05/06/2014 Look East - West

First tonight ` three more cases of babies infected by

a contaminated batch of liqtid food have been uncovered in this region.

We realised very early on that something might going on. And we

will be here later in the programme, to meet the local author

whose decade of rejection h`s ended with a prize`winning novel. And

remembering D`Day, how weather forecasters in Bedfordshire changed

the course of history. First tonight ` three more cases

of babies infected by a contaminated batch of liqtid food

have been uncovered in this region. Six neonatal units in the E`st of

England were sent the infected fluid linked to the death of one baby and

the illness of 17 others nationwide. Two babies infected at Addenbrooke's

and another two at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital are responding

well to antibiotic treatment. And tonight ` another case has been

confirmed at Peterborough, Our reporter Mike Cartwright has

been following today's developments. He joins us now from the Luton

and Dunstable Hospital. The hospital says they are keeping

worried parents well`informdd, and that babies are responding well to

treatment. But these babies were very sick, they had been born very

early, and then they had bedn given contaminated food. Five casds have

been confirmed across the rdgion, and more could five fragile,

premature babies. Confirmed so far to have been fed contaminatdd food

in hospitals in our part of the world. Two of them here at the Luton

and Dunstable Hospital. Doctors say they spotted something was wrong

almost immediately. The babhes were beginning to develop emperor cheers,

they were getting faster he`rt rates, and we are always monitoring

our babies for signs of infdction, and we realised very early on that

something might be going on, and our blood tests and the other tdsts that

we did identify that. At Addenbrooke's, two more babhes are

described as stable and improving. Away from here, the case has been

confirmed today in Peterborough with two other babies possibly

infected in Essex. This is the food for vulnerable or very prem`ture

babies. It goes straight into the bloodstream. Somehow the babies here

became contaminated juju contamination of the food dtring its

manufacture. We have been contacting the company involved in producing

this particular substance, to work out what may have gone wrong and

what may have caused this contamination. It is a bactdria

found widely in the environlent The toxins it produces can causd illness

come with symptoms including nausea and vomiting, starting around six

hours after infection. Microbiologists say it is a

resilient bacteria. Because it is bred in soil and air, we ard coming

into contact with it, it max have been airborne and it may have just

found its way into this foodstuff. Then, if the sterilisation process,

which should get rid of all of the organisms, has somehow faildd, then

this organism would have bedn able to perpetuate and increase hn

number. Worried parents are being kept informed, say the hosphtals.

Their children, already verx sick, having to fight the effects of

contaminated food. The comp`ny which made the food says it is

investigating what went wrong. All the hospitals are keen to stress

that they did not make up the batches, and now, all the foods have

been removed. But it seems to more cases at least could be confirmed

tomorrow. A prisoner has told

a murder trial in Cambridge how another inmate confessed to kicking

a toddler across a room Teenager Dean Harris denies

murdering two`year`old Amin` Agboola at her home in Yaxley

near Peterborough last Novelber Our home affairs corresponddnt

Sally Chidzoy was in court. Sally, it's day four of the trial `

what did the jurors hear today? They heard from convicted armed

robber Lee Foster. He said that Dean Harris wanted to confess to him

about what he had done. Mr Foster said he took down a statement, and

in it, Mr Harris said he had become angry after Amina repeatedlx soiled

herself. Part of it read, I was already in a standing posithon, and

the next thing I knew, I had kicked her in the stomach. She had gone

backwards and landed on her front about six feet away. I realhsed what

I had done and went to pick her up. She was crying at this point and I

could tell it had winded her. Mr Foster told the court that `t one

point he had to stop writing because tears were running down his face.

When asked by the prosecution who initiated the statement, he replied,

Dean. He said, all of the statement was in his words. This mornhng, the

court heard what Mr Haries had told police Wanstead yes, we had

transcripts of police interviews which were read out. Mr Harris

initially had maintained th`t Amina's injuries had been m`intained

after she fell from the toilet. There was a total silence when it

happened, he said. There was this massive slap on the floor as she

fell. I heard a massive clunk of the head. Said the little girl's last

word was mum before she fell unconscious, and in his words became

floppy and doll like. Amina's mother, who had repeatedly been

warned by social services not to leave her daughter with Mr Haries,

was not in the house at the time. Mr Harris said he loved Amina `nd

regarded her as is best fridnd. He denies murder but the mother denies

causing or allowing her daughter's death. The trial continues tomorrow.

The family of a young man found murdered in Peterborough eight days

His body was discovered in an underpass near Tyesdale

in Bretton in the early hours of last Wednesday.

Four teenagers aged between 15 and 17 have been charged with

A 22`year`old man has been charged with assisting an offender.

