Thanks Michael let's take a look at the weather tonight showers will fade leaving a dry spell before rain again moves in later from the southwest minimum temperatures tonight between 3 and 6 degrees still here very busy a one on the southbound side if you heading away from the Dunston area out towards team Valley So expect delays there also fairly slow central motorway in the center of Newcastle on the about side towards the time bridge announcer was the Benton area still looking very busy Benton Park Road in both directions Front Street also looking very slow as well if you spot anything else though give us a call 101-1123 double to double live 1st the latest I'm George Wallace C.B.C. News some essential northeast travel. So a lot so return to that big story today thousands of people have had their Christmas plans thrown into turmoil after hundreds of flights were canceled at Gatwick Airport because of drones numerous sightings of the unmanned drones have been made since last night and it's considered too dangerous to allow any flights into or out of the area now police have described this as a deliberate act of sabotage using industrial style drones and they've now in the last few minutes asked the army to come in and help them as yet it's not known who is behind this disruption but police from 2 forces have been scouring the area to try and find the culprits Well it's the 2nd busiest airport in the U.K. An obviously Christmas one of the busiest times for travel as well one flight which was due to land that got word today from Antigua has been diverted to to New Castle Well Tanya Stewart was due to fly from Gatwick to Lapland today with her son Teddy with their married. We wanted to see her. And yet obviously we're devastated it's been cancelled we've. Been planning and looking forward oh it's just sad. He is very upset it wasn't yet but he's been really right at the moment. Well the airport's chief operating officer Chris Woodruff has apologized to the 110000 passengers who were due to fly today the data judge you don't see and salacious and disruption it is clearly our intention to get open again but only when it is safe to do so and currently we have had of in the last hour and of a drone sighting and so this stage we are not open and I cannot tell you what time we will. Just incredible scenario to think that so many people could be trapped by something like a drone but in recent years airports around the world have been worrying about this particular scenario however one NE company has been ahead of the game on this one open works engineering is based in stocks field in Northumberland in the firm has invented a gas powered bazooka which fires a net and actually captures a drone in flight it's being used by police and security forces in numerous countries James crosses the company's marketing director and I spoke to him a little earlier this is something that airports that have been searing for a long long time and it's been well publicized over the last 3 years but it's caused absolute chaos from from something that you can go and buy for just a few 100 pounds and be flying within minutes of of taking it out of the box we're hearing all kinds of theories as to who's behind this and how many drones are involved one specialist was saying on the radio earlier today it could be a new I think he said hydrogen powered drone which can stay up for hours but the problem the authorities seem to have been having is trying to get close enough to find out where the person is who is flying it it's a very very difficult challenge you know the threat that these drones posed to 2 airports prisons you know police operators you know in the military there are a huge challenge you know you can have a pilot's 3 kilometers away flying the small drone completely autonomous. So it's a real challenge and there are technology and products out there that will allow you to detect track and then like our systems actually defeat the drone better but it's not a simple problem solver the eyes of course these these operators what a. Already saw the problem shoot out the sky is the other thing I've heard that you can't do that why can't you do that absolutely not so you can imagine on an airfield you know trying to take pot shots at a small drone with with the sort of conventional weapons that the security forces have and you know the risk of collateral damage where the bullets go that that don't hit the drug and it's just we know from our testing with with government agencies law enforcement and military that conventional weapons you know they're not very good at taking down these these small towns so you need a different solution so you came up with a solution about 2 years ago to new the sky wall 100 Tell us about that how does it work actually the best way to stop a drone is to throw a left over it something anybody can relate to and what we do is we make a system that actually fires the net up to the drone and then once the drones captured it deploys a parachute which controls at the center so you know what we talked about with low collateral damage solutions you know where you can use of in populated or open areas that's that's really what our system was was designed for and you're right 2 years ago we launched the product and it's already in use in Asia Europe North America with specialist law enforcement groups and military operators now you can't say who you are working with specifically but you've seen video from within the terminal at Gatwick one of the people who stranded there is film this thing today you believe you'd be able to get close enough with your machine to actually bring this drone down and put an end to all of this chaos Absolutely and you know I don't want to oversimplify the situation but certainly the that some of the video that we've seen shared of the view out of a passenger airplane the drone hovering above the runway which of course shuts down the entire airspace one of our systems could be be deployed and actually neutralize that threat completely in a safe way so our systems absolutely could be deployed by London and one of the challenges you really got to think about here is you know what can you deploy you hear a lot of people and I've been listening to the national radio this morning a lot of people saying just deploying one of these drone jammers that it just forces a drone to fly away or a land where it is and of course if it was a. Close up people would be would already be doing that and of course our system that's really given give you the option you need safely up to that road and of course you've got to have