at this medical centre on merseyside, the demand for booster jabs is high. staff here have seen nearly 800 walk—ins a day over the last week. we nearly 800 walk-ins a day over the last week. ~ ., ., ., g; :: :: :: :: last week. we are doing over 30,000 booster vaccinations _ last week. we are doing over 30,000 booster vaccinations since _ booster vaccinations since september, but people are still coming for theirfirst september, but people are still coming for their first and second vaccination, which is great news, because it is never too late to start vaccination.— start vaccination. gps across en . land start vaccination. gps across england will _ start vaccination. gps across england will now _ start vaccination. gps across england will now be - start vaccination. gps across england will now be allowed | start vaccination. gps across i england will now be allowed to start vaccination. gps across - england will now be allowed to defer some of the services they provide to patients like routine health checks for over 75s to allow doctors to focus on covid boosterjabs instead and to ease growing pressures. we are and to ease growing pressures. - are struggling to meet the increased demand of day—to—day work, our own backlog and also the backlog from the hospitals, but at the same time we do understand the importance of trying to vaccinate the population. but there is concern from some patient groups, they warned the measures will disadvantage older people and lead to early warning signs of illness being missed. the british medical association insists all patients will still receive the care they need. i all patients will still receive the care they need.— all patients will still receive the care they need. i was in surgery yesterday. _ care they need. i was in surgery yesterday. i— care they need. i was in surgery yesterday, i saw _ care they need. i was in surgery yesterday, i saw dozens - care they need. i was in surgery yesterday, i saw dozens of - care they need. i was in surgery - yesterday, i saw dozens of patience, many _ yesterday, i saw dozens of patience, many of _ yesterday, i saw dozens of patience, many of whom were over 75 and that care is_ many of whom were over 75 and that care is not_ many of whom were over 75 and that care is not being compromised, we are still_ care is not being compromised, we are still caring for all of our patients— are still caring for all of our patients as best we can. —— dozens of patients — patients as best we can. —— dozens of patients. is patients as best we can. -- dozens of patients-— of patients. is the booster 'ab roll-out continues, i of patients. is the booster 'ab roll-out continues, the i of patients. is the boosterjab - roll-out continues, the government roll—out continues, the government has launched a new campaign urging all unvaccinated pregnant women to accept theirjob. it comes as figures from the department of health show 98% of pregnant women critically ill in hospital with covid are unvaccinated. fine critically ill in hospital with covid are unvaccinated. one in five women need _ covid are unvaccinated. one in five women need to — covid are unvaccinated. one in five women need to be _ covid are unvaccinated. one in five women need to be delivered - covid are unvaccinated. one in five i women need to be delivered preterm, one in five babies need to go to the neonatal unit, so it's really clear that covid—i9 infection has got serious indications for the woman and the baby. but we now have evermore data to say that the vaccines are safe in pregnancy and very strongly recommended by everyone. very strongly recommended by eve one. a, ., very strongly recommended by everyone-— very strongly recommended by eve one. ., " ., ., everyone. more than 19 million covid booster doses _ everyone. more than 19 million covid booster doses have _ everyone. more than 19 million covid booster doses have been _ everyone. more than 19 million covid booster doses have been given - everyone. more than 19 million covid booster doses have been given in - everyone. more than 19 million covid| booster doses have been given in the uk so far. the new measures for gps in england are an attempt to meet what has been described as a national mission to increase vaccine capacity. megan paterson, bbc news. and our health crrespondent laura fosterjoins me now. so, how unusual a step is this change to what gps in england are being asked to do? this is actually something we have seen before, on 7th of january, this is actually something we have seen before, on 7th ofjanuary, when nhs england sent out a similar letter to gps and directors of primary care saying, you can suspend non—essential work in order to make sure we have got enough people around to deliver the covid—19 vaccination programme. because so much has changed since january but gps still have a very high workload. on top of the stuff they are already doing, they have backlogs from the first, second and third waves, winter pressures are starting and now they have got to contribute to the biggest expansion of the vaccination programme yet. some people will be worried by today's news, and to them, nhs england want to point out this is not a blanket ban, it's all about cancelling checks where gps think it is clinically appropriate to do so. most importantly, anyone who wants an appointment should still get in touch with their gp.