An inquest has been hearing that an inmate at Woodhill Prison

in Milton Keynes had warned police he planned to commit suicidd days

The jury at Milton Keynes Coroners Court heard

that Sean Brock had been ch`rged with raping a 14`year`old ghrl and

Our reporter Jeremy Stern has just sent this report.

The jury heard conflicting dvidence about his state of mind in the days

leading up to his death. After a court appearance in Northampton he

was transferred to a high sdcurity prison in Milton Keynes, whhch

houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the country. Court

heard Sean Brock invited with his lawyer before the transfer `bout his

plans to commit suicide. Thd jury was told he was anxious and scared

of going to prison. His words were along the lines of, I will hang

myself. His representative `lso told police that he was suicidal. Sean

Brock was assessed by prison officers when he arrived at Wood

Hill but they said he was t`lking positively about the future. He

admitted to a history of self harming but said it was a long time

ago. Was also checked by a ledical expert at the prison. That dxpert

told the court, there was no obvious risk with Sean Brock, his ddmeanour

was not of someone who was hn a suicidal state. On November the

10th, a prison officer checked him in his cell at about quarter past

eight in the morning. When he came back two hours later, he fotnd him

hanging from the ceiling. Staff tried to revive him but it was too

late. Police later found a note in the cell which is believed to be

referring to the 14`year`old girl Sean Brock was in a relationship

with. I miss and love my baby girl so much. The inquest contintes

tomorrow. Patients

and NHS staff have been takhng part in a national day of action to fight

cuts and highlight concerns for In Bedford, members of the public

service union Unison marched from the hospital to the town centre

in a stand over wages in thd NHS. It follows claims that the

Government has refused to honour a Unison says 60%

of staff will receive no pax rise And in Peterborough,

Unison were giving out cup cakes and asking people to sign a petition

to highlight issues over pax. People

in the city had some sympathy. I do feel that they doing credible

work, working long hours, and basically do not get the respect

that they need. They deservd a lot more they are not alone. I believe

that they should have a price increase because they are

professional people, and without them, where would we be? Yet

footballers are being paid astronomical amounts, it sedms

unfair. We think that nurses, health staff, are working under extreme

pressure, they have not had a pay rise for three years, and if the NHS

wants good, professional, dddicated staff, then they also deserve a fair

pay rise. Parents of more than 30 children who

failed to get a place at thdir local primary school on a new housing

development should know the outcome Oxley Park Academy in Milton Keynes

is oversubscribed, meaning local children have been allocated

a place much further away. The local authority blames

a baby boom and a lack of space In three months, this boy starts

school for the first time. His parents had hoped he would `ttend

the one closest to home, just six minutes walk away. But they have

been told it is oversubscribed, and instead, he has been allocated a

place at school one mile and a half away. Our family only have one car,

which my husband uses to get to work, so I would have to walk in 45

minutes every day, in all wdather. And pick him up again. So that is

twice in a day. For a littld child, that is quite a long distance. Zane

is not the only child to miss out on a place at Oxley Park Acadely.

Around 30 children within the catchment area have also bedn

allocated alternatives. In ` statement, Milton Keynes cotncil

says it recognises the disappointment of parents, but says

the area presents them with challenges. Firstly, the nulber of

births has risen significantly in recent years. Secondly, the scope

for expansion at the school is limited. The council says it is

working proactively to find a solution. Across the town as a

whole, 88% of children were allocated their first choicd place.

In Cambridgeshire, that figtre was 90%. Parents in central Beds were

most successful, with 95% of all first preferences allocated. In

Oxley Park, a growing estatd, they believe unless a solution is found,

there will continue to be a shortage of school places. It is onlx half

built at the moment, so givd it a few years, and it will be the same

problem over and over again. She says sending her son to an

alternative school will havd a huge her only hope is a successftl

appeal. Cambridge City Football Club

is getting a new stadium. Plans for a new 3,000 capachty

ground in Sawston have been They'll now be submitted to the

Secretary of State for approval The stadium would include

a floodlit grass pitch, a training The England cricket captain

Alistair Cook and his benefht day And how weather forecasters

in Bedfordshire changed How about this, a debut novdl,

written ten years ago and ptblished last year has won top prize for

literature. The novel, A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing, by Eimear

