today at six — downing street says it's providing the nhs with the funding it needs, despite what it calls the unprecedented challenge facing the health service. the scene outside one hospital this new year — 11 ambulances containing patients waiting to be seen — one woman described her ordeal. i've had 13 hours wait in an ambulance outside of a&e because there was no capacity in the a&e and another 12 hours in the side room of a&e since then. putting in more funding, we've got more staff — over 34,000 more staff working in the nhs, there are more nurses, more doctors we've got an extra

7,500 going into social care. we'll be looking at the severe strain on the nhs — and at whether the government's plan is enough to tackle the problem. also on the programme... four in five trains are cancelled at the start of days of industrial action by rail workers — due to last until saturday. questions about how mi5 dealt with the case of a 15—year—old girl groomed for extremism — she later took her own life. in brazil, thousands of people line the streets to say farewell to the football legend pele — who will be buried in a private ceremony later. and the walrus who's wandered from north yorkshire to northumberland — attracting huge crowds on the way. on bbc london — and coming up on the bbc news channel. arsenal host newcastle united tonight — with the chance to go 10 points clear at the top of the premier league.

good evening. downing street says it's providing the nhs with the funding it needs, despite what it calls "the unprecedented challenge" facing the health service. there have been more warnings from senior doctors about the pressure facing the nhs this winter — with the situation being described as "intolerable and unbearable" for staff and patients. they say the health service is on a knife—edge, and that some accident and emergency units are in a "complete state of crisis". labour say there is a sense of jeopardy that is frightening people across the country. our health editor hugh pym has the latest. the nhs is always under great pressure at this time of year this time even more so. the problem is that hospitals are nearly full. around 94—95% of beds occupied in england for most of december. it was quite similar just before the pandemic but the big difference this time

is flu and covid cases adding to all the other care needs. and there are increasing ambulance delays — this chart shows average response times for category two calls, in england, including heart attacks and strokes — they were quite close to the 18 minute target — but now closer to one hour — and the latest figures didn't include london. we've been hearing from patients and paramedics on the front line. this is my room in a&e, where i have been since two o'clock this morning. annette had bacterial meningitis, and, after a seizure, was blue—lighted to hospital, but, once there, she spent 13 hours in an ambulance and, at the time we spoke to her, another 12 waiting in a&e. it was like a scene from a war movie. there was people sitting on the floor, people on trolleys, everywhere. it was just horrendous. annette, who is herself a nurse at a different trust,

had this message for ministers. i am really wanting to highlight to this governmentjust how dangerous the situation is, and what i would like to do is invite a government minister to come in for six hours, and to observe what goes on here. these recent pictures show ambulances stuck outside hospitals waiting to hand over patients, so that crews are delayed getting back on the road. i worked a shift yesterday, and i was actually working in a response car, and there were virtually no ambulances available and therefore, in a number of cases, i had to ask the patients i was with if a family member could put them in the car, and get them directly to hospital. it was probably a choice of a six oran eight hourwait for an ambulance to come to them, and that was me having assessed them, saying they needed an ambulance, or to do the best to get them into a car, and get them off to hospital. so what do ministers say?

it's the same pressures around the uk — the scottish government said it was working with health boards to ensure people leave hospital without delay. the health and social care secretary highlighted extra funding being made available in england. we are focusing the funding on to the operations backlogs, for example, getting more diagnostic hubs in place, getting the surgical hubs that we are rolling out, getting the backlog from the pandemic reduced, that's been the key priority. that's where we have surged additional funding. so what are the possible solutions? some have called for more money. there have been calls for a long—term plan to recruit and retain staff. but there are growing demands for social care to be addressed. the key thing for me is fixing the social care system, where we have a broken model, of providers who are paying their staff too low, don't have career structures, and they are being outcompeted by supermarkets and other employers who can take those staff, and, as a consequence, we can't let the patients out of hospital and, if we don't fix that for the longer term,

