08/12/2011 BBC Points West

Hello and welcome to BBC Points West. The headlines this evening.

The rise in counterfeit cigarettes. A warning of the risks as tens of

thousands are seized in raids in Gloucester.

Also tonight - an investigation after claims a pensioner was left

on the floor for almost an hour by a carer after having a fall.

Jailed for animal cruelty - the man who stabbed and slit the throat of

his partner's pet dog. I have been an inspector for 22

years and have seen this very little. It was absolutely

horrendous. And how just 40 seconds of exercise three times a week

could prevent diabetes. Good evening. Nearly 200,000

illegal cigarettes have been seized in Gloucester. Raids have been

taking place right across the West this week as part of a campaign to

reduce the use of counterfeit cigarettes. Our health

correspondent Matthew Hill is in Bristol now - Matthew - there are

fears these could be more harmful than legal ones aren't there?

Absolutely. We all know that smoking causes cancer and that is

the message of this poster this evening. What people may not know

is that counterfeit cigarettes can be even that more dangerous. It is

estimated that of the 1 million smokers here in the south-west,

one-fifth of them regularly swap illegal tobacco which can include

counterfeit cigarettes. I was on and a this morning with Customs and

Excise in their message this morning was that if you sell

illegal tobacco, your livelihood could be at stake.

Nearly 5000 illegal cigarettes and almost 400 patches of counterfeit

tobacco were seized and a raid on a Gloucester shop. All part of a

large campaign to highlight not only it illegality of smuggled

tobacco but also the health risks. On local level, we are looking at

shopkeepers and checking their stock to make sure the end up

smelling -- selling smuggled goods. We also have investigators that a

higher level who investigate the organised crime gangs that are

behind the initial smuggling attempts. On Weston's Bournville

estate, money is hard to come by. To many, smoking is one life's few

pleasures. And when it comes to getting hold of cheap cigarettes,

few questions are asked. I know it is wrong but at the end of the day,

the cheaper the better. I buy the cheapest brand at the moment

because they are so expensive. typical pack of premium brand

cigarettes in the UK costs around �7 compared to around �2.60 in

Poland. It's no wonder that the UK is a key market for smugglers. More

than �670 million of Bristol's own Imperial Tobaco brand cigarettes

were seized worldwide last year. The most troubling question to the

doctor in charge of public health in the West is what exactly is in

the cigarettes. People are putting themselves at extra risk. Tobacco

is toxic enough containing thousands of harmful chemicals.

Illegal tobacco, goodness knows what is in it. Nothing was found in

this raid on an off-licence in Bristol. Customs and Excise say

they will be pushing for maximum fines, especially if the find

repeat offenders. We all know smoking kills - so what is it in

counterfeit tobacco that they're so worried about?

It is often smuggled in from African countries where they are

stored in large warehouses. Rats eat tobacco and rat poison is put

down and that is often found in the cigarette. It is obviously very

dangerous. An investigation has begun into how

a pensioner from Wiltshire was left on the floor for almost an hour by

a carer after she'd had a fall. The 76-year-old was unable to move and

it was only when her daughter arrived that she was helped up. The

family say she's been left very upset by the incident. Imogen

Sellers reports. This woman used to be a care worker

herself, so finding the right care for her elderly mother was crucial.

Imagine her distress when she received a call saying her mother

had had a fall. The care had been with her at the time but left her

lying on the floor to visit another patient. She was upset when we got

here. I said, is the care or gone and she said, she has gone to the

lady down the road but is coming back. I was in dismay really.

care provider has stressed that the care offered to call a paramedic

but the women declined. She made the patient comfortable with a

cushion and a blanket and ask if they were happy for her to leave.

know he told me that. I still don't think she should have left her. She

may have checked but my mum and dad would not make a fuss. We're

talking about two elderly people. Best practice would say that you

must understand the care and made an assessment and that judgment

call, it would have probably been sensible to stay with her and for

that I apologise. I spoke with the daughter yesterday to apologise.

Wilt shire county councils say they will conduct a full investigation.

We will address these problems. This is a situation where something

has gone wrong. We need to get to the bottom of it and we need to

challenge the care provider to get it right. If they do not, I will

cancel the contract. For the family of Sarah, it is too little, too

late. Anyone can be a care but that does not mean that they care. I sit

in bed and worry, if this is happening with my mum, what is

happening with other people? It is very sad and a sad reflection on

today's society that it has got like this.

