08/12/2011 Look East - East

Hello and welcome to Look East. If that had been six inches one way,

I would not have been here today. My wife would not have been. My

children would have been carrying two coffins down to a cemetery

today. A driver's shocking account of the

moment his wife was hit by a concrete block thrown from a bridge

over of the A12. Dawn raids in Essex lead to arrests

and seizures of drugs. The Transport Secretary takes the

train to Norwich and is half an hour late.

And we talk to the 78-year-old lollipop lady. Just one of our

torch bearers for next year's Hello. Later on tonight's programme,

it's awards night in Bedford. I am here with some of the best

sports men and women in the world. World champions, Olympic gold

medals, best in Britain. This is a world champion. The best car in the

world. Join us later for the Sports Personality Of The Year Awards in

the East. We start tonight with the driver

who has described the moment a concrete block smashed through his

car windscreen as he drove along the A12 in Essex. Steve Manley said

he turned to ask his wife Carol what caused the crash. To his

horror, he saw the block had hit her in the chest and she was

covered in blood. He said she will be mentally scarred for life.

Exactly a week after the incident, the police are still looking for

whoever was responsible. Let's get the full details now from Alex

Dunlop. The police are treating this as

attempted murder. This was the second of two up to axe on this

stretch of the road in half-an-hour. Another couple escaped when a

granite block was dropped on their car in the nearby bridge. At this

bridge, exactly a week ago tonight, some one or several people picked

up a 25 kilogram concrete bollard and waited until a car went

underneath. Then it was dropped. Those people did not care there was

a middle-aged couple in that car, Steve and Carol Manley. One week on

an Steve Manley can barely hide his anger that someone who never knew

his wife was prepared to kill her and almost did. To think that

someone has got, could do something so covertly, to someone they do not

know. And for no apparent reason, other than thinking it was funny.

My emotions are so tight that I could not see how I feel.

couple were heading home on the A12 after an evening with friends when

someone dropped a concrete bollard on their car. We were driving along,

then at crash and the car was destroyed. I saw my wife, went into

panic mode. What did you see? lots of blood. Your eyes focus on

the red colour. You do not see anything else. My wife was saying

she could not breathe. Then the panic increased with the fear.

badly injured was she? fractured cheekbones, broken nose,

broken up eye socket, Broken tooth and reds and a bruised month.

of their four children came to support their father in a public

appeal to help find those responsible. I do not want another

person to get a telephone call I received telling me that I could be

facing the possibility of losing both my mum and my dad. Telling my

children that their grandmother was in hospital and I cannot guarantee

she is going to be all right. Nobody should have to take that

telephone call ever. Someone knows, someone is going to mess up, idiots

like to brag about it. If you hear this idiot, please call the police,

stop them before they kill somebody. Bearing in mind her previous

illnesses, she has epilepsy, it will be a long road to recovery.

Yes, but it is recovery, not a long road to a cemetery. That is how I

am looking at it. We are taking one day at that time. We will be happy.

She may cried during the night. within a week, you will celebrate

your 38 when the anniversary at home. -- 38 wedding anniversary.

She is getting better, though, because she is complaining to me.

She cannot chew properly. But she can talk? She can achieve his

nagging me, so she is getting better. -- she can and she is

nagging me. The police are working on this and

patrol cars are going up and down the road. In return, the police

want information and have put out a Crimestoppers number. It is 0800

555 111. Back to the studio. Thank you.

Eight men appeared before magistrates in Ipswich today

following police raids across the region yesterday. During the

operation, cannabis worth �8 million was seized. Debbie Tubby

was in court. Here in Ipswich, police raids early

in the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, eight men appeared before

magistrates charged with going to supply cannabis. 1.5 tonnes of

cannabis, worth more than �8 million, and �60,000 of money was

seized by police. There were more drug raids this morning just down

the A12 in Essex. Half-past five in the morning, a

police briefing for dawn raids on several homes.

SHOUTING. One of the first, this flat in

Colchester. Police believe there could be class A drugs inside.