we will be back having this conversation here in a year's time. the nhs is under unprecendented strain — but the pressures are not unique to the uk. a combination of flu and other viruses has created problems in some other european health systems, and of course covid hasn't gone away. reeta. hugh, thanks. meanwhile four out of five trains have been cancelled in the first rail strike of 2023, which is due to last 48 hours. today the hospitality industry said that the months of disruption to travel sincejune are likely to have cost it around £2.5 billion. you can see here the train lines that run on a normal day — the grey lines, and here are the services running today. in red. there are whole areas of the south west, wales and scotland which are completely without a rail service — and those trains that are running will be severely disrupted, with later start times and earlierfinishes. industrial action is set to continue all week — as the ongoing row over pay

and conditions means strikes every day until saturday. our transport correspondent katy austin is here to explain what's going on, and what hope there is for a resolution. these national strike days have been a regular occurrence for months now, since the end ofjune. we've entered a new year, but the industrial action continues. i spoke to commuters at basingstoke station in hampshire this morning. i actually usually get the train from alton, so i have actually had to get, like. a cab, _ with no train running. obviously, if i can get to work, i don't get paid, so... - i am changing at farnborough, and my friends are picking me up, from there. because there are not any trains? yeah, no trains. but i support the strikes. so how did we get here? well, the rail industry faces pressure to cut costs. the government in effect took control of the railways during the pandemic, and the industry says changed travel habits have left a hole in its finances. the rmt says the dispute is partly about a pay rise being overdue as the cost of living soars.

it also argues job security and working conditions are under threat from changes the rail employers and government say are needed to make the railway sustainable. and those points are interlinked, because the rail employers say their pay offers depend on changes to working practices. network rail, which looks after the infrastructure, has offered a pay rise and other benefits, but it's planning changes to how maintenance teams work that it says are modernising, but the rmt says would be detrimental. the rail delivery group, which speaks for the train companies, has proposed a pay rise with conditions attached it says will bring the railway up to date. the rmt really disagrees with some, like closing or repurposing ticket offices, and expanding driver—only operation. ultimately, the government does hold the purse strings, and sets the parameters for negotiations. ministers have taken a more active role recently, saying they are trying to help facilitate a deal. but they still insist it's for the employers and unions to thrash out a settlement. this morning, some of the key players have been out talking. here's the rmt�*s mick lynch.

all of the parties involved know what needs to be done, to get a settlement, but the government is blocking that settlement, and doing nothing about this dispute, and that needs to change, so i hope that mark harper, and huw merriman, the ministers responsible, can move that forward. the transport secretary said he had met unions and made sure an improved offer was on the table. i want to see the rmt back round the table, so that we can try and get a good settlement that is fair to the people that work in the industry, but it's also fair to the travelling public and the taxpayer. the rail delivery group hasn't done interviews today, but network rail�*s lead negotiator has. i think we've made some good progress before, in december. i'd like to keep that progress going and i'd like to get this resolved quickly. the strike on thursdays by train drivers with aslef, that is

overpaid. —— over pay. more meetings are expected early next week involving all sides, aimed at trying to find a way forward. without a breakthrough, more strikes are very possible in the months ahead — the rmt has a mandate for action up to the end of may. reeta. .. thanks katy. our deputy political editor vicki young joins me now. real entrenched problems for public services — what's the government's plan? of course there are different stresses and strains across different sectors but whether you are trying to catch a train, get hospital treatment or book a driving test, there is a growing perception that things simply aren't working as they should be and of course to conserve the party having been in power for 12 years, conserve the party having been in powerfor 12 years, it conserve the party having been in power for 12 years, it is very hard for them to avoid blame for at least some of that even though some factors are outside of the control of ministers. there are short—term issues facing the government this january, those rights, but they say the demands for higher pay, those pay settlements are closed and will not be reopened because they do not

want to fuel inflation. with the nhs in particular, that is probably the most politically, the mostjeopardy for the government, people care very passionately about the nhs, and there are longer term issues here about demand, staffing and the role of social care for example so a lot for rishi sunak to think about, only ten weeks on the job, of course. he says the nhs is a priority but some of his mps say that he has not got long to show that things are improving. long to show that things are improving-— long to show that things are imrovin. , ., long to show that things are imrovinu. . ., improving. many thanks, vicki young, there. millions of households on low incomes will receive further cost—of—living payments starting this spring. the department for work and pensions said that eight million people receiving benefits and on low incomes will get £900, paid in three installments. our cost of living correspondent colletta smith has the details. here at this community centre, like so many across the country, they have been working really hard this last year to help people

