john mcmanus reports. lifeline for around 2.4 million motorists who have some form of disability. blue badges allow holders to park free of charge in pay—and—display bays, and for up to three hours on yellow lines. that makes the permits very valuable, and the number of badges reported as stolen rose to more than 4,000 last year. yet data from the department for transport and analysed by the press association shows that most councils in england, including middlesbrough, nottingham and shropshire, failed to take action against a single motorist for misusing the permits over the last 12 months. of those that did, the largest number of prosecutions were in three boroughs, hammersmith & fulham, newham in london, and leeds. i think the figures show that councils will enforce where they've got the evidence. you know, this is a hard crime to prove. clearly, we have to stick around and find out when we see somebody using a blue badge, we have to gain a large amount of evidence before we prosecute. the disability c

john mcmanus, bbc news.o effect tomorrow. crews will have to take fish back to port that would normally have been discarded to prevent them going over quotas. a house of lords committee says it's concerned about how the scheme will work. catriona renton has more. new rules mean from tomorrow any fish caught by british trawlers must be landed. in the past, fish that took boats over their quota would be thrown overboard or discarded. the aim is to avoid wasting fish and to encourage crews to be more selective. the scottish fishing federation says the laws are well intended, but it's the fallout that could cause problems. everyone, most especially including the scots fishing industry, is instinctively against discarding. so, the problem is agreed. the solution is not agreed. peterhead is the biggest white fish port in europe. here, a variety of fish, including haddock, cod, whiting and plaice are caught at the same time. different types of fish have different quotas. but according to the new rules, when a boat

john mcmanus reports.ave struggled to stop illicit mobile phones making their way into prisons. along with drugs, they are big business behind bars because they allow some offenders to maintain contact with criminal associates. some gangs have resorted to using drones to deliver them over prison walls. stamping out their use has been a priority. hello. but now, the government says that thousands of prisoners will in future be able to make calls on landlines from their own cells. the scheme has already been tried at 20 prisons in england and wales, like here at 0akwood prison. that number will rise to 50 by march 2020. the government says it is vital that prisoners maintain contact with those most able to support their rehabilitation — theirfamilies. one of the things that helps reduce reoffending is maintaining family ties. i think it is really important that we allow prisoners the opportunity to maintain those family ties, maintain links with their loved ones, because, when they are released, those relati

john mcmanus, bbc news. two people have died following a crash on the a13 in east london.ng in the wrong direction down the carriageway in dagenham at 1.45 this morning. shortly afterwards, the car was involved in a collision with a taxi heading in the opposite direction. a woman in her 70s and a man in his 40s have died. extra protection has been given to a statue of the suffragette, emmeline pankhurst, in westminster. it was unveiled in 1930 and has been in its current spot — close to the house of lords — since 1959. in september, plans to move the statue to another location were dropped after a public outcry. its upgraded listed status means it now has greater protection against being re—located, altered or demolished. fewer than half of people over the age of 40 in england have taken up a free health check that could lower their risk of developing dementia. the 20 minute assessment, which screens for heart problems, kidney disease and type two diabetes, has only been taken by a minority of the 15—million people eligible for it over the past five years. the governing al

john mcmanus, bbc news.thousands of passengers had their christmas travel plans disrupted, but many will be worrying about how much money they've lost. gompertz is here. what financial help can passengers expect? if you have been caught up in this mess, your first recourse should be to the carrier, the airline, that has a responsibility to get you to your destination as they have promised, even if it is after a period of time, or to give you a refund. the waters have been slightly muddied today because the transport secretary chris grayling has said this is something that should be covered under travel insurance policies, and that they should take an enlightened view about paying people out. there has been a bit of pushback from insurers basically saying that where people have an appropriate policy that does cover them then they will pay out, but that doesn't apply to everybody. i think what's behind this is the worry that insurers might have resorted to the protection of defining this as a terrorist inciden

john mcmanus reports. motorists who have some form of disability. blue badges allow holders to park free of charge in pay—and—display bays, and for up to three hours on yellow lines. that makes them potentially very valuable, and the number of badges reported as stolen rose to more than 4,000 last year. yet data from the department for transport shows that most councils in england, including middlesbrough, nottingham and shropshire, failed to take action against a single motorist for misusing the permits over the last 12 months. of those that did, the largest number of prosecutions were in three boroughs — hammersmith & fulham, and newham in london, and leeds. the body representing english local authorities has said tight finances are a problem but prosecutions have almost doubles over the last four years and that some help from a vigilant public is welcome. not all people that use blue badges have a disability that is visible. so, sometimes people misunderstand why somebody might have a blue badge. but it