Officers have been inside this flat for about half-an-hour, carrying

out an extensive search. Helping with that search, one of the drugs

dogs. Nothing illegal was found. But one man the police were looking

for was arrested. These are part of an ongoing operation that began in

October. We did 10 arrests and raids early in October. Today, we

are doing 16 further raids. The idea is that the properties we are

looking at are all a variety of premises, floods, bungalows, a

whole range of people living within them. -- flat. Clacton the second

phase, another flat. SHOUTING. Despite it being empty,

it was still searched. Then on to another road, with people inside.

Two men were arrested. In total, the police carried out 16 raids and

made 14 arrests. They are saying other operations to crack down on

drugs will continue. Let us give you further details of

the eight men. Because of the size of the group, turns were taken

standing two at a time in the dock. They are ranging in the ages from

early twenties to early fifties, lived in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.

One was described as a car salesman, another a steel fixer. The parents

of one men have also been charged with money-laundering. Those people

will appear in the same court later this month. For the eight men, all

have been remanded in custody and will stand trial in April of next

year at Ipswich Crown Court. Later on, tonight's special report

looks at efforts by the region's MPs to raise standards on the

railways. Plus, Stewart is at the Sports Awards.

Grown men and women have been coming to look into this car and

walk around it. Looking inside to see how little room there is. This

car was the most successful in the world and formal of one last year.

Sebastian Vettel, of course, the world champion. We have this Sports

Awards for BBC East. We have the best table tennis player, with a

demonstration later, and we have all the winners during at fantastic

year. That is after more from where A grandmother who fell into a river

has been reunited with the women who rescued her. Maureen Wick was

walking her dog by the River Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire last week

when she tripped and fell into the water along with her dog. Her

rescuers were two other grandmothers.

Meeting the women she says saved her life. Maureen Wick and her dog

fell into the river last week. Ruth Moore and Shirley Clarbour hair to

her calls for help and ran to find her struggling in the water. --

heard her calls for end help. my clothes felt heavy and I was

struggling. We thought it was an animal. Yes. Then when we got

nearer, we could hear someone shouting, help me. We ran and did

not know what we would find. And it was Maureen in the river. I must

have tripped... Riff that grabbed the dock and Shirley helped get

Maureen out. -- Ruth grabbed their dog. They pulled and pound and out

she came. With 16 grandchildren between them, Ruth and Shirley are

not just stereotypical registers -- rescuers. Maureen says they were

her guardian angels. They are not so sure. They just happen to be in

the right place at the right time. We are lucky it all worked out.

keep thinking what would have happened when we felon. I was

rescued as a little girl. -- when we felt in.

I cannot thank them enough. From the bottom of my heart, I thank

them for what they did. We would not be here today.

The police in Essex have issued a picture of a boy they're looking

for after a bowling ball was dropped into a crowded street in

Basildon. The boy was captured on CCTV. The 16lb ball was thrown from

a balcony at the Basildon Bowl last Saturday lunchtime.

70 jobs are being lost at the Cromer Crab Company in Norfolk.

Campaigners have tried to save the processing plant which employs 230

people. They're angry the jobs are to go while consultation is still

going on. The owners, Youngs Seafood, say no decision has yet

been made on the long term future of the site.

The former chairman of Essex Police Authority has been asked to repay

�10,000 he received for mileage claims. Robert Chambers intends to

stand as a Police and Crime Commissioner. He has already repaid

more than �1,500. For nine years, Robert Chambers was

chairman of Essex Police Authority, until resigning in February this

year saying he was considering standing as a Police and Crime

Commissioner. It then emerged there was an audit of expense claims that

the authority. Police were asked to investigate. The findings of the

inquiry need to be made public, so that everyone can see precisely

what has been going on. Questions need to be asked as to how this was

allowed to happen over five or six years, as I understand. The Crown

Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to bring

the case to court. Figures released showed that Mr Chambers claimed

more than 53 -- 1 and �53,000 over eight years. He was asked to repeat

over 1,500 pounds. But now Essex Police authorities have asked him

to pay over �9,000. We have good reason to be concerned, although we

do not have the final picture on what exactly has gone wrong and

whether -- and on the scale of what has gone wrong. A former Chief

Executive may face a misconduct hearing, which would not involve Mr

Chambers, as he is no longer at the authority. Mr Chambers says he will

return the money once he is given a guarantee he will be asked not to

pay any more. -- a guarantee he will not be asked.

