:00:00. > :00:00.Hello and welcome to site today. In the BBC's news teams where you are.
:00:07. > :00:11.Hello and welcome to site today. In tonight programme, the danger of
:00:12. > :00:15.misusing level crossings. High a cyclist narrowly escaped death after
:00:16. > :00:19.leaving his bike on the tracks. Preparing for a first in Oxford this
:00:20. > :00:25.weekend, Christmas dinner for young people who have been in care.
:00:26. > :00:29.I am Paul all. I am Georgia May three. Join us later for talking
:00:30. > :00:33.about music, mayhem and Transylvania. It is the Rocky horror
:00:34. > :00:38.show! Later on, story of the heart-warming
:00:39. > :00:49.story of a Christmas card that led to an musical reunion for John.
:00:50. > :00:52.Network Rail is warning of the dangers of misusing level
:00:53. > :00:54.crossings after being forced to close two in Aylesbury.
:00:55. > :00:57.It has released new footage of a cyclist narrowly escaping death
:00:58. > :01:02.after leaving his bike on the tracks.
:01:03. > :01:12.These few seconds were the difference between life and death.
:01:13. > :01:21.This near miss at the Griffin named crossing in Aylesbury was recorded
:01:22. > :01:24.as part of a server waveguide Network Rail. In the month long
:01:25. > :01:29.period they saw a number of concerns, these included children
:01:30. > :01:32.going to and from school looking down at the films, and this man
:01:33. > :01:36.carrying a large piece of wood across the tracks. It was an
:01:37. > :01:40.incident last month with a man and his bike that led them to make the
:01:41. > :01:45.decision to close the crossing. I think they should put a little
:01:46. > :01:49.bridge over it or something. If they think it is a danger then, yes,
:01:50. > :01:51.definitely, they should close it. It is not that we have a long way to
:01:52. > :01:55.It is not that we have a long way to walk around.
:01:56. > :01:58.But Griffin Lane isn't the only crossing in Aylesbury to be closed.
:01:59. > :02:00.Two miles away, a fatal collision shut this
:02:01. > :02:12.If they close it, they did save her life. It really is dangerous. If it
:02:13. > :02:18.is open, it will happen again. I find it quite annoying because you
:02:19. > :02:23.have to take the long route round. There are a lot of pensioners that
:02:24. > :02:27.reduced the post office. Unfortunately, they are having to go
:02:28. > :02:32.elsewhere now. In an ideal world, we would not put level crossings over
:02:33. > :02:36.railways because we would leave the railway lines as far away from the
:02:37. > :02:39.general public as possible, but we are working on a Victorian
:02:40. > :02:43.infrastructure and it should be treated in the same weight as if you
:02:44. > :02:45.were crossing a road, you should take all the necessary precautions
:02:46. > :02:48.But despite today's warning, it seems not everyone
:02:49. > :02:50.was getting the message, as people continue to, literally,
:02:51. > :02:56.Rail passengers are being told to plan ahead over Christmas
:02:57. > :02:59.and expect significant delays as a number of lines are closed
:03:00. > :03:03.There will be no trains in or out of London Paddington after 8.00pm
:03:04. > :03:06.Services will stop at Ealing Broadway.
:03:07. > :03:08.There will then be a reduced timetable between 30th
:03:09. > :03:13.Well, for the last year, Network Rail has been working
:03:14. > :03:16.overnight and at weekends to do a lot of the work required
:03:17. > :03:20.for Crossrail and for the electrification of the line,
:03:21. > :03:22.but sometimes, frankly, it needs time to do this
:03:23. > :03:25.in consecutive days and that's why the Paddington Station area will be
:03:26. > :03:33.Three British Airways passengers have enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime
:03:34. > :03:36.flight after finding they were the only ones on board.
:03:37. > :03:39.They included Lawrie-Lin Walker, seen here in the middle,
:03:40. > :03:42.who's now on her way to celebrate Christmas with her family in Witney.
