but scientists say urgent action to cut carbon emissions can still slow warming. here in westminster, sir keir starmer is about to announce that labour are backtracking on a flagship climate pledge. an army veteran is to be charged with murder in connection with a killing during the conflict in northern ireland more than 50 years ago. a volcano in iceland erupts for the third time since december. how are you doing, you 0k? they've all gone very quiet. and england captain harry kane's new mission to get young people thinking about their mental health. and coming up on bbc news — we'll hear more about jesse lingard's move to fc seoul in korea, where he says he wants a different challenge and to create new memories.

good afternoon and welcome to the bbc�*s news at one. we ve got more evidence of how our world is warming today, according to data from the eu s climate monitoring service, copernicus. for the first time, global average temperatures have been more than 1.5 degrees above pre—industrial levels for a full 12—month period. last summer the uk had the hottestjune on record, with the average monthly temperature reaching 15.8 degrees celsius. global warming was the main driver behind the amazon rainforest experiencing its worst drought on record in 2023, killing wildlife and leaving many villages unreachable by river. meanwhile, in east africa, kenya, as well as neighbouring somalia and ethiopia, experienced their worst flooding in recent history. we're joined now by our climate editor, justin rowlatt,

who's in cardiff. this doesn t mean the paris commitment has been breached, does it? that's right. the paris commitment is a long—term average, what today's figures are showing us is just how close to that 1.5 boundary we are already getting. look at this graph, it shows how temperatures have risen since 1940, and we are expecting 2024, this year, to be even hotter than 2023, which was itself the warmest year ever recorded. when you dig down into the figures, you get a sense ofjust how exceptional local temperatures have been. as you said, the last eight months to january have all been the warmest month on record. seasurface temperatures have been even more extreme, every single day since late april last year has set a new record. in fact in the past week or so we have had the highest sea surface temperatures ever recorded. and actually you would expect them normally to peak

in late march, so we are expecting temperatures to continue to rise at least until then. so, why are we seeing these exceptionally high temperatures? the main driver is the huge amount of greenhouse gases that all human activities produce, but temperatures got an extra philips this year from el temperatures got an extra philips this yearfrom el nino, that temperatures got an extra philips this year from el nino, that is a recurring weather event that drives up recurring weather event that drives up sea temperatures in the ocean. why is the 1.5 degrees boundary so significant? why is the 1.5 degrees boundary so siunificant? . , ., ., , why is the 1.5 degrees boundary so siunificant? . , . ., , significant? that is a really good cuestion, significant? that is a really good question. it _ significant? that is a really good question, it is _ significant? that is a really good question, it is because - significant? that is a really good question, it is because the - significant? that is a really good question, it is because the risk. significant? that is a really good | question, it is because the risk of the effects of global warming become more pronounced with each increment in temperature rise and a landmark study back in 2018 made that crystal clear, it showed the impact of climate change would be significantly more severe at 2 degrees than at 1.5 degrees celsius, and it is that increase in risk which explains why there is so much emphasis on the 1.5 degrees celsius boundary. what does that mean in terms of the weather? well, you touched on some of that earlier in our report today. we had that really

hot summer in the uk, the hottest june on record, similarly, there was the exceptional drought in the amazon region, that was attributed in a study to climate change, as were the floods that hit kenya and neighbouring somalia and ethiopia, terrible floods that hit in the autumn of last year.- terrible floods that hit in the autumn of last year. justin rowlatt, thank ou autumn of last year. justin rowlatt, thank you very _ autumn of last year. justin rowlatt, thank you very much _ autumn of last year. justin rowlatt, thank you very much indeed. - labour is to announce later that it will no longer spend £28 billion a year on environmental projects if it wins the general election. the party made the pledge two—and—a—half years ago but is now expected to say it's making the change because the economic outlook is different. 0ur political correspondent peter saull has this report. rachel! applause and cheering. this was the labour conference of 2021. back then, the party was trailing in the polls. so, step forward the shadow chancellor with a policy to grab the headlines.

