30/04/2012 Spotlight

A hotel is destroyed by fire and the people are unaccounted for. --

eight people are unaccounted for. Good evening and welcome to

Spotlight. We willll be live at the Falmouth Beach Resort Hotel in a

moment where the fire is still burning. And the alarming attitudes

faced by people with disabilities in the South West.

One of Falmouth's largest hotels is on fire. Guests at the Falmouth

Beach Resort had just minutes to get out. Eight people are

unaccounted for but the police say they do not believe anyone has left

inside the building. 100 firefighters from across

Cornwall are still tackling the blaze more than six hours after it

broke out. Part of the roof has collapsed. Live now to Arab

correspondent -- our correspondent who is at the scene. It used to be

one of the jewels of are the seafront, but now it is nothing

more than a smouldering ruin. Firefighters were called out

earlier today and this is what happened next. In every sense, this

was a huge fire. 30 people were evacuated and the thick smoke

spread right across from it. 10 fire engines and two aerial ladders

were deployed to fight the flames. The wind is making the fire-

fighting activities quite difficult. Because the fire has spread, the

building has become structurally unsafe. It is important that we

moved our crews and we are now fighting the fire dependably from

the exterior. As the fire spread through the hotel, a rescue

helicopter was called to give firefighters a chance to see the

blaze from above. Some guests had been using the pool facilities when

they were evacuated. There were people and the car park and still

with their swimming costumes on. It was a wet and windy day. I saw the

Fire developing. There was a small amount of smoke at the back of the

hotel but it quickly developed and in minutes the black smoke was

pouring from this hotel and they realised the problem. With the

buyer punching through the roof of the hotel, the vast plumes of smoke

forced a neighbouring hotel to close. New beds had to be found for

their 100 guests. It is devastating and very sad news obviously for the

owners and all of the guests and it is a main site on the seafront here.

It does look as though the fire has got a major hold. It is very

concerning. The only positive? There are only a small number of

people not account for and only a few injuries. The last few minutes

I have been told that the number of people unaccounted for has gone

down to three. It is believed that they have gone on a day-trip. It is

not thought that anyone is still in the building. We can speak to a

fire fighter now. What happens next? We are dealing with some hot

spots and trying to get some of our appliances away. We are just trying

to hit the hot spot that remain within the building. And overnight,

will people be here overnight? we will have a presence overnight

and moving into tomorrow as well. Thank you very much. The

investigation into the cause of this fire will be the next big

question, not to mention looking after people from neighbouring

hotels who had to be evacuated. It is a busy time for Falmouth as well,

with a major sailing events at the Olympic torch coming up.

Gale force winds have been battering the South West over the

weekend and with gusts still up to 60 mph and the risk of further

heavy rain tonight. It seems there is no real let up.

At the peak of the storm there were 21 flood warnings in place across

the region. 20 still remain. Hundreds of trees came down in the

high winds, around 200 across Devon alone, bringing with them several

power lines, and damaging houses and cars. Several major roads were

closed and businesses too have been affected. We have been to some of

the worst hit areas. It has been declared the wettest

April in a century. Rivers across the South West are swollen to the

brim. In Devon this morning, these two rivers were inches away from

bursting their banks. With flood warnings on several other rivers in

the region, with heavy rains this evening, there are concerns that

more or rivers could burst. But these people are concerned. It is

unusual. By 10 o'clock last night it reached here and then when we

got up in the morning it was in the same place and it was only by

lunchtime it started to go down again. Over the weekend, it is all

injuries that has caused much of the habit on the roads. -- fallen

trees. Businesses have also been affected. This building had to

close today, while a racecourse had to carry -- will have to carry out

a course inspection to see if the race they can go ahead. -- race day

can go ahead. We can probably take five or six mm but not much more

than that. And with 20 flood warnings, it is a main focus for

business owners and home owners alike.

A full weather forecast to come and there will be a special Inside Out

programme looking at the effect the recent rain has had on our long

term drought on BBC One on Wednesday this week at 7:30pm.

Accusations of being drunk, and being told you are too well to have

a walking stick are just some of the comments that people with

disabilities have to put up with. The MS Society says its study,

called Fighting Back, has found that 28 % of people in the South

West think disabled people need to accept they cannot have the same

opportunities in life as people are not disabled.

For 17 ears, this woman has and needed help to walk. -- 17 years.

She sufferers with a debilitating business -- illness that causes

problems with fatigue and balance. You do not know what is going to

happen next. Sometimes you can walk and sometimes you cannot. Things

are made worse for sufferers like her when people stop and stare.

you feel that you are AGM or that you are making it up. They say that

you look so well. Yes, I have had a bath and washed my hair, but

actually, I am very uncomfortable and I have to go back to bed in a

minute. New research has found that people in the South West have

alarming attitudes towards those with disabilities. A quarter think

disabled people need to accept they cannot have the same opportunities

in life as people who are not disabled, and one in four believes

that disabled people exaggerate the extent of their limitations. They

are shocking statistics. We need to get the message out that there are

people with disabilities and they have the same right to a full life

as anybody else. The report into public attitudes is called fighting

back. That is exactly what Fiona is The police say that there has been

a dramatic rise in the number of cannabis farms in the South West.

