we report from the west midlands which has the most cases in england. bypass your gp and get some drugs from the chemist — we'll have the details of england's new scheme to take pressure off doctors. from tomorrow, unregistered xl bully dogs will be banned in the uk after a spate of attacks. and as dry january turns into wet february, we report on the growing numbers who've gone temporarily alcohol free. i've done the whole 31 days, so i am going to celebrate tomorrow with a drink. what have you got in mind? prosecco, always prosecco! and coming up on bbc news, telling the media that marcus rash for a disciplinary matter is case closed after missing training phone reports that he been out in belfast.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. scotland's former first minister nicola sturgeon fought back tears at the uk covid inquiry in edinburgh, admitting that at times she'd felt overwhelmed during the pandemic. she rejected claims that the decisions she made were politically motivated to try to advance the cause of independence. ms sturgeon also admitted deleting whatsapp messages from her phone. outside the inquiry — some of those bereaved during the pandemic accused nicola sturgeon of crocodile tears. our scotland editor, james cook, reports from edinburgh. in the darkest hours of the pandemic, many people in scotland turned to nicola sturgeon. now, the country has questions for her. i do solemnly... the former first minister described the early days of covid

to the inquiry in strikingly personal terms. i was the first minister when the pandemic struck. there is a large part of me that wishes i hadn't been. but i was, and i wanted to be the best first minister i could be during that period. it is for others to judge the extent to which i succeeded. faced with what she called a threat, a risk, a catastrophe, she spoke of her fear. i felt an overwhelming responsibility... ..to do the best i could. and that's. .. so the idea that in those horrendous days, weeks, i was thinking of a political opportunity, ifind... well, it just wasn't true. she made that point several times, denying playing politics with the pandemic. i have been in politics for 30 years. i have been a lifelong

campaigner for independence. i don't think in my entire life have i ever thought less about politics generally and independence in particular than i did during the course of the pandemic. ms sturgeon was also asked about this. can you guarantee to - the bereaved families that you will disclose e—mails, i whatsapps, private e—mails, if you have been using them? i think if you understand statutory public inquiries, you would know that even if i was not prepared to give that assurance, which, for the avoidance of doubt, i am, then i wouldn't have the ability. this will be a judge—led statutory public inquiry. however, now, she says, she noted key points from her whatsapps and then deleted them. i was very thorough, notjust in the pandemic but in all my work in government to ensure that things were appropriately recorded, but in line with the advice i had always been given since my first day in government, probably, was not to retain conversations like that on a phone that could be lost or stolen

and therefore not secure. but did you delete them? yes. but others have provided whatsapps. the inquiry was shown messages for october 2020 in which ms sturgeon told her chief of staff, "i'm having a bit of a crisis of decision—making in hospitality, not helped by the fact i haven't slept". after discussing the possible restrictions on pubs and restaurants in detail, ms sturgeon concludes, "it is all so random but i think we need to be prepared for a bit of a backlash". but critics, including some of those bereaved in the pandemic, want to know what was in the whatsapps which we haven't seen. so this was nicola sturgeon as we have rarely seen her before recalling her experience during the pandemic, seems to have been raw, emotional, even arguably traumatic for her today, we heard of her

regrets, regrets she said that she could perhaps have locked down this country earlier, regrets too, she said about the number of people who had died, particularly the deaths in care homes here in scotland, but there is no getting away for the former first minister from some very difficult difficult questions and particularly about the deletion of what does amount to potential evidence. we won't know, presumably whether it was evidence or not, but her critics want to know what, if anything, she was trying to hide. james, thank you. the government has published details of its deal with the democratic unionist party to bring back power—sharing to northern ireland. it will mean no routine checks on goods crossing from great britain and staying in northern ireland. the dup has boycotted stormont for almost two years in protest at trade arrangements after the uk left the eu — leaving northern ireland without a government. our political editor, chris mason, is in westminster. sophie this boils down to the

