26/07/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. Tonight's top stories.

Murdered in Poland. Friends of a Kent University student mourn the

loss of "an exceptional talent". We'll be reporting live from Kate

Zaks' village in Staplecross. A dangerous distraction, or a vital

part of the economic recovery? Why Thanet's crackdown on roadside ads

is angering local businesses. Also, Medway is hit hard as South

East councils cut funds to charities in a bid to reduce costs.

The couples choosing to tie the knot in the only licensed treehouse.

And the South East sizzles as temperatures soar higher than those

of Malaga and LA. I came down to try to get a suntan so that when I

get married I look a little bit Good evening. Friends of a 21-year-

old student from East Sussex who has been murdered in Poland say

they are shocked at the loss of a "lovely young girl". The body of

Kate Zaks, from Staplecross, was found by a railway embankment in

Krakow at the weekend. Her tutors at the University of Kent say she

was "an exceptionally talented student".

She had a passion for art and has been working in an art gallery in

Poland. With English parents, she was no stranger to the country --

Polish parents. But she was found by a railway embankment.

TRANSLATION: It looks like she was hit with something hard on the head.

We do not know the cause but I think they have Leeds.

Police were questioning a 30-year- old man from Krakow in connection

with her death but he has been released without charge. In the

village where she grew up, residents could not believe the

news. I am deeply shocked, as I am sure everybody will be. It is

tragic. She was lovely. She had everything going for her. She was

clever. She was studying history in university. It is a shock.

parents run the Post Office in Staplecross. They have lived and

worked here for over ten years. Their only child was known locally

All we can say is that our prayers are with them. We know that cannot

bring her back, but there will be tremendous support from the

community. She was described as a lovely, intelligent girl who loved

the countryside. They were always out in the field, exercising the

horses. They walked a mile and a half to the stables twice a day to

look after their animals. She was a very keen horsewoman. She went to

school near Hastings, where she was described as happy and a promising

horse rider. She studied history and philosophy of art at university

of Kent where she was in her second year. Staff said she was

exceptionally talented and well- exceptionally talented and well-

liked, with a gift for journalism liked, with a gift for journalism

and writing. Her parents flew to Poland on Sunday. They are now

faced with the task of finding out what happened to their daughter.

Our reporter joins us. What more do we know how she came to die a?

Very few details have emerged about what happened. We understand she

died from severe head injuries after being hit several times with

a hard object. It is believed she told relatives that she was due to

be meeting somebody on Friday night, but failed to return home. Her body

was found on Saturday. The focus will be on her last known movements.

One of her last postings on her website was "I love my life."

A Kent council has started removing illegal roadside advertising signs

as part of a crackdown against adverts that have been put up

without permission. Thanet District Council claims the signs are a

dangerous distraction for passing motorists. Businesses say the

council should help them advertise, not make it more difficult.

Clearing away unauthorised billboards and cracking down on

parked cars used to advertise businesses. Thanet District Council

say the advertisements are a distraction to motorists. There are

too many vehicles around Thanet advertising local businesses. Now

is the time to take action and to warn the owners they need to go

through a process to advertise their business. What does the law

say? It is a criminal offence to display an advertisement in

contravention of the Highways Act. The council cannot remove illegal

advertising without notice. Under the anti-social behaviour act of

2003, they can issue a fixed penalty notice of �75 to anybody

caught posting illegal advertisements. One farmer who was

told to remove billboards says he is providing a service to

businesses. He said the landscape is dominated by the hoardings of

multinationals. Traffic goes around slowly in this area. I do not think

we are a threat to accidents. When I look at the travel lodge, there

is an enormous sign over there. We are trying to help local businesses.

What to residents think? These vehicles are stationary. They have

been there for weeks. I am torn between tearing it away and keeping

the place spick and span. I have nothing against them being up.

Thanet District Council said if they ask permission, they will be

considered on an individual basis. From now on, unauthorised

advertisements will be removed. Published at the age of ten, the

prodigious young author who has turned her hobby into a successful

novel. Detectives in Kent are appealing

for help to find a man whose wife was murdered at their home in

Rochester. Officers want to speak to Agris Titans, originally from

Latvia, in connection with the death of his wife Edite.

Police described him as their only suspect. They have taken the

unusual step of issuing photographs of him to try to track him down for

questioning about the death. This has the hallmarks of a break down

in their relationship that led to what happened. Until we can speak

to all the people in the house when it appears to have occurred, that

will take us forward to find out what it was about. Their home in

Rochester it is a murder scene. The couple moved England three months

ago to be close to the family of Edite, already in the Medway towns.

They had a charred and worked as fruit Packers. Neighbours said they

saw the couple come and go. The first they were aware of what has

happened was when they saw the police. When I turned up the police

were here all day. The coroner turned up to take the body. What

you make of it, have been here? is pretty shocking. Not the type of

thing you expect to happen. It is not very nice. I want to move

already. I have only been here a couple of months and do not want to

be here any longer. The police have this afternoon carried out a post

mortem on the body of Edite. They do not believe any weapon was used

to kill her. Tonight, police are asking for anyone who sees the man

to contact them. Simon, the police are convinced

that the suspect is in the Medway area.

