the manchester arena bombing — for the first time the inquiry hears of the anger among firefighters told to stay away from the scene. tributes to ian stjohn, the liverpool legend who's died at 82 — a star on the pitch, and the master of tv punditry. and coming up on bbc news... horse racing's image crisis continues as horses are moved from gordon elliot's yard ahead of the cheltenham festival. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. there is growing evidence tonight that a combination of the national lockdown and the highly successful roll—out of vacccines is leading to a sharp reduction in covid deaths. according to the latest figures from the office for national statistics, the number of registered coronavirus deaths in england and wales has fallen by more than a quarter in a week, to the lowest level since the start of the year. the reduction has been welcomed by both scientific and health experts, though some have warned of the need to remain cautious, especially with schools in england reopening next week. here's our health editor hugh pym. the streets may still look quiet but we are on the road to recovery, that is the message from ministers in england today with positive news about the impact of vaccines on preventing serious illness and deaths. and the hunt for a missing person infected with the brazilian variant of coronavirus has been narrowed down to 379 households in the south—east of england. mr the south-east of england. mr speaker- -- _ the south-east of england. mr speaker... the _ the south-east of england. mr speaker... the health - the south-east of england. mr i speaker... the health secretary, while warning — speaker. .. the health secretary, while warning of— speaker... the health secretary, while warning of the _ speaker... the health secretary, while warning of the need - speaker. .. the health secretary, while warning of the need for- while warning of the need for caution, gave mps an upbeat assessment.— caution, gave mps an upbeat assessment. . u , ., ~ assessment. the vaccine is working, reducina assessment. the vaccine is working, reducing the — assessment. the vaccine is working, reducing the number _ assessment. the vaccine is working, reducing the number of _ assessment. the vaccine is working, reducing the number of deaths - assessment. the vaccine is working, i reducing the number of deaths among those who were vaccinated first, and preventing hospital admissions. this is real world evidence that the vaccine is protecting the nhs and saving lives. vaccine is protecting the nhs and saving lives-_ vaccine is protecting the nhs and saving lives-— saving lives. one measure of the covid impact _ saving lives. one measure of the covid impact is — saving lives. one measure of the covid impact is the _ saving lives. one measure of the covid impact is the total - saving lives. one measure of the covid impact is the total number| saving lives. one measure of the |covid impact is the total number| saving lives. one measure of the i | covid impact is the total number of covid impact is the total number of excess deaths in the uk. this line shows the five year weekly average for total reported deaths and this is what is happening since the start of 2020, where there was a sharp spike last april, largely because of covid. then the numbers fell back again before another steep increase at the end of last year and into january. since then, the number has been falling back. this map shows cases per 100,000 in different parts of the uk. light blue shows the lowest number. 0verall numbers are falling but there are still some hotspots, in eastern and central england, shown here in red. the numbers are moving in the right direction but there is still intense strain on the front line of the nhs, with no sign of respite for hospital staff, who had to cope with the huge surge in covid patient numbers since the new year. figs surge in covid patient numbers since the new year-— the new year. as the cases come down, they _ the new year. as the cases come down. they are — the new year. as the cases come down, they are coming _ the new year. as the cases come down, they are coming down - the new year. as the cases come | down, they are coming down from the new year. as the cases come i down, they are coming down from a really high level, and across our whole membership, we are hearing from nhs leaders that covid—19 remains a major pressure and it probably will do so. time. russell is normally _ probably will do so. time. russell is normally fit _ probably will do so. time. russell is normally fit and _ probably will do so. time. russell is normally fit and active - probably will do so. time. russell is normally fit and active but - probably will do so. time. russell is normally fit and active but is . is normally fit and active but is recovering from covid at home after leaving hospital last week. it is leaving hospital last week. it is like drowning, _ leaving hospital last week. it is like drowning, it _ leaving hospital last week. it is like drowning, it is _ leaving hospital last week. it is like drowning, it is horrible. leaving hospital last week. it isj like drowning, it is horrible. he had like drowning, it is horrible. had been in like drowning, it is horrible. he: had been in a ward where others did not pull through. his message is, don't think covid has gone away. you will know about it, it's serious, it is so _ will know about it, it's serious, it is so serious _ will know about it, it's serious, it is so serious. i have seen people pass— is so serious. i have seen people pass hv — is so serious. i have seen people pass by. it's _ is so serious. i have seen people pass by. it's not very nice. people might— pass by. it's not very nice. people might think— pass by. it's not very nice. people might think they are immune from it all they— might think they are immune from it all they are — might think they are immune from it all they are scared of a vaccine. i wish _ all they are scared of a vaccine. i wish i _ all they are scared of a vaccine. i wish i could _ all they are scared of a vaccine. i wish i could have had the vaccine in may _ wish i could have had the vaccine in may i_ wish i could have had the vaccine in may i would — wish i could have had the vaccine in may. i would take it straightaway, without _ may. i would take it straightaway, without a — may. i would take it straightaway, without a shadow of a doubt. it is a reminder that _ without a shadow of a doubt. it is a reminder that the _ without a shadow of a doubt. it is a reminder that the vaccination - reminder that the vaccination programme has a way to go and that people are still getting very sick with covid. but the overall picture is looking brighter than it was. hugh pym, bbc news. the devolved government in northern ireland has published a five—step plan for easing lockdown rules. unlike england's so—called road map, threre are no dates, just conditions to be met on infection rates and hospitalisations. the first stage would see the rules around outdoor socialising relaxed, along with the partial return of teaching in classrooms. 0ur ireland correspondent emma vardy reports. fa ncy fancy a cocktail? take a ways at this once lively pub in east belfast have been keeping a bit of business ticking over during the doldrums of lockdown. wet pubs will reopen in stage four of the executive's plan but when that will arrive is not clear. ~ . , but when that will arrive is not clear. . ., , ., ~ clear. we are still in the dark. we've been — clear. we are still in the dark. we've been closed _ clear. we are still in the dark. we've been closed for- clear. we are still in the dark. we've been closed for seven i clear. we are still in the dark. - we've been closed for seven months last year, when i closed for three months at least this year. what last year, when i closed for three months at least this year. what were ou hoinu months at least this year. what were you honing for? _ months at least this year. what were you honing for? i— months at least this year. what were you hoping for? i wanted _ months at least this year. what were you hoping for? i wanted to - months at least this year. what were you hoping for? i wanted to be - months at least this year. what were you hoping for? i wanted to be open| you hoping for? i wanted to be open on the 1st of— you hoping for? i wanted to be open on the 1st of april— you hoping for? i wanted to be open on the 1st of april or _ you hoping for? i wanted to be open on the 1st of april or the _ you hoping for? i wanted to be open on the 1st of april or the 12th - you hoping for? i wanted to be open on the 1st of april or the 12th of - on the 1st of april or the 12th of april or by the 29th but we wanted some clear indication on a date. how cuickl some clear indication on a date. how quickly northern _ some clear indication on a date. how quickly northern ireland moves through the five stages of its plan, how quickly places like this can open again, we'll all be dictated by key health figures such as the r, hospitalisations and the number of people who have not had the vaccine. by people who have not had the vaccine. by not including dates, ministers have left themselves room to go more cautiously if cases were to rise again and for many, that is the biggest source of frustration. late biggest source of frustration. we will not be driven by hard dates. we recognise _ will not be driven by hard dates. we recognise everyone will be looking for certainty but we don't want to set potentially unachievable dates that will— set potentially unachievable dates that will only disappoint.— that will only disappoint. places that will only disappoint. places that don't sell _ that will only disappoint. places that don't sell alcohol _ that will only disappoint. places that don't sell alcohol like - that will only disappoint. places that don't sell alcohol like this i that don't sell alcohol like this bakery and cafe of the north coast will get to open earlier, in stage two. ~ . will get to open earlier, in stage two. . ., ., , ., two. we have really felt the social responsibility _ two. we have really felt the social responsibility here, _ two. we have really felt the social responsibility here, especially - two. we have really felt the social responsibility here, especially in i two. we have really felt the socialj responsibility here, especially in a small town. we don't want to open unless it is totally safe to do so. while school pupils in england can return on monday, in northern ireland, it is only some in primary and those taking exams, with most staying home until after easter. i staying home until after easter. i think we have traditionally been more _ think we have traditionally been more cautious. we have also had probably— more cautious. we have also had probably more time to think and learn _ probably more time to think and learn from — probably more time to think and learn from the mistakes that have perhaps _ learn from the mistakes that have perhaps been made in other jurisdictions.