complexities of northern ireland politics colliding with the complexities of brexit, the peace process mean there's is a long—standing desire for an open border between northern ireland in the uk, and the republic of ireland in the eu. but brexit is all about different rules. about borders. and so there has been a long running row, trying to square that circle. four years ago today, the uk left the european union, brexit happened. you are looking right now at one of the flash points ever since. the brexit deal led to complications for trade within the uk, between northern ireland, and england, scotland and wales. in the last half hour, the dup leader and the northern ireland secretary have been giving the new plan the big sell. the government is committed to delivering this deal swiftly so we can build a brighterfuture for

northern ireland, within the united kingdom. it is now time for elected representatives in northern ireland to come together. this representatives in northern ireland to come together.— representatives in northern ireland to come together. this agreement is somethin: to come together. this agreement is something we _ to come together. this agreement is something we have _ to come together. this agreement is something we have worked - to come together. this agreement is something we have worked hard - to come together. this agreement is something we have worked hard to l something we have worked hard to deliver. _ something we have worked hard to deliver. for— something we have worked hard to deliver, for the people of northern ireland _ deliver, for the people of northern ireland. this is our achievement. after_ ireland. this is our achievement. after two— ireland. this is our achievement. after two years, of hard work and negotiation. so after two years, of hard work and negotiation-— after two years, of hard work and negotiation. so what is in this new lan negotiation. so what is in this new [an for negotiation. so what is in this new plan for bringing — negotiation. so what is in this new plan for bringing power-sharing i negotiation. so what is in this new. plan for bringing power-sharing back plan for bringing power—sharing back to stormont? safeguarding the union is an 80 page deluge of attempted reassurance for those who worry that brexit has diluted northern ireland's place in the uk, making trade easier is the core promise, there will be no routine checks on goods crossing from great britain to northern ireland and a guarantee northern ireland and a guarantee northern ireland and a guarantee northern ireland goods can be sold in great britain, in all circumstances. a so—called east west council will be set up, to try to bind northern ireland into uk—wide trade and cooperation. and uk law will be tweaked to emphasise that changes to

eu law that impacts northern ireland can be scrutinised and voted on by stormont. earlier mps debated the plan and look at this, labour has worked with the government on it and is full of praise for ministers. i the government on it and is full of praise for ministers.— praise for ministers. i would like to thank the _ praise for ministers. i would like to thank the secretary _ praise for ministers. i would like to thank the secretary of - praise for ministers. i would like to thank the secretary of state l praise for ministers. i would like i to thank the secretary of state for his tireless efforts that have brought us to this point. his is a great achievement. but brought us to this point. his is a great achievement.— great achievement. but not all democratic — great achievement. but not all democratic unionists - great achievement. but not all democratic unionists are - great achievement. but not all i democratic unionists are happy. great achievement. but not all - democratic unionists are happy. in northern ireland there are still eu manned border posts being built, which will create a border within our own country. this is a result of this spineless weak kneed brexit betraying government refusing to take on the eu and its interference in northern ireland. find take on the eu and its interference in northern ireland.— in northern ireland. and some conservative _ in northern ireland. and some conservative mps _ in northern ireland. and some conservative mps still - in northern ireland. and some conservative mps still have . in northern ireland. and some - conservative mps still have concerns too. , . ., . ., too. there will be much to welcome in the papers _ too. there will be much to welcome in the papers published _ too. there will be much to welcome in the papers published today, - too. there will be much to welcome in the papers published today, and| in the papers published today, and we will need to scrutinise them carefully in the 30 or so hours

