BBC Local Live: Cumbria

1. Wednesday 15 March 2017

Through the day: BBC Cumbria Live

John Bowness

BBC Radio Cumbria reporter

We've now finished posting news, travel reports and a regular weather forecast, interspersed with other items from around the county, for today. A reminder:

• A woman died in a crash on the A6 this morning between Shap and Kendal 
• Detectives in Cumbria say they are working on 16 cases involving the online abuse of children, and they expect many more to emerge before the end of the year 
• A Roman helmet described as 'one of the most significant archaeological finds in Britain' will return to Cumbria for an exhibition , seven years after it was unearthed here in the county 

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow to do it all again.  

As always, if you have a photograph you'd like to share or you have news you think we should know, you can  email us ,  tweet us  or get in touch   through our Facebook page . 

Cumbrian primary pupils win accolade for railway station film

Neil Smith

South Cumbria journalist, BBC Cumbria

Children from a Cumbrian primary school have won a national award for an animated documentary about a railway station built for shipyard workers. 

The Into Film Awards crowned the short, called The Lost Station,  as its Best Documentary made by pupils aged 12 and under .  

The film, made by nine and and 10 year olds at Barrow Island Primary School , used animation and interviewed people who remembered Island Road station to hear their memories. 

The station shut almost 50 years ago. 

You can watch an edited version of the film here:

Judge tells teenage drug driver 'You could have killed somebody'

A 19-year-old driver who led police on a high-speed chase around Longtown while he was high on drugs has been given a suspended sentence.  

Carlisle Crown Court heard Adam Litke, of Rayfield, Longtown was double the legal cannabis limit during the pursuit last December, just four days after he'd been banned for a previous drug-drive offence.  

He'd already admitted being over the drug-drive limit, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.  

Judge Peter Davies gave Litke a 12-month suspended sentence, plus 150 hours unpaid work, rehabilitation and a three-year driving ban followed by an extended re-test.  

You are a fool and you are very lucky because you could be going to custody, and you could have killed somebody.

Judge Peter DaviesCarlisle Crown Court

Cumbrian MPs react to Chancellor's U-turn on National Insurance

One of the county's Conservative MPs says the Chancellor's decision to change his mind about raising National Insurance contributions was in the spirit of the party's manifesto.  

Philip Hammond announced in last week's budget that about 2.5 million self-employed people would pay more for National Insurance.  

Mr Hammond said that although he thought the measures were "fair", he's abandoned the idea because of criticism that the decision was in breach of a pledge given at the last General Election. 

His colleague Rory Stewart, the MP for Penrith and the Border, is welcoming the move. 

BBC

This was a very difficult decision. On the one hand...these were sensible changes that a lot of economists have been asking for, for many years. And on the other hand there was an issue around the manifesto. And it sounds to me as though the government has made a difficult decision, which I think is the right decision, which is that we have to keep to the spirit of the manifesto.

Rory StewartMP, Penrith and the Border

Meanwhile, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, and Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, says the Chancellor has bowed to the inevitable.  

BBC

Mr Farron says the Conservatives are "lumbering from one U-turn to another".  

School presents teenager with cheque for new limb

The Cumbrian school which raised money to buy a prosthetic leg for a teenager who had part of his leg amputated after a road accident has tweeted these pictures of him being presented with the cheque.

Michael Johnstone, 16, was hit by a car earlier this year.

He is back at Caldew School in Dalton for the first time after the accident and he was presented with a cheque for £1,000.

Cumbrian sheep farmers reminded to look online for risk of lamb disease

An online map to help farmers assess the likelihood of their animals being affected by Nematodirus infection has again gone live for the current lambing season. 

from website of SCOPS - Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep

The disease is linked to a parasitic worm which thrives on pastures when cold weather suddenly gives way to much warmer conditions.  

The organisation Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep or SCOPS says  if this coincides with the lambs beginning to eat significant amounts of grass, at about six weeks old, the results can be devastating . 

Treatment is available, but SCOPS is urging farmers to be vigilant.  

Road closed as police gather evidence at scene of fatal crash

Cumbria Police have asked drivers to bear with them during the closure of the A6 over the Shap Fells, for an investigation into this morning's fatal crash.

