02/02/2012 Spotlight

Homes evacuated in Crediton as fire rips through row of thatched

cottages. Good evening. More than 100 firefighters have

been tackling the blaze which is still a light tonight. We will be

live at the scene. Also on spotlight tonight, accused

of trivialising rape. A student website linked to Plymouth

University is closed following offensive remarks. I think it is

disgusting. I know that rates have happened around here and I am now

scared to walk in certain areas. Dealing with life's difficulties

without legal aid. Charities have warned that the most vulnerable

will lose out. And lured by the bright light of

the big city. The new residents in Firefighters are tonight still

tackling a big fire in a row of historic thatched cottages it of

Crediton. Up to 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines were involved

in the operation. Roads in the area was sealed off and fire crews are

expected to be there for some time. Jon Henderson is live at the scene

Apologies for that. We have lost of the link. Let's get this report

from the scene from earlier in the day.

History up in flames. The fire in a row of thatched cottages took hold

just after 1230. I panicked because of my mum because she lives in this

area. I have been brought up here for many years. By contacted her

straight away to make sure that she was OK. She was fine. Up to 100

firefighters from across Devon tackle the fire. They had to deal

with thick smoke and used foam to kill the flames. Foam is a really

effective fire-fighting agent for keeping the fire down and stopping

it stretch -- it spreading. It gives us time to salvage and get

resources in place to stop the fire spreading. There were no reports of

injuries. Those whose homes were affected were initially given help

at a nearby church hall. Absolute shock. No one expects an house to

go up and when it is your neighbour's house it is really

devastating. The cottages are believed to be in excess of 300

years old. Roads were sealed off and people stood in shock. It was a

sad day for one woman who had renovated at cottage with her late

husband 30 years ago. I think it is sad. A very sad. But my husband

died two years ago and he would have been devastated to see that. I

do not know how much of it has been burnt down. Do you know?

difficult question to answer. But this was a ferocious fire.

We can go back live to Jon Henderson now. This buyer has been

going on for some time. What is the It is action stations. Firefighters

have been busy all day and they are still at it. They are tackling the

fire. There are some guys on of the roof over there. This roof here has

been bursting into flames every now and again. You can see the smoke

rising off the building. This is proving a tough nut to crack. They

have 10 engines here at the moment. 60 firefighters are not going to

leave until this fire is out. Thank you. We will have another

live update from John in our late news.

A website accused of condoning and trivialising rate has attracted a

chorus of angry condemnation from students and a charity. Uni Lad

suggested the odds of getting away with rate were good. It has now

issued an extensive apology. The Uni Lad has been suspended and

all that remains is an apology for the article. The article concluded

that Uni Lad does not condone this action. It is disgusting. I know

that this kind of thing has happened around here and I am now

scared to walk in these areas. It is ridiculous. People will think

about pushing it further and further. It might seem OK for a

group of lads but when you what one ought two girls on your own face

with a group of lads it can be very threatening. I am completely

against it. Plymouth University is beginning an investigation. In a

statement it said that it was appalled to hear of the content of

the website and disappointed to here for that one of its students

was involved. Any student activity that brings the university into

disrepute is a disciplinary matter. They will take appropriate action.

Managers of a crisis line also attacked the article. People do not

take rate seriously in this country. There is a slightly improved

reporting rate and a slightly improved situation, but we still do

not take it seriously enough. There were jokes all over the place.

one from Uni Lad would be interviewed. The statement on the

website said that they would like to make a public apology. The

article has attracted hundreds of comments on line. The vast majority

are scathing and many, in language which is simply an reportable.

An inquest has heard that a Royal Marine from Devon-based 42 Commando

was killed in Afghanistan or Bob providing cover for his colleagues.

Lance Corporal Martin Gill was shot in the head and neck in June last

year. Nottingham Coroner's Court was told that the 22 year old was

hit in areas that his armour could not protect.

The trawler, Girl Rona, will not be moved until next week at the

earliest. Recovery plans need to be approved after local efforts failed.

