18/07/2014 South East Today

Struck by lightning ` the woman who had a lucky escape when the storms

When I got to this level th`t is when the lightning hit.

Killed by a polar bear on a shcool trip ` but Horatio Chapple's death

wasn't the result of neglect rules a coroner.

And as Gravesend is officially the hottest

place in the country we look at how the heatwave is proving good for

business if you can stay cool. We'll be live with our reporters hn Sussex

Brands Hatch ` superbike legend James Toseland talks about his new

A Kent woman has told of the dramatic moment she was

struck by lightning during last night's violent electrical storms.

Susannah Ford`Crush was filling the weather

from her bedroom window, whdn a bolt struck scaffolding ndxt door

In the space of two hours there were more than 3,000 lightning strikes

across the country last night ` and several homes in Kent and Sussex

Miranda Schunke's report begins with some flashing images.

This shocking moment Susann`h Ford`Crush says she was strtck by

lightning. I was sat up herd like this. Both windows were open. I was

taking video footage. When H got to this level that is when the

lightning hit. She sees the lightning bolt rebound and. I was

feet away from not being alhve. Overnight electrical storms filled

the skies. This was the scene above Worthing. Homes were also hht. This

house was struck and set alhght No one was hurt. We heard a cr`sh. My

grandfather was more worried about the house. I was worried th`t he

would pass out because of the smoke. Forecasters say the intensity and

the location of where the lhghtning with land was tricky to protect It

is hard for computer models to predict in advance. That was the

case last night. A long strdam of stormy skies was coupled with a

sleepless night for many. There is still a chance of more lightning

strikes on the horizon. Several people had to close shaves.

It was a close shave with n`ture for Susannah Ford`Crush.

I am sorry, we have lost th`t report.

Later we will have the latest weather.

The family of a man who's spent two weeks in a coma after a road

rage attack say they're desperate to know exactly what happendd.

Wayne Morton ` who has seven children ` got

into an argument as he was driving his van at Kingsnorth in Ashford.

His wife has spent the past fortnight at his bddside `

and today she spoke to our reporter Charlie Rose.

At home and Ashford his wifd and children can only wait and hope

He was on his way home from visiting the house of a friend. He got

involved in an argument with two other men on a roundabout. Later he

was found with head injuries and was taken to hospital in London.

This is the area where he w`s found with those serious head injtries.

Police say their investigathon is ongoing and they would like to trace

two men. They say that saw five B have not been able to talk to the

victim because of his condition `` they see that happen till now they

have not been able to talk. He is a great father. He is very loving I

want him home. Girl guidance ` the teenagers who've

spent the week exploring possible A schoolboy savaged to death by

a polar bear on a school adventure holiday did not die as a result

of neglect, a coronor has rtled Horatio Chapple was killed three

years ago while camping on a Norwegian island with the

British Schools Exploring Society. Andrew Ruck from Brighton h`d been

the mountain leader of the group Horatio Chapple's family had argued

there was neglect and a serhes of failures

in safety procedures and eqtipment. High in the Arctic Circle `

this is where Horatio Chapple went But the teenager was dragged

from his tent by a starving polar The bear went on to attack

four other people on the scdne Among them, Andrew Ruck,

originally from Brighton, The inquest heard that trip wires

designed to keep bears out Close to where the attack h`ppened

Jason Roberts, a leading polar safety expert who was not involved

in the expedition, showed us how Polar bears are by far the world's

largest land predator in size, During the inquest Horatio's family

highlighted a lack of rifle training and the ddcision

not to organise a lookout for bears One of Horatio's friends told us

that evidence was hard to hdar. When you have got so many khds

of such a young age together in a really foreign place you have

to be more careful. I just hope it does not

happen to anyone else. But

the coroner said problems rdgarding the faulty tripwire system, issues

with a rifle failing to fird, and the decision of expedition leaders

not to hold a lookout for bdars did The holiday organisers said every

trip now has to carry a lookout Horatio's mother

and father urged parents to question the organisations that may be

taking responsibility Detectives investigating

the disappearance of 40`year`old Gravesend woman Jane Dale h`ve found

a body in woodland at Biggin Hill. The discovery was made near

Norheads Lane, near to wherd the car of the mother`of`three

from Gravesend was found. Officers are treating the ddath

as unexplained. The Roma gypsy parents of two young

boys placed for adoption by Kent County Council with a gay couple,

have been told by a top judge the The couple, from Bradford,

had objected after the council put the children ` aged four and two `

with a same sex couple. The widow of a man who died

from head injuries while working at Gatwick Airport has met with

bosses and a local MP there today, campaigning for safety helmdts to

be provided for other staff. 62`year`old Mike Miles fell four

feet from a step while loading meals onto a plane

for an airline catering company He suffered a serious head hnjury

and later died in hospital. To date his wife has been back to the

airport to campaign for workers like him to be issued with helmets.

Gatwick Airport are hoping to instigate whistle`blowing f`cilities

for the employees who are unfairly pressurised and are fearful to

report dissatisfaction with equipment or shift systems. The

victim worked for a catering company. 2000 people are backing the

campaign. The NP is writing to the company that victim worked for to

ask them introduce helmets. This was one accident too many. Gatwhck

Airport were encouraging. They want to do what they can to make people

working on their airport safer. Gatwick Airport says if hellets are

introduced they will help to check employees are wearing them

correctly. Susannah Ford`Crtsh has described the moment she was struck

by lightning. Several properties in the region had to be evacuated

because of the weather. Drawing on experience `

much loved children?s illustrator Quentin Blake unveils a unipue new

exhibition in Hastings. When David Cameron upped

the number of women in his cabinet from three to five earlier this

week, it made front page news. So how many role models are there

for girls who are about to lake The Thanet MP Laura Sandys has just

taken a group of pupils on ` tour of businesses,

parliament and Oxford University to Sara Smith has tonight's

Special Report. Speeding towards a wind farl. These

teenage girls have spent thd week exploring opportunities for the

futures. On Wednesday it was Westminster. Feed to the corridors

of power. `` they had each of the corridors of power. They have also

been to Oxford University, ` TV studio, and a pharmaceutical giant.

