30/04/2012 BBC Channel Islands News

Storm-force winds rage around the island. UK and French energy

But and we have the sport. -- And we. Beachfront businesses in parts

of Jersey couldn't open this morning after they were hit by sand

storms. Overnight gales piled sand from the beach against buildings

and across roads. Meanwhile in Guernsey, lifeboat crews had to

rescue a French yacht after it ran into difficulty because of the bad

weather. Forecasters say the weather is set to improve. Nafisa

Sayani reports. Sand everywhere. Staff at this Jersey cafe had to

shovel their way in to work this morning after they found a wall of

sand blocking the door. It was a wall of sound totally covering the

door, you cannot get in. The San was everywhere. Unbelievable. We

have never not been able to open the door, we can open it every day.

But unfortunately cannot open today. And up the road at this wine shop,

the breeze brought the beach to the car park. Amazing. We turned up to

work but it was like we should have arrived on camels. Half the beach

was in the car-park. We could not park anywhere. It is even round the

back of the shop. In Guernsey, trees came down and authorities had

to rescue this French yacht that ran into difficulty during the

stormy weather. And in Alderney the owner of this yacht is in for a

shock after it was wrecked and washed up on Braye Beach over the

weekend. Authorities across the islands say they coped well with

the conditions and remain prepared. We have had sand, over in the past

but not in these quantities. I think it is because of the high

winds we have had which have made it terrible. But while businesses

have been working hard to clear up the mess, for some it's just an

excuse to play. And Emily is here with the forecast later in the

Could more volunteers be the answer to raising reading standards at

Guernsey's primary schools? It was a key point raised in a recent

report looking at primary education in the Island but is something

that's already happening at some local schools. So how much of a

difference has it made? Penny A fan of dinosaur and shipwreck

books, John is just one of a number of pupils at Amherst who gets extra

help reading thanks to these volunteers. I think they are quite

nice because when we get stuck on a word they help us spell it.

really like when I get stuck on tricky words. Then they help me.

They normally just help Bass with the first word and then help us for

the other words. Staff from a local finance company, they've been

helping out here each week for the last few years. Now it is

established it is easy to run. We turn up each week, the children

read to us, we go back to work. It is amazing to see the development

from the first term to the end of the third term. The children love

it and I find a delightful to see children picking up books, reading

so enthusiastically and feeling like to are part of it makes you

feel quite special. At the end of the first year of the project were

exceeded the target we had got for reading by 13%. The second year 60%

of children in year two had made accelerated progress, so that is

almost double what we had hoped they would make. That has continued.

We are still seeing improvements. We are delighted. The pressure is

on to improve reading standards across the Island's schools,

including here at Amherst. So could more outside help inside the

classroom be the answer? Could a new energy cable be built between

Alderney, France and the UK? A group of UK and French politicians

have been in the northern isle today to learn more about

Alderney's renewable energy industry and how they can be a part

of it. David Earl reports. everything goes to plan, lectricite

de France plans to deploy a group of underwater turbines in the Bay

of St Malo later this year. -- Electricite. It will be the largest

project of its kind and will be used to feed marine renewable

energy into the French electricity grid. The 800 tonne turbines are

manufactured by an Irish company Open Hydro which has a a 20% stake

in Alderney Renewable Energy. ARE hopes to export renewable energy to

the United Kingdom, which is struggling to meet its commitment

to generate 20% of its energy needs by 2020. The problem is that the

Island needs an underwater cable connecting it to both France and

the French delegation, headed by the President of the Conseil

General de la Manche, Jean Francois Le Grand, was equally enthusiastic.

We have been talking about how we might harness the two together. It

is a really exciting project. here today to meet the UK minister

of energy because we have common projects between Alderney and lamb

monde about tidal turbines power and we are very interested by this

project. -- La Manche. Clearly the "entente cordiale" generated at

today's historic meeting bodes well for the future of renewable energy

here in Alderney. It's still unclear why two thirds of houses in

Guernsey were left without electricity last night after the

undersea cable to Jersey failed. Homes in St Peter Port, St Martins,

the Western Parishes and the Vale were without power for around half

an hour from just before 7pm. Guernsey Electricity started a

backup generator and the lights were back on by 7.30pm. They're now

investigating the cause. Pat Dubras, a stalwart of Jersey's amateur

dramatic scene has died. In an online tribute she's been described

as a driving force in the amateur theatre world, and a true lady of

the theatre who'll be sadly missed. She died at Jersey Hospice Care

yesterday. A 15-year-old boy is in hospital after an accident with a

car on Mont Millais. Jersey Police got a call just after 3.40pm this

afternoon that a pedestrian had been hurt outside JCG. And up to 30

dockworkers are at risk after George Troy and Sons has gone into

liquidation. They're the only firm with a Stevedores license.