john mcmanus, bbc news.aigns manger at the charity scope. welcome to you. we have two big issues there, thefts first of all. up issues there, thefts first of all. up 45% in the last 12 months on the previous year, a huge rise, and then the misuse of blue badges and lack of prosecution. how do you propose dealing with these issues? it's shocking to see the high rise in theft of blue badges and people not dealing with it properly. we want to see great action by councils in dealing with this. it starts by increasing awareness of the importance of blue badges for disabled people. it is about starting to take it seriously and acting on this important issue for many disabled people. do you think it's about councils not taking the issue seriously or is it about them being cash strapped and this falling down the list of priorities?m being cash strapped and this falling down the list of priorities? it can vary. i think what the figures show todayis vary. i think what the figures show today is council simply aren't do

john mcmanus reports. over prison walls. stamping out their use has been a priority. hello. but now, the government says that thousands of prisoners will in future be able to make calls on landlines from their own cells. the scheme has already been tried at 20 prisons in england and wales, like here at 0akwood prison. that number will rise to 50 by march 2020. the government says it is vital that prisoners maintain contact with those most able to support their rehabilitation — theirfamilies. one of the things that helps reduce reoffending is maintaining family ties. i think it is really important that we allow prisoners the opportunity to maintain those family ties, maintain links with their loved ones, because, when they are released, those relationships are going to be really important in keeping them on the straight and narrow. but the idea of making prison life more comfortable has been criticised by the conservative mp and former shadow home affairs minister andrew rossindell will, who tweeted he thou

john mcmanus, bbc news.a from gatwick yesterday morning with her family, and is now on a coach to birmingham to get a flight out. shejoins us now. welcome, i am is rated at you and these circumstances. explain where you are and where you are going to?|j circumstances. explain where you are and where you are going to? i am on and where you are going to? i am on a couch heading to birmingham airport. since yesterday morning, 11am, i was supposed to be on a flight, 11am, i was supposed to be on a flight, we were delayed all day today and yesterday, it was cancelled. we were told we could leave this morning, and now we are on our way to birmingham. how well—informed where you kept? on our way to birmingham. how well-informed where you kept? as the company, not very well. the app never had information on it, you would go back every half an hour, there would be no new information. it was down to my husband checking online, checking the news, we were getting more information via that than from the airport and from t

john mcmanus, bbc news. let's take a look at some of today's other news.nd a man has been arrested at luton airport on suspicion of terrorism offences relating to syria. the 32—year—old was detained by counter—terror police officers last night. he arrived at the airport on an inbound flight. he was taken to a police station in the bedfordshire area, where he remains in custody. the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, has urged the prime minister to cut short mps‘ christmas break to allow for an earlier vote on her brexit deal. mps are due back in the commons on the 7th of january, and theresa may has said the vote on the eu withdrawal agreement will take place the following week. however, mr corbyn said it must happen "as soon as possible". royal mail has apologised over a stamp produced to commemorate the d—day landings which actually showed us troops on a beach in asia. it was said to depict the normandy landings but was actually taken in what is modern—day indonesia. the stamp was due to be released next year in a "best of british" collection. more than half

john mcmanus, bbc news. two british women and a killed when a car crashed in iceland.eriously injured. —— during the country. 20—year—old aaron soft from sutherland was working on a cruise ship when he disappeared. he failed to turn up for work and the alarm was not raised until much later. the headlines on bbc news... three men have been found guilty of the murder of five people who died after an explosion in a shop in leicester in february. the music retailer hmv is being put into administration placing more than two thousand jobs at risk. after a surge in the number of migrants crossing from france — calls to step up patrols in the english channel. time for sport. good afternoon. 0le gunnar solksjaer has asked romelu lukaku and alexis sanchez to follow the example of paul pogba at manchester united by stepping up their game. both players have struggled for form this season and their new caretaker manager couldn't say if either will go straight back into the side once they're fit. united's next game in the prmier league is on sunday the premier league is on sunday ag

