tonight at six, lockdown is working, say british scientists who've been tracking the pandemic. infection rates have fallen by two thirds in england since the start of the latest lockdown — now a campaign's launched to encourage those who are reluctant to have the vaccine. one of the key issues about vaccine uptake in some communities is trust — is this vaccine safe? we can categorically say that the vaccine is both safe and effective. almost 16.5 half million people have now had theirfirstjab. also tonight: small steps — some primary school children in northern ireland will return on march 8th, but lockdown has been extended to april 1st. facebook unfriends australia — the social networking site blocks access to news media in australia in a row over paying for content.

helping the high street — a retail boss calls on the chancellor to cut business rates to help shops get back on their feet. and this is what should happen this evening on mars — if nasa's perseverence lives up to its name. and coming up on bbc news... a tearful goodbye for serena williams, as she bows out of the australian open at the semifinal stage, good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. scientists say there's been a strong decline in the number of covid infections in england since the latest lockdown began. it is working, it seems. researchers at imperial college

who've been tracking the pandemic say infection rates have dropped by two thirds. but there are warnings that virus levels are still high, particularly among the under—25s. the vaccination programme also appears to be having a positive imapct on the number of deaths being recorded. but concerns remain about certain groups of people, among them black and asian communities, who are not taking up the vaccine when offered. here's our medical editor, fergus walsh. lockdown is working — draconian restrictions on society main coronavirus has fewer chances to spread. but that is meant closing schools, shops, pubs, gyms, putting normal life on hold. the latest evidence comes from 87,000 tests sent out to households across england. the survey by imperial couege england. the survey by imperial college from the fourth to the 13th

of february is good at picking up cases among those who don't know they are carrying the virus. the survey found that infections had fallen by two thirds across england in the past month and are down 80% in the past month and are down 80% in london. the researchers estimate that infections are having every 15 days, but they warn that prevalence of the virus is still high, with one in 200 people across england thought to be positive — similar to levels seenin to be positive — similar to levels seen in september. we to be positive - similar to levels seen in september.— to be positive - similar to levels seen in september. we know that the revalence seen in september. we know that the prevalence of — seen in september. we know that the prevalence of the _ seen in september. we know that the prevalence of the virus _ seen in september. we know that the prevalence of the virus was _ seen in september. we know that the prevalence of the virus was much - prevalence of the virus was much lower last summer, something like ten times lower, and clearly be more people who have the virus, and some of them will not have symptoms and not know they are carrying the virus, the more likely to do is to transmit to other people, so the level we can get the prevalence, the better. ., , level we can get the prevalence, the better. . , ., , better. there are still nearly the same number _ better. there are still nearly the same number of _ better. there are still nearly the same number of covid _ better. there are still nearly the same number of covid patients. better. there are still nearly the l same number of covid patients in hospital as at the first peak in april last year. but there are now

tentative signs that vaccines are beginning to save lives among the over 80s, the first to receive a covid jab. over 80s, the first to receive a covidjab. deaths over 80s, the first to receive a covid jab. deaths among the over 80s have fallen by 54% since the middle of january. much have fallen by 54% since the middle ofjanuary. much of have fallen by 54% since the middle of january. much of that is have fallen by 54% since the middle ofjanuary. much of that is due to lockdown, but they are falling faster than in younger age groups, where they are down 44%. as more and more people get vaccinated, that should start bringing down cases as well as deaths. at should start bringing down cases as well as deaths.— well as deaths. at the minute, the over 70s, well as deaths. at the minute, the over 70s. they _ well as deaths. at the minute, the over 70s, they only _ well as deaths. at the minute, the over 70s, they only make - well as deaths. at the minute, the over 70s, they only make up - well as deaths. at the minute, the | over 70s, they only make up about 10% of cases but over 80% of deaths. as we start vaccinating younger people, that effect we should also see more and more in cases. but there are concerns about the lower take—up of vaccines among black, asian and minority ethnic communities. fist asian and minority ethnic communities.— asian and minority ethnic communities. , ., ., communities. at this vaccination centre in east _ communities. at this vaccination centre in east london, _ communities. at this vaccination centre in east london, staff - communities. at this vaccination centre in east london, staff say| centre in east london, staff say some people book for a vaccine and

