free—range eggs return as hens are allowed back outside across the uk — after measures to control an outbreak of bird flu are relaxed. we'll hear from a farmer. and pitch—side brain scans are to be trialled, in an effort to help spot concussion and make sports safer. hello and welcome to bbc news. ukraine's president volodomyr zelensky says he hopes evacuations from a besieged steelworks in the eastern city of mariupol will continue today — if conditions allow. the azovstal industrial complex is still being defended by ukrainian fighters who are holding out against the russian siege. the evacuated civilians are expected to arrive in the relative safety of zaporizhzhia. but heavy shelling has so far prevented another evacuation of the azovstal steel plant. meanwhile, russia says air defences also destroyed two ukrainian fighterjets in an air battle in the east of the country. while the ukrainian military has claimed a drone has destroyed two russian patrol ships in the black sea. 0ur correspondent joe inwood reports. after weeks living in the most appalling conditions they emerged into the light, freed after negotiations that took place. there was much secrecy around the talks brokered by the united nations but the sight of a small number of civilians walking through the wasteland that used to be one of the world's biggest steel plants shows they achieved what many thought impossible. a ceasefire held and around 100 people made it to relative safety. translation: i can't believe it, two months of darkness. when we were in the bus i told my husband we will not have to go to the toilet with a torch and use a bag as a loo. he go to the toilet with a torch and use a bag as a loo.— go to the toilet with a torch and use a bag as a loo. he is 'ust six months old. i use a bag as a loo. he is 'ust six months old, nearly half_ use a bag as a loo. he isjust six months old, nearly half of- use a bag as a loo. he isjust six months old, nearly half of his i use a bag as a loo. he isjust six| months old, nearly half of his life has been spent underground in a bunker. for ukraine's present, a moment of relief. translation:— for ukraine's present, a moment of relief. translation: ukrainians, our defenders, relief. translation: ukrainians, our defenders. today— relief. translation: ukrainians, our defenders, today we _ relief. translation: ukrainians, our defenders, today we have _ relief. translation: ukrainians, our defenders, today we have finally - defenders, today we have finally managed to start the evacuation of people from azovstal. after many weeks of negotiations, after many attempts, different people, meetings, because, countries, proposals, finally there wasn't a day when we did not try and save our people. day when we did not try and save our --eole. �* . , ., people. after leaving the plant civilians were _ people. after leaving the plant civilians were loaded _ people. after leaving the plant civilians were loaded onto - people. after leaving the plant l civilians were loaded onto buses people. after leaving the plant - civilians were loaded onto buses and taken to the village nearby in the direction of russia. but accompanied by un and red cross staff it seems they have now been allowed to head back towards ukraine. they will be coming here, reception centre the town of zaporizhzhia. initiallyjust one private car arrived, greeted by the world's media, waiting for the azovstal convoy, everyone caught in the siege of mariupol has suffered terribly. translation: the scariest art is terribly. translation: the scariest part is when — terribly. translation: the scariest part is when they — terribly. translation: the scariest part is when they are _ terribly. translation: the scariest part is when they are shelling, - terribly. translation: the scariest part is when they are shelling, when you see a shell exploding and people dying. it you see a shell exploding and people d inc. , ., you see a shell exploding and people din. , ., you see a shell exploding and people dying. it is reported that as soon as the evacuation _ dying. it is reported that as soon as the evacuation had _ dying. it is reported that as soon as the evacuation had finished i as the evacuation had finished russian forces resumed their shelling of as of style. indeed, there has been no letup in the fighting, both on the ground and in the skies. the kremlin released these shots showing an iskander missile launch. they claim it strikes a command post. while the ukrainian military say this shows the destruction of two russian patrol boats by one of the drones. despite the success of the talks over evacuations, few people think diplomacy will be bringing this conflict to an end any time soon. my colleague ben brown has been speaking to enver tskitishvili, director—general of the azovstal steel works, about the evacuation process. translation: we never thought about it until 2014. _ we didn't imagine that azovstal