told she's off to the olympics. and coming up on bbc news, it's winner takes all this weekend as england women travel to bordeaux to take on france for france for the six nations title decider. —— reading. hello, good evening. it's just been announced that the king is to return to some public facing duties — his first since it was revealed that he'd been diagnosed with cancer. buckingham palace says the king's treatment isn't over, but that doctors are encouraged by his progress. this photo of the king and queen had been released tonight, taking the day after their 19th wedding anniversary. the first engagement will be a joint visit with queen camilla to a cancer treatment centre, next week. charlotte gallagher reports. the king and queen together in the gardens of buckingham palace. a positive sign about the king's l. the photo was taken earlier this month but has just been released. the photo was taken earlier this month but hasjust been released. —— making's hell. the palace says the king is making encouraging progress and will shortly return to public facing duties, after a period of treatment and recuperation following his cancer diagnosis. as the first anniversary of the coronation approaches, their majesties remained deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they had received from around the world, throughout the joys and challenges of the past year. the king's last public event was in windsor on easter sunday, and he surprised the crowd by stopping to chat, thanking them for their good wishes. his next visit will be more symbolic. a trip to a cancer treatment centre. this has been a really tough time for the royal family with both the king and the princess of wales being diagnosed with cancer, and like with any family, that has come as a huge blow, and they also have to deal with intense media scrutiny, so the announcement that the king feels well enough to resume some public duties will be welcome news. the prime duties will be welcome news. tue: prime minister, duties will be welcome news. tte: prime minister, your majesty. duties will be welcome news. the | prime minister, your majesty. the prime minister, your ma'esty. the kin: has prime minister, your majesty. the king has been working throughout his treatment, including meeting with the prime minister. but it still remains uncertain, if he will be attending some of the big events coming up in the calendar, such as trooping the colour, royal ascot, and overseas trips in the autumn. the king and catherine are two of the most senior and popular members of the royal family. their absence has been felt by many. t of the royal family. their absence has been felt by many.— of the royal family. their absence has been felt by many. i wanted to take this opportunity _ has been felt by many. i wanted to take this opportunity to _ has been felt by many. i wanted to take this opportunity to say - has been felt by many. i wanted to take this opportunity to say thank. take this opportunity to say thank you personally... but take this opportunity to say thank you personally-"— take this opportunity to say thank you personally---_ you personally... but there is no news about— you personally... but there is no news about when _ you personally... but there is no news about when the _ you personally... but there is no news about when the princess i you personally... but there is noj news about when the princess of wales will return to public duties. she announced her cancer diagnosis in march, and has asked for time, space and privacy for herself and herfamily. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. and our royal correspondent jonny dymond is outside buckingham palace — this is qualified good news? yes, i think it is good news for the king, good news about his health, good news for those who want to see the king out and about but some qualifications, the most important of which is that his treatment has not finished, his treatment continues. alongside that, the question of how many things the king will actually be seen at. the summer programme, says buckingham palace, will not be as cool as before, it is normally dizzy with high—profile as charlotte cuisine, trooping the colour, royalascot, garden parties at buckingham palace, will the king attend those? there was also the question of the timetable. the palace says they will wait and see how the weeks and months go and how that timetable may have to be calibrated and unsurprisingly for a man who is still having cancer treatment, there is the issue of the engagements, they will adjust those engagements, they will adjust those engagements to make sure any risk to the king's health is minimised, so this is the return of the king but it is a qualified return, with people watching his progress step—by—step, as the months unfold. beke mac like you, jonny dymond. —— thank you, jonny dymond. a trial of the world's first personalised vaccine for the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, has begun in the uk. the jab uses a technology that is in some covid vaccines. early studies show that when used with another cancer drug, the vaccine almost halved the risk of recurrence or death, after three years. our health and science correspondent james gallagher can explain. you remember this? millions of us were given life covid vaccine is developed using completely new mrna technology but now instead of preventing infections that same technology is being used to treat cancer. this man had an aggressive skin cancer called melanoma surgically removed last year. he is one of 1000 people in this trial of mrna vaccines, and a has to be designed for each individual patient to destroy any lingering cancerous tissue. , ., , , to destroy any lingering cancerous tissue. , ., _ , ., , tissue. obviously it is really important _ tissue. obviously it is really important that _ tissue. obviously it is really important that people - tissue. obviously it is really important that people take | tissue. obviously it is really - important that people take part in things like this, otherwise, how else can we move forward? you know? you think, this trial, in five or ten years' time, somebody�*s going to be really benefiting. so ten years' time, somebody's going to be really benefiting.