06/01/2014 Spotlight

A historic landmark washed away, roads destroyed by the power of the

sea and buildings left teetering on the edge. The region takes another

battering from the weather. Good evening, Huge waves have taken

their toll on coastal communities. Eventually the waves got so big that

it overwhelmed the blockhouse on the pier. One minute it was there and

the next it wasn't. A special church service is being

held tonight for Harry Martin. His family has said they're

overwhelmingly grateful for the efforts to find him.

And playing the waiting game for a special delivery after a dog ate a

diamond. I've given up thinking it was

futile. But that last bit of effort. The sun was changing and there it

was. I just couldn't believe it. Waves more than 30 feet high are

battering the region's coast tonight as the bad weather continues its

grip on the South West. There's been flooding along Cornwall's South

Coast, with the village of Seaton cut in two. It's a similar story in

South Devon where sea walls stood little chance against the high tides

and huge waves. Tonight we'll report from the North and South Coast and

have the latest on the search for missing teenager Harry Martin.

First, David George reports on the destruction along Cornwall's North

Coast at Perranporth, Fistral and Portreath.

Cornwell's north coast is used to a battering from pixies but waves like

these haven't been seen for years. I made structures on the seashore have

collapsed as thousands of tonnes of water had been driven at them when

strong winds blowing in from the Atlantic. The old blockhouse or

Monkey House met its end today. Built to provide shelter for the

harbour workers, its collapse was caught on camera.

The waves got so big that it overwhelmed the blockhouse on the

end of the pier. One minute it was there and the next it wasn't. A wave

came and they had been breaking heavily over eight for some hours.

Then they abated and it wasn't there anymore. Nobody could believe what

they were saying. Along the coasts, this is Fistral

beat beach, undermined by the seas. We are not alone. I'm just a bit sad

to see it go but I'm sure we can build it back stronger and better

and we'll be open again in the summer.

Just around the corner, eight metres of the road has been washed away.

Electricity cables are dangling and the nearby aquarium is cut off.

Newquay's lifeguard training centre has survived the onslaught but its

steps and slipway had been smashed by the biggest wave some people have

ever seen. It's huge, absolutely massive. It

was a once in a lifetime swell. Generated by the wind that is

buffeting us know. The power of the sea, Gillick at the front of the

centre and what is happening here, that is happening everywhere around

the coast. People were watching at high tide to

see what would happen to this pub. Tens of thousands of tonnes of sand

have been washed away, appealing to leave the building exposed.

We have all the conditions but mother nature has kept the wind

going southerly or south`west and that is in our favour.

Concern now turns to tonight 's high water at just after 9pm.

The waves have pounded the south coast with the sea wall at Seaton in

Cornwall suffering more damage. And South Devon felt the full force of

the tidal swell but the relative shelter of North Sands near Salcombe

provided surfers with an ideal location for an exhilarating

session. The main road through Seaton

completely swamped by sea water. This morning 's high tide forced

police to evacuate the area and cordon of sections of the damaged

sea wall. I remain concerned sub been the

height of the tide and whether it will breach the wall. We have

already evacuated the cafe to ensure that people are safe and our rather

concern is the undermining of the wall by the sea.

That gives you some indication of the power of the high tides and the

seas which have been battling Seaton this morning. But the power of the

sea proved irresistible further around the coast in Devon. At North

Sands near Salcombe, harden servers got stuck in.

`` hardened surfers. It can be dangerous for the wrong

person at the wrong time. This area would normally be packed

with surfers but the beach is to exposed today.

Wild, very hard to find decent waves. We looked generally for

smaller swells as we don't have capacity to deal with things this

big. It was a great day for looking at the weather from a distance.

Little chance of doing that from here, this car park still under

water. But people couldn't resist having a peek at the wild weather

and the sea. The family of a missing teenager say

they are "overwhelmingly grateful" to local people who have been

helping to look for him. Harry Martin disappeared on Thursday after

leaving his home near Noss Mayo to take photos of the stormy seas.

