06/12/2011 Look East - East

Hello and welcome to Look East. Coming up in the next 30 minutes:

Developments tonight in the hunt for Rachel Manning's killer. 11

years after her death, detectives question a man arrested in Milton

Keynes. Low wages, high house prices and

tougher mortgage deals - why a generation of young people have

been locked out of the housing market. My other half is full time

and I am part time and we cannot get one.

A reward of �3,000 on offer tonight to help catch those behind the A12

concrete attacks. And making a splash- the

inspiration behind a generation of high divers.

Hello, detectives investigating the murder of Rachel Manning 11 years

ago are tonight questioning a suspect arrested at dawn this

morning. Thames Valley Police revealed the suspect had been

questioned previously about the killing and was on bail on

suspicion of murder. He is aged 40 and lives in Bletchley. Our Home

Affairs Correspondent has been following developments and is in

Milton Keynes now. Good evening. Details are very

scant. The police are saying little other than what you have mentioned.

The man is from the Bletchley area and was arrested at dawn this

morning. We think he is being held in custody here, but police are not

confirming that. Rachel Manning was murdered some 11 years ago. In that

time, it has placed her family in a terrible state of limbo as police

continued the search for her killer or killers. In a green wig and

fancy dress, Rachel Manning had been in a nightclub the day she

died in 2000. Her body was found two days later on Woburn golf

course. She had been choked and beaten to death. We had to see

those horrific injuries first hand when we identified her body in the

hospital mortuary. This was the most soul-destroying thing any

parent could go through and it's the last mental image we have of

our daughter, and it never fades. Rachel Manning's boyfriend, Barry

White, was jailed for life for murdering her and his friend was

sentenced for five years for perverting the course of justice.

Her case was taken up by the BBC. In 2008, both men won their appeal

against conviction. Justice was done today and hopefully they will

catch the real killer. In 2009, police announced they had reopened

the investigation. Three months ago detectives arrested two men from

Bletchley near Milton Keynes. Held on suspicion of murder they were

released on bail. Today's development has placed this case in

the spotlight. We know that in the Wii arrested man was taken into

custody six days before he was due to answer bail on 12th December.

The police will only add that he was taken into custody after a new

forensic evidence came to light. A fresh survey of the housing

market claims today that a generation of young people have

little hope of buying their own homes. In this region, the problem

lies with incomes failing to keep pace with house prices as well as

The average cost of a house in this region is now �237,000. Research by

the National Housing Federation shows around 71%of us here in the

East own our own home, but in 10 years' time, that's expected to

drop to 64%. Let's take a look at the most affordable places to

live... A house in Fenland in Cambridgeshire costs just over

seven times the average local salary. A property in Ipswich in

Suffolk, just over eight times. The same goes for Luton. But if you

want to live in Cambridge, well, a house there will cost 13 times the

average local salary. Topping the table is Uttlesford in Essex,

Warehouse will cost the 16 times the average salary. Our chief

reporter has been testing the market in Bury St Edmunds in

Berry is eight historic and traditionally prosperous town but

to many, bearing a -- buying a home locally is an impossible dream.

the way the economy is, no way. The amount of money we get, no chance.

Sam, and admin assistant, what a home with her partner for years ago.

Her friend Polly and her husband, who runs a club, rent. When we

debate you didn't need a deposit, so we gave a very small amount so

we were able to buy. I do not think we would do it now. There is no way

be would be able to save up money that they ask for a, no way. It's

not very depressing but when my friend has got her home, I do get a

bit jealous of the fact that I have not got mine. I Fink it has got a

lot harder nowadays. -- I think. prospect in the next year or two of

doing that? Probably not in the next 10! This month set up a family

estate agency 45 years ago. He has a stern message. You have got to

pull in your horns. Forget about the mobile phone, the holiday,

every Friday night out. You have to save. There is no other way round

it. Call me old-fashioned but if you can't raise 10% out of the you

should be buying a house. Lettings and property management companies

say there is a good rental market. People are choosing to let and

deciding to come to the rental market. It represents a flexible

option for people. A lot of it is a round-robin to be free to move and

not be saddled with a mortgage. -- a lot of it is around wanting to be

free. Many still want to buy. The lucky ones might get a hand from

the Bank of mum and dad, for the rest, it is a struggle.

