runcorn— widnes bridge now closes for the year for repairs. now closes for the yearfor repairs. when it opens, both mersey crossings will be told. locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee, but there's real anger among the jewel —— individuals and businesses will have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use onceit the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for. in 2042. students across the uk are settling into their new university courses, but it's fair to say some freshers have a little bit more life experience than others. in fact, a select group of students are nearer to 80 than 18 and our education correspondent sean coughlan has been along to meet some of them. the report of a particular case... forget the usual stereotypes about student. neat maureen matthews who is just starting a law degree at the tender age of 79. i may look old but inside there is a younger person still coming out with the same aspirations. this isn't an evening course, she will be studying full—time for the next three

the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs.e tolled. locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. time for a look at the weather. lets join darren for the forecast. some damaging winds as ex—hurricane ophelia arrives. it will drive off further north, not quite as warm. it will be 20, 20 further north, not quite as warm. it will be 20,20 2 further north, not quite as warm. it will be 20, 20 2 degrees further north, not quite as warm. it will be 20,20 2 degrees in further north, not quite as warm. it will be 20, 20 2 degrees in the south.

it is an ex—runcorn and widnes in cheshire.r firework display a few hours before the new bridge opened. it links widnes on the north bank and runcorn on the south. tolls aside, the locals approve. it's very smart. it reminds me of the one in america. i think it's brilliant. a long—time overdue. yeah, it's a fantastic development. and just past midnight the bridge was opened. hundreds of bikers among the first to cross. the mersey gateway bridge is the biggest civil engineering project in the country, outside london. the total cost is more than £1.8 billion. 20 million vehicles every year are expected to use it and its 810 miles of cable would stretch from lands end tojohn 0'groats. the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs. when it opens, both mersey crossings will be tolled. locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. the weat

the old runcorn widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs.free if they pay a registration fee, but there is real anger among individuals and businesses who have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it's paid for — in 2042. won't believe you like over the bridge? if you were to just float gently in a hot—air balloon. that they have been doing in albuquerque, new mexico, for an annual balloon festival. i can't they give a better way of getting a view of that new bridge. maybe someone view of that new bridge. maybe someone has done that already. but this is quite a skyline shot. much of it takes place over the desert in new mexico so you get that kind of stark contrast between these creative, imaginative designs and the landscape below. and lots of these are sponsored by commercial companies who will be desperately hoping that there is end up on the front of the local papers. and you also get lots of cartoon characters. anyone here who goes to the international balloon fiesta in the still will note all about

the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs.n fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. thousands of people have been gathering to watch this mass of ascension of hot—air balloons on the last weekend of the international balloon fiesta in new mexico. the festival is held against the backdrop of the regions desert landscape, you can imagine how beautiful it is. it includes inflata ble beautiful it is. it includes inflatable characters hovering over the city, joining the traditional hot—air balloons. as if that's not enough you can also partake in some chainsaw carving. there you go. let's find out how the weather is looking. pretty mild out there at the moment and temperatures will not drop through the night too badly, strongest across western areas, gale force highlands and islands later on iof rain force highlands and islands later on i of rain and heavy and persistent spot of rain and drizzle mo

the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs.. locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. now we've heard from ben rich, for some variety, we're giving you the weather with darren bet. damaging winds on the way early next week in western parts of the uk. hurricane ophelia arrives. today we've got a southerly breeze, drawing up warmth, especially where we get the sunshine more widely across england and wales. drying off further north away from the north west of scotland, not as warm here. in england and wales, temperatures widely 18 to 20 degrees. locally 22 or so towards the south—east. overnight, we see the rain getting heavier and steadier in north—west scotland. otherwise dry and clearer skies, areas of mist and low cloud particularly in the west. you'll notice a very mild night, lows of 12 or 13 degrees. warming up quickly where we get the sunshi

the old runcorn widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs.hey pay a registration fee, but there is real anger among individuals and businesses who have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free the year's biggest literary prize, the man booker award, will be revealed next week. between now and then we'll be previewing the six—shortlisted titles here on bbc news. our look at the nominees continues today with george saunders discussing his debut novel lincoln in the bardo — about the us president's reaction to the death of his son william. the idea came from a story that i heard 20 years ago, and the story was that while lincoln was president, his beloved son willie died, and lincoln was so grief—stricken that he actually entered the crypt on several occasions and actually interacted with the body. an exceedingly tall and unkempt fellow was making his way toward us through the darkness. this was highly irregular. it was after hours. the front gate would be locked. the form of the book was actually a big problem. so finally

the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs.locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. there'll be an emergency meeting today, involving the organisers of the oscars. they'll discuss the disgraced film executive harvey weinstein. the academy of motion picture arts and scienses has awarded 81 oscars to films produced by his company and say the claims are repugnant. facing possible expulsion from the organisation that catapulted him to stardom, harvey weinstein‘s future is hanging in the balance. normally known for its glitz and glamour, the academy which organises the oscars will hold an emergency meeting later, rocked by allegations that the man behind some of hollywood's biggest films sexually harassed and assaulted dozens of women. he is someone who is different from the person i knew and the person who was involved for many years in democratic po

