22/12/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. I'm Polly Evans.

And I'm Rob Smith. Tonight's top stories.

A �10,000 reward to catch the callous thugs who beat up a 78-

year-old woman in her own home. of them said, "We're going to kill

you. Where's your money?" The Archbishop of Canterbury sets

up a new inquiry into child protection following Church

failures that allowed paedophile priests to abuse boys in Sussex.

Also in tonight's programme. Against all the odds. The premature

twins given less than a 1% chance of survival are at home in Kent for

Christmas. It's the trip of a lifetime! The

Sussex tour operator offering the spectacular sights of the M25.

And they know how to celebrate Christmas in Westfield. Quite

possibly the most festive village in the South East. Our

illuminations correspondent is there tonight.

Good evening. A pensioner who was savagely beaten

by a gang of young men in her own home has described the moment the

robbers burst in and threatened to kill her. 78-year-old Jean Thomas

was attacked by three men in Staplehurst, near Maidstone.

Tonight, a local property tycoon has offered a �10,000 pound reward

to help catch them. Alex Beard reports. One of them are said, "we

are going to kill you, where is your money?". The she woke to find

a three man at her bedside. The Ace said it was my money they were

after. -- they said. They punched and punched and punched me back on

the bed. They are men could not find money and fled when Jean tried

to escape from the window and they left her pleading and bruised.

head hacked to be stitched. My face was black almost. They sat on my

hands. I could not move. It was bruised all the way here. Police

have revealed CCTV footage. We are looking for information from the

public in relation to this offence to help with inquiries.

brutality of the attack prompted this local property tycoon to offer

an award -- reward for information leading to an arrest. Initially, I

put up �1,000. Somebody else put up �500. I've then increased it to

5000 and I have now increased it to 10,000. Christmas is coming. I am

sure that Jean Thomas would like to see an end to this. Jean Thomas has

increased security at her home. She said the attack has left her

emotionally scarred. The Archbishop of Canterbury has

set up a new inquiry into child protection policies within the

Church of England in Sussex. It follows our exclusive reports into

serious failures that allowed two paedophile priests to sexually

abuse boys in Eastbourne in the 1970s and 80s. Our home affairs

correspondent Colin Campbell reports.

It is the first time in over 100 years that such an inquiry has been

ordered by the Archbishop of Canterbury in. It is in response to

concerns about safeguarding children, and paedophile priests,

something the BBC has been investigating for over a year.

Martley encouraged that the Archbishop of Canterbury --

I am encouraged he is taking this move. But it is now investigating

itself. The inquiry is known as an archiepiscopal visitation. Lambeth

They will examine current child- protection arrangements and make

recommendations for the future. A report was highly critical of

senior clergy men in the diocese, including this bishop who allowed

the paedophile priest, Roy cotton, to remain in position. In July, our

investigations showed that he had given inaccurate information to the

review. One of the victims called for the findings of the inquiry to

be open and transparent. I wanted to get to the truth. It needs to

look at the real issues, not just safeguarding. It needs to look at

the mistakes from the past. And why so many people have been allowed to

carry on working. The Archbishop of Canterbury's investigators have

started their work and will report back by the end of February. Colin

Campbell joins me. Has there been any response? The Bishop of

Chichester has issued a statement saying he gives the inquiry his

support. He will however retire in April next year. We understand this

is the 4th inquiry looking at paedophile priests and looking at

this. They say it is the start of a legal process that has been kick-

started by Canon Law. Victims hope that it will be open and

transparent. They want the findings to be made public.

In a moment, the campaign over live animal exports. 1 million signed up

for a ban in Europe. A man who led a campaign of arson

attacks across Kent wrote on his laptop that he was planning to

commit murder and thought daily about burning people alive. Neil

Clark and his teenage accomplice Marc Hitchcock daubed numbers at

the scene of each fire they started. They were caught after being traced

through e-mails they sent to a newspaper, complaining about the

way their crimes were being reported. Both were jailed at

Maidstone Crown Court. The blackened remains of an

ironmonger. A business 30 years and the building ruined. The Office of

the local MP was gutted. The arsonists were Neil Clark and

teenager Marc Hitchcock. This was the first of five fires, each

marked by a number painted in yellow. No biddy was hurt. That was

only good fortune. -- nobody was hurt. It was only a matter of time

before they were. This caused economic loss to businesses in the

area. The fires were started over a four-month period within an eight-

mile radius. Targets included a bathroom shop and newsagent's store

and petrol station. The two were traced through e-mail messages sent

to the Kent Messenger offices, threatening to firebomb the

newspaper and the officer leading the inquiry. On arrest, they found

messages on the lap top of Neil Also on the computer, his next

intended target, this time a shop surrounded by family homes. The

judge told Neil Clark he was devious and manipulative and he

told Marc Hitchcock he had been a willing accomplice. Neil Clark was

sentenced to ten years and Marc Hitchcock four-and-a-half years in

a young defender's institution. -- offenders.

Sussex Police have launched a two- week campaign to try to reduce

domestic violence over Christmas. The crime tends to increase over

the festive period. But a team of dedicated officers will use cameras

attached to their uniforms to gather evidence. Last year,

officers in Sussex were called to more than 750 incidents of domestic

abuse between the 23rd December and 2nd January.

