08/12/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. I'm Polly Evans.

A I'm Rob Smith's. Three sisters lose the battle with their

stepmother after their father lost her �4 million and then nothing.

Victory for the former politician suing his replacement over false

skeins he was an "expenses scandal MP".

I have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the High Court

to hear a judge described what he did as if unjustifiable.

Operation Whirlwind - a pre- Christmas crackdown on criminals as

Kent police launch raids across the county.

Good news for Seabrook fans - after last year's famine you a ring for a

feast. It was burned and bitter. Are you

dissing East Grinstead's coffee? Yes!

And find out why people are going Insania over Peter Andre's latest

caffeine fuelled venture. Good evening. Three sisters who

went to court to challenge their father's �4 million will have lost

their battle in a case which the judge described as a family at war

with itself. George Wharton married his long-

term partner three days before his death at the age of 78 and left his

entire fortune to his widow. His daughters claimed he -- she had

pressured him to exclude them. Today a high court judge ruled the

will is valid. Three days after their wedding to

George Wharton died of cancer and his wife was accused of

pressurising him to leave nothing to his daughters.

I have not had a chance to grieve for my husband because I have had

so much going on with the case. I am so pleased that this result has

come because at least now I can get on with my life and grieve for him

and go to the grave in peace. I need to go to the grave in peace,

knowing the girls are not causing so much trouble for me.

It was George's daughters, Victoria Wharton, Gina Fagan and Amanda

Wharton, who challenged the old will and the High Court heard that

George and Maureen had been together for 30 years. Mr Justice

Norris said a deathbed will and the absence of any provision figure

shook may be expected to heighten family tension and provoke

indignation at a sense of unfairness, but he concluded, I do

not regarded as suspicion that they have -- her husband should leave

his wife the entirety of his estate. We knew the doctors who were

treating the - retreating George and it was clear to us that his

state of mind was perfectly sound. George Wharton built up his fortune

from his caravan park. His wife said he hardly ever saw his

daughters. They are upset at the ruling.

He loves us very much and his granddaughters and he promised to

pay for their university fees. I have health problems, I am a single

parent and this whole situation has split the whole family up.

Maureen says she now wants time to remember.

Simon Jones joins us live from George Wharton's caravan park. The

judge was very clear in his ruling. This was an extremely complex legal

case involving over 40 witnesses. A family at war with itself, but the

judge said there was nothing suspicious about the death bed

marriage and said that he accepted that the marriage was part of a way

to get around the inheritance tax problem which the couple had built

in over 30 years, and he also said this was our way they could be

United before the death. The sisters say they are considering

appealing against the verdict. A former Sussex MP who was defeated

at the general election has won his claim for libel against the man who

replaced him. Conservative Nigel Waterson was described by his Lib

Dem rival Stephen Lloyd as an "expenses scandal MP" in election

leaflets produced during the 2010 campaign in Eastbourne.

He was cleared of any wrongdoing over his expenses and will now seek

substantial damages. For Natalie, Nigel Waterson is now calling for

Stephen Lloyd to stand down, isn't he? Yes, he said his successor

should consider his position. We are used to angry words on the

election trail but the legal battle between these politicians has been

extremely bitter. Nigel Waterson took exception to be -- be

described as an "expenses scandal MP" and the judge not only agreed

but said he had no hesitation in doing so.

He might have lost his seat to Stephen Lloyd but today Nigel

Waterson enjoyed illegal victory over his Lib Dem opponent.

He gave Mr Lloyd every opportunity to apologise but they consistently

refused and had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the High

Court to hear a judge say that what they did was unjustifiable and

indefensible. The judge ruled that leaflets

produced by Stephen Lloyd and his agent during the 2010 election

campaign were libellous because they suggested Nigel Waterson had

abused the expenses system by claiming for a second home in

London. In fact, the former MP's claims were found to be within the

rules of Parliament. My client wishes to appeal the

decision and wants to consider further options. He remains

dedicated to representing and helping his constituents.

