0:00:02 > 0:00:04If you can't speak, could you tap on the phone?
0:00:04 > 0:00:0864 million people, 365 days
0:00:08 > 0:00:11and 31 million calls to 999.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12SIREN WAILS
0:00:12 > 0:00:17That's the scale of the task faced by Britain's emergency teams.
0:00:17 > 0:00:18And for one exceptional year,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21we'll be following their front-line workers.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Not just our police, our firefighters and our paramedics.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30We've been with our other critical emergency teams as well.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Teams we rely on, sometimes without ever noticing.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37The specialist teams that keep our railways moving
0:00:37 > 0:00:40despite the dreaded leaves on the line.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Notting Hill binmen with just seven hours to clean up
0:00:45 > 0:00:47after our liveliest carnival.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52National Grid controllers
0:00:52 > 0:00:55responsible for powering 20 million homes,
0:00:55 > 0:00:5624 hours a day.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00The Greater Manchester Police Dog Unit,
0:01:00 > 0:01:04controlling 75,000 fans at the height of the football season.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07FANS CHANT
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Lifeboat crews at Britain's busiest station,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14with just 90 seconds to respond.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20We'll show you how these specialist teams work under pressure
0:01:20 > 0:01:23to protect us from danger on their most demanding days.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28This is the story of one year with our emergency teams.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31A year with the heroes keeping Britain safe.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36OVERLAPPING CONTROL ROOM VOICES
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- 'Fire brigade.- London connecting.'
0:01:42 > 0:01:46It's summer. Let the Great British getaway begin.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49JET ENGINES ROAR
0:01:49 > 0:01:51We're behind the scenes with the safety teams
0:01:51 > 0:01:55at the world's busiest runway.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57..turn right into...
0:01:57 > 0:01:59And the world's busiest shipping lane,
0:01:59 > 0:02:01as they're overrun by holiday-makers.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06And as tented villages size of towns
0:02:06 > 0:02:08pop up all over the country,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12how do you control festival crowds like these?
0:02:15 > 0:02:18And when the party's over at our biggest street carnival...
0:02:20 > 0:02:22we'll meet the army of workers left to clean up the mess.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27We had it easier out here, I thought, until I'd seen this lot.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30But first...
0:02:30 > 0:02:33ROCK MUSIC PLAYS
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Now there's one scene that in recent years
0:02:37 > 0:02:40has become synonymous with British summertime.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Thousands of people jumping around in a field,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47wearing wellingtons all caked in mud.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56It is of course the Great British summer festival.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Three quarters of a million of us
0:03:05 > 0:03:07go to the top five music festivals that take place
0:03:07 > 0:03:10right across the summer here in the UK,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13including Reading and Leeds, where we are right now.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14In fact there's 80,000 people...
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Across the summer months, there are over 900 music festivals in Britain.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36- CROWD SINGS: # Want to be an American idiot...- #
0:03:38 > 0:03:41And one of the most popular is Leeds. This weekend,
0:03:41 > 0:03:4575,000 people will descend on these fields.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49And they all need somewhere to sleep, to wash, to get food.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52They'll need toilets and medical facilities.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58To provide that requires an army of 4,610 workers.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03It's like the neighbouring town of Harrogate popping up overnight,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07and with it come some familiar problems - crime.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10When it comes to thousands of carefree, music-loving youngsters,
0:04:10 > 0:04:14how do you maintain law and order?
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Almost the last thing you want to see at a music festival
0:04:17 > 0:04:20is a police officer. It's not that they're not wonderful people.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24It just kind of spoils the free and easy feeling of the place.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26However, it's still their responsibility
0:04:26 > 0:04:28to make sure this place is safe.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30So how do you strike a happy medium?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38# The boys are back in town the boys are back in town... #
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Detective Inspector Phil Jackson's beat
0:04:41 > 0:04:42is normally the streets of Leeds,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46but today he is responsible for making sure that this event
0:04:46 > 0:04:49is fun and crime-free.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53To do that, Phil relies on the people working inside this tent
0:04:53 > 0:04:56on the outskirts of the festival grounds.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59They're watching for trouble on CCTV monitors
0:04:59 > 0:05:02but these people aren't police, they're civilians.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06And inside the festival, you won't find bobbies on the beat.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09It's a very different approach to the job of policing.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14What I didn't see in there is your guys in hi-vis
0:05:14 > 0:05:17being a police presence. Is that a conscious thing?
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Is that something you're trying to avoid?
0:05:19 > 0:05:21What happens is the festival,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23they don't want us in there for that reason
0:05:23 > 0:05:26because they can police it themselves.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28It's like a mini village that gets set up every year.
0:05:28 > 0:05:3175,000 people come here, have a good time and leave again.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34And any crime that happens, we're there to help out
0:05:34 > 0:05:36and make people safe and feel safe.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40From the CCTV tent at the festival,
0:05:40 > 0:05:45a live feed is then sent back to the police operation centre at Wetherby.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Festivals can provide easy pickings for criminal gangs.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50And it's Silver Commander
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Chief Supt Andy Battle's job
0:05:52 > 0:05:54to stay one step ahead of them.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56We have a very effective network
0:05:56 > 0:05:58of sharing intelligence between festivals.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01So we get a briefing from the V Festival that was last weekend
0:06:01 > 0:06:02about what problems they encountered,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04what troubling criminals arrived,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and we can then use that intelligence to brief staff on site.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Does it work that during certain bands, you're more likely to have
0:06:11 > 0:06:13- problems of one sort or another? - That's right.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16We have a facility where we grade individual acts to tell us
0:06:16 > 0:06:21what sort of level of risk they are in terms of acquisitive crimes.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22So we know that some bands
0:06:22 > 0:06:24will attract crowds that are very buoyant,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27which is a great environment for thieves to operate in.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34So we identify those bands early, so that we can put the appropriate
0:06:34 > 0:06:37tactics in place to identify and spot pickpockets and the like.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39So we take an intelligent view of that.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44- 3:45 we have...- Modestep.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I am none the wiser.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Try and get them to tilt camera around when Johnny Marr comes on.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- Are you a Smiths fan?- I've seen them four times.- Have you?- Yeah.
