07/02/2014 Look East - East

Heavy rain overnight leads to chaos during the morning rush hour, with

fire crews using boats to rescue some drivers. Hello and welcome to

Look East. Also tonight. The end of the line for the region's

oldest wind farm. But two bigger turbines are on their way.

Heartbreak in Sochi as the only competitor from this region pulls

out injured. And did those feet in ancient times. But friends from 8000

years ago. `` footprints. First tonight. Another day dominated

by the weather as heavy overnight rain causes havoc on the roads and

closes a number of schools across both Suffolk and Essex. In an

average winter, on an average night, an inch of rain would not be a big

deal. But this is not an average winter. The rivers are full to

overflowing. The ground is saturated and the rain came in just a few

hours. To give you a rough guide, this is the area hardest hit. Our

first report tonight starts in the village of Manuden, just a few miles

from Stansted. Believe it or not, this is a school

playground. This school is one of 15 Annette is closed today. The school

is very, very wet. There is a picnic table on the field and it is the

tree covered in water. The river burst its banks. Many houses were

flooded. We could not get out of the village this morning. There was a

landslip behind us. There are trees across the road. The road and other

direction were blocked as well, because of water everywhere. We have

been stranded. The police been urging drivers not to go into deep

water, but many ignore the advice. Byatt crews rescued and 84`year`old

man who is disabled. `` fire. Just out side here, Essex Police use

their car to pull drivers out of deep water. They say to beat is

enough to make a car float. Cars are being stuck in flood water. My

advice is to avoid going through floodwater. Even if they're just a

little bit of water, to drive through that exceptionally

carefully, with great care, because just a little bit of water can stop

a car's engine. There were nearly 150 calls of the Fire Service, and

hundreds to breakdown services. This was underwater. Only 4x4 cars to

make it through. Visitors were hit. As the waters receded, the job are

pumping out and cleaning up can begin. It was not just roads in Bury

Saint Edmunds. Gardens and houses were flooded. The water came very

quickly. Too quickly for people to do anything about it. The water came

up very quickly. The could not fill up the sandbags quick enough. It was

so quick. I have never seen a club so quick before. The area of low

pressure is always going to be a primary area of the heavy rainfall.

Most places got 30 millimetres of rain. It just so happened the stress

on those part of Suffolk was already very great, and this was enough to

top the river is over. With more rain possible overnight and this

weekend, there could be more flooding to come.

As ever the back roads were amongst the worst hit. And because the rain

fell throughout the early hours, the morning rush hour was particularly

grim. Richard Daniel now with a tale of stranded drivers and good

Samaritans, from the A1088 at Tostock near Bury St Edmunds.

Son got away with it, others weren't so lucky. A journey to work was a

bit like a game of Russian roulette. Watch this car, Bob like a

cork as a tractor parsers. At least for motorists ended up with

expensive repair bills. I saw cars in front of me go through. It did

not seem too deep. Soon someone came in the other way. I felt the engine

go. Drivers use their lorries to Judge Hall one car to safety. This

woman was left afloat. She was called to safety by a passer`by. The

water is paying into the car. When the tractor went past me, I thought

he might have stopped and offered a hand. He went past and the waves

sent be bothering along. She was in a dangerous spot. Nobody else stop

to help. They kept in past fast. You see them. It is terrible. Another

victim as the morning progressed. This level did start job a bit.

Drivers using this road bound levels there are rising. Eventually

everyone stranded was rescued. All were left room the day they took on

the floods. `` Back to the village of Manuden now.

Peter Randall is the head teacher of the village primary school. He was

forced to close the school because of the heavy rain. How bad was it

when you got in this morning? My field was totally flooded and the

classroom behind me, the water had got in unfortunately. There is a

picnic table over there. It was as high as a picnic table. Always a

difficult decision for a head teacher to close a school. What are

your main concerns as to the safety of the children? At the moment my

staff work very hard. We intended to be open today right up until the

point we had to make the decision to close. The thing to remind ourselves

now as I can't run a school where my toilets aren't working. Quite basic.