are not turning up. you some people book for a vaccine and are not turning up.— are not turning up. you don't have to be scared _ are not turning up. you don't have to be scared about _ are not turning up. you don't have to be scared about it. _ are not turning up. you don't have to be scared about it. before - are not turning up. you don't have to be scared about it. before you i to be scared about it. before you know _ to be scared about it. before you know about it, the needle is in and it is out _ know about it, the needle is in and it is out. some people are so scared, — it is out. some people are so scared, but they say, is that all? and i_ scared, but they say, is that all? and i say, — scared, but they say, is that all? and i say, yes that is all, we are here _ and i say, yes that is all, we are here to — and i say, yes that is all, we are here to help— and i say, yes that is all, we are here to help you.— and i say, yes that is all, we are here to help you. you may not always trust what you — here to help you. you may not always trust what you hear _ here to help you. you may not always trust what you hear and _ here to help you. you may not always trust what you hear and what - here to help you. you may not always trust what you hear and what you - trust what you hear and what you see, but you can trust the vaccine. a video urging people from bame communities to get the vaccine will be shown across commercial television channels tonight, and the nhs plans to distribute leaflets in 20 different languages, which will try to dispel myths about the vaccine. , ., . . , try to dispel myths about the vaccine. , . u , ., try to dispel myths about the vaccine. , , ., ., vaccine. they vaccines do not contain animal _ vaccine. they vaccines do not contain animal products - vaccine. they vaccines do not contain animal products of. vaccine. they vaccines do not i contain animal products of fatal products, they do not affect your fertility, so if you are offered the vaccine, please take it up, because thatis vaccine, please take it up, because that is what will keep you safe. borisjohnson will set out a road map for easing restrictions on england on monday and has promised a cautious approach that will focus on

data and not dates. fergus walsh, bbc news. the latest government figures show 12,057 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. an average of 12,081; new cases were recorded per day in the last week. just over 20,000 people are in hospital with coronavirus across the uk. in the last 2a hours, a54 deaths have been recorded. that's people who died within 28 days of a positive covid test. on average, 551 deaths were announced every day in the past week. the total number of people who've died is 119,387. the number of people given their first dose of one of the three approved covid—19 vaccines in the latest 24—hour period is more than 482,000, taking the total who've now had their firstjab to nearly 16.5 million people. the number of new cases and deaths may be falling, but northern ireland has announced that it is extending

its lockdown until april 1st. some school children will go back to the classroom on march 8th. but for most, school won't return until after the easter holidays. chris page is at stormont. so, chris, many more weeks of lockdown in northern ireland, why are they being so cautious when cases are falling?— are they being so cautious when cases are falling? well, the first minister here _ cases are falling? well, the first minister here at _ cases are falling? well, the first minister here at stormont, - cases are falling? well, the first. minister here at stormont, arlene foster, used a motoring metaphor, actually. she said that the devolved government wanted to eventually leave lockdown in the rear—view mirror, in other words they wanted this current period of restrictions to be the last. and ministers are stressing that although the coronavirus statistics in this part of the uk are moving in the right direction, well, the situation in the health service is still very serious. for example, there are still now more people in hospital with covid—19 than was the case at the peak of the first wave back in spring of last year. so lockdown, in the main, has been extended from the

5th of march until the 1st of april, just before the easter holiday. there will be some relaxations, though, on monday the 8th of march. the number of people allowed to meet up the number of people allowed to meet up outdoors will be increased from 6-10, up outdoors will be increased from 6—10, some retailers will be allowed to operate click and collect services for clothes, baby equipment, electrical items. perhaps the most significant change for thousands of families here, pupils in the first three years of primary school will go back to the classroom. a fortnight after that, on the 22nd of march, teenagers in the last three years of post—primary schools, facing important qualifications, they too will go back to face—to—face learning. so ministers have been trying to give people a degree of hope, i think, while tempering it with a lot of caution. it has also emerged today that the devolved government will publish its exit strategy on the 1st of march, but that won't include any firm dates for different sectors of the economy reopening. this is foster saying that the government

wants to be driven by data and not by dates. —— mrs foster. australia's prime minister says his country won't be intimidated by facebook in a continuing row about news coverage on the social media platform. australia is asking tech companies to pay for content which is reposted from other news outlets. now facebook has blocked users in the country from viewing news content. our correspondent shaimaa khalil sent this report from sydney. this is what australians woke up to. empty news feeds on their facebook pages, after the platform blocked all local and international media outlets — a dramatic escalation in a continued dispute with the government over paying for news content. the ban did not only target news. it also denied australians access to the pages of many key government agencies, including health departments and the bureau of meteorology. the company later conceded that some of these pages were inadvertently caught in the block and that it will restore them.