i can announce today labour's climate investment pledge. an additional £28 billion of capital investment in our country's green transition for each and every year of this decade. applause. it became a central plank of labour's offer, with the money earmarked to bring about a green industrial revolution. but last summer the spending promise was watered down with rachel reeves saying that they wouldn't spend £28 billion a year immediately. and that officially has been the policy ever since. for months, though, senior figures have been far from consistent in their messaging. they've been stressing that their number one priority is the nation's finances and they won't spend what they can't afford. this afternoon, though, this slow motion u—turn will finally be complete when the £28 billion figure is dropped altogether. i think if the facts change, you have to change and adapt your policy to suit that, otherwise you're just dogmatically baking policy in, and then you try to drive it through, you're going to come a cropper. and when we're talking about the public finances,

you just can't play fast and loose with that. 0ne young dentist... the move is designed to blunt his attacks on labour's spending plans, but the prime minister still believes he has plenty to go on. this was the flagship plank of labour's economic policy and it now looks like he's trying to wriggle out of it. i think it demonstrates exactly what i've been saying, that he u—turns on major things, he can't say what he would do differently because he doesn't have a plan. the climbdown has also drawn criticism from within the labour party. if you make it so bland that you stand for nothing, then the opposition, the government, will actually write your policies for you and they will say, you see, labour is not telling you what they're going to do, it is going to be this, it's going to be that, and they can paint their own picture. so i think politically it's strategically incompetent. labour has made a series of green pledges, chief among them a target for 100% clean energy by the end

of the decade. the party is adamant there was promises remain in tact, but how will they pay for them, now that there is less cash available? peter saull, bbc news. live now to our chief political correspondent henry zeffman at westminster. henry, what does this mean for labour? i think one of the most interesting things about this decision by sir keir starmer is that he has taken it in the knowledge that he will now be accused of carrying out an enormous u—turn, and that is a charge to which he is already vulnerable. he has shredded multiple pledges that he made back in 2020 when he was campaigning to become labour leader. what's different about this one is that he is actually reversing a pledge that he made a year and a half into his leadership. so, why do it? well, labour will say the economic circumstances have changed a lot since the autumn of 2021, principally, the cost of borrowing,

a large part of which they blame on liz truss and how many budget. but there is also political calculation here. sir keir starmer and rachel reeves, his shadow chancellor, believed they have made real inroads with the public and getting them to trust them with the public finances, with the economy, and they fear that the conservative attacks on the £28 billion were becoming a distraction, potentially even damaging that reputation. now, there is a long—running debate which has played out under successive labour leaders over how to balance economic credibility with economic transformation. that argument is one in which sir keir starmer and rachel reeves are today definitively king a side. �* , ,, ., ~ .. side. and rishi sunak came under ressure side. and rishi sunak came under pressure yesterday _ side. and rishi sunak came under pressure yesterday to _ side. and rishi sunak came under pressure yesterday to apologise l side. and rishi sunak came under| pressure yesterday to apologise to the family of brianna ghey over his comments at pmqs over labour's transgender policy, has he apologised?— transgender policy, has he apologised? transgender policy, has he aolouised? ., .,, �* apologised? no, he hasn't, in fact he has come _ apologised? no, he hasn't, in fact he has come out _ apologised? no, he hasn't, in fact he has come out swinging - apologised? no, he hasn't, in fact he has come out swinging against| apologised? no, he hasn't, in fact. he has come out swinging against sir keir starmer. asked about it today, he has accused sir keir starmer of

trying to use the tragedy of brianna ghey�*s murder, in fact he said that he is conducting what he says is the worst of politics in doing so, that is after sir keir starmer not only cooled called on rishi sunak to apologise for his comments but said that he was using minorities, in this case transgender people, as a punchbag. at the heart of this is a family affected by an unimaginable tragedy for rishi sunak is trying to soothe relationship with them, he has reached out to the mother of reality and invited her to downing street to discuss the campaign on online safety which she is organising, we understand she is likely to accept that, so that meeting is likely to take place. henry, thank you. an army veteran is to be charged with murder in connection with a killing during the conflict in northern ireland more than 50 years ago and the attempted murder of six people. three other former soldiers will also face prosecution for attempted murder. straight now to our correspondent jennifer 0'leary in belfast. jennifer, what more can you tell us?