— an appointment should still get in touch with their gp. laura foster, thank ou touch with their gp. laura foster, thank you so _ touch with their gp. laura foster, thank you so much _ touch with their gp. laura foster, thank you so much for— touch with their gp. laura foster, thank you so much forjoining - touch with their gp. laura foster, thank you so much forjoining us. | people in around 9,000 homes are facing a second weekend without power in parts of scotland and northern england, following storm arwen. those affected are now bracing themselves for almost freezing temperatures forecast over the next 2a hours, and the army and the british red cross have been distributing emergency aid in some areas. our correspondent peter harris joins us from cramlington in northumberland. please bring us up—to—date. please bring us up-to-date. the soldiers are _ please bring us up—to—date. tie: soldiers are here please bring us up—to—date. tte: soldiers are here now please bring us up—to—date. tt2 soldiers are here now as you can see in this fire station, receiving their briefing, and shortly they will be moving off to some of those communities in south northumberland that remained without our, now for an eighth day. the total now is about 5100 homes in north—east england, still without power. the arrival of the soldiers follows northumberland yesterday declaring a major incident, that follows neighbouring county durham which did that on thursday. the reason for doing that is, it unlocks further support and it is felt it is necessary to get the army in, to get people out on the streets, because they cannot be sure from northern power grid when exactly all those homes will have the power reconnected, so the soldiers will be going out knocking on doors, providing reassurance and we saw them yesterday in county durham also providing food parcel support, that kind of welfare that people without power might need. to give you an idea of how much longer this problem has to run, northern power grid say they have about 700 engineering projects left to do, 200 this weekend, another 500 to do next week, so the best guess is the middle of next week before this is all back to normal.— all back to normal. peter harris, thank you _ all back to normal. peter harris, thank you so _ all back to normal. peter harris, thank you so much. _ a senior officer who leads police scotland's efforts to counter terrorism and organised crime has been suspended from duty following a criminal allegation. the officer, who is understood to be temporary assistant chief constable pat campbell, was suspended from wednesday. that's according to the scottish police authority. the police watchdog will now investigate the allegation. police in the us state of michigan say they've arrested the parents of a teenager accused of killing four fellow students. prosecutors say 15—year—old ethan crumbley carried out the shooting at his school on tuesday with a semi—automatic pistol which had been bought by his father. aru na iyengar reports iam i am jennifer crumbley. the i amjennifer crumbley. the parents of ethan crumbley were found in a warehouse in detroit, hours after going on the run. a reward of $10,000 had been offered for information leading to their arrests. their lawyer says they fled for their own safety. the pair, seen here earlier following the arrest of their sun, face charges of involuntary manslaughter. prosecutors say they ignored warning signs before their 15—year—old sun ethan crumbley allegedly used his father's gun to shoot classmates in oxford, michigan, killing fourand wounding seven. james crumbley bought a gun and made it available to his sun. at school the teachers spotted ethan searching online for ammunition and alerted his mother. prosecution says she later sent text messages to her son saying, i am not mad at you, you have to learn not to get caught. then on the morning of the killings, teachers contacted the parents over a note ethan had drawn. the note contains the following... a drawing of a semiautomatic handgun pointing out the words, the thoughts won't stop, help me. in another section of the note was the drawing of a bullet with the following words above the bullet, quote... lot everywhere. above the bullet, quote... lot everywhere-— above the bullet, quote... lot everywhere. but some question whether the _ everywhere. but some question whether the parents _ everywhere. but some question whether the parents really - everywhere. but some question whether the parents really can l everywhere. but some question i whether the parents really can be held responsible for the actions of their teenage son. i held responsible for the actions of their teenage son.— their teenage son. i think it is actually highly _ their teenage son. i think it is actually highly unusual. - their teenage son. i think it is actually highly unusual. it - their teenage son. i think it is actually highly unusual. it is l actually highly unusual. it is opening _ actually highly unusual. it is opening the door for a very large, slippery— opening the door for a very large, slippery slope. and so, that is kind of where _ slippery slope. and so, that is kind of where i— slippery slope. and so, that is kind of where i am having trouble saying that the _ of where i am having trouble saying that the parents committed manslaughter, meaning they were aware _ manslaughter, meaning they were aware that this was going to happen. at a candlelit vigil in oxford last night, the community came together to honour the four teenagers, four minutes of bellringing, one minute for each victim. ethan crumbley is being charged as an adult and is accused of terrorism charges and first—degree murder. aruna iyengar, bbc news. president biden has warned he will not accept "red lines" set by moscow as fears mount that russia is planning an imminent invasion of ukraine. the us president and vladamir putin are due to talk over the next few days about the build—up of nearly 100,000 russian troops near the ukraine border. us media is reporting that us intelligence officials fear that an invasion could take place early next year. cat micro—chipping is to