STAFF at the former De La Pole Hospital have spoken of their shock after patients claimed they had been abused by disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced the former Willerby mental health unit is one of 19 hospitals caught up in the latest allegations against the Jim'll Fix It star.

Health bosses will now investigate what went on at De La Pole, which cared for thousands of vulnerable patients from Hull and East Riding, after the Metropolitan Police uncovered information about potential victims.

Savile was exposed as a serial sex attacker after his death in 2011. He is believed to have used his charity work as a cover to abuse hundreds of people, including many at hospitals across the country.

Former De La Pole nurse Brian Tooke, 66, said: "I was appalled when I heard it all – they are vulnerable people and should be protected.

"I can't understand how, if it is true, he would have been allowed to have free run and exploit vulnerable people."

Mr Tooke, now retired and living near Scunthorpe, met Savile briefly when the TV presenter visited De La Pole in the 1970s.

Mr Tooke said: "I remember going into the canteen on my break and he was standing there with long white hair and a white tracksuit on – he definitely stood out.

"I couldn't place his face at first, but then it clicked who he was.

"He asked me if I was a doctor and I told him 'No, I'm a nurse'.

"He then said 'Right, OK' and that was it really. I don't recall the purpose of his visit and I don't remember being told he was going to come.

"In all the time I was there, no one ever mentioned about him abusing anyone at De La Pole to me.

"No staff ever mentioned any bad behaviour of his.

"My recollection of the hospital is that it was a very caring place.

"There were much more resources and activities for patients than there are now."

As De La Pole shut down in the 1990s and is no longer open, the legacy trust for the hospital is Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Hull and East Yorkshire (HEY)and the other hospital trusts involved have all been notified of the police investigation.

HEY's managing director Morag Olsen said: "The trust can confirm it has been passed information by the Department of Health regarding Jimmy Savile, which names the former De La Pole Hospital for investigation.

"We will investigate this information thoroughly but, at the present time, we have no further information and, therefore, we are unable to comment any further."

The announcement of the 19 hospitals to be investigated was made yesterday.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Names of the hospitals are taken from the information received. These include hospitals that may have closed, in which case the information has been passed on to the legacy organisation.

"It is essential that all the information is considered and investigations are thorough in order to learn the lessons about Jimmy Savile's pattern of offending."

Almost a year after Savile's death, an ITV documentary in October last year exposed accusations against Savile, leading to an overwhelming number of victims coming forward to claim the TV presenter had raped or abused them.

Public organisations, including the BBC, were accused of covering up suspicions about the TV presenter.

Scotland Yard launched a criminal investigation into the allegations and by, January this year, around 450 people had made complaints against Savile, with his abuse dating back to 1955 with victims aged from eight to 47.

Del La Pole was predominantly known as an adult mental health unit, but there was a section for children called Baynard House.

Mr Tooke, who worked there from 1969 to 1984, said: "It was for emotionally disturbed children and for mothers with post-natal psychosis and their children. I don't know if Savile went into that area.

TWO young boxers met their sporting hero and were his guests of honour for an event in Hull.

David "Hayemaker" Haye met fans Millie O'Neill and Nas Stowell during his Gloves Are Off tour when it came to the KC Stadium this week.

The two youngsters not only got to meet their boxing idol, but were also invited to dine with him at the top table alongside Sky Sports ringside presenter Johnny Nelson.

Life For A Kid arranged for the youngsters to meet David Haye, as they have both been supported by the charity and are keen boxers.

Nas, 12, has ADHD and lives with his family in Hessle.

The Hessle High School pupil said: "It was really good. I got to sit at the top table with David Haye and Johnny Nelson.

"I was really excited and really happy.

"Mr Haye spoke about his boxing and his career and I thought that was really cool.

"We got a picture of Millie and me standing with him and I took it to school the day after.

"My mates were jealous of me."

Both youngsters, who box at amateur boxing clubs, have also been promised a special gift in the post from David.

Millie, 14, who lives in the Avenues area of west Hull, said it was a total shock to be invited to sit at the top table.