Nigel Waterson is not seeking to challenge last year's election

result but says, now he has cleared his name, he will decide whether to

seek selection again as a Conservative candidate for

Eastbourne. He will be seeking substantial damages from Stephen

Lloyd and his agent. They have until January 11th to lodge their

repeal at the court of appeal. If that fails, the next hearing will

be the amount of damages owed to Mr Waterstone.

In a moment, holding a torch for the Olympics - the South East finds

out who will be carrying the flame through Kent and Sussex.

Kent police say they have launched a Christmas crime crackdown

carrying out a rest for burglary, theft and violence in a series of

co-ordinated dawn raids -- arrests. The car ordinated county-wide raids

started at 6 am in -- in Swanley, offensive weapons, cannabis plants.

They are having an impact on the local crime and we will take steps

to progress the investigations to disrupt these individuals.

Search warrants took place in Sevenoaks and Ashford. More money

and drugs seized. Police say that Operation Whirlwind is part of a

month-long campaign to disrupt criminals across the county. The

road checks are rare crackdown on drink-driving. Also dangerous

vehicles and theft. The operation has netted 12 arrests for drug

offences and 12 people have been detained for other crimes and a

number of fixed penalty notices have been issued. To the Blitz

coincide with significant police cuts.

Can you do more with fewer people? That is our intention. The aim is

to continue to reduce crime. The Christmas message police want

to give across his, commit crime and they will come knocking.

A predatory rapist who attacked two women in Brighton and sexually

assaulted a 67-year-old woman in Kent has been jailed for 18 years.

Michal Tejkowski from Maidstone was described by the judge at Lewes

Crown Court as a very dangerous man. Make no mistake, Michal Tejkowski

is an extremely dangerous man. Over a few months he has raped two women,

sexually assaulted another, and we are delighted to have caught him in

the period we did to ensure that he stops offended -- offending and is

now behind bars. Kent County Council's chief

executive will leave at the end of last year. Catherine Arthur --

Katharine Kerr well joined at the end of last year. Councils are

considering not replacing her to save money.

The man convicted of bludgeoning Lin and Megan Russell to death in

Chillenden La -- 15 years ago has failed in his appeal. He hopes to

make a fresh application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

The future of sheep farming in the South East is in danger because

young people no longer want to enter the business. Between 2009

and 2010 the number of sheep farms in Kent fell by 37,000, a drop of

11 %. In East Sussex, sheep numbers were down by 17,500, a drop of 9 %.

The average age of a sheep farmer is now 59, leaving many close to

retirement. Yvette Austin has the latest in our Food Chain series.

For a Howard is the 7th generation sheep farmer. -- Howard is. But his

two daughters and one son in their twenties show no sign in wanting to

follow in his so -- footsteps. Does it make you sad? No, I want my

children to do what makes them happy in their lives. What does

make me a bit sad and quite concerned is that as farmers we are

not passing on our livestock skills to the next generation. It would be

nice to have an apprentice shepherd working for me so I could pass on

skills I have learnt but there is not the profit to pay them.

Sheep farmers are at a pivotal stage. Three years they struggled

to make ends meet and many have pulled out but now as a result

prices for lamb have increased and that, coupled with higher demand

from abroad, means that new young shepherds are needed to ensure

better times ahead. The average people -- average age

of people involved in the industry is 59 and rising. Those people are

thinking seriously about retiring and very quickly we will approach a

crunch point. If there are no youngsters to come into the

industry, D sheep industry will go into decline. -- the sheep industry.

At this Performing Arts College near Hythe, young teenagers are

learning the art of sheep farming. Will they stick with it? Are really

want to go into sheep-farming. are want. I would like to work in a

zoo. I don't want to produce animals for meat. You have to go

outside in the rain. The problem is particularly hard in the South East,

with London during so many away. The industry needs a recruitment

drive. -- and during. It is an opportunity that has not

been available since 1948 so that people who found out today but it

will be -- they will be torch bearers, for them it is the

opportunity of a lifetime. The torch will spend five days in

Kent before it goes too sorry. It will travel through Tunbridge Wells.