be made compulsory in the uk under new government rules. owners will have to microchip their cats by the time their pets are 20 weeks old, or risk incurring a £500 fine. it is aimed at ensuring that the cats can be returned home if they stray or are stolen. fiona lamdin reports. seven—year—old scarab went missing in truro just days after his owner moved house. scarab just completely disappeared, so i was quite concerned, and i was really worried for him because, yeah, it was nearly a whole year. if it was not for the microchip, i would never have got him home. but 11 months later, the pair were reunited, as luckily he had been microchipped as a kitten. with the microchip they found out i was his owner and got him home to me. i burst into tears when i got the call, ijust couldn't believe it. he was so thrilled to come home, he wouldn't leave me alone for 2h hours, he was constantly rubbing his face on me and fussing at me. now there are plans in the coming year to get all pet cats chipped. it is going to be mandatory that all owners chip their cats once they are 20 weeks of age. we really, really welcome the idea. we get a lot of stray or injured cats that are brought in by members of the public. about half the time they are chipped, which means we can reunite them really quickly with their owners. and for those who don't, they could face a fine. if you are checked by an authorised person and found not to have a microchip, then you will be given 21 days to rectify that, and we would strongly advise for all the good reasons, you know, getting your animal microchipped and we know the average cost of that is about £17, it is well worth doing, otherwise after 21 days it precedes to become a criminal offence. so, what does the procedure which costs about £20 involve? it is really simple, theyjust come in and we can do it in a consultation. it isjust an injection underneath the scruff of their neck. it is done really quickly and often doesn't cause them any discomfort at all and it is over very, very quickly. each chip has a unique serial number which will link to a pet database where owners�* contact details are stored. there are thought to be 10.8 million cats in the uk, and while scarab and jane had a happy reunion, for the other 2.8 million, who are currently unchipped, the ending is not always a happy one. fiona lamdin, bbc news. the pope has arrived in athens at the start of a two—day visit to greece. it's the first papal trip to the greek capital for 20 years, and the city will be under high security. pope francis says he wants to improve relations with the orthodox church in greece and will visit the island of lesbos, which he last went to in 2016 at the height of the migration crisis. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. the next news on bbc one is at 5.20pm. bye for now. hello. you're watching the bbc news channel with... it is 12 past 12. more now on the russian troop build up on ukraine's border. president biden has said he does not accept moscow's demands over ukraine. mr putin wants guarantees that nato won't expand any further to the east or deploy weapons systems near russian territory. earlier i spoke to james nixey, director of chatham house's russia and europe programmes and asked him why russia troops had been deployed there. they are making a statement. they are getting our attention, of course. the fact of the matter is that although president biden and putin met injune in geneva, it was cordial and useful perhaps, it couldn't overcome the fact that the two sides have fundamental differences about how the world should work and specifically about whether there should be this buffer state between russia and nato countries, if you like. there's no real getting over that and the russians have decided to up the anti with a specific proposal that nato should not be expanded to any further. obviously, the west disagrees. would russia seriously invaded eastern ukraine, where there are russian speakers or would it invade other parts of ukraine, where there is deep hostility towards russia? first of all, russians are already in ukraine. it has already annexed crimea, which is part of the ukraine. apart from that, going on further with 94,000 troops, it's a possibility. it could be made to do so. given the right provocations, either antagonised provocations, that's how the 2008 was started. it's not totally inconceivable. at the same time, russia has decided that if it gets what it once with muscularity then with diplomacy, so it is trying is muscularity now. what moves does president biden having of this? —— have in all of this? biden does have a weaker hands at the end of the day. forces are outnumbered and russia is more committed to muscular action then the westies. —— then the west is. the west doesn't want to escalate but russia is happy to do so. we don't have in empty hand. we quite clearly want to ramp up sanctions. we can start functioning russian sovereign debt stock we can remove them from international payments and target certain sectors, notably the energy sector. broadly of course, one can make sure that the defences and the resilience of these states like ukraine are reinforced with western training, money and weaponry. is there a danger of inadvertent or accidental conflict? nothing is impossible. certainly, wars have started that way in the past. i think we're quite a long way from that in the sense that these ithink we are a long way i think we are a long way from accidental shooting and a lot more can be done on a diplomatic scale and on the reinforcement scale before even getting to that point. the headlines on bbc news... the parents of a us teenager accused of killing four students, have been arrested after going on the run. south african scientists say the new coronavirus variant omicron appears to be spreading more than twice as fast as the delta variant. unvaccinated british mums who were severely ill with coronavirus, encourage pregnant women to get their covid jab in the uk. the metropolitan police say they'll consider correspondence asking them to investigate a claim that christmas parties were held in downing street last year in breach of covid rules. the force responded to the complaint by some labour mps by saying it wasn't their policy to routinely examine �*retrospective breaches' of covid rules. here's our political correspondent, ione wells. our political correspondent ione wellsjoins me. thanks so much forjoining us. take us through it. thanks so much for “oining us. take us through it.