The pair had originally sat in the crowd at a different table but were called up to the top table.

Millie, a pupil at Kelvin Hall School in west Hull, said: "I was excited, but I was a bit nervous, too.

"I didn't know what to say.

"He said 'hello' to me and asked me if I was a boxer, too."

Millie is the youngest ever patron of Life For A Kid and boxes at Hull Saints ABC.

The charity supports her sporting career as Millie is undergoing a number of assessments as she is believed to be on the autistic spectrum.

Dean Hoggard, of Life For A Kid, said: "We sponsor both Millie and Nas and they both wear Life For A Kid boxing shorts.

"When the David Haye event came up, I asked the organisers if they could meet him as it would really inspire them to carry on boxing.

"They were treated really well. When they went up to the top table it was fantastic and the charity got mentioned a few times, which was great for us.

"It was a really good night and really enjoyable for them. It put some big smiles on some faces, which is what it's all about.

"Life for A Kid is looking at opening its own boxing gym next month.

"We have a premises in Beverley Road and we're just waiting for planning permission.

"We're hoping half will be a boxing gym and half will be a sensory room.

"It will offer boxing, nutrition and cooking lessons."

THE accused leader of an alleged heroin dealing gang is not the operation's "Mr Big", according to his defence lawyers.

Edward Badago, 35, is on trial for conspiring to supply thousands of pounds of heroin into the city every day, along with Adrian Owen, 32, and Jolene Thompson-Carney, 31.

He was arrested when £53,000 was found stuffed in designer handbags in his caravan at High Farm County Park in Routh.

A further £7,140 was found in a JD Sports bag and £4,448 was found in the wardrobe, along with designer watches and clothes.

Prosecuting, Patrick Palmer, claims Mr Badago is the "ring leader" of the gang, and "managed" Mr Owen and Ms Thompson-Carney in dealing the class A drug from "safe houses" in Swinderby Garth, Bransholme and Mullion Close, east Hull.

But Mark McKone, defending Mr Badago, whose wife Lisa, 23, is also being tried for laundering £26,000, said there is no evidence he was part of the alleged operation.

While cross-examining Detective Constable Stuart Russell, an expert witness, Mr McKone said: "There was no heroin in the caravan, or scales or powder or dealer lists.

"If you look at that point in isolation, it doesn't suggest he is a heroin dealer.

"The prosecution say that could be explained away by the fact the gang's 'Mr Big' would employ other people to look after the drugs and the paraphernalia.

"On the other hand, Mr Badago could say it could be explained by the fact he was not involved in heroin dealing."

DC Russell told the jury how the heroin in Hull was coming from Sheffield, Liverpool, Bradford and Scunthorpe.

The prosecution believe Mr Badago was responsible for getting the heroin in bulk into Hull and then sending it onto Swinderby Garth and Mullion Close where it would be packaged up.

Then, scores of drug dealers would each buy hundreds of pounds of the drug each day and sell it on the streets.

Mr McKone said it was unlikely Badago was the gang leader because they would not keep large amounts of cash for fear of being caught.

But Mr Russell said: "That is not necessarily the case. They will always try to minimise the risk of being caught, but at some stage they have to take possession of the money. That is what they do it for, their whole motivation of drug dealing is to make money.

"There is evidence in my opinion, that would qualify as an inference that Mr Badago is a manager."

The trial continues.

A COURAGEOUS motorist has been praised for pulling a man from a burning car following an accident that claimed the lives of three people.

Police say his brave actions undoubtedly saved the life of the 30-year-old.

Tributes have been left at the scene where a Ford Focus carrying five people to work at a bacon factory in Malton crashed with a Citroen Relay van, heading in the opposite direction.

A 40-year-old woman, her 18-year-old son and another 47-year-old man, all travelling in the Focus and all from Hull, died at the scene on the B1248 near Wetwang on Wednesday.

Traffic sergeant Andy Fraser, who is leading the investigation for North Yorkshire Police, said there would have been a fourth fatality had it not been for a passing motorist.

