today at six... the bank of england raises interest rates to their highest level for m years. they've gone up by 0.5% to 2.25% — the seventh rise in a row — taking borrowing costs to the highest level since 2008. it comes as the bank of england said the uk is probably already in recession. also on the programme... more money for social care in england to help free up nhs beds — but critics say it's just tinkering around the edges. free at last— the british nationals held by russian forces in ukraine ukraine are flown home. we just want to let everyone know that we're now out of the danger zone and we're on our way home to ourfamilies. and launching the vanilla—y the

latest project —— launching the see monster, the latest in a creativity festival costing millions of pounds. with over 2000 football —related arrests last season. good evening. interest rates have risen to their highest level for m years, heaping extra costs on mortgage holders, credit card users and businesses. the governor of the bank of england warned that the uk economy may already be in recession. rates have risen by 0.5% today — the seventh hike in a row, as the bank tries to curb inflation. interest rates now stand at 2.25%. 0ur economics editor faisal islam has the details. for

islam has the details. nearly a decade and a half, british for nearly a decade and a half, british interest rates have been extremely low. forthe british interest rates have been extremely low. for the homeowners, high street businesses and corporations, it had become used to very low base interest rates, this is now at an end. in nantwich in cheshire, the ice cream farm has benefited from investing millions at low interest rates.— low interest rates. always encouraged _ low interest rates. always encouraged investment, l low interest rates. always - encouraged investment, because it always been at a low through this period of investment that we had. this food tourism business is now having to adjust at a time when consumers have little spare cash and costs are rocketing.— costs are rocketing. wherever the base rate goes. — costs are rocketing. wherever the base rate goes, obviously - costs are rocketing. wherever the base rate goes, obviously our - base rate goes, obviously our business rate goes. and it can be hugely drastic to it. you know, it could actually finish the business, depending on how far it gets. and everybody is in the same situation. so the bank living in today have once again put up rates. another half a percentage point to 2.25%. it is back up to levels not seen since

2008, affecting the price of loans across the economy. it is now a decisive break with an era of extremely low rates that had lasted since the financial crisis and was prolonged by the pandemic. the bank wants to put a lid on rising prices by slowing the economy with these rate rises. but inflation is still set to remain above 10% for some months, and rates nearly went up by even more today. and that's the challenge. the bank now believes that we are already in a recession that we are already in a recession that began in april, and yet it is increasingly cost of borrowing in a way that could make that recession worse. why? because inflation is superhigh, and even with the tempering of the gas and energy prices by the government, that could remain so. so the question is, how high will rates go? certainly to 3%, but 4% or even 5% are not out of the

question. but 496 or even 596 are not out of the cuestion. �* . ~ but 496 or even 596 are not out of the cuestion. �* ., ~ ., ., question. the bank of england robabl question. the bank of england probably started _ question. the bank of england probably started too _ question. the bank of england probably started too late - question. the bank of england probably started too late in . question. the bank of england - probably started too late in raising interest rates. they left the first rise until december and were quite slow, and have been quite slow in raising them since then. so we are not actually getting much downward pressure on inflation at the moment from interest rate changes. fin pressure on inflation at the moment from interest rate changes.- from interest rate changes. on the screens of this _ from interest rate changes. on the screens of this broker _ from interest rate changes. on the screens of this broker in _ from interest rate changes. on the screens of this broker in st - from interest rate changes. on the | screens of this broker in st albans, the impact of all of this already hitting the mortgage markets. fine hitting the mortgage markets. one lender's hitting the mortgage markets. que: lender's service hitting the mortgage markets. iez lender's service levels hitting the mortgage markets. i2 lender's service levels went up to 40 working days to get an offer out. to get a mortgage offer out is normally ten to 15 working days. rates are changing on a daily basis. lenders are pulling products on a daily basis. if you get a rate today, you don't know if it will be gone tomorrow. find today, you don't know if it will be gone tomorrow.— today, you don't know if it will be one tomorrow. �* ., ., gone tomorrow. and when the mortgage market is affected, _ gone tomorrow. and when the mortgage market is affected, then _ gone tomorrow. and when the mortgage market is affected, then so _ gone tomorrow. and when the mortgage market is affected, then so is _ gone tomorrow. and when the mortgage market is affected, then so is the - market is affected, then so is the housing market. it is inevitable when rates go up like this. and faisaljoins me now. it's a real balancing act, isn't it?