— be really benefiting. so how do you desiun a be really benefiting. so how do you design a vaccine _ be really benefiting. so how do you design a vaccine for _ be really benefiting. so how do you design a vaccine for each _ be really benefiting. so how do you design a vaccine for each patient? l design a vaccine for each patient? here is the science. cancers are corrupted versions of our own cells, they have mutations that make them look different to the rest of the body. and these vaccines train the new system to find those differences. scientists will scan the dna or the genetic code of both the dna or the genetic code of both the healthy tissue and the cancerous tissue and by comparing them, they can find the parts that make a patient�*s cancer distinct from their normal tissue, the parts that the immune system could attack. genetic information part of the personalised mrna vaccine and when it is injected it teaches the immune system how to seek out and kill a patient�*s cancer, but no two cancers are the same, so you have to go through this whole process for each patient, developing a unique vaccine for each unique cancer. we developing a unique vaccine for each unique cancer-— unique cancer. we use a piece of tumour that _ unique cancer. we use a piece of tumour that has _ unique cancer. we use a piece of tumour that has been _ unique cancer. we use a piece of tumour that has been removed l unique cancer. we use a piece of. tumour that has been removed from unique cancer. we use a piece of - tumour that has been removed from a patient as part of the treatment for their melanoma, and that is used to generate some specific markers from their cancer which can help the immune system to seek out and destroy any cancer cells still hiding in the system that are beyond the limits of our current detection ability, and hopefully prevent that cancer returning in future. imilieu cancer returning in future. when should they _ cancer returning in future. when should they be _ cancer returning in future. when should they be available? - cancer returning in future. when should they be available? drug i should they be available? drug companies are aiming for the end of the decade as this trial needs to be completed and then there are practical questions about how such personalised vaccines are regulated and even paid for, and could even work for all cancers? it is not clear at the moment whether this approach will. the most optimism is in heavily mutated tumours such as melanoma and for long, colon and bladder cancer, but it could join the likes of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy as a key pillar of cancer medicine, and it is causing genuine excitement. james gallacker. —— gallagher. humza yousaf has insisted he will not resign as scotland's first minister and will fight attempts to remove him. the snp leader is facing a personal vote of no confidence, after he ended a power—sharing arrangement with the scottish greens, leaving him short of a majority in the edinburgh parliament. and labour in scotland has increased the pressure on mr yousaf, tabling a second motion of no confidence, in his government as a whole. from dundee, lorna gordon reports. scott quin's first minister, battling to save his position. —— scotland's first minister. an attempt to show he is focusing on hisjob attempt to show he is focusing on his job with attempt to show he is focusing on hisjob with a attempt to show he is focusing on his job with a change to his schedule and an announcement of funding for housing, but humza yousaf is now leading a minority government, dependent on other parties to survive. t government, dependent on other parties to survive.— parties to survive. i will leave the opposition _ parties to survive. i will leave the opposition to _ parties to survive. i will leave the opposition to do _ parties to survive. i will leave the opposition to do the _ parties to survive. i will leave the opposition to do the game - parties to survive. i will leave the| opposition to do the game playing and naked political opportunism if thatis and naked political opportunism if that is what they want to do. he is t in: to that is what they want to do. he is trying to smooth _ that is what they want to do. he is trying to smooth things _ that is what they want to do. he is trying to smooth things over- that is what they want to do. he is trying to smooth things over with the scottish green party after he sacked him from his government. the action sacked him from his government. tte: action taken yesterday was not meant to upset and anger them but clearly, i will be writing to patrick harvey and lorna slater to let see if we can meet but it does not mean that two pro—independence parties who share so many values and so many possibilities cannot and should not work together in a less formal arrangement.