afford basic living costs. the government gave extra money to people who were on certain types of benefit like universal credit and tax credits. and today they have made the announcement of who they are helping how much they are giving for this coming financial year. anyone on means tested benefits should receive three payments straight into their bank accounts. the first one will be arriving the spring and it will be £301. the next one will be arriving in the autumn of this year, £300, and the final instalment will arrive in spring of 202a. just like this winter, pensioners are due another £300 next winter, 2023 into 2024, and there's a £150 payment due to anyone with a disability that should be arriving at some point this summer. and as expected, this announcement means that that £400 every household

has been receiving as a discount on your energy bills looks like it is coming to an end when we get to the end of march. that is exactly the moment that the energy price guarantee goes up by £500, making your typical bill worth £3,000 a year. so the vast majority of households will have to find an extra £900 a yearjust to cover their energy bills from the start of april. there's much more on the cost of living crisis, including a section called �*tackling it together�* on the bbc website, that's bbc.co.uk/news, and by using the bbc news app. a bbc investigation has raised questions about how the uk deals with children who are involved in extremism. it found that evidence showing the grooming and sexual exploitation of a schoolgirl was handed to m15 months before she was charged with terror offences. the case against rhianan rudd was later dropped,

after the home office concluded she was a victim of exploitation. she took her own life in a children's home last year. the case against rhianan rudd was later dropped, after the home office concluded she was a victim of exploitation. she took her own life in a children's home last year. daniel de simone reports. government found that rhianan rudd had been a victim of exploitation. just a lovely girl, she wasn't horrible in any way.- just a lovely girl, she wasn't horrible in any way. this is her mother's _ horrible in any way. this is her mother's interview. _ horrible in any way. this is her mother's interview. she - horrible in any way. this is her mother's interview. she was i horrible in any way. this is her. mother's interview. she wasjust horrible in any way. this is her- mother's interview. she wasjust a mother's interview. she was 'ust a little different. i mother's interview. she was 'ust a little different. aged �* mother's interview. she was 'ust a little different. aged 14 h mother's interview. she wasjust a little different. aged 14 rhianan i little different. aged 14 rhianan rudd became — little different. aged 14 rhianan rudd became absorbed - little different. aged 14 rhianan rudd became absorbed by - little different. aged 14 rhianan - rudd became absorbed by right-wing rudd became absorbed by right—wing extremism, neo—nazi christopher cook from his home in the us was grooming and sexually exploiting her over the internet. she met him online. we found that he was also in contact with a then partner of the mother of rhianan rudd, an american who had previously been in a white supremacist gang in the us. the evidence shows he had also influenced rhianan rudd. speak about

her mother said that she became concerned and contacted the government scheme against radicalisation, prevent. cheese came and said she — radicalisation, prevent. cheese came and said she had _ radicalisation, prevent. cheese came and said she had downloaded - radicalisation, prevent. cheese came and said she had downloaded the - radicalisation, prevent. cheese came| and said she had downloaded the pdf of how to build a bomb, and i went what was i said you cannot do that. rhianan rudd was barely involved in prevent because within weeks she was arrested. as a former terrorism suspect the de—radicalisation programme would no longer engage with her. she told police about being exploited and she was put in care, then charged with terror offences for allegedly possessing the weapon making guides. at that stage defence lawyers became involved and they wanted rhianan referred to as the tone of his unit which considers whether people are victims of trafficking and exploitation under modern slavery