— perhaps been made in other “urisdictions. ' . ., jurisdictions. the effect of lifting restrictions— jurisdictions. the effect of lifting restrictions will _ jurisdictions. the effect of lifting restrictions will be _ jurisdictions. the effect of lifting restrictions will be measured - restrictions will be measured constantly and will be reviewed every four weeks. we will begin to taste freedom but it will only come gradually, so don't put the big night out in your diaryjust yet. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. the latest official figures show there were 6,391 new coronavirus infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. it means an average of 7,680 new cases were recorded per day in the last week. across the uk, 12,748 people are in hospital with coronavirus. in the last 2a hours, 3a3 deaths have been recorded. that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid test. on average, 284 deaths were announced every day in the past week, bringing the total number of people who've died to 123,296. on to vaccinations now and 203,168 people had their first dose of a vaccine in the latest 24—hour period. in total nearly, 20.5 million people have now had theirfirstjab. 0ur health editor hugh pym is here. all the numbers, and i have been reading some of them just there, heading in the right direction. yes. heading in the right direction. yes, georre, heading in the right direction. yes, george. the _ heading in the right direction. yes, george, the figures _ heading in the right direction. we; george, the figures are quite striking. looking week on week, the number of daily reported cases is nearly 30% lower, the number of deaths is down 36%. statistics from the office for national statistics, the office for national statistics, the ons the office for national statistics, the 0ns today show that covid deaths in england and wales are falling faster among the over 80s than in younger age groups. all of this confirms the assessment we heard from the health secretary, that the vaccine programme is working as well as lockdown measures. —— measures in bringing covid right back down but of course we know about the new brazil variant and the small number of cases now detected in the uk. some preliminary research in brazil suggests it is more contagious and matt hancock did say that more work was needed, further research is required to see whether the current vaccines will be effective. so officials will want to look very carefully at what happens there, if there are worrying new variants, we have been told that might affect lockdown restrictions being eased. certainly, schools are reopening will be watched very carefully to see what impact it has on the data. but certainly, i think you can say that mood right now is brighter than it has been in recent weeks. hugh . m, it has been in recent weeks. hugh pym. thank— it has been in recent weeks. hugh pym. thank you — it has been in recent weeks. hugh pym. thank you very _ it has been in recent weeks. hugh pym, thank you very much. - it's budget day tomorrow — and all eyes are on what the chancellor rishi sunak will do to take the country through lockdown and beyond. the government has made it clear that the furlough scheme which supports millions of employees will be extended. mr sunak has vowed to do whatever it takes to support people through the pandemic. 0ur economics editor faisal islam looks ahead to a budget that will take place against an unprecedented economic background. there's never been a budget backdrop like this, with lockdown restrictions are still in place, events companies such as ruby lemon in essex are left with empty offices, its business legally obliged to be shut down. in the months to come, there is a path out of this but for now, several million britons and their employers, like lisa, remain reliant on government support for wages and livelihoods. if the furlough is not extended untiljune further, that... we would potentially have to close because we wouldn't have the capacity... we wouldn't have the capacity... we wouldn't be able to pay our employees for the time until events came back. ~ ., ,. came back. when the furlough scheme was first established _ came back. when the furlough scheme was first established just _ came back. when the furlough scheme was first established just under - came back. when the furlough scheme was first established just under a - was first established just under a year ago, around was first established just under a yearago, around 9 was first established just under a year ago, around 9 million workers had up to 80% of their wages paid. that fell as the economy reopened over the summer but has gone back up in the latest lockdown, to