— work together in a less formal arranuement. ., , , , arrangement. the scottish greens remain adamant _ arrangement. the scottish greens remain adamant that _ arrangement. the scottish greens remain adamant that they - arrangement. the scottish greens remain adamant that they will - arrangement. the scottish greens remain adamant that they will not| remain adamant that they will not back him in any vote of confidence, for now. that means the most powerful politician in scotland maybe this woman. ash regan left the snp just months after losing out in the fight to lead the party. her vote may prove critical. you make scotland is completely sick of petty political games, i'm sick of it as well, i want us all to work together for the good of scotland, that is what i'm setting out to do, i have a good opportunity to do that i do have some influence and to be set on a path of good governance. humza yousaf is now facing two votes of confidence lodged by his political opponents. tt is confidence lodged by his political o- onents. , ., confidence lodged by his political ouonents. , ., , ., opponents. it is not 'ust about him, we do not have — opponents. it is notjust about him, we do not have confidence - opponents. it is notjust about him, we do not have confidence in - opponents. it is notjust about him, we do not have confidence in this i we do not have confidence in this snp government and that is why we have tabled this motion today and we believe ultimately to be the people of scotland to decide who leads our country, not a handful of snp members. country, not a handful of snp members— country, not a handful of snp members. , , ., ., , _ ., members. this is an attempt by humza yousaf to shift — members. this is an attempt by humza yousaf to shift the _ members. this is an attempt by humza yousaf to shift the focus _ members. this is an attempt by humza yousaf to shift the focus onto _ yousaf to shift the focus onto policy, to show competence in government, but he is now fighting for his political life, on multiple fronts, and it is not at all clear that he will survive. in office were barely one year, but for how much longer? the answer to that may come as early as next week. lorna gordon, bbc news, dundee. a primary school teacher has admitted murdering her partner, whose body was found buried in their garden. the remains of 42—year—old nicholas billingham were found in northampton in march 2022, four months after he was last seen alive. fiona beal, who's 50, will be sentenced next month. a former senior executive at the post office, who's been giving evidence for a second day at the public inquiry, has been accused of "deliberately suppressing the truth" and letting wrongful convictions stand. angela van der bogerd was questioned by lawyers representing wrongly convicted sub—postmasters. she dismissed the accusations, and denied using money to hush up the family of martin griffiths, a sub—postmaster who killed himself, after being falsely accused of stealing £100,0000. emma simpson was at the inquiry. martin griffiths was facing financial ruin by the post office when he took his own life, in 2013. the losses were mounting, and he had been fined after an armed robbery at his branch in cheshire. me been fined after an armed robbery at his branch in cheshire.— his branch in cheshire. we have to -a the his branch in cheshire. we have to pay the money _ his branch in cheshire. we have to pay the money back _ his branch in cheshire. we have to pay the money back in _ his branch in cheshire. we have to pay the money back in order - his branch in cheshire. we have to pay the money back in order to - his branch in cheshire. we have to l pay the money back in order to carry on trading, otherwise they will close us down. they hounded him, they persecuted him, there did not seem to be any end to it. the they persecuted him, there did not seem to be any end to it.— seem to be any end to it. the tv drama showed _ seem to be any end to it. the tv drama showed angela _ seem to be any end to it. the tv drama showed angela paying - seem to be any end to it. the tv. drama showed angela paying gina visit after his death. me drama showed angela paying gina visit after his death.— visit after his death. we are so sor for visit after his death. we are so sorry for your _ visit after his death. we are so sorry for your loss. _ visit after his death. we are so sorry for your loss. desperate | visit after his death. we are so i sorry for your loss. desperate for financial help _ sorry for your loss. desperate for financial help she _ sorry for your loss. desperate for financial help she later _ sorry for your loss. desperate for financial help she later signed . sorry for your loss. desperate for financial help she later signed a i financial help she later signed a deal that meant withdrawing from the mediation scheme, and being gagged. did you see anything unsavoury in using money as a way of ensuring martin griffiths' case was it using money as a way of ensuring martin griffiths' case was- martin griffiths' case was it didn't even enter _ martin griffiths' case was it didn't even enter my — martin griffiths' case was it didn't even enter my head, _ martin griffiths' case was it didn't even enter my head, we - martin griffiths' case was it didn'tl even enter my head, we discussed martin griffiths' case was it didn't i even enter my head, we discussed it with gina _ even enter my head, we discussed it with gina and the his brother. then a that questions _ with gina and the his brother. then a that questions were _ with gina and the his brother. tteq a that questions were getting tougher. a that questions were getting tou . her. �* a that questions were getting tou:her. �* , , ., ._ tougher. argued represented today in the sense that — tougher. argued represented today in the sense that is _ tougher. argued represented today in the sense that is a _ tougher. argued represented today in the sense that is a lawyer— tougher. argued represented today in the sense that is a lawyer in - tougher. argued represented today in the sense that is a lawyer in the - the sense that is a lawyer in the room? ,�* , , room? the postmasters' barristers not room? the postmasters' barristers got straight _ room? the postmasters' barristers got straight to _ room? the postmasters' barristers got straight to it. _ room? the postmasters' barristers got straight to it. you _ room? the postmasters' barristers got straight to it. you like - room? the postmasters' barristers got straight to it. you like you're i got straight to it. you like you're worried now that if you admit that you knew about remote access way backin you knew about remote access way back in 2010, you will be liable for perjury, isn't that the truth? meg. perjury, isn't that the truth? ney. are ou perjury, isn't that the truth? ney. are you being _ perjury, isn't that the truth? ney. are you being dishonest - perjury, isn't that the truth? ney. are you being dishonest about this now, or were you inexcusably negligent at the time? t now, or were you inexcusably negligent at the time?- now, or were you inexcusably negligent at the time? i am not bein: negligent at the time? i am not being dishonest _ negligent at the time? i am not being dishonest about - negligent at the time? i am not being dishonest about it. - negligent at the time? i am not being dishonest about it. you i negligent at the time? i am not. being dishonest about it. you were deliberately _ being dishonest about it. you were deliberately suppressing _ being dishonest about it. you were deliberately suppressing the - being dishonest about it. you were deliberately suppressing the truth, you were allowing the single people to be prosecuted on the back of a flawed it system, weren't you? tia. t flawed it system, weren't you? no, i would never— flawed it system, weren't you? no, i would never do _ flawed it system, weren't you? no, i would never do that. _ flawed it system, weren't you? no, i would never do that. you _ flawed it system, weren't you? no, i would never do that. you would - flawed it system, weren't you? no, i would never do that. you would do i would never do that. you would do an hinu would never do that. you would do anything to — would never do that. you would do anything to protect _ would never do that. you would do anything to protect the _ would never do that. you would do anything to protect the post - would never do that. you would do anything to protect the post office. no, that is not right.— no, that is not right. then next to him, a postmaster— no, that is not right. then next to him, a postmaster getting - no, that is not right. then next to i him, a postmaster getting emotional as his story at the hands of the post office is read out.- post office is read out. totally devastated — post office is read out. totally devastated his _ post office is read out. totally devastated his life, _ post office is read out. totally devastated his life, blew- post office is read out. totally| devastated his life, blew apart post office is read out. totally - devastated his life, blew apart his family... a, devastated his life, blew apart his famil �* , ., ., ., family... a big moment for you and for the supposed _ family... a big moment for you and for the supposed masters. - family... a big moment for you and for the supposed masters. yes, - family... a big moment for you and i for the supposed masters. yes, those memories, for the supposed masters. yes, those memories. how _ for the supposed masters. yes, those memories, how we _ for the supposed masters. yes, those memories, how we had _ for the supposed masters. yes, those memories, how we had to _ for the supposed masters. yes, those memories, how we had to beg, - for the supposed masters. yes, those memories, how we had to beg, and i memories, how we had to beg, and what we were able to pay back. she's already found — what we were able to pay back. she's already found to _ what we were able to pay back. she's already found to have _ what we were able to pay back. she's already found to have misled the high court. angela van der bogerd now leaves here with her credibility seriously challenged yet again. emma simpson, bbc news at the post office inquiry. two teachers who were injured in a stabbing at a school in south wales on wednesday have tonight issued a statement, to say it is �*difficult to comprehend' what happened. fiona elias and liz hopkin also said they wanted to thank the emergency services and medical staff. it comes as a 13—year—old girl has appeared in court charged with three counts of attempted murder. amman valley school in carmarthenshire went into in lockdown for four hours. the girl — who cannot be named — was remanded into a detention centre, and will appear at swansea crown court in may. the foreign office has summoned the russian ambassador to the uk after two british men were charged with helping the russian intelligence services — after a suspected arson attack on a ukraine—linked business in london. they're the first people to be charged under the new national security act, which was designed to strengthen the uk's defences against hostile activity by other states. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford is with me. yes, explain more about that, daniel. this all began with a fire in march, it is an industrial unit in march, it is an industrial unit in leyton in east london linked to ukrainian owned business. i have been up there this afternoon and it is still quite badly damaged, one of the units has got beam still exposed to the sky with no roof, scorched beams, there is a ukrainian truck parked outside. 0n beams, there is a ukrainian truck parked outside. on saturday, british 21—year—old man appeared in court charged with aggravated arson, but also with two charges under the new national security act, including assisting a foreign intelligence service, a charge which the prosecution say is linked to russia. and we couldn't report that until today, when two more men appeared in court, and one of those, jake reeves, on the right, is also charged under the new act, which is brought in to tackle new threats from states like russia. the foreign office has summoned the russian ambassador, saying that it is deeply concerned about allegations of russian orchestrated malign activity on uk soil. ., ~ , on uk soil. daniel, thank you very much. on uk soil. daniel, thank you very much- daniel— on uk soil. daniel, thank you very much. daniel sandford. _ the time is 18:17. our top story this evening: buckingham palace has tonight announced that the king is to return to public—facing duties, and that doctors are pleased with his progress. and an inquest concludes that the deaths of three men murdered in a reading park in 2020 were probably avoidable. coming up on bbc news, frustrations are mounting at the world snooker championship. an easy shot missed for robert milkins, throwing his cue in his second—round match agaisnt stephen hilbert. a baby in gaza who was filmed being rescued from her dying mother's womb after an israeli air strike has died. baby sabreen al—sakani was delivered by caesarean section in a hospital in rafah, shortly after midnight on sunday. and a warning — fergal keane's report contains distressing images from the start. in this fragile form, a tiny pulse of hope. baby sabreen was the last survivor... ..of a family obliterated by an israeli airstrike. her pregnant mum was pulled from here. but minutes later, in hospital, doctors were able to rescue sabreen from her dying mother's womb. they tapped to stimulate her breathing. air was pumped into her lungs. then to an incubator, fighting for life. notice the gentleness of the doctor, as he cradles her head. relatives watched over the newborn. paternal grandmother ahalam planned to take care of the orphaned baby. translation: iwill raise her in the best way. - she's the memory of her dad. i hope that god gives her a long life. sabreen fought to live — two days ago, briefly opening her eyes. 2a hours later, her condition's still critical. baby sabreen lost her struggle. at midday yesterday, the dead child was brought home to her people. sabreen was buried alongside her mother — after whom, she was named — herfather, shukri, and three—year—old sister, malak. today, her uncle rami prayed at sabreen's grave. 0verhead, an israeli drone. the loss that changed everything for this family changes nothing in the war. translation: this girl left a mark on everyone's heart. _ she moved the whole world. to me, sabreen was the living legacy of my brother, the only survivor of the massacre. she was my soul. this is why i call her my soul. sabreen al—sheikh, of rafah, gaza, lived for five days. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. a coroner has set out a series of failings by the authorities in the way they dealt with a libyan man who went on to murder three people in a park in reading, injune 2020. the deaths of james furlong, dr david wails and joseph ritchie—bennett at the hands of khairi saadallah were "probably avoidable", judge coroner sir adrian fulford said. our home affairs correspondent june kelly is outside the old bailey and can tell us more. well, thejudge coroner well, the judge coroner sir adrian fulford asked the question at the start of the day, where these deaths are preventable? at the end of the day, he said, yes, they were avoidable. firstly, the lack of mental health provision for the killer, khairi saadallah. he said there was nojoint killer, khairi saadallah. he said there was no joint approach, this was a young man going in and out of prison, there was no continuity in his treatment. he also said there was a lack of intelligence sharing which meant that saadallah had been released from prison before the attacks when he should have been inside. forthe attacks when he should have been inside. for the families of the three victims, a very hard, very long day for them. but this is what they wanted to hear, they wanted robust conclusions from the coroner. the coroner also said he did not believe the security service m15 could have prevented the attack. they had said there was no