28/07/2011 Look East - East

Hello and welcome to Look East. Tonight: Told they can appeal for

compensation - the veterans who took part in nuclear tests more

than 50 years ago. We had to cover our rise with our hands. Believe me,

we could see every single bone in our fingers.

A mother relives the moment her former partner tried to kill her

and her two children. He slammed the kitchen door shut, punched me

to the floor and then stabbed me. Twice as find people as cold -

rhino horns are stolen from one of our museums. -- twice as valuable.

First Comer veterans are told they can seek compensation at over 50

years after they were exposed to tastings of nuclear weapons.

Over 1000 ex servicemen it can now take their claims to the courts

again. They took part in Britain's nuclear tests in the Pacific half-

a-century ago. The MoD has always denied a link between exposure and

any illness. Daunting even now, but imagine

washing -- watching and feeling this nuclear explosion. We had to

cover our eyes with our hands and, believe me, we could see every bone

in our fingers. David Freeman from Norwich was one of thousands of

servicemen on Christmas Island in 1957 and is convinced his exposure

to the blast resulted in his resit diagnosis of bowel cancer -- recent.

Four years ago, Derek Chappell flew back to Christmas Island and and

documentary crew followed him. He is suffering from a type of

leukaemia he blames on the explosions. The Americans, Chinese,

French and Australians have all recognised what a good job we have

done but the MoD ignores us. How about the ones from Iraq and

Afghanistan? Will they be ignored? The reparation today is a small

victory for the veterans. application is granted. At the

Supreme Court, they won their appeal to fight on but... The court

would not wish to raise false optimism. The MoD denies a link

between the veterans' exposure to radioactive t and any illnesses.

They have been told by a... That there is no money around and we

must not waste money on elderly people who served this country so

well. I feel angry. David can say is now in remission. Those veterans

who are still alive say they will continue their fight.

We saw one of the veterans in that report, David Freeman, and a short

while ago he came into our studio and I asked him for his reaction to

the verdict. I'm optimistic but I take things as they come. I am

waiting to see what the outcome will be. We have been told all

manner of things in the past so I am one of these people who takes

things slowly. We heard in the report you'd talking about being

able to see the bones of your hands when it happened. How did everybody

feel at the time? Were you very nervous? The scariest part of it

was when everything went very quiet. From a tiny little island - in the

middle of the Pacific Ocean - miles away from anywhere and normally the

air is full of the sea birds. Suddenly, everything goes quiet,

not a sound. Then you get the countdown from the plane doing its

final run. It is that little bit between that and bombs away and the

countdown that people then begin to say, are we going to make it? Will

it blown up over us? They all sorts of doubts and things that creepy in.

In fact, I think a few of us said a prayer. Very sadly, you got bowel

cancer. You are at in remission but why do you feel strongly this is

affected by what happened back then? None of us were never tested.

We didn't have any Geiger counters or anything to check what dosage we

had taken. To turn around and say, there was no radiation in the air.

There was nothing there. Our biggest question is why did they

take the native population away from the island for that particular

test if they didn't know something was wrong? We are called guinea

pigs but even guinea pigs get tested at least once a week. We

never had any of that. We were just forgotten. Thank you very much.

Victoria Meek, who was stabbed at least 10 times and left for dead by

her former partner, has spoken for the first time about the attack.

Had two children were also stabbed but cannot be named for legal

reasons. Victoria Meek new Isaac Williams

was violent. It was the reason she finished their relationship but she

never realised the lengths he would go to - not just trying to kill her

but her daughter. He had been violent before but I didn't expect

that. Why your own child? I can't answer that question, only he can.

In April, Isaac Williams saw that she had got a new partner and in a

rage he repeatedly stabbed her and her two young daughters with a

knife. He slammed the kitchen door shut and then punched me to the

floor. Then he had his knife down the side of his waist and he

stabbed me. My youngest was in her bedroom. She was playing and he

walked through to the bedroom and attacked her first. My eldest

jumped on his back and that is how she got it because she was

defending her sister. I was injured all over really. Mainly my arm. My

daughter on her stomach, my youngest. The other has some on her

arm. I think he left me for dead. The eldest daughter helped dial 999.