yes, it's a balancing act on interest rates for the bank of england. it's also a balancing act for the government and it's a balancing act between the bank of england on the government as well. tomorrow we will get a series of policies from the government aiming to try and boost growth. and we got a pretty big one today ahead of the announcements we expect tomorrow morning. it was about the national insurance rise which we got only in april. that is being reversed in total. 1.25% rise both for employees and employers in national insurance, thatis and employers in national insurance, that is being reversed in november. that is a pretty hefty tax cut compared to where we are now. not compared to where we are now. not compared to where we are now. not compared to where we were a year ago. it is worth several thousand pounds on average to 900,000 employers. and about 300,000 —— £300 on average for higher earners. it is a significant amount of money come of £14 billion. it will be borrowed because the money raised is still going to the nhs. so that has raised

some concerns about whether all of the kind of economic numbers are working out. we have seen in the market today, sterling has been pretty stable, but the borrowing costs for the british government, partly as a result of what we have seen from the bank of england, has gone up. we don't want that to the day before a big announcement on tax and spend. day before a big announcement on tax and send. ., day before a big announcement on tax and send. . , ., day before a big announcement on tax and send. . , . . ~' day before a big announcement on tax and send. . , . . 4' you can get plenty more information on today's rates rise on bbc news online, that's bbc.co.uk/news, and by using the bbc news app. the rmt union has announced another rail strike. the rmt union has announced another railstrike. its the rmt union has announced another rail strike. its 40,000 members working for network rail will walk out on saturday october the 8th. the move comes after the aslef union said its members at 13 train operating companies would strike on saturday the first and wednesday the 5th of october. the new health secretary therese coffey has set out her plans to improve access to the nhs

and social care in england. she said there was too much variation in the care people receive across the country. therese coffey announced a £500m social care discharge fund for the winter, to help free up beds in hospitals. she acknowledged that there was a shortage of carers and promised £15m to help employ more workers from abroad. and she said pension rules would be changed to try to stop doctors from leaving the profession. but labour accused the government of still having no plan to meet the scale of the challenge and a hospital doctors' union said the government was just "tinkering around the edges". our health editor, hugh pym, reports. 0ne gentleman waiting over 38 hours. hopefully home today. it’s one gentleman waiting over 38 hours. hopefully home today.— hopefully home today. it's eight o'clock, hopefully home today. it's eight o'clock. the _ hopefully home today. it's eight o'clock, the first _ hopefully home today. it's eight o'clock, the first bed _ hopefully home today. it's eight o'clock, the first bed meeting i hopefully home today. it's eight o'clock, the first bed meeting of the day, with patients stuck waiting in a&e. they have to find beds and