:03:43. > :03:45.She and her friends found themselves the only passengers on a flight
:03:46. > :03:50.The trio were upgraded to Business Class, posed for selfies
:03:51. > :03:56.A Christmas dinner for young people who have left care
:03:57. > :03:59.is happening for the first time in Oxford this weekend.
:04:00. > :04:01.They are being told to expect a Christmas Day
:04:02. > :04:05.The project first started in Manchester three years ago.
:04:06. > :04:08.Adina Campbell has been to meet the team behind it
:04:09. > :04:13.Mengan and Chantelle spent their teenage years in care.
:04:14. > :04:20.I remember one particular teacher didn't expect me to do very
:04:21. > :04:22.well at school and sort of made a comment.
:04:23. > :04:26.They say most of the memories of Christmas day with their foster
:04:27. > :04:29.families in Oxfordshire weren't special.
:04:30. > :04:31.Through my teenage years I despised Christmas.
:04:32. > :04:34.I didn't want to talk about it, I didn't take part in any activities
:04:35. > :04:41.But this year, a team of volunteers across the county have decided
:04:42. > :04:46.They have spent the last three months planning a Christmas dinner
:04:47. > :04:52.On Sunday, the guests will open presents, take part in games
:04:53. > :04:55.and enjoy a Christmas lunch cooked by a chef with Mechelen
:04:56. > :05:02.We have the best food for the Christmas dinner,
:05:03. > :05:05.the best chefs for the Christmas dinner, we have presents,
:05:06. > :05:07.we have films on the day, there is a creche for people
:05:08. > :05:16.Founder Lemn Sissay went through the care system himself
:05:17. > :05:18.and knows how tough this time of year can be.
:05:19. > :05:20.It's about creating a Christmas dinner that is unforgettable,
:05:21. > :05:27.that is full of love and joy and happiness for a care leaver,
:05:28. > :05:30.who next year will be able to have a memory to look back
:05:31. > :05:36.The Christmas Dinner Project started in Manchester three years ago
:05:37. > :05:40.and has since been rolled out to London and Leeds, but this year
:05:41. > :05:45.there are two new venues - Liverpool and Oxford.
:05:46. > :05:48.There are over 500 care leavers in Oxfordshire and we can't have
:05:49. > :05:53.Christmas for every care leaver, and not everyone would want to join,
:05:54. > :05:56.but part of the people, they can come and have
:05:57. > :06:02.The team behind Oxford's dinner have managed to put on most
:06:03. > :06:06.of the day for free, thanks to donations and volunteers
:06:07. > :06:11.To see other people having a nice Christmas,
:06:12. > :06:17.Christmas is all about spending time with people and looking
:06:18. > :06:21.back and reflecting and making those memories.
:06:22. > :06:25.Memories are the most important thing that you cherish.
:06:26. > :06:30.There are some foster families that make the day
:06:31. > :06:34.absolutely special for people, but then there are also those
:06:35. > :06:40.I have been there and I have had good Christmases
:06:41. > :06:42.had bad Christmases, but this is going to be
:06:43. > :06:51.something to remember and I was so honoured be invited.
:06:52. > :06:54.A street in North Oxford has been identified as the 15th most
:06:55. > :06:59.Research by Lloyds Bank has shown the average house price
:07:00. > :07:05.The average house price in the city is around ?350,000.
:07:06. > :07:07.London's Eaton Square topped the list - a property
:07:08. > :07:12.there would set you back around ?17 million.
:07:13. > :07:15.We're firmly into panto season, but in Oxford, if you take a jump
:07:16. > :07:18.to your left and a step to the right, you could be
:07:19. > :07:21.doing the Time Warp instead at Rocky Horror.
:07:22. > :07:24.It's on at the New Theatre, where the setting is Transylvania.
:07:25. > :07:26.Among the stars on stage are former S Club 7 member
:07:27. > :07:28.Paul Cattermole and last year's Strictly Come Dancing
:07:29. > :07:32.You might also know Georgia as Katy in Coronation Street.
:07:33. > :07:35.I went to meet them and asked what they think is behind
:07:36. > :07:38.the continuing appeal of Rocky Horror.