before we are going to be asked to vote on them. we know they don't contain a removal of northern ireland from the single market legislation. ireland from the single market legislation-— ireland from the single market legislation. ireland from the single market leaislation. ,, ., ., ., legislation. sinn fein who want to see a united _ legislation. sinn fein who want to see a united ireland _ legislation. sinn fein who want to see a united ireland don't - legislation. sinn fein who want to see a united ireland don't take i see a united ireland don't take their seats here but fellow nationalists do and look forward to a sinn fein first minister. this nationalists do and look forward to a sinn fein first minister.- a sinn fein first minister. this is a sinn fein first minister. this is a very good _ a sinn fein first minister. this is a very good day _ a sinn fein first minister. this is a very good day for— a sinn fein first minister. this is a very good day for the - a sinn fein first minister. this is a very good day for the people i a sinn fein first minister. this is| a very good day for the people of northern ireland, i am very glad to see it. i think we are about to see something significant. we will have the first nationalist first minister, the first ever nationalist leader of the opposition and i wish them all well. find leader of the opposition and i wish them all well.— leader of the opposition and i wish them all well. and yes, within days, devolution could _ them all well. and yes, within days, devolution could return _ them all well. and yes, within days, devolution could return to _ them all well. and yes, within days, devolution could return to northern | devolution could return to northern ireland. power decision making scrutiny happening at stormont again. there will be more debate and those changes in the law happening here at westminster tomorrow. and one more thing, one thing is certain you know in all of this, because northern ireland has a very particular relationship with the eu, after

brexit, a closer one than the rest of the uk, then ongoing discussions, arguments, conversations and debates about that are guaranteed with or without devolution. chris mason, our political editor, thank, you. the number of confirmed cases of measles in the west midlands has doubled within three weeks, according to the latest figures. the region is experiencing its worst outbreak of the disease in three decades — and it accounts for three quarters of all confirmed cases in england during this latest outbreak. phil mackie has been speaking to one couple about how measles affected their son. this is how measles can affect a little child. ezra barrett is just four months old. you 0k? he coughs. this was him three weeks' ago.

he probably caught measles during a trip to a soft play area. he was so young, he hadn't been vaccinated. he spent six days in hospital. his parents said he looked like an octopus, with all the wires coming out of him. his temperature was up all the time. he just wasn't himself, he was crying a lot. wasn't feeding, temperature was high. obviously looked very ill because of his skin. quite scared, really, because, you know, with him being so young, and we were just worried that, you know, was he strong enough to kind of fight it off? thankfully, ezra's fine now. like most people who get measles, he has made a good recovery. efforts are being made to persuade vulnerable groups to get protected. the outbreak is worse in birmingham, where the vaccination rate for under fives is just 75%. ideally it should be over 95. in most parts of england there have been a handful of cases. there has been a small outbreak in yorkshire, a slightly bigger one in london, but by far the biggest is in the west midlands, where 75% of all confirmed

cases have been. so these two are a really good example of why the vaccine is important. ezra was too young to have the firstjab, he caught measles and was very well. noah, being a little bit older, had had the firstjab. even though measles is incredibly infectious, he didn't get it. it's why their parents want to share what happened. we want other people to, you know, understand that this is kind of a growing thing, especially in the west midlands, where it's at its highest, and we just want parents to take it seriously, because it's notjust affecting your child, you could affect other families. just trying to get your children vaccinated if it is possible, just because when children are together it is so contagious. although measles can lead to serious complications, ezra is back to being a happy smiling baby. phil mackie, bbc news. from tomorrow unregistered xl bully dogs will be banned in england and wales.

the government says the breed has been "disproportionately involved" in fatal attacks. owners had until midday today to apply for an exemption certificate. latest figures show 35,000 dogs have been registered so far. but the animal charity the rspca believes there could be thousands more of the breed in the community. jim connolly has the story: the fearsome face of the ban. an xl bully type dog which had just attacked someone. it was put down soon after we filmed it. i an all—too—familiar news story in recent years. the government says it decided to ban xl bullies after 23 people were killed in three years in dog attacks. good boy. that's meant a lot of worry for xl owners like ellie. it doesn't matter what other people think of him. iknow him. i know he won't hurt anybody and i know he's the softest thing.