i do use facebook. it seems to be a catch all, and i can get all of my news in the one spot, so it will really impact me. they're so big and so widely used by australians that they'lljust... ..people willjust revolt against it. the government was also swift to react. this is an assault on a sovereign nation, it is an assault on people's freedom, and in particular it is an utter abuse of big technology's market power and control over technology. the prime minister, scott morrison, slammed the social media company's action as arrogant and disappointing. under the proposed legislation, tech giants will be forced to enter into payment negotiations with news outlets over payment for content that appears on their platforms, and if they can't agree, a government arbitrator would get involved. but facebook has criticised the law, saying it doesn't reflect how the internet works, and unfairly penalises it

for content it didn't ask for. this fallout is about facebook making a point. many are watching this closely, and the social media giant knows that if it starts paying for news content here in australia, other nations could make similar demands. some experts have described it as anti—democratic and a dangerous turn of events. and while facebook asserts its power and influence with this move, the fear is that it may also do its reputation some serious damage. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, sydney. the duke of edinburgh remains in hospital, after he was admitted on tuesday evening as a precaution due to feeling unwell. 99—year old prince philip is said to be in good spirits after being taken to king edward vii hospital in central london. his stay is not related to coronavirus, and a palace source said the duke walked into the hospital unaided. after a year of lockdowns, what will the high street look like once restrictions

are finally lifted? one of britain's top retail bosses is calling on the chancellor to slash business rates to save it. lord wolfson — who runs next — says that rates bills for high street shops should be cut by more than a third to avoid furtherjob losses. it comes as the business rates holiday that has been in place during the pandemic is due to end in april. the bbc�*s business editor, simonjack, looks at the choices facing the chancellor as he prepares his budget due in early march. signs of spring in bedford. but like many towns and cities in the uk, the high street is enduring a winter which saw 175,000 jobs lost last year and some famous high street names shut for good. business rates are a tax based on a property's value. those values have changed. and with a budget round the corner, one of the survivors says rates have to reflect that if the high street is to survive. if government wants to do something about it, the thing to do is to just discount rates by a fixed amount.

just say, look, actually, to put them in line with rents, they need to come down by around 35%. as rents on shops have been coming down, rents on warehouses have been going up, and the rates don't fairly reflect the value of warehouse property either. so i think government can fund some of this by increasing rates on warehousing by around 50%. book—seller peter budek took a risk last year moving into bigger premises, so he'll start paying rates for the first time when the current holiday ends as scheduled in april. he said the current system is stifling the growth of small firms. the business rate factor was a big, big thing. we go from paying very little or zero business rates on our tiny little place before to suddenly having a substantial liability, and that nearly put me off. and if you can remove that obstacle, then you are far more likely to have small independent businesses becoming bigger independent businesses. we've been talking about business rates reform for years,

but there are 30 billion reasons why it hasn't happened yet. that's how much business rates contribute to the government coffers. but you can't tax something that's dead. and the fear is, unless we get significant reform now, this decline will become terminal. the pandemic accelerated a consumer stampede online. it's hard to compete against companies that are happy with wafer—thin profit margins. you can't turn back the clock, but you can soften the impact. what we have to make sure doesn't happen as a consequence of that is that we end up on the other side of the equation with a hard landing in our local communities, unnecessaryjob losses, u nnecessa i’y store closures. one other lever the chancellor could pull is an online sales tax. that would be a mistake, according to the boss of next. ultimately the consumer will pay the price of that. and, actually, i don't think anyone is going to go back to the high street because there's a 2% online tax or whatever number they come up with. you know, you cannot tax people back

onto the high street. the internet is winning because itjust has so much better choice, not because it's much cheaper. the chancellor may well extend the rates holiday next month. the government insists that business rates are once again under review. high street shops aren't worthless, but they are worth less. survival depends on rates recognising that. simonjack, bbc news, bedford. the time is 6:15pm. our top story this evening: lockdown is working, say scientists monitoring the pandemic, as infection rates in england drop by two thirds by the start of the year. still to come... the end of an era — as the final shipment of coal departs from the river tyne. coming up on sportsday on bbc news... five teams from the uk are back in europa league action this evening, including jose mourihno's tottenham and ole gunnar solskjaer�*s manchester united, in the first leg of their last 32 ties.