Campaigners fighting plans for a waste incinerator in Norfolk have

lost a legal challenge against it. One objector argued that Norfolk

County council's decision to go ahead with the plant near King's

Lynn was unlawful. But a judge at the High Court has rejected his

application for a judicial review. He's been ordered to pay the

council's costs. Campaigners have argued that the council ignored a

local poll. A new online map has been produced

by the BBC which carries details of all of the region's fatal car

crashes over the past ten years. In our region alone, 1,600 deaths were

recorded in the last decade. It's hoped the map will highlight

accident blackspots. Most of crashes a on fast, -- vast

country roads and this region has plenty. Now each one where someone

has died has been put on at BBC online map with a circle

highlighting any fatal crash. Those most at risk, pedestrians, cyclists

and motorbike riders. One road is very deceptive, with hidden

junctions being death traps. Mike Rees knows the road well. There is

a junction on the left. The potential danger is vehicles will

turn across me. He teaches others how to spot potential dangers and

to ride defensively. I have been a strong believer that it is not the

road, but the driver. You have to adapt your driving. Just a few

miles across the border in Suffolk, there have been at least three

fatal crashes here. It is not until you see the

junction that you understand how dangerous it is. There is heavy

traffic in both directions and another junction around a blind

bend. Drivers have to pick their moment to pull-out. Critics think

the online map is useful, but say it does not show the full picture.

The information we used roles together those who have died and

those seriously injured. That means we have bigger numbers to work with

and identifying trends of where the problems are and solve them.

Government wants local authorities to be more responsible for reducing

road casualties. This map shows which the roads in the region may

need safety improvements. -- which You're watching Look East from the

BBC. Coming up... An Olympic surprise for lollipop

lady Ena. The Railways Minister paid a visit

to the region today to hear about problems on the Anglia Line into

Liverpool Street. The meeting, hosted by local MPs, comes ahead of

a summit about regional services next week. The minister's train

into Norwich was delayed for half an hour because of a fallen tree.

It is one of the main commuter lines out of London carrying 9

million passengers care year. Many of them will tell you this line

desperately needs improved. It is the reliability, the delays,

extensions to journeys. The speed of the trains do not seem to be as

quick as the East Coast line that runs up to York or even the ones up

to the North West. As we leave London, we are travelling at 90 mph.

For the first 20 miles, there is plenty of track alarming for

overtaking. Then we go down to one line. That is all the way to

Norwich. It is busy, shared with commuter trains and freight traffic,

where congestion often occurs. If anyone understands the problems, it

is the members of parliament that use the service. Chloe Smith and

Ben Gummer have organised next week's summit, when Network Rail,

train operators and Government will look at how improvements can be

made. It could be quicker getting to Birmingham or Ipswich and

Brussels if we do not get this sorted. We will then not get

investment we need. We are looking for proper investment. The kind of

opportunity to get economies moving. What is needed is more passing

loops through Essex. If level crossings were improved in Suffolk

and Norfolk, trains could run faster. The rail Minister arrived

in Norwich this morning, 20 minutes late due to a tree on the line, to

meet campaigners. She was told to be �0.5 billion would be the price

raced from improvements. -- �3.5 billion. What we can provide

depends on what is affordable. Network Rail drawing up a list of

new spending priorities, there is an impetus to try to bring

improvements to this line. All attention will now be on next

week's rail summit in London. And there will be more on the

challenges facing the railways in this weekend's edition of the

Poltics Show. It's on Sunday at 12 o'clock here on BBC One.

The champagne is on ice and the trophies have been polished.

Everyone's getting ready for tonight's BBC East Sports Awards.

Let's rejoin Stewart now in Bedford. As I said, it is one of those

evenings where we have some famous people. Ken Foster, Olympic gold

medallist, is the moment when you win still something that burns in

your mind? -- Tim Foster. It is still something, it will never go

away. You are coaching in Switzerland, but stills -- still

follow the sport here? I am still an avid Britain supporter and I

will be here for the Olympics. When Switzerland are up against Britain,

it will be difficult, otherwise I will support Britain. Can we do as

well in the rowing this year, do you think? It will be difficult,

other countries are preparing well. But the British team has performed

fur hat -- has performed fantastically. I think they can

live up to expectations. Do you stay in touch with Steve Redgrave?