Chloe Axford reports. Five days since he went missing, the

search for Harry Martin continues unabated. Today the focus has moved

away from the coast to the rivers and streams around Noss Mayo. This

area inland has already been searched at least once but now a

team of specialist police divers have returned to search the water

for any trace of Harry. We are still treating this as a

search to find Harry and is `` until we get evidence to the contrary we

will do that. We will carry on searching through this week and then

there will come a time that we have to review what we are doing.

18`year`old Harry was last seen by his father leaving his home and

walking towards the coastal path on Thursday. It is believed that the

photography student was hoping to take pictures of the stormy seas.

Over the weekend, more than 100 local volunteers joined the search.

The local vicar says his family are grateful.

They are coping really well in difficult circumstances but the

message they would like to give out is that they are overwhelmingly

grateful for the support of the community. It has been such a

wonderful thing to see the way people are pulling together and

everybody wanting to do something to help.

The local community has been deeply affected by Harry's disappearance.

Tonight, a special service is being held. A chance for people to gather

and pray that he might yet be found. A police officer has spoken for the

first time about the moment he rescued a man from heavy surf off

Newquay. Sergeant Reg Butler of Devon and Cornwall Police pulled the

man to safety in the early hours of Saturday morning in treacherous

conditions. He's been talking to Spotlight's Janine Jansen.

We were on patrol and spotted a man walking into the sea. I called for

assistance and they came down and eliminated him. We called for the

lifeboats and the coastguard. He was being washed out to sea and we were

very lucky that the sea washed him in fairly close against the rocks. I

weeded out and managed to snatch him and he was taken to hospital.

What were the conditions like? Very rough. Very dangerous for

people going into the sea. Also joining us is Inspector Dave

Meredith. What is your advice to people?

This was very good response from the officers. The message from all the

emergency services is to please stay away from the coast during this

stormy period. There is plenty of footage on television that you can

watch so please stay away from the coasts and the rivers.

One very lucky man that the police were in the area. Who knows what

would have happened to him if they weren't.

A former Plymouth`based Royal Marine found guilty in December of

murdering a wounded insurgent in Afghanistan is to appeal against his

conviction Alexander Blackman, formerly of 42 Commando, was jailed

for life for the killing, which happened in Helmand Province in

2011. The 39`year`old was the senior NCO at a command post at the time of

the incident. A new review of Dartmoor Prison

reveals that some single cells are still being used for two prisoners

and there are still problems with illegal drug use. But the

Independent Monitoring Board did praise the prison for being well

run. A woman forced to fight Devon social

services to get back her daughter after she was taken into care has

told the BBC she has no faith that the heavily`criticised child

protection department will improve. Her daughter was only returned after

it was revealed that evidence used by social services against her may

have been manipulated. Tonight's Inside Out South West programme has

seen a report into the case which found "false and misleading

information" was used by Devon social services to take her daughter

into care. That it was "dangerous and damaging". And that the outcome

was "serious and probably permanent damage" to the mother. Sam Smith

reports. Nearly two years ago, this woman who

we are calling Sarah turned to social services for help. She now

bitterly regrets the decision. Her daughter was taken into care without

warning but shockingly bad decision was made after crucial notes were

inexplicably altered to suggest she was suicidal. Sarah's daughter was

eventually returned but the experience has left them both

scarred. I didn't know it was possible to

feel that bad because I was told I might never get her back. She was

distressed, traumatised and frightened for spending so so long

away. What DC to that? An official report was carried out

into what happened. It identified 30 and departmental feelings which the

council told us it is currently addressing. But that inquiry is one

of the series of investigations into child protection. An Ofsted report

found the service was inadequate in every respect. Another report

highlighted similar problems. Now an improvement panel is recommending a

fundamental restructuring of the service.

I have heard there were people who were not able to speak to each

other. Politicians, senior managers and so on. If that kind of petty

rivalry and silliness was allowed to put children at risk, I am frankly

appalled and I'm also appalled that that is not coming out in public.