evidence saadallah was involved in attack planning, although he was known for his extremist views. this young man came to the uk as an asylum seeker in 2012, he had been in and out of prison since his arrival. from violent crimes. and he was known to consort with extremists. the judge coroner has also come up with a series of recommendations and their families want those recommendations acted upon. families want those recommendations acted uon. , . ., ~ families want those recommendations acted uon. , . . ~' june kelly. next week, voters in parts of england and wales will have the chance to go to the polls in local elections to select thousands of local councillors, dozens of police and crime comissioners, and 11 mayors — who manage the local budget in some of the largest cities and metropolitan areas, and are responsible for issues including public transport and local housing. three of the biggest mayoral constituencies are london, greater manchester and the tees valley. tonight, we're speaking to our political reporters in all three, to find out what's at stake for voters. in a moment, we will be speaking to kevin fitzpatrick, in greater manchester, and luke walton, in the tees valley. but first, to susana mendoza, who's in london for us. crime, the cost of living and the charges faced by drivers have dominated the election campaign here in london. the labour candidate sadiq khan is vying for a third term as mayor of london and he says if he is re—elected, he will extend free school meals to older primary school pupils for another four years. the conservative candidate susan hall has said she would scrap the ultra low emission zone expansion on day one if she becomes mayor, that is where people using more polluting vehicles have to pay to drive around london. she has also been putting pressure on sadiq khan around pay—per—mile, suggesting he might go down that route. he has categorically ruled that out. green party candidate zoe garbutt said she would consult on that idea. crime is another big issue in london, we have seen a rise in knife crime, there are also issues around trust in the police. the liberal democrat candidate rob blackie has said he would fix the metropolitan police and all the candidates are talking about putting more officers on the streets. there are 13 candidates in london. whoever wins will have a £201; london. whoever wins will have a £20.4 billion budget to spend on everything from policing to transport to housing to the environment.— transport to housing to the environment. , , environment. this is the third time residents of _ environment. this is the third time residents of these _ environment. this is the third time residents of these ten _ environment. this is the third time residents of these ten boroughs i environment. this is the third time i residents of these ten boroughs have had the _ residents of these ten boroughs have had the chance to elect a mayor, it has been _ had the chance to elect a mayor, it has been labour's andy burnham so far and _ has been labour's andy burnham so far and he _ has been labour's andy burnham so far and he is— has been labour's andy burnham so farand he is keen to has been labour's andy burnham so far and he is keen to carry on. last time, _ far and he is keen to carry on. last time, he _ far and he is keen to carry on. last time, he got — far and he is keen to carry on. last time, he got 67% of the vote, the conservatives got 20% and everyone else was _ conservatives got 20% and everyone else was quite behind. his opponents have been_ else was quite behind. his opponents have been attacking him particularly over his _ have been attacking him particularly over his -- — have been attacking him particularly over his —— his record of handling greater_ over his —— his record of handling greater manchester police, the force has gone _ greater manchester police, the force has gone into special measures on his watch, — has gone into special measures on his watch, but it is out now and improving _ his watch, but it is out now and improving. the other candidates are also questioning the viability of his flagship policy to take the bus network_ his flagship policy to take the bus network back under public control for the _ network back under public control for the first time in 40 years. he is the _ for the first time in 40 years. he is the first— for the first time in 40 years. he is the first mayor to do that and says— is the first mayor to do that and says it — is the first mayor to do that and says it is — is the first mayor to do that and says it is crucial to creating the kind _ says it is crucial to creating the kind of— says it is crucial to creating the kind of integrated public transport system _ kind of integrated public transport system that has benefited london over the _ system that has benefited london over the years. they want the trains as welt _ over the years. they want the trains as welt the — over the years. they want the trains as well. the other issues, homelessness, housing, how newly devolved— homelessness, housing, how newly devolved powers over technical education could be used to benefit young _ education could be used to benefit young people. and also a question of how to _ young people. and also a question of how to support the struggling towns around _ how to support the struggling towns around manchester. to help them thrive _ around manchester. to help them thrive in _ around manchester. to help