McBride, has won the Bailey's Women's Prize For Fiction. @fter a

long struggle to get it published, a small independent publisher in

Norwich took a leap of faith and the rest is history. We'll talk live to

air in a moment. The winner is Eimear McBridd `

A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing. The moment Eimear McBride won

the ?30,000 Baileys Women's Prize For Fiction in London last night,

beating some big names like It's a wonderful thing to h`ve

my book recognised in this way. I hope that, you know, it whll serve

as an incentive to publishers everywhere to take a look at

difficult books and to think again. A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing was

being snapped up in the Book Hive It tells the story

of a young woman in Ireland in the 1980s, and her relationship with her

brother, who has a brain tulour It is written in Eimear's unique

style. Pinder ponder it's

a blister I shall pop. You know, you feel, am I gohng

to get this straightaway? Sometimes it takes a little

while to get into it. And when you do,

you are completely submerged. A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing was

originally published by Galley Beggar Press, who have

their worldwide headquarters We thought we were prepared to go

bankrupt for this book, bec`use it's such a good book, it has to be out

there and somebody's got to do it. So it was almost a duty.

There was a risk. Obviously, in hindsight,

it all paid off. Eimear is working on her

second novel, which she is hoping to A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing is

clearly going to be And Eimear McBride is in central

London. Congratulations, Eilear what a fantastic story. What has it

been like today, the day after getting that recognition after so

many years of rejection? It's just been a completely crazy day. I think

I'm still in a state of shock. Such a wonderful thing, after such a long

journey to get there. You s`id it was difficult, I have actually had a

go at it this afternoon, it is, isn't it? I think it takes ` little

bit of getting used to. Givd it a couple of pages and I think you will

slip into the rhythm soon enough. Is that a style you will be ushng in

other books, or was that very much to do with the subject mattdr of the

book? I'm still interested hn language and trying to make it work

in different kinds of ways. So, I think everything I work on from now

on will certainly have a different angle to it. Just tell us a little

bit about these people who had so much faith in you win some `nd a

people had turned you down. You know, it was very extraordinary for

me. I met them, really throtgh Henry in the Book Hive. They loved it and

they were just setting up their press at that point. They h`ven t

even published their first book There were very enthusiastic, and

very open about the fact thdy had very little money and experhence.

They asked me if I would trtst them. I was certainly delighted that

they trusted the book. It jtst all worked out very well in the end

Since your award, some very well`known people have come out and

said just how fantastic your book is. What has it been like, for you,

to hear that being reviewed by some very, very well`known writers? You

know, it's been a tremendous vindication of all the years of

effort, the hyena on in there when I was given no reason to expect I d

ever see the book published. So to have it accepted so widely hs a

really wonderful thing and something every writer dreams of.

Congratulations, fabulous achievement. Here is the next one.

Nearly 500 cricket`mad youngsters have been at the County Grotnd

in Chelmsford today to help the England captain Alastair Cook

There've been coaching clinhcs through the day

and tonight it's Cookie's Bhg Bash a special Twenty20 match with some

Our sports editor Jonathan Park has sent this report.

There's a lot of new acquaintances for Alistair Cook to make today

England's cricket captain is meeting over 400 local children

It's all part of his benefit year celebrations, for

Hello, mate. What's your name?

Such a high profile sports star but there are no airs or gr`ces

with Alistair Cook, as thesd lucky youngsters found out today.

It's why he's respected all over the world for his talents on

You've known him for a long time, since you burst onto the scdne?

I've known him since he was about 17.

He's been a superstar, really, one of England's greatest b`tsmen

Still an incredibly humble bloke, the same as he was when he was 7.

The fact that he's so young, and having a benefit year,

11 years ago, Will cause the new kid on the wicket, tipped

Over 100 caps, 8000 test runs, breaking records along the way.

As a player, and world`class player, I think he's up there with one

of the greatest England plaxers already.

And he's only halfway through a career, really.

I think he'll probably be one of the best players in the world.

I don't actually know that much because we don't reallx

Cook wanted as many youngstdrs as possible to be involved

The children wanted to get as close to the Engl`nd

Well, Alistair has taken time out of his

Great to see so many smiling faces and ddcent

I hope the kids have had a great day.

That was kind of the aim of it, to get as many kids...

Not introduced to cricket, because we know they play,

but give them another opportunity to have good fun.

You've had a very successful career, but you've got so much in front

How do you sum up what you've achieved so far and what's to come?

Obviously, when you first start out, you never think

To play 100 test matches and to be captain, I'm very proud.

As you said, hopefully I got a few more years yet and I'l very

Some new faces involved in the test squad, is this the start of a new

era? When you have a change of personnel, new coaches, it feels

like a New Year EU. It's an exciting time. Guys who have earned the right

to play for England through outstanding performances for their

county, they will be going to bed tonight and can't wait until next

week. That is what you want. I can't wait to see how they go. Ty's game

is going to be exciting. Yot've got some exciting players? Everxbody is

quite intrigued. Freddie has had five years out, some of thel have

had ten or 15 years out. To see them dusting off their colours, ` lot of

them are talking about the game of cricket. I can't wait to sed how

NASA Hussein does, Andy Flower is, it's great to have a bit of fun and

I appreciate them turning up. Just to say, the game starts at seven

o'clock and goes on all night. So, if you want to watch top`cl`ss

cricket, get yourself down to Chelmsford.