well, in 1972 an elite undercover unit of the army carried out round—the—clock patrols in unmarked cars of west belfast, known as the military reaction force, it was disbanded in 1973 ma four decades later, bbc panorama broadcast claims by former mrf soldiers that their unit had shot unarmed people while hunting for the ira. now, those allegations prompted a police investigation culminating in today's announcement, a charge of murder against an announcement, a charge of murder againstan army announcement, a charge of murder against an army veteran. he is alleged to have killed patrick mcveigh, who was 44, in west belfast, in may 1972. mcveigh, who was 44, in west belfast, in may1972. he mcveigh, who was 44, in west belfast, in may 1972. he is also charged with the attempted murder of six other people. jennifer, thank you very much. a volcano in iceland has erupted for the third time since december. lava is spewing from a long fissure and has reached a crucial road

that leads to the already damaged town of grindavik. we can bring you some live shots of what is happening there right now. the volcano, as we have mentioned, this is the third time that it has erupted since december and you can see the lava flowing out from the ground. 0ur europe correspondent jessica parker has this report. this is, orwas, a road into the fishing town of grindavik, but look as an unstoppable sea of molten lava swallows it up. the forces of nature meets a man—made construction. you can see for yourself who wins. jets burst out of the earth from early this morning, the fiery fountains reaching heights of 80 metres — the equivalent of roughly a 20—storey building. the british ambassador to iceland recorded a bird's eye view. unlike a famous eruption in 2010, air travel is not affected. for 800 years eruptions stopped

on the reykjanes peninsula in south—western iceland, but began again in 2021. this is now the third in just a few months. the successive earthquakes and eruptions have come at a terrible cost for the people from the nearby but abandoned town of grindavik. last month, during a separate eruption, lava flows reached the town, consuming three homes. today's fissure isn't expected to push lava southwards towards the town. defensive barriers have been built up all around the area. a geothermal plant and the blue lagoon hot spring spa are also nearby. this eruption is likely to be short—lived, but the peninsula may now be entering a new era of volcanic instability and iceland will have to adapt, because nature will do what it wants. jessica parker, bbc news. figures out today show that delays in getting treatment for cancer in england last year were the worst since modern records began.

the aim is for patients to start treatment after an urgent referral within 62 days. the target requires 85% to be seen within that time. but in 2023 it was just 64%. 0ur health editor hugh pym is here. how concerning is this? i think really very concerning and in fact macmillan street, maryam, have said to us that these figures are shocking and it puts patients in are shocking and it puts patients in a desperate situation, because this is one of the key benchmarks, you've been referred with a positive test for cancer, you want to get your treatment started, and it should happen within 62 days, two months, and on these figures that we have had last year, more than 100,000 had to wait longer than that, so that is i think very concerning for individuals and for nhs experts. it is true there was some industrial action byjunior doctors and nurses last year which may have had a bit

of an impact, and there is another measure of cancer care which is that from the moment you are referred to actually being told you have a positive test or you are given the all clear should happen within 28 days, the diagnosis, and actually nhs england says they are quite close to their target on that one. so, they are managing to get people diagnosed, but the problem is, actually, the pathway towards treatment, that is just not happening in the requisite time. and i should say, wales, scotland and northern ireland have also missed their 62 day targets for getting on for a decade now.— their 62 day targets for getting on for a decade now. hugh, thank you very much — for a decade now. hugh, thank you very much indeed. _ the time is 13.14. our top story this afternoon. global warming has exceeded 1.5 degrees celsius across an entire yearfor the first time, according to the eu's climate service. and coming up — we meet the vets in cornwall taking care of seal pups rescued from stormy weather. and on sportsdayjust after 1:30 — we'll look ahead to the biggest game in american football,