it's called perseverance, and let's hope it lives up to its name. after seven months in space, nasa's rover will attempt to land on the surface of mars this evening. only half of the missions to mars have been successful so far. this one will have to slow from the speed of a bullet to a walking pace if it is going to land safely on the red planet. if it makes it, its mission is to scour a crater that was once a vast lake to look for signs of past life. our science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. nasa calls it the seven minutes of terror. an approach to mars at 12,000mph, then, just at the right moment... ..a parachute opens, dramatically slowing it down before a complex landing system brings the perseverance rover down to the ground. that's the plan, but only half of mars landings have worked. it is not a guaranteed success.

it is the time in the mission with the highest concentrated risk. it's certainly a nailbiter, and they don't call it seven minutes of terror for nothing, because we're certainly waiting to hear back those words, "touchdown confirmed," that's what we're waiting to hear. this mission is all about finding signs of life, the best place to do that is here, the jezero crater. today, it's dry and dusty, but billions of years ago it was a huge lake, and you can clearly see a river running into it. this gives you an idea of what it would have looked like. if we zoom in a bit more, these green areas on the edge of the crater were once beeches on the lake shore, and the hope is any microscopic creatures that once lived there are still preserved. perseverance is the most advanced rover that nasa has ever built, and it's jam—packed with instruments. its robotic arm is equipped with a drill to collect rock samples. so what forms of life could they contain? i am not talking about

martian little green men, probably not even fish. we are looking for microbial life, or maybe microbes that have made a little mat or a slime such that you might find on the bottom of a pond. those are the types of things that are likely to... well, they did exist on earth 3.5 billion years ago. the question is, did they exist on mars at the bottom of lakes? for the first time, nasa will also be testing a mini mars helicopter to provide a new bird's—eye view of the planet. and back on the ground, the rover will store some of the rocks — a future mission will bring them back to earth, and some will be heading to the uk. these will be the most precious samples that we have on earth, the most exciting, and scientists around the world will be absolutely fighting and clamouring to study them. this mission provides our best chance to finally answer whether life existed on mars. first, though, nasa needs to get it rover safely down. there are some nerve—racking hours ahead.

rebecca morelle, bbc news. sir keir starmer has set out his vision for the uk, pledging a "moral crusade" to address inequalities exposed by coronavirus. the labour leader also proposed a new bond for savers, allowing millions to invest in the uk's recovery from the pandemic. our deputy political editor vicki young reports. he's vicki young reports. trying to inspire a party that has he's trying to inspire a party that has got used to being rejected by voters, in a political landscape dominated by a pandemic. labour members can only watch from a distance as sia keir starmer lays out his vision from an empty room. we can go back to the same insecure and unequal economy that has been so cruelly exposed by the virus. we can seize the moment and go forward to a future that will look utterly unlike the past. he future that will look utterly unlike the ast. ,., future that will look utterly unlike the ast. u, ., . , future that will look utterly unlike the ast. ., . , . the past. he said coronavirus had roved the past. he said coronavirus had proved the _ the past. he said coronavirus had proved the case _ the past. he said coronavirus had proved the case for— the past. he said coronavirus had proved the case for government i the past. he said coronavirus had l proved the case for government to play a big role in managing the

economy, but working alongside business, not attacking it. if rare business, not attacking it. if we are honest. _ business, not attacking it. if we are honest, for _ business, not attacking it. if we are honest, for too _ business, not attacking it. if we are honest, for too long - business, not attacking it. if we are honest, for too long labour| business, not attacking it. if "we: are honest, for too long labour has failed to realise the only way to deliver social justice and failed to realise the only way to deliver socialjustice and equality is through a strong partnership with businesses. under my leadership, that mindset will change. fine businesses. under my leadership, that mindset will change. one new oli idea that mindset will change. one new policy idea is _ that mindset will change. one new policy idea is a _ that mindset will change. one new policy idea is a british _ that mindset will change. one new policy idea is a british recovery - policy idea is a british recovery bond, offering people a savings account with the government. the cash raised would be used to get the country back on its feet after the pandemic. there are people who kept theirjobs who have been able to save money. how does that help those who haven't kept theirjobs, who really are struggling to make ends meet? the bond struggling to make ends meet? tie: bond provides struggling to make ends meet? ti2 bond provides a struggling to make ends meet? tt2 bond provides a way for people to invest in the future of their country in a secure way, and releases money for infrastructure projects. obviously for those that haven't been able to save, there are other things i said this morning about universal credit, about the pay for key workers. so it is not