less than the first lockdown but still just under 5 million. the cost so far is £54 billion and counting. the business secretary this morning acknowledged that the scheme will continue. i acknowledged that the scheme will continue. ., acknowledged that the scheme will continue. ~' ., . ., ., , continue. i think the chancellor has already indicated _ continue. i think the chancellor has already indicated that _ continue. i think the chancellor has already indicated that we _ continue. i think the chancellor has already indicated that we will - continue. i think the chancellor has already indicated that we will be i already indicated that we will be extending furlough. i think that has been a public announcement. i think there will be other measures that we will see tomorrow. this there will be other measures that we will see tomorrow.— will see tomorrow. this is the bud . et will see tomorrow. this is the budget document _ will see tomorrow. this is the budget document for - will see tomorrow. this is the i budget document for tomorrow. will see tomorrow. this is the - budget document for tomorrow. the chancellor budget document for tomorrow. tie: chancellor today was putting the final touches to his budget speech, meeting young workers on a video call. he will promise to deploy the full fiscal firepower of the treasury into my�*s statement. there were some clues in the chancellor's very personal social media preview video, that protecting livelihoods is the title of the statement and the support is not going anywhere. and that is not going to stop. this is actuall and that is not going to stop. ti 3 is actually largely a's budget, and the numbers never saw the light of day because the pandemic was officially declared just hours after this was published. no mention of furlough. that scheme, both extremely expensive but it could be cheap at half the price if, as designed, millions ofjobs, designed, millions of jobs, basically, designed, millions ofjobs, basically, are put into hibernation in lockdown and can be restored as some sort of normality returns on the back of the roll—out of the vaccine. self—employed workers, such as these musicians, have also been calling on the government, alongside the opposition and other mps, to address gaps in their separate support scheme, so support will be the priority, alongside warnings about high borrowing, but the chancellor will also try to paint a picture of a post—pandemic, post—brexit, green recovery in the years to come. faisal islam, bbc news. 0ur deputy political editor vicki young is in westminster. as ever, the chancellor getting lots of advice and some of it quite contradictory.— of advice and some of it quite contradictory. yes, that's right. i think it will _ contradictory. yes, that's right. i think it will be — contradictory. yes, that's right. i think it will be very _ contradictory. yes, that's right. i think it will be very clear - contradictory. yes, that's right. i i think it will be very clear tomorrow that we are still in the emergency phase of all of this. there will be more help, after unprecedented levels of spending and borrowing, that he wants to continue to support jobs and businesses. the other part of this is his language around everything else. promising to be honest about difficult decisions ahead. by that, he is signalling he wants to get borrowing back under control. the question is, there's going to be language around warnings, saying to people, this is going to be tough, there are bills that need to be paid but how much detail will there be about exactly how he's going to do it? he's under pressure from some conservatives, who traditionally want to talk about balancing the books but he also has a prime minister who quite likes spending on big, shiny projects, and he's got lots of mps who would like to do the same. so i think where those tax rises full, who has to pay them and when they come, all of that is still very much open. but i think he will very much know, the chancellor, that spending the money is the easy part. taking it away is a much bigger political challenge. vicki young, thank you. now to the increasingly bitter and public row between scotland's former first minister, alex salmond, and nicola sturgeon over how her administration handled allegations of sexual harassment against him back in 2018. it's emerged today that her government continued to fight a court case on the matter at the time, despite reservations being expressed by its own legal team. when it finally conceded that it had acted unlawfully, it had to pay mr salmond more than half a million pounds for legal costs. here's our scotland editor sarah smith. nicola sturgeon and alex salmond has been calling each other liars for months. today, some of the truth behind their bitter battle was revealed, as her government handed over legal advice they had been refusing to release. faced with losing a vote of no confidence, the deputy first ministerjohn swinney was forced to back down. this e - isode was forced to back down. this episode just _ was forced to back down. tu 3 episode just demonstrates the contempt that this government holds for the scottish parliament. for months, the committee has been calling for publication of the legal advice. there