when it announces it latest decision on the cost of borrowing today. i'll look at what it'll mean for your loans and mortgages. from one goal all season to three in half an hour. gabrieljesus comes to arsenal's rescue as they make it through to the semi—finals of the league cup. what if i told you that in our room there's a hidden door that leads to a secret passage from which you can spy into people's rooms? a wartime mystery for the famous five. bringing enid blyton�*s classic stories to a new generation this christmas. good morning. it is a sunny day to day that we have had of late, still some showers in the north and west, some showers in the north and west, some wintry in the hills, blustery winds and feeling cold. all of the details shortly. it's thursday, the 19th of december. our main story.

households in england and wales are expected to see their water bills rise by an average of around 20% over the next five years to fix pollution and shortages. the regulator, ofwat, will announce today how much water companies can increase bills by in april, to reduce leaks and sewage spills, and build new reservoirs. any increases will vary depending on where you live. our business editor, simonjack has this report. water, water everywhere. as an island nation, it's all around us. but for many, our seasides and rivers give off less a sense of security than a sense of risk. twice a week, rebecca sinker and herfellow action group members test the hastings shoreline for safety, and they feel let down and overcharged by the water companies. we're a coastal community and we absolutely rely on the sea. we've got a fishing industry, we've got a tourist industry, and the community that lives here uses the sea every day. we swim all year round. we absolutely rely on the health

and safety of this water. the supplier to hastings, southern water, said it was working with action groups and agencies to protect and enhance sea water quality. for over a decade, water bills have risen more slowly than inflation, one reason for underinvestment in the infrastructure, while private shareholders and executives haven't skimped on their own rewards. but today, all of that history comes together. so who is to blame for the water crisis? is it incompetent companies, greedy shareholders, bad regulators, climate change? the truth is a bit of all of those. but we are where we are, and it's hard to see an alternative to fixing this mess without pushing up bills very substantially. each regional company is asking the regulator for different bill increases. on average, they're asking for hikes of over 30% above inflation over the next five years. debt charities are warning that will heap further pressure on struggling households

and are urging them to seek help. things are definitely getting worse. i mean, we've had a 25% increase in clients with debt issues this year alone. i don't think people are aware that if they contact their water companies, they can... actually there's quite a lot of help that they can give, particularly if they're on a low income or particularly if they've got a disability. the government has ordered a complete independent review of the water industry and the mess it's in, but that won't come in time to change higher bills coming in april. simon jack, bbc news. ahead of ofwat's announcement on bills, thousands of people in hampshire have been affected by a supply fault at southern water, which has also closed schools and impacted southampton general hospital. our reporterjon cuthill is in eastleigh this morning. jon, morning to you. what a time for this to happen, what is the scale of

the problem? it is this to happen, what is the scale of the problem?— the problem? it is a biggie, naga. 58,000 peeple — the problem? it is a biggie, naga. 58,000 people without _ the problem? it is a biggie, naga. 58,000 people without water - the problem? it is a biggie, naga. 58,000 people without water or l the problem? it is a biggie, naga. i 58,000 people without water or with low water pressure and it is miserable here this morning, because people will be waking up unable to have a hot shower, bath, cup of tea, no water at all. i am at one of the water pick—up stations in eastleigh, not quite open yet, they open at 8am. southern water say they will try to open more to cope across hampshire. this place is really busy. this is about a problem at the test would supply centre, no water could leave the facility, southern water say they are working on it, it has led to the closure of schools, the hospital lately has no water but tankers are supplying them, businesses are closed and it is miserable for many people. especially those who had to come and sit in queues to pick up their own

water. ~ ., , sit in queues to pick up their own water. ~ . , ., water. we have 'ust driven for three uuarters water. we have 'ust driven for three quarters of — water. we have 'ust driven for three quarters of an — water. we have just driven for three quarters of an hour _ water. we have just driven for three quarters of an hour to, _ water. we have just driven for three quarters of an hour to, get - water. we have just driven for three quarters of an hour to, get some i quarters of an hour to, get some from _ quarters of an hour to, get some from our— quarters of an hour to, get some from our home and we have arrived and there _ from our home and we have arrived and there is— from our home and we have arrived and there is nothing, so we don't know_ and there is nothing, so we don't know what— and there is nothing, so we don't know what to do, basically. we are very thirsty- _ know what to do, basically. we are very thirsty- we — know what to do, basically. we are very thirsty. we can't _ know what to do, basically. we are very thirsty. we can't do _ know what to do, basically. we are very thirsty. we can't do anything, | very thirsty. we can't do anything, flush our toilets, _ very thirsty. we can't do anything, flush our toilets, have _ very thirsty. we can't do anything, flush our toilets, have a _ very thirsty. we can't do anything, flush our toilets, have a shower, l flush our toilets, have a shower, anything. — flush our toilets, have a shower, anything, it's not very nice. southern _ anything, it's not very nice. southern water has apologised a lot, it says that it has worked through the night to try and fix the problem. but, this is the but, it also warned yesterday that some people might not see the supplies return until the weekend. they think some people might start to see what a comeback today, but it will take a to fill their pipes. people are getting pretty cross about it and especially with the headlines in the news today, it is looking to help. indeed, thank you very much, jon. six minutes past six, there is a