get those who are medically fit back home. we get those who are medically fit back home. ~ ., ., , get those who are medically fit back home. ~ ., .,, ,': :: get those who are medically fit back home. ~ ., ;;:: ,, , home. we are opening 30 assessments. we know three — home. we are opening 30 assessments. we know three patients _ home. we are opening 30 assessments. we know three patients of _ home. we are opening 30 assessments. we know three patients of the _ we know three patients of the highest length of time waiting in the department will be moving out straightaway. irate the department will be moving out straightaway-— straightaway. we can't manage to b ass the straightaway. we can't manage to bypass the emergency _ straightaway. we can't manage to i bypass the emergency department. straightaway. we can't manage to - bypass the emergency department. the frail bypass the emergency department. ti2 frailty assessment unit to freeze space in a&e. the first patient in isjulia. space in me. the first patient in is julia. . , ' space in me. the first patient in is julia. ,, , ' , space in me. the first patient in isjulia. ,, , ' , ., space in me. the first patient in isjulia. . n , ., . is julia. she is 94. i seem to have one is julia. she is 94. i seem to have gone downhill _ is julia. she is 94. i seem to have gone downhill rapidly. _ is julia. she is 94. i seem to have gone downhill rapidly. the - is julia. she is 94. i seem to have gone downhill rapidly. the unit i is julia. she is 94. i seem to have i gone downhill rapidly. the unit aims to fast-track — gone downhill rapidly. the unit aims to fast-track elderly _ to fast—track elderly patients straight to the correct specialist consultants. 0n the ward, big decisions on who is well enough to leave the hospital. irate decisions on who is well enough to leave the hospital.— decisions on who is well enough to leave the hospital. we have put you down for home _ leave the hospital. we have put you down for home today. _ leave the hospital. we have put you down for home today. there - leave the hospital. we have put you down for home today. there are - leave the hospital. we have put you i down for home today. there are three atients down for home today. there are three patients who — down for home today. there are three patients who are _ down for home today. there are three patients who are medically _ down for home today. there are three patients who are medically fit - down for home today. there are three patients who are medically fit to - down for home today. there are three patients who are medically fit to go i patients who are medically fit to go home. if patients who are medically fit to go home. ., patients who are medically fit to go home. . . , , , patients who are medically fit to go home. . . ,, , , , home. if that happens, she will be auoin home. if that happens, she will be going today- _ home. if that happens, she will be going today- if _ home. if that happens, she will be going today. if social— home. if that happens, she will be going today. if social care - home. if that happens, she will be going today. if social care and - going today. if social care and transport _ going today. if social care and transport can _ going today. if social care and transport can be _ going today. if social care and transport can be booked, - going today. if social care and transport can be booked, thatj going today. if social care and l transport can be booked, that is three free beds on this word. # happy birthday, dear terry! terra;r # happy birthday, dear terry! terry is 92 today- — # happy birthday, dear terry! terry is 92 today- he _ # happy birthday, dear terry! terry is 92 today. he needs _ # happy birthday, dear terry! terry is 92 today. he needs an _ # happy birthday, dear terry! t2 is 92 today. he needs an ambulance to get home and then a specialist

care and to administer medication. we think we can get you out today. 0h, we think we can get you out today. oh, no. so emily is going to phone the carers. 0ver oh, no. so emily is going to phone the carers. over on the orthopaedic ward is marjorie. we the carers. over on the orthopaedic ward is marjorie.— ward is mar'orie. we are from the fire and ward is marjorie. we are from the fire and rescue _ ward is marjorie. we are from the fire and rescue service. - ward is marjorie. we are from the fire and rescue service. we - ward is marjorie. we are from the fire and rescue service. we have j fire and rescue service. we have come to take you home. although medically fit _ come to take you home. although medically fit to _ come to take you home. although medically fit to go _ come to take you home. although medically fit to go home, - come to take you home. although medically fit to go home, it's - come to take you home. although l medically fit to go home, it's taken over two weeks to arrange appropriate care for her. i have been here _ appropriate care for her. i have been here for— appropriate care for her. i have been here for three _ appropriate care for her. i have been here for three weeks. - appropriate care for her. i havej been here for three weeks. but appropriate care for her. i have l been here for three weeks. but i have enjoyed it. i have been spoke to death. 2s. have enjoyed it. i have been spoke to death. �* . , ., , ., to death. a lift was easier to organise. — to death. a lift was easier to organise. an _ to death. a lift was easier to organise, an initiative - to death. a lift was easier to organise, an initiative with l to death. a lift was easier to l organise, an initiative with the fire and rescue service involves transporting patients and checking how safe their home is. with another bed free, rachel has the lunchtime update. how are you asked for beds at the moment? at update. how are you asked for beds at the moment?— update. how are you asked for beds at the moment? at the moment we are -44 -. it at the moment? at the moment we are -44 p- it is _ at the moment? at the moment we are -44 p- it is tricky- _ at the moment? at the moment we are -44 p. it is tricky. as _ at the moment? at the moment we are -44 p. it is tricky. as we _ at the moment? at the moment we are -44 p. it is tricky. as we can _ at the moment? at the moment we are -44 p. it is tricky. as we can see, - —44 p. it is tricky. as we can see, we have 12 patients waiting in the emergency department, waiting for a bed, so every discharge counts. it’s bed, so every discharge counts. it's nearly lunchtime. julia has been assessed and doctors decide she needs to stay. she assessed and doctors decide she