What about the outlook for the next two days? The Environment Agency are

optimistic it won't get much worse. We are saturated, so any more water

will come up. We have worked hard for the community today to get

sandbags all around the school. If anyone has any spare, we could

benefit from them. We would like some more sandbags, please. If the

rain comes, we will see what happens. We have made a plan,

hopefully it will work. When will you make the decision? My intention

is to be open on Monday. The children in this costume,

unfortunately they will not be able to come in. We will decide at 7:30am

on Monday morning, depending on what happens is that the weekend. If my

toilets flush, then maybe. What has the reaction been from parents and

children? Peoples of course have enjoyed having a lovely Friday off.

Parents have been supportive. I have had help from parents clearing out a

classroom, put himself into a hall, pumping water. The community has

been brilliant. Good luck over the weekend.

Over the last two weeks we have highlighted what many people see as

a crisis in mental health care in Norfolk and Suffolk. Those reports

prompted an email from a carer in Essex. It says the re`organisation

of services there has left him and his wife feeling abandoned and

alone. The details from our chief reporter Kim Riley.

At his home in Chelmsford, Phil Bates shows me his wedding album.

The happy day 43 years ago when he married Vivienne, who was just 18.

He was 24. They're still together, but besides a serious heart

condition, Vivienne suffers from severe depression. She has twice

attempted suicide. Phil says the withdrawal last year of the

community psychiatric nurse, who provided wonderful support for them

both, has left them bereft. My wife suffers from stress, anxiety and

depression. It is very difficult to get her motivated do anything. She's

in bed at the moment. She had a bad night. It means I am now on a

24`hour suicide watch. I have got no real, and I stress the word real,

access to help. We have been cast adrift. Do you feel the entire

responsibility is on you to keep your wife alive? Oh, very much so. I

think I put in my e`mail to you, she has to be only lucky once to achieve

her aims. I have to be lucky every time. We raised the couple's plight

with the Trust running mental health services in North Essex. It says, we

are sorry they are unhappy about their care with us. It's awful to

feel alone. Being a carer can be very stressful. We're happy to

re`discuss the decisions we reached together last December, so ask them

please to get in touch with us. This is not about budget cuts or

dismantling mental health services. Phil has a deep sadness for

Vivienne, for what she's lost, and for their retirement together being

so different from the one they'd hoped for. With their relatives

hundreds of miles away, he says a little more help and support would

make all the difference. A leading energy provider is

reducing the amount it charges customers who don't pay by direct

debit. It follows a campaign by the MP for Harlow Robert Halfon. He told

parliament this week that many energy companies were ripping off

customers. First Utility is cutting its charge from ?96 a year to ?24.

A Fire Service sniffer dog has found another dog alive in the rubble at

the site of an explosion which destroyed two houses in Clacton on

Wednesday. Reqs' works for Hertfordshire Fire Service and found

the four`year`old bitch called Carryad. Fire crews then dug her out

of the rubble, and she's been taken to the vet for a check`up.

The oldest wind farm in this region is being dismantled. The Blood Hill

farm at Somerton near Great Yarmouth was opened in 1992. Now the old

turbines are being taken down and replaced.

Gently does it, and for goodness sake don't drop it. Taking turbines

off a wind farm is delicate work. Heavy blades inching their way to

safety. Though today's slimy conditions did not make the work

easy. This wind farm at Somerton was the region's first. It started

generating in 1992. Over the years it has become quite a local

landmark. But now the wind farm has come to the end of its normal life

span and has been taken down. Ten turbines will be replaced by just

two. A Dutch firm has been brought in to remove the turbines. Our plan

is to dismantle one turbine in five hours. We can do two a day. That is

our main goal. It will be dismantled in parts. The first part will go

off. That is the wings and the hub. They will go down first, then the

motor equipment and generator will come down. It is nine tonnes. The

tower will be broken down in sections and put on the lorry, and

the lorry can drive it away. Donna Watson's house looks out onto the

turbines. I am delighted they're coming down. I've never liked them.

I didn't like them 20 years go, I don't like them now. I do believe

they are much better offshore. I think that is where they should be,

not on land The turbines will be refurbished in Denmark before being

sold for reuse, probably in Poland. A starting gun of sorts was fired

for the European elections in May today. Representatives of the five

main parties faced an audience of students from schools across

Norfolk. It's part of an attempt by the European Union to get us

interested in the poll, which takes place on May 22nd. And in this

region they've got their work cut out.. As our political correspondent

Andrew Sinclair reports. The press release said it was an

attempt to create a bit of a buzz around the European elections. In a

television studio, the five main parties rehearse their arguments.