his best friends a little dachshund dog. really? he wouldn't hurt anybody. she clearly adores frankie and is sad people see him as a threat, but there's a reason people are worried when they come across dogs like him. elaine's pet rox was mauled by five dogs, including two xls. he had punctured lungs, he had broken ribs. and he had a lot of cuts, a whole lot of cuts. in all fairness, the guy was trying to get his dogs off rox, but there was no way. his dogs actually bit chunks out of him. i was screaming at them, "your dogs are killing my dog!" i was petrified of them dogs. it's the worst thing i've ever had to go through in my life. this ban doesn't mean these types of dogs won't be in our communities. the government says 35,000 owners have exempted their xls, but the rspca, which opposes the ban, questions the government's figures. we did some estimates amongst our own sector and we heard

vetting professionals suggesting that there are around 40,000—50,000 xl bullies in the community and others were suggesting an upwards figure of 100,000. exempted dogs will be microchipped, neutered and specially insured, and they must be muzzled and on a lead out of their homes. the deadline to get certification has now passed, so if an owner hasn't registered their dog, it could be destroyed and they could face an unlimited fine. scotland is planning similar restrictions. a decision on whether to ban the dogs in northern ireland is expected shortly. for ellie, it's been a difficult few months. when i first put his muzzle on him, he cried and i cried, because it's cruel having to put something on a dog that hasn't done anything wrong. don't put the ban on the dogs. ban the owners. if you aren't willing to get the training for the dog, then you shouldn't have that dog. i'm getting emotional. i'm sorry. it's all right. it's just unfair. jim connolly, bbc

news, featherstone. the time is 18.16. our top story this evening. scotland's former first minister breaks down as she's questioned over her response to the covid pandemic. and still to come. find out why elon musk has been told he's not getting a multi—billion pound pay day. coming up on bbc news, two of the top three in the premier league play tonight and leaders liverpool listing chelsea and a preview of the efl cup final on manchester city have against burnley. have erling haaland back against burnley. around 20,000 children in gaza have lost one or both parents since the conflict began. aid workers in the region say they're increasingly concerned for many youngsters who have no surviving family members. this report from our middle east correspondent yolande knell contains some stories and images

you may find distressing. born amid the horrors of gaza's war. she's never known a parent's hug. she was delivered by c—section after her mother hanna was crushed in an israeli air strike. she died before she could name her baby. translation: we have lost connection with her relatives, nobody came. i her mother was killed and we don't know what happened to her father. over three months of relentless israeli bombardments haven't spared the youngest gaza ns. israel says it tries to avoid hurting civilians... ..but more than 11,000 children have reportedly been killed. many more have seen their families wrenched away. "the bomb fell on my mum's lap," abid says. "it took us days to take all her body parts from the rubble of the house."

by the sandy graves of some of their relatives in a school turned shelter, the cousins of the hussein family sit together in trauma and grief. each has lost one or both parents. every day is hard. "it is not nice. there is no water, food or drink." says kinza. "everything is sad." all gazans now strive to find safety, and rely on aid hand outs for the basics of life. the un's children's agency says its biggest concern is for an estimated 19,000 children who are orphaned, or have ended up alone, with no adults to look after them. for the youngest one, they very often cannot even say their name. they — and even the older one, they are usually in shock. when the extended family can be found, they also have their own children, so sometimes it is difficult,

if not impossible, for them to take care of those unaccompanied and separated children. with their lives shattered, unicef says nearly all of gaza's children need mental health support. and even when the war is over, many will be left with terrible losses that they will struggle to overcome. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. if you struggle to get an appointment at your gp in england, you can now head straight to the chemist. from today, the pharmacy first scheme means you can get treatment for a number of conditions from ear ache to cystitis, without having to see a doctor first. here's our health editor hugh pym. open for more services. he batted last week- — open for more services. he batted last week- high — open for more services. he batted last week. high street _ open for more services. he batted last week. high street in _ open for more services. he batted last week. high street in england | last week. high street in england can help patients _ last week. high street in england can help patients like _ last week. high street in england can help patients like duncan. i last week. high street in england| can help patients like duncan. my can help patients like duncan. ij�*i two—year—old can help patients like duncan. m two—year—old has can help patients like duncan. m1: two—year—old has spots