0:06:59 > 0:07:00Back at the festival,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03and police officers have spotted two people acting suspiciously.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08We've just arrested two people for drugs offences,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11proceeds of crime offences, money-laundering.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25They suspect they're not simply here to enjoy the music.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29We've got three bags,
0:07:29 > 0:07:33which had been now sealed, of what we believe is MDMA.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38And we've got, just behind it, the cannabis.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41And then if we look inside the bag, we have a large bundle
0:07:41 > 0:07:45and we believe that's in excess of £500-£600.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47The quantity of drugs with the cash, and we've got to search
0:07:47 > 0:07:50the house, where we'll find other drugs paraphernalia etc.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55It might well us to a charge of possession with intent to supply.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59For these two lads, the festival weekend ends here.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02For everyone else, it's just getting started.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06# I don't care, I love it
0:08:06 > 0:08:08# I don't care
0:08:10 > 0:08:11# I love it... #
0:08:13 > 0:08:17Festivalgoers carrying illegal drugs have the opportunity to get
0:08:17 > 0:08:20rid of them with no questions asked.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24These red trucks surrender bins were designed to try and test the resolve
0:08:24 > 0:08:27of festivalgoers and make them aware that
0:08:27 > 0:08:30if they enter the event carrying, they could be arrested.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33There's a lot of cannabis, a lot of ecstasy tablets,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35which is MDMA.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38A lot of cocaine and amphetamine.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40And this is a strange one.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43It sort of goes to show the concealment methods that
0:08:43 > 0:08:46people go to, to get controlled drugs within a festival.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48We got a Tic Tac box.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51There's a couple of orange and lime-green tablets,
0:08:51 > 0:08:53which probably are real Tic Tacs,
0:08:53 > 0:08:59but also within there is a red tablet which has a Nintendo logo.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01We had some of these in the last few days
0:09:01 > 0:09:04and these also tested positive for MDMA, which is ecstasy.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06These haven't been tested as yet
0:09:06 > 0:09:11but visually I would properly say that's a couple of grams of cocaine.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13# Yeah, I got a good heart
0:09:13 > 0:09:16# I was born on beat that's a good start... #
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- Are you a music fan?- I am, yes,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22but I don't think I'm a festival fan to go slumming in some tent.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- I think I'd be in caravan park.- OK.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27But ultimately, I'm a parent, I've got kids,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30and I'd be quite happy for my children to come here.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33People will come out of here enjoying themselves
0:09:33 > 0:09:35and had a really good time.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37# ..They follow us... #
0:09:37 > 0:09:42As you might expect from any town with 75,000 inhabitants,
0:09:42 > 0:09:44there's been one accidental death
0:09:44 > 0:09:48and one birth over the last three days.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50But unlike a typical town,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54there were only 28 arrests for public order and drug offences.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Thanks to the efforts of the emergency teams and volunteers,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02a wet and muddy Leeds Festival has passed off largely crime-free.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04# ..Unorthodox
0:10:04 > 0:10:07# We call our own shots. #
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Summer is a time when lots of us jet off on holiday.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Over half a million passengers take to the skies every day
0:10:23 > 0:10:27from one of 41 international airports in Britain...
0:10:29 > 0:10:31..creating this extraordinary pattern.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35These are just the flights over a single day in our airspace.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40But when it comes to traffic,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43there's one stretch of airport tarmac that outdoes them all.
0:10:44 > 0:10:50This is Gatwick Airport, home to the world's busiest single runway.
0:10:50 > 0:10:56Every year, more than 244,000 planes take off and land right here.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59That's almost one take-off and landing...
0:10:59 > 0:11:01JET ENGINE ROARS
0:11:01 > 0:11:02..every minute!
0:11:05 > 0:11:08In summer, Gatwick is pushed to its absolute limit.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Before a single aircraft takes off...
0:11:11 > 0:11:14there's a small army of engineers
0:11:14 > 0:11:17and inspectors making sure each one of them is safe to fly.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Today, it's the turn of this Boeing 747.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26After every 800 hours in the sky,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28it comes into a maintenance hangar
0:11:28 > 0:11:32to receive a thorough inspection from Matt, Barry and the team.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37With over six million parts, there's plenty of work to do.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43But every minute that an aircraft is on the ground it's losing money.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Lead engineer Matt Watson
0:11:46 > 0:11:50has just 24 hours to complete a long list of checks
0:11:50 > 0:11:54before this aircraft needs to be ready once again for take-off.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00They waste no time at all getting to grips with the engines.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Each engine costs in the region of £7.5 million,
0:12:03 > 0:12:07and examining such complex pieces of engineering
0:12:07 > 0:12:10requires some expensive and hi tech equipment.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13MUSIC: "Mission: Impossible Theme"
0:12:16 > 0:12:22Matt is using a state-of-the-art inspection tool called a borescope.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28It's quite a nifty little bit of kit, the borescope,
0:12:28 > 0:12:29because it's fully rotational
0:12:29 > 0:12:32so that you can look all around the engine.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Anywhere you need to go.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Fully articulated.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38And a little camera on the end.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41There's a light in-built.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45And a little video camera, basically, in the end.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49We can look inside the engine and then, on this screen, it will show us
0:12:49 > 0:12:51the blades that we need to look at.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53And Barry, at the front, is going to turn the gearbox,
0:12:53 > 0:12:54which allows the engine to turn
0:12:54 > 0:12:57and the blades to rotate.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00So we can look at each and every blade, as it passes by, for wear
0:13:00 > 0:13:04or any corrosion that's happened. Or if we've had a bird strike,
0:13:04 > 0:13:06we'll be looking for bits of the blade missing.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10Jet engines can be vulnerable to birds,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13which are sucked into the turbine blades.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16At the point of take-off, those blades can be rotating
0:13:16 > 0:13:19at nearly 8,000 revolutions per minute.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21We've always got safety in mind
0:13:21 > 0:13:23because these aircraft need to be safe.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Yeah, it's looking good.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28A nice, clean engine.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32The turbine blades have been given the all clear.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35But the engineers also have spotted a problem with
0:13:35 > 0:13:38the exhaust housing on one of the engines.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40They were changing an exhaust sleeve -
0:13:40 > 0:13:44which is the exhaust for the engine - which had a crack in it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48So it was found and new spares ordered and replacing that,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50which is probably an eight hour job.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54So just changing that over. It's a straight swap - nut and bolts.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56And then the new exhaust sleeve will be fitted
0:13:56 > 0:13:59and no further tests carried out after that.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Despite the problem with the exhaust they still have
0:14:03 > 0:14:06lots of routine jobs to complete that are just as important
0:14:06 > 0:14:08and all within that 24-hour window,
0:14:08 > 0:14:13such as replacing the emergency oxygen supply.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Everything's got to be done right.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20It's not like doing a bit of DIY at home. You've got to do it right.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It just rubs off on you so consequently then I'm doing
0:14:23 > 0:14:26DIY at home I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Everything gets a thorough inspection.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35From the escape slides...
0:14:37 > 0:14:39..to the reclining seats.
0:14:39 > 0:14:44Even the in-flight entertainment system is given the once over.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48I watch about ten seconds of each film at various seats.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52I get a very jittery view of a film.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57At 32,000 feet you can't just pull over if something goes wrong.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- Clear air.- Clear air.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03That's why aircraft have back up systems.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07The flaps on an aircraft help to control the airspeed
0:15:07 > 0:15:09and the angle of descent.