That housing survey came from the National Housing Federation. It's

an umbrella group for housing associations which

provides social housing. The federation's regional manager is

Clare Astbury and is in Bedford now. In many other countries, people

rent. Why is it so important to make it possible for people to own?

People do like the security of a house of their own. There is

nothing wrong with renting and for many people it is a good option.

The pressure at the moment means more people want to rent privately

and our estimates show this will perish the rent up by 21% in the

next five years. -- push. That will impact on people's quality of life

on their ability to save for a mortgage. There are clearly lots of

people out there who are desperate to own their own houses and are

saving for that. There is also a culture change. People are tending

to spend more money if they have got it and they do not save as much.

I think we also -- all see that income has not kept prize with

house prices are even rent. It is the cost of living going up were

just having a massive impact, which is why more affordable housing is

important. It helps to stimulate the economy to build new homes. It

creates jobs and also additional jobs in the supply chain. It gives

people more money in their pockets to stimulate the local economy.

response to this report the government has said it has launched

the first -- first by scheme and it is planning an indemnity scheme for

new-build only requiring a 5% deposit. What more can you do?

welcome the government's move. They recognise the scale of a housing

prices and the role of building in stimulating the economy. We say we

have a chronic on the supply of homes in this country and region

and what we want to see is more of the same, more bringing public land

forward, more investment, more opportunities for people to buy a

home, and really, just to support local communities who really want

to see you home -- homes built because they recognise the damage

to the community when housing is not available. Is their concern for

those who do own homes that the more the government does, the more

it could skew be housing market? see that a housing market is pretty

much broken. It does not really work for almost everybody involved.

It is not just a generation of young people who are locked out of

buying a home. A lot of people are trapped in unsuitable housing or of

trying to access housing. We recognise that we need to take

action for people young and old and in all kinds of housing. If you

feel locked out of the housing market, we'd like to hear from you.

If you're struggling to buy or rent, get in touch. You can phone, send

an e-mail or log on to our page on Facebook. We look forward to

hearing from you. Later, an emotional night in Milton

Keynes as the motor racing world pays tribute to IndyCar star, Dan

Wheldon. We meet another of the region's

unsung sporting heroes. And the artistic treasures of a

stately home in Suffolk come under the auctioneer's hammer.

A reward of �3000 is being offered to catch those responsible for

dropping concrete blocks from bridges on to cars in Essex. Police

have stepped up patrols along the A12 to prevent it happening again.

There are 39 bridges over the A12 in Essex. The stretch between

Chelmsford and Brentwood is under close surveillance. We are keeping

an eye on all bridges. Police have put on extra patrols during the day

and at night. With over 3,000 police officers, this is one of the

highest priorities. We will send as many as we can to these areas at

particular times of day when we feared it is more likely that these

things may take place. Last Thursday, this rock was dropped on

to this car. The drivers escaped injury. Then, a concrete bollard

smashed through the windscreen of another car. It left a 57-year-old

woman with head and chest injuries. That happened on this bridge near

Chelmsford. There is a reward to help catch those responsible.

would urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant they

might feel it might be, to go to police in the first instance or if

they feel uncomfortable going to the police, to contact

Crimestoppers for we can take information from them. This

afternoon, the Highways Agency were putting out signs appealing to

drivers for information. Some who use the road survey feel uneasy.

Definitely, if you feel uneasy. am a lorry driver. You feel

disgusted. There are a lot of idiots about at the moment. They

have got nothing else to do, have they? Apprehensive, but you can't

be put off using it. We are at work and we have to use it.

Crimestoppers said the attacks are mindless and the police said they

still need your help. They're asking anyone who sees any

suspicious behaviour on the bridges on the A12 to get in touch. They

are asking everyone to be vigilant. A police officer is under

investigation in Essex following allegations he drove on to a

pedestrian crossing while people were on it. No one was hurt in the

instant in Braintree. The officer has been suspended from driving

police vehicles. Ipswich Town Football Club is

continuing to stand by its manager, despite seven back-to-back defeats.