Politicians in Jersey are now worried what will happen to the

Island's freight service. Jersey will be playing European football

next season after a dramatic win in the FA inter league cup final. They

beat the Isle of Man and will now represent England but they were

just seconds away from defeat, as Ian Kelly reports. The pre-match

talk was all about the pitch. This may look like grass but it's a

actually plastic, the first time an artificial surface has been used

for a FA final. Would the crowd and the pitch give the Isle of Man the

ultimate home advantage? It was the Isle of Man, playing in Jersey's

usual red colours, who took the lead. An unfamiliar pitch, an

unfamiliar kit, maybe this wasn't going to be Jersey's day. It took a

couple of fine saves from Craig Fletcher to keep Jersey in the game.

But time was quickly running out. Into the last minute of injury time

and it was time for route one football. They say the game isn't

over until it's over. Suddenly a lifeline. The scores level, extra

time was called for. Jersey seemed to be getting the measure of the

pitch. This clumsy challenge gave them a penalty. If Jack Canon was

An eye for goal and for the camera. The Isle of Man tried to summon the

energy for a fight back but this was Jersey's day. So long

overshadowed by the success of their island's rugby team, now it

was their time to celebrate. We knew we were down to the last

couple of minutes but always said we have belief, hunger. This is all

the players want. We want to play in front of big crowds. I was not

happy with the artificial pitch when it was announced but it is a

good service. We would have rather be played on grass but no excuses.

I can't take away the character and determination the players showed

today. These players will be pulling on the England shirt in San

Marino in the autumn, living every amateurs footballer's dream. And if

the pitch happens to be artificial, well, they'll take it in their

Rugby - Jersey rounded off their greatest ever season with a 23-8

win over Fylde, before being presented with the National One

Edward Sault was there. atmosphere at St Peters on Saturday

was simply electric as a bumper crowd came to support the team who

had rounded off a perfect season. Jerseys celebrating their win, it

should be great for the whole community. We're very proud. Pretty

excited. It will be a good game. And it was, despite a determined

Fylde side, Jersey's 23-8 win was built on defence. Two penalties, a

penalty try and conversion took the halftime score to 13 -0. Ross

Broadfoot's kicking and another penalty try increased Jersey's lead

to 23-3. We had to be on form today and for the Le -- first 20 minutes

we were under pressure. I thought we played really well, especially

in defence. But no time to rest. have a big weekend next weekend so

another week of hard work, then a few weeks off before we get

together on June 4th and prepare for next season. A lot of work

ahead. And for Steve O Brien this was his last match and one that was

clearly emotional. I have been lucky to play with some wonderful

players since I have come to the island. Great guys. It continues

now. But this was the moment the Guernsey and Jersey's rugby and

football teams have had a triumphant season. They'll of

course face each other in the Muratti final and Siam cup next

week. But this was the perfect round off to a spectacular season

of Channel Island sport. So let's see what the weather brings next,

More settled and dry weather to come in the week ahead. It will

turn dry and warm Faure time in the middle of the week ahead. It has

been low pressure dominating the weather. This area has made its way

south West woods. It becomes more settled by the end of the day

tomorrow with just a few shells around and by the time we get to

Wednesday some high pressure is starting to influence whether, so a

greater chance of sunshine and to budget will respond to that. It

will be warmer air during the day. Tonight there is still heavy rain

and strong winds for a time. They he's off later in the night.

Temperatures are milder overnight. It will be a wet start to the day

tomorrow but the rain should quickly clearer way, followed by

the chance of a couple of showers in the afternoon with winds coming

in from the south or south-east. Rain and the risk of showers

generally, moderate disability at The water looks pretty flat for

surfing. In terms of sunshine it should improve towards the middle

of the week. Wednesday looked dry with sunny spells and it should

feel pleasantly warm. Similar day through Thursday but unsettled

Guernsey's Chief Minister hustings get underway at 7pm this evening at

the grammar school, ahead of tomorrow's election. We'll have the