the evidence to then go and find out who did it and have a big part of the debate today has been how do we find out who these people are so we can stop them from doing it again and by capturing the drone you you've got something to forensically examined and attack that criminal network behind it that was James Cross managing director of Open works engineering which is based in stocks field in Northumberland has come up with a position which they can fire at a drone and bring it down now we'll have the latest from Gatwick in a few minutes here on B.B.C. Newcastle the airport says it will take days to recover from the disruption and it's not expected that any flights will take off until at least 7 tonight just. Revealed northeast. It's 10 past 4 on this Thursday afternoon now the northeast is getting a 2nd female bishop follows the announcement the venerable Canon Sarah Clarke is to be the new bishop of Jarrow the 53 year old is currently Archdeacon of Nottingham and she's originally from the South Wales valleys I've come to look around their whole of the diocese to drive from the time to the T.'s and from their seats to the Dale suit get a feel of the diocese and when I stop to have a walk and I walk to the top of picked up at Easington and saw the cages and as the monuments at the top fits I found myself he quite overwhelmed with emotion because it reminded me so clearly of where I grew up in the South Wales Valley which is a X. Mining area my grandfathers were both miners my father was a miner in his twenty's we worked for I.C.I. And I was brought up somewhere just like this so I'm coming really to fan the flames of hope and to give Cove confidence as much as I can to the churches to Christians and to communities to believe that we can be transformative and I'm glad that the church has moved to this point where and in ministry. Of all people are actually welcomed within that ISIS and of course you thinking of 50 percent of the population so so hopefully that as people look you'll see men and women working alongside each other from all different backgrounds to be able to serve their communities and we have to see lives transformed as well so that the venerable Canon SARAH CLARKE The new bishop of Jarrow 3 years ago Christine Hardman became the Bishop of Newcastle as well. In celebration of suburbia Robson's life ne celebrities hosted an evening of music and comedy in New Castle cathedral Twas the Night Before Christmas through 2 losses would ring him as the Hound of the moment use become a man of steel because you develop the ability to take it get back up and fight again and. Christmas here right there is to. See. Christmas and look at Christmas Eve from 4 I think Christmas to B.B.C. New Castle radio for the northeast. Martin Emerson with you on B.B.C. Newcastle through until 5 o'clock this evening when Total Sport will be coming your way now the market in vintage whisky is apparently booming collectors can pay thousands of pounds for a particularly rare bottle but experts are now warning about a growing number of fakes scientists have tried out lengthy study into this one allegedly read vintage Scotch whisky found more than a 3rd of the bottles contents that they were examining were not actually distilled in the year that they were claimed to be on the label Professor Gordon Cook has led the research we see market where the cost of rescues is increasing all the time and it's obviously something that the the people who have one of the drinks etc have got into the see the potential profits and so when those in the consequence of that all the team used radio carbon dating to pinpoint the age of the whiskey's they were testing they examined $55.00 whiskies $21.00 weren't what they claim to be in at least one of them wasn't even whiskey and the Simpson is a whisky expert he says fraudsters have a variety of techniques that they can use to try and do unsuspecting bias. We do find that a number of these bottles will have a blend in them what is meant to be a mole we find as what we think is just cheaper versions of the whisky that is meant to be in that we also find what we think of again cheaper blended whiskeys that will be watered down by a type of dark Sherry. There last year a Chinese millionaire paid almost $800000.00 pounds for a dram of whisky from an unopened bottle which allegedly dated from the 1870s but suspicions were raised about the $878.00 single malt tests later revealed the spirit was actually from the $970.00 S. And it wasn't even a single malt So you would ring why people might be doing this when the paying a lot of money at a auction for these bottles is no wonder that you might get the odd criminal element interested in this one so scientists are finding out nearly half the bottles you think they tested weren't actually rare Scotch whisky at all and we want your song to go with this story please you can text 81 trouble 3 Start your text with B.B.C. And call us free of course 180-234-6565 or indeed you can tweet at the B.B.C. New Castle one suggestion to a smooth criminal by Michael Jackson you've got the smooth element of the there whiskey in the criminal element in there as well if if you think you need to be better then get in touch. It is now though quarter past 4 times the news headlines with Michael Hamilton Gatwick Airport is to remain closed until at least 7 this evening as the search for drones nearby continues the jury has been dismissed in the case of a man accused of storing up racial hatred during protests in Sunderland and it's thought nearly 600 homeless people died in England and Wales in 2017 with more than 40 in the north east. Now coming up on a B.B.C. a dry spell before rain moves in once again later from the southwest minimum temperature tonight about 3 degrees tomorrow a damp start then we'll see a bit of an improvement but there will be patchy rain around as well tomorrow highs of no more than 70. But you very slow if you had to get out towards the central motorway in the center of Newcastle remains very busy on the elbow and side towards the time bridge also looking very busy in the Benton area as well Benton Park Road both directions they're fairly slow at the moment but very busy still unseen southbound towards the Silverlink roundabouts patches of congestion John Reed road this is in the if you heading out was a general area looking fairly busy towards the Lindisfarne roundabouts and a 19 and patches of congestion heading into Sunderland on the A 103 chance of the road if you spot anything else those give us a call although 19123 double treatable mind that's the latest I'm George