could become some kind of fortress or such an important point in the city of mariupol. when mariupol, especially the eastern part of the city, came under shelling by artillery, heavy artillery, we started to think about what we could do if de—escalation came further into the city. and we started to restore bomb shelters which remain from the soviet union. there were five very powerful bomb shelters that, according to soviet standards at the time, could withstand a direct nuclear strike. when the war started we made an announcement in the city that all people, if they were injured during the bombing and shelling, could come to us. we thought it was possible we would be shelled but we did not expect such a genocide and such an inhumane wall. expect such a genocide and such an inhumane war. azovstal is surrounded by water on three sides, a river on one and a sea on two. so from a military point of view it is a very strong and well fortified point. that was enver tskitishvili, director—general of the azovstal steelworks in mariupol. the ukrainian military says it's continuing to prevent russian forces from advancing in parts of the donbas region. the eastern town of lysychansk is encircled on three sides by russian troops. most of the city's residents have left, with the last remaining people in desperate conditions, and under constant shelling. andrew harding sent this report. the russians are getting closer, their missiles landing to our left and our right as we take the last road into lysychansk, a farming town under siege. we're following a ukrainian army medic, olive kravchenka, pointing out the town's latest lacerations. look here, bomb. he's taking us closer to the front lines, to a hidden base from where his teams scoop up casualties. several days, it's blood, blood, blood, blood. the russians are making a big push now. yeah, yeah. very, very. you'd say the fighting is getting a lot worse now? yeah, very extreme. very extreme and very dangerous, very. the army has taken over the local hospital. a soldier is brought in by ambulance with a head wound. "his injuries are severe," says the medic. "there's not much hope for him". upstairs, a sombre silence on the wards. you can see here the impact of this intense russian bombardment, which we're still hearing outside now, in fact. room after room of young men with concussion. faces dazed and haunted. "i've got three young children," he says. "i wish the shelling would just stop. we've all watched our brothers die in front of us." so what do this town's torments tell us about the wider war in eastern ukraine? there are signs that russian troops are being methodical and therefore perhaps more effective in their offensive in this region. they're pushing slowly forwards against this town and a dozen others in the donbas region. but there's still no sign that the kremlin's forces are about to deliver some kind of knockout blow. even here, a few civilians cling on, these parents saying they can't afford to flee. and nine—year—old masha is trying to take it all in her stride. the sound of the bombs? you're not scared? she says, "because i'm the oldest girl, i'm not scared." good for you. inevitably, those left behind here have moved underground. this couple still wait for good news from their radio. so they're disagreeing here. she wants to go, but has no means of getting out. her husband wants to stay. "have you seen what's happened here? i don't know if we'll survive this," she says, voicing the fear that now hangs over this whole region. andrew harding, bbc news, lysychansk. israel has demanded an apology from russia after its foreign minister suggested that the nazi leader, adolf hitler, had jewish roots. sergei lavrov made the remark on italian television, when he was asked how russia could claim to be trying to "denazify" ukraine, when president volodymyr zelensky isjewish. israel's prime minister, naftali bennett, has denounced the comments as a lie. 0ur correspondent in jerusalem jon donnison has more on this. he was asked how it could be he was accusing volodymyr zelensky, the ukrainian president, of being a nazi, when he is of coursejewish. and mr lavrov replied that even adolf hitler might have had jewish blood, and he also said that sometimesjews were the greatest anti—semites. obviously those comments have caused huge offence here in israel and also tojews around the world and the actions we have had here reflect that. the prime minister naftali bennett has referred to the comments as lies and saying sergei lavrov was using the holocaust as a political tool. you mentioned the foreign minister, yair lapid, he went even sayin gthe comments were unforgivable and outrageous. and then we had the chair of yad vashem, the world remembrance centre, he said they were absurd, delusional and dangerous, and saying that the claim that adolf hitler had jewish descent was completely unfounded. more than 100 migrants have been