08/12/2011 Spotlight

Seeing red this Christmas. Warnings over the pressure to spend during

the festive season. As much as you budget and start early, I spend

right up to Christmas to buy everything. You can always see

things to buy. Good evening. Debt charities say

they've never been busier. But how do you avoid overspending, we'll be

getting some advice. Also on Spotlight tonight, the deal to give

us all fairer water bills, more businesses will now be allowed to

choose their supplier. And the tough training pays off as

Royal Marines pass out at Lympstone. Debt charities and insolvency

advice services in the south west say they're the busiest they've

ever been and expect even more people to get into financial

difficulties as they overspend this Christmas. A combination of the

economic downturn, the squeeze it's put on household incomes, and the

pressure to spend to enjoy the festive season are being blamed.

Our correspondent Simon Hall joins us now from Exeter.

It is late night shopping here tonight and many have turned out

despite the challenging weather. Shopping at this Christmas time can

cause problems for some. I was in Newton Abbott.

Christmas is feted as a time of joy but the son who succumb to spending

more than they can afford, it may lead to misery. It was striking how

many shoppers like Melanie admitted to overstretching themselves.

much as you try and budget, I always end up spending up until

Christmas to buy everything. There are always things to buy.

months paying it off? Yes, but you worry about it afterwards in the

new year. Then, there is Kerry who can get into debt buying presents

for children. It is quite stressful because I spent the money paying

off debt and interest. It is quite hard. We have moved up the road

from the town centre and these are the offices of debt-free Devon,

insolvency experts who tell me they are the busiest they have ever been.

The company has opened a new office to cope and with the economy

struggling, they expect more people to seek help with debts. 2012 will

be the busiest year we have had a for a number of years. What is it

down to? The fact the economy is not recovering as everybody hoped.

People may have been holding on for too long and finely realised the

need help. -- finally realised. even at this time of year when most

people are doing their best to be festive, the advice from experts is

to work at a budget and stick to it and try not to let the glitter and

sparkle of Christmas tempt you into debt.

With me is a lease from the debt advice charity Christians Against

poverty. How bad are things looking? We are really busy at the

moment. We are planning to get busy in the year. We visit people in

their homes and set budgets and negotiate with creditors. You have

a waiting list of three months? There are bookings into March.

the economic downturn is to blame? People are losing their jobs,

income is being dropped and people are still making repayments on

loans. We see sad situations and families were mothers are not

feeding themselves, feeding their children instead because they have

creditors clamouring for money. People who may have made bad

decisions. We're not judgmental. What kind of stories are you

hearing? Basically somebody losing their jobs and cannot make payments

on commitments. There is always a solution. At Christmas people feel

pressured to spend. A do not buy things with money you have not got.

Set yourself a budget. Sit down with family and friends and set

expectations. That is easy to say. Yes, we want everyone to have a

great Christmas but do not regretted in any year. Please do

not take at a Christmas alone which you pay back in January. It's a

nightmare. And the advice if you are in debt? Just do something,

there are advice charities and agencies which are free. They will

help you. It takes courage to see them but they will help you and it

will not cost anything. No stigma? Not a tour. People see us in very

weird situations but we do not judge but we plan for them to get

out of debt. Thank you for joining us. The advice if you are

struggling is seek help sooner rather than later because the

problem is only likely to get worse otherwise. There's lots more

information about avoiding debt on our website, bbc.co.uk.

Women are to be allowed to serve on submarines for the first time in

the Royal Navy's history. The Secretary of State for Defence,

Philip Hammond, announced in a speech this morning that female

officers will serve on Vanguard class Trident submarines from late

2013. The decision follows an eighteen month review, which

focused heavily on any potential health risks. But those concerns

proved unfounded, and today the Royal Navy welcomed the Government

announcement. It is good and positive. I am delighted the

Secretary of State accepted the recommendations of the board that

women should be allowed to serve on submarines on a phased basis. It is

a mature way of moving forward remembering the Royal Navy has had

women in the front line since the early 1990s, we have 20 years'

experience. The Government's White paper on our future water supply

has confirmed a �50 reduction in water bills for South West Water

customers. Those struggling to pay will also be helped. Meanwhile

there's a big change for business and public sector customers.