— us through it. these reports have been dominating _ us through it. these reports have been dominating the _ us through it. these reports have been dominating the headlines i us through it. these reports have | been dominating the headlines for us through it. these reports have i been dominating the headlines for a couple of days now and it's all going back to this time last year, and the reports that a party took place in downing street on the 18th of september. —— december. the prime minister wasn't present and it was supposed to be for aids and other members of staff. one member told the bbc that food was served and came were played at the party. this has caused quite a lot of upset among the public and the opposition, who have accused downing street of not following the very rules that they set out. at the time, london had been put into tier three restrictions, which meant that you were not meant to gather in christmas parties. in terms of the latest update on this now, number ten themselves have not commented on it. they haven't explained exactly how the rules were put in this party. two labour mps have written to the metropolitan police to ask them to investigate the alleged breaches of the coronavirus restrictions but today the police haveissued restrictions but today the police have issued a statement in response to that. it's not usually there responsibility to investigate retrospective reaches but they will look into the information received from the labour mps. angela rayner has also written to one of the uk's top civil servants asking whether they will be making a complaint to they will be making a complaint to the metropolitan police as well. the pressure is on number ten to explain just how these people at the party were allegedly following the rules. has this made a big impact beyond parliament?— has this made a big impact beyond parliament? . , ,., ., parliament? certainly the point that was raised by _ parliament? certainly the point that was raised by one _ parliament? certainly the point that was raised by one of— parliament? certainly the point that was raised by one of the _ parliament? certainly the point that was raised by one of the mps - parliament? certainly the point that was raised by one of the mps who i was raised by one of the mps who wrote to ba police, —— who wrote to the police, has explained how upset his constituents are. he said his constituents feel like it was one rule for the government at the time is one rule for him and the constituents. he mentioned that his letter to dame cressida dick that her foals issued letter to dame cressida dick that herfoals issued more than 1000 fixed penalty notices or finds in 2020 alone. he has asked for that to be reflected and for these claims and reports to be investigated fully. as i say, number ten are stressing that they did follow the rules and we are waiting for an explanation ofjust how that rules and we are waiting for an explanation of just how that was possible. the father of 12—year—old ava white, who died last month after being stabbed, has thanked the people of liverpool for their support. thousands are expected to hold a vigil in the city to remember her this evening. jayne mccubbin reports. not even a teenager, ava had gone out with friends to see the christmas lights switch on. she died following a stabbing, another child charged with her murder. the city has been stunned, coming together to remember ava at wednesday's derby. tonight, coming together at a vigil, to raise money and show support for the 12—year—old's family. i wanted ava's family to know they're not alone, they have got a whole city behind them, and we're passing our strength onto ava's family and giving them strength to get through each day. we're here for them, they're not alone, and to give ava the send—off that little girl deserves. every day since her death, fresh flowers have been placed at a spot close to where ava died, where the vigil will begin at 6:00pm. from friends, from strangers, from her dad. devastation that it can happen to somebody so young. i'm scared for my children now, because it'sjust so cruel. - itjust shouldn't be like this. the nights, like, we can't go out alone. we have to go in groups. in our country, this is a very strange thing. it's not normal at all. recent data shows knife crime in england and wales rose steadily between 2014 and the first half of 2020. two weeks ago, 14—year—old jermaine cools died of a stab wound in croydon. ten days ago, 16—year—old rishmeet singh died after a stabbing in hounslow. almost a week later, ava died here in liverpool. it is definitely a fashion. people put your trainers on, put your hoodie on, and let's take me knife and me phone out with me. knife crime is an issue this city boxing club works to tackle. the age that we looked at in hospital, was the youngest i think come in we had was seven. some had been bullied in school. some had been involved in gang culture. some had been involved in drugs. some had just been in the wrong area at the wrong time. it's the norm, though, innit? it's the norm? yeah. why? it makes them feel safer, just having something to protect them. yeah. i think people carry them - because i think they think that other people have got them. so they think, if they've got one, and they pull it out on me, - what am i going to pull out? so, people bounce off each other with them, do you get me? - there were 41,000 knife crime offences in the year ending march 2021. you're going to be there at the vigil? yeah, yeah. i done about 15 interviews the day after, and i sat on the end of me bed and cried. a 12—year—old girl? it shouldn't be happening. 