laws. the government eventually concluded she was a victim of exploitation. the prosecution was abandoned. exploitation. the prosecution was abandoned-— exploitation. the prosecution was abandoned. , , ., ., , abandoned. they should have seen her as a victim rather _ abandoned. they should have seen her as a victim rather than _ abandoned. they should have seen her as a victim rather than a _ abandoned. they should have seen her as a victim rather than a terrorist. - as a victim rather than a terrorist. she was a child, an autistic child. she was a child, an autistic child. she should have been treated as a child that has been groomed and sexually exploited. we child that has been groomed and sexually exploited.— child that has been groomed and sexually exploited. we found that the authorities _ sexually exploited. we found that the authorities had _ sexually exploited. we found that the authorities had been - sexually exploited. we found that the authorities had been passed l the authorities had been passed evidence of what had been happening. an fbi investigation into christopher cook had seized images and messages showing rhianan being exploited. the fbi gave the security service m15 months, before rhianan was charged. rhianan took her own life last year in a private children's home, where she was placed. children's home, where she was laced. .., children's home, where she was elaced. . ., ., children's home, where she was laced. ., , ., placed. i called and spoke to her and i said. _ placed. i called and spoke to her and i said, there _ placed. i called and spoke to her and i said, there is _ placed. i called and spoke to her and i said, there is something i and i said, there is something wrong, please watch her, she is going to do something, and they had three police officers standing in my living room telling me that my

daughter had died. counter terror investigations _ daughter had died. counter terror investigations involving _ daughter had died. counter terror investigations involving children l investigations involving children are complex. a child can be a victim of exploitation and a threat to others. the lawyer in charge of reviewing terror laws means —— says that changes are needed in your pro to some children. you that changes are needed in your pro to some children.— to some children. you can almost have an injunction _ to some children. you can almost have an injunction as _ to some children. you can almost have an injunction as it _ to some children. you can almost have an injunction as it happens l have an injunction as it happens with anti—social behaviour, which might require you to have monitoring software on your mobile phone and that can be done quickly, and keep them out of the criminaljustice system altogether. them out of the criminal 'ustice system altogether.h them out of the criminal 'ustice system altogether. there will be an intuest system altogether. there will be an inquest into — system altogether. there will be an inquest into the _ system altogether. there will be an inquest into the death _ system altogether. there will be an inquest into the death of _ system altogether. there will be an inquest into the death of rhiannan l inquest into the death of rhiannan and no date has been set and it could be some time before the case is heard, but a government spokesman said that m15 takes its responsibilities to those who could be at risk of harm very seriously and if it learns that someone may be at risk, it will be passed on to the relevant authorities. the other organisations that we approached with their findings said that they

cannot comment until the inquest is concluded. the time is 17 minutes past six. our top story this evening. downing street says it is providing the nhs with the funding it needs — despite what it calls the "unprecedented challenge" facing the health service. and coming up, we look at why blind and partially sighted people are having to wait years for a guide dog. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel. ronaldo has been officially unveiled as an al nassr player telling those at the press conference, he has nothing left to prove in europe. thousands of people have lined the streets to say their final farewells to footballing legend, pele, as his funeral procession made its way though sao paulo. our south america correspondent katy watson was watching.

the family service is taking place behind me. if yesterday at the wake was a day of reflection, today was a day of carnival proportions with people wanting to remember and celebrate brazil's biggest name and give pele the best sendoff possible. as the wake drew to a close, the last few people waste —— raced to see pele's coffin and say their last goodbyes. he see pele's coffin and say their last aoodb es. ., , see pele's coffin and say their last aoodb es. ., goodbyes. he was a huge soccer -la er goodbyes. he was a huge soccer player here _ goodbyes. he was a huge soccer player here in — goodbyes. he was a huge soccer player here in brazil _ goodbyes. he was a huge soccer player here in brazil and - goodbyes. he was a huge soccer player here in brazil and we - goodbyes. he was a huge soccer player here in brazil and we love soccer, but he was also a huge human being. he supported a hospital in our city and he donated a lot of money to research, and that is why we are here today. he money to research, and that is why we are here today.— we are here today. he is the most known brazilian _ we are here today. he is the most known brazilian person _ we are here today. he is the most known brazilian person around - we are here today. he is the most| known brazilian person around the world, _ known brazilian person around the world, you — known brazilian person around the world, you know, pele is money, sometimes — world, you know, pele is money, sometimes i got in the us and places