Organisations who use five million litres or more of water annually

will now be allowed to chose their supplier. The �50 reduction will

bring our average bills to �467. But the Consumer Council for Water

says there's still a �100 difference, with average bills for

England and Wales at �356. Spotlight's David George reports.

This is Age Concern's day-care centre in St Austell. People enjoy

lunch and a chat was a week. Most live alone and the bills are a

worry. Especially the water bill. It is a shame because I have a bath

morning and evening. A washing machine is going all the time but

on your own you feel it because the money is going out. There is

nothing going back in. After years running her in business, delete

keeps paperwork carefully filed and knows how much the water costs. She

welcomes the 50 pound reduction. want it, don't we? We are paying to

keep the beaches going for the visitors they come down. I think

the visitor should pay a bit. They are using the beaches because we

cannot get to the beach now. subsidy amounts to �35 million a

year until Twenty20. Correcting a miscalculation by government 20

years ago when South West Water was privatised. And require to clean up

the coast line with a 3% of the population paying the bill. It is a

bit of a miracle in terms of government that primary legislation

will be put before Parliament to correct an error in one commercial

company in one region of the country. It is justice, it is right,

and I congratulate everybody who is involved. South West Water has

broadly welcomed the white paper but planned deregulation will allow

competition in the water industry for the first time. Business users

will be able to go elsewhere for their water supply. What the

government calls the historic unfairness of water infrastructure

in the south-west, the high bills, is a small part of today's White

Paper. It is mainly concerned with how we would deal with water

shortages in the future. Hard to believe on a day like this.

The cost of our water bills has been on the agenda for politicians

at Westminster for at least the last twenty years. Our Political

Editor Martyn Oates joins us now. The key point for the south-west is

not really news. No, it is the �50 discount which was announced last

week in the Autumn Statement. Today's White Paper talks about

encouraging water companies to introduce social tariffs for the

poorest customers, South West Water already does much of that. The

Liberal-Democrat MP for North Cornwall would like to see

government put that on a national footing so the cost of reducing

water bills for the poorest is spread across the country. At the

moment, it is only across one region. It is expensive. As David

mentioned, there is potentially good news for business. Yes, the

government is proposing or businesses will get to choose a

water supplier and so potentially get a cheaper deal. As David

mentioned, this white paper is wide-ranging looking at more than

simply affordability. And this concern there needs to be enough

water to go around, it is pouring with rain today, but other parts of

the country experience water shortages all ready. The government

says we must be more economical to bring bills down and make sure

there's enough as consumers and businesses and farmers and there is

enough left in the rivers to support the ecosystem.

A man's been found guilty of armed robbery after threatening a

Portland taxi driver with a handgun. Colin Paul Douglas tied the driver

up before stealing money from garages in February. He's now been

convicted of 18 offences in the Weymouth and Dorchester area,

including another armed robbery at Abbotsbury Road Post Office in

March where he stole thousands of pounds in cash.

Police are continuing to hunt a man who carried out a serious sexual

assault in Exeter. A woman in her 20s was attacked just off Prince of

Wales Road in the early hours of yesterday morning. Officers are

checking CCTV and making house to house enquiries. The scene of the

crime is very close to the University of Exeter campus.

Cornwall Council's pledging to cut the amount of money it spends on

agency workers after it was revealed it spent more than �3.7

million in just three months during the summer. The council also spent

�6.7 million on consultants. The authority says it is reducing its

spending on temps due to a new central system for recruiting

agency workers. Coming up later in the programme

one lucky youngster gets some good news. I have been selected for the

relay for 2012 Olympics. We'll hear what this student thinks about

carrying the Olympic torch next year. And the unsung hero who

helped secure the future of local sports clubs.