Wallace B.B.C. News cast some essential northeast travel. Well they're calling it the gift of football and thanks to the kindness of Sunderland fans more than one and a half 1000 people will actually be able to attend the match on Boxing Day who wouldn't normally be able to afford it in all 1562 tickets have been donated by fans and they've been distributed to worthy causes Now so far today more than 40000 tickets have been sold for the Bradford City game making it the highest attendance for a Division 3 match since the league was remodeled back in 2004 and the premier concourse will be open once again as well managing director Tony Davison has been telling me how that if the football came about it came straight from the fans you know a guy by the name Simon beard he sent a tweet to Stewart on Lynne Stewart offside interacting with me hello how can I give tickets to fans who just can't afford to go on boxing they're. So upset that I would say yeah we may not have meant for you and then. It's all went from there fund started to get online funds are there how do I get involved in the next thing you know we've got a we've got an initiative with an extended out to the business community linked in with a foundation so that the tickets will find a really good home we've ended up with with a huge number of applications and a huge number of people just want to get involved and help it's been fantastic there will be something like one and a half 1000 recipients of these gifted tickets it's supposedly a lot of struggle and when it's it's a cracking gift to give us and we know a lot of people follow over those and I think this is. That if you're an indication that the fans are starting to feel like Barry in the future the football club in there and they want people to come with them they don't want to be. A barrier just because you can't afford to buy tickets at the felt was important that people could to compete there when the Boxing Day game with a such a huge get for a League One game it's a real sort of almost you know symbol of kind of rebirth I suppose of the club because we haven't walked in the Premier concourse again which we closed when we were we were on the downward run if you like sort of the premier concourses on again the fun zone going to be posing and for people who who probably thought they couldn't afford to come this year they've now got this opportunity to comment on the game and hopefully be part of something something isn't statistically you're hovering around the 40000 ticket sale now for Boxing Day you won't break the record in this division because that was the Sheffield hobby in 1979 nearly 50000 at that one and of course was terracing then but you will break the record or you have broken the record for league one which was rebranded in I think 2004 that was Leeds chilling him in May 200-8000 so you're already past that yeah that's right and you know the forethought for 1000 in. We did look at what the biggest get for this level was in the Unfortunately the stadiums 300 short of actually breaking the record for this stage right now you know we're open and if new blocks in the prem You can also etc. Put to get past that so we we set a target if you like that we. Thought was was real stretch put the chief people and then you know that that was a game which decided whether they were promoted or not at the moment we're not even in the top 2 and with Eleanor over $40000.00 for a game against a team in the bottom 3 so I mean Bradford fans really caught on board as well you know they're going to bring 2000 plus to the game it should be a crime it's for you know a feel you know won't feel like a legal game will fail again you know the feel of one of the better Premier League games Boxing Day is always with a big seller when someone has been at home over the years or if they weren't here on Boxing Day It was generally New Year's Day what would it take if you know you continue the season you're near the top what would it take for instance for the premier concourse to reopen on a regular basis where we're sort of our you know certain games later on in the season and it's at the minutes very difficult to say where this thing's going to stop our payroll if we keep winning if jackets win games for us which is obviously a massive massive help because you not only lose one game so far as brilliance of the SES in. The 2nd half as good as the 1st half of the pushing for promotion at the end of the season you know I would be surprised if 2 or 3 the games at the end of the season were open and then we have to make a judgment call probably in the summer about what the demands can be like in the next season and whether it's open either again opinion chills much the off season a we haven't got that far because Bynum isn't the response we've had and we saw a very difficult thing too far ahead in knots in that score but you know we created the problem congresswoman Every we're gone. TONY DAVIS And there the new managing director of Sunland football club building bridges with a community again they'll have a fan zone in the fantastic new sports complex next to the stadium as well the lake poets will be performing on Boxing Day 2 in there something that you might want to have a chat with the team on top of sport with were you a season ticket holder in the Premier concourse would you be interested in going back up there and give them a call from 5 o'clock. Revealed northeast. Pretty distressing statistics out today 32 homeless people are estimated to have died in the northeast last year and many of those deaths may have been premature nearly 600 homeless people died in England and Wales last year which is a 24 percent increase on the previous 5 years the official estimate is the 1st by the Office of National Statistics on Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan has been looking at the figures are very high much higher than people had thought the Office for National Statistics estimate that between 2002017 in England and Wales are talking of our own 2627 homeless people died what's striking about the what we can tell about the deaths how different they are from the general population the 80 odd percent of them are male Most of them are dying in their mid forties that tends to be our own 30 years younger than the average one half the deaths were due to drug poisoning a liver disease or suicide cast as brother Craig was sleeping rough when he died from a heroin overdose I think it's shocking and when a terrible crisis isn't entirely so much more needs to be done I work 7 days a week with people how less and we've had so many