You've got nine minutes! 70 years ago today a team of weather

forecasters was about to make a decision which changed thd course

of history ` and it was madd at In fact, the D`Day landings should

have taken place on June 5th, but forecasters in Dunstabld said

the weather would be windy `nd the English channel would bd choppy,

and managed to persuade Gendral Eisenhower to wait for a gap

in the weather the following day. Now a school stands on the site

and today they've been markhng The largest invasion the world had

ever seen should have happened 7 years ago today. But in Dunstable,

D`Day was delayed. It was a top`secret location, at the time.

But The Met Office for the dntire British Empire was based in some

huts in Bedfordshire. Group Captain cat Max Stagg was in charge. The use

of whether to take out an interlude that would be unknown to endmy

forces, it would allow us to make use of it, catch those on the other

side unaware. He called it right and Eisenhower called at off for 24

hours. Dunstable was a weather station in a field. Now it hs the

Weatherfield Academy. Nothing remains to highlight the part of

this site played in the nathon's history. Today, they open their own

weather station. Clearly, the weather was a crucial factor that

could win or lose a battle. In this particular case, the decision when

to send thousands of troops across the Channel. That forecast, that was

made by Stagg and his team, to delay by 24 hours, arguably one of the

most important weather forecasts in history. The Met Office movdd to

Dunstable in 1940 to escape the bullets and to be close to the code

breaking centre at Bletchlex Park. Now 93, Joyce Samuel was working at

the Dunstable Weather Centrd at the time. How on earth I got thd job

there, I don't know. But I did. There were seven of us, I think

from this area. We didn't know anything, really. We were

teleprinters. It was all in code. The Met Office was based yet until

1961. Yet the headmaster fedls it is still Bedfordshire's best kdep ``

kept secret. The Admiralty that stayed there to forecast were

adamant that the fifth would be the day to go for. The Met Office,

situated here, said, no, thdy were adamant that their data was correct.

Heading out to see because of a 24`hour delay due to the we`ther. If

the team had got it wrong 70 years ago, it could have been carnage in

the Channel. It could have been catastrophic, and life as wd know it

today could have been very different.

I've learned so much this wdek! I was just thinking that. The weather,

please? Quite a nice evening. After a cloudy

start, the cloud clearing to the north`east. A fair amount of

sunshine. A speckling of fahr weather cloud moving eastwards. Even

that is clearing away. As you go through this evening and ovdrnight,

clearing away, largely clear skies and the wind is clearing aw`y. As

you go through this evening and overnight, clearing away, l`rgely

clear skies and the wind easing or 7 degrees in most rural spots.

Tomorrow, starting on a chilly note. Lots of sunshine all day long and it

will stay dry. Quite a bit of high cloud in the morning, but that will

clear northwards. Sunshine getting stronger through the afternoon. The

wind will tend to pick up through the day, becoming a moderatd

southeasterly by the time wd get to the afternoon. The warmest

temperatures will be in the West, 22 degrees, 72 Fahrenheit. Along the

coast, it will be somewhat cooler. 17 or 18 degrees. All in all, a

decent day. A sunny evening tomorrow. Quite a muggy night as the

humidity increases. That's because we are importing humid air from

Spain and France. These weather fronts are trying to push in from

the Atlantic and it is the interaction between these two things

that gives us some headaches for Saturday itself. On the warl front,

we could have early thunderstorms in the morning on Saturday, across the

west of the region. Then thdre will be a dry spell to the late lorning,

early afternoon, with hazy sunshine, before the heat and humiditx

culminates in further and storms late in the afternoon and into the

evening. These are most likdly across the west of the region, west

of the M11. Some of these could be heavy with hail and gusty whnds

East of the M11, we will kedp you posted. For Sunday, it clears away

to the north and we have high pressure building in. Lots of dry

weather around. Lots of dry weather, but still quite humid. This front

coming from the south could bring more thundery rain, this tile across

the eastern side of the reghon. A lot of uncertainty about th`t at

this stage. A fine day, but the risk of some storms on Saturday. Fine and

dry on Sunday. Possibly mord thundery downpours on Mondax. Quay

don't you just love some! `` don't you just love summdr. From

all of us, have a good evenhng. Goodbye.

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