brought ashore by the border force and lifeboats, after trying to cross the english channel in small boats. yesterday, more than 250 people made the journey, the first arrivals for 11 days. 0ur correspondent simonjones has the latest from dover. this is the area of dover where people are brought once they are picked up in the channel, and it's been very busy here throughout the day. the lifeboat brought in the first group of people just after six o'clock this morning, and since then there has been a steady stream of arrivals. we have seen a number of women and children being brought to shore. one woman was clutching a young child. but the vast majority of people who have arrived today have been young men. we haven't yet had any numbers confirmed by the ministry of defence, but it is likely to be similar numbers to yesterday when 254 people arrived on seven boats. that means it was on average 35 plus people per boat so you get a sense ofjust how crowded these vessels are and how dangerous potentially it is. but this all comes after we saw a period of 11 days with no channel crossings at all which is rather unusual. some people were saying perhaps this was due to the rwanda deterrent, the government's plan to send people some 4,000 miles to rwanda rather than allowing people to claim asylum here. but i think in reality this has a lot to do with the weather we have seen in recent times. today very calm in the channel, lots of crossings, yesterday very calm, lots of crossings. but the previous 11 days it was actually quite windy in the channel, there were quite large waves and we saw no crossings at all, so i think in reality the main deterrent at the moment is the weather. simonjones. a record 2.7 million people have been referred for cancer checks, by nhs england, in the last year, following a dramatic fall in numbers during the pandemic. at least 30,000 people are still waiting to start their treatment. charities have welcomed the increase in referrals — but warned of the "devastating" impact that the covid backlog has had on cancer care. we are going to find out all the latest sports news and across to the bbc sport centre. hi, gavin. hello. it is the final day of the world championship snooker final. where ronnie o'sullivan is closing in on a record—equalling seventh title at the crucible. he's playing the 2019 champion judd trump, who started the day seven frames behind and with a mountain to climb. trump did win the first three frames of the day to make things interesting, but he will need everything to be perfect to overcome o'sullivan, who's won the fourth frame and restored a 13—9 lead in the first to 18 frame contest. let's go live to the crucible then — o'sullivan looking to win that seventh title that would bring him level with stephen hendry who's won the tournament the most in the modern era. trump's won four of the five frames they have played so far today. he is still fourframes behind. it would be one of the most remarkable comebacks if he were to turn this around. 30—9, catch the action over on bbc two. a shock at the vitality london 10,000m earlier. four—time olympic champion — mo farah — was beaten by a club runner. farah said he'll make decisions about his future on a "race by race" basis. it was his first competition since failing to qualify for the olympics last year. 25—year—old ellis cross had to pay the entry fee of £37 to take part in the race. but he set a personal best as he beat the course record holder to win. farah, a seven—time winner of the event, said before the race if he didn't feel he could compete at the highest level any more, then it'd be time to stop and retire from the sport. ellis did really well to beat me and to win here, but at the same time, you have got to see where you are and, at the minute, i don't even know, this is it, that's where i am now. is it for you now where you are in your career taking it race by race? for sure you have got to take it race by race and let the body see what it can do. as you said, i ain't young any more, am i? so mo farah there. winner of the women's race eilish mccolgan missed out on breaking paula radcliffe's 19 year old british record by just two seconds but she did beat her mum liz's scottish record. danny sidbury and sam kinghorn won the wheelchair races. manchester city goalkeeper karen bardsley has announced she's retiring from the game after an illustrious 20—year career for both club and country. the 37—year—old won eight major trophies during her time with city — and played 81 times for england. she also represented great britain at the 2012 olympics. bardsley will be honoured at wednesday s women's super league home game against birmingham city. she's revealed that failing to fully recoverfrom a hamstring injury picked up during the 2019 world cup has forced her to quit the game. it certainly wasn't easy. if i think about maybe having this conversation two years ago i don't think i'd