phil mackie reports.ated 70 years ago. they include some of the nation's most beautiful landscapes, like the lake district. the problem, according to the review, is that too few people are enjoying them — and, when they do go, they don't spend enough time there. it says that every schoolchild in england should be given a chance to visit one of the ten parks and 3a aonbs and spend the night there, under the stars. it says it has a big, bold plan, including 27 recommendations. among them, it says there should be a new national landscapes service to bring the national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty together, programmes to increase the number of visitors from black and minority ethnic communities, and the creation of a housing association to build affordable homes within the parks. it also wants park rangers to be introduced, similar to those who patrol national parks in the united states. huge numbers of people in our country come and love places like this wonderful spot in the peak district w

phil mackie, bbc news, walsall.rity in the middle east after attacks on saudi oil plants that risk disrupting global energy supplies. us secretary of state mike pompeo has blamed iran for yesterday's drone attacks, but iran has accused him of deceit. our correspondent nawal al—maghafi is here to consider the implications. the aftermath of ten drone attacks that struck at the heart of saudi arabia's oil industry — disrupting the world's supplies. the missiles hit hijra khurais, one of the country's largest oil fields, and abqaiq, which processes about 8% of the world's total oil daily and is the world's biggest crude stabilization facility, really hitting the heart of the saudi economy. more importantly, it's escalating tensions between saudi arabia and the united states on one side, iran on the other. america has blamed iran directly, but they say that the us is using it as an excuse to instigate war. houthi rebels, backed by iran, claimed responsibility. if true, it would be the biggest attacks in saudi arabia inte

phil mackie, bbc news, walsall. intercepted in the channel. they were stopped by the uk border force and brought ashore to be medically checked and questioned by immigration officials. they were of iranian, afghan, turkish and malian descent. prince william has praised the former welsh rugby international gareth thomas as a legend after revealing he's hiv—positive. thomas, who came out as gay ten years ago, says he's been living with the virus ‘for years' and had kept it secret because he feared he'd be ‘treated like a leper‘. daniel davies reports. dawn on the first day of living publicly with hiv. gareth thomas embarked on the ultra endurance ironman wales triathlon today after revealing a medical condition he'd tried to keep secret. i've got hiv, and it's ok, like. that's what i want to learn more than anything. this is how he first came to prominence, breaking records on the rugby field, known to fans as alfie. he came out as gay at the end of his playing career. now, in a bbc documentary, he says he wants to br

phil mackie, bbc news, smethwick.rs who eventually made peace — the unionist ian paisley and former ira chief martin mcguinness. this report from our ireland correspondent chris page their portraits now hang instalment, is testament to the unlikeliest of political alliances. 12 years ago in paisley and martin mcguinness went into government together, as the first and deputy first ministers of northern ireland. but the new bbc series, spotlight on the trouble is, a secret history, shows how remarkable their journeys a secret history, shows how remarkable theirjourneys were. a very dangerous alarm clock timer, that could blow them all to hell. who do you recognise? who do i reckon eyes? well, there is martin. he is the person you're referring to is martin? martin mcguinness. i research and that is him?|j is martin? martin mcguinness. i research and that is him? i am certain about is him at the back of the car. nobody walks like him. half an abbott later, this happened in the city centre. the number plate in the city cen

phil mackie, bbc news, smethwick.ade peace — the unionist ian paisley and the former ira chief, martin mcguinness. this report from our ireland correspondent, chris page. their portraits now hang in stormont as testament to the unlikeliest of political alliances. 12 years ago, ian paisley and martin mcguinness went in to government together as the first and deputy first ministers of northern ireland. but the new bbc series — spotlight on the troubles: secret history — shows how remarkable theirjourneys were. in the early 1970s martin mcguinness was an ira commander in londonderry. the programme makers uncovered this footage of republicans assembling and priming a car bomb. there is a huge charge there. a very dangerous alarm clock timer. that could blow them all to hell. who do you recognise? who do i recognise? well, there's martin. who is the person you are referring to as martin? martin mcguinness. are you certain that's him? i'm certain that he's filmed at the end there walking across the back of the car, yeah. no

frankie very much, phil mackie. —— thank you very much.is morning we'll be speaking to kevin schofield from the website politics home and professor of politics chris hanretty, who should be able tpo answer any questions you might have — the contact details are on your screen now. it time for a look at the weather forecast with simon. good morning, everyone. we have a rather grey start to the day, outbreaks of rain across much of the uk this morning. let's look at our weather watcher photo from blackpool. lots of cloud around. from the satellite picture here you conceal this cloud moving south. we have some breaks in the cloud across scotland and northern ireland, sunny spells breaking through and gradually that sunshine will extend further south. we had some showers for a time across england and wales, more limited toward southern areas this afternoon. even when we have the sunshine, there is still the risk of showers moving in, maximum temperatures today up to about 16 to 19 degrees. for the cricket at old trafford, raining at the moment,

phil mackie, bbc news.sands people could storm the top secret us military base known as area 51 last night turned out to be unfounded. more than three million responded to a facebook post injune calling for people to raid the facility in nevada in an attempt to uncover evidence of extra—terrestrial life. in the end, though, only around 75 people turned up, many of them in costume. no—one actually attempted to enter the site, which has long fascinated conspiracy theorists. that was rumoured and speculated about for so long on social media andi about for so long on social media and i was expecting it to be massive. were you going to go? i was not going to go. not really 3 million, was it? it's time for a look at this morning's newspapers. the daily telegraph leads on a leaked memo from brussels, which it says has "dismissed" the uk's new proposals for an alternative to the backstop. the main picture is of the duke and duchess of sussex who are attending the wedding of a friend in italy this weekend. the times