All had life-saving operations. This shows the moment he was

arrested. Isaac Williams stood in the dock and was asked, do you

plead guilty or not guilty to three Accounts of attempted murder? He

replied "guilty" and sobbed. He has finally done the decent thing. Now

it is time for me and my kids to move on. He will be sentenced in

Three rhino horns have been stolen from the Ipswich Museum. Thieves

got in just after midnight and took nothing else. Museums have been

warned to be vigilant because rhino horn can fetch up to �60,000 on the

black market - twice the value of gold.

This is Rosie the Rhino at minus her horn. Another way rhino skull

was stolen overnight. An alarm was activated at 12:25pm. It is a

spurious belief that rhino horns are aphrodisiac. Tragically, rhinos

have been pushed close to extinction because of this and they

are now turning to museum collections. To raise the arrived

in Ipswich in 1907. She came from the Natural History Museum -- Rosie

arrived. Before we open, people were saying how sad they are

because she is a huge draw for people. Some young children have

said, we have come to see Rosie. February, this rhino head it was

stolen from an auction house in Stansted. They say it is easier to

steal from collections in Europe then poached from Africa. There

have been approximately 20 thefts in auction houses in Europe which

have involved significant losses to these museums. This is tempting for

criminals who want to up tend -- obtain this to sell on the black

market. It is thought the thieves knew exactly what they were looking

for as they were in and out in less than five minutes. Two men were

seen leaving the museum at around 12:30pm and getting into a silver

saloon car. Suffolk police are appealing for information. Security

at the museum is under review but security officials admit that no

museum can be 100% secured from organised crime attacks.

The Conservative MP for Huntingdon, Jonathan Djanogly, has been told he

won't be investigated by the Information Commissioner. Mr

Djanogly, who is a junior minister in the Justice Department, hired

detectives to identify the source of what he called malicious

allegations about him. The Labour MP John Mann claimed that blagging

was used to obtain information. The Commissioner's Office says no law

was broken. Coming up later in the programme:

The farm which believes it's hatched the first Nile crocodiles

in the country. And Shaun Peel's been out on the

water. Art Olympic one to watch is very much on form with a year to go.

This morning, she is open-water swimming on the Thames against

heard that. We will find out how A couple from Essex who rented out

a field for a convention of Christian gypsies have revolt --

apologised to fellow villagers. Around 2500 travellers turned up

for the Light and Life Mission in wouldn't Ferris.

They had gathered from across the country to worship. Some

sympathised with villagers worried about the sheer numbers. They are

not used to this number of people nearby. I do feel sorry for them.

It is a terrible thing to see a load of gypsy people coming onto

land. Some say far too many travellers have turned up and they

have started an online petition. don't have anything against the

travellers at all. It is just an event of this size which we cannot

accommodate. The devastation it has caused on our village. One of the

main issues is the toilet facilities on the site which has

led to then using perhaps gardens and fields and footpaths. Nearby,

some businesses decided to close. Meanwhile, one of the leaders of

the Light and Life Mission explained that everyone, including

them, had been surprised that the numbers. He gave this reassurance

to villagers. We will be gone and everything will be all clear. Some

villagers feel we will stay but that will not happen. We rent a

field and we are then gone. couple who rented the field said

sorry to their neighbours. It isn't enough, I recognise that, but from

the bottom of our hearts we say we are sorry and it won't happen again.