Charities are warning that thousands of the most vulnerable

people in the south-west face losing vital help in legal-aid. The

government says it cannot afford the legal-aid system which cost

more than �2 billion a year. The Citizen's Advice Bureaux says that

plans to slash the funding come just as they are seeing an

explosion in the number of people needing help.

In her 23 years, Hester has become used to dealing with life's

difficulties. She was born with a range of health conditions and is

partially sighted. Now she is getting used to a new set of

challenges. This form does not address the real issues for me.

December, she won a tribunal to get employment and support allowance.

Even with specialist help from the Citizen's Advice Bureau, funded by

legal aid, it still took nearly dear. A couple of weeks later, she

got a letter telling her it was time to be reassessed. I feel like

I am taking one step back and three backwards. If you're trying to grow

up and get out of the past, it is extremely unhelpful. What Hester

wanted was to get help into work. She wants to work. She has now had

a deal of having no help whatsoever in to work. This is a really

difficult process where she has had to go to people and explain her

condition over and over. I think it is very, very stressful for her.

Last year, the cab in the south- west help people with 211,000

problems concerning benefits. In the same period be dealt with more

than 181 debt problems. Some of these end up in court in tribunals.

It can be a complicated process. The Citizens Advice Bureaux says it

has seen a huge increase in the number of people coming to courts

like this up and down the south- west to appeal against their

benefits. The Government's welfare reforms are starting to bite. Their

legal aid funding could be about to go as well. There has been an

explosion in the number of appeals that are going through the

tribunals and courts here. It has become a really significant problem.

What we fear when these legal aid reforms go through is that people

will be left floundering. government says that at more than

�2 billion a year we have most of - - one of the most expensive legal

aid systems in the world. We cannot continue to afford this. It is

pledging Legal Aid For only the most serious plays -- cases. For

We would like to hear your views on that story. You can send your e-

mails to the usual address. Tests are being carried out on an

important muscle fishery in Cornwall amid fears that oil

pollution may have left the Pollution experts have been brought

in to try and clear the oil which has washed up on the eastern shore

of this river. The oil slick was first contained by a boom. It is

now being served up using specialist equipment. This is an

oil absorbent pad which absorbs the oil and propels the water. This was

brought in on the first phase to mop up the oil on the beach. We are

awaiting instruction to go to the next phase which could possibly

mean rinsing the beach. This area of the river is very important for

a shellfish fishery. The fishermen have been told that they cannot

harvest their shellfish until tests have been carried out to prove they

have not been contaminated. We have Gav third -- gathered some samples

to go off to a scientific laboratory. Additionally, we have

collected water samples from the surface and a metre below the

surface to also have that analysed. We will see if any contaminants are

in the water body. The oil around 90 gallons of it came from a ship

moored close to the King Harry Ferry. The ship's master has

already described it as an operational incident. I am still

conducting an investigation. We will be speaking to the mast of the

vessel again. I cannot say any more than that it is under investigation.

Those operating this fishery will have to wait several days before

they know what they can start to harvest the shellfish again.

There are growing calls for more of the region's power lines to be

buried. We will find out more. A plus, taking up a new sport, the

youngsters already been inspired by the Olympic Games.

And the canine crime fighters being Have they said that the solar gold

rush was dead, but a last-minute scramble to a secure subsidy

payments is under way. It has been triggered by a court ruling last

week which prolongs generous incentives for solar panels for one

more month. Our business correspondent reports.

This property in Torquay is being readied for Solar. He is clear

enough about the reasons why. way that we can help the burden on

the planet is good. And more importantly, there are incentives

on my pocket! He could earn 43p each unit he generates. The

payments come ultimately from every one's bills. The government tried

to cut these payments by half quite suddenly. The court ruling gives

the investor has one more month to try to tap into that full subsidy.

Investors are now gambling, though, because if the government

successfully appeals they will get half the returns they wanted.

can get it I would certainly like to. If I cannot, 21p will still be

me. The solar gold rush back on in Plymouth today. These installers

had been laid off just a few weeks back. Now they are in work again.