needs to stay-— needs to stay. she has a full ackaue needs to stay. she has a full package of— needs to stay. she has a full package of care. _ needs to stay. she has a full package of care. sadly, - needs to stay. she has a full package of care. sadly, juliaj needs to stay. she has a full - package of care. sadly, julia has since passed _ package of care. sadly, julia has since passed away. _ package of care. sadly, julia has since passed away. her- package of care. sadly, julia has since passed away. her family i package of care. sadly, julia has i since passed away. her family gave permission for us to include her. we do permission for us to include her. 2 do have an ageing population, throughout the country. and also, covid has led to a lot of people are becoming more frail. it is september. _ becoming more frail. it is september, and - becoming more frail. it is september, and the - becoming more frail. it is september, and the hospital is nearly full. in fact, it's been like that for several weeks now. currently, there are 60 patients in this hospital who are medically fit to leave, but because their home care package isn't in place, they can't be discharged. the care package isn't in place, they can't be discharged.— can't be discharged. the key to treatin: can't be discharged. the key to treating patients _ can't be discharged. the key to treating patients quickly - can't be discharged. the key to treating patients quickly at - can't be discharged. the key to treating patients quickly at the | treating patients quickly at the front door and releasing ambulances into the community is flow through the hospital. it hasjust into the community is flow through the hospital. it has just gone four. in theory, we are now at break even, so we can bed everything we are predicted to take. 2s, so we can bed everything we are predicted to take.— so we can bed everything we are predicted to take. a request to take u . predicted to take. a request to take u- to two predicted to take. a request to take up to two extra _ predicted to take. a request to take up to two extra ambulances - predicted to take. a request to take up to two extra ambulances per- predicted to take. a request to take | up to two extra ambulances per hour as expected. back on the ward, its home time for terry. just as expected. back on the ward, its home time for terry.— home time for terry. just in time for our home time for terry. just in time for your birthday. _ home time for terry. just in time for your birthday. i'm 21 - home time for terry. just in time for your birthday. i'm 21 again. i

for your birthday. i'm 21 again. with— for your birthday. i'm 21 again. with terry— for your birthday. i'm 21 again. with terry on his way, another bed is free. there is no flex in the system. with each day that passes, every bit counts and winter is looming. hugh pym, bbc news, warwick. as we've been hearing, tackling the issues in social care is key to solving the problems within the nhs. 0ur social affairs editor alison holt has been meeting carers in the peak district to see the challenges they face. you'll have to remind me, harry, to go and get some fuel in, because we're nearly out. this is the hope valley in the derbyshire peak district, beautiful but in places remote. care workers like suzanne and harry drive many miles each week to support people in their own homes. it cost me £60 last week to fill up my tank. you're kidding me. care staff here get £10.60 an hour, then extra money for petrol, but with rising prices, theyjust can't compete with other employers like supermarkets. staff shortages are acute

in a job where they have to reach their clients, whatever the weather, day and night. if i had ten, 15, 20 more carers, i could give them a job and take the pressure off the local authority and provide care packages for these people stuck in hospital waiting. how desperate are people for care? absolutely desperate. i've had people on the phone that have rung us direct, in tears. in a place like this, you see all the pressures on the care system coming together. there is huge demand. people want to be looked after in their own home, but they simply can't find the staff to meet that demand. it's estimated there are currently 165,000 vacancies in care in england alone. many who work in the sector say the £500 million announced for social care today will help through winter, but it doesn't tackle more deep—rooted problems. yet this support is vital for people like vernon, who needs four visits a day.