:07:39. > :07:41.One of the biggest appeals is that it has the audience
:07:42. > :07:43.interaction with the shout-outs, that have been going for so many
:07:44. > :07:46.years that it's part of the show, isn't it?
:07:47. > :07:48.They're still funny, every single time.
:07:49. > :07:51.No matter how many times you've seen it, it makes you giggle, as well.
:07:52. > :07:54.Sometimes the funniest jokes on the night come
:07:55. > :08:00.Georgia, were you an fan when you were growing up?
:08:01. > :08:07.I had to do my quickstep on Strictly to S Club 7 and I remember me
:08:08. > :08:10.and mum being on a pier somewhere, I think it was on Southsea
:08:11. > :08:13.or somewhere, doing, # Rreach for the stars #.
:08:14. > :08:19.I mean, you know it better than I do.
:08:20. > :08:23.And, Paul, for you, when you look back at the S Club years,
:08:24. > :08:25.what are your feelings around that time?
:08:26. > :08:27.I look back at it through rose-tinted glasses.
:08:28. > :08:31.I had a lot of fun, I met a lot of people, travelled a lot
:08:32. > :08:39.and I still like a lot of the songs, maybe more now than I did then.
:08:40. > :08:40.I used to watch your programme and everything.
:08:41. > :08:51.Georgia, Strictly, that must have helped you prepare
:08:52. > :08:57.I had never performed in front of an audience before,
:08:58. > :09:00.so that kind of taught me a lot, and feeling nervous like that
:09:01. > :09:03.as well was scary, but it has prepared me for this and,
:09:04. > :09:10.You are used to fancy costumes on Strictly -
:09:11. > :09:12.a whole different type of fancy costume in Rocky Horror.
:09:13. > :09:16.What's it like for both of you to be dressing up?
:09:17. > :09:24.One of them has a lot of blood, so that takes, like,
:09:25. > :09:27.20 minutes to do, so the whole of the first act I am
:09:28. > :09:31.Then another 15 minute make-up change to get
:09:32. > :09:36.I mean, they are both very different.
:09:37. > :09:41.One is just wham, bam, thank you, mam.
:09:42. > :09:55.Well, it feels like it when you can't breathe.
:09:56. > :10:03.So you have to be pretty fit to be able to do
:10:04. > :10:14.The thing with Strictly it was just 90 seconds and it is done,
:10:15. > :10:16.were this is an hour-and-a-half of not stopping.
:10:17. > :10:18.Especially Colombia, she is jumping around everywhere.
:10:19. > :10:23.And I get to do a little tap in it, as well.
:10:24. > :10:29.Tell me what your favourite elements are of Rocky Horror.
:10:30. > :10:33.Well, I like getting to play two parts.
:10:34. > :10:42.It is so fun and it is such a, like, legendary show, a legendary film,
:10:43. > :10:44.and everybody who comes knows everything, don't they?
:10:45. > :10:46.All the shout-outs, everyone gets involved.
:10:47. > :10:49.The show has been going for a year and it has never lost its energy.
:10:50. > :10:53.I feel very honoured to be in the show.
:10:54. > :10:59.You can see The Rocky Horror Show next week.
:11:00. > :11:01.It runs from Tuesday until New Years Eve.
:11:02. > :11:04.Sally's here with the rest of South Today in a moment.
:11:05. > :11:06.We're going to leave you with some of the Christmas sights
:11:07. > :11:31.MUSIC: It s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, by Michael Buble.
:11:32. > :12:29.Your festive forecast is looking a little on the mild side.
:12:30. > :12:34.but things do ease down into next week.
:12:35. > :12:36.I'll have the details later in the programme.
:12:37. > :12:38.Would you expect to pay more for a taxi if you wanted
:12:39. > :12:48.Many cabs will levy extra charges but drivers in the Shoreham
:12:49. > :12:51.and Lancing area will be working for less this year.
:12:52. > :12:54.An administrative error by Adur council means they are not allowed
:12:55. > :12:59.The council is having to offer compensation.