South East Water has been given permission to take water from the

River Ouse in Sussex to maintain supplies to its customers. The

Department for the Environment agreed to the request in order to

protect the Ardingly Reservoir after a period of low rainfall.

A major airline is axing its services from Manston Airport.

Flybe will stop operating flights between Kent International and

Edinburgh from the end of March. -- also to Orkney. The company says it

has taken the decision because of poor ticket sales. It is another

major blow for Manston, which for several years has attempted to

attract large airlines to provide passenger services.

They were so premature at birth that doctors gave them less than a

one per cent chance of survival. Twins Kai and Tien Smith were born

at just 26 weeks and spent several months receiving specialist care in

hospital. They defied the odds, and are now thriving at home in Ashford,

where their proud parents are preparing for their first proper

family Christmas. Lynda Hardy went to meet them.

Christmas time in this household means frosty the Snowman for the

twins and the best Christmas their parents have ever had. They weighed

just 1 kilogram when they came into the world. They were 14 weeks

premature. It meant their first Christmas was spent in hospital.

This time last year, I did not think I would bring them home. To

actually have them home, Christmas is all about children. They have

just made our family. It is really difficult for any baby who is born

to the edge of viability. They have a poor chance at this stage but as

they get older their chances improve. They have to fight to get

to where they are today. Their parents hope to raise money online

with a few extra lights on the house to give back to the neonatal

unit in Ashford helping other tiny babies like this one. The staff,

really, and to show how much we appreciate it. Anything we can give

to help other people who are as lucky as ours, who are -- or who

are not. That is all we can do. We did not put like sour last year,

and I saved my electric bill then! And we have put a few more up this

year and put a little box outside. What seemed like a dream last

Christmas now sees two additions to the Smith family celebrations.

Our top story. A pensioner who was beaten by a gang of robbers has

described the moment they burst in and threatened to kill her. 78-

year-old Jean Thomas was attacked in her own home in Staplehurst.

Kent Police have released an image of a man they want to question, and

a local property tycoon has offered a ten-thousand pound reward.

Also in tonight's programme. Forget Paris, New York, Rome. The

tour operator offering the spectacular sights of the M25.

Campaigners opposed to live animal exports across the Channel through

Kent are hoping to force the European Union to end the trade by

calling for an eight-hour time limit on the transport of livestock.

It would effectively prevent exports from Ports like Ramsgate.

An international petition has already attracted almost a million

signatures. But livestock farmers say that such a time limit would be

totally impractical. Katherine Downes has tonight's special report.

Ban Live exports! Protesters this morning calling on the council to

stop live exports. The council said there is nothing they can do.

are doing everything we can to find a way to stop the trade taking

place here. It is a gorgeous place and we do not want to be associated

with things like this. Can pain as are trying new tactics. They are

calling for the length of journeys to be limited by law to eight hours

in order to bring the issue to the European Commission under the

Citizen's Initiative, it has to be backed by 1 million people, least

seven countries. The commission has three months to examine it. We need

to clamp down on rogue dealers who have no consideration for animals

and who transport them across Europe. A are you saying farmer

should not trade with Europe? course not. There is an important

trade with Europe. Farmers who do not care about animals do not want

to be able to put them into trucks and travel with them for hours and

hours. They know it would effectively stop live exports to

the Continent because the crossing takes around four hours. Farmers

understand the implications and say they will suffer. If you look in

the British Isles, animals have to travel further than eight hours. If

you look at the islands and Highlands of Scotland, it is over

14 hours. We have to be realistic. When they travel, they travel the

best way possible. This sailing this morning is the only ship

carrying live exports. Campaigners say the only way to stop her is to

make it to impractical and expensive to transport them.

Katherine Downes joins us live from Dover, where they used to run live

animal exports. They say it would be more humane to start it from

there. Yes they say they should be

lobbying for the animals to travel from Dover because it is a shorter

journey. It the MP said the limit was suggested to protect the

comfort of animals, but others say it is away to make exporters lives

more difficult and that is what they want to do, to stop live

exports entirely, be they from Ramsgate all here in Dover. -- or.

When you think of the South East's top tourist destinations, what

springs to mind? Leeds Castle or the South Downs, perhaps? How about

the M25? One tour operator is convinced it's a winner and their

flight of fancy tour takes in a range of attractions such as the

Dartford Tunnel and Clacket Lane Services. If you love spending

hours and hours on the motorway, and who in their right mind doesn't,

then Brighton and Hove Buses new luxury coach tour of the M25 is for

you. Bryony MacKenzie reports.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is a journey from point aid to

point A. The talk shows off Heathrow Airport, Epping Forest and

Clacket Lane services from a coach window. Really?! Is it can be

perceived as crackers. But there car-parts people do not see or

travel from and it would be nice to say that you have travelled on the

whole M25. What about sampling the refreshments at one of the only two

service stations? You would also hit the Dartford crossing. 150,000

vehicles a day cross it. There are also some of the worst traffic jams.

