03/05/2012 Look East - East

Good evening. Tonight, flooding hits the region. At this village

was effectively cut off for most of the day. This is the band of rain

that did the damage. In some places more than two inches fell overnight.

The scandal of the women with dementia left in a bus overnight.

We speak to the council chief. Something has gone tragically wrong

here and we are working to make sure it can possibly happen again.

The stunning exhibition in the Fitzwilliam Museum.

And the nature reserve, tonight a First tonight, more rain, more

flooding, more disruption. On Monday, Billericay was in the

spotlight. Only four-wheel drives could make it through. Later today,

residents of a camping site at Billing in Northampton were given

temporary accommodation. On Tuesday, flooding across the region.

Yesterday, those Belling residents were allowed home after two nights

camping in a leisure centre. Today, 15 flood warnings in place. Schools

are closed and roads are flooded. We start in Rattlesden near Bury St

Edmunds, where residents walk up to what they describe as the worst

flooding they had seen in 20 years. This village is just a few miles

from Stowmarket. This river usually flows as a small stream behind

these railings. It has broken its banks and flooded across the road.

12 hours ago, things were much more difficult for people. The level of

the what you would have been up to my chest. As you can see from the

pictures, the water level was extremely high. The water level

would have been so difficult that some cars actually got stuck in the

water. It is not just Rattlesden that has had problems. Alex Dunlop

has been looking elsewhere in the region.

The morning rush after the deluge the night before. His Ford in

Cambridgeshire is normally a trickle. Today it is four feet.

Even aspire back to turn back. -- even the farmers. I am from the BBC.

I saw another cargo through so I thought I would try and get through.

I got the electronics wet. Many people set up cameras. Only some

were guaranteed a safe passage. Emergency services had to deal with

hundreds of lot related incidents. Some minor roads there are still

impassable. People in Rattlesden walk up to a deluge on their

doorsteps. With so much water coming down in such a short time,

the run-off from the land has been excessive and consequently we've

had flooding of land and very high river flows. The rest of the region

has also been badly hit. Many of People have now been allowed back

to their holiday homes. But the weekend could be a washout, a

number of events being cancelled, including this historic Transport

Rally in Northamptonshire. Gutted is not strong enough a word. We

will be lucky if it gets back to anything reasonable for next year.

One local election day, had you cast your vote at this village hall,

you would be a floating voter. Some at least had fun. James Brown and

his friend made the most of an impromptu water park in Suffolk.

You can see from the debris where the water levels were earlier.

Residents did get some warning of what was happening. One lady down

the road in the next village told me she got a phone call from the

Environment Agency at the end telling her to put sandbags out.

The Environment Agency says most places are receding. They are

keeping a close eye. keeping a close eye.

Where did this lot of rain come from? It was a heavy band of

thundery rain that moved in overnight last night, tracking West

words. Hardest hit were parts of West -- were parts of Sussex and

Essex. What is next? I'll be back Essex. What is next? I'll be back

later with a full weather forecast. Thanks to everybody who send in

photos. We've shown as many as we can but there are lots more on her

Facebook page. Please keep the photos coming. More on the women

with dementia left overnight for 14 hours on a bus in Luton. Today, the

borough council admitted something had gone seriously wrong. We will

hear from the chief executive in a moment. First, this update. Ho was

a woman with dementia forgotten for 14 hours? On Monday, after spending

a day at the day centre, the women, in her eighties, was picked up on a

council bus like this. She was supposed to be brought back here.

For whatever reason, she never made it. Instead she was left on the bus

and spent the whole night in the depot. She was only discovered the

next morning. What worried many people about this story is not only

was she left in the first instance but she never returned home. Why

was that missed? The council has launched an urgent investigation.

Sources close to the depot says all the drivers are devastated. The

woman's relatives had been told this will never happen again. The

woman herself the spine. But it could have been so different.

Luton Borough Council provides the bus and it also has commissions the

service from the care home where the woman lives. I spoke to the

chief executive, Trevor Holden. soon as I became aware what had

happened on Tuesday morning, I commissioned an internal

investigation to get to the bottom of why this has happened. We also

put into place immediately some additional procedures to make sure

this cannot happen again. The fact that this woman was last on this

bus or 14 hours must be that nobody actually reported her missing.

would appear to be the case. I don't want to pre-empt the enquiry

that we have commissioned. There is no getting away from the fact that

this is absolutely shocking, it is wrong, we have apologised to the

family and a working with the family to support them. This is an

isolated incident and actually the council provides a good level of

service to its residents. We're working to make sure that appears -

- absolutely this kind of thing cannot happen again. We were told

that one of the fact is that could be at play here is there have been

cuts to the bus service. There's no escort on all buses. There was

obviously no less good on this bus. When you caring for people with

dementia, surely those kind of things are vital. They have been

changes to the service, constant changes to the service, as local

government reacts to the budgetary pressures that thereunder. In terms

of Escort, it would be normal. What happened in this case is the

subject of the internal investigation I referred to. It

would be wrong to pre-empt what comes out of that. I don't mean to

be difficult. And try to clarify. Normally, on bus services like this,

are their escorts for people with dementia? It depends on the

requirements of the individuals who are being picked up and drop off.