80 soldiers have been sent to northumberland to provide help for people who are without power for an eighth day after storm arwen. around 9,000 households in the north east of england and in parts of scotland still have no electricity. the regulator, ofgem, is carrying out an urgent review of the response by energy companies. the boss of ofgem is jonathan brearley. he says the regulator has a range of options it can take to help those affected to get some form of compensation. the something called a redress payment. there is a range of options that we can take including fines if possible. one thing that we have done already as we've said to network companies, which they've agreed, they've lifted the cap on compensation that they will give customers and they make sure that the customers will get some compensation for everything that they've been through. it will not accept all the distress that the customers have gone through —— offset all the distress that customers have gone through. let's speak now to cllr steven christopher bridgett, independent councillor for rothbury in norhumberland. how are things? at the moment, in our area, how are things? at the moment, in our area. we've _ how are things? at the moment, in our area, we've got _ how are things? at the moment, in our area, we've got around - how are things? at the moment, in our area, we've got around about i how are things? at the moment, in i our area, we've got around about 160 properties that are still off—line. these properties are the most difficult to reach. they are in remote, isolated locations and they have gone eight days without any electricity. some of them, we know we'll be heading into their ninth day without it. northern power are working in the area but it's pretty daunting knowing that you're going to go into day nine without power as well. �* , ., to go into day nine without power as well. �* ,. . , to go into day nine without power as well. �* ,. ., , ., to go into day nine without power as well. �* ., ,, ., to go into day nine without power as well. �* y., ., , ., , , ., ,, ., well. are you able to speak to them? if so, what well. are you able to speak to them? if so. what are _ well. are you able to speak to them? if so, what are they _ well. are you able to speak to them? if so, what are they telling _ well. are you able to speak to them? if so, what are they telling you? - well. are you able to speak to them? if so, what are they telling you? i - if so, what are they telling you? i speak to northern power grid in if so, what are they telling you? t speak to northern power grid in the morning and in the evening. they tell me what their plan is for the day and in the evening, what they have done for the day and what their plan is for the next day as well. the areas that we have got left are the really difficult areas, where either transformers have blown or literally the power lines at the polls lying on the ground and they are going to take some time to fix. are you satisfied with the speed of response? i are you satisfied with the speed of res-onse? ., ., ., i. response? i would love for everyone to have been — response? i would love for everyone to have been on _ response? i would love for everyone to have been on the _ response? i would love for everyone to have been on the next _ response? i would love for everyone to have been on the next day - response? i would love for everyone to have been on the next day and i l to have been on the next day and i would have loved for things to be quicker but i think a major incident should have been declared a lot sooner. ~ ., , , should have been declared a lot sooner. . . , , ., , sooner. what is the single hardest art of the sooner. what is the single hardest part of the response _ sooner. what is the single hardest part of the response of _ sooner. what is the single hardest part of the response of the - sooner. what is the single hardest i part of the response of the moment? a lot of the areas don't have any means of communication, so landline telephones are still down, a lot of the areas don't have mobile phone reception, so a lot of the ways of communicating with these people is knocking on their doors and speaking to them in person. haste knocking on their doors and speaking to them in person.— to them in person. have you had re-orts to them in person. have you had reports of— to them in person. have you had reports of those _ to them in person. have you had reports of those conversations? | to them in person. have you had i reports of those conversations? have you been able to get out yourself? i you been able to get out yourself? 