the san francisco 49ers taking on the kansas city chiefs, as the countdown continues for super bowl lviii. the uk's central registry of businesses has been hit by a new fraud, the bbc has discovered. more than 700 cloned restaurants have been set up at companies house, some of them using names very similar to those of well known chefs and chains. it's the latest example of fake company fraud, in which scammers open bank accounts, take out loans or order expensive goods. here's our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds. michelin starred chef alexis gautier has run his restaurant for 14 years, but last month someone cloned it. they created a company from scratch at companies house and what was really surprising as they managed to

put this company at the same address as my restaurant. i mean, i really worry about my suppliers, because how will they know which company is the real one?— the real one? more than 600 other cloned restaurants _ the real one? more than 600 other cloned restaurants have _ the real one? more than 600 other cloned restaurants have also - the real one? more than 600 other cloned restaurants have also been l cloned restaurants have also been registered including heston blumenthal�*s company. the fraudsters added an extra l. 0ther blumenthal�*s company. the fraudsters added an extra l. other big names have been targeted. even the ritz, established 1906, has a clone registered in 2024. the central problem, companies house doesn't have the powers to check companies are legitimate. graham barrow, who shared his data exclusively with the bbc, has become an expert in spotting the clones. for bbc, has become an expert in spotting the clones.— bbc, has become an expert in spotting the clones. for the last 20 or 30 years — spotting the clones. for the last 20 or 30 years while _ spotting the clones. for the last 20 or 30 years while there's _ spotting the clones. for the last 20 or 30 years while there's been - spotting the clones. for the last 20 or 30 years while there's been this | or 30 years while there's been this rise of identity theft and the requirement of all of us to provide our bills and our passports and i were driving licences even if you want to get a library ticket from your local council, companies house requires none of that.— requires none of that. restaurants told us they've _

requires none of that. restaurants told us they've received _ requires none of that. restaurants told us they've received letters - told us they've received letters suggesting fraudsters are setting up bank accounts online using their addresses and withdrawing the overdraft stealing from the banks. how much are they losing? i overdraft stealing from the banks. how much are they losing?- how much are they losing? i don't know in absolute _ how much are they losing? i don't know in absolute terms, - how much are they losing? i don't know in absolute terms, but - how much are they losing? i don't know in absolute terms, but i - how much are they losing? i don't know in absolute terms, but i can| know in absolute terms, but i can tell you that it's definitely millions. tell you that it's definitely millim— tell you that it's definitely millions. �* , .,~ millions. but to set up fake companies _ millions. but to set up fake companies you _ millions. but to set up fake companies you need - millions. but to set up fake companies you need fake i millions. but to set up fake - companies you need fake directors. 0ne companies you need fake directors. one of the directors has 39 fake restaurants to his name, registered at a flat just restaurants to his name, registered at a flatjust here. we are waiting for him to come home to see what he has to say. eventually we found stephen. he is a chef, he has hearing impairment and stephen. he is a chef, he has hearing impairmentand no stephen. he is a chef, he has hearing impairment and no idea why his name has been used. so this is the registration of all the companies that you are a director of at companies house will stop it’s at companies house will stop it's funn at companies house will stop it�*s funny how i'm a director. i've never been a director.— funny how i'm a director. i've never been a director. you've never been a director? never- _ been a director. you've never been a director? never. his— been a director. you've never been a director? never. his identity- been a director. you've never been a director? never. his identity has- director? never. his identity has been stolen _ director? never. his identity has been stolen by _ director? never. his identity has been stolen by the _ director? never. his identity has been stolen by the fraudsters i director? never. his identity hasl been stolen by the fraudsters and could be used for bank accounts or loans. �* ~ . ~ could be used for bank accounts or loans. �* ~' ., . , loans. i'm, like, what? where is this coming _ loans. i'm, like, what? where is this coming from? _ loans. i'm, like, what? where is this coming from? i _ loans. i'm, like, what? where is

