13/04/2012 BBC Points West

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West. Our headlines tonight:

Jail for the man who liked explosives. He had enough in his

garden shed to blow up his neighbours. A sonic boom across the

West as fighter jets scramble on a hijack false alarm. The birds

stopped singing, everything went quiet. Remembered - the war time

soldiers accidentally killed in Wiltshire by their own side. And on

course for an amazing career - the students given the chance to study

wildlife movie making. Good evening. A Somerset man who had enough

chemicals to blow up his neighbourhood is tonight beginning

a jail sentence. Philip Leonard, who's 36, caused a bomb alert in

Burnham on Sea in January and part of a housing estate had to be

evacuated. He'd bought the materials on the internet. And

although police accept he is no terrorist, they say his actions

could have caused serious harm. Our Somerset Correspondent Clinton

Rogers reports from Taunton Crown Court. Philip Leonard arrived at

court in a prison van. He has been in custody since his arrest in

January. Back then what police discovered in a shed at his home

prompted a huge security alert. Dozens of homes were evacuated.

Leonard a depressed reslew sieve, had been experiments with powerful

and volatile explosives. Fluff to cause serious damage over a wide

area. -- enough. Today he arrived at court to hear his fate, having

admitted four charges. The court heard that for Leonard explosives

were a hobby, a fascination. He obtained his dangerous ingredients

over the internet and put them together using a manual on how to

make your own explosives. Sentencing him to two years, the

judge said, I have to bring home to you and to others the gravity of

what you did. After, the police gave their assessment. Stupid and

dangerous. He is not domestic extremist or a terrorist, but what

he has done is stupid. How alarmed are you that what we heard in there,

he just simply managed to get the ingredients over the internet and

was able to get a manual on how to make your own bombs. It is quite a

worry for us. This isn't the first incident and probably won't be the

last. Leonard's activities were picked up and the Security Services

were alerted. That began a chain of events which tonight ends with him

behind bars. Time, said his defence team, to reflect on the stupidity

of what he did. There was drama in the skies over Bath last night as

two RAF jets scrambled to intercept a helicopter in a hijack alert. It

was a false alarm, but the emergency appeared so real that the

fighters were authorised to break the sound barrier as they hurtled

to the scene. The result was a sonic boom that could be heard for

miles. Andrew Plant's in Bath for us now. I think we have the best

view in town of Bath and it is something like that view that a

helicopter pilot would have been seeing around this time yesterday

when he flew into Wiltshire air space and into Somerset's and over

Bath. All the while unaware he was broadcasting on an emergency

distress freak si. So concerned were the authorities that they

scrambled two Typhoon jets from Lincolnshire and the first the

people of Bath knew was when they heard and felt the sonic boom. A

Eurofighter Typhoon flying over Bath and Wiltshire, captured on on

a mobile phone, but heard by hundreds as it passed the speed of

sound, sending a sonic boom slaking through the houses. I have never

seen an aircraft accelerate that much before. It was like one

enormous explosion of air. noise was terrific. It was like a

thunder clap. The Typhoons were scrambled from Lincolnshire, their

sonic boom felt like a thunder clap across five countries. Today the

Ministry of Defence said they were chasing a helicopter, which was

accidentally broadcasting a distress signal. All aircraft

broadcast on a four digit code, but there are codes for different kinds

of emergencies. It is possible for pilot to put one in accidentally

for for there to be a mall function. I have never heard it of. In how

many years. Over 30 years. Pilot Peter Hall said cram blging

fighters because of a wrong signal is rare. If you put an emergency

code in, that gets picked up by the national aircraft services and

would cause various reactions, depending on the code. Four

Typhoons are constantly on sand by -- stand by. Emergency services

were skramped with calls and the internet was alive with speculation.

-- swamped. It seems it was an expensive mistake a signal so

serious it caused aircraft to scramble. The cost will be tens of

thousands of pounds. The Ministry of Defence has given no further

information who was flying the helicopter and what mistake they

made is still unknown. That code will tell Air Traffic Control where

a flight is going, what their height and destination is.

Sometimes a pilot will have to change it. But they are supposed to

do a visual check on that number, it does happen that they can put in

the wrong code, but Air Traffic Control can normally call them and

ask them if they're OK. So the pilot didn't check the number and

wasn't wearing his head phones to be contacted from the grounds.

Thank you. Let's speak to an expert, Sean Maffett. Have you, do you now

how long it took for the planes to get from Lincolnshire to Bath?