A Taunton man has been jailed for animal cruelty after he stabbed and

slit the throat of his partner's pet dog. A vet said the animal died

a slow and painful death and the RSPCA, who brought the case against

Robert Humphries, said it was one of the worst they'd come across.

Our chief Somerset Correspondent Clinton Rogers was in court.

In a wheelchair following an accident, Robert Humphries arrived

at court today hiding his face. Magistrates were told he inflicted

horrific suffering on his partner's dog, stabbing it in the chest and

slitting its throat. The five- month-old lurcher took up to half

an hour to die - then Humphries bound its feet, put the body in a

sack and threw it in a bin. The RSPCA who brought the prosecution

said it was one of the worst acts of animal cruelty they had seen.

And I have been an inspector for 22 years and I have seen this very

little. It was an absolutely horrendous case and one that was

very difficult to deal with. We were talking of a five-month-old

puppy, defenceless. It suffered horrific injuries. A custodial

sentence - are you satisfied? arrest PCA are overjoyed with that

and it is the only light sentence, we believe. -- right. It was

Humphries claim that he killed the dog in the garden of his home in

Taunton after it jumped at his daughter and bared its teeth. He'd

spoken to a vet about putting the animal down but in the end decided

to do it himself. He admitted he had to kill -- used two knives to

kill the dog because the first was to blunt. He said he never wished

to cause any unnecessary suffering but nearly youth denies it. The vet

who later examined it said it had died from horrific injuries and

suffered extreme pain. -- euthanise. Humphries, seen here arriving at a

previous hearing, was told by magistrates that prison was the

only sentence for such a serious act of animal cruelty. He was

jailed for 20 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life. His

lawyer said he would appeal. Well, it's Alex and Chris with you

on this windy Thursday night. There have been gusts of up to 50 miles

an hour here in the West, but is the worst over? Ian will be here

shortly to tell us. And the teacher whose timetable

just got busier - we meet a Bristol man selected to carry the Olympic

torch. First though, researchers at the

University of Bath claim just 40 seconds of exercise three times a

week could prevent Type 2 diabetes. Volunteers were asked to perform

short cycle sprints on exercise bikes. After six weeks there had

been dramatic results. Scientists hope it could help stem the rise in

the condition, as Will Glennon now explains.

Two-thirds of the population of this country do not get the

recommended minimum amount of moderate exercise a very weak.

Often because we do not have the time. This study has found that

just 10 minutes on an exercise bike including only 20 seconds of hard

sprinting could prevent you from getting tight to diabetes.

When we eat carbohydrates, our bodies for release insulin which

triggers the body to soak up carbohydrates. If you have a bad

diet honour inactive, your blood sugar levels will go up hide if you

eat carbohydrates. That will eventually lead to take to diabetes.

We are looking at using sprints to force the muscle to use up a lot of

the sugar that is stored in the muscle. The muscle get better it

pulling out sugar from the bloodstream which means blood sugar

levels will not get as high. works like this. Warm-up for three

minutes. Then do just 20 seconds of intense

sprinting, before gentle pedalling and repeating the process. A total

real exercise time of just 40 seconds. They say it gives the same

muscle activation as one hour of moderate steady exercise. This

printing itself is very taxing but it is short and 20 seconds after

finishing, I had recovered. Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem.

Treatment is costing the NHS �1 million an hour across Britain

million an hour across Britain according to Diabetes UK. And in

the West there are thought to be the West there are thought to be

200,000 people with the condition. The condition can lead to several

devastating health problems including kidney disease and

amputations. Research has proved that the better you can manage your

diabetes, the less likely you are to develop any of those

complications. The exercise is so short it can be done anywhere, at

home or at work. So far the research has focused on prevention.

The next step is to test the method on Type 2 diabetes sufferers to see

if it can actually help combat the condition.