would you like a trifle to go with it? how important... 0h. you want to spend a night in here on your own in bed, and you can't sleep. you're waiting for that door to go, knowing it's them coming in. theirs is not an easy job they do, you know? you have to clean an old man like me down and clean him and wash him and put him back together again. no. they deserve good money. this care company is part of a larger group looking after about 1,000 people across england. the government says more money is on its way, and the boss here wants to know when it'll arrive. if we invest immediately in social care, allied to a strategy- for social care and older people in particular, then we have - a pathway to a brighter future, - especially for those people who need that support in the community.

and ensuring many more people want to work in care will be essential for that future. alison holt, bbc news. 0ur health editor hugh pym is with me now. so the prime minister has said the nhs is one of her main priorities. how much of the plans that have been unveiled today going to help? sophie, health organisations and think tanks are saying the intentions are set out by therese coffey are welcome, but i don't go nearly far enough and there is not nearly far enough and there is not nearly enough detail. this £500 million fund to help move patients out of hospitals into social care is really restoring something that was there till the beginning of this year and throughout the pandemic. and it is funded not by new money, but by savings elsewhere. we need to know more about that. doctors�* pensions, reforms there are intended to stop doctors retiring early because of tax burdens. they will take time to implement. and

remember, winter is fast approaching. it will bring intense pressure. very few of these measures will address this winter and of course, this government has had several years before now to try to tackle these problems.— several years before now to try to tackle these problems. bank, thank ou. our top story this evening. the bank of england raises interest rates to 2.25%, the highest level for 14 years. and the ban is lifted on fracking in england, but can the controversial process of extracting shale gas helped ease the soaring cost of energy? a major review of english critic has been proposed. aiming at improving the success of the english�*s men�*s team. five british men who were captured by russian backed forces in ukraine have arrived back in the uk. that was after they were suddenly

released. aiden aslin, shaun pinner, john harding and andrew hill had been fighting with ukrainian armed forces when they were detained. another man, dylan healy, had been providing humanitarian assistance. they were released last night as part of a prisoner exchange between russia and ukraine. emma vardy has this report. we just want to let everyone know that we�*re now out of the danger zone and we�*re on our way home to ourfamilies... a ticket home, after months as prisoners. thanks to everyone that�*s been supporting us. it�*s really muchly appreciated. the men arrived back at heathrow this morning and were met by their families. for aiden aslin, it meant a long—awaited reunion with his ukrainian fiance, which she called "a miracle". if you�*re watching this it means that we�*ve surrendered... aiden aslin and shaun pinner had been held by russian backed separatists since they were captured in april.

they�*d both moved to ukraine four years ago and joined the ukrainian armed forces, and had been helping to defend the country during the russian invasion. but they were accused of being mercenaries and told they faced the death penalty. liz truss called it "a sham trial in a kangaroo court." they�*d been held alongside three other british men, john harding, andrew hill and dylan healy, who were also released today. last night the saudi government confirmed it had been involved in negotiations to secure their freedom as they arrived in riyadh before heading back to the uk. at the treatment of the men at the hands of russian separatists has been widely condemned. he has been through months and months of terrible treatment. you can only imagine what that has meant for his family back home in newark. it really has been a terrible ordeal for them, not knowing whether they were going to get aiden

home or whether, god forbid, the worst would happen to him. aiden aslin arrive back here in his hometown of newark this afternoon. his sudden release had come as a surprise to many people here that know him. his family have told me that at times they worried they may never see him alive again. aiden�*s mother angela wood told the bbc the way her son had been treated was inhumane. during their months of captivity, the men had been shown on russian tv as part of propaganda efforts by the kremlin and had been told that the death penalty by firing squad would be carried out. their surprise release came as part of a larger prisoner exchange between ukraine and russia. the smiles hiding the full extent of what they endured. emma vardy, bbc news, newark. russia�*s conduct in ukraine has been strongly condemned at a special meeting of the un security council.