Probably less than ten minutes, but the pilots has to get into their

aircraft and start so, probably 20 minutes. It is an extraordinary

response to think within minutes two fighters are alongside. They

used to say, jet noise the sound of freedom. It is good to know we're

protected by sufficient efficient organisations. There are two places

where this QRA, the quick reaction alert is based, one in Lincolnshire

and another in Scotland. It was so serious they went supersonic to get

there quickly. Is that particularly rare? I believe it is. They had to

be authorised to do so. The aircraft will go at twice the speed

of sound. I doubt they got that fast. What is strange we are being

told pbl one caused the sonic boom. It is a single sonic boom and it

follows behind the aircraft and it is known as a boom carpet that

unrolls behind the aircraft. When they got there, if they hadn't got

a satisfactory response from the helicopter, in theory they could

have shot it down? That would be the last resort. They would have

been empowed to do that. I don't think it would have happened

straightaway. The sonic boom, I remember in the days of concord

people talked about them. Can they cause damage? They can break

windows. Or if the aircraft are low level they could do more damage. It

is a big pressure up and pressure down and that is why you get that

feeling of the earthmoving, window and buildings move. It got our

viewers talking. Thank you for coming in. You're watching BBC

Points West with David and Alex. It's Friday 13th. Yes, and it's

nearly Grand National time. Stay with us as we'll be finding about

the horse who could make history. And at Aintree they can expect a

cloudy morning with some lights rain. But it may improve in time

for the big race. For us a damp start to Saturday. But the weekend

will improve. There's a warning that some people with mental

illness in Somerset will be pushed to breaking point, now that a

support service has been cut. The Re-Engage project is run by the

charity Mind. It gives support to patients who are trying to live in

the community and get into work. Our Health Correspondent, Matthew

Hill, reports. A month ago Emma thought her life was back on track,

after having serious psychiatric problems. But then her support

service was withdrawn and she was left feeling suicidal. How bad were

things on Saturday? Very bad. Because I was suicidal and I took

my thing and put it in me nearly. The police came out and you know

said... She is one of about 15 relying on the Re-Engage project in

Taunton. It hps -- helps them live a more normal life. I had been

waiting for so long to get into employment, when people say things,

and promise things and saying things, but it never happening. It

makes people have a shock. It was run by Mind at a cost of �12,000 a

year and aloud for one-to-one counselling. The charity said money

is now being used for group work instead. Something that doesn't

statute everyone. People will feel they're corner ised -- cornered and

you have a small group that just need a different type of service.

The Somerset NHS partnership said they always try to respond to

individual needs and urge empla to contact them. But they and the

County Council say it isn't a question of the money being cut,

but it is being used in a different way to meet changes in national

policy. The NHS say recently discharged patients do have access

to a duty officer and can get their MEP if they feel they're health is

-- help if they feel their health is getting worse. The council say

they are trying to support people to manage their own mental health

and are working with communities, groups and organisations. But for a

few that may not be enough. 20 jobs are under threat at the Bristol

Evening Post, after the paper announced it's to scrap its

Saturday edition. The owners, Northcliffe, also say it will be

renamed the Post from April. There will now be a month long

consultation about the possible redundancies. The sister title the

Western Daily Press will continue to be published six days a week.

The number of women in the South West with lung cancer is continuing

to rise. Figures from Cancer Research UK show that more than 28

women in every 100,000 are diagnosed with the disease locally.