We have had a huge increase in business since the announcement

last week. We have taken on a lot of the people that we made

redundant in December. It is good for them and it is good for us.

south-west has the second largest number of solar installers in the

UK. Most UK counties count their installations by the hundred, here

we do it by the 1000. Dorset has just under 3000, Cornwall and

Somerset between three to 4000 each and Devon is top with getting on

towards 6000. Everyone in the industry accepts that the subsidy

is pasta for as the cost of panels falls. The argument is about how

abruptly it happens. It just needs to be done in a more gradual and

publicised passion, not a knee-jerk reaction. This is an economic base

for a region with the problems of low pay mixed with the joys of

Meanwhile, a charitable body set up to protect the countryside is

calling for more electricity cables to be buried. But according to the

National Grid, burying cables is extremely expensive. They say it

costs up to �4 million a kilometre for overhead wires but underground

cables can cost up to �24 million a kilometre to lay. That's up to six

times more expensive. Scott Bingham reports. New sources of energy

generation are appearing all over the south-west. Solar-powered is

the latest edition took the renewable energy being generated on

our doorsteps but all of these sources have to be linked with the

grade. The campaign for the Protection of Rural England says it

is concerned about the visual impact on the countryside in the

future. Dartmoor National Park says it will be difficult to balance the

need for energy and protecting the landscape. Obviously, we have a

duty to protect the landscape and we would want to see as much as

possible of this underground. But there comes the cost issue.

cost is important but it also is protecting the environment I'm

looking after local community interests. We have a difficult

balance. The South West countryside and coast is an important asset to

the region but with many more we have and wind farms planned, it is

expected we'll make greater demands on the environment. But not

everybody living near cables objects. When we first moved here,

it did not bother us. We knew they would be here but we just ignore it.

It isn't just the National Grid involved in linking power supplies.

Western powers says it is obliged to make connections to the network

if asked to it and many more local sources of energy are planned in

the coming years. The start of the Summer Olympics is only 176 days

away and the sporting spectacular is already inspiring young people

to take up a new sport. The countdown every day! The word

legacy was one of the central themes of the successful Olympic

bid. Spotlight's Matt Pengelly has been to see how Cornwall is leading

the way. Kayaking on a chilly February day might seem a long way

from Olympic glory. But these youngsters from Truro College are

genuine examples of the Olympic legacy. They have signed up for

expert coaching at a sport they have never done through a scheme

called sport of it funded by Sport England. Not only is it healthy but

it has built confidence and gets us wider opportunities to go further

afield and even global. It helps motivation levels and gives focus

and they see people doing this on a professional level so it is

something to aspire to. There are a number of young people engaged and

and Cornwall, there have been over 500 participants already. And we

have another two years. On the water, this club has attracted

enough for workers to form a special crew in the upcoming World

Championships on the Isles of Scilly. We have quite a high

retention rate. With people coming, most often they stay. The funding

allows people to take part in a sport that perhaps they had thought

about what many had not been able to take part in. Pressed into

service in the gig is the former Olympic weightlifter, making a

breeze, in the yellow gloves, who will also talk to young people and

tell them what it takes to get to the top in sport. Once she has got

her breath back. To see youngsters involved in activities that they

otherwise would not have had the activity to do, and also youngsters

who many are not so keen at sport, to be physically active, that is

the message we are putting a cross, to get more people and physical

activity. Those who complete the course will have their names

entered into a ballot for free Olympic tickets to see how the

professionals do it. Some of the region's finest canine crime

stoppers have been competing against each other to become top

dog. 16 dogs from the MoD and regular police forces came together

for the annual trials, which took place at Devonport Naval Base.

Spotlight's John Danks saw them being put through their paces. They

ask no questions, they just do their job. Seven year-old Kite gets

her man, the bad guy being played by a police officer. A after many

years, you get used to it. But it is still quite intimidating. Some

of the dogs are very fast at coming at you and it does take effect on

your body. The dolls are assessed on their ability to detect people

and retain them and their mark on obedience. The dogs thoroughly

enjoy it, far more than we do. They don't go through the same stress

and strain. She loves working. This breed generally does. It is great

for them. To become the top dog. Just as the dogs need well-groomed,

so do the handlers. Smart uniforms only, despite the weather. The cold

for the event in the arena, it is difficult. They don't have a lot of

clothes on. That's it, it is best operational conditions.