The council says there will now be a rapid change around. Who is being

held to account yet? I've made it clear I am being held

to account for the improvement of the process and that is what I am

here to do. Despite whites bread cuts ``

widespread cuts, the budget for these care services have risen.

And you can watch the whole story tonight on Inside Out at 7:30pm here

on BBC One. Missed hospital appointments in the

South West are costing the NHS millions of pounds. Last year alone

more than 165,000 people failed to turn up for consultations. New

reminder services are now being introduced.

Almost 500,000 people walked through these doors to be treated every

year. But not everyone turns up to their outpatient appointment. Before

a telephone reminder service was introduced, almost 8% of patients

failed to tell the hospital they couldn't attend. Brian got a

reminder for his appointment a few days ago.

I found them very good. Very often you just phone them back and confirm

the appointment and that is it, all done.

Wasted appointments are costing the NHS millions every year but there

have been big changes since it started the remainder service.

Compared now to them, 12,000 more patients are getting care than they

should. For as, in terms of results, it puts us up in the top ten for

getting patients to attend on the day.

But during the last financial year, almost 13,000 people `` 30,000

people didn't attend. At the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

40,000 patients didn't turn up. It is now hoping that its new telephone

remainder service will reduce that figure. Dorset County Hospital is

looking to do the same. They are apparently losing ?3 million every

year. They are looking at new technology to reduce the rates even

further but the best solution, they say, would be for patients to let

them know if they cannot turn up. Time for the sport and tonight we've

got news on Torquay United's new manager and he's someone we all know

very well here, isn't he, Dave? Yes, he's 41`year`old Chris

Hargreaves, who's been announced as the successor to Alan Knill, who was

sacked four days ago. Hargreaves was first`team coach at Championship

club Bournemouth and is a regular football pundit for BBC Spotlight.

It's not the biggest surprise that Chris got the job, is it?

It isn't. He is well respected and was captain of Torquay United five

years ago when he scored the first goal in the 2009 play`off final in

League Two. How do you think he'll get on?

He has got to cut his teeth. They are taking on the bottom of the

table team. They were caught out by a late equaliser.

Who'll be assisting him at Plainmoor?

Lee Hodges, who you Mayra member has plenty of experience. It will be

interesting times ahead. Plymouth Argyle look forward to an

FA Cup replay after fighting back from two goals down at Port Vale

yesterday. Top scorer Reuben Reid started the revival early in the

second half, before 17`year`old Ben Purrington completed the comeback

with his first goal for the Pilgrims. The replay will be at Home

Park on Tuesday week with the winners facing Brighton at home.

Yeovil Town face a daunting fourth round tie at Premier League

Southampton after despatching Leyton Orient 4`0 at Huish Park. Two from

James Hayter and one each from Joel Grant and Kieffer Moore saw them

through. Exeter Chiefs have dropped to eighth

in rugby's Premiership after an agonising 19`16 defeat at London

Wasps. They led 13`3 at half`time through a Dave Lewis try and the

supplementaries from Henry Slade. But at 16`16, there was controversy

when Slade's effort was ruled out. To rub salt into the Chiefs' wounds,

Andy Goode won it for Wasps with a last minute drop goal.

In the Championship, Plymouth Albion scored the only try in their 15`14

home defeat to Leeds through captain Rory Cushion. They'd have won it if

Declan Cusack's late drop goal had been successful.

A Taunton volleyball player has become the first British woman to

compete in one of her sport's biggest competitions, even though

the British team went out of existence after the London Olympics.

Keyra Michael has just finished her first season in Italy, playing in

the European Champions League. Here's Ollie Williams.

Welcome to the home of British volleyball which doesn't look

massively British because it isn't. You can see the beautiful city.

This is Italy, the new home of Keyra Michael, one of the few British

professional players left in the year after these historic scenes.

Within months of winning a game for the first time, the team was shut

down. The team was disbanded so there is

no longer a team. At six foot five, she has signed up

as a middle blocker for this team in Milan. They play and one of the top

competitions in the world. Ciara grew up in Somerset is the first

British player to reach this level. I remember reading a quote before

London 2012 we said, every member of Team GB has the responsibility to

inspire the nation. I would really like to think that I can inspire

kids by being here. Good for her. And at this time

tomorrow, we'll be introducing you to Torquay's new manager ` that's if

he needs any introduction, of course. Many people are now likely

to have to work into their 70s but working into old age is nothing new

for many people here in the south west.