A head teacher in Somerset has complained to the Press Complaints

Commission about a newspaper article in the Daily Mail which

suggested children at his school were left to freeze. It claimed

staff and parents of students at Ansford Academy were furious after

the heating was switched off as part of an eco-day, but the school

says it had no complaints. For pupils who were allegedly left

to freeze in their classrooms, this lot are remarkably hot under the

collar about the negative press attention their idea to turn the

heating of has attracted. We are outraged and denied. Their day was

not called at all. It was really warm. When we came in, it was

normal lessons and everybody enjoyed wearing their jumpers and

there were no complaints. It was a pupil's idea to shut the boiler

down and send the money into the idea of an outdoor classroom. The

plan to raise the issue of global warming has turned into a

controversy with the Head Master batting away phone calls from

around the world. No parent complained to me. No student

complained to me and no teacher complained to me at all. Not

beforehand or during or after. Would you do it again? If the

pupils want to, we will do it again. This story was a necessary and

completely pointless. There is no law about what temperature will

work place for classroom should be, only guidance. The headmaster says

the temperature here never fell below 17 Celsius on the day. The

Association of Teachers and Lecturers recommend a minimum of 18

Celsius for classroom. The Health and Safety Executive say 16 Celsius

should be enough for workplace where minimal activity is taking

place. We invited the Daily Mail to respond to the school's comments

about their article but have yet to hear from them. The pupils here are

planning their next boiler shut down. Not just a day this time but

The Gloucestershire woman who became famous for confronting

Margaret Thatcher about the sinking of the Belgrano has died at the age

of 85. Diana Gould from Cirencester challenged Baroness Thatcher on the

nationwide TV programme in 1983. am sorry, I cannot see it was not

sailing away from the Falklands. was a danger... You have just said

at the beginning to go of your answer it was not sailing away.

refusal to accept the Prime Minister's answers as to why she

had ordered the Argentinian ship to be sunk made the interview famous.

Radio Times readers voted it the ninth best interview of all time.

Mrs Gould died at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon on Saturday.

The luxury handbag-maker Mulberry bucked the economic trend today as

it announced it has trebled its half-year profits. The company,

which has its headquarters in Shepton Mallett, has 86 stores and

concessions worldwide. It recorded pre-tax profits of over �15.5

million pounds, up from �4.7 million the previous year. The

group also expanded its factory in Somerset, creating 60 jobs.

Bristol is to be given more powers by the Government. Ministers today

announced measures they hope will boost the economies of eight of the

country's biggest cities. But critics say it does not go far

enough. Here is our political editor.

The Deputy Prime Minister at bounded on to stage today, keen to

announce England's biggest cities hard getting new powers. Instead of

having to go through Whitehall, Bristol have more direct control of

a funding and how it is spent. are throwing the doors open and we

are saying whether it is borrowing money, whether it is keeping

business rates, whether it is having one big pot of capital money

going into housing and transport, whether it is having more control

over how you provide skills to people locally, all of those powers

are now from today available to our biggest cities. Sounds great. But

do not get too excited. The reality, the Government is not giving away

if a great deal of power or piles of money. There is no big money in

this. I see it as a first step, an act of good faith, so far, that

leads us to think they could be more powers coming our way if we

can demonstrate they are going to be effective and they are going to

help us deliver growth. Bristol will look carefully at the new

powers that, to the Council house and other local authorities will be

looking to see if they are missing out.

Campaigners in the Forest of Dean are welcoming a report that has

been looking into its future. Earlier this year, there were

protests after the Government said it would sell off some of its

woodland there. It eventually backtracked on those plans. But an

independent panel was set up to assess the issues -and today it

said the way the area is currently managed provides excellent value

for money. The protests against the forest

sell-off plans were unprecedented here but they seem to do the trick.

Today's report is a progress update and it does gauge for the future

temperature. The Forestry Commission was potentially going to

be scrapped but the panel say its �20 million a year bill to the

country appears modest and delivers benefits. The panel went on to

say... Words which have been welcomed with cautious optimism by

campaigners. The Forestry Commission give us huge value for

money. It is less than 30p a year per person to cover two Russian

50,000 acres. Fantastic value for money. I am glad they have a

knowledge that. It secures the future of the public forest estate.

Because the life of trees is long, we want to get out of the political

set-up. Directors from the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust met

the panel this year. They see today as a positive step after the

Government's initial naivety. did not look at all the associated

aspects, like the sheep grazing. The Forestry Commission deal with

those well. They would not be possible to sell that off. People

who live and work here care passionately about it. They say the

area is precious and unique and the Government should not meddle with

it. While there is some sense of optimism at today's progress report,

the celebrations will not start until the final report comes out in

the spring. In snooker, Judd Trump from Bristol

is through to the semi-finals of the UK championships in York. After

beating former world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the previous

round, today he dispatched Stephen Maguire in considerable style by

six frames to three. Trump lost the opening frame but then won five in

a row. He told our team he is playing with great confidence.