:13:00. > :13:02.Sean Killick is at the taxi rank outside Lancing railway station.
:13:03. > :13:13.Sean, not a happy Christmas for local cabbies?
:13:14. > :13:21.No. The cabbies here are as miserable as the weather. They are
:13:22. > :13:27.concerned about Christmas Day. They fear they could use ?5 on an average
:13:28. > :13:33.fare. Usually, they can charge double from 9pm on Christmas Eve due
:13:34. > :13:35.to Boxing Day but due to a counsellor they can only charge 1.5
:13:36. > :13:39.times. It's actually an equivalent
:13:40. > :13:41.of a 25% loss. So, imagine any worker, if they were
:13:42. > :13:44.to open their pay packet at Christmas, and find
:13:45. > :13:46.that 25% of the money, their wages was missing,
:13:47. > :13:48.that's fairly unreasonable, isn't We've yet to see how
:13:49. > :13:53.that would be done. I think it will be a minefield,
:13:54. > :13:58.but we shall see. Well, Adur District Council
:13:59. > :14:01.says the drivers won't lose out. The council said the error arose
:14:02. > :14:06.when it was approving an increase in tariffs which had been asked
:14:07. > :14:39.for by the taxi trade. Drivers say this is the latest
:14:40. > :14:43.financial pressure. They say that many customers have less money in
:14:44. > :14:48.their pockets and are using taxes less. Some of the people we spoke to
:14:49. > :14:50.today had mixed feelings about paying double over Christmas.
:14:51. > :14:54.I don't think they should charge double.
:14:55. > :14:56.They should just charge normal rate, really.
:14:57. > :14:57.They're coming out, they're getting away
:14:58. > :14:59.from their children and they
:15:00. > :15:02.should be having double-time because they get away from it, yes, I do
:15:03. > :15:13.I think it's fair it's double-time, yes.
:15:14. > :15:15.To get someone to work on Christmas Day is
:15:16. > :15:17.I think they're just trying to cheat the public.
:15:18. > :15:18.Even on Christmas Day, they shouldn't be allowed to charge
:15:19. > :15:20.It's their choice to work Christmas Day, isn't it?
:15:21. > :15:32.Despite all this, the cabbies are much busier than normal. Still
:15:33. > :15:36.non-on the rank behind me. It seems the big Christmas getaway is getting
:15:37. > :15:41.underway. From me, Merry Christmas and back to the studio.
:15:42. > :15:50.Tony is here the sport. With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we will
:15:51. > :15:55.look ahead to some of the big stories for next year. A year ago, I
:15:56. > :16:01.sat here and we looked at what we thought would be a big story. We
:16:02. > :16:06.spoke to Alex Danson who went on to win gold in Rio. We are hoping we
:16:07. > :16:08.will get the prediction is right for next year.
:16:09. > :16:10.Next year the Portsmouth based Ben Ainslie Racing team
:16:11. > :16:13.will attempt to win sport's oldest international trophy.
:16:14. > :16:15.The America's Cup began in the Solent in 1851,
:16:16. > :16:22.In his first television interview since the team relocated to Bermuda,
:16:23. > :16:28.Sir Ben has brought South Today up to date on preparations.
:16:29. > :16:31.It's a trophy which has eluded Britain so far for 165 years.
:16:32. > :16:37.In 2017, our greatest sailor could bring it home.
:16:38. > :16:40.Around half of the Land Rover BAR team, led by Sir Ben Ainslie
:16:41. > :16:45.have left their home in Portsmouth and will spend the winter
:16:46. > :16:48.in Bermuda ahead of racing for the America's Cup
:16:49. > :16:57.We're almost set up with our base here now but we're operational
:16:58. > :17:00.in terms of getting boats out on the water and that's
:17:01. > :17:03.So, a really exciting period for the team.
:17:04. > :17:19.Feels so much more real now that we're out here in the reader
:17:20. > :17:21.-- Bermuda and moving into the New Year.