Chrissie Reidy is there. How have the torch bearers been hearing the

Information has been trickling through slowly, but we have a wider

range of Torch bearers. Loss of inspirational stories from people,

all concerned they will be taking part in the 2012 Olympics fanfare.

The flame was carried by relays of Englishmen. It was 1948. A cheering

crowd lined the street. Similar crowds are expected next year as it

makes its way to the Olympic stadium. A dozen torch bearers will

carry the torch on its 70 day relay. Hurrah the lucky ones? When 14-

year-old Robbie was diagnosed with a heart condition, it meant he had

to stop playing football. Innes is a nephew of the beads are at.

Despite his condition, he began coaching other youngsters to fulfil

their sporting dream. I give them confidence so they think they are

getting better so they do it more often. Absolutely thrilled. Really

excited. It was such a shock. have been nominated because I lost

my leg through bone cancer when I was 16 and I had some more

treatment recently. I have set up my own charity and I do a lot of

work in the community, coaching and things like that. I try to help

young people get into sport in the way that I can't now. I am

completely humbled about being selected. It is still sinking in. I

still can't quite believe it. I don't deserve that in many ways.

There are so many decent people out there who will be disappointed and

they deserve it as well. By will run for them as well. Genuinely a

bit blown away at the moment. Still waiting for it to sink in. I need

to get down the gym at lunchtime! So, lot of excitement today across

the south-east. If you have been nominated and you haven't found out,

don't despair because people will still be finding out right up until

next March. It is fair to say there is still plenty of time yet.

This is our top story tonight: Three sisters who went to court to

challenge their father's �4 million will have lost their legal battle.

Kent businessman George Wharton married his long time partner just

three days before his death at the age of 78 and left his entire

fortune to his widow. His daughters claimed she'd pressured him to

exclude them. Also in tonight's programme: A glut

of sprouts. There is a bumper crop this year. Find out why I am

celebrating Christmas earlier than Christmas had this wonderful place.

-- at this wonderful place. Three years, fishermen and Hastings

had been claiming that quotas are destroying the livelihoods. Today

they have been given the chance to put their grievances directly to a

parliamentary commission, visiting the town ahead of plans to reform

the system. Most of the fleet remained on the beach today due to

the weather, but members of the Commons committee for Environment,

food and rural affairs braved the weather conditions in Hastings to

hear fishermen's concerns over the lack of quotas. We're here to make

sure that all the MPs on the committee in understand what the

experiences of the fishermen are on the sea. I want to hear how the

Fishman thing that can be rectified. They chose Hastings because as the

largest fleet of small boats in the country. 341 of the vessels are

under 10 metres, supporting the jobs of 602 fishermen and landing

over 567,000 tonnes of fish between January and September this year.

But fishermen here say that because of the way the European Commission

allocates the majority of quotas, those with smaller vessels and

placings like Hastings are struggling to make a living. There

are trends where the under 10 metre food was not necessarily counted in

the equation when the quota was allocated. We have a situation

develop where they changed the rules that in 2006 but forgot to

give us any quotas for the small fleet. We need quota throughout the

year for nearly every sort of fish. Not a massive amount of critical

but enough to get living on. issue of fish being discarded

because of quota restriction was arranged by Hugh Fairlie were to

descend. -- Hugh firmly with Kingston. Louise, the MPs have gone

back to Westminster this evening, what other fishermen are hoping

will happen next? They are hoping that these reforms will be brought

in that would ensure that the under 10 metre fleet, the kind of boats

that are smaller, would get a larger quota. If the MPs go back

and they produce this report, it is hoped they could be brought in by

2013, which would be a big relief to fishermen here.

We already knew that he could sing, we already knew that he could

survive in the jungle, now we know that he can just about ice skate.