A troop of young Royal Marine officers have been the centre of

attention at their passing out parade this afternoon. Following

today's Parade at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in

front of their families and VIPs, some of the Marines will go to 40

Commando in Taunton to take command of troops deploying to Afghanistan

next year. Emma Ruminski went to They marched to the band of Her

Majesty's will Marines but it was the applause of the families that

filled them with pride, they entered as 35 young officers and

leave promoted to lieutenant. These marines will take command of the

rain troops for the first time. bulk of them will go to 3 Commando

Brigade who are back from a deployment in Afghanistan. And they

will split amongst the three commanding units. Another tranche

will go to the feet protection group looking after naval security

Today's ceremony marks the end of a testing week of training. We caught

up on some of the manoeuvres earlier in the year. It is part of

the gruelling schedule may have to pass to become an officer. It has

been demanding. It starts off very best the -- basic, building up to

where I am happy to join at the operational unit. This man was

presented with the Royal Marine at Sword of Honour. He was placed

order in... It is more about the whole of what we have achieved as a

grip. We have been through an awful lot of we have an awful lot to come

in the next year. For families came from all over the country to watch

the officers passed out. The we are all very proud. It has been a long

hard slog, although he will not admitted. We at home are definitely

no. We are enormously proud and we can understand how grey to the

sense of achievement in. Now the ceremony is over it is a chance for

the families to get together to celebrate. On Monday, they will be

meeting their new unit as officers. These marine say they are ready for

any number of challenges whether they are sent. A mother from

Plymouth whose son has Asperger's has launched a support group. Janet

Wise wants to share experiences with other families. Our reporter

has been to meet her and her son Steven. We had tea at six. Spend in

after-school time with her son. This isn't homework time. Janet is

helping Stephen to put together an evening schedule to help him and

the family cope with his Asperger's syndrome. He has difficulties with

transitions, changing from one situation to another. We found that

if we can warn him beforehand and try and make sure that he knows

what that is happening, it makes the difference. Before that, we had

some difficult times. Stephen was diagnosed with Asperger's when he

was 10. The condition has caused numerous challenges for his family.

He will find likes and noises quite invasive in situations, so he will

find it hard to concentrate, so that is something we have to be

careful of. He does not like being in crowded places. He does not like

lots of people around. He does not like a lot of noise. Now Janet has

set up a support group for other parents in a similar situation.

need someone that I can go to a bare understands my experiences and

so you can share with them and feel like you're not the only one.

does not actually have any friends that she plays with, no one that

she invites home from T -- 40. is really important. If you have

got a disease, it is important to know that you are not on your own

and that there are people that you can talk to. Janet is now hoping to

expand the support group and develop a training programme on the

Asperger's condition. One of Dorset's most historic buildings is

to be saved. Sherborne House had featured on the BBC programme

Restoration in 2004 but failed to win. Now developers had secured

permission to build 44 homes on nearby land. As part of the deal

they will restore the Grade 1 listed building and its famous

murals staircase. 19 Dartmoor Ponies have been sent to Norfolk to

help with the conservation grazing programme there. The new additions

increase nor for's heard to 84 and is part of Norfolk Wildlife Trust's

commitment to support the endangered breed. Dartmoor Ponies

are placid, making them good conservation grazers in areas with

public access. The teenager from Plymouth is one of the first people

to find out she will be carrying the Olympic torch as it travels

across the South West. 8,000 people across the UK will be involved.

Sophie Elvin who helps out with a youth drama group was revealed as

one of the lucky ones. It was clips and grammar in London today as

Jonathan Edwards announced some of the 2012 torch bearers. For others

likes of the album from Plymouth they had waited for their news at

home via e-mail. I got a confirmation e-mails saying that

the one me to do it and they want a quote from me. How do you feel?

an so excited. She was nominated for her work with a new script and

her work as a matter with other young people. I love what I do, but

it does not feel like something I should be rewarded for her. I love

it so much that I don't feel I should be thanked for what I do. I

love working there and love all the kids. It is so much fun. It is such

a privilege and I cannot believe I have been picked. Sophie spends all

her spare time working with shows and is of school today as she is

appearing on stage as an extra in the play An Inspector Calls. Her

family are very proud. It is such an honour for her and for all of us.