either or, it is both. you pay for key workers. so it is not either or, it is both.— pay for key workers. so it is not either or, it is both. you have been leader for around _ either or, it is both. you have been leader for around ten _ either or, it is both. you have been leader for around ten months, - either or, it is both. you have been leader for around ten months, howj either or, it is both. you have been i leader for around ten months, how do leaderfor around ten months, how do you think it has gone? aha, leader for around ten months, how do you think it has gone?— you think it has gone? a year ago in the leadership _ you think it has gone? a year ago in the leadership race, _ you think it has gone? a year ago in the leadership race, people - you think it has gone? a year ago in the leadership race, people were i the leadership race, people were saying to me, "is the labour party even going to exist in the future?" now the question i'm facing is, when will you be ready to win a general election? ., ., election? some are calling on the labour leader— election? some are calling on the labour leader to _ election? some are calling on the labour leader to be _ election? some are calling on the labour leader to be bolder. - election? some are calling on the labour leader to be bolder. he i election? some are calling on the l labour leader to be bolder. he says riuhtl labour leader to be bolder. he says riahtl we labour leader to be bolder. he says rightly we cannot _ labour leader to be bolder. he says rightly we cannot go _ labour leader to be bolder. he says rightly we cannot go back _ labour leader to be bolder. he says rightly we cannot go back to - labour leader to be bolder. he says| rightly we cannot go back to normal, but what is normal is not acceptable and we need proper guidance and proper policy to move forward. as of yet we haven't received that. it is yet we haven't received that. it is a really good _ yet we haven't received that. it is a really good start _ yet we haven't received that. it is a really good start from keir starmer— a really good start from keir starmer in my view. i get why people are saying _ starmer in my view. i get why people are saying we should go further but it sets _ are saying we should go further but it sets out — are saying we should go further but it sets out how things would be differently if he was prime minister. differently if he was prime minister-— differently if he was prime minister. ., ., ,, ., ., minister. you can talk about all the olicies minister. you can talk about all the policies you — minister. you can talk about all the policies you like, _ minister. you can talk about all the policies you like, but _ minister. you can talk about all the policies you like, but if _ minister. you can talk about all the policies you like, but if they - minister. you can talk about all the policies you like, but if they are i policies you like, but if they are not delivered _ policies you like, but if they are not delivered by— policies you like, but if they are not delivered by a _ policies you like, but if they are not delivered by a credible i not delivered by a credible ieadership— not delivered by a credible leadership that _ not delivered by a credible leadership that people i not delivered by a credible leadership that people can not delivered by a credible - leadership that people can believe can actualiy — leadership that people can believe can actually deliver— leadership that people can believe can actually deliver them, - leadership that people can believe can actually deliver them, then i leadership that people can believe i can actually deliver them, then they won't _ can actually deliver them, then they won't go _ can actually deliver them, then they won't go down — can actually deliver them, then they won't go down well _ can actually deliver them, then they won't go down well with _ can actually deliver them, then they won't go down well with the - can actually deliver them, then they won't go down well with the public. i won't go down well with the public. and do— won't go down well with the public. and do you — won't go down well with the public. and do you think— won't go down well with the public. and do you think he _ won't go down well with the public.

and do you think he has— won't go down well with the public. and do you think he has managed i won't go down well with the public. i and do you think he has managed to get that impression across? yes. get that impression across? yes, most definitely. _ get that impression across? yes, most definitely. kier— get that impression across? yes, most definitely. kier starmer i get that impression across? yes, | most definitely. kier starmer says get that impression across? yes, i most definitely. kier starmer says a labour government _ most definitely. kier starmer says a labour government would _ most definitely. kier starmer says a labour government would actively l labour government would actively support the economy. conservatives point out they have just spent almost £300 million doing just that. it shows how difficult it is being distinctive as opposition leader during a national emergency. elections across the uk in may will be the first test of whether voters like what they have heard so far. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. a technical manager at arconic, the firm which made the grenfell tower cladding, told colleagues poor fire tests results on the product needed to be kept very confidential. the request, written in capital letters, was made in an email sent in 2010 and produced at the public inquiry today. the email was sent by an arconic manager in france who has refused to come to the uk to give evidence. 72 people died in the fire at grenfell tower in 2017. some people in temporary or privately rented accommodation are living in conditions that

are utterly shameful — that's according to a former government adviser on homelessness. a bbc investigation found people vulnerable to covid shielding in homes with frequent leaks, widespread damp and even rodents living in a kitchen ceiling. the government says reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation is a priority. rianna croxford reports. see that? terrible. inside some of the uk's most inadequate housing. jesus christ! it isjust mentally destroying me, having to stay in such disgusting circumstances. we hear from those shielding... how have you found it being indoors? horrible. i feel trapped. still not fixed. ..stuck inside damp and cramped homes, some even alongside rodents. for six months, we've been following the stories of those vulnerable to coronavirus living in temporary accommodation or privately rented homes.