The club's chief executive, Simon Clegg, told shareholders at last

night's AGM that there was no panic and the club has improved under

Paul Jewell. The train company which is taking

over the Anglia line into Liverpool Street promised today it would make

improvements. Abellio is a Dutch company. It succeeds National

Express next year. The company's reassurances were made to MPs from

Norfolk at a briefing in Westminster.

MPs called her meeting with the new operator in the shadow of Big Ben,

over time is of the essence. Abellio has a 29 month franchise to

provide an improved and punctual service with enough seats for

passengers. It is a short franchise so it is more difficult to make

radical changes. National Express currently runs the Anglia franchise.

Just months before the London Olympic Games, the Dutch company

Abellio will take over. It promises better ticket facilities, texts to

passengers if there is disruption and improvement to stations,

normally the responsibility of Network Rail. The MPs came out of

today's meeting encouraged by what they had heard. These are of real

professionals and their gave every -- they give every impression of

being committed. And I am assured that they will meet the criteria

that has been laid out in what they have to achieve. The purpose of

today is starting an ongoing relationship. This is not just

about community travelled to London but the Cambridge to Norwich

railway line to encourage investment and collaboration.

thought if Abellio can significantly improve the services

it will run across the region, it could win the 15 year franchise in

2014. There's going to be further

coverage of the plan for Anglia rail services on Look East later in

the week. The future of the line is also covered in this weekend's

edition of the Politics Show on Sunday at midday on BBC One.

The government today claimed the future of the region's egg industry

is now secure. It has persuaded supermarkets and food producers to

stop selling eggs from countries which still use battery cages.

Farmers have spent millions of pounds doing away with the cages,

but they're still being used in many parts of Europe.

This is an important decision for local farmers in a region where egg

production makes up a 5th of all agriculture. A European Union ban

on the use of battery cages like these comes into force at the

beginning of the new year. With farmers in 13 countries still using

them, the fear was that British farmers would not be able to

compete fairly. The EU has refused to ban eggs from non-compliant

countries so instead, the government has persuaded the main

supermarkets and food producers in Britain to agree to stop using eggs

from battery hens. I think I have snuffed out the real risk of unfair

competition, which is what I was trying to do. We will try to press

the Commission to work at European level to make sure that those

countries are not -- that are not confined become so very quickly.

The British egg industry council points out the of women with the

supermarkets is only a voluntary one and that farmers wanted an

official ban on illegal eggs and will feel let down by the decision.

The minister feels he has done the best he can.

You're watching Look East from the BBC. Coming up: Everyone's a winner,

thanks to their unsung hero... The best of British motorsport

gathered in Milton Keynes last night to celebrate the life of Dan

Wheldon. The IndyCar champion died in a crash in America in October.

Fans and fellow drivers came together for a karting event at

Daytona Motorsport. It raised �20,000 for the Alzheimer's Society.

The guest drivers included Dan Wheldon's friend, Jenson Button.

Jonathan Park was there. The guest list was impressive but

so was the man they had come to pay respect to. So many friends, so

many rivals, so many stories. first race, than was there. -- he

was there. I love racing with Dan Wheldon. When he woke up in the

morning he was the guy you had to beat and if you had the opportunity

to do that, it was a triumph. Wheldon was a champion up to his

death, tragically during an IndyCar race in October. He never lost his

love of karting. I cannot thank everyone enough. We are going to

give a fantastic sent off and have a great time. The rules were simple,

a two our endurance race where everyone had a professional driver.

The team was made up of the family. I never realised how popular he was.

The memorial service in America, there were 10,000 people. As each

day goes by, I'd get a little easier but it must be difficult for

you to have lost him at such a young age? He was my Iraq. He was

my son, my friend, I will miss him for the rest of my life. This event

might not just be a one off. Dan Wheldon's family have said that

this could become an annual event in celebration of Dan Wheldon's

life on the track. Last word goes to a man who left the region for or

in the cars in America. -- for the Indy Car circuit in America. There

was very fitting. It was three degrees and we are all freezing and

he would find it amusing. Jenson Button's team have made their way

to the top step. A reminder that the BBC East Sports

Awards are being held this week. One award is for the region's

unsung sporting hero. Last night, we were introduced to girls'

football coach, Dawn Barnard. Tonight's contender is Derek

Beaumont from Letchworth in Hertfordshire. For years now, he

has been inspiring young swimmers to take to the high diving board,

with some impressive results. Remember, success on Thursday night

earns the winner a place at the BBC's Sports Personality of the

Year awards. For 40 years, Derek Beaumont has

told some of the best drivers in the country. Some have had a few

months, others are a couple of years, most to a county champions.