and stuff_ sometimes i got in the us and places and stuff because i was brazilian and stuff because i was brazilian and people knew pele. this and stuff because i was brazilian and people knew pele.— and stuff because i was brazilian and people knew pele. this man was trueuein and people knew pele. this man was queueing again _ and people knew pele. this man was queueing again to — and people knew pele. this man was queueing again to say _ and people knew pele. this man was queueing again to say another - queueing again to say another goodbye after yesterday. pele united at all. he goodbye after yesterday. pele united at all- he was — goodbye after yesterday. pele united at all. he was humble, _ goodbye after yesterday. pele united at all. he was humble, as _ goodbye after yesterday. pele united at all. he was humble, as well- goodbye after yesterday. pele united at all. he was humble, as well as - at all. he was humble, as well as being the best player in the world. he was a marvellous human being. and then one hope royal —— high—profile visitor sped through the gates. lula! �* , , , , ., lula! pele's first presidential action since _ lula! pele's first presidential action since taking _ lula! pele's first presidential action since taking his - lula! pele's first presidential action since taking his place| lula! pele's first presidential i action since taking his place at lula! pele's first presidential - action since taking his place at the weekend, a country in mourning but deeply divided by politics. when it comes to pele, he is the only man who everyone here loves. and then the party began. what better way than a samba to celebrate this brazilian legend? this is a day of

mourning but also one of celebration as well. wanting to send off their king of football, and they are doing it in style. pele's coffin paraded through the city of santos on board a fire engine. passing by his mothers house, she turned 100 last year and what a journey that was, the head of the private burial. it is here where pele will be laid to rest. not a block of flats, a necropolis fit for a king. with an enviable view over his old football stadium, his final wish is honoured. katie watson, bbc news, santos. the british victims of a mid—air collision between two helicopters on australia's gold coast have been named. 57—year—old diane hughes and her 65—year—old husband ron were from neston in cheshire. they got married last year and were on holiday. their pilot and another passenger also died in monday's crash, as our correspondent shaimaa khalil reports.

57—year—old diane and 65—year—old ron hughes were on a visit to australia's gold coast when their holiday turned into a disaster. the couple from cheshire were among the four people who died in a helicopter mid—air collision. back home, they owned a local shop. it will now stay closed. theirfriends and neighbours are shocked. yes, it is appalling. the more you hear about it, the worse it seems. i wasjust talking to him the day before and he was looking forward to his holiday. the pilot of the destroyed helicopter the couple were in was also among those killed. 40—year—old ashleyjenkinson was one of seaworld's helicopters most experienced pilots. his friends remember him as a big guy with a big heart. a silent hero, big, gentle giant. what we did with the floods in new south wales last year it is definitely one

of the highlights of my life. if it wasn't for him, a lot of people wouldn't have got the help they got down there. this was the scene after the two choppers collided in the air. as many residents and holiday—makers looked on, stunned, while others rushed to help. the one helicopter that was taking off, it appears its main rotors have collided with the landing helicopter, caused considerable damage to the front section of that helicopter, and in the process of that collision, the main rotor blades and gearbox of the helicopter taking off had separated from the aircraft, causing it to tragically crash down onto a sand bar. the crash took place near the seaworld theme park, one of the choppers had the resort�*s branding on its hull. locals tell us that the helicopter tours are among the most famous attractions here. the wreckage of one of the helicopters and the other one were picked up earlier today and the authorities were finding it challenging to actually remove them because of the tide.

look how close it is to the seaworld theme park, a stone's throw away. earlier, we could hear holiday—makers on the rise. investigators are still trying to work out what caused the deadly collision in this popular tourist destination. for now, the tributes continue, as families mourn their loved ones with a community still in shock over the tragedy that hit their shores. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, queensland. now a look at some other stories making the news today. a woman who falsely claimed she was trafficked by an asian grooming gang has been found guilty of perverting the course ofjustice. eleanor williams accused several men of rape and alleged she had been beaten, but the jury heard she had inflicted the wounds herself. the 22—year—old from barrow—in—furness in cumbria will be sentenced in march. american football star damar hamlin is in a critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a primetime us national football league game. the buffalo bills player fell to the ground after colliding