the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for the year for repairs. registration fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for...in 2042. well, like i say a hefty pricetag, but is it worth it? one of the things we will talk about is that there has been so much fantastic progress on this. it's been in construction for three years. i have with me the main consultant behind the bridge. you must be pretty happy with the result? absolutely delighted. it feels like a long time, but last night was a fantastic success. it was a real occasion to celebrate. there's a lot of traffic management all over the place, but here we are and it's looking really good. we are very proud of the assets we have been provided. this is one of the biggest infrastructure projects outside of london and england. what type of challenges come without? we are standing right beside the river at the moment. it caught us a little bit by surprise. it was a very free—flo

it links widnes on the north bank and runcorn on the south. tolls aside, the locals approve.e. it reminds me of the one in america. it is a lovely bridge. long time overdue. it is really fantastic as a development. just past midnight, the bridge was opened, and bikers were amongst the first to cross. the mersey gateway bridge is the biggest civil engineering project in the country outside london. the total cost is more than £1.8 billion. 20 million vehicles a year are expected to use it. and its 810 miles of cable would stretch from lands end tojon 0'groats. the old bridge now closes for a yearfor repairs. when it reopens, both mersey crossings will be tolled. locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee. but there is real anger amongst locals who have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it's paid for, in 20a2. andy gill, bbc news, cheshire. students across the uk have been settling into their new university courses, but some freshers have more life experience than others. in fact, some are nearer 80 than 18. 0ur education corre

the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for the year for repairs. a registration fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. there is a hefty price tag with this bridge to pay off. we will speak now to the leader of the local council. there has been an issue about this being a toll bridge. it was either a toll bridge or no bridge. the other one isjiggered, quite frankly toll bridge or no bridge. the other one is jiggered, quite frankly and has been close for 12 months. if this bridge was not here, it still would have had to be closed and mayhem would be unthinkable. it's amazing to have this level of infrastructure. how much difference will it make to congestion. it is free—flowing. lots of people are looking forward to using it. i think people on monday morning after about half an hour extra in bed, because it will be so quick to get to work, they will look forward to using it. are you concerned there may be delays if

runcorn bridge transformed the road network here. the new project will do the same.ms. the bridge itself is only two chronometers and the other seven kilometres have been trying to keep the local networks open at the same time, it has been quite tricky. building this gateway and keeping it operational until 2024 comes with a final price tag of £1.86 billion. this is the largest infrastructure pop—up in the uk outside of london. what is being quite a short period of time. steel platforms need to be taken down and there is to landscape in to do but the bridge at last is complete. and it is ready for 20 million vehicles to drive across it every year. the year‘s biggest literary prize, the man booker award, will be revealed next week. between now and then we‘ll be previewing the six—shortlisted titles here on bbc news. 0ur look at the would—be prize winners continues today with ali smith discussing her latest novel, autumn. here‘s an old story so new that it‘s still in the middle of happening. when i started writing these books, i checked with my publisher if it might be

mersey gateway route is the largest infrastructure project in england outside london and connects runcornsey to witness the spectacular firework display a few hours before the newbridge opened. tolls aside, the locals approve. hours before the newbridge opened. tolls aside, the locals approvem is smart. it is great to have the bridge. it reminds me of the one in america. it is a lovely bridge. long—time overview. it is really fantastic as a development. just past midnight, the bridge was opened, and bikers were amongst the first to cross. the mersey gateway bridge is the biggest civil engineering project in the country outside london. the total cost is more than £1.8 billion. 20 million vehicles a year are expected to use it. it is made with 810 miles of cable. the old bridge closes for a yearfor repairs. when it reopens, both mersey crossings will be told. locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee. —— tolled. but there is anger amongst locals who had to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is pay for in 20a2. —— paid for. students across

they are in a winning run as well, runcorn linnets. second in the league to runcorn town.y all. 12,000 metres ——12,000 miles to see that. i haven't travelled across the world, particularly the runcorn. the furthest i have been is a couple of miles down the road. there is a story in the mirror. talking about the drivers union and the rail. the mirror is saving southern rail was accused of buying off the train drivers. the drivers still have to vote for it. we have been at this stage three times before. we will find out on the eighth of november whether they agree to this one. for commuters, it is not the end of all those difficulties. the telegraph today, the poppy appeal. it has gone contact us for the first time. today, the poppy appeal. it has gone contact us for the first timelj also saw something going on line, because there are 450 million old pound coins,, imagine that £450 million into the poppy. charities are cashing in on the old round pound. new research has revealed the difficulties many pensioners face in getting to hospital appointments, with almost a fifth sa

the mersey gateway links widnes and runcorn.the pylons, or columns, go down as far as 25 metres. beautiful view. the stjuste trying to come through. darren has the big weather picture for us this morning. how is it looking? we have some unusual weather. hurricane ophelia is heading our way. put the azores on the map and you get a sense of how far away it is. it has a distinct eye. hurricane ophelia is currently a category two hurricane. it will weaken as it heads our way and will combine with this near stationary area of cloud that will bring rain to the north—west. ahead of that, we are drawing up warm air and where you get the sunshine is dependent on this. temperatures could be as high as 2a degrees. sunny skies will be towards the eastern areas. rain will come towards the eastern areas. rain will co m e m ostly towards the eastern areas. rain will come mostly later on further south west and wales. away from that, the cloud will break. more sunshine and ballmer then yesterday. temperatures could be as high as 22 degrees in th