can help patients like duncan. m1 two—year—old has spots around his face and the nhs website suggested going to the dv but is it is hard to get a gp appointment.— going to the dv but is it is hard to get a gp appointment. patients can now come straight _ get a gp appointment. patients can now come straight to _ get a gp appointment. patients can now come straight to the _ get a gp appointment. patients can now come straight to the pharmacy| get a gp appointment. patients can i now come straight to the pharmacy if they have one of seven conditions. you can actually get the treatment which _ you can actually get the treatment which would be a scribe for impetigo, you can get it from the pharmacv — impetigo, you can get it from the harma . �* . impetigo, you can get it from the pharmacy-— impetigo, you can get it from the harma . . ., , ., ., pharmacy. after a consultation, the -harmacist pharmacy. after a consultation, the pharmacist sorts _ pharmacy. after a consultation, the pharmacist sorts out _ pharmacy. after a consultation, the pharmacist sorts out duncan's i pharmacist sorts out duncan's description and his mum has been saved a wait for a gp appointment. it is like, less than an hour from when we came in on the way home from school so really good. having a service like this will benefit a lot of people. d0 service like this will benefit a lot of --eole. service like this will benefit a lot of people-_ for. service like this will benefit a lot i of people._ for ade, who of people. do you mind? for ade, who has been trialling _ of people. do you mind? for ade, who has been trialling the _ of people. do you mind? for ade, who has been trialling the new— of people. do you mind? for ade, who has been trialling the new scheme, i has been trialling the new scheme, it is more job satisfaction. has been trialling the new scheme, it is morejob satisfaction. £31 it is more “ob satisfaction. of course, it is more job satisfaction. of course, at different points we would feel frustrated for the patients that we — feel frustrated for the patients that we can't do more and of course, all pharmacists live with that and i think— all pharmacists live with that and i think any— all pharmacists live with that and i think any opportunity to do more for them actually means that not only are there — them actually means that not only are there better but the whole nhs system _ are there better but the whole nhs system becomes more stable. it looks

like dry skin- — system becomes more stable. it looks like dry skin. for— system becomes more stable. it looks like dry skin. for this _ system becomes more stable. it looks like dry skin. for this mother, - system becomes more stable. it looks like dry skin. for this mother, just i like dry skin. for this mother, 'ust a bit of reassurance i like dry skin. for this mother, 'ust a bit of reassurance and i like dry skin. for this mother, just. a bit of reassurance and advice stop when does he suffer from eczema? when does he sufferfrom eczema? at the heart of communities, pharmacies feel they know and understand their patients. 50 feel they know and understand their atients. , ., patients. so i woke up on saturday niuht patients. so i woke up on saturday ni . ht with patients. so i woke up on saturday night with a _ patients. so i woke up on saturday night with a very — patients. so i woke up on saturday night with a very block _ patients. so i woke up on saturday night with a very block dear. i patients. so i woke up on saturday night with a very block dear. the i night with a very block dear. the new conditions being treated include middle ear problems, sinusitis and urinary tract infections.— urinary tract infections. there is loss of hearing _ urinary tract infections. there is loss of hearing and _ urinary tract infections. there is loss of hearing and it's - urinary tract infections. there is loss of hearing and it's making i urinary tract infections. there is i loss of hearing and it's making me feel a bit dizzy. i spoke to the gp and they referred me here. but there are many challenges _ and they referred me here. but there are many challenges for _ and they referred me here. but there are many challenges for pharmacies l are many challenges for pharmacies from irritated patients? i are many challenges for pharmacies from irritated patients?— from irritated patients? i have been into ice. from irritated patients? i have been into ice- we — from irritated patients? i have been into ice. we even _ from irritated patients? i have been into ice. we even had _ from irritated patients? i have been into ice. we even had a _ from irritated patients? i have been into ice. we even had a clinic- from irritated patients? i have been into ice. we even had a clinic so i i into ice. we even had a clinic so i am sorry— into ice. we even had a clinic so i am sorry about that. to into ice. we even had a clinic so i am sorry about that.— am sorry about that. to those frustrated _ am sorry about that. to those frustrated by _ am sorry about that. to those frustrated by medicine - am sorry about that. to those i frustrated by medicine shortages. there are very few things that make patients— there are very few things that make patients cry — there are very few things that make patients cry in a pharmacy apart from _ patients cry in a pharmacy apart from sometimes the anxiety of their health— from sometimes the anxiety of their health but— from sometimes the anxiety of their health but in the past but now, also the anxiety— health but in the past but now, also the anxiety and sometimes even the relief— the anxiety and sometimes even the relief of— the anxiety and sometimes even the relief of finding medication and that is— relief of finding medication and that is heartbreaking. pharmacies are already _ that is heartbreaking. pharmacies are already working _ that is heartbreaking. pharmacies are already working flat _ that is heartbreaking. pharmacies are already working flat out. i that is heartbreaking. pharmacies are already working flat out. they say funding in recent years has been

