Gently on the seashore...

Chart-topping star Pixie Lott joined the cast of the BBC1 drama Inspector George Gently today as they filmed on Saltburn beach.

The singer plays a holiday camp entertainer in a feature-length episode for the detective drama series, which stars Martin Shaw as the title character.

For her appearance in the show, set in 1969, she plays Megan, a worker at the Blue Bird holiday camp.

Producer Matthew Bird said: "Pixie is very excited about joining the cast and we are delighted that she is making her TV acting debut in Inspector George Gently - we know she will bring something very special to the role."

Written by Jess Williams, this feature-length episode takes Gently and Bacchus to a family holiday camp to investigate staff and holidaymakers when the body of one of the entertainers is washed up nearby. The colourful inmates of the holiday camp, from the flamboyant owner and his sister, to the chalet girls, performers, lifeguards and guests, throw the investigation sideways as Gently and Bacchus uncover a story of jealousy, ambition and the dark underbelly of the permissive society.

Pixie Lott said: "I love the fact that Inspector George Gently is a period drama set in the Sixties. It is great to be filming in the North East, and playing a role that gives me a real feel for the period."

During today's filming, when asked what she thought about Saltburn, her response was simply, "Wet, sandy and cold," - hardly surprising when the series kicks off with a dead body washed up on the beach and you're it!

£6million scheme to help clean up Saltburn beach

A £6million scheme to help clean up the water at Saltburn beach has been announced today (Wednesday, March 27) after a dramatic drop from the highest to the lowest category in the Good Beach Guide.

Northumbria Water has announced the project after heavy rain last year meant pesticide, storm runoff and dog mess was washed into the water off Saltburn.

Graham Neave, Northumbrian Water’s operations director, said: “We are committed to playing our part to help the bathing water at Saltburn meet the new standards for visitors to enjoy."

Tough new regulations coming into force in 2015 mean that if nothing is done to improve, the beach may have to display a sign stating it has poor water quality which will put visitors off and damage the local economy.

Nick Noble, owner Saltburn Surf Hire and Surf School, said: “It comes as no surprise to us. Of course we’re worried about the signs going up because people tend to react badly to that sort of thing but until there is an improvement in infrastructure there is always going to be a problem."

Beaches' water quality hit by disastrous summer

Last year’s disastrous summer – one of the wettest on record – has led to a significant drop in the quality of bathing water of Britain’s beaches.

The relentless rain and flooding led to an increase in the amount of bacteria and viruses ending up in the country’s bathing waters.

And the North-East, including North Yorkshire, was particularly hard-hit according to the Marine Conservation Society’s annual Good Beach Guide.

Eight of the region’s breaches failed to meet the minimum standard – compared to none last year.

And after being the best performing region in last year’s guide, this year only 31 out of 64 beaches are recommended by MCS for excellent water quality - 22 less than before.

Nationally 42 beaches failed to meet a minimum standard – 17 more than last year – and only 403 of the 754 UK bathing beaches tested as having excellent water quality - 113 fewer than the previous year.

The pollution found can originate from a variety of sources such as agricultural and urban run-off, storm waters, misconnected plumbing, septic tanks and dog faeces.

MCS coastal pollution officer Rachel Wyatt said improved monitoring of combined sewer overflows and action to reduce pollution from farms and populated areas was urgently needed.

She said: “Action must be taken now. With stricter bathing water standards from 2015 and summers that appear to be getting wetter, the iconic image of people bathing off golden beaches could be at serious risk."

Beaches that failed in the North-East and North Yorkshire included: Sandsend, Staithes, Saltburn, Seaton Carew North, Seaham, Seaton Sluice and Spittal.

Saltburn's annual Spring beach clean, scheduled for last Sunday, has had to be postponed due to continued bad weather.

Saltburn Drama Festival

Next week’s Saltburn Drama Festival is the perfect opportunity for new directors to stage their first plays.

And this year, the Saltburn ‘53 Drama Group Youth is presenting A Year And A Day, directed by Stephanie Lightwing, who is a member of the youth group.

At just 17, Stephanie is directing a large group of young actors in this complex and challenging play.



Set in a beautiful garden, it tells the story of two warring tribes and the consequences of their antagonism through the ages.

The play is very visual with a strong emphasis on dance and physical action, and music is a recurring theme. There is also a supernatural element.

“Two people, one from each tribe, fall in love and are killed,” says Stephanie. “The play is about how they come back together to seek revenge.”

The play, by Christina Reid, was written specifically for young actors and first presented as part of the National Theatre’s Connections Festival.

Stephanie says she was attracted to the play when she read the script and found she could visualise the staging.

“And the ’53 Drama Group has the people to do it,” she adds.

Stephanie has been a member of the drama group for several years and has performed in many productions, most recently playing Belle in Beauty And The Beast the pantomime, and Feste in Twelfth Night.

She would like to work in theatre professionally.

“I would like to be an actress and then go into directing when I have more experience,” she says.

The Saltburn Drama Festival runs from Monday, March 18 to Saturday, March 23.

Shows are at 7.30pm Monday to Friday and 7pm on Saturday.

A Year And A Day will take to the stage on the Wednesday.