"I would like to thank the man who stopped at the scene and rescued one of the passengers from the Ford Focus," he said.

"The man put his own life in danger and his courageous actions undoubtedly saved the man's life."

The man who was rescued was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary in a critical condition.

He is now in a serious but stable state, as is a 37-year-old who was also in the car.

The five Ford Focus passengers were all Polish.

The driver of the Citroen van, a 48-year-old man from Pickering who was taken to York District Hospital, has since been discharged.

North Yorkshire Police, investigating the crash, have reissued their appeal for witnesses after more information into the crash on Wednesday emerged.

Further investigations have established the crash happened at 5.40am, and not shortly after 6am as first thought. Therefore officers are widening their appeal to trace motorists who were travelling along the B1248 near Wharram le Street, between 5.30am and 6am.

They have also issued an appeal to trace the driver of a van who could be a vital witness to the events that led to the collision.

Sgt Fraser said: "We believe the Ford Focus had attempted to overtake the van just prior to the collision and it is crucial that we trace the driver of this van.

"It is entirely possible that the van driver is not aware that a collision had occurred.

"On Thursday morning, at the same time as the collision, we carried out static checks on the same stretch of road, however, this has not led to us tracing the driver.

"We are therefore appealing to anyone who was travelling along that road, in a van, on Wednesday morning, in the direction of Wharram le Street, to contact us as a matter of urgency. They could be a vital witness in our investigation."

The five people in the car were travelling to work at The Karro Food Group Ltd in Malton.

Charles Pascall, HR director, said: "We're doing everything we can to support the families of our colleagues who were fatally and seriously injured in Wednesday's road accident."

The road, close to the border between North and East Yorkshire, was closed for almost 11 hours on Wednesday as police recovered the casualties, the scene was examined and the vehicles recovered.

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101, and ask to speak to PC Ian Barratt.

You can also email ian.barratt@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

EAST Yorkshire switched on for Christmas last night with sparkling festivities right across the region.

Thousands turned out to see Christmas lights turned on in towns from east to west – from Withernsea to Goole.

A dazzling array of festive fun lit up the region with glittering events in East Riding towns, including Beverley, Hessle, Hedon and Hornsea, as well as in Hull.

Best-selling local author Val Wood switched on tree lights in Beverley's Wednesday Market, in part of a wave of switch-ons throughout the town centre.

She said: "I attend the lights switch-on every year and marvel at how beautiful Beverley looks, so it is a real honour to turn on the lights in Wednesday Market. The lights are getting better each year with the hard work of the lights group and generous support of local businesses."

Hull FC players were on hand to help bring a bit of festive spirit to two East Yorkshire communities.

Feka Paleaaesina and Aaron Heremaia were among the special guests at Hessle Square for the switch-on.

"I've settled really well into the Hessle area since I arrived a couple of weeks ago and I've really enjoyed my time at the club so far. The players and the coaching staff have welcomed me into the camp, but it was good to get the chance to meet some of the supporters too."

Elsewhere, Kirk Yeaman and James Cunningham helped with the switch-on at the Freedom Centre in Preston Road, east Hull.

"It's always worthwhile to get out into the community, particularly at this time of year when the fans are missing their rugby and can't wait for the new season to start," said Hull centre Mr Yeaman.

"As a local lad, I enjoy having a chat with the supporters about the club and I think it's a big part of being a Hull FC player."

In Hedon, new Mayor Councillor John Dennis was proud to switch-on the town's lights.

He said: "It's great hearing the countdown from the kids and then seeing the Christmas lights in the town."

HULL City will face the most gifted individual in the Premier League when Luis Suarez leads Liverpool's attack tomorrow, according to manager Steve Bruce.

After almost three years in English football potholed by controversy, Suarez heads to the KC Stadium for the first time as a star reborn under Brendan Rodgers.

Nine goals in eight Premier League appearances this season have seen the Uruguayan bounce back from a ten-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in some style, and ensure a summer of transfer unrest has been long forgotten.