regional trials were won by Nicholas Dalrymple. They will go

forward to the national police dog assessment in Surrey at the end of

April. City dwellers are becoming increasingly used to sharing their

neighbourhoods with wildlife, be it foxes, birds or squirrels. Now

there's another creature on the block. Otters have taken up

residence in Exeter. The Devon Wildlife Trust says they're

becoming well established close to the busy city centre and even made

an appearance for our cameras. Adrian Campbell has been to see

them. It is eating something... rare glimpse in the middle of the

day and a species hardly ever seen in a busy city centre. It can die

for 20 seconds. It should come up. Yes... -- dive. It'll take them

were a him, if it gets a chance. could hardly believe our luck and

neither could Stephen from the Devon Wildlife Trust. Get on to the

bridge. An otter, right on the doorstep of the headquarters of the

trust, chasing its dinner. And further evidence that attempts to

coax otters back into the city appeared to be producing results.

This mother and couple were caught by infra-red cameras at night,

navigating the mortar -- the water mill. The first time we have seen

otters breeding, there is a female with the young cub, five months old,

really showing the ropes, by the scruff of its neck. Showing it the

terrain and were it will live in the future. I am taking you to see

what we call the island, perfect habitat for otters. You can see the

dense undergrowth, we're cutting back to the stump, we are piling up

leaves, this is a great place. what a nice place to spend a day.

Senna, the trust will open a hide so more people can view others

going about their business. -- can view the Archers. Justin has the

most awful joke. He will not do You don't need me to tell you how

cold it is, temperatures as low as minus four degrees and they will

get down to minus ten degrees over the fields of Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Another bitterly cold night and perhaps a when's dropping but that

is little consolation, very cold and the cold has died so far this

winter. This cloud to the west of us, that potentially welcome in on

Saturday, bringing rain and the risk of sleet and snow as it comes

in. The high pressure is across us for tomorrow with light wind,

feeling better and still another cold day at three degrees. And then

the change on Saturday as this warm weather front runs into the low

temperatures. And the potential for snow. More detail... The cloud is

almost unbroken over large parts of southern Britain. This was earlier

in Brixham and our cameraman was getting this fine view of Torbay.

Quite a brisk wind. You can see the chopping us of the sea. This cold

wind has featured on the south coast with temperatures of just

three degrees and that chilly breeze, feeling much colder. It is

a fine end to the day and a sunset. Now the sun has gone rapidly and

the temperatures are falling and they will continue overnight.

Widespread overnight frost on though you might not seem quite so

much of that Frost on the car windscreen and the grass. Very

drier so little monster. The blue- collar illustrating that everywhere,

temperatures at or below freezing and by the end of the night, these

are the figures. Minus five, minus seven and possibly minus ten.

Tomorrow, another fine day with someone to sunshine, walked out

through the Channel, high-level cloud spelling in from the West to

end the day ahead of that when the system coming on Saturday but a dry

day and not very warm. Temperatures between one and three degrees, the

highest temperatures in the west of Cornwall and around the Isles of

Scilly. We will see temperatures here of up to six degrees. But

clouding over in the second half. And for the surfing... About two

feet and clean on the north and south coast. And the coastal to

forecast. Much better, less wind. Very able and becoming suddenly. We

will find the wind becoming south- westerly tomorrow evening. This is

causing us some worry. It will fall as rain but as a bomb sent to the

low temperatures it might fall asleep and snow. Over the high

ground of Devon and Cornwall mainly. As it moves into Somerset and

Dorset, to quite low levels, there is a possibility of snow on

Saturday morning. Into the mild air on Sunday and the possibility of

further outbreaks of rain on Monday. But another bitterly cold night

tonight. Have a good evening! you. The top story - firefighters

are fighting a big blaze in a row of thatched cottages in Crediton

and rows have been closed. John Henderson is there for us. The

latest? What they're trying to do is desperately put out this fire.

You can see the firefighters on the thatched roof, it has been

completely burnt out and they're trying to stop it from spreading to

neighbouring property. You can see this form, they have been using