Pop star Peter Andre was at Bluewater today launching their

Christmas in New York exhibition and talking about his latest

venture as a Sussex coffee-shop owner. Their hair, the Six Pack,

this is how it all started the Peter Andre. Now, two decade on, he

lives his life in a gold -- in a goldfish bowl, but he is happy to

share it with millions. You get privacy when you go home and shut

your door, you put your tracksuit bottoms on, it is like everyone

else. Today's job, and ice-skating less than with Olympian Robin

Cousins in front of the cameras and yet another adoring crowd of women

of all generations. I can't believe it still happens. I am very

grateful and still a kid. There are a lot of people in this industry

who were there for 15 minutes and I have had a great run. After his

pop-star wave of the 90s, Peter relaunched in the jungle, where he

eventually met and married Katie Price. This year, he returned to

the jungle. You can be happy about certain decisions and you live, I

know that everything that has happened has led me to where I am

today. I didn't know what I wanted but I knew I had to go back in

their. 2012 will see Peter Andre the singer travelling the country

and Peter end -- Peter Andre the business than opening a coffee shop

in East Grinstead. Are you dissing East Grinstead's coffee? Yes.

Expect coffee was in East Grinstead. The gossip magazines are holding

the front page. This time last year, we reported bad news for Brussels

but spans with the freezing weather leading to a serious shortage, but

this year, the mild conditions mean that we are in for a bumper crop.

Brussels bows were first introduced into England in the 19th century

and weight for weight they contain three times for vitamin C than

oranges. This year, we Brits are expected to spend �60 million on

the little brassicas. So, does the prospect of extra Brussels sprouts

and three with a sense of fear and impending dread? If you hate

Brussels sprouts, look away now, because this year, there are loads

of them. This year, they're sweeter than ever. The reason, favourable

weather. If they are grown at their own pace, the flavour will be in

them straight away. It is the best brassica you can have. Here in

Southfleet, most of the crop will be sold before Christmas. Very

different to last year when the cold snap meant shortages in the

shops. Over the next three weeks, the board which farm shop will sell

around 3,000 bottles but stems just like this one. For many, Christmas

just wouldn't be the same without this. For others, of course, it is

just not their cup of tea. I don't like them. I'm not sure anyone

would like them, really. I have tried them a couple of times. They

are really nice. I don't see how people can like them. I think it is

great. I really loved them. We don't just wait for Christmas.

love them. They are great and they are really good for you. A I love

Brussels sprouts, especially cooked with bacon and chestnuts. I didn't

like to -- I didn't used to like Brussels but when I was a child but

now I love them. A foodies say that when it comes to eating the

Brussels sprout, preparation is key. I quite like to pan fry them and

add a bit of bacon and then I have got toasted pine nuts to put rhythm.

So, maybe you should give them one last try. After all, there are so

many this year that it would be a shame to waste them. I love them.

Raw with a glass of lemonade! We have had loads of the mouth about

Brussels bars. Adrian doesn't like them. He says he doesn't know what

is so special about them. Janice says you should parboil them and

when ready to use add a knob of butter and reheat with pepper to

taste. I know you're thinking, what does Peter Andre think about bows?

I love Brussels sprouts. -- What does Peter Andre think about

Brussels sprouts? I'm getting hungry thinking about it! He loves

them! And Neil says there is only one way to cook them, boil for

three hours and to all the colour has gone, fry with some chestnuts

and flush them down the loo. day, people will admit it is a joke

about liking Brussels bows. They are a waste of the dinner table. --

Brussels sprouts. We're not going to be seeing as bad weather as in

Scotland. The meanest of it is just arriving now. In the next two or

three hours, we will have the strongest of the winds cover the

highest gusts and the heaviest about rainfall. By 11 o'clock,

everyone will be dry you and we will notice cooler conditions. We

will be having stronger winds than we have had through the day. They

will get up to 15 half-an-hour around the south coast. It is all

coming handed hand with loads of rain. Some places could find around

10 mm falling in the space of half an hour. Half an inch of rain in

half-an-hour, a lot of wet weather to come. It moves away quickly and

then we are left with the cold air behind. It will get down to about

one or two degrees, cold enough for if frost. It is currently 12

degrees said by the end of the night it will be a good 10 or 11

degrees colder than it is now. It will be a cold and frosty start of

the day but tomorrow will be holding on to the sunshine all day

long. It will be not as windy as it is today. Temperatures below

average, but in that sunshine it will be a beautiful thing day.

Tomorrow evening with this chilly conditions, we will slowly notice