That's compared to 25 in the mid- 1980s. The charity says smoking

remains the main cause of the disease. It's still more common in

men, but rates are falling. Hundreds more street lamps will be

switched off in North Somerset, as the authority tries to save around

�300,000 a year. Congresbury, Yatton, Claverham and Cleeve will

see fewer lights between midnight and five in the winter and between

1am and dawn in the summer. North Somerset Council said lights will

remain on in areas with traffic hazards or high levels of crime. A

service has been held to mark the anniversary of a friendly fire

tragedy on Salisbury Plain. 25 soldiers lost their lives in the

incident 70 years ago. It happened when a Hurricane fighter aircraft

mistakenly opened fire on the crowd below as they watched a military

demonstration. Scott Ellis reports. The Hurricane, capable of

unleashing 600 rounds a minute. Six Hurricanes unleashed live bullets

on dummy targets of tanks. A few hundred yards away was a stadium

full of soldiers watching. But the sixth pilot, an American, got the

wrong target and fired not at the dummy tanks, but at the stadium

full of soldiers. 25 people were killed, 71 were injured. Today a

service to remember those killed. And a new plaque bearing their

names. George traverse was in clutch to remember his wror, who

lost his life that day. He died in England. If he had to die, I would

have rather had him killed dying on a battlefield. Not in... England's

green and pleasant land. tragedy happened near Imber village

on sals I bri plain. The American pilot lacked experience and was

flying into hazy sun. One of many factors that may have contributed

to the deaths. But it has remained a mystery. It was not pus lisised,

because it was wartime. They wouldn't wish to demoralise the

country and even the relations of those that were killed were not

told the truth. These didn't come out until after the war. George

Travers family understand the need for a cover up. But they're pleased

that earnest's name adorns the wall of think church. It is a wonderful

thing, especially for my father, he was too young to go to the funeral

and it is his way of commemorating the event. Earnest joined to fight

a foreign war, but was struck down by friendly fire on home soil, aged

just 23. A group of volunteers, some in their 70 are to abseil down

the Westbury white horse and scrub it. The horse is Dee tieriating

since it last underwent a refurbishment. Now people will give

it a thorough cleaning in time for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Now to

sport and it's the Grand National tomorrow. Alistair Durden's here.

Ali, plenty of trainers in the West so are we going to see a local

winner? Well, over a quarter of the field is trained in the West

Country - so mathematically there's a decent chance. Here's a few to

look out for, complete with their colours. West End Rocker, trained

by Alan King in Wiltshire, won over the National fences back in

December. Or maybe Junior from the David Pipe stables in Somerset -

he's looking for a hat-trick of big wins after success at Royal Ascot

and Cheltenham. But the favourite is Synchronised - you probably

recognise the name. Just a month ago he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup

for Gloucestershire trainer, Jonjo O'Neill. And he's now out to make

history by becoming only the second horse ever to win the Gold Cup and

the Grand National in the same season. Here we are at the start

and they get away. It's a record that's stood for 78 years - back in

1934 a horse called Golden Miller completed the double. Up the

straight they went. Golden Miller won. 15 horses since then have

tried and failed to match that achievement. Now in 2012, it's the

turn of Synchronised - trained in Temple Guiting. Just four weeks ago

he won the Gold Cup. But his team believe he's fresh enough to take

on the most famous four and a half miles in the sport. He feels better

now than what he did before Cheltenham. So I'm happy with him.

I'm happy with how he is going. It is down to him now. I don't think I

will be able to watch it. I'm so scared. I just... I just hope that

he comes back safe and anything else is a bonus. And of course he

has 16-times champion jockey Tony McCoy on board - as at Cheltenham.

If anyone can do it surely he can. They know each other well and get

the best out of each other. He is a great jockey and he knows hi horses

well and he just clicks with this fella. There is not many he doesn't

click with, but he really clicks with this guy. Sychronised has

shown he has the stamina, winning the Welsh and Midlands Nationals.

Now 30 imposing fences separate him from a prominent place in racing

history. Football, and Swindon Town are putting tickets on sale for

next weekend's game at Gillingham, even though at present, fans are

still banned. A row over the costs of policing at Gillingham means the

match could be played in an empty stadium. Swindon say they will

refund all tickets if the issue isn't resolved by next weekend.

Tomorrow, they play Plymouth at home - a match which could confirm

their promotion back to League One. This is the equation - if they win

and either Torquay or Crawley lose their matches, then Swindon can

start their celebrations. Otherwise they'll have to wait just a little

bit longer. Now the picture isn't quite so clear-cut for Cheltenham.

In early March Mark Yates' side were second in League Two, but a

loss of form has seen them drop to sixth. And they have just four

games left to make sure they qualify for the play-offs. Geoff

Twentyman has been to see how they're preparing for the important

finale. We win and lose together. We're a team and we have all got to

be positive and to do everything we can to bring success for the club

and this group of players is too good not to achieve. It has gone

awry at what don road, they have won only once and bagged five

points. The down ward spiral has seen them out of automatic

promotion places. But spirits are OK. Get confidence build and get a

good flow in your game. On the day it will with be a once off game.