be able to get a word out, i would just be bawling. so it is disappointing when you know that you still have an element of capability in you. but when your body doesn't match what your mind wants to do it is a uniquely frustrating experience. mark cavendish will compete at the the giro d'italia for the first time since 2013 — it starts in budapest on friday. cavendish is 37 this month and made a stunning return to the podium with the quick—step alpha vinyl team at last year's tour de france, having considered retirement after injury, illness and depression hampered his form. fellow briton simon yates, who finished third overall last year, will be aiming to win the pink jersey, as the leader of the bikeexchange—jayco team. andy murray says he's "not supportive" of players from russia and belarus being banned from wimbledon. organisers ruled last week that players from the two countries can't play at this year's grand slam due to russia's invasion of ukraine. murray said there's no "right answer" on the issue and says he "feels really bad for the players who aren't allowed to play." murray isn't alone in criticising the decision, with world number one novak djokovic calling the ban "crazy". while russian world number eight andrey rublev said it was "complete discrimination" and "illogical". that's all the sport for now. we will bring you up—to—date with the snooker in the next one. thank you very much, gavin. free—range eggs will be back on supermarket shelves as measures which were introduced to curb bird flu cases are being dropped from today. farmers and egg producers have been forced to keep chickens inside since november, because of the worst outbreak of avian flu the uk has ever seen. i'm nowjoined by anne smilie and her husbandjim. they both farm at corrie mains in mauchline, in east ayrshire, where they look after 20,000 birds. have i said that correctly? yes, that's correct. _ have i said that correctly? yes, that's correct. thank _ have i said that correctly? yes, that's correct. thank you - have i said that correctly? yes, that's correct. thank you for . that's correct. thank you for “oininu that's correct. thank you for joining us- _ that's correct. thank you for joining us. you're _ that's correct. thank you for joining us. you're in - that's correct. thank you for l joining us. you're in scotland, that's correct. thank you for - joining us. you're in scotland, how have you been hit by what is effectively a quarantine, isn't it? it is a quarantine for hens. the hens _ it is a quarantine for hens. the hens have _ it is a quarantine for hens. the hens have been in since the middle of november. this lot behind us, the doors _ of november. this lot behind us, the doors have _ of november. this lot behind us, the doors have been opened today. they are not— doors have been opened today. they are not too— doors have been opened today. they are not too keen on going out but they are — are not too keen on going out but they are looking out. hens are like children. _ they are looking out. hens are like children, they are being taught teddy— children, they are being taught today how to go out again. this is 'ust today how to go out again. this is just the _ today how to go out again. this is just the first day. the birds in here — just the first day. the birds in here were _ just the first day. the birds in here were not even hatched when the housing _ here were not even hatched when the housing order came in. it hasn't really— housing order came in. it hasn't really affected sales but for the last five — really affected sales but for the last five weeks we have had to call our x _ last five weeks we have had to call our x barn — last five weeks we have had to call our x barn so anything produced here has been _ our x barn so anything produced here has been barn eggs —— eggs. does our x barn so anything produced here has been barn eggs -- eggs.- has been barn eggs -- eggs. does it have an economic— has been barn eggs -- eggs. does it have an economic hit _ has been barn eggs -- eggs. does it have an economic hit if— has been barn eggs -- eggs. does it have an economic hit if it _ has been barn eggs -- eggs. does it have an economic hit if it is - has been barn eggs -- eggs. does it have an economic hit if it is not - have an economic hit if it is not free range, or if it is barn? how does that impact on what you are doing? does that impact on what you are doinu ? ., ., , does that impact on what you are doinu ? ., . , ~ does that impact on what you are doinu? ., . , . ., does that impact on what you are doinu ? ., ., , . ., ., doing? nothing, really. we have had to rive doing? nothing, really. we have had to give them — doing? nothing, really. we have had to give them more _ doing? nothing, really. we have had to give them more enrichment,, - to give them more enrichment,, things— to give them more enrichment,, things to — to give them more enrichment,, things to play with, to keep them from _ things to play with, to keep them from being bored.