has been two votes in parliament last year, calling for it to be published, and only now, at the very last moment, with a metaphorical gun being held to the head of the deputy first minister, and when he is threatened with a vote of no confidence, does he finally agreed to release some legal advice at the very last possible moment. t advice at the very last possible moment. ., advice at the very last possible moment. ~ ., ., moment. i think he said that a gun had been metaphorically _ moment. i think he said that a gun had been metaphorically held - moment. i think he said that a gun had been metaphorically held to i moment. i think he said that a gun | had been metaphorically held to my head~ _ had been metaphorically held to my head. now, idon't had been metaphorically held to my head. now, i don't think, had been metaphorically held to my head. now, idon't think, presiding officer. _ head. now, idon't think, presiding officer. that — head. now, idon't think, presiding officer, that is appropriate terminology for one member of parliament to use to another. m5195 parliament to use to another. msps are an: parliament to use to another. msps are angry it — parliament to use to another. msps are angry it has _ parliament to use to another. msps are angry it has taken _ parliament to use to another. msps are angry it has taken so _ parliament to use to another. msps are angry it has taken so long - parliament to use to another. 5t" are angry it has taken so long to get the advice and about the timing of its release. haifa get the advice and about the timing of its release.— get the advice and about the timing of its release. how does the deputy first minister _ of its release. how does the deputy first minister propose _ of its release. how does the deputy first minister propose the _ of its release. how does the deputyj first minister propose the members of the committee will be able to pursue questions that might arise from the legal advice with the first minister or indeed anyone else in this government, given it has been produced to us so late in the day? the information will be available later— the information will be available later this — the information will be available later this afternoon, so unless mr fraser— later this afternoon, so unless mr fraser goes — later this afternoon, so unless mr fraser goes to his bed at five o'clock. _ fraser goes to his bed at five o'clock, he can read it tonight. alex _ o'clock, he can read it tonight. alex salmond took the scottish government to court in 2018, to challenge the way it investigated complaints of sexual harassment against him. he won and was paid over half £1 million in legal cost, when the government admitted to acting unlawfully. so was nicola sturgeon warned months earlier that the government was highly likely to lose but are much if so, and she carried on regardless, alex salmond says that is a breach of the ministerial code that could cost her herjob. nicola sturgeon says she will relish the opportunity to give evidence to the inquiry tomorrow. she will be question four hours, under oath, over what she knew and when about the allegations against alex salmond and that legal advice. expect a resolute rebuttal from the woman who knows her career could be on the line. just in the last few minutes the legal advice has been released to the committee and published in the scottish parliament's website, a large slab of documents of communication between the government lawyers and civil servants and i have been skimming through it as fast as i can and you can see a picture emerging of increasingly worried government lawyers, and in september they say they cannot say anything that there is not a material possibility that the court will agree with the petitioner, ie alex salmond. as time goes on, they now say they are jointly of the view that his grounds are more likely than not to succeed and when we get to the beginning of december, they are telling the government that they believe the least worst option would believe the least worst option would be to concede the position, give up the case, even though they understand how unpalatable that would be. committee members, journalists and interested members of the public will scour through the documents tonight looking for all the advice the government was given and see if it adds up to the case to alex salmond is making, that the government pursued the case even though they had been warned that they were likely to lose it.- they were likely to lose it. sarah, thank ou they were likely to lose it. sarah, thank you very — they were likely to lose it. sarah, thank you very much. _ the time is 6.18pm. our top story this evening. vaccinations and the lockdown are being credited — as official figures show covid deaths are down by a quarter in a week. and still to come, we're in exeter after the big bang that's led to some students still unable to return home. coming up on sportsday on bbc news. andy murray talks about the stress and motivation of proving his critics wrong every time he competes. he says he's playing for his career every time he steps on court. we reported earlier on how tomorrow's budget will help the millions on furlough but what happens to all those who've lost their jobs altogether? the budget will set aside a £126 million fund to help retrain people. with unemployment at its highest level in nearly five years, apprenticeship schemes and courses have become a lifeline for those now having to reconsider work in other sectors. 