them thrive in a — around manchester. to help them thrive in a way this city centre appears — thrive in a way this city centre appears to— thrive in a way this city centre appears to be doing. in the tees valley, the contest has been _ in the tees valley, the contest has been hard—fought _ in the tees valley, the contest has been hard—fought and _ in the tees valley, the contest has been hard—fought and in _ in the tees valley, the contest has been hard—fought and in the - been hard—fought and in the spotlight _ been hard—fought and in the spotlight because _ been hard—fought and in the spotlight because the - been hard—fought and in the l spotlight because the current conservative _ spotlight because the current conservative mayor— spotlight because the current conservative mayor ben - spotlight because the current - conservative mayor ben houchen has become _ conservative mayor ben houchen has become a _ conservative mayor ben houchen has become a poster— conservative mayor ben houchen has become a poster boy— conservative mayor ben houchen has become a poster boy for— conservative mayor ben houchen has become a poster boy for his - conservative mayor ben houchen has become a poster boy for his county. i a symbol of the tories' demolition of labour's red walll in previous elections. in 2021, he took a whopping 73% of the vote. _ this time, though, the contest is expected to be a lot closer. i a recent opinion poll put- lord houchen and his labour rival, chris mcewan, neck and neck. the lib dem simon thorley is also standing. _ the future of the high street some of the _ the future of the high street some of the issues, _ the future of the high street some of the issues, there _ the future of the high street some of the issues, there are _ the future of the high street some of the issues, there are lots - the future of the high street some of the issues, there are lots of- of the issues, there are lots of empty— of the issues, there are lots of empty shops _ of the issues, there are lots of empty shops out _ of the issues, there are lots of empty shops out there. - of the issues, there are lots of empty shops out there. child i of the issues, there are lots of- empty shops out there. child poverty is also _ empty shops out there. child poverty is also a _ empty shops out there. child poverty is also a huge — empty shops out there. child poverty is also a huge issue. _ empty shops out there. child poverty is also a huge issue. the _ empty shops out there. child poverty is also a huge issue. the region- empty shops out there. child poverty is also a huge issue. the region has. is also a huge issue. the region has some _ is also a huge issue. the region has some of— is also a huge issue. the region has some of the — is also a huge issue. the region has some of the highest _ is also a huge issue. the region has some of the highest rates— is also a huge issue. the region has some of the highest rates in- is also a huge issue. the region has some of the highest rates in the - some of the highest rates in the country — some of the highest rates in the country but _ some of the highest rates in the country. but perhaps _ some of the highest rates in the country. but perhaps the - some of the highest rates in the| country. but perhaps the biggest controversy— country. but perhaps the biggest controversy in _ country. but perhaps the biggest controversy in this _ country. but perhaps the biggest controversy in this election - country. but perhaps the biggest controversy in this election has i controversy in this election has been _ controversy in this election has been the — controversy in this election has been the teesworks _ controversy in this election has i been the teesworks regeneration scheme, — been the teesworks regeneration scheme, a — been the teesworks regeneration scheme, a public— been the teesworks regeneration scheme, a public private - been the teesworks regeneration i scheme, a public private partnership launched _ scheme, a public private partnership launched by— scheme, a public private partnership launched by the _ scheme, a public private partnership launched by the mayor— scheme, a public private partnership launched by the mayor a _ scheme, a public private partnership launched by the mayor a few- scheme, a public private partnership launched by the mayor a few years i launched by the mayor a few years a-o. launched by the mayor a few years ago now. — launched by the mayor a few years ago now. there— launched by the mayor a few years ago. now, there have _ launched by the mayor a few years ago. now, there have been- launched by the mayor a few years i ago. now, there have been questions about— ago. now, there have been questions about the _ ago. now, there have been questions about the financial— ago. now, there have been questions about the financial involvement - ago. now, there have been questions about the financial involvement of. about the financial involvement of two local— about the financial involvement of two local businessmen _ about the financial involvement of two local businessmen in - about the financial involvement of two local businessmen in that - about the financial involvement of - two local businessmen in that scheme and an— two local businessmen in that scheme and an independent— two local businessmen in that scheme and an independent review— two local businessmen in that scheme and an independent review found - two local businessmen in that scheme