Tickets are £6, concessions £5 and a weekly ticket is £15.

All tickets are available from Saltburn Health Food Shop, the Theatre Box Office and online at www.saltburnarts.co.uk

James Arthur comes home for Comic Relief to support STAMP Revisited.

Ahead of Red Nose Day Saltburn's X Factor winner James Arthur has been back on home ground to lend support to the Comic Relief cause.

After visiting CRISIS earlier in the week in support of homeless single people and helping them run a songwriting workshop James was back on Teesside.
Yesterday he visited a mental health charity in Middlesbrough, which is partly funded by Comic Relief, and he also called in on his old school in Redcar.



James was diagnosed with depression before he was persuaded by friends and family to audition for The X Factor, and he revealed that he still suffers similar symptoms.

As reported in the Sun, James said: "Sometimes I can't sleep, I've got so many creative ideas going round my head. I get the guitar out and start singing at the top of my voice until I feel any anxiety draining away."

"Music is my coping mechanism. Singing something passionately releases that energy."

Speaking about meeting people with similar issues, he said: "In my life I've had some low points, so now it's really important to give something back because I'm really passionate about changing people's perceptions about mental health.

"This project is doing amazing work and the men and women it supports are inspirational."

The group specialises in providing an advocacy service for people affected by mental health issues across Teesside, County Durham & Darlington.

The vice-chairman of STAMP Revisited, Ralph Hagan, said: "You can have all the money in the world but it's not important if you're suffering. James will be a big role model in making more people aware of mental health issues."

James also returned to visit his old school.

He told his Twitter followers that he was "Really looking forward to going back to my old school to see what they are doing for @rednoseday. Lets hope they don’t kick me out this time”

It turns out that he had little to worry about, posting: “Had a great time visiting my old school today and seeing some old faces. Thanks for everyone who was there!”

James finished his stint on The X Factor live tour two weeks ago and for the last week he has been working on his debut album. He revealed he's been hard at work in the studio with Graham Stack who has previously worked with Kylie, Girls Aloud and JLS.

Dementia Cafe opens in Saltburn

As the diagnosis and treatment of dementia continues to dominate the media landscape and government healthcare discussions, Four Seasons Care Centre in Saltburn-by-the Sea has launched a specialist dementia café.

The Herb Garden Dementia Café will be open to residents and the public every Wednesday, enabling people who are living and caring with someone with dementia to share their experiences and offer support to one another under the guidance of a fully qualified member of the Four Seasons team.

Located on Ox Close, the Four Seasons dementia café will also host an interactive musical session, called Musical Minds, which offers vital interaction for those with dementia through music. Sharon Lewis, Head of Activities at Four Seasons, comments: "Most people with dementia feel enriched by the interaction and sense of connection that music can offer, so we were keen to provide our residents and the local community with the opportunity to come together regularly to benefit from music therapy.As we have opened up the café to the public, it also enables residents in our local community to seek advice and support on dementia, from our qualified and experienced staff as well as others who are living with and caring for someone with dementia, providing a full network of support."

Part of the Key Healthcare group, Four Seasons will open its Herb Garden Dementia Café every Wednesday between 1.30pm and 3pm. It is hoped that the café will expand its activities schedule to include pet therapy, reminiscence therapy, arts and crafts, and a small fee will be charged for each session.

For more information on Four Seasons, please call 01287 624516 or visit www.keyhealthcare.co.uk / Twitter: @KeyHealthcare

Saltburn Athletic Under 10’s plea to 'Save Our Pitch'

Saltburn's footballing youngsters are facing eviction after the sale of their pitch to make way for new housing.

Saltburn Athletic Football Club’s under-10s are on the lookout for a new home after Redcar and Cleveland Council agreed to sell playing fields at the old Saltburn School, on the corner of Marske Mill Lane, to developers.




Coach Cathal Carey said the decision left players devastated and could lead to the club’s closure. He said: “Our pitch is being sold for housing and we’re being evicted.

We have used this field for more than five years for our under-eights and under-10s teams to play their matches. It’s the only seven-a-side pitch in town.

This decision will have a terrible impact on the club as without a seven-a-side pitch we can’t start new teams. This could mean the end of our club which is run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of children in the town.”

Mr Carey said the club was given three weeks’ notice that the council was selling the field in September. It sought to take ownership of the site via a community asset transfer fund but was unsuccessful.

Mr Carey added: “Then we were notified that the land is to be developed for housing. This is despite the council’s own playing field strategy recommending the field be used as a playing field.”

The playing fields had been part of Saltburn Junior School, which closed three years ago. The sale of school playing fields has been a major national issue, with the Government facing calls to protect playing areas.

Redcar and Cleveland Council confirmed it has accepted a bid but refused to say how much it is for.

Norman Pickthall, Cabinet member for corporate resources, said: “We’ve allowed the club temporary use of the land free while we address drainage issues at pitches rented from Saltburn Learning Campus. This has been extended pending disposal of the site.

Bids to secure the site were discussed at Cabinet in January. Discussions with the proposed purchaser are at an early stage and notice will need to be served on the club in due course.”

The club has started a petition to save the site and it is available at http://www.petition.co.uk/save-our-pitch-at-the-old-saltburn-junior-school/