Together with striker partner Daniel Sturridge, who also boasts nine league goals to his name this term, Suarez will want to turn City into another step towards a title tilt in 2014 tomorrow afternoon.

Bruce and his defenders will require no introductions and he said: "He's got to be as good a player as there is in the Premier League at the minute. He's absolutely terrific every time I see him.

"His work-rate, his appetite, the whole lot he brings you. All the big players have got that, it's what makes them. Take it away from him, and he's not the same player.

"He's a bad loser, but that's what makes the great players. They've got that something that throws them over the edge."

Along with England captain Steven Gerrard and partner-in-crime Sturridge, Suarez will be among the first stellar names to visit the KC Stadium this term. It could have been different if the interest of Arsenal and Real Madrid had materialised with a big-money move this summer, and Bruce says holding on to Suarez was a "masterstroke."

He said: "Any manager will make sure you do anything you can to hold on to your best players and just because he bites somebody, it doesn't make you a bad player! It might cause you a problem.

"The big thing is that you must hold on to your big players because where do you replace Suarez?

"To keep hold of Suarez was a masterstroke, however they've done it. What a difference six months make."

Containing Suarez and Sturridge will likely hold the key to City's fortunes tomorrow. In 10 of Liverpool's 12 Premier League games this season, one or the other has scored.

On the two occasions where they failed to find the net, the Reds lost their only two games against Southampton and Arsenal.

Bruce, meanwhile, has two decisions to make. Whether to revert to a 5-4-1 shape that worked well at Tottenham but was abandoned at Southampton, and who will get the call to replace the injured Paul McShane in defence.

Either Abdoulaye Faye or Alex Bruce will return to the starting XI, with preference possibly for the latter, given Faye's mobility against Liverpool's slick attack.

"The one thing we've been is pretty flexible and we'll need to be," said Bruce. "We haven't got the biggest of squads and we have two or three missing. We'll be a little bit different from last week, though."

That will not mean a recall for James Chester, however. The gifted centre back has trained all week after two months out with a hamstring injury but Bruce is in no rush.

He said: "He's trained really well for six days but it's a long time out."

TOM Huddlestone confesses to having three footballing idols growing up. There was Marcel Desailly, inspirational leader of a Chelsea side he supported as a boy, and Eric Cantona, who he believes changed the history of the Premier League like no other.

And then there was – and perhaps still is – Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard.

As the Reds' midfield talisman for the last decade and more, Gerrard has earned the unwavering admiration of Huddlestone ahead of their meeting at the KC Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

"He's got everything," said Huddlestone in an appraisal of his one-time England team-mate.

"He's quick, he can head the ball, tackle, he's one of the best passers around and he scores goals. There's been times when he's single-handedly won games for Liverpool in the league and in Europe.

"He's been a great captain and role model for any player growing up.

"It'll be a good test. Week in, week out, you're going to face top-class players, and Gerrard has been one of those for the last 15 years.

"Growing up, him, Cantona and Desailly were my three idols. I'm under no illusions about how big a test it will be."

Huddlestone was 11 when Gerrard was making his Liverpool debut in 1998.

Over 600 appearances have followed at Anfield, not to mention 109 England caps.

The 33-year-old's 100th cap was coincidentally ended against Sweden last November when replaced by Huddlestone, the last of the City midfielder's four international appearances to date.

If City's £5.25m club record buy still has ambitions to be following Gerrard to Brazil next summer, it is days like tomorrow that can stamp his ticket.

Asked how he planned to limit Gerrard's influence, Huddlestone joked: "Man-mark him with three players. You can't highlight one or two players. They've got an unbelievable team full of internationals.

"It's going to be difficult, but if we stick to the game plan the manager gives us, hopefully it'll work well.

"You just have to have the belief in yourself and your team-mates that you can go out and put a good performance on, and do our job to the best of our abilities.

"We know that, man for man on the pitch, we've got to be better than them."

City, and tellingly, Huddlestone, have fallen short of that in recent weeks. The 26-year-old is undeniably the closest thing to Gerrard that City boast and when he fails to spark, so invariably do the Tigers.