— from being bored. you've been ”rovidin from being bored. you've been providing them _ from being bored. you've been providing them with _ from being bored. you've been providing them with toys, - from being bored. you've been - providing them with toys, basically? yes! a, providing them with toys, basically? yes! �* an providing them with toys, basically? yes!_ an activity - providing them with toys, basically? yes!_ an activity gym - providing them with toys, basically? yes!_ an activity gym for. yes! a football. an activity gym for hens. on yes! a football. an activity gym for hens- on a — yes! a football. an activity gym for hens. on a serious _ yes! a football. an activity gym for hens. on a serious note, _ yes! a football. an activity gym for hens. on a serious note, in - yes! a football. an activity gym for hens. on a serious note, in termsl yes! a football. an activity gym for. hens. on a serious note, in terms of the health of— hens. on a serious note, in terms of the health of your _ hens. on a serious note, in terms of the health of your hens, _ hens. on a serious note, in terms of the health of your hens, keeping - the health of your hens, keeping them locked up in this way, apart from the board, is there a hit that is taken on them? h0. from the board, is there a hit that is taken on them?— from the board, is there a hit that is taken on them?- to - from the board, is there a hit that| is taken on them?- to look is taken on them? no, no. to look after them — is taken on them? no, no. to look after them properly, _ is taken on them? no, no. to look after them properly, i— is taken on them? no, no. to look after them properly, i think - is taken on them? no, no. to look after them properly, i think it - is taken on them? no, no. to look after them properly, i think it is i after them properly, i think it is fine _ after them properly, i think it is fine. . , fine. look after them better, look after them _ fine. look after them better, look after them a _ fine. look after them better, look after them a lot _ fine. look after them better, look after them a lot more. _ fine. look after them better, look after them a lot more. does - fine. look after them better, look after them a lot more. does thatl after them a lot more. does that cost ou after them a lot more. does that cost you if— after them a lot more. does that cost you if you — after them a lot more. does that cost you if you are _ after them a lot more. does that cost you if you are having - after them a lot more. does that cost you if you are having to - after them a lot more. does thatj cost you if you are having to look after them indoors? apart from the time you are having to put into it. the husbandry, making sure that they are entertained, and they are not contracting other illnesses that they could do. just tell us a little bit about it, give us an insight. everything we are doing now we do as a matter— everything we are doing now we do as a matter of— everything we are doing now we do as a matter of course. you look after them _ a matter of course. you look after them to _ a matter of course. you look after them to the — a matter of course. you look after them to the best of your ability. this is— them to the best of your ability. this is something we do to keep them happy— this is something we do to keep them happy anyway. when they are shot in it is there _ happy anyway. when they are shot in it is there for them, whether it is footballs, — it is there for them, whether it is footballs, bottles, bales, they are used _ footballs, bottles, bales, they are used to— footballs, bottles, bales, they are used to it — footballs, bottles, bales, they are used to it. we have had to top it up a wee _ used to it. we have had to top it up a wee bit— used to it. we have had to top it up a wee bit more but that is really all. �* ., , ., , ., all. and i wonder, if your hens had contracted — all. and i wonder, if your hens had contracted bird _ all. and i wonder, if your hens had contracted bird flu, _ all. and i wonder, if your hens had contracted bird flu, what _ all. and i wonder, if your hens had contracted bird flu, what would - all. and i wonder, if your hens had contracted bird flu, what would it | contracted bird flu, what would it have meant for you? devastation. in the last five — have meant for you? devastation. in the last five weeks _ have meant for you? devastation. in the last five weeks i _ have meant for you? devastation. in the last five weeks i think _ have meant for you? devastation. in the last five weeks i think there - the last five weeks i think there has been — the last five weeks i think there has been one very close to us. it was an— has been one very close to us. it was an animal sanctuary, and again it would _ was an animal sanctuary, and again it would be — was an animal sanctuary, and again it would