08/08/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. Tonight's top stories: the MoD

investigate reports that a Kent- based soldier cut the fingers off

of Taliban soldiers on the battlefield.

A man is hospitalised after lightning strikes his Sussex home.

Also in tonight's programme: The �6 million donation from a

widow. All hail the Seagulls, all hail the

Stadium! Brighton roll up their sleeves for a first match thriller.

And the models Victorian architects Good evening. The Ministry of

Defence is investigating claims a Kent based soldier kept severed

fingers from dead Taliban fighters as souvenirs.

It's understood the allegations were made against a soldier from

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, which is based at Howe

Barracks in Canterbury. We've been looking into the case.

It is a very serious allegation according to the MoD. One of its

shell -- soldiers allegedly sliced off fingers of dead Taliban

fighters as a souvenir. Military experts say they are shocked to

hear such claims. In a rural community, in a filing order, you

treat animals, women and dead with the same respect that you would

expect yourself. It is just not done. The tour of duty in

Afghanistan ended in May. The battalion's role was to train the

Afghan army as well as take on the at -- Taliban directly.

As well as Afghanistan, a recent tours of duty have included Kosovo

and Bosnia. The MoD says that in each case the soldiers have

conducted themselves with tenacity, courage and humour. It is not the

first claim of wrongdoing by soldiers. US military guards

photographed the abuse of suspected Iraqi insurgents in a prison.

Experts say if the latest allegations are proved to be

trolled -- true the role of stress will have to be looked at. Drama

can change people's perception -- trauma can change the perception of

people and things that may not occur to everybody... What we might

consider. Can sometimes not appear the same way on the battlefield.

investigation is ongoing and the MoD did not say if the soldier had

been suspended. A man from Sussex says he is lucky

to be alive after he received a huge electric shock from a

lightning strike while standing in his own kitchen.The freak accident

happened just before 1:00pm this morning, when the man's house in

Battle was struck during a storm. From the outside there is nothing

but a plastic sheet as evidence of last night's dramatic events. Able

a lightning blew away parts of the roof, leaving the main part of this

family home exposed to the elements. -- a bolt of lightning. I was just

coming to shut the door when there was an enormous bang, a blue flash

went down my arm and all of the lights went out. The clap of

thunder that accompany the lightning strike that did all of

the damage was so loud that fire crews heard it before they were

called. Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to make sure there

were no hidden hot spots of fire in the roof. This family were lucky.

Lightning streak can cause lots of things to happen. This family was

lucky to come out of line at -- are live with just a shock. There are

16 million lightning storms around the world every year. A bolt of

lightning can travel at 1036000 miles per hour. They have no

electricity or gas, but this all in their stride. -- 136,000. We are

still here and that is the most important thing. He should never

happen again in theory. As everyone keeps saying that lightning never

strikes twice so we should be safe now. The house is insured so now

the family are dealing with the rest of the damage.

Our reporter is live in Hastings. The noise was so loud that it will

the neighbours up. When a lady told me that a bomb had Graf off. Being

struck by lightning can be serious. There is nothing you can do to

prevent it but the fire services there are precautions you can take

such as having an accept plan and a smoke alarm.

In a moment: The polar bear attack in the Arctic.

One of the team leaders is due back tonight.

Two men have drowned in a lake in Kent. The men were believed to be

swimming at the lake in Chipstead near Sevenoaks on Friday night when

they got into difficulties. Our reporter is at the lake for us now.

What more do we know about this incident? The police have confirmed

that the men drown around 7pm on Friday. They say they are not

treating this as suspicious and that the two men came from Lewisham

in South London. Their next of kin had been informed but the names

have not been released because the bodies have yet to be formally

identified. This lake is a popular beauty spot and is used by

canoeists and sailors. Before people jump in they have to make

sure her they can get back out again. Whether we do that through

signage or educational things come I think we need to make sure we do

that before we start fencing off lakes and littering the countryside

with science. It is about sub -- stopping and thinking before you

jump in. And this incident coincided with one of the hottest

days of the year. When the temperatures are high, water looks

particularly enticing. People could be tempted to jump in and called an.

The water temperatures could still be very cool. Under the surface

there could be hidden dangers and very deep water.

The jury in the trial of a woman accused of murdering her two young

children has retired to consider its verdict. The bodies of three

year-old Harry and Elise, who was two, were discovered in the boot of

their mother's car in Heathfield, East Sussex, in January last year.

A man from East Sussex, and a man from Surrey, have been arrested

after climbing Blackpool Tower to protest against the extraction of

shale gas on the Fylde coast. They climbed 500 feet up to unfurl

banners highlighting what they say are the dangers of the so-called

"fracking" process taking place a few miles away. Cuadrilla Resources

suspended tests in May after two earth tremors nearby. Cuadrilla

says a report on any link between extraction and the tremors should

be completed by next month. A decision on whether to allow a

Kent airport to extend its operating hours during the London

Olympics is about to be announced. The operators of Biggin Hill have

submitted plans to Bromley Council to extend the times aircraft can

fly in and out of the airport during the Olympic Games next year.