Regrettably, that has been the case in defeats to Southampton and Crystal Palace that leave City aiming to avoid a third straight loss against a Liverpool side riding high in second.

The Tigers can at least take heart from past fortunes against the Premier League's big boys.

With Huddlestone to the fore, both Manchester City and Tottenham were matched before harsh defeats.

Huddlestone said: "You've got to stay focused for 90 minutes. In the City game we played well and created chances but they got two late goals.

"I think we've just got to stick to the game plan and hopefully put one of our chances away.

"Being underdogs has helped us so far this season, so hopefully tomorrow will be no different. When teams are more open against us, attacking wise that's when we're at our best.

"Hopefully Liverpool will attack us and it'll leave a few more gaps we can try to exploit."

The Reds' visit to the KC Stadium begins the busiest month of City's campaign. As well as further home games with Stoke, Manchester United and Fulham, trips to Arsenal, Swansea and West Brom promise to have a sizeable bearing on City's mood heading to Anfield for the return fixture on New Year's Day.

City's excellent start to the season retains a modicum of comfort in 13th, but Huddlestone is well aware that will soon diminish the longer they remain on 14 points.

"Having lost two games, we don't want it to be three and then have to go to the Emirates. We need to get some form of result tomorrow," he said.

"The manager spoke after the game and then on the training pitch at the start of the week.

"We have started the season fairly well. Hopefully, it's just a slip and not a complete dip in form. We've got a chance to put it right and get it out of our system.

"Liverpool and Arsenal are as tough as it comes, especially the way they've both started the season.

"Arsenal have been flying and so have Liverpool. It is going to be difficult, but these are the sorts of games you want to be in the Premier League for.

"We've got to go into them with excitement but with confidence as well."

That may be easier said than done after a sobering passage of the season at the KC.

A 4-1 loss at Southampton, City's last away game before the international break, was the first time Steve Bruce's men had been comprehensively undone, while last weekend's 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace saw a five-game unbeaten home record feebly surrendered.

A week of soul-searching has followed, but Huddlestone's faith remains intact.

He said: "The last couple of games have been pretty bad, to be honest. Playing the big teams in your next game makes it easier for the manager as the players can get themselves up for it even more.

"We know it'll be a tough test but against the bigger teams we've acquitted ourselves fairly well with some decent performances so far.

"We've played well against teams who have come and attacked us, whereas Palace sat back and we found that difficult.

"Although we were flying high, points-wise we were never too far away from the bottom two or three. Our aim has always been to stay in the Premier League. After the last two losses, we need to start getting points on the board, but we know every game is tough. We've got to believe in ourselves and put the losses right."

Sergeant Gadd, who was injured after stepping on a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan in October 2010, has recently been fitted with the Genium "bionic" leg.

Now, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has revealed how he has seen first-hand the difference the prosthetic is making to the lives of people, such as Sgt Gadd, a member of 299 (Parachute Squadron) Royal Engineers.

He said: "Our priority has always been to give our troops the best possible care and support.

"I am also delighted to see first-hand how the new 'bionic' leg has inspired confidence among our personnel and provided them with new opportunities including better stability, greater mobility and reduced back pain."

Sgt Gadd, who lives in Beverley Road with his partner and daughter, said: "There's a much better range of movement.

"It bends a lot more and makes climbing stairs easier."

THE reopening of a swimming pool at an East Riding leisure centre has been delayed by unforeseen building works.

The pool at Haltemprice Leisure Centre had originally been scheduled to open in spring but now will not be open until the start of summer.

The work is part of a £6m scheme that will see other services, including a GP surgery and library, under the same roof in Anlaby.

Darren Stevens, head of culture and information at East Riding Council, said: "The revised completion date, from spring to summer 2014, is in relation to the swimming pool phase of the Haltemprice Leisure Centre refurbishment.

"It is due to a combination of drainage, tiling and minor maintenance works to the ceiling."

The refurbishment of the swimming pool, changing rooms and plant room is the second stage of the 20-month redevelopment, which will also include the addition of a customer service centre, as well as improved leisure facilities.