0:15:09 > 0:15:15On a 747 there are three separate ways of controlling them.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19- That's good for me. - And each one needs to be tested.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24Yes, it's all fine now. It's all back within tolerance.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27So the flaps stop when they're supposed to now.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Which is good.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38Yeah, it's good when it goes out of the hangar, it's on time and serviceable.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It's hard work when they check trim
0:15:40 > 0:15:43because there's a lot of man-hours to do, so it's quite a relief
0:15:43 > 0:15:45when it's done and everything's serviceable
0:15:45 > 0:15:47and it goes back to the line ready for departure.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50In just 24 hours Matt, Barry and his team have
0:15:50 > 0:15:54completed their checks and repaired the broken exhaust.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59All in time for this aircraft to take off for Antigua right on schedule.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06It's just one of 2.2 million flights that take place in Britain every year.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11The job of looking after some 200,000 square miles of Britain's
0:16:11 > 0:16:16airspace is the responsibility of 2,000 air traffic controllers.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Turn right onto Juliet...
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Making sure everything runs smoothly is Steve Anderson,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27air traffic general manager at Gatwick.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31- What is the busiest time of the year?- Definitely during the summer.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34In a couple of weeks' time we'll be moving 900 movements a day,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38we'll be moving 55, 56 an hour on the runway,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41and at the start of the next school holidays really we'll be
0:16:41 > 0:16:44looking to move 130,000 passengers each day.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48August 2013 saw an increase of some 200,000 passengers
0:16:48 > 0:16:51compared to the same period last summer.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56That's the equivalent of over 700 extra jumbo jets in a single month.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59We've got three control positions and two support positions.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Tower controller who is sat here and he is controlling all the aircraft
0:17:03 > 0:17:06that are landing, taking off and flying over the top
0:17:06 > 0:17:10at a couple of thousand feet, so he's responsible for all the ups and downs.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14The controller in the middle, he's the ground controller
0:17:14 > 0:17:17so he's taking all the planes from the runway to the stands
0:17:17 > 0:17:21and from the stands to the runway so he mixes everything up in the middle.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23And the third control position is the planner position which
0:17:23 > 0:17:25regulates traffic onto the airfield,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28so he looks at flight plans making sure everybody is departing
0:17:28 > 0:17:30at the right time, making sure there's not too many planes
0:17:30 > 0:17:33going out where these guys get overloaded.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37I can see that some of the guys are using binoculars. I wasn't expecting that.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40- I was expecting computer screens and blips across the screen. - We do have the blips.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43We do have the computers, but the way the guys control most of all
0:17:43 > 0:17:45is just through looking out the window.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48By law every 90 minutes air traffic controllers must
0:17:48 > 0:17:50take a 30 minute break.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53A chance for me to catch up with watch manager Stuart.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Do you ever feel a burden of responsibility?
0:17:55 > 0:17:58We do have a lot of responsibility as you say.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00There are a lot of people in aeroplanes out there,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03but probably bizarrely they don't think about that.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06To us it's just an aeroplane that's flying on a particular route
0:18:06 > 0:18:09and we have lots of aeroplanes to deal with everyday
0:18:09 > 0:18:12and so that's what most of the guys up here will be thinking about.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15When you're at a party, you meet people and you say, "I'm an air traffic controller,"
0:18:15 > 0:18:18what's the first thing people ask you?
0:18:18 > 0:18:20The very first question is always, "Is it a stressful job?
0:18:20 > 0:18:23"It must be stressful with all of those people."
0:18:23 > 0:18:26And to be honest I've never experienced a stressful day.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28..230 degrees...
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Next time you catch a flight from here it's worth
0:18:33 > 0:18:36bearing in mind there are over 25,000 people working
0:18:36 > 0:18:40behind the scenes to help get us safely on our way.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Still to come - the August bank holiday weekend is
0:18:49 > 0:18:52when 16 million of us take to the roads.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57So we're at one of the busiest junctions on the M5 near Bristol...
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Is your vehicle in a lay-by...?
0:18:59 > 0:19:02..with the people whose job it is to keep the traffic moving.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06And much of that traffic will be heading for the coast
0:19:06 > 0:19:10so we are on the beach near Swansea with the RNLI lifeguards
0:19:10 > 0:19:12keeping us safe at the seaside.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23This is Notting Hill in West London,
0:19:23 > 0:19:25famous for its market, that film with Hugh Grant,
0:19:25 > 0:19:29and three days in August when almost a million people
0:19:29 > 0:19:31hit the streets for the mother of all parties.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Every August bank holiday weekend the streets of Notting Hill come alive
0:19:39 > 0:19:42with an incredible array of sights, sounds and dazzling costumes.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47It's the culmination of ten months' planning
0:19:47 > 0:19:52and on the day will involve 40,000 volunteers and some 7,000 police.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04The hordes of people who line this 20 mile route
0:20:04 > 0:20:06leave in their wake a mountain of rubbish.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14This is disgusting.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Although it's quite nice that people have piled it up.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21At least it's all in one place, but it's grim.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24There's no bins so we don't know where to put our litter.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Someone will be clean it after so it's fine.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29We heard that someone will clean it after.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33You'd think they'd have lined this route with litter bins,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36but in fact they take them all away before the Carnival begins
0:20:36 > 0:20:39because it's feared they could be used as missiles.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46So with all this rubbish and nowhere to put it who's left to clean up
0:20:46 > 0:20:48when the revellers have gone?
0:20:50 > 0:20:55I think by the time people have gone they can just get on with their job no matter what.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57I don't envy the person who has to clean it up.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00I feel for those people. Who's going to clean it up?
0:21:03 > 0:21:05With the party still in full swing
0:21:05 > 0:21:08legions of binmen are clocking on at a nearby depot
0:21:08 > 0:21:10for their busiest night of the year.
0:21:12 > 0:21:1630 lorries, 200 men and only seven hours to get the job done.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24And before they hit the streets they're briefed by their manager Stephen Kelly.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Be extra vigilant tonight because there's a lot more people
0:21:30 > 0:21:32under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36If you do come under any trouble just contact me or go to a safe place.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38But a big effort tonight
0:21:38 > 0:21:40because we don't want to be out there all night.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- Thank you everyone. - Thank you very much.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51It's 10:30pm and as they get to work the capital will soon be waking up
0:21:51 > 0:21:56and its residents will expect their streets to be spotless.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Because these are not just any streets.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04The Carnival makes its way through one of the richest boroughs in London -
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Kensington and Chelsea.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Kensington and Chelsea, the streets have to be spotless.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15Literally 24 hours we get complaints for dog fouling.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17A resident will call
0:22:17 > 0:22:21and say a dog's done something outside their house, we've got to do it within an hour.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22Very high standards.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26So there's an added pressure for Stephen and his team.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31This is Stephen's 13th Carnival.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34For some of the street clearers it's their 14th or 15th.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37I'll come back off my holidays now.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40I just come here for the weekend then I'll go back tomorrow.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47For some newer members of the clean-up squad it's an eye-opener.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50First time I did it was last year. I was totally shocked.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52I'm getting used to it a bit now.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56It's eight men per team and generally you'll get two or three men going
0:22:56 > 0:23:00up ahead sweeping all the stuff off the pavement into the main road,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03another few guys getting that into bundles,
0:23:03 > 0:23:07and then the other guys then getting those bundles into what we've
0:23:07 > 0:23:10nicknamed the bathtub and throwing that into the back of the truck.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Then we just clear that area carry on
0:23:12 > 0:23:15and before you know it the whole route's done.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18For 53-year-old John, first impressions suggest that
0:23:18 > 0:23:21there's not as much rubbish as previous years.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26Normally this is the busiest bit, this turning, the park
0:23:26 > 0:23:28around the right here.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31That's why they put us on it because we are the busiest lot.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37The police cordon off the streets to allow the street cleaners
0:23:37 > 0:23:41through, but with partying continuing later and later
0:23:41 > 0:23:43it makes the job of these binmen even more difficult.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49We always have a laugh. If you don't have a laugh you crack up.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Especially down here, you have got to have a laugh.