This afternoon, the travellers and gypsies were beginning to leave,

First it was telephone and power cables, now even door knockers are

being taken by metal thieves. Shock and anger, that is the

reaction of chatterers homeowners who have found thieves have stolen

knockers and numbers from their bills. You do not expect this to be

taken in the middle of the night. It seemed to be getting worse.

is disgusting. People put these things on their properties, and

some people cannot help themselves. Crime so close to home is worrying

some residents. They have come here on, they have got screwdrivers, I

did not hear anything at, they knew what they would do wind, I do not

know how people are going to feel, knowing people are carrying weapons

like that. The local postman noses round, but with the numbers missing

it, others are being thrown into confusion. Delivery drivers are

asking where the numbers are. They cannot get their lorries down here,

so they are looking for them. police suspect rising scrap metal

prices are the motives. They defend, manhole covers and cable are the

more common targets. Solid brass from doors could attract up to �3 a

kilo. Residents living along this line said they want to improve

security, and they are going to speak to the police about getting

better security. They say hopefully they and their friends will not be

targeted again. -- had to leave their homes.

More than 1000 fans of Ipswich Town were at Portman Road for an open

day, the first-team squad trained at the stadium, which give

supporters the chance to see the seven summer signings election.

They are preparing for a final friendly against Wolverhampton on

Saturday. A schoolgirl from Norfolk has found

fame as a model for a national store chain. Ellie Burton has been

signed up by Marks & Spencer. She came into the studio earlier and

taught me how she tried modelling after she was picked on at school.

My mother encouraged me, she thought it would raise my self-

esteem. She said, you have got nothing to lose. She was talking

about your self-esteem, because you had problems with poorly in? Yes, I

have now moved, and everything is better. I have matured as a person.

Has it raised your self-esteem? Yes. Tell me what you did to get started.

The agency, you have to give money, and if he did not getting, or of

the photos that were shot, they are yours, so you can build a portfolio.

If you get in, they build your portfolio for you. You get put

forward for jobs. It is a really long process. Since you got

modelling contracts, have you seen yourself all over the place? Yes,

just Chopin with friends, I have seen buses go past, billboards, and

just watching the TV. Is it like looking at holiday photos, you

think, I do not like that one?! some photos, you really hate.

Getting the Marks and Spencer's contract, how did that feel? I was

at school, my parents tested May. It did not sink in. I thought, are

they live in? When I got there, I knew, I had it. Our people

recognising you now? Yes, a couple of times. It feels pretty good. You

have got to secretly love it! about the future? Do you want to

carry on, or are you keen to finish your studies? I would love to carry

on modelling, but I do know that anything could happen. I might not

be able to. I want to have a back- up plan. But if the modelling takes

off, that will be brilliant. You are watching Look East.

Coming up, home in the Fens for the next generation of Nile crocodiles.

With just eight year to go until the Olympics, are we have been

catching up with an old ones to watch. Tonight, it is triathlete

Hollie Avil. We often hear about children falling in the footsteps

of their parents, but with her, it is the other way round. Her father

was so inspired by his daughter, he decided to give it a go as well.

Triathlon, it sounds easy, but it is not. It is a one-mile swim, a 25

mile ride and a six-mile run. Hollie Avil loves it, and now so

does her father. Since she was eight years old, Mark Avil was a

taxi. His life revolved around his daughter's training. But then she

left home. He got me into triathlon. He was not doing it himself at the

time. But I thought he would start to give it a go. It is since I left

home, he has been able to train himself. Yes, I got used to getting

up at 4:30am to take her to the swimming pool, and then she went

off to university, and I were still getting up. I had to decide what to

do with my time. I decided to take up swimming properly. It is a

Sunday morning on the backs of the Thames. They are competing for the

first time together, and open-water swimming over a mile. For her, it

is a bit, but market is training for the German Ironman triathlon. -

- markets training. In two years, he has lost four stone, and he

Hollie Avil won the race at a stroll, but then she is the

professional, with London 2012 or on the radar. Her father came and

soon afterwards, and he was the first to congratulate her. Well

done! A surprise! In Beijing, I did not qualify until late, so I am

just being patient, and hopefully I will be on top form by the end of

this year. She is hitting form at the right time. If she makes it to

the Olympic Games, her father will We are starting a regular Olympics

report tonight, bringing you the stories about 2012. Tonight's is

presented by former badminton world champion Gail Emms.