Some are region champions and some have want national medals. A former

champion diver, he turned to coaching and launched his Academy

in 1968. From coaching drivers at six Olympic Games and lecturing

today's current crop, he puts in 30 are as a week. He has got more

experience because he is older, but not that old! He is well known

throughout the country and Europe. He has produced more divers at the

Olympics than any other club in Europe. But he does not just Koczi,

he helps fund it. He supports his protege's in everything from

transport costs to competition entry fees. His enthusiasm has

ensured facilities like this one remain available. The day such a

challenge and once you start doing it, get into the blood. It is such

a challenge. It is very rewarding because the challenges and

difficulties that you face can help you in other activities later on in

life. I have been diving with Derek for 15 years and I wouldn't go to

anyone else. I trust him, I trust his judgment. He is an amazing man.

He is my hero. What would it mean if you were recognised as the

unsung hero? I find it really strange. Obviously, I have devoted

my life to the sport. When the diver walks out at the end of the

session and says thank you, it lifts me, it always does.

Tomorrow's nominees is an athletics coach from Milton Keynes.

I am so impressed anyone can dive from up there! I tried to show off

when I was little but I couldn't. I love that award. We get to meet

some amazing people every year. I love the way he went, good! As

they went past. Art treasures from a stately home

in Suffolk went on sale today, giving collectors a rare

opportunity to buy works from what's known as the Suffolk school

of painting. The lots come from Reydon Hall near Southwold. The

stars of the sale included works by Edward and Thomas Smythe. Alex has

been to see them. How did it go? was lucky enough to see the

paintings. They raised almost half a million pounds, just over half a

million. The photographs of the paintings are rather special, as

If you find a scene like this on your Christmas card this year, it

may be the work of Thomas Smythe. This is one of many paintings sold

at auction in London today. The family made their fortune from

turkey farming and bought Reydon Hall in 1960, filling it with works

of art including many paintings by Thomas and Edward's mind. This is

the Suffolk Cont. This is John Johnston on his stamina. He was the

master of this than that -- hunt. The Suffolk school artist painted

in the stern of Gainsborough. were painting what their patrons

required, which was not wards and all depictions of the harsh reality

of life on the land. This looks lovely. He painted this? This is a

typical Thomas Smythe soon. This is the kind of subject reproduced on

those Christmas cards in the 1970s and 1980s. It is good the way it

has been displayed. We always what it would be inevitable that once my

mother and father were no longer worth a house would be sold. Have

you kept any of this might paintings? Yes, some of us -- the

smaller and more desirable ones. is rare for us to have this many

paintings by the same artist in one collection. It is important

historically because of what it depicts and also because it tells

us a great deal about the artists It was spectacular to see so many

of those paintings in one place. The one with the snowballs when for

�12,000. The ceramic Turkey sold for a 2,500. It has been pretty

cold today. There is an area of low pressure to the north-west of the

UK bringing down cold air from Green man. Hence the brisk and cold

wind. The weather front of Crosas are producing patchy rain. -- the

weather fronts at Crosas. Tonight, expect light and patchy rain. The

wind speed will pick up during the course of the night. The rain

clears in the second half of the night. The brisk wind will stop

temperatures falling too low but it will get to about two Celsius.

Tomorrow brings us a pretty windy day but it should stay dry for most

locations with sunny spells. The north-west corner of the region

might see the odd isolated Scharner. For most places, a great deal of

sunshine. It will not be as cold as it was today. Tomorrow, expect

temperatures to climb between 5 and seven Celsius. It will be extremely

windy. We have a westerly wind. There could be gusts of 50 mph in

some locations. It stays dry mostly through the afternoon were clearing

skies towards the end of the night. The outlook... Thursday, although

the bulk of the day should be dry and milder with temperatures into

double figures we are expecting light and patchy rain at times,

particularly through to the afternoon. It stays windy and

changeable. Friday and Saturday, similar days, feeling cold but