Some of the people who use that I have transport might have a

physical disability so there will be a physical need to be an escort.

What I cannot do is give you an answer as to what happened in this

set of circumstances. Can you tell us how the lady is doing this

evening? To the best of my knowledge, the lady is doing well,

but we need to support her. We have got it seriously wrong and we need

to support the individual and her family. Trevor Holden, thank you

very much. One of the biggest food firms in

the region is being sold to a Chinese company. Weetabix, based at

Burton Latimer near Kettering, is currently owned by the American

company Lion Capital. Weetabix described it as good news because

it will help expansion. All these household names are made

here at Burton Latimer. Weetabix already exports products to 80

countries. Today's deal aims to tap into even more foreign markets.

This is really about how we can take Weetabix around the world.

That is what the focus in. We arrange 80 markets worldwide and

with our new shareholders, this is a new opportunity for further

opportunity. With any change in ownership, attention shifts to job

security. Weetabix employs about 1000 people across Northamptonshire.

Meetings have been taking place all day at Old sites. Staff have been

told what is takeover actually means for them. Despite

reassurances, the staff I have spoken to are still concerned. Do

they need to worry? The jobs are safe? We are very focused on taking

care of the UK business going forward. We believe this is a great

opportunity to grow the business, particularly internationally.

are the new owners? This is one of China's largest companies. Bright

Food. They had been buying famous brands and they say they are

committed to Weetabix. This historic brand is celebrating their

80th anniversary. They will be seeking reassurances about the

long-term future of Weetabix. Later, more on the weather. And why

nesting is proving tricky at this nature reserve.

Security has been increased at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge in

the build up to an exhibition of priceless Chinese art. It comes

weeks after thieves stole Chinese jade from the museum. The treasures

on sale this weekend -- on show this weekend.

Treasures interlaced with pure gold. It once contained the body of a

king. Dated second century BC. It forms part of the exhibition at the

Fitzwilliam Museum, where security is tight for than ever. It is like

the Crown Jewels. This represents the material of the period which

defines Chinese culture most. This is the finest of it. With you

having this until November comes responsibility. I will use it you

read? -- how well you did it say? We have very good security. We

never speak about the security arrangements like all museums.

can be seen, the pure gold belt buckles, the terracotta, the most

it -- the most important exhibition ever to come out of China must be

protected in Cambridge 247. There is lots of safety equipment.

look? Yes. I'm very happy with it., three years of planning went into

the exhibition. There was never any question of a been cancelled. -- it

being cancelled. A man and teenager had been arrested in London. They

are being questioned in Peterborough. There is mounting

evidence that Chinese jade is being targeted by thieves and museums are

needing to respond to this. The jury in the trial of a former

bouncer from Essex accused of murdering his former partner has

been visiting the house where the bodies were found. David Oakes

denies killing Chrissie Chambers A man has been remanded in custody,

charged with the murder of a 25- year-old at the home of former

butter -- boxing champion Herbie Hide. The man is due to appear in

court in two weeks time. Aviva, the biggest insurance

company in the region, has become the latest big business to face a

backlash from investors over executive pay. At the annual

meeting today, more than half the shareholders voted against the

boardroom pay policy. Aviva says it will listen carefully to what

investors have to save. Aviva is one of the region's biggest

employers - 6,000 staff in Norwich alone. During the downturn, the

former Norwich Union has been pretty stable, but not all is well

at the insurer. Its investors are angry about the share price, which

has dropped, and about the pay of its directors, which they say only

ever goes up. The Chief Executive gets a basic �960,000 per year. He

was due for a rise of �46,000, taking him over �1 million. But, on

Monday, after protests, he agreed not to take the increase. Today, at

the AGM in London, shareholders voted against the board's pay

report. It has been seen as a humiliation for the board.

The owner of an animal rescue centre in Norfolk has been banned

from keeping seals for five years. 85-year-old Harold Nickerson was

found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a grey seal called

Hope. He was also given a conditional discharge for 12 months.

Train services have been affected by a second strike by drivers in a

week. East Midlands trains runs a service from Norwich to

Peterborough and the north-west. The drivers are in dispute over

changes to the pension scheme. Four beaches in the east have been

dropped from the Good Beach Guide because the water is too polluted.

The Marine Conservation Society released the annual list today. Two

beaches at Southwold and two at Southend reported that high levels

of bacteria. Southwold Beach, last year awarded

a gold standard for water quality. Although it is safe to swim here,

the Marine Conservation Society recommends that bathers go

elsewhere. Every year, water is taken from the tee -- from the sea

and tested. Depending on what the results are, the beach is given a

classification. South wall has only just past the UK's standard for

pollutants and bacteria. It is not certain why this was the case but

it is thought that rainfall could be to blame, or washing pollutants

into the sea. We are asking for the lot to be

complied with. There are also saw - - socio-economic impact. People

will go to other beaches that a cleaner. Knowing that there are

potentially harmful chemicals or waste in the water, when you've got

two children, it is not good news. It would not put us off coming

again. Not at all. While for Mike beaches in the east

are dropped from the guide, four different beaches to join it. Water

quality in Great Yarmouth has improved since last year. They

joined the largest list of other -- the largest ever list of beaches

bridges by the Marine Conservation Society. They say that it is an

indication of what a quality -- of water quality.