0ur correspondent elaine dunkley has met three people in the west midlands with new careers on the horizon. covid happened and i'd lost myjob, and i've got a daughter, and i want to be the best for her and show her that the sky is the limit in what you can do. job losses, redundancies and furlough. the last year has been difficult for many. iman lost herjob because of the pandemic but has now retrained at a local college in solihull and has a newjob working in construction. it was hard to begin with going from bar work, all those kind ofjobs. it's a lot different, but then it is kind of the same, where you are interacting with a lot of people as well. i feel so empowered, especially when you walk onto the site into the beginning, you do get your kind of like, "can she do this? can she do that?" but i think it gives me more motivation. for the first time, all the colleges across the west midlands are working together to offer free courses and new skills to thousands of people who have lost theirjobs during the pandemic. the jobs are beginning to open up again, the economy is beginning to open up again. you know, we do have vacancies in engineering and manufacturing, for example, in construction, in health and life sciences and we want local people to retrain to take those jobs. you don't really have to use the brakes on these, - because they brake themselves. david thompson is one of them. i worked for 15 years _ for a recycling company and then i was made redundant. in these uncertain times, he wants to retrain in a sector that offers security. i wanted to better myself and go into vehicle - mechanics for electric cars. obviously, combustion engines, they are out of date now- and they will be gone in ten or 15 lyears time, so i think retraining | is the best way forward. financially and emotionally, the last year has been difficult for many. sonia lowe has been a personal trainer for 20 years. when you lose yourjob, you feel powerless. it was like a bereavement with me. losing your identity, losing your profession, losing what you do every single day. after a ten—week course, she now works for the civil service. it's given her the chance to keep going until the fitness industry picks up. they helped me to find that confidence within me again, to move forward and to perhaps completely change direction. having a positive mental attitude, that will take you everywhere in life. it's just knowing that we can move on, and we have to do, we have no choice. the pandemic has left many at a career crossroads. the hope lies in rebuilding confidence and skills for the future. elaine dunkley, bbc news. the public inquiry into the manchester arena attack has heard, for the first time, that firefighters who were prevented from going to the scene of the bombing were so upset, they later turned their backs on a senior officer. the revelation came during evidence from a firefighter who was on duty that night. 0ur north of england correspondent, judith moritz reports. ambulances and police cars surged towards manchester arena after the bomb but no fire engines. they were held back for two hours, some crews even sent in the opposite direction to a fire station three miles away. we did study the sheet long and hard, to say, "phillips park, phillips park, why are we going there?" and we thought we were going there because there was a plan. and did it become apparent to you, i'm just asking about your view, - whether there was in fact a plan? there was no plan. an hour after the explosion, frustration amongst firefighters was mounting, prompting watch manager andrew simister to make this call into the fire control room. by the time the first engines made it to the scene, it was too late for firefighters to help carry injured people out of the arena. when they went back to their station later, several of them turned on the senior officer. everybody was angry, all ashamed to be wearing the uniform. did you and other firefighters. turn your backs on acfo harris and walk away from him, in what you describe - in your statement as disgust? yes, sir, that's correct. this is the first time that rank and file firefighters have spoken to the public inquiry about their feelings. i felt ashamed to be a firefighter. i felt like we had let the people of greater manchester down. people were crying. i've never seen firefighters cry in a debrief, never. 