And why not rest at the second serve the station, Clacket Lane

services? This is it. This is the highlight of the tour, Clacket Lane

services. Mayor, it really is it. - - no. Apparently, there is a lot to

see. Would you be up for that? I would not be interested. No. It

is horrible. It is hell with wheels! Tell me why that is so

funny? It is bad enough driving on the M25! Misery for drivers, but

perhaps joy for drivers. -- passengers. This couple celebrated

their wedding on the M25. Lucky lady. Now I know what to get you

next Christmas! I think travelling the entire M25 is something I can

live without. You have not experienced everything life has to

offer. It's an early Christmas present for

sports clubs across the South East. They are sharing hundreds of

thousands of pounds in lottery funding, ahead of next year's

London Olympics. The grants are being handed out to try to bring

the Olympic spirit into local communities across Kent, Sussex and

Surrey. Inspirational moments that the Olympic committee hopes to see

more of next summer. But is to is the next generation of sporting

stars the money supports. Here, they have �100,000 towards a new

pitch. And for footballers pain -- playing on a waterlogged field, it

is welcome news. Your boots get very heavy. It is hard to keep

running. It is really annoying. With the all-weather pitch, you

will be able to play properly. the 1930s, Graves end cricket club

hosted internationals. Now they have more than �40,000 of lottery

money and hope to restore some of that legacy with me next, which it

covers and a bowling machine. We are wanted to create something that

was for the future. As a result, with the grant available and the

new equipment and coaching behind the scenes, we are creating

something to give youngsters the opportunity to fulfil their promise.

Thousands of pounds will be spent across the region, breathing life

Money spent now that it is hoped will create a Olympic golds of

tomorrow. Christmas is traditionally seen as

a bad time to be a turkey. But that is not the case for Annabel the

turkey, who has become a much-loved family pet. She will spend

Christmas Day in the lap of luxury in Chartham, near Canterbury, with

her owner Jean Morrison, who lets Annabel snuggle up on the sofa to

watch TV. And in case you're wondering, the family will not be

serving turkey for Christmas lunch. We will have a normal Christmas Day,

apart from are not eating turkey. We will be cooking for the turkey.

Annabel will have a lovely dinner, beef Wellington. With my partner.

They can join in with some of the activities. Apparently she likes Dr

Who. Really? More people should have turkeys as pets.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been taking a look at some of

the houses with the most extravagant and lavish Christmas

decorations. But tonight we go a step further, to a place where

pretty much everyone in the village has gone over the top. Dozens of

homeowners in Westfield, near Hastings, are displaying Christmas

lights this year, raising thousands of pounds for charity in the

process. Our festive illuminations specialist Peter Whittlesea is

there for us tonight. It started with a simple community

Christmas tree 35 years ago. Back then, Johnny match this was number

one with his Christmas hit. Over time, Westfield has become the

capital of Christmas lights in Sussex. It is more than festive

cheer. For this man it is an obsession. He cannot wait to switch

the lights on. The in the past ten years, all the houses have had no

lights bar two. I love people's faces, they talk to you. They say

how marvellous it is. People who have not been before, they come

around the church and suddenly they see this lot and cannot believe it.

No one is forced to put lights on their houses. It has grown

organically. Each year, hundreds of people come to see the Westfield

lights. It is for a good cause. They have raised �17,500 in the

past six years. They will raise up to �3,000 this year. That is a

great deal of money. We have to raise �3.5 million a year.

light show gets bigger and bigger. And with modern lighting, the costs

are kept down. They do not worry about the electricity bill here

because they know they are raising money for charity.

Peter reporting from Westfield. That was a picture. I know what you

are thinking. What does the no ice have to say to the people of the

South East this Christmas? Hey, this is then allowed eyes. It

is time to say Happy Christmas, man. -- of similar ice. I wish everybody

in the South East a happy Christmas. Hello, I am playing the bad fairy

in Sleeping Beauty in Tunbridge Wells. Even though this goes

against my bad fairy principles, I want to wish you a very merry

Christmas. Have a good one. I will put a spell on you. Have a good

Christmas. Have a good Christmas, says the bad fairy. I'm not sure I

says the bad fairy. I'm not sure I know what they know there ice said.

Cloud has been thickening over the afternoon. Tomorrow, dry through

the morning, but rain in the afternoon. Today, it has been

settled. Decent spells of sunshine, particularly through the morning.

The cloud thickened through the afternoon. Westerly winds light for

everybody. Temperatures are above the seasonal average. We are

holding on to cloud cover tonight. Temperatures will hardly change

from their daytime values. It will be a mild start to the day tomorrow.

It will be dry through the morning. It will not stay dry for long. We

will see rain by the late morning. Mild in the morning. Staying dry

initially. South-westerly wind picking up. Temperatures still

similar to what we saw today in double figures. The wind will feel

cooler. Behind the rain, a different picture. Clear skies and

temperatures dropping to two degrees. We will start Christmas

Eve with ground frost. The day itself will be cold and bright.

Temperatures in single figures. For Christmas Day itself, it will

remain settled cloud. We have high pressure in control of things.

Tomorrow morning, initially dry and increasingly unsettled. Chris but