well, our reporter john mcmanus is at court and can tell us more.—year—old fatah mohammed abdullah appeared in court number one at westminster magistrates‘ court this morning. he answered the charge of intention to commit acts of terror, namely purchasing a knife, a bala klava, of terror, namely purchasing a knife, a balaklava, and explosive precursors, and searching the internet for guides on how to make explosives and four other components such as a explosives and four other components such as a pressure explosives and four other components such as a pressure cooker and nails. 33—year—old mr abdullah denied the charges. he did not speak much during the court hearing apart from to confirm his name and his address in newcastle. he adds the court to grant him bail, but after a consultation, the magistrate declined to give him the bill, and he was returned to custody. the case has been sent for trial at the central criminal court at the old bailey, to start on the 14th of january next year. campaigners are urging the government not to issue prison off

john mcmanus, bbc news.ness me, that is very far away. it's 7:10. people with a relative in residential care will know that giving our loved ones a good quality of life is about much more than just meeting physical requirements. earlier this year, regulator the care quality commission reminded providers that they must also look after spiritual, cultural and religious needs too. so, as part of our who cares? series, jayne mccubbin has been to find out more about the benefits of culturally appropriate care. come on, you know this song. all of you know this song. they are working out at the african caribbean care centre in moss side in manchester. so, i‘ve come out to do falls prevention, to strengthen their legs. what‘s on the playlist? # the way that it should be... the kind of music that will inspire them, like little millie and john holt, and all of those kind of classics. it just itjust reminds them, it takes them back. # if you would only let it be... this day care centre is in the heart of an area in man

hazel irvine, along with john parrott and alan mcmanus casts an eye over the day's action.hes to enjoy. the defending champion ronnie 0'sullivan against martin o'donnell. this was a really the case, concentrated performance form the rocket today wasn't sometimes, they don't quite know the style. he was very focused and as ever, be read to seek win the match. there was a shaky part what she then recovered and does what ronnie 0'sullivan does. he's few to an 11th semifinal and this is dead. the record still lies. something of a surprise, he's playing tom ford. great day for him. yes. i'm good pulse with tom and i'm really pleased for him. he has lived in mock selby's shadow for a number of years. it is good to see him up there challenging. we wish him well. he has a tough ask against ronnie 0'sullivan but he has a game which is the important thing. what kind of evening could be be in for this evening? a slugfest. there is the players, no quarter given between them. they will block at work. players, no quarter given between them. they will block at workm players, no quarter gi

well, our reporterjohn mcmanus is at the court and can tell us more. this afternoon, john.hammed al—abdullah appeared behind me to a nswer al—abdullah appeared behind me to answer the charge. he spoke very little except to confirm his age of 33, the fact that he was originally from iran and he currently lives in newcastle. he denies the charges but the prosecution told the magistrate that there was evidence that he had purchased a knife, a balaclava and explosive precursors, and also there had been evidence he had been searching the internet for explosives guide and other components such as a pressure cooker and nails. he said very little but he did confirm he was refusing legal representation at the court today. we also heard he hadn't had any representation during any of his interviews with police officers. the court has heard now that he has been remanded in custody and his application for bail was refused and he will be trialled on the 14th of january at the old bailey. thank you. campaigners are urging the government to stop plans to issue prison officers with a synthe

also winners yesterderday the four—time world champion john higgins has hinted that he might retire from snooker, after losing to fellow scot alan mcmanus—3 down to win the match 6—5. higgins failed to make a break over 50. he said it was the wost he had ever felt in his career. he said it was the worst he had ever felt in his career. you can follow the sticker today on the bbc sport website and also details of the scottish league cup final coming up between celtic and aberdeen. a lot of fa cup goals on there as well and lots more reaction to tyson fury‘s draw against deontay wilder in the wbc heavyweight bout in the early hours of this morning. i will be back with more in the next hour. thank you very much indeed. parents should not expect schools to police children's eating and exercise, or toilet train pupils — according to england's chief inspector of education. amanda spielman will argue that the answer to the obesity crisis lies in the home, and that parents should not "abdicate responsibility". neither can schools be a "panacea" for knife crime or child neglect. our correspondentjenny kumah is here now. what else has she been say