deaths in Manchester that they think is don't surprise me at all and I actually think that there's probably a lot more people have died they have. Well Andrea Burnet is from crisis a charity supporting rough sleepers here in Newcastle over last year we helped over $1200.00 people not just from Newcastle but from across time and we really and it's an issue which unfortunately is on the rise so last year nationally estimates more than 1000 people sleeping rough actually quite a difficult figure to pin down because people who sleep are off by the very nature wants to see if I'm still hidden so you're long problem so in Newcastle last year there was over 250 people who slept rough and that was just the ones who were who were found and in Newcastle with over 700 bed Spears's which are hostels tempi competition So again they're people who don't have a stable and secure roof for their heads where they live with their family and often a Christmas time again we're the lucky ones and I count myself in that who have a family to go home to on Christmas Day for many people that is in the situation Andrew Bennett there from crisis. It is 24 minutes past for you listening to Martin Emerson here on B.B.C. Newcastle and they're going to turn now to that big story of the day they're still severe disruption at Gatwick Airport as the authorities are searching desperately to try and find the operator of at least 2 drones which have been flying over the airport since last night hundreds of flights have been grounded for safety for years I think this 1st began about 9 o'clock last night and it became a problem again about 3 this morning in the drones have been spotted regularly throughout the day here some of the passengers who are affected by this nobody on the desk no information a school that's ridiculous how many minutes comes because of the 10s of 100000 in delays Lucas I got into the flight flight was making its way over to the runway but then the captain announced that runways were now closed and we didn't know why we ended up waiting for a couple of hours there and then they did all this well there are several hours of drones flying around police a rest of it and so on it just seems extraordinary that the airport can be closed down because of drones. So what is the latest on this or in talk to our reporter Adam currently now Adam what is happening at the moment well Martin literally in the last 5 minutes the defense actually Gavin Williamson has confirmed the army has been called in to support Sussex police the police have said we need help and when he was asked what will the army be doing he said well they've got to tell us but they have a range of unique capabilities not something we would normally deploy but they're there to assist so evidently they must have some sort of specialist equipment that the bottom line is modern They need to trace where these wretched perpetrators of these drones are you know are they clever children hiding under a bush or is it something more organized than that the trouble is the drones keep flying over the airport and every time the police have tried to track them down they've evaded them and it's cause chaos since last night and the airport won't open till at least 7 o'clock tonight and that's not a promise that's just or nothing will happen before 7 we were talking to a Northeastern company earlier in the program who developed a system for shooting down these drones a while ago and they are called Open works engineering in stocks field they have a gas powered bazooka which blasts the net of the things the only thing force this this works it's been used around the world it was used when Barack Obama visited bird in a couple of years ago but they can't tell us who they're working with but I would imagine as things stand some of their kits probably on its way down to Gatwick now . And certainly if they supply the army with that that may be something the Army uses I mean you know the defense secretary is absolutely right not to reveal secrets that could be used in a in a more serious situation or war and going to give the army secrets away but but you know our military are are the best in the world and they will be doing everything that they can they were asked the police was are were asked this morning why did you just shoot the thing down and they said because they're worried about stray bullets you know you could be very careful with so many people around there and it's a very populated area but at the moment 110000 people affected $760.00 flights canceled that will include the jet to service of course Newcastle down to get wait planes being diverted all over the shop so it's a really sick you are a serious situation and it's chaos as well as in all those poor past you know looking for the Christmas holidays stuck in the airport this being told not to go see a honeymoon missing honeymoons children missing trips to Lapland people wanting to go off and visit relatives for Christmas and apparently it is you know it is evil in the north terminal especially it's chaotic the star for stress to bursting point it's so overcrowded that people are having to sit in weird positions even said so it's a not a pleasant place to be and certainly the advice to anyone in our pack shoes thinking of traveling to get work is to just go nowhere near Newcastle airport or Teesside Airport aware of your traveling from. Check with your airline 1st because it's really doubtful any flights ago today now I would have thought and even tomorrow even into the weekend it's going to take a long time to get this straight because of course you go aircraft all in the wrong places crew in the wrong places don't assume you don't charge your luck trying to get to get weak just phone up and make alternative arrangements if they tell you your flight's not going on came or I had in fact very much for joining us a reporter and I'm currently with the latest on that was just looking on my Facebook page yesterday. 