:17:22. > :17:23.You can see everyone's focusing incredibly hard
:17:24. > :17:28.The sailing team is now training day by day in the waters which will hold
:17:29. > :17:30.the 35th America's Cup, a gruelling series of qualifiers
:17:31. > :17:34.will decide which of five teams take on the holders Oracle team USA,
:17:35. > :17:42.From next June, many in the sporting world will be fixing their focus
:17:43. > :17:52.on this tiny North Atlantic island, 3500 miles from the UK.
:17:53. > :17:55.We are a new team so there's a certain element of catching up
:17:56. > :17:57.we have to do with some of the existing teams.
:17:58. > :18:00.But our goal is to still try and bring that cup home.
:18:01. > :18:04.We really appreciate all of the support from everyone back home.
:18:05. > :18:07.I guarantee you, it's going to be an incredible America's Cup.
:18:08. > :18:10.The boat used in the main racing is due to go in the water
:18:11. > :18:13.Over the next six months, one of Britain's great
:18:14. > :18:16.Staying with sailing and big news from the Olympic world today.
:18:17. > :18:19.The British sailing team manager Stephen Park is leaving his post
:18:20. > :18:23.Stephen Park has presided over the winning of 23 Olympic
:18:24. > :18:25.and Paralympic medals in his 15 years as team manager.
:18:26. > :18:28.The Weymouth and Portland based team finished as the leading nation
:18:29. > :18:32.The 48-year-old is joining British cycling as Performance Director
:18:33. > :18:36.What fate awaits our football clubs in 2017, Southampton
:18:37. > :18:39.have the EFL Cup semi finals, and promotion to the Premier League
:18:40. > :18:43.is very much on the radar of Brighton and Reading.
:18:44. > :18:46.Heading into Christmas, the Royals, with first year boss Jaap Stam
:18:47. > :18:48.are third in the table, but Brighton are the only club
:18:49. > :18:53.The Albion return to action against QPR on Tuesday the 27th,
:18:54. > :18:57.and their opponents would have been considered a promotion rival.
:18:58. > :19:00.They've had to move a few players out and, of course, with
:19:01. > :19:03.recruitment, sometimes that takes a bit longer than you will want.
:19:04. > :19:09.Certainly, in Ian Holloway, they got somebody that knows the club very
:19:10. > :19:16.well and he'll be trying his very best to try and turn that around.
:19:17. > :19:20.Southampton have a boxing day off before they host Spurs on the 28th
:19:21. > :19:23.Bournemouth will tackle table toppers Chelsea,
:19:24. > :19:28.minus Diego Costa and Ngolo Kante at Stamford Bridge.
:19:29. > :19:39.In the championship Reading are home to Norwich
:19:40. > :19:42.Oxford and MK Dons will hope for bumper Boxing Day crowds at hme
:19:43. > :19:44.while Swindon travel to the East end.
:19:45. > :19:47.Portsmouth are at bottom of the league Newport in league two.
:19:48. > :19:49.Across the festive season, remember, you can catch every game
:19:50. > :20:05.Earlier this week, I received this Christmas card from a gentleman
:20:06. > :20:07.called John asking for our help to trace a certain
:20:08. > :20:10.young lady playing a piano in West Quay in Southampton.
:20:11. > :20:13.They had shared a special musical moment and some seasonal goodwill.
:20:14. > :20:15.John was worried he wouldn't find out who she was.
:20:16. > :20:25.Christmas is a time for people to come together and for one man,
:20:26. > :20:30.a chance encounter with a young lady at a piano in this shopping centre
:20:31. > :20:41.And she was so receptive to me and we just sang along together
:20:42. > :20:44.and I thought this is the real essence of Christmas.
:20:45. > :20:47.It just stayed in my mind and I thought, well,
:20:48. > :20:58.You asked us an South today if we could find this girl.
:20:59. > :21:03.It would just be a nice gesture if I can thank her.
:21:04. > :21:09.So, I thought, immediately, let's write to you and
:21:10. > :21:24.So, we put it all out on Facebook and then, through Facebook,
:21:25. > :21:27.she got in touch with others and we're going to go around
:21:28. > :21:33.Hello. Just a little gesture.
