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Hillsborough campaigner to be honoured

Anne Williams Credit: PA

Hillsborough justice campaigner Anne Williams who died earier this year is to be honoured at Sunday's BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. Anne Williams fought tirelessly to overturn an inquest verdict of accidental death against her 15-year-old son Kevin.

He was one of 96 Liverpool fans who died in April 1989 at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

The BBC award is given for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

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Hillsborough campaigner to be honoured

BBC: Hillsborough footage has not been lost

Solicitors representing relatives of 19 victims of the Hillsborough disaster have said original television footage of the tragedy has been lost.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign said they were told by the BBC the original video from 1989 is "no longer in existence".

The BBC disputes the claims.

"The footage absolutely still exists and has not been lost. The BBC still holds copies of the original Hillsborough footage, but in an upgraded format. The footage was originally recorded on 1" reel and as that format was becoming obsolete, the BBC transferred the footage to digibeta."

"The BBC has already disclosed to both the Coroner and Operation Resolve, which is staffed by Greater Manchester Police, the BBC's untransmitted footage filmed at the stadium on the day.

Our records indicate that this footage was all disclosed to West Midlands Police on behalf of the Taylor Inquiry in 1989, to the Home Office who requested it on behalf of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's Hillsborough Scrutiny in 1997 and that on a number of occasions it was also disclosed to the relatives/representatives of victims where it had been requested."

– BBC spokesperson

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Hidden BBC camera sparked bomb alert

It's emerged that a bomb alert at Salford Quays was sparked by a homemade hidden camera sent in the post by BBC journalists.

Emergency services were called to Media City after a suspicous package was detected at a nearby mailroom.

Police and paramedics on standby at Media City Credit: Nicholas Bieber
Staff were forced to leave nearby buildings as a precaution Credit: Nicholas Bieber

A recording device concealed in a bottle was sent from Belfast by a journalist working on the Panorama programme.

Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner says he will invoice the BBC for the cost of the response.

'People like us' protest

Harpurhey residents protest about BBC3 programme 'People like us' Credit: ITV Granada

People who live in Harpurhey in Manchester protested outside the BBC in Salford this morning, angry at the way a programme has portrayed their community.

'People like us' is a reality TV show about the city district which campaigners say it is offensive and laden with stereotypes.

A BBC spokesman said: “We are listening to the range of feedback from the local area and contributors, many of whom have been positive.

"People Like Us" takes a warm and at times unflinching look at the reality of life for young people in Harpurhey and follows a range of contributors as they tell their own stories in their own words through both good times and bad.

"The series does not focus on negative stereotypes, indeed many of those featured are resilient, resourceful and ambitious young people with positive stories to tell – from running their own businesses to planning their future careers – and they do so with captivating wit and enthusiasm."

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'People like us' protest

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BBC sorry for 'disruption to services'

The BBC has apologised to audiences after TV and radio schedules were hit by a journalists' strike today:

We are disappointed that the NUJ has gone ahead with today's strike and apologise to our audience for the disruption to services.

Unfortunately industrial action does not alter the fact that the BBC has significant savings targets and as a consequence may have to make a number of compulsory redundancies.

– BBC spokesperson

Programmes including the flagship Today on Radio 4 and BBC One's Breakfast did not air as scheduled this morning.

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BBC strike over job cuts