8 years ago since my cousin got married in Birmingham and she left the wedding reception in the middle of a blizzard and then spent 3 days on the the floor of an airport and couldn't get away on honeymoon but it's sort of understandable when it's things like weather but incredible that something like this could ground all those flights and cause so much trouble and disruption Anyway we'll keep you updated if there are any developments on that in the next time a half hour or so in fact there throughout the evening here on B.B.C. Newcastle the song for the story though our punts today scientists who carried out the Study of Race Scotch whisky far more than a 3rd they tested were actually fake in one bottle there was an e whisky in it all it was something else entirely so we want your songs to go without one please 81 trouble free start your text with a B.B.C. . Still worries. Newcastle radio. Michael Hamilton has the headlines at $430.00 the army has been asked to step in as Gatwick airport remains closed because of drones a jury in the trial of a man charged with inciting racial hatred at a series of religion Sunderland has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict and some point of no sort of 40000 tickets for their Boxing Day match against Bradford City at the Stadium of Light a new league one record. New Castle only place the northeast. And as I mentioned a few minutes ago something they'll probably be talking about in total sport tonight as well his pretty Yes good afternoon lots to talk about on the show this is evening Sunderland's manager Jack Ross has been giving us an update on his injured players don't work often Reece James and Tom Flanagan join famed Reese Fein . Nice and a succinct from Jack Ross there then on those 3 players more from him tonight and Nick Barnes will be in the studio to update you on. All things that red and white will chat to Charlie Methven in the 1st part of the program just after 5 o'clock as well and Newcastle United Meanwhile they're preparing for Saturday's clash with follow him in the Premier League and James's Park isn't available for the visitors he has a growing injury and won't be fit we'll have razor in the studio to talk Newcastle as well of course we'll say the fan who threw a bottle at the Spurs midfielder Delhi in last night's League Cup quarter final at the Emirates embarrassed the club they have identified an image of the suspect and they've passed it on to police the head of Sunday's home game against Gloucester in rugby union's Premiership Newcastle Falken soca Kyle Cooper says he is looking forward to a physical game and as expected star chasers out here and presenting Percy won't be in the lineup for Jump racing's King George the 6th chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 11 run as including last year's winner might bite and native river have been confirmed for the Christmas racing feature also on total sports for that well guess with Graeme as usual on a Thursday Paul Dickson no less our studio guest and Steve Marco and I will have 2 pairs of tickets to give away as well matches Newcastle against Fulham and another pair of tickets for Sunderland against Bradford City so make sure you listen up and not the holder on the show this evening rather than the referees whistle that's the cue to call a star studded lineup once again indeed yes. Thanks very much Brian I was waiting for a sarcastic comment. Well leave it there right by Saturday and if the weather isn't going to be too bad we'll have been a sunshine and it will be fairly dry before that we have to endure a damp start tomorrow plenty of patchy rain around through the day as well and the maximum temperature tomorrow no better than 7 degrees. If you had to get out of the A 19 is still very busy southbound out towards the Silverlink roundabouts also looking very slow in the Benton area as well both directions the rains fairly slow Front Street also looking very busy as well central motorway in the center of the castle remains very busy on the southbound side out towards the time bridge has been road. Away from the motorway they're also looking fairly busy as well and if you heading away from Sunderland looking very busy a 103 Chester Road out of the shell carriage B. If you spot anything else they'll give us a call on the 1913 S. The latest on George Wallace. Castle essential northeast travel. Christmas is just around the corner now as an attorney next week hair will hello be over will be back doing the things we normally do I suppose and perhaps a little bit heavier as well but there are lots of charities at this time of year who do particularly wonderful things and sometimes they can make a terrible situation just a little bit more bearable all this time last year a mother of 4 Hayley cable was facing what looked like being the last Christmas that she'd have with partner Darren he had terminal bowel cancer he couldn't work and as a result of that money was extremely tight but Haley who comes from Washington got in touch with NE charity feeding families it finds people who are willing to pack a big Christmas box for those who are struggling. So and my name is Haley and the last September night husband started almost with tell me about cancer. It was terrible news and 4 children saw it was just absolutely devastating lasted 6 months and died in March this year that bail for children now on my own. Is Ian's an incredibly difficult and trying things really difficult financially and emotionally. Through chemotherapy and he just lost a lot of weight so thinking about buying presents didn't have the money financially it was just so hard it Christmas Day couldn't even eat Christmas dinner because he was so poorly. It was one of my friends Sam and faced. Who actually had been nominated by somebody to get and how Michael she was fine here I find it difficult and she said to me I am in touch with him because I think in Darren deserved something nice for you in the kids so I did get in touch and I told him about my situation in the 3rd straight way and we'll help you and I got matched with a lovely amulet on it and she came and shared to live at our home we're not the type of people here like to take him always like you do things for self. No not somebody had went out and spent their own money. And give it to our children and my husband when I seen a smile on my kid's face and his face just made Christmas a whole lot easier and that and 10 suspects I had and I was incredibly thankful and I still know that girl now she's been my cake Muhyiddin as well and or nay it the cake she didn't ask for any money she just donated the case. Was a. Laugh A I just think was just so so kind to to go out of their way to go shop and to think about another family when it's such a busy time. And I know the lady with just well I am sore she went out and are in all our own time and money you know I just think it's incredibly kind weapon helped again it's just so nice I love affair you know forget it. Too. What a lovely heart warming story that was a family really hope against it this time last year and then help from an unexpected corner managed to help if that family a lovely Christmas this time last year so going now from somebody who wants to help to quite