i'm not even able to have my exercise because i'm too worried of catching it. vicky suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. last summer, problems with damp took weeks to be fixed and culminated in this leak from her bedroom ceiling. fixing the doors properly, getting rid of the rats that are the size of cats... theyjust fob us all off, so we feel like we don't exist in a way. the property manager says all repairs have been completed. this is a terrible house. this man lives in the same block. he says there have been holes in the ceiling of his flat since may last year and frequent lea ks. he even showed us footage of rodents living in the ceiling.

his repairs have now been made. the number of households in temporary accommodation is nearly double that of ten years ago. half of those living in these homes are children. sarah has multiple sclerosis, which also makes her vulnerable to coronavirus. during the pandemic, she's faced a water leak and damp problems, but remained in the property throughout, despite the council themselves deeming it unsuitable in 2019. i've got a hole in my bathroom in the ceiling, where the light should be. over a year. sometimes i trip going to the bathroom to go to use the toilet, no light. i definitely feel forgotten because i'm still here, 15 months on. the council says it's committed to helping sarah find a new home, but there is a chronic shortage of affordable housing.

it's utterly shameful. nobody should be living in those conditions in the united kingdom. dame louise casey has advised labour and conservative government on homelessness. we cannot allow landlords to make money with people living with rodents in their kitchens. i'm just hoping the government watches that and thinks, "yeah, we need to do a betterjob here." the government says reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation is a priority. rianna croxford, bbc news. coal mining and the north east of england have been entwined for hundreds of years. but this evening one of the last ever shipments of coal from the area will leave the port of tyne in south shields. coal is being used less and less around the world and many mines have been closed pushing communities further away from their mining roots. our north of england correspondent fiona trott reports. the end of an era.

a former miner myself, i never thought we would see this day when we see the last shipment of coal leaving the port of tyne. bit by bit, centuries of coal mining, which defined this region, is disappearing. in the early �*90s, coal—mining and trading formed of the hargreaves business. here we are today, where this is the last of the mining and trading business, and we've got no further future in coal mining and trading. it's a result of the move to a low carbon economy. but years ago, coal was king. 400 pits in the north—east of england — it was a way of life, but a hard way of life, so today's shipment brings mixed feelings. well, i think it's very sad. it wasn't the best job to have, and of course they suffered later on with their lungs, didn't they, as well? i used to like the coal fires, i used to sit in the tin bath when i was little

beside the coal fire! and most of my relatives, you know, uncles and that, used to be working in the mines, you know? it is, it's sad. just keep that there, nice and steady. at its peak, this region produced around 56 million tonnes of coal per year. this is what's left. piles like this, just 12,000 tonnes, bound for belgium. this port has been on the banks of the tyne for 1,000 years. today's shipment is a milestone on theirjourney too. yes, the industrial revolution was fuelled on coal moving in and out. but already we do wood pellet. we fuel two power stations here, and we're going to be the base for the largest offshore wind farm in the world — green energy — long, long into the future. people used to joke about taking coals to newcastle because there was so much of it. now, with its sights on a different kind of future, that saying could also be consigned to history.

fiona trott, bbc news, south shields. the weather here in a moment. first spare a thought for more than 150 million americans are under winter storm warnings, as the country faces a fourth day of deadly freezing winds, ice and snow in many regions that rarely see such frigid conditions. in texas, the cold temperatures led to such a surge in demand for electricity that at one point more than three million people were without power. plunging temperatures have also cold—stunned thousands of sea turtles, rendering them unable to swim orfeed. volunteers have rescued nearly 5,000, washed up on south padre island beaches and will release them when the water is wrmer. time for a look at the weather here's louise lear. not quite as cold as that. no, our cold weather is a distant

memory from last week. a miserable start this morning but we got there in the end. in fact some of us had some lovely sunshine coming through. this is greenwich, the lovely daffodils coming out, spring isjust round the corner. the rain cleared away and we had this lovely window allowing for sunny spells to come through. scattered showers in the far north—west, but many of us keep the clear skies through this evening and overnight. that will allow the temperatures to fall away. that could be a shock to the system, particularly in sheltered eastern areas. an early chill, but as the night progresses we will see cloud and rain gathering to the west. that is a different story here. temperatures down to low single figures might be a shock to the system, but it will all be about the rain out to the west, accompanied by gale force gusts of winds. so may be the wet weather might catch you out first thing if you are up and