squeezed. irate say funding in recent years has been su ueezed. ~ ., say funding in recent years has been saueezed. ~ ., ., ., ., squeezed. we do vaccination on thursday. _ squeezed. we do vaccination on thursday, friday _ squeezed. we do vaccination on thursday, friday and _ squeezed. we do vaccination on thursday, friday and saturday. | squeezed. we do vaccination on i thursday, friday and saturday. they welcomed the _ thursday, friday and saturday. they welcomed the new _ thursday, friday and saturday. welcomed the new scheme thursday, friday and saturday. thig- welcomed the new scheme but thursday, friday and saturday.- welcomed the new scheme but worry demand might outstrip what they can supply. demand might outstrip what they can su -l . ., demand might outstrip what they can su .l _ ., ., demand might outstrip what they can su..l_ ., demand might outstrip what they can su--l. ., ., ,, demand might outstrip what they can su--l. ., ,, ., demand might outstrip what they can supply-— hughi supply. how do you spell that? hugh . m, supply. how do you spell that? hugh ' m, bbc supply. how do you spell that? hugh pym. bbc news. _ supply. how do you spell that? hugh pym, bbc news, bristol. _ he has been in power since 1999 — either as president or prime minister of russia. today vladimir putin launched his presidential re—election campaign, in front of an audience of sports stars, musicians, tv personalities and even a cosmonaut. the 71—year—old's victory is widely seen as a foregone conclusion, even though he's not running unopposed. our russia editor steve rosenberg was at the event in moscow. applause. for vladimir putin, a standing ovation was all but guaranteed from an audience packed with supporters who want him re—elected russia's president. we were allowed in to watch the campaign event. mr putin used the occasion to claim that it was a us—made missile that had shot down the russian military transport plane last

week in southern russia. translation: the ukrainian authorities had mentioned i that they want an international investigation into this. that is what we are asking for, and we insist that an international investigation is carried out. but there are no international organisations willing to do this. there were pop stars and cosmonauts. vips for vladimir. their chance to praise putin. he is extraordinary leader. extraordinary. and an opportunity to attack the west. stop picking on us. trying to... ..trying to dissolve russia, trying to destroy russia. isee... the west is not trying to destroy russia, and the west did not invade ukraine, it was russia that took

the decision to attack ukraine. the west doesn't want bad relations with russia. you are so old, and so naive, or you're lying. i suspect that the idea behind all of this, and all this celebrity support, is to show us that candidate putin is in a league of his own. premier league putin. keep in mind, he runs the league. this is his political system. his rules of the game. vladimir putin's most vocal critics have long been relegated. they are either in exile or in prison. he isn't the only candidate in this election, but it is widely believed it's the kremlin who decides who can run, and who can't. little wonder, then, that a putin landslide seems all but inevitable. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the demolition has begun of a spa block that was built without planning permission at the home of the daughter of captain sir tom moore. workers have removed roof tiles at the property in bedfordshire.

hannah ingram—moore lost an appeal against an order to remove the building, after a hearing in october. how much is too much? ajudge in the united states has ruled that the tech billionaire elon musk was overpaid in 2018 by his electric car company, tesla. his pay package was worth just under $56 billion, which thejudge said was an unfathomable sum. our business editor simonjack is here. it's the largest pay deal in history. in 2018, tesla founder elon musk was awarded share options that gave him the right to buy 300 million shares in the company at a knock—down price. if the share price rocketed, those rights would soar in value to as much as $55 billion. and it did — this is what happened to the value of tesla shares in the years after 2018. but this mega pay—day prompted some noise from this man, richard tornetta.