case in france that everyone around the world has been following very closely and we are expecting said to sing at some point today. —— sentencing at some point today. judges in france are expected to hand down verdicts today in the high—profile case of 51 men accused of raping the same woman. gisele pelicot was repeatedly drugged by her husband, who invited men he met online to have sex with her, while she was unconscious. our reporter chris bockman is outside the court in avignon. good morning, chris. isee there good morning, chris. i see there are a large number of people gathered outside the courtroom there, take us through we understand about the proceedings and how it will unfold today. proceedings and how it will unfold toda . , ., , , ., today. indeed, this has been going on for more _ today. indeed, this has been going on for more than _ today. indeed, this has been going on for more than three _ today. indeed, this has been going on for more than three and - today. indeed, this has been going on for more than three and a - today. indeed, this has been going on for more than three and a half. on for more than three and a half months, a shocking case. we expect the verdict and sentencing within the verdict and sentencing within the next three hours from this court behind me. 50 people including dominique pelicot will learn whether they are going straight to jail. we

expect dominique pelicot to go for 20 years. he has admitted raping his ex—wife now, and inviting other people to come around and have sex with her while she was drugged. the question is, did they know that she was unconscious and she did not give permission for the sex acts to occur? their argument is they thought this couple, they thought it was their sexual game and thrill and they were invited over to participate. what is strange is that none of them thought it was important to ask the wife gisele pelicot whether she agreed or consented to that. on top of that no condoms were used and she has been infected with sexual diseases and she has also been very sick because all of the sleeping pills that her husband gave to her. herfamily life is completely wrecked as well including with her own children. that is what we are facing right now this morning.

that is what we are facing right now this morning-— that is what we are facing right now this morning. thank you very much, christmas- — four teenagers who murdered two boys in a case of mistaken identity in bristol are to be sentenced today. 15—year—old mason rist and 16—year—old max dixon were stabbed to death by a gang armed with machetes in january this year. our correspondent fiona lamdin has this report. caught on camera eating a mcdonald's breakfast hours after attacking and killing two teenage boys. 16—year—old max and 15—year—old mason had been best friends since nursery growing up together in south bristol. on a saturday night injanuary, the boys decide to go out for some food. they meet at mason's house. every second caught on cctv. just 33 seconds later, in a completely unprovoked attack, the schoolboys were stabbed with a sword and machetes. they were left dying on the street. they'd done nothing wrong. one of them's a sword.

it's a sword that is intended to cause serious harm. and there is no consequence. there is no positive consequence of using that weapon. it is a horrific weapon. probably in all my years as a police officer, one of the most horrific weapons i've seen. last month, four teenagers and a 45—year—old man were found guilty of the two murders. anthony snook was the boy's chauffeur, driving the getaway car. he's been sentenced to 38 years in prison. that night, only one person attacked my son. but there was five held accountable for his murder. and i think that sends out a big message to everybody thatjust because you didn't actually do the physical attack, if you're actually there or you're encouraging it or you're chasing, you can end up with a murder charge. intelligence is perceived naming you, along with others, as being responsible for the murders of max dixon and mason rist on saturday, the 27th ofjanuary. 18—year—old riley tolliver,

along with three other teenagers who can't be named as they are 15, i6 and 17, will be sentenced later today. he should have been safe going out at 15 years old. he should have been able to live his life and he had loads of things he wanted to do. he would never have kids, he would never get married, he would never leave school, and he would never get older in pictures. and i think that's why it's so sad. for max and mason's family, less than a week away from their first christmas without their boys, whatever the sentence, today will bring little comfort. fiona lamdin, bbc news. the rebel leader in control of syria has said the country is not a threat to its neighbours or to the west. ahmed al—sharaa, the head of the islamist militant group hts, told the bbc sanctions on the country should be lifted, insiting he does not lead a terrorist organisation. the duke of york will not be attending the traditional royal family pre—christmas lunch

at buckingham palace today. prince andrew has also pulled out of attending the christmas gathering at sandringham, after a chinese businessman, who had links with the prince, was barred from the uk on national security grounds. health experts are calling for urgent action after what they've described as a catastrophic rise in deaths from alcohol in england. more than 8,200 people died because of alcohol last year, that's 42% more than in 2019. the government says it will prioritise public health in its 10—year plan for the nhs in england. the ministry of defence is considering sending british troops to ukraine to help train its armed forces. support for ukraine was one of the topics discussed between sir keir starmer and donald trump last night. our chief political correspondent henry zeffman joins us now. so, henry, morning to you. this is a phone call and what do we get told,