the american secretary of state, antony blinken, said president putin had shown contempt for international law and the world must not let him get away with it. his comments come as the ukrainian military continues to make gains in the east of the country. 0ur chief international corrspondent 0rla guerin reports now from the newly liberated city of kupiansk. this is kupiansk, a shattered city. ukraine calls it "liberated territory". during our visit, it doesn�*t sound that way. shelling every few minutes, more shelling. and it�*s soon very clear that war isn�*t far away. exlposion shouting come on, come on, come on! well, we�*ve just had to run and take

cover in the building. there has been what sounded like heavy incoming fire. it�*s pretty clear that the russians are continuing to target kupiansk, even though they�*ve been pushed out. dangerous. understood, understood — they want us away from the blast, yeah. a few minutes ago we heard the russian helicopters doing some shelling, and it was nearby us so we need to go to save your life, and go from there, this city. is this happening a lot in kupiansk, a lot of attacks? yes, yes. every day kupiansk is under russian shellings and russian artillery. quickly, quickly. there is little sign of life now but this is a big loss for the russians.

some here don�*t criticise their former occupiers. "they treated people normally," 0leksander tells me. "there was no torture, nothing like that. "for us it was no different with them or without them. "they were here but it feels like they weren�*t. "they came and then they left." others may have a different view. either way, the shelling doesn�*t discriminate. i asked liliya how she copes. "i do nothing", she says. "i stay home and pray that nothing hits the house". ukraine�*s victory here is messy and incomplete, and some believe the russians will be back. 0rla guerin, bbc news, kupiansk.

the government has lifted the ban on fracking for england, the controversial process of lifting shale gas from rocks by breaking them up. a moratorium on fracking was put in place in 2019 following concerns over earth tremors, but as the energy crisis worsens in the wake of russia�*s invasion of ukraine the government says strengthening england�*s energy supply is an absolute priority. scotland and wales have no plans to lift their ban spot in northern ireland there is a proposal to ban fracking. —— to lift their bans and in northern ireland there is a proposal to ban fracking. 0ur climate editor justin rowlatt has more. blackpool is famous for its pleasure beach, its amusement arcades and its bracing sea air, but the fields beyond the town hold another valuable resource. there are reserves of natural gas trapped in the ancient shale rocks. companies had begun fracking, pumping fluids down to fracture the rock and release the gas, but a wave of protests and a series of small earthquakes

led to the procedure being banned in 2019. today the government said it would be lifting that ban. it is important that we use all available sources of fuel within this country. "vladimir putin has weaponised energy," said mr rees—mogg. "the uk must do everything it can to ensure it has a secure supply," he said. "this is a charterfor earthquakes," responded ed miliband. you can�*t escape a fossil fuels crisis by doubling down on fossilfuels. renewables are today nine times cheaper than gas. but britain�*s biggest private company says it is ready to exploit what it believes could be a vast resource. research says it could be dramatically large. it could be as big as the north sea. but we don't know that until we can do the science and that's what we are asking to do. the government says the current rules on earthquakes are too strict and will be changed, but a new geological survey says there is still limited understanding of the risk — and that�*s not the only issue, say campaigners.

what we need to talk about is our energy use and demand. that means we need a nationwide programme insulating homes all over the uk to reduce our bills, but also for the climate. we don�*t need fracking, which will make the climate emergency even worse than it already is. so here�*s the question. will fracking reduce your energy bills? and, unfortunately, the answer is no. companies will sell any gas they produce at market prices, and there won�*t be enough gas to significantly affect those. justin rowlatt, bbc news. a 16—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 15—year—old boy was stabbed to death outside a school in huddersfield yesterday. the teenager was taken to leeds general infirmary where he died a short time later. the teenager was attacked on wednesday afternoon close to titan not huddersafild trust school and he was normal like taking to the infirmary— was normal like taking to the infirmary where he died a short time

iater~ _ the boy has been named locally as kha ri the boy has been named locally as khayri mclean. _ there are more catholics than protestants in northern ireland for the first time since its creation a century ago. the latest census figures show 45.1% are catholic and 43.5% are protestant. 0ur correspondent chris page is in belfast — talk us through the significance of this? an historic shift. the census results published today show that 45.7% of people here are catholics or were brought up as catholics. the figure for protestants is 43.5%. so people from a catholic background are the bigger group for the first time. people were also asked about national identity. 31.9% said they identified as british only — that�*s a drop compared with previous census figures, when 29.1% said they were irish only. it�*s worth noting that a growing