I am playing really well, potting well. My safety has not been great.

When I am out there, I just feel so confident. I feel comfortable in

front of the cameras. Last season, I did not want to be there.

Trump will now face Australia's Neil Robertson in tomorrow's semi-

final which starts at 12.30pm on BBC Two. More than 6,000 people

have been chosen to carry the Olympic torch next summer and among

them, many from the West. They is a chance to be part of history and it

is an honour some remember from the last time the Games were held in

London. Andy Townsend is one of the lucky

ones. In May, he will get to carry the Olympic torch when it passes

through the West over three days. have not got a clue what it is

going to be like. I ultimately know I will be holding a torch, somebody

will run towards me with another torch and for that 300 metres, I

will have to taking the whole experience. It will be amazing.

Andy teaches children at the Lifeskills Centre in Bristol. A

former Paralympian volleyball player from the 1992 Games in

Barcelona, he was nominated to carry the torch by his parents.

Others also chosen include the Gloucestershire mountain near

Kenton Cool. I found out this morning. -- my junior. My jaw hit

the floor. It is amazing. I am lost for words. Kenton will be joined by

this man, Damian Davis from Swindon. He led a team to go wrong mountain

in a charity event to climb the highest peaks in the UK. Here is

hoping his route with the torch will be a little clearer. Also on

the list, 15-year-old -- this 15- year-old. He raised money for

charity doing wheelchair circuits. They will carry the torch for 300

metres. It is an honour that Will Johns from Bath knows all about. He

ran with the flame through the West Country for the 1948 London games.

It was just like the royal wedding, the crowds. Here was the torch.

Here was the flame. The runner was you. Like Will, each person taking

part in the relay will be left with a lasting memory of a day when they

were part of something very special. It is going to be great to see.

A teenager from Wiltshire is just hours away from becoming the

youngest person to ski to the South Pole. 16-year-old Amelia Hempleman-

Adams has spent the last 17 nights trekking across Antarctica with her

father David. The young explorer has endured sub-zero temperatures

of minus 55 centigrade along the way. Amelia's team back in the West

expects her to reach her goal later tonight. They have got 12 miles to

do today which is the longest day they have had and the weather has

been horrible the last couple of days. They have had to navigate

using the sun. We are hoping they are going to arrive at the South

Pole tonight. Amelia's writing about her

experiences online and we will keep you posted on her final push to the

pole. The organisers of what is believed

to be the world's largest living nativity are thanking everyone who

turned out for their record attempt. They say 743 people helped turn the

streets of Midsomer Norton into a modern-day Bethlehem last Friday.

The previous record of 657 people was held by a village in Italy.

Those behind the Somerset attempt say they are just waiting for

official confirmation that it is a record.

I love the angels were blowing! It looks so festive. Everyone has been

talking about the weather today. Will it be it a Christmas nativity

It has been very different in Scotland. So it continues. There is

a worrying the band of cloud. We have had we nip turbines being

blown up in Scotland. -- wind turbines. As far as the rainfall,

you can see very clearly the spiral of snow and rain which is extending

through Scotland. He comes a cold front across us. We will get some

lively weather. The wind speed have been the highest in Gloucestershire.

Filton was not far off. We have had trees down in parts of

Gloucestershire, and trees down. -- telegraph poles down. All of that

will either way and it will be a different story tomorrow. It will

be mostly dry. There will be a good deal of sunshine. Through the rest

of the week, the cold front continues its journey. It will dry

out behind that. The eyes are bars spread out. They will not be as

windy. -- eyes are bars. There will be no snow in The Cotswolds.. The

area of rain in Salisbury will track away. The winds will

gradually ease. It will be more cold. It could be two Celsius.

Tomorrow will bring a good deal of sunshine. It will be crisp and

clear. There will be more cloud through the Bristol Channel, and a

few showers, perhaps. But not too many. Later on, that trough will

come southwards and introduce more cloud. You can see the hint of some

snow. Nothing more than a flake or two. Otherwise, it is a dry picture.

Looking beyond that, we then have a very cold night into Saturday.

Widespread frost. These and a Saturday, windy on Sunday with some

That looks horrible. Let us hope it is not too bad. A reminder that

tomorrow Chris finally retires from Points West. It is a day by a have

been hoping would never come. Bless you. I've reached 60 last

week and felt a to 28 years it was time to quit. Join us tomorrow for