We had a 10-year anniversary last year. That made us realise how long

ago it was. We are as bad at socialising as we were at rowing.

Not exactly calling each other every day. It was lovely to catch

up. Do you have champagne after, did you have a party? We managed up

party. The week after winning gold, we did everything we couldn't do

for the past four years. Thank you for being here and helping us to

celebrate. Now we can talk to our representative of the university.

We have a long heritage of sport at the University of Bedfordshire,

going back to bed for at college when we were major trainers. We are

still one of the major trainers. -- Bedford College. We have coaching

and personal training. So much of that which we did not have. We know

that you have to choose your parents carefully if you want to be

the right athlete, but you also need training, application and good

training. We are delighted we can train good performance and coaching,

as that is a fundamental part at week needs to get to the top. We

are pleased we can develop coaches at the University. It is a

combination of factors. It can make the difference between winning a

gold medal and not even getting on the podium. We know we can make

that small amount of difference. Thank you for having us. We will

celebrate up weeds and also unsung heroes. You wonder BBC East and

National Trophy. -- celebrate Unsung Heroes. It has been

excellent. I managed to meet the Prime Minister. What did you say?

Not much, just encourage him to support the charities and we have.

Just help a lot more children across the country. You will hand

this on. We have had two National winners over the past two years.

Thank you for being with us. It is a night of celebration. Details on

tomorrow's programme. Thank you. We will let you know who

won what in our late bulletins at 10:25pm.

Hundreds of people across our region were told today they are on

course to take part in next summer's Olympic Torch relay. They

will carry the Olympic flame through the region in the days

before the games open at Stratford. Ena Mallett is 78 under lollipop

lady at a local primary school in Norfolk. She also runs a gardening

club and Cycling proficiency. And if that is not enough, she is a

black belt. Not surprising, then, that Ena was nominated to be part

of the torch relay. She received an e-mail to date. She is not sure

exactly how far she has to go, but she is looking forward to it. Do

you think it is about 200 metres? read it would be about that. Will

you run or walk? I will try to run. I think I can do it, but I will

practice. You are on a shepherd was back at her old school in Cambridge.

-- - Fiona Sheppard. I was so excited. I am really happy. We are

really happy. We have six overnight stops in India East of England. It

is going to be a lot of work, but a fantastic opportunity. -- in the

East of England. Back at the school, Ena looks forward to they really

and hoping there might even be a medal involved. I feel happy that

people should think so much of me and want me to win it for them.

it is not a race. Oh, no! Just one more form and one more hurdle. But

Ena Mallett takes all the boxes. If it was a race, she would probably

when I gold medal. She is fantastic. We have not had

it as bad as other parts of the She that low pressure brought gusts

of wind in excess of 100 mph in Scotland. We have had up to 40-50

mph and it is not over yet. We have a band of rain over the region,

which is still there. Really strong gusts ahead of it. Once it clears,

which it should do quickly, it will introduce a much colder air. Still

staying windy tonight with clear skies and turning much colder. You

can see how swiftly the rain should clear away on the charge. Clear

skies bringing a frosty night. Temperatures expected to dip to

about two Celsius. Widespread ground frost and with water on the

roads, that could mean icy stages by dawn. The wind gradually easing,

staying westerly, still moderate in strength. A fairly fine start, if

rather chilly, tomorrow. Plenty of sunshine through the morning. Some

cloud developing, producing some isolated showers. But a shock with

temperatures. 13 degrees today in Cambridge, four tomorrow. Really

cold tomorrow. It will feel wrought in that moderate to fresh westerly

wind through the deep. Still the chance of further isolated showers,

polling as wintry showers. But for most, looking dry. For Saturday, a

cold but dried day. On Sunday, this weather front moves then, bringing

some outbreaks of rain later. The outbreak is chilly. A particularly

cold night for Friday. Potentially temperatures dropping down to minus

four. A cold and frosty start to Saturday. Temperatures not

recovering. Some outbreaks of rain potentially poor Sunday. Cold by