a few who don't and. This story involves quite a bit of front really has to be said there fraudulent his one phrase that has been used damaging and against the spirit of the race other phrases and that's how the Great North Run organizers have described runners who take places from charities but fail to actually raise any money for them Now this follows a B.B.C. Investigation which found more than 1200 people who accepted charity places in last year's Great North Run race absolutely nothing the figures came from 42 charities who responded to our questions our reporter John Douglas has been looking into the situation. The world's biggest half marathon offers runners of all abilities the chance to compete alongside elite athletes like no Farah crossing the same finish line is him in 2017 where runners who were there because charities had paid for their places the deal is these runners often do pay something the registration fee to their chosen charity of maybe $20.00 or 50 pounds and also pledge to raise a minimum amount of money most of them hit or exceed their fundraising targets but some don't just miss them they fail to donate anything we bought $93.00 places in total and all of those 10 runners raised no sponsorship at all Katie Rhea is from the charity Epilepsy Action Well some of it's run as he raced nothing gave a reason that wasn't the case for all of them 3 with 3 from the race before the event for example things like ensure a or family commitments some had to defer their place things like that and that 7 actually did complete their. That didn't raise any funds for US Have you been able to get any account from the mature as to why they took part in the event but didn't do what they promised which is to raise the money they pledged to you unfortunately not to and what Athan happens is we do contact them on several occasions and there's Well we contact them in the run up to the event with that support so which really creates a sort of team fail often then when they don't raise the sponsorship we tend not to see them at the finish either so they don't come to the charity market so the reason that opportunity to sort of highlights of them the importance of and raising is for us I wonder if perhaps it could be they don't realize how much is a charity we pay per play we don't receive any government grants that we we do rely heavily on people's generosity for the for the money we need to support people living with Apple apps A which is why sort of every donation is so important to us it cost Epilepsy Action $110.00 pounds for every place it offered to run his that was more than twice as much as anyone paid you've got a place through the public ballot in 2017 charities pay more because they often sign up to advertising packages to guarantee a certain number of places and other benefits it works like this. 2017 Epilepsy Action paid over 6000 pounds for the silver package that meant it secured up to 85 places in the Great North Run. The package included things like a marquee which the charity told me is great for it to meet its run is it the finish and adverts in the race magazine for every place it used it paid an entry fee of 45 pounds each and it bought more places from other charities you couldn't fill all of them as meaning it had 93 runners costing it over 10000 pounds. The fact is that was money well spent for Epilepsy Action because the rest of it's run is it says did a fantastic job and raised over $40000.00 pounds but the event could. Been even more beneficial if all of its one is that raise money. Over all 17 percent of runners from the 42 charities that answered our questions were recorded is donating no money the highest proportion we were told about was from one of the country's best known charities and it's the Simon led children's cancer research U.K. Pleads John Douglas a travel to the Cancer Research She case headquarters in London because in 2017 it had 758 minutes except places it it paid for in the Great North Run $318.00 of those runners race nothing that's 42 percent of them now it did have far more run is taking part than any of the charity that got back to its But even so 42 percent seemed a high proportion so I asked the charities director of communities about it he some election we really came to try to work people when they've made that commitment to raise the money because it is vital to fund our research we've introduced new methods of contacting the people that take our place where increase the level of telephone calls that we make to them to explain to them the commitment that they're making and the support that we have on offer to them to encourage them to raise the money and return the money to us as well that Simon legend from cancer research U.K. Now it's still made over half a $1000000.00 pounds from the Great North Run in 2017 because it's other runners did well with their fund raising and there's also another point to remember here people who pay for their own places and get them through the public ballot often choose to run for charity and over a 1000 people did that for cancer research U.K. In last year's race. So there are plenty of good people out there but one or 2 who didn't live up to the promise that was John Douglas reporting now you might think charities could be in a position where they could use binding contracts but some experts say this risks actually putting the runners off the organizers of the Great North Run have told the B.B.C. They're aware of a small number of runners who exploit the system and they condemn the practice which they say is fraudulent damaging for charities and goes against the spirit of the Great North Run have quite a lot of information in that report there and who knew that there's all this trading if the numbers going on as well in the background haven't That was John Douglas with that report in a moment or 2 I have the news headlines here on B.B.C. Newcastle but a reminder of the song for the story today scientists have been carrying out quite a lengthy study into rare Scotch whisky in the found that more than a 3rd of the ones they tested were actually fake they used carbon dating and established 21 out of 55 whiskies words what they claim to be on the ball and one of them wasn't even whisky at all so which songs go with this story where after your suggestions are fried Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson whiskey in the job I Thin Lizzy of course and this one certes always sick of thinking just a little bit outside the box in the still of the night says J.M.S. If you can improve on that one trouble 3 Start your text with B.B.C. Or