15/08/2013 East Midlands Today

This is East Midlands Today with Dominic Heale and me, Anne Davies.

Tonight, an explosion and fire at the home of a deaf couple. Now it's

a criminal investigation. The couple inside were lucky to survive,

officers say petrol had been poured all around the bungalow. Facebook

bullying continues. It was horrible, I cannot describe it, it was

horrible. Plus the pet dog that had to be put down after being attacked

while on a walk. And breakfast on the buses, just the ticket for

Hungary passengers. Hello, good evening. First tonight, the police

have revealed that an explosion at a bungalow in Leicestershire early on

Monday morning was caused by a fire which was started deliberately. The

blast happened in the village of Burbage. The couple who are in their

50s and deaf, were only saved by a special fire alarm. Our reporter

Eleanor Garnier is in Burbage tonight. Eleanor, what more can you

tell us about this dramatic development in the investigation?

This is now a criminal investigation. Please see this could

easily have been a double murder enquiry. —— say. It happened early

on Monday morning and it caused extensive damage to the property.

The couple had to be rescued through a broken window. During

investigations, police have now found petrol spread all over the

property. Joining me now is the debt debt to in charge of the

investigation. —— detect live. This was obviously a deliberate act?

That's right. There has been petrol. It is definitely deliberate. What

caused the explosion was the beeper building up inside the room. It was

a confined space. You are looking for two people who were seen here at

the time, is that right? Yes, there were two meals in the area both

winning high visibility jackets, we are appealing for them to come

forward so we can speak to them. Thank you. Officers have told me

they believe this was a targeted incident and therefore none of the

other houses and properties in this area are at risk. If anyone has any

information they are urged to call Leicestershire police on that number

101. A father from Leicestershire who claims his daughter took her own

life after being bullied online says if there isn't tougher regulations

more teenagers will die. David Smith from Lutterworth has spoken out on

the eve of his 14—year—old daughter Hannah's funeral. Now, two more

abusive internet pages have been discovered in the East Midlands.

Rebecca Sheeran reports. She was a bubbly person. She enjoyed life. She

did not deserve what happened to her. The 14—year—old was found

hanged at her warm two weeks ago her family see she was bullied on an

intranet site. —— say. I think somebody was abusing her online,

abusing her quite a lot, and on Thursday night somebody had just

pushed her over the edge. There were no signs to say that she was going

to do this. There are other site that are abusive. Pictures of young

children come up seeing really horrible things about them. It was

sickening. Facebook cannot manage that, they cannot monitor net, why

should it wait for more people to get at, for more youngsters to get

bullied and they get to the point where they think what is the point?

The girl's father says action needs to be taken instantly. It needs to

be shut down because I don't think they will be able to change it. I

was absolutely disgusted that the teenager could get so much abuse

from one website and that needs to stop. The law needs to change. He

laws are not good enough in this country to protect our teenagers. If

the laws do not change we will end up with a lot more teenagers being

buried. As a mark of respect the site will delay releasing the

results of the review and tell after Hannah's funeral. Still to come:

D—day for A—levels. Tonight the scramble for University places is in

full swing. And as the flats are being demolished, with the next

council homes coming from to tackle the crisis? A pet owner from

Nottinghamshire has had to have her dog put down after it was mauled by

another dog. Chris Thellmann from Mansfield is devastated by what's

happened and has informed the police. She says the owner of the

other dog did nothing to stop the attack and afterwards, just walked

off. You may find some of Helen Astle's report distressing. Lucy was

a much loved pet, adored by her owners. Nine days ago Chris took her

for a walk at King's Mill Reservoir where she was attacked by an

Alsatian. It just went for her, got her in its mouth and just savaged

her. I was screaming at him to get his dog off. Lucy was screaming. It

was awful. He just did not see anything to me —— say anything to me

at all. I could not be. I was having an asthma attack. Chris broke her

hand trying to save Lucy from the ulceration. The order just walked

off after the attack. Her back was just ripped open and you could see

all the skin. She had trauma and she was squealing. He was still stood

there. I was all covered in blood. It was all over my top and my arms

and everything. She has put up notices to warn other dog owners

about what happened. The vets who treated Lucy say there has been a

rise in dog attacks. We see one a fortnight now. The injuries baby

from minor puncture marks two dogs that are quite severely mauled and

sometimes results in the dogs being put to sleep. Lucy's injuries were

so severe she had to be put down two days after the attack. Why should

that man get away with it? He has robbed me and my family of my dog

and he is just getting away with it. Next, it's been a day of destiny for

many students across the East Midlands as thousands of teenagers

got their A—level results. Overall pass rates are up but the number of

candidates getting A and A*s has dropped slightly. And it's been a

busy day too for our universities, as the clearing process got

underway. I got a B, C, C. I got to bees and any. Students have been

finding out if there are hard work has paid off. I got all the grades I

wanted to get. I am going to study medicine at Cambridge. I am going to

study English. There has been a rise in the overall number of passes but

fewer top grades. About a quarter of students have got the job grades. We

have had a significant increase in the high grades that students have

achieved. This University in Leicester is part of the grieving

process. Today they were dealing with 30 calls per minute at the

busiest. IPhoto clog they had answered 10,000 calls but from

students. We see keep camp. —— say. It is a very competitive environment

at the moment but I am sure at our university you will be able to find

a course that suits your requirements. People are deciding

whether to reset, start work or take you to decide. Well done to

everyone, whatever your results. One of the biggest council house

building programmes since the 1960s is underway in Nottingham. Over the

next four years, 350 new homes for rent are planned for sites around

the city. It'll cost £60 million and today the first phase was officially

opened. Here's our Political Editor, John Hess. This couple have been

married for 45 years and they have in council tenants for most of their

married lives. It was nice and bright, the facility is very good.

They showed me around the two—bedroom bungalow. What is it

like to be in a new house? It is lovely, we have got two bedrooms, a

shower room, a lovely back garden, we love it. It is a newly built

council home and is the first of 250 planned. It is the biggest council

house building programme since the 1960s. The 1960s saw 350,000 council

houses built. Over the past ten years 420 new council homes, last

year just ten. Dear is real pressure on budgets. We got into a doldrums

because we were not loading them. But now looking at the housing

availability, sometimes the old ideas are the best. 60 years ago it

was Harold Macmillan's decision before he became prime minister that

let to the war council housing boom. Today's demand for new homes could

mean a council housing revival. Council housing is popular, it works

for the Council and for the tenants. Coming down soon at these flats in

Nottingham. They were originally built to deal with any earlier

housing shortage. They will make way for 150 council homes as part of the

21st century housing solution. The forecourt at Derby Train Station has

been cordoned—off for repairs despite a recent redevelopment

costing more than £2.5 million. It's because the surface is bubbling and

needs to be redone. As a result, glass has been taken out of the bus

shelters. The work's expected to take nine days. East Midlands Trains

says its customers won't be affected and the station will remain open.

Lincolnshire's chief constable has been cleared of misconduct. Neil

Rhodes was suspended in February by the county's police and crime

commissioner Alan Hardwick. It was alleged Mr Rhodes had acted

improperly when he tried to mediate between West Yorkshire police and a

former employee. A report by the country's most senior police officer

found no evidence against him. Half a million police fingerprint records

are being digitised to save money and help solve crime. The

Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire forces are the first in

the country to get rid of their old paper records as our Social Affairs

Correspondent, Jeremy Ball reports. This is where the analyser around

1000 fingerprints every month. It is a powerful way to catch criminals.

It is compelling evidence that can identify suspects and put them at

the scene of a crime. This is the deconstruction of a robbery that

happened in 1985, two years ago this man was finally jailed for that

crime having been caught by his fingerprints. All the forces combine

the databases and the fingerprints from this event could then be

checked against the whole national collection. They were identified

against fingerprints held in Nottinghamshire. He was given a ten

year jail sentence. The records go straight to a computer database

now. It is as easy as taking a photocopy but they used to do it

like this with ink and paper. The old records are now being cleared

out as the records are converted onto computer. It saves us having to

employ somebody to physically take out those fit in those in forms and

destroy them. We will be using these systems to solve crimes quicker. You

will be collected by a private company that specialises in

digitising public records. Is it safe for the police to pass it on?

The documents we look after our very secure. The staff are checked and it

is complete security. These days a lot of crimes are solved by surging

mobile phone records or trawling the Internet. These traditional

fingerprinting techniques are still as important as ever. A bus war has

broken out between two rival companies after one of them

introduced identical services on the same routes. Campaigners say they're

worried it won't increase competition but simply reduce

profits for both operators. Today one of the bus companies tried to

tempt customers with a free breakfast. Sarah Teale was there.

ATM and passengers board the bus for Derby. This morning they are treated

to a free breakfast as an incentive to customers who pick the service

over a new rival one. Your Bus has started operating on this route and

two others in Derbyshire just a few minutes earlier than the Trent

Barton buses. Gill macro they are aiming to get customers from our

services. Surely competition is about winning customers. Know it

isn't, it is wasteful competition. Campaigners fear that is not enough

demand to keep both companies and business and passengers seem to

agree. I think competition is healthy but I think it is quite

close together. It is crazy, they could boot another bus service

somewhere else. A single to Derby is £3 60 with Trent Barton at the other

company have undercut the fear by 30p and they are accepting Trent

Barton tickets on the buses. Why don't you load your prices? We need

to make these sustainable and that is what our fears reflect. Your Bus

was not available for comment today. Breakfast seems a long time ago

ex—Commissioner Mark still to come: A pleasure trip postponed. A humble

coot stops a 70 foot barge from starting sightseeing trips along the

Cromford Canal. Earlier we looked at those all important A—level results.

But not making the grade for higher education needn't spell disaster.