They say that because he has only lived in the country for three

months, they do not believe he has contacts elsewhere. Police are

likely to circulate his picture at ports and airports to ensure he

does not leave the country. They do not believe he is a danger to

anyone else. They are concerned he might try to harm himself. The

victim's mother lives here and is said to be distraught. She is

helping police trying to piece together what happened.

A Kent teenager has drowned in the River Thames after an accident in a

canoe race. Will Carus was discovered yesterday by police

divers. He had been taking part in a race in Richmond. My wife saw the

young fella tip out. By the time I came out, but can do was down about

100 metres. It was upside down. Another canoeist turned it over,

but nobody was in it. Two men have been arrested on

suspicion of attempted murder after a shooting in Dartford. The 51-

year-old victim is in a stable condition at the Darent Valley

Hospital, after he was shot in the head and abdomen last night. Police

are questioning a 42-year-old and a 24-year-old, who were arrested this

morning in Tunbridge Wells. The family of a Kent teenager who

died after falling from the mast of a tall ship, have launched legal

action against the sea cadets. Fourteen year old Jonathan Martin

from Shadoxhurst died during celebrations to mark 150 years of

the cadets. His parents are fighting for compensation, and

calling for improved safety. Many writers spend years to get

their first put into print, but one Kent author has had her book

published at ten years old. Scarlett Taylor, who is an avid

horse rider, has turned her hobby into a novel. Her book is selling

well and her publishers have already ordered a new print run.

Our first competition in four months. Ten-year-old Scarlett

Taylor is mad about pain is. It is no surprise she is reading a story

about them. What is unusual is that she wrote the book herself.

started horse riding last year. I like writing stories and

descriptions. I decided to write about ponies. She caught the bug

for horse riding at the Squirrels Riding School in Bluebell Hill. She

has taken inspiration from this real-life setting. She has put it

into a book. We recognise a couple of ponies in there. I am not sure

if they are based on our ponies but it is nice to read them. We are

selling them in a shop, as well. copies of Punki Ponies have been

sold on Amazon just a few weeks after the title was released. It is

about what happens when troublemakers are sent to a riding

school to learn discipline. And we have never taken at any one so

young, ever. Everybody in the office read it. It was so unusual.

She writes with such vigour. Kids loved it and we decided to take it

on. She has a busy summer ahead, combining her passions of riding

and writing. Her second book is in the pipeline and she will be taking

part in riding competitions. Willie by her a horse as a reward? I am

not sure about that -- will you. With this story available as an

electronic book next week, she is hoping for downloads to hell by her

own pony. -- help. The top story. Friends of a

University of Kent student murdered in Poland are deeply shocked by the

loss of a lovely young girl. Kate Zaks was found in Krakow at the

weekend. Going to great heights, the couples

getting married in the only licensed wedding tree house.

And it has been another warm day today. Tomorrow looks similar, but

things will change on Thursday. Join me later.

Ace Study into the impact of council funding cut some local

charities suggests that Medway is one of the hardest-hit areas in the

South East. It comes after a survey by the group False Economy, which

received responses to its Freedom of Information requests. Medway

council is making substantial cuts in funding to 18 charities. The

biggest loser is an organisation that helps blind and disabled

people, who are losing �295,000. Net is using almost �18,000 at 6%

of their budget. -- Medway Cyrenians. Homeless figures are

rising in every area. If we are having cuts, it will make it more

challenging for us to rise to the occasion if we have less to work

with. The picture is not even across the South East. Six councils

are not making any cuts to charity funding. Ashford is cutting and

nine charities will be affected. In Hastings, four charities will be

affected. The Citizens Advice Bureau has been hit hard, losing

funding from six local authorities in Kent and Sussex. We have 2

million people walk through our doors each year. Those people, if

we are not there, will not have anywhere to go and their problems

will get worse which will lead to greater problems for councils,

particularly. Our political editor his life for us. The council is

bucking the trend and managing to increase funding there.

Yes, Tunbridge Wells has increased its funding by �22,000. It might

not seem a huge amount. But this is a background against cuts in other

areas. I asked Medway why they are making cuts. They said it was

because of a 12.9% reduction in government funding that has left to

them with a �23.5 million funding gap. They said they continue to

provide services such as calling, highways and social care. The

government said the long-term future for charities is more

positive because of their plans for the big society. But if risk --

charities are squeezed now, they might not enjoyed the benefits of

being part of the big society. Nationally, False Economy claims

2000 charities have had their funding cut. The South East is not

as badly hit as other parts of the country. If you want to find out

more, you can log on to the blog of our political editor.