with an opponent from the cincinnati bengals. he was treated on the field for over 30 minutes before being taken to hospital. and record temperatures in the alps has left ski resorts facing a shortage of snow. some resorts in switzerland have been forced to use artificial snow as temperatures in the country hit 20 degrees celsius, while other places have reopened their summer biking trails. during the pandemic, the charity guide dogs had to put its breeding programme on hold — and that led to a shortage of volunteers to train puppies. well, now the charity wants to recruit more people to ensure that those who need a guide dog can be matched with one. average waiting times for a new dog are 15 months — and our correspondent sean dilley has been told he'll have to wait two years for his. here's his report. are you my little star? meet archie... ..and his puppy raiser, lisa.

archie? touch! archie's getting his head around some things he may need to quit if he's to win a working harness. he'll have to learn what this is for. lisa's is one of more than 2000 households giving their time for free to help raise guide dog puppies for around a year. she is getting ready to hand her first in for advanced training. what are the emotions that are going through your head today? if i'm honest, i'd say so proud of what i've done. really proud of him! lisa hopes that both of her dogs will give somebody their independence. waiting times are long gone when i had my guide dog retire i was told i would likely wake two years. not come to the national breeding centre to find out why. bill has been

explaining to me that the weight is longerfor explaining to me that the weight is longer for guide explaining to me that the weight is longerfor guide dogs, and for research purposes i will have to stroke puppies like bill and many, many other puppies. hi, pup! are you a puppy? yes, you are! during the pandemic guide dog stopped for seven months and lost many of their puppy raisers. the time has come for fergal to start as advanced training meaning lisa must say a painful goodbye. i want him as upset as little as possible. they're his toys. there you go, you get a big—boy lead now. bye—bye, sweetheart. many guide dog users stay in touch with their puppy raisers. but many do not. thanks a lot. i'll ring you tomorrow. lisa knows this could be the last time she sees fergal. yeah, i'm fine. it's hard. but you've got to remember why you're doing it. guide dogs say they need

more volunteers like lisa to help cut waiting times. people like us are needed so much to help people like you. the tears are worth it. a walrus who appeared on the scarborough coast — attracting huge crowds and prompting the cancellation of the town's new year fireworks — has left his latest stopping point of blyth. the animal, named thor, arrived in the northumberland harbour at about midday yesterday where he rested on a pontoon. it's hoped he will head north to arctic waters. danny savage has the story. he's been on a grand tour of the uk. thor, the wandering walrus, first appeared in hampshire in the middle of last month. on new year's eve, he hauled himself up a slipway in scarborough before surfacing again in blyth in northumberland. in north yorkshire, they cancelled scarborough's fireworks display so he wasn't disturbed,

but thor didn't really care. he vanished into the north sea before the festivities were due to start. he didn't disappear for long, though. this isn't the sort of thing you usually spot through the rigging of the vessels of the royal northumberland yacht club. a pontoon in blyth, nearly 100 miles further north, was a fine resting point. they travel like thousands of miles over time because they are solitary animals, so they don't need to be anywhere in general, theyjust prefer cruising around, but as it happens, they've come down this area for some reason in the uk. today though, thor left town. described as fit and healthy, he is hopefully heading north towards colder waters, although he may turn up again on our coast en route. danny savage, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich

i wet one today. it certainly has, and more to come. many of us have seen heavy and persistent rain today. this was the scene in haverfordwest in the west of wales, and the jet stream is haverfordwest in the west of wales, and thejet stream is in quite an active mood this week. the jet stream has the winds high up in the atmosphere blowing straight across the atlantic in our direction, steering all of the weather systems towards our shores and that means there will be further spells of rain at times albeit with drier interludes in between and it will be mild and often the windy. we have all of the elements tonight, further outbreaks of rain pushing east, some brisk winds blowing the rain along with wind gusts of 40 or 50 mph in places, perhaps some clearer spells working into northern ireland or northern england and wales as the night wears on but it will be really mild, perhaps a touch of frost in the far north of scotland are elsewhere between seven and 12 degrees, higherthan elsewhere between seven and 12 degrees, higher than the daytime temperatures we should see at this time of year. into tomorrow, some

drier