It Hallow, I am here for the first of our regular Olympic Way

thoughts.? Olympic reports. You will have seen the last night in

the Olympic Hall, in my first ever competitive race. I finished

seventh. Not bad for a badminton player! These youngsters are having

a great time in their school holidays, because this venue is a

possible training base for visiting Olympic teams. 13 countries have

decided to base themselves in our region. The latest, St Vincent and

the Grenadines, based in Hertfordshire. It could even be 14

by the end of August. The Japanese trampoline team will be testing out

the facilities in not come to next month to see if it is suitable for

their preparations. -- in Northampton. The preparation events

are happening to this summer, to make sure everything runs smoothly.

On Sunday, the Olympic mountain- bike course will be tested. More

than 100 of the top riders will be there, as well 5000 spectators. We

will be live with a preview of the event to Margaret. The Olympics

sailing tested and is also happening on Sunday, and it is a

great chance for Saskia Clark to catch the eye of the selectors. She

is really hitting form at the right time. Last month, she won silver in

the regatta on the Olympic course. Well done to death from Essex, she

has designed a version of the Olympic mascot which represents our

region. She will develop her idea, which will be turned into an

official version of the mascot, as well as a pin badge. We will have

regular Thursday Olympic reports, but for now, it is goodbye from

Bedford. Goodbye!

There are many more stories on your BBC local radio station every

Thursday morning. Next week, our report will be presented by Goldie

Sayers, the British No. 1 in the javelin.

A farm in Cambridgeshire Police it has made history by being the first

in the country to hatch Nile crocodiles. They have been

attempting to breed them for six years. Finally, they have succeeded.

Needed the newest additions to the family. They are not the prettiest

babies, but tell that to the mother. They will be grown up before you

know it, just like these. Raising such a family is not without its

challenges. Four weeks ago, the male knocked me flat and he lay on

top of me. When the boys put their practice in, they got him off, and

everything went smoothly. Crocodile meat sells for a premium, and pigs

and cows do not get people this excited. They were not that scary,

because they were asleep. They have got a lot of details. They are

really scary. It is dangerous, difficult to get the correct

licences, and it has taken six years, but it is the biggest buzz

he has ever had. It is an adrenaline sport. People like

riding fast bikes or motor racing. In six or seven years, it will be

their turn on the tops above the podium. Holding one of these and

imagining that its big brother ways in excess of their time, it is easy

to imagine how hard it is to be a crocodile farmer, but the team on

not put off all. These two are the stock of things to come. They are

daring to meet some saltwater crocodiles in the USA. They really

We have done pretty well for sunshine today. Many of us were

stuck under a cloud yesterday, but most places have seemed decent

sunny spells today. There was some thicker cloud that produced a light

shower in Colchester, but I find evening with sunny spells to enter

the day. -- but a good evening. Some cloud rolling in from the west.

That could produce the odd few spots of rain in the far west. The

wind stays light. Into tomorrow, it is going to be a cloudy day again.

Not as bad as it was yesterday. There is a weather front great

across us through the day, which will make conditions cloudy. Behind

it, high pressure. That is building into produced some fine weather for

the weekend. For tomorrow, rather cloudy. Brighter intervals. Enough

cloud to produce the odd light shower, perhaps in the far west.

Sometimes, the club fines and bricks, allowing some brightness

through. -- cloud fines and brakes. The wind is light, north to north-

easterly to start with, but the breeze will pick up. Into the

afternoon, it stays mainly dry, if a little cloudier. One or two

showers to the south of us, getting into Hertfordshire and Essex, but

most places stay dry. It is a fairly settled affair. The high

pressure is not strong enough to avoid areas of cloud from time to

time. Although the weekend looks quite dry with sunny spells, do not