It is summer, which means it is wedding season. The South East has

main venues, but for prospective couples looking for something

different, an unusual venue in Kent might be the ticket. There is with

the fear of heights need not apply for the site in Selling in

Faversham, which is believed to be the only tree house in England

licensed for marriages. It is the kind of setting that, as

a child, you might one day imagine you might marry him. The

picturesque countryside and several feet off the ground in a tree house.

The only problem might be getting up there in a bridal dress. Guests

watch from below because you can only get eight people up there at a

time. Before Anna and Andy, this unusual venue has attracted couples

from as far afield as France and Canada. I give you this ring as a

symbol of my love. I wanted to get married outside. And properly

outside. As soon as we saw it, that was it. As soon as we heard of it,

we loved the idea. It is unique. was lovely. It is a lovely setting.

A fantastic day, wonderful. Originally, we built the tree house

for my granddaughter, but everybody loved it so much, we thought it

would be marvellous to share it. We had one bride to from the age of

five told her family she would be married in a woodland glade, and

they laughed at her. Here, it is true that love is in the air.

And they had good weather. He started collecting when he was a

schoolboy. 72 years later, Brian Griffin has hundreds of thousands

of matchboxes and labels in his home in Hastings. He was elated

when he found a label on the ground on his way to school.

It began in Hastings 61 years ago. Brian Griffin was walking home from

school when he noticed something on the street. I saw a couple of

matchboxes in the gutter. I picked them up and thought there must be

some others. They just accumulated. I found more and more. Gradually, I

got 50, 100. I thought I will keep it going. He has amassed a huge

collection, despite never smoking in his life. You have never used

the matches? No. Only to light a bonfire years ago! My favourite is

the old English one. I find the old English boxers are so colourful,

with so much presentation to them, they are really nice. Brian started

collecting in 1950. He has 300,000 matchboxes, which are worth up to

�4,000. That is an estimate from fellow enthusiast, because unlike

stamps, matchboxes have no exact value. Today, the modern box does

nothing for me. Something like Morrison's. Tesco supermarket, they

are just plain and not interesting. Brian has mislaid his boldest box

that dates back to 1890 and was made by the inventor of matchboxes.

Brian says it is somewhere in the house, safely packed away in

another box. He is a bit of a fire hazard! He

knows what he likes and he has stuck to it. We have important news.

Crawley Town has the cheapest cup of tea in all of English football,

according to a BBC survey. A cup there will cost you 50p. The most

expensive in the country is �2.20. The survey reveals that the

cheapest match day is at Brighton and Hove's Amex Stadium. South East

Today brings you all the most important facts! We thought 2011

might turn out to be the year when spring and summer swapped places.

But finally, the weather gods have remind -- remembered it is summer.

If you are not going abroad, you have made a good choice, because we

are enjoying the finest weather It is a long awaited limbs of

summer. Across the South East, the mercury has finally risen and we

are lapping it up. Yesterday, Gravesend hit 29.1 degrees. It beat

Los Angeles at 22 and Malaga at 24 degrees. What a contrast to the

rain and wind two weeks ago at the Open in sandwich. Those who are

staying home for their holidays are not put off by a few clouds, it

feels barmy, still, and they are giving it a thumbs-up. We have had

a lovely day. We got fish and chips. My daughter brought strawberries

and cream. I have been coming down since the 1950s. Has it changed?

Not much.For a swim? Yes. How warm was it? It was cold and a little

bit warm. I was scared. You never grow out of that one.

grow out of that one. It has been lovely. Will it last?

No, not really. It has been a very warm day. It has been mostly dry

for everyone, just rain in parts of Kent. Tomorrow is a similar story.

Make the most of it. It will be all change on Thursday. Temperatures

have been in their twenties. We have had light and variable wind.

Some cloud around, as well, but it has not affected the brightness too

much. Despite the cloud cover, it has been mostly dry. Some rain

along the Kent coast, but that is likely to die away in the early

part of this evening. Under the clear skies, mist and fog patches

forming. Temperatures in double figures for every one. It is an

uncomfortable feeling and night. Into tomorrow morning, any mist and

fog will lift. The hazy sunshine, and more brightness around

lunchtime. It is likely to be a drier picture than today. Any

showers are likely to be to the north of ours. Light and variable

wind and very little change into tomorrow night. It will be mucky

and close. We will see more cloud - - it will be humid and close. As we

move into Thursday, look at this weather. We have unsettled weather

spreading eastwards. Heavy rain for everyone. Temperatures about ten

degrees lower. A high temperature will be around 18 degrees. Tomorrow

will be similar to today. But look at the temperature change by

Thursday. Settled on Friday. I'd to do not mind it raining on

Thursday, but I'd do not want it raining on Friday. That is because

this Friday is the start of four special programmes.

When the sun is shining and summer is in full swing, there is nothing

better than getting out of the Office for a trip to the seaside

and that is what we have planned every Friday in August.

We are entering the festival spirit by taking South East a day out on

the road to join you in the biggest celebrations. We will be live on

each Friday and we would like as many of you as possible to come a