what do you get told about what they spoke of? what do you get told about what they soke of? ., what do you get told about what they soke of? . �* , what do you get told about what they soke of? . �*, , spoke of? charlie, it's 'ust the latest in an i spoke of? charlie, it's 'ust the latest in an attempt _ spoke of? charlie, it'sjust the latest in an attempt by - spoke of? charlie, it'sjust the latest in an attempt by keir. spoke of? charlie, it'sjust the - latest in an attempt by keir starmer to build a rapport with the incoming president before he takes office in january. what do we get told? we get a fairly anodyne readout as it's known of what is discussed, but even from those short words from a spokesman, you can work out really what the important part of the conversation was. a downing street spokesman said that in the call the prime minister reiterated the need to ensure ukraine is in the strongest possible position. well, we know that that is a difference of emphasis at the very least from the approach that the president—elect has taken. he says that he wants the war between ukraine and russia to end on day one when he takes office. whether he is supportive of ukraine is much more in than the uk government, which under labour as under the conservatives says that it stands completely with ukraine. so it's little wonder that keir starmer wanted to talk to donald trump about

that. we also understand that the eu was discussed, another area where keir starmer and donald trump start from very different positions. keir starmer wants a reset of relations with europe, donald trump sees the eu as a bloc that is protectionist and should not be allowed to operate on the way it does. it's yet another sign that for all that there is a special relationship as british politicians repeatedly say between the uk and us, it is a complicated relationship as well and it is likely to be especially complicated when donald trump takes office. henry, for the moment, thank you. more than 50 years since its release in 1973, eltonjohn's step into christmas video has been given a whole new look. did you see he was playing elton

john? cara delevigne. yeah, the model. sir elton has said that he met cara delevingne at glastonbury this summer, where the pair discussed how they would love to work together "if the right idea came up". i think she is brilliant. there you go. i think she is brilliant. there you io, , i think she is brilliant. there you no. , a i think she is brilliant. there you 90-_ a new— i think she is brilliant. there you go._ a new take. - i think she is brilliant. there you go._ a new take. go. interesting. a new take. who do ou think go. interesting. a new take. who do you think would _ go. interesting. a new take. who do you think would play _ go. interesting. a new take. who do you think would play carol— go. interesting. a new take. who do you think would play carol in - go. interesting. a new take. who do you think would play carol in a - you think would play carol in a video? ,, , , �* ., video? she is listening, so i'm not auoin to video? she is listening, so i'm not going to say- _ video? she is listening, so i'm not going to say- you _ video? she is listening, so i'm not going to say. you can _ video? she is listening, so i'm not going to say. you can feel- video? she is listening, so i'm not going to say. you can feel her- video? she is listening, so i'm not| going to say. you can feel her eyes borin: going to say. you can feel her eyes boring into — going to say. you can feel her eyes boring into the _ going to say. you can feel her eyes boring into the side _ going to say. you can feel her eyes boring into the side of _ going to say. you can feel her eyes boring into the side of your- going to say. you can feel her eyes boring into the side of your head! l going to say. you can feel her eyes boring into the side of your head! i | boring into the side of your head! i am saying nothing! i should learn that lesson from time to time. absolutely, naga, that should be your new year's resolution. yeah, fat chance! _ your new year's resolution. yeah, fat chance! good _ your new year's resolution. yeah, fat chance! good morning - your new year's resolution. yeah, l fat chance! good morning everyone. toda is fat chance! good morning everyone. today is generally _ fat chance! good morning everyone. today is generally going _ fat chance! good morning everyone. today is generally going to - fat chance! good morning everyone. today is generally going to be - fat chance! good morning everyone. today is generally going to be cold l today is generally going to be cold and blustery, and more sunshine across the board then we have seen.

there are some showers in the forecast. first of all we have got to get rid of the dregs from the south—east. we had a lot of rain in england and wales last night, then blue skies, showers in the north, also the west, some coming in across the likes of cheshire down towards birmingham. and temperature wise today, in the wind it is feel cold. it will feel like a day for wrapping up it will feel like a day for wrapping up warmly again with the wind chill. we might have an early frost to start with, when the across the north as we go to the night is a weather front approaches, bringing in cloud and more rain. temperatures tonight, four in stornoway with the cloud and rain but with the clearer skies further south, it will be cold, —i in norwich. tomorrow we start off with some sunshine first

thing in the morning, across the south—east, the cloud building as the weather front continues to drift steadily south and east, taking cloud and rain with it. behind it you will find a return to brighter skies, sunny spells and still some showers. temperatures up on today, eight in aberdeen to ii in the south—west and the channel islands. just a heads up if you are travelling at the weekend, saturday and sunday are both looking particularly windy. saturday, the met office has weather warnings out for the north and west of the country, for