The centre is now revising plans for school and regular swimming lessons, but still expects the swimming pool to be open to customers in time for the start of the school summer holidays.

Mr Stevens said: "The council is committed to working with the different user groups of the Haltemprice swimming pool, to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.

"Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances can develop with projects of this nature and complexity as they progress but, when the work is complete, our residents will be able to enjoy first-class leisure facilities for decades to come."

Haltemprice is the most well-used leisure centre in the East Riding and the upgrade is designed to make it fit for the demands of more than 1.1 million annual visitors.

The project, which started in April this year, is about 35 per cent complete and the council said, despite the delays to the swimming pool, it is still hoped the whole project will be completed in autumn 2014.

Mr Stevens said: "Several other phases of work, including the refurbishment of the squash courts and the new 3G football pitches, have already been completed and are available for use.

"The council anticipates that the new extension to the rear of the building that will act as the reception area, will be complete in the coming weeks and that the overall end date of the scheme, in autumn 2014, will remain the same.

"While the council undertakes this important £6m capital investment, Haltemprice Leisure Centre members have had their memberships reduced by a third, a commitment the council will continue to honour until the scheme is complete."

Hobson & Porter, of Hull, is the main contractor for the scheme, which will also include improvements to cut running costs, as well as improve the venue's energy efficiency.

The scheme will also allow Anlaby Library to more than quadruple its opening hours from 22 a week, as well as provide up-to-date amenities, including web access and self-service machines.

When complete, council leader Stephen Parnaby believes the facility will be among the best in the UK.

He said: "The refurbishment would put it at the forefront of leisure facilities in the UK."

Visit www.haltempriceleisurecentre.co.uk

POLICE are targeting drivers who are still over the limit the morning after a night out.

Officers will be carrying out early-morning checks across Hull during their annual Christmas drink-driving campaign.

PC Keith Ward, casualty reduction officer for the city, said: "We have been doing some checks during November, but we are stepping it up in December.

"There will be a lot of activity, including several officers going out early in the morning to check people who have been out the night before.

"If people plan on driving, the only safe limit is zero. It is not worth the risk."

Officers have recently been carrying out checks on drivers coming off the ferries arriving at King George Dock, with more planned for next month.

"We did some random stop checks of people coming off a full ferry that had hosted a northern soul night the night before," said PC Ward.

"We found nine drivers still had alcohol in the system. Although none of them were over the limit, some of them were very close to it but they had no idea.

"It made them very nervous to be breathalysed and it was definitely an eye-opener for them.

"It takes an hour for just one unit of alcohol to leave your system, so the only way to sober up is time."

During last year's campaign in Hull, 1,520 drivers were breathalysed in November and December, with 55 – 3.6 per cent – found to be over the limit.

In the East Riding, 56 (5.3 per cent) of 1,054 drivers stopped also failed a breath test.

Last year, two people were killed and five seriously injured after crashes involving drink-drivers across Humberside.

During December, police will also be breathalysing drivers who are seen committing offences including speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.

"We will be highly visible and showing drivers in Hull that they could be stopped and will have to face the consequences if they have been drinking," said PC Ward.

Anyone caught drink-driving will face a driving ban and possible prison sentence.

PC Ward said: "We see people from all walks of life, including people who have really high-flying jobs, who still fall foul, particularly the morning after."

Mick Harris, partnership manager for Safer Roads Humber which is funding the campaign, said: "Drink-driving is completely unacceptable and often drivers are caught out by not thinking through their plans fully.

"If caught drink-driving after a quick drink with friends or the morning after a night out, it's not just your licence that you risk – it could be your whole future."

Anyone with information about drink-drivers can call Humberside Police on 101.

10

A PASSENGER ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge was cancelled at the weekend due to a problem with the port's lockgate.

The ferry, reference ZEHU, was due to sail at 7pm on Saturday, arriving in Belgium today.

Alternative routes are being organised for passengers by P&O Ferries.

An unaccompanied freight vessel will sail to Zeebrugge at 4pm.