious message that we're putting out because this
:01:21. > :01:26.This is not about Aintree, it's not about the Grand National,
:01:27. > :01:28.this is about how we we operate Merseyrail trains
:01:29. > :01:34.The RMT union say around 2,000 workers from Merseyrail
:01:35. > :01:38.and Northern Rail have refused to cross picket lines.
:01:39. > :01:40.The rail companies have tried to maintain a limited service,
:01:41. > :01:42.not only to Aintree, but on other parts
:01:43. > :01:48.We understand that we've got to continue our
:01:49. > :01:52.We've got to try and sort this dispute out of driver-only
:01:53. > :01:57.But, for today, our focus has been to make sure that the RMT's attempts
:01:58. > :02:10.to spoil the Grand Nationalal haven't been able to take effect.
:02:11. > :02:13.Northern Rail say they are running a third
:02:14. > :02:17.We've got a lot of time to talk about how we can improve
:02:18. > :02:20.Talking costs nothing, but strike action is painful all round.
:02:21. > :02:22.The advice for passengers travelling from Liverpool this evening
:02:23. > :02:24.is to plan your journey and be patient.
:02:25. > :02:26.Mairead Smith, BBC North West Tonight, in Liverpool.
:02:27. > :02:28.Detectives are appealing for information after reports shots
:02:29. > :02:31.were fired from one moving car at another on a busy main road
:02:32. > :02:35.At about 2.50pm, a silver Vauxhall sped past a blue VW
:02:36. > :02:39.golf on Rochdale Road, when a passenger is believed
:02:40. > :02:45.Police describe it as a reckless act that could easily have
:02:46. > :02:52.The Manchester passion took place in Cathedral Gardens today.
:02:53. > :02:58.A cast of local people has recreated the story of Jesus' final days.
:02:59. > :03:01.They were supported in the telling of the Easter story
:03:02. > :03:02.by Manchester Inspirational Voices, a 60-strong community choir,
:03:03. > :03:08.which is the current BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.
:03:09. > :03:10.Now, if you were watching North West Tonight yesterday,
:03:11. > :03:12.you might remember a lovely story about a teenager from Widnes
:03:13. > :03:16.who was set to receive a Rotary Club Young Citizens Award.
:03:17. > :03:23.Well today, at a ceremony in Manchester, he did just that.
:03:24. > :03:28.Our next award goes to 14-year-old Aidan Jackson.
:03:29. > :03:30.Inspired by the death of his friend Olivia,
:03:31. > :03:32.Aiden set about fundraising in her memory.
:03:33. > :03:34.Whilst also managing his own health problems and Asperger's,
:03:35. > :03:37.he's raised ?16,000 over the past two years.
:03:38. > :03:39.Sport, and Manchester City ended a four game winless run
:03:40. > :03:44.in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-1 victory over
:03:45. > :03:46.Hull City earlier that boosted their hopes of finishing
:03:47. > :03:50.Burnley drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough and Liverpool came from behind
:03:51. > :03:53.to beat Stoke City and stay on course for a top-four finish
:03:54. > :03:55.thanks to goals by substitutes Philippe Coutinho and Roberto
:03:56. > :03:58.Cricket, Lancashire is facing it's first fixture
:03:59. > :04:00.in the County Championship season after narrowly avoiding
:04:01. > :04:04.At the close on Day Two, Lancashire lead Essex by 274 runs
:04:05. > :04:23.It has been glorious today, can it continue? Here's Kaye.
:04:24. > :04:28.Well, what a glorious day it's been and it stays dry and fine as we head
:04:29. > :04:30.through this evening and then dry overnight tonight as well.
:04:31. > :04:33.Now, it won't be as chilly as it was last night,
:04:34. > :04:35.temperatures down to between five and nine degrees.
:04:36. > :04:38.There could be a little bit of patchy mist, that will lift
:04:39. > :04:41.Plenty of sunshine to kick us off tomorrow morning,
:04:42. > :04:43.feeling really quite warm as well, but then the cloud
:04:44. > :04:48.Most of us will stay dry, just the odd spot of drizzle
:04:49. > :04:50.is possible with temperatures between around about
:04:51. > :04:53.The winds become more west to north-westerly,
:04:54. > :04:56.and that sets us up for a cooler week, I'm afraid, with temperatures
:04:57. > :05:02.That's it from me for now. I'm back tomorrow teatime. Have a peaceful
:05:03. > :05:06.evening. Goodbye.