Some local residents fear the measure could become permanent.

A man from Sussex who was seriously injured in the polar bear attack in

Norway that left one schoolboy dead will return home tonight.

Andy Ruck was one of the expedition group leaders. He suffered serious

head injuries, and his condition is being described as severe but

stable. He will be brought home on a special medical repatriation

flight. And the ruck is expected to touch

down in the UK any moment now. He suffered injuries when a polar bear

attack a group of explorers. The bear was eventually shot dead. One

expert said that attacks like these are very rare. Since 1995 there had

been two fatalities. On average, three bears are killed a year as an

act of self-defence, people protecting themselves against a

bare. A statement by the company One survivor is from Jersey and he

is one of two people who shared a tent with an injured party member.

He tried to punch the bear on the nose. I hit it on the nose. I do

not know why. People love their attacked him with his right Paul --

the Polar Bear attacked him and then the leader came along each

trying to get the polar bear away. Explorers in this part of no way

usually set off rockets or players if approached by an animal. It

appears that the players did not go off when the bears got inside the

camp. Our top story tonight:

The Ministry of Defence is investigating claims that a soldier

cut fingers off dead Taliban fighters to keep as souvenirs. It

is understood the allegations relate to a soldier from the

Canterbury based Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who was

serving in Afghanistan. Male model in a mould:

The statues of our sporting stars underway for 2012.

And the spire beneath the dome. The model cathedrals that helped

Victorian architects learn their trade, on display in Margate.

If you have a story you think we should be covering on South East

Today, we'd like to hear from you. You can call, send us an email, or

text us on 8133, making sure your text message starts with the

letters SE. Dungeness is to become the first

place in the South East to get the RNLI's new class of lifeboat after

a Kent woman left �6 million to the lifeboat station in her will.

Barbara Morrell died aged 95. She had no children and no living

relatives. Vital life saving equipment, the Shannon class

lifeboat, a new launch and recovery equipment worth �850,000 will be

given to Dungeness. Rescuing people at sea around the

clock, whenever the weather. Barbara had such a respect for the

work of the RL NI that she left all of her family's money to the

charity that she supported all of her life. And 95, she had I'll love

her husband and all of his siblings. -- Al laved. They never had

children because her husband suffered from severe by bds. --

diabetes. It was fantastic. We could not believe it. She valued

that the people they're go about their time very freely to save

other people's lives. The boat is a state of the art it has not been

built yet, but with a tricky launched down the sea, the

Dungeness crew had chosen equipment that will help them reach people

faster. I think the best way we can thank her is that when the boat is

on station we continued to save the lives at sea. The lifeboat will

launch in Dungeness and 2013. -- in With London 2012 less than a year

away you'd expect the athletes to be gearing themselves up, but a

sculptor from Sussex is now pretty busy as well. Louise Giblin is

planning to create statues of five British Olympians including the

runner, Dame Kelly Holmes, and the hurdler Sally Gunnell. Today,

though, was the turn of swimmer Darren Leach, a Paralympian

quadruple medallist from Tonbridge in Kent. We watched the process

begin. This is the way Daren Leach began

his most mornings. Six days a week he swims up to 200 lengths. He won

two silver and bronze medals at the Sydney Olympics but now he is

bidding for a gold Olympic medal. have got world gold and European

gold but I want an Olympic gold. is one of five Olympians who agreed

to be turned into a work of art. am not sure I can put this on my

Strange. I feel like it is slipping. We need to put this down the side

so you can breathe. Dame Kelly Holmes is up next. Later in the

year it will be -- the Turn of a hurdler. So far this is the largest

piece that I have produced by this method. The casts are happy to wear,

which was not a problem for Bath Tweddell. She works out and a

jacket wearing -- weighing 24 kilograms. I have selected people

because they have been achieving very highly in their particular

field and I am interested in knowing what they think is their

greatest achievement. For daring Leach, it was winning a silver in

Sydney. There will be a design to represent the city where each

athlete won their mettle. The exhibition will open in London next

May to coincide with the lighting of the Olympic torch.

The new Football League season could hardly have got off to a

better start for the South East's top clubs with three wins and an

honourable draw. And Brighton's victory in their

opening league game at their new home, the Amex Community stadium,

could hardly have been more dramatic. Neil Bell joins us from

Brighton. The game didn't disappoint!

It was never going to be a dull, goalless draw. The backstory to the

game is now the stuff of footballing legend. The friendly

against Spurs eight days ago was dramatic enough but Saturday's

first ever league game at their new home will be remembered by Brighton

fans forever So success for Brighton with the

goals coming from a summer signing and by neat coincidence all three

of our other teams got off the mark with goals from new players for

what was almost a perfect start to the new season

It was a great weekend for the After years a waiting, the people

of Brighton Asim -- a SIM victory would be theirs. There was a blind

discussion with the referee but his decision to bring on a second half

sub turn the game. The equaliser was a stunning low shot. The winner

shared vision and now has a steel and was greeted with delirious

delight. Who is the Albion's new hero? The midfielder joined earlier

in the season from Watford for a record fee of �1 million. It is

brilliant. The fans were just outstanding today. Really loud and

relieve local. The fact they stay with us and just gave us confidence

to keep going. It the reaction on the final whistle from the crowd

was one of relief and sheer joy. new place, bigger stadium, everyone

is expecting you to win. Sometimes that goes against you. A new era

began in fine style with drummer, controversy and, ultimately, a

memorable win. Brighton off to a bank with two goals are. It was

almost a perfect start to the season.