They say the number of farms has gone up by more than 1,000 %. They

blame criminal gangs who convert residential houses into cannabis

factories. The rise in Cornwall is following a national tend. Over the

past two years police in the UK have seized more than a million

plants. There are small-scale users and growers who might grow it for

themselves or for friends but there is an organised element to it,

where it there are people involved with a small growers, and that

ultimately produces a large and lucrative business for them.

A lorry driver from Yeovil who rammed his petrol tanker into the

front of his estranged wife's home, setting it on fire, has been sent

to prison for seven years. 51-year-old Hugh Billington, who

had previously pleaded guilty to several offences including arson

and assault, was also banned from driving for five years by

Dorchester Crown Court. The court heard Mr Billington caused �235,000

A married couple from Exeter have appeared in court charged in

connection with defrauding charities and appeal funds for

children with cancer. Kevin Wright is accused of stealing thousands of

pounds from two charities, four appeal funds and an insurance firm.

His wife, Jacqueline has been charged with converting criminal

property amounting to more than �196,000. The case at Nottingham

Magistrates' Court was adjourned 200 scientists at Plymouth

University are now working together to find ways of saving the earth's

resources. It has set up a new unit to raise money, promote its work,

stimulate the local economy and create new jobs. Our Environment

Correspondent looks at one example of how the university's scientists

are trying to understand our Plymouth University has been

working on specialised research into a type of mouse that grows in

peat bogs all over the world. It is part of their research into climate

change. If you have got something that is forming and it takes one

ear to do one millimetre that you can see how long it takes. Peat

bogs are an excellent provider of carbon monoxide -- carbon dioxide.

In the South West, some peat bogs are being whetted deliberately. As

the mouse becomes more successful, it draws out even more carbon

dioxide, a Kurd and changing gas. When water built up on the peat

bogs, it is thought that Meath on his -- methane is produced. The

bacteria may neutralise and turn it into carbon dioxide, and that in

turn could promote growth of Demos. Today, the climate change Minister

was championing the case for more of this type of research and a new

Institute set up by the university which says it can help create

practical benefits for the South West. The research gives us an idea

of how attractive the peat bogs or in drawing out carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere. This is very early days, but perhaps this could in

assets could be used to leverage finance that could pay for future

reservation. -- conservation. The university is taking the lead in

economic Research, as well as providing jobs and tackling climate

change. The shrug or environmental While Plymouth University plough's

ahead with environmental research, controversial plans by the Church

of England to build six wind turbines have caused outrage in

three Devon villages. The Diocese of Exeter says building the

turbines will help protect and preserve God's creation by cutting

their carbon footprint. The plan has only just become public and

some locals say they're furious the church is getting involved.

This man lives in the Old Vicarage. That puts him bang in the middle of

church land. This bamboo here represents where the Muir of the

two turbines will be. -- the nearest. You can see that the

turbines will be 25 metres high, which is very high. He is just 200

metres from one of the proposed wind turbine sites. I think it is

and a range and they should be ashamed of themselves -- and out

rage and they should be ashamed of themselves for insulting our

intelligence is by contending that this is theologically and

environmentally motivated. It is monstrous. The plan is to build six

turbines. One of them will be close to the home of the woman who chairs

the campaign to protect rural England. They divide communities.

It is not the role of the Church. You think of the church bringing

people together. This is so divisive. This is not the sort of

thing we should be involved with and we hope they will think again.

The Church says it is hoping to reduce its emissions by 80 % by

2050. I see no reason to change. Defending Gospel values in any

society, but especially in modern society, means engaging with it and

engaging with the right and wrong. There are people who will feel that

we are wrong and they are entitled to feel that. A process of

consultation will now take place, with the church meeting with people

Exeter City of going down, a full report on their fate, plus the rest

of the sport, in a moment. Also...

I quick march! Find out what happened when members of the Scots

Guards turned up to surprise a 12- year-old fan.

It is time for the sport, and sat news for Exeter City.

Exeter City's stay in League One is at an end after weeks of its and

buts. Their fate was sealed in a 4- 1 defeat at Carlisle United.

May 2008, a victory parade through the streets of Exeter, celebrating

their promotion to the leak. Today, a more sombre picture. Devoted fan

and club volunteer David James watched his first match here in

1961. He witnessed Saturday's defeat. We were resigned to

relegation before we went, so we were not particularly downhearted.

There were some low spirits on the coaches. The loss of three key

players and a tsunami of injuries have taken their toll. Clubs

Commerce, two young stars of the future, are in philosophical mood.

It has been coming for a while, so we have prepared ourselves. We

never really got out of the relegation zone. Could well be good,

because in League Two, we might be able to win more games. Next season,

we might be able to do better. preparations under way for

tomorrow's Youth Cup final, those at the top pick the bones. We were

one of the top 10 richest clubs in the country, because we do not owe

any money. That is pretty unique. We do not have an overdraft, but

that comes with difficulties, that means we cannot just open the

cheque book. With unstinting support from the fans, there is

very much a feeling of, we have done it before, we will do it again.