We're not there yet and we can't take our eye off that. Do you feel

pressure? Does it look it. It's fresh. It's a good pressure. Of

course you feel it. You want to succeed and do things and you want

to win medals and get promotions. You feel the pressure of that. But

no, no real pressure. Not like you know being out of work or paying

bills or fighting in a war. It is pressure what you love and enjoy

and what you want to feel. So yeah, just loving every minute. Clelt

have four games to name this. If nay don't make the play off, it

will haunt them. But they have the ability, what they have got to find

now is the strength of mind and the purpose to make sure they make the

play offs. That starts here tomorrow against Accrington. Rugby

and Bath take on Sale tonight still hoping to qualify for next season's

European Cup. The club described the recent home defeat to

Northampton as embarrassing, but a win tonight would see them leapfrog

Sale and put them in contention with local rivals Gloucester for

the all important sixth spot in the Premiership. You can come into a

game expect intensity, but if you're not accurate, you can't

build that intensity. And then we need to build the intense ti. We

want the qualify for Europe. That is our goal and we're looking

forward too Sale on Friday and taking it from there. Goeser the

take on bottom club Newcastle tomorrow afternoon. Finally, good

luck to the Bristol Academy women's team who play their FA Cup semi-

final this weekend against Birmingham. And the extra incentive

for them is that this year's final is being staged at Bristol City's

Ashton Gate. Thank you. Now when it comes to making films about natural

history, the BBC in Bristol is the envy of the world. The team's had

huge hits with programmes like Life on Earth and Frozen Planet and now

some of the top programme makers are passing on their skills.

They've joined forces with the University of the West of England

and launched a new postgraduate degree course. Will Glennon reports.

The only way the get closer to a lion or cheetah is to actually be

one. The BBC's wildlife film makers have helped us travel the world

without leaving our arm chairs. But Wen you watch the pictures, it is

easy to forget real people are there with cameras, making it

happen. They're work oong new series called Africa. Sometimes

they have to wait months in harsh conditions to get the perfect

picture. But they love it. I do it for animals, for those moments

where you're either there and the experiences you have meeting an

animal, the first time you meet a polar bear or a big whale, or lions.

Those moments last a lifetime and live with you. I think it is a

privilege to be able to show that to millions of people around the

world. To keep on making top quality programmes, you need the

best new talent. So the BBC's teamed up with the university of

the west of England to offer a new post graduate course in wildlife

film making. We believe it is a fantastic opportunity for young

people to learn from the very best in the world. So it is a fantastic

opportunity for Bristol and the creative industries here and an

opportunity for the unit to share its expertise and help develop

talents for the future. If this course was available, I would have

applied for it. Everyone at my level said they wish they could

have done it. That stuff is invaluable when you're starting out.

And from the best people in the world. When you think you have seen

it all, there is another new animal or behaviour to discover. The BBC

hopes this new course will help that keep happening. The high

Gration towards -- migration towards new knowledge will start in

September. Very exciting. And we showed you the wrong white horse,

it wasn't the Westbury you saw. Sorry about that. It shows what

happens when you do things on the hoof! Now time for the weather. And

hoof! Now time for the weather. And it was all happening yesterday.

and as well as the euro fighters, a lot witnessed what cu thought was

something extraordinary, some suggestion that one of Euro-

fighters encircled this item. Images such as this show that it

was actually ehear the solar balloon, you can buy those and

release them or a cluster of balloons together. Certainly not a

UFO. Through weekend Saturday will get under way on a damp start. But

it will start the tidy up later in the afternoon. Sunday by far the

better of the two days. The weekend looks dry and sunny, but with a

cooler feel. And we have more of a northerly flow as the weekend

starts. On Sunday we have high pressure coming through that will

quieten the weather, before we get into next week and the op sit. An

unsettled week. Particularly late Monday into Tuesday and Wednesday

there will be a lot of rain and windy. There has been some rain

today. You will see thousand this line of showers from the sea breeze

from the south started to form and migrated northwards. It stalled

through Bristol, still some heavy down pours over Exmoor. These will

fade away and the lightning has been associated with these areas.

Those in the north where you saw tit last couple of days have

escaped it. Tonight the showers fade and as they do, the skies will

clear. Particularly further east wards and northwards. Their coldest

temperatures. There could be some fog around as well. Temperatures

tonight getting down to one to Three Celsius. And could be a touch

of frost. Tomorrow the clouds has returned. A trough gives cloud and

some showers. Some light rain. And all of that easing its way south.

So a grim start. But brightening up through the afternoon. Temperature

e attempts tomorrow up to 11 Celsius. Beyond that, Sunday a

better day. Temperatures around 11 Celsius. All down hill next week.

Unless you want rain. Which we do need. Gardener's World are visiting