be a — was an animal sanctuary, and again it would be a bird somebody had found _ it would be a bird somebody had found ill~ — it would be a bird somebody had found ill. they took it in and it was _ found ill. they took it in and it was through them, they were very close. _ was through them, they were very close. ten— was through them, they were very close, ten miles away. there was another _ close, ten miles away. there was another one, good distance, hundreds of miles. _ another one, good distance, hundreds of miles. but— another one, good distance, hundreds of miles, but still in scotland, one of miles, but still in scotland, one of the _ of miles, but still in scotland, one of the highest secure units in the country— of the highest secure units in the country and they got it. so it is a virus _ country and they got it. so it is a virus that— country and they got it. so it is a virus that knows no boundary. it will go _ virus that knows no boundary. it will go anywhere. fire virus that knows no boundary. it will go anywhere.— virus that knows no boundary. it will go anywhere. are you happy that these restrictions _ will go anywhere. are you happy that these restrictions have _ will go anywhere. are you happy that these restrictions have been - will go anywhere. are you happy that these restrictions have been lifted? l these restrictions have been lifted? do you feel safe? h0. these restrictions have been lifted? do you feel safe?— do you feel safe? no, definitely not. we do you feel safe? no, definitely not- we do _ do you feel safe? no, definitely not. we do not _ do you feel safe? no, definitely not. we do not feel _ do you feel safe? no, definitely not. we do not feel safe. - do you feel safe? no, definitely not. we do not feel safe. we i do you feel safe? no, definitely i not. we do not feel safe. we have do you feel safe? no, definitely - not. we do not feel safe. we have to do it and that's _ not. we do not feel safe. we have to do it and that's it. _ not. we do not feel safe. we have to do it and that's it. if— not. we do not feel safe. we have to do it and that's it. if there _ not. we do not feel safe. we have to do it and that's it. if there was - not. we do not feel safe. we have to do it and that's it. if there was a - do it and that's it. if there was a way bit more heat it would help to get rid of the avian flu —— a wee bit more heat. get rid of the avian flu -- a wee bit more heat.— bit more heat. the risk is only dro ed bit more heat. the risk is only dropped from _ bit more heat. the risk is only dropped from very _ bit more heat. the risk is only dropped from very high - bit more heat. the risk is only dropped from very high to - bit more heat. the risk is only| dropped from very high to high bit more heat. the risk is only - dropped from very high to high so it is still— dropped from very high to high so it is still quite difficult. it is still— is still quite difficult. it is still out _ is still quite difficult. it is still out there, avian flu is still out there _ still out there, avian flu is still out there. do you have the option of keeping _ out there. do you have the option of keeping your hens in if you want to? no. keeping your hens in if you want to? no if— keeping your hens in if you want to? no. , ., ., ., , keeping your hens in if you want to? no. ., .,, keeping your hens in if you want to? no. ., , keeping your hens in if you want to? no. ., no. if you want to sell your eggs as free ranae no. if you want to sell your eggs as free range they _ no. if you want to sell your eggs as free range they are _ no. if you want to sell your eggs as free range they are out, _ no. if you want to sell your eggs as free range they are out, i'm - no. if you want to sell your eggs as free range they are out, i'm afraid. | free range they are out, i'm afraid. very— free range they are out, i'm afraid. very quickly, — free range they are out, i'm afraid. very quickly, finally, you said you would be happier with more heat. why does that make a difference? it does that make a difference? ut kills the virus. it kills the virus. any additional measures that you can actually put in place yourselves to try and protect your hens and yourselves?