In League One in has been a summer of radical change at the Valley,

and no one was quite sure how the new side but fair. But one still

Stevens put them ahead it was plain sailing. Scott West had a dramatic

if volley and is a contender for goal of the season. Skipper Johnny

Jackson's penalty made it a great start. After all of the hard work

it is all about all this 6th and the numbers. Every team in the land

once a good start. We are no different. We have got a very good

start. The first ever game in the Football League but this new player

could not have gone better. When you sign a completed a new slick

move but Port Vale soon Lovell laid out thanks to this free-kick. An

equaliser was scored deep into stoppage time. We may not win it

and we may not make the play-offs but we will try to get it in and

Passat. After a slow start last season, Gillingham began break on

Saturday. -- began in a great way The League Cup action will be

tomorrow. It was a spectacular week for a bike fans. Shane been

completed his domination of the Superbike championships and Tommy

hellcat the pressure on the victory -- victory... In a few minutes'

time, Sussex will take on Lancashire in the quarter-finals at

the County Ground. The Sharks will be hoping to make it through for

the second time in three years. One Sussex side is are already in the

final. They are through for the National Village Cup final next

month. A collection celebrating some of

the most awe-inspiring buildings of the world. An exhibition that has

opened in Margate gives us all the chance to inspect can a great

cathedral, York Minster and the beer cellar in Rome all in one roof.

We are taking a look at the models that are used by the artist to

learn their craft. At a scale of 60 ft to one inch, Aly Aly crafted,

the 28 cathedrals sunny -- they were bequeathed to the cathedral.

One was found in the architect's department. They found there were

28 of them. Who made them all? were made by a model-maker from

Oxford and they were commissioned by an assisted of Queen Victoria.

They are so fragile and they were very dirty and covered in dust.

Pieces of the detail were broken off and they were using some of the

original blues to restore them. the class Dems are part of the Dome

itself? Yes, they are historical as the models themselves. Some of them

were quite badly damaged and had to be restored. They are part of the

model. Over 100 years of experience would a company water the cathedral

has now formed part of the exhibition. How else could you get

around 28 cathedrals from UK and Let's get a look at the weather. We

saw some dramatic weather yesterday but this week is unsettled but

nothing too dramatic going on. The next 24 hours bringing as a small

taste of sunshine. After that, a bit of a cloud cover. A fair bit of

cloud will blow in and it will feel quite cool. Today, there has been a

fair bit of cloud creeping into coastal parts, and some of us have

seen the odd shower. If he did not then you might have but today was

quite pleasant. Compared to later in the week it has been. Some

showers to get through this night - - this evening. They will be

creeping away and overnight there will be a bit of cloud cover around.

Tempters will get down to about 10 or 11 degrees. -- temperatures. A

bit of a north-westerly wind will bring a cooler kick to those

temperatures. Tomorrow will bring us the best of the weather.

Throughout the morning, a little bit of sunshine, but it is not out

of the question there could be some cloud cover. Temperatures are below

the 19 or 20. Not fantastic but not terrible. Tomorrow night will be a

repeat performance of tonight. Temperatures will be down to 10 or

11 and -- degrees again. Not much cloud around and on Thursday

morning you will see a sunnier start to the day. As you can see

here, there is a lot of wet weather above the UK, but there is not a

great deal heading towards us. The far southeast could stay dry but

for parts of the north of Kent there will be a bit of wet weather

are creeping in by the middle of the day and continuing to route the

day. As the head to the end of the week we will see quite a few more

showers. The general picture is, there is a lot of cloud out their.

Friday will bring a mixture of showers but plenty of cloudy spells

every the next few days. Temperatures on the up to about 18

or 19 degrees but by the end of the week it could feel a little bit

warmer and possibly more humid as well. The next 24 hours will bring

us the best of this week's weather before it turns unsettled some make

the most of it. We are keeping our fingers crossed

for a Friday. We had amazing weather last week and this Friday

we are going out on the road for the second Of Our Special Reports.

When the sun is shining and son is in full swing -- summer is in full

swing there is nothing better than getting away to the seaside and

that is what we have got planned for every day in August. We are

taking our programme out on the road to see some of the biggest

summer celebrations. We will be live each Friday and we would love

as many a view to come a long and join in the fun. Come on! We will

be joining the roof party at the Pavilion End excel on on his 19th

and we will finish up at the Herne Bay Festival on others to basics. -

- on 26th August. You can see some behind-the-scenes pictures on our

Facebook site. We had a fantastic time last week. We will also have a