The girls were deciding to drop out of further education. It has the

opportunity to make them re`lise that they can have the opportunities

that everybody else has. Thdy have to aim higher.

Today they were at the base of a company that builds wind farms

across Europe. Engineers come out here to carry out

maintenance checks. At the Roman none of them are women, but maybe

this generation will be the first to change that. Now I am thinkhng to

aim higher. Why were you not thinking to aim higher before? I did

not think it was something that I could do. I definitely want to go to

university now. This may be just one week. The hope place it could

transform the rest of their lives. Well last night's storms have

cleared the way today for what is now officially

the hottest day of the year ` and many people are taking `dvantage

of the wall to wall sunshind. In a moment we?ll be in Gillingham

talking to our reporter there about how people have been keeping

cool in the sun, but first we'll go to Brighton and

speak to our reporter Ian P`lmer. I understand

the good weather has been working It is. The summer period is

important for many businessds. Edinburgh writer and there `re 24

tales and bed and breakfasts looking for custom.

It is a day for capturing The Sun. Will the high`temperatures dncourage

more people to holiday in Britain? As soon as the weather forecast is

done for the weekend the form rings. Friday afternoon, Saturday lorning.

This hotel has 11 rooms. A study carried out by researchers sees more

than 200,000 jobs are directly supported by the seaside totrism

sector. There are a lot of good eating and drinking places `nd

nightclubs. To does is vital for the local economy. More than 15,000

people rely on it for their income. Many of them work in hotels totters

around the city. Away from Brighton people wdre

enjoying the high temperatures. It has not been this hot since this

time last year. But why are some so keen to holiday at home? It is

cheaper. It is less travellhng. Why go abroad when there are so many

places in this country to go to At this hotel the good weather

continues to bring in bookings. On the beach summer this year.

People are enjoying the Golden hour of sunshine. How have peopld from

across the region in keeping cool during this hot period?

There are still lots of people here. People have been coming in here all

day. Despite the heat peopld did not seem to mind a bit.

In jailing the best way to stay cool steelhead here. `` in Gillingham the

best way to stay cool as to come here. Lovely water and a nice

breeze. In Canterbury it was a more civilised affair. Drink plenty of

water. Feed yourself with cold food. Temperatures were cooler here.

Some people took to messing around on the water. It has been nhce. I

wish it was like this every day I get out of the heat if it is too

hot. I train lots of water. Many welcome to the hotter temperatures

today. The burning question that is there more to come?

Is it going to last? If this is any indication, these

people hope it will be just the start.

Quentin Blake is perhaps best known as the illustrator of many of Roald

Dahl?s stories ` and this stmmer he is the star attraction at H`stings

Jerwood Gallery as they emb`rk on a summer Drawing Festival.

He's been working on a serids of pieces inspired by other artists in

the Jerwood Collection and producing a children's guide to the g`llery.

In the presence of a master. It is intriguing and fascinating.

He is now working in Hastings. We watched him at work. I h`ve done

a portrait of them on an easel. There is a whole series of drawings

with very simple lines. But do not be fooled. He agonised over the job.

He came to us to suggest his idea. He has captured the beach, the local

people, the street scenes. H have tried to be a philosopher, but

cheerfulness keeps breaking in. The style is somewhere between

illustration and caricature. He has brought the world to life. H like

the idea that I am doing it. James Toseland is one of those

people who is overwhelminglx talented `

a former world superbike ch`mpion, he's also a very good musichan.

This weekend he's returning to the moments on the track ` Brands Hatch.

But he won't be riding. Instead he's entertaining the crowds

with his rock band, playing tracks from his new album Renegade. Neil

Bell has been to meet him ahead of It is light, quick and dangdrous.

That is why tens of thousands of people will be here. Few were more

talented and popular than J`mes Tours London. He is also a gifted

musician. He was world Superbike Champion in 2004. In 2007 hd was the

champion again. Having retired from racing he has embarked on a new

career as a rock musician. He is looking forward to wrestling things

up this weekend. I have not been backs and 2007. To

play in front of the crowd hs going to be great.

If I spend my time thinking of what I am going to do I will not be

concentrating. You have got to love for the moment.

There will be a huge cloud on Sunday. `` a large attendance.

We had storms last night. Lovely weather today.

We have got more of the sea in the season tomorrow.

Top temperature was 32 Celshus. Clear blue skies this afternoon

Tonight there will be thunddrstorms. Temperatures tomorrow will not be

quite as warm as today. Temperatures tonight will not drop much below 19

Celsius. Stifling and warm temperatures. Tonight we ard

expecting to see thunderstorms. There could be one inch of rain fall

in just one hour. There is `n amber warning. That will be valid tonight

and tomorrow. Initially we shall see late evening sunshine. Therd will be

thunderstorms again. Temper`tures not particularly comfortabld. It

will be a very humid night. First thing tomorrow there will bd clouds.

There will be showers and then the sunshine will be back. In the early

part of the afternoon the hdat will rise. We are expecting further

thunderstorms. Tomorrow night temperatures will be a little

fresher. Sunday is a slightly calmer day. There could be the chance of a

shower. Camera into next wedk. Thank you for watching.

We will leave you with Brighton this evening. Goodbye.