this coming from? i don't - loans. i'm, like, what? where is this coming from? i don't knowl loans. i'm, like, what? where is. this coming from? i don't know any of these restaurants. but this coming from? i don't know any of these restaurants.— this coming from? i don't know any of these restaurants. but they know stehen of these restaurants. but they know stephen because _ of these restaurants. but they know stephen because they _ of these restaurants. but they know stephen because they are _ of these restaurants. but they know stephen because they are getting i stephen because they are getting calls for him. stephen because they are getting calls for him-— calls for him. hello, could i talk to mr stephen? _ calls for him. hello, could i talk to mr stephen? could _ calls for him. hello, could i talk to mr stephen? could i - calls for him. hello, could i talk to mr stephen? could i talk- calls for him. hello, could i talk to mr stephen? could i talk to i calls for him. hello, could i talk. to mr stephen? could i talk to mr stehen? to mr stephen? could i talk to mr stephen? could _ to mr stephen? could i talk to mr stephen? could i— to mr stephen? could i talk to mr stephen? could i speak _ to mr stephen? could i talk to mr stephen? could i speak to - to mr stephen? could i talk to mr stephen? could i speak to mr - stephen? could i speak to mr stephen? _ stephen? could i speak to mr stephen? we _ stephen? could i speak to mr stephen? we think— stephen? could i speak to mr stephen? we think these - stephen? could i speak to mr stephen? we think these are | stephen? could i speak to mr - stephen? we think these are more scammers who _ stephen? we think these are more scammers who have _ stephen? we think these are more scammers who have seen - stephen? we think these are more scammers who have seen stephen| scammers who have seen stephen registered as the companies director and are trying to get money out of him. they use your name and they've got it from here is yellow that's crazy. to be honest, that got it from here is yellow that's crazy. to be honest,— got it from here is yellow that's crazy. to be honest, that gets me really upset- _ crazy. to be honest, that gets me really upset. companies - crazy. to be honest, that gets me really upset. companies house i crazy. to be honest, that gets me i really upset. companies house said next month — really upset. companies house said next month it _ really upset. companies house said next month it will _ really upset. companies house said next month it will get _ really upset. companies house said next month it will get new - really upset. companies house said next month it will get new powers l next month it will get new powers and plans in the longer term to make company directors verify their identity. but removing a fake company from the register is a total pain even foran company from the register is a total pain even for an experienced businessman like alexis. for stephen, with 39 cloned companies, it's daunting. tom symonds, bbc news. iraq's army has said an american drone strike in baghdad last night has threatened security and stability in the region. the target was the leader of a powerful iranian—backed militia.

from baghdad, our correspondent, hugo bachega, sent this report. evening rush hour in baghdad — this was when the us chose to strike. this car was carrying three members of a top iranian backed militia, kataib hezbollah. all three were killed instantly when a us drone hit their car last night. as news spread of who was behind the explosion, people began to arrive. the protest soon became angry. america is the biggest devil, the crowd chanted. after the relative calm of the last few years in iraq, a strike in the heart of the capital is a huge escalation and brings back painful memories. this man was the main target of the strike. abu baqiral—saadi, a majorfigure in kataib hezbollah, in charge of the group's operations in syria. the pentagon said the target was a high value individual and that they were responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on us forces in the region.