I cannot think of anyone else who deserves it more. She works so hard

and does so many things. She is so loved by all decade's that she

helps, it so I am absolutely delighted. My Adams from Torquay

was also 17 when he was a torch- bearer at the last Olympics in

London in 1948. I was a sprinter in those days and I was a pretty slim

a young man. This was a heavy thing. If we enjoyed as much as we did in

1948, it will be absolutely out of this world. This time the torch is

golden and maybe that is significant. At Land's End on 19th

May, the torch will begin its 70 day relay around the UK, weaving

across the South West until 21st May. It will return again on that

Twelfth July and 13 to visit Dorset. No one is answering the phones!

in wide today, one of its there is is finding it hard to tell their

friends the news because they are in lectures. I have been selected

for the relay for the 2012 Olympics sex macro well done Sophie!

this week we had the meeting there are special people who work

tirelessly behind the scenes to make sports clubs and organisations

as excess. Balu Mahdvani from Bodmin does not directly take part

a coach the sports that he has helped but his work behind the

scenes has contributed to securing the long-term future for local

organisations that were seriously under threat. This is a story about

a sports hall home to the local boxing and rifle clubs in Bodmin.

The centre was in a terrible state of repair and Bodmin town council

wanted to knock it down and replace it with industrial units. The club

risked losing their home. It would have cost a lot to continue. It's

would have been possible to have built a new range but we would have

been talking about hundreds of thousands of pounds. In fact,

another local rich club were quoted three to �400,000 to build a new

range. Balu Mahdvani is a local jeweller they had a small link to

the club and he spearheaded the -- spearheaded a campaign to save the

club. The persuaded the council that they ought to support it and

he managed to negotiate a sensible purchase price, albeit at

discounted, but that meant that facilities could continue. What

motivated him? He came here from Kenya when he was 13 and had a

tough time at school. Being a very different person was not easy. It

was tough. Sport integrated me and gave me self-confidence. I think

when I see some of these youngsters and you talk to them and ask what

this board has given them, they will say respect, responsibility

and confidence. He is trying to give some of that back. He raised

�10,000 of the purchase price himself climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

We need someone like that to help us keep going. Without him we would

not got this far. If it has been a team effort, not an individual

effort, but the nomination should be for the whole committee. We said

he does not take part, but actually he doors. He takes to the

microphone to M C at night that the club put son. And we will hear from

our final unsung sporting hero nominee in Spotlight tomorrow. Also

tomorrow we will have coverage of the homecoming of HMS Ocean. Lots

of people have been asking about that Christmas video which showed

due last night. It is available on our Facebook page. The military

wives choir will be performing every night on Spotlight in the

We have had some strong wind and heavy rain. We have had 50 mph

gusts and the whip up PCS and the rain has been quite heavy at times

as well. This evening and tonight the rain will clear and the winds

will can down. Still a breeze from the north-west and it will turn

quite chilly and the possibility of some overnight frost. When you look

at the big satellite picture, you can see the circle of cloud that

has a hole in it, that is their pressure that swept across Scotland.

It moved across the south of Britain, a cold weather system

which introduced that cold air and as it floods in, we see the risk of

frost. The Clo -- the winds will drop. As the move into Saturday,

the light winds and a lot of clear sky means it will be quite cold,

possibly the coldest night so far this winter will be Friday night

into Saturday. More cloud as the move into Sunday. Virtually no

breaks in the cloud, a line of quite intense rain has moved

through the South West over the last few hours and our cameraman

was on the North Coast of Croyde in some very challenging filming

conditions. He struggled to keep the camera still because it was so

blustery. You can see that the surfing conditions would be

challenging today. You can see how big the way sour and how messy the

sea has been through the day today. Those seas when not necessarily can

down that quickly tomorrow. Tomorrow, some difficult surfing

conditions. The cleaner Sir full be on the south coast. Overnight

tonight, if you take away the rain, a lot of clear sky. A lot of water

around, and the potential of some ice for some places tomorrow

morning. Overnight temperatures range from five or six to as low as

zero across Somerset and central parts of Dorset. Tomorrow is a

reasonable day and we should see some sunshine. The chance of one or

two showers. Winds from the north- west means it will feel cold.

Tomorrow will struggle up to seven or eight degrees. The warmest place

across Britain will be the more western parts of Cornwall at nine

degrees. We will continue to see the risk of some showers, possibly

affecting the Isles of Scilly, but some fine weather here as well.

Times of high water at Plymouth it On the North Coast it will be very

messy, up to 10 feet and slowly tailing off during the course of

the day. Winds will be north- westerly tomorrow, a small chance

of a few showers, otherwise generally good visibility. Saturday

will probably be the best day, a cold start and a cold feel to the

day, just six or seven degrees. Saturday night into Sunday, briefly