22 people died when the bomb exploded at the arena. the inquiry will have to establish whether any lives could have been saved if the emergency response had been better. judith moritz, bbc news, manchester. the holiday company, pontins, has agreed to change its working practices after it emerged it had a blacklist of irish surnames used to screen out bookings from gypsies and travellers. it follows an equality and human rights commission investigation after it was contacted by a whistleblower. bbc three will return as a fully—fledged tv channel in january 2022, six years after it moved online. hello, queens! the channel has since been responsible for major hits including fleabag, normal people and rupaul�*s drag race uk — prompting calls for it to be brought back. the bbc said the move was part of its drive to deliver more value to audiences. hundreds of people in exeter are still waiting to return to their homes after they were evacuated before a controlled explosion of a world war ii bomb. the university of exeter said about 300 students had been affected by the explosion, which damaged several houses on saturday. a number of other nearby residents are also waiting to return. jon kay reports. the crater is as deep as two double—decker buses, and now the wider impact is clear. bomb damage in a quiet residential area of devon. the 2000lb german device was found by builders and detonated in a controlled explosion at the weekend. shown here from different angles. thousands of homes were evacuated, and now, you can see why. today, we were allowed inside the cordon. debris, thrown 250 metres. to give you an idea of the power of the blast, these giant pieces of steel were put on top of the bomb to encase itjust before it was detonated. now, i can hardly shift them an inch, and yet, these flew through the air and ended up on rooftops. they have had to be removed by crane. it looks horrific. terry has come back to collect some possessions. his flat will have to be repaired, leaving him an evacuee at 85. we went through the blitz in 40—41 and now he's caught up with me. hitler didn't get me out of my house then. 79 years later, he's done it! the council says no buildings are in danger of collapse, so some residents have now been allowed back, including hundreds of university students, but it will be some time before all the damage can be repaired. smashed buildings and doors blown off, locked garages that were blown open with the force of the bomb, cracked walls, that kind of stuff. things that will require builders to go in and take a look. as the clean—up begins, some residents are asking why the bomb was not taken away and diffused. but the ministry of defence says detonating it was the safest option because the device was corroded and could have been booby—trapped. they insisted all went to plan. there is relief here that the bomb was found on a disused piece of land, and that no one was hurt. despite the mess, they feel lucky. jon kay, bbc news, exeter. tributes have been paid to the former liverpool and scotland footballer, ian stjohn, who has died at the age of 82. hejoined liverpool from his local team, motherwell, in 1961, and helped them win two english league titles and the fa cup. after his career on the pitch ended he became a much—loved tv pundit. andy swiss looks back at his life. amid liverpool's stars of the 1960s, few shone as brightly as ian stjohn. when hejoined, the club was languishing in the second division. and it's stjohn! he scores. but stjohn's goals helped transform them into the best team in england. under the great bill shankly, he won two league titles, but perhaps his greatest moment came at wembley in 1965. it's a goal! that goal took liverpool to their first ever fa cup and it made the man known simply as the saint a club legend. he certainly was an iconic figure because he was there at the beginning and the club moved onwards— and upwards but it was a big contribution from people like the saint. he also starred for scotland, scoring nine goals for his country. although he retired as a player in 1973, a new career beckoned. he joined forces withjimmy greaves, and their tv show, saint and greavsie, was a huge hit. well, hello and good afternoon. the programme ran for nearly a decade. stjohn winning millions of new fans with his warmth and wit. hello there, well, euro 92 is all over and jim and i are still here in stockholm. can't get a flight home. jimmy greaves himself led today's tributes, describing stjohn as a lovely man, one who excelled as a player but also as a ground—breaking broadcaster. people said it wasjust a light—hearted show, | but as you know, sometimes that is the hardest _ possible thing to do. it completely changed the way punditry was done in sport. i a man, then, whose versatility was matched only by his popularity, both on and off the pitch, one of football's finest. the footballer, ian stjohn, who's died at the age of 82. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. hello, louise. hello, everybody, like everybody yesterday we had a west and east divide, beautiful sunshine on a chilly start in north—west scotland but a beautiful day with not a cloud in the sky but for many a lot of low cloud around and it was stubborn to clear away, and it was stubborn to clear away, and for some it did not at all, so it was a rather cool, grey story across parts of north yorkshire today and if we take a look at the satellite picture you can see some of the cloud was nibbled away nicely and burned back towards the north sea as we went through the day, so a slow improvement, but parts of east yorkshire, down in lincolnshire and the east midlands, rather grey and gloomy and the fog and low cloud is set to return through the night tonight. drifting off the north sea and a few clearer skies perhaps further north and west but down to the south—west we have showers developing