the most high—profile of those attacks came two weeks ago when a drone hit a us base injordan, killing three american soldiers. the us has vowed to hit back at those responsible. iran has a wide network of allies and proxy groups across the region. they are all opposed to israel and the united states. iran calls them the axis of resistance. pro—iranian militias operate in lebanon, gaza in the west bank plus iraq and syria, and far to the south there is also the houthis in yemen. the us faces a balancing act between responding to attacks on its troops while also not widening the conflict in the region. we are in this sort of tit—for—tat world. neither the iranians nor the americans particularly want this to escalate to a major conflagration between the two, but whether it... ..and it probably won't happen, but it's very difficult to actually contain these exchanges, so at some point everybody

decides that honour is served. here in central baghdad we heard the blast echo across the city last night. to strike during rush hour is a step that surprised many. now the world is watching to see how or if the iranians will respond. hugo bachega, bbc news, baghdad. scotland's health secretary — who faced criticism for racking up an £11,000 bill on his parliamentary ipad while on holiday — has resigned. michael matheson said he was standing down because he did not want the row over the bill to become a distraction. 0ur scotland political correspondent david wallace lockhart is in edinburgh. reminds us of the story. well, many were feeling — reminds us of the story. well, many were feeling it _ reminds us of the story. well, many were feeling it was _ reminds us of the story. well, many were feeling it was a _ reminds us of the story. well, many were feeling it was a question - reminds us of the story. well, many were feeling it was a question of- were feeling it was a question of when, not if michael matheson was going to resign. last november an investigation was launched into his use of his parliamentary ipad. he said that his sons had used it without his knowledge as a hotspot to stream football games while they'd been on holiday in morocco.

today, he stood down as health secretary, saying he didn't want to be a distraction. that investigation will keep running, however. now, this isn'tjust about michael matheson. it's also about humza yousaf, because when you speak to people in the scottish government, in the snp, many felt this outcome was inevitable, that michael matheson was always going to have to resign, which begs the question why let things run on for so many months with that happening? now, attention turns to filling that they can say, of course, for health secretary. there's also a vacancy for drugs minister in scotland so there will be a reshuffle we are expecting later this afternoon.— be a reshuffle we are expecting later this afternoon. david, thank ou. in pakistan, the polls havejust closed after an election campaign marred by violence. authorities cut mobile services, citing deteriorating security. the election comes almost two years since the previous prime minister, former cricketer imran khan, was ousted in a no—confidence vote. 0ur south asia correspondent samira

hussain reports from islamabad. the moment polls opened this morning all mobile services across the country shut down, despite assurances communications would not be cut. the government said security was deteriorating, citing yesterday's twin bomb blasts in the balochistan province. but critics say it was just another attempt to stifle the electoral process. shutting off the internet today means that political parties can't share information or even get their supporters out to the polls, and with no clear indication of when mobile services may be restored it could have an impact on when and how results come out. and, finally, none of this alleviates the concerns that these elections may not be free or fair. these elections are fair, assures former prime minister nawaz sharif.

he's had the job three times before and is back on the ballot, having just returned to pakistan from self—imposed exile. last election, when imran khan won, mr sharif was in prison. this time, it is the cricket superstar turned politician that is in prison. despite his exceptional popularity he is not on the ballot, disqualified from running. members of his party continue in his absence, running as independents, barred from using the party's symbol, a cricket bat — significant, given 40% of the population is illiterate. also not on the ballot but wielding an incredible amount of influence is pakistan's military. it is widely believed winning the military�*s support almost guarantees a pathway to victory. pakistan is mired in an economic, political and security emergency. key to the country's success is a government that can rescue it from its current crisis.

samira hussain, bbc news, islamabad. after a record—breaking start to life on the pitch at bayern munich, england captain harry kane is now focusing on matters off it — with a mission to get young people thinking about their mental health. to mark children's mental health week, the england captain spoke to students at a northamptonshire school from his base in germany, about physical and mental resilience. alex howell was with harry in munich and sent this report. they're a bit nervous in here! this might look like a normal school day, but it's far from your average lesson. how are you doing? you're 0k? they've all gone very quiet. swapping the changing room for the classroom, harry kane is on a mission to get young people thinking about their mental health. how do you use your mental. resilience on and off the pitch? my resilience has been built up over many years. in life, in football, there's going to be times where you have highs. there's going to be times where you have some lows as well. so, just understanding that. the england captain's foundation has