The region already has a higher proportion of older workers than the

UK average. In fact, Spotlight's Greg Wade has been to meet a couple

who are still working in their 80s. At 91, Ethel Morley still makes this

small business sing. Started in 1975, the family`run firm

manufactured dry suits and embroidered garments such as polo

shirts. It wasn't a conscious decision to

stay at work. You just get up in the morning and go to the same place and

one day you are old. Age is really just a number.

But by the time you get to 90 it doesn't really matter too much, does

it? It doesn't matter anyway.

Their son Roger, a mere 60, thinks age isn't a barrier to employment.

In fact, quite the opposite. They've got quite a lifetime of

knowledge about garments and technical stuff so there is a wealth

of knowledge to be had from there. You have to be active, you have to

keep active and if you are not physically active, you've got to be

brain active. If you want to work, work. Especially if you need the

money. Because this business is run by its

members, they can decide when to retire. Other workers may look on in

envy. Do you think we will still be here

doing this in our 70s and 80s? I don't think they will let us!

Now, there aren't many women who'd say no to being given a diamond on

Christmas Day. But for one woman in Exmouth, her diamond came in rather

an unusual way. Yes, this particular gem didn't come

gift wrapped and involved a fair amount of work just to find.

Spotlight's Andrea Ormsby has the story.

Meets Jack, a trainee police dog. He has lived with Angie Collins for

about seven months. He is a great character, very

gentle, they do call him Gentle Jack.

No other dog has done what Jack did just before Christmas.

It was a fantastic, lovely calm morning. We were relaxing and I

popped out into the kitchen and there was my ring on the floor,

mangled. Mangled and missing the diamond. I

think, I'm not overly sure, that the ring costs the best part of ?18,000.

The husband and I emptied the entire room, which took hours, and I could

only conclude that Jack had eaten it.

So what to do? Is the vet explained, it was a

simple process of waiting and saving. By Christmas Day I had given

up and the vet gave me advice that it was very unlikely that I would

get it back. I thought this is futile and just give up but that

last wee bit of effort, the sun was shining and there it was. I just

couldn't believe it. My face must have been a picture.

Now they are making the most of Jack before he starts his as a police

dog, were stealing diamonds really would be frowned upon.

I love the innocent look on the dog's face. Let's see if the weather

is going to get any better after the horrendous storms. That way behind

you look threatening. We are starting off with strong

winds but they do use of later in the week. Otherwise we are looking

at the mixture of sunshine and showers. We do still have a weather

warning out from The Met office. There is still the risk of further

flooding. The high tide times are between 8:30pm and 10:30pm tonight.

Keep an eye on the flight line number. As we can see from these

pictures taken in Exeter, we do still have problems with flooding.

We do have some drier weather to come later on this week so the

chance is that these. To recede but many areas are still having flood

warnings. For the moment, we do have this area of cloud wrapped around a

deep area of low pressure. It is causing a large swell of big waves.

It is still quite windy but we will start to see some sunshine. This

rain should move on and the winds will be lighter by Wednesday. We

have seen some sharp showers across the region and a little bit of

thunder and hailstones. Strong and gusty winds tonight. The wind will

ease tomorrow by first thing. These are the minimum temperature

overnight. Still a few showers around which will cause problems in

Dorset and Somerset. The temperatures tomorrow are still

fairly mild for the time of year. Still some big waves for the

surfers. The wind still strong in the morning but do decrease by the

end of the day. Still a bit of a mixture in the week ahead. More

persistent rain but later winds on Wednesday. The could see a touch of

frost on Friday. We will be back with the late news

at 10:25pm so do join us for that. That is all from the Spotlight team.

Good night. TOM: # And if there's

anybody left in here # That doesn't want

to be out there... #