— try and protect your hens and ourselves? , ., ., yourselves? yes, we have more chanauin yourselves? yes, we have more changing facilities, _ yourselves? yes, we have more changing facilities, we - yourselves? yes, we have more changing facilities, we keep - yourselves? yes, we have more| changing facilities, we keep staff separate — changing facilities, we keep staff separate in houses, more foot dips, every— separate in houses, more foot dips, every lorry— separate in houses, more foot dips, every lorry that comes in is cleaned and disinfected. probably a higher cost of— and disinfected. probably a higher cost of disinfecting has been the biggest — cost of disinfecting has been the biggest expense. vehicle mats for the drive — biggest expense. vehicle mats for the drive through, everything has to be clean _ the drive through, everything has to be clean l— the drive through, everything has to be clean. .., the drive through, everything has to be clean. , i. ., ., be clean. i can see you have a little red _ be clean. i can see you have a little red hen _ be clean. i can see you have a little red hen on _ be clean. i can see you have a little red hen on your - be clean. i can see you have a| little red hen on your shoulder there. obviously they have come for their playtime. there. obviously they have come for their playtime-— their playtime. they are looking for somethin: their playtime. they are looking for something to _ their playtime. they are looking for something to play _ their playtime. they are looking for something to play with. _ their playtime. they are looking for something to play with. it - their playtime. they are looking for something to play with. it is - their playtime. they are looking for something to play with. it is like i something to play with. it is like having _ something to play with. it is like having a — something to play with. it is like having a bunch of teenagers. as i say, _ having a bunch of teenagers. as i say, they— having a bunch of teenagers. as i say, they are just learning to lay 'ust say, they are just learning to lay just now — say, they are just learning to lay just now. they are not all laying. they— just now. they are not all laying. they are — just now. they are not all laying. they are in — just now. they are not all laying. they are in about 70% of production at the _ they are in about 70% of production at the moment. it is they are in about 70% of production at the moment.— at the moment. it is about that size of en . . at the moment. it is about that size of egg- l'm — at the moment. it is about that size of egg- l'm going _ at the moment. it is about that size of egg- l'm going to _ at the moment. it is about that size of egg. i'm going to wish _ at the moment. it is about that size of egg. i'm going to wish you - at the moment. it is about that size of egg. i'm going to wish you good | of egg. i'm going to wish you good luck on teaching _ of egg. i'm going to wish you good luck on teaching them _ of egg. i'm going to wish you good luck on teaching them how- of egg. i'm going to wish you good luck on teaching them how to - of egg. i'm going to wish you good luck on teaching them how to step| luck on teaching them how to step outdoors and enjoy their time outdoors. thank you for sharing your story and giving us an insight into the sector as well. anne smilie and her husbandjim the sector as well. anne smilie and her husband jim speaking to us from mauchline. thank you. research suggests the impact of repetitive concussions in sport, especially in women, will have dire consequences for some people in later life. the government is expected to take steps to standardise concussion policy for both sexes and for all sports and ages. the new rules to be proposed in the uk will dictate how long players must rest after a concussion. and a new scanning technology is being trialled, as our health editor, hugh pym reports. it's the game we love, but what are the risks? you've got to stay on the side this time, let's go. thursday night training for actonians women's team. there are concerns about concussion and long—term injury from repetitive heading and collisions. people can see the serious risks that are coming over time. early research shows women can be more vulnerable than men. it only takes two people to go up for a headerfor a ball, you get each other�*s heads instead of the ball, you're fully focused on winning that. it's time that now something serious happens about it, and there is more awareness, and it is good that it is finally arising, especially ahead of the euros this summer. just put your head back slightly towards me, a bit more. jess is trying out a new brain scanning device, one of several being developed around the world. click the mouse when you hear the high pitch. the idea is that sports clubs could scan all players at the start of the season, using these images for comparison if an injury occurs, looking at how the brain has been affected and when it is safe to start playing again. you can stop now, relax, open your eyes, have a little rest. is this applicable to all types of sporting clubs, amateur, different age groups, notjust professional? it really is realistic, is it? it is absolutely realistic, doesn't matter whether you are amateur, elite, whether you are horse racing, whether you are boxing, whether you are at football, hockey, rugby, it doesn't matter, you can have one of these in your physiotherapist�*s kit room and if somebody is concussed for whatever reason, it is applicable to them at that time. there is growing concern in rugby, too. england world cup winner ben kay, along with other former players, has