partnered up with mental health charity bounce forward... what would harry definitely do before he started? awarm up. ..providing 17 schools across england with lesson plans and resources to nurture physical and mental resilience. what was it that made you want to get involved with something like this? yeah, maybe having four kids now myself, being a father. i look at their future and, you know, the world they're coming into. and, of course, with social media and a lot of online stuff nowadays, mental health is a really big thing and it's important to be able to talk about your feelings and what you're going through. so when i was younger, being released from one club and having to have setbacks like that, i had to show a lot of strength, a lot of self—belief, a lot of resilience in those moments. and, you know, i was lucky to have good family around me. for kane, family is everything and this project is no exception. i know my wife kate has been with you today. i can see kate.

hi, kate! you know, we've been on this journey together. we've known each other our whole lives. you know, we've been together since i was 18 years old. she's at home with me. she's the one that sees me high, she sees me low. she's always there to comfort me. so she has different strengths to, you know, to give back to the younger generation as well. 0n the pitch, kane has had an electric start since joining bayern munich last summer, scoring 28 goals so far this season. when i made the move i was excited by it, but of course a little bit nervous as well, on how it was going to go. so i've been really proud with the way i've started. now i've got my wife and kids here since the new year. they're settled in school. they're doing really well. so i'm enjoying it. i'm hoping i can even improve from the first half of the season. i always try and get better and of course the personal stuff is great, but i've made it clear i want to be winning trophies and that's one of the things that's missing from from my career so far.

it's really important we talk about these things. kane's global appeal means his platform is bigger than ever — something he plans to put to good use. there's a lot of young boys and girls looking up to me and looking at what i do, notjust on the pitch, but off the pitch as well. so, you know, you listen to your role models. you know, i would have done anything beckham would have said when i was a kid. so, yeah, it'sjust kind of i hope they can take in some of my experiences and they can relate to it. at a young age, sometimes we think that we're very alone and it's good to talk to people about your mental health and make sure that you're okay. to have someone as big - as harry kane ambassadoring it, it gets people talking. shall we give harry a round of applause, everybody? applause. alex howell, bbc news. it's been a pretty stormy couple of weeks across the uk, which can be especially distressing for the animals in the seas. seals often get stranded and have to be rescued

and nursed back to health, before they can be released into the water. john maguire went to see the work being done. and as you can see, he's very dark himself. the thing that i could see with the torch, there was definitely something wrong with his right eye. like any hospital, the day here at the cornwall seal hospital starts with ward rounds. and for the head vet, the first chance to examine a patient who was rescued and brought in last night. i'm having a listen to the lungs, and his breathing is nice and relaxed. like the storms that so often are the seal pups�* main threat, they�* re given names. the current theme is dogs. and so this is dingo. honking. the fact that he's so vociferous is a good sign. he has enough energy to complain and doesn't of course realise that the staff here are saving his life. we're kind of doing that intensive care period where they need a lot of veterinary attention each day and they need help feeding themselves as well. so initially, they will be

rehydrated with fluids for the first sort of 24 to 36 hours, and then we'll focus on starting to get some fish introduced to them, and try and get them eating fish on their own as quickly as possible. being a seal pup is tough. they only stay with their mothers for three weeks after birth and at that point should weigh more than 30 kilos. all the patients here are underweight and struggled to fend for themselves in the winter seas. they have to fight against swell. they become malnourished, dehydrated, bashed up against rocks. and then we have things like entanglement issues with things like ghost fishing nets, which can cause a huge hazard to these animals. and this is an example of that abandoned fishing gear — ghost gear, as it's known. 11 metres long and obviously hazardous. this is actually the largest piece of net we've taken off a live seal. and the seal had managed to get its head through there, but luckily it was found before any real damage had been done. this pup only weighs 13 kilos.

remember, three weeks old, once they've left their mother,