It has been election the across the region for many local councils

In the east, we will be broadcasting live from Harlow. My

card right is at the Latton Bush centre right now.

19 of our councils will be holding elections. There are 277 seats, 12

right here in Harlow. The polling stations opened at seven. This one

was in Norwich, voters going earned out all day. There have been

similar scenes right across the region. At 10pm the polling

stations will close and soon after, these ballot boxes will be coming

through the doors. They will be opened up and brought into the

counting hall. Later on, there will be an army of counters and a forest

of ballot papers. This is all the kit that they need to use. These

will protect their fingers. We will have an update at 10:30pm. Behind

be here are BBC colleagues. They will be having an election

programme. Tune into your local radio station, they will have all

the regional results between midnight and 4am. We will have all

the results tomorrow at a lunchtime programme and on our teatime

programme. If you know your badminton, you

probably know that the National Centre is based in Milton Keynes.

You might not know that the latest English school champions are from

Milton Keynes as well. A good opportunity, then, for the stars of

the future to get up close and personal with the stars of today.

Jonathan Park as tonight's Olympic Report.

There is plenty of talent on these courts. Some had been there and

done it, others are looking towards 2016. These lads are more likely to

peak around 2020. They are from Milton Keynes and they have just

become national champions. I think anybody having the opportunity to

have a national champion and being given the chance to train with the

English elite is absolutely wonderful. Winning the title was

fantastic. It is a bit special, coming down here and walking with

these guys. A 22,000 youngsters started on the road towards the

finals, but then they have form. Three times in the last four years

they have slashed their way to the title. The life of a full-time

badminton player is different to the life of a full-time student.

These people trained for 36 are so weak, all a bit different to

revising for your GCSEs. -- 36 hours.

Today's world rankings and have a this guy and his partner...

They have played each other three towns. Chris has come out on top.

It is a close call. The squad is officially announced

at the end of the month. Regardless of Roberts and featuring in London

before his retirement, he has inspired plenty of youngsters.

has gone on and played every big tournament and won. I have known

him from a young age because he has been involved in my training. He is

a great guy. There is excitement in badminton

circles about our long-term prospects. Many will still be

around in 2016. Britain's most played racket sport will always

have a steady stream of talent coming through.

Back to the flooding now, and another wrangle. At this time of

year the Ouse Washes is usually take -- home to grazing cattle.

After the recent downpours, the nesting season for birds at the

RSPB reserve is quite literally a washout.

At this time of year it should not look like this. The swans are

making themselves at home of grassland where some 2,500 beef

cattle would normally be grazing. Waders like redshanks and snipe

come to breed here. The internationally famous area is now

and it -- a massive inland sea, and 22 miles long and half-a-mile wide.

It has an absolute disaster area. We should be looking at -- it is an

absolute disaster area. We should be looking at pairs of ducks

breeding and, as you can see, there is very little wildlife at all.

would not normally be like this? not at all. We would be looking at

damp grassland, meadow fields with ditches and ponds and scrapes and a

cacophony of sound with birds swirling overhead. It is an

nationally and internationally important site for wildlife.

A at this pumping station they are shifting vast quantities of water

brought downstream from swollen rivers. 2.5 tonnes of water per

second are being brought into the area. One of the challenges we have

is that it is shared by birdlife and has an important function to

protect property in the farmland of the area. It is not all bad news.

200 acres of arable land had been turned into a rare breeding ground

for birds. The breeding results are encouraging but, compared to the

traditional watches, a drop in the ocean.

Was that I actually a rare bird that we saw?

You are always on the lookout for one!

We have seen some pulses of rain across this front. The worst of

that was last night over night. Essex and Suffolk were the hardest

hit. Behind it, we did see one or two showers and there is still a

line of fairly heavy rain just to the north-west of the region. It is

not an entirely dry forecast for tonight. The good news is that the

worst of that heavy rain is done for the next few days. Some patchy

rain possible overnight. It stays cloudy and frost-free. The winds

will be north-westerly and light. There is a risk of some patchy rain

through the morning tomorrow. One or two showers into the afternoon.

Temperatures could climb during brighter spells. The northerly

winds set the scene for some cooler air to come our way. Looking ahead,

it is all about a cold front. It will sweep across the country or

one might Friday into Saturday. Much cooler air moves in. It will

be quite a bit colder. We will see the return of some frosty nights

but, on the flipside, it will be dry and brighter with some sunshine.

It is still pretty unsettled over the next five days. Cloudy

conditions tomorrow with patchy rain possible. Saturday looks like

the driest of the weekend. The chance of an isolated shower. A