:21:34. > :21:40.I used to sing with my Nan all the time.
:21:41. > :21:47.We'd just perform everything for her and she just sing along.
:21:48. > :21:50.It's quite nice because I don't have grandparents any more, sadly and so,
:21:51. > :21:58.to be able to sing things like this and be able to also go
:21:59. > :22:00.to the Sunrise elderly home and perform there.
:22:01. > :22:06.I thought it was such a lovely gesture at Christmas time.
:22:07. > :22:17.To accept somebody like me who is completely at it was really a super
:22:18. > :22:26.moment. # I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
:22:27. > :22:35.# Just like the ones I used to know # Where the tree tops glisten and
:22:36. > :22:45.children listen... #. He just loves singing and he loves
:22:46. > :22:49.getting... His voices is not as good as it used to be and he feels nobody
:22:50. > :22:52.would want him so for somebody to get up with him like that has just
:22:53. > :23:25.made his day. Made his Christmas. A heart-warming Christmas story.
:23:26. > :23:33.Enjoy your Christmas, John. Onto the weather. Sarah Farmer is here. A
:23:34. > :23:36.mild one. Storm Barbra is not hanging around for too much longer.
:23:37. > :23:39.Giles Marsh sent in this wonderful shot of the sun rising
:23:40. > :23:42.A grey but glorious view across the grounds
:23:43. > :23:46.of Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock - That one was taken by
:23:47. > :23:55.in Weymouth Harbour this afternoon, captured by Raymond Slack
:23:56. > :24:00.We continue to have outbreaks of rain through the coming hours and
:24:01. > :24:13.that should clear throughout and we will see spells of clear whether
:24:14. > :24:19.developing through the night. Clear skies mean that temperatures will
:24:20. > :24:23.take a bit of a knock. Down to around four or 5 degrees. Sheltered
:24:24. > :24:28.spots may see a touch of Frost but there should be enough of a breeze
:24:29. > :24:32.to keep that at bay for most of ours. Into Christmas Eve, a bright
:24:33. > :24:36.and cheery start. Still breezy through the cause of the day. We
:24:37. > :24:41.could see one or two showers floating in from the West. For the
:24:42. > :24:52.most part, a pleasant and bright day. Temperatures, highs of ten or
:24:53. > :25:00.11. Cloud will continue to build and thicken. The odd shower is possible.
:25:01. > :25:10.Through the overnight period, it will be breezy. Into Christmas Day,
:25:11. > :25:21.it's a mild one. Temperatures around 12-14 . The record is currently
:25:22. > :25:28.15.60 Greece. It'll be quite cloudy. -- 15 .6 degrees. Wet weather moves
:25:29. > :25:36.in through the overnight period on Sunday into Monday. We do eventually
:25:37. > :25:42.see that clear through. Through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it
:25:43. > :25:48.looks like we will stay pretty mild. But pressure conditions as we arrive
:25:49. > :26:00.into Boxing Day. Things to settle down and the wind is of a touch, as
:26:01. > :26:02.well. That's it. From all others here, we wish you a Merry Christmas.
:26:03. > :26:04.We would like to leave you with a carol.
:26:05. > :26:07.The Downton Chamber Voices singing Comes The Light by Sarah Collins,
:26:08. > :26:41.# Sing out for the mother and the child she bore
:26:42. > :26:47.# Sing out for the mother and the child she bore.
:26:48. > :27:03.# Sing out for the Earth and heavenly renewal...
:27:04. > :27:03.# Comes a light, sing out and be heard
:27:04. > :27:10.# Sing out for the mother and the # Sing out for the mother and the
:27:11. > :27:14.child she bore # Sing out for the mother and the
:27:15. > :27:19.child she bore. # Sing out for those with faith and
:27:20. > :27:21.without # For those who hope and those who
:27:22. > :27:36.doubt # All those who work throughout the
:27:37. > :27:39.night # Sing out for the mother and the
:27:40. > :27:47.child she bore. #.