give us a call free 102326565. And it is quarter to 5 time for the news headlines now with Michael Hamilton Police say Gatwick airport is being deliberately disrupted as it remains closed in June to drones the judge any racial hatred relating to protests in Sunderland has discharged the jury after it failed to reach a verdict on the charges and the B.B.C. Investigations phone more than 1200 people who accepted charity places in last year's Great North Run didn't raise any money. Now to morrow afternoon in between me to. Return. To try in. That period of. TIME If you're always throws me because which going from one year into another and I always get the wrong you're. Free you also be chatting with Jim Lee from Slate who along with the Slade Christmas classic Merry Christmas everybody but have you any idea. It was actually written you can find out tomorrow afternoon. Showers will fade leading to a dry spell before rain will move in again from the southwest a minimum temperature tomorrow will be between tonight sorry well between 3 and 6 degrees. Away from Gateshead out towards the junction So expect delays there very busy in the castle on the central generally moving fairly. Valley and of course around the metro center looking fairly congest at the moment to take it easy for heading out that way. Give us a call on one. Of the latest on this. Martin Anderson with you here on B.B.C. Newcastle they were famous fortunes like these. Divine Comedy and this New Year's Eve a divine comedy you will see in 2019 with an exclusive game on the banks of the time they will be the main attraction at least sage front man is Neil Hannon and he told me today that just about to finish their latest album once he's finally happy with it recently I've been trying to get it lasted. A terrible artist a person who keep throwing it back to them saying yes but I think I might just tweak the based on substance but you know. So it's almost there having said that I have think I've said it's almost there for about the last year are you one of these people who no matter how it sounds in the end you never 100 percent satisfied with it or do you feel in the past you have actually nailed down perfectly that the trucks you are trying to achieve in the sound you're trying to achieve. Well you can never get 100 percent fit just an impossibility because the things that you imagine in your head are pretty much not possible and that's OK You just get as far as you can there's a strange thing that happens after that point in maybe a month or 2 when you've actually finished the album and put it to bed and sort of gone that's it you start to kind of disassociated from yourself and from the act of making it you start to be ready able to listen to it like from a completely different angle just like a piece of music that somebody else has made and then you suddenly realize you know if it's good or not. It's very difficult to tell while you're actually making it you're just kind of trying to do what you think is right I'm thinking back to national Xpress particularly and my days when I used to go to the gym years ago around about 999 to you know want to do that and that was always the song I used to put me up on the treadmill just. A flag that would always use just revive me but I mean we're going back right now is really nearly 20 years isn't it really yeah yeah in fact next year is pretty much my 30th anniversary in the music business pretty frightening 48 think up 48 What year is it when I'm 47 now so when was 71 so 28 I was born in yeah yeah definitely 48 with every year that passes do you find that you have to think harder about what age you actually are and now you're going to be playing at the same age New Year's Eve This is a big gig this one sounds like is going to be a spectacular night with everything that's going on that night and of course right on the key side for all the fire it's a big occasion you must be looking forward to it. Yeah. And toll ready almost sold so if there's anybody out there still wants to come buy a ticket now that I'm not a big fan of New Year's Eve It doesn't. Served much of a purpose for me so I think it's great to be working and kind of giving people a good time and they can certainly have a great. Have you played the same age many times before we did it on the last U.K. Tour actually and it was a great show and it's an incredible venue I was there a few weeks ago watching China crisis I think there on the 40 a fan of that I'm not surprised when it's you know I'm a lightweight compared I put them on Spotify playlist for myself I. Loved all that we have on our doorstep in this age mean it's a world class venue it's right it's vital that the likes of the Sydney Opera House and the locals know what it's about the way it's designed it's just an incredible place fantastic acoustic Yeah and it's it's you know it's just a Great to be up on the stage as it is to be in the audience that's a really good place. To do the current ourselves lucky. Indeed Neil hang in there from The Divine Comedy who'll be the stars at the sage Gateshead a New Year's Eve And there are still some tickets available for that one if you want to get yourself along sounds like it will be an excellent night but don't dally there I was just wondering today had ever been a song about the mega boss but apparently the husband. Is a Scrooge Alfie and Anna at breakfast could see the way you. Think everyone would say I suppose it's. Because they look at the tastes or they look to see what's appealing to present relation to say to me Julie to be fair because you really want to be a serious look this is possible I pretty much go in the bin. We want to see you tomorrow when you wake up B.B.C. New Castle revealed for the northeast. Just wondering when I can do my Christmas shopping this year I'm working on Christmas Eve That's when I normally go in there to get the presents on after dinner on Sunday in a little bit early perhaps an hour anyway we fair been telling you for quite some time now me about how rough times have been on the high street for Britain's retailers but there were some surprise good news today because retail sales including both online and high street have jumped more than expected in the last month they've gone up 1.4 percent from October economists had predicted growth of just north point 3 percent the Office for National Statistics says the figures were helped by Black Friday promotions and shoppers buying more household goods more in Hinton is a retail analyst she says consumer demand remains subdued though if you look at it more closely at the INS because