You can't coming to sign on. You won't go on top of the housing list.

We don't want Britain marginalised. For more than an hour a day and said

questions on the Euro crisis, fracking and European scepticism.

The audience aborted was worthwhile. It is good to hear their opinions.

There are some fantastic debate and ideas. Did you learn anything?

Massively. A series of lectures at the University of East Anglia. It

was organised by the EU eight and ideas. Did you learn anything?

Massively. A series of lectures at the University of East Anglia. It

was organised by the EU ate went absent issues like bent bananas and

cucumber 's head the news. Good or bad, I feel it is absolutely crucial

for people to know about what goes on, and then make up their mind and

use their democratic worth. Europe plays an important part in our

lives. And yes, the turnout at European elections is notoriously

low, and those who do vote, vote not an European issues, but to pass

judgment on who ever is running the government. Coming up interest is

hard in this part of the country. Five of our seven MPs can be called

Euro sceptic, whilst UKIP Paul's hires in Eads than anywhere else ``

Paul is higher in East. There were problems linking to Brussels, and as

it overran, some of the audience left. The politicians felt it was

worth while. Expect a lot more of this in the months to come. Petros

Fassoulas is ahead of the European movement in the UK. I put a term

that many people think currency are making things worse, not better. I

think the immigration question is one we need to discuss a bit more.

The benefits for the economy as a whole are enormous. Billions of

pounds come here. They contribute to the well`being of the whole of the

nation. Lotsa people would say they put pressure on services, take jobs

that people could do. As an outside observer, the problem is not much

the issue of immigration, it is how much we invest in schools and

hospitals. That is very interesting that you put it that way. There are

a lot of people in this country who just don't see that as reality. I

think it is interesting that it is something I have experienced. People

appreciate having hard`working polish people working in the

fields. They see the effect they have in a local community. There are

cases where we have to look at them. We have to invest properly to make

sure if there are problems, they are resolved. How can you be impartial

in the pro`European? Unfortunately, my belief is that the pro`European

argument is not listen to another. We are trying to do as much as we

can to have our point of view heard. That is not impartial. If you put a

pro`European movement forward, it can't be. We are engaging with

everyone. We welcome positions from all political parties, especially

those who engage constructively. What we don't like, and I think the

debate has suffered as a result, is the tendency for some people to

ignore the facts and focus on the mythology around what it is to be a

member of the European union. Why do so many people think we should get

out of it? They have not had the opportunity to consider its. You

believe it? I don't say you don't know what you are talking about.

When was last time you had the opportunity to discuss openly the

cost of living in the union? Rarely we talk about the benefit of being

in the union. I think it is important that we take a step back

and consider those matters. Thank you very much.

The overnight rain has already affected some of our football

matches. Stevenage's game against Wolves has been called off. And

there will be a pitch inspection at Colchester tomorrow morning. Of the

games still on, Norwich against Manchester City is top of the bill.

When Norwich went to the Etihad in November they lost 7`0, their worst

defeat in the league in 75 years. This report from Tom Williams.

It is 2`0. That is exquisite. An absolute belter. That is seven. Do

you still have nightmares about what happened at City? No. Especially as

I have seen the amount of goals they have scored against, perhaps bigger

teams than us. You have to put that behind you. It was arguably worst

performance of the season. But as Chelsea proved, the free scoring,

multi`million pound juggernaut is fallible. Saying that, they spent

250 million to do it. Norwich's problem, Manchester City can't

afford successive defeats in their title chase. Most fans would agree

Norwich's form at Carrow Road will hold the key to survival. After

Manchester City this weekend, the next home game is against Tottenham.

Then of course that dreaded run`in. Liverpool, Manchester United,

Chelsea, before Arsenal here on the final day. It means results between

now and then will be crucial. Norwich have only won once in nine.