1 have. the fire service came across one of the elderly residents in this area, who had fallen and they had injured themselves. they were in their 90s and they were hypothermic and we had to get them taken to the nearest hospital asap. if they had been left for another day, i'm not sure they would have made it. is sure they would have made it. is there a balance between people staying in their homes and efforts being made to find them and take them somewhere else. particularly, if you give that example of them being older and more vulnerable. they've come out of their homes because they've either got no heating, no power and no water or a combination of all. we have got alternative accommodation and a lot of residents have turfed it out for a week but we got a lot more residents yesterday deciding to come into accommodation, where they can be warm and where they will have utilities. ., , . ., ., ., utilities. people could do without for a nit ht utilities. people could do without for a night for — utilities. people could do without for a night for a _ utilities. people could do without for a night for a few— utilities. people could do without for a night for a few days - utilities. people could do without for a night for a few days but i utilities. people could do without for a night for a few days but you j for a night for a few days but you can't do without heating. how are people, if at all, managing to heat their homes? rho, people, if at all, managing to heat their homes?— people, if at all, managing to heat their homes? a lot of people in this area, their homes? a lot of people in this area. although _ their homes? a lot of people in this area, although government - their homes? a lot of people in this area, although government do i their homes? a lot of people in this| area, although government do want people to put in these heat pumps, which are next to useless in circumstances like this, a lot of people have log burners, have argus and gas heaters and some people have been cooking with camping stones. —— camping stoves stock were struggling to get hold of any of the butane gas cylinders for those camping stoves. we've got candles, water, batteries, we are delivering logs as well but those butane gas cylinders are what we are really struggling to get hold of. ., ~' , ., we are really struggling to get hold of. ., ~' i., we are really struggling to get hold of. . ,, . ., ., of. thank you so much for “oining us. it's the first saturday in december so retailers will be hoping for a busy weekend — but will the new rules around masks in england and concerns about the omicron variant affect footfall? our business correspondent katie prescott is in romford, in essex. well, the christmas tree is up here in the centre of romford and stores are selling everything from christmas trees to stockings branded with west ham and tottenham and christmas wreaths. the hope is that shoppers will also be getting into the christmas spirit today and willing to come and spend money on the high street at this crucial time for retail in the run—up to christmas. they have suffered so much during the pandemic and they are nervous that the omicron variant will make people nervous to come out and spend. having said that, stallholders have told me that they noticed it getting quite busy because people in the run—up to christmas are worried about new restrictions coming in and so they are trying to get their christmas shopping in early. there is optimism for a busy saturday here in romford, especially now that the rain has cleared but tinged with a bit of trepidation i say, certainly with memories of previous lockdowns. the killing of two young women in england — sarah everard and sabina nessa — brought to public focus the safety of women on uk streets. their deaths have prompted a group of women to set up a movement to help walkers feel safe going out after dark. "safety in numbers" now has nearly 100 members, as emily anderson reports. a cold winter's night but already it is very dark and tonight the group is walking up beacon hill together. safety in numbers was set up by dog walker katie hopkinson just less than one month ago. she is passionate about making women feel safe enough to go out when it is dark. it is so important for our mental health to get out in the countryside and enjoy the benefits of the countryside but doing it in a way that does not leave you feeling really anxious and i think certainly with high—profile cases such as sarah everard, i think it touched a lot of women's hearts and made them feel like being in alone in the dark is not an option. at the top of beacon hill now, which is the second highest point in leicestershire at 248 metres. ok, so you don't get those beautiful panoramic views of leicestershire that you would get in the day but i tell you what you do get — a real sense of achievement getting to this peak in the dark. i've been here a million times but never at this time of night, and never up here, so this is a first for me. so do you feel safe when you're out with this group? absolutely, yeah, no anxiety at all, and sometimes, that does creep up on you when you're walking on your own and somewhere remote. you sort of think "ii should not be here. "this is not very clever." butthere with the group, i haven't even _ butthere with the group, i haven't even thought about the fact. what would feel terrifying _ even thought about the fact. what would feel terrifying on _ even thought about the fact. wngt would feel terrifying on your own, it's a sort of primitive fear, isn't it? when we are in a group, there is no fear, we are laughing, we are having fun and it's turned out to be a real godsend. the group hope what started as an idea on social media will expand into a network of safety in numbers walking groups. emily anderson, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris. hello, we've got quite a mixture of weather today. others will see some sunshine. we will see some of that early in the day in east scotland. cloud and rain will return here, and actually this area of rain is going to be quite slow—moving in scotland and northern england. north wales and northern england. north wales and northern england will turn increasingly work throughout the day.