Simon Hare has been to meet two men who pursued another course to a

dream job and their own successful business. This is our flagship

model, the best we do. This man studied business and his hot cup

firm has now seen its annual turnover over half £1 million. ——

watch top. Normal delivery times are like two weeks but did he Rascal

wanted his tomorrow. E—business began during his A—level studies.

When you are 16 or 17 and you get a few hundred pounds coming in every

week it seems like a massive amount. After 18—year—old Sam gave up on his

A—levels they found a marketing apprenticeship. Quite often these

days we are told university is the only route and I would not see that

is the case. I got the perfect job. Many young people are attracted to

an offer that combines burning with learning. —— learning with learning.

Yet are apprenticeships, internships, all sorts of

opportunities. If you have a cracking idea, jump on it. Now Dan

is planning to tell his own internal apprentice, you are hired. Don't

forget, your future begins right now, whatever happened. Now the

sport. Starting with a bit of transfer news: Theo Robinson has

left Derby for Doncaster Rovers. We understand Rovers have paid around

£150,000 for the striker who first came to the Rams from Millwall in

2011. He's become a Jamaican international and scored 20 goals in

80 appearances for Derby. So as one player leaves the club, Derby County

are paying tribute to a man who's dedicated half a century to them.

This Saturday they're unveiling a newly named stand in honour of

Gordon Guthrie. A man who's worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Kirsty

Edwards has been along to Pride Park to find out more. Over the years

Derby County has seen people, and go but there has been one of present.

This man was a player but over the decades has been on to be a physio,

trainer and kit man. This weekend his name will officially go on the

south—west corner stand. Gordon Guthrie has been here for 50 years

and it is about time we had a tribute to him in the stadium. I

remember him when I was just a few years old. It is lovely that he has

got that stand. He is a very special person. It is that corner of the

stadium just over there that is getting the honour. Anyone over

there will be in the Gordon Guthrie stand. His long service means he has

worked under Brian Clough and now all these years on his son Nigel

Clough. I think one thing everybody has got for him is respect as well

as love and admiration. Here's a lovely man and every time he comes

in, whether to the training ground or here, the players, the current

players, everybody likes to see them. You could see —— say Gordon

Guthrie is part of the furniture here but from this weekend you could

see he will be just that. —— say. There's no stopping Mansfield's

Paralympic swimmer Ollie Hynd. Just 24 hours after winning his first

ever World Championship gold medal he's got himself another one. Ollie

went into the 400 metres freestyle final as the fastest qualifier and

he led for most of the race. In fact by the end he was miles ahead

finishing just outside of the world record. And his older brother Sam

Hynd made it a double celebration for the family picking up the

silver. Congratulations to them, we hope to have them in the studio next

week. In Cricket, it's a big night in the YB40 for Notts Outlaws.

They're playing Sussex in Brighton knowing a win will put them into the

semi—finals. Well into the game now and Outlaws are batting. They have

reached 195 for three after 31 overs. Derbyshire are also in action

home to Durham. Derbyshire are 160 four set. —— for set. —— six. 200

years ago, it was the transport link of its day. The Cromford Canal in

Derbyshire carried thousands of tonnes of cotton goods from the

nearby mills. But in recent years, it's become severely silted up. Now

local councils and volunteers are working to re—open the canal. In

fact, pleasure trips on a restored 70—foot barge are ready to begin

again for the first time in 25 years. Or they would, if it wasn't

for a certain bird. James Roberson explains. It is all aboard the good

ship birds worse. It has been lovingly restored to the way it

looked when it was first launched in 1938. No electrically powered, the

boat is running on the water once more. These are acutely as the

volunteers who have supported the restoration of the boat. It has

taken hundreds of man—hours to restore the canal. Volunteers come

from all over the world. Last summer this woman was on an exhibition to

the North Hall, this year, the Parisien is in Derbyshire. It gets

reopened injured by inch because it costs so much money. Eventually it

will be fully open providing a good amenity for the public. If it wasn't

for this bird that has built a nest right in the centre this rule would

be emptied. We have done all the planning that we possibly could but

this is a very sensitive wildlife reserve. Once the bird has flown it

is hoped they can start carrying people at the weekends from

September. It may be silted up but it is lovely. And that person boot

holding things up! Now the weather. —— cursed coot. There have been

quite a few showers this afternoon but now you can see what is lacking

out West, a big wall of water is heading our way for this evening. It

is all tied in with this weather front. This one is more reliable

than the previous ones we have had. There will be a spell of more

persistent and heavy rain through this evening. It will be quite a wet

and windy end to the day. The rain will stick around for much of the

night. It will feel quite muddy and humid. Temperature is not much lower

than 16 or 17 degrees. Tomorrow morning will see a wet start.

Eventually it will move off and these guys will brighten up behind

that so decent looking afternoon. It will be drier with lots of lovely

sunshine. Temperatures still doing pretty well. That takes us into the

weekend, it does look like we have some rain on the way, not a wash—out

why any stretch of the imagination but wet and windy with green by the

evening. —— green by the evening. —— rain.