Last week's loss at Cardiff a costly one, leaving them two points clear

of the drop zone. Where do you see the points comming from to guarantee

safety? In every game. In every game we play. There is not a game we go

into that we think, we will write this one off, because that is

defeatist. The facts don't lie. We are only three point away from tenth

place, but we know how tight it is below us. Here to help, a new

signing. Joseph Yobo, who could make his debut. I like challenges. Extra

motivation. I want to go to the World Cup. I want to perform at the

highest level. Pushing myself, and also understand the situation

Norwich are in. It is strong motivation for me. He is staying

positive, keeping calm, but it would take some transformation to reverse

this scoreline. The opening ceremony of the winter

Olympics has been taking place this afternoon but one athlete who isn't

involved is Craig Pickering from Milton Keynes. He was set to become

only the eighth British athlete to compete at both a winter and summer

Olympics. Sadly a back injury on the eve of the games in Sochi means he's

already back home. I had surgery on it in 2012. It has

gone into the spinal nerve canal. Know I've athlete wants to get bad

news. It is a hammer blow before the eve of an Olympic Games. I spend a

lot of effort getting to this level. To get so close and then having to

pull out is very tough. Pickering could barely watch as is team`mate

stumble down the course. They needed a good result to qualify for Sochi.

Pickering was set to become a British athlete to compete at both

summer and winter games. Sadly, another slipped disc in his back as

ruined his chances. The doctors said we could tribute up as much as

possible. You will be able to go out there. You will perform very well.

You would do yourself damage. It is a cruel blow for the sprinter who

tried his hand at Bobsleigh. This injury put 's long`term future as a

sportsman in serious doubt. Is this the end of your professional

sporting career? Potentially. It is a bad injury. I had a bad injury two

years ago. To have a second disco in such a short space of time is not a

good sign that Iraq desk. The bigot pick a double bed now? TLC. Making

sure we are here for him. We were hoping it would not be serious, but

it sounds like it is more serious than we thought. He's a computing

added in the game is the pinnacle of his life. It is your journey he will

not take again. He was still watches team`mate, and rolling them on to

success. Almost a million years ago, five

people, possibly a family, took a walk along what is now the Norfolk

coast at Happisburgh. Behind them they left perfect footprints, which

have only just been discovered. Scientists say they're among oldest

in the world. They had only days to record their find before the

evidence was washed away by the sea. Alex Dunlop has been following in

their footsteps. May be my first footprint will be

preserved. It was at this very spot that five early humans literally

made an impression. Several impressions. When Nasher's storms

washed with a bit sad, scientist had a few days to record and photograph

the footprints before the sea washed away them. You can see it is covered

in hollows. They have been washed out by the sea. It is very fragile.

This could be the earliest footprint anywhere in Europe and Asia.

Potentially it is important. Analysis shows footprints are small,

probably children's. It might been a family going for a walk. This one

would have been an adult male. He was about five foot nine and may

have looked like this. Not a pretty sight, but clever enough to make

tools and hunt animals. At the time, this area was an inland estuary.

East angler was stalling by land to continental Europe. There could be a

whole treasure chests on the speech. This project has been going

for years. We're been hoping to discover a school. It is yet to

happen. I am sure it. Is no and Mecca for you? We are the only

county to have evidence of four species of human. This coastline is

a prehistoric treasure trove, yielding of mammoths and ancient

tools. Some survived 800,000 years, others just a few seconds. He won't

be the years from now. We have a yellow warning for more rain

tonight. He is that next lot of rain. Some showers at header that

main band, is that main band, so that'll rattle through the next few

hours. Some of them may be the heavy side. This main band the rain comes

in, produce five millimetres. It will be accompanied by strong

southerly winds, which could reach gale force around the coast. The

rain rattles through quickly, so during the early hours we will see

drier conditions. The winds easing down just a touch. Temperatures no

lower than seven or eight degrees. Tomorrow morning, Italy lighter

winds. Plus three started today with a few showers. The showers will be

on the heavy side. The winds will pick up in the afternoon. A strong

south westerly winds. Gusts of 50 the city mph, but on the coast we

may have stronger gust still. Good afternoon we will see more showers

piling in, some of them given a longer spell rain. The showers

continue through Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday. That sets

the scene for Sunday itself. Further showers, heavy at times. Strong

south westerly winds, but hopefully for the day on Sunday we should

start to see those winds easing down, and hopefully we saw to see

those winds easing down, and hopefully we stop the CQ showers.

From now until Sunday, the potential for 20 millimetres of rain. Monday,

a few showers. More wet and windy weather arriving Tuesday. We could

see some frosting eyes on Sunday night as well as Monday. Have a

great weekend. It's your job to keep law

and order, isn't it? It must be exciting being

a policewoman. It has its moments.