0:23:53 > 0:24:00There was a coat in there just now. Rucksacks, cardigans, knickers.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02You find everything here.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08We are on track. The guys are working hard.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11It would be good to finish before six o'clock.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14For the last two years we've been finished in record
0:24:14 > 0:24:17time which is usually about half four, five o'clock.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22It's one in the morning and just
0:24:22 > 0:24:24when they thought they'd be heading home in record time...
0:24:27 > 0:24:29..they turn a corner to find this.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32A street that normally escapes unscathed is the worst
0:24:32 > 0:24:34they've seen all night.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38We had it easy up there I thought, till I've seen this lot.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40It's terrible down here tonight.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48It's mostly cans and bottles, but it's a mixture of kebabs,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52goat curry, pizzas, all sorts.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55It smells pretty horrible by the end of the day.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58I don't bring these clothes with me
0:24:58 > 0:25:01because they stink the place out too much, so I just put them
0:25:01 > 0:25:05in a separate bag in the locker and then I bring it all home
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and wash it all, but this stuff, unfortunately you can pick up
0:25:08 > 0:25:12a lot of oil and fat and that kind of stuff, and that would stink your
0:25:12 > 0:25:15house out, so you've got to make sure you keep these separate.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22It's 3:30am and the 200-strong team have broken
0:25:22 > 0:25:24the back of the major clean up.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28It's endurable. It's only two nights a year.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31It's good to come out and see everyone working as such a team.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33It's the pleasure of when it's finished.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37On an average weekend the street cleaners will lift just
0:25:37 > 0:25:40under 12 tonnes of rubbish from these streets.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46This Carnival they've picked up a backbreaking 270 tonnes,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50nearly 50 times more than they'd normally have to deal with.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56We're full. The blade is literally all the way to the back
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and we are going to be going straight to the tip.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Everything gets recycled.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04But our story of rubbish doesn't end here.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08All across Britain are lots of ingenious ways of turning
0:26:08 > 0:26:11rubbish like the stuff collected here in Notting Hill
0:26:11 > 0:26:13into something valuable.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Matt has been visiting a state-of-the-art
0:26:15 > 0:26:17facility in South London that just loves litter.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23This is an energy recovery facility in Southwark.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Raquel is its head of technology.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32By studying how other countries deal with their waste Raquel
0:26:32 > 0:26:34helped design this facility.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38In here the black bags we throw into the bin
0:26:38 > 0:26:41get turned into fuel to feed our power stations.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45What's happening to them exactly?
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Everything starts with this big machine that you can
0:26:48 > 0:26:51see behind us. It's called a Terminator 5000. It's a big
0:26:51 > 0:26:53piece of machine which effectively opens the bags up.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56So it gets shredded in the Terminator?
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Yes, extract anything that doesn't burn, metals,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01then remove the water content.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- It's almost like it's a valued commodity now?- Yes.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Your local recycling centre needs your rubbish
0:27:07 > 0:27:10to power our factories and homes, to light up the country.
0:27:10 > 0:27:16- It's fine if I have a go on one of the diggers isn't it?- No way.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18They're all right with that.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Three quarters of the litter
0:27:20 > 0:27:25cleared off the streets of Notting Hill was sent here
0:27:25 > 0:27:29where much of it is converted into fuel to be burnt in a nearby
0:27:29 > 0:27:31power station.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38That electricity is then fed back into the National Grid.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42And this is mission control for our power supply.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Here they juggle our fluctuating demands for electricity and try to
0:27:46 > 0:27:51match them to the combined output of Britain's numerous power stations.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58Can you drop us 100? Lovely.
0:27:59 > 0:28:06By that, Bernard means 100 megawatts - enough power to supply 100,000 homes.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15Bernard is a demand forecaster - the gatekeeper controlling
0:28:15 > 0:28:17the amount of power coming onto the grid.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20As power can't really be stored,
0:28:20 > 0:28:25Bernard has to match exactly the input of energy onto the National Grid
0:28:25 > 0:28:29with variations in Britain's minute-by-minute energy use.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34The problem is, because this changes on a second-by-second basis,
0:28:34 > 0:28:39very often you make your final decision in the final few seconds
0:28:39 > 0:28:43before you either have to make the decision or it's made for you.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Too little, and the lights go out.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50Too much, and there could be a catastrophic systems failure.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53It can go very wrong very quickly.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59It's tea-time, a critical time for Bernard,
0:28:59 > 0:29:03because there's an overlap between commercial and domestic use.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Right, I think we need ITV for the commercial break in Emmerdale.
0:29:08 > 0:29:15Incredibly, Bernard relies on a TV guide to try and stay ahead of spikes and dips in demand.
0:29:17 > 0:29:23Commercial break today in Coronation Street is at 19:42 and 47 seconds.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26So we'll get a reasonable return of demand
0:29:26 > 0:29:29caused purely by people's habits.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32When people do pop out of their chairs just to make
0:29:32 > 0:29:34a cup of tea or microwave something,
0:29:34 > 0:29:37they'll all sit down again in two or three minutes' time.
0:29:38 > 0:29:44Erm... I've got about 30 seconds to decide.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48I've just asked a generator in Scotland to provide me with
0:29:48 > 0:29:53120 more megawatts, which they will do within the next minute.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57It's like this every night. It does make the time pass very quickly.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00As the people of London wake up,
0:30:00 > 0:30:03the power they depend upon will be there.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07Thanks in part to a TV guide, some split-second decision-making
0:30:07 > 0:30:09and a load of their own rubbish.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Still to come, the Dover Straits is the busiest
0:30:15 > 0:30:19waterway in the world, reaching its peak in the summer.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22For ships captains unfamiliar with these waters,
0:30:22 > 0:30:26they rely on the harbour pilots to guide them safely into port.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Come to 260.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36And scorching August temperatures trigger a rush to the coast.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38I love these things!
0:30:38 > 0:30:41So we're in Skegness with the medical teams stretched to the limit
0:30:41 > 0:30:44by a tenfold increase in the town's population.