and an independent review found no. and an independent review found no evidence _ and an independent review found no evidence of— and an independent review found no evidence of corruption _ and an independent review found no evidence of corruption or _ evidence of corruption or wrongdoing _ evidence of corruption or wrongdoing. but - evidence of corruption or wrongdoing. but it- evidence of corruption or wrongdoing. but it did i evidence of corruption or i wrongdoing. but it did criticise evidence of corruption or - wrongdoing. but it did criticise a lack of— wrongdoing. but it did criticise a lack of transparency. _ wrongdoing. but it did criticise a lack of transparency. lord - wrongdoing. but it did criticise a i lack of transparency. lord houchen says the _ lack of transparency. lord houchen says the scheme _ lack of transparency. lord houchen says the scheme has _ lack of transparency. lord houchen says the scheme has created - says the scheme has created thousands _ says the scheme has created thousands of— says the scheme has created thousands ofjobs, _ says the scheme has created thousands ofjobs, but - says the scheme has created l thousands ofjobs, but labour says the scheme has created - thousands ofjobs, but labour want a deeper— thousands ofjobs, but labour want a deeper investigation. _ thousands ofjobs, but labour want a deeper investigation. either- thousands ofjobs, but labour want a deeper investigation. either way, i deeper investigation. either way, the tories — deeper investigation. either way, the tories face _ deeper investigation. either way, the tories face a _ deeper investigation. either way, the tories face a tough _ deeper investigation. either way, the tories face a tough fight i deeper investigation. either way, the tories face a tough fight here on deeside _ the tories face a tough fight here on deeside-_ the tories face a tough fight here on deeside. . ,., . .., on deeside. thanks so much, luca, kevin and susannah. _ on deeside. thanks so much, luca, kevin and susannah. -- _ on deeside. thanks so much, luca, kevin and susannah. -- teesside. i you can see a list of all candidates standing in next week's elections in your area on the bbc news website and app. type in your postcode to find your local information. manchester's new co—op live arena has postponed its opening until may, because it's still not ready. the venue, which is the uk's biggest indoor arena, had already delayed comedian peter kay's opening shows, which were due to take place earlier this week. the venue said it needed more time to test emergency communication systems. peter kay said the delay was "very disappointing". a woman who lost herjob in lockdown and decided to focus on running to keep her busy has just been chosen to represent team gb in the marathon at this summer's 0lympics. rose harvey, who's 31, only started running for fun after leaving university and discovered, to her surprise, she was rather good. sophie raworth has been talking to her. rose harvey only started running ten years ago, when she moved to london and joined a running club to get fit and meet people. keep pushing, keep pushing. well done, rose. she never imagined it would lead her to the olympics. i still cannot believe it. i am absolutely buzzing with excitement. itjust feels like two minutes ago that i was still working full—time as a lawyer and just running forfun. i mean, the last 0lympics, i wasn't even fast enough to make the trial. for years, rose was a good club runner, completing the london marathon in three hours, but it was lockdown that changed everything. i was made redundant from myjob and i had three months basically at home, and i needed a lockdown product, so that's how i started training seriously. and if i hadn't have had that forced upon me, i wouldn't be heading to paris. project lockdown worked. rose suddenly found herself on elite start lines. go on, rosie! go on, girl! come on, push it! push it! but it was in chicago last autumn that she ran her fastest ever marathon — in 2 hours and 23 minutes — cheered on by herfiance, charlie. so good! come on, bring on olympic qualifying time! _ there must be so many people out there with talents that are just undiscovered, and perhaps they haven't... they haven't fully realised their potential yet. just take the plunge with whatever is fun, whatever you love doing, and just see where you can go with it, because you never know where it might take you. how fantastic! rose harvey, the lockdown runner, who's off to the olympics. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. a nice feel good story. it has been a struggle to keep up morale with the weather this week and i think it will still be a struggle over the weekend. it will remain fairly chilly. some rain at times, not all the time. next week, it is set to turn warmer. but not necessarily completely dry. but for the weekend, this is the weather make a come of this is the weather make a come of this area of low pressure driving its way northwards across the uk. —— the weather maker, this area. rain across southern counties of england, south wales, getting into the midlands and east anglia overnight. north of that, skies remain largely clear and it will be another cold night, —5 in southern scotland and northern england. we will have the best of the sunshine here tomorrow, further south, that rain pushing northwards across southern england into wales, the midlands. east anglia. brighterfor