number identify as northern irish and as not belonging to any religion. irish nationalist politicians say, basically, the census shows there is a growing trend towards a referendum on irish unity. unionists disagree — saying it is far from the case that all catholics want a united ireland. it is certainly true that the link between religion and politics is weaker than it was a century ago. but one way or another, these census results will play significantly into the debate about northern ireland�*s future. nationalist politicians say these point to a trend that will eventually lead to a referendum on irish unity whereas unionists disagree and say it is far from the case that all catholics would support a united ireland. chris, thank you. it is called unboxed. a celebration

of creativity across the united kingdom. this is see monster in weston—super—mare, the latest free project open to the public. the head of an influential parliamentary committee says it is a potential monumental waste of money and has called for the national audit office to investigate. here is katie razzall, our culture editor. see monster looms over weston—super—mare, a decommissioned gas platform turned into an art installation about the environment. no one really ever these structures close up and they are struck by the _ sheer scale of it. martin greene is giving me an exclusive tour of the delayed project, the latest from his unboxed festival which celebrates british creativity. but unboxed has cost £120 million of taxpayers�* money and is underfire. have you felt under attack?

there is a healthy natural cynicism to something new, something different. we are all very proud of it. a festival to showcase britain was initially announced in 2018 by then prime minister theresa may. ten projects have been opening since march like this story of human life called about us, here in caernarfon. unboxed had an ambitious aim to reach 66 million people. today the chair of an influential parliamentary committee has written to the public spending watchdog, the national audit office, questioning how many visitors the festival has actually had and asking the nao to investigate whether it�*s been value for money. well, we saw the warning signs. the red lights were flashing on the dashboard of this, and unfortunately it seems we have been proven right by that. the fact is that this has been potentially a monumental waste of money and actually has made very little impact in the country as a whole. ultimately, these decisions

are signed off by politicians. therefore, politicians need to take the blame. 0n the weston—super—mare seafront, they are certainly interested in this evolving north sea rig, and that is true around the country too, says martin green. the government wanted to invest in creativity. the future ofjobs and skills in this country is around creativity and the creative industries. we wanted to do things big and bold and ambitious, and that is what we�*ve done. and i think that�*s absolutely value for money. but there are people who are saying they haven�*t been extraordinary, they haven�*t been bold. nobody knows about unboxed. well, we�*ve seen visitors in the millions. you can see behind you — i think this is extraordinary and bold. it has literally not been done in the world before. unboxed says it will publish official visitor embers next month. only then, perhaps, will we be able to judge its success or failure. katie razzall, bbc news, weston—super—mare. time for a look at the weather — here�*s darren bett. thank you, sophie. quite warm across south—eastern parts of the uk, with some sunshine. we saw temperatures of 20-21, some sunshine. we saw temperatures of 20—21, but over the next few days temperatures will be falling and it

will get particularly chilly at night, starting this weekend. the cooler air, though, night, starting this weekend. the coolerair, though, it�*s night, starting this weekend. the cooler air, though, it�*s coming night, starting this weekend. the coolerair, though, it�*s coming in behind this band of cloud, moving away from scotland and northern ireland and heading further into england of and wales and bringing some rain, quite steady rain so far today. heavier bass in there but as the rain sinks towards the south—east it becomes lighter and more patchy and clear skies in the north away from those showers in scotland. the northern half of the uk will be chilly tonight, 4—5. but we still have this cloud and some patchy rain for most of the day i think across east anglia and the south—east of england. away from here, some sunshine, a few showers and these look most likely to run into scotland and northern ireland on north—westerly breeze and it is that north—westerly breeze bringing in the cooler air temperatures in places will be a bit lower, and heading into the start of the weekend still a bit of rain not far away from kent and sussex and this time we will find a few showers coming into england and perhaps east

wales. generally dry for