a former heavy metal drummer, who owned just nine tesla shares, he challenged the deal in a court in the state of delaware where tesla is legally registered. he argued it was unfair to other shareholders, well beyond what was needed to incentivise mr musk and granted by directors in awe of him. the delaware judge agreed and struck it out. prompting elon musk to write this on x, formerly twitter... by the way, he also owns x, having bought it with the proceeds of selling billions in tesla shares. he now owns 13% of tesla, down from over 20% and short of the 25% he would like to feel in control of the company. the decision can be appealed once legal fees so far have been settled. the biggest pay row in history may have further to run. sophie. simon, thank you. dry january is almost over.

if you're one of a growing number of drinkers who's been taking part, you can finally have a drink tomorrow. unless that is you've been converted like many others to alcohol free drinks. danjohnson has been investigating the trend. 7 are you ready. yes! _ fantastic. if you found dry january an endurance test... these keys will unlock your escape door. try the challenge at this bristol escape room. push open the door! a different kind of lock—in. who is trying dryjanuary? and who doesn't drink anyway? these work colleagues are bonding but not drinking. idid it. you did it? i have done the whole 31 days, so i am going to celebrate tomorrow with a drink. what have you got in mind? prosecco, always prosecco. cut the alcohol out, maybe lose a bit of weight with it because it is quite... but i haven't seen any difference there at all! this is my fifth dryjanuary. ijust woke up one morning and said, that's it, no more, _

and i haven't had a drop since. i see a lot of people with problems with alcoholism so to me, i think it is a brilliant idea, if people can do it and stick to it because it is hard to do, isn't it? personally, i have had more of a dampjanuary but if you have seen it through, well done, not long to go now. but it has meant many pubs have been pretty quiet. clear head, is that a promise? it is a promise, it will guarantee you a clear head. but there is hope, as more of us choose low and zero alcohol options, sales are up. about double the amount of pints in january compared to 2023. so it looks like the real thing, tastes like the real thing? tastes like the real thing. brewed with more effort and more time than any other beer we make. we beat the others! so finally, freedom. i am never doing that again, never, ever. i it is easier to do it as a group, you know, if you have got people who want to give up as well,

then you can kind of do it as a team. it has been a long month, yeah! it is easier when you have got someone to do it with, i think. but you are not carrying on? no, no, definitely not! that would be silly! danjohnson, bbc news, bristol. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. hello, not a dry into january across the north of the uk, we have seen some heavy rain but also really strong winds, gusts of close to 80 mph in shetland but if you think that wind sounds strong, spare a thought for the faroe islands. you can see satellite picture, this hook of cloud which has been named by the norwegian weather service but in the faroe islands today, it gave gusts of more than 120 mph, some measurements suggest we may have seen gusts of more than 150 mph in the faroe islands. thankfully, the wins have not been that strong and they are going to ease as we go through the night here. a band of rain pushing southwards across england and wales, some wintry

showers pushing into western scotland and temperatures close to freezing so a frost for some as we start tomorrow not a bad —looking day. we will see some spells of sunshine. it will turn hazy as we see more high cloud streaming in from the west. some thicker cloud into northern ireland, northern england and scotland. some rain getting into the north—west of scotland through the afternoon. it will be windy but not as windy as it has been today. highs of eight, nine or ten. the rain in north—west scotland comes courtesy of this warm front, as that pushes its way north—eastwards on thursday night into friday, it will leave us in this wedge of very mild air. moist air as well, this wedge of very mild air. moist airas well, pushing in this wedge of very mild air. moist air as well, pushing in from the south—west. that means a loss of cloud for friday. not much in the way of sunshine, the best chance of that to the east of high ground although the wind here will be pretty gusty. some rain at times, out towards the west but have a look at the temperatures. it is early february by this stage, 12—14 degrees, well above the average for the time of year. we stick with the

mild weather through the weekend,