the four—time world champion john higgins has hinted that he might retire from snooker after losing to fellow scot alan mcmanus mcmanus came from 5—3 down to win the match 6—5. higgins failed to make a break over 50. he said it was the wost he had ever felt in his career. uk championship snooker coverage continues across the bbc. i will be back with more sport after ten o'clock. now it is time for the papers. hello and welcome to our sunday morning paper review. with me are the sunday times‘ rosamund urwin and political commentator james millar. welcome to you both. thanks for being with us. let's take a look at the front pages. the observer leads on reports that centralfigures in labour are urging the party to be ready to campaign for a possible second referendum on europe. the sunday times says the democratic unionist party willjoin forces with labour and other opposition parties in a bid to force the government to publish its legal advice on brexit, a move that could delay the crucial vote on theresa may's brexit plan. and it's a leak of that legal advice from the attorney general which makes the front page

john higgins has hinted that he might retire from snooker, after losing to fellow scot alan mcmanus inar from his best and failed to make a single break over 50. mcmanus calmly came from behind to win the next three to take the match. higgins said the defeat was the wost he had everfelt in his career. that's all the sport for now. a series of aftershocks have rocked the us state of alaska after a devastating earthquake struck its biggest city damaging buildings and forcing people to run into the streets. the quake was centred about 7 miles north of the city of anchorage but there are no reports of any serious injuries. 0ur north america correspondent, james cook is in alaska. we are now very close to where these epicentre of this seven magnitude earthquake rattled arrest scott, and as you can see, they are working hard to try to clear away the damage. they're worried about this piece of road, because there have been many many aftershocks. they want to get this unstable ground removed as quickly as possible. there is a crack running along there as well as you can see, you can also see a

the four—time world champion john higgins has hinted that he might retire from snooker, after losing to fellow scot alan mcmanust he had ever felt in his career. lets just return to football and the match at at leicester city yesterday, where the visiting watford fans displayed banners before kick off in tribute to the late foxes owner who along with four others died in a helicopter crash at the ground in october. one banner read, "thank you vichai for allowing us all to dream". his son, leicesters vice—chairman was so moved by the gesture that he gave free food and drink to all three—thousand travelling. leicester went on to win 2—0. lovely, those banners that they raised a lot of money. it had about £1500 left over from raised a lot of money. it had about £1500 left overfrom building raised a lot of money. it had about £1500 left over from building those banners and they gave it to a foundation and charity that was set up foundation and charity that was set up after the terrible crash. a lovely gesture and they all got free food from the owner's sun, who was there. it is wonderful to see when there. it is won

the four—time world champion john higgins has hinted that he might retire from snooker, after losing to fellow scot alan mcmanusorning. no matter what you think about him, a controversial. more on that in the next half—hour. after more than 50 years of sci—fi adventures ‘doctor who' has entered a new era that embraces inclusivity with the first female doctor and a diverse cast of companions. tonight the show introduces the first blind actor, before we speak to her, let's take a look at where the tardis has taken the time lord this season. iam the i am the doctor. when people need help, i never refused. who is she? she is in charge. says who? i'm just a traveller. sometimes i get —— c needs —— sometimes i see things need fixing. ido sometimes i see things need fixing. i do what i can. it is amazing. delighted to say. ellie wallwork, who 5tar5 in tonight's episode, joins us now. we were chatting a moment ago and he 5aid we were chatting a moment ago and he said you are in shock that you are evenin said you are in shock that you are even in who. happy find out you got the part? i am with an agency who works with d

the four—time world champion john higgins has hinted that he might retire from snooker after losing to fellow scot alan mcmanusorst he had ever felt in his career. will that be coming towards the end of his career? let's just return to football and the match at at leicester city yesterday, where the visiting watford fans displayed banners before kick—off in tribute to the late foxes owner who, along with four others, died in that terrible helicopter crash at the ground in october. one banner read, "thank you, vichai, for allowing us all to dream." he was putting all that money into the leicester city team that won that miraculous title a couple of seasons ago. his son, leicester's vice—chairman, was so moved by the gesture that he gave free food and drink to all 3,000 travelling fans. leicester went on to win 2—0. leicester results seem a bit irreleva nt leicester results seem a bit irrelevant at the moment but a wonderful gesture from the vice—chairman, but an even greater gesture from the watford fans. i love that, allowing us all to dream, that incredible leicester city title, clubs like watford, you know,