you do actually see that clothing retailers are very made marginal growth year on year and the large food retailers have any made marginal growth while there is going to be more positive growth because there's so much discounting going on is that the risk of margins across the board. Was suggested just a few days ago on the show that people haven't really done. That well out of Black Friday because they heavily discounted the discounted too much but these latest figures come as a new report says Britain has twice as many shops as it actually needs the study has been produced by a panel of retail experts appointed by the government to look at the State of the High Street and the panel was chaired by Timson who of course runs the shoe repair chain Tim since he says we need to reinvent our town centers and local councils need more money from central government in order to do this this isn't just about shopping it's about community is about creating a home that includes lots of things were medical and social services were entertainment or all these other things and housing because I mean it's pretty obvious if you go around there are probably about twice as many shops as we need in this country but we're short of housing Well the report says the $675000000.00 pounds already announced in the budget for high street improvements should be spent by each town on a local basis so they can improve public spaces and transport links they also want local authorities to review their parking charges to make sure they're not putting customers off coming into town centers Sheila Tims recently closed her fancy dress shop in the village of crows on in Barca She says it's hard for many small stores to compete with the cheaper prices being offered online because the surviving are people that can't be hit. By his pants yes it was hit. By our on line I mean people were buying stuff that I couldn't buy that price was a liar is hence why my business doesn't exist anymore. Well this weekend will be a big one for many retailers hoping to see a last minute dash to the shops to boost sales in what has generally been a fairly lackluster Yeah so if you're going out this weekend to the shop so we've already been told by one travel organization expected to be busy but of course it will be want to because Christmas this weekend falls after the weekend so we've got Monday as well still to come so you don't perhaps need to start your panic buying until Monday afternoon into rather than Saturday or Sunday now in a few minutes so we'll be looking back at our song for the story it's about fake whiskey in Scotland I don't know who would know anything about that and I'll try to think for you. B.B.C. Newcastle northeast with. Me about it the did I just hear the W. Word there yes yes. The been testing all these bottles of whisky in Scotland and read old brands of whiskey most of which are a good 3rd of which anyway didn't have any of the re old brands in them some of them didn't have any to give them you can't trust any of these this can you really those in Pontville have what little tea. There's nothing sacred anymore it's now the whether it's a precipitous or 3 could get his name you know I mean it's up and down it's changeable for the next couple of days and then against the settled bone as we head towards Christmas itself so yeah show the spells of where that is what we're getting at the minute we have a few shows today that we want to through the evening and all tend to dry up I think between about say 10 o'clock this evening 2 o'clock in the morning that's essentially dry and clear after over through the early hours of the morning the cloud starts to thank you not again from the southwest I will start to see some rain squared then at least according to data and by the end of the Nate lowest temperature Well perhaps not fun but maybe then as low as 30 Celsius but they're close to start and tomorrow that rain will slowly spread northwards but that's not the 1st that does so and by lunchtime most places should be drying. Up and beginning to break up as well some decent break spells as we head into the afternoon again its northern parts will see the best of the greatness as afternoon temp just claim to hit 7 degrees Celsius some parts today and again tomorrow night break ins up for Saturday though mostly dry in breakthrough south of the sun this area in clearing and then things start to dry up and great up high places Belles as we head into Christmas Eve should give the nice dry break there on Monday overnight and to Christmas Day itself we won't see any snow you might see a touch of frost or 1st thing on Christmas Day although I want to Patches may come with that as well so dry greater by the bit colder by night by Christmas from overnight frost and to contend with by the looks of things if you don't know it's safe to cross to from Holy Island don't know until 11 o'clock tonight thanks very much Paul obviously you would be drinking responsibly across the festive season and I still do it to the how much is how much what would you what would you Top Dollar be on of all the whiskey or a bottle yeah that's all I thought on the spot. I thought you'd be an expert more of an experience. You're going to live with for the. Now it's coming out we have the truth after all of these Yeah OK then Paul you can see Paul on look north from P.B.C. Warner just after 630 so that's. A song for the stories they've done a few suggestions for this one Whiskey in the jar from Thin Lizzy that was from Walter J.S. Suggesting in the still of the night and thank you for the whiskey says Johnny in war but I think it's probably some story up in more ways than more in this next tune the smooth elements smooth whiskey and the criminal element all in what. Stories. About Race. Michael has the headlines airport remains closed off the drones were spotted many hundreds of flights and tens of thousands of passengers have seen their flights delayed or completely canceled I was just sent out to. Sound like them from the sound that is why I'm being shot down CARNEY The support. They think they're going to react and they put another one up that some flights have been diverted to other U.K. Airports including Lytton Manchester and Glasgow one flight was sent to Newcastle police have asked the Army for help calling this deliberate disruption but not terrorism. We've already. Had Newcastle also looking very busy on the central southbound side towards bridge and it's looking very busy just the road on the outbound side as well if you will anything else that gives coal you know 191. The latest on George Wallace.