Meanwhile, a nervous final day of the League Two season for two key

United. They have to win at Hereford and hope Crawley Town

slip-up at Accrington Stanley. Hereford also have to win to stay

in the Football League. It all seemed to be going Torquay's

way when they had the second half lead against Crewe Alexandra.

Crawley were losing against Hereford, so a win would have put

them two points clear in third place. With 14 minutes to go, the

gods smiled on Torquay again. But the goalkeeper guessed correctly to

save the penalty. Then, the cruellest of blows. The last minute

of stoppage time, Crewe Alexandra's top-scorer was on hand to fire them

level and leave Torquay's fate out of their own hands. We should have

been bolder and gone for a second one, but this is the business end

of the season. Thanks to the fans, we knew that Hereford were winning

comfortably, so we knew it was an opportunity. We did not take it

today. But we live to fight another day. This late header salvaged a

point for Plymouth Argyle as they drew 2-2 at Morecambe. They

consolidated their place in League Two. In League One, late drama at

The Oval. This sort Yeovil Town comeback from 2-1 down to beat

Chesterfield 3-2, and condemn the Derbyshire side to relegation.

Plymouth Raiders basketball season has petered out as they failed to

reach the play-off semi-finals. Taking a lead to Glasgow Rocks, not

even Gavin Love could prevent the Scottish side from overtaking their

advantage. Glasgow one, 80-60 on the night, to go through on

aggregate. Cornish yachtsman Sam Goodchild and

his co-skipper Nick Cherry have moved up to fifth place in the

Transat AG2R yacht race. They set sail from the French coast nine

days ago. They are the youngest competitors and the only British

entrants, which Finnis used in St Barts. They moved up from eighth

place to fifth place, just 30 miles behind the leaders. They have

another 2000 miles to sail to the finish.

Finally, do not forget Late Kick Off on BBC One at 11:05pm. We will

show you pictures of Exeter City's defeat at Carlisle, which sent them

down to lead to. -- League Two.

The first Battalion Scots Guards have paid a special visit to the

small Cornish village of foxhole to play the bagpipes to a boy. They

made the trip after they heard that Garvey Evans, who has a brain

tumour, and loves the sound of the The weather held and they arrived

like something from a dream. Magnificent in tartan. The Scots

Guards turned up the volume in all their glory, in the quiet village

of Foxhole, to visit the home of a special boy. Absolutely fantastic.

It really is. Especially to have them playing for me. It is

wonderful. He had written to them to ask for a signed photograph. He

got much more than that. Thank you. It is not something we do every day.

We are training for operations. We are in London this weekend, so we

thought, we are halfway they, -- halfway there, we can show a bit of

effort. He has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. He is determined to

live his life to the full. They said when I am better, they would

invite me to the barracks to drive some vehicles and shoots and guns!

Why do you like bagpipes? It is a lovely sound. It is really, really

calming and peaceful. Might you have a go at playing them yourself?

I could try! He took the lead as they left. Drums and pipers, by the

centre, quick march! They have come all the way down just to play for

May. It means a lot. Next time he marches, it will be to carry the

Olympic torch. He has been chosen A lovely surprise for him. A signed

More of the same? Yes, but there is some good news.

It gets drier later in the week. It is the wettest April since 1910. We

are not out of the month just yet. The rainfall yesterday was enough

to push it over the edge. Liscombe was the wettest place. We have more

wet weather to come tonight, another warning from the Met Office,

particularly across Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Heavy rain later

tonight. If that is not enough, we have also had some strong wind.

Thankfully, it is now dropping. If you are worried about your river

level, there is a flat line number. There are many flood warnings at

Why have we seen the wet weather? We have got low pressure, and it is

beginning to move away over the next few days. It is a swirl of

cloud. It is an engine to generate the rain, and it continues to

produce rain overnight. Some very wet weather across southern parts

of England later tonight, hence the warning. It has moved away, and

later tomorrow, it starts to brighten up. On Wednesday, it

begins to move away. For the rest of the week, a lot of dry weather,

a chance to clear up and for the rivers to subside. We are between

bands of rain at the moment. It will push its way westwards and

northwards. The brighter colours, the heavier bands coming later in

the night. In the early hours, we could see some wet weather. The

exception, the far west of Cornwall. It is less windy overnight tonight,

and it is relatively mild. Tomorrow, early rain beginning to peter out

by lunchtime. Then, a clearance from the south and east. We might

even get some sunshine through the afternoon tomorrow. The main area

of wet-weather has moved quite a long way away from us. It is

feeling a bit warmer, and brighter conditions and less windy. For the

Isles of Scilly, a damp start, then The north coast will have the

cleanest surfing. The wind becomes mainly south-easterly. The

visibility improves. It is a lot more dry and bright on Wednesday.

It will feel quite warm in sunshine. Similar conditions on Thursday,

although it clouds over through the day. The possibility of patchy rain

on Friday. Watch out for the wet Tomorrow, the Queen and Duke of

Edinburgh start a visit to the area, they will be in Sherborne, and we

will have coverage of that. On Wednesday, we come live from Exeter

as the couple does it the city. They will also be in The Oval and