phil mackie, bbc news.could storm the top—secret us military base known as area 51 last night turned out to be unfounded. more than three million responded to a facebook post injune, calling for people to raid the facility in nevada in an attempt to uncover evidence of extra—terrestrial life. in the end, though, only around 75 people turned up, many of them in costume. dressed in green. two of them in green. no—one actually attempted to enter the site, which has long been the focus of conspiracy theories. a bit ofa a bit of a damp squib. what happened? were a bit of a damp squib. what happened 7 were they a bit of a damp squib. what happened? were they intercepted? who knows! let's return to our top story now. this will cause all sorts of issues for a lot of people and it is important we look at it in detail. thomas cook has asked the government for financial help as it races against time to avoid collapse. britain's oldest package holiday firm needs to find £200 million to secure a rescue deal. we're joine

phil mackie, bbc news. there were fears in the united states that area 51 was potentially going to be think 3 million on facebook said that they would be there and that the authorities were there and that the authorities were there in force and this is debate as it happened... dramatic in green costu mes. u nfortu nately, 3 it happened... dramatic in green costumes. unfortunately, 3 million did not turn up — around about 75 dead. many in costumes and no one actually attempted to enter the site. —— around about 75 turned up. maybe the 2 million plus were abducted by aliens? made vanished into the ether? we will never know. let's return to our top story now. thomas cook has asked the government for financial help as it races against time to avoid collapse. britain's oldest package holiday firm needs to find £200 million pounds to secure a rescue deal. the uncertainty is causing problems for many travellers. not necessarily actual problems right now, but in terms of what they will need to do over the next couple of weeks. let's speak to the travel editor of the independent, simon calder,

nigel farage took more than a third of the votes across the west midlands — and our correspondent phil mackiehe brexit crisis, businesses across the country still have high—pressure jobs to do. this firm wants to expand, but, before it can put plans in place, it needs an end to the uncertainty. it's all a bit of a shambles at the moment. hopefully, it'll sort itself out, but i can't see anything happening at the moment. what would you like to happen? to get the deal done, and for the country to get back as normal as possible. this part of the west midlands, the black country, voted very strongly to leave in the referendum three years ago. it is also a labour heartland, so it's places like this that will become key election battle grounds. but, despite the fact they export to europe here, and there is a great deal of uncertainty, nobody has really changed their opinions on brexit. they are making tools and parts for companies like rolls—royce and jaguar land rover, but, although he didn't want brexit, the boss thinks it should happen. we've got to leave. the level of damage politically caused

phil mackie, bbc news, smethwick. time for a look at the weather. here's darren bett. the prospects look better for this weekend. we have cloud bringing with it grey skies and rain and drizzle but further north the cloud is breaking up and we are seeing some sunshine and showers. we can see the mixture on the satellite. the cloud is being pushed down toward southern parts where it will stay damp for much of the afternoon. we have showers further north where temperatures are pretty much where they were yesterday but it is a chilly day across southern areas. we could get one or two showers at old trafford later. the showers become fewer overnight and the wind direction changes. most places become dry. it will be cooler than last night. we are drawing down some cooler air just last night. we are drawing down some cooler airjust in time for the weekend and that comes around this area of ever present high pressure to the south—west of the uk. those weather fronts will keep at bay until much later in the weekend. a lot of dry weather to come. it looks as if it will be dry on

phil mackie is at the hereford livestock market for us this morning, talking no deal with farmers.mmons last night? i don't think it is just hereford livestock market that feel exasperated but most of the country, thatis exasperated but most of the country, that is the impression you get. there are 8000 sheep for sale here today, a lot of them will be exported, most of those to europe. if there is a no—deal brexit come on the 1st of november there will be a a8% tariff imposed on sheep exports. they could probably fetch around £75 each but that price could drop dramatically on november the 1st hot the auctioneer and a farm art with me. richard, what do you think will happen but firstly what you think the situation in westminster? it's diabolical, i should think our mps are the most unpopular now than they have been at the whole of history and they need to get together to get behind the government. you cannot have a negotiation, you should have two doors, one chance and another chance and if you shut one thought you only have one avenue to take and then you're up against the wall. yo

all of which means more confusion for business. 0ur correspondent phil mackie sent us this update frome parts for rolls—royce and jaguar land rover, but they also export to germany, so naturally you would expect them to be worried about a no—deal brexit and what may happen in the coming months, but remember this is a strongly leave—voting area and a strongly labour—voting area, so it'd be interesting to get the views of a member of staff and the acting managing director. josh, you're a machinist here, 23 years old, you voted leave, probably onlyjust old enough to vote in the referendum a few years ago. are you still convinced it is right for the country? in the long—term i think it would be the best solution for us. short—term, there will be consequences to leaving the eu, it is big for the country. anyone who voted leave and didn't expect some form of uproar for the first five to ten years i think was quite naive. what we have seen at the moment with the government, i don't think we expected the shambles it has turned out to be with regards to multiple prime ministers. is there a way