0:30:54 > 0:31:00Last summer was the warmest, driest and sunniest in seven years.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03As a result, we all headed to the coast in our droves,
0:31:03 > 0:31:08and keeping us safe when we get there are teams of RNLI lifeguards.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Britain has just over 11,000 miles of coastline, and during the
0:31:14 > 0:31:21summer months, around 1,000 RNLI lifeguards patrol over 200 beaches.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25One of the most popular is here at Langland Bay on the South Wales coast.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30Langland base, Langland flags, Langland flags, over.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33INDISTINCT RADIO RESPONSE
0:31:33 > 0:31:38Yeah, mate, will you get on the binos and just keep an eye on the kids
0:31:38 > 0:31:42on the right side of the bay jumping off the rocks, please? Over.
0:31:42 > 0:31:47Watching over the holiday-makers is lifeguard supervisor, Chris Vaughan.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50Because we're not used to having this gorgeous weather
0:31:50 > 0:31:53that we've got at the moment, I think people just go a little bit mad,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56and they ran out and they don't think about safety.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02They drop everything and just try and make the most of the weather.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06In our enthusiasm to have a good time, we sometimes forget that this
0:32:06 > 0:32:10can be a dangerous place, and not all the hazards are easy to spot.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14Potential dangers are these rocks.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15when the water does come over the rocks,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19it can be quite hard for people to understand where the rocks are.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24They can go into lovely-looking blue water without realising there's rocks underneath.
0:32:24 > 0:32:25When we get surf on a mid-tide,
0:32:25 > 0:32:29usually it comes in along here, over this reef, and a lot of surfers
0:32:29 > 0:32:33will surf it to the right, and when they turn to the right,
0:32:33 > 0:32:37there's all the rocks that are covered over here if they're not used to the area.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40And that's where they pick up their scrapes and bumps,
0:32:40 > 0:32:42and at worst quite nasty cuts and potentially spinal injuries
0:32:42 > 0:32:46and things like that, which you pick up diving headfirst into water.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Serious accidents are thankfully rare.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53It's the more routine injuries that tend to keep the lifeguards busy.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57On a day like today we'll get a lot of minor first aids,
0:32:57 > 0:33:00so children might be walking over pebbles, rocks,
0:33:00 > 0:33:03just picking up little minor bumps and scrapes,
0:33:03 > 0:33:07so we will be kept busy ticking over throughout the day with those.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Today the sun has brought out the crowds along with something else
0:33:13 > 0:33:17that's not so welcome - the weever fish.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20During the day, weever fish bury themselves
0:33:20 > 0:33:24just below the surface of the sand, but on their backs are
0:33:24 > 0:33:29poisonous spines, and it's never too long before somebody steps on one.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35I thought I'd stepped on a rock, but there was no rock, so...
0:33:35 > 0:33:38What we've got, I think he stood on a weever fish,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41so the way to solve the weever fish sting is you put water
0:33:41 > 0:33:45as hot as you can bear in a bowl and put the sting in the bowl,
0:33:45 > 0:33:47and draws the poison out, then.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52Heat breaks down the structure of the proteins that form the poison.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56A bowl of steaming hot water will help to relieve the pain.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59- That really stings. - Yeah, it will sting a little bit.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Just keep your foot in there for ten minutes. How's that feeling?
0:34:02 > 0:34:06- Starting to feel a bit better? - Yeah.- Yeah? Cool.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08The hot water is working,
0:34:08 > 0:34:11and soon young Oscar will be back on his feet again.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18Down on the beach, the other lifeguards are trying to keep
0:34:18 > 0:34:22holiday-makers between the flags and away from the rocks.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26We have to stay in between the red and yellow flags.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Am I able to ask you to move over that way just a little bit?
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Just to inside the flags, sorry to be a pain.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35A while ago she was a little bit far, and the lifeguard did say, "come back in."
0:34:35 > 0:34:39And so it's lovely having that as well, especially with three of them to keep an eye on.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Guys, if you're going to go in, could you go over here little bit? Just in between the flags.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Guys, do you mind going over that way?
0:34:45 > 0:34:49- I think they're really good looking. - ALL LAUGH
0:34:49 > 0:34:51Well, if you fancy becoming a lifeguard,
0:34:51 > 0:34:55you'll need to be able to swim 200m in under 3 1/2 minutes
0:34:55 > 0:35:00and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03It is a good job, I really enjoy it. Yeah, it is awesome.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06Yeah, it's all right. It's not too bad. It beats an office.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20If you're heading for Europe this summer, you can fly
0:35:20 > 0:35:24or go by train, but every year 12 million of us come here.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29The Port of Dover, an iconic British landmark, and also the
0:35:29 > 0:35:33defining symbol of the separation between Britain and France.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37But did you know that this stretch of water,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40the narrowest part of the English Channel between Kent and the continent,
0:35:40 > 0:35:43is also the busiest shipping lane in the world?
0:35:43 > 0:35:46And keeping it safe is a major job.
0:35:51 > 0:35:56The Dover Strait is regularly used by up to 400 commercial vessels a day,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58but during the summer it gets even busier,
0:35:58 > 0:36:01because then you've got to throw passenger ferries,
0:36:01 > 0:36:04cruise ships and pleasure boats into the mix as well.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14Two million lorries and nearly three million cars pass through here every year.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22It's a massive logistical task for Kevin Richardson, the chief harbour master.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27This is obviously an incredibly busy port. Tell me exactly how busy you are.
0:36:27 > 0:36:32In ferries alone, up to 65 a day, so if you take in and out,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35that's about 130 movements a day in ferries alone.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37The thing about boats, as well, of course,
0:36:37 > 0:36:42they go in every direction, there is no straight line, really, is there?
0:36:42 > 0:36:44That's right. We're looking at the Dover Straits,
0:36:44 > 0:36:48and there is traffic separation scheme operating in the Dover Straits,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51and all of the eastbound vessels keep to the French coast,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54all the westbound vessels are keeping to the English coast.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58But, of course, our traffic is cutting directly across those lanes.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02- Which makes it interesting! - Which makes it very interesting.