A 26-year-old woman died when the car she was driving hit a trailer carrying a digger . It happened at about 08:30, about five miles south of Shap.

BBC

We close the road to preserve the evidence at the scene, but also for the safety of the personnel working there, as well as to recover the vehicles. We only get this one chance and we do keep the road closed for quite a long time, but we ask, due to the tragic circumstances, that the public bear with us and allow us to do our job.

Sgt Paul BrownCumbria Police

Woman killed in digger collision

Roman helmet returns for museum visit

Driver killed in digger crash believed to be in 'her twenties'

Mark McAlindon

BBC Look North

A woman has died after the car she was driving collided with a trailer carrying a digger in Cumbria. 

The woman, who has not been named, but is believed to be in her 20s, died at the scene of the crash on the A6, south of Shap at about 08:30 GMT.

BBC

No-one else was hurt in the incident, which is being investigated by Cumbria Police. 

A force spokesman said the road was likely to remain closed in both direction for some time. 

BBC

Carlisle United make double signing

New leg hope to help amputee teenager play football again

John Bowness

BBC Radio Cumbria reporter

A Carlisle teenager who had to have part of his leg amputated after a road accident may soon be able to play his favourite sport again thanks to generous friends.

Michael Johnstone, 16, was hit by a car earlier this year. 

He is just back at  Caldew School in Dalston for the first time since it happened, where he was presented with a cheque for £1,000.  The money will help to pay for a specialist prosthetic leg. 

He says the support of his family and friends keeps him going. 

I'm being positive because I've got everyone there to support me. My family's here for me, and so are my friends. I'm not letting this stop me playing football ... as soon as I can, I'm going to be back up and playing as much football as I can.

Michael Johnstone

Crosby Garrett Roman helmet back on display in Cumbria

John Bowness

BBC Radio Cumbria reporter

A Roman helmet described as "one of the most significant archaeological finds in Britain" will return to Cumbria, seven years after it was unearthed here in the county. 

Christie's Images / Bridgeman Images

The Crosby Garrett Helmet will be part of the Hadrian's Cavalry exhibition which opens in April at Tullie House , along with other historical displays along the length of Hadrian's Wall. 

The museum in Carlisle tried to raise enough money to buy the helmet, but was unsuccessful.  

More research needed into safeguarding trees against flood damage

Natural flood management schemes in Cumbria might buy more time during periods of intense rainfall, but a new report says they wouldn't be enough to deal with major storms, such as Storm Desmond. 

The Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford is now calling for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs , and the Environment Agency to carry out more research into the benefits of planting trees, changing vegetation, and blocking artificial drainage ditches. 

BBC

Such schemes are  already being used at the Eyecott Hill Nature Reserve  near Penrith, which is managed by the  Cumbria Wildlife Trust .  

Collision closes A6 near Shap

Drivers are being asked to avoid the A6 at Shap following a collision during rush hour.

Cumbria Police said the road was closed in both directions, and likely to remain so for some time.

No details of the incident have been released, but it happened at 08:30 GMT, and police and ambulance staff are at the scene.

BBC

Fells forecast: gusty winds with cloud on many summits

Here's the Fells forecast for daylight hours today: 

• Temperatures at 3000ftt: +2C rising to +5C 
• Winds: Strong southwesterly gusting 35mph 
• Cloud: Extensive above 600m (2000ft) occasionally lowering to 400m (1300ft) over Southern and Western fells 
• Visibility: Good at first, turning hazy this morning then poor at times in drizzle 
• Freezing level: Above the summits 

The full summit report and forecast is available online. 

Paedophiles in Cumbria posing as children to exploit young people

Adam Powell

Journalist, BBC Radio Cumbria

Detectives in Cumbria say paedophiles are going to more extreme lengths to access and create abusive images. 

The Cumbria Police team that's been set up to stop obscene images being shared on the internet says the number of cases has almost doubled over the last 12 months. 

They've been telling BBC Radio Cumbria about the increase.

Officers say paedophiles are posing as children to exploit young people over the internet, and parents need to be wary to help protect their own children. 

Children genuinely have built trust in these people, and believe that they are talking to other teenagers online. That's why it's so important that you know who your child's talking to online.

Det Insp Jenny BeattieCumbria Police