regular scans in research funded by alzheimer's society to chart his brain health. this is an absolutely normal scan, there are no problems. now there is a push to come up with standard rules for handling concussion in all contact sports for men, women and children. the speed, the strength of these players is increasing all of the time. that can only lead to more injury, unless we know how to deal with it. the teachers, the coaches, the referees at the junior levels, everybody has to understand it, going down to the parents and the doctors, the gps. so how did jess get on with her trial run with the scanning device? your scan with these data is going to look like that, like the one on the front one, the baseline, nice and normal. nice. you've got a brain. yes, hopefully! it is early days for the technology, more studies are needed to see if it can help. new uk wide concussion rules are due to be drawn up later this year building on what is in place in scotland. the aim is letting people play their favourite sports while keeping them safe. hugh pym, bbc news. joining us is craig ritchie, professor of psychiatry of ageing at the university of edinburgh and director at brain health scotland. he is also leading the prevent project, a major initiative to identify mid—life risks for later life dementia. really interesting. a bit of a mouthful, professor, but let's start off first with the prevent study. what is it exactly? it off first with the prevent study. what is it exactly?— what is it exactly? it started in 2013 funded — what is it exactly? it started in 2013 funded by _ what is it exactly? it started in 2013 funded by the _ what is it exactly? it started in | 2013 funded by the alzheimer's society, and it was, you know, looking at people of the edges 40-59, looking at people of the edges 40—59, somebody with a strong family history of dementia with a control group who don't, to really try and understand what changes are taking place in the brain decades before dementia develops, because if we are able to do that it gives us the opportunity to intervene command as the title of the project prevent dementia. so the title of the pro'ect prevent dementia. the title of the pro'ect prevent dementiah the title of the pro'ect prevent dementia. ,�* . , dementia. so it isn't necessarily connected _ dementia. so it isn't necessarily connected to — dementia. so it isn't necessarily connected to brain _ dementia. so it isn't necessarily connected to brain injury - dementia. so it isn't necessarily - connected to brain injury symptoms of concussions? connected to brain in'ury symptoms of concussions?— connected to brain in'ury symptoms of concussions? over the last two or three years — of concussions? over the last two or three years we _ of concussions? over the last two or three years we have _ of concussions? over the last two or three years we have been _ of concussions? over the last two or three years we have been working i three years we have been working very closely with investigators and specialists in concussion, professor willie stewart of the university of glasgow, for example, and over the last couple of years with funding from the alzheimer's society, it has allowed us to tap into that cohort of 700 people from the community, elite rugby players, both men, women, and ben kay as you identified earlier, who is part of that project. earlier, who is part of that ro'ect. ., , earlier, who is part of that -ro'ect. ., , earlier, who is part of that ro'ect. ., , . ., project. so what is the link? what ha--ens? project. so what is the link? what happens? what — project. so what is the link? what happens? what do _ project. so what is the link? what happens? what do you _ project. so what is the link? what happens? what do you see - project. so what is the link? what happens? what do you see as - project. so what is the link? what happens? what do you see as a l happens? what do you see as a professor of brain health, for example? what changes take place in the brain that eventually will lead you to a early onset dementia? that is a treat you to a early onset dementia? that is a great question _ you to a early onset dementia? trust is a great question and that's the question underpinning the research because we don't know exactly what is the link between that trauma you may have had fun playing contact sport and the decades and years passing and then developing cognitive symptoms. so what is happening at a biological level, if you like, within the brain between the head injury itself and the symptoms emerging? within the prevent programme already we have been seeing related to family history and other risks some subtle changes in areas of the brain involved in memory, particularly involving spatial memory, and we also seeing differences in some proteins that can pick up in the blood that show neuronal damage. but if we want to intervene with drug therapies we really have to