0:37:04 > 0:37:05On the other side of the Channel,
0:37:05 > 0:37:09leaving port and heading for Britain is the DFDS Seaways.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13She's captained by Steve Cockrell,
0:37:13 > 0:37:20and today he's responsible for the safety of almost 800 people.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22I think the captain's job involves driving the ship,
0:37:22 > 0:37:29watching out for other boats, making sure everyone is safe on the boat,
0:37:29 > 0:37:33and I think making announcements.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37Very good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40For some passengers,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43sailing across the English Channel doesn't seem that difficult.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46I think in some ways it's pushing a button
0:37:46 > 0:37:49and it's automatic pilot, that's what I think.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55It might not look busy, but once you edge out into the Channel,
0:37:55 > 0:37:59there are ships of every shape and size to contend with.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02They are all using the same stretch of water at the same time.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06And they all need to follow the same rules.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Shipping lanes are basically a motorway on the sea.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11A motorway for ships.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13It is very organised.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17We've got a lot of ferries, a very concentrated number of ships
0:38:17 > 0:38:20that are crossing the lanes at 90 degrees.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24The crew of this ship make this crossing every day.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27They know the port and its waters inside out.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34But for a ship's captain arriving in Dover with less experience,
0:38:34 > 0:38:36there is another safety team on hand to help.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45Simon Moore is one of seven harbour pilots based at the port of Dover.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48Simon is an experienced mariner
0:38:48 > 0:38:50with a detailed knowledge of these waters.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Dover is a tricky port to come in to.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56There are strong currents off the entrance
0:38:56 > 0:38:57and it is a very exposed port.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02This morning he is heading for a rendezvous with the Saga Sapphire.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08A 37,000 tonne cruise liner with 500 passengers on board.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Simon's understanding of the tides and the unique geography of this
0:39:13 > 0:39:17port will help the captain navigate the ship safely into harbour.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23But before he can do that, he has to get on board the ship -
0:39:23 > 0:39:25while it's still moving.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32- Morning, guys. ALL:- Morning!
0:39:35 > 0:39:39- Captain Hyde, how are you?- How are you?- Nice to see you again. Welcome back.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Normal entry, captain, we'll head up to the north little bit...
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Piloting ships is one of the oldest professions,
0:39:45 > 0:39:48as old as sea travel itself.
0:39:48 > 0:39:49The pilot and the captain work together
0:39:49 > 0:39:51to agree on the best course of action.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55The passage plan has been agreed with the master.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57The passage plan we have is crude, if you like,
0:39:57 > 0:39:59but it has all the information we need.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Things like the tide, the wind,
0:40:01 > 0:40:03what heading we're going to come in on, where we are going
0:40:03 > 0:40:05to make fast the tide and then we both agree the plan
0:40:05 > 0:40:08and we both sign the plan to say that we agree,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11and then our job now is to stick to that plan.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19- So if we can come to port now, please, to 260.- Port 260.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26The stopping distance of a ship like this is typically measured in miles.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29So even a small mistake could be disastrous.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32That is why the local knowledge of the pilot is so important.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37We've just gone through a cross tide where the tide was going north
0:40:37 > 0:40:41and it is now going south. So the tide is now set in right to left.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Going at about one knot.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46So we're just going to keep aiming for right of centre
0:40:46 > 0:40:49and allow the ship to drop down into the entrance there.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Having navigated inside the harbour,
0:40:55 > 0:40:58they now have to carefully guide the ship onto its berth.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05We pop outside because all the manoeuvring controls are out here
0:41:05 > 0:41:07so get a view down the ship's side.
0:41:07 > 0:41:08100m, thank you.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14Just 15 minutes after Simon came on-board...
0:41:14 > 0:41:1640m, thank you.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19..the ship is safely tied up at the quayside.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24- OK, Captain, nicely done. Nice to see you again.- Good to see you, Simon.
0:41:24 > 0:41:25- We'll see you next year.- Absolutely.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31The Port of Dover is a 24-hour operation.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33I've been on all night
0:41:33 > 0:41:36so this is the end of my shift now so I will go home,
0:41:36 > 0:41:37sleep for a few hours
0:41:37 > 0:41:40and then come back in tonight for another 12-hour shift.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54From navigating the busiest shipping lanes in the world,
0:41:54 > 0:41:58to keeping our most congested roads moving during the holiday season.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03The summer getaway doesn't just impact on our ports
0:42:03 > 0:42:05and waterways though.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Our roads are also out the most congested during the holiday season.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14I've got the ambulance crew on their way.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17When you go back to your wife, if you would stand next to
0:42:17 > 0:42:21the passenger side and talk to her through the window.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24That's right, keep talking to her.
0:42:25 > 0:42:26She is now breathing.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29HE TYPES AS HE SPEAKS: She is breathing.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32OK, best of luck, Richard.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37There are people whose job it is to keep us safe on the roads.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41They don't use flashing blue lights or sirens,
0:42:41 > 0:42:46but they still play a vital role in keeping our roads flowing freely.
0:42:46 > 0:42:51Britain has over 245,000 miles of motorways and A-roads.
0:42:51 > 0:42:55And during August, the south-west is one of the most congested
0:42:55 > 0:42:58places on the road network.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00From this regional control centre in Bristol,
0:43:00 > 0:43:05the Highways Agency monitors almost 900 miles of road network.
0:43:07 > 0:43:08We are the control centre
0:43:08 > 0:43:10and therefore we liaise with many different people
0:43:10 > 0:43:13and organisations and agencies, as well as our own people on the road.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16OK, so, it is a coach you are in, yes?
0:43:18 > 0:43:22The Agency has seven regional control centres in England,
0:43:22 > 0:43:24and they are in constant communication
0:43:24 > 0:43:27with around 1,500 traffic officers on the ground.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31When we're stranded by the side of the motorway,
0:43:31 > 0:43:35we can summon help from our mobile phone or from a roadside telephone.
0:43:37 > 0:43:4314 to 13 M5, we've got some debris on the carriageway, over.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45If a member of the public was to pick up an emergency roadside
0:43:45 > 0:43:49telephone, they would come through to somebody in the control room here.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52From here we are able to speak to the police,
0:43:52 > 0:43:54if the police are required, or the ambulance,
0:43:54 > 0:43:56if an ambulance is required, and equally the fire services.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59We can help you arrange your recovery with a recovery agent.
0:43:59 > 0:44:01So in picking up an emergency roadside telephone,
0:44:01 > 0:44:04you have got access to a whole load of other services
0:44:04 > 0:44:06and information that you may require
0:44:06 > 0:44:09while broken down or involved in an incident at the side of the road.
0:44:10 > 0:44:13It is a Friday afternoon in August.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15As lots of us take to the roads on holiday,
0:44:15 > 0:44:19this is one of the busiest days of the year for traffic officers
0:44:19 > 0:44:22John and Dave, patrolling the M5.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27If we weren't here then the impact would be far greater on the other
0:44:27 > 0:44:32emergency services, ie the police, to deal with people stuck in traffic.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37The hard shoulder is designed to be a safety zone but it's still
0:44:37 > 0:44:42a dangerous place to be, as it is next to such fast moving traffic.
0:44:42 > 0:44:46My colleague is just going to find out if he's broken down,
0:44:46 > 0:44:49what we can do to help him get back on his way again.
0:44:52 > 0:44:55Every year in Britain, more than 250 people are killed
0:44:55 > 0:44:59or injured on hard shoulders and in lay-bys.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02This is a noisy, unfriendly environment.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05You don't want to be here any longer than you have to.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09With HGVs and fast moving traffic passing just inches away,
0:45:09 > 0:45:12the patrol car gives some protection,
0:45:12 > 0:45:16as a pregnant woman and her son are taken to a nearby service station.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Got another unit to turn up to take the woman
0:45:21 > 0:45:23and child off to the next junction.
0:45:23 > 0:45:25I'm now sorting out the breakdown cover.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28And hopefully, I won't be here too long!
0:45:32 > 0:45:3441, go ahead.
0:45:34 > 0:45:38- OK, sir, thanks for your call.- OK.
0:45:38 > 0:45:41You never know what you're going to get. It could be anything.
0:45:41 > 0:45:45And we have had all sorts of things to deal with.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47Yes, press the green tick.
0:45:47 > 0:45:51There's a green tick, keep pressing the green tick.
0:45:51 > 0:45:55We had pigs once, a load of pigs that were being taken,
0:45:55 > 0:45:58probably taking them to market, I don't know.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00Certainly, a farmer was transporting them
0:46:00 > 0:46:03and they were in the back of a trailer. The trailer overturned,
0:46:03 > 0:46:07the pigs escaped. It was on the M32 and we were trying to round up pigs,
0:46:07 > 0:46:11which were going every which way but the way we wanted.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14Since starting this job it has changed the way
0:46:14 > 0:46:17I drive dramatically.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20Seeing what can happen if you drive quickly,
0:46:20 > 0:46:23too close to the car in front.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25You get to see what happens when it all goes wrong.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28The family of those affected.
0:46:28 > 0:46:32You can hear me? OK, right, your vehicle is in a lay-by.
0:46:34 > 0:46:38I think the best I can bring to it is calm and coolness and confidence,
0:46:38 > 0:46:42that I know what I'm talking about, that I can sort their problem out
0:46:42 > 0:46:46and get them to a place of safety or home or whatever, and that's it.
0:46:48 > 0:46:52Yeah, 31, go ahead. Yes, yes, what type of vehicle is it? Over.
0:46:54 > 0:46:58Yeah, can you set a lane divert prior to us getting there, please?
0:46:58 > 0:47:02The control centre has taken a call from a family off on holiday
0:47:02 > 0:47:05who've broken down at one of the most dangerous places to
0:47:05 > 0:47:07stop on the entire road network.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11Their car is on the hard shoulder of the Avonmouth Bridge,
0:47:11 > 0:47:14an eight lane stretch of fast moving motorway.
0:47:16 > 0:47:19It's not a place where you would want to be stranded for very long.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22If you can take the family in your vehicle,
0:47:22 > 0:47:26I'll pilot the Land Rover and my colleague here will drive us through.
0:47:27 > 0:47:32The Highways Agency has a clever way of controlling the flow of traffic.
0:47:32 > 0:47:35It's called the Matrix System.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38The Matrix System is the system we have that allows us
0:47:38 > 0:47:42to set signs that motorists can see as they travel on the network.
0:47:42 > 0:47:46At points along the M4 we have sensors on the road that can
0:47:46 > 0:47:49detect the flow of traffic at any one time.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51At the moment, we are picking up there is some
0:47:51 > 0:47:54congestion on the M4 between junctions 18 and 19.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57So, as a consequence, we've set some signs
0:47:57 > 0:48:00and some signals to advise the approaching traffic
0:48:00 > 0:48:03that the speeds are slower in the cars in front,
0:48:03 > 0:48:06and therefore they may wish to take a note of advisory speed limits
0:48:06 > 0:48:09to slow down, to calm the traffic before it reaches
0:48:09 > 0:48:12the very slow moving traffic that's in front of it.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14Yes, you've still got matrix set on northbound,
0:48:14 > 0:48:15southbound's now been cleared.
0:48:15 > 0:48:19Traffic Officer Barry Thomas has asked the control centre
0:48:19 > 0:48:21to switch on the matrix system,
0:48:21 > 0:48:25so he can get this family and their car off the bridge.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29The matrix above should show,
0:48:29 > 0:48:32and it does now right on cue, that we've got a lane closure.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35That makes it doubly safe for us because the lane closure
0:48:35 > 0:48:38means do not enter, so no vehicle should be in that lane.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42With the nearside lane closed to traffic,
0:48:42 > 0:48:45they can now safely tow the car off the bridge.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50Wherever we are on the motorway network,
0:48:50 > 0:48:54there is always someone keeping an eye out just in case we need help.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58We are watching CCTV and some of our other screens 24 hours a day,
0:48:58 > 0:49:00every day of the year.
0:49:10 > 0:49:15Nothing says British summertime like amusement parks, donkey rides
0:49:15 > 0:49:16and caravan holidays.
0:49:19 > 0:49:21With 20 miles of Blue Flag beaches
0:49:21 > 0:49:27and home to the first-ever Butlins holiday resort, welcome to Skegness.
0:49:29 > 0:49:31The town has a population of 20,000
0:49:31 > 0:49:36but during the summer months, that population can increase tenfold.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38Sunshine, sand, sea, what more can you ask for?
0:49:38 > 0:49:40Amusements!
0:49:40 > 0:49:45Donkey rides. Eating, fish and chips, drinking.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48- It's got everything! - Fantastic, it's lovely.
0:49:48 > 0:49:50Everything for the young and old.
0:49:50 > 0:49:51Yeah, lovely.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55We're here during the busiest time of the year for the town,
0:49:55 > 0:50:00to see how it copes with the influx of thousands of holiday-makers.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02When the schools break up for the holidays,
0:50:02 > 0:50:05the traditional thing to do is to head for the seaside.
0:50:09 > 0:50:11Young and old come here to enjoy the sun,
0:50:11 > 0:50:16the sea and the amusements, but what happens when the good times go bad?
0:50:16 > 0:50:17Who picks up the pieces?
0:50:19 > 0:50:22This is Skegness and District General Hospital.
0:50:22 > 0:50:27A rural community hospital that deals with every minor injury imaginable.
0:50:29 > 0:50:33Generally speaking, these are the busiest six weeks of the year for us.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36It is a holiday destination.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40Located on the Lincolnshire coast, Skegness is 20 miles
0:50:40 > 0:50:45from the nearest major hospital, so this is the first stop
0:50:45 > 0:50:48for injured or unwell holiday-makers,
0:50:48 > 0:50:50and in the summer, it's swamped.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53My name's Nick, I'm one of the nurses. How can I help you?
0:50:53 > 0:50:57- I've trapped my finger in the door. - What sort of door? Car door?
0:50:57 > 0:51:01- No.- Ordinary door? - Yeah, caravan door.
0:51:01 > 0:51:05The local population I would guesstimate to be
0:51:05 > 0:51:07around about 40,000, but during the summer,
0:51:07 > 0:51:09certainly on a bank holiday,
0:51:09 > 0:51:12you get an increase of up to 3-400,000 people.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17Through the winter, we might see 40 patients a day.
0:51:17 > 0:51:23Through the summer holidays, that's going to be at over 100.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26- Why are you here? - My foot.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29Wow, what happened to it?
0:51:29 > 0:51:32I stood on a bit of glass?
0:51:32 > 0:51:34Yes. Glass?
0:51:34 > 0:51:37We have two doctors on as well through the summer.
0:51:37 > 0:51:39The winter we just have the one,
0:51:39 > 0:51:44so it is quite full-on through the summer for everyone.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46Just excuse me a moment.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48Hello, Skegness Urgent Care.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50PHONE RINGS
0:51:50 > 0:51:54Where were you staying? At Butlins. What was your chalet number?
0:51:56 > 0:52:00A lady's come in who fell off some attic steps
0:52:00 > 0:52:03and fell down 14 stairs and hit her head on a radiator.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05I went round to my next-door neighbour's
0:52:05 > 0:52:08and said, "Do you think I ought to go to hospital?" She said yes.
0:52:08 > 0:52:12I weren't even going to bother coming. They're so busy, aren't they?
0:52:12 > 0:52:16We're going to get an X-ray just to check she hasn't broken her neck
0:52:16 > 0:52:19because sometimes you can walk around with a broken neck
0:52:19 > 0:52:23and you feel fine and you just turn and...it's pretty bad.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28On the roads of Skegness, there are two ambulances,
0:52:28 > 0:52:31one of which is a mobile trauma unit.
0:52:32 > 0:52:36Part of Paul Bramwell's job is to help take
0:52:36 > 0:52:39the pressure off the community hospital during the busy season.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45I got to a holiday camp just several miles up the road
0:52:45 > 0:52:49and when I got here, there was two or three people waiting for me
0:52:49 > 0:52:52and they were all injuries that were sustained yesterday
0:52:52 > 0:52:55but were wondering about going to hospital today..
0:52:55 > 0:52:58In the ambulance today, I've hitched a lift with Dave Williams
0:52:58 > 0:53:00and Lisa Riesen to experience their day-to-day work
0:53:00 > 0:53:03on the streets of Skegness.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07I am surprised to tell you, thinking about it,
0:53:07 > 0:53:11that this is the first time I've been inside an ambulance,
0:53:11 > 0:53:15and I'm pleased that it's in this capacity as well!
0:53:19 > 0:53:26Control, 7111, proceed priority outside HSBC Bank, Lumley Road, Skegness.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29Reports of a 66-year-old female fallen.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31Where are they, Dave?
0:53:31 > 0:53:33Just down the main shopping street to the left.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36How does the process work from the moment you get the call?
0:53:36 > 0:53:39From the moment the call goes in to our control room,
0:53:39 > 0:53:44the system automatically finds the nearest available vehicle
0:53:44 > 0:53:46and allocates the job to that vehicle,
0:53:46 > 0:53:51so before anybody's even spoken to the person that's ringing 999,
0:53:51 > 0:53:54we're already mobile.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56SIREN
0:53:56 > 0:53:59Over here.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08Can you move that all right?
0:54:08 > 0:54:10Super! Anywhere else? Any other aches and pains?
0:54:10 > 0:54:12My face and my knee. This knee.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15Oh, aye. That's going to be bruised and quite sore.
0:54:15 > 0:54:19She's quite shaken and she's hurt her knee and her shoulder.
0:54:19 > 0:54:25From what I can overhear so far, Dave is quite positive.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27I don't think it's anything too serious.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30We'll probably up to the hospital just so they can have a quick look.
0:54:30 > 0:54:31Watch how you go just here.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34It's a little bit rough just here. That's it. Good girl.
0:54:39 > 0:54:45As we head back to hospital, the waiting room is getting busier.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47What's happened?
0:54:47 > 0:54:52My fishing pole broke and it was made of carbon fibre.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58- He's bust two fingers wide open. - OK.
0:54:58 > 0:55:01Nick Brumpton, one of the nurses, is examining a boy
0:55:01 > 0:55:03who trapped his finger in the door of a caravan.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06Ow!
0:55:06 > 0:55:08'David. What a character!'
0:55:08 > 0:55:11- Do you have to do it so tight? - It's not tight.
0:55:11 > 0:55:13He turned out to be quite fortunate in the end.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16He didn't break any of the bones. He'll have a bit of a sore thumb
0:55:16 > 0:55:18for a few days then shrug it off, I'm sure.
0:55:18 > 0:55:19Look after yourself.
0:55:19 > 0:55:22- Yeah.- Goodbye.- See you.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26Relax your foot for us.
0:55:26 > 0:55:30Just going to give it a little squeeze, all right, sweetheart.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32Just going to squeeze it slightly.
0:55:32 > 0:55:33SHE SOBS
0:55:33 > 0:55:36Sorry, darling. I won't do any more if that's sore.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39That's all done. There is no glass or metal foreign body,
0:55:39 > 0:55:43there is no need for us to dig in and take the foreign body out.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46Most will come out anyway.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50Everywhere, junior doctor Chris Larry examined Paula Hill
0:55:50 > 0:55:52after she fell down the stairs.
0:55:52 > 0:55:56He X-rayed her shoulder but needs further advice from the radiologist
0:55:56 > 0:55:57at the neighbouring hospital.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01No fracture. Brilliant. Thanks very much. Bye.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06Paula? I've come to release you from your prison.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11Yes, it's normal, there's no fracture.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13Thank you! Goodbye!
0:56:19 > 0:56:23As night falls in Skegness, many of the thousands of holiday-makers
0:56:23 > 0:56:27who took to the beach now fill the night clubs and pubs.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33The kind of incidents that Dave and Lisa have to deal with after dark
0:56:33 > 0:56:38are often very different to those they face during the day.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40Ay up, mate.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47They are called to a nightclub in the centre of town
0:56:47 > 0:56:49where two men have been fighting.
0:56:55 > 0:56:58The police have been called and the men have been separated
0:56:58 > 0:57:00so Dave and Lisa can see to their injuries.
0:57:21 > 0:57:25During the summer months, incidents of antisocial behaviour go up.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30Dave's patience goes down.
0:57:30 > 0:57:33My tolerance is quite low for pissed people.
0:57:34 > 0:57:38But we all do it, we all like a drink occasionally.
0:57:38 > 0:57:39I try not to judge.
0:57:39 > 0:57:44His injuries are not something the local community hospital can deal with.
0:57:44 > 0:57:48Dave will need to take him to a larger hospital out of town.
0:57:48 > 0:57:51We are off to the Pilgrim Hospital.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54This gentleman is going to need some X-rays on his ankle
0:57:54 > 0:57:57and probably on the bones in his face.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01A 22 mile journey. That'll maybe let him sober up a wee bit.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11By the end of the summer season,
0:58:11 > 0:58:15the Skegness Community Hospital has treated over 7,000 patients.
0:58:16 > 0:58:2040% of them were here on holiday.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22Tourists